otisframpton.com

Thank You, Trent

Get the new Nine Inch Nails album, "The Slip", for FREE.

"This one's on me", says Trent Reznor.

Thanks!

-Otis

Vlog: Free Comic Book Day 2008

Okami . . . 10 Hours In

For the last two weeks, at the end of each work day, I've spent a little bit of time playing Okami.  I'm about 10 hours into the game, or 1/5 of the way through the entire story.

My first impressions were less that stellar.  While I thought the game was visually beautiful, the opening animated sequence was excruciatingly long (20 minutes) and the controls were quite frustrating at first.  But about an hour or two into th game that initial frustration gave way to an understanding of the gameplay mechanics and I began to enjoy the experience greatly.

Reviews have compared Okami to The Legend of Zelda, and structurally, the games are very similar.  But the visual style and mood of the story sets this apart from Zelda.  Once I accepted that this was not going to be a Zalda close, I began to appreciate this as a separate experience.

And so far, it has been a great experience.

I'll let you know if that changes.

Oh, and I found the amazing artwork at the top of this post on deviantART.  You can view the artist's gallery HERE.

-Otis

Iron Man

I was a "Marvel Zombie" growing up.  Marvel was my home away from home in comic book form.  But there were a few characters that I never really warmed to.  Spider-Man, for one.  The Punisher, natch.  And above all, Iron Man.  I just never found him interesting or exciting.

But I'm an Iron Man fan now, that's for sure.  The new film starring Robert Downey Jr and directed by Jon Favreau, is a great movie.  Fun, funny, exciting and with a lot of heart (pun intended . . . you'll see).

The movie opens strong, with Robery Downey charming some Air Force troops, and us in the process.

"It's okay.  You can laugh," he tells them.

He may as well have been talking to the audience, because you will laugh a lot and smile even more while you watch this movie.  And the smiles come not just from action, but from story and character, which is always the mark of a good film. 

Speaking of action, there is plenty, but I was surprised that the least interesting scene in the entire film was the big fight with the villain (the villain is probably the weakest element of the film, IMHO).  My favorite action scene has to be Iron Man going up against the F-22s and the cell phone exchange between Tony Stark and his best friend that happens at the same time.

*Ring!*

"It's me."

Great stuff.

And that exchange, along with the rest of the movie, wouldn't be half as good without Robert Downey Jr's wonderful performance as Stark.  From the very first scene he wins you over in the role.  I'm thrilled he's finally going to be a star due to this film, because he's always been a favorite of mine (how he didn't win the Oscar for "Chaplin" is beyond me).

This is definitely one of the best super hero movies I've ever seen.  It's not the best (the original "Superman" with Chris Reeve still holds that spot for me).  There are  some nits to pick and a couple of things that will date the film (the "Mad Money" guy stands out as one of the film's tiny warts).  But I'd put "Iron Man" in the top 5 super hero films.  It's definitely the best Marvel adaptation, that's for sure. 

Bottom line?  It's a hell of a good flick and a great start to what looks like a summer full of promising films.  The bar has been set high with "Iron Man".

Oh, and stay in the theater after the credits (all of the credits, not just the animated sequence), because there's a very short scene after all of the names have rolled by.  I won't spoil the surprise, but I will say this:  they better make good on the promise made.

-Otis

18 And Loving It

Go HERE to calculate your "virtual age".

Here are my results:

I was just telling my wife that I feel like I'm 22.  I guess I was being conservative in my estimates.

-Otis

Free Comic Book Day

I'll be appearing at both of the Amazing Fantasy comic book stores in the Hampton Roads area on Free Comic Book Day (Saturday, May 3rd, 2008) along with pals Marc Deering and Drew Moss.  I'll be selling copies of Oddly Normal 1 and 2 for $5 each, as usual.  If you're in the area, stop by between the hours of 11am and 6:00pm!

-Otis

Wanna Race?

Here's my Mario Kart friend code:

0516-7670-0009

Hit me up for a game sometime.

-Otis

Custom Personal Sketch Card Auction 6

Well, THAT was fast. Another one sold!

Here's #6 with no "Buy It Now" option, just a regular auction:

Custom Otis Frampton Artist Sketch Card - You Choose!

This auction is for an original, hand-drawn personal sketch card!  The buyer can choose the subject to be drawn on the card, with up to 2 characters! The currently posted image on the auction page shows samples of recent personal sketch cards ONLY and DOES NOT, in any way, reflect what will be drawn on the card won by the buyer.

