How it could've been...

Hey friends,

Here's a behind-the-scenes exclusive: dialogue before it was dialogue. That is, before I settled on the method of blanking out existing words, I tried some other ways of conveying dialogue since the focus of this comic is the images, with the words being there as illustrations/ coz people want it/ red herring, etc.

So here's what was Idea #1, colours for speech:

good idea, but since I printed the comic in BW, it wasn't going to work.

Idea #2, recurring objects in speech bubbles - again, great idea, but very time-consuming:

Then I thought, since the dialogue is largely irrelevant, why not jibberish? But again, veeeery time-consuming: 

So I instead just blank out existing words, which creates new dialogue without adding anything to it. The results are either funny, weird, juvenile or - something. Idea #4:

So there ya have it. More of this sweet-sweet chop-chop poetry - soon.

What a mess...

Okay there's definitely more Angel coming soon...
I was just going through a bunch of files to sort out what's coming next - coz the order the pix are made in - is not the order they're published in. Don't ask.
Anyhoo - in the meantime I've moved house and have gone to Japan a few times, plus took a break from it all on purpose, so what I've found is a mess - I've spread all this work over two computers and three hard drives... so it's gotten sloppy. It'll take a few days to sort it all out, match up filenames with actual images, etc - BUT - issue #11 is definitely under construction, w. #12 close behind.
Until then, why don't you scope the tumblr site and click FOLLOW. Plz and TQ.

What is it? (NSFW)

I googled "Micturating Angel" and I found this:

Kids, it's all about dental hygiene here, now innit?

It's hilariously brrrilliant - I don't get it, but it's awesome. It's WHY it's awesome. And it fits with the Angel too. Ha!

New work on the Angel comic...

Hi everyone!

Long time no update. I've moved house, but am happy to say - work on the continuing adventures of the Angel(s) has begun.
Here's some photos from the new studio:

I hope Uncle gets better, but to me he seems very happy...

Some behind-the-scenes shots... (and a quote by HST)

Here's a whole lot of photos I've been meaning to post about the making of the comic... They've been stuck on my phone all this time, sorry.
They're basically shots of collages-in-the-making - before they are glued down, cut out properly, etc. Gives you some idea of the creation process, eh wot?

"I don't know how it's going to end, but I like it that way.

If I knew how it ended, I'd lose interest in the story."

- Hunter S. Thompson

(talking about a novel he was working on)

And yet another behind-the-scenes fillum...

Yes, the cartoon is still under construction, but until its done, here's a behind-the-scenes little doco (well, sorta...)


Music by The Museum of Love & Mystery  - free download from here: https://uscds.bandcamp.com/album/i-must-be-seeing-things

Another sneek-peek at the cartoon,,,

And the Oscar for best SPFX goes to...

It's a cartooooon!

So here's a sneak-preview of the work-in-progress that is the Micturating Angel cartoon - that's right!

Talent!

Like it wasn't gonna happen...

...working on a cartoon version!

5000 shades of grey in 33D!

I need you to read this

In order to understand the "science" side of the Micturating Angel, I need you to be familiar with (but not necessarily understand because who the hell actually does)

PATAPHYSICS.

So click this >>LINK<<.

"My eyes are 7.8055% more seductive than yours."

Right on schedule

Aiming for an October deadline with the next few issues (6-10).

It's definitely gonna happen!

I've been using Photoshop for close to 2o years

and I'm just figuring out keyboard shortcuts now...

Fuck off, I speak 3 languages!

:-)

The Ever-changing but Constant Secret Chiefs

As mentioned in a previous post (Nov 24, 2014 -HERE-), we have some characters in the adventures of Claire, called The Secret Chiefs. They are constant and never changing entities, always hovering in the background - yet never the same.
The gif below (though not the best quality), should give you some idea of how they're progressing (I'm working on 3 new Chiefs images as we speak!).

This gif is blurry because I made it with a pasta-maker and some cat hair.

Also, aforementioned Claire's adventures have changed a little. I've decided she is no Angel, but is the mysterious Shadowgirl, who keeps appearing in some other Angels' adventures as a best friend. Sidekicks deserve their own (mis)adventures, don't they?

[seeing things]

Got a lot of photoshop stuff to catch up on with this project...

good things it's too cold to sit in my room and cut things up!

I might turn this into a T-shirt!

