Super Real

ComicStripFan.Com

Super Real, by Jason Martin

Super Real is a really cool webcomic by Jason Martin with a very interesting premise. It basically chronicles a reality show, with the stars being five "normal" people who have their physical abilities genetically enhanced, thus endowing them with "comic book hero" type powers. Although it's still a relatively new webcomic, I have quickly become a fan and I really like Jason's art style.

Here's Jason's creative process, in his own words (the art that he describes is pictured later on this page):

"I usually start out with notes in a word document as ideas pop into my head. For example, here are the notes for the panel you've selected -

" � (12/04) Follow the boardroom scene by the single page recap, that features the 4 participants from the 'final preparations' scene all at their airport departures. Perhaps Warren's is horizontal and the other 3 vertical with Mike's in the middle. Warren's is him outside the departure terminal with palm trees and an appropriate Miami sunset. Mike's is him toting a huge bag (a big black duffle bag with all his stuff crammed in), in jeans and flip flops, since he's in warm and dry New Mexico.

"Those were the notes for the sequence your panel with Shana came from. As you can see, she wasn't even mentioned in the notes.

"From there I may add additional notes under the script header, as scenes begin to form more in my mind (or as they come to me straight in script form).

"In the case of this panel with Shana, nothing was formally scripted. I knew 4 of the 5 cast members were to be shown making their way to the show, with the 5th cast member having an actual few pages of story. Shana's was to be one of the four panels (as Kit didn't get any focus in the previous chapter, she would be featured with the pages of story).

"So, as is usually the case, I start doing roughs, or thumbnails. Working out how the scene will play out. In this case I wanted to do something with Shana and airport security, but as the pages came together, and as I looked for photo reference, I ended up just using a shot of her at the terminal.

"So in this case, the panel was to utilize a photo background, which means I only have to draw the character. Yay! Here, I drew Shana in the pose I wanted, with luggage in tow, and fit the background to it. The photo I ended up using is actually from LAX, where the scene takes place.

"As you can see from the notes above, and some of the roughs, this scene took on different possible outcomes, but ended up being incorporated into the 'epilogue' scene with Kit, and breaking out into two separate pages, instead of one page with all four panels (as originally envisioned). This was because I couldn't make the four shots fit in one page, so I wrote the Kit plane scene around the other character shots, which I think wound up in a nice capper to the first issue.

"Also of note, I redid the cover art of issue one so that each character's outfits matched what they're wearing at the end of the issue. In the case of Shana, she was originally in a black tank top, with black shoes, that was changed to a yellow t-shirt and yellow shoes (as seen in the finished version of the panel provided)."

Check out some of Jason's incredible art below!

Example of Super Real original art by Jason Martin. These are the pencil roughs for Jason's original idea of Shana going through airport security.

Example of Super Real original art by Jason Martin. These are the pencil roughs for Jason's revised idea of picturing individual panels of the characters instead of Shana with airport security.

Example of Super Real original art by Jason Martin. These are the pencil roughs for the final shot of Shana on the last page of the epilogue of issue 1.

Example of Super Real original art by Jason Martin. These are further refined pencil roughs of the final shot of Shana on the last page of the epilogue of issue 1.

Example of Super Real original art by Jason Martin. These are the final pencils of the shot of Shana on the last page of the epilogue of issue 1. Beautiful artwork.

Here's the final version of the Shana panel, shown here with Jason's permission (thanks, Jason!). Copyright Jason Martin.

Here's the final version of the entire page, shown here with Jason's permission. Copyright Jason Martin.

An absolutely incredible specialty sketch by Jason of the Super Real girls on the beach in Hawaii. There's even a cooler and an iPod! What a beautiful piece; thanks, Jason!

Signed letter from Jason describing his creative process for Super Real.

Super Real 2004 San Diego Comic Con "Preview Broadcast". As described on Jason's site, "a full size, 24 page, color cover, black and white interior preview of the upcoming first issue! 19 pages of story plus character bios for each of the five participants." This issue had a print run of only 300 copies.

Super Real November 2004 Larry's Comics Preview Edition. As described on Jason's site, "a full size, 24 page, color cover, black and white interior preview of the upcoming first issue! 17 pages of story, plus character bios for each of the five participants, and more!" This issue was made for a New England show promotion, and had a print run of only 1,000 copies.

Super Real 2005 Wizard World Los Angeles Sketch Cover preview issue. This version had a print run of only 25 copies, and features an incredible sketch of Holly complete with a ComicStripFan.com t-shirt, signed and inscribed by Jason. Awesome.

A Super Real promotional card.

Go and check out Super Real for yourself by clicking on the link below!