Finally!

It's been a long time since I posted anything to this blog.  By design, I lead a reasonably dull existence and reading about my failed diets or the latest amusements from my cat bores even me.

But today, I have something significant to talk about.  My cartoon officially started running in my hometown paper this morning and I couldn't be more elated!  You can read the story here.

This has been an interesting journey, from quitting cartoons entirely in 2000 - to 2009 when the bug bit me AGAIN!  In the last four years, I've created 583 new gags, reused some oldies I thought were still relevant and published two books.  What a long strange trip it's been.

My work is being syndicated by Bill Kellogg at Ink Bottle Syndicate.  If you're interested in publishing or reprinting my cartoons, his email address is bill@inkbottlesyndicate.com.  Thank you all for your continued support over the last four years!  It's your loyalty and support that has kept me going.  That and 5000 gallons of coffee.  

The best is yet to come!!!

An interview I did in Dallas with The Fellowship of the Geeks

My Big Mouth

Check out my interview with Tom Racine at Tall Tale Radio!  He makes me sound smart!

Let's celebrate by listening to Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds.

Spread The Word

I have two cartoons on other websites this week.  It always makes me proud when someone enjoys my work enough to share it with their fellow websters.

The first is a guest strip I wrote for the Mighty Monocle.  Mighty Monocle is a webcomic by Darren Rolfe about a flabby American who is a superhero in England.  Dareen is on vacation and asked if I'd write a filler strip for him.  At first, I was reluctant, because I am more comfortable in a single panel format, but I somehow managed to drag the joke out to three.  You can see my awful hand lettering here.

The second is a panel I created earlier this year that Tom Racine of Tall Tale Radio fame, featured on his new website, Geek Papas.  Geek Papas is a podcast focusing on geek culture, and specifically, fatherhood in geek culture.  Check out their websites and enjoy yourself!  Have a great day!

Happy Birthday, Mr. Herriman!

Let's wish a happy birthday to the late, great George Herriman, creator of the magnificent 'Krazy Kat!'

Book Review

Rudy Panucci, a journalist and blogger from my hometown of Charleston, WV has reviewed my book! Please take a gander, folks!

Tuesday Toon-Up: Penguin Cafe

Been a while since I posted and I apologize.  Summer has been a bit hectic and I ignored my blog.  

When I feel down in the dumps, I listen to this song.  Most folks will associate it with the film 'Napolean Dynamite.'  The tune is 'Music For A Found Harmonium.'  It was written by Simon Jeffes, creator of the Penguin Cafe musical ensemble.  There's something about the pace of the melody I find uplifting and it puts me in a good mood.  I hope it does the same for you.  Enjoy!

Happy Birthday, Mr. Watterson!

Today is the birthday of Bill Watterson, the genius behind Calvin & Hobbes.  Let's hope he has 53 more years ahead of him.

Tuesday Toon-Up: Paperback Writer

Well, well, well, I FINALLY finished my book.  Assembling a collection of cartoons was an arduous enough affair, that I must tip my hat to anyone who ever wrote anything longer than a grocery list.  Let's celebrate with the Beatles!  Enjoy!

The Most Famous People Who Never Lived

I found this while cruising news sights.  Quick read about famous people who never existed.  Enjoy!

Tuesday Toon-Up: Sexy Sax!

I used to play the saxophone as a hobby and got a real kick out this.  The mullet and suspenders really take this whole performance to a new level.  If anyone knows more about who this is and his background, I'd love to hear it.  Enjoy!

Interview with Nicole Hollander

Recently, a reader on Face Book commented on how the notes on the refrigerator in my cartoon kitchen told a second joke.  I have to give credit where credit's due, I was inspired by the cat's in Nicole Hollander's classic cartoon, 'Sylvia.'  Here's an interview with Ms. Hollander I found on You Tube.  Enjoy!

Caricature: Gerald Scarfe

Here's a BBC profile of British caricaturist Gerald Scarfe.  Enjoy!

Happy Birthday to Antonio Prohias!

Today is the birthday of Antonio Prohias, creator of Spy vs Spy for Mad magazine!

Here's a short bio.

Happy Birthday to Stephan Pastis!

Let's all wish Stephan Pastis a happy birthday today!  Pastis is the creator of the hysterically funny 'Pearls Before Swine.'  He's equally funny in person, as you'll see in the video I posted below.  Warning, the language is not for kids.

Pick Of The Week: A Year In Waiting

I wish I could remember how I stumbled across this comic.  A Year In Waiting is an illustrated journey about a young woman living in Austin, Texas who was laid off from her graphic design position and took a job waiting tables.

This particular comic really appealed to me since I spent eight years in the bar business.  The author does a great job of conveying the situations, people and frustrations inherant in restaurants.

I couldn't find any bio information as to who she is, etc., so if anyone has the scoop, please let me know.  Sorry the preview image doesn't click through to the opening page.  All I could do was copy a link.

Toon Talk - Hitting The Big Time

Today's nostalgic rambling is significant for me because this cartoon was the first time I felt like I'd hit the big time.  What I mean by the 'big time' is when someone cuts out a toon from the paper and hangs it up.  Refrigerators are the MoMA for cartoonists.

I submerged myself in jazz for a while and had to order a lot of compact discs from a record store on the west end of my hometown.  I'd stopped in to pick up an order that had come in and went to the back office with the owner to pick up my purchase.  Taped to the wall next to the time clock was this cartoon.  He had no idea I was the artist.  He just thought the cartoon was funny enough to save and put up on the wall.

This particular cartoon is also noteworthy, because it was the first time my main characters came to life.  Although they would got through a lot of evolution before I decided on their final appearance, this was where the 'relationship' started.

The curlers in the woman's hair were based on the memory of my older sister.  When she went to junior high school, the style was to roll your hair in discarded cans from frozen orange juice.  While the wife would evolve over time to tighter rollers and simpler slippers, the husband is almost complete in how he looks today.

Pick Of The Week - Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal

This weeks cartoon is Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal, an 'anything goes' strip by Zach Weiner that's about... well... anything.  Partial social commentary and partial autobiography, SMBC isn't afraid to address any issues the creator cares to comment about, so readers offended by foul language or an iconoclastic point of view - you've been forwarned.  

SMBC is one of the few cartoons on the web that has afforded the creator to make a living strictly as a cartoonist.  Weiner has since returned to college to indulge his love of science.  He's also involved in some animation projects.  I've included a video of Zach being interviewed at C2E2.  Enjoy!

Toon Talk

When I tell someone I draw cartoons, invariably, the question comes up, "Where do you get your ideas?"  I thought I'd take Mondays and pull a cartoon from my archive and give you an idea as to how I came up with it.

Today's cartoon is based on an old vaudeville joke.  The gag went like this:

Did you hear about the man with five penises?

His pants fit like a glove.

I always thought this joke was funny, but I knew it wasn't appropriate for a newspaper.  The 'fit like a glove' line gave me a snapshot in my head and I drew the cartoon around the suit actually being a glove.  By the way, the tailor in the drawing is an old friend of mine.  I used him over and over in various forms until I came up with the Funday family I use today.  Where the name, Mr. Abernathy, came from, I have no clue.

Pick Of The Week - Bizarro

Dan Piraro has been a syndicated cartoonist for 25 years.  His career spans the golden years of the late 80s and 90s into the interactive world of webcomics.

Besides drawing cartoons, Piraro is also an accomplished painter, stand up comic and animal rights activist.  I saw his presentation at Ohio State University last October and he is quite funny in person.  Besides drawing one of the most inspiring panels in newspapers, he also writes a hysterical blog.  Enjoy!