Eventized: A Michael Neno Blog

A Sterling Clark - Mike Royer - Michael Neno Production

2012-02-13T16:15:00.000-08:00

Detail from a Jack Kirby tribute poster that's been penciled by Sterling Clark and will be inked by veteran inker Mike Royer and colored by myself.

Many of you may know Royer was Jack Kirby's inker during the '70s and beyond and was also Kirby's most faithful inker, adhering closely to Kirby's pencils while giving the work a magnificent professional finish.

I'm very much looking forward to this project!

In the Ball Park's 25 Cent Sale

2012-02-13T14:34:00.000-08:00

In In the Ball Park in Lancaster, Ohio on Saturday. Many, many longboxes of comics.

Graphic Designer Wesley Sickles, Nephew of Cartoonist Noel Sickles, Died This Week in Columbus, Ohio

2012-02-13T13:16:00.000-08:00

Wesley Sickles, whose father was one of Noel Sickles' brothers, Royal V. Sickles, had worked as a graphic designer at Nationwide Insurance for over 40 years, until 1992. Sickles had earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from OSU.

Read the Columbus Dispatch obituary here: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dispatch/obituary.aspx?n=wesley-edward-sickles&pid=155829584&fhid=8700

Walter

2012-02-13T08:53:00.000-08:00

Drawn and colored for the top left corner of the cover for The Signifiers #2.

Quacky's Fortune Cookie Messages - a new MicroComic!

2012-02-12T13:56:00.000-08:00

New for 2012 - my first MicroComic in nine years! The Quacky's Fortune Cookie Messages book features twelve demented and illustrated (and dementedly illustrated) prophetic messages.

These handsome little books will set you back a mere fifty cents in person, or $1.00 ppd. A PayPal button will magically appear on my site, www.nenoworld.com, later this week!

Fans of the Quacky Pig and Lovey Dovey coloring books will dig this tiny object, as well.

Deathwalker Is Published and Ready for Shipping

2012-02-12T12:28:00.000-08:00

Deathwalker, a new Airship 27-published sword and sorcery novel by R.A. Jones, has been published this weekend and is available now.

A tense novel about a Cheyenne, written in the spirit of Robert E. Howard, Deathwalker sports front and back cover paintings by Laura Givens. I drew the nine interior illustrations.

Deathwalker is the first of two books published this weekend featuring my work. Check out my next Eventized post for the second book!

Order Deathwalker as an E-book here: http://www.robmdavis.com/OScommerce/product_info.php?products_id=77&osCsid=e19677038def1ff6086fa4f407941ada

Or as a paper book here: http://www.amazon.com/Deathwalker-R-Jones/dp/0615597521/ref=sr_1_10?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1328921475&sr=1-10

Pics from SPACE 2011, Part I

2012-02-10T15:46:00.000-08:00

Rafer Roberts and Jacob Warrenfeltz

Bruce Chrislip

Steve Hager and Bruce Rosenberger

Steve Willis in the foreground on the right. On the far left: Tim Corrigan.

Ray Tomczak.

Kel Crum.

Karl Boettcher.

Max Ink on the right.

Canada Keck.

Magazines I've Read Recently, February 10th, 2012

2012-02-10T13:13:00.000-08:00

Comic Creators for Freedom Project a Success!

2012-02-10T09:24:00.000-08:00

Above: a detail from the CCF snowball fight wallpaper.

Comic Creators for Freedom, a coalition of 127 cartoonists (myself included) who donated their time and talents to raise funds in conjunction with National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, beat last year's contribution total!

This year, $7,500 was raised, to be divided between Gracehaven House and Love 146, both organizations helping victims of sexual trafficking.

Thanks to Lora Innes, Crystal Yates and all the CCF organizers behind the scenes who helped bring the project to fruition.

Gracehaven: http://www.gracehavenhouse.org/

Love 146: http://love146.org/

A New Lovey Dovey Puzzle Book Summer Special Banner Ad!

2012-02-10T07:19:00.000-08:00

Click the banner for an animated loop.

Indie Comix Fair: Profiles in Awesome

2012-02-08T10:38:00.000-08:00

Click here: http://www.nixcomics.com/pages/index.php?pageId=174 for Nix Comics Quarterly interviews with nine cartoonists (including myself) who will be appearing at the Indie Comix Fair at Ace of Cups on March 3rd.

Read interviews with Dara Naraghi, Todd Beistel, Bob Corby, Molly Durst, James Moore, Bob Ray Starker and Matt Wyatt!

While you're at it, check out Nix's new western comic and 45 combo pack on Kickstarter: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2135514704/nix-western-comics-1-comic-and-record-set?ref=card

Modern Movie Posters: the Blue and the Brown

2012-02-08T08:29:00.000-08:00

A look at recent movie posters leads me to believe that poster designers are instructed to use a color palette restricted to blue and brown. A big exception to this seeming rule is that romantic comedies usually get a white background.

