Another Monkey Mod Screen Shot...

I'm just over a third of the way finished with this cartoon & its moving forward at a fairly decent pace.

Monkey Mod webcomic

The launch of the Monkey Mod webcomic is getting closer. Its still about two months away, but closer none the less. Most likely it will begin updating soon after Christmas. In the meantime, I thought I'd share the first splash page from the new storyline. The text takes a cue from the cartoon theme songs of my youth where the gist of the show would be explained in an exciting and succinct manner. Before the launch, I'm going to finish the cartoon intro and the remaining pages of the new story. Thanks to everyone who has expressed interest in this project. I can't wait for you to see it! I hope this page will wet your appetite until then...

Monster Cereals

Ever since Jerzy Drozd, Shawn Robare, and I recorded our Halloween episode of the Saturday Supercast, I've had an inkling to do an illustration of my own versions of some of the icons from the Monster Cereals. Here they are...

A couple of sweet Monster Cereal commercials from days gone by...

"The World's Worst Assassin" Mini-Comic Cover

"The World's Worst Assassin"

Above, I've posted the art for the first two pages of my new mini-comic, "The World's Worst Assassin", without the lettering. You'll have to see the finished comic to read it later. I think (or at least hope...) that I have been successful in conveying the gist of the story with the images. This is something I think about when I'm creating my comics & believe that it is an important consideration to keep in mind in comic book storytelling creation.

The concept for this comic has been kicking around in my head since way before I started working on Monkey Mod. The problem with the initial concept was that I had no story to go with it. So, for almost a year, "The World's Worst Assassin" has just been a string of words I wrote down in my sketchbook. Until, like a cliche bolt of lightning, the story hit me just as I was about to fall asleep. Within a 36 hour period of writing the story, the two pages I'm sharing here were completed. I'm hoping to have this comic available for sale at APE 2009. But, since I leave for the convention in about a week, this is going to be quite a task considering all the other pressing commitments on my plate at the moment.

In closing, I want to make a point. So many artists tell me that they want to make comics or a webcomic, but they "just don't have the time". To them, I say this: If you really want to make comics, you will find the time.

Moral: You can do eet!

"Down By The Water" Second Printing

I have recently decided to do a second printing of my mini-comic "Down By The Water". It will be available at APE (Alternative Press Expo) at the Concourse Exhibition Center in San Francisco on October 17th & 18th. I will be at Table #283 with my friend Mark Rudolph. Whatever copies are left over after the convention will be available for purchase on my website.

Second Printing - Front Cover

Second Printing - Back Cover

In this printing, the cover will be printed using my Gocco printer instead of a sticker cover like the first printing. The back cover will also be printed this time. The binding will remain hand-stitched.

First Printing - Front Cover

Hope to see you at APE '09!

Monkey Mod - Pop Art Screen Shots

I've been finding more ways to pay homage to the cartoons I loved as a kid ( and still love, I should add) in this Monkey Mod animated intro I've been working on. After watching a couple of my favorite cartoons like Hanna-Barbera's Frankenstein Jr. & the Impossibles and DePatie-Freleng Enterprises' Return to the Planet of the Apes ( part of the franchise that began my simian fascination), I've been influenced to inject some of the pop art elements used in the intros to these great old shows. After looking at the screen shots I've posted, I encourage you to check out the videos for these other cartoons I've posted below. I'm sure you'll see the influence. Very Mod. Very cool.

Frankenstein Jr. & the Impossibles:


Return to the Planet of the Apes: