Group shot! Another cover concept of C.O.G. This was surprisingly the most difficult to color because each character has their own color scheme and I needed to to unify it. This also features characters not appearing on other covers before: Mrs. Applegarth, Pruitt & oh so sexy Dr. Cavendish.
C.O.G. Cover - The Rescue
The cover pencils and layout for issue #5. This was the most simple but it was probably one of the most fun. It gave me the opportunity to draw a lot oc characters I haven’t been able to before now, like Pyott & Pruitt. The art nouveau frame was something I created on a whim while doing the pencils.
This is the pencils and layout of Issue #3’s cover. Generally, after I have a layout I’m happy with, I scan it into the computer and then blow it up to actual drawing sise, which in this case was 11″ X 17″. Then I would very loosely and lightly trace my initial layout on the page as a very rough, and I do mean rough, underdrawing for my pencils.
This is the Pencils and Layout of the cover for Issue #2. As you can see I switched the two versions of Myles on either side. I did this, so that Myles in his gentlemanly attire would have the more prominent portion of his apparatus. I did the layout while I was out and about and mistakenly thought it was on the other side.
Now it’s Eddie Youngblood’s turn to take the spotlight.
Eddie was born a gutter rat. His mother (now dead) was a whore from Leith, the port city outside of Edinburgh. He speaks with a pronounced brogue that is more street than highlander. He is only 14 when our tale starts and he has been in Dr. Beaumont’s service for the last 2. How he came about the position of henchmen to the sniveling Beaumont is a mystery. Eddie is extremely bright and a brilliant inventor with natural talent. The staff he carries was created by him and has a number of functions, all of which even his master doesn’t know. He as a certain level of contempt for Beaumont, but he sees it as a means to an end. He has a particular venom for Myles Ballantyne, the other young brilliant mind of his age who was born with everything and Eddie nothing.
Eddie was originally NOT supposed to be in these initial design pin-ups but I liked his design so much that I added him anyway.
Here is Mrs Applegarth in her full color glory.
Mrs Applegarth was made a widow at a very early age and still wears black to symbolize her grief and her desire to never marry again. She also lost a son when he was a still a toddler. She is a native to Scotland, and it actually from a very rural highland area. She speaks with a profound scottish brogue. She is in her 50’s and has worked for the Ballantynes for almost 20 years in some capacity or another. She was initially brought in as a nurse to tend Myles’s mother during her pregnancy. She is currently Myles’s housekeeper and primary “babysitter.” She treats him more motherly than the usual servant/master relationship typical of their differing station. She also runs the Fortress’s day in, day out affairs. She is the one that Delyth is entrusted too when she is brought to Myles’s home. Mrs. Applegarth is unaware of Delyth’s secrets. Then again, Mrs. Applegarth has secrets of her own.
Incidentally, Mrs. Applegarth was one of the hardest to design. Her color scheme eluded me and she really didn’t come alive until I started coloring her. She’a a mix of black with grey and purples. Lavender was considered “Half-morning” for a long time, however it was also a color adopted by the suffragettes.
This is Eddie’s blade which doubles as brass knuckles of sorted. It was specifically designed to cause maximim damage. It’s not a nice weapon. Eddie rarely uses it, but when he does he means business. It works on a similar principle as a switchblade.
This is the Apple Carver Machine AKA the Runaway machine. This is a rather shabby machine made by another inventor that is used by the villains as an impromptu weapon against Myles & Co.
The Apple Carver Machine
The Runaway Machine
Today I’m happy to show you Rosejack’s Whip-sword! This weapon is one of Myles’s more ingenius weapons. Both the whip and sword retract into the hilt for easy storage. Done in Rosejack’s signature red, it’s gold plated for finesse. It also sports my love of tassels. The whip is the primary, and Rosejack’s preferred, function of the weapon. Not seen here is that the weapon gan electrify causing more damage. However, once the whip function is no longer desired, the whip portion pops off and the sword extends out. The sword too, can electrify, if there is enough energy left after the whip.
Rosejack's Whip-Sword
C.O.G. Chronicles - The Graphic Novel 