Compare those recent posters to some older ones wherein poster designers weren't afraid (or were allowed) to use a broad range of colors.

Read Recently: Losing Mum and Pup, by Christopher Buckley

2012-02-06T16:18:00.000-08:00

I expected novelist Christopher Buckley's memoir about losing both of his parents, William and Patricia, in the same year to be depressing and in that regard Losing Mum and Pup doesn't disappoint. It is, in fact, a mighty sobering and unyielding look at his parents' last days and the sort of mind-numbing logistics involved in any funeral arranging.

The book was especially important to me, not only because I'm roughly Christopher Buckley's age, but also because the death of William Buckley seemed and seems, to me, to be the end of a cultivated, learned and good-spirited kind of conservatism which no longer exists on any kind of meaningful scale and certainly not in right-wing media.

Watching a two-hour, 1996 William F. Buckley Jr. Firing Line debate (which had been broadcast on PBS - imagine that happening now) at the same time I read the above book reminded me of what's been lost in this regard. The thrusts and jabs of the warring participants - some of the participants, though ideologically opposed, being good friends in private - were sharp but civilized, well-researched, good-humored and good-natured. The debate utilized a manner of discourse which has completely disappeared from the political landscape, replaced with McCarthy era-like hysteria, anger and intellectual myopia, largely propagated by those who use the noun "Democrat" as an adjective.

I don't want to white-wash the past - a multitude of sins can be attributed to the Republican party as they can to any political party - but neither do I want to forget what's been lost.

Indie Comix Fair at Ace of Cups March 3rd, 2012

2012-01-29T11:05:00.000-08:00

Come out to the first Indie Comix Fair at Ace of Cups on March 3rd, hang out with C-Bus area cartoonists, and check out their splendiferous wares!

I'll be selling comics books, original art, assorted cool merchandise - and giving away two free 45s - your choice - from the '50s to the '80s to each customer! I'll also be accepting commissions that day.

The Indie Comix Fair is a joint sponsor of Ken Eppstein, publisher of Nix Comics Quarterly and Bob Corby, head honcho of the Small Press and Alternative Comics Expo.

Also scheduled to attend: local cartoonists Molly Durst, Todd Beistel and Doug Hufford, James Moore and Katie Valeska, Dara Naraghi, Max Ink, Bob Ray Starker, Matt Wyatt, Bob and Ken - and the proverbial more.

Indie Comix Fair runs from 1:00 to 6:00.

http://www.facebook.com/events/322653487778736/

Pencils for The Toy Box

2012-01-29T10:47:00.001-08:00

Val

2012-01-28T19:35:00.000-08:00

Val Crocodile, Associate Professor of Linguistics - a spot illustration drawn today for the inside front cover of The Signifiers #2. It's comin' together.

Comics I've Read Recently, January 28, 2012

2012-01-28T19:32:00.000-08:00

The Black Wraith - a Hero Code Pin-Up

2012-01-27T18:16:00.000-08:00

A pin-up I drew recently for the upcoming second issue of Jamie Gambell's new indy comics project, The Hero Code.

Check out the official Hero Code site for news, reviews and ordering info on this new series! http://www.herocode.net/

Character Designs for The Toy Box MicroComic

2012-01-20T19:14:00.000-08:00

Larvae Boy, Lonely and Sad

2012-01-20T19:11:00.000-08:00

Comics I've Read Recently, January 19th, 2012

2012-01-18T22:25:00.000-08:00

Hand Lettering: Why I Do It and How

2012-01-16T20:20:00.000-08:00

Nearly all of the comics I draw are hand lettered, sometimes with a brush, usually with a Rapidograph pen (or a mixture of the two). Computer fonts are, of course, how it's usually done these days. Some of these fonts look mighty stylish, but they all suffer from one major fault: they look like computer fonts. Hand lettering has an subtle organic life you just can't duplicate or approximate with software.

The first pro lettering I did was for a story drawn by Jeff Smith and Paul Pope. Based on my first page, Paul recommended I give the words more room to "breathe", allowing more white space between the words and the balloon. That advice has served me well over the years.

I use a standard size for most dialogue in my pro comics: 1/8 an inch high, with 1/16 inch between the lines. I don't use some fancy schmancy lettering guide for this, but a metal ruler I bought in my first year of college in 1980.

