Tom's Mad Blog
August 16th, 2020 | Posted in Mailbag
Q: I saw DC Comics just did another big round of layoffs… how does this affect MAD? A: Last week there was another bloodbath at DC Entertainment/Warner Bros where many long-time and/or high ranking executives and editors were shown the door. This after 2018’s purge of many vice-presidents and the firing of co-publisher Dan DiDio back in February. How does this affect MAD Magazine? Not much, since there really isn’t a MAD Magazine anymore. Prior to his latest round of layoffs and restructuring, MAD had already been turned into a publication of nothing but reprint material under a new cover and with a new Fold-In,… READ MORE
August 14th, 2020 | Posted in General
I used to have a fair number of art concessions businesses that operated in theme parks and tourist centers around the eastern half of the U.S. At one time I had locations in Atlanta, St. Louis (two there, actually), Agawam MA, New Orleans, and two here in Minnesota- Nickelodeon Universe, the theme park within the Mall of America, and Valleyfair, a seasonal theme park south of Minneapolis. Over the years I’ve slowly gotten out of that business, and now only have the two operations in Minnesota still going. Back on March 17th, Nickelodeon Universe shut down due to pandemic stay at home orders issued by… READ MORE
August 13th, 2020 | Posted in News
Yesterday the folks at ReedPop made an announcement that surprised absolutely no one, that New York Comic Con was not going to take place at the Javits Center as planned in 2020. Right now ReedPop is hosting a virtual comic con called “Metaverse“, which runs from today through August 16th. This online comic con includes panels, guests, exhibitors, cosplayers, and a a virtual “Artist’s Alley”. There will also be a virtual “NYCC” on the original dates of October 8-11th which will include a marketplace and, presumably, a vitrual NYCC Artist’s Alley. I will be participating in that one. Look for announcements from me leading up… READ MORE
August 12th, 2020 | Posted in Daily Coronacature
Only time for a really quick sketch of today’s TDC subject Dakota Fanning. READ MORE
August 11th, 2020 | Posted in News
This past weekend I conducted the first workshop I’ve done since early February. This one took place in Detroit, Michigan on the dates originally scheduled. I have another one still on schedule for next month in Indiana, and three others that were rescheduled from the spring. We did have to make a number of concessions thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. We skipped the Friday night meet and greet originally scheduled at a nearby bar and grill. The hotel moved us into a giant ballroom and we were able to really spread out, with 8-10 feet between tables and one artist per table. We wore masks… READ MORE
August 10th, 2020 | Posted in MAD Magazine
I did these cover illustrations for a couple of MAD‘s “Bookazines” back in 2016. A “Bookazine” is the modern day version of the MAD Super Specials i.e. reprints collections. They are square-bound publications with heavier, glossy paper kind of half way between a softcover book and a premium magazine format, and usually follow a theme of some kind. MAD has been printing them every quarter for a few years now, although I think they are no longer being produced. You can see a list and all the covers of the Bookazine run over at Doug Gilford‘s fabulous MAD Coversite. READ MORE
August 9th, 2020 | Posted in Mailbag
Q: Are you planning to schedule any new caricature workshops soon? A: No, I’m afraid not. Thanks to the pandemic I have had to completely cancel overseas workshops in Vienna and Dublin (June), and Sydney and Melbourne (Oct), and reschedule ones originally scheduled earlier this year in Chicago, MN, and New York. The only ones still on their original scheduled dates are the ones in Detroit (which I am conducting this weekend actually!) and next month in Indianapolis. As infection rates continue to fluctuate requirements and orders keep changing, so any of these workshops may end up not happening at the last second. Also many… READ MORE
August 6th, 2020 | Posted in Daily Coronacature
This was actually yesterday’s subject, the lovely Raquel Welch. This is a “live caricature” style drawing. Actually it’s one of the commissions from my “Virtual San Diego Comic Con” event. I’m slowly getting through the list! READ MORE
