Maximoose

I am part of the way though writing the third of four issues for Tails to Amaze, volume one.

If I can help Derrick find some time, perhaps he will be awesome and post a preview pic of Maximoose! By far, the largest of the Tails characters, with an appetite that is truly amazing.

You will also get to meet his Harold.

I'm goin to see if we can break down some of the panels from #2, and point out some of the fun stuff Derrick put in the back.

Keep it on the Downlow!

I thought I would tell you a little about our resident Chihuahua (I have no clue if I spelled that right).

Another pet who kind of got the short end of the stick on powers, but makes up for it with a liberal amount of Latino heat is Downlow.

Besides perfectly coiffed hair and being bilingual, he's a maximorph. He changes size, just like his master. The thing is, it's all proportional, so he can only get the size of a very large dog.

Don't mention it to him, though, please. He has a very short fuse about it.

Tails to Amaze #2 UPDATE!

Behold, PROOF that a second issue of "TAILS TO AMAZE" is being worked on e'en as we speak! After many months of delays, the book is getting back on track thanks to the addition of Carlos Mangual who is assisting me as the new colorist on the pages and the second issue is set to be finished by the end of October.

Derrick

Something about the phrase Rocket Fish!

It' no secret that I love the character Torpdeo, our resident rocket powered denizen of the sea.

Here's a little about him.

In DC comics, there are few characters as ridiculed as Aquaman. He swims, and talks to fish. That isn't a devastating power set when compared to the likes of Superman, Flash, or Wonder Woman.

Of course, many people just see that, and haven't read any of the work people like Grant Morrison and Peter David did on the character in the late nineties and the early part of this decade. He talks to fish through telepathy, which he has honed to be able to issue commands, as well as chat. He is super strong, and his body can withstand the ocean's crushing depths. He swims faster than dolphins. He did, for a while, have a hook for a hand.

Now, as many people know, Tails is a love letter of sorts, to comics in general, but to the quirks of super hero comics in specific. Although our characters definitely have their own personalities and foibles, they are meant, at times, to remind you of other characters. Archetypes, if you will. Each pet is a miniature version of their hero, who may or may not share common traits with an established character in another comic. The traits aren't the point, though. It's how they act, and how they differ where the real fun begins.

Torpedo was a normal fish, content to follow his heroic master through the winding currents of his undersea domain. His hero had the mighty power to breath under water, swim incredibly fast, and talk to fish.

So, when he disappeared, and his power was transferred to Torpedo, his pet gained the power to breath under water, swim incredibly fast, and talk to....that's right...fish! If you're following all of this, then you must have figured out by now that Torpedo got screwed on the power transfer side of things.

So, what would any self respecting fish with a serious lack of newfound powers do? You guessed it, he called Dark Nut and Canned Ham, and they created a rocket powered, water/oxygen circulation and filtration rig, and sent him into the wild blue yonder. It even comes complete with a ramming speed nose cone face mask.

By the way, for those of you who dig the gems of useless trivia or behind the scenes commentary, you'll notice that his mask is a merging of the Rocketeer's helmet and Ultraman's mask.

His primary villain is an atomic powered mech suit wearing goldfish we call GOLD FISSION. You'll be seeing him soon. When you see him, try to think of Wallace Shawn's voice. (from Princess Bride) Inconceivable!

Crisis of Infinite Nuts!

One of the main heroes in the pages of “TAILS TO AMAZE©” is the heroic DARK NUT©! Of course, it’s not exactly a spoiler to mention that DN here draws his inspiration from a certain pointy-eared vigilante you MAY have heard of.

As such, the above parodies just seemed natural, to adapt our squirrely hero in the style of various iterations of his inspiration. So you can see above OUR takes on “The Dark Nut Returns”, “Movie-Style, Rubber Suited Dark Nut”, “Nutquest Dark Nut”, and “Adam West-ish Dark Nut”

Derrick-

Four New Villainous Pets

Here are the names, with a few sketches to follow in a couple of days.

Kimono Dragon
Orangutango
Pug Ugly
The Killer Kowallabees

Where have all the super heroes gone?

That is the question that sets off our story in Tails to Amaze.

When the world's heroes have gone missing, and their regular sidekicks are conveniently off on another mission, who will save the Earth? That's right, their sidekick pets.

One day, the heroes go missing, and shortly thereafter, their pets receive their super powers.

I had the concept rattling around in my head for a few years in one form or another, but no direction or drive to see it come to life. I personally can't draw to save myself, so there was absolutely no hope of that happening.

Along comes my old friend, Derrick Fish, of Dandy and Company fame. (www.dandyandcompany.com)

I pitch the rough ideas to him, he loves them, drawing commences, and he officially becomes the co-creator, because it wouldn't be anywhere near what it is without not only his talent, but his toil.

This blog will serve primarily as a place for Derrick to post new sketches, especially of the background or supporting cast whose stories will be fleshed out in one of the two one shots we have planned, or in short stories here on the blog.