Periplanta americana
Isn’t it just disgusting? Just LOOK at that bastard!
That Kal-Drak’s a Swell Guy
Kal-Drak is back in a dimension near you to EXTERMINATE some periplanta thorax! Some say that he basques in the notes of Chopin while he roasts the poor bastards.
Video of Speed Sketch here
Pixelated Flyer Goodness
Who says comic books can’t work as video games?
As a matter of fact, they’re perfect for it! Granted, there’s been a slew of games based on comic book characters that have been terrible, but that’s besides the point.
Moving on…
Check out this sweet box art design Lt. Ryan “Meat Hooks” Hubert did for a little known game featuring our hero, Kal-Drak, on one of his zany adventures!
Nintendo Approved!
Gotta love it!
— Adm. Dr. “Ace”
Goodbye July…
Putting a show together is a wonderful thing.
For the most part, most people never really get to see how an art exhibit is put together. You might think: “Who cares?”
WE DO!
The Challengers of the Unknown are working ’round the clock to create a space that is welcoming for you!
Luckily, our “live appearances” are just the remedy! Those of you in the know can witness the creation of something beautiful every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in the GC Gallery. It’s been a slow buildup, but the show is in full swing now and really putting the pedal to the metal, my friends.
Just check out some sweet art by Lt. Wen-Ju “The Warhammer” C.:
Now with.. SQUIGGLE POWER!!!
Join Us!!!
— Adm. Dr. “Ace”
Look Above! It’s a Fly-By!
Because we know you can’t get enough of them, here’s some more wondrous flyer designs from the crew! These here images come courtesy by way of Lt. Ryan “Meat Hooks” Hubert and Lt. Oliver ” The Squirrel” Perez, respectively.
Sublime!
Epic!
More flyers and behind-the-scenes stuff should be coming down the pike!
‘Til then brave Challengers!
— Adm. Dr. “Ace”
And it Continues…
For those of you hip to the inter-web, this show is now connected to the Facebook!
It’s all part of a necessary step in the conquest of you, the public’s, admiration.
Pics available on our Facebook page are an image by Lt. Alex “Balboa” Ferrer and Cdr. Eric “The Eradicator” Gonzalez. Here they are, respectively, for good measure:
DRAGO!!!
Get Thrizzled!
If you haven’t passed by to see the humble beginnings of the show yet, your missing out on life! So, join us as we venture through the ifinitum!
We can’t do it without you!
— Adm. Dr. “Ace”
Sneak Peak x 2
Double-whammy!
Here’s some images of Kal-Drak, the inter-dimensional hopping “tour guide” of the Challengers of the Unknown show, as envisioned by two of the artists. Again, each of the artist’s art styles within the pieces they produce for the show is a different dimension for Kal-Drak to explore. Kal-Drak is a witness to the multiple possibilities comic books have to offer!
First up:
Lt. Ryan “Meat Hooks” Hubert’s version of Kal-Drak.
Loc-Nar-liscious!
And
Lt. Alex “Balboa” Ferrer’s version of Kal-Drak.
Oh, yeaaah!
— Adm. Dr. Ace
Day 3 Recap
July 9th, 2010
The Challengers trudged through their first slow Friday with spirits low and beaten, but nowhere near broken! Together, the artistic team’s unified perseverance, emblazoned with the fiery aura of the human spirit, culled valiant efforts from all around. Like hell-hounds on the prowl, the artists worked tirelessly at their tables, unaware that the ink they whirled about them in feverish pace was actually marking their territory!
BUT…!
DO NOT FEAR!
For these artists are kind and gentle beasts, stirred by an inner fire that can only be found in the most passionate of creatures! Approach with caution!
They are voyagers on the endless journey.
Their quest? — To the heart of comic books, themselves. A beloved medium, that is often times disparaged by the fine arts world. With your support, dear public, the Challengers of the Unknown will bridge the gap!
Below, a detail of the kinds of tribulations the Challengers faced Friday, while they worked for our mutual enlightenment!
True?
(Actually, nowhere near as bad. Everyone’s been really cool with us being in the Gallery space, and we can’t thank them enough for their cooperation. Real team effort here! The “carpet shampoo machine” was just cast off to the side while we worked. Heck, we ended up taking off early that day, anyway. This does make us look real cool, though…)
— Adm. Dr. Ace
Sneak Peak!
Here’s a sneak peak at some sweet art done by Lt. Cmdr. Danielle “The Destroyer” del Riego!
Kal-Drak with a sailor hat!
