Superman's Pal - part 2

One of the things I love best about the covers to "Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen" are the premises which were depicted to hook a potential reader into buying the comic. Covers, and premises, like these would be unthinkable now. I love to imagine some kid in a drug store wondering "How DOES Jimmy Olsen cut Superman's hair of steel?" and immediately rushing to the cash register to buy it and find out.

Nowadays, Superman is so busy, he barely has time to eat an entire meal with his wife, let alone don a chefs hat and cook for an eating contest. What I wouldn't give to write a comic book series like this now.

Superman's Pal - part 1

One of my favorite comic books of all time is "Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen." Yes it was silly, but it was also pretty inventive too> I only wish comics published now were this much fun. The best part of this series for me, were the covers. Sadly, I do not have all of my Jimmy Olsen comics available at this time. Many are still in storage. Starting today, I'll post a couple (and some "Superman's Girlfriend Lois Lane" covers as well) each day, until I run out.

Today: two of my favorites; issue #79 and issue #88.

Dead High Yearbook Available Now

Apparently "Dead High Yearbook" is available now in book stores. I couldn't tell you when it came out. Last week I think. I haven't seen a copy yet, so I couldn't even tell you who did the art for the story I contributed to it. All I know is that one of the stories was written by me and it involves some unhealthy diet supplements.

If any one has seen this book, or has it, and wants to provide me with more details, I'd appreciate it.

Fun With Scissors - part 115

This week's chawactuh is one I've been wanting to get to fowuh some time, the one, the ownwee, Elmer Fudd.

Mystery Solved!

Scooby-Doo #118, available in stores now, DOES in fact contain a story I wrote. It is one of my regular "Velma's Monsters of the World" features in which Velma imparts on the reader information about various monsters from folklore and myths in cultures from across the globe. This month's shape altering monster may be one of the most disturbing entities to appear in Scooby-Doo, as evidenced in this suitably creepy panel detail by Robert Poe and Scott McCrae. It gets worse. Don't believe me? Then, what are you waiting for, get to your nearest comic book store now!

Freddie Francis 1917-2007

Freddie Francis (smiling on the left) directed a lot of movies of varying quality, many of them horror movies. For every subpar film such as "Trog" (1970), there were more gems such as "The Evil of Frankenstein" (1964), "The Skull" (1965) and "Tales From the Crypt" (1972).

He was a an even more accomplished cinematographer nominated, and winning many international film awards for his work including two Academy Awards, most recently for "Glory" (1989). He also provided the cinematography for "The Innocents" (1961), Scorcese's "Cape Fear" remake, three of David Lynch's movies including "The Straight Story" (1999) and one of my favorite movies of all time "The Elephant Man" (1980).

His name was one of the first non-actor names I recognized as a kid, usually in garish hammer lettering or on an Amicus anthology movie. Either way, I knew I was in for a good time. Thanks, Freddie!

Spring Is Here!

...not that it feels like it yet.

Another Mystery to Solve

According to the DC website, Scooby-Doo #118 contains a story I wrote. Since I've not received copies of this issue yet, I cannot confirm this. The fact that copies of this issue have not reached me, leads me to suspect I'm not in there.

If any one happens into a comic book story and wants to check for me, I'll made them an honorary member of Mystery, Inc.

I'll post an update once I know one way or another.

Fun With Scissors - part 114

This one was meant to be included in my month long Halloween celebration last October, but scanner mishaps eliminated inclusion of any monster characters that month. I was going to save it for next October, but with the release of the complete "Milton the Monster Show" to DVD this week, I thought I'd throw up the show's star, Milton, himself.

White Zombie

I found this collage of Bela Lugosi as Murder Legendre in "White Zombie" in a box of stuff. I'd completely forgotten about it. I did this collage about three years ago, and didn't quite finish it. It was in pretty abysmal condition when I found it. I cut everything away from the original blackground and attached the pieces to a new sheet of black paper. The blend between the hair and the black isn't as seemless as it was with the original sheet, but an attempt at restoration seemed to be more worthwhile than simply throwing it into the recycling. I'll probably play with it a little more at some point, or simply redo it from scratch.

Fun With Scissors - part 113

Straight from the Lost Valley and costarring with Space Ghost it's Dinoboy and his trusty pal, Bronty.

Illustration Friday - "Hide"

It's been a long time since I participated in Illustration Friday. A busy schedule and two and a half months without a scanner has kept me away. Here's a quick collage I whipped together this morning to illustrate "Hide."

Fun With Scissors - part 112

Here's Floral Rugg of "The Hillbilly Bears."

