Robots

This month, Mass Appeal magazine is all about the history of TRANSFORMERS! The toys, the fans of the toys and of course, the comics. There are interviews with the comicbook Editor Bob Budiansky and Writer Simon Furman, but no interview with Editor Rob Tokar! I hope that Rob is not missing out on the TRANSFORMER bandwagon. This movie coming out might rain a few bucks on anyone associated with it.

Do not fear PUFNSTUF

A friend said recently that he had gotten the HR Pufnstuf Complete Series on DVD. The Sid and Marty Krofft TV show from the 70s known for it's freaky characters. My friend mentioned that although he's had it for a while, he could not bring himself to watch it. That the show scared him! What's that? Frightened by a Saturday morning kids show? I remember watching reruns of the show but I could not understand what might have affected him so.

I asked if I could borrow the DVD set. I know the show was freaky, but maybe I could figure out what was so frightening.
Yep. I figured it out.

The opening credits show the beautiful young boy Jimmy running around and playing with his flute. A magic flute he calls Freddy. A boat appears on the shore, the boy and his flute climb aboard and the the seas get rough. The boat was really a trap! It seems like there's a witch interested in Jimmy's flute. Witchiepoo is working herself into a frenzy and can wait to put her hands around Freddy! The pair escape the evil boat and are rescued by HR Pufnstuf. HR Pufnstuf is the Mayor of Living Island, A freaky fellow with a strange accent and bags under his eyes.

After jimmy dries his clothes while in Pufnstufs' home, Freddy the Flute cries out, "Jimmy, squeeze the water out of me or I'll go rusty!" The dripping flute is a suggestive visual. Knowing that need help against the aggressive, dramatic Witchiepoo, the threesome head to Doctor Blinky for some protection. At one point in the second episode, there is a shot of the Magic Flute sticking out of Jimmys' pants. Don't you all get the hint?

I'm sure that the Krofft brothers were only trying to create some groovy, early seventies entertainment. But when you look at the subtext of the show, it's scary. Witchiepoo is the only Woman on Living Island. An Island filled with strange Male creatures. The creatures want to befriend Jimmy and his incredible flute, The Crazy old Witchiepoo wants to grab his Freddy and this underage boy only wants to escape this strange Island with his flute in his pants.

If you are a kid watching this show for the first time, you could enjoy the lame jokes and wacky makeup. But if you are an adult you may see the show for what it really is. You could be frightened for poor Jimmy and his Magic Flute.

Unseen Blevins

Another artist I admire is Bret Blevins. When I lived in NYC and worked for MARVEL, I loved looking at his work. He penciled Doctor Strange, Cloak and Dagger, Sleepwalker and The New Mutants among others. Speaking of The New Mutants, this is a page he penciled. It was inked by Terry Austin, but I think I like it better this way.

Unseen Neal Adams

I love the Art of Neal Adams. He's good and fast and I think he's done just about everything when it comes to drawing. I buy the sketchbooks he puts out because I want to see how he does it! I know the guy is busy with his studio and he has a body of work, he must have a lot of drawings gathering dust. Unfortunately, I see the same old 20 year old stuff. I'm so demanding!

I'm posting a Neal Adams drawing that I bought at a convention many years ago. It was for some Country Music Christmas show and you can clearly recognize a few likenesses. This is the type of art I would love to see more of!

My VALIANT effort

I worked for VALIANT Comics in 1990. I wasn't there long, just long enough to get my business cards and a few stories printed. One of those stories was a back-up in a Nintendo book. I pencilled a METROID story as a back-up in a Captain N book. I had more experience as an inker at that time and I think it's obvious! I did layouts for the story first and the Art Director at the time, Art Nichols, made his notes. I was eager to learn and he had a lot to teach me!

I can't stand to look at my old stuff.

Okay Gang! Let's INK!

Whenever I get ready to ink a page, I make sure my ink is black, my pens are clean and that my reference is close at hand. I mean, samples of other inkers that I admire! I have my own style of course, but looking at some great work for inspiration and guidance can't hurt. Who are these inkers? I'll tell you!

Garcia-Lopez- I look at his stuff from the 80s. His line went from thin to strong when he got to DC in the 70s. I also look at D. Giordanos' work from the 70s as well.

Jorge Zaffino- I love the Winter World art and how he used his brush!

Al Williamson- whenever I ink hair or faces, I check his Secret Agent X-9 work. He knows how to keep it simple!

R. Villegran- Another master of the brush. His work on Atari Force in the 80s was excellent!

There are many others of course, but I keep it simple. I hope I'm able to influence someone someday.

Trish Hale signs my book!

I broke away from the drawing board to see an old friend and buy a book! I've known Trish since I first moved to LA and this is her cool new manga. I liked it and you should read an independant review HERE.

Sketch of the day!

The sketch of the day is some character design I did for my Western book. With the other stuff I'm working on, I can't say when I will finish. At least there's progress!

More Art

I got over my horrible 'Meltdown' by getting to work. I am drawing something for 'Tales from the Crypt' put out by Papercutz. I'll post the finished inks soon.

Meltdown Comics Sucks

On April 1st 2001, I was the first in line at a new Comic shop on Sunset Blvd. in LA. Meltdown Comics moved to a new location about a block away from the old location. I enjoyed shopping at the old location and I looked forward to the bigger, better store. I guess I had nothing going on that day, so i was the first person in line. Good deal, because the first 100 customers would get all kinds of cool stuff. Well, I waited and it the doors opened... But no stuff.

The manager at that time told everyone in line that a shipment was delayed in customs and all the neat Japanese stuff would not be there. Yes, I was disappointed, but the Manager wrote me a raincheck on the back of the flyer.

'#1/100 entitled to bag of Planet X toys' and a signature at the bottom. when I would visit the shop I would ask about it, but no one had an answer for me. I decided to go elsewhere for my comics. I felt ripped off!

That was six years ago and I kept the document.

Today, my friend Tricia Hale is promoting her TOKYOPOP book Grand Theft Galaxy at Meltdown Comics. I have not been to that place since the 'ripoff', but I wanted to support a friend. I brought the document with me. Trish was not there, but I asked for the Manager. A older guy who said he was the brother of the owner looked at it and listened to my story. His response was "I don't know what I can do for you...Good seeing that though." he went back to what he was doing. I got pissed and left.

So that's it. No more Meltdown. Meltdown Comics Sucks.

What's that?

I said, Meltdown Comics Sucks.

The Sketch of the day!

And what is the sketch of the day?

Eye-Candy for Marcus

I am posting some images of Lacey Chabert! I am a sucker for a pretty face and this actress fits the bill. I have been a big fan since the 'Lost in Space' Movie!