Surly Hack Attack!

You Can't Beat Bongo

2012-01-20T09:56:00.005-06:00

© 2011 Bongo Entertainment, Inc. The Simpsons TM & © Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All rights reserved.

Here's a page from a 3-page Bart Simpson story called "Bart's Short Cut". This is the 8 1/2 X 11" pencil "rough" on typing paper, which was then blue-lined onto a Strathmore board for inking. I still prefer to attack a story in pencil directly on the boards, but this process has made it easier to weather the changes requested from editors and art directors on licensed characters. And it's easier to correct my own mistakes and make adjustments. On this page I had to move the background building in the last panel, and was able to manipulate it on the computer instead of erasing and redrawing. Also, as I've mentioned before, it makes inking a heck of a lot easier with no pencils to erase.

Due here any day is the script for my next Bongo project, a story for this fall's Treehouse of Horror, written by Doug Moench. This will be my first time working with Doug, and I can't wait to see what he's come up with. In other Barta-Bongo Comics news, my story "The Big Finish" was just published in Simpsons Comics #185. available in comic stores now!

Monster Mag

2012-01-04T13:53:00.000-06:00

© 2012 Hilary Barta

This is a cover I drew for Cartoon Loonacy. CL is an "APA-zine", a membership only quarterly zine self-published by and for cartoonists. This was the cover for the "Monster Issue".

Christmas at 45 RPM

2011-12-11T13:52:00.001-06:00

Line art for good pal Gordon Flagg's annual X-Mas novelty song cd. This year's tracks were culled from his collection of vintage vinyl. Merry Christmas to all from the Surly Hack!

Fuzzy, Wuz he?

2011-11-07T18:06:00.001-06:00

This was drawn as a cover for the mini comic Slam-Bang. Big Bill Wray influence in the space dude, along with the usual Wally Wood 50s Chevy stylings.

EC for HB, See?

2011-10-30T14:09:00.000-05:00

Here's an old, possibly unpublished piece from somewhere or other. Might have appeared in Sketch magazine. Happy Halloween!

The Wrath of Con

2011-08-22T13:24:00.004-05:00

So I went to Wizard's Chicago Comicon after taking a year off. I wasn't going to go, but my pal Mark Nelson flew in from Houston to attend the show, and Steve Shamus was nice enough to comp me a table, so I relented. Missing Thursaday night, I sat in Artist Alley for three long days. And...and I had a great time. It was a very loong weekend, what with the commute back to the city each evening for Noir City Chicago at the Music Box, but I was glad that I made the effort. I met Ian Boothby and Kyle Hotz and a lot of other talented folks, and Artist Alley seemed to be hopping this year. So I'll be back next year. See you there!

The Yellowed Kid

2011-07-18T14:49:00.010-05:00

Here's a page I haven't seen in a looong time. It's the last page from the second issue of my Plastic Man mini-series that someone was selling online. The inks are by John Nyberg. Willie Schubert niftily lettered the script by Phil Foglio, from a plot by Phil, Doug Rice and yours surly. That's The Barker leading the way. Like Plas and his sidekick Woozy Winks, he's another character created in the 1940s by the great Jack Cole. As always, click on the image to enlarge.

Come to Chicago and See Rosemont

2011-07-13T12:38:00.005-05:00

Four days of fun and frivolity with an endless array of actors and actresses, professional wrestlers, and me, a lonely comic book artist. Come by artist alley and rescue me!

The Usual Simpsons

2011-07-13T11:40:00.009-05:00

© 2011 Bongo Entertainment, Inc. The Simpsons TM & © Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All rights reserved.

These are 8 1/2" X 11" pencil roughs for my latest Simpsons story, "The Big Finish". It stars Grampa Simpson, and it's a riff on a certain cult crime movie that you just might have seen. And it's connected to the issue's cover by Sergio Aragones, who also appears in the story as a 'Simpsonized' character! The story is scheduled to appear in The Simpsons Comics #185, solicited next month, out in December.

© 2011 Bongo Entertainment, Inc. The Simpsons TM & © Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All rights reserved.

Apu on You

2011-06-22T17:55:00.005-05:00

© 2011 Bongo Entertainment, Inc. The Simpsons TM & © Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All rights reserved.

