Andertoons Cartoon Blog

FWOOSHSH SPLOSH GALOOOM FSSSH

Ran across The Don Martin Dictionary a while ago, and with the Mad's Greatest Artists: The Completely Mad Don Martin on the way, I'm glad to have such a comprehensive resource at my command.

Plus it's a heck of a lot of fun!

Some examples:

• "SHKLIZORTCH" - Water Squirting Out Of A Telephone Handset - MAD #231, June 1982, Page 31
• "TOOMP, FWOP, FWIFFFFFF" - Car Hitting Inflated Man,Who Bounces Into The Air Continuing To Inflate - MAD #255 June 1985 Page 27
• "FURSHGLURK" - Yecch Monster Dropping Into Giant Toilet - MAD #164, Jan 1974, Page 32

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Happiness Is Not Drawing Motorcycles

Being a cartoonist means the occasional artwork for friends or family.

Here's a weekend project for a buddy who's an adventure motorcyclist. It's for a decal:

All in all it turned out pretty OK for a non-gearhead like me, but it actually made me look forward to drawing horses.

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2007 Reubens

Congrats to all the winners!

Now some thoughts:

• Bill Amend (Cartoonist of the Year) - Totally deserved it and then some. In a world of so-so stripping, Foxtrot has always been top notch.
• Tom Richmond (Advertising Illustration) - The guy wows me in every respect: art, blogging, Batsuits, and the fact that he could break me in half.
• Drew Dernavich (Gag Cartoons) - It was an impressive group this year. Were I Drew I'd still be dancing a jig.
• Carla Ventresca (Greeting Cards) - As I get more and more into cards, I see more and more Carla. And now this... I'm going to sob quietly in the fetal position for a while.
• Hilary Price (Newspaper Panels) - Hooray, hooray, HOORAY to one of the best cartoonists in the biz!

Additional thoughts:

On the NCS site "...the winners of the NCS Division Awards are boldfaced"

They added an asterisk to help out, but it still took me leaning way into my largish monitor to read the winners. How 'bout a bigger font and or/italics?

(OK, this isn't Reubens related, but it's on the news page. Will somebody please replace this pixelated scrawl?!)

Also, if someone doesn't post some new video of someone else winning the Reuben, I'm going to scream. Nothing against the Greg Evans vid, but it's four years old; it needs some company.

And the Silver T-Square – I'm not going to comment on whether or not the McGarry boys deserve the award, but I will say that giving it to the children of a recent NCS president might appear inappropriate.

All this being said, I do sorta miss having gone this year. Carousing with Lynch, hobnobbing with gobs of cartoonists, cumberbunds... Maybe next year.

Technorati Tags: andertoons, cartooning, cartoonists, cartoons

Face It Tiger, You Need A Life

Apparently there's been quite a bit of press regarding this:

It's some sort of limited statue thingy that fanboy collectors get nerd-ons over.

This from Fox "News":

Spider-Man is one lucky guy.

His girlfriend Mary Jane does his laundry, has a lot of cleavage and wears a cute little pink thong that sticks out of her jeans. At least that's the image one comic-book illustrator portrays in a new collectable statue that has the comic blogosphere up in arms.

Sideshow Collectibles' Mary Jane Comiquette is more than 14 inches of buxom Mary Jane. But the sight of Spidey's gal spilling out of her clothes over a load of super wash has some calling the $125 collectable a sexist piece of trash.

"The statue represents a big step backwards for those concerned about the state and future of comic books," said blogger Sleestak, under a May 11 posting titled "Mary Jane, the Other White Meat."

Illustrator Adam Hughes created the limited edition statue, described as "Mary Jane discover[ing] that her superhero husband has slipped some of his laundry into the mix, but she's not looking too displeased about Peter's naughty little transgression."

So here's what I can get from this. People are mad because:

1. MJ is bent over and showing cleavage
2. She's doing Peter's laundry

GASP!

I don't mean to shock anyone, but check out a Cosmo next time you're buying milk. It's chock full of boobs.

