Scuba Diving the Black Lagoon [TrUzApalOOza cardstock wraparound variant cover B-RI]

Continuing the Creature from Black Lagoon series, here I present the Cover B-Retailer Incentive version...

[Workflow: Another large series of image prompts (75+) fed, and re-fed back through NightCafe, Tengr, and Co-Pilot via hand edits to give me various pieces to start with. Pulled them all together and made the composition within Affinity Photo. My first painting layout did not match the wraparound aspect ratio {13.25" x 10.25" | 3310px x 2560}, so I condensed the frightened scuba diver closer to the monster and another minor shuffling of objects for a version 2 look.]

Image list:

1. final TrUzApalOOza cardstock variant wraparound exclusive Pulp Fiction Comics cover
2. raw version 2 of the painting (reduced resolution), without final book layouts/logos
3. raw version 1 of the painting (reduced resolution), the art size did not fit my comic book format
4. and a glance at my Affinity Photo layering panels with Fx filters
5. my source fish

TrUzApalOOza cardstock wraparound variant cover B-RI

raw virgin cover art for Cover B-RI

version 1 art that I had to redo to make it fit comic book layout

my big fish

Beyond the Black Lagoon [TrUzApalOOza cardstock wraparound variant cover]

[my rough proposal for an annual comic book from Image Comics/Skybound]

Two decades after the original film, set in the backdrop of 1974, backwoods anthropologist Bill McGee, with a spirit reminiscent of the counterculture movement of the era, embarks on his psychedelic and marijuana-fueled expedition through the Amazon rainforest. Drawing inspiration from the environmental consciousness of the 1970s, Bill's journey is a quest for discovery and a reflection of the growing awareness of ecological issues.

As Bill encounters the enigmatic "Creature from the Black Lagoon," the cultural landscape echoes reverberate through their interactions. Themes of environmental conservation, interspecies communication, Indigenous rights movements, land conflicts, and the search for harmony with nature resonate strongly in their evolving friendship. The turbulent socio-political climate of the era, marked by military dictatorships and infrastructure development, adds a layer of complexity to their bond, mirroring the era's struggles for understanding and acceptance.

Through their shared experiences and encounters with the mysteries of the rainforest, Bill and the creature navigate the complexities of their relationship, drawing parallels to the era's exploration of identity, Indigenous rights movements, and interconnectedness. As they confront numerous challenges, including conflicts over land ownership and resource extraction, they embody the spirit of resilience and empathy that defined the 1970s, forging a bond that transcends time, species, and societal norms. Join Bill McGee and the Creature from the Black Lagoon on a transformative odyssey of friendship, understanding, and the enduring quest for harmony in a world in flux.

I propose that the comic book annual for October 2024 be written by the returning Universal Monsters: Creature from the Black Lagoon Lives! creative team of writer Ram V, interior art by Matthew Roberts, and featuring exclusive painted covers by TrUz ApalOOza.

[Workflow: A large series of image prompts fed, and re-fed back through NightCafe, Tengr, and Co-Pilot via hand edits to give me various pieces to start with. I then composed and merged it within Affinity Photo. Lots of layers, overlays for shadows and lighting, texture layers for bubbles, plant life, and water ripples, with a large dash of masking, wrapping it up with final comic book banners, logos, and credits.]

Image list:

1. final TrUzApalOOza cardstock variant wraparound exclusive Pulp Fiction Comics cover
2. raw version of the painting (reduced resolution), without final book layouts/logos
3. front cover view
4. back cover view
5. The series logo which I worked within both Affinity Photo and Designer
6. background base water image
7. and a glance at my Affinity Photo layering panels with Fx filters

Jakarta Daemon, Part 2: "The Cursed Streets of Old Batavia" [TrUzApalOOza cardstock variant cover]

Continuing my previous post for the Jakarta Daemon storyline...

[my rough proposal for part 2 of a new John Constantine storyline for DC Comics]

As John Constantine ventured into the historic streets of Old Batavia, the crumbling colonial architecture seemed to loom over him like sentinels, casting long shadows that seemed to writhe and twist in the flickering streetlights. The air was thick with the scent of incense and decay, and the distant sounds of chanting and drums echoed through the alleys, drawing him deeper into the heart of the city. But as he turned a corner, he was suddenly ambushed by a group of shadowy demons with red eyes, their faces twisted into grotesque grins as they emerged from the darkness. John's instincts screamed at him to defend himself, but he hesitated, his mind racing with the implications of what he was seeing. These were no ordinary demons - they were the servants of the daemon Kuntilanak, and they had been sent to stop John from uncovering the truth.

John's local contacts, a group of street-smart kids who had been tracking the daemon's movements, appeared out of nowhere, their eyes gleaming with a mixture of fear and determination. "John, we've been waiting for you," one of them whispered, as they quickly ushered him into the safety of a nearby doorway. But as John looked around at the kids, he couldn't shake the feeling that they were hiding something from him. Despite his reservations, he decided to trust them, and together they set out to uncover the web of ancient secrets and forbidden knowledge hidden within the city's oldest temples and catacombs.

