JUST BECAUSE...

...WB Home Video sent me a couple Plastic Man DVD collections. Thanks!

And thank you all for all the kind words.

A

ALMOST THREE WEEKS AGO...

This was the very first image engrained in my head. A few seconds and sips of oxygen later, he became much, much cuter.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

CONAN SKETCHES...

WATCH BATMAN: BRAVE & THE BOLD TONIGHT!!!

I storyboarded the opening sequence. Apparently it's an all-Plas episode...needless to say I have mixed feelings about it, considering my history with this character. The biggest feeling probably being that of jealousy! Not only were they allowed to use Woozy Winks, but it looks like Baby Plas appears as well! Back when Tom and I did our pilot, Ruby Spears insisted they owned the rights to Baby Plas, and not WB, who produced it.

This guys been in my head for a bit...

"DEAR JACOB IN PFLUGERVILLE..."

Your book is on it's way...even if it DOES sound like a made up place!

Getting down to the last batch of AOA books...here's a sketch I just did in the latest...

"AND PLINKO WAS HIS NAME-O!"

Anyone that's been unemployed and/or had the TV on around 10am should know what this is referencing.

It was a GREAT birthday this year.

MY PLASTIC MAN PILOT HAS FINALLY BEEN RELEASED!!!

Yesterday, October 20th, Warner Bros. and classiccartoondvd finally released the entire Ruby Spears animated Plastic Man show! Within the 4 discs, 35 episodes (gems like"Plastic Mummy Meets Disco Mummy" and "Gostfinger", which sounds sort of gross), they've included Special Feature Extras...including our never-before-seen, unaired PLASTIC MAN PILOT! I cannot tell you how happy that makes me, knowing that those 4-5 people who will actually pick up the dvd set will finally get to see Tom Kenny and myself's dream project.

Be forewarned, the packaging is mislabeled--and our pilot is actually on disc 2. There's also a special featurette on disc 1 about the history of Plas and Jack Cole. The folks who put it together at The Cannery were generous with the amount of time they let me speak--even though I looked like a sweatier, twitchier version of a crack addict. They used a TON of our production art (looks GREAT, "Uncle" Phil Rynda, Stephen DeStefano)--floating and morphing behind me, Tom, Jerry Beck, Mark Evanier, Dan Riba and Batman: Brave and the Bold's James Tucker (sorry, James! hahaha). Check it out, let me know what you think!

...and y'know what this means? You can finally post, publish and saturate the web with the pilot! Get on it kids! heheehe

No, seriously. Do it.

THE BRIDE OF OFFENSTEINER!!!

Not only do we have Dr. Offensteiner's Monster--but it's Bride in our DOC BIZARRE M.D. One-Shot as well. Whenever working from familiar or recognizable subject matter, I try to think of ways to separate our take from those before: sometimes it works, but sometimes designs are iconic for a reason, no reason to reinvent the wheel. Hopefully this departure from the "classic" Bride of Frankenstein will fit even better in our story.

MARVEL ULTIMATE ALLIANCE 2: "KICKIN' IT OLD SCHOOL (PS2)" OR "I REALLY SUCK AT VIDEO GAMES"

SIGH.

Well, here's my team...

Seeing as how I only play one game a few times every 4 years, I haven't seen the point in "upgrading" to a better gaming system. Hey, if they're generous enough to keep putting games out for the older system , I'll gladly play them. That being said, after purchasing the latest "strategy guide" (see: "I suck", above), I get to see the game I COULD be playing on a newer system--as only 6 pages of the 300+ manual is devoted to PS2.

C'mon!

And so far, I've encountered technical "bugs" on two separate levels. On a side note: regardless of gaming consul, the developers took away one of the coolest features that was in the original--that being the plentiful costume options for each character (see: "classic" Luke Cage), and now only give you a choice of 2 and both are really lame (again, see: Luke Cage and even Wolverine's threads blow).

Just because I don't approve of Luke Cage's costume doesn't mean I excluded him from my lineup--he's my "heavy", Cyclops my well-rounded, Daredevil my agility character (since Iron Fist isn't an option for the PS2--another BIG strike against it) and replacing my former favorite flyer-and-not-available-for-MUA2 Spider-Woman is The Human Torch (depicted above in the way he typically appears when I play him).

Anyone interested in my previous foray into the original incarnation of this game, click on the link below.

OLD GUY SKETCH...

I realize I don't normally post too many things this rough, but thought it might be a nice change...even though the pose is almost the exact same as the post below.

"HOORAY FOR HOLLYWOOD..."

Continuing my drawings of characters from books I'm currently digging, the revamped GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY has become a monthly treat (see: Groot, Bug and Rocket Raccoon). Issue #18 features an alternate universe lineup from the year 3009 which includes an aged Wonder Man under the mantle "Hollywood". I love Wonder Man and I love aged superheroes--it's like chocolate and peanut butter for me! This is my drawing (without much alteration).

HERCULES! HERCULES! HERCULES!

Thought I'd take a break from all the patting myself on the back business and post an actual drawing I did for the fun of it! I am LOVING the new Hercules series. It's hilarious...and those sound effects: genius.