Fun With Scissors - part 111

Alfy Gator was a parody of Alfred Hitchcock and one of a few characters out to try and eat Yakky Doodle.

The Ice-Cream Cone Coot

One of my favorite children's books from when I was a kid, and one I still love now is "The Ice-Cream Cone Coot and Other Rare Birds" by Arnold Lobel. This book describes in verse and artwork that has a mysterious quality to it, a variety of birds which are made up of common household items, such as umbrellas, cameras, brooms, and money such as the dollar bill dodo.




Beneath Arnold Lobel's original Dollar Bill Dodo is my own recent reinterpretation.

This book clearly had a major effect on me as my comics are often populated by scissor-headed birds and assassins, as well as beings with wasps nests and flower pots for heads, factory smokestacks for spines, etc., often with atrocious puns for names.



Last Fall, I came across "Behold the Bold Umbrellaphant" by Jack Prelutsky and with gorgeous collage art by Carin Berger. This book immediately reminded me of "The Ice-Cream Cone Coot." It's filled with fanciful creatures made out of common household items, often with terrible puns for names.

"The Ice-Cream Cone Coot" is sadly out of print, though shouldn't be too hard to track down, if you are so inclined. I recommend both books.

Fun With Scissors - part 110

Lippy the Lion's sidekick, Hardy Har Har.

Happy Accident

When I scanned this collage, the scanner light reflected off minor wrinkles in the trees. At first I was annoyed and was going to give it another try, but then I decided I liked the effect. It looks like mist is rising out of the woods in the middle ground.

Fun With Scissors - part 109

The last time I posted an entry in the "Fun With Scissors" category was back in October. Then my scanner kicked the bucket, I got busy, etc., and that was the end of it...until now.

For anyone coming here for the first time, this category was originally created as a quick collaging exercise meant as a brief diversion from an involved project I was involved in about a year ago. For this exercise I chose to depict various classic cartoon characters in collage form. I chose them in part for my fondness of them, but also because I could render one in about an hour. I initially was doing this at the rate of one a day, but the schedule was too diifficult to maintain, so I took a break then scaled back my schedule to once per week, until scanner trouble ensued.

I actually managed to do a few others I'd intended to post during my month long Halloween posts, but have decided to save them for next October. In the meantime here's the annoying shark, Jabberjaw.

I'm going to do my best to maintain a weekly schedule from here on in, but expect there will be periodic gaps.

Early, Early, Robot Comic

This is the second oldest work of mine in my possession. It's my oldest attempt at creating a comic book that I am aware of. This was done sometime during second grade. Both the art and writing a crude to be blunt. This must have been part of some larger scenario since one of the characters has the inexplicable ability to transform himself into various animal forms. I can't discern any obvious influences on the story or art.

I don't know what happened in the black hole, or whether that story was ever written and drawn, though I do remember doing other episodes of this comic without a title. Sadly, or fortunately, those efforts are most likely gone forever.

What's most interesting about this comic strip is how it compares to one that my son did a few months ago, without him seeing this strip of mine until I noticed the uncanny resemblence. Dash is about 1 1/2 - 2 years younger than I was at the time I drew mine.

The Rondo Awards

The nominees for the Fifth Annual Rondo Hatton Classic Horror awards,have been revealed. The Rondo, named after, and sculpted in the likeness of actor Rondo Hatton, recognizes the best in monster research, creativity and appreciation.

The nominees cover a wide range of categories celebrating the continued appreciation, and scholarship of classic horror films. Every year, it is difficult to choose merely one nominee in each category as being the best for that year. This year is, I think, the most difficult year of all, as the nominees are all top choices.

If you're interested in voting, or simply seeing who the nominees are, stop by the official site linked above. Voting ends March 10, 2007.

Update

I hope everyone had a terrific National Gorilla Suit Day yesterday.

I apologize for the lack of content of late. I've been so busy that this is the first time I've even turned on my computer in about a week. I plan to have some new/fun/insightful/interesting material up within the next week, so stay tuned.

In Stores Today

SCOOBY-DOO #116 is available in comic book stores today. It contains a very short informative story I wrote about a bit of japanese folklore known as Tsukumogami, or "haunted utensils."

Fun For You

I just noticed that 3 out of the past 7 posts were obituaries. Not to diminish the passing of any of the individuals mentioned (which was done because they are all significant to me) I thought it might be time to offer up some fun distractions.

Digital Funnies beautifully archives early forgotten comic strips.

Omni Monster features gorgeously photographed images of beautiful Japanese vinyl kaiju which I wish I possessed, such as Ikarus from "Ultra 7" shown above.

Steven Hill has amassed a tremendous collection of screenshots of movie title screens.

