The Wedding Gift - An Illustrated Tale of Einarinn
Writer and artist in British and American comics for more than 15 years, Mike has worked on key characters such as 2000AD's SLAINE, JUDGE DREDD and ROGUE TROOPER, DC Comics's SUPERMAN, BATMAN and WONDER WOMAN and Marvel's X-MEN and SPIDER-MAN. He has worked on licensed comics properties such as STAR TREK, BABYLON 5 and DR WHO ans as cover artist for STAR TREK's e-books. He alos illustrates for TSR/Wizards of the Coast trading cards, manuals and magazines, particularly FORGOTTEN REALMS and HARRY POTTER.
Mike lives in Cardiff, Wales with a wife and an assorted collection of children, dogs and cats. Contact him via the web at: www.freakhousegraphics.co.uk
Mike took quite a different approach to the characters, starting with detailing their features as shown on the left. These fascinating character sketches are the result. The very rough pencils on the right show the composition of the piece - where the characters are standing, what they are doing and an idea of how the buildings are placed.
Sorgrad and Sorgren (or 'Gren' as he's more commonly known) are brothers mentioned from the start of the Tales. It is really only in The Gambler's Fortune that we meet them and learn why they have long been such valuable allies and trusted friends for Livak and Halice. We also see something Livak can be willfully blind to; just how dangerous they can be as enemies. They are outsiders, even more so than Livak or Halice, since they are Mountain Men, unusual in the lowlands of Einarinn. The Mountain Men are the last remnants of an ancient race who may hold vital lore that Livak seeks. Whether they will give it up is a complex question, given their bitter grievances long held against the lowlanders.