The card measures 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches and will be drawn with micron pens and Prismacolor markers. It will be shipped in a plastic sleeve, an Ultra Pro toploader protective case and cardboard mailer.  I only accept PayPal for payment and payment must be made within two days of winning the auction. The card will be mailed out within three days after payment is received.

The winner of this auction will also receive a free, signed copy of volume 1 OR volume 2 of my graphic novel series, "Oddly Normal" !

U.S. shipping is $5.00.  International shipping is $10.00.

Good luck!

-Otis

UPDATE:  And here's the finished card!

Custom Personal Sketch Card Auction 5

Time for another auction.  This time with a "Buy It Now" option.

Here's #5 . . .

Custom Otis Frampton Artist Sketch Card - You Choose!

This auction is for an original, hand-drawn personal sketch card!  The buyer can choose the subject to be drawn on the card, with up to 2 characters! The currently posted image on the auction page shows samples of recent personal sketch cards ONLY and DOES NOT, in any way, reflect what will be drawn on the card won by the buyer.

The card measures 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches and will be drawn with micron pens and Prismacolor markers. It will be shipped in a plastic sleeve, an Ultra Pro toploader protective case and cardboard mailer.  I only accept PayPal for payment and payment must be made within two days of winning the auction. The card will be mailed out within three days after payment is received.

The winner of this auction will also receive a free, signed copy of volume 1 OR volume 2 of my graphic novel series, "Oddly Normal" !

U.S. shipping is $5.00.  International shipping is $10.00.

Good luck!

-Otis

UPDATE:  And here's the finished card!

Custom Personal Sketch Card Auction 4

Time for another auction.  No "Buy It Now" option this time.  I may alternate between pure auctions and "Buy It Now" sales from now on.

Here's #4 . . .

Custom Otis Frampton Artist Sketch Card - You Choose!

This auction is for an original, hand-drawn personal sketch card!  The buyer can choose the subject to be drawn on the card, with up to 2 characters! The currently posted image on the auction page shows samples of recent personal sketch cards ONLY and DOES NOT, in any way, reflect what will be drawn on the card won by the buyer.

The card measures 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches and will be drawn with micron pens and Prismacolor markers. It will be shipped in a plastic sleeve, an Ultra Pro toploader protective case and cardboard mailer.  I only accept PayPal for payment and payment must be made within two days of winning the auction. The card will be mailed out within three days after payment is received.

The winner of this auction will also receive a free, signed copy of volume 1 OR volume 2 of my graphic novel series, "Oddly Normal" !

U.S. shipping is $5.00.  International shipping is $10.00.

Good luck!

-Otis

UPDATE:  And here's the finished card!

Custom Personal Sketch Card Auction 3

Okay, that last one sold via "Buy It Now".  If this one does the same, I'll likely wait until I finish drawing the previous cards until I post another auction.

Here's #3 . . .

Custom Otis Frampton Artist Sketch Card - You Choose!

This auction is for an original, hand-drawn personal sketch card!  The buyer can choose the subject to be drawn on the card, with up to 2 characters! The currently posted image on the auction page shows samples of recent personal sketch cards ONLY and DOES NOT, in any way, reflect what will be drawn on the card won by the buyer.

The card measures 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches and will be drawn with micron pens and Prismacolor markers. It will be shipped in a plastic sleeve, an Ultra Pro toploader protective case and cardboard mailer.  I only accept PayPal for payment and payment must be made within two days of winning the auction. The card will be mailed out within three days after payment is received.

The winner of this auction will also receive a free, signed copy of volume 1 OR volume 2 of my graphic novel series, "Oddly Normal" !

U.S. shipping is $5.00.  International shipping is $10.00.

Good luck!

-Otis

****

UPDATE:  And here's the finished card.  Hope you like it, Michael!

Custom Personal Sketch Card Auction 2

Here we go again . . .

Custom Otis Frampton Artist Sketch Card - You Choose!

This auction is for an original, hand-drawn personal sketch card!  The buyer can choose the subject to be drawn on the card, with up to 2 characters! The currently posted image on the auction page shows samples of recent personal sketch cards ONLY and DOES NOT, in any way, reflect what will be drawn on the card won by the buyer.

