I started working on this kind of stuff in 1966 at the age of ten. I used Bic pen and crayons then. IÂ used to draw by hand as far as characters and settings. I began with what I thought of as realistic science fiction stories around 12 years old. I did a superhero type of character based on Batman for a short time during my childhood but it wasn't really my style. The mythical type fantasy characters so common in todays movies are not really my style either. I always liked doing real people as fictional characters. An example being a graphic novel series I did a few years back about the near future of human spaceflight. I think of my characters as ordinary people in extraordinary situations, though some are flambouyant characters.
Me and my Brother used to collaborate on this stuff until the late 1970s when we went into our respective careers. I was active at drawing these comic or graphic novels from 1966 to 1985 or 86. I got into computer graphics in 1993 with an Amiga 2000 and Newtek Video Toaster. I resumed the graphic novel activity in 1998 mainly to keep busy. Although a few of my 3D images were published in the now defunct VTU magazine, I've never had any sustained professional success. These days, I collaborate on occassion with my best friend who writes childrens short stories.Â
There are times when I wish I had done mythical fantasy or superhero characters. In any case, I just like to tell a story in graphic novel format.
Comments (3)
ronmolina
Well done!
Bambam131
What I can't understand is to why the moon is in the position that you show it. Where is the Apollo spacecraft and lander heading too? Since this has to be before landing should not the spacecraft be heading towards the moon and not have the moon off to the side as you show it? This shows the ship as if it was heading somewhere else as you show the spacecraft passing the moon and not heading towards it. Just a thought..............other wise nice Apollo spacecraft and lander. Cheers................
ljdean
Good eye, I try to make my NASA scenes as realistic as possible including positioning and scale, and I sometimes wonder if anyone will notice which in this case, you did. Technically, I should not show the stars due to the brightness of the moon and spacecraft which means a short exposure time on the camera. Of course, there was no camera to get a shot like this and I used a little artistic license to show the stars. The moon is positioned some 15,000 to 20,000 miles from the camera and is a full sized (2,200 mile diam) 3D model of mine which is just a globe with an image map. The Command Service Module/Lunar Module (CSM/LM) direction of flight shown here is actually towards the moon. The nice thing about spaceflight is your craft can be at any attitude relative to its flight path as long as your not firing the Service Propulsion System (SPS, bell nozzle on right side). This would be impossible within the atmosphere of Earth or amy world with an atmosphere. Typically, the CSM/LM would face LM towards the moon and do what is known as a barbecue roll to evenly distribute the solar heating on the spacecraft hull. In order for me to have the moon in the shot and have a decent view of the spacecraft combo...I show the CSM/LM attitude that would be the result of the yaw maneuver that turns the SPS towards the moon for eventual Lunar Orbital Insertion (LOI).