Bart Simpson #60 is out today. My Bart vs. Apu and the Kwik-E-Mart story leads off, followed by a Sergio Aragones zombie movie epic. With Evan Dorkin thrown in for good measure. Not too shabby.

SpongeBob ArtJob

2011-06-08T11:12:00.014-05:00

© 2011United Plankton Pictures, Inc. SpongeBob SquarePants TM & © Viacom international, inc. All rights reserved.

I'm currently inking my second story for SpongeBob Comics. Once again I'm working from a wonderfully odd script from cartoonist James Kochalka. It's another tale of Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy, as they tangle with the little green villain named Plankton. The story will run in issue #8. This time I penciled full-size, right on the boards, eschewing the rough stage. Click on the pencils to see them full-size.

© 2011United Plankton Pictures, Inc. SpongeBob SquarePants TM & © Viacom international, inc. All rights reserved.

Free Comic Book Day

2011-05-02T16:14:00.003-05:00

This Saturday is Free Comic Book Day, and I'll be making an appearance at Dark Tower Comics in Chicago from 1-4, along with artist Chris Burnham (Batman Inc, Nixon’s Pals, Officer Downe, Elephantmen). We'll be signing comics, doing sketches, and making with the putrid patter that passes for snappy repartee at comic book stores. In addition to the free giveaways, there will be plenty of our comics for sale, including my work on Fear Agent, The Simpsons, Creepy, SpongeBob SquarePants, and maybe even Munden’s Bar and Splash Brannigan--and everything in the store will be on sale as well.

Where: Dark Tower Comics and Collectibles

4835 N Western Ave
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 733‑4026

When: Saturday, May 7th, 2011
1 to 4 pm

Treehouse of Hilary

2011-03-16T13:03:00.003-05:00

I just learned that I'll be drawing another story for the Simpsons annual Treehouse of Horror. Hooray! The tough part is that it's for Halloween 2012! Now that's planning ahead. At least I'll have a head start on the deadline. Treehouse stories are one of my favorite gigs in comics. The last one I drew was a fun Jaws parody written by Gerry Duggan and Brian Posehn. There's a link to a review of it along with a few panels of the art, here.

Kwik-E-Art

2011-03-15T11:54:00.006-05:00

© 2011 Bongo Entertainment, Inc. The Simpsons TM & © Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All rights reserved.

I just wrapped up the inks on my latest Bart Simpson story, Bart vs. The Kwik-E-Mart, written by Amanda McCann. It features Bart and Apu tangling at the Kwik-E, with Bart--and the readers--learning a bit about Apu's childhood in India. It turns out that Apu was once as much of a prankster as is Bart. These are 8 1/2 x 11" pencil roughs, which I scan, print as blueline onto boards, and ink. The page below shows young Apu and his uncle Ashok at an Indian Kwik-E-Mart. Look for this in Bart Simpson #60.

© 2011 Bongo Entertainment, Inc. The Simpsons TM & © Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All rights reserved.

Convention-al Thinking

2011-03-02T10:44:00.006-06:00

On March 18-20 I'll be attending C2E2, the Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo held at McCormick Place in beautiful downtown Chicago. Holed up in artist alley at table E12, I'll have plenty of original art from my recent work on Spongebob Squarepants, Creepy and the Simpsons--plus the usual assortment of older, dust-gathering pages from hither and yon. Stop by and say hi.

Barta Bart Art

2011-02-23T14:05:00.007-06:00

© 2011 Bongo Entertainment, Inc. The Simpsons TM & © Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All rights reserved.

This is the 8 1/2 X 11" pencil rough for a page the Simpsons story Metal as Anything. This witty 12-pager by writer Ian Boothby stars Bart as Bartman, along with the entire Simpsons family as a Bongo version of some metallic heroes you might be familiar with. The inks were done by Andrew Pepoy, and the story appears in the Simpsons Super Spectacular #12, out now.

I'm currently working on another story starring Bart and Apu set in the Kwik-E-Mart.

StatiC Creep

2011-01-10T10:37:00.009-06:00

Static Creep

Opening: Friday, January 14th 6-10 pm

Original comic book artwork, posters, books, on-the-spot sketches &
live music by Transistor

The show features the art of over twenty local comic book artists, including:

Alex Wald, Andrew Pepoy, Chris Burnham, Corinne Mucha, Doug Klauba, Hilary Barta, Heather McAdams, Jeffrey Brown, Jenny Frisson, Jill Thompson, Tony Akins, Nicole Hollander, Mike Norton, Mitch O'Connell, Sarah Becan, Dave Dorman, Tim Seeley, Lucy Knisley, Gary Gianni, Bill Reinhold, Alyssa Herlocher and Steven Krakow.

