043: Bite-Tusi – Dracula by Ray Fawkes

Dracula doing the Batusi by Ray Fawkes

‘Tusi #: 043

Artist:  Ray Fawkes
Subject: Dracula
Date: April 18, 2009
Location: Hobbystar’s Fan Appreciation Show, Metro Convention Centre (South), Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Note(s): I had come to know Ray as primarily a writer (Vertigo’s “Mnemovore” and Oni Press’  “The Apocalipstix”) but he also self-published book called “Pink” in which he was both writer and artist.  Still it was a pleasant surprise to see him sketching and painting at a recent con.  I’m glad he agreed to add to the collection with an amazing take on Dracula.

Please check out his new online comic for Tor.com called “Black Strings”.

054: Super-Tusi Two by Diana Tamblyn

Superman Doing The Batusi by Diana Tamblyn

‘Tusi #054

Artist: Diana Tamblyn
Subject: Superman
Date: May 8, 2009
Location: London, Ontario, Canada

Note(s): The newest addition to the DTB theme collection comes from Diana Tamblyn and I’m debating on whether it should be Superboy or Superman.  Also thought provoking is a detail that caught my immediate attention:  Superman/boy’s hands.  I almost positive that those hands are identical to the hands that Seth drew on my Wimbledon Green DTB sketch (to be posted later).

I keep copies of some of Diana’s mini-comics on my desktop at work.  When my co-workers find out that she used to work for our company they generally pick one up.  Bankers aren’t generally known for their taste in comic books but since “THERE YOU WERE” and “THE ROSIE STORIES” seem to have the most wear and tear it can be assumed they know their stuff, right? 

010: Demon-Tusi I by Terry Beatty

The Demon Etrigan Doing The Batusi by Terry Beatty

‘Tusi #: 010

Artist:  Terry Beatty
Subject: The Demon Etrigan
Date: September 17, 2008
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.A.

Note(s):  The first Demon Etrigan DTB sketch came from Terry Beatty way back in September/08.  Terry had announced that he was opening up his commission list and being a fan of his Ms Tree book back in the 80′s, I jumped on the opportunity.  A great example of an artist having fun with the theme.

044: Demon-Tusi II by Jeff Lemire

The Demon Etrigan by Jeff Lemire

‘Tusi #: 044

Artist:  Jeff Lemire
Subject: The Demon Etrigan
Date: April 18, 2009
Location: Hobbystar’s Fan Appreciation Show, Metro Convention Centre (South), Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Note(s): They say the 3rd time is the charm and in this case it was true.  This was my third attempt to arrange a sketch with Jeff at a show.  The first 2 I had been so busy helping out that I never really got a chance to ask him for a sketch.

I shouldn’t have been surprised when I saw that he had chosen the Demon Etrigan as the subject for his DTB sketch.  I had leafed through a portfolio of Jeff’s earlier and saw a number of sketches of Jack Kirby created characters.  Looking at the drawing you can’t help but wonder how awesome a Jeff Lemire The Demon series would be, no?

Jeff Lemire with Etrigan