Nine Years!?!

Somehow I let myself get sidetracked, and here I am posting this almost a month late.

It's hard to believe it's been almost a decade since Harry Kremer died. I have long held that I would do a small "What Can't Be Erased" piece about Harry - and I will yet... but it's hard to write something about one of the people most instrumental in your becoming a cartoonist. When I was 10 years old, Harry showed me that "grown ups" could read comic books... could make their living from comics (making or selling) and was my first introduction to independent comics.

He was a great guy. There's a reason the Shuster award for retailer of the year is named for the man...

So, a slightly belated pause for one of the most influential people on my life as an artist.

Who?

In (slightly belated) recognition of the UK's Red Nose Day on Friday, I sketched a Doctor.

For the last few years, the Doctor Who folks have done a little "bit" for Red Nose Day to help raise funds... this year's just reminded me how much I love The Doctor, and how much I can't wait for Easter...

Also - a reminder that you should donate.

Oh - and my back-ups in Lil' Depressed Boy continue... #2 hit the stands a couple weeks ago. Not only am I having a blast doing these, the series is one of the best things around. Do yourself a favor and pick it up!

In My Own Image?

In honour of the release, this week, of Li'l Depressed Boy #1 (from Image), a Little LDB sketch I was noodling with...

If you aren't reading Li'l Depressed Boy... what's wrong with you? Genius work, as always, from Struble & Grace!

Tin Tin

A little Tin Tin for a Monday...

So - I watched The Cartoonist (finally), and as every other artist has already said - if you haven't seen this, do. It's a great portrait of a likable guy making something enduring - no small feat on any level. Engaging and well paced - as any good Doc should be - with the added bonus of a great subject far too often ignored (comics).

2010 Was Embarassing

I admit it - I dropped the ball for 2010 artistically. I should have posted more, but so much of what I drew was for other projects.

Lightnig Girl Loves Rocket Boy was released - and that was huge. I drew a set of strips for Lil' Depressed Boy... and I jumped into another project, plus I continued to work on my "secret" Simon Reed project... but I didn't force myself to share it all here... my goal for 2011 is to force myself to post more; it keeps ya honest!

To start things off, the cover illustration for last year's "Top 50" mix and reviews (you can read them here)...

See you soon.

MRVLCATS: Nick Furry

I'm normally not a meme-guy... but with Twitter being filled with cats yesterday, I decided to do some quick sketching and came up with... Nick Furry, Agent Of C.A.T.N.I.P. (Cats Armed To Nationally Intervene & Protect).

Li'l LDB - Part III

I was, happily, asked to create another Li'l LDB strip... as long as they ask, I'll happily keep doing them... check it out here:

http://www.lildepressedboy.com

Excellent Mason script (as always) - excellent character. If you aren't following this series... why not?

TERRIBLE DELAYS!

I have no excuse except I have been so busy at work I've done little, if anything, else most days for the last 2 months.

I'm still busy, but I'm MAKING time to draw a little.

Lightning Girl has been delayed slightly, but is still coming very soon.

More "What Can't Be Erased" to be completed soon - I may self-publish again this summer. Stay tuned.

What is THIS? This is Devo... well, Devo's new masks... there's something about their new masks and the Watch Us Work It poster that feels strangley post-apocalyptic to me... like an underground resistance against the mainstream. Do yourself a favour and dig into the weirdness that is Devo's new corporate marketing, research and data collection strategy... truly strange.

The Supervillain

DOOM. The supervillain.

So, why did I draw DOOM? A couple reasons... one, I did a picture of him years back but based in on Dr. Doom (his namesake and visual reference point, especially on the first album cover). Second, I saw him this week.

After hearing a couple years back that he couldn't make it into the country I was pumped to hear he was coming - and bring Mos Def.

Then Mos Def dropped off the bill the day before (without explanation). REMG (the promoter) promised they'd ID DOOM (he'd sent performers in his place in the past to lip synch) - so I figured I'd go anyways.

Suffice to say - worst. Concert. Experience. Ever.

Technical difficulties. Delayed starts. Unapologetic promoter. Unapologetic performer. I've probably seen over 300 shows in my life - and this was hands down the worst run show I've ever seen.

So I drew DOOM... exorcising some demons, I suspect. And dropping him in his weird orange hoodie and hat he showed up wearing on stage. A weird night - and one I won't be repeating - even if he decides to make another rare trip north of the 49th.

Maybe next year, Li'l LDB...

I was pleasantly surprised, and a little panicked, when I was asked to join the fun a second time during the Li'l Depressed Boy Guest Fortnight... bookending the 6 strips with two Li'l LDB strips showing the early heartbreaks, and resiliant nature, of our young hero.

Love it. Love the strip. Hope I get to do more in the future. Extra thanks again to my writer... whoever he might be.

Check it out here Li'l LDB

Battle Hymn

The Proud American

The Mid-Nite Hour

One American super soldier, one British super spy... from B. Clay Moore's amazing Battle Hymn... something a little different.

Enjoy!

Little LDB

Hoping Mr. Struble doesn't mind my posting this... it was my final character sketch before doing a guest shot on his FANTASTIC Lil' Depressed Boy.

Long story short - I did a pic of LDB last year, we chatted back and forth for some time, and when he needed some fill in artists, gave me a shout... the rest is, well, this... enjoy!

Excellent script by the enigmatic Vaughn Mason...

2009: A Musical Year In Review (Part 8)

And there you have it... I assume #1 wasn't a huge surprise, but I hope some of you found something interesting here (artistically OR musically). 2009 was good musically - but a pretty crap year otherwise. Glad to see it gone...

Feel free to post comments, thoughts or whatever - hey, just let me know some of you actually read this mess [smirk]... comments can be left even if you don't have an account (anonymous option - but feel free to sign it anyways hehe).

Back to the grind - got a comic to finish, another to get underway, and a new project to try and whip into shape... stay tuned! 2010 - weird. Just weird.

2009: A Musical Year In Review (Part 7)

Albums 5-3... one more post to go!

2009: A Musical Year In Review (Part 6)

8-6... 2 more pages to go. Obviously going to miss the end of the year... but maybe the end of the weekend is attainable?

Any thoughts so far?

2009: A Musical Year In Review (Part 5)

Numbers 11-9... more soon. Any guesses at #1? (Obvious, I'm sure, if you know my musical tastes)...

2009: A Musical Year In Review (Part 4)

Sorry for the delay... page 2 of the Top 15... page 3 later today or tomorrow.

Enjoy!

2009: A Musical Year In Review (Part 3)

Want to know what placed in spots 50-16?

Check out the Best Of 2009 Website!

Watch for the illustrated pages for the Top 14 (15 can be found below) in the next few days!

2009: A Musical Year In Review (Part 2)

Jumping the gun a little (giving you a sneak peak at #15)... the remainder will be posted after I have the short write-ups for 50-16 done and posted. I'm HOPING that can all happen this weekend, and I have the pages drawn for 14-9, so those can possibly go live this weekend too... we shall see. Stay tuned...

2009: A Musical Year In Review (Part 1)

Every year I produce an extensive "Best Of" list. It has ranged from a "Top 35" to a "Top 50." I get some feedback, but I don't know if it becomes part of the yearly list noise, and I have no idea if people actually read it.

So - this year I'm trying something different. Over the next couple weeks I will be posting my Top 15... in comic form. Short illustrated reviews for the Top 15 albums, and a post with albums 50-16 (with some short reviews), plus my usual Show List and other sundry bonuses.

Anyways, I hope you'll all stick around, comment, discuss, and come back every few days to read the next 2-5 reviews (depending on how fast I can draw).

First page will be up in the next couple days... stay tuned!