MANNY TRIED.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, STEVE AUSTIN!

This image was sent to me by my good friend Michelle. She's got even more bizarre (i.e. Incredible) displays of Xmas imagery and album covers at her blog, Tiny Picnic.

Have a six million dollar Christmas and New Year, everybody!

SLEEP TETRIS

I GOT A CINTIQ!!!

So a couple months back, for my birthday, my friend and fellow collaborator BEN KALINA came over carrying a box, nay, THE box I've yearned for-- for nearly three years. A Cintiq. For me. On my birthday. I thought: "Either Titmouse is paying better than I thought, or Ben stole that sucker before he left WB!".
His possible impending arrest aside, I giddily accepted the gift and ceremoniously laid it out on my dining room table to open...
To reveal a pixel-based drawing apparatus of SOME kind...just not the one I had thought. Nestled inside and carefully wrapped, the what I thought was an inappropriately priced gift (or stolen) piece of technology I was receiving was instead a Fisher-Price "Doodle Pro"!? I'm not sure what mixture and combinations of surprise, humility, laughter, heartbreak and confusion betrayed on my face--but I was utterly impressed at the amount of creativity that went into getting me disappointed opening up a present (my parents seem to do it every year without a fraction of the thought! haha)--and being humbled that I completely disregarded my own common sense that the box was light as a feather (I thought it might've been a new model!). Ben even included installing instructions and mounting brackets!
The bastard.

I LIKE SUPER HEROES!

...though I'm not a fan of the show, "Heroes". Loathe it, actually. Tim Kring thinks superheroes are dumb and has no respect for the medium and merely attached himself to a fad. I'll say it: I like spandex. Don't get me wrong, I love 100 Bullets' crime noir, sci-fi and I'm awestruck by Jordi Bernet each month in DC's western, Jonah Hex--hell, I even love a darker, grittier, "real-life" take on The Punisher. I dig comedy and indies. But reading Marvel's recent mini (maxi?)-series Secret Invasion reminded me of the late '80's, riding my bike up to Dave's Comix to buy the latest Secret War. I like Daredevil having lady troubles, nervous breakdowns and his annual disbarment--but I also love seeing him in his red tights, kicking ass in Josie's Bar and shaking down Turk, the low-level, lowlife and snitch. Homoerotic undertones? Maybe. Latent homosexuality masked BY masks, muscles and musical-like choreographed fights? Probably. But I'll take it. I say, put Luke Cage back in his yellow satin shirt and tiara! You know you want it.

I've always wanted to do a DEMON series...
Jason Blood was one of my favorite Kirby characters. Even visually, his blood-red hair and white streak--so, so cool.

Here's a couple of 'love-letters' to Rick Remender. FEAR AGENT is a super fun read, with a great anti-hero, "Heath Huston".
And you should buy THE END LEAGUE on concept alone...

I did the next few sketches awhile back. One of my first posts was about Gene Colan's DOCTOR STRANGE. He's one of my favorite characters--totally underused in my opinion . I can't remember if I've already posted this Martian Manhunter before. I did this a year or two ago. Sometime's I get disappointed by the lack of "design"--especially in Team-Up books. If you got a big brawler dude on the team, give him some weight, mass, etc.

Oh well. I had fun drawing these. Superheroes. Sigh.

KIDS AND ROCKETS...

I had another pitch for this project the other day. It's been 3 or more years in various stages and to be honest, felt like talked to death--so I decided to update a few drawings and sort of re-energize any interest I had. It worked, sort of. Even in the room, during our song and dance, something felt missing--you know, that one, key element that ties it all up in a neat, nice bow? That one sentence, X-ingredient that makes all good ideas great. It wasn't until I was driving home (!) from the meeting that I had the epiphany of what that was.

These drawings were done very quickly (like all my marker comps) and don't reflect that dramatic change yet (I'm not that trusting!)--but thought they were safe enough to share.


I like the texture I got on the big alien dude.

(2) ART (4 T.V.) SHOW IN NEW YORK!!!

THIS FRIDAY!

Too Art for TV 3
New York's 3rd Annual Fine Art Exhibit for the Animation Industry

Opening reception Friday, December 5th, 6pm-9pm
December 5th through December 15th, 2008

at Erebuni 158 Roebling St. Williamsburg, NY 11211

Check out more info HERE.

