pood comics

Yet Another Process Post

2012-02-01T09:30:00.001-08:00

Here's an animated behind the scenes peek at the creation of a page of The Moon Prince - page 78, in this case. It starts off with the rough "thumbnails" sketch, just done on printer paper with pen, then shows the photo-collage (with 3D backgrounds) I made for the page, starring myself and my wife Melissa as all the characters. Next comes the drawing I did based on the photo-collage, and then the color and tones, and finally the word balloons and "gutters" (borders between the panels).

Click on the image to see the animation:

2012-01-30T09:14:00.001-08:00

This week, Adam is ready for a nice relaxing dinner.

Click on the image to read the whole page.

Moon Prince Page 97: Only a Lad

2012-01-27T08:32:00.001-08:00

This week, Max gets dissed.

Click on the image to read the whole page.

Rough Pearl Page 11: Life in the Hood

2012-01-23T08:33:00.001-08:00

This week: paranoia, bitterness, etc.

Click on the image to see the whole page.

Moon Prince Page 96: The Moon Pirates

2012-01-20T08:18:00.001-08:00

This week, the Moon Pirates manifest themselves!

Click on the image to see the whole page.

Rough Pearl Page 10

2012-01-16T15:18:00.001-08:00

This week, it's still very confrontational.

Click on the image to see the whole page.

Moon Prince Page 95: We Don't Stand a Chance!

2012-01-13T08:21:00.001-08:00

This week, things get scarier than ever!

Click on the image to see the whole page.

Another Process Post

2012-01-11T09:05:00.001-08:00

Since it's always fun to watch little animations, here's one showing how I made the second page of my book Fantastic Life (in stores now! Or order it here!). It starts with the original pencil drawing (you can see how woefully rusty I was after not doing comics drawing for 20 years!) and then goes through various versions of the page showing the changes I made, and finishes with the final color version of the page. Just click on it to watch the animation.

Rough Pearl Page 9: An Outraged Yuppie

2012-01-09T08:35:00.001-08:00

This week, Adam is both paranoid and self-righteous. Please don't hate him.

Click on the giant eyeball to see the whole page.

Moon Prince Page 94: Careful, Molly!

2012-01-06T08:37:00.001-08:00

This week, all sorts of stuff happens!

Click on the image to see the whole page.

Rough Pearl Page 8

2012-01-02T07:32:00.001-08:00

This week, Adam is in commuter van hell.

Click on the image to see the whole page.

Moon Prince Page 93: The Bat-man Speaks!

2011-12-30T08:16:00.001-08:00

This week, we hear from the bat-man. But what are we hearing???

Click on the image to read the whole page.

Rough Pearl Page 7

2011-12-26T10:03:00.001-08:00

This week, Adam hates on Jersey.

Click on the image to read the whole page.

Moon Prince Page 92: Angry Pirates!

2011-12-23T08:44:00.001-08:00

This week: those are some mad pirates!

Click on the image to see the whole page

- and Merry Christmas from Kevin, Melissa, Max and Molly!

Babyheads for Christmas!

2011-12-20T04:08:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays! Just in case you haven't been following things over at Lookoutmonsters.com;

It's Babyheads Tuesday! The first of two pre-Christmas Babyheads cartoons! What a way to celebrate the holidays! Another Babyheads is coming on Thursday!

What d'ya say to that, fellas?

Rough Pearl Page 6

2011-12-19T08:03:00.001-08:00

This week: Adam is self-obsessed.

Click on the image to read the whole page.

Moon Prince Page 91: Ahoy, Bat-men!

2011-12-16T08:23:00.001-08:00

This week: more violence!

Click on the image to see the whole page.

My Ugly Thumbnails

2011-12-14T09:08:00.001-08:00

Many cartoonists create beautiful little pages of preparatory drawings for their comics called "thumbnail" pages. My friend Bishakh Som, who is a wonderful cartoonist (you can see his work here) posted some of his thumbnail pages on Facebook last week that were just gorgeous, and suggested to me that I post some for The Moon Prince.

I'm sort of torn about this, because my thumbnail pages are very loose and scribbly. I use them to write the dialogue and plan the sequence, design and layout of the drawings, but the drawings themselves sure aren't much to look at. On the other hand, I guess it's sort of fun to see to see the process that goes into making comics like these, and I like to give visitors to this site something to look at while they're waiting for new pages of comics (stay tuned for more piracy and warfare on the Moon this Friday!).

So, without further ado, here are some of my ugly thumbnails, followed by the finished black and white drawings for the page they're from and the final colored page, with all the water and spooky fog.