I'll have pages up from stories I've drawn for Creepy, Goon Noir and Grateful Dead Comix.

Static Creep runs January 14th through February 6th

Las Manos Gallery

5220 N. Clark St. Chicago Il 60640

Gallery hours: Wed/Thurs/Fri: 12:30-5:30 Sat/Sun 11 am-5pm

www.lasmanosgallery.com

Feliz Navidada

2010-12-16T10:27:00.005-06:00

© 2011 Hilary Barta

"Deck us all with boughs of Dali..." Here's my annual Christmas novelty song cd cover. Merry Christmas to all!

Leo Segedin Show

2010-11-17T15:59:00.004-06:00

Reception: Friday, November 19th 6-9 PM

***Art Opening***

Leopold Segedin

A Retrospective

November 1st - December 3rd, 2010

A selection of work spanning 60 years by
renowned painter and NEIU Professor

Emeritus, Leopold Segedin

Be sure to check out http://www.leopoldsegedin.com

http://www.neiu.edu/~gallery/

http://www.byronroche.com

Reign-y Day

2010-10-12T13:46:00.003-05:00

Off to the Film Center tonight to see an archival print of Anthony Mann's Reign of Terror, shot by the great John Alton.

Passage to Adventure

2010-09-15T15:56:00.006-05:00

Susan Hayward, Brian Donlevy and Dana Andrews in Canyon Passage.

The Music Box theater is in the middle of a Jacques Tourneur series in their weekend matinée. This weekend is Tourneur's terrific western Canyon Passage, starring Dana Andrews. That will be followed by The Fearmakers and Night (aka Curse) of the Demon.

Hoagy Carmichael sings "Ole Buttermilk Sky" in Canyon Passage.

The Film Center is in the middle of a weekly Film Noir series. This week they're screening Gilda. I'll be there next week for Otto Preminger's Whirlpool, starring Gene Tierney, Jose Ferrer and Richard Conte. Upcoming films include Crossfire, The Black Book/Reign of Terror, Out of the Past and In a Lonely Place.

Gene Tierney in Whirlpool.

Noir City Chicago 2

2010-07-19T13:36:00.008-05:00

Eddie Muller's Noir City film festival returns to Chicago's Music Box Theatre, August 13-19, 2010. This year's line-up includes Cry Danger (in a newly restored print by the Film Noir Foundation), the Chicago based City that Never Sleeps, Gun Crazy, Nightmare Alley, Drive a Crooked Road, He Ran All the Way, Don't Bother to Knock, Sudden Fear, Cry of the City and Fly-By-Night. The entire Music Box summer schedule--including Noir Chicago--can be downloaded here.

San Diego show a no-go

2010-07-19T13:18:00.003-05:00

I've had to cancel my plans to attend Comicon this week. Not that anyone will miss me in that madhouse. I'll see you all next year.

Tutti Beauty

2010-06-24T07:53:00.024-05:00

Catching up on a few films I've seen recently...at Bank of America Cinema I saw The Enchanted Cottage (John Cromwell, 1945), a fable of romantic fantasy that has not aged terribly well. Budd Boetticher's Decision at Sundown (1957) is another story, one of the oddest of Boetticher and Randolph Scott's chamber Westerns. As is usual with Boetticher, Decision features a very ambiguous take on the driven, revenge-seeking Western hero and villainous bad guy. Though criticized at Only the Cinema for an undercurrent of misogyny, I found that the film's female characters were far more interesting than is typical in Westerns, making many of the important decisions.

Up at Northwestern's Block Cinema in Evanston...Max Ophüls' 1934 film La Signora di Tutti (Everybody's Woman). An impressive early work from the master, La Signora di Tutti has his usual mixture of glamor and tragedy, with a flashback structure similar to that of Lola Montes, recalling the life of an infamous woman. It's amazing how much of the Ophüls style and subject matter was already in place. Also fascinating to see the different moral standards at work in an Italian versus American film from the early thirties, as well as differing acting styles, with much over-the-top emotionalism from La Signora's older male lover.

