"Comics erode the most fundamental habits
of humane, civilized living."

Bill Pearson

The American DreamSam Zabel and the Magic Pen
My WorldClick for more

The NEW American Dream – now with gorgeous Karl Stevens art!

March 22nd, 2012

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Some of you might have noticed the serialisation of The American Dream went into hiatus some time ago. Well, I’m very pleased to announce that a new and improved version of the book is in the works, with artwork lusciously drawn and painted by one of my favourite artists, Karl Stevens.

I’m very excited about this collaboration; I’ve been following Karl’s work since the 1990s and absolutely love his previous books The Lodger and Guilty, and his regular strip in the Boston Phoenix (currently known as ‘Failure’).

For a small taste of the work-in-progress, and for more on Karl’s comics and art, follow the link above.

Steam Girl

March 16th, 2012

(unpublished sketch)

It’s high time I mentioned this: ‘Steam Girl’ is my first published prose story (i.e. without pictures), which came out late last year in Steampunk! An Anthology of Fantastically Rich and Strange Stories, edited by the wonderful Kelly Link and Gavin J. Grant, and published by Candlewick Press in the US and Walker Books in the UK. I’ve written prose fiction all my life (in between the comics), but never felt brave enough to publish any until now.

Steampunk! also includes prose stories by M. T. Anderson, Holly Black, Libba Bray, Cassandra Clare, Cory Doctorow, Elizabeth Knox, Garth Nix, Christopher Rowe, Delia Sherman, Ysabeau S. Wilce and Kelly Link herself and comics by Shawn Cheng and Kathleen Jennings. It’s a fantastic anthology and I’m thrilled to be included.

The cherry on the cake is that ‘Steam Girl’ has just been reprinted in The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year, volume 6, edited by Jonathan Strahan (published by Night Shade Books), which is very humbling. Guess I’d better finish that damn novel now, eh?

Ways to buy it and a couple of reviews after the jump:
Read the rest of this entry »

Sketches

March 16th, 2012

Here are some of the sketches people ordered last month (note: I’m still learning about scanning watercolours, so the colour on these isn’t entirely accurate). I’m steadily making my way through the queue, so if you’re still waiting for yours, you’ll hopefully get it soon!

(click on a thumbnail to see larger image)





New page: The Magic Pen

March 5th, 2012

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New page: The Magic Pen (NSFW)

February 22nd, 2012

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I will draw you a picture – SOLD OUT (for now!)

February 10th, 2012

UPDATE: Wow! So many of you wanted drawings I got enough orders in a few hours to keep me busy for some time! So I’ve had to suspend the offer while I draw my way through the pile of orders. Apologies if you missed out, but I may do a similar offer some time in the future, if time allows. Many thanks to everyone who requested a drawing. This is fun!

Also, I’m still available, as always, for more substantial (and – er – expensive) commissions. Feel free to email me to ask about that. Otherwise, follow me on Twitter or Facebook to be notified of future offers like this.

I’m in the mood for drawing! Plus I recently got some new watercolours and I’m keen to try them out. Plus, y’know, bills to pay etc etc.

So here’s the deal:

Tell me what to draw and I’ll draw it: one of my characters, someone else’s character, something sweet, silly or even downright rude (you’ve seen The Magic Pen, right?). If it’s too complicated or tricky, I’ll let you know – but actually, I feel like flexing those sketchin’ muscles, so bring it on! And of course, if you can’t think of anything, I’ll just draw whatever I feel like.

I’ll then send you the original drawing, for you to hang on the wall or file in a drawer or give to a loved one or use as a bookmark or whatever else you want to do with it.*

The prices – did I mention they’re ridiculously low? – are only $50 for a colour drawing or $30 for black & white (+ $8 postage and packaging). All drawings will be on A5 paper (148.5mm x 210mm or 5.8 x 8.3 inches).

Now, those are not my usual prices. Hell, no! This is, you see, a one-off special Dylan’s In the Mood deal that will only last until I get too busy with real work or my hands are too sore to pick up a brush. So strike now while the pencil is sharp and TELL ME WHAT TO DRAW!


Colour:
$50 (+p&p)

I would like a drawing of…





Black & white:
$30 (+p&p)

I would like a drawing of…




*Notes:
All prices are in US Dollars.
Postage & packing (to anywhere) is $8.
These are sketches, not fully-fledged commissions. If you want something more substantial, just drop me a line and let’s talk.
Copyright in the drawings is retained by me, under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License (i.e. you’re welcome to share, copy and remix them, so long as it’s non-commercial and you give credit).

Limited edition print: ‘Ylena’

January 31st, 2012


I’ve decided to start doing occasional limited edition prints, and this is the first one: ‘Ylena,’ which is based on the cover of Atlas #2.

It’s a high quality giclée print on 320gsm German etching paper, 297mm x 420mm (A3) (i.e. 11.7 x 16.5 inches). Each print is signed and numbered by me, and the edition is limited to 50.

The price is US$95 (shipping included).

You can order one using this handy Paypal button (if you have any problems, click the “contact” link in the masthead and send me an email):

Ylena
Giclée print, signed & numbered by the artist
Edition limited to 50
US $95


New page: The Magic Pen

December 2nd, 2011

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A workshop in Wellington and a competition.

November 25th, 2011

Two upcoming events I’m involved with:

I’m running a 2-week workshop in Wellington in December and January, as part of Whitireia Polytech’s Summer Writing Courses. It costs $300 and all are welcome (even if you can’t draw). The course runs over two separate weeks; part 1 is December 12-16th, part 2 is January 9-13th. Details are here.

And I’m judging the Graphic Fiction section in the AUT New Zealand Creative Writing Competition. It’s the first time AUT has included a Graphic Fiction (i.e. comics) section and I’m looking forward to seeing what people come up with. Prizes include in iPad (perfect for reading all those digital comics on) and entries close January 31st, 2012. Details are here.

New page: The Magic Pen (NSFW)

November 25th, 2011

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