... and work continues/ Ed the Happy Clown/ deep dreamin'

Howdy folks!

So here's several updates rolled into one.
First, yes, I'm working on upcoming issues.
Here's a screenshot of a page I was just fixing up in photoshop (where the dialogue is born):

OMG! It's a komm byoo tarr!

Not the champion on the mid-left, in fact, here, have a close-up:

This really happened

This panel is a tribute of sorts to the comic Ed the Happy Clown - more the pic than the words. If you haven't read Ed, get amongst it, it's very odd, very funny and very sad too. But very surreal and dream-like. Google it. But back to my panel. In Ed, there is a man who can't stop crapping. Literally. It's all explained why in the comic, but my soldier there, well, he's an homage to that - cozit'sfuknfunny!

Lastly, have y'all been "deep dreaming"? With Google's awesome AI? (Reminds me, must google video for self-aware AI again... you read right)

Anyways, my gorgeous partner, the Maharishi Walnut suggested I run the Angel through it, so here's the first result - soon to be followed by the entire first issue.

ENJOY!

Work continues...

Some "behind-the-scenes" action...

What? It's cold, dude.

But why is she pissing? (Pt2)

It is difficult to fully verbalise the thoughts that go into making this comic - it's why I make pictures, they capture what I want to say with precise dream-scalpel-incision ambiguity.
Like a diamond made of jelly.
Anyways, why is the angel micturating?
Other than the fact that I think "micturating" is a hilarious and terrible sounding word, behold Exhibit A: Albrecht Dürer's Crucifixion (1489).

"That's gonna leave a mark..."

I love Dürer's work.
Now, what are those two rascal angels doing on either side of the cross?
DO YOU SEE?

Exhibit B, Gaahl, former vocalist of black metal band Gorgoroth:

How NOT to eat Black Forest cake...

A few years back, Gaahl (know your metal: click HERE) beat the bejeezus out of someone in his home, who later testified that our hero collected his blood in a cup. Gaahl said he was just trying to protect his rug from the bleeding (which makes him a nasty Lebowski - that rhymes!)

Now, imagine you're being beaten to death by Gaahl, who seems to be enjoying his handywork. You're trapped. He's belting your face. Your bleeding enough FROM YOUR FACE that he gets a cup and starts collecting your blood. WHY WOULD HE DO THAT?!! What's he gonna do with that?!!

OR.
You're on a cross, dying. You've been imprisoned, beaten, humiliated and now you're dying a painful death, in public. And someone's there to collect your blood. Not to help, but to collect your blood and later even worship the vessel used. WHY WOULD THEY DO THAT?!!!

Primitive blood sacrifices (hey, have you heard of my black metal band, Easter yet?)

http://uscds.bandcamp.com/track/primitive-blood-sacrifice

I said primitive blood sacrifices have been around since forever. "The blood is the life!" Why? It's amazingly red and without it living things die. (Human thinking is very simple in many ways.) The Bible is full of instructions on how to do it and how much God loves to drink blood and smell burning flesh/ fat, and whilst it's a global phenomenon, we shall focus on Judeo-Christianity. The Angel is a sort of mockery or challenge of that tradition: it is her recycled blood that is sought after and captured for whatever religious purpose. It is her waste that is holy and beneficial and helps transcendence to divinity (or at least to being blessed. There are many philosophies that will tell you that true enlightenment comes from debasement or from contact with the lowest of the low. Hell, Buddha loved the lotus flower for it was a thing of beauty growing from shit and muck. Even my lecturer at Uni summed up life as "from shit flowers grow". Well our Angel will skip the mudplay and we shall stick with recycled blood. Blessing from below, eh wot?

Screenshot (of the shape of things to come)

When's the next one out?

I'll be hitting the printing presses this week for Issue #4, so they'll be on the shelves later this week (@ Minotaur and @ Sticky).
Look for this:

Oh dude, you got zapped!

I'm going to Japan in April, so issue #5 will come out in May. After that, the Angel will come out bi-monthly, ie: every second month. This is due to work commitments unfortunately. Making the comic takes a very long time - time I don't have because I'm off toiling to pay the rentbillsfoodfuckngggrrbbllammmmaaahhh, etc. The more comix y'all buy - the less toil I have to do so I can work on this ALL THE TIME. You likey comix or not? Buy buy buy!!!

