Toby Cypress - PunkRock*Jazz

2019.05.18 East Coast Comic Con, Secaucus, NJ

Toby Cypress graduated from the Joe Kubert School in 1997, and by 1999 he was working on titles for Dark Horse Comics' Predator: Homeworld, DC Comics' Batman Nightwing: Bloodborne and Wildstorms' Star Trek Deep Space Nine: N-Vector

In 2010 Cypress wrote and illustrated his first creator owned sci-fi comic Todd Racer, published by Image Comics. Other Image titles include The Gravediggers Union, Retcon a sci-fi horror book and Blue Estate a crime horror series

Cypress published his first art book PunkRock*Jazz. The title of this book intrigued me, so I asked its meaning. Cypress stated that during an interview about his work, the writer said it gave them a punk-rock jazz feel. As a fan of Jazz, Cypress quickly took to the title

I had this envelope from the Celebrate the Century series, which had both the Jazz Club and the 1920's Flapper, which I thought some day I might find a music related use for this. When I showed Cypress the cover, he lit up and agreed to provide a sketch. I gave him free rein to provide anything that he would be inspired to do. His love of jazz is freely expressed through his art

Barney Google 100th Anniversary

I missed the 100th Anniversary of the comic strip Barney Google and Snuffy Smith, which occurred yesterday. The above covers are examples of commercially produced first day covers for the Barney Google Stamp issued in 1995 as part of the Classic Comic Strip issue. (producers: Colorado Silk, Mayfair)

Barney Google was created by Billy DeBeck in 1919, but the popularity of the strip gained momentum with the introduction of Spark Plug, a racehorse with little momentum

By 1934, the strip needed an introduction of new characters to bring back viewers. With the popularity of Lil' Abner and the strip The Mountain Boys, DeBeck introduced Snuffy Smith and his wife Lowizie

In 1934 cartoonist Fred Laswell would become an assistant to DeBeck, eventually taking over the strip. 1998 Jose Rose assisted Laswell, taking over in 2001

To celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the strip, Barney Google would return to Hootin' Holler to visit Snuffy and Lowizie, only to get lost on his way through the comics

Kribbs Kovers created a hand colored cachet #/4 for the Re-opening of the Santa Anita post office. As the cachet states Snuffy is at the celebration, most likely the one held at the Santa Anita racetrack, with Barney!

Daily Cartoonist

Abel Toledo - Astro Pikachu

2019.05.18 East Coast Comic Con, Secaucus, NJ

As you walk through he Con, there is always someone trying to get your attention to look at their books, art whatever they are creating. Abel's was making an offer that was hard to refuse. $5 sketch of Pikachu and only Pikachu, how ever you wanted. I watched him draw a Batman Pikachu for a very enthusiastic young lady who loved Pikachu. I was hooked and the above Astro Pikachu was born. I like when a piece is handed to me and I can not help but smile, from the joy it bring

Abel's a very outgoing person with a big personality, who has done work for Marvel comics, as well as hosting his own Youtube Channel InkIt, where he demonstrated art technique

inkit Youtube

Richard Maurizio - Super-Rabbit

2019.05.18 East Coast Comic Con, Secaucus, NJ

Richard Maurizio is a veteran artist who has produced work for Warner Bros, turner Entertainment, Universal Studios, Sony Signatures and Archie Comics

His credits include development of educational and children's books, along with production of a Tom & Jerry comic strip for 5-years. He has provided work for Looney Tunes, The Animaniacs, Underdog, Thunder Agents, Jetta, The Munsters, Godzilla sketch cards and the Wizard of Oz licensed productions

When I meet an artist like Maurizio, my mind swirls with possibilities, since I enjoy all of the characters he has worked with, how can I pick one. He offered to do Bugs Bunny and we discussed a few of the possible Bugs characterizations. It was his idea to go with the older Bob Clampett styled Super Rabbit from the 1943 Merrie Melodies animated short