I had this piece commissioned by Austin Rogers of Redbeard Comics. He did an excellent job, well he really exceeded my expectations because I was just planning on him drawing Mordecai and Rigby saying one of their catchphrases. Making them Green Arrow and Green Lantern was him going beyond the call of duty. A loving tribute to Neal Adams being at the convention! For non-comic book types, Neal was the main penciller on an influential run with writer Dennis O’Neill in the Seventies when DC tried to bring modern social issues (racism, poverty, overpopulation, etc.) into comics.
My friend Steve does this work too so I knew how to politely ask. We agreed on the characters, a full-body drawing and I think color. The rest I said, “You’re the artist, I leave the rest up to you. You’re the talented one.” I’ve overheard numerous people micromanage the artists which is uncool.
This fun mash-up has an awesome anecdote to it.
While Somara and I were killing time, probably waiting for my Star Trek:NG photo op, we walked through the artists section. She was showing off this bitchin’ Adventure Time print by another person I was receiving for Christmas (it’s rather large, trying to get it photographed) but she knew I’d love it since it involved the Business Men. As we went by the Redbeard booth, I overheard Austin and his friend imitating the Regular Show duo’s “Whooooooooaaaaaaa!” I couldn’t resist, I went back and said, “Yeauh!” We all laughed since we knew we were fans of Regular Show…Somara hates it. Hey, I try to congregate with anyone else who likes it whenever I can, I’m often the odd-man out when hanging with my regular clique.
Meanwhile, from the corner of my eye, I noticed a huge man leaving Austin’s booth and surprising my memory was working at peak efficiency for it was comedian/voice actor Brian Posehn! I was hoping he’d come by the con due to him performing at the comedy club over the same weekend. I grabbed Somara, said, that’s Brian Posehn dear, the Business Man! She quickly intercepted Brian, said, “Mr. Posehn can you sign this for my husband so I don’t have to stalk you for the next couple hours?” He obliged, probably found the statement funny. I said hello as well, mentioned we met a few years ago…I was the guy in the Metallica shirt…d’oh! Smooth.
Afterwards I thanked Austin and discussed this commission as a thank-you gift to him. Again he did an incredible job. I plan to hunt down more of his comics and I lobby Rogues Gallery to bring him to their Summer Awesome Fest.
I’m going to get a nice frame to hang this at work and I think Austin should pitch this to Teefury or Woot as a design.