Image list:

1. final TrUzApalOOza cardstock variant cover of Jakarta Daemon part 2
2. raw version of the painting (reduced resolution), my original version is too wide for the standard comic book layout so I had to crop some of the shadowy demons.
3. an earlier work-in-progress (WIP) image as i was trying to decide on the layout
4. and a glance at my Affinity Photo layering panels with Fx filters

Jakarta Daemon, Part 5: "The Daemon's Reckoning" [TrUzApalOOza cardstock variant cover]

Continuing my previous post for the Jakarta Daemon storyline, and yes I am presenting my story ideas and cover art out-of-order.

[my rough proposal for part 5 of a new John Constantine storyline for DC Comics]

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Jakarta was consumed by darkness. The city's streets were ablaze, the sounds of screams and gunfire filling the air. The daemon's eyes glowed with an otherworldly energy, drawing the very life force out of the air. Its body began to stretch and contort, growing into a towering monstrosity with claws as long as city buses. The stench of brimstone and smoke filled the air, and John could feel the heat emanating from the daemon's fiery breath. John Constantine stood atop a rooftop, his eyes fixed on the chaos below. His attention was focused on the true enemy: the daemon Kuntilanak, growing in power and size as it crushed smaller buildings and continued to feed on its human sacrifices.

The city would be reduced to piles of smoldering rubble by morning if John acted slowly. With a fierce determination, he cast a protection spell to buy himself time to initiate his hidden weapon. John reached into his trenchcoat pocket and retrieved the powerful Indonesian orb of Dewi Sri Adilorb. He began to chant the magician's incantation to empower the artifact, but he knew he had to act fast before the monstrous daemon reached him on the city's south side.

[Workflow: I sketched out a rough layout of a demon smashing a city and fed that through Tengri with my prompt. I took the best three images and then pieced elements together for the main scene. I used another series of prompts to generate a man in a trenchcoat in NightCafe, then pulled these elements in to be composited. I filled gaps to flesh out the comic book cover layout, merged the variant cover logo overlay, added the storyline logo with text and a sigil badge, and included creator credits, a barcode, and the DC Black Label badge. I added smoke, fire, flames, and a protection portal. I built a basic orb from Affinity's vector shapes, then layered in the magic glow and casting effects. Created a hell brand and applied to the daemon's arm. I found an Indonesian flag to pull into perspective warp into the image. Finally, lots of masking on just about every layer, and also layered in a few more texture tricks to produce the final product within Affinity Photo.]

Image list:

1. final TrUzApalOOza cardstock variant cover of Jakarta Daemon part 5
2. raw version of the painting (reduced resolution).  I flipped the image for the final cover so that my Hellblazer logo, and series badge would be where I wanted them.
3. and a glance at my Affinity Photo layering panels with Fx filters

Jakarta Daemon, Part One (Intrigues in Jakarta with John Constantine) [TrUzApalOOza cardstock variant cover]

[my rough proposal for a new John Constantine storyline for DC Comics]

In the neon-drenched underbelly of Jakarta's downtown Tanah Babah shopping district, John Constantine stood shrouded in darkness, the only illumination coming from the eerie glow of vending machines that seemed to pulse with intermittent energy. The rain-soaked streets reflected the dim light of the city, casting a melancholy mood over the bustling metropolis. As he puffed on his cigarette, the faint yellow glow of the burning tobacco cast an eerie light on his weathered face, etched with the lines of numerous battles and countless moral compromises. This is the beginning of the five-part storyline titled Jakarta Daemon, an eerie narrative of terror and the paranormal where John Constantine delves into the dark heart of the city to hunt down the Indonesian daemon known as Kuntilanak that has been mutilating and murdering young women in gruesome and inexplicable ways for the past four months. I am proposing this would be written by Simon Spurrier, interior art by Bilquis Evely, and exclusive painted covers by TrUz ApalOOza.

• Part 2: "The Cursed Streets of Old Batavia" John Constantine's investigation into the daemon Kuntilanak leads him to the historic streets of Old Batavia, where he meets with his local contacts, a group of street-smart kids who've been tracking the daemon's movements. But as John digs deeper, he begins to suspect that his contacts may be hiding something. Despite his reservations, John decides to trust them, and together they uncover a web of ancient secrets and forbidden knowledge hidden within the city's oldest temples.
• Part 3: "The Whispering Walls of the Sultan's Palace" As John's investigation takes him to the Sultan's Palace, he discovers that his local contacts have been playing him all along. They've been using him to get closer to Kuntilanak the daemon, and now they're demanding a share of the profits. John is torn between his loyalty to his new friends and his duty to stop the evil terrorizing their city. He decides to betray his contacts, using them to get closer to the daemon, but at what cost? The whispers of the palace walls begin to echo with the weight of John's betrayal.
• Part 4: "The Blood of the Ancients" John's betrayal of his contacts has consequences, and the streets of Jakarta begin to run red with blood. The daemon's power grows stronger, and John realizes that he's made a terrible mistake. He must now navigate the treacherous underworld of Jakarta's criminal networks to find a way to stop the daemon and make amends for his betrayal. But the city's ancient secrets are not so easily uncovered, and John finds himself trapped in a web of man-made deceit and demonic corruption.
• Part 5: "The Daemon's Reckoning" In the climactic final act, John must face both Kuntilanak, and the true gangster masterminds behind the horrors plaguing Jakarta. But his betrayal of his local contacts has left him isolated and alone. With the city on the brink of chaos, John must use all his wits and cunning to stop the daemon and end the city's cycle of violence. But at what cost? The daemon's reckoning is at hand, and John must confront the consequences of his previous actions. Will he be able to redeem himself, or will the city burn around him?

