LEE FERGUSON'S BLAHBLAHBLAH...

Big Day For Miranda Mercury!

2012-01-24T22:51:00.000-05:00

Really exciting day here in Sector Nine ... got word that we made TWO best of 2011 Lists this afternoon!

http://www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists/ggnt/2012

http://mirandamercury.com/?p=343

What I've Been Up To...

2012-01-20T16:55:00.000-05:00

San Diego, CA (January 17, 2012) – IDW Publishing, in cooperation with Wizards of the Coast, a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc., is pleased to announce the all-new DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: FORGOTTEN REALMS ongoing comic book series, hitting shelves in April. Legendary writer Ed Greenwood, creator of the Forgotten Realms RPG campaign setting, will be scripting the comic―his first-ever ongoing Dungeons & Dragons comic series―and offering one lucky reader a once-in-a-lifetime chance to have his or her own character appear in the series!

Telling the tale of two all-new adventurers who find themselves caught up in a kidnapping plot they never wanted a part of, this series offers a fresh new jumping-on point for new readers and fans.DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: FORGOTTEN REALMS features art by Lee Ferguson (G.I. JOE: Snake Eyes), inks by renowned comic artist Sal Buscema (The Incredible Hulk), and covers by acclaimedDungeons & Dragons artists Tyler Walpole and Steve Ellis.

“Forty-five years ago, as a young kid sitting alone in a study crammed with books, I started creating theForgotten Realms world,” said Greenwood. “And, well, I’m still at it. The Realms is a vast, colorful, exciting sandbox full of stories waiting to be told.”

Readers will have the opportunity to play in that sandbox, thanks to the Forgotten Realms Character Creation Contest offered by IDW and Wizards of the Coast. Eligible readers will have the opportunity to submit their D&D® character and one lucky winner will see it come to life in the hands of the Forgotten Realms creator. Chosen by Wizards of the Coast, IDW, and Greenwood, the winner will see his or her character appear in a future issue of the series, subject to the contest rules.

Given the opportunity to have your own character appear amid the non-stop action of DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: FORGOTTEN REALMS, Greenwood quipped ,“you know the old saying about being careful what you wish for? Well, it applies to wishing for adventure, too!” For more details, visit the official Dungeons & Dragons website.

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: FORGOTTEN REALMS #1 ($3.99, 32 pages, full color) will be available in stores in April 2012. Diamond order code FEB120140.

...art to follow :)

Up for an award from the ALA...

2011-10-06T18:25:00.000-04:00

This is pretty cool ... the American Library Association has nominated MM vol 1 as one of the great graphic novels for teens (2011) ... we'll find out if it makes the final cut in January!

http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/booklistsawards/greatgraphicnovelsforteens/nominations.cfm

9/11

2011-09-11T19:57:00.000-04:00

And here ... we ... go.

2011-08-10T12:22:00.001-04:00

MIRANDA MERCURY volume one hardcover ... in comic shops TODAY!

Meanwhile, our first review is out there...

http://cwr.comicswaitingroom.com/2011/08/07/archaia-x-2.aspx

It exists. It really exists...

2011-07-15T19:59:00.001-04:00

...and here's something really cool:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfsL9gjfmH8

SDCC and MM...

2011-07-06T13:43:00.000-04:00

http://www.bleedingcool.com/2011/07/06/san-diego-debut-the-many-adventures-of-miranda-mercury-by-brandon-thomas-and-lee-ferguson/

Brandon will be there, signing away!

Miranda Mercury preview...

2011-06-10T08:06:00.000-04:00

From our good friends at CBR:

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=preview&id=8907

Alright, time to go to the comic shop!

2011-05-27T08:40:00.002-04:00

Alright, after five loooooooooong years, MIRANDA MERCURY will finally be available to order through your local comic shop ... next week! Preorders are critical for any creator-owned title, so if you want this book (and you know you do), go to your store with this order code: JUN11 0832

Meanwhile, my partner in crime, Brandon Thomas, has a bunch of interviews and promotions lined up ... definitely check out his Facebook page (as well as all of our various blogs) for more details, and who knows, I might have a few things coming down the pike as well...

http://www.comicshoplocator.com/

Avengers Assemble!

2011-04-05T12:13:00.000-04:00

...commission I just wrapped up this morning ... after all those Avengers cards, it was fun to draw the original gang all together ;)

MIRANDA MERCURY...

