Tom's Mad Blog
May 17th, 2009 | Posted in Mailbag
Q: Do you ever think color MAD cartoons would’ve been funnier in B&W? A: No, I do not think that the color art in MAD would be funnier in black and white. Color is incidental technique and has little impact on the effectiveness of a cartoon. A cartoon is either funny or it is not. Most of that has to do with the concept/writing of the cartoon and in art terms with the drawing/communication. Funny drawings are funny drawings. The work of MAD artists like Jack Davis, Don Martin and Sergio Aragon?¬©s is visually funny. If they were to take their art from the black… READ MORE
May 16th, 2009 | Posted in MAD Magazine
Back in March I posted a bit of news about longtime MAD Magazine editor Al Feldstein having health difficulties and needing heart surgery. My friend Mark Evanier posted an update on his excellent News from ME blog about Al’s progress. Mark writes: Also getting better is the legendary Al Feldstein, who was the writer-editor of Tales from the Crypt and other classic EC Comics, and the editor of MAD magazine for 29 years. Al underwent double-bypass aortic valve replacement (i.e., heart surgery) on April 17 at the world famous Mayo Clinic. He’s home now and recovering, and we’re happy about that, too. Turns out Al… READ MORE
May 15th, 2009 | Posted in General
I see trouble… and in my road. READ MORE
May 14th, 2009 | Posted in MAD Magazine
Neil Cuadra is getting more press for his latest CD effort than Axl Rose got for “Chinese Democracy”… but then again that’s not saying much. Cuadra is a huge MAD fan from Los Angelses, CA who fulfilled “a dream” by getting a letter published in MAD‘s “Letters and Tomatoes Dept.” by sending in his portrait of Alfred E. Neuman created by nothing but AOL junk mail CDs. Inspired by a MAD parody chastising AOL for all the junk diskettes they used to send out (since changed to CDs), Cuadra collected the shiny junk disks from AOL and other companies for over ten years until he… READ MORE
May 13th, 2009 | Posted in Sketch O'The Week
I am extremely busy right now and the “sketch o’the week” posts for the next few weeks may be well short of ambitious. This week’s subject is actor Ben Affleck, a quick and loose study from a very old entertainment magazine I came across in the studio. READ MORE
May 12th, 2009 | Posted in News
Pittsburgh’s ToonSeum is having it’s annual fundraiser early next month. From Toonseum: Friday June 5th: KA-BLAM! A party to benefit the ToonSeum. Join us Friday June 5th from 7pm-11pm, at Verno Studios on the Southside to support the ToonSeum, Pittsburgh’s Museum of Cartoon Art. Featuring live music by the Whips, DJ Raw-Z, Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School, live cartooning, the opportunity to bid on one of a kind cartoon art and unique experiences, free comics and much more! Tickets are just 35 dollars online at brownpapertickets.com Entertainment and Activities Live music by The Whips! Performance by burlesque entertainer Paige Turner Music and dancing with DJ Raw-Z… READ MORE
May 11th, 2009 | Posted in General
Last October I was privleged to be part of a group of cartoonists who traveled to Washington D.C. and then on to Landstuhl, Germany to visit with and draw for wounded U.S. soldiers. Those who went on the trip with me were¬¨‚ĆChip Bok, Jeff Keane, Rick Kirkman, Mike Peters, Bruce Higdon, Jeff Bacon and Stephan Pastis. The trip was an incredible experience. Last month another group of 8 cartoonists made the same trip.¬¨‚ĆBill Amend (Fox Trot), Jeff Bacon (cartoonist for Navy Times and Marine Corps Times), Dave Coverly (Speed Bump), Jack Davis (Mad Magazine), Bill Hinds (Tank McNamara, Cleats, Buzz Beamer),¬¨‚Ć Jef Mallett (Frazz), Michael… READ MORE
May 10th, 2009 | Posted in Mailbag
Q: I’m just wondering if there are any particular syndicated strips that you are a fan of (past and present), what you think of their decline with the newspaper industry, and how you feel about the growth of web comics? A: I was a huge fan of Bloom County back in the 80’s. That strip consistently made me laugh. I also liked Peanuts, B.C. and enjoyed many other strips as well. I also liked Calvin and Hobbes but that was popular right at the wrong time for me… it ran during my college years, my marriage, move to Atlanta and the births of three of… READ MORE
