Tom's Mad Blog
July 29th, 2009 | Posted in Sketch O'The Week
Today’s sketch is a quick self portrait along with an update on my surgically repaired left shoulder. For those of you not familiar with the story I tore one of my left rotator cuff muscles lifting weights while on vacation in Jamaica… I blame the metric system. I just passed 4 months since the surgery and while my doctor and physical therapist are very happy with the progress I am getting impatient. A few weeks ago I was cleared to start slowly strengthening my rotator cuff muscles, but I have a long way to go before my left shoulder will be stable enough for me… READ MORE
July 28th, 2009 | Posted in News
Order Today! I was just notified that the MAD book I did in a whirlwind back in May is being released a week or so early, and is in stock at Amazon.com right now although they project Monday, Aug. the 3rd as the delivery date for orders. Too bad it was not ready in time for the San Diego Comic Con. However I will have copies in hand and available to buy and for me to sign at the opening of my show at the Toonseum in Pittsburgh this weekend. It will be the official unofficial first time the book would be available to the… READ MORE
July 27th, 2009 | Posted in General
After five full days here in San Diego, I am now fully reminded of what I love and hate about Comic-Con. Definitely the coolest costume I saw at the con I love the chance to meet artists and writers from basically every genre, see new and exciting projects and work, visit with old friends, meet new ones, attend panels and seminars that are informative and enjoyable, and most of all oogle and a mind-numbing amount of really cool toys and stuff. I hate the crowds, the lines and especially… strollers. I split my time this year between the booths of the National Cartoonists Society, the… READ MORE
July 26th, 2009 | Posted in Mailbag
This is a question from a while back that I thought was timely to repost today: Q: It’s obvious that networking is a very valuable practice in the cartooning and illustration world, but are situations such as a comic-con or other gatherings of that nature an appropriate venue to try and foster such contacts? Those with booths and tables are likely there primarily to sell their own work, so would they view that sort of thing as an annoyance or an opportunity? A: Comic cons are weird animals, to be certain. I actually haven’t been to that many cons, but I think I know what… READ MORE
July 25th, 2009 | Posted in General
A big thanks to the many (okay… sevaral… okay… three) folks who came looking for me at one of the booths I was at on Friday at the Comic-Con. Great to met you and I am glad you enjoy the MAD Blog. I was so busy drawing and meeting people yesterday I barely got to do anything at the con itself, but I had to sneak away and catch the presentation done by Pearls Before Swine creator Stephan Pastis. Pearls is one of those comic strips that makes me laugh almost every day, and while I enjoy and appreciate many strips that is a rare… READ MORE
July 24th, 2009 | Posted in News
While Number One Son Thomas went to varied World of Warcraft/Halo/Gaming panels I signed copies of MAD and did sketches at the DC Comics booth with fellow MAD man John Kovaleski and did caricatures and pimped some MAD originals at the NCS booth. Here are some pictures from Comic Con: I think that guy is a little too curious about Bumblebee’s plumbing… Here’s my signing schedule for the rest of the weekend: Friday: 10-1- National Cartoonist’s Society Booth (1307) 2-4- The ToonSeum Booth (Mezzanine 8 ) Saturday: 2-4- The ToonSeum Booth (Mezzanine 8 ) 4:30-6:30- National Cartoonist’s Society Booth (1307) Sunday: 11:30-12:30- DC Comics Booth… READ MORE
July 23rd, 2009 | Posted in General
Hey, I am only the 100,000th blogger to be blogging “live” from San Diego during Comic-Con! Woot! For anyone who might be interested, I will be drawing caricatures and have original pages of MAD art for sale at the National Cartoonist’s Society booth (pictured above, space 1307) for a few hours every day, and be doing the same at the ToonSeum booth on the mezzanine level, space 8. No set schedule for either place. Otherwise I will be hobbling around desperately looking for a place to sit down the rest of the weekend. READ MORE
July 22nd, 2009 | Posted in Sketch O'The Week
As promised, here is my sketch of the great Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes and Edward Hardwicke as Dr. Watson from the Granada TV series. I have been enjoying the show on DVD. Brett creates one of the greatest and most convincing portrayals of the Great Detective ever, and he deserves all the accolades he has garnered for his work. READ MORE
