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KeithEKimball — Cover of Apex Rush Issue 2
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Published: 2012-04-05 02:59:15 +0000 UTC; Views: 6070; Favourites: 63; Downloads: 0
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Description
Yours truly has been very fortunate to partner with a bevy of talented people to produce an online-only comic book. "Graphic Novel" for you purists, I suppose.Issue #1 is set for release on May 28th, 2012. You can purchase a copy here:[link]
Want to commisson a story from me yourself? Here's my rates. Want to hire me, editors? My contact info is in there too.
Meet Captain Judy Longbow, starfighter pilot extraordinare. She's fresh back from the end of the war and ready for a change in her life. She gets a big one when she volunteers to test her friend's body-altering formula and it goes haywire. Not too bad of a thing as Judy is a reasonable adult; more embarassing than anything else.
Until an old foe from the war shoots up her with a mixture of drugs that turn this soldier into 300 feet of rampaging, city-smashing terror.
You can also find my publisher here on DA. A special shout-out to Geo McCumiskey as Editor at GTSFan.
And here is a list of the other aforementioned talented people that are bringing you "Apex Rush."
Myself, Keith E. Kimball, as Writer/Creator.
Andrea Errico as Penciller/Inker.
Ylenia Di Napoli as Colorist.
Cover of Issue #1
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Comments: 40
Serious talent. Very Druuna like and well rendered. I'm so picky about any "comic" art, I swear. You are a master at perspective, mood and lighting. 3 of the most important things in any illustration in my humble opinion. Well done.
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Well, although I'll take your compliments about the perspective, mood, and lighting that I wrote into designing the cover, I must admit that it was Andrea who actually drew and inked it and Ylenia who actually colored it. (Links to their DA galleries are in the description.) They're good people and easy to work with in addition to being talented.
Although this does remind me of the little thought I mentioned about main characters being too Everyman on your own excellent DA page. The leading lady here, Capt. Judy Longbow, accidentally transforms herself into a giantess testing a formula to make her breasts bigger. Just her breasts. Yes, it's a petty and shallow reason for her to do so at best and the screw-up that enlarges all of her makes it worse. But part of the story is her genuine regret for that mistake and her redemption of herself over it; highly action-movie cover aside. I hope that making Judy and the rest of the characters have full-fledged personalities, even if that includes traits that readers might not like or identify with as first, makes Apex Rush rise a little above just an excuse for a giant bikini babe running around.
Actually I insisted she still keep some clothing for some scrap of dignity as well.
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Keith, sorry for the late response. Every time I get on dA lately, either I'm too tired or don't have enough time.
Credit where credit is due. You all have made a good team; it shows, sincerely. The premise is comical, I have to admit, but it's such an homage to Yvette Vickers and "Attack of the 50ft Woman", I just love it. I am a true pinup fan and always will be, but I can appreciate giving the story and the characters some substance. There's no reason why you can't have fun and give it some bite at the same time.
....and as far as keeping a bit of clothing on her......I'm all for mystery and tease over blatant boobs in your face any day!
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I was very lucky that my editor/publisher, Geo McCumiskey, was willing to work with me so much on the finer points of the script. Like allowing Judy here to wear some clothing, when (with no offense meant) most of the GTSFan books are pretty erotic.
Oh, yes, Yvette Vickers was the mistress in that movie. Allison Hayes was the actual 50ft. Woman...but both were extremely attractive. In fact I just say Hayes guest-starring on a Perry Mason rerun earlier today. Fifty feet or five-foot-eight (I think), she was always just gorgeous. So yeah, I insisted that Judy bear some resemblance.
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When a classic theme in a current movie or art is approached I always cringe just a little because so many completely bypass any direct or subtle tributes, when in reality it would be completely easy to do so while keeping it modern, erotic or whatever angle you go for. I'm glad you have the passion for the classics while going for a modern twist.
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Until, of course, your wife takes a dose of the GTS formula and wipes the floor/city blocks with Judy. I'm sure she doesn't allow anybody near her man! 
But seriously, thanks for the compliment and for faving it. I hope to hear back from my editor about issue #3 and more GTS goodness soon.
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I should thank you really for taking an interest in me as a beginner! Most of the experienced artists and writers have no interest in a newbies
So cheers bud
Appreciated as always
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You're always welcome. 
And besides, don't we all just put our pants on one leg at a time? I can't stand arrogant people myself and hope never to become one.
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Thanks again, I know what you mean. There is always someone bigger and better, so I just do the best that I can!
I appreciate you taking the time to give tips and appreciate your comments!
Thanks again
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Thanks! Andrea & Ylenia did an awesome job squeezing in all the details I asked for, yet making Judy's expressions clear. (I'm particularly happy with issue #1, where she looks so vulnerable...despite being 300 ft./90m tall!)
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They really do a fantastic job on these! 
