Making Happy Things Creepier

Before I begin, you need to read the two page, color story from my latest Halo and Sprocket book. If you don't own Natural Creatures, shame on you. You can read it below, nonetheless...












When I first created the last page, I created a standard Happy Face and added scanned-in human flesh to it. My reaction was just a, "Aw, it looks like happy orange. It's not creepy enough."

So, I decided to add real teeth and a few blackheads. "Better," I thought, "But I can still tolerate looking at it..."

Next I added more zits, more realistic eyes, and floated his head. My family and friends couldn't stand to look at it. Finally! I was done.

...SHINEY....

I got my Bronze Captain America this week. It's very cool.

But then what character wouldn't be cool in bronze?

Oh. Silver Surfer.

Me and Groo

I attended the MO-KAN Comic Conspiracy this weekend. I enjoyed it. The guest list included all the artists involved in creating Groo comics! I sat directly across the aisle from Sergio Aragones and visited with him a bit to tell him that MAD magazine helped form my personality. (He and Al Jaffee were my absolute favorites.)

I've always been a Groo fan. I had a letter printed in issue #88, from 1992. I brought the book to the con and it was signed very graciously by everyone-- Sergio Aragones (storyteller/artist), Mark Evanier (wordsmith) , Stan Sakai (letterer, and Usagi Yojimbo creator!), and Tom Luth (colorist). Great and friendly guys, everyone.

Problem solved.

Have you ever read the last page of Dr. Seuss' I Had Trouble in getting to Solla Sollew?

Why doesn't anyone write children books like this anymore?

Envelope Art

Many years ago, when I first mailed Halo and Sprocket as a comic book submission to SLG Publishing, I decided to try to convince the editors to open it sooner by adding art to the envelope. This is what I pasted on it...

SLG, of course, picked it up as a short-run series. Later, Publisher Dan Vado told me that the image did influenced him to open the envelope sooner. It wasn't the art or joke that did it however, it was the fact that I'd actually checked their website before submitting..!

Captain Food Storage

Right after I received my Economic Stimulus Check, I decided to spurge a little and ordered a Faux Bronze Captain America statue. It's the most money I've ever spent on a single item like this, but it looks sooooo cool. (I own several Bowen Designs mini-busts, also cool.) I haven't gotten it yet. I will soon, hopefully.

I have a friend, who after losing his job, continued to buy things like this. A thought occurred to me. These kind of collectibles should be made from compressed rice, or such!

It would help justify buying them. If times ever got tough, you could eat them.