The lettering is then penciled in. If the lettering needs to be placed symmetrically in order to fit an approximate size for a word balloon (which is most often the case), I jot down the words separated in lines somewhere else on the page, count the number of letters in the longest line and pencil that line of lettering first. I then use the ruler to figure out the middle of that longest line, draw a vertical line through the balloon with the middle of the longest line as the anchor and pencil in the other lines, making sure each line has an equal number of letters or spaces on each side of the anchor line (see above).

The lettering is then inked with the Rapidograph pen. What you see above is the lettering in a rough state. After the ink is dried, the pencils can be erased and the letters and balloon fixed up/repaired/perfected with a fine small brush and white and black paint. The end result doesn't have to be perfect, but it does need to be consistent, smooth and professional.

William Overgard Channels Milton Caniff

2012-01-16T20:10:00.000-08:00

From an issue of Daredevil, starring the Little Wise Guys.

Donate to Help Victims of Human Trafficking, Get a Snowball Fight!

2012-01-14T20:49:00.000-08:00

127 Comic Creators for Freedom have contributed their talents to making this epic snowball fight wallpaper (a snippet of the epic pic is shown above) as a gift for those who donate to fight human trafficking. The CCF collects your donations and divides them equally between Love146 and Gracehaven.

Please consider donating to these very worthy organizations and get some cool desktop art while you're at it. Artists include Lora Innes, Max Ink, Katie Valeska, myself and many, many more.

You can make your donation here: http://comiccreatorsforfreedom.com/

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” - Margaret Mead

New Steve Ditko Cover

2012-01-14T20:32:00.001-08:00

Born in 1927 and still going strong...

Comics I've Read Recently, January 11th, 2012

2012-01-11T21:16:00.000-08:00

Young Splash

2012-01-05T18:58:00.000-08:00

From The Signifiers #2.

A Comic Book Collection I Read Recently, January 5th, 2012

2012-01-05T18:57:00.000-08:00

Books About Comics I've Read Recently, January 4th, 2012

2012-01-04T19:05:00.000-08:00

Who Is Fearful?

2012-01-03T15:35:00.000-08:00

Find out in 2012!

C-Bus Cookies from The Batch Bakery

2012-01-03T15:20:00.000-08:00

Hungry central Ohioians would do well to try some of the best cookies I've had in that woebegone trek amusedly known as my life.

Those cookies are hand-made by culinary genius Maria Siriano and her company is called The Batch Bakery. The Batch uses local, all natural, and organic ingredients (butter from Hartzler Family Dairy in Wooster, Ohio, nuts and nut butters from Columbus-based Krema Nut Company, etc.)

Mary and I tried the Spicy Oatmeal Raisin (very spicy!) and Crackly Molasses cookies and these goodies were packed with heightened flavor!

You can buy these treats at the Celebrate Local store at Easton Town Center (pick up stories I've drawn in Nix Comics Quarterly there while you're at it).

The Batch Bakery website: http://www.thebatchbakery.com/

The Batch Bakery on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thebatchbakery

Celebrate Local: http://celebratelocal.wordpress.com/

Trippy 1968 Underground Radio Ad for Traffic's 2nd LP

2011-12-31T15:04:00.000-08:00

From WLS-FM, in December, 1968. Dig it!

Carmen, Drawn for the Comic Creators for Freedom Upcoming Human Trafficking Awareness Day Drive

2011-12-30T19:41:00.001-08:00

More info on this drive very soon!

Samm Schwartz: Jughead Artist Supreme

2011-12-30T19:33:00.000-08:00

Those who regularly read Eventized will have probably noticed I read a lot of Jughead comics. Samm Schwartz is the reason why.

For over thirty years, Schwartz defined, honed and perfected Jughead using an innovative style which often ignored panel borders and always placed an emphasis on gracefully slapstick body language.

If you recognize the photo of Schwartz, above, it may be because he frequently drew himself into his stories. He also improvised with the scripts he was given and made them his own.

The photo above accompanies an afterward written by Schwartz's daughter, Joanne Colt, published in Archie: The Best of Samm Schwartz, Vol. 1, recently released by IDW. This volume reprints what I consider some of the lesser (but still strong) Schwartz material: his late '50s/early '60s work, which was largely inked by other cartoonists.

In the mid-'60s, Schwartz took a several-year-long break from Archie comics. When he returned, he inked his own pencils in a "clear line" style amazingly similar to (and most likely influenced by) Herge's Tintin books. It was then that Schwartz produced hundreds of stories for Jughead, Reggie and Me and other titles well into the '90s. The '70s were a golden age for Schwartz fans and Archie fans and I'm very much looking forward to Archie: The Best of Samm Schwartz, Vol. 2.

Purchase Archie: The Best of Samm Schwartz, Vol. 1 here: http://www.amazon.com/Archie-Best-Samm-Schwartz-1/dp/1613770413

Comics I've Read Recently, December 30th, 2011

2011-12-30T19:25:00.000-08:00

Who is Sad?

