I read a lot of those Choose Your Own Adventure books when I was a kid, which probably explains my third grade reading level and short attention span. I also like TV and comics. Now, through the magic of licensing and the internet, I can have them all at once! All I need is a flying car, a robot maid and a dog with a speech impediment and the future will be complete. Anyway, over at the Smallville website, they’re doing a digital comic where the readers vote on plot choices, American Idol-style. Also, there are prizes. So, go over and let your voice be heard! Rock the vote!

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Green Arrow & Black Canary #6 is on sale March 12! With only the slimmest of leads, Ollie, Dinah and Mia begin their international search for Connor’s kidnappers. First stop: Prague; and when they pose the right questions to some very wrong people, Team Arrow becomes the target!

With this issue, I’m sad to say that I’ll be leaving Green Arrow & Black Canary. Due to some recent family medical emergencies, I’ve elected to take myself off the book. Pencilling and inking 22 pages a month isn’t easy even under optimal conditions, and the last few months have been anything but. Rather than continue with the book and subjecting the readers to rushed artwork or intermittent and unexpected fill-ins, I thought it best to exit on a high note and asked my editors to find a new permanent replacement. It’s been a blast working with writer Judd Winick, and incoming artist par excellence Mike Norton is more than up to the task. And I’m not completely out of the picture — you’ll still be seeing me on covers. Best of luck to the team (though they won’t need it), and now I can look forward to reading the book like everyone else!

Bounce on over to the AMC website to see a little mini-interview I did about the 3 best animated films of all time. I deliberately gave some sincere but oddball answers to mix things up a bit. Other favorites of mine include Sleeping Beauty, Totoro, and Wallace & Gromit, but that’s like naming Watchmen and Dark Knight Returns as your favorite comics, y’know?

I also did a short Q&A at Comic Addiction where we discuss, among other things, the romance of Green Arrow & Black Canary.

Also, check out the signings link on the left! Several new conventions have been added to the list: the Boston Comic Book Spectacular in April, Fan Expo Canada in August, and the Baltimore Comic-Con in September. Looks to be a busy year.

Here’s looking at you, kid! Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone!

Green Arrow & Black Canary #5 is on sale this week! Green Arrow… no more? Following his son’s tragic accident, Green Arrow contemplates leaving the superhero life altogether. But what does that mean for Black Canary? You know the drill: click on the image for pencils and inks.

Here’s a cover I did for the Hawkman Companion from Twomorrows Publishing, which will be out in May 2008. Click on the image to see the original cover, along with pencils and inks. I always dug Joe Kubert’s Hawkman, even though he never wore a shirt. Hawkman, I mean. Dunno if Joe draws bare-chested, but he can do whatever the hell he wants cuz he’s mighty Joe Kubert. Me? I wear a skinny suit and tie and drape my jacket carefully over the back of my drafting chair before I roll up my shirtsleeves and start drinking — I mean, drawing. Anyways, Joe’s Silver Age Hawkman and Hawkgirl go front and center, and there’s a bunch of fine feathered friends I never would’ve known about if not for writer/designer Doug Zawisza. I’d love to keep yapping but you’ll have to excuse me, Baby’s meeting me for lunch over at the 21 club. Now, scoot!

I know, I know, it’s serious. Green Arrow & Black Canary #4 is on sale this week, and marks a turning point for the Arrow family. Connor’s been shot thru the heart, but who’s to blame? Who gives love a bad name? It looks grim, but the story ain’t over yet… This was a difficult issue to draw, partly because Judd’s script was so effective and moving, and partly because it reminded me that I’ve spent too much time around hospitals this past year. The plus side is that it was pretty easy to get reference — check out the Foley bag on Connor! So worth it.

In other sad news, with this issue our colorist extraordinaire, Trish Mulvihill, is moving on to other projects. We’ll miss her terribly, but wish her the best. I’ve seen little peeks of her next big book (with Lee Bermejo!) and it’s a beauty.

Christmastime is here! While you’re all out doing your holiday shopping, I’d like to take a moment to remind you of what’s really important this season: me making money. Perhaps one of your loved ones might appreciate a page of original artwork from yours truly? Or, more likely, is there some holiday money burning a hole in your pocket? Well, there’s a big sale on my older artwork over at Splash Page Art! Up to 30% off! Scroll down to their news section for more deets. For every dollar you spend, an angel gets its wings and I’m that much closer to a new spoiler for my 2nd Ferrari. Happy holidays!

There is thunder in our hearts! Green Arrow & Black Canary #3 is on sale today! Check out the variant cover, and click on the image for a peek at the pencils and inks. As a bonus, here’s the original sketch. I was going for that Indiana Jones feel, with Green Arrow in his classic costume holding onto his hat. Unfortunately, no one seems to like that damn hat. At the end of the issue, I did get a chance to tweak Ollie’s costume a bit. I’ve tried to combine the classic Neal Adams costume with a slightly more modern flair. While not drastic, I think the new look should pair up well with Black Canary’s — it’s more about how you handle the fabric and the little details. Designers, make it work! ~spins and exits room~

UPDATE: The regular cover (seen here) was named “Cover of the Week” by the fine folks at WizardUniverse.com. Thanks, guys!

Green Arrow & Black Canary #2 is now on sale! Here’s the 1-in-10 variant cover. I wanted Black Canary coming to the rescue here — a reverse damsel in distress — and I put Ollie in the classic Neal Adams costume because it matches the high adventure tone of it all. I know people hate the Robin Hood hat, but for me it’s part of his charm. (More about the hat next month…) Click on the image for pencils and inks!