So our schedule for this year is:

May - issue #5 - I'm planning to do a collected 1-5 book as well.
July - issue #6
Sept - issue #7
Nov - issue #8

I will also be moving the issues to the start of each month (as of #5).
I'm planning to do some other Special Eds as well, and hopefully I'll be able to punch out a bunch of other comix I did earlier - we'll see.
Here's a sneak preview of some upcoming Angel stuff:

But why is she pissing?

Let's get to the nitty-gritty about this comic that seems to kick most people about the teeth:

micturation = pissing.

Ergo, the title of this comic is The Pissing Angel.

BUT WHYYYYYY?!!!

Truth be told the title came to me years ago, when I made the original booklet this series is sort of based on (see blog post HERE ).

It just jumped into my head. I just like the sound of it. I don't even know where I learned the damn word and that's important to mention: English is a second language to me, I learnt it when I came to Australia in 1986. I was 11.

There are words I like in English purely for the sound of it, and I guess "micturating" / "micturation" is one. If you think about it, it's a wonderfully 'hard' word, a lot of consonants for an action involving fluids, ie: softs. The word almost doesn't fit, at least "piss" sounds like the deed.

Next. I grew up around hospitals/ medical equipment, so I dig medical terms.

Next. No I don't get off on chicks pissing.

Next. Pissing Angels are actually quiet common in Europe (where I'm from). You'll see them weeing in fountains, as little statues at home, as soda water dispensers, etc. My grandparents had one and I was very intrigued by the concept of a cherub/ angel (a supposedly holy critter) taking a piss - something seen as "rude"/ vulgar - yet this was supposed to be an object of humour!

" I'ma put muh dik on yo' drinkin' water!"

It's important to realise that this comic is not to be taken seriously, btw, or not TOO seriously.

Lastly, as explained in Issue #1: there's the religious connection with blood, blood-letting, blood-sacrifice, blood of Christ, bleeding Christ (in some depictions he looks like he's pissing from his ribs, hahaha!), and so on. Our Angel uses second-hand blood, ie: piss to baptise or whatever it is she uses it for.

It's important for her to do this as she is The Outsider and therefore must shock. She can not make friends with "nice", but must rock their world in order to open their eyes.

And if I offended you, oh I'm sorry...

But maybe you need to be offended

But here's my apology and one more thing...fuck you!

"Can't Bring Me Down" - Suicidal Tendencies

And so on and so forth.

Any questions?

Reviews, kind words, etc - people who like "The Micturating Angel"

Dear Xtian:Just wanted to tell you that I enjoyed very much your delightfully scabrous micturating angels in Hydrolith 2!All best,

Sasha Vlad

The above was an email sent to yours truly by a fine Surrealist and it warmed the cockles of my heart. Please, everyone start referring to the Angel as a "delightfully scabrous" comic! 

I've also come across some other reviews/ recommendations on this here Interwebs, so here we go:

from Surrealismo Internacional [surrint.blogspot.com.au], a Spanish blog dedicated to all things Surrealism, we find a review of Hydrolith #2, the anthology wherein the first issue of this comic was published last year (see earlier entry HERE).

Quote:

"Among the many illustrations, with a predominance of collages and drawings, but also paintings and digital works, I can only highlight some preferences:  ...[a] very original comic [by] Xtian, Melbourne, entitled The micturating [sic] Angel , "fairy science and erotic" in which he systematically involved with a fun result, on some figures to George Levis, narrating the stories of girls Bella Hayley, Molly, Gaby and Lucinda-all a discovery that makes us want to do the same with many bookmarks, or even indifferent comics (in these, the improvement would be obvious)."
(I translated this with Google...)
See original article HERE. 

The reviewer also posts a page from the comic, which I'm very happy about.

I had to google who Georges Levis was - a flattering comparison I have to say (THIS should give you some idea - oh and the link is NSFW, ooo-err).

Our third and last (for now) kind champion (David Nadeau) is from Canada. His  blog is also devoted to Surrealism, is called présence du surréalisme [surrealismeactuel.blogspot.com.au] and we find a simple recommendation of a T-shirt related to the Angel (one of the Secret Chiefs designs - huh? what? click HERE ).

To these people I say 

THANK YOU.

Feedback, reviews and recommendations are most welcome. Whilst I don't expect anyone "to get" what I'm doing with this comic (9 times outta 10 I donno either), it's great to see people connecting (positively) with it.

EXCELSIOR!