A few weeks ago a friend clued me in to a Duron Star Wars sketch that a fellow member had in a Facebook Star Wars group (Topps Star Wars Collectible Card Traders) in which we are both members. Galaxy 5, and in full color, so I was definitely interested. I was unfamiliar with the character, but the owner had done some research and found out it was Maris Brood, a Zabrak who was first a Jedi Padawan who initially escaped the the Great Jedi Purge ("order 66") and hid with her Jedi Master Shaak Ti on the planet of Felucia. After Shaak Ti was killed, Maris was corrupted by the Dark Side and later had run ins with Darth Vader's Sith apprentice Starkiller. Her story seemingly fades away or is unfinished.

   The Maris Brood character is also found in the Wii game "Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II" as a playable character in the multiplayer fights. She wields twin red lightsabers, as shown in Mike's sketch. I admittedly am woefully lacking in knowledge of Star Wars Extended Universe and Star Wars video games, although I have picked up some recognition of EU characters over the years from sketch cards, but it's definitely not a strong point for me. 

   On to Mike's sketch of Maris Brood, it's full color and has really nice detail. It's from Galaxy 5, which has a bit of an unknown factor for Duron fans as Mike didn't post much of a preview of his cards on the social media outlets back then. So I had never seen this card until it surfaced in the Star Wars group 10+ years after the product was released. Admittedly, Galaxy 5 wasn't my favorite Galaxy set as the watermark background on the sketches from that set was so obvious it almost detracts from the sketch as it's so noticeable. Mike solved that problem for most of the card with the colored in background, but you can still see part of the watermark on Maris' arm. Nothing Mike (or any other artist) could do, it's just the way the sketch blanks were made. Mike did a fantastic job on this Maris sketch as the details are great for a pack inserted sketch. Many artists (especially back then) frankly didn't put as much effort into the pack inserted sketches. When you have deadlines and Topps is only paying you a nominal fee for the pack inserted sketches, at times those factors show up. Artists made their real money with their Return cards, in which they could charge whatever price they could get. Again I digress.. back to the sketch. I really enjoy everything about this sketch- how Mike drew her hair, the horns, her mouth, eyes, lightsabers, and the barely PG boobs lol. I wasn't going to mention them, but come on- they are very prominent in the sketch!  Most likely not a character that has many sketches, so I was very proud to add this one to my collection. Thanks to Sam for selling it to me, and Justin for telling me about it. 

   If you're so inclined, leave a comment and tell me what you think of today's sketch. And as always, thanks for stopping by and reading!

#starwars #michaelduron #Locoduck #locoduckduron #artistsketchcard #artistsketch #sketch #marisbrood #padawan #jediapprentice #shaakti #jedimaster #starkiller #darthvader #vader #lordvader #sithlord #sithapprentice #topps #starwarsgalaxy5 #lightsaber 

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    Ponda Baba. A spice smuggler with partner Dr Cornelius Evazan for Jabba the Hutt, his claim to fame is picking a fight in the Mos Eisley Cantina with the wrong aspiring Jedi. "Watch your step" warned Ben Kenobi as they got ready to enter the Cantina. "I'm ready for anything" was Luke's reply. Luke and Ben knew the best place to find a pilot to take them to Alderaan was the Cantina, and while Ben did the searching, Luke just wanted a drink. Ponda Baba approached the thirsty young Luke and shoves him. I'm going to assume here that Luke was on Ponda's favorite bar stool, which in this cantina is grounds for a fight (yes, I know Luke wasn't actually sitting, but it plays better in my version of the story so just go with it lol). Dr Evazan sticks his nose in the middle of the dispute warning Luke "He doesn't like you".. after Luke gives a half hearted "I'm sorry", Evazan shoots back with the warning "I don't like you either. You just watch yourself.. we're wanted men. I have the death sentence on 12 systems!" I think here it was Luke's nonchalant "I'll be careful" that set off Dr Evazan. Ends up costing  Evazan his life, and instigator Ponda Baba part of his arm. The lesson here: It's not worth it to mess with a farmboy getting a drink if he's traveling with an old man with a lightsaber (really specific lesson, but it could save your life someday). 

   This sketch comes from 2017 Galactic Files Reborn, the last Star Wars set that Mike worked on for Topps. I featured a Dengar sketch from this set back on October 28th. By now Topps had gone to all photorealistic sketches, so Mike had to go away from his normal cartoony or sugar boogerz styles and go more photorealistic, putting a lot of detail and realism into these sketches. I think he does it seamlessly and it shows the depth of his talent. The sketch has really nice detail and color, and as a friend pointed out to me yesterday the starfield background is cool. 

