The Parade: Part II, Under the Mason Bridge

Continued from The Parade: Part I, Skipping School

The Parade
Part II

Under the Mason Bridge

Jackie sat on a bench at the edge of the park and watched the cars move through downtown Rivercross.  They zigzagged like confused ants, disappearing behind trees and buildings then reappearing moments later in a new direction.  A breeze knocked bright orange leaves loose from nearby trees.  They danced across her field of vision like bits of flame and floated away down the hillside.

Her tears had finally passed.  She held the brown bag tightly in her grip.  She had shoved the test stick in with the packaging.  She almost threw it all in the trashcan nearby but found that as she approached she couldn't release the bag.  She still had not decided if she was going to tell Sam.  She didn't know what she was going to do at all.  Jackie watched the clouds stretch themselves across the sky like cotton candy.

The Parade: Part I, Skipping School

The Parade 
Part I

October 30th, Skipping School

Jackie pedaled her bike out of the parking lot and away from school.  She glanced over her shoulder to make sure no one had seen her leave.  Her last class was a free period and she wouldn't be missed, but she didn't want to take any chances.  Rivercross High disappeared behind a bank of trees as she rounded the curve and sped towards downtown. She turned at the next intersection to avoid Main street.  She didn't want to be seen by anyone who might tell her dad.  Doris over at the Style Shop had ratted her out when she had skipped class before and she just couldn't deal with that extra stress today.

She bought the test from Maureen at Norris grocery on her way to school.  She knew that Maureen would keep her secret.  She sold Jackie cigarettes sometimes.  The test was wrapped in a brown paper bag deep in her backpack.  She would go to the park for some privacy and then she would know.  If she got to the park before three she could get home before four-thirty and her mom and dad wouldn't be suspicious.  She angled her bike onto Myers boulevard and towards the Mason bridge.

Saturday Sketch: Lord Pumpkin

Lord Pumpkin was a villain from the now defunct Malibu comics Ultraverse.  I've never read any stories with him in them, but how could I resist the devilish figure of mayhem he presents!

{2.5x3.5,  created in Adobe Photoshop}

I claim no copyright for the properties represented in the Saturday Sketches.  All copyrights and trademarks are retained by their respective owners.  I make no money from what I am presenting here.  It is presented for portfolio and appreciation purposes only.

From The Archives: Devil May Care

Here's an older quick sketch of a devilish character.  My original intent for the character was as a rogue hero or a villain.  That may still happen.  I have several stories that he would fit nicely into.

{8x5.75,  Graphite}

Featured Creature: Chornehbanku

Excerpted from Marge Hollander's Digest of Demons and Devils: 

"Chornehbanku are spirits of emptiness that seek out and attach themselves to judgmental and bitter humans.  They seek a rarest essence: the tears of the judgmental.  While their victims sleep, the Chornehbanku collect these lonely tears in their night jars.  The Chornehbanku will influence the moods of the victim and attempt to isolate them further from the world around them.  These wraiths will feed off a chosen victim until the person eventually dies.

Once a Chornehbanku has attached itself to a person and has begun to collect their tears there is only one method to exorcise these vampiric ghosts.  The night jar of the Chornehbanku represents its connection to the physical realm.  If the night jar can be procured and destroyed, the Chornehbanku's hold on the person can be broken and the spirit banished.  Such a task is not to be considered lightly for many have lost their lives in attempts to separate a Chornehbanku from its jar.  These dire phantoms will enact any heresy to protect their jars." 

{8x5.33,  created in Adobe Photoshop}

Saturday Sketch: Mervyn Pumpkinhead

Second amongst this month's Halloween themed Saturday Sketches, we have Mervyn Pumpkinhead from the pages of Sandman.  I've always like Mervyn.  There's just something about a smart mouthed cigarette smoking pumpkinheaded scarecrow!

{2.5x3.5,  created in Adobe Photoshop}

I claim no copyright for the properties represented in the Saturday Sketches.  All copyrights and trademarks are retained by their respective owners.  I make no money from what I am presenting here.  It is presented for portfolio and appreciation purposes only.

