News
February 21st, 2013 | Posted in News
The National Cartoonists Society’s Reuben Award for “Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year” is arguably the top honor a professional cartoonist can receive. The NCS first gave out the honor in 1946 to Milton Caniff, and in the 67 intervening years some of the greatest cartoonists in the history of the art form have received “The Reuben” (with the exception of a stumble last year, when they gave it to this clown.) This year’s nominees for the 2012 Reuben Award for “Cartoonist of the Year” were just announced by the NCS. They are: Brian Crane Rick Kirkman Stephan Pastis From the NCS Website: Brian Crane is… READ MORE
February 14th, 2013 | Posted in News
I will be speaking at the third annual Success in the World of Comics Seminar, happening this weekend in Annapolis, MD. These seminars are organized by Chad Carpenter and Bill Kellogg, the pair behind the wildly successful self-syndicated comic strip Tundra. When it comes to the business of cartooning in the 21st century, when these guys talk, aspiring cartoonists should listen. Here’s a complete lineup of speakers: Chad Carpenter –Creator of Tundra, the most widely self-syndicated strips in papers Bill Kellogg – The marketing guru behind Tundra; founder of Ink Bottle Syndicate Tom Gammill – Writer/Producer of The Simpsons, creator of The Doozies and the… READ MORE
February 7th, 2013 | Posted in News
When I got back from my little vacation this week I had a whole pile of books to ship, and in the process of buying and printing postage labels I got a nasty surprise . . . the United States Postal Service had jacked up the price of International Priority Mail shipping…by a LOT. It used to cost me $16.95 to ship a book via a USPS International Priority Flat Rate Envelope. New cost: $24.95!! That’s nearly a 50% increase! Canada shipping went from $12.95 to $19.95. That’s OVER 50%!!! I don’t charge anything for handling, other than rounding the cost up to the whole… READ MORE
February 6th, 2013 | Posted in News
Way to go, Interwebs! The “When We Went MAD!” documentary Kickstarter made their goal early this morning, jumping up a little under $10,000 in one day…all from hundreds of individual supporters who either pledged or beefed up the pledge they’d already made. This film is really going to happen. Congrats to Alan Bernstein and co-producer Doug Gilford! Thanks to everybody who pledged! READ MORE
February 5th, 2013 | Posted in MAD Magazine
It is crunch time for the Kickstarter campaign to fund this sure-to-be-great documentary about MAD Magazine, and thanks to many supporters it’s within reach. There are only four days to go, and they are a little less than $8,000 short of their $50,000 goal. That’s close, but even if they reach $49,999.99, they need the full $50,000 if they are going to get a dime. That’s how Kickstarter works…if you don’t reach the goal, you get nothing. They have been stepping up their rewards for support levels. For example, now for $25 you get a physical DVD of the documentary and not just a digital… READ MORE
February 4th, 2013 | Posted in News
Clicky to Embiggen… I have been very remiss in not writing a remembrance of terrific humorous illustrator Bruce Stark, who passed away on Dec. 29th of emphysema at age 79. Bruce was one of those artists whose talent was even greater than the work the public typically saw, great as that was, would have indicated. I always admired his work, both the caricatures and the fantastic action and sports work he did. His art appeared frequently in TV Guide, Time, Fortune and Forbes magazines, as well as being a regular with the New York Daily News for 22 years (1960-1982). He also appeared in several… READ MORE
January 17th, 2013 | Posted in News
The Minneapolis Star Tribune had an article today about how the College of Visual Arts in St. Paul. MN will be closing after this school year after 89 years. They cite the recent recession leading to reduced enrollment and the lack of endowments as the culprits. This is the college I studied at, although it’s under a different name and has changed considerably since I graduated with a B.F.A. and an illustration major in 1989. Back then it was called the School of Associated Arts, and was housed in only one physical building, an old mansion on Summit Ave. in St. Paul. I transferred there… READ MORE
January 15th, 2013 | Posted in News
Just a reminder we are only about a month away from the third annual Success in the World of Comics Seminar, happening February 16th and 17th in Annapolis, MD. I’m one of several speakers at the event this year. These seminars are organized by Chad Carpenter and Bill Kellogg, the pair behind the wildly successful self-syndicated comic strip Tundra. When it comes to the business of cartooning in the 21st century, when these guys talk, aspiring cartoonists should listen. Here’s a complete lineup of speakers: Chad Carpenter –Creator of Tundra, the most widely self-syndicated strips in papers Bill Kellogg – The marketing guru behind Tundra;… READ MORE
