BeastMaster
Available as prints: http://www.redbubble.com/people/raycaspio/art/6684227-2-dar BeastMaster was a syndicated television series aired originally from 1999 to 2002. It was based on a film called The Beastmaster, which I can't remember ever watching, but I probably did...maybe. While BeastMaster aired as a series, I watched an episode here and there on Saturdays if I wasn't doing anything. However, when it was released on DVD (in very expensive season sets shortly after the cancelation), I became an avid viewer. What sold me on the show was Daniel Goddard's characterization of Dar, which took a few episodes to really develop the appropriate tone. Daniel Goddard's Dar is the last survivor of his tribe, gifted by the demon Curupira (Emilie de Ravin, later of Lost) with the power to communicate with animals (if ever there was an ultimate superpower for me, it's this one). He became the living link between the human and animal world and Dar did not take his responsibility lightly. Ultimately, though, it was Dar's peaceful nature that drew me in...it also didn't hurt that Daniel Goddard is easy on the eyes. Violence could have easily been Dar's main tactic but he took the high road, resorting to fighting only when necessary and never as the aggressor. In a time where heroes and superheroes are honored for how "badass" they are, Dar is the antithesis of that. He prefers to fight with a blunt club and is horrified when he discovers that his club can transform into his father's sword. What makes Dar is his nobility, intelligence, and his love and reverence for peace, nature, and life, above all else. He was hated by his enemies because of his values. Daniel Goddard portrayed all of that with sensitivity, intelligence, grace, and fierceness (only when necessary). I wish there were more superheroes like Dar in the world today instead of making them a thing of the past. He was the light in a dark world, which is how I like my heroes. Heroes presented today, in comic books and media, are just as dark as the world around us; indistinguishable from those they fight against. What is there for us to strive for in that? Here is Dar, his tiger friend Ruh, Sharak the eagle, and Kodo and Podo: the ferrets. BeastMaster BeastMaster On a sidenote, I used to watch this series when I began working out six years ago for fitness inspiration. It worked! Perhaps I should start again.
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celebrity, illustration, inspiration, superheroes, televisionRay Caspio
Original Art For Sale: Wonder Woman 1941-2008
I am selling the original inked art for WONDER WOMAN 1941-2008. Rarely do I part with my originals, but it's time for this one. It's drawn on Blue Line comic board. The art space measures 10" x 15". If you are interested in purchasing the art, please fill out a Contact Form and I will reply with pricing information. What I Wrote Then: "After 1-1/2 years, this piece is finally complete! In 2006, I researched, penciled and inked this illustration depicting Wonder Woman and Diana Prince in her most definitive costumes since 1941. A comprehensive history of Wonder Woman’s look hasn’t been done since George Perez’s 1990′s poster, and even then it wasn’t approached from the original artists’ styles. Over the past few months, Kevenn T. Smith and I have been working on the colors in Photoshop. Between my drawing and his color expertise, we produced this result. Almost every definitive version of Diana that has appeared in the comic book and other media is in this drawing, drawn by me but based on the original artists’ artwork: H.G. Peter, George Perez, Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez, Mike Deodato, Phil Jimenez, Terry Dodson, Jose Delbo, Ross Andru, Irv Novick, Curt Swan, Don Heck, Gene Colan, Jill Thompson, Mike Sekowsky, Alex Toth, Bruce Timm, and Darwyn Cooke. In addition, I included the Lynda Carter and Cathy Lee Crosby versions of Wonder Woman because no true history of Diana would be complete without them. Earth-2 Wonder Woman is based on Lynda Carter since there really isn’t a definitive depiction of her. Lynda Carter (including her Diana Prince and the motorcycle outfit), Cathy Lee Crosby, and Earth-2 are in my art style and not based on another artists’ work." Wonder Woman 1941-2008: Original Art Wonder Woman 1941-2008: Original Art
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comic books, illustration, television, wonder womanRay Caspio
So Super Duper #12: Superheroes With iPhones
Here's my pin-up for Brian Andersen's So Super Duper #12, which happens to be the series' final issue and will be coming out soon. It's Comet on Superheroes With iPhones! His username must undoubtedly be comets_tail. Thanks to Brian for making me a part of the final issue of his great, positive, and fun series. This pin-up also marks an evolution in my illustration style. The desire to change the way I ink was nagging at me. I needed something more faithful to my pencils and, with this piece, I finally achieved it. So Super Duper #12: Comet on Superheroes With iPhones
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illustration, published work, so super duperRay Caspio
Batman, Batgirl, and Robin: The Terrific Trio
Available as prints in various sizes and formats, poster, postcard, card: http://www.redbubble.com/people/raycaspio/art/6507277-1-the-terrific-trio Available as a t-shirt (men, women, children, babies): http://www.redbubble.com/people/raycaspio/t-shirts/6507293-1-the-terrific-trio My last illustration of 2010 is something that's been in my sketchbook for awhile: Batman, Batgirl, and Robin: The Terrific Trio. It's based on the 1960's Batman television series, which I happen to love. I don't really care for Batman in the comics, but in a live action or animated (most of the time) format, I'm fine with him. Originally, the illustration was going to be Batman (Adam West). Then it was going to be Batman and Robin (Burt Ward). Then, I had to include my favorite: Batgirl (Yvonne Craig), in one of my most favorite superhero costumes ever. Maybe at some point down the line, I'll draw some of my favorite villains: Julie Newmar and Eartha Kitt as Catwoman, Ethel Merman as Lola Lasagna, Vincent Price as Egghead, and Tallulah Bankhead as Black Widow.

After a lot of starts and stops, here's the illustration! Batman, Batgirl, and Robin: The Terrific Trio

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batgirl, batman, illustration, robin, superheroes, televisionRay Caspio
Inoculations Reviews
Theater Ninjas production of Inoculations received great reviews from Cleveland's most noted reviewers! I'm so proud to be in this show. Inoculations runs Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Mondays at 8pm, and Sundays at 3:00pm: through November 20th. 78th Street Studios 1300 West 78th Street, Cleveland TICKETS: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/134313 Tony Brown, The Cleveland Plain Dealer "It is one of the most exciting, original and confounding experiences I've witnessed in my 11 years covering Cleveland theater." Christine Howey, Cleveland Scene Magazine "There are a couple moments that linger in the memory, such as when one actor speaks the lines that another lip-synchs..." "The actors from the first play join Koesters...in an attempt to merge the two works. But that unity is less important than the sum of the theatrical parts on display here. The other performers include Ray Caspio, Michael Prosen, Val Kozlenko, Darius Stubbs, and Amy Pawlukiewicz, all of whom give their all to make Paul's concept of O'Donnell's challenging theatrics resonate." Roy Berko "The Theatre Ninja production, as is the case with Paul's work, is well conceived. The actors are centered on their purposes, stay in character, and create the proper intensity. LACAN features Ray Caspio, Val Kozlenko, Ryan Lucas, Amy Pawlukiewicz, Michael Prosen, Nick Riley and Darius Stubbs...INOCULATIONS is a confounding yet fascinating evening of theatre."
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acting, theater ninjas, theatreRay Caspio