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NicolasRGiacondino β The shade in The Shadow
Published: 2008-09-24 13:32:34 +0000 UTC; Views: 15644; Favourites: 591; Downloads: 0
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Well...I think this one is probably going to make some people happy (or at least I hope so!), as much as it made me whilst creating it. Since I began illustrating The Shadow, I've been slowly adding more and more stuff to these pieces and I've become comfortable enough with the character so as to even have other characters around him (The Rocketeer being the first one: [link] ). So, now I've taken things a step further and added a legend some of my watchers mentioned as another one that HAD to be brought into my depictions of The Shadow's adventures... The Phantom.
I was always very fond of Lee Falk's creation, mainly because it was a very good mix of the old pulp style and the superhero genre that was to come; The Phantom was actually one of the first (if not THE first) to have the -now classic- eyes of his mask without pupils (amongst other things).
This depiction also marks my first full-coloured work involving these characters, because I just had to take advantage of the jungle environment and The Phantom's costume.
So, continuing from the last image I brought you all in this wild crossover set in WWII, I present you this one, which I hope (as I said above) you'll enjoy as you did the previous.
Let me know what you think!
Nic.-
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Comments: 244
Oh Jeez, three of my favourite heroes in one picture! *dead*
~K@
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*slaps her face*
Wake up, woman! The best is yet to come!
Thank you for the compliments...
Nic.-
PS.. I swung by your Gallery (and will do so with more time) and I loved both your Webcam and Desktop screenshots!
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This really inspired me to look back over your previous Shadow illustrations and reminded me of how well you've captured all the aspects of the period and the heroes we remember.
But there's definitely something awkward about this one. My impression of the story is that the Phantom is stalking the Shadow and the Rocketeer. But he could equally be already on their team and just scouting off to the side. I think the dialogue between the characters is a little unclear.
The way the Shadow's wielding his pistols seems a tad unnatural for someone pushing through dense undergrowth. It's hard to put my finger on it precisely, but I wonder if it'd have been better with just the one pistol?
The presence of the Rocketeer is a nice nod back to the previous illustration, but he does look a bit superfluous - part of the problem, of course, is that he's on the ground and he looks best up in the sky where he belongs. But I also think his casual pose is a bit "walk in the park".
If you were to think of recomposing this trio, I'd suggest adding a fourth component in the form of enemy soldiers or jungle warriors. Put the Shadow and the Rocketeer into dialogue (i.e. furious combat) with the bad guys and leave the Phantom in his "watching" position. This give more excuses to really lay on the unique qualities of the fighting characters and would make the Phantom's neutral or even antagonistic position clearer.
Incidentally, is Utopia for sale yet? I'm dying to get it.
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Well, thre's certainly a lot to address in your critique, Robey and I'll try to clear a couple of things you've brought up...
The idea was, indeed, to have The Phantom stalking The Shadow and Rocketeer and though you have a valid point as to the second interpretation (that he's already teamed-up with them), I think at first glance you don't get that impression.
The way The Shadow's moving through the savannah may be a bit odd, but I've walked in such grounds, and the growth -though thick- doesn't have to be impairing completely; and for someone like The Shadow, tough as nails, I decided to go for that sensation that the pushing doesn't seem to affect him as much as it would any other regular person.
The pose of The Rocketeer was intended to look rather careless, because the character's tenure was somewhat like that; I actually referred to his attitude whilst speaking to a friend as that of "The Flash, pitched between Batman and Superman". And the fact that he's on the ground does have an explanation (at least in my own story 
I think that if I was to illustrate another scene with these three (which is my intention!) I'd certainly add a lot more action to it, and have them expressing themselves as you so keenly put it through their body language. But, this one was meant to be a moody scene, taking advantage of the whole ominous presence of "The Ghost that Walks".
UTOPIA is yet to be released, and I'm really honoured that you're expecting it with such eagerness; I promise I'll try and do my best to have my Editor solve the last bumps and get it out there already!
Thank you again for stopping by and leaving such an insightful review.
Nic.-
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Usually, your stuff leaves me speechless with admiration. Say, is that Crimson Fists project you're doing an official one for Boom! Studios or just a fan-project?
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Oh, I wish I was working for BOOM! Studios, but there are better people than me already there; this is going to be a fan effort indeed and I hope to have it ready by the end of the year or the beginning of the next. Looking at my pages now, I see that I've greatly improved since my days of 'Rusted'.
Thanks again, mate!
Nic.-
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Yeah...seeing this makes me VERY happy!
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Then you can count me a happy man indeed! Thank you Ben!
Nic.-
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Love your take on these great characters man, makes me want to sit down and draw them myself!
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That'd be great to see, mate! If I can get you to be inspired enough to take a stab at them, you can call me a happy man
Thank you for the compliemnts as usual, and I hope you're closer to home (if not home already!)...
Nic.-
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I will be home this afternoon! Can't wait.