Rough Pearl Page 5: An Encounter with the Chair

2011-12-12T09:59:00.001-08:00

This week, Adam thinks bad thoughts.

Click on the image to see the whole page.

Moon Prince Page 90: Kitko's Revenge!

2011-12-09T08:29:00.001-08:00

This week: Kitiko don't play like that!

Click on the image to see the whole page.

Rough Pearl Page 4: Welcome to My Lair!

2011-12-05T08:51:00.000-08:00

Here's the latest rough and scribbly page of my Fantastic Life sequel. This week, Adam and a pretty young student are alone in his office.

Click on the image to see the whole page.

Rough Pearl Page 3

2011-11-28T08:50:00.001-08:00

This week, Adam gets turned-on.

Click on the image to see the whole page.

Rough Pearl page 2

2011-11-23T08:44:00.001-08:00

Here's the second not-yet-inked-or-colored page from my new story, The Rough Pearl.

Click on the image to see the whole page.

Moon Prince Page 87: Where There's Smoke...

2011-11-18T08:29:00.000-08:00

Since we've announced that pood will be ceasing publication, I'm going to stop posting the Moon Prince updates on this blog after today. If you've been following it here, please drop by themoonprince.com to keep up with the story (there's an RSS feed you can subscribe to there if you like).

Best,
Kevin

This week, ALIENS! No kidding!!!

Click on the image to see the whole page.

That Day is Done

2011-11-11T16:25:00.001-08:00

I don't know why this post is suddenly so hard to write. I've been writing it in my head for a couple of months now, ever since it became clear that there wasn't going to be a pood #5. Yet suddenly I find I'm a bit overcome, and the words that have floated around my head as I made the four hour drive week-after-week from my home in upstate NY to my job in Long Island escape me now.

There are so many mixed emotions. I realize now that I'd invested a good deal more of my heart than I'd thought-well, pood was always a labor of love, I mean, it's never about money in this game, is it? But that the loss of it might hit me this hard is not something I was prepared for. Deb and I have lost a lot these past few months, the flood in September took away her store, and so many other things; one would think the loss of pood, in the scope of things, wouldn't be quite so difficult. But...

I'm not a publisher. I'm an artist. and pood was an art project. The difference -obviously, is that artists aren't business people. I've never written up a business plan in my life, it's always been on a wing and a prayer-with just enough money to produce the thing, and no more. From an artist's point of view-that's enough. To me-the format was the inspiration; newsprint, man! I love the stuff! And I love great art that comes cheaply--found in the most innocuous places; 12 cents for a masterwork, right? Well, pood was that-and more---it was about the page; the single, canvas scale page-in the tradition of the great comic strips of that Golden Era long gone- there's still no better format than that great, wonderful page.What can we do with that format? Where can we go with all this space?
Well, the results are there. Four issues. The idea made manifest. And what's great about comics,the "comics world" as it were, is that you can make that happen. Anyone with the idea and a couple of bucks can go out there and make a comic book, can put their vision out in the world, right up there on the comics shop shelves with the books and characters that you've grown up with and dreamed about your entire life.

Of course, in the "marketplace of ideas"-- the thing isn't enough. "....Build it and they will come...." Well, only in the movies. Advice to those just entering the game, put three times as much dough into promotion as you do the book--and bring on somebody to do PR who isn't embarrassed by the process and has no qualms about shamelessly peppering all the news outlets with info, endlessly. I could only do so much before I began to feel ashamed for being so rude. It's just not in me. And it's necessary- if you're gonna survive.
That was the dream- to create a self-sustaining vehicle for continuous exploration and experimentation, a place for comics of all kinds and comic creators of all stripes--that would entertain as much as it played around with form. In many ways, like the Sunday funnies in the first few decades of the 20th century. But---in the 21st century---the vehicle wasn't self-sustaining.

I suppose one might be tempted to draw all kinds of conclusions from the end of pood, regarding alternative comics and the state of the market,unique formats, the retail business, etc.etc. But for now, that's for others to do if they wish. Like I said, I'm not a business person. So....if I ever publish a paper comic book again, will I take these lessons to heart before I send the money to the printer?

