Welcome back to the second installment of “DEAD DUCK RISING”! Here’s your trivia fix for this episode:
- The title “DEAD DUCK RISING” is in reference to the movie “HANNIBAL RISING” (2007), which was a prequel to “SILENCE OF THE LAMBS” (1991) and told the origin of the serial killer Hannibal Lecter.
- Thus far, this is the only story I’ve done that’s shown any frontal nudity (Zombie Chick’s nipples may be well defined silhouettes, but they’re always covered up). You will, however, see plenty of bare butts in upcoming “Dead Duck” stories.
- The “wench” is a loving tribute to the work of cartoonist Vaughn Bode (1941-1975), whose art has always been a huge influence to me. His work was risque, and he popularized the “Bode Babe”, which was a voluptuous maiden such as I drew here.
- Looking at this page now, I’m half inclined to do a prequel story involving J.P.’s adventures with the Wench. She was a lot of fun to draw and write, and as you’ll read in the next episode, is really good at riling him up.
- You’ll notice yet another reference to Janis Joplin (the first seen on the previous page), one of my favorite musicians. I love referencing art that influences me, which should be more than obvious by now.
- I was particularly happy with how this splash page turned out. I genuinely enjoy landscape paintings, but have never felt I was particularly good at them. So when I’m able to pull off a scene like this, I feel like I’m growing as an artist. Plus, there’s the added satisfaction of knowing I drew this entirely from my imagination rather than just drawing what’s in front of me, which most landscape artists rely upon.
- This story laid the groundwork for how I imagined the afterlife–when you die, your personal beliefs dictate where you go. But because I ran this story out of sequence, it may seem like I’m just repeating myself, as these afterlife factoids have been mentioned on at least one other occasion already.
Catch you on the next page!
–Jay
1. Since we have a Bode’-inspired babe, is there the chance of our seeing J.P. kick a duck-billed lizard in the balls down the road?
2. Ta foidah sweeten yer Janis reference, you be paraphrasing her cover of the Gershwin Bros tune from Porgy and Bess.
Though it was never my intention in designing Dead Duck, I think he looks similar enough to the Bode lizards that any abuse heaped upon him by J.P. (particularly getting his nads slammed by the scythe handle in “Soul Taker’s Apprentice”) could be taken as Bode inspiration!
And you’re absolutely right–”Porgy and bess” originated the tune, and I should have mentioned them even before Janis. My wife, a Musical Theater major and recent Master of Theater Arts recipient, will never forgive me! =0)
If the afterlife theory holds, that means I’m going to wind up in a Canadian suburb.
Used to chase around with a girl who has marble etching nipples. Now you know why I wear glasses. Remember kids, always wear eye protection.
Always liked Bode’s Cobalt60 comic. Very, very weird stuff.
No doubt I’ll end up in Toronto, Patrick!
And here’s where there’s a conflict of influences for me: I love Bode’s work, and I love Bakshi’s work. The two were friends for a time in the late 60′s/early 70′s. But they had a falling out just before Bode died, and much of what you see in Bakshi’s “Wizards” (particularly in the characters of Peace, Avatar, and the inept soldiers in gas masks) were close approximations to Bode’s characters, Cobalt 60 and Cheech Wizard. Vaughn’s son Mark has continually lambasted Bakshi in articles for “stealing” his father’s work. And here I sit conflicted, loving both creators and their creations equally. It’s like a kid in the middle of a divorce being forced to choose a favorite parent!
You certainly succeeded in the background on this one. I noticed it immediately — right after I got my eyes to stray from the Bar Wench. The vertical format is a fun departure, and works beautifully.
Vaughn Bode is a name I haven’t heard in eons. I was never exactly a fan, but enjoyed the humor as sort of a guilty pleasure.
If a reader can appreciate the background while managing to get his eyes unglued from the bar wench, then I must have done something right!