2011-12-28T19:11:00.000-08:00

Find out in 2012!

Three Movies I Wish I Would Have Had Room for in my 2011 Top Ten List

2011-12-28T19:09:00.000-08:00

Wild Goose Creative Tops Reader's Survey List

2011-12-28T18:58:00.000-08:00

Columbus arts organization Wild Goose Creative topped the Columbus Underground reader's survey for the best arts and cultural organization of 2011.

Though I may be a bit prejudiced (I've curated several exhibits there, including this year's Simplexity gallery), I can't think of another arts organization in Columbus that has such a needed mixture of inclusiveness and hospitality, neighborhood outreach and openness to offbeat creative visions.

Read about it here: http://www.columbusunderground.com/best-arts-cultural-organization-of-2011-wild-goose-creative

And learn more about Wild Goose Creative here: http://www.wildgoosecreative.com/Wild_Goose_Creative___Home.html

Scheduled Reading: The American, by Henry James

2011-12-27T10:35:00.000-08:00

Having read James' first two novels, Watch and Ward and Roderick Hudson, I'll be tackling (in truth, the roughhousing will be minimal) James' third novel, The American, as soon as I'm caught up with several of Marvel's Avengers series and The New Yorker.

The novel was originally serialized in The Atlantic Monthly from 1876-1877.

Comics I've Read Recently, December 27th, 2011

2011-12-27T10:22:00.000-08:00

Cartoonist Paul Grist, in his introduction to Mud Man #1, writes a good arguement for the advantages of the serialized comic book format (as opposed to graphic novels and trades), one I wholeheartedly agree with. I recommend both his comic book and the essay.

Near Death is perhaps the best of the new crime/noir series on the market and needs to be an HBO series - now.

Comic Creators for Freedom: Fighting Together to End Human Trafficking

2011-12-26T20:36:00.000-08:00

I am honored to be taking part, this year, in a project which benefits two organizations devoted to fighting human trafficking and helping victims of human trafficking: Love 146 and Gracehaven.

The project is CCF: Comic Creators for Freedom. Each comic creator who participates contributes an original drawing of one of their female characters (this year's theme: snowball fight!).

All of the images will then be combined into one single wallpaper, available for download when you donate to the cause! 100% of the donations will be split between Love 146 and Gracehaven. The project coincides with National Human Trafficking Awareness Day on January 11th.

I'll be drawing Carmen, from my online pulp/noir strip The Mesh (scheduled to continue in 2012).

More news about this project as January 11th approaches.

Columbus Cartoonists: A Bicentennial Celebration at the OSU Cartoon Research Library

2011-12-26T20:09:00.001-08:00

From the Ohio State University website:

"An extraordinary number of notable cartoonists have lived, worked or been educated in Columbus, Ohio. In honor of the two hundredth anniversary of the city's founding, this exhibition features original cartoon art and other artifacts created by many of them, including Billy Ireland, Milton Caniff, Harry J. Westerman, Eugene Craig, Doc Goodwin, Bill Crawford, Edwina Dumm, Dudley T. Fisher, James Thurber, and Jeff Stahler."

The exhibit runs from January 23 through April 27, 2012, at the Reading Room Gallery in the OSU Cartoon Research Library, 27 West 17th Avenue Mall.

Notice: the Milton Caniff art above is not scheduled for the exhibit.

Freedom Now!

2011-12-26T19:48:00.000-08:00

During the holiday season, please remember the places around the world where freedom of expression and worship is suppressed.

My Twitter account, Freedom Now, posts and retweets news and info about the fight for freedom worldwide, from the timely to the bizarre (learn, for example, about North Korea's CafePress site, where you can purchase official NK propaganda coffee mugs!

Check it out here: http://twitter.com/Freedom_Now_

Who Is Joyful?

2011-12-24T11:55:00.000-08:00

Find out in 2012!

Strummin'

2011-12-24T09:18:00.000-08:00

From a new, under-wraps project TBA soon!

The Ten Best Older Films I Saw in 2011...

2011-12-24T07:48:00.000-08:00

...in the order I saw them.

The Ten Best New Movies I Saw in 2011...

2011-12-23T16:03:00.000-08:00

...in the order I saw them.

Who is Angry, and Why?

2011-12-22T16:41:00.001-08:00

Find out in 2012!

Breakfast With Nick

2011-12-22T16:40:00.000-08:00

One of the founders of local arts group Wild Goose Creative, Nick Dekker, has also been writing central Ohio breakfast reviews on his blog, Breakfast With Nick and in print.

A good helping of his reviews have now been published in a beautiful book, naturally called Breakfast With Nick. The Columbus area has an amazing array of adventerous breakfast options and the book is wonderfully designed by Robin Oatts to be reminiscent of '40s/'50s cookbooks.

