I don't know if everyone here's already heard about this, but many people are finding the idea of this land being destroyed highly alarming and are collectively hoping that Sayama Forest, the one Hayao Miyazaki based My Neighbor Totoro's forest off of, can be saved from encroaching urban development. I'm amazed I'm only just now hearing of this issue, but happily many people are already involved and doing what they can to help preserve it. Please take a look at the links.

Sometimes it's hard to wrap your mind around large numbers, especially when it represents people. Like the 68,516 toll of official dead from the China earthquake as of this morning. Then someone comes along and gives us a glimpse into their crisis as they see it, and the personal stories that the rest of the world are only receiving a filtered version of, if any at all.

Coco Wang is from Beijing and has started telling some of the stories being heard on China news stations, amazing and heart-wrenching accounts of real people in the aftermath of this devastating disaster in comic form.

The intro is here, and the comics are here.

Thanks to Jamie S. Rich for the link from his site, which is linked from yet another...

All right... my first attempt wasn't a disaster, so there's a Monkeyboy page up that appeared as the illo in the inside front cover of Lovecats on 11x17" bristol. I'm still not breaking up the book itself, but this is up for grabs if anyone wants it.
Monkeyboy illustration from Lovecats here.
I'm sorting through a ton of art, there should be more pieces up soon. I don't want to pummel you guys with posts about eBay or anything, so I'll try to lump them together in the future.

... And there's a baby spider floating in front of my screen. Hello, baby spider. Can you move, please?

No? Okay, it's cool. Do your thing.

RIP Rory Root. Always a pleasure to talk to, always supportive, had an amazing store by all accounts (and was my favorite booth to buy from at conventions hands down,) just a totally swell guy. I wish I'd known him better. I seriously cannot fathom not seeing him around anymore.

It's uh, been a while, huh? Last time I posted here was, lessee... Halloween... so it's been a few weeks.

I finally got over my anxiety about selling on eBay and have posted my first item, a pin-up of Bleu Finnegan, so do be kind and take a look, will ya? I'm just testing the waters now. I make it to so few conventions it just makes sense to sell some original art on good ol' eBay. It's kind of weird writing the listing in third person, but whatever.

The listing is HERE.

News: Things are in the works, for reals, honest. Blue Monday: Thieves Like Us and some short stories are right around the corner. There's other exciting things afoot, and I'm happy to be back at my desk drawing and writing like a mad fool. Or something like it.

Another wonderful vintage cartoon for you this year!

Fellow Oni-ite and all-around swell guy Mike Holmes (who drew Ian Shaughnessey's SHENANIGANS) directed and drew the characters for the video featured below.

Is this not awesome? I'm loving every second of it.
Mike says in his blog:
"Most of you will recognize the inspiration for this - Steph (the drummer) even went so far as to contact Paul Fierlinger, the creator of the original "Teeny Little Super Guy" shorts. Not only did he give his blessing, but he also said that the final product brought back a lot of good memories. I just had an awesome time working on this."

RIP Mike Wieringo. I didn't know him, but his art was fantastic, and it's always a horrible thing to lose someone so young, and so suddenly. Take a look at some of his work and you'll see what I mean. What's worse is that by all accounts, everyone who knew him loved him. You can't say that about many people. He was supposed to be a hell of a nice guy. Why, why, why do we always have to lose them so soon? Can't we keep the ones who make this world a better place, who make so many people happy, just a little longer than we usually do?

We've lost Tony Wilson. He passed yesterday. If you don't know who he is, take a few minutes to read up on him, as he was the reason we got to hear such amazing bands as Joy Division, New Order and The Happy Mondays played on the radio, our record players, or likely at all. And now if you'll excuse me I'm going to go listen to his legacy and have a sob.

BBC article: How Tony Wilson changed music

Hey guys, hope life is treating all of you well!

Just wanted to let you know that I started a sketch blog at the suggestion of a good friend o' mine, which you can find here.

Not much is on it now, but I'll have more up soon. Hopefully more diverse/odd stuff than you're used to seeing from me in the future, though what's up now is what you'd expect.

Gather up yon sketchbooks and organize your Sharpies- it's time for SDCC again! This year is going to be literally the biggest yet- 4 day and Saturday passes are sold out, Clive Owen's hot ass is going to be in the convention center, and you can even stop by and say hello to me at the Oni Press booth if you're so inclined.

Here's my signing schedule this year:

THURSDAY
6:00-6:50 Oni Press (booth #1834)

FRIDAY
3-4 @ Scholastic (booth #2806)
4:30-5:50 Oni Press

SATURDAY
12:00-1:20 Oni Press
(Don't forget to hit the Oni panel from 1:30-2:50!)

SUNDAY
1:30-2:50 Oni Press

***If nothing happens during the shipping process to prevent it, there should be Blue Monday posters (11x17) and stickers available for the first time ever! The poster will feature the image of Bleu zoning out on her headphones as seen in the recent reprint of the first trade, and the stickers will be black vinyl with the logo in (you guessed it) glorious blue. And there should be another special goodie available, gods and stamina willing... come by and check them out!

I'm making a Gloriette 80 Materialiser as we speak. We've got all the marbles assembled and live across the street from a church, so the cross is covered as well.

And, hey- look who's making a cameo!

Looney Tunes #150 is out today! I participated in a project that involved not just one or two different artists, but a metric ton of them. For me this was quite exciting, being a huge fan of old Warner Bros cartoons like so many people are. If you flip towards the back, you'll see what I got to do. If you get a chance to check it out or pick it up for a younger sibling or child (or yourself,) please do! I'm sure that between all the artists in the book, you're going to have at least one you love and know well in there drawing a familiar character in their own style. How cool is that?

Also, this weekend I'm going to be in good ol' Massachusetts, signing at THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT in Worcester for FREE COMIC BOOK DAY, and NEW ENGLAND COMICS in Allston Sunday.
We should also be hitting some Roller Derby action on Saturday night, so if you're in the area, be sure to come on down and whoop it up with us!
Here's the fliers:

Ian Shaughnessey and Mike Holmes rock an homage to the great director Billy Wilder in this madcap comedy! Oh yes I did just say 'madcap', what are you going to do about it? Be sure to pick it up, or demand this gem from your local shop if it's been looked over.

Or Ian will beat you with his shillelagh.


And I don't mean a blackthorn cudgel.


Well, in some circles that's what it's referred to. That's the rumor, anyway. ...Nevermind, forget that last bit.



*It's a big day for us, I mean! (Some shops got it today, most will have it next week!)

Written by J. Torres, art by me- I have no idea who did the cover though. I haven't seen it yet.
I guess shops participating in Free Comic Book Day on May 5th will have a special version of the book, and I also have no idea what that one will look like, either. (Granted, I haven't Googled it or anything, I just haven't been paying attention.)

Don't ask me, I just draw stuff.

http://www.paramountcomedy.com/comedy/news/article.aspx?id=904

This is sad news- not just him, but his son, killed by drunk drivers who- surpsise- were treated for minor injuries.

Can't tell you how much an influence Porky's and A Christmas Story was growing up. Both are memorized, both are still watched regularly. Hated to see him directing piles later on like John Hughes had to, but at least he got to do some stuff that actually showed his talent, even if he was forced to just pay the rent later on.

Damn it all.