An evolving look at how all of the Disney theme parks have changed over the years can be seen through the collection of park maps found at mousemaps.

Finally, Todd Kauffman finds worthy inspiration in H.R. Pufnstuf and creates beautiful art celebrating this wonderful tv show.

Yvonne DeCarlo (1922-2007)

Babydoll

I'm still without a scanner (if anyone has any recommendations on what I should buy, please advise me), so I haven't posted much of my own stuff in a while.

Here's a preliminary sketch I did a few years back for the character "Babydoll" for "Midnight, Mass. -- Here There Be Monsters" Obviously, she didn't have a speaking part, but she was one of the good-guys.

Iwao Takamoto (1925-2007)

Today, the world lost one of the great contibutors to animation. Iwao Takamoto began his career at Disney and is best known for the work he did for Hanna-Barbera where he designed, or had a hand in the design, of most of their characters beginning with their second wave. Among his creations; The cast of Scooby-Doo, The Impossibles, Penelope Pitstop, Speedbuggy, The Hillbilly Bears, Captain Caveman, Dastardly and Muttley, and Astro on "The Jetsons."

Cartoon Brew reprints Amid Amidi's informative 1999 interview with Iwao Takomoto from CARTOON BLAST #3.

Happy New Year!

If you haven't picked up a calendar for 2007, here's a cool, free dowloadable one courtesy of the Website at the End of the Universe featuring vintage science fiction art of impractically clad space babes, and filled with the birth dates of various science fiction authors, artists and editors. They still have calendars for the past few years to download as well.

New This Week

The new liason at Warner Brothers for the Cartoon Network comics published by DC has essentially dumped me from Scooby-Doo (and I'm assuming the other titles) despite more than 8-years of service, nearly 100 Scooby-Doo stories, and being a favorite writer of the fans both young and old. I wasn't the only one. This is why you haven't seen my name connected with that title for some time.

I have provided the occssional short-short piece though. The new issue, number 115, with this great cover by Robert Pope and Scott McCrae features one such filler piece, in which I use a whopping 2-pages to have Velma, Shaggy and Scooby-Doo teach you all about the Yeti, including a nod to the "Bumble" from the Rankin-Bass "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer."

It's in stores now. Miss it at your own peril.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Whatever holiday you happen to celebrate this time of year, I wish you a great one. This image may seem like a bit of coal in your stocking, but I'm going to share it anyway for its personal historical significance.

This crude image of the Island of Misfit Toys gang from the classic 1964 Rankin-Bass Christmas special "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," was created as a combination holiday card and moving card in December 2000. It is the first collage I'd ever attempted. It's pretty obvious that I had no idea what I was doing. Even so, Cara Scissoria, who has collaging talent to spare, and who printed the cards for me, encouraged me to pursue the art form, and so I did.

It's all her fault.

End of origin story.

Joe Barbera 1911-2006

As has been widely reported elsewhere, yesterday, Joe Barbera, half of the Hanna-Barbera team that produced scores of animated cartoons from "Tom and Jerry" to "Yogi Bear," "The Flintstones," "Scooby-Doo," "Quick Draw McGraw" and countless others, died at the age of 95. His cartoons were a daily part of my life as a child and continue to provide inspiration to me as an adult. I've had a great deal of fun recreating many of the Hanna-Barbera characters in collage form (see "Fun With Scissors" posts in the archives) and once had the privilege to briefly meet the great man himself.

My condolences to his friends, family, and the animators inspired by him.

Penguins

Here's a penguin display I cobbled together for the Shaman Drum Bookshop for a winter display window.




There's actually a bit of a narrative to it. One penguin has been knocked off his feet by a snowball to the back of his head, while two other penguins react and the culprit who threw the snowball rolls another one.

It wasn't until I downloaded these pictures that I noticed one of the foam sheets serving as a base for the snow has been dislodged and is now obscuring part of the snowball making penguin's activity.











You can see here how it's meant to look, minus the background books from an earlier cookbook display.

Monster Vs Robot Lampshade

My apologies for the lack of new material here. I had to take my scanner out behind the shed and put it out of its misery, and won't be getting a new one until some time after the holidays are over. So no 2-D papergoods to share for now, though they'll be back as soon as possible.

In the meantime, here's both sides of a lampshade I painted in about twenty minutes for my son last summer.

Happy Birthday, Uncle Forry!

Today is the birthday of one of the most influential people in my life. In fact, pretty much everyone who was born between the years 1950 and 1972, who works in the horror, fantasy, or science fiction field would probably say they owe their careers to this man.