I'm glad I waited to see Cobra Woman (Robert Siodmak, 1944) on the screen. Due to overbooking, Block was sent an immaculate master 35mm archival print. This has to be what it was like to see technicolor in all its glory in the 1940s. I just sat back at let the tropical camp sear my retinas. Absolutely amazing. Hail King Cobra!

Photo sources: Only the Cinema, Dvd Beaver, and filmfanatic.org

Summit City Rocks

2010-05-28T07:52:00.008-05:00

Had a blast at Summit City. Met Nate Powell (Swallow Me Whole is haunting, terrific) and boy genius Jim Rugg (you have to read Street Angel, Afrodisiac and Rambo 3.5). Maybe a little too much beer, but hey, what's a con without a hangover? Friday night is a blur, driving around in the rain with Chris Neseman and Jeffrey Brown, trying to find a bar showing the Hawks game...Saturday night started with a few pints of Guinness while sketching at a pub with Amber Love (pictured above) and many other good folks, on to the Rusty Nail for some slamming, then 2 AM gyros. Thanks to Zack and everyone in Fort Wayne for throwing such a nice, comics-centric con.

Summit City

2010-05-13T14:32:00.005-05:00

On Saturday, May 22nd I'll be in Fort Wayne Indiana at the Summit City Comic Con. I'll have a table in Artist Alley, doing sketches and hanging out. Drop by and say hello.

Cobra Woman

2010-05-10T14:33:00.004-05:00

This month and next there are a few film revivals that I'm looking forward to. This Friday, May 14th, Block Cinema in Evanston is showing Cobra Woman (Robert Siodmak, 1944) in a 35mm. archival print. This piece of over-the-top Technicolor camp is something I've been waiting to see on the big screen for many years. Block is also screening Max Ophul's La Signora di Tutti (Everybody's Woman, 1934) on June 11th.

Unfortunately I will be out of town on May 22nd when Bank of America Cinema is screening a 35 mm. print of the Lon Chaney silent Mr. Wu (William Nigh, 1927), along with live organ accompaniment by Jay Warren. Back in January Jay did a terrific job with with Pandora's Box. But I will be able to attend Decision at Sundown (Bud Boetticher, 1957), which they'll screen in 35 mm. on June 5th.

Pros and Con

2010-04-20T12:01:00.010-05:00

Wow. A major Chicago comics convention in Chicago, actually focusing on comics--as opposed to a suburban con with wrestlers and has-been genre actors. A short walk to Chinatown for dinner, a view of the downtown skyline and blue sky streaming in the windows. The perfect location for a show. C2E2 is off to a great start. Everyone I talked with wants the show to succeed and is passing the word for next year. You know I'll be there.

I used the term "major" above because we already have a lovely one-day Chicago show in the fall, Windy City Comicon.

Above: Long time friend and collaborator Doug Rice joined me at my table in Artist Alley. Doug created Dynamo Joe at First Comics, and has written and drawn many other comics including Manhunter for DC, as well as storyboarding cartoons for Warner Brothers. I appear to be toppling over from the excitement. Below: Stopping by for a visit is Chicago illustrator Scott Gustafson, another old friend. Check out Scott's terrific paintings here.
Photos by yet another Chicago pal, Gordon Flagg.

Con Game

2010-04-08T14:13:00.003-05:00

There's a new convention coming to town. From April 16-18 I'll be attending the Chicago Comics and Entertainment Expo, aka C2E2. Unlike that other big Chicago comics convention, this one is being held in CHICAGO, at the Lakeside Center of McCormick Place. I'll be sharing a table in Artist Alley with Jason Millet, doing sketches, signing comics, and just hanging out. Stop by and say hello. Here's C2E2's website.

Later this year I'll be at the Summit City Con in Fort Wayne, as well as the mutant monster that is Comicon in San Diego.

The Mask of the Green Death

2010-03-31T14:03:00.012-05:00

These are two penciled panels from a new short story I've drawn. "Englouorioues Mask-Tards!!!" was written by the always entertaining Evan Dorkin. It's a crazy, bloody riff on a certain movie director and stars The Mask. It's free to read online at Myspace Dark Horse Presents (scroll down and go to back issue 33). And there's a very funny interview with Dorkin about the story here. The story was a blast to work on, and I'm looking forward to Evan writing something else for me. I'd prefer it to be a blank check, but I'll settle for a comics script.