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Thanks for the sneak peek of #2. I'm looking forward to seeing how your compatriots bring your ideas to the small screen!
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You're welcome and thank you very much yourself. Eh, I'm lucky to have great coworkers like Andrea & Ylenia to make this stuff with. They're awesome.
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It's great how easily worldwide collaboration can bring great talents together.
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LOL She's a healthy, growing girl for sure! Really growing...hah! Hey, thanks for commenting, friend. It made my day!
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Haha, very nice and good to know!
Your welcome!
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Really good illustration, what did you use to make it? Did you use Photoshop or Manga Studio, or did you do it all by hand?
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First, sorry about the late reply. Second, I checked with the artists and got the info for you though. LOL
Andrea does indeed draw his work by hand on old-fashioned A1 comic book full-size paper, then scans it into the computer on this gigantic scanner that takes A1. Then he converts it to line art and cleans it up, adding background detail if necessary.
Then it goes to our colorist, Ylenia, who does her magic in Photoshop.
You can't argue with their effectiveness no matter how they do it, eh?
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An admittedly goofy sci-fi comic evidently taking place in F-Zero it seems
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Pretty much. The jokes, they run rampant throughout. The Battlestar Galactica cruises by in the background of one panel (much like the F-Zero racers here), GTS Judy Longbow encounters Luke Skywalker, and so forth. Should be fun and sexy; I hope you'll get a chance to pick up a copy.
And I might add that your DA icon of General Grievious is totally awesome. LOL Maybe he should get a cameo in issue #3.
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I hope I will too - don't suppose it has a release date?
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Hah-hah, okay, that's it, General Grievious is definately in #3.
Issue #1 comes out May 28th this year; issue two should be the next month. Although I'm writing issue #3 as we speak, whether that ever actually comes out will be up to readers' response to the first two...so I shall have to shamelessly promote them as much as possible. LOL if you get them and like what you see enough, please mention it to your friends. No pressure though; honestly sometimes the "hard sell" bothers me. Nothing beats the thrill of knowing somebody likes your work just for the sake of liking it, you know what I mean?
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Oh I do
It's one thing to have your friends tell you your work is good and they enjoyed your stuff - it's another thing entirely to have a total stranger tell you they enjoyed your work. That's always massively satisfying!
Let me know when the first issue is officially out - it's rare I see promising looking media from this... er... interest group
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Oh wow! Nice stuff. I bet it's awesome having pro artists drawing one's ideas. What's the story? ...and will I someday see Miss Daisy like this? haha
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Hey, nice to see you again, Carlos!
The story? Starfighter pilot Judy Longbow gets an accidental overdose of her friend's body changing formula. Then her old rival from the war, Zenthia, hops Judy up on some mind-altering drugs...Zenthia's not all there and thinks picking a fight with a 300ft. (90m) woman is a good way to cause destruction across the city. She's right, but it's also a good way to get stepped on...which is why the purple-skinned alien hottie is flying her own starfighter as far from GTS Judy as she can in this cover.
Ooh, Daisy on Mega Mushrooms should be able to make this size easily...hmmm. 
And in all seriousness, it is totally awesome and I'm very lucky to have talented coworkers like Andrea & Ylenia di Napoli to work with on this. LOL They make my ideas look good and deserve plenty of work.
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Yeah, I haven't been around much sadly, but I'll try to be around a bit more.
Sounds like Silver Age comic goodness, which is awesome in my book. I'll try to get into the site to read the issues. I just love reading campy stories, and if I can recommend one, it would be Jimmy Olsen comics.
Yeah, that would be awesome to see. And besides, Miss Daisy always adds the magical touch to a drawing!
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Thanks! Not that you can tell I like puns and background jokes from making the artist put in all that stuff. And our leading lady's Godzilla-like pose.
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This is awesome stuff, Keith
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Thanks, Tom! I'll admit that it's a rather silly series (the basic premise of a giant monster, I mean woman and all) but I certainly had fun making it. Hah, now I need to work in some He-Man and Bionicle jokes if we go to further issues.
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Hehe, don't worry, I've seen things.....
xD But it does sound interesting..
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... Oh, that's a female in the car?
I mainly was referring to the obvious F-Zero GX influence mixed with... enormous growth. Nonetheless, if this is F-Zero we're talking about, I doubt she'd be able to catch even a single racer.
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Hmm...hah, you're right, it's hard to tell that the pilot (Zenthia) is also a female from this distance. Sorry; my bad. I'm so used to just 'knowing' who everybody is from when I write it.
And yeah, I like me some F-Zero! (note the actual racers on the skyway behind Zenthia...) Someday I might actually beat F-Zero GX on anything more than Easy. (Yeah, right!) Actually there's an awful lot of other game and sci-fi puns in Apex Rush too; it's sort of a parody...not to mention the giant (woman) monster parody aspect too...
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