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Oh fantastic! I love the poses, your rendering of the rocks, the broken pillar, ALL your lighting. Totally dig the Shadow's expression too. Haha even in a brightly lit, thoroughly organic environment that guy can look like he slid quietly out of an alley looking for trouble...
Brilliant clean work on some old skool heroes.
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Thank you so much, J.L! I have actually touched-up the lighting a bit, to make the forest somewhat darker and uploaded the new version without sending a notice to my watchers, because I don't want to bother them with tweaks I believe to be just for those of us 'in the know', somehow (a euphemism for the 'neurotic artist disorder'
And yes, The Shadow looks like he can kick your arse in ANY environment! Hahaha...
Nic.-
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Thank you very much!
Nic.-
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Verdaderamente... legendarios, me animarΓa a decir...
Nico.-
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Amigo essa era uma Graphic Novel que gostaria de ler! O Sombra, Rocketeer e o Fantasma!!! IncrΓvel como sempre... mas onde estΓ‘ o calção listrado do Fantasma?!
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Β‘Gracias, hermano! Los calzoncillos rayados de El Fantasma casi se pueden ver por debajo de la pistolera
Espero algΓΊn dia poder trabajar en una novela con estos personajes...
Nic.-
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D
Todos que fizeram piadas ficaram com a marca do anel.
TambΓ©m espero que vocΓͺ trabelhe em uma novela deles!
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The Phantom definitely steals the show in this peice well done....the story that is inherent in this image is so profound I find myself wanting to click on the next image to see how it is played out.
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It is a true honour to get such a compliment form an obvious fan of these characters! I'm truly happy that I managed to start up your imagination trying to think what is the story behind this crossover. I have a vague idea myself, and if I manage to do some more illustrations of it, I may flesh it out slowly...
Thanks again!
Nic.-
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wow thdi breings back mennorys. i loved that show as a kid. and you do the phantom with great justice. lookinig forward to what character you come up with nexted.
--
"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;For he to-day that sheds his blood with me shall before ever my brother"
Henry V, William Shakespeare
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Thank you very much, mate! I'm really happy that you think I did the character jsustice; usually, such legends you have to do justice or fail completely. So, it's good to know I'm on the good side of that equation...
I have some ideas for the next one, but I still have to mull it over a bit 
Nic.-
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cool. keep it comeing and i cant wait.
--
"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;For he to-day that sheds his blood with me shall before ever my brother"
Henry V, William Shakespeare
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This is so awesome! The Shadow, Rocketeer and the Phantom all together! Great work!
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Thank you very much, mate! I'm happy that you approve!
Nic.-
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this is really awesome... great to see these classic characters all together in one pic.
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I'm happy that you approve, as usual, Alan! I hope to get some free time to work on yet another one of this series soon...
Nic.-
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made me happy forsure even if I'm not huge on the phantom the other guys are childhood heros.
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Thank you for the knd words, mate! Even if you're not sold on The Phantom, it's great to know I've drawn a scene that you like nonetheless.
Nic.-
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HOT DAMN! Now that is the book I want to read!
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Thank you, Thomas! I'd surely like to work on it
Nic.-
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Wow!! El Fantasma que camina! 
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Β‘Gracias, mi amigo! De hecho, yo tambiΓ©n me he sorprendido de la cantidad de gente que se acuerda todavΓa de El Fantasma. Parece que, por suerte, las leyendas no se olvidan fΓ‘cilmente...
Nico.-
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I see you removed the thought of the drmatic light falling on the Phantom.
Not sure if it would have ben better or not, but this looks great!
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I actually got chicken-scared of f**king it up and went for the lighting I know how to handle. However (and I'm sure YOU of all people will notice) I've replaced the file I had originally posted, with a newer version which is slightly touched-up, light wise: I darkened the forest to bring the figures up, and separate the Phantom's close-up from the rest of the setting, which I think got a bit lost due to the small contrast there was between the values... I hope it looks better now!
Thank you, as usual!
Nic.-
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I think it looked perfectly beautiful to start off with, and I can honestly not say it looks more or less beautiful now.
I understand the sensation of not daring to crap out an image by going over it with a new technique, though I think you should try it out, for yourself, to learn it. I think tha might also get you something new to play with
This is still
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Haha, of course it does...three icons of the "Pulp" era in one pic...brilliant.
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Thank you, Markus!
Nic.-
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this is a awesome menage a trois!
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Heh, heh... interesting word to describe this one; I think the real 'menΓ‘ge' will come when I get to do the next one I have in mind...
Nic.-
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It will be ansiuxly espected
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I've been waiting to see your approach to drawing grass and trees. Complex vegetation is one of my least favorite things to render, but you pull it off very well here.
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Thank you, as usual, my good friend! Grass and foliage is indeed a pain to draw, but mostly for artists that want to have a good grip on their line, such as myself. The trick is to let the colouring do the work for you, instintively; as opposed to machinery, or buildings, nature has a much more chaotic, organic way to it, that you have to emulate with your hand if you wish to get it right.
Nic.-
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