   On a side note, I decided to trade this sketch for a different Michael Duron sketch, so I wanted to feature this one before it left my possession. It's going to a great collector, and he's trading me a great sketch which I'm sure I'll feature in the near future. 

   As always, thanks for stopping by and reading!

#starwars #michaelduron #locoduck #locoduckduron  #artistsketchcard #artistsketch #sketch #pondababa #moseisley #cantina #moseisleycantina #drcorneliusevazan #spicerunners #jabbathehutt #jabba #lukeskywalker #luke #jediapprentice #jediapprentice #jedimaster #benkenobi #obiwankenobi #lightsaber #barfight #dontmesswithamanwithalightsaber

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    Irina Spalko. KGB Agent, Soviet Army Colonel, Scientist, skilled fencer,  Dominatrix. Quite the resume. She was fanatical, even obsessed with the supernatural, which led to her demise in Indiana Jones: Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. In her final scene, as the crystal skull is returned and the aliens open up a time portal to take back their own she pleads (in her Ukrainian accent), "I vant to know. I vant to know. Tell me. I'm ready. I vant to know". She asked for it, and in the end she got more than she bargained for. Vaporized by the evil ET alien lol.

Spalko was played by Cate Blanchett, best known to me as the actress that played Galadriel in the Lord of the Rings movies. It was a great contrast to see her go from the elegant royalty of Galadriel, to the hard, military badass of Spalko. It was also interesting to see her play the villain.

   Mike's sketch of Spalko doesn't have a lot of detail (or a nose as far as that goes), but you know immediately who the character is. Sketches like this prove that you don't need a lot of detail to make an impact.

Sorry for the short post today, but thanks for stopping by and checking it out. 

#indianajones #michaelduron #locoduck #locoduckduron #artistsketchcard #artistsketch #sketch #irinaspalko #spalko #cateblanchett #indianajoneskingdomofthecrystalskull

#raidersofthelostark #indianajonesandthetempleofdoom #indianajonesandthelastcrusade #harrisonford #indy 

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    I've been a big fan of widevision sketch cards since 2009 when Topps released their Star Wars Clone Wars Widevision set. One sketch per box. Boy, do I miss those days! Clone Wars Widevision- bigger cards meant more space for artists to work. A lot of collectors have a love/hate relationship with Widevision cards. They're different. They don't store as easily as standard cards. Anyways, I love them. 

   So in the past 11 years I believe we have had four Widevision card sets that had sketch cards- 2009 Clone Wars Widevision, 2010 Empire Strikes Back  Widevision 3D, 2014 Return of the Jedi Widevision 3D, and 2015 Revenge of the Sith Widevision 3D. Mike had sketch cards in all four sets, so I pick them up whenever I can, although they don't come onto the market very often and I only buy if the price is right (cue up the music Johnny Olson... okay, bad joke). 

   That brings us to this week's sketch- a full color General Grievous close-up out of Revenge of the Sith Widevision 3D

General Grievous was an odd character in the fact that, according to the Wookiepedia, he was completely cybernetic except for his brain, some vital organs, and parts of his head. He was a Kaleesh Warlord, feared Jedi hunter, and a brilliant military strategist. He loved to kill Jedi and take their lightsabers are trophies. Grievous was pretty badass, but was killed in a lightsaber duel on Utapau by an even bigger badass- Obi-Wan Kenobi.

   If I had a rare criticism of this sketch by Mike I would say I wish it was from a slightly more distant point of view where you could at least see Grievous' whole head. I love what's in the sketch, but I would love to see more is all I'm saying. This sketch cuts off the top of his skull and the top of his ear. I think Mike was going for the "IN YOUR FACE!" look on this sketch, and he nailed it! Also, I like any sketch in which Mike draws a lightsaber. Too bad the lightsaber is also cut off. 

   Anyways, thanks all for stopping by and reading! Take care and have a blessed Thanksgiving.

#starwars #michaelduron #locoduckduron #locoduckduron #artistsketchcard #artistsketch #sketch #generalgrievous #grievous #jedihunter #revengeofthesith #attackoftheclones #lightsaberduel #lightsaber #obiwankenobi #obiwan #benkenobi #jedimaster 

@michaelduron @locoduckduron @michaelduronportfolio 

 

    When Topps released their "Star Wars: Journey to the Force Awakens" set back in the Fall of 2015, little did I know that it would be one of the last Star Wars sets that Mike would work on. Photorealistic sketches became the preferred (and mandated) style, and artists who didn't fit that mold were just not asked back. Sad day for the hobby in my opinion. 