You can both read Nick's blog and order the book here: http://breakfastwithnick.wordpress.com/

Francesco Francavilla's Archie Meets Kiss Variant Cover...

2011-12-22T16:34:00.000-08:00

...gets my vote as possibly the coolest comic book cover in 2011. Archie's never rocked so hard!

Craaaazy!

2011-12-21T06:47:00.000-08:00

A prisoner of The Tower, in The Signifiers #2.

Recent Marvel Comics Golden Age Restorations

2011-12-21T06:36:00.000-08:00

The first sample above is from a previous Marvel reprinting (in a $50.00 hardcover book); it's appallingly unfaithful to the early '40s source material.

The second sample is a glorious restoration from a recent Marvel Omnibus collection, Golden Age Marvel Comics, Vol. 1 - beautiful colors and textures that allow you to see the subtlety cartoonist Bill Everett put into his work.

Click on the drawings for a larger view to compare.

Sea Monkeys: A Bowl Full of Happiness

2011-12-21T06:24:00.000-08:00

Cartoonists: there's still time to submit a one-page contribution to the Sea Monkeys-themed anthology digest comic, A Bowl Full of Happiness. The proceeds from sales of the book will benefit the Hero Initiative.

Check out all the details here: http://abowlfullofhappiness.blogspot.com/2011/10/sea-monkeys-live.html

Comic Con Giveaway Sketches

2011-12-20T18:48:00.000-08:00

...I found on my camera today.

Cool Coma Package

2011-12-20T18:45:00.000-08:00

Check out the very cool package Coma-creator Javier Hernandez sent me! You may remember Javier penciled, I inked and Mort Todd colored thev cover of the inaugural issue.

Order you own copy here: http://javiersblog.blogspot.com/p/javzilla-web-shop.html

Speaking of Westerns at the Wexner...

2011-12-20T18:40:00.000-08:00

In September we saw a gorgeous 35mm print of Samuel Fuller's supremely bizarre, over-the-top CinemaScope extravaganza, Forty Guns, featuring Barbara Stanwyck as "the high ridin' woman...with a whip."

Spectrum Culture writes that the film "is too subtly strange and idiosyncratic to be considered hackwork."

Indeed.

http://spectrumculture.com/2011/11/forty-guns-samuel-fuller-review.html

Val Crocodile, Associate Professor of Linguistics, Returns

2011-12-18T17:39:00.000-08:00

From The Signifiers #2. Taking much longer to finish than I'd planned.

Comics I've Read Recently, December 18th, 2011

2011-12-18T17:19:00.000-08:00

Sea Monkeys: Aquatic Chimps or Brine Shrimp?

2011-12-17T16:11:00.000-08:00

Above: a panel from my contribution to A Bowl Full of Happiness, a Sea Monkey-themed anthology comic book, with all proceeds going to benefit the Hero Initiative.

Cartoonists are invited to contribute to the book, sponsored by the Sunday Comix group (of which I'm a member).

Click here for all the info: http://abowlfullofhappiness.blogspot.com/

Magazines I've Read Recently, December 17, 2011

2011-12-17T15:59:00.000-08:00

Kewpee Hamburgers: I Want Some

2011-12-16T09:59:00.000-08:00

Above: the oddest hamburger wrapper you've ever seen. The cashier at one of the Kewpee Hamburger locations in Lima, Ohio, obligingly gave me an unused one to save for posterity .

Kewpee hamburgers are delicious (especially with olives), inexpensive and have been around since 1923. They were a big inspiration for Dave Thomas' Wendy's business model (he grew up around the corner from a Kewpee), including the small sides of chili and chocolate frosties that Kewpee put out first. The naked kewpee dolls lit up like hollywood celebrities on the outside of the buildings, though, give the eating experience an ambience you just don't get at Wendy's.

I need to get back to Lima, quick.

Read about Kewpee Hamburgers in Lima here: http://nrn.com/article/kewpee-hamburgers-lima-ohio

Read about the history of Kewpee Hamburgers here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kewpee

Deathwalker Novel Scheduled for 2012

2011-12-16T09:32:00.000-08:00

Above: one of my illustrations for the novel Deathwalker, by R.A. Jones, scheduled for publication in 2012 by Airship 27.

I finished the nine illustrations for the novel earlier this year; the book also sports a fine hallucinogetic cover by Laura Givens.

Airship 27 publishes a full line of exciting pulp-drenched novels. Check out publisher Ron Fortier's blog for more info about Airship 27's projects: http://www.airship27.com/

Gettin' Hungry

2011-12-11T17:04:00.001-08:00

A Signifier's gettin' hoongry in this preview art from The Signifiers Chapter Two: "The Now-But-Not-Yet Manifestation".

