Valentine Comic – Official Website of Daniel Cooney's Valentine

Announces First Feature Film ‘Dana Valentine’
Based on the Comic Book Series

(Burbank, CA – March 11, 2010) Valentine, the femme fatale comic book series, has been optioned for worldwide motion picture, television and other ancillary rights and merchandising, by Chautauqua Cordova Entertainment (C2 Entertainment).
The first such film project Dana Valentine: Beauty, Brains and Bullets, is based on Valentine, a comic book series written and illustrated by Daniel Cooney for Red Eye Press, about a female contract-killer, who has an addictive attraction to risk and violence in the deadly world of murder-for-hire.
This edgy and stylish action series explores the dichotomy of a killer on the job and the psychological after-effects of a woman whose morally questionable profession has made her a liability to everyone she has ever met, in addition to herself. More than anything, the story captures the unrelenting resolve of a female killing machine.
Valentine’s fan base covers a wide demographic, consisting of fans of action thrillers, suspense and strong female leads that are smart and sexy yet strong and vulnerable at the same time. According to C2 President Anna Cordova, “After being introduced to Valentine at Comic-Con International and getting to know her through the series, we are very excited to find the right sassy, sexy and yet sensitive actress to define and develop this great property for C2’s first film production.”

C2 Entertainment is planning for a $25 to $30 million production budget for the live-action Dana Valentine film. C2 President and Executive Producer Anna Cordova is currently in initial discussions with potential screenwriters and directors. C2 is also seeking domestic and foreign distribution partners.
Series creator Daniel Cooney added, “It is a dream come true to see Valentine adapted into a film and look forward to the actress who’s going to bring my character to life: guns, killer looks and all .” Daniel Cooney is represented by Eric Reid at William Morris Endeavor Entertainment.

C2 is represented by attorney Kristin M. Schuh.

Daniel Cooney’s Valentine comic book series first made its debut at Comic-Con International in 1997 and the soon-to-be-released The Tommy Gun Dolls are both creator-owned and independently published by Cooney’s publishing imprint, Red Eye Press. Cooney has established himself as a writer and illustrator for various book publishers, and licensed properties of comics, television and film. An accomplished educator, Cooney teaches writing and drawing comics classes at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Cathy Scott
Publicist on behalf of C2 Entertainment
(818) 438-2424
cscottmedia@aol.com

Revised cover for soon-to-be released fourth installment of Valentine. The title design is consistent with the 2nd printings of volume one and two. It’s all about the branding folks!

I’m not sure which design I like better — thoughts on this?
UPDATE: Thanks for your feedback, I think I’ve worked out the kinks for this cover. There are some color adjustments before going to press later in the spring.

This is the second time I’ve use screen tones with the software program Manga Studio Debut 4 trial version. I used to tone my work by hand using the an X-acto and screen tone sheets applied over the inked artwork. Although I love the hands-on process, the digital way is much faster and yielding results closer to the old formula. I’m a bit late to the game with this digital rendering but the coloring was done by hand and adjusted in Photoslop. The horizontal speed lines were applied with an X-acto blade and correction pen.

Concept layouts for 2nd printing covers for Vol. 1 & 2 of Valentine.

I’ve been away from working on the next installment of Valentine this blog will serve the purpose of tracking my process as I write and draw Volume 4.

These headshots are a way for me to warm up before drawing Valentine again. Consistency is key and this is an area I struggle in when I’m away from the book too long. Through the next few posts you’ll begin to see a consistent style develop. Right now, this feel a but rough and only a couple sketches out of 10 I felt I got her look down.