F.C. Knudde : 1998 Netherlands

1998-May-19 Netherlands

Toon van Driel is a Dutch cartoonist, comics writer and comics artist, best known for his comics series F.C. Knudde, about an incompetent association football team, and De Stamgasten, which features anthropomorphic animals telling corny jokes in a bar. He is the winner of the 1988 Stripschapprijs. Van Driel was also the original writer of Eric Schreurs' comic strip Joop Klepzeiker.

Mike McKone - Johan Cruyff

2016.11.19 NJ Comic Expo, Edison, NJ

Mike McKone is an artist from Newcastle, whose work was published work includes Justice League of America, Justice League International, The Punisher War Zone, Exiles, Teen Titans, Fantastic Four, Deadpool: Suicide Kings, Ms Marvel, Amazing Spider-Man and many other titles...

Originally McKone was going to provide me with a sketch of Batman, an easy out.. but as we discussed other possibilities he was very willing to accept more of a challenge. Our discussion turned to his being from Newcastle, England and supporting Newcastle United, a football club that was recently relegated from the Premier League. A team that has a devoted fan base even though the team has had difficult seasons. (I have heard many stories from a friend who is also from Newcastle!)

I asked if he would prefer to sketch a footballer to a super hero, and he took up the challenge. As a father of 2 football (soccer in the US) players I usually have a football FDC with me. I left McKone not really knowing what he would come up with...his final product was a beautiful rendition of Johan Cruyff.

Cruyff was a Dutch footballer who played in the Eredivisie (Dutch League), La Liga (Spainish League) and the North American Soccer League (USA). He is considered to be one of the most influential figures in football history. His style of play and his total football philosophy has influenced many managers and players..

Gary Fields - Rugrats

2013.03.31 Asbury Park Comic Con, Asbury Park, NJ

I had previously received a sketch from Gary of Huckleberry Hound. On his table he had several dailies from the Rugrats comic strip he had been involved with. When I got home I thought the next time I came across him at a show I would obtain a Rugrats sketch. Since both my boys are soccer players, having Tommy kicking a soccer ball seemed the perfect idea.

Rugrats was created by Arlene Klasky, Gabor Csupo and Paul Germain for Nickelodeon television, premiering in 1991. Tommy Pickles is the prominent character from the series, who carries a screw-driver in his diaper for emergencies ( probably a Dr Who fan).

The comic strip started it's run in 1998 through Creators Syndicate up through 2003. There were several writers and artists involved with the production of the strip, with Gary Fields providing pencils and lettering.

When my boys were young we regularly watched Rugrats, and as I look back I probably enjoyed the show more than they did...

No post last week as we were in Montreal for a short vacation, which included a visit to Stade Saputo to watch the Montreal Impact v DC United soccer game...

Joe Orsak - Mia Hamm

2012.11.11 Albany Comic Con, Albany, NY - Mia Hamm pencil sketch

When I read the guest list for the Albany Comic Con, I recognized the name Joe Orsak. I had previously obtained a quick sketch of Elektra from Joe during a comic book and baseball card show at the Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, NY in 1992. While I was looking over his site Master Graphics I noted Orsak's work on sports related postal event covers. I thought this would be a great opportunity to obtain a sketch of US Women's Soccer star Mia Hamm on a 1996 Olympic Cover.

I had originally gone to the show, in 1992, to obtain autographs of the 1969 New York Mets and had hoped to meet Todd MacFarlane, but the line at his table was so long, I think there are a few people still waiting. Besides Orsak, I obtained a sketch of The Thing from Tom Morgan, who had worked as a penciller, inker and cover artist for Marvel Comics on Captain America, Punisher 2099 and Iron Man, as well as Action Comics and The Adventures of Superman for DC Comics...

and Jordan Raskin, who started his career in the 90s drawing "Predator: Race War" for Dark Horse Comics and "Ripclaw" for Top Cow, along with Tomb of Terror, Batman, Negative Burn, Spider-Man, Blood of Kali and other titles. Raskin has since moved on to animation working on "Courage the Cowardly Dog" as well as "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles"... Predator by Raskin

Since tomorrow is home opening day for the NY Redbulls 2013 season and I will be at the game, I will complete this post with a recent acquisition of a hand painted World Cup Soccer FDC by Don Thompson...

Ken Branch - Claudio Reyna

2012.06.10 Super Mega Show, Whippany, NJ

I had heard of Ken Branch prior to meeting him, but strictly as a sports related artist. I was not aware of his comic background, providing work for DC, Valiant, Marvel, Malibu, First and Comico, as well as sketch cards for Topps Heroes Season 2, MLB '08, Indiana Jones Masterpiece, NBA Hardwood and Star Wars Galaxy...

Since soccer is a big sport in my house, I gave Ken some photos of Claudio Reyna, Captain America of the US Men's National Soccer Team, to be drawn on a 1996 Olympic FDC. I find the Captain America tag somewhat ironic since Reyna played his professional career in Germany (1994-1999), Scotland (1999-2001) England (2001-2007) finishing his career in the US (2007-2008)... Reyna played for the US in the World Cup in 1998, 2002 and 2006, and in the Summer Olympics, 1992 an 1996...