Judith Hunt- Cartoonist & Comicbook Artist
I have no illusions about my early cartoon work...it could have been better and it could have been more...
So I bring you a bit of new comic work, previously published comics & cartoons, and a sprinkling of thoughts on comics and cartooning in general.
I will try to keep it simple and to the point.
Your comments are welcome, of course.
Conan the King* pencils by Judith Hunt inks by Al Williamson
Doing Conan the King was both challenging and interesting to draw. The armor, castles and fortifications, swords, and battle equip...and yes beautiful woman, crazed villains, and above all lots of muscles!
Working on the pencils for this book was a bit intimidating at times knowing Al Williamson would be inking the pencils. I admired his work a great deal and had studied both his work and career. I was quite concerned about giving him perfect as possible pencils to ink.
Of course, he did a fabulous job as always.
*The above page was the one and only page returned by Marvel to me from all the issues I penciled. Have no idea what happened to them.....whether they were lost, stolen or just stored...I was never given a reason by Marvel.
Tommy Timbertoes by Judith Hunt "A is for Ant"
Some of the past comic strip work I've done includes working for Highlights for Children on Timbertoes. Did the strip for about 9 years right after Sidney Quinn died (he took over right after John Gee passed away). The editors of Highlights asked that I make the strip look like Sid's work for awhile as they were so concerned with the transition. I find it funny that online Highlights credits me with Sid's work...work that proceeded my working for them by over 10 years.
John Gee never made any royalties and his characters were "inheriited" by Highlights for Children. As far as I understand from letters (in which he is begging Highlights to promote his characters and explaining his need for more income), that were passed to me by my editor, John Gee remained a poor man, virtually unknown for his art, working in a Florida hotel until his death. There is not even a wiki article on him.
Sadly, this often happens to really great cartoonists.
* When I worked for Highlights for Children (both in-house and freelance) I was surprised to discover that the company holds an incredibly huge collection of cartoons and artwork of John Gee's stored in the attic of an old house in Honesdale, PA.
The particular book I am working on at present is brimming with patriotism. Having had family in wars and reading about the civil war I found I was conflicted while designing it...in many ways saddened but also inspired.
One side of a goblin vs humans illustration for Veritas Press awhile back. Y'know good old JRR Tolkien goblins.
Nasty, icky, vengeful Grendal's Mom. Another fun illustration assignment.
Evangeline's Dinosaur Farm
Yes, the dinosuar is not scientifically based....but it is a fun scene.
What would the comics world have done without the Earth's dinosaurs????
Sometimes cute chicks and Nazis just aren't enough.
A Conan the King cover in pencil before Al Williamson laid his inks on them.
Loved pencilling Conan the King.
What's not to love?
Mean nasty villians, leather, horses, swords, blood, muscles, war machines, and a really mean nasty hero.
At this time period.....I was penciling Conan for Marvel, still doing Evangeline, and also illustrating Muppet Baby books for Henson....I did not know if I was going to be able to switch styles and moods for that day of work to meet the deadlines.
Felt like I worked 24/7 and I probably did.
Wonder Woman Day 4 is here and this is the second cover I have done for the event. Promised myself and Andy Mangels who organizes the event that I would do something weird and wonderful each year to auction off.
Good for a challenge and a break for me....gotta love fantasy art!
I told you I was a painter...not an inker.
* I was saddened to find out that this painting was bought by a woman in Portland Oregon for only $50 this last week. The painting took over 60 hours to produce. It is professionally framed and has a painted mat (mechanical bug painted directly on the mat). I have posted a request to purchase the painting back on Craig's List in Portland Oregon. I am offering to purchase the painting back for it's real value and to match that sum to Andy Mangels' domestic violence charity so they may benefit afterall.