Dig it!

Sterling Clark Art from Mid-Ohio Con

2011-12-11T16:39:00.001-08:00

Check out these very nice Black Panther and Daredevil stickers I purchased from cartoonist Sterling Clark at Gareb Shamus' version of Mid-Ohio Con this year.

Sterling and I will be collaborating on a Fourth World poster soon. In the meantime, check out more about Sterling Clark here: http://ntombinde.com/renegade/the-renegade

Swingin' Mod Pencils

2011-12-11T16:08:00.001-08:00

I'm lovin' these Mod Pencils we picked up somewhere on the journey of life.

Tom Scioli Preview Art

2011-12-10T21:06:00.001-08:00

A preview of the Tom Scioli art appearing in The Signifiers #2, scheduled to be published soon!

Check out Tom's American Barbarian online strip now: http://www.ambarb.com/

Lazarus Dept. Store 45 Cover Found!

2011-12-10T20:53:00.001-08:00

Those who read my essay, "Not the Final Frontier", earlier this year will remember that I wrote of a mysterious 45 called "Lazarus Sampler" I owned while very young (you can see this same 45 modified on the inside front cover of The Signifiers #1).

Mystery solved! My friend Jeff has found another copy of the 45, this one with the picture sleeve shown above. The 45 was a promotional item for the sadly departed Lazarus Department Store in downtown Columbus, Ohio.

Here's a link to my original essay, published by David Thomas, principal clarinetist for the Columbus Symphony Orchestra on his blog, Buzzing Reed: http://blog.davidhthomas.net/2011/02/not-the-final-frontier-what-does-classical-musics-future-look-like-guest-post-by-michael-neno/

The 45 was purchased at Elizabeth Records in Clintonville, a record store I can personally recommend for their variety, eclectic stock and great prices! Check them out here: http://elizabethsrecords.webs.com/

Thumbnail Process for The Signifiers #2

2011-12-09T09:43:00.001-08:00

Designing/writing/composing the panels in little sketches before I start penciling the "real" panels.

You'll Believe a Pony Can Walk Upright

2011-12-09T09:35:00.001-08:00

Am I the only one that finds Pinkie Pie pony walking upright a little...odd?

Magazines I've Read Recently, December 9, 2011

2011-12-09T09:14:00.001-08:00

I had to purchase the October 3rd issue from eBay; none of our local Barnes and Noble branches received copies of that issue. This happens a couple times every year.

Only 63 Hours to Go for Nix #4 on Kickstarter

2011-12-08T21:22:00.001-08:00

Above: a detail from my cover for Nix Comics Quarterly #4, the rock'n'roll horror anthology comic book, currently being funded on Kickstarter.

Order your copy on Kickstarter today. Kicking in $200.00 or more will get you the original painting for the cover! http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2135514704/nix-comics-quarterly-4-so-close-being-a-true-quart

Anthony Mann Westerns Scheduled for the Wexner

2011-12-08T21:06:00.001-08:00

Screenings of 35mm movie prints are becoming a rarity as chain theatres are beginning to screen movies exclusively from hard drives.

Tomorrow night and Saturday night at OSU, the Wexner Center is screening two of the five James Stewart westerns directed by Anthony Mann: The Man from Laramie (in Technicolor Cinemascope) and The Far Country.

Support screenings of classic films on the big screen and check out some very entertaining westerns by coming to the Wexner to see these. You won't be disappointed!

http://wexarts.org/fv/index.php?eventid=5965

Tom Scioli's American Barbarian to be Published by Adhouse

2011-12-07T21:31:00.001-08:00

That's right - Adhouse Books is publishing cartoonist Tom Scioli's webcomic American Barbarian in hardbound this February. The book is listed in this week's Diamond Previews catalog.

I've ordered mine.

Previously unpublished Tom Scioli artwork is also being featured in the second issue of The Signifiers # 2. Publication details soon!!

Psychedelic Lassie

2011-12-07T21:20:00.001-08:00

Lassie art colored at last weekend's Zoom children's film festival at the Wexner Center, where we watched a gorgeous 35mm print of the 1943 MGM tearjerker Lassie Come Home.

The Wex offered button-making, coloring and other cool activities for kids - and adults who are still growing up.

Isuri's Odd! Company

2011-12-04T13:59:00.001-08:00

Art and puppets from Isuri's Odd! Company exhibit at Wild Goose Creative last month.

Isuri's work is delightful, fun and whimsical. As you can see, Pixar should be hiring Isuri right now. Today.

