Sam Beck

@portablecity inspired me to share more process work PLUS they were the art director for this project and provided great feedback on the composition of the final piece. Above: final artwork for The Glorious Dreams of Eight Cursed Swords Eidolon Folio Card 6 in Swords Without Master

Initial layouts. I was going for this cursed undead king who is unwilling to die except by the one chosen sword. I originally wanted to have all these melted and charred swords strewn beneath him showing the swords that couldn't kill him but ended up going with skulls once we cropped in the image:

We adjusted the focus of the last one and then I did a quick sketch and colour mock-up:

The sword was inspired by this dagger "with Zoomorphic Hilt" (https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/457730)

love doing fun endpapers. Here are the two that appear in the Alanna book 1! Corus and the Black City

if you're in Toronto this weekend i'll be tabling at TCAF!

I'll have Verse Books 1-3, Loving Ohio and Song of the Lioness: Alanna adaptation, as well as some older short comics and new postcard prints!!

At long last Verse: Book 3 is finally out.

You can buy it wherever books are sold and you can catch up on books 1 and 2 as a webcomic at www.versecomic.com

I always told myself I wanted to do a little write-up once it was done and I guess I will now:

Well, Verse Book 3 has been delayed again and nobody bothered to inform me! It releases December 3rd 2024.

Lots of time to pre-order it still AND to get caught up on Books 1 & 2, both of which you can buy or read online for free!

🌲 Read Book 1 🌲

🔥 Read Book 2 🔥

Verse was on a tiny break so I could line up updates with the release of Book 3 on October 15th. But now it's back and updating! There's about 4 more weeks of updates before we reach the end of Book 2.

Read it here: versecomic.com/comic/book/the-second-gate/chapter/4/page/22

Or from the start: versecomic.com

Woo, fun news, I am illustrating the graphic novel adaptation of the Song of the Lioness Books.

Song of the Lioness, Book 1: Alanna Novel by Tamora Pierce Adapted by Vita Ayala Illustrated by Sam Beck

Today is the FOC for VERSE Book 3: The Song! All that means is that now is the perfect time to pre-order the book if you're a supporter of the series! Order it from your local comic store or wherever you buy your books.

"As the monstrous Vel step up their attacks, the last encampments of people find themselves defenseless as their only connection to magic falters. Their sole hope lies in Neitya, the young girl with horns and a mystical gift from the past. Torn between wanting to be free of the burden of destiny and wanting to protect her friends, Neitya is faced with a final, terrible choice: does she destroy magic—both good and bad—once and for all? And what if saving everyone means saying goodbye?"