2011-03-31T15:39:00.002-04:00

Now available for pre-order via Amazon!

http://www.amazon.com/Many-Adventures-Miranda-Mercury-Time/dp/1936393158/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1301599943&sr=8-1

More Marvel Sketch Cards...

2011-03-29T21:39:00.001-04:00

Here's the next batch of Marvel Sketch cards ... all available on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290550778481&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290550777296&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290550777840&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290550778171&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

Meanwhile, I have a couple blanks left ... if you'd like to order one, just drop me a line with the request!

Miranda Mercury Goodness...

2011-03-25T11:42:00.000-04:00

Here's my partner in crime, Brandon Thomas, chatting with MTV about our upcoming release...

http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc/633922/c2e2-2011-brandon-thomas-talks-the-many-adventures-of-miranda-mercury.jhtml

Miranda Mercury and C2E2

2011-03-18T11:35:00.000-04:00

Here's a peek at the poster Archaia is passing out at C2E2 this weekend...

Marvel Artist Proof Sketch Cards

2011-03-15T18:15:00.001-04:00

Here are some of those Marvel Sketch Cards ... they've been sitting around for awhile, but now I finally have some time to work through 'em.

These four are available via ebay:

HULK - http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290545573283&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

IRON MAN - http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290545575596&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

CAPTAIN AMERICA - http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290545576571&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

THOR - http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290545577354&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

Also taking requests/preorders for the final eight cards I have, so if you have a specific character you'd like, just drop me a line...

Oh, and here's another one of those cards ... but this one was a special request, for my son:

Caitlin Fairchild Commission...

2011-03-09T12:35:00.000-05:00

A commission I recently finished...

Venom...

2011-03-03T20:49:00.000-05:00

So how many licks DOES it take to get to the center of a Spidey-pop, anyway...?
Y'know ... I've never liked Venom. As I've said before ... I am a die-hard Spider-Man fan. Love his rogue's gallery ... all the classics. Doc Ock. Green Goblin. The Lizard. The Vulture. Mysterio. Love 'em.

Venom? Never cared for him at all. BUT ... for some reason, when this image hit me a little while back, it seemed like it would be fun to draw...
If anyone is interested in buying the original, just drop me an email ... PITT markers and Copics on 11x17 bristol.

Chamber...

2011-02-27T19:36:00.000-05:00

One of my first jobs in this business was drawing an X-Men Icons: Chamber miniseries ... and while I was really fortunate to work with some really talented guys on that book, my work ... eesh. Pretty subpar. So ... anyway, whatever all that's worth, I decided to doodle a bit over the weekend, and Jono is the guy I ended up with...

Kind of fun to get back to him after all this time.

Miranda Mercury volume one...

2011-02-18T09:57:00.000-05:00

Aaaannnd cut. Finished off the art for the hardcover last night, which feels pretty ... weird. I've lived with this thing for quite awhile, now, so ... yeah, weird about covers it, ha! But I'm looking forward to seeing this thing FINALLY land in stores. More info will be coming, but just for a heads up: April is when the book will be solicited. You've been warned!

The weekend cometh..!

2011-02-04T13:34:00.000-05:00

Well, the weekend cometh for SOME people, anyway. I'll be wrapping up about five years' worth of work, instead. Looks like the long-in-the-making Miranda Mercury hardcover is going to clock in at 208 pages...

Here's another peek...

Also have a commission I did not too long ago that I can show. It was a gift from someone for a friend, who happens to be a big fan of both the Fantastic Four and the Beatles...

Counting Down...

2011-02-01T18:45:00.000-05:00

Wow ... on the final week of work for Miranda Mercury volume one ... which seems really strange to me...
Maybe that's what happens when you work on a project on and off for five years ;)

Clement Sauve

2011-01-27T12:48:00.000-05:00

I am so sick of watching cancer take lives.

I 'met' Clem years ago, back before either of us had ever started working in the comic biz. We were both part of the old Event Comics board ... regulars, actually. And it was easy to see that he was MASSIVELY talented right out of the gate. He was serious about his craft, and he was obviously going places.

Well, he did. Not only did he do a good share of comic work, but he also worked in animation and game design. And everything I saw was ... stunning.

We bumped into each other at cons over the years and chuckled about how many of us from those old Event Boards had gotten into the industry...