The card measures 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches and will be drawn with micron pens and Prismacolor markers. It will be shipped in a plastic sleeve, an Ultra Pro toploader protective case and cardboard mailer.  I only accept PayPal for payment and payment must be made within two days of winning the auction. The card will be mailed out within three days after payment is received.

The winner of this auction will also receive a free, signed copy of volume 1 OR volume 2 of my graphic novel series, "Oddly Normal" !

U.S. shipping is $5.00.  International shipping is $10.00.

Good luck!

-Otis

UPDATE:  And here's the finished card.  Hope you like it, Tim!

Custom Personal Sketch Card Auction

I'm trying something new with regard to my eBay personal sketch card auctions.  If it works out well (read: I make good money from it) I'll do more.  If not, it's back to drawing something and seeing if people bite.

Here we go . . .

Custom Otis Frampton Artist Sketch Card - You Choose!

This auction is for an original, hand-drawn personal sketch card!  The buyer can choose the subject to be drawn on the card, with up to 2 characters!  The currently posted image on the auction page shows samples of recent personal sketch cards ONLY and DOES NOT, in any way, reflect what will be drawn on the card won by the buyer.

The card measures 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches and will be drawn with micron pens and Prismacolor markers. It will be shipped in a plastic sleeve, an Ultra Pro toploader protective case and cardboard mailer.  I only accept PayPal for payment and payment must be made within two days of winning the auction. The card will be mailed out within three days after payment is received.

The winner of this auction will also receive a free, signed copy of volume 1 OR volume 2 of my graphic novel series, "Oddly Normal" !

U.S. shipping is $5.00.  International shipping is $10.00.

Good luck!

-Otis

****

UPDATE:  And here's the finished card.  Hope you like it, Richard!

 

Hard Times

Public service announcement time . . .

Do not buy a Seagate External hard drive.  Not if you like your files and want to save money, that is.

I owned a 500 GB model like the one seen here for about 6 or 7 months.  Three days ago it fell over on its side and began emitting a noise mush like the sound of a sword being sharpened on a stone wheel.  Needless to say, the hard drive was dead.  All from simply falling over on its side.  Onto carpet, no less.  Quality product, that Seagate.

Anyway . . .

Long story short, a lot of the work I've done over the last 5 or 6 years is gone.  Poof.  Thin air.  I had all of my Oddly Normal files and other important files either backed up onto my Mac or onto DVD.   But it has been a lesson learned and now I own an external hard drive that lays flat instead of perched atop a ridiculously wobbly stand.

Stay away from Seagate.  Buyer beware.  You've been warned. 

-Otis

Google Earth, Now With 25% More Awesome

Leon & Mathilda

It is currently up for auction at eBay!

This personal sketch card measures 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches and was drawn with micron pens and Prismacolor markers/pencils. The card will be shipped in a plastic sleeve, an Ultra Pro toploader protective case and cardboard mailer.  I only accept PayPal for payment and payment must be made within two days of winning the auction. The card will be mailed out within three days after payment is received.

The winner of this auction will also receive a free, signed copy of volume 1 OR volume 2 of my graphic novel series, "Oddly Normal"!

-Otis

 

Thank You, Best Buy

Now that Blu Ray has won the high def format war, Best Buy is offering $50 gift cards to people who purchased HD DVD players from them before February 23rd, 2008.  I received mine in the mail today.  I'm stunned at how fast it came.  To read more about the deal, click HERE.

So thank you, Best Buy.  Just in time to pick up Okami Wii for free!

Speaking of Okami Wii . . .

Johnny Lee and the Wii

Watch this and see what the future will look like:

Click HERE to visit Johnny Chung Lee's website.

There are more videos after the break . . .

Marvel Masterpieces II Sketch Cards . . . Last Batch

Well, that's it.  My last Marvel Masterpieces II sketch cards, and probably my last official sketch cards ever (aside from the free MM2 blanks I'll be getting once the set comes out).

It's been fun!

-Otis

Boxing Kara

It is currently up for auction at eBay!

This personal sketch card measures 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches and was drawn with micron pens and Prismacolor markers/pencils. The card will be shipped in a plastic sleeve, an Ultra Pro toploader protective case and cardboard mailer.  I only accept PayPal for payment and payment must be made within two days of winning the auction. The card will be mailed out within three days after payment is received.

The winner of this auction will also receive a free, signed copy of volume 1 OR volume 2 of my graphic novel series, "Oddly Normal"!

