Good Brain Janet and Shit Head Boe

Hopefully they will both be coming soon.  Watch for them in a future project of mine.

Another happy birthday to Tex Avery

At any point in Tex's life had he drank some type of perpetual rejuvenation potion that would allow him to live forever, he would be celebrating his 106th birthday today.  One wonders what he'd be creating in today's animation industry with all it's faster computers, CGI animation, and tons of corporate interference.  We can only speculate on that point so there's no dire need to discuss that at any length.
Today I would like to talk about one aspect of Tex's work that I admire.  Any political references in his cartoons seem to be non-partisan.  Many great, if not all great satirists are like that.  It makes it easier for them to see the big picture and thus have a more nuanced point of view.  You know they're not pushing and agenda and when discussing a topic constantly pulling things out of their asses and shaping it to fit their agenda.  There's too many of the later kind of agenda-pushing "satirists" around these days.  In America, most of them end up on either Fox News or its polar opposite (yet comrade in blind myopia) MSNBC.  In Canada we have The Sun.  Other countries have their own versions of these channels of course.  All that cacoaphonic bickering just sounds like bratty kids demanding to have that toy and the other kid to have nothing.

Tonight on the O'Reilly Factor....

If Tex was here today he wouldn't putting up with any of this nonsense.  He certainly didn't in his own lifetime either as evidenced by the screen shots I've provided:

Here's a gag from a cartoon he did at Warner Bros. called Holiday Highlights (c. 1940).  At the time there was a debate about whether Thanksgiving should be moved a week earlier.  Republicans were saying 'yes' and Democrats were saying 'no'.  A global conflict was gaining serious momentum in Europe and the South Pacific region yet this is the issue that congress was debating over.  Whatever.  Regardless, it's obvious that Tex took no political sides with this issue.  The gag here is essentially a ridiculous compromise that condescends to both sides.  It's a similar gag in the next shot too.

This is a gag from Aviation Vacation (c. 1941) also at Warner Bros.  (click on it to enlarge if you have to) This time he's adding two more faces to Mount Rushmore: Wendel Wilkie for the Republicans and Franklyn Roosevelt for the Democrats.  Of course, to coincide with the most recent election, he would have put Barrack Obama and Mitt Romney up there in their place.  Again, Tex is offering an outrageous compromise to over-sized ill-behaved children.

And here's something from one of his MGM cartoons Jerky Turkey (c. 1945).  The cartoon begins with the Pilgrims coming to this new land to create Amreica.  It seems the first order of business when establishing a settlement is to divide "Ye Democrats" and "Ye Republicans", making the statement that America was pretty much founded on this silly conflict.

There are some good non-partisan satirists around today though.  The two most famous and most obvious are of course Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert.  Their target seems to be the incredibly biased reporting done by the networks who push the extreme political ideologies thus tainting all of their news.  But then starting in the early 2000's, when George W. Bush's administration was doing some reprehensible things, then their targets began to include politicians themselves.  I know alot of people see them as "in it for the left" but that's not at all true.  They attack the right wing politicians and pundits for their displays of bat-shit insanity while they attack the left wing politicians and pundits for their inability to cope with the bat-shit insanity of their opponents.

HEY!!  Don't lump us in with all those creeps and weirdoes!!

Oh, sorry!  You're right.  Comparing America's right wing fringe with bat shit is indeed an insult to bat shit.  I apologize.

Well, we do know one political agenda that Tex Avery had, he certainly hated Adolf Hitler (just like anyone with a conscience should).  And so, he quickly joined Charlie Chaplain, The Three Stooges, Spike Jones and several others among the ranks of Hollywood's artists who made films attacking the Third Reich.  So I will end this post with Tex Avery's Oscar Nominated masterpiece The Blitz Wolf.


Tex Avery - Blitz Wolf  ( 1942 ) by Eeden_

Enjoy the show.  And thank you Tex for everything.

Recent life drawing

Here are some life drawings I've done.

For this one I had to take a picture with my camera because it was too big for my scanner.

 Life drawing is great fun.  It certainly wasn't my strongest subject back at animation school, but nonetheless is fun to practice.  Recently I've been going to this life drawing session held at Plan B 2180 Gottigen St. in downtown Halifax.  It starts at 7:00 pm and goes until about 9.  If you live in the Halifax area and have an interest in drawing then coming here at that time with art supplies ready is a good idea.