Even had a couple of chances to work with him, once we'd both broken in (which happened about the same time, coincidentally) ... first, having him help me with backgrounds on an indy project I suddenly found myself pressed for time on, and again last summer, when I was working on a (never-to-be-seen) GI Joe comic ... based on his wonderful animation designs. I remember just going over those animation sheets and marveling at 'em ... they were gorgeous.

And now he's gone. 33 Years old. Much too young.

Rest in peace, Clem.

http://clementsauve.deviantart.com/

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=30549

He's Really a Nice Guy...

2010-12-20T17:40:00.000-05:00

Cyrus Vega sez...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Bat-stuff all over the place...

2010-12-08T17:08:00.000-05:00

My inker, Marc Deering sent me this file, so I thought I'd share. All ten pages of our story from the 80-Page Giant...

Also, today is the day that Detective Comics Annual #12 hits shelves ... so here's a peek at a two-page spread from the Question backup story I did for that. Inks by Ryan Winn, color by Jose Villarrubia!

Color!

2010-12-01T10:30:00.000-05:00

Alright, I can't help it ... this blog needs some color!

Inks by Marc Deering, color by Jose Villarrubia ... in stores today!

And here ... we ... go.

2010-12-01T07:49:00.000-05:00

At last! The book you've been waiting for! The one that will change your life! No, really!

Okay, so maybe not. But still, I'm pretty proud of this story. In stores today, as part of DC's new Batman 80-Page Giant, is a story I did with Brad Desnoyer, Marc Deering and Jose Villarrubia, and with a really nifty cover by Dustin Nguyen. Below are Dustin's cover, as well as a few of the pencilled pages ... I may post some of the finished art later on...

Long time ... no posts...

2010-11-08T10:02:00.000-05:00

Alright, it's been a little bit, simply because I've been hard at work on the last 50 or so pages of Miranda Mercury vol. 1 ... here's a detail from the inks I just received from Marc, for the cover to the hardcover:

Also knocked out a little backup story for Detective Comics Annual #12 (featuring The Question), in the last week or so. That's due in stores just seven days after the Batman 80-Page Giant that I worked on hits shelves...

Here's the solicit for that, though I'm not mentioned, since I jumped on at the last minute to help out:

DETECTIVE COMICS ANNUAL #12

Written by DAVID HINE

Art by AGUSTIN PADILLA

Cover by STANLEY “ARTGERM” LAU

What starts as a Batman, Inc. recruitment trip soon turns into an international incident as The Dark Knight encounters a string of bizarre murders in Paris, France. Featuring both Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson as Batman, this extra-sized spectacular guest-stars The Question and spotlights the debut of a new Bat-ally!

In part 1, Bruce, Dick and Renee Montoya are presented with a series of cryptic clues, which lead them to the underground catacombs of Paris — and the most unexpected of assassins! Continued in this month’s BATMAN ANNUAL #28!

On sale DECEMBER 8 • 56 pg, FC, $4.99 US

I also need to mention that for the first time, Miranda Mercury art is available.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170561095687&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT#ht_484wt_1162

This is a piece we donated to a charity auction put together by the Sphinx Group to benefit PROTECT, a group whose purpose is to protect children from abuse.

And finally, here's a JPEG of some REAL art ... it seems that Dennis, the child we sponsor through Worldvision, liked the cow I drew for him, because he sent me back some art of his own:

ROCK!

Miranda Mercury hardcover ... cover.

2010-10-06T18:54:00.000-04:00

Having a lot of fun working on the cover to the upcoming Miranda Mercury collection ... here's a quick sketch for one of the bad guys we'll be seeing a lot of down the road...

Batman 80-page Giant...

2010-09-18T15:24:00.000-04:00

Fresh from Newsarama, here's the solicit for the Joker story I recently finished...

BATMAN 80-PAGE GIANT 2010 #1

Written by BRAD DESNOYER, MATT MANNING, MANDY MACMURRAY, JOHN STANISCI, PAUL TOBIN and PETER MIRIANI

Art by LEE FERGUSON, GARRY BROWN, MATT SOUTHWORTH, RYAN KELLY and SZYMON KUDRANSKI

Cover by DUSTIN NGUYEN

Some of the most promising new talent in comics are corrupted by the most depraved villains in Gotham City in this all-new special featuring The Joker, the Riddler, Calendar Man, Scarecrow, and yes, even Humpty Dumpty! It’s seven short stories, all in one giant issue! The joke’s on you if you think you’ll make it out of this alive!

ONE-SHOT • On sale DECEMBER 1 • 80 pg, FC, $5.99 US

More Miranda Mercury Goodness...