LAST WEEK'S SIGNING...

Here's me drawing JACK KIRBY'S OMAC for Collector's Paradise owner Ed.

...and here's the almost-final-result.

Shopkeeper and all around nice guy Andy asked me to draw any version I wanted of his fave character Iceman. Since I was in a Kirby sort of mood, he got the "snowy" version!

p.s. you don't wanna know where those snowballs came from!

"SO ANDY, WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN UP TO?"

"Well, this month I..."

ANOTHER SIGNING!

Collector's Paradise

7131 Winnetka Ave.

Winnetka, CA 91306

818-999-9455

5-10pm

*(I'm not sure who this "Soriano" guy is, but I'll be there!)

DOC BIZARRE M.D.-- COLOR THUMBNAILS...

JSA COMMISSION

This was the very last thing I drew before I packed up the art supplies and moved...

--I still haven't unpacked the pens.

"UM, WHAT!?"

So, what does THIS:

+ THIS:

Equal?

Apparently THIS:

I just found out I won an Emmy for "Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation" for Character design!!!

Wow, just two weeks after starting @ Cartoon Network I won an Emmy!? Hehe, okay, okay--it was for Maxwell Atoms' awesome UNDERFIST: "Halloween Bash", which I'd done over two years ago, consequently during that heatwave (--as depicted in that previous post of that time). My sweat is literally infused onto those sheets of 12 field animation paper. The heat was so bad I had foresaken any sort of proper drawing table or apparatus and used my soon-to-be-wive's 'hope chest', which was mere inches away from an air conditioner--the closest to cool I could possibly get. This had been a scary time for me: sort of a "no man's land", half-way point lull in my quest/experiment to stay home and do 'permanent' freelance. This sort of makes it that much more affirming and validating towards time well spent. That being said, I'm so happy and proud of the work I put into that incredible, albeit all-but-forgotten animated special/Billy & Mandy spinoff/pilot. It was a real cartoon--in its truest form and so fun to work on. It was extra special because I not only worked arm and arm with my buddy "Uncle" Phil Rynda, but in some cases, worked directly from development sketches which he had done before me. Plus, he more or less got Adam to hire me--so, thanks Phil! I'd share the Emmy with you, but you already got one! ; )

GO BUY THIS TPB TODAY!!!

IN STORES TODAY!!!

COLLECTING ISSUES #1-6, PLUS TONS OF NEW GOODIES! Seriously, I didn't put a lot of this stuff on my blog so you will go buy it. What are you reading this for? Go out and buy this book now!!!

"AMERICAN GOTHIC"

...or 'American Dream'; depending on the side of the street, I suppose. My wife, dog, two cats and kid-on-the-way moved to "the valley" last weekend. Transplanting ourselves from an urban-type atmosphere...to a neighborhood where kids play in the street, instead of drug dealers (okay, ktown hasn't been that bad in awhile, I guess), passerby's waving hello--and a neighborhood watch captain that offers to help my preggo mate unload groceries from her car. On the surface, it's a totally foreign planet--but I can't help but be reminded of ROXY MUSIC'S "In every dream home..."

Amongst the boxes to unpack, I've also started back @ CN. It's nice seeing the old gang after so many years working from home--the company is nice (sorry, animals) and the experience of having a sort of professional "checks and balances" is worth more than getting a weekly paycheck (well, almost). It's also neat being able to play with new toys like a Cintiq (results above).

If I haven't replied to you yet, I will soon--I got a new computer as well!

GOLDEN APPLE SIGNING: "THE DAY AFTER"

So, here I am, one day after the GA signing, three days after starting a new job, five days after moving into a new home and seven days after SDCC...These guys were awesome! There's me, Glen Brunswick, Richard Starkings and their respective books. All of which deserve wider recognition.

Ryan and James sporting competing shirts... and Jersey Gods' "Zoe" come to life: Diane relating to Glen.

Big mistake putting me next to the fudge stripes.

BTW; while not a member myself, I totally stole these pix from Starking's Facebook page!

TPB RELEASE PARTY AND SIGNING!!!

The CHARLATAN BALL TPB comes out this Wednesday! Come on by GOLDEN APPLE on Melrose and say hi!

A BIG P.S. Thanks to all of you that have emailed and contacted me recently--my apologies in the delay in response; but I've just moved and have yet to set up any sort of modem or email device! It's in one of these boxes somewhere...

POST SD CON UPDATE 2: SKETCHES AND COMMISSIONS

As promised, or threatened (depending how you took my last post); here are some sketches and commissions I did during the con...

I only brought a red pen--so thank you Andy Khun for supplying the yellow!

This dude asked me what my favorite Teen Titans character was. This was my answer.

Lots and lots of Samurai Jack sketches.


There's another Hulk I did floating around. The first one was a pity commission, I think--thanks for letting me put him on the can. The other one I did sitting around the booth during a lull.

Epoch was my Demon Empty of this year. Absolutely love drawing him. FYI, he's the kid in Doc Bizarre M.D. And here's some more characters from the same upcoming title...