And suggesting a spouse might wash clothes in addition to his/her own? Well that's just awful. (Note to self - from now now my wife rinses her own damn dishes!)

Honestly people, this is barely interesting, and it's surely not news. It's a pin-up paperweight that appeals to comic book guys. Get over it.

That being said, here's some more gratuitous pics:

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Cartoon in Forbes

Hey, I'm in the new Forbes! Check it out!

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Spot the Frog Blog Moved

I'm not exactly sure when cartoon compatriot Mark Heath moved his blog over to squarespace, but I just recently found it again and got caught up.

Recent Faves -

• I love magic, and especially listening to magicians discuss their craft, and this clip of Teller is a ton of fun!
• The Spot the Frog theme!

Technorati Tags: blogs, cartooning, cartoonists, cartoons

Heroes Finale - Commercial Break Live Review

8:06 - First Commercial - It's nice to see some of the pilot footage again, and it was nicely put together with recent footage. The little girl with Parkman and the others seems like an odd late addition to the season, I'm hoping she pays off. And, yeah, why didn't what's-his-name allow the bullet to phase?!

8:15 - Second Commercial - Will someone explode already?! And I was sure that Nathan in the parking garage with Sylar for a minute there. Also, I like the Peter character, but the actor is starting to get on my nerves. So earnest – all the freakin' time! Maybe one of his powers should be to lighten up a little. And where's all the cheerleader outfits?!

8:26 - Third Commercial - So the little girl sees "next season's even worst villain" people? The old black guy is a nice look back, and I was all ready to dismiss the scene as convoluted back story until the "I know you're there, Peter" thing. That was nice. Note to Peter - get a haircut or a scrunchy or something, but get those damn bangs outa your eyes! How you gonna save a world you can't even see?! Yeesh!

8:37 - Fourth Commercial - "What would I want with your brain?!" Hee-hee-hee... Seriously, that was more funny than menacing. Also, enough "boogie man" verbage from the little girl, please! It just smacks of trying too hard. And Hayden, I love ya, but the dramatic monologues might not be your strong suit. But the jumping out the window bit? Very nice!

8:50 - Fifth Commercial - Nice cat-fight opening, but I'm sick to death of Micah and DL. The Hiro/Ando "you look bad ass" line was absolutely fantastic. Those two characters are the complete soul of the show as far as I'm concerned. Looks like the last 10 minutes are gonna be the showdown I've predicted/waited for for half of the season. Bring it on, Kring, and don't disappoint me.

9:01 - Ending - NICE opening lines from both Sylar and Peter. The Hiro killing Sylar thing was kinda of weak; I mean, Sylar's this badass and then he's very slowly taken by surprise? But I'll give them a pass. The Nathan flying off with Peter ending? So-so. And did he need Nathan for that? OK, so Sylar's not dead I guess – ho-hum. I expected better. Liked the "end of volume one" thing, and the Hiro in the past looks fun. Will the second season be any good? We'll see.

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Andertoons Podcast Opening

Since last week was mostly "how sick is Mark?" updates, and, let's face it, my blogging hasn't exactly been stellar lately, I thought I really owed everyone a good one this time around.

I've been considering doing a weekly podcast as of late, and I thought it would probably need some sort of opening sequence. Enjoy:

It's rather heavily inspired by the old "Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom" opening.

The music is all original; well, as original as you can get via Garage Band. The rest was all done in iMovie.

Still no idea whether or not I'll commit to the podcast, but it was fun to stretch some other creative muscles for a bit.

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Now I'm Only Kinda Sick

99.3 last night and this morning. I''m feeling a lot better, but a nap is still in the plans for this afternoon.

More interesting blogs next week.

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I'm Still Sick

The last two days I've run between a 102 and 103 degree fever. Needless to say it's been fairly miserable, but I wanted to thank everyone who's emailed me a get well, advice, or both.

And thanks for being patient while I freeze/boil on my couch for a little while longer...

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