Tom's Mad Blog
December 15th, 2007 | Posted in General
I took a short break on Friday to catch a matinee of “I Am Legend” (see my review next week sometime) and to also see the rumored full teaser trailer for the new Batman movie “The Dark Knight” due in theaters this summer. My reaction to the trailer? I can’t tell one way or the other about this movie. Heath Ledger‘s Joker looks like a 60 year old prostitute, but he might be brilliant or he might be ludicrous… you get no real information or feel for the film from this trailer. No clues to the story, and you barely see Christian Bale or Batman… READ MORE
December 14th, 2007 | Posted in On the Drawing Board
Lots of projects at lots of stages right now but as always nothing to show until things get into print. In the meantime here’s the latest workplace poster. I often manipulate relative sizes of people or objects for either composition purposes or effect with these poster illustrations, and here is a prime example. I made the lady “winning” the race much bigger than her co-workers because I wanted to force the perspective a bit without having to draw those others too far in the background. That was because the humor of the piece rests in the actions and expressions of those other characters. Here’s the… READ MORE
December 13th, 2007 | Posted in General
I’m still extremely swamped with several jobs, but I thought I’d share something about a new project I’m getting involved with. It’s something very different and I’m looking forward to seeing where it all goes. Some may recall I did the illustration above some months ago as a favor to the incomparable audiobook vocal artist David Ian Davies, which he used as an “album cover” of sorts for a new audiobook collection of the complete Arthur Conan Doyle Sherlock Holmes canon. The collection, One Voice Chronological: The Consummate Holmes Canon, features all 56 Doyle short stories unabridged and compiled in chronological order. David’s son Dana… READ MORE
December 12th, 2007 | Posted in News
My flat files are overflowing and my walls are covered with originals, so it’s time to start selling off some of the artwork I just don’t have room for anymore. Not mine… I can’t give that crap away. No, this piece I just put up on eBay is by legendary caricature illustrator Bruce Stark, and was published in TV Guide back in April of 1984: Click for a closer look… I bought this from Bruce a number of years ago. It’s a gorgeous acrylic painting measuring 14″ x 18″, showcasing his immense talents. My reserve is very low considering Bruce charges $1,000.00 for an original… READ MORE
December 12th, 2007 | Posted in Sketch O'The Week
Singer, songwriter and absolute train wreck Amy Winehouse. This woman makes Courtney Love look like Miley Cyrus. Self destructive behavior seems like a prerequisite for rock stars. Lyrics to her hit song: “They tried to make me go to rehab, I said NO, NO, NO.” Better rethink that one, Amy. I would have done more with her hair if I’d had more room and more time. READ MORE
December 11th, 2007 | Posted in MAD Magazine
In comic book shops tomorrow and on news stands November 18th: MAD # 485 (Jan. 2008) Cover (Mark Fredrickson) The Fundalini Pages (Dick DeBartolo, Desmond Devlin, Harrison Greenbaum, Glen LeLievre, Hermann Meijia, Todd Nauck, Bob Staake, Don Vaughan) The MAD 20- The Dumbest People, Events and Things of 2007 Michael Vick’s Bad Newz Kennel (Jeff Kruse, Mark Fredrickson) Bush Breaks Presidential Record for Time Off (Desmond Devlin, Mark Stutzman) Imus (Dave Croatto) Britney Spears (Gary Hallgren) Walter Reed Army Hospital Scandal (Jacob Lambert, Dave Croatto, Irving Schild) Anna Nicole Smith Paternity Trial (Mort Drucker) Paris Hilton (Uncredited) The Crazy Diapered Astronaut (Scott Maiko, Charles Akins)… READ MORE
December 10th, 2007 | Posted in General
I’m afraid I am so swamped right now we may be seeing the Demon’s ugly face quite a bit leading up to the holidays. Sorry about that. Just as a quick aside, I was interviewed recently for an internet comic’s magazine called Jazma and that interview is now online. Jazma has a ton of interviews with comic’s professionals from every imaginable walk of the industry, and is definitely worth a look. Check out my interview here and some of Jazma’s other interviews as well. READ MORE
December 9th, 2007 | Posted in Mailbag
Q: How important is it for an cartooning/illustrator/caricaturist to be trained with traditional art like oils and such? A: There can be a very big difference between a cartoonist, an illustrator and a caricaturist. It would all depend on how an artist wanted to apply their skills in any or all of those categories as to how much a traditional art education would help them. A general education in art and the techniques of the masters would only serve to strengthen the skills and abilities of any artist, even if the art they end up doing bears little resemblance to those traditional arts. I think… READ MORE