2010-09-17T11:35:00.000-04:00

Miranda Mercury!

2010-09-09T07:50:00.000-04:00

...so the Joker story is a wrap, getting inks and colors by a couple of tremendously talented guys, and I am back to drawing Miranda Mercury. The home stretch for volume one, now ... I hope to have it done in just a couple of months. But I've been told my loyal readers (all four of you) want to see something new, and I am one who likes to please the masses, so...

Here's a couple of final (for now) peeks at the Joker pencils:

...along with a look at everyone's (soon-to-be) favorite sci-fi heroine:

Friday the 13th...

2010-08-13T22:59:00.000-04:00

Alright, Friday the 13th is a good day to finish off a Joker story, right? Lots of fun, and the best thing I've drawn ... really looking forward to seeing it in print.

Next up is the rest of Miranda Mercury volume one, along with the Iron Man 2 sketch cards...

Hee Hee...

2010-07-23T09:11:00.000-04:00

...well, I can't show much of anything that I am currently drawing, and I haven't had any time to do any new sketches or doodles for the blog, so ... here's a tiny peek at my take on the Joker.

Brains..!

2010-07-06T13:43:00.000-04:00

Working on character sketches for the Joker/Two-Face story, layouts for Miranda Mercury #298, and some Marvel Sketch Cards ... but somehow in the midst of all that ended up with a zombie doodle that I liked enough to toss some markers on...

Since I can't post a lot of what I'm currently drawing, I may as well show off the zombie...

Dinos and cows, of course.

2010-06-24T09:49:00.000-04:00

So I am getting ready to dive back into Miranda Mercury, as well as doing some prep work for this Joker story, and took some time to do a couple of sketches...

The first one ... well, I don't recall ever actually drawing a dinosaur, except for maybe in a couple of Batman samples. You know, the T-Rex he keeps in the Batcave? Yeah, I think that may be the only time I've ever drawn one ... at least since third grade, that is.

The second drawing is a quick sketch I did for a five-year-old boy named Dennis, who lives in Kenya. We've had the opportunity to help sponsor him through WorldVision, and in his last letter, he mentioned that he likes cows, so ... there you go!

Superheroes Gone Wild...

2010-06-23T09:10:00.000-04:00

...just finished up the GI Joe thing, a minicomic that will be packaged with the new toy line that hits this fall. It was fun, even though I had a lot less time than I'd like...

Thought I'd toss up this two page spread from the Justice League vs. Dark Avengers samples I did back in January. These are actually some of the pages that led to this GI Joe project, as well as the Joker story that I will be starting work on next week...

Ming the Merciless...

2010-06-16T09:34:00.000-04:00

Doodled this out a few weeks ago, and thought I'd go ahead and finish it off and toss it up here this morning...

Okay, just to get this out there right off the bat ... I am a HUGE Flash Gordon fan. Sure, I loved Star Wars as a kid, but when somebody says "sci-fi" to me, the first thing I think of is Flash Gordon. And it's probably pretty clear that Miranda Mercury is a big ol' love letter, artistically, at least ... to my love of Flash Gordon, with a dash of Jack Kirby's New Gods thrown in for good measure.

So it was pretty heartbreaking to hear that the man who provided some of my very best childhood memories passed away recently. Man, I only ever liked Star Wars comics if Al Williamson was drawing them. His inking over guys like John Romita, Jr. was brilliant stuff. And his Flash Gordon work..? It was actually quite a bit before my time, so I was really fortunate to have the chance to read some of that at a young age, and it was a big part of me taking the path I've taken.

Thanks for all the great comics, and the inspiration, Mr. Williamson...

Some Spider-Man pages...

2010-06-14T13:26:00.000-04:00

Here's a few Spider-Man sample pages I did for Marvel not too long ago ... I love Spidey, and John Romita, Sr's work is what spurred me into wanting to do this for a living, so even though these pages will never, ever see print, it was still a lot of fun to work on my favorite character and try to bring just a little of the life Romita breathed so easily into his pages to these...

Is this thing on..?

2010-06-11T08:55:00.000-04:00

Wow. Okay, so this IS still here. Hm. Guess I may as well do something with it...

For starters, here's the cover to Miranda Mercury #298, with inks by Marc Deering.

Working on a GI Joe project at the moment (and not sleeping much, let me tell ya), and once that's done, I have a ten page Joker story lined up at DC, which should be a lot of fun...