Here’s a fine article the local paper had me ‘write’ about today- Free Comic Book Day.
You might have to click on the image a couple of iterations to get it up to a legible size. Who knows how these computers decide to display anything. It didn’t offer me the size option I wanted. Baffling.
So if there’s a comic shop near you, go in and see what they’re willing to do for you! Different shops have different deals.
You ever wonder what the Hubris gags sound like in my head before they wind up on paper and thereafter on your computer?
It’s probably not what you think. In fact, it’s what I think, and my brain’s not wired in an efficient manner.
So you’re getting the edited down images and words. Granted, I let myself roam fairly freely, but let’s take yesterday’s cartoon, for example. Mick’s trying to climb the wall. The description of that cartoon wandered far afield with concepts that will probably make it into the strip someday (Tshirt cannons and Red Bull cans… Teaser! Spoiler!)
On the other hand, sometimes I do pictures that elaborate on a few words. It’s easier to do when working with a partner.
Jay Schiller, years ago, sent me scripts for a Florida editorial cartoon we used to do. One of the scripts dealt with the death of Princess Diana.
His script said, “Draw a Paparazzi in the casket with her, taking a photo.” Nice. Elegant. Says a lot. Well done, Jay.
So I drew this:
I’m still very pleased with it. It’s dark, somber, it’s a subtle indictment of the practices of the paparazzi ( I think that anytime you’re followed down the street by shouting people who are taking your photo without permission and with intent for their own profit, that’s a bit of an attack, you know? Self defense come into play there? Maybe.)
So there you go. Words and Pictures.
It’s been a while since I flogged another old comic strip here in the ‘Other’ content below the Hubris. So it’s time again for Bachelor & Sons! I was teamed up with Matt Tolbert (and his twin sons) to create a comic strip based on a newly single dad and his twin sons. One kid is sportish, the other one bookish. I did the best I could, and I assume that Matt’s twins (with him as the editor) did the best they could, but the syndicates weren’t biting. Of course, it’s a shame for this stuff to just rot on my computer or on Matt’s, so it might as well rot on your computer, too. Unless of course, you know of a nice site, web magazine or newspaper (or syndicate) who sees the value in such a thing, in which case we’ll happily resurrect it, I bet.
The other day at the skatepark, the newspaper (the Commercial Appeal, who no longer runs The Buckets and fired their staff editorial cartoonist Bill Day, and therefore can be ignored.) sent Chris Desmond out to photograph the lovely and talented Aaron Schafer, who was instrumental in getting the city to back a gorgeous skatepark and quit just putting up signs everywhere else that said “no skating”. Chris took photos of other people who were there, too. This is one he took of me. Note the elaborately colored helmet I took from my oldest son. Note the way the sunlight plays upon the bristles where my hair used to be. Oh, yes, I’m one fine lookin’ stud.
Photo by Chris Desmond
That was, indeed sarcasm, for those of you who didn’t catch it. I look like someone’s dad at the skatepark. I am someone’s dad at the skatepark. But at least I’m one of the dads that skate.
I’m a Twit, and I’m gonna ‘Tweet Live’ with you guys. Here’s the info:
This is one of the reasons I like GoComics and Universal/Uclick. They do cool stuff with their comics creators. Terrific people all ’round. See ya at the Tweetin’!
Well, I’m really new to this book thing. But here I am flogging another book. I just got my big box of them and sat down to look through the printed version. I like it. I’ve been doing The Buckets comic strip for a long while, with a few disappointing outcomes over publishing a new Buckets book. After this last time, I figured I needed a book no matter what, and asked John Lotshaw with Moonbase Press to set it up for me. He did, and now I know what everyone in my family and group of friends are getting for Christmas. If you have family and friends, I encourage you to consider The Exhausted Parents Guide To Why Your Life Is Normal.
I went back through six years of Buckets strips, reading each one. The ones that made me laugh out loud were used in this book. So that’s what you’re getting: distilled Buckets O’ Funny. Concentrated Humor in a neat package. Remember to get extras, ’cause you’re gonna want to cut one of them up to put your favorite cartoons on the fridge and on your office door. See? That’s me being helpful. Christmas and birthdays, anniversaries, baby showers, Hannukah, Eid, Festivus, Agnostica, Solstice, New Year, Black Friday… I honestly do not wish to interfere with your right to give and receive celebratory gifts in your own freely-chosen fashion, within the bounds of your country’s attempts to legally restrict any antisocial craziness going on. I’m just sellin’ books here. Enjoy.
Here’s page 3 of Weirdbeard. Hope you’re enjoying these things. And yes, I know that Boma, Zaire wasn’t around in what was thought of as ‘Pirate Days’, but YOU try finding a city that starts with a B in a country that starts with a Z. Tricky. You bend the rules of time and space just to finish the poem.