I have to laugh. Are you kidding? What am I in this for? For the buzz, man! The buzz of a good idea, an interesting formal play-a twist on an old format! Look at the stuff I've done the past few years, "Monsters", "fandancer","pood" not a viable format among them! Retailers hate that shit! But artists love it. (I'll never forget the reaction to "fandancer" from one owner at a very famous comic shop--famous for their support of alternative comics---"oh christ, we hate oversize". )

Clearly, the stuff that motivates me is antithetical to good comics business! So where do ya go from there? Well, you probably don't print more comics--at least not for distribution to comics shops. Maybe mini-comics-or hand made stuff. I don't know--somehow I've never been torqued by the mini-comics thing. I'm a little guy, but I like my comics BIG! Napoleon thing, I guess. And I don't find enough variation to play with at Kinko's or POD. And when I've tried to be conventional("Nice Work") well, let's just say that I chafe at the restrictions after awhile and find my attention diverted elsewhere. At the moment, I'm all consumed by this damn website. And trying to produce enough content, in enough variety, to make it an interesting...space. I'm enjoying the simple, repetitive nature of the webcomic strip. As much as I love comic books, maybe more, I love comic strips-(pood, again!)-and it was a dream as a kid to do a comic strip. "Babyheads" seems very conventional in format, but from an artist's POV the process of writing in short bursts has a mantra-like characteristic that's very interesting ,almost like minimalist music, in the way one note grows out of the last note, etc. So, "Babyheads"is not only a challenge, in many ways, but it continues a play with form that's essential to keep my interest active. As far as my future is concerned, I think it will-- for a time anyway--- revolve around lookoutmonsters.com more than print. That's the world we live in.

Reading the responses from the "pood artists" to my "farewell pood" letter of last night has been a humbling, emotional and joyful experience. The pood artists were hand-picked by Kevin, Alex and myself to be a part of this project, and each and every one of them did it for the love of art and newsprint and the challenge of the big page. To compete with Herriman, Crane, Foster and Raymond! That was enough for them-not a single one of them asked about money, not a single one did it for pay-other than copies. It has been an honor to work with each and every one of them-these are among the best comics artists in the field today--and they worked from their hearts and it shows. Pood was theirs as much as mine-and its because of them it is such an enjoyable package to behold.

I've said this privately many times, and I'm proud to say it publicly now. The best part of pood was working with Kevin Mutch and Alex Rader. They are two of the smartest, nicest guys you'd ever want to meet, and I feel blessed to have become partners and friends with them both. They are the best, and I've enjoyed every minute of our collaboration. We're still buds, but I'll use the opportunity to wish them the best of luck, and love. (read "The Moon Prince"!)

This morning was hard. After reading some of the kind and thoughtful replies to last night's letter, and then Skyping from work to my wife back home, I found myself involuntarily breaking down. Crazy, huh? It's just comics. But that's the point--there's no "just" about it.

Moon Prince Page 86: A Solemn Moment

2011-11-11T08:19:00.001-08:00

This week, Mad Billy is laid to rest.

Click on the image to see the whole page.

Fantastic Life in Diamond Previews This Week

2011-11-08T08:33:00.001-08:00

My graphic novel Fantastic Life (which won a Xeric Award and was included in The Best American Comics 2011) is in the November 11 issue of Diamond Distribution's Previews catalog, so if you'd like to see it in your comic shop now's the time!

Moon Prince Page 85: Ten or Fifteen Small Steps

2011-11-04T08:14:00.001-07:00

This week: Ten or fifteen small steps for a boy, one giant leap if he doesn't use the ladder!

Click on the image to see the whole page.

Moon Prince Page 84: A Sad Realization.

2011-10-28T08:27:00.001-07:00

This week, a bit of an emotional roller coaster.

Click on the image to see the whole page.

Moon Prince Page 83: Aughhh! The MOON!

2011-10-21T09:06:00.001-07:00

This week, Max and Molly are in dire peril! Still!

Click on the image to see the whole page.

Moon Prince Page 82: Decisive Action Must Be Taken!

2011-10-14T08:48:00.000-07:00

This week, the queen stands up for once!

Click on the image to see the whole page.

Moon Prince Page 81: Startling Revelations from a couple of Slippery Characters

2011-10-07T08:28:00.001-07:00

This week, the Inquisitor and the Captain of the Guard put two and two together.

Click on the image to see the whole page.

Moon Prince Page 80: Shocking details emerge...

2011-09-30T08:15:00.001-07:00

This week, the Queen gets super intense.

Click on the image to see the whole page.

Moon Prince Page 79: Dramatic New Evidence

2011-09-23T08:21:00.001-07:00

This week, the queen is taken quite aback!

Click on the image to see the whole page.

Moon Prince Page 78: Her Majesty the Queen.