Lizzie Borden Took An Ax

That's what this magnum opus is being called.  It makes its debut on the Lifetime Network next Saturday on January 25 at 8pm/7pm Central Time.  If you're not in either of those time zones, you'll have to do that math and find out the time for yourself.  The poster and the trailer is making it look like a campy slasher movie for some odd reason.  After being on that set for more than a few scenes, I can tell you that it is not like that at all.  "What is it then?" you ask.  You'll have to tune in and see for yourself, smart guy.

Last summer, I made a post on this very blog about me being a background extra in it.  Here are some of the costumes I got to wear:

This is what I wore for all of the court room scenes.  I had to do alot of listening kind of actions.  But, every once in a while, I had also had to do some type of gasping and other reflex reactions to the various activities in that courtroom.  Most of the time I was just a face in the crowd.  But I do remember two times where the camera was looking almost right at me.  Once was when Lizzie (Christina Ricci) was conferring with her lawyer and broke down crying at the thought of either going to jail or because I was staring at her back in my efforts to not look directly into the camera lense.  Whatever the motivation, she performed a good cry, even after doing it the 30th time.
The other time the camera was on me, I was behind two ladies commenting on how small and frail Lizzie was.  I know for certain that I was on camera because director Nick Gomez scolded me and the guy beside me and told us to tone down our hammy performances.  For the record, I knew my performance was too much as I was doing it.  But, since the cameras were already rolling, there was nothing I could do but play it out and wait for the director to inevitably call for Take 2 which he did.  So it was all good.
Oh yeah, I also remember that stupid collar digging into my neck.  I think I got a rash from it too.

I wore this ensemble when we shot in Lunenberg.  Here I played the part of a "church-goer".  That's right, kids, I went to church and got paid for it.
It was here that I did a scene inwhich I almost bumped into Christina Ricci and could possibly have ruined the scene.  My part was to be someone who had just left the church with everyone else and was now standing on the sidewalk somewhat behind the entire Borden family while I talked to two other gentlemen about that day's sermon.  After the director yelled "action" I had to tip my hat goodday to those gentlemen and then walk behind the Borden family as they walk off to the left.  But, on one of those takes, either I turned and walked too soon or the Bordens started walking too late.  Either way, when I turned around almost bumped right into all of them.  If I hadn't been paying attention, that whole scene could have turned into a mosh pit.  That might have been fun but I don't think it quite suited the tone the director was trying to achieve.  Oh well, no harm done.
I do also remember a couple of very horny horses that almost caused some chaos too.  I also don't think horse-porn would have suited the movie's motif as well.

I wore this in a few scenes where I was one of a crowd of people outside the Borden household trying to peek inside.  I was also somebody lined up on the side of the street as the coffins of both Mr. and Mrs. Borden travelled passed as well as a despondent Lizzie and Emma Borden.
I think I'm also wearing this in that one big scene where a race of hatchet-shaped aliens lands on the planet with thoughts of world domination.  Then Mr. and Mrs. Borden alone confront the aliens and fight them off in an effort to save all of humanity.  The aliens do fly away in retreat but not before attacking their skulls at least 40 times.

Oh whoops!  I just gave away the surprise "real truth" ending.  DOH!  I had to sign a paper about
not revealing that to anyone too.  Oh well, I guess Nick Gomez will have to make a last minute change before the big broadcast on Saturday.  I'm sure he can do it.  Then we can all find out what great ending he has for us.  It's too bad.  All the fighting off the alien scenes were amazing, even before all the CGI and AfterEffects were added.  Oh well, maybe that will be a included on special DVD or Blueray release or something.

Remember, that's Saturday, January 25, 2014 at 8pm / 7pm Central on the Lifetime Network.  Be there!

