I *just* wrapped work on my latest project for Star Wars Insider, providing artwork for Abel Pena's and Enrique Guerrero's 'Best Moments of the Expanded Universe'. In my last blog and on my message board in the Author and Artist forumat TF.N here I dropped a few names of the characters I've been working with which are more or less clues to some of the best moments highlighted in the feature. I'll try not to mention anymore names since I want you guys to be surprised. Abel and Enrique's feature is destined to please and maybe even spark a little controversy

After staring at this artwork for 2-3 weeks straight and being on top of it for so long I was uncertain about one or two pieces, a few small things here or there in the others. I was worried maybe I rushed things too fast to meet my deadline for Insider but after being out of town for the past few days I was looking over all of the artwork again when I got back and I'm really happy with all of it. Even one piece in particular which I was worried about since it was a departure of style for me somewhat, it was an experiment really, to try something in the Frazetta fantasy pulp/Conan cover vein. But I'm happy with it, it's more raw than most of my other illustration work and it's definitely moody which was what I was aiming for. I just hope the NJO fans dig it.

One of my favorite pieces is probably a piece inspired by the Clone Wars cartoon since I'm a big fan of the micro-series. It was really fun doing my take on this particular fight scene, giving it a more 'realistic' edge in my style. I changed one character's costume to match the comics rather than the cartoon since comic books is the background I come from and where my usual inpsiration lies. I think the costume change is appropriate though since it gives a fresh take on the scene and ties into continuity in a secondhand way by representing the usually overlooked and underappreciated (by the general public) Star Wars comics.

So keep your eyes peeled for Insider #83 for this new artwork, which ships sometime in July I believe.

In other Insider news, it sounds like IDG will be unvieling Vader: The Ultimate Guide at Comic Con in San Diego next week. Be sure to pick up a copy if you can, I provided some new Vader artwork for it that I hope everyone will enjoy.

I'll be attending the con as a guest set up in the vast sea of creative types that is known as Artist Alley. We're usually located on the far left end of the exhibit hall. My table is actually FF 16. If you can make the trek across the exhibit floor then stop on by and say hi. I plan on sketching for fans, selling some artwork as usual and signing whatever anyone brings on by. I'll be set up with Jan Duursema (FF 15) and Dan Parsons (FF 14) as well, the artists for Star Wars Republic from Dark Horse Comics. Hyperspace webstrip artist Tom Hodges and fellow Insider artist Randy Martinez will be set up in the alley too so c'mon down... y'all. Looking forward to seeing some of you at the show!

My weekly column for WorldFamousComics.com called Comics 101 updated this past Thursday with my review for George Romero's zombie opus Land of the Dead. If you're a horror fan be sure not to miss this movie. I had a good time with it.

I also recently checked out War of the Worlds. I Loved it!!! It's Incredibly dark and edgy for Spielberg sci-fi, sad, nightmarish, visually stunning... I don't know how else to describe it. Definitely one of his best films in a long while. I've always been a Cruise fan, at least of most of his characters in movies, not the 'real world Scientology everybody should have a Katie' Tom Cruise. Though I suppose if you were that rich and famous you could probably afford to be a little eccentric.

He is great in this movie though playing a dad who's just a grown up selfish kid himself who won't do anything for his kids and somewhat regrets them. But the alien invasion forces him to grow up and subsequently to fight for his family's survival. It's really their story and 'the war' through his eyes since you follow only them throughout the movie. It's the war that changes him as a character which I found interesting and compelling, along with all of the incredible imagery of the tripods attacking, disintegrating people and blowing things up of course.
If you keep Cruise's story arc in mind, then the abrupt ending of the war (which stays true to the book) won't disappoint as much I suppose as it has with most people. Dakota Fanning is a scene stealer by the way, she is a gem in this movie, incredibly mature and focused beyond her years.

If you're a sci-fi fan and whether you like Tom or not you owe it to yourself to see what Speilberg has made here. Something special for fans of the genre I think.

By the way, I also thoroughly enjoyed Batman Begins

Up next... an advance screening Thursday of Rob Zombies The Devil's Rejects. Can't wait!!!