2011-09-16T08:20:00.001-07:00

This week: we attend the Royal Court. Dress appropriately and behave yourselves!

(Click on the image to see the whole page)

Moon Prince Page 77: AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!

2011-09-09T08:48:00.001-07:00

This week, things start to get very extraterrestrial.

Click on the image to see the whole page.

Moon Prince Page 76: TIK!!!

2011-09-02T08:24:00.001-07:00

This week, things take a turn for the even worse!

Click on the image to see the whole page.

Fantastic Life Review on TCJ

2011-08-27T14:13:00.000-07:00

Sean T. Collins gave my graphic novel Fantastic Life a very positive review yesterday on The Comics Journal. The review is here.

Moon Prince Page 75: What are THOSE Things?!!

2011-08-26T18:22:00.000-07:00

Click on the image to see the whole page.

Moon Prince Page 74: What's that Beeping???

2011-08-19T09:11:00.000-07:00

This week, Max and Molly get something else to worry about! Those poor kids!

Click on the image to see the whole page.

moon Prince Page 73: A Shocking Discovery!

2011-08-12T08:55:00.000-07:00

This week, certain things start to add up.

Click on the image to see the whole page.

Moon Prince Page 72: the Casimir batteries

2011-08-05T08:48:00.000-07:00

This week, lots of intricate drawings of mechanical stuff that took forever to draw.

Click on the image to see the whole page.

Moon Prince Page 71: Things are grim.

2011-07-29T08:51:00.001-07:00

Click on the image to see the whole page.

Rugg's "Rampage"!

2011-07-26T12:10:00.000-07:00


"Rampage!" in progress(with assistant!)

OK--if this in-progress photo of Jim Rugg's knock-out double-page centerfold spread for the upcoming pood no.4 doesn't knock your socks off then call a doctor! Get somebody to check your pulse--because, brother you must be gone, GONE from this world! I say-Cold! cold as a stone!
Pood no.4 in July Previews! JUL110903 F POOD #4(MR).) Featuring Jim Rugg's 2-page centerfold MASTERPIECE--"RAMPAGE"! CALL YOUR RETAILER! ORDER TODAY--before they're all gone!

Fantastic Life Arrived

2011-07-25T19:53:00.000-07:00

42 big heavy boxes of Fantastic Life arrived today from the printer in Quebec while I was at work, so my stalwart wife had to load 'em into the basement (see below) with the help of some chivalrous neighborhood boys.

Moon Prince Page 70: Space ain't such a bad place to die...

2011-07-22T10:43:00.000-07:00

This week: Mad Billy spills a bunch of beans. Click on the image to see the whole page.

Moon Prince Page 69: What they were up to....

2011-07-15T08:34:00.001-07:00

Click the picture to see the whole page.

By the way, I think I drew that guy in the purple shirt to look a bit like Joe Lieberman.

Moon Prince page 68: An audience with the Queen!

2011-07-08T09:31:00.000-07:00

The whole story (so far) is here.

Pood no.4: the un-DC!

2011-07-04T21:17:00.000-07:00

Hello!
Tired of all the noise about DC's re-launch and the machinations of multi-million dollar media empires? Looking for an indie-alt alternative to
endless re-boots of corporate media properties?
Look no further, POOD is the answer!
Pood no. 4 is definitely not DC and definitely not part of the relaunch of 52 different magazines in September--
but it is in the July Previews! (page 246 under the BIG IF COMICS imprint, order code: JUL110903 F POOD #4(MR).)

Pood is not audience -tested, created by committee comics, it is not part of a grand strategy to dominate all media, it will not generate blockbuster hollywood movies, video-games or multi-media tie-ins; pood will not be licensed to produce pood products or pood merchandise-pood toothpaste or pood soap or pood beach towels--but-----it is some of the most exciting independent creators around doing what they do best--COMICS--on a BIG Canvas!
SO--if you just want comics, big comics, newspaper comics, BIG-like they were when the Sunday comics were great; if you want to support challenging, entertaining alternatives to the industrialized product of the major corporations, then we offer you pood no.4--comics from the heart, comics that need to be!

here are some details:

Pood no.4 has a number exciting new faces added to the mix!

For example:

the esteemed Eisner -winner Nick Abadzis,

"Henry and Glenn Forever"'s Tom Neely

and most recently, the dynamic Avi Spivak.