It's not my cup of tea

That is what I was told when I tried to sell my comic Censor Monkeys Have No Class to a comic book store here in town.  The proprietor also told me that "he did not think that the book would not be suitable for his customers".  In order to protect the sanity of everyone involved, I will not reveal the name of that establishment.  All I will say is that I'm of course not at all happy his decision but it was his decision to make.  Like a recent review of my book said, you'll either love it or you'll hate it.  he obviously chose the latter. I have to respect his business practices just as much as he has to respect the design and content of my book.
While I do respect that, I also have to point out that those reasons do still seem rather vague and non-committal.  It's as if there was something he wanted to tell me but either didn't or couldn't.  That does make me a little intrigued as to what the real reasons were.  Maybe the current CEO of Marvel Comics was in the back room pointing a gun at the proprietor's head forcing him to reject my book.  I'm pretty sure that's not the first time Marvel has used that tactic.  I think that's how Spawn went out of business.
He did read it all the way through before rendering his decision.  Maybe after a thorough going over he found many holes in the story and/or the satire.  I doubt that because I made sure the entire narrative was solid, but who knows what he managed to spot.
Or, more despicably, he's one of those people who actually sympathizes with any or all of the Censor Monkeys in the book.  If that's the case, well then TO THE MOON with that guy!!

Ugh!  Why does everyone on Earth want to send all their jerks to me??!!

Oh well.  What's done is done.  There's nothing I can do about it now.  All I can do is make sure my dealings with the next comic book store owner go much smoother.

But I can't help wondering if maybe something could have been done.  Was there a way I could have better persuaded him to accept my comic into his store.  If only I had some sort of time machine or something.

Maybe I can help!

WOW!  Noted and accomplished time travelling physicist Samual Beckett.  You want to help me with this?  Cool!  Go right ahead.

Okay!  Here I go!

[SOUND EFFECTS]

You can't look at this book like the others.  There's a level of satire just below the surface that......

OWF!!!

......consider the subtext...... [moan].......... juvenalian satire............ [grooooooooooooan]........

[ooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwww].................. well, I tried.

Thank you for trying, Sam.  Tell Ziggy that I say hi.

Michael's and Gabriel's creature

My nephews are at it again.

Some time ago, Michael had imagined a creature that he called the Inkermink.  Being the artist that I am, I naturally drew it for him and thus brought his vision to life.  Well, this time his younger brother Gabriel is helping him out.  Together they described a new type of creature.  Here are the exact features they envisioned:

Sharks for hands

Cars for feet

Pants made of eyeballs

Eyes made of hair

Hair made of feet

Fingers made of thumbs (thumbs made of belts)

Ears made of glasses

Face made of a football 

Brain made of TV (pops his brain out to watch tv)

And so, immediately down below is the result:

So there you have it: Michael's and Gabriel's own creation in all it's glory.  Personally I think they're ready to work for Nickelodeon, don't you?  I will now leave you all with the two of them having fun at Christmas time.  Enjoy!

gabriel_singing_queen by Daffyduckandthedinosaur

One lady's assessment of Censor Monkeys Have No Class

I think she did a fine job, don't you?  Do you agree or disagree with her?

Quimby's has my book

I - er ah - cannot confirm nor deny that.

Wrong Quimby, ya noodle.  I'm talking about Quimby's Book Store in Chicago located at 1854 W. North Ave.  They were gracious enough to sell my most recent book Jesus Needs Help about two years ago.  Once again they have the good souls to give yet another leg up to this struggling independent author and artist.

My book, Censor Monkeys Have No Class, is being made available at Quimby's the same time as these other books:

Mysterious Underground Men Ten Cent Manga

Brooklyn Quesadillas

Adventure Time - Pixel Princesses

So if you want a copy of my book and you live in the Chicago area, definitely stop in and take a look.  I'm sure the courteous staff will be glad to tell you all about it.

Worst!  Book! Ever!

AAAHHHHH SHADAP!!  Does he really work there?  Oh well, hopefully somebody ELSE can help you with any questions you may have.
Just like everywhere else, my book will cost $6.50, which in American money I think works out to three M-16 rifles and a chicken.  I'm not too sure what the conversion rate is right now.  Hopefully one of the staff knows.  Either way, whether you want any of the above books or not, it's always a good idea to go to Quimby's for the "full Quimby's experience".  You'll be glad you did.

FREE AT LAST!!! FREE AT LAST!!! THANK GOD ALMIGHTY!!! IT'S FREE AT LAST!!!

