Included below are Fabien M's final pencils and colors to the Tikitis comics chapter included in Lucha Libre 7. As can be deduced from the jpegs, Fabien digitally inks the pages directly from his finished pencils and colors the page in Photoshop. There's a great benefit in working with illustrators that have the ability to color their own work.

Bill (with the help of his girlfriend), Gobi, and Fabien all do their own coloring. As can be seen in this comparison between Fabien's pencils and colors, the color placement has a huge effect on how the reader's eyes are encouraged to move across the page. The overall tone also suggests time of day, atmosphere, and emotion to the work.

The majority of American mainstream cartoonists have their work inked and colored by other job specific artists. That way of constructing a page ensures they are produced on a rigid monthly schedule but the purity of the work loses something when you have so many artists visual touch on the work. Each artist that contributes to the work has a huge influence on the final digestable product.

Part of my fascination with comics is its potential for singular purity. A skilled cartoonist can create a universe on a few paneled pages to be consumed and digested by another individual. The cartoonist's adept choices in character design, line weight, panel-to-panel progression, panel composition, page composition, and color all have an implicit effect on the way the reader interprets the universe.

Here's a wonderful look at the cover of the Lucha Libre Vol. 1 Comic collection (in stores now) from color roughs to final cover design.

After several thumbnail tests we fell in love with the graphic layout that LUCHADORES FIVE artist Bill came up with for the cover. Crucial elements like the main characters, urban backdrop, and werewolves were all included in the design. Unfortunately, the tone was a bit off. Humor was a huge part of the Luchadores Five story... but from the original image you'd think this was a straight up superhero tale.

I suggested that Bill silly it up a bit by imagining that this dramatic aerial pose was the result of all five heroes jumping out of the back of a truck. What we were seeing was the few seconds of dramatic air time the guys were getting before plummeting to their concrete demise. Bill brilliantly illustrated the concept with the perfect expression on El Gladiator's face. He also added a visual motion cue by having Red Demon's shoe flying off his foot (but notice that the shoeless Red Demon still manages to keep his cool pose!).

I love the final illustration. There's a lot of information being conveyed to the viewer (like the distinct personalities of the 5 main characters) and it stays cohesive.

Once the illustration was done, Jerry when at it with the Logo placement. His original approach was good but took away from the sense of motion Bill's image captured. With a little perspective manipulation to the logo everything turned out just right.

As we put the final touches on the English version of Lucha Libre 7, I had to share some of my favorite pages from Gobi and Jerry's latest installment of Tequila. I love the atmosphere that's being created.

As I have been preparing files for the English language version of Lucha Libre #7, I'm reminded of the amazing Rednecks Gobi created. Gobi went on a rabid artistic fury and created a whole cast of Redneck characters. The designs were so amazing that they became the primary inspiration for Tequila's second story (which begins in Lucha Libre #7).

While Gobi was drawing them he claimed it felt like he was undergoing an exorcism. It was an exhausting process, but Gobi had to get these demons out of him.

We've posted the different characters prior. But here they are as Gobi originally composed them on one large art file.

Here's a cool art piece Fabien did to promote a convention appearance that Jerry, Bill, Gobi, and Fabien are doing in France, March 2009. In it, you can see his versions of Mini Gobi, Mini Bill, and Mini Fabien. I love the limited color palette. It reminds me of shonen jump comics in Japan.

CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT FABIEN'S ART BLOG (IN FRENCH).

No more excuses. If you haven't read our Lucha Libre comics, go to a comic shop and buy Lucha Libre Vol. 1 tomorrow. It'll be the best 15 bucks you'll spend. Hell, it's cheaper than a lap dance and lasts a lifetime!