Be on the prowl for special edition flyers coming your way!
Each of the artists participating in the Challengers of the Unknown show will be contributing a unique flyer done in their own style. More sneak peaks will be posted here!
Day 1 Recap
Success!
A challenge was poised! And the challenge was met!
The live action portion of the Challengers show got rolling around 1 PM amidst the hustle and bustle of FIU’s Graham Center. At the center of the Gallery, itself, stood the sturdy tables of fierce artists feverish at work! They’re dynamic display an AWESOME sight!
It’s always fun to do a “live performance” in a public area — you never know how people are going to react. Luckily, we drummed up some passerby interest that was enough to satiate our little egos. The whole set-up’s really cool, too, because we’ve turned the gallery space into a mini- comic book convention.
Our live sessions will be Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays throughout July, but don’t be surprised to encounter us on just about any day of the week. We’re there all day and special items are on sale, as well, so check it out!
My rendition of Captain America led the charge in conquering the emptiness of the Gallery wall! Check it out!
Onward to Victory!
As the show continues, more artwork will go on display. Stay tuned!
— Adm. Dr. “Ace”
THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS!
Greetings Challengers!
Fearless leader, Adm. Dr. “Ace,” here!
Roll call! (Say your name out loud)
Tomorrow is the beginning of one of the most wondrous experiences to ever occur in your lifetime! Like the violent chaos of a billion stars going super-nova at once or the tender beauty of microscopic organisms swapping juices to initiate evolution, you are in for a treat!
Stop on by FIU’s GC Art Gallery this Wednesday (July 7th) to witness creation at its finest, as a courageous group of artists (the Challengers of the Unknown!) ravage through multiple dimensions to get to the true essence of comic books! Look for appearances by Kal-Drak, the eponymous hero of this adventure, as he needs you… and you need him…!
So, meet the team and see art in the making!
We’ll be there all day.
Stay tuned for more posts!
Signing off!
— Adm. Dr. “Ace”
The Aftermath
So one thing that has always fascinated me is fear. ESPECIALLY an irrational fear. Who’s afraid of roaches out there? What’s that?! YOU are?! amazing, so I can skip the introduction.
Let’s just post a pic here to get acquainted with our mutual friend:
Ahhhh. Relief. There we go.
Now, seeing how fear of this thing is so irrational ( I actually got freaked out looking at just the image of it) I thought it would be funny to turn the tables here and make a world where roaches are the ones who have evolved technologically. They live in houses, watch tv with their families and eat their microwave dinners, go to work and have barbecues. On the other team, humans take on the roles of our mutual friend by living inside the cracks, scavenging for food, scattering when the light comes on, and overpopulating the planet through foul mating. Honestly have you ever seen roaches mate? (More disgusting actions to come!!)
So There’s the roach focus, which I see as this suburban lifestyle, with a middle class American roach family, talking about their lives. Then THEY have this irrational fear of humans, who are much smaller than them and live in the walls. The roaches routinely flee the room at the sight of these small creatures. Very funny stuff.
On the human side, we zoom in on their life, which has become very dark and primitive. As this side of the narrative can have a very dark tone, this can easily be a seperate panel. This is where Kal-Drak will make his entrance as the “saviour” of human race. Like all the other humans, he is much smaller than our mutual friend. NEED I show that image again?!? just LOOK at that beast!
Kal-Drak entering the world where humans lost the evolutionary war:
Enter Kal-Drak
Dr. Carlos “Ace” Folgar says:
Challengers!
Last time we met, the world was on the brink of chaos! Luckily, our collective minds have staved off devastation this time, BUT… our duty isn’t over yet!
As we discussed at the last meeting, the show will incorporate a loose narrative in the form of an outside character traveling across different dimensions. The different dimensions will be our own distinctive art styles. This character, Kal-Drak the Challenger, is a “Kirby-esque” (that’s Jack “THE KING” Kirby!) explorer engaged in the limitless possibilities comics have to offer as an art form. Attached is how I envisioned the character (let’s see how you envision him!).
Please, continue to explore the ideas you want to express in your artwork. Do not feel bogged down by this narrative. It’s just a means to connect everything without being to restrictive. If anything, Kal-Drak’s presence should enhance the experience for the viewer, since he will serve as a guide through an often misunderstood medium. Now, it’s not that the character’s aware he’s in a comic book, that’s something our comic-inspired artwork should already communicate on its own. Again, you may or may not incorporate Kal-Drak in your individual piece. That’s entirely up to you!
Challengers of the Unknown 