The Mask is © and trademark Dark Horse Comics 2010.

Don't Bank on It

2010-01-07T09:48:00.011-06:00

The future of the Bank of America Cinema, a venerable--and fun--Chicago institution, is in jeopardy. The BOAC is a revival house located in a bank, and the bank building is up for sale. Formerly owned by Northwest Federal Savings and Loan, Talman and LaSalle banks, films were first screened in the building's basement in 1972, and then in the theatre, built in 1977.

On a recent visit to there I saw a terrific 35 mm. print of the German silent Pandora's Box, with glorious theatre organ accompaniment by Jay Warren. The Cinema has films scheduled through this June. I'm already planning on attending the January 30th showing of My Name is Julia Ross, the film that put director Joseph H. Lewis on the map. You can view the schedule for their upcoming season--perhaps their last--on their unofficial blog, here. Or, go to their Facebook page, here.

Bank of America Cinema
4901 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago
Use the rear entrance and parking lot behind the bank.
Screenings are at 8:00 PM Saturdays
Admission is a measly $5

Seeing Red for Christmas

2009-12-13T12:42:00.007-06:00

Helping out in a pinch as he did last year, hue master Jason Millet colored this year's x-mas cd, though that's not what you're seeing here. I'm no photoshop wiz, but I had a little time later on and took a stab at my own version of the colors. In the printing we had trouble getting the title to "pop", so here's my take on the colors with 2 versions of the title. I love red, but in this case I think the white works better.

Sleigh, Lady, Sleigh

2009-12-09T11:08:00.006-06:00

Each year I draw the cover to a friend's Christmas cd. It's a musical compilation of obscure versions of x-mas classics and holiday novelty tunes. This year's cover was inspired by Bob Dylan's new Christmas album.

Tequila!

2009-11-30T12:11:00.008-06:00

Last night I won a bottle of tequila in the raffle for Martha Gonzalez (see previous post). A tequila silver el Viejo Luis. I didn't find a description of the silver, but their website describes their tequila blanco thusly: "Honest, Natural, Vegetal, boasting soft floral aromas blended perfectly with hints of citrus, Mint, fresh herbs, tropical fruit and Pepper." Sounds yummy. I cant wait to "experience the difference." End of free plug.

There was a great turnout for the event, and I met a bunch of good people, including David Sandoval, who won my drawing in the raffle.

The Light That Never Goes Out

2009-11-24T15:45:00.008-06:00

The MARTHA GONZALEZ MEMORIAL COMMITTEE presents "The Light That Never Goes Out" Fundraiser Event being held on Sunday, Nov. 29th, 2009 (11/29/09) from 4pm - 1am at

Simone's Bar and Grill
960 W. 18th St.
Chicago 60608
312-666-8601

DJ's and Live music will be provided by:
Jesse De La Peña
Steve Tang
Jimmy Muñoz
Richard Cantu

CASH BAR and GRILL with RAFFLE PRIZES (including art, event tickets, gift cards, etc...)
Raffle Tickets: a GIFT of $20 (entry guaranteed) for raffle tickets will go to the MARTHA GONZALEZ MEMORIAL REWARD FUND. The Raffle giveaway will occur between 4pm and 8pm.

25% of Simone’s Lab (Back Area Bar*) will be donated to the MGMR FUND.
*sales do not include Simone’s Front Area Bar

If you are interested in going to the fund-raiser, purchasing raffle tickets, or if you can not attend but would like to donate, please contact me at mnemonicist@hotmail.com or at 312-636-9823.

Andrew Mitchell Kudelka

Come join me this Sunday. I've donated the following piece of original Gen-13 card art to the raffle. -Hilary

Stop, Thief!

2009-10-05T10:56:00.006-05:00

Tonight, Monday October 5 -

Sonotheque - 1444 W. Chicago - 312.226.7600

CINEMATHEQUE SONOTHEQUE

CINEMATHEQUE SONOTHEQUE PRESENTS: NOIR ON THE MARGINS

THE THIEF (1952) 86 MINUTES – DIRECTED BY RUSSELL ROUSE

CINEMATHEQUE SONOTHEQUE: FROM ARTHOUSE TO GRINDHOUSE
FILMS SELECTED BY JOE BRYL
6PM to 9PM --Film starts at 6:30
NO COVER
21+

“The Thief remains superior to most other propaganda films – the loss of dialogue in itself is an asset in toning down didacticism – and director Russell Rouse, experienced in the noir cycle (D.O.A. – 1950), imbues the film with the necessary elements of fear, persecution, alienation, and loneliness.”

