You all know David Prowse, of course: he’s the actor who wore the Darth Vader costume in the original Star Wars trilogy, but whose voice was replaced with the voice of James Earl Jones.

Well, in Episode V he has an actual speaking part, and you can see his face.

No, really.

Well… okay. I’m talking about Episode V of the 1981 TV series, “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.”

David Prowse (billed as Dave Prowse) plays the pinstripe-wearing bodyguard of Hotblack Desiato in Milliways, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe. He picks up Ford Prefect (played by David Dixon) by the shoulders, lifting him a good eighteen inches off the ground, and gives him a thuggish talking-to. And honestly, after watching that bit, I can see why Lucas had James Earl Jones voice Darth Vader.

How do I know? Well, I just watched that episode, and confirmed my suspicion with a quick trip to IMDB.

Okay, back to whatever else it was you were doing.

Hey, y’all.

My CONduit report is up. I think this may be the fastest turnaround on a ‘Con report for me yet.

Click on in and have a look at the pictures I drew!

And now, bed.

–Howard

A full report will have to wait for later, but Day Two can be summed up as follows:

“My hand hurts.”

Here’s a LITTLE more detail.

11:00-12:00: Howard stakes a claim to a table, posts some flyers, and warms up his drawing hand.
12:00-1:00: A webcomics panel replete with “I know none of these people.” It’s still fun.
1:00-2:00: Lunch at Carl’s Jr.
2:00-8:00: Howard draws until his hand is fit to fall off.
8:00-9:00: Dinner at McDonalds, complete with the stereotypical crazy muttering man.
9:00-10:00: Masquerade, during the half-time of which I led the audience in a two-artist game of “SF Pictionary.” Somebody needs to talk to somebody about what “SF” is, because even though I communicated “The Wizard of Oz” in just under 18 seconds, I’m a little bitter about having to draw the Emerald City and the Yellow Brick Road at this event.

For most of the day I hung out with Dan Willis, one of WOTC’s Dragonlance authors.

I’ll post pictures of the commissions I drew once we download them from the camera. The good news: I made enough on commissions yesterday that all the gas, parking, and meal expenses associated with this event are covered. The bad news: I was making about $13 an hour in a non-sustainable activity. My hand is killing me. Today I either raise prices, or get sloppy.

If you’re reading this and planning to be at CONduit today, I’m at the Gaming Registration table across from the Art Show starting at 11:00am, and I’ll be there through about 4:00. Then I have a panel on Inking, and then I go home!

–Howard

CONduit has been fun so far. I’ve not seen much of the convention, but I did find a place to sit and draw pictures. This was good, because I actually got a little work done — about 80% of a Sunday strip is complete, thanks to some quiet time between whipping out sketches for fans.

I’m too frazzled right now to give a blow-by-blow. I will, however, post a scan of the dragon I drew for the Charity Auction.

Picture behind the cut…