Comic Coverage

Artwork Added

You know, I'm never too comfortable with the self-promotion thing...so I'll just turn this announcement over to Swingin' 70's Stan Lee.  Take it away, Stan!

"Hey, gang!  Swingin' 70's Stan Lee here to tell you Mark just posted some nifty new sidebar buttons that you can click to see some of his tintintabulatin' artwork!  He's got new stuff to show ya' what he's up to these days, and some old stuff that even Irving Forbush would like!  Just focus those eager eyes on the sidebar and you'll see five colorful buttons under the Secret Identity ad (yet another one of my sensational self-promotional suggestions).  So, what are ya waitin' for, True Believers?  Excelsior!"

Thanks, Stan.  I couldn't have said it better myself.   

Never Forget.

Today was supposed to be another "Worst Cover Ever" column, but I just didn't feel up to "bringing the funny" today. 

Granted, a lighthearted comic book blog isn't really the ideal forum for this kind of thing, but at the same time it's the only real forum I have, and I couldn't let the day pass without acknowledging it's importance and poignancy.

I also didn't want to feature some cheesy scene of superheroes standing around wiping tears away.  No offense to those who go for that kind of thing, but I think there comes a time when we need to put aside our imaginary friends for a moment and focus on the stark realities we face...without the rather silly intrusion of capes, costumes and chest logos. The heroes I'd rather think about today wear badges, fire helmets, fatigues or (in the case of United flight #93) Dockers.

So, the silly stuff will return tomorrow....but for today, I choose to remember.

"Yes, we are at a great juncture in American history. We can go to battle, as we did in the past—hard, long, without guilt, apology, or respite, until our enemies are no more. It was our fathers who passed on to us that credo and with it all that we hold dear. And so just as they once did, we too must confront and annihilate these killers and the governments that have protected and encouraged them. Only that way can we honor and avenge our dead and keep faith that they have not died in vain. Only with evil confronted and crushed can we ensure that our children might still some day live, as we once did, in peace and safety."

—Victor Davis Hanson (National Review Magazine, October 1, 2001)

"You like me! You really like me!"

Why am I resurrecting that infamous line from Sally Field's dippy Oscar acceptance speech?  Because I just received notification that I've been accepted to the National Cartoonists Society!  I've never been much of a "joiner", but I've recently taken a renewed interest in my craft as a cartoonist and the NCS was something that all of a sudden popped onto my "radar screen"....and I decided to apply. 

What's the National Cartoonists Society?  Here, I'll let the info on their website fill you in:

The National Cartoonists Society is the world's largest and most prestigious organization of professional cartoonists.

The NCS was born in 1946 when groups of cartoonists got together to entertain the troops. They found that they enjoyed each other's company and decided to get together on a regular basis.

Today, the NCS membership roster includes over 500 of the world's major cartoonists, working in many branches of the profession, including newspaper comic strips and panels, comic books, editorial cartoons, animation, gag cartoons, greeting cards, advertising, magazine and book illustration and more.

Membership is limited to established professional cartoonists, with a few exceptions of outstanding persons in affiliated fields. The NCS is not a guild or union, although we have joined forces from time to time to fight for member's rights, and we regularly use our talents to help worthwhile causes.

I started the application process in late August by sending in some forms, a personal bio and a stack of art samples.  Just over a month later, after a unanimous approval by the membership committee, I received my official notification by mail yesterday (in fact, the NCS logo above is scanned directly off of their stationery).

Needless to say, it's a high honor for me to be accepted into such a proud organization.  I look forward to the times in the coming years when I can "confer, converse, and otherwise hob-nob with my brother wizards" (to quote my favorite Wizard).

Seriously, to all of my fellow cartoonists (both present and past):  Thank you, and it's great to be here.

Election Day

I've always had a thing for clash covers.  You know, those covers with two opposing characters or teams hurtling toward each other at top speed, ready to smash the living daylights out of the opposing force barreling toward them.

In other words, the perfect imagery for Election Day in the United States.  Enjoy.

Oh, and in case you haven't gotten the memo yet, GO VOTE!*

(*only if you're of legal voting age, an American citizen and not dead)

Ouch.

Words escape me, so I'll let the cover of Captain America #230 convey the effect of last night's political shellacking on all of us hapless Republicans.

Give Ye Thanks!

Despite the frenzy of food, family and football, Thanksgiving Day remains a time for personal reflection, as all our many blessings come to mind.  In fact, a somewhat corny (yet oddly gratifying) tradition of my family is for each person seated at the table to share whatever he or she is thankful for.

