E.T. : 1980s Celebrate the Century

2000-Jan-12 Titusville FL - Celebrate the Century

“E.T.” tells the story of a boy who befriends a stranded space alien and helps him “phone home.” Winner of four Academy Awards ® and one of the most beloved films of all time, :E.T.: held the record as the top-grossing film for 15 years. Celebrate the Century - 1980s

2003-Feb-25 Beverly Hills CA - - E.T. was included in a set of stamps commemorating American Filmmaking

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

Jason Brower - The Beatles

2016.10.16 Non-Sport Update Card Show, Allentown, Pa

I originally went to the card show to obtain a few sketch cards and other collectibles. As usual I threw a few first day covers in my bag with the thought of obtaining some sketches from the artists in attendance. When I came to Brewer's table a second time I discussed the possibility of obtaining a sketch. His favorite area of art was focused on horror, but I did not bring any horror related covers with me...

Brower has produced sketch cards for Viceroy: The Insect Collection, Monster Wax: Dinosaur Galaxy Liquid Leviathans and Monsters & Maniacs, Topps Garbage Pail Kids, Neil Cameras Monsters and Pastime Cards: Presidential set..

While speak with Brower he mentioned his other passion was music. A drummer/compser with roots in progressive rock, fusion and classical. The monster alternative had to be The Beatles Yellow Submarine, an animated movie that delved heavily into the pop art culture of the Sixties... George Dunning, who worked on the original Beatles cartoons, was the overall director supervising over 200 artists.

The animation design is credited to Heinz Edelman, who along with Milton Glaser pioneered the psychedelic style of the Sixties. The style is very reminiscent of the work of Peter Max, who is often incorrectly given credit for the film.

Paul Renaud - Cavewoman

2015.06.06 NY Special Edition, NYC

Paul Renaud is a French comic book artist who broke into the US market with Cavewoman from Basement Comics. He has also worked on Fear Agent from Image, Red Sonja and Athena from Dynamite...

A popular cover artist, his titles include Vampirella, Flash Gordon, The Green Hornet, Danger Girl and the Army of Darkness from Dynamite, and Star Wars, Mass Effect, Kull, Dungeons and Dragons...

Working for Marvel Comics, Renaud has worked on Uncanny Avengers Annual, Secret Wars (FCBD), Shield and CaptainAmerica.  He has produced covers for Uncanny Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, Iron Man, Hawkeye and Mockingbird, Black Panther and many others...

For DC comics Renaud was worked on Convergence: Justice League International and Suicide Squad...

Cavewoman was created by Budd Root and published by Basement Comics, Caliber Comics and Avatar Press

The Jurassic Park stamp was issued by the USPS as part of their Celebrate the Century 1990's series...

Rich Buckler - Captain America

Rich Buckler - Captain America 2010.10.02 Wizard-Big Apple Comic Con, NYC

Buckler co-created the character Deathlok in Astonishing Tales #25, and has drawn virtually every major character at Marvel and DC, often as a cover artist.

Buckler's first work was part of the 1967 King Features comics Flash Gordon with a 4-page story Freedom Fighters:Washington Attack Trenton.

At Marvel, Buckler would draw Fantastic Four, Black Panther and Spiderman. In the 1980's working alongside Roy Thomas at DC, All-Star Squadron would be launched.

The Uncle Sam stamp from the Celebrate the Century issue 1998, reminded me of the first All-Star Squadron issue with Uncle Sam dispatching the All-Star Squadron. I had requested the Star Spangled Kid, but Buckler was unsure of the character's look and without a reference could not reproduce it faithfully. Keeping with the Uncle Sam theme, I requested Captain America and received a for beautifully rendered sketch.

Buckler and John Romita are credited with the artwork for the Marvel stamp issue for the Incredible Hulk, and Buckler and Dick Giordano are credited with the artwork for the DC stamp issue for the Supergirl comic cover.

Fred Hembeck - The Beatles

Fred Hembeck...The Beatles...2010.09.26 Comic Fest, East Hanover, NJ

Hembeck's style is pure cartoon parody, his characters are always drawn with curlicues on the elbows and knees. Starting in 197o's Hembeck's work was published as a 3-panel comic strip appearing in the Daily Planet page of DC comics. Hembeck would also continue producing comics for Marvel (signed Fantastic Four Roast), First Comics, Krause Publications, Fantagraphics Books, Topps comics, TwoMorrows Publishing and Archie Comics.

Hembeck's work includes his comic character The Dog, Mr. Mumbo Jumbo, Little Freddy (fictionalized tales of a youthful Hembeck), Petey, the Adventures of Peter Parker Looong Before He Became Spider-Man and Kidz.

When I heard Hembeck would be at Comic Fest, I went to his website to learn about him. Then I found his Beatle page. The man is a big fan, he has a devoted to the beatles, their comic book appearances, CD and DVD reviews and some classic comic cover make-overs featuring the Beatles, by Hembeck.

There was little thought that I would ask for a Beatle related sketch on the Beatles Yellow Submarine first day cover from from the Celebrate the Century series. Hembeck did an excellent rendition of the Beatles in his unique style.

Charles P Wilson III - The Stuff of Legends

Charles P Wilson III - the Stuff of Legends .. 2010.09.18 Wild Pig Con II, Springfield, NJ

The year is 1944. An allied force advances along a war-torn beach in a strange land, outnumbered and far from home...Led by a toy soldier and a teddy-bear named Max, Princes, Quackers, Percy, Jester set off on a journey to find their boy....The story is incredible and the art is fantastic.

The pencil sketch is on a Celebrate the Century first day cover honoring the Teddy Bear. Named after President Teddy Roosevelt, the first teddy was made by the German company Steiff, which was exhibited at the Leipzeg Toy Fair, March 1903. by 1906 the craze for these bear was in full swing.