[Workflow: My final image was inspired by a sketch I found on Reddit which started my creation within Tengri, then elements were added to fill in the gaps to fill out the comic book cover layout, variant cover logo overlay merged, storyline logo with text and sigil badge, creator credits, barcode, DC Black Label badge, the addition of rain, smoke, cigarette features, and camera refocusing were all completed within Affinity Photo.]

Wonder Woman Glamour Pose

Wonder Woman [angry] Glamour Pose

Robbery Just Got a Whole Lot More Painful (The Punisher)

The neon lights of the Hell's Kitchen bodega cast an eerie glow over the dark streets of Manhattan. The smell of fresh bread and spices wafted through the air, mingling with the distant hum of the city's never-ending din. It was a typical Tuesday evening in the neighborhood, with the sounds of laughter and chatter filling the streets. But amidst the bustle, a sense of unease hung in the air.

Frank Castle, also known as the Punisher, strolled through the crowded aisles, his sharp eyes scanning the shelves for the perfect jar of pasta sauce. Despite his frequent visits to this bodega, each trip held a sense of familiarity and comfort for him. The owner, Maria, greeted him with a warm smile as he passed by, a brief respite in the chaos of the city.

As Frank reached for a jar of sauce, the tranquility of the moment shattered as a group of young thugs barged into the store, their aggressive demeanor sending a wave of fear through the patrons. 'Everybody get down!' one of them barked, brandishing a gun erratically. The customers huddled in fear, but Frank's steely gaze remained unwavering as he swiftly drew his own weapon, ready to confront the threat head-on. In that tense moment, the Punisher prepared to bring justice to the chaos unfolding before him.

Batsuit Model No.68 (exoskeleton)

Batsuit Model No.68 (exoskeleton) diagrams taken from 1979 archives.

Caped Crusader Stamp Collection

I designed a limited edition set of Japanese postage stamps, with a select few labeled as "MOST WANTED," hoping that my online translator accurately conveyed the message.

[Workflow: Some base images started with Tengr, then brought into Affinity to trim things out, add some splash items with wear-and-tear, used Filter Forge to create my stamp outlines, and then back to Affinity for final presentation with fonts, pricing, etc.]

Krypton's Healing Touch plus [TrUzApalOOza cardstock variant cover]

Kara Zor-El, also known as Supergirl, sat serenely on the edge of a purifying bath within the Fortress of Solitude's infirmary. In front of her, a radiant med-portal pulsed with ethereal energy, its gentle hum resonating throughout the chamber. This portal, a Kryptonian healing apparatus, emitted a soothing green-hued light that seemed to permeate her very essence with rapid bursts of pulse ions. As the luminous beams embraced her, Kara sensed her injuries gradually healing, her vigor and vitality returning. The Fortress's advanced medical AI, speaking in an androgynous voice, monitored her progress with a comforting cadence, delivering updates in the ancient tongue of Krypton, "Healing protocols initiated. Recovery projected at 97% completion."

[Workflow: Starter image created within Tengr was pulled into Affinity Photo for several layered enhancements, brushwork, particle flows, medical portal creation, and other minor corrections.   Also turned my artwork into a cardstock variant cover edition.]

inspiration image that got me going

Supergirl's (cosplay) Abs-of-Steel

Body perfection in this weekend's modeling session featuring Supergirl Cosplay taken by TrUzEDIT AI Photo Labs.

Poison Ivy, Queen of the Urban Gardens

A couple glamour shots of Gotham City's most famous botanist... As the "Queen of the Urban Gardens," Poison Ivy sees herself as a guardian of the natural world, fighting against the destruction of urban ecosystems. She believes humans have forgotten how to live in harmony with nature and seeks to restore balance to the environment.

Laumda-III: A Bounty Hunter's Paradise

A fleet of eclectic spacecraft, each with its unique design and markings, descended onto the mist-shrouded planet of Laumda-III. The ships, a diverse assortment of vessels from various corners of the galaxy, had been drawn to the planet by a lucrative bounty on the head of a notorious outlaw. As the ships landed, teams of skilled bounty hunters emerged from each craft, their eyes scanning the dense jungle landscape for any sign of their quarry. The air was thick with the sounds of chirping insects and the distant rumble of a waterfall, but the hunters moved with purpose, their mission clear: track down the outlaw and claim the reward. The purple-tinted jungle seemed to swallow them whole, but the hunters were undaunted, driven by the promise of a hefty payday and the thrill of the hunt.