BATMAN '66 COVERS (so far)!

It's crazy to think that in a couple year's time I've done over 40 Batman
(or Batman inspired) covers!  I dreamed big when I was a little kid, but
I don't think I dreamed this big.  Laura and I have been having the best
time with everything we get to do in the "Comic Book Biz"and don't
take anything for granted. I'll update with more cover images when I have
another stack built, but here's what I've drawn, and Laura has colored,
that has been released so far:

BATMAN '66 no.1

So excited to draw the BATMAN '66 covers, I actually drew the era's logo 

on the original art for a couple of the covers.  Couldn't help m'self.

This image immediately came to mind, wanting to incorporate the Adam West

& Burt Ward likenesses into the show's animated opening credit design.

My brother, Lee, and I are creating a story for the series that is built entirely 

around the images from that sequence.

BATMAN '66 no.2 

The Batgirl image was digitally removed and used for a later issue.

BATMAN '66 no.3

BATMAN '66 no.4

Swinging London

BATMAN '66 no.5

Batgirl again!

 BATMAN '66 no.6

 BATMAN '66 no.7

BATMAN '66 no.8

I think this was the second cover I completed (which would explain 

why I again drew the logo directly on the original art).  The story got 

bumped for a later issue.  This art is now getting prepped for a gallery 

show in Portugal.

BATMAN '66 no.9

This was the original "Shame" cover, thus the "S" on the boots.

BATMAN '66 no.10

BATMAN '66 no.11

This is my Batman '66 cover that was released in my month of DC CoversBATMAN '66 no.12

BATMAN '66 no.13 

BATMAN '66 no.14

BATMAN '66 no.15

BATMAN '66 no.16

BATMAN '66 no.17

FRANK EINSTEIN IN 3D!

Here's a preview of the cover to this fall's 3D special!  If you have some 3D specs
laying around, throw 'em on and give this preview a gander!  The actual
book will come with custom Madman specs. The great Christian LeBlanc
is hard at work polishing the 3D conversions.  These are "in-progress" previews
 cuz we luvs yas and trusts ya to appreciate watching the process/progress!
Watch this space for additional previews!

FRANK EINSTEIN! THE ONE! THE ONLY! THE ORIGINAL!

ESTABLISHED 1990!

My creation Frank Einstein has been with me for most of my life.  I remember as a kid thinking how clever I was putting those two names together ( I don't know if anyone is ever as clever as they think they are).  But it wasn't until 1990, when my career as a writer/artist officially began, that my humble creation became a published reality.  My pal Bernie Mireault and I got with Jeffrey Lang to create an anthology called CREATURES OF THE ID which contained three stories all pencilled by me, all inked by Bernie, and the first two stories written by Jeff. The third story was written by me, FRANK EINSTEIN in FOR THE RECORD.  This was lettered by my wife, Laura Allred.

Bernie and I collaborated on the wraparound cover.  I drew it up and Bernie painted it.

And so, this became the first official appearance of FRANK EINSTEIN.

But almost simultaneously my first issue of GRAFIK MUZIK was released.  This was my first full color book (THE EVERYMAN colored by Bernie for Marvel's Epic line would soon follow).  It was also my wife Laura's first foray into coloring comics.  This book continued the adventures of Frank Einstein, still two years away adapting his alter ego, The MADMAN of Snap City!

Many people are under the impression that this is Frank Einstein's first appearance. And it may have been at some comic shops. Shipping was a bit spotty back then and they were released just weeks apart.

MADMAN & FRANK EINSTEIN trademarks of Michael Allred (yours truly)!

FRANK EINSTEIN IS MADMAN IN 3D!

Here's a fun little sneaky peek at this fall's MADMAN In Your Face 3D Special!
Now, rest assured that the 80 page giant 3D special will come with custom 3D glasses that will do all the work for you, but this is the cover image converted to a side by side 3D image by the great Christian LeBlanc especially for this art blog that doesn't require 3D glasses.  But there's a bit of a learning curve.  You simply (for some) cross your eyes somewhat creating a third center image that you then focus on.  TA-DAH!  3D!

GRAB BAG!

Here's a variety of stuff I squeezed in over the last year or so:

Funny thing about this Captain America variant cover, I don't even remember

how the idea for it came to me, but I had sent Marvel two files: a "clean file" 

along with a file with all my hand-drawn text and go-go checks (Hey, that rhymes!) 

in case they wanted a slicker look.  But when they made a big nifty poster they

accidentally used the file without the word balloons.  So if you only ever saw the

poster you'd be flummoxed about WHY Cap was punching at his own shield!  Hah!

Makes me laugh.  I just can't hide the fact that I'm a weirdo anyway you look at it.

This AVENGERS A.I. cover was a treat simply because I'm a HUGE 

fan of THE VISION!  And it gave me the chance to play with a pinball 

machine cover idea I'd had rolling around in my head.

And then I was asked to do an update of an Avengers cover with our DOOP!

One of my biggest influences, and mentor, was Alex Toth.  He drew a couple 

short stories and a handful of covers/pin-ups of THE FOX.  Those few pieces

were a gigantic inspiration to me, as well as one the things that inspired my own

MADMAN creation.  So when my pals Dean Haspiel and Mark Waid were

doing a full-on revival of the Toth-designed character in an epic new series

from RED CIRCLE, I lept at the invitation to do a cover.

