Chris Giarrusso - G-Man

2011.03.13 Metuchen Public Library, Graphic Novels Day, Metuchen, NJ...

I had met Giarrusso previously and obtained a Mini-Marvels Silver Surfer sketch. At the time I also picked up the G-Man series of books. This time around I picked up the Mini-Marvels collected works, very funny, and a G-Man sketch on a Libraries FDC...I kinda like to mix things up...

It was great hearing Giarrusso's presentation about his process of writing and working with his editor, very entertaining, including the development of the stories "Hawkeye and the Curse of the Crimson Crown" and "The Couch"...

Giarrusso also spoke of his creation G-Man and his how G-Man's older brother picks on him, not unlike Giarrusso's older brother did to him...as a younger brother I know the feeling and my youngest son Matt who attended the lecture gave me a knowing look of "been there, expect more of the same." The whole program which lasted about 1.5 hours was well worth the time...

Misako Rocks! - Graphic artist

2011.03.13 Metuchen Public Library, Graphic Novels Day, Metuchen, NJ

The library was visited by Misako Rocks!, Colleen Venable and Chris Giarusso, who each presented a slide show on how they create, develop and became involved in producing graphic novels. This free program was open to the public and presented by the Friends of the Metuchen Public Library.

Misako Rocks! is a graphic artist from Japan, but did not become involved in graphic novels until after she had moved to the US. Her style is Japanese, with an American touch...An American manga written by a Japanese writer/artist. Misako got her start drawing for the newspaper "The Onion"

Her first novel was Biker Girl, the story of a young girl who becomes a super-biker when she rides a magic bicycle. Misako followed this with Rock and Roll Love, and Detective Jermain volume 1...Misako offered a very nice presentation about her work and getting involved in graphic novels.

Author Colleen Venable gave an excellent presentation on how she created her characters for the Guinea Pig Pet Shop Private Eye Series...(no art)..

Tom Batiuk - Funky Winkerbean - "Lisa's Story"

2001.02.28...Lisa (Funky Winkerbean)...Breast Cancer Awareness 1996

When I came across the Breast cancer awareness FDC in my collection I was not sure I would be able to use it for a sketch. Then I was reading Funky Winkerbean and Lisa's ghost made one of her usual comforting visits to her husband Les Moore, and I knew I had to request a sketch from Tom Batiuk of Lisa Moore...

I first received a sketch from Tom Batiuk, Funky Winkerbean in the late 1980's. Back then Funky, which first appeared in 1972, was about a group of high school students going through the usual problems a teenager faces. Yes the comic had the usual best friends, school bully, student living in a locker, but Batiuk also featured stories that brought a teenager's problems out in the open, including teen pregnancy...

Batiuk then did something no other artist did. He took time off and brought the cast back as adults, with established careers and lives. Still Batik touched on subjects that we all face, marriage, divorce, birth, drunk driving, war and death...

Lisa's story was one of the story arcs that touched many readers when it was published and still does in book format...Lisa had married Les Moore and in 1999 Lisa was diagnosed with breast cancer. The strip followed Lisa through her discovery, treatment, family relationships through tough times and her untimely death at a young age (2007). This was not a quick get it done story but 8 years of a characters life. While Lisa was undergoing treatment my family was dealt a similar blow. My wife was diagnosed with breast cancer and is now a 4 year survivor. While I was reading about Lisa's final battle the realization that we were just beginning ours touched me very deeply. When Lisa passed I could not tell my wife, the thought of having to be in Les' place was too difficult to think about...

When I sent my request to Tom Batiuk, I was not sure if he would respond and I was not sure how I would feel if he did. When I opened the envelope with the sketch of Lisa's smiling face I was delighted, not saddened as I might expect. I thank Mr. Batiuk for bringing realistic experiences to the daily comic strips, it did help me to cope as I looked back to Lisa's story. He helped take the loneliness out of the situation many of us have had to face.