   So today's sketch comes from that 2015 Star Wars: Journey to the Force Awakens set. And it's of one of my favorite characters- Luke Skywalker, one of him early on in the original trilogy when he had his blue lightsaber. I always thought it was cool how Mike drew lightsabers with the little flecks around the outside edges showing the energy glow of the weapon. Not all of Mike's pack inserted sketches are in color, so I was happy to be able pick up this one.

   I don't know all the terms for the different styles that artists use, but this sketch seems to be in more of a comic book style. A good friend of mine has been urging me to make a post about how Mike's style has evolved over the years. Maybe with his help we can co-write that post one day soon. Anyways, back to this sketch- I like how Mike did a more angular face on Luke. It makes him look determined. And as a comparison I included two Galaxy 6 sketches of Luke from my old blog. The first even has Luke in that same side profile, just from a more distant perspective. Mike's sketches always make me smile. That's the thing that has always attracted me to his work. I can't look at that bottom sketch, the "farmboy Luke" sketch, without getting a big grin on my face. 

   That's it for this week. Thanks to all for stopping by and reading!

#starwars #michaelduron #locoduck #locoduckduron #artistsketchcard #artistsketch #sketch #lukeskywalker #jediapprentice #jedimaster #markhamill #anewhope #empirestrikesback #returnofthejedi #theforceawakens #thelastjedi #riseofskywalker @michaelduron @locoduckduron @michaelduronportfolio 

    "And my axe". With those words (and a glare at Legolas) Gimli, son of Gloin, volunteered for the Fellowship. 

   Gimli has always been one of, if not my favorite character in Lord of the Rings. I grew up playing Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, and Dwarf fighters were always a favorite of both my twin brother and I. Plus I had been a fan of John Rhys-Davies from his Indiana Jones days playing Indy's buddy Sallah. I was pleasantly surprised the first time I saw "Fellowship of the Ring" to find out he was playing the role of Gimli. I have always said the Lord of the Rings movies were perfectly cast. I'm biased yes, but in my opinion there's not one actor that's not perfect for the role they played.

   I have had a variety of Gimli sketches by Mike over the years. Ones from Masterpieces II, PSCs, and the wonderful artwork that he did for me when I got John Rhys-Davies autograph at a Comic Con. 

   Anyways, that's it for today. Sorry so short and sorry that I'm a day late with this post- I had a lot going on yesterday. Thanks to all for stopping by and reading!

#lordoftherings #michaelduron #Locoduck #locoduckduron #artistsketchcard #artistsketch #sketch #gimlisonofgloin #gimli #fellowshipofthering #thetwotowers #returnoftheking #lordelrond #frodobaggins #frodo #bilbobaggins #bilbo #gandalf #samwisegamgee #sam #aragorn #legolas #boromir #merry #pippin #andmyaxe #dungeonsanddragons #advanceddungeonsanddragons @michaelduron @locoduckduron @michaelduronportfolio 

    Another recent pick-up from Mike's Indiana Jones Heritage contributions- I was very happy to get this "Last Crusade" sketch of Indy, Elsa, and Vogel from a great scene in the movie. Vogel has a gun on Elsa, and she talks Indy into dropping the gun he's holding against his father's urgings. "But she's one of them... she's a Nazi... trust me" says Indy's father, played by the late great Sean Connery. Indy believes the pleadings of a desperate Elsa over his father, and as it turns out, father knows best. 

   At first I didn't even realize this was a three character sketch. When you look at the card you (of course) see Elsa and Vogel. I didn't even really notice Indy on the right side of the card. I mean, it is just his nose, one eye, some moustache stubble, and the brim of his hat, but he's there.

   I remember in 2008 how excited Mike was for these sets because of his love for the Indiana Jones genre. I say it pretty much every time I feature an Indiana Jones sketch here, but you can see Mike's passion for the genre in every card he did. I love everything about this card. Starting with Vogel- his eyes pop out, the grim look on his face, and Mike did a great job with his hat and gun. I like how Mike drew Elsa's mouth and hair, and her closed eyes are a stark contrast to Vogel's. The Diary is another great prop. And how Mike worked Indy into the card, even if it's just a hint of him. Overall, just a great card. I love when a card can instantly transport you to a moment in a movie.

   Well, that's all for today. Thanks for stopping by and reading!

#indianajones #michaelduron #locoduck #locoduckduron #artistsketchcard #artistsketch #sketch #raidersofthelostark #indianajonesandthetempleofdoom #indianajonesandthelastcrusade #harrisonford #indy #elsa #alisondoody #vogel #michaelbyrne #seanconnery @michaelduron @locoduckduron @michaelduronportfolio