Tom's Mad Blog
March 13th, 2010 | Posted in General
Someone recently posted a comment mentioning that they are used to my “effusive praise of other artists” to which I replied “if it seems I only effusively praise other artists that is because I only mention artists who work I truly admire… ones I think suck I just don’t talk about. My mom always said, “If you can’t say anything nice…”” Too true. I don’t dislike everything I do not take the time to post about… far from it. But I do wholeheartedly love and admire that which I do take the time to post about. Like the comic strip “LIO“. I’m friends with LIO… READ MORE
March 12th, 2010 | Posted in MAD Magazine
Good news! Today MAD editor John Ficarra sent out an announcement to all MAD contributors to say that DC Comics would be increasing the frequency of MAD from quarterly to bimonthly, stating with issue #504. The news stand date of MAD #504 is June 15th, so we should see MAD #505 on August 15th or so, and then an issue every other month after that. That is great news on several fronts. First, it’s two more issues of MADness every year, but as John points out in his letter it gives MAD the opportunity to do more topical and timely material. Quarterly publication really limited… READ MORE
March 12th, 2010 | Posted in MAD Magazine
My usual reply to MAD art director Sam Viviano when he calls and asks me if I’ve ever seen the TV show he is about to assign me the parody art for is “Never seen it”. That’s because I really don’t watch much TV… but this one was different. The few shows I do watch are usually because my kids or The Lovely Anna watch them, and thus I see them through osmosis. Even so I usually just casually catch some bits and pieces and don’t get very interested. However, “The Big Bang Theory” is one of the family’s favorite shows, and is one that… READ MORE
March 11th, 2010 | Posted in MAD Magazine
Finally! On news stands March 16th and in comic book stores and subscriber mailboxes now! MAD # 503 (May 2010) Cover (Mark Frederickson) The Fundalini Pages (Tom Bunk, Desmond Devlin, Evan Dorkin, J.C. Duffy, Sarah Dyer, Nate Fakes, Darren Johnson, Jeff Kruse, Barry Liebmann, Tom Richmond,¬¨‚Ć Sam Sisco,¬¨‚Ć Rick Tulka,¬¨‚Ć Sam Viviano, Richard Williams) The MAD Quarterly Report (Paul Coker) The Big Bomb Theory (Desmond Devlin, Tom Richmond) The Tiger Wood’s Mistress Mini-Golf Fun Center (Scott Maiko, Ty Templeton) The Darker Side of The Lighter Side (Dave Berg) Amish POWER SPIKE Miracle Heater (Scott Maiko, Irving Schild) Spy vs Spy (Peter Kuper) The Rich Rewards… READ MORE
March 10th, 2010 | Posted in Sketch O'The Week
Rather than my usual pencil drawing I thought I’d try something different for the SOTW this week. This is an ink wash study of LOST star Matthew Fox. READ MORE
March 9th, 2010 | Posted in Surf's Up Dept.
Okay, this might just be the ultimate toy for the Trekkie/Trekker/Total Star Trek Geek… [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_3rB7uyEMc[/youtube] A WORKING phaser?!? Wow. I’m not even a very big Trek fan and I think that is on a whole ‘nother level of cool. READ MORE
March 8th, 2010 | Posted in News
Legendary war cartoonist Bill Mauldin is being honored with a stamp from the United State Postal Service. The stamp gets released sometime this month. Mauldin’s cartoons, often featuring his characters Willie and Joe, were honest and supportive of the enlisted soldiers defending the country during World War II while making fun of the brass, which endeared him to millions of “regular guys”. They told real stories of the front lines and the difficulties our soldiers endured using humor, which comforted both the G.I.’s and the people back home who loved them. I only met Mauldin once, at my first National Cartoonists Society Reubens in 1999… READ MORE
March 7th, 2010 | Posted in Mailbag
Q: I was wondering what you could share on the importance of style in caricatures. Your work for MAD, differs greatly from say, Stephen Silver’s more cartoony style, David Cowles’ more abstract work, and Jason Seiler’s paintings. Are all styles equally in demand in publishing? Is having a unique style that sets you apart, key in getting work? Is the likeness/exaggeration often an area of contention between the artist and client? A: One of the great things about caricature is that as an artform it can include virtually any style of drawings or rendering and still be instantly recognizable as a caricature. Whether a caricature… READ MORE