Lisa is not the only comic character to die, of course Superman and Batman have died a thousand deaths. There are several characters that have met their end in the comics, including another Tom Batiuk character John Darling (John Darling, Funky Winkerbean spinoff), Farley the dog (Better or Worse), Phylllis Blossom (Gasoline Aley, where the characters age in "real-time"), Grandpa (Family Circus), but Lisa's lost battle to cancer was carried by several newspaper and television news reports. Lisa's Story made an impact on many people and will continue to reach out and touch many lives...

Lisa's Story Reuters

Urbana Daily Citizen

Cancer Health

Tom Batiuk

Patrick McDonnell - Mutts

2003 Patrick McDonnell appeared at Buchmeister Books, Chatham, NJ to sign copies of his books and to support the North Shore Animal League, (McDonnell is involved with The Humane Society of the United States). McDonnell has been awarded the National Cartoonist Society's Reuben for Cartoonist of the Year 1999, Comic Strip of the Year 1996; Germany's Max and Moritz Award for Best international Comic Strip 1998; Harvey Award for Best Comic Strip 1997, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003 among others...

Mutts first appeared in 1994 and is based on the every day antics of Earl, the dog, and Mooch, the cat, and their human owners. Their friendship shows the differences between the animals as pets and their relationships with their owners.

One of my favorite parts of the Sunday strip is the title panel. Each Sunday the panel features a tribute to some of the most influential artists and designers of the past century, such as Mike Mignola, Donald Baechler, Shuster and Siegel, Katsushika Hokusai, Dali, Toulose-Latrec and many more....

Mutts has seen publication in several books...

Signing his book - Mutts - What Now...for my sons Mike and Matt, McDonnell noticed they were wearing soccer shirts. He said he had never drawn Earl or Mooch playing soccer and this would be the first time. Since I read the comic strip everyday, I have seen Earl play baseball, but have yet to see them play soccer outside of this drawing.

Neil Vokes - Batman

Neil Vokes - 2008.12.07 Comic Fest, East Hanover, NJ

Another gem from Neil. He talks about his passion in interviews, it comes through in his art. Neil provided me with 2 drawings during this show, I couldn't get him to stop, I am sure he would have done more. Thanks.

Brian Crane - Pickles

2011.02.02 Brian Crane - Pickles...Earl and Nelson...

Brian Crane has received the National Cartoonist Society Newspaper Comic Strip Award in 2001 for his strip Pickles, which runs as a daily and a Sunday comic strip. Pickles was first published in 1990.

Pickles, follows a retired couple in their seventies, Earl and Opal Pickles, and their dog Roscoe, cat Muffin, grandson Nelson, their daughter Sylvia and her husband Dan. the strip shows the funny side of family and friendship.

On his web site at the Cartoonist Studio, Crane states, "I've always wanted to become a cartoonist when I grow up, and I still hope to do so if and when that day ever comes."

I still enjoy reading the comics in my newspaper, I am slowly working toward a few web comics. I don't remember when I started reading Pickles, but it has quickly become a part of my life. The newspapers have a way of revamping their lineup every so often, and one day Pickles appeared, and fortunately it has stayed. I will say, although not retired and no grand children yet, I am often scared by Earl Pickles. It seems he and I are a lot alike, and it is not a good way, according to my wife. I can see a lot of similarities in their relationship to my own.

Earl often finds ways to relax instead of working or saying the wrong things to Opal at the wrong time, like there is ever a right time. I post this cartoon not because my wife doesn't like technology, I am the one who refuses to read e-books, rather because this is often her reaction to the things I say.

I chose to have Mr. Crane sketch on a combination first day cover, with both stamps dealing with life from youth to aging, as reflected by Crane's sketch of Earl and Nelson...

Hy Eisman - Popeye

Hy Eisman... Popeye 2010.10.09

Eisman started drawing comic strips in 1950 working on several strips including Kerry Drake, Little Iodine, the Katzenjammer Kids (the second oldest comic strip created in 1897 by Rudolph Dirks).