- Robert Porfirio: ‘Film Noir – An Encyclopedic Reference to the American Style’ – Edited by Alain Silver and Elizabeth Ward

Songpainting

2009-09-29T14:23:00.006-05:00

Songpainting will be returning in February, adding Tony Fitzpatrick to the list of artists worth singing about.

Breaking Windy

2009-09-21T10:38:00.010-05:00

Windy City is my favorite convention. It's small scaled and artist focused, run by Chris and Sal, the swell fellas of Around Comics. But I'm not really a convention guy. I seldom enjoy drawing on demand, and usually just tolerate the shows, not enjoying myself until the gatherings afterward. Saturday I woke up in a lousy mood and was an hour late for the show. I started to lose my voice right before speaking on an inking comics panel, and really lost it at the thumping disco at the after party...the entire day I felt like heading home. But then, miraculously, sitting at a lively, friendly neighborhood bar just a few short blocks away, I woke up. I had a great time talking with fellow cartoonists, sketching, and drinking good beer served with pretzels and good mustard. You gotta love Chicago, and you gotta make Windy City next year. I know I will.

Sharing a quiet moment with Mike Norton amidst the post-con disco din at John Barleycorn. Photo by Rachelle Rosenberg.

Windy City Comicon

2009-09-09T11:47:00.001-05:00

See you at the con!

Everyone who went to the con last year had a ball.
Chris, Sal and the guys throw a great show.
Read all about this year's show, here

2009 WCCC Poster art by Skottie Young

Going into Labor Day

2009-09-07T12:53:00.008-05:00

Spent Sunday at Union Pier in Michigan with friends. Something about this shot makes me look like a midget next to the apparently gigantic Ling Wang. Ah, perspective. Not much sun to be had at the beach. Note the albino like pallor of my legs.

When San Diego's Gaslamp was a gas

2009-09-04T11:01:00.005-05:00

Now that Hollywood has taken over San Diego's Gaslamp district during Comicon, I thought some of you would enjoy this trip through the area's seedier, Grindhouse Row era--which was probably a hell of a lot more fun.

An Italian Boy's Confession

2009-09-02T13:16:00.009-05:00

"Bless me Father, for I have sinned.
I have been with a loose girl."
The priest asks, "Is that you, little Joey Pagano?"
"Yes, Father, it is."
"And who was the girl you were with?"
"I can't tell you, Father . I don't want to ruin her reputation."
"Well, Joey, I'm sure to find out her name sooner or later
so you may as well tell me now. was it Tina Minetti?"
"I cannot say."
"Was it Teresa Mazzarelli?"
"I'll never tell."
"Was it Nina Cappelli?"
"I'm sorry, but I cannot name her."
"Was it Cathy Piriano?"
"My lips are sealed."
"Was it Rosa DiAngelo, then?"
"Please, Father, I cannot tell you."
The priest sighs in frustration.
"You're very tight lipped, and I admire that.
But you've sinned and have to atone.
You cannot be an altar boy now for four months.
Now you go and behave yourself."

Joey walks back to his pew, and his friend,
Franco, slides over and whispers to him.
"What'd you get?"
"Four months vacation and five good leads."

Disney gloms Marvel

2009-08-31T09:58:00.009-05:00

This is big. Bigger than a giant-size man-thing. Disney comics always keeps the original art, same policy that Fox set at Bongo with The Simpsons art. Marvel's stated policy has been that they own the art, and only return it as a gift. We'll see. Fred Hembeck sez, "I guess Howard can finally get rid of those silly pants now, huh?..."

Read an article on the deal's Eisner/Iger connection, here. Read writer Steven Grant's cogent thoughts on the purchase, here. And read a couple of Disney/Marvel limericks at Limerwrecks, here, and here.

Happy Birthday, Gene Ha

2009-08-24T11:45:00.007-05:00

Had a fabulous time at Gene Ha's birthday bash on Saturday night. Gene and Lisa are charming and generous hosts. In fact, Gene was so generous that he was giving away his amazingly detailed original art to Top Ten. What a guy!

