I lost much of the recent spring and summer seasons starting with wrapping up the 2011 Inkwell Awards and working on the four Heroes for Hire issues for Marvel, now completed (I’m still feeling the all-nighter I pulled Wednesday/Thursday to close the door on this gig).  The Spider-Island one-shot has a multitude of hero guest stars as well as many old and obscure Marvel foes to identify in all of the chaos sweeping through Manhatten….lots of fun!  Regrettably, I previously hinted at a project that Kyle and I were doing together following this job, but that 5-issue limited series subsequently slipped through my fingers (I can’t announce what it was yet as Marvel hasn’t announced it yet), with Kyle being handed another ink artist.  But I have been in contact with a few folks about follow-up work, like 3-4 leads, some of which look likely to take off (plus, thankfully, more Kyle work when he’s done with that mystery series), so I will hopefully be assignment-bound before long, perhaps even reunited with my longtime partner Sal Velluto!  In the meantime, I will relax and look after my health and attempt to lose some added weight.  And spend some quality time with the family.  And catch up on several late commissions for some very patient clients.  And finally get back to my Inkwell Awards for the 2012 season.  The occasional interim breaks prove essential for my mental and physical health….but hopefully the break won’t turn out to be for too long.  Of course, I’ll keep y’all posted here, friends!

I’m a little late getting this here due to my wacky schedule now…but to follow-up with my April 2 teaser, on April 12 the Marvel solicitations were released online so I can now reveal that I’ll be inking Kyle Hotz for a three-issue arc in HEROES FOR HIRE #9-11, all Fear Itself tie-ins for the present Marvel Event of that name.  The Shroud! Elektra! Gargoyle! Misty Knight! Paladin! and some surprises!  Kyle and I’ve  been in touch and have wanted to work together for some time so this is a sweet payoff.  My updates will regrettably be sparse around here but I’ll do my best and thanks for understanding.

On the WINNING front, I have been hired by Marvel to ink a three-issue arc for an ongoing Marvel series.  However, I cannot reveal the specifics for another month when the next Marvel solicitations are posted online.

Unfortunately, this will effect my schedule.  I’ve had to regrettably cancel attending the Granite Con in Manchester,NH on May 15 and Free Comic Book Day at Harrison’s Comics on May 7.  Between the assignment, my obligations to the busiest period for the Inkwells every year, attending Pittsburgh Con and Heroes Con, and the ten commissions on my plate and on the way (my commission list is presently closed), this decision will hopefully still allow me to see my family.

I may also fall behind here at the site, but I will try to post about the project and next week will be a reminder that Inkwell Awards voting will be in effect and the website relaunched with a new look.  I apologize to anyone that my schedule changes have effected.  Thanks for understanding.

As solicited last year on my homepage, I inked five pages around 2003-4 for a private project and the property of owner Michael Lovins called We Go Anywhere over his pencils.  Sal Velluto and I were also commisioned to render his cover art.

As of March 9 Michael posted the video for the cover (and the interior art work) on youtube and promoted it on his social networks such as Facebook where I discovered it.

WE GO ANYWHERE – Comic Book Cover Art by Velluto / Almond / Matozzi
http://www.wix.com/mlovins/wegoanywhere

I picked up the 2009 OHotMU A-Z HC vol. 11 because there was a special thanks printed in it for me.  I also discovered an image from ’96 from Starmasters#2 in it under the ‘Starmasters’ entry.  Pencils were by Scott Eaton.