Tom's Mad Blog
January 4th, 2013 | Posted in MAD Magazine
I have now been working for MAD for over 12 years…which, incidentally, still makes me the “new guy”. Since my earliest days with the magazine I have been looking forward to a certain milestone . . . having appeared in my 100th issue. That is rarefied air. Less that 40 writers and/or artists have had credits in 100 or more issues of MAD in its 60 year history. My progress at hitting that milestone was greatly slowed down when the magazine went to four times a year in 2009, and only slightly improved when it went up to bi-monthly in 2010. However, I am… READ MORE
January 3rd, 2013 | Posted in News
Today the National Cartoonists Society posted their annual call for submissions for the 2012 NCS Division Awards, and announced some changes to the awards field: Advertising and Product Illustration– The former “Advertising Illustration” division has been expanded to include illustration for retail products. This would include things like cartoon art/humorous illustration for merchandise (posters, calendars, menus, apparel, etc.) as well as for retail packaging (kid’s meal boxes, toy packaging, etc.). It was always a gray area as to if that kind of work was acceptable, now it definitely is. Animation Divisions– The TV Animation and Film Animation divisions are now more specific as to what… READ MORE
January 3rd, 2013 | Posted in News
From the NCS Website: The National Cartoonists Society is starting it’s annual call for entries for consideration for their NCS Divisional Awards recognizing excellence in professional cartooning. As always, you DO NOT have to be a member of the NCS to have your work considered for a divisional award… all that is required is that the work be eligible as detailed below. NEW THIS YEAR: – There are now two divisions for Online Comics, Short Form and Long Form. See below for details. – The Advertising Illustration division has been expanded to Advertising and Product Illustration, which will include not only cartooning for advertising but… READ MORE
January 2nd, 2013 | Posted in Sketch O'The Week
I wasn’t planning on posting any more of these caricatures done for the Limited Artist’s Edition of my book, but then I received several emails from people who said they really liked seeing the caricature AND the references I worked from. They thought it was a useful learning tool. So, I will occasionally throw one of these up as a SotW. This one is of Yougeshwar “BJ” Ramkissoon Jr., aged 13, and a budding caricaturist/cartoonist. Incidentally, I am officially at the halfway point of my 120 limited copies of this offer. If you have an interest in this one-of-a-kind, never to be repeated offer,… READ MORE
January 1st, 2013 | Posted in General
Don’t be a sourpuss like this guy. Here’s wishing everyone a happy, healthy, prosperous New Year! READ MORE
December 31st, 2012 | Posted in Mailbag
Q: Before you worked for MAD, was it your goal to work for MAD? And at this point, did you really believe you would work for MAD? How did you get your first gig with them? A: Working for MAD was a relatively late goal of mine, although once I became focused on it I went all out. Here’s the short version of the story: Like many American boys I had a time when I was really “into” MAD Magazine. This was between 5th and 7th grades, so I would have been 10-12 years old. My friend had a subscription, so when his copy arrived… READ MORE
December 30th, 2012 | Posted in General
We interrupt the Sunday Mailbag today (look for a Monday Mailbag tomorrow) to tell everyone to grab their Sunday paper . . . you still get a Sunday newspaper, right? . . . and check out today’s Beetle Bailey comic strip! I make a guest appearance! I got a call late this summer from the Walker Studio’s Bill Janocha asking me if it would be okay if Mort Walker and the gang do a gag featuring me in a Sunday strip. It was a nod to my winning the Reuben this year. Mort is of course one of the earliest members of the National Cartoonists… READ MORE
December 28th, 2012 | Posted in General
As the New Year dawns, we invariably look back at the last 12 months and take stock in the ups and downs of the year. I have a great deal to be thankful for . . . it will be tough to ever top 2012 for me. Here are some of my highlights, with links to blog posts (if any): NCS Announces On-Line Comics Divisional Award– There were some growing pains, but I was proud to have gotten this done with the support of my NCS board. (Look for some news about the expansion of this division next week!) Me on Tall Tale Radio! Always… READ MORE