Dr. Zaius: the Way It Is

2011-12-04T13:57:00.001-08:00

My Very First Comic Book

2011-11-26T19:47:00.001-08:00

Was this early '60s Dell comic by Katy Keene creator Bill Woggon the first comic book I owned? It's the earliest I remember reading, earlier even than the Tintin graphic novel I read when I was five or six.

I found this copy at World's Greatest Comics in Westerville: http://www.wgcomics.com/ As soon as I opened the book, all the images looked as familiar as if I had just read the book yesterday.

Simplexity Gallery Exhibit @Wild Goose Creative

2011-11-26T19:23:00.001-08:00

Many thanks to all my friends, family and art lovers who attended my exhibit last month. I appreciate the love and the support! I especially need to thank Wild Goose Creative, who's given me so many opportunities to exhibit work by myself and others and who is a real force for good in the Columbus-area arts scene!

http://www.wildgoosecreative.com/Wild_Goose_Creative___Home.html

Magazines I've Read Recently, November 24, 2011

2011-11-24T18:12:00.001-08:00

Getcha Goetta SPACE Jam Heah!

2011-11-24T17:30:00.001-08:00

A jam page, passed around this year's SPACE convention, celebrating the Cincinnati foodie favorite Goetta.

Unfortunately, I don't know all the artists who worked on this page, but I'm seeing Steve Willis in panel 1, Colin Upton in panel 3 and Matt Feazell in the last panel. I drew the Garbo panel. Bruce Chrislip's probably in there, too.

Click on the art for a larger view.

Read more about Goetta here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goetta

Comics I've Read Recently, November 18, 2011

2011-11-18T17:24:00.001-08:00

The Signifiers #1 Reviewed in Comics Buyer's Guide

2011-11-18T16:41:00.001-08:00

The Signifiers #1 was favorably reviewed (three stars) by Ray Sidman in the most recent issue of Comics Buyer's Guide, #1685, January, 2012.

Thanks, CBG!

Pics from Comic Book Night at Kafe Kerouac

2011-11-18T15:17:00.001-08:00

Cartoonists Max (Blink) Ink (waving) and Jonathon Riddle.

Prizes!

Ray Tomczak, Barb, and Matt Wyatt, admiring the art gallery.

Hanging out before the contests start.

Ian Hummel, Master of Ceremonies (on the left) and master of books Jack of Kafe Kerouac.

The Write-Your-Own-Caption contest. Molly Durst on the far left, Nix publisher Ken Eppstein on the right.

Get ya Wonder Woman Bag heah!

Coma Con

2011-11-16T06:42:00.001-08:00

Comic fans who live near L.A. should check out cartoonist Javier Hernandez' Coma Con this Saturday, where the books The Coma and The Art of the Coma will be making their debut.

If you like cosmic, fun comic book goodness, check out this book: http://javiersblog.blogspot.com/

Shameless disclaimer: I inked the cover excellently penciled by Javier and colored by Mort Todd!

Comics I've Read Recently, November 16, 2011

2011-11-16T06:35:00.001-08:00

Larry Blake Returns to Columbus!

2011-11-16T06:05:00.001-08:00

Cartoonist, publisher and ultimate KISS fan Larry Blake was selling collectables and original art at this past weekend's Record, CD & Music Memorabilia Show.

Check out Larry's contributions to this beautfully produced hardcover history of KISS fanzines: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Kiss-Army-Worldwide/Gene-Simmons/e/9781597775113?r=1&cm_mmc=Google%20Product%20Search-_-Q000000630-_-Kiss%20Army%20Worldwide-_-9781597775113

You can also check out Larry's work in the new 5 Star Comics #1: http://www.fivestarcomics.blogspot.com/

The Facebook page for the Columbus Record Show: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Columbus-Ohio-Record-CD-Music-Memorabilia-Show/110055812344340?sk=info

World's Greatest Comics

2011-11-16T05:40:00.001-08:00

World's Greatest Comics, in Westerville, Ohio, now has a new website with timely specials and a convention schedule. WGC has the largest selection of Golden Age and Silver Age comics in central Ohio, with many comics 25% or 50% off - every day!

Pull customers receive 20% off of ordered books and comics. World's Greatest Comics also carries my Signifiers series, Max Ink's new Blink collection and the locally-published rock'n'roll horror anthology Nix Comics Quarterly.

Check out the shop. Check out the website: http://www.wgcomics.com/

World's Greatest Comics on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Worlds-Greatest-Comics/164768490206327

World's Greatest Comics on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/WGComics

Steranko and Allen Bellman at the Cincinnati Comic Expo

2011-11-13T11:37:00.001-08:00

Steranko's very nice poster for the Cincinnati Comic Expo this last September.

A print I purchased from comics pioneer Allen Bellman at the con. He worked on Captain America in the early '40s and is still going strong!