From the Archives: Black Tongue

This is a development sketch for a character called Black Tongue.  Black Tongue is a goblin of negative thinking.  It is the voice that tells you everything that is "wrong" with yourself.

{8x5.77,  Graphite}

Featured Creature: Udushae N'yasnu

Excerpted from Marge Hollander's Digest of Demons and Devils:

"Little is known about the origins of the Udushae N'yasnu.  There is a rumored Gnostic legend that on the seventh day of creation, after God had finished his work, the Udushae were the left over flotsam.  Before God could return the unformed creatures to the void, they skittered into the darkest corners of creation and hid.  Regardless of their origins, a recorded characteristic of the Udushae is their thirst for human bodily fluids.

Over a period of days or weeks, chosen victims of the Udushae are slowly drained of vital fluids during sleep.  Often the symptoms of an Udushae assault are confused with that of a Vampyr attack.  However the Udushae feed exclusively on human fluids whereas a Vampyr will feed on any available source of blood including livestock, family pets, and local wildlife.  Also absent in an Udushae attack are the telltale puncture wounds left by a Vampyr.  It is generally assumed that the Udushae drain fluids from the body of the victim directly through existing orifices.

And the Winner is...

Drum roll please...The winner of my Neatoshop Giveaway is Chris Thorne and his selection is Caffiend!  Thanks to everyone who particitpated!

Don't forget that the Neatoshop Sale has been extended until Sunday at Midnight!   If there is a shirt that you just cannot live without, all tshirts are 15% off until Sunday!  

LAST CALL: Which Design is Your Favorite?

There are only a few hours left before I wrap My Neatoshop Grand Opening Giveaway!  Leave me a comment with this post either here at Zombie Bites or on My Facebook Page and let me know your favorite design.  This evening I'll put everyone's names in a hat together and draw the winner!  The winner will get a free tshirt with their chosen design!

Also, the Neatoshop Sale has been extended until Sunday at Midnight!   If there is a shirt that you just cannot live without, all tshirts are 15% off until Sunday!  Check it out!  While you're at it drop by the Neatoshop Facebook page and give them a like.  I wouldn't have this opportunity without them!

Here are my designs to date:
 

After this my plan is to take up a pattern of presenting at least one new design each week.  If there is an image here on Zombie Bites or at any of my other blogs that you would like to see as a tshirt design or made available as a print, send me an email with the link at frostyjake@yahoo.com and I'll make it available as soon as possible!

Saturday Sketch: Original Jack O'Lantern

To celebrate the Halloween season, all of my Saturday Sketches for this month will have some kind of connection to to the darksome holiday.  This week we have Jason Macendale, the Original Jack O'Lantern.  He first appeared in Machine Man #19, but later became a regular Spider-man villain.  

It wasn't until I began research for this piece that I found out he originated in Machine Man.  The first time I saw this character way back in Amazing Spider-man #254,  I immediately wanted more.  He has a flaming Jack o'lantern head!  What's not to love?!  I do have to admit a certain amount of inspiration from this character for Jack, the villainous force behind last year's Night of the Cauldron.

{2.5x3.5,  created in Adobe Photoshop}

I claim no copyright for the properties represented in the Saturday Sketches.  All copyrights and trademarks are retained by their respective owners.  I make no money from what I am presenting here.  It is presented for portfolio and appreciation purposes only.

Exhumed: Ghoul

Here we have an exhumed Ghoul.  With this piece I wanted to get into the creepy night time atmosphere of the image while keeping the savage anger of the original sketch.  I feel like this piece and another ghoul I drew some time ago are cut from the same cloth.  Although I'm enjoying the dramatic side lighting, I'm not super excited about the overall color here.  I feel like it turned out just okay.  I may have to exhume this piece again at some point.

{7.31x5.13,  Graphite with colors added in Adobe Photoshop}

From the Archives: Sea of Doubt

Some recent Photoshop play on a depressing day.

{8x5.18,  created in Adobe Photoshop}