Museum address

I want everyone to visit this museum!I really enjoyed it.

A trip to San Francisco

I am off from work! So I took a trip to San Francisco to visit some friends. The weather was excellent and I was able to do a lot of walking around downtown SF. I recommend the Comic Art Museum for culture and Chinatown for a great walking tour. I stayed at the Hilton in Chinatown! Take a look at this view!

Sketch of the day!

And what is the sketch of the day?

Holiday disaster film

The disaster movie became a fine "art" in the 1970s. There was an unpopular war going on, the government was crooked, gas prices at an all time high and the Environment became an issue for conservatives and liberals alike. My favorite disaster film of that time was Soylent Green. What a bleak vison of the future. Overpopulation, depleted resources and a sweaty Charlton Heston. As dark as the film got, there were flashes of hope and optimism. Especially at the end when Heston raised a bloody hand to tell the the world that the end is nigh.

I should have recognized this before, but the disaster movie is back. Similar circumstances and just as bleak as before. It's Christmas Day and I've just seen Children of Men. A film starring Julianne Moore and Clive Owen. The story revolves around a pregnant girl in a world about to collapse. There hasn't been a child born in 18 years, so this baby and the mother try an escape to a far off sanctuary. On the journey, the film shows how far civilization has fallen, as Concentration camps and Martial law takes over.

The film is truly scary. Taking place in a near future and touching subjects like Holy war and Guantanamo Bay. This is a film that has taught me a valuble lesson...don't ever watch a disaster film on Christmas day. It can be kinda depressing.

Remembering Alex Toth

A few monts ago, I wrote about Alex Toth. I gave a link to a critque he had for Steve Rude. Toth did not pull any punches to say the least! Toth passed away this year and it would be wrong to remember him as a mean old critic. I'm posting some of his late 60s/early 70s storyboard work.

This is the first 10 pages of a DINO BOY story, from Hanna-Barbera. He boarded the entire show at 30 pages with 4 panels a page. These days, an animated TV show would need maybe 3 times as many pages with separate background drawings and revisions and whatever. So take a look at the art of an excellent artist...Rest in peace.

More old photos!

Marcus at idmx.blogspot.com has posted some old photos on his blog. Fifteen years old at least! I hate to dig out the old glossies, but Marcus has forced my hand!

More Kolchak!

The Holiday season is just as busy as last season. I am doing some neat work for TESKEEL comics and just finishing up the Kolchak stuff. This is a page from the 3rd issue of my three issue story arc. In this slpash page, Our Hero is being attacked by Couple of freaky, dog-like animals!

No chance

I don't have very much feelings for vermin, but this photo really affected me. Two falcons are fighting over dinner and ripping a poor mouse to shreds.

SOHO freeway

I read an article recently that mentioned that Robert Moses was planning a highway through SOHO, but was defeated in 1964. I knew that from the PBS program about his life, but hearing it again struck a nerve. I've recently returned from NYC after staying in the SOHO Grand Hotel. It's a beautiful Hotel in a nice neighborhood, with century old buildings. I can't imagine Canal street with a six lane highway on top of it.

So Cute!

As you all may know, I am a sucker for a pretty face and this actress takes the cake! If you have seen the indie film "Little Miss Sunshine", then you know Abigail Breslin. Here she is promoting the Japanese release of the film!

Looks familiar

I caught this ad while surfing and the style caught my eye. Could this be what Joe Madurera is up to? Concept art and design?

Art opening

Last night I attended a multi-media art installation in Hollywood. A large gallery space with Paintings, scupltures, musicians, three full bars and a $15.00 cover! It's called Create:Fixate. It was unique and I thought it was ambitious, but I learned that it was it's fifth year. Maybe it started small and grew.

My Co-worker Kaz had some art on display there and I wanted to support him. His work is good and by the time I left he had sold 3 pieces! Nice! The show had many interesting installations like T-shirt Silk screening and a strange iron robot sculpture. My favorite was a somber painting that I could not stop staring at.

Gallery openings are great. Having a friend sell three paintings is better!

Shopping

'Tis the season to go shopping! I found this AD in an old electronics Catalog from 1980.

Book of the Dead

I found this web page on the internet. The Marvel Universe Book of Dead Characters has just been reprinted as a trade paperback. The Grand Comics Database Project gives me credit as an inker. I did some art correction on most of the Marvel Uni. stuff back then. I just wonder, will I get any royalies from the trade paperback?

Back to Greenpoint!

I lived in Greenpoint, Brooklyn in 1990. I did a lot of background work with inkers and the occasional rush job for Marvel. I shared a three bedroom, two bathroom apartment on McGuinness Blvd with two other guys starting out in comics. In fact, the entire nighborhood was peppered with Marvel staffers and freelancers! Everyone from the old crowd has moved away, including me, but I'll never forget the small comic book community I was a part of in Greenpoint.

So that was then... What's the place like now? I did a walking tour of the old nighborhood and found out a few things. Greenpoint was and still is a Polish nieghborhood. Old washed up guys, young immigrants and ethnic shops. There are more young professionals in from Manhattan and a lot of high-end construction to house them.

I thought I would see more high end shops along the main avenue. Nope. The same old tacky shops. It looks like the action is further south near Williamsburg. I walked from the L train station north to my old apartment on McGuinness Blvd. Then back down to the derilict waterfront. It was such a nice day, I enjoyed the walk and the trip down memory lane.

On the train back to Manhattan, I wondered if I would ever move back to Greenpoint. Probably not. There's a few things that's missing. A good comic shop, a really good Restaurant/bar and some excellent friends.

I've won my bet!

Yesterday The New Orleans Saints won their 8th game of the 2006 season. That means that I have won my bet with my friend David! He didn't think that team could win that many games in a 16 game season. I believed in The Saints because they have a great Quarterback and a talented new running back! If The Saints make the playoffs, It will be icing on the cake!

I love NY

Where was I all weekend? New York City! It was a beautiful weekend with nice weather and cool people. I flew in on a Thursday night and made it into the city Friday morning. I know that I'm leaving out details...maybe this video will help.