Compton On My Back

I’ve been MIA this month from Studio Skye-Tiger due to deadlines (which should conclude in 48 hrs tops. ALMOST DONE!)), but I wanted to drop in not just for a quick update for the site, but one for Midnight Tiger specifically! Most of the reason I launched this blog was for my creator-owned works. The biggest of which, as you know, is Midnight Tiger. I’ve been seriously trying to find the balance between my mainstream work and my creator-owned stuff. It’s become quite obvious that I’m just as passionate about both! However, mainstream is where I make my living right now and creator-owned is mainly for me. So that means it’s all about budgeting time and, as it stands, necessity dictates priority. I’m also not interested in burnout. If that happens NO comics get made! Mainstream or otherwise and I ain’t having that.

With that said, Midnight Tiger stuff is indeed happening behind the scenes. Some REALLY cool stuff, too! Slow as heck, but it’s happening and I’d rather slow than not at all. Case in point, this variant cover for the new series with pencils by me and inks by John Livesay! We’ve been sitting on this one for awhile and I may end up coloring it and having it as a print for NYCC in a three weeks. More than likely a limited run, though. I’ve been wanting to share this with you all since John finished and here it is!

In a burst of love for my hometown, nostalgia for my coming of age, and where it all started for me this cover depicts the Martin Luther King Memorial in Downtown Compton along with the Compton Court Building. Though not shown in the background, but most definitely part of the location in this shat was the Compton Library. I spent SO much time at the Compton Library when I was a kid and all through high school! It was like a sanctuary. The roots and education of becoming a professional comic creator absolutely started in this place.

A side note, I was supposed to start back to knocking out commissions 2 weeks ago, the deadlines became a priority. That sad, once I complete this current Marvel assignment within the next 48 hours I’ll be using the time I have between then and NYCC to make that happen. No assignments lined up after that (for now). So, 2.5 weeks.

Giving this post away for all subscribers and passersby! I hope you enjoy it!

-Ray