Forrest J Ackerman, who turns 90 today, is a lifelong fan of the genre who passed on his love via the magazine he created with publisher, Jim Warren; "Famous Monsters of Filmland."

Forry is an extremely kind and generous man who not only opens his home every weekend to visitors from every corner of the world, so that he can show off his remarkable collection of movie memorabilia, but he also tolerated my frequent, and most likely inane, Friday night phone calls I used to make to him when I was a wee lad. He patiently answered all my questions, and seemed happy to do so.

I finally got to pay back his generosity by making him a character in "Midnight, Mass." where he appeared in a thinly disguised version of himself under the name J. Forrester Eckman, an alias that I'm sure the man of a thousand aliases would have approved of.

Happy Birthday, 4SJ!

Happy Birthday, Boris Karloff!

Today may be Thanksgiving, but it's also Boris Karloff's birthday! Born William Henry Pratt in 1887, Karloff made his screen debut in a bit part in the 1919 serial adventure, "The Lightning Raider." It was his starring role as the monster in "Frankenstein" (1931) that made him a household name, a huge star, and an icon of horror.

Give thanks to this great man, and celebrate his birthday by watching one of his many classic movies. Whether it's "The Raven" from 1935, or 1963, "The Mummy" (1932), "The Body Snatcher" (1945), "Targets" (1968) or even "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (1966) there is plenty to celebrate with.

Frankenstein turns 75

On this date, in 1931, Universal's "Frankenstein" debuted. Directed by James Whale, the movie was a huge hit, securing Universal's exploration of horror as a viable cinematic genre which began with "Dracula" earlier the same year. It's star, Boris Karloff became a horror icon, and the monster make-up by Jack Pierce is one of the most well-known visual icons of the 20th Century. It spawned five sequels (six if you include "Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein"), and it's look, especially the laboratory set created by Kenneth Strickfadden influenced horror movies for decades after.

If you haven't watched this movie in a while, today's the perfect excuse to do so.

Detective Comics News

I'm thrilled to announce that Tom Mandrake will be handling the artwork for my 2-part DETECTIVE COMICS story. Tom was the perfect choice. He's drawn some extraordinary things in the past, and I can't wait to see what he does here.

There's no publication date for this yet, but I will let you know as soon as I know. I had a blast writing it though. Even though I hate the word "reinventing," I had a great time doing just that to one of Batman's primary classic foes, giving him a bit of an overhaul without erasing anything that came before. I think this is an upgrade that fans of Batman will be happy with. Hopefully I'll get to do some m ore with that character in the not too distant future as well.

Xombi Trading Card

This trading card was part of a series of trading cards featuring Milestone characters and creators. When I was hired to write "Xombi", he was still African-American. The change to make him Korean-American happened shortly after I was hired. This card was clearly done almost immediately after that ethnic change was made, but before I'd written a single word of the comic book. The origin on the back of the card is the origin that Dwayne McDuffie created for the original (African-American) version of the character, who was conceived to be more of a Punisher-type.

Anyone who read "Xombi" will realize that the origin was radically changed when I came on board. This was a mutual decision between Dwayne and myself. I think the feeling was that the rejuvenation/vigilante thing would run thin pretty quickly, and I wanted to go into a more weird science fiction/supernatural direction with David Kim (the Xombi character) being more sympathetic than a machine of vengeance. It seemed to work out pretty well, except in the sales department, for the length of its 22 issue run.

I don't know who did the art for this card, but it's clear that David Kim hadn't been developed as a character at all. In this image, he looks like he'd have been at home in a Marvel kung-fu comic of the 1970s. As far as I know, this is the first depiction of the character as an Asian-American. Future depictions of him, would for some odd reason, often include a wooden staff, further carrying on the kung-fu imagery. The truth was that David Kim not only didn't know any martial arts, but was a really lousy fighter overall. The staff was never used in any story (though J.J. Birch did draw it leaning against a wall in David's apartment once as a joke) though every guest cover, and poster, artist (except John Byrne) chose to include it.

A second set of Milestone trading cards was planned but never produced. I remember writing the text for a number of cards based on characters I created.

Dead High Yearbook

"Dead High Yearbook" is a graphic novel anthology of stories set in a high school, based on urban legends. I contributed a story involving tapeworms and bulk-up formulas used by weight lifters. oddly, it's not the first tapeworm story I've done, though this new one is a lot more disgusting.

"Dead High Yaerbook" was edited by fellow Milestone writer Ivan Velez, Jr., and will be published by Dutton Juvenile on March 22, 2007. It's available for pre-order now. So, contact your local independant bookseller, and let them know if you're interested.
The isb# is 0525477837.