Popeye first appeared in 1929 as part of the comic strip Thimble Theatre, which debuted in 1919, was the creation of E.C. Segar. Eisman started drawing the Sunday panel in 1994, joining several well known artists who have drawn the pugilistic sailor including Doc Winner, Bela Zaboly, Ralph Stein, Bud Sagendorf and Bobby London.

Popeye has become one of the most well-known comic characters having been featured in comic books, cartoons (first appearing with Betty Boop in 1933) a live action movie starring Robin Williams, games and advertising.

Popeye the sailor's character has a unique method of speech, overly muscular arms on a thin body, smokes a corn-cob pipe and eats spinach to provide his super-human strength. He is often at odds with his nemesis Bluto over the affection of Olive Oyl.

Eisman is also known for the many comic books he has drawn, featuring the characters Nancy, Little Lulu, Tom and Jerry and the Munsters, and several Charlton Comics.

Frankenstein - Brian Kong

Brian Kong - 2006.10.28 Chiller Convention, Secaucus, NJ

Kong is a noted sketch card artist who has worked with Marvel, DC, Malibu Comics, Acclaim comcis and Tekno comics. Kong worked on comics for Major League Baseball and the National Basketball Association for fan promotions.

Some of the sketch cards Kong has worked on include Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Allen & Ginter Baseball, DC Legacy and Universal Monsters Frankenstein.

Chris Wedge - Robots

Besides stamps and first day of issue cancels, the USPS will utilize a slogan cancel that commemorates or informs. In the past these slogans have been used to commemorate fairs and exhibitions, pray for peace, use of airmail, mail early for Christmas, etc. and are used in cities throughout the US. Over the past few years in an effort to reach the younger potential collectors the USPS has joined forces with the movie industry to help promote movie releases to video. These cancels included promotion of Star Trek (1991), The Grinch (2000), Spirit the Stallion of the Cimarron (2002), Cat in the Hat (2003) Shrek (2004) Robots (2005)....

I had no problem with this, since the promotion of animated movies was within my collecting interest, others have not agreed. At Patent Baristas in March 2005, there statement is that the USPS is printing an advertisement for the movies, in particular Robots and that the movie is not of national importance. It may not be of importance, but I had no issues with it. In fact I went out of my way to try an obtain a clean cancellation. Getting slogans cancels can be difficult since they are part of the daily mail stream and I started by dropping 5 envelopes in the mailstream in hopes of getting a good cancel.

When I received a nice example of the slogan cancel I sent the envelope to Chris Wedge, at Blue Sky Studios, director of the movies Ice Age (2002) and Robots (2005). Wedge was very considerate in providing a sketch of the main character Rodney Copperbottom, along with a separate sketch of Scrat from Ice Age for my son, Matt.

Gene Deitch - Tom Terrific

Gene Deitch - Tom Terrific - 2011.01.14

I love getting sketches in the mail, it's like getting an unexpected present...I will send out first day covers to artists I know I will not be able to meet in person. I know that the odds are usually against getting a response from some of the people I send out to, but I figure it doesn't hurt to take the chance. However, I do wait impatiently each day hoping for a response...

When I got to my PO Box this afternoon and found a response from Gene Deitch I felt like a kid. Gene Deitch is an American illustrator who moved to Prague and set up family and studio. Deitch has produced animated cartoons for studios such as UPA/Columbia Pictures, Terrytoons/20th Century Fox (Tom Terrific) MGM (Tom and Jerry) King Features (Popeye, Krazy Kat) and Paramount Pictures (Nudnik).

