RED GUARDIAN – Marvel Comics – Drawn with Mr. Sketch while on a Livestream

In short, this piece was an absolute failure—the type that makes me want to rip this thiccc smooth Bristol board in half, on the spot, into multiple pieces (I almost did). But I kept it mostly intact for anyone who visits the site through the livestream replay. Oh, did I not mention that? This absolute, complete, life-crushing failure was live for the world to see—and they probably did.

If you’re still here: I haven’t worked with Mr. Sketch Scented Markers since over 20 years ago. This known unknown was celebrated during the previous Mr. Sketch livestream, where I attempted to unbox, test, and document the different quick-sketch techniques one could utilize to start realizing the full capability of a product like Mr. Sketch. But as you probably already know, that too was a disaster.

Time for a parable, as only AKAPAD can tell it—like the Red Guardian character. Outside of the occasional place in a decent title, mini, or one-shot (Angel Medina, I’m looking at you), he premiered in Avengers #43 (1967), floated around the Marvel Universe unknown and useless until the 2021 Black Widow film dropped him right into our laps due to the COVID restrictions. That delivered a live-action version of the character that was not only fatherly but lovable—and later solidified him in all future Marvel landscapes in the 2025 film Thunderbolts* (aka The New Avengers).

And like the journey of the Red Guardian character, I’m not giving up on this piece or any of the Mr. Sketch Scented Marker series I have planned. I’ll start with this failed piece.

PETER A DELUCA AKAPD

AKAPAD is a versatile thinker known across Philadelphia, Europe, and even in the vast Multiverse as The Electic One. By day, he excels as an IT Mastermind, assisting individuals, both big and small, with a wide range of simple and complex solutions. In contrast, he is also a talented illustrator, a passionate comic book enthusiast, a creative content creator, and an active live streamer. Additionally, his podcast, “AKAPAD The Film Buff Podcast,” boasts an impressive catalog of over 500 episodes available on nearly every major platform.