Eisner nominee Jim Rugg has something in special in mind for pood no.4.--special enough that he's got the entire centerfold to work it out on!

and -pood 4 continues to feature the work of some of comicdom's brightest lights!

creators such as:

Hans Rickheit

Andres Vera Martinez

Ines Estrada

Tobias Tak

J.T. Dockery

Adam McGovern

Paolo Leandri

Kevin Mutch

Geoff Grogan

and-- an additional treat: The legendary Mr. JOE STATON--he of the beloved E-Man, Scooby-Doo, Green Lantern and now one half of the heralded team in charge of revitalizing the legendary-DICK TRACY--- will be joining the pood crew for issue no. 4 of the world's biggest comics newspaper!

Pood no. 4 can be ordered in the July issue of Previews; page 246 under the BIG IF COMICS imprint,

order code: JUL110903 F POOD #4(MR).

July's Previews is available at your local comic shop now!!

Moon Prince page 67: A voice in the dark!

2011-07-01T09:01:00.000-07:00

The whole story (so far) is here.

OM3!!

2011-06-29T08:50:00.000-07:00

As Pood the Fourth prepares for takeoff, the sound and fury of pood 3 has not yet perished from the earth, as per this testament from Trav S.D., showing that pood is thicker than printers' ink in his latest Trav-a-ganza HERE -- Winsor McCay is bouncing up and down in his bier and association should be free!!

Moon Prince page 66: It gets even scarier!

2011-06-24T08:24:00.001-07:00

The whole story (so far) is here.

BIG BIG BIG pood News!!! Comics great Joe Staton in Pood no. 4!

2011-06-19T15:28:00.000-07:00

Hey There Poodsters!This is without a doubt, the biggest, most spectacular PoodNews yet! The legendary Mr. JOE STATON--he of the beloved E-Man, Scooby-Doo, Green Lantern and now one half of the heralded team in charge of revitalizing the legendary-DICK TRACY--- will be joining the pood crew for issue no. 4 of the world's biggest comics newspaper!
Kevin and I are both big, big fanboys when it comes to the great, great E-Man-- one of the most original and entertaining creations of the bronze age of comics-so we couldn't be more thrilled to welcome Joe aboard. We can't wait to see what he's cooking up for this ish!(my own early-90's comic hero, Dr. Speck, is in no small way indebted to the work of Joe and partner Nick Cuti on E-Man, so this is a big thrill for me, believe me!)
So--the details:
Pood no. 4 can be ordered in the July issue of Previews; page 246 under the BIG IF COMICS imprint, order code: JUL110903 F POOD #4(MR).
July's Previews is available at your local comic shop on June 29th!
(*** retailers--be sure to check out the incentive offer!)

Pood no.4 is shaping up to be our biggest, most spectacular issue yet--with some exciting new faces added to the mix! For example:
the esteemed Eisner -winner Nick Abadzis,

"Henry and Glenn Forever"'s Tom Neely

order Tom's newest graphic novel; "The Wolf" here

and most recently, the dynamic Avi Spivak.

but WAIT!!!
that's not all!

Eisner nominee Jim Rugg had told us he has something truly astounding planned for this ish--SO astounding in fact, that we've given him the entirety of the double-page centerfold to work his magic upon!
And finally-last but not least
-pood 4 continues to feature the work of some of comicdom's brightest lights!
creators such as:

Hans Rickheit
Andres Vera Martinez
Ines Estrada
Tobias Tak
J.T. Dockery
Adam McGovern
Paolo Leandri
Kevin Mutch
& yours truly, GG

So what's the next step? What do you need to do to make your life complete?
ORDER POOD NO.4 from the JULY "PREVIEWS"--out on June 29th!
Go directly to PAGE 246, BIG IF COMICS--look for the image at the top of this blog entry--and write in the order number: JUL110903 F POOD #4(MR)

stay tuned! We'll keep you posted with the latest, greatest pood no.4 news! This one's got it all!

Moon Prince page 65: Far from home!

2011-06-17T10:05:00.000-07:00

The whole story (so far) is here.

Moon Prince page 64: Kitiko's new prize!

2011-06-10T12:24:00.000-07:00

The whole story (so far) is here.

Moon Prince page 63: Check his pulse!

2011-06-03T10:12:00.000-07:00

The whole story (so far) is here.

Moon Prince page 62: Clear to Poughkeepsie!

2011-05-27T08:43:00.000-07:00

The whole story (so far) is here.

Moon Prince page 61: Hold your fire!

2011-05-20T09:36:00.000-07:00

The whole story (so far) is here.

Moon Prince page 60: A time to run!

2011-05-13T09:49:00.000-07:00

The whole story (so far) is here.

