Lutu Gets a mention on Legend of Bill Webcomic

Lutu Warrior of the North got a nice plug on the Legend of Bill Webcomic Page. I did a pinup for them and you can go check it out at the link below. Thanks David for posting it. :-)

http://www.legendofbill.com/2010/01/22/

Lutu Warrior of the North #2 Out Now

Lutu Warrior of the North #2 is now out and available online from Indyplanet.com

http://www.indyplanet.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=3238

Thanks to everyone who made this issue possible

Cheers

-Steve-

Lutu #1 Review

Lutu: Warrior of the North
Written by Steve Coffin
Pencils by Steve Coffin
Ronin Studios

It’s always refreshing to see a comicbook creator who is willing to go against the grain so to speak. Steve Coffin has done that with Lutu: Warrior of the North. Lutu is part Xena Warrior Princess and part Groo the Wanderer. That is to say Coffin mixes the tried and true storyline of a warrior that might be Red Sonja, yet mixes in the humour.

Coffin also has drawn Lutu different than you might expect. He uses a more cartoon-oriented style, again reminiscent of Groo. I like that for a change of pace. And, then there is Lutu herself. The tendency is to draw female warriors as skinny amazons, with overly developed breasts.

Coffin has created a more bodacious, chubby heroine, which is refreshing in a world where we seem preoccupied by some media imposed vision of perfection.

Not surprisingly, the idea for Lutu actually started with a woman. “The original idea for Lutu Warrior of the North came from my wife,” said Coffin. “She suggested that I do a parody book of all those muscle-bound Barbarian stories but that the central character not be your typical warrior woman. “Then, over time, Lutu was born and the character became a plus size cook who is the twin sister of a famous warrior.”

Artistically, Coffin said he was trying something different with Lutu. “Previously I had done the comic Kung Fu Engine which was a very stylized art style the borrowed heavily from the Manga Chibi style,” he said. “This time around I wanted a more cartoon style and I went back to one of my old favorites Asterix the Gaul for inspiration.”

Overall, Lutu is just different enough to make it stand out amid the norm in the current comicbook field. It’s not an overly fantastic story, average really, but the attempt to make it different makes it a title to check out.

Coffin is certainly satisfied with Issue #1.
“I am very pleased with the book. I feel that it establishes the central characters and sets the scene for the adventures to follow,” he said. “The book was completely hand drawn and inked which was a complete departure from my previous digital work. Issue two is going to be half and half thanks to the new pen tablet.

“Also I would like to thank the pinup artists Cal Slayton and James V. West for their contributions.” And Coffin said he has more story to tell too. “Issue two is coming next, that is due out in the new year under the Ronin Studios Banner, and this will complete the first part of the story,” he said. “Issue three, which is a one-shot, is in the pipeline and I am also working on a pitch for an independent comic publisher at the moment.”

Lutu Warrior of the North #1 can be found online at www.indyplanet.com
Also the Lutu Website is at: http://www.stevecoffin.com/lutu with the publisher website: http://www.ronin-studios.com/

— CALVIN DANIELS http://www.webextra.yorktonthisweek.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=81:cals-comic-corner&catid=3:reviews&Itemid=5

Issue #2 Delay

Apparently there have been a few Goblins in the works and issue #2 of Lutu Warrior of the North has been delayed.

Mo the Dragon is currently sorting out the Goblins and issue #2 should be to the printers this week....

Lutu #1 just had an excellent review in SP Nexus Magazine!

Lutu #1 just had an excellent review in SP Nexus Magazine!

Here is the link to the magazine, the review is on page 50 :-)
http://www.selfpubmag.com/start.htm

Cheers

-Steve-

Here is the review:-

REVIEWS
Comic Review: Lutu
By Stats Jenkins
(http://kissmecomix.com)

Lutu: Warrior of the North Issue 1
By: Steve Coffin
Publisher Website: http://www.stevecoffin.com/lutu

The premise of Lutu: Warrior of the North is interesting as the time period reminds you of Conan, Ka-Zar days of old, where the sword and sorcery rule Lutu, is a twin (the story didn't say if she was older or younger)of Barbarian parents. The other twin is also named Lutu, but this Lutu that is pictures in the story is a cook. while the sister is a famous warrior known throughout the land. The warrior Lutu goes missing, and the Lutu in the story goes off to find her sister.

I give Mr., Coffin kudos for making Lutu, full figured, I am assuming that this was done to aim for a younger audience, or just steering away from the usual stereotype of warrior women whatever the reason, the story keeps everything above board. The set·up of Lutu quickly gives a synopsis in print then again in first page of the actual story, just in case readers blow past the first setup.

The characters in Lutu are reminiscent of something that you would see in Xena the warrior princess, or the TV version of Hercules, The characters are drawn 10 a cartoon-like fashion the characters are with consistency from page to page, although on a few panels that the artist seemed to struggle drawing characters, the coloring is done by computer. While I'm not a big fan of computer coloring, in Lutu, the coloring adds to the scenes and gives the story an overall unique feel. I must also note that the computer coloring makes the transition over to a web comic easier as viewing Lutu with web browsers, there is no loss of color or vibrancy.

The story is cleverly written, with a few jabs thrown at He-Man, Conan, and few other well known barbarian/warrior heroes, though most readers probably wouldn't get the joke unless they were around at the time when these shows were popular. The pace of which Lutu reads is a lively pace that makes the reader curious to see what will happen next, especially knowing that the cook Lutu can't fight. The story comes to a surprising, quick end just as the story gets interesting, I do look forward to see where Mr. Coffin leads Lutu in the future, and whether or not she gains any fighting skills like her twin, and if she will find her missing sister.

Lutu: Warrior of the North. is a refreshing change of pace from the usual super·hero, or pop subject comic that seems to be flooding the market of late, the simplicity of the story and art makes it ideal for young readers, while striking a balance for older readers. Lutu: Warrior of the North has the potential for being a great comic, given that this IS only the first issue; there will be improvement as the creative power of Steve Coffin evolves. I suggest that those who get into the story enjoy for it should be here for quite some time,

Rating 3 stars.

Lutu Pinups

Lutu Warrior of the North #2 is finished and I am just sorting out the extras pages before it goes to print. Here is a sneak peak at some of the excellent pinups that we have in issue 2. Thanks to Cal Slayton and James V. West for their great illustrations. :-)

Lutu Warrior of the North #1 New Free page now online

Check the new installment of Lutu Warrior of the North #1 now available free online at

http://www.stevecoffin.com/lutu/preview.htm