2014 done and dusted :)

2014 is pretty much done and dusted, and for the first full year of doing the book all we can say is what a heck of a ride. We have so many things to be grateful for this year. The amazing people we have met and the support we have received for a fledgling book has been phenomenal. Getting the opportunity to tour the country on the convention circuit and visit many places we hadn't seen before was really wonderful.
In reflection we can say we stayed true to a lot of our goals and even exceeded a few. Sure, there were plenty of trials and tribulations, but perhaps the best lesson learned from this year is when the negative inevitably always comes, don't give it to much time or consideration. That's a lesson personally that I really want to take into 2015 and beyond.
2014 is a year both Alana and myself will never forget and 2015 shines promising and bright on the horizon. We hope that those of you who made this last year so very special will continue to join us on the journey ahead and here's to a great 2015 for us all.

Trade Paperback Volume 1

Just put the finishing touches on the cover for the first trade paperback. The trade will compile issues 1-6 and be out sometime in the first half of 2015. In the meantime, Issue 6 will launch in January. #comics

Work begins on Trade Paperback volume 1

So with Issue 6 off at the printers, converted for ComiXology and Issue 7 underway in roughing out, I've decided to also put some time into thinking about the first Trade paperback. Having gauged coloring time through a few pages I've figured that it would push a color version too far back (and the color version would only be issues 1-3). Instead I am looking at doing a 6 issue compilation in b/w and maybe insert an exclusive mini story. Here's the first rough concept for a potential cover. #comics

Behind the Panels 2014 Award nominations

Awesome surprise to discover that From Above has been nominated among some very awesome titles for Behind the Panels 2014 awards (the book has been nominated in the 2014 Australian Release category)
http://behindthepanels.net/behind-the-panels-awards-2014-nominations/

Issue 7 conceptual begins

Had been intending to take a break over xmas with Issue 6 already off to the printers, however got a little excited about the origin story starting with Issue 7 and started plotting it out and sketching up some concepts. #comics

Issue 6 off to the printers

Issue 6 has just gone off to the printers #comics #makingcomics #australiancomics #indiecomics

Issue 6 pretty much done...

Just finished the inks on Issue 6. Book is pretty much ready to send to the printers once the Melbourne City Voice articles come in from my rockstar editor :) #comics

Almost there!

Just 3 pages left to ink on Issue 6! #comics

Issue 6 Progress!

Hard at work on Issue 6! Looking to try and complete the inking within the next week! #comics

From Above Coffee and Travel mugs

Red Bubble now have a cool range of From Above coffee mugs and travel mugs available.
http://www.redbubble.com/people/craigbruyn/works/13147186-from-above-buster?c=215506-from-above-comic-book&p=mug

From Above Issue 3 - ComiXology

Issue 3 of the book is now available on ComiXology. Issue 4 is in review and Issue 5 will be uploaded shortly. Issue 6 at the moment is in the process of being inked for the print version.
https://www.comixology.com/From-Above-3/digital-comic/165835?ref=cGFnZS92aWV3L2Rlc2t0b3AvbGlzdC9saXN0MzM1

Pin Up concept

Scribbling down the idea for a pin up in between inking pages for Issue 6. #comics #makingcomics #cyberpunk #scifi

Back cover Issue 6

Got a fair bit of work down on Issue 6 today. Here's a sneaky of the back cover image.

Moody Lil Bugger

One moody lil bugger...

Competition Time!

Competition time folks!
Tell us in the comments section of the facebook post what your favourite thing about the book is.

You’ll go into the draw to win this collection of original character concept art sketches that were drawn on business cards.

The card collection comes in two protective plastic sleeve displays.

Entries Close 5pm Sunday 30th November, 2014

A winner will be chosen at random and announced on Sunday 30th November, 2014 at 6pm (Melbourne, Australia time)

https://www.facebook.com/FromAboveComicBook/photos/a.117382058432024.1073741828.117379798432250/226551030848459/?type=1&theater

From Above: The Backyard

Something new coming in the back of the book from Issue 6 onwards.

