Tom's Mad Blog
April 18th, 2007 | Posted in General
In the wee hours of the morning my web host exchanged the server that contains my website, blog and e-mail for a new, shiny high capacity version. I had no idea this was coming, and was surprised to find my site down and inaccessible this morning. This happens every once and a while, but it’s usually back up in a few minutes at most. Nine hours and counting so far, but apparently only for me. I can access every other site on my bookmarks list, but not my own. I also cannot download my e-mail. Friends I have called had a little trouble with the… READ MORE
April 17th, 2007 | Posted in General
It’s been close to a year since one of the more unusual jobs I’ve ever been involved in transpired, so I think it’s safe to tell the story as long as I honor the confidentiality agreement as it pertains to specific details of the project. It certainly ranks as one of the more bizarre things I’ve ever done… or never ended up doing as the case was. Last year in early May I received a call from a part time rep that I’d done a few jobs through about a new project. She was unable to give me any details other than it was for… READ MORE
April 16th, 2007 | Posted in Sketch O'The Week
Jessica Simpson squeeze and musician John Mayer. The picture I drew this from was about the size of a nickel. Just a very quick study. I know nobody has noticed, but all of last week thorough today I have been in Massachusetts getting my park near Springfield, Six Flags New England, up and running. I pre-posted most of this stuff. When I get back maybe I’ll have some pictures from the roadtrip. READ MORE
April 15th, 2007 | Posted in Mailbag
Q: As an illustrator do you go to great lengths to protect your hands from injuries? I know it would be a tragedy to injure your hands as you wouldn’t be able to work. For example do you avoid playing catch with the kids and things like that? A: I wouldn’t say I go to “great lengths” but I don’t do anything stupid either. About 6 years ago I was working out with a boxing heavy bag, and while I was wailing on it I hurt my right wrist. I ended up getting something called Decravain’s Tendinitis. That is where the tendons in your wrist,… READ MORE
April 14th, 2007 | Posted in Sketch O'The Week
Leggy Rock Goddess Gwen Stephanie. I saw her in an outfit like this on a video when I was at the gym. READ MORE
April 13th, 2007 | Posted in MAD Magazine
MAD art director Sam Viviano warned me that a cover job would be a little different, and he was not kidding. Often when doing feature stuff the editors give the artists a lot of leeway to have fun and add something to the proceedings. They are still very specific about certain things and definitely demand changes when needed, but covers are very different. These are highly scrutinized and the process is reviewed at each step much more closely and with more specific control than the typical inside job. That is no surprise… the cover is the face of the magazine and it’s importance cannot be… READ MORE
April 12th, 2007 | Posted in MAD Magazine
Also in comic shops right now and on newsstands on the 18th: MAD KIDS # 7 (May 2007) Cover (Tom Richmond) Alfred’s Brain Drool (Various) Wacky Wall Webbers (Tom Richmond) One Friday Morning (Don Martin) Kid’s Inventions…(Brent Engstrom) A Shore Thing (Felipe Galindo) What School Bus Drivers are Doing While You are in Class (Teresa Burns Parkhurst) The Continuing Adventures of Willy Nilly (Nate Neal, Jacob Chabot) MAD KIDS Chat Room: Tobey MaGuire (Vic Arkoff, Jack Syracuse) A MAD KIDS Look at Supermarkets (Sergio Aragones) Fairy Tale Scenes We’d Like to See (Don Martin) Game On! (Patrick MerrellCharlie Kadau, Charles Akins) Spider-Man Funnies (Don Martin)… READ MORE
April 11th, 2007 | Posted in MAD Magazine
In comic book shops today and on newsstands on Tuesday, April 18th: MAD # 477 (May 2007) Cover (Mark Frederickson) The Fundalini Pages (Charles Akins, Doug Bratton, John Caldwell, Paul Coker, Dick DeBartolo, Jeff Kruse, Scott Maiko, Frank Santopadre, Jack Syracuse, Rick Tulka) The Biggest Lardass (Desmond Devlin, Tom Bunk) MAD’s Teacher Translation Guide (Jacob Lambert, Jose Garibaldi) Unabridged Corporate Slogans (Part II) (Jacob Lambert) A MAD Look at Airport Security (Sergio Aragones) How Global Warming is Affecting Various People (J. Prete, Drew Friedman) 7 Periods Closer to Death (Ted Rall) Monroe and… The New Kid (Anthony Barbieri, Tom Fowler) Spy vs. Spy (Peter Kuper)… READ MORE
