Matt's Mantle: Kim Jung-Gi 2013 Sketchbook Now Available!

It's been a long 2 year wait, but it's finally here.  The newest book from "sketcher" extraordinaire, Kim Jung Gi.  Much like the previous two, they can be purchased by contacting his assistant directly.  It pretty much speaks for itself.

Information on how to order can be found at his website here.  Be careful, you can get distracted for hours on that site. 

Matt's Mantle: Zoom, Enhance? Haha. Yeah, Right. Like That Will Ever Be a Thing... What? It's a Thing? Oh My God, Am I a Replicant?

Remember that time in 1989 when you were watching Blade Runner for the first time.  And you were both simultaneously thinking to yourself, 

"This movie is kind of slow, but like, way more interesting than I thought it was going to be.  Holy crap, look at the production design.  Nergasm!"  

And then a ways into the movie Deckard went all "Zoom, Enhance" on some crappy photo with what looked like a VHS photo reader and you thought to yourself, 

"Haha, no way.  That's stupid. Not even highly impressionable 1980s me would buy that for a dollar."  

And then the scene got even more ridiculous when at the end of the scene he enhances it beyond space time and see's what's going on behind an object in the photo.  And you said to yourself,

"BULLSHIT!  NOT IN A MILLION YEARS WILL THAT BE A THING.  NOT EVEN DR. MANHATTAN COULD PULL THAT SHIT OFF."  Well, now it's possible. Presenting the Lytro Camera.

This bad boy allows you to take a photograph, and then later readjust the focus after the fact.  Not to mention, it will allow you to slightly readjust perspective to see behind objects.  I'm pretty sure this is powered by the hearts of orphan children through some black magic sorcery.  But at the end of the day we can all agree that there's too many orphans in the world, so it's really win/win. Check out the Lytro Official Site to see it in action. 

Matt's Mantel: Kim Jung-Gi Needs His Lifetime Achievement Award NOW.

In the history of art there are those whose names are synonymous with greatness.  Michelangelo, Leonardo, and the rest who were eventually deemed worthy enough to have a Ninja Turtle named after them.  But at what point does someone earn their Turtle Title?  Does an artist have to be dead for centuries for the world to start hanging their work in museums along side those classic artists of yore?  I think when credit is due, we should just skip the whole time will tell routine and just dole it out.  That's where Kim Jung-Gi comes in.  If anyone deserves to have a Ninja Turtle named after them it's this guy. 

You know how some people say, "There's always room for improvement."  (That pancake looked exactly like Mickey Mouse!  You don't know what you're talking about!) 

Well in the case of Kim Jung Gi, it just simply isn't true.  He literally has perfected his craft.  There's no real way to describe it with words.  So I suggest checking out some of the samples provided below and just try to let your mind accept the fact that one of the greats is living in our time.  And how awesome it is to watch his career unfold. 

Check out his website here!!!!!!!!

(What color mask would would the Kim Jung Gi Ninja Turtle have?  Couple years ago I made a turtle costume for Halloween and people made fun of me.  "What's up with that pink mask bro?!"  "It's salmon-colored damn it.  SALMON!")

Matt's Mantle: Anatomy of a Sketch with Adam Hughes

An awesome behind the scenes look as Adam Hughes takes you through his drawing process from beginning to end during one of his sketch commissions. 

Part 1: The Idea

Part 2: The Process

Part 3: The Tools

Part 4: Requests

Part 5: The Finish

Matt's Mantle: Save the D Bridge from Star Trek: TNG

Only dorks would spend this much time and money preserving something this awesome.  And thank goodness they are.  After finding an almost complete D Bridge from Star Trek: The Next Generation and discovering its planned trip to the junkyard, a loyal fan took it upon himself to rescue the materials and preserve them for all to share.  It's being established as a non-profit, so not only does the world get to visit and interact with one of the greatest sci-fi sets ever, but it helps children too.  They've joined forces with Make-A-Wish Foundation and Habitat For Humanity and have long term plans for using the set as an educational science resource.  They've got some great incentives too, from memorabilia, to private use of the completed bridge to shoot your own fan film and everything in between.  MAKE IT SO.

Help Restore the Next Generation Enterprise-D Bridge!

Matt's Mantle: Geek Chic - The Finest Dork Furniture Money Can Buy

"The League" - Custom high quality storage for comic lovers.

"The Sultan" - The ultimate in gaming furniture solutions for those dorks who believe in the finer things.

Matt's Mantel: Best Ark II Scene!