Tom's Mad Blog
February 22nd, 2013 | Posted in General
Clicky any of these images to embiggen… and I mean EMBIGGEN! The Lovely Anna gets very annoyed with me over one thing…okay, over many things, but this one thing in particular…I’m very impatient when it comes to things I want to have. I tend to get them right away and leave her nothing to buy me for gifts on my birthday or Christmas. Well, here’s another thing she won’t be able to get me for my birthday: the enormous new book Tales Calculated to Drive You MAD: Artist’s Edition. I saw an unboxing video of this book some weeks ago and blogged about it being… READ MORE
February 21st, 2013 | Posted in News
The National Cartoonists Society’s Reuben Award for “Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year” is arguably the top honor a professional cartoonist can receive. The NCS first gave out the honor in 1946 to Milton Caniff, and in the 67 intervening years some of the greatest cartoonists in the history of the art form have received “The Reuben” (with the exception of a stumble last year, when they gave it to this clown.) This year’s nominees for the 2012 Reuben Award for “Cartoonist of the Year” were just announced by the NCS. They are: Brian Crane Rick Kirkman Stephan Pastis From the NCS Website: Brian Crane is… READ MORE
February 20th, 2013 | Posted in Sketch O'The Week
Have to cheat this week as I am swamped. This is an old sketch of Steven Spielberg I ran across recently cleaning out a flat file drawer, circa 2002. It was the original sketch for the theme park caricature sample below. As you can see I decided to widen and shorten his lower face a bit, and give him a “cheekier” look. The color sample is a better likeness. READ MORE
February 19th, 2013 | Posted in MAD Magazine
Clicky to Embiggen… My piece in MAD #520 was a departure from my typical work for the magazine, which when it happens is always interesting and challenging. This project was particularly fun and personally enjoyable because I am good friends with Jeff Keane, son of The Family Circus creator Bil Keane. Jeff has been doing the strip since his dad’s retirement about a decade ago and continues to do it today. Bil passed away in November of 2011. I knew Jeff would enjoy this, and it was great fun doing it. I saw him this past weekend at the Success in Comics Seminar in Annapolis,… READ MORE
February 18th, 2013 | Posted in MAD Magazine
On news stands everywhere tomorrow, in comic book shops and subscriber’s mailboxes already and available digitally immediately via the MAD iPad app. MAD # 520 (April 2013) Cover (Chris Houghton) The Fundalini Pages (Jeff Kruse, Charles Akins, Jason Yungbluth, Rick Tulka, Desmond Devlin, Matt Lassen, Paul Coker, Ty Templeton, Evan Dorkin & Sarah Dyer, P.C. Vey, Kevin Pope, Tim Haggerty, Leonardo Rodriguez, Phil McAndrew) The 50 Worst Things About Cartoons (Writers: Desmond Devlin, Jeff Kruse and Scott Maiko; Artists: Peter Bagge, Anton Emdin, Adam Koford and Hermann Mejia) Honey Boo Boo’s Family Circus (Frank Santopadre, Tom Richmond) Planet TAD!!!!! (Tim Carvell) Spy vs Spy (Peter… READ MORE
February 17th, 2013 | Posted in Mailbag
Q: Can you explain what rights you give your clients for artwork most of the time?¬¨‚Ć Also, how does that affect pricing?¬¨‚Ć Are there any rules to follow to price work properly? I find that a lot of people expect full rights most of the time.¬¨‚Ć I always have a hard time pricing my illustration work because of this. A: I can’t discuss actual pricing with you as that violates U.S. Antitrust laws specifically “price fixing”, but I can give you plenty of general comments. Many people get confused about what an illustrator is actually selling to their client. Unless there is a separate agreement… READ MORE
February 15th, 2013 | Posted in General
You have to love Stephen Colbert‘s comment about the paint stylings of former president George W. Bush: “That is a bold, artistic vision that says “faces are hard.'” The Colbert Report Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive That reminds me of a Saturday Night Live skit from many years ago, right after the Unibomber was captured after this police sketch of him circulated around for what seemed like years: Of course no one in their right mind thought this would be of any help to those trying to identify and apprehend the Unibomber. That sketch could be of anybody. In… READ MORE
February 14th, 2013 | Posted in News
I will be speaking at the third annual Success in the World of Comics Seminar, happening this weekend in Annapolis, MD. These seminars are organized by Chad Carpenter and Bill Kellogg, the pair behind the wildly successful self-syndicated comic strip Tundra. When it comes to the business of cartooning in the 21st century, when these guys talk, aspiring cartoonists should listen. Here’s a complete lineup of speakers: Chad Carpenter –Creator of Tundra, the most widely self-syndicated strips in papers Bill Kellogg – The marketing guru behind Tundra; founder of Ink Bottle Syndicate Tom Gammill – Writer/Producer of The Simpsons, creator of The Doozies and the… READ MORE
