News
May 25th, 2022 | Posted in News
Things just got weird! I’m thrilled to be part of the forthcoming “Weird Al” Yankovic Graphic Novel, the Illustrated Al, published by Z2 Comics. Z2 describes the book as “a career-spanning visual feast of over 20 classic “Weird Al” Yankovic songs interpreted by some of our top illustrators and cartoonists.” The book was just announced today. MAD fans will see a lot of members of the “Usual Gang of Idiots” (both long time and occasional ones) in the book, including Drew Friedman, Sam Viviano, Johnny Sampson, Peter Bagge, Bill Fingerman, Gideon Kendall and R. Sikoryak, among other cartooning giants. It should be a really fun… READ MORE
January 31st, 2022 | Posted in News
Here is a cool job I did earlier this month that I can finally talk about. I did the art for the release of a new single by the Grammy award winning band “Portugal. The Man.” Here’s their official release image: I did the center sunflower with the mosh pit center. The design folks did the type and added the sky background. Art for a major label/band is a first for me! READ MORE
January 31st, 2022 | Posted in News
This past fall I took over as president of the National Cartoonists Society Foundation, which is the charitable arm of the National Cartoonists Society proper. Among some of the initiatives we have in the works is a monthly live drawing event team-up with the folks at 4C Comics Live. 4C Comics has a YouTube channel where they conduct live drawing sessions with comic book artists sort of like a virtual comic con. Participants put in “claims” to request and pay for a drawing which the artist usually does right there on camera. Members of the NCF will be doing a live drawing event with 4C Comics every month and 100%… READ MORE
December 2nd, 2021 | Posted in News
Looking for something completely unique and scarce to get that caricature artist in your family? I’ve got three spots left in the only in-person caricature workshop scheduled for 2022, taking place Jan 22-23rd in Riverside CA. It’s a full weekend of learning and drawing with me in a class of only 12 students. Once it’s full, it’s full! READ MORE
October 28th, 2021 | Posted in News
The National Cartoonists Society is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, and as a birthday present they are doing a big auction of original cartoon art to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The auction started yesterday and runs through November 3rd. It features over 150 pieces of original art from a who’s who of pro cartoonists. From the NCS: The NCS has enlisted the help of Heritage Auctions, the industry leader in the field of comic and cartoon art, to conduct the auction. The auction will go live on Wednesday, October 27th and will close the following Wednesday, November 3rd. Lots may be previewed at http://comics.ha.com/. Images may not be available until… READ MORE
October 22nd, 2021 | Posted in News
This past June I very quietly celebrated the 15th anniversary of the start of “Tom’s Mad Blog”. By “very quietly” I mean I never acknowledged the milestone, nor even remembered it actually. This post is my 5,423th post. That’s a lot of posts. I started doing this back in the day as a way to scratch my “writing” itch, and to share what I do, how I do it, and my journey getting it done with anyone who would care to listen. Mission accomplished, I think. Fifteen years is a long time in the tech world. When I started this blog, MySpace was the dominant… READ MORE
October 21st, 2021 | Posted in News
I was flattered to be involved in this terrific documentary about the amazing Rube Goldberg, which was created by his filmmaker grandson Geoffrey George. It’s a short film but really shows you how incredibly multi-talented and diverse Rube was. He did so much more than the crazy machines he’s best known for. The documentary features my pals Al Jaffee, Ed Steckley, Charlie Kochman, and Robin Schwartzman among others, and it’s free to view for a limited time as part of a “Twin Cities Virtual Jewish Film Festival”. Just visit this link and click the “Unlock for Free” button. You will need to register but it’s… READ MORE
October 19th, 2021 | Posted in News
If you missed the live stream of the National Cartoonists Society/NCSFest this past weekend, you missed a lot of informative, entertaining, and fun stuff. Or did you? Actually the entire two day event is available to see again on YouTube, including all the panels, interviews, pro tips and workflow demos, awards, and the epic “Battle of the Toons”. The Battle of the Toons was a “Survivor” like competition where cartoonists each make a case for a particular comics character as the best ever, and to be the stand one standing after the audience votes on who stays and who goes. This was conducted live from… READ MORE