Tom Terrific with the Mighty Manfred the Wonder dog was a 5-minute cartoon created by Gene Deitch for the Terrytoons Studios, which were run as part of the CBS television show Captain Kangaroo from 1957-59 (during my childhood). I used to watch Tom Terrific every day and thought he was the greatest. Tom Terrific, lived in a treehouse and could transform himself into anything he wanted thanks to his magic thinking cap. Along with his lazybones sidekick Manfred, Tom matched wits with his foe Crabby Appleton...

I had sent Mr. Deitch a first day cover with a Disney Lion King stamp, as I had nothing that would complement his work, I was going for the animation aspect. Mr. Deitch choose not to sketch on the FDC, but instead draw a picture of Tom Terrific on the return envelope. A surprise in every package...

Deitch authored a memoir, "For the Love of Prague" based on his experience of being the only free American in Prague during 30 years of Communism.

In 1958 Deitch's theatrical cartoon Sidney's Family tree was nominated for an Academy Award..1961 Academy Award for Animated Short for Munro written by Jules Feiffer.

2003, Deitch was awarded the "Annie" by ASIFA Hollywood for a lifetime contribution to the art of animation.

Vampirella - Mark Texeira

Mark Texeira 2008.12.07 Comic Fest, East Hanover, NJ

A classically trained painter Mark entered the comic field in the 1980's with work on Jonah Hex, Psi-Force, Punisher War Journal, Vampirella, Sabretooth, Spiderman, Moon Knight, Black Panther, Ghost Rider, Wolverine, Birds of Prey, as well as his own title Pscythe. Mark has also produced cover art for several record labels...

Vampirella was created by Forrest J. Ackerman for Warren Publishing, and was developed by writer Archie Goodwin and artists Frank Frazetta (cover art), Tom Sutton and Jose Gonzalez. Vampirella first appearance was in 1969, in Vampirella #1.

Roland Harvey

Robinson Lino-block print cachet - signed by Roland Harvey

Adams hand-drawn cachet

Roland Harvey 1988 Australia - US Bicentenary

Top cover is my design, block printed, signed by stamp designer Roland Harvey. The bottom cover is a hand painted cachet by Adams (I do not have any information on the artist, I picked this up in a trade). When the Australian-US issue was announced in 1988 I was thrilled to created a cachet, as my wife loves animals, especially koalas and dogs. Therefore my design was for my wife. We even went to San Francisco for our honeymoon so she could see koalas up close at the SF Zoo.

Harvey is an Australian children's illustrator, and author. He is best known as an illustrator of children's books using pen, ink and watercolor. His works have been described as 'witty slapstick style' and 'characteristic humorous and detailed illustrations'.

My Place in Space, named an Honour Book in the Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Awards, and The Friends of Emily Culpepper, commended in the same awards. Burke and Wills, part of Harvey's unique Australian history series, won the Clifton Pugh Award for illustration, and Islands in My Garden won the 1999 Wilderness Society Environment Award. One recent book, Sick As: Bloody Moments in the History of Medicine, was shortlisted for the 2001 Children's Book Council of Australia Eve Pownall Award for Information Books. (Wikipedia).

Harvey has also designed several stamps for the Australia Post, featuring his unique drawing style. Including the Australia-New Zealand joint issue and the above Wild Babies. I couldn't help but notice in the first stamp, near the 45c, the Koala butt shot! Gotta love it!

Thanks Roland.

Beetle Bailey

I just received this email alert from the staff at Beetle Bailey -

To our faithful friends and fans of Beetle Bailey,

Beetle Bailey did not appear in the New York Daily News today. We were informed that the paper was cutting costs and that Edward Fay, vice president and director of editorial administration, was the one who made the decision. It makes no sense for the paper to drop one of their most popular features. If you share this opinion, please send a message of protest to:
efay@nydailynews.com and news@edit.nydailynews.com

Hopefully, he will reinstate Beetle if he receives enough response. Please forward this email appeal to your friends and family and don't forget our fans in the armed forces. We would appreciate anything you can do.

Thanks - Mort, Greg and Brian Walker and staff

www.mortwalker.com