Moon Prince page 59: Bloodshed!

2011-05-06T14:08:00.001-07:00

The whole story (so far) is here.

Fantastic Life in Best American Comics 2011

2011-05-03T12:57:00.000-07:00

I'm very, very happy to say that a 16 page color excerpt from Fantastic Life will be included in Best American Comics 2011. It's especially nice that the guest editor this year is Alison Bechdel, as I'm a huge fan of her graphic memoir Fun Home.

Kevin Mutch

Moon Prince page 58: Molly wakes up from a bad dream to a bad dream.

2011-04-29T09:26:00.000-07:00

The whole story (so far) is here.

The Number One Song in Hyperspace

2011-04-23T08:47:00.001-07:00

Caught the newest band I’ve always loved last night at Supermajor’s Crash Mansion gig. Catchy yet seldom captured satellite-transistor classics from phantom beach speakers in the endless summer of love. Drummer Brian Bair, guitarist Michael Katz and bassist Patrick Malone have, it should be noted, the funk, and are not keeping it to themselves; Sarah Engelke’s keyboards are a wellspring of sonic seasons and her and singer Brooke Tarnoff’s rave-of-the-Valkyries vocals another groovy world; Jennifer Harder’s trumpet is a singularity of colliding pop/prodigy euphoria and leading man Adam Swiderski remixes the Olympian exuberance and suicide-pact sincerity that mark the true pop star and, even more rarely, make pop feel like the truth. Come see ’em at the same place May 20, the night before the fundamentalist apocalypse, when we’ll be all that’s left. This is what I never grew up for!

Moon Prince page 57: Wide awake!

2011-04-22T09:17:00.000-07:00

The whole story (so far) is here.

Moon Prince page 56: Familiar What?

2011-04-15T09:27:00.000-07:00

The whole story (so far) is here.

Moon Prince page 55: Class Struggle!

2011-04-08T09:25:00.000-07:00

The whole story (so far) is here.

pood #3 debuts at MOCCA

2011-04-07T07:49:00.000-07:00

Hey gang!
We're bringing pood back to NYC! That's right! -you heard it here first--pood invades
MOCCA-- on Saturday and Sunday, April 9 & 10--THIS WEEKEND! Hang on to your hats-
because we'll be debuting our latest, hottest, most spine-tingling, hilarious, action-packed artsy-fartsy alternative comics love-fest yet--the Mighty POOD no. 3!!!!

We'll be at table H8! Make sure you scope us out--we'll have all three issues of pood available--so if you've missed out on any--NOWZ the time to complete your collection!

Kevin, Alex & I will also be on hand --and we'll have lots
of other goodies available: the first issue of Kevin's
universally acclaimed and already classic webcomic:
The Moon Prince (And if you're not keeping up with this
beautiful piece of comics lit you don't know what you're missing!)--I'll be selling my latest--fandancer-(which you're not likely to find anyplace else) as well as Look Out!Monsters--both at newly reduced prices!
Plus--we'll have a few surprise guest showing up now and again to liven the proceedings and put on a puppet show or two! (?) Well--if you ask politely--we can pretend to be puppets.
And just in case you haven't yet seen it-----here's the video preview for pood #3--just to wet your appetite!

so look for TABLE H8 at MOCCA this Saturday! See you there!

Moon Prince page 53: Highly justifiable paranoia.

2011-04-01T08:39:00.000-07:00

The whole story (so far) is here.

Moon Prince page 53: Muskrats and M'chawis!

2011-03-25T09:08:00.000-07:00

The whole story (so far) is here.

Moon Prince page 52: Mad Billy's cabin.

2011-03-18T08:56:00.000-07:00

The whole story (so far) is here.

oh boy! a brand new Pood Movie-just for you!

2011-03-14T16:54:00.000-07:00

here it is! the video you've all been waiting for! Pood #3 hits the pavement in April, just in time for MoCCA--and here's a little video preview! If you're one of the few who haven't ordered their copy yet--well, what are you waiting for? here's the Previews order code: FEB110807!
There's still time--You can still call your local comics shop, give em the order # and you'll be guaranteed your copy of pood #3! so hop to it! get your pood while there's still pood to get! There's some definite surprises in this ish--so don't miss out! Order today!

Comin' Soon!

2011-03-13T08:34:00.000-07:00

Moon Prince page 51: It's an Honor!

2011-03-11T09:15:00.000-08:00

The whole story (so far) is here.

Moon Prince page 50: Mad Billy

2011-03-04T12:34:00.000-08:00

The whole story (so far) is here.

