InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "It's working for me, Tessa."

icon_uk (icon_uk) wrote in scans_daily,
@ 2009-11-09 21:01:00

Entry tags:

char: batgirl/oracle/barbara gordon, char: batman/bruce wayne, char: nightcrawler/kurt wagner, char: robin/nightwing/dick grayson, char: robin/red robin/tim drake, creator: mitch ballard, genre: commission, in-joke: bondage

And the hits just keep on coming! New Mitch Ballard work of our favourite "boys in blue" (and red)

(Now with added caption competition and larger images linked)

As if my Robin Model Sheet wasn't enough, I just got e-mailed these commissions I've been looking forward to!

Mitch Ballard can take a lot of the credit (or blame! >:-) ) for my collection, since it was through his first commission for me that the possibilities of the genre opened up to me. The result of my request for Dick as Robin as a prisoner of Deathstroke the Terminator has been posted too many times for me to inflict it on you again, but it showed me what a talented artist could do....

Mitch recently returned to the commission "biz" and since he started my "Robin the Boy Hostage" theme, I decided to ask for his efforts again, this time to help launch my "Nightwing and Nightcrawler" gallery

The left image in red is the first draft outline he sent me, which I really like for it's vertiginous feel, the one on the right is the final inked version, which I adore because these guys are just having so much fun together, and that's what I want this gallery to be about, the sheer freedom of movement these two could enjoy (ironic considering how much I enjoy Mr Grayson when he's not capable of as little movement as possible)!

And as for this next one... well, I did sort of ask for another Robin the Boy Hostage piece. I thought it might be fun to have a Jason and Dick piece, since I don't think they were ever captured together.... Again, I left as much as possible to Mitch, who has an uncanny sense of these things, and I'm glad I did because this one is great...

I thought you might like to see the differences between the first draft, the pencilled version, and the final inked piece...

All sorts of fun story questions come to mind as I look at these, first and foremost, what ARE they being dragged towards, with all those interesting looking spikes/tentacles/probes (Which are they, or are they all three? oooh, Robins and tentacles! NICE!) Are they bait for Batman, like worms on a hook (which works with the chain motif) or are they facing danger on their own to save Batman, or just facing danger?

And as for why Jason isn't getting a lockpick out of his utility belt, well, maybe any attempt to reach it oleads to him being dragged closer, or maybe the belt has been sealed with epoxy by whoever manacled them, or they've been told that the manacles are rigged so that if they attempt to interfere with their own bonds, then explosive charges will be detonated in the OTHER captives chains, and so neither can try free themselves without risking the other's wellbeing).

This would make a GREAT cover, wouldn't it? :) You can almost hear the click of the chains on the winch, slowly and resolutely pulling them closer to.... whatever it is, link by individual link.

Enjoy!

This next piece isn't mine, but I do love it, and I feel it could be used as a caption competition entry. :)

It has a definite... "Sure sure, you got cool capes, but I get to flash my ass every time I go on patrol... and people LOVE me for it!"

Oh, and for legality, when Dick met Jason 2.0 for the first time!

(Post a new comment)

	toasty_fresh 2009-11-09 10:36 pm UTC (link)
	Loving that second one! (Reply to this) (Thread)

	icon_uk 2009-11-09 10:36 pm UTC (link)
	Do I know my audience or WHAT? :) (Reply to this) (Parent)

	jelly_ace 2009-11-09 10:45 pm UTC (link)
	Of course they're the tentacles of some fangirl-turned-supervillainess, eager to get her...claws on the two for a spot of debauchery. Do you have bigger images? (Reply to this) (Thread)

	icon_uk 2009-11-09 10:50 pm UTC (link)
	Why assume it's a fan GIRL? :) No bigger images as yet, I normally wait until the actual images arrive with me, but I couldn't resist using the ones sent to me. I'll edit in larger images next week when they physically arrive with me. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	jelly_ace 2009-11-09 11:06 pm UTC (link)
	Facepalm Of course. Never assume, I always say. And yes, I don't read the text in blog posts where there are pictures of Robins in distress/bondage. My brain prioritizes. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	icon_uk 2009-11-10 12:31 am UTC (link)
	Sorry, I see what you mean about the images, I thought I'd included the links to the larger versions, now, I have! :) (Reply to this) (Parent)

	jcbaggee 2009-11-10 01:43 am UTC (link)
	A Nightcrawler/Nightwing one-shot must happen. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	roily_rogue 2009-11-10 07:52 am UTC (link)
	It must! (Reply to this) (Parent)

	icon_uk 2009-11-10 10:23 am UTC (link)
	I need to get off my ass and finish the fanfic which explains HOW they first teamed up, and how they've been doing so regularly for years (just... off panel as it were.) (Reply to this) (Parent)

	bariman1987 2009-11-10 02:26 pm UTC (link)
	I've got a list of DC/Marvel crossovers that should happen once they stop being jerks to each other. Nightwing/Nightcrawler just went on it. Thanks! (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

icon_uk
2009-11-10 02:46 pm UTC (link)