-Otis

 

Okami

I'm VERY excited for this game to come to the Wii (on April 15th), because I see it as the closest thing I'm gonna get to a Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess sequel.  At least for a while.

Has anyone played this game in its Playstation 2 incarnation?  Any thoughts on it?  I've heard it called "the best game that no one is playing".

Next week.  Can't wait.  I really need a distraction like this . . . a world to explore (and it doesn't hurt that the world in question is Japan).  Too much work makes Otis go stir crazy.  And I'm definitely in Too Much Work Land right now.

-Otis

Appreciation and Simplicity

My pal Brian Fies has written another spot on blog post:  "Casting A Critical Eye"

I wish I had more time to write and blog, but Brian seems to be chanelling the thoughts in my head and putting them down into words that work very well together, so I'll continue coasting for a while.

For the record, it took me until my late 20s before I really understood the genius of Jack Kirby.  It's my shame, and I carry it with me whenever I draw anything.

-Otis

Dr. Lecter, Chuck and the Apes

A couple of sketch cards up for sale on eBay.  One featuring Hannibal "The Cannibal" and the other featuring the late, great Chuck Heston, who passed away yesterday:

It is currently up for auction at eBay!

It is currently up for auction at eBay!

These personal sketch cards measures 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches and were drawn with micron pens and Prismacolor markers/pencils. The cards will be shipped in plastic sleeves, Ultra Pro toploader protective cases and cardboard mailers.  I only accept PayPal for payment and payment must be made within two days of winning the auction. The cards will be mailed out within three days after payment is received.

The winners of these auctions will also receive a free, signed copy of volume 1 OR volume 2 of my graphic novel series, "Oddly Normal"!

-Otis

Korben, Ruby, Destro and The Baroness

It is currently up for auction at eBay!

It is currently up for auction at eBay!

These personal sketch cards measures 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches and were drawn with micron pens and Prismacolor markers/pencils. The cards will be shipped in plastic sleeves, Ultra Pro toploader protective cases and cardboard mailers.  I only accept PayPal for payment and payment must be made within two days of winning the auction. The cards will be mailed out within three days after payment is received.

The winner of this auction will also receive a free, signed copy of volume 1 OR volume 2 of my graphic novel series, "Oddly Normal" !

-Otis

Tetsuo & Ahsoka

I finished my last Marvel Masterpieces II cards yesterday, so as promised, it's back to the eBay grind . . .

It is currently up for auction at eBay!

It is currently up for auction at eBay!

These personal sketch cards measures 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches and were drawn with micron pens and Prismacolor markers/pencils. The cards will be shipped in plastic sleeves, Ultra Pro toploader protective cases and cardboard mailers.  I only accept PayPal for payment and payment must be made within two days of winning the auction. The cards will be mailed out within three days after payment is received.

The winner of these auctions will also receive a free copy of my 2007 convention sketchbook, including a free sketch of your choice inside (free sketch is a single character, black and white head shot only)!

-Otis

The Bride and Trinity

A couple of personal sketch cards for my pal George and the "Year of Otis":

These personal sketch cards measures 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches and were drawn with micron pens and Prismacolor markers/pencils.

-Otis

No Foolin' . . . More Approved Marvel Masterpieces II Cards

I hate hate HATE April Fool's Day on the internet.  Once a year, every website feels the need to post false information to show how clever they can be.  "Lighten up, Frampton" you say.  I know, I know.  It's one day a year and it's all in fun.

Whatever.

It's still annoying.

So in the spirit of walking the walk, here's a web posting with no falseness whatsoever . . . new Marvel Masterpieces sketch cards!

Enjoy!

-Otis

Drawing A Marvel Masterpieces II Video

I thought it would be fun to show everyone how I draw a card from start to finish, so I recorded myself drawing this "Watcher" card:

Here is Part 1 (Parts 2 and 3 are behind the cut):

More Approved Marvel Masterpieces II Cards

Enjoy.  More soon.

-Otis

I Love My Mac (The Song and the Sentiment)

Click on the image below to see how I feel about my new computer:

I really do.

-Otis

Personal Sketch Cards a-Plenty

These are some personal sketch card commissions I've recently finished:

-Otis

Oddly Normal: Fignation Times FREE PREVIEW!

Click here to read the first two chapters of Oddly Normal: Fignation Times!

Enjoy!

-Otis