Five Reasons You Should Help Jason Bell

2011-03-02T12:53:00.001-08:00

1. He’s the co-creator of the underground Caveman Robot empire, a multi-artform real-life crossover event that encompasses comics, costumes, toys, animation, performance & gallery art, movie-options, an offworld-Broadway musical, and, by the time I’m finished typing this, probably a toothpaste and a satellite phone app; he’s also the earthbound crossroads deity through whom everyone in indie comics and fringe theatre from Brooklyn to Chicago knows each other.

2. He carries a dictionary which he opens at random to make phrases out of the tabbed words at the top of each page to re-scramble conscious thought and access the codes of infinity.

3. Feats of strength and endurance: He can remain on stilts for an entire hobo-cabaret cotillion and has benchpressed two nerds at once (and I think it saved me gazillions in chiropraxis).

4. He called his dad “Morpheus to my Neo”; every time a fanboy avoids a Star Wars reference a daisy blooms in heaven.

5. His apartment, where he houses his old Pa and a brother, was trashed by a fire which made it unlivable, destroyed much of his stuff and killed a kitten -- most of his art and all of his human family is safe, but he needs domestic aide and his site (http://www.tetragrammatron.com) is full of art you can buy (on which his gallerist is waving the commission!), unique tchatchkes you can purchase (unicorn turds! Alternative dolls!), and stock you can buy in the Friends of Bell fanclub (you can find him on Facebook too [Jason Robert Bell to be exact]; Friend him and check for updates and events). We can’t do squat for Dwayne McDuffie but this is an investment in pop and comics’ future!

28 covers: the album

2011-03-01T08:53:00.000-08:00

I've put the cover versions out as an album, like John Lennon's "Rock'n'Roll"! -so if you're so inclined, please check it out and share with your friends: "covered" album
(or check it out at facebook)

meanwhile, here's a few images from the past month, enjoy!

Copying from the Masters; Crossing the Finish Line!

2011-02-28T05:32:00.000-08:00

Hey There! My month-long blog-a-thon featuring "cover" versions of all-time great comic book covers
comes to a close today! Check it out at:
Pulp Ink!

Three Funerals and a Reality

2011-02-26T21:50:00.000-08:00

The death of Dwayne McDuffie cast a shadow over the whole comics industry -- while shining a renewed light on the possibilities for the artform that he showed. The next day three funeral-themed issues of major mainstream comics happened to come out, some of which fulfilled those possibilities.

The most high-profile was Fantastic Four #588. This is one of Marvel’s best books by its most important writer, and the death (for now) of Johnny Storm was handled in a monumentally moving way last issue. I can’t wait for Jonathan Hickman’s new “FF” book, and maybe he can’t either, because this final “mourning” issue often felt like something to get out of the way; some moments were very touching and there were others where I couldn’t fight off a mental image of Garth Ennis laughing his ass off. Superhero deaths are a ritual that, in the typical sense of that word, happens again and again, and before blasting into the next adventure the Fantastic Four creative team didn’t quite know how to stop.

With much less fanfare but more weight Issue #169 of Erik Larsen’s Savage Dragon was observing the death of its sole title character (but still moving on), through the Dragon’s teenage kids conveying the mixed emotions and honest bitterness that losing a parent early brings on. Dragon is a rare real-time superhero series where you can’t go back, and that’s as good a formula as we’ve got for going forward.

Taking fantasy closer to the world we know was Amazing Spider-Man #655, detailing the death of an everyday person, Marla Jameson, as a casualty of the superbeings’ endless warfare. Marcos Martin’s crisp yet surreal compositions and writer Dan Slott’s imagination and human touch conveyed the distorted senses and toxic thoughts of a loss you feel responsible for, creating an unqualified and stunning work of art. Slott is the funniest man in comics when he wants to be, which he rightly didn’t here, but like all real jesters, he sees straight to the truth.

The story must go on, but for its absent players to have meant anything, it’s proper that a change is made.

Moon Prince page 49: Scary Noises.

2011-02-25T09:16:00.000-08:00

The whole story (so far) is here.

