WHY BYRON VAUGHNS' STYLE AFTER KUNKEL?

When it was last written and drawn by Kunkel, “Billy Batson and the Magic of Shazam” was illustrated in a cartoony, zany, animated style. As you know by now, my main background is in animation and I wanted to continue Kunkel’s cartoony thread. BLAKE M. PETIT Of comixtreme.com http://www.comixtreme.com/forums/showthread.php?t=48133 summed it up well in his review when he wrote, “Byron Vaughns does a very solid job on the artwork here. Rather than trying to imitate Kunkel’s really unique style, he crafts his own very animated depiction of the characters. The book is very fluid, with a lot of energy in the artwork that serves the story well.” Although my style is a bit more exaggerated than Kunkel’s,  I felt it was in keeping with the same vein and would be a nice transition for the comic book. Thus, Billy Batson and the magic of Shazam #5 came into existence and the mystery has begun to unfold ...but there is always more to come.....
Stay tuned...

FIRST PAGE OF BILLY BATSON AND THE MAGIC OF SHAZAM #5

WRITERS: Art Baltazar & Franco, ARTIST: Byron Vaughns,

INKS: Ken Branch, LETTERER: Swands, COLORIST: David Tanguay

(Click on Images to Enlarge)

This is a rough pencil of the bridge on the first page of Billy Batson #5. Several sketches of backgrounds may be drawn before adding characters.

These are rough pencils of an alternate first page of Billy Baton #5.  You never know at the beginning...how it ends...

HOW I CAME TO WORK ON “SHAZAM” Continued

Welcome back folks to another installment of Byron Vaughns “Shazam Blog”. When we last met, you discovered that the current DC Comics Executive Editor, Dan Di Dio, in search of an artist for the “Billy Batson and the Magic of Shazam (BB&MS) comic book asked “yours truly” to pencil and ink the adventures of Captain Marvel. My background has been primarily in the animation industry as a “cartoony” storyboard artist/producer/director. I have worked on a few “straight” productions, (not many) and the amount of time to execute such an assignment was quite short. I had occasionally worked in comic books, but not on a regular schedule. However, the challenge was irresistible; and in the past I enjoyed working with Dan. I decided due to the tight time constraints, I agreed to do only the pencils for BB&MS no. 5. For future issues, I promised to do pencils and inks and what a ride it has been! What kind of ride?….a great one. Well I’m sure you all know that previously Jeff Smith and Mike Kunkel lent their styles to the good captain. My approach was a bit…different. Tune in next time….

HOW I CAME TO WORK ON “SHAZAM”

After working in a multitude of creative cartoonist positions, I ended up employed for Hanna Barbera Productions (you know, the “Jonny Quest/Scooby-Doo” people). During my tenure as Producer there, I was involved with ABC network’s children’s division working on the animated television series, “Dumb & Dumber”, and guess who was ABC’s General Manager? Why none other than the multi-talented nice guy (and future DC Comics Executive Editor) Dan Di Dio (yes he has two last names). After that series ended, I moved on to Cartoon Network’s “Johnny Bravo” to produce and co-develop the series with the creator Van Partible. Dan eventually left California and went on to DC Comics in New York. Years later, when Dan needed help on BB&MS, he called me out of the blue and wanted to know if I was available to pencil and ink issue #5. Would I?…..You bet I was available……to be continued……………..

THE MANY ARTISTS OF CAPTAIN MARVEL

I know that Captain Marvel has intrigued readers for many years, and this newer version is certainly creating interest in the comics community. As you know, Captain Marvel has gone through many changes by different artists, ranging from C.C. Beck (the original co-creator), Simon & Kirby, Nick Cardy, Ernie Chan, Kurt Schaffenberger, Tom Mandrake, Don Newton, Rich Buckler and Alan Weiss to newcomers Jeff Smith and Mike Kunkel. Today’s version brings us up to my version of Billy Batson/Captain Marvel. To be continued.......

(Click on artwork for larger, detailed view)

Billy Batson issue #5

ARTIST: Byron Vaughns,

 INKS: Ken Branch,

COLORIST: David Tanguay

CARL SCHWANKE OF BOYS RULE BOYS READ BLOG FIRST FOLLOWER OF BYRON VAUGHNS SHAZAM BLOG

Carl Schwanke (The Carlman) who helps run the "Boys Rule Boys Read Blog" (http://jaja-cas.blogspot.com/2009/07/mario-kart-shazam-and-star-wars-nuff.html with Darth Bill and Master Jedi Zack located in at the Imaginon/Spangler Children's Library, Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County. (A place for boys to find terrific books and tell other boys about great reading.)

I received this email from Carl Schwanke on Thursday, October 1, 2009 11:33:24 AM To: ABOUT BYRON VAUGHNS bvaughnsshazam@sbcglobal.net
Hey Byron,
This is Carl from the Boys Read blog ). Bill and I were were excited to get your comment (“Thanks for the great review of Billy Batson and the Magic of Shazam #5. Issue #8 has recently been released and I hope you enjoy it” ) and have not only published it with the original review but also included it in the latest post on the blog….. Bill (who did the original review ) said your comment made his day. He also says that many people have tried to do Shazam but you're the only one who's gotten it. The library has subscribed to Billy Batson and we're realy looking forward to issue # 8. The issues we have stay checked out! 
BY THE WAY, CARL WAS BORN IN MEMPHIS TOO! JUST LIKE ME!

Darth Bill wrote on http://jaja-cas.blogspot.com/
Man, this is too cool. Thanks for writing in. I really enjoy your work and the kids here love the book. I know I and others look forward to more of your work. You Rock!!!!

Welcome

Salutations and Howdy, Folks! Excuse my overt greetings, but, being from the South (Arkansas, that it is), I thought that I would open the first installment of this “Shazam!” missive in a friendly, down home manner. Welcome to my Shazam blog; hope you like it because this blog is really your blog! What are your interests regarding the good Captain? How often have you followed his adventures? What would you like to discuss? Feel free to respond, I am very much interested in your comments!