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Robin Hood Links

More information about Robin Hood:

BoldOutlaw.com

Robin Hood Wiki

In the News

At Robot 6: Candlewick's graphic novel line gets some attention.

In Brazil: Robin Hood is news (in Portuguese).

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Links

 

Tony Lee will at a table on graphic novels at the School Library Association Annual Conference with Andi Watson (Glister) and Paul Gravett. University of Surrey, Guildford, June 21.

 

Then later this year he'll also be talking about comicbook and graphic novel writing at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, August 27.

 

4 Page Preview

When I was a kid I used to play at “Robin Hood battles Little John” with my younger brother - who is now twice my size - and so decided to use his likeness for the large outlaw...

Cover Process

The idea I had for the cover was Robin Hood coming in through the window... It could be from the scene in the book when he visits Lady Marian, or he could be coming in to steal the jewelry...

First layout, with original title.

3D figure pose.

Rough sketch in Photoshop.

Final lineart. All Digital so far.

I then printed out the Black & White artwork and put some watercolours over it.

Scanned it back in, put the lineart on top, fiddled around with layers, levels and colours until I was happy with it.

Final cover, design by Patrick Insole

Links

From Tony Lee's January 12th He's Just a Writer...

I received an email from my editor at Walker Books, Lizzie Spratt, just before Christmas about Outlaw: The Legend Of Robin Hood. The email went as follows -

Dear Tony and Sam

I just wanted to let you know that Robin Hood is a Junior Library Guild selection. This is a wonderful thing and means that Robin Hood will be in every library in the States - it's a real mark of quality. Congratulations!

As you can imagine, I'm over the moon. The Junior Library Guild is well known for many years for only choosing the best books every year, and a large percentage of them go on to win multiple awards. And we're a 2009 choice.

And from a Newsarama interview Tony gave when we were starting on the Graphic Novel:

One of the issues we've had is which Robin – is it the Robin of Loxley, or Locksley – or is it Robert of Huntington? Both are 'origins' of the character. Robin of Sherwood used both of them for two different Robins – In Outlaw's Pride we've gone for both on the same outlaw, having Robin of Loxley made Earl of Huntington only to lose it when he becomes outlawed.

But that's not the only change – we've also played with Tuck, made him a Knights Templar Friar who Robin meets on the Crusades – he's the same Tuck, but with a bit more spark – as if he was played by Brian Blessed on crack.

Sherwood Forest

Sherwood Forest is still there, close to Nottingham and Edwinstowe, although much smaller than it was in Robin's time. 

I went for a visit to sketch and take photos, in May 2007, when I had just started on Outlaw.

Page 18 Process

Here is an example of the artwork process for a page, starting with Tony's script - in the fist panel I thought it was worth a large shot of Maid Marian, as it is her first appearance in the book.

1) Scene change. We’re now looking at Nottingham Castle, it's evening.

CAPTION

NOTTINGHAM CASTLE.

CAPTION 2

“AHA! THE NOBLE HERMIT GRACES US WITH HER PRESENCE!”

2) We’re now in a banqueting hall, looking at the top table. There sits an older Murdach, an older and slightly more battle scarred Gisburn, a couple of flunkies and a serving maid or two. Murdach is calling to Marian, who has appeared at the door to his right, near the table.

MAID MARIAN

MY LORD SHERIFF, I’VE NOT BEEN THAT HARD TO FIND.

(Link)

A SIMPLE KNOCK ON MY DOOR WOULD HAVE FOUND ME.

SHERIFF OF NOTTINGHAM

INDEED!

(Link)

BUT WHAT MAN WOULD DO SUCH A THING TO A LADY IN MOURNING, FAIR MARIAN?

3) We now look from Marian’s POV. Gisburn looks at her while attacking a large leg of lamb in his hand. The sheriff is appalled at him!

GUY OF GISBURN

YOU KNOW WHAT -CHOMP- YOU NEED?

(Link)

YOU NEED A MAN. IT’S BEEN WHAT, TEN MONTHS, A YEAR SINCE JOHN OF LYE DIED?

GUY OF GISBURN 2

YOU’RE NOT GETTING ANY YOUNGER, YOU KNOW.

SHERIFF OF NOTTINGHAM

GISBURN! APOLOGISE AT ONCE!

4) Gisburn turns back to face the Sheriff, waving the leg like a club. The sheriff shrinks back!

GUY OF GISBURN

OR WHAT, YOU ODIOUS LITTLE CRETIN?

(Link)

YOU THINK YOU COULD HOLD THIS POSITION IF IT WASN’T FOR ME?

SHERIFF OF NOTTINGHAM

I WILL ADMIT I OWE YOU SOME MODICUM OF THANKS, BUT -

5) Sheriff’s POV now - Gisburn spits bits of meat as he snarls.

GUY OF GISBURN

-DON’T MAKE ME PUKE.

(Link)

A ‘MODICUM OF THANKS’? YOU OWE ME AND YOU DAMNED WELL KNOW IT.

(Link)

I CAN SAY WHAT I WANT TO ‘MAID’ MARIAN!

3D figure layout

digital inks and textures

then colours, by Artur Fujita, and letters

Page 48

I did this page before there was a script, just to see a sample of the mood and style I wanted for the art... Tony then managed to include it in the story (with one minor change: the figure in panel 4 was originally Robin Hood).

Links

Oregon Live choses Robin Hood in Top Nine of Comic Art Now article.

Page 1 is used in Robin Hood movie article.