Waist deep in the Big Muddy: Copying from the Masters; Week 3

2011-02-23T04:45:00.000-08:00

forgot to tell ya': Week 3 of Copying the Masters began yesterday over at Pulp Ink! It's down to the wire and I'm working feverishly away with my markers and my sketchbook to make 5 MORE COVERS before the months end! To realize my goal of 28 covers for 28 days in February! Why? Who the hell knows? Seems like a studpid idea to me--but I'm committed to it! And it won't be the first(or last) stupid idea someone has committed great energy and great resources to!(You should my bill for prismacolors!)
AGH!-hunkered over the kitchen table-Not eating---not drinking- not speaking--just ...marking! Markers running dry--sketchbook running out of paper---looks like the odds are stacked against me!
But I won't let you down--all 5 of you --who keep checking back every day.(Or maybe those are just my own page views?)
So-head on over to Pulp Ink--and see what all this fuss---at least my fuss--is about!

Moon Prince page 48: A distant light.

2011-02-18T09:06:00.000-08:00

The whole story (so far) is here.

Publish Post

Copying from the Masters; Week 2

2011-02-15T06:59:00.000-08:00

Week 2 of my month-long "covered" marathon continues at Pulp Ink with a bit of romance in honor of St. Valentine!

13 days left! I'm feeling it in the arm, the prismacolors are beginning to run dry--I'm running out of comics! Is the tide beginning to turn? Are the odds stacked against me?
I'm beginning to wonder...

Moon Prince page 47: Things start getting fishy.

2011-02-11T08:54:00.000-08:00

The whole story (so far) is here.

Third Time’s the POOD!

2011-02-10T07:59:00.000-08:00

Don’t touch that back-button, pood #3 is hurtling toward Earth and landing on your fave comic store April 20! Give your local comic-agent these free secret passwords:

pood # 3

Big If Comics

Diamond item code: FEB110807

(Page 246 of the catalog, Page 17 of the order form)

...and it will help guarantee that North America gets its supply of surreal elliptical adventure and gag humor for generations to come! (sample sneak-peek from Paolo Leandri’s drawingboard above.) Order THIS MONTH and tell your friends, Friends, foes and even-strangers!!

Copying from the Masters: Week 1

2011-02-06T21:43:00.000-08:00

Hey Gang--just for shits & giggles: week one of my marathon "covered" session is complete & I'm finishing up with a Frazetta-style bang!! So head on over to Pulp Ink and check it out for laughs!
6 covers down, and....22!!! to go! Aaagh! & I thought February was the short month! The question is--will I be able to make it? 28 covers? Holy Sh!t, Batman! What have I let myself in for?

Fantastic Life Wins a Xeric

2011-02-04T09:36:00.000-08:00

poodtributor Kevin Mutch just won a Xeric for his graphic novel Fantastic Life!

Moon Prince page 46: Fssss!

2011-02-04T09:31:00.000-08:00

The whole story (so far) is here.

Drawing from the Past

2011-01-31T18:01:00.000-08:00

Please stop by and see my own personal "covered" sketchbook pages--
over on my solo blog: Pulp Ink--every day(Mon-Friday) for the entire month of February!
My first cover:Mike Ploog's "the Monster of Frankenstein No.2.

Moon Prince page 45: An Ironclad!

2011-01-28T09:49:00.000-08:00

The whole story (so far) is here.

Moon Prince page 44: Look Out!!!

2011-01-21T14:11:00.000-08:00

The whole story (so far) is here.

Moon Prince page 43: Biscuits and Speculation...

2011-01-14T09:16:00.000-08:00

The whole story (so far) is here.

Moon Prince page 42: The Getaway!

2011-01-07T09:17:00.000-08:00

The whole story (so far) is here.

Moon Prince page 41: Stay Where You Are!

2010-12-31T08:43:00.000-08:00

The whole story (so far) is here.

pood 2: The first reaction is in!

2010-12-23T10:05:00.000-08:00

Truly, Pood is the only blotter acid you will ever need, and best of all, the hallucinations stop when you put the newspaper down (which is more than you can say of The New York Times).

Trav S. D.

Read the full post here.

Moon Prince page 40: An object appears in the gloom.

2010-12-23T09:42:00.000-08:00

The whole story (so far) is here.

Happy Christmas

2010-12-22T02:23:00.000-08:00

Happy Christmas and a happy New Year to all my fellow Poodsters!

Happy Holidays from the Guv!

2010-12-21T10:48:00.001-08:00

more late night pood #2 talk

2010-12-18T19:49:00.000-08:00

The king of late night talk gets deep into pood with everyone's favorite ex-Alaskan Governor!

Moon Prince page 39: The Map!

2010-12-17T09:56:00.000-08:00

The whole story (so far) is here.

Moon Prince page 38: Kitiko does something unexpected. Also, the fire spreads.

2010-12-10T08:36:00.000-08:00

The whole story (so far) is here.