Yes, as of midnight tonight, my book Censor Monkeys Have No Class is free as in costing $0 to purchase............................. but only on Kindle............................... and only until 11:59 pm on December 1.  So I would say this would be a golden opportunity to get your own copy of my book for your very own.  I'm making this offer in the hopes that it may entice any one of you to order the paper copy from Amazon or in any store that carries it and give it to someone as a Christmas gift.  It makes a dandy stocking stuffer.  And of course Chanukah starts pretty soon too.  This book could make 1 of those 8 nights quite a festival.  Whatever the occasion, this book of mine would be a welcome addition to it.

For the time being, get your free kindle copy at this link here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FND2VNS

And, if the spirit so moves you, purchase the physical paper copy from Amazon here:http://www.amazon.com/Censor-Monkeys-Have-Class-everything/dp/1492725382/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1385524755&sr=8-2&keywords=censor+monkeys+have+no+class 

I know some of you may be asking "if the good reverend Martin Luther King Jr. were alive today would he be willing to use any part of his message to shill any variety of products?"















maybe..........

Update:  It is now post-December 1 which means that the free Kindle promotion is sadly over.  According to Amazon's records, my book reached #33 in sales during that promotion.  A big sincere thank you goes out to all who took the time to download it and read it.  If you like it, please tell others about it.  Maybe even persuade them to purchase the physical paperback version as a gift for someone special this Christmas time.  Also, definitely write a review of it either on Amazon, in the comment section of this blog, or anywhere else that people will see it.  Anything like that would be greatly appreciated.

Once again, thank you to all.

Another store is getting into the act

As of today, Strange Adventures now has many copies of my book Censor Monkeys Have No Class.  You can look for them at their Halifax location on 5110 Prince St. or at their Dartmouth location on 101 Portland St.  Their very courteous staff will be ecstatic to assist you.
I had left a sample with the store's owner before and he said that he would get back to me about it through email.  After a few days I thought he was ignoring me or he just plain forgot.  But then I discovered his response to me in the junk folder.  I'm so glad I did.  His message to me was that he wanted 15 copies.  I left work early today just to make that deal happen.
That's a lesson for everyone out there.  Always look through your email's junk folder before deleting its contents.  Take the time to scroll passed all the viagra and slut finder crap so that you don't miss any important messages that were filtered there by mistake.  Hell, my very first animation job offer came to me in the junk folder.  I almost deleted it even.  But I'm glad I didn't.

Anyway, like I said, my book is now available at Strange Adventures in Halifax.  You can now go there to get it oooooooooooooooorrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr..................................

On November 7, Comic Readers at 105-2125 11th Ave in Regina, Saskatchewan is having what they're calling a Group Art Show.  Many artists will be displaying their wares for sale.  I will be one of them.  So, if you live closer to Regina than you do to Halifax, you might want to purchase my book there.  (I'm talking to you, people of French Polynesia).

Sold in stores now

As of today, my new book Censor Monkeys Have No Class is officially available for purchase in stores.  In the very wet city of Halifax, there are two specific stores have agreed to aid me in my quest to unleash this cautionary tale of mine onto an unsuspecting public.  So far, they are:

Giant Robot Comics - 114 Woodlawn Ave, Dartmouth, NS 

Monster Comic Lounge - 2091 Gottigen St, Halifax, NS 

Right now, those are the only stores in the entire world that contain my latest book............................... that I know of!!!

Is my book in your local store?

Well, there's only one way to find out.  You need to walk right in there and ask.  Just start by simply saying "Do you happen to have that new comic book sensation sweeping every nation Censor Monkeys Have No Class?"  If they say yes then you've hit paydirt.  Buy your copy and enjoy.  But if they answer with either "no" or "what the dang are you talking about?" or give some pretentious nerd-rage excuse for not carrying it then you must demand it be in their store.  

Shout out loud if you have to.  Shout and shout until the entire place turns blue and then you most likely pass out or something.  If that store doesn't carry my book soon after that then they are not a store worth frequenting ever again.

I would also like to use this post to remind everyone of my launch party comic up on November 3.  It will be at the Economy Shoe Shop located at 1665 Argyle St. in downtown Halifax.  If you purchase a book either at the event or anytime before then, you get 10% off of all food and drinks the entire night.  That's a pretty good deal.  Please join the event on Facebook if you have not already done so.  See you there.

(A special note to my wonderful nephews Michael and Gabriel that participated in those photos: please do not shout while you are in a store.  That is very bad manners).