WHO'LL WATCH THE WATCHMEN?

When I was a kid, in the corner of where I lived, there was a newsstand that I visit every single day. It was the 80's – So, I don't have to explain what this meant to comics – Each time I went, there was a huge wave of new information to blew my mind. Always something, from all over the world, that get it's way to that small corner in São Paulo, only to drive kids like me nuts. Pages and pages of wonderful art and meaningful stories, panels and panels of a universe that sticks with me untill today. 

And one day, in a small super-hero comic book, bought in that same corner, maybe Avengers or even Batman, there was a ad of a new release. Black,white and red, only a clock with some blood on it, written:

WATCHMEN. 

That stayed with me. And one morning, I saw it. American format, soft cover, between the adult comics section, behind a brazilian magazine.

WOW.

I was forever changed. I brought it home, read it, and study all the scenes, lines and colors (that I love to hate until today). I couldn't keep my eyes of it. How could something be so perfect? How could this talk to me is such a deep level? It seemed that it was always there, since the dawn of time, in our genes, and this artists only translated it into paper.
And next month a new issue. And another. And another...

So many things to see. It took me years to understand all it's depth. I still think I didn't get it all. And that's the fun part.
I thought that I would loose interest with time, but it's virtually impossible. It's that same book that grabbed me in that old newsstand. Each page I draw today, I think it is that boy trying to repeat those panels and that pace. I may never do it as good, but it's there with me, in each stroke, each line.

There is many other books that moved me, but this was almost like my first love, my first kiss. I could say that I lost my virginity to it. 

I lost my virginity to Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, and I liked it.

PEOV's NY Chronicle

TWELVE LABORS OF D'ANGELO

In the beginning of this year (or the end of the later), my good old friend Oga asked if I wanted to participate in a project where his brother-in-law was working on. The project was a feature movie and the gig was to be the double for the main character's actor. Not exactly doing stunts and stuff, but drawing. First he gave me the script, good story, but I really liked the title "Os doze trabalhos" translate to "The twelve labors". Just like the myth.
See their website

Anyway, after talking to the Art Director and the Director (Ricardo Elias) I was in. First I had to create Herakles scketch book. Then to teach the actor to fake drawing, since he needed it to some scenes. No problems so far, did the book, teach the kid, even went to the shooting scene to help them out.

Then ENTERS THE PRODUCER! Very interesting person, the women must have done a millions movies. We had some arguments about payment and contract, but it all work out fine in the end. But I still think she hates me, I'm in the very end of the credits...

In the very end the Art Director lost the Scketch book that I produced (the one in the hand of the actors in the pictures), a shame really. But I end up meeting a lot of nice people, great professionals and all. Although we talked about adapting the movie to comics, it never came through.

I'll do my Motoboy story eventually.

The movie will premiers in Rio, but it is showing in São Paulo this week.
See the schedule

It was a whole lot of fun, but now, back to doing comics.

CREPAX Jr.

Yesterday I've received a friend's email saying:"Tomorrow I'm having lunch with CATERINA CREPAX, daughter of GUIDO CREPAX, the creator of VALENTINA , will you join us?" What do you say to that? YES, OF COURSE, I'll PAY... Whatever my answer was, I went there and met her and her lovely friends. She is a very sweet and talented person. Like her father she's an architect, and like her father, her greatest work is not on the that field. It's on fashion working as a stylist. Great work, as you can see on the picture attached. The best part was when she talked that as a child, she would be drawing very quietly beside him, while he would stay the whole day, even on Christmas, drawing and listening to jazz... Nice memories I believe, that makes me think that I shouldn't be here writing on this blog, I should be at my desk, drawing.

Thanks Caterina!

RUSSIAN HORROR MOVIE

The Girl with the Unisnaptic Brain

Graziela Mantoanelli first Russian Horror Movie. A true YELLOJELLO art.