Character designs on business cards

Just dug up these. In the early days when conceptualising some of the characters I drew a heap of designs on the back of business cards one day as I didn't have any paper handy. Might see if we can run some sort of competition to give the full set away. #comics

2015 releases

Here's a little insight to our book release plan for 2015. Issues 6 -9 plus the first trade paperback. #comics

Page of the Day 10

As the rain comes down in Melbourne City, Gabe tracks the renegade scientist, Kreel back to his lair. #comics

New Merchandise

Have just updated our Red Bubble store with a whole lot of new designs and merchandise. Tshirts, Hoodies, Mugs, Phone and Tablet cases, Throw pillows. Check em out :) http://www.redbubble.com/people/craigbruyn/collections/215506-from-above-comic-book

Page of the Day 09

Everybody has their own favourite vidcast shows. This one is obviously not Buster's. #comics

Page of the Day 08

Time for another page of the day I think. This one's from Issue 3. A fairly prominent Melbourne landmark features in the background, now a shell of its former self. #comics #comicbook

The Office

The office set up. This is where I spend a lot of my time :)

Gabe Variant

Another variant take on Gabe to kick off the day. #comics

Gabe Variant

Continuing the trend of drawing Gabe in different illustrative styles. #comics

Lil Gabe

Here's a little sneak peak (first panel) of something that will be in the back of issue 6. #comics

Page of the Day 07

Page of the Day #7. There are some true horrors to be found behind the gleaming towers of Melbourne City, though none can compare with the reveal in Issue 5 when we see the inside of Gracie's room. #comics

Casting Gabe

Casting the part of Gabe was a tough one. There were plenty of styles and options floating around but in the end it came down to simply bribes and pocket lining :) #comics

Page of the Day 06

Page of the Day #6. This time we're throwing in one of the pencil layouts for Issue 6 as a teaser of what you can expect from the forthcoming action heavy issue. #comic

Page of the Day 05

Page of the Day #5. In Issue 3, with the help of Parker, Gabe zeroes in on Snare's location.

Page of the Day 04

Page of the Day #4. Gabe's battle with Snare in Issue 4 took us through the city. It also worked as a nice mechanism for connecting several small cameo insights into the life of the inhabitants of Melbourne city. #comics

Page of the Day 03

Page of the Day #3. This one is from Issue 5. Gracie and Buster go searching the Ark looking for Teddy, Buster convinced he must be hiding in the kitchen. #comics

From Above in different styles

One of the reasons over the years I've struggled to lock a style down is I love mucking around in different styles. Here's Gabe in a variety of techniques.

From Above 2015 Calendars

Looking to mark down convention dates for next year? Relative's birthdays? How about a From Above 2015 calendar. These are now available through the Red Bubble store.
http://www.redbubble.com/people/craigbruyn/calendars/12929114-from-above-comic-calendar?c=215506-from-above-comic-book

Page of the Day 02

Page of the day #2. Taken from Issue 2, Gabe's having a tough day, buried under a veritable mountain of problems, or in this case...rubble. This was a revamped page version for the ComiXology release.
https://www.comixology.com/From-Above-2/digital-comic/124616?ref=c2VyaWVzL3ZpZXcvZGVza3RvcC9saXN0L0lzc3Vlcw

Page of the Day 01

Over the next couple of weeks we'll do a page of the day post on some of our favourite pages of art from the book (without the the word balloons). If you haven't read the book before it'll give you an insight to what you'll find inside the covers. And so with that here's page of the day #1. It was a cool little fight scene in Issue 2 between Gabe and the Orion 'Tin Men' mechs.

November Melbourne Comic Creators Meet

As always the monthly Melbourne Comic Creator meets are good fun. This month the yearly secret santa initiated by Thomas Tung of Xscript Fiction - The Stories and Art of Thomas Tung kicked into gear with peeps drawing requested characters for others. The concentration in the air was palpable :)

Cosplay?

Perhaps my cosplaying future if I was to don the garb of Gabe? :)

scribble

Scribbling away whilst watching Rock of Ages and then finishing off in photoshop.

2015 events calendar

Currently in the process of planning our 2015 event calendar. Should be an interesting one as a lot of the Australian cons are overlapping. Also looking into international options as well. Watch this space :)

12 months in, and I wouldn't have traded this for anything in the world!

12 months ago I embarked on the idea of self publishing my own ongoing indie title. 12 months later and 6 conventions around Australia, I am publishing the 5th issue in the series as well as a limited sketchbook edition. This is such a great medium to be involved in and I heartily recommend to anyone who is contemplating doing this to seize the moment and get started. You won't regret it. Five print issues, with 2 already on comiXology, I can't wait for what the next 12 months has in store!
https://www.facebook.com/FromAboveComicBook

Melbourne Armageddon Expo 2014

This weekend recently saw the festivities at Melbourne Armageddon Expo. We had a thoroughly enjoyable time, tabling at the Melbourne Comics booth, and also getting to participate in a panel on the Australian comics scene. Topped of the weekend with a few drinks with some very lovely fellow creators.