I'm so excited to be part of this show--and to be able to make a short trip out to the city (I wished I moved to). If you or someone you know lives there, stop by! If you have any suggestions of cool comics shops to stop at, please let me know: I'll be needing to pick up my copy of CHARLATAN BALL in NY, since I'll spend "new comics day" on a plane.

CORRECTION: ON SALE (THURSDAY) DECEMBER 4th!!!

CHARLATAN BALL #5 hits the shelves this week, (because of the holiday) Thursday, December 4th! Go buy some!!

Here's what you'll see...



And what you won't...


What you would see if your eyes are unable to see in the spectrum of colors...



And what you would see if you have a Time Machine...

"GREETINGS FROM THE FUTURE!"

Where apparently we all have tumors that look like our mate's face growing out of our heads.

I love Epcot!

TRANSIT

Aside for the state of my life right now, it's also an amazing book by TED MCKEEVER!



This digest-sized hardcover just came out from IMAGE Comics last week. It collects the first 5 issues of this cutting edge, "underground" comic from over a few decades ago, believe it or not--PLUS a final 6th chapter in the story. To say he was and is a huge influence on me is an understatement. I'm so looking forward to the subsequent collected EDDIE CURRENT and METROPOL. Does anyone know if PLASTIC FORKS will be in this batch as well??

I know you might not be able to tell from the way my work looks now, but there was a time I tried to emulate this style in every way. I almost got a tattoo of one of his images (but my friend who was getting inked in front of me passed out. Needless to say I then declined one of my own--but that's a story for another day). Even if you are a fan of more mainstream books, treat yourself to these collected volumes. They're definitely worth it!

A few months back, the beautiful Miss Mandy Amano and her beau, Mr. David Mack were doing a signing with Ted McKeever at Golden Apple Comics on Melrose. I told Mandy I was a FREAK for him and she asked him to sketch me something!
It's NUN and EDDIE CURRENT (mysteriously shrouded in shadow)! Characters of his that pop up throughout nearly all his work! They introduced me and instead of him being the surly old English chap I expected, he was an extremely nice, energetic, smiley, hip, NY-Italian dude! I was floored!! (sort of reminded me of Stephen DeStefano).

Ahh. Suddenly I was 15 again...

WHERE'S ISSUE SIX???

Haha.

Just wrapping up the inks and color comps for CHARLATAN BALL #6. The past few issues have been down to the wire, schedule-wise--as I'm trying to accommodate other deadlines and freelance. Boy, I wished CB made some $! I'm also hoping we will be seeing more of Chuck, Caesar and Demon Empty past #6. It really is a fun world to play in.

(NOT SO) DYNAMITE.

Sigh.

Well, after being juggled between different networks and production companies the past few years, Dynamite Jones finally got his day this week when I pitched my storyboard for Cartoon Network's Shorts Program: The Cartoonstitute. I bombed. Bad. Inherent, initial story issues aside, their decision to pass was completely justified. About a quarter of the way into the pitch, I could feel the energy drain and I knew I was way off mark, comedy-wise. The worst part about finding yourself in that position is knowing you have at least 3/4 more to go. That's when the sweats start! Ha. Regardless, I had a blast getting to explore Dynamite's world further than before, though I am a little bummed that I won't get a chance to play with other storylines, at least not immediately--
IN MEMORIAM. DIG IT.


DR. DOOMENTHAL D.D.S. was the antagonist for the short, along with his mandroid indentured servants...get it? huh? huh?

About half-way through doing the storyboard, I had the idea that the dentist-inspired villain would be more visually interesting based on MODOK versus Dr. Doom. But I really liked the acting I was able to get out of the previous design, so worked both in--y'know, like wedging a shoehorn into a shoe that's already too small. haha...now are you starting to see why it didn't fly?

Thanks to BATMAN: BRAVE AND THE BOLD's BEN JONES for helping me with the design!CHARLATAN BALL colorist Marc Letzmann sent me this image below to help me smile. Perhaps making him one of the JONas brother's would hit a key demo! hahaha Thanks, Marc.
Who knows, maybe eventually I'll be able to do a really funny Dynamite show somewhere. In the meantime, I was thinking of doing some comics for the hell of it. What do you think?