An aside: the Cincinnati Comic Expo is an excellent show, reminiscent of what the Mid-Ohio Con used to before it got Shamus-sized.

Obsessed with Oliver & Company

2011-11-13T11:27:00.001-08:00

One of the oddest ads I've seen in a long time. Billy Joel, Huey Lewis and Bette Midler fans take note!

As usual, click to see a larger view.

From the December, 1989 issue of DISCoveries magazine.

Watch Out for that Chair!

2011-11-12T20:20:00.001-08:00

A preview from Landlark, the Heat-Seeking Dwarf #1, scheduled for 2012. The story will continue where it left off in The Signifiers #2.

Click for a larger view, natch!

Comics I've Read Recently, November 12th, 2011

2011-11-12T20:14:00.001-08:00

Nix Comics Quarterly #4 on Kickstarter!

2011-11-11T10:53:00.001-08:00

Nix Comics Quarterly, the rock'n'roll/horror anthology that refuses to die rises again on Kickstarter with issue #4.

I painted the cover, above, and the original art - and some original art from stories inside - is available as one of the Kickstarter pledge incentives!

Edited and mostly written by uber-music and comic geek Ken Eppstein, Nix Comics Quarterly #4 also features the talents of Bob Ray Starker, Ryan Brinkerhoff, Matt Wyatt, Darren Merinuk, Andy Bennett, Captain Tuttle, Rachel Deering, Glen Ostrander, Donovan Taylor Roth, and probably someone else I'm forgetting!

Order your own copy here: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2135514704/nix-comics-quarterly-4-so-close-being-a-true-quart?ref=recently_launched

Comic Book Night at Kafe Kerouac

2011-11-11T10:42:00.001-08:00

Tonight only! Comic Book Night at Kafe Kerouac, near the OSU campus, from 8:00 - 11:00. Test your encyclopediac comic knowledge in the trivia contest. Are you a cartoonist? Bring your art supplies and add to the comic jam. Check out the cool local cartoonists art on the walls - and hang out other geeks.

Poster above drawn by Max Ink.

More about the event on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=152594701503667

Stylin' in Prison

2011-11-10T13:50:00.001-08:00

From The Signifiers #2, in progress.

Comics I've Read Recently, November 10th, 2011

2011-11-10T13:42:00.001-08:00

5 Star Comics: Fun Comic Goodness

2011-11-09T06:49:00.000-08:00

Available now from my good and talented friend Terence Hanley: 5 Star Comics #1.

Drawing upon obscure Golden Age comics characters, 5 Star Comics features five fun stories written and drawn by Terence and friends Larry Blake, Jordan Lowe and Gary Gibeaut. If you like the charming pre-socially relevant thrills of Golden Age comics, you'll dig this, too.

The back cover also features a preview of the character Black Bat, by Matt Marshall, which indicates Matt should have been drawing the original Batman instead of Bob Kane!

Check out http://fivestarcomics.blogspot.com/ for lots more info. Email Terence at comicbookmastermind@gmail.com for ordering info.

Cartoonist Larry Blake will also be appearing at the Columbus Record, CD, & Music Memorabilia Show on Saturday, November 12th. I'll be there, too, searching for Stax 45s and purchasing some original art from Larry. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Columbus-Ohio-Record-CD-Music-Memorabilia-Show/110055812344340?sk=info

Lastly, check out Terence Hanley's excellent blog on writers for the classic Weird Tales pulp. Good stuff! http://tellersofweirdtales.blogspot.com/

Freak Cave and Dr. Zaius Birthday Gifts

2011-11-05T16:56:00.000-07:00

Above: beautiful birthday gifts drawn and given to me by Kathleen and Ian Cannell. Kathleen painted a vivid, expressive interpretation of my Freak Cave comic strip, while Ian drew the violent visage of Planet of the Apes' Dr. Zaius (""Man shall never speak...as they said in the old proverbs," Are we not men?").

Thank you, Ian and Kathleen. Your appreciation for freakishness gives me hope for the next generation!

Comics I've Read Recently, November 5th, 2011

2011-11-05T14:35:00.000-07:00

Simplexity Slideshow

2011-11-04T08:07:00.000-07:00

Cartoonist Max Ink has generously posted a slideshow of pics he took at last month's Simplexity exhibit of my work at Wild Goose Creative. You can see it at the Sunday Comix blog here: http://sundaycomix.blogspot.com/2011/10/enjoying-simplexity-of-it-all.html

I'll be posting my own photos of the exhibit soon.

Surprise Birthday Party

2011-11-04T08:02:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who showed up to the surprise birthday party for me on Wednesday night (a surprise to me, anyway!). I really appreciate the well-wishes.

Above: a lovely card from my family.