Yup, I was astonished at how obvious a pairing it was after I thought of it. I've seen attempts to compare him with Daredevil in the MU (and the the Alamgam universe he was merged with Moon Knight of all people), but Dick natural "twin" HAS to be Kurt.

Oh and as for the one-shot, Tomasi on writing, Alan Davis on art, for preference (AFAIK Alan Davis hates answering the "Whose your favourite character?" questions at conventions, but the one time I saw him give an answer it was "Nightcrawler" I don't recall if I've ever seen him draw Nightwing beyond one Showcase cover, but it would be pretty to see him give it a go)

(Reply to this) (Parent)

retro_nouveau
2009-11-10 01:50 am UTC (link)

Ok, the first one is 100% love.

The second one I love, except I can't tell what the thing with robot-spider legs would actually look like, minor detail. So 95% love. Your theories for giving Jason the benefit of the doubt are great. I just think he's entitled to a few tenths of a second for a "WTF?!?" moment before he goes into action.

The third one is only 75% love, because Bruce and Tim have chins that are a little on the small/weak side. But everyone has great hair, and Jason(?) has a pouty mouth for bonus points in retro's book.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

	retro_nouveau 2009-11-10 01:54 am UTC (link)
	... Bruce and ~~Tim~~ Dick have chins that ... Duh. Four Robins can be confusing. Or that's my excuse and I'm sticking with it. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	icon_uk 2009-11-10 10:41 am UTC (link)
	Actually I rather like the fact that the tentacle probe thingy is quite so... nebulous in form and design. Is it one thingy? Is it a lot of thingies? Is each probe a separate entity like a snake? Does it spread across the ground ahead of whatever the chains are dragging or Boys' Wonder towards? (Reply to this) (Parent)

	icon_uk 2009-11-10 07:58 pm UTC (link)
	It's not Jason in the foursome pic, you can tell by the cape being dark, not having a fold down collar like Dick and Jason had, and the pouches on the sleeve, which only Tim has. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	freddylloyd 2009-11-10 03:04 am UTC (link)
	Chains, shmains. Tentacles, shmentacles. But the original Nightwing costume! I'm grateful. (Reply to this)

	sistermagpie 2009-11-10 04:14 am UTC (link)
	They have such fun as friends! I love them! Also excellent Charlie's Angels-esque shot with the Batfam. (Reply to this)

	ladymirth 2009-11-10 04:57 am UTC (link)
	These are all gorgeous as usual. Jason has such soft-looking hair in the last one. pets him Can you please post scans of Dick and Jason's first meeting, Icon? I want to know whether it was anything like in NW: Y1. (Reply to this)

	mysteryfan 2009-11-10 01:45 pm UTC (link)
	Nice! Dick looks especially great in the first pic, good to see Dick and Jason bonding and the Bruce, Babs, Jason and Dick piece is fun too. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	icon_uk 2009-11-11 08:11 pm UTC (link)
	Bonding... Bondage... Po-tay-to... Po-tah-to (Reply to this) (Parent)

	wetstereorebel 2009-11-10 05:25 pm UTC (link)
	Is it just me, or does the Dick/Jason sewer drawing look a bit like New Teen Titans-era Perez work? (Reply to this) (Thread)

	icon_uk 2009-11-10 05:42 pm UTC (link)
	Aside from our rule of "It's never just you", in this case you are absolutely correct. Mitch's style is very reminscent of NTT Perez and is heavily influenced by him, and frankly it's one of the reasons I like his work so much, there's a roundness and sexiness to his designs which not many artits get, but looks so damn good when applied to Mr Grayson and co... (Reply to this) (Parent)

	strangething 2009-11-14 05:55 am UTC (link)
	Now pose as a team, 'cause shit just got real! (Reply to this)