RED CIRCLE, is an imprint of ARCHIE COMICS.  They soon after

asked me if I'd do a cover for the (DEATH of) LIFE OF ARCHIE. 

WHAH?!  The series was ending with Archie giving his life for a friend.

Initially, I wasn't sure of the appropriate tone, and so I find myself censoring 

here.  I worked up three other ideas that were flat-out grotesque.

I just don't have the guts (or maybe I have some good taste) to show

them here or anywhere.  Let's just say they would have been more 

appropriate for an EC comic (which run rich thru my blood).  But here

is what I ultimately brought to completion.  Still horrific for such an icon. 

DOOP!

The conclusion to Peter Milligan's All-New DOOP story, with excellent interior art by David LaFuente & Federico Santagati will be out very soon.  Here are the covers I was happy to do with the lil' enigmatic mutant I created with Peter:
No.1

No. 2

 No. 3

 No. 4

 No. 5

MY DC VARIANT COVERS!

This was a thrill!  The super cool Mark Chiarello (who masterminded and invited me to the DC SOLO series, & the WEDNESDAY COMICS project) asked me to draw over 20 variant covers of DC Comic's top titles in the spirit of my BATMAN '66 covers.  Here they be!  In their raw virgin typeless state.  Some were altered (see if you can tell what & why) for publication & some not used at all (yet anyhoo).  Hopes ya dig!

ALLRED 2014 APPEARANCES (SO FAR)!

We'll be limiting our travel this year due to all the nifty stuff we're trying to get done.  But here's what we have planned so far.  MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

SEATTLE: EMERALD CITY COMICON  28-20 MARCH

NEW YORK CITY: SPECIAL EDITION: NYC 14-14 JUNE

ATLANTA: DRAGON CON 29-31 AUGUST

And just for fun, and because this blog exists mainly so I can post art,
here's a cover redo I did for FANTASTIC FOUR no.28 :

SABERTOOTH MADMAN!

SABERTOOTH SWORDSMAN by the incredibly talented Damon
Gentry and Aaron Conley is finally out tomorrow!  This book will
BLOW YOU AWAY!  I did this lil' pin-up for my pals (Did an Eerie
story with Damon and It Girl covers with Aaron) from a place of great
respect and affection.  This book gets my highest praise!  Go grab it!

SANDMAN 25th ANNIVERSARY ART EXHIBIT!

http://www.floatingworldcomics.com/main/2013/10/19/the-sandman-25th-anniversary-art-exhibit-a-benefit-for-doernbecher-childrens-hospital/

Here is the piece I did for the SANDMAN 25th ANNIVERSAY ART EXHIBIT 

starting November 7th at FLOATING WORLD in downtown Portland, Oregon.  

This original artwork, and others could be yours with 100% of the proceeds going to 

Doernbecher Children's Hospital.  An exciting event and worthy cause at a great venue!

Please visit the link above to learn more.

FF NO.16 COVER ART!

Here's the last (and my personal favorite) cover to FF.  So bittersweet to
see this come to an end.  I had so much fun working with my great
friend Matt Fraction, finally doing something long-term together
(though not long enough).  And I'm fighting back tears of joy fulfilling
the childhood dreams of working on a Marvel title with my big brother
Lee.  Huge hugs for pal Joe Quinones and his amazing issues as well!
And the great Tom Brevoort, and right-hand man, the awesome Jacob
Thomas for herding us cats! I'm currently wrapping up the art on no.15
and eager to jump on to the GRAND FINALE Lee has scripted with
his genius brain that still amazes me to this day (Mark Waid is the only
other person I've ever met that seems to have "The Complete 
Encyclopedia of Comic Books"stored in their skull).  When concluded,
if you don't agree that Matt and Lee have crafted a timeless masterpiece
(that I'm doing all I can to illustrate worthily) then yer KWAY-ZEE!!!

Hey!  Who is that Silver dude in the upper right hand corner?!

THE GEAR & THE DANDY WARHOLS!

On October 27th THE GEAR (my band where everyone has the
same last name.  No, not The Ramones) will be part of an acoustic
set of DANDY WARHOL covers at the famous Hollywood
Theater in Portland, Oregon. All this in celebration of our pal's THE 
DANDY WARHOLS 13 SONGS IN 13 PLACES video Premiere!

Other performers include members from 1776, HIGHWAY, THE 

UPSIDE DOWN, BUZZYSHYFACE, THE SHIVAS, THE GENIUS

POSITION, DAVE'S KILLER BREAD, & a contest winner who 

will get to perform a DANDY WARHOLS tune!  A rare Q & A with 

the band!  Gonna be a blast!  Come to Portland where bliss is guaranteed!  

SILVER SURFER!

The hardest thing about working on something you love so much is 

having to keep it a secret.  But it's not just an incredible relief when a 

project is finally announced, it's a powerful thrill!   So, today the 

SILVER SURFER series I'm doing with the equally jazzed Dan Slott 

was officially announced today at NYCC with great enthusiasm and 

the response has been wonderful.  This project means too much to me 

to even attempt explaining here without writing an entire chapter to my

life story (which would be of questionable interest).  Suffice to say 

I'M OVER THE MOON!  This is gonna be OUT OF THIS WORLD!