General
April 26th, 2007 | Posted in General
The “Dark Tower” comic book series from Marvel, based on the Stephen King novels, is now on it’s third issue. I wrote reviews of the first two here and here, and while I liked some aspects of the comics and approach, I knew I had to give the series a few issues to gel and try and find it’s footing before really deciding on my opinions of it as a whole. This will be my last review of any of the series, at least until it takes a different creative and/or editorial approach than it’s current format. I guess that bodes ill for my opinions… READ MORE
April 25th, 2007 | Posted in General
Yesterday I wrote about the new issue of GAG! Magazine and recommended visiting it’s website. Sadly, upon visiting said site and reading around a bit I saw the inevitable comparison of GAG! to MAD. That always made me angry with the old Cracked, when Dick Kulpa and Co. always had to compare their publication to MAD, of course always proclaiming they were better. Barry suffers from the same delusions apparently, where he says : “GAG! is funnier than MAD, that is for sure. MAD reached its peak in the late 1960s/early 70s, and has been losing readers ever since.” That first comment is just natural… READ MORE
April 24th, 2007 | Posted in General
Back when I was briefly working for Cracked I did the artwork on a few parodies written by Barry Dutter. I enjoyed Barry’s writing and thought he came up with some pretty good gags and observations on the films. Cracked was doomed and did not run for very long under the Dick Kulpa era for several reasons, many of which I examined here. Barry left the magazine and started his own publication called GAG! with issue # 1 coming out in 2004. He just published his second issue… er… actually it’s another #1…. here in 2007. Barry and I still keep in contact a little,… READ MORE
April 23rd, 2007 | Posted in General
I’m about to get very busy again for some time, so don’t be surprised if the Dreaded Deadline Demon rears his ugly head around here in the near future. In the meantime, although I’m not usually big on posting YouTube videos unless they are cartoon or caricature related, the following one my kids played this one for me is a total riot. If you are familiar with “street magician” David Blaine you will get a real kick out of this very clever and well staged parody of his act. You have to love how the guy playing Blaine apes how he turns to stare at… READ MORE
April 21st, 2007 | Posted in Freelancing
I was thinking the other day about how much the internet has changed the dynamics of freelancing, in terms of how illustrators communicate, conduct and deliver jobs and market their work. For the most part it’s been an invaluable tool, but there is a dark side to it. The easy access and instant communication of the internet often leads to being contacted for jobs that aren’t really jobs. I used to have the same problem when I drew at the theme parks. A few times each summer someone would approach me at the park and ask me to draw something for them that was obviously… READ MORE
April 20th, 2007 | Posted in General
A spot for Fade In Magazine from a few years ago… “The Hobbit“ and “The Lord of the Rings“ author J.R.R. Tolkien is even slower than Thomas Harris is at getting new novels in publication, but he has a pretty good excuse… He’s dead. Has been since 1973. That didn’t stop him posthumously publishing “The Silmarillion” in 1977, as well as several other books like 1980’s “Unfinished Tales“, and now he has a new book coming out on Tuesday, April 24th. Entitled “The Children of H??⬨?rin“, the novel was put together by Tolkien’s son and literary executor Christopher Tolkien from pieces of manuscripts and story… READ MORE
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