LINKY DINKS

Stumbled upon this video on Youtube. Sorry, Joel Trussell--I'm obviously late to your party! (Thanks for the link, Drake!) Definitely a Samurai Jack vibe, but even rawer and more Provensen -esque:


And a couple weeks ago, Steven Gettis' ordered an ART OF ANDY sketchbook, but instead of an original drawing on the inside, requested one separate and of or inspired by my favorite work of literature or literary figure, per the theme of his site: "Hey Oscar Wilde! It's Clobberin' Time!" (great name!). You can see my piece (and find out what my favorite book is) HERE.

Here's another link with my work. This one's from the incredible Dylan McCrae's blog. Him and his POP Syndicate buddies were redesigning Aquaman. Here's my take. My inks, his saccharine-sweet colors. Be warned: these drawings are ridiculously absurd.

ITTY BITTY COAST TO COAST!

And on to a less controversial topic: I have art pieces in not one, but TWO "ITTY BITTY ART SHOW"s on not one, but TWO COASTS! Completely unrelated. 'Great minds' and all that, I suppose. The 1st is at my favorite new place: Leigh Medeiros' YES GALLERY AND STUDIO in RHODE ISLAND. I created two very small, very affordable mixed media HARLEQUINS. You can see my pieces on her site HERE.

Here's the 4x9...

And look how cute the gallery is!

Her show opens this FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7th, running until the end of the month.

And here's my "fire sale" priced piece for Mayra's MONKEYHOUSE TOYS & ART GALLERY Itty Bitty Show:

A decidedly different piece than what will show @ YES. This opening will be this SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8th, 5-8pm.

So, depending on your zip code, go grab some affordable art from a smorgasbord of amazing talents. Landlocked in middle America? Go to their websites and feel free to contact them.

YES Gallery and Studio
146 Water Street
Warren, Rhode Island
02885
(401) 245-7174
yesgalleryandstudio@gmail.com

Monkeyhouse Toys & Art Gallery
1618 1/2 silver lake bl.
los angeles, ca 90026
323-662-3437
monkeyhousetoys.com

And now, RELIGION!

...just kidding.

VOTE!

I know, I know, the last place you want your politics is on an artist's blog...but even these lines blur, not only for political and editorial cartoons, but with the recent push of the DEVIOUS "ORPHAN WORKS BILL". Hideous, truly. I Urge you all to check out the latest (if you haven't already). This affects you and your work, everything on our blogs could be taken away from us and used by giant corporations, in effect, we'd have to buy back our own drawings!? And believe me, none us could afford to.

Anyway, I want to talk to you about another of my, er, urges...tomorrow is election day, please, dear God, vote! As a fervent supporter of a greater-than-two party system, I understand any cynicism about finding actual change and the Herculean task to bring it about--but my urge is to ask all of you Californians and fellow transplants to look closer at the propositions, namely PROP 8. If you have a TV and you've turned it on once in the past couple months, you've seen what you probably thought were SNL "skits" showcasing performers pretending to be parents, preachers and teachers, attempting to BAN (i.e. discriminate) gay marriage. Hilarious AND repulsive, no matter which way you "swing". Ah, who could forget such classics as "The King and the King", you can buy it HERE on Amazon! Speaking of swingers, my favorite is when the rosey-cheeked (see: "fat"), woman and her chubby-chaser hubby cry: "they are eight years old for God's sake" or some such thing. To which I propose, WHAT'S WRONG WITH TEACHING CHILDREN TOLERANCE??? I might add, most of those impressionable young beings could grow up to be--GASP! tolerant adults! Could you imagine? Oh, the horror...
...speaking of, you know that couple in the ad are into twisted, kinky shit behind closed doors. The priest, teacher? Total pedaphiles.

That's why I ask you, I mean, urge you to look closer, think about what it means to eliminate rights, because that's what allowing the proposition to pass will do. Regardless of how you "feel" about same-sex relationships, it shouldn't be our place to tell people they can't be miserable like the rest of us married folks! hahaha VOTE NO ON PROP 8!!! I'll say it again: NO on 8!

I might add, NOT voting is the same thing as allowing it to pass!

For more info, check out NO ON PROP 8 DOT COM



And now some art! These marker designs were from a freelance gig with SIX POINT HARNESS a couple years back called "Capital Zoo". Can you name, spot all the pundents, politicians, mayors and muckrakers?

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

I saw these UNDERFIST: Halloween Special promo pieces up on Adam Burton's blog and thought it would be fun (and totally unwarranted) to post them next to (my) original pencil designs.