In the spirit of that tradition, and with Thanksgiving 2006 only days away, I'd like to share what I'm thankful for, using classic comic book covers to drive home the point...or, more accurately, the counterpoint.  In other words, what better way to appreciate the many blessings we enjoy than to see the absence of those blessings in the calamitous world of comic book superheroes?

For instance,  I'm thankful for the gift of a loving family....

...and loyal friends.

A good job...

...and a roof over my head.

I'm especially thankful for a healthy body...

...and healthy children as well.

Thanksgiving Day brings to mind
the blessing of abundant food...

....and, most of all, our freedom.

God bless you all, and have a Happy (and Safe) Thanksgiving!

...and be sure to save me a piece of pumpkin pie.

Always Read the Fine Print

* Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of other cultures that have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere. Also, this wish is made without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishee.

By accepting this greeting, you are accepting the aforementioned terms as stated. This greeting is not subject to clarification or withdrawal. It is freely transferable with no alteration to the original greeting. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for herself/himself/others, and is void where prohibited by law and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wisher. This wish is warranted to perform as expected within the usual application of good tidings for a period of one year or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first, and warranty is limited to replacement of this wish or issuance of a new wish at the sole discretion of the wisher.

Have a happy and safe....whatever! 

See you next week!

30 Second Recap: The Death of Gwen Stacy!

Chris Sims, proprietor of the hilarious Invincible Super-Blog, has thrown down the 30 Second Recap challenge, in which a noted comic book story is summarized using only a few panels and super-fast drawing.  Since I'm a professional cartoonist, I tried to go as fast as I could without putzing over the details...while still trying to make it look like a sucky drawing.  My entry for the 30 Second Recap goes back a ways to the classic early-70's shocker The Death of Gwen Stacy, one of the most dramatic comic book stories I've ever read (or ever expect to read).   Click on the thumbnail image of the recap for a full-size view.

I'll have to admit, there's something charming about knocking a story down to its barest essentials....even a dark storyline like this one.  Enjoy! 

P.S.:  Hey Chris...do I get extra credit for that kick to the face in panel seven?

Spider-Man Meets...Burgess Meredith?

Courtesy of the awesome Frederator site, someone spotted a pretty amazing cameo on an old episode of Naked City.  No, it's not what you're thinking (perverts).  Naked City was a popular police drama of the late 50's and early 60's (sort of the Hill Street Blues of its day).

Anyway, so the guy's watching the episode and something on a newsstand in the background jumps out at him.  Check out the screen-grab:

(click on the image for a larger view):

That's not only a Spider-Man comic book displayed behind the actors, but the very first appearance of Spider-Man in Amazing Fantasy #15 (1962), hanging there as casually as any other comic book on the stand.

Here's another shot of it nestled behind the reliably sweaty and overwrought Burgess Meredith:

But wait....there's more!.  Take another look at the shot of the two actors, then look just to the right of Amazing Fantasy #15.  Sharp-eyed fans of Silver Age Marvel Comics will recognize the cover to Journey Into Mystery #83, featuring the first appearance of The Mighty Thor!

I'm sure none of the cast and crew of Naked City would have ever guessed a 24¢ purchase of both titles would net them well over $100,000 in today's collector's market.  Maybe that's why Burgess Meredith was sweating so profusely.  He somehow knew he was in the presence of comic book history!

Click here for the original Frederator post.

Still Got the Blues?

Just a reminder that today is the last day to submit entries for this week's Blue Monday contest (click here for all the details).  The winner receives a free Super Powers T-shirt from my Secret Identity shop.

I've gotten a surprising number of entries, but there are still plenty of names nobody's been able to figure out...so the field's wide open for someone willing to do a little internet sleuthing to figure out the tougher ones.  Hey, what did you expect....a cakewalk?

I will be announcing the winner tomorrow, January 26th at 9:00 AM (central time), but entries should be sent in no later than midnight tonight.

Good luck!

UPDATE: I think we have a winner!  Reviewing my original post for the Blue Monday contest, I said the winner would either be the contestant with the most names correct, or the first person to get all of them correct. 

Well, believe it or not, someone just nailed every single name!  Even the really hard ones!

I'll be preparing my "Awarding of the Shirt Ceremony" post later this evening, but I guess at this point I'll declare the contest over.  Thanks to everyone who submitted their guesses, and I hope you had fun playing.  Stay tuned for the winner and, of course, the correct names to our blue-themed heroes.