Zombie Love

2009-08-19T13:22:00.005-05:00

Looking at that lousy drink'n'draw monster- zombie reminded me of this one, which I much prefer. I drew it for pal Brian Churrilla at a signing for his new Red 5 comic, We Kill Monsters. Brian had just given me a Staedtler marker brush-pen and so I used it to do the sketch. It's a nice brush, the same one I used for the drunk'n'drawn.

Drunk-n-Drawn, numero deux

2009-08-19T09:55:00.009-05:00

Last night's half-baked boozy brushwork from the bar. Thanks to Jason Millet for the scan. Man, is that thing butt-ugly! At least the beer was good. (Click to enlarge--but why would you?)

Drunk-n-Drawn

2009-08-13T09:47:00.008-05:00

Went to the local drink-n-draw last night. Pav Kovacic was kind enough to let me ink his nifty sketch of Flash Gordon. Pav works as an art director, but his sketchbook was full of some very cool drawings and comics--proving he's an artist first. A bar is not the ideal spot for nuanced inking, and I'm afraid I didn't do the classic cartoony face justice. (Click image to enlarge)

Oops!

2009-08-12T11:12:00.002-05:00

I just noticed that I'm wearing the same damn shirt in the photos from the cons in both Chicago and San Diego. I swear to God that I washed it between shows!

Con Ed

2009-08-11T16:14:00.010-05:00

Chicago Con was a long day, but a good one, ending with the usual
drinks at the Hyatt bar. We were hanging near the super suave
Billy Dee Williams, aka Lando Calrissian, who huddled in a corner,
back to the wall. Jason Latour ran the gauntlet and gave him a fist bump.

Above: Here I am talking to Chris Burnham, as Angel Medina wisely
ignores me. Below: After a long night of drinking I lean on the lovely
and talented Rachelle Rosenberg for support. And no, I didn't take a
picture of Billy Dee Williams.

The auction to benefit John Ostrander went well, but there was lots
of art still left to auction. For future online auction details, check out
the website Comix4Sight.

Benefit for John Ostrander

2009-08-04T10:04:00.003-05:00

Mike Gold is holding a benefit auction for longtime friend and comics writer, John Ostrander, to help with John's medical expenses. The auction is this Saturday night, but you can also contribute directly at any time using the address at the bottom of the article on the situation, below. I urge you to help out in any way you can. Feel free to write to me about how you can help.

Hilary Barta

Chicago Comic-Con To Host John Ostrander Benefit

Veteran Comics Creator Fighting Blindness

An auction will be held at the Chicago Comic-Con (nee Wizard World Chicago) the evening of Saturday, August 8, 2009 to raise funds for comics veteran John Ostrander, who is undergoing a series of operations and medical treatments to fight off blindness.

A 27-year veteran of the comics field, Ostrander, has long been suffering from glaucoma. Recently, John underwent a series of operations that might have saved his remaining eyesight. Progress has been made but he faces considerably more treatment in the months ahead.

To help Ostrander cover his costs, a committee has been organized called Comix4Sight. Solicitations for the benefit auction have gone out, and the response from the comics community has been overwhelming.

“The cost of these John’s procedures has been astronomical, and are only partially covered by insurance. And by ‘partially,’ I’m being polite,” committee co-chairperson Mike Gold disclosed. “John has to go up to Boston repeatedly for treatment, and on two occasions thus far he had to spend a week there for the actual surgery.

“Like so many other Americans John is without sufficient medical coverage to cover these types of expenses; sadly, his insurance will expire in about a year,” Gold noted. “With the assistance of Peter Katz and Wizard Entertainment, Adriane Nash, Mike Raub and I have organized a benefit auction to raise funds for John’s medical expenses. We will be having this auction Saturday night at the Chicago Comic-Con to be held at the Rosemont Convention Center near O’Hare Field on August 6th through 9th.”

Original art, signed scripts, comics memorabilia, autographed books and similar items are being donated to the auction. “Within the first 24 hours we’ve received pledges of contributions including original art and signed books by Howard Chaykin, David Lloyd, Dave Sim, Norm Breyfogle, Dick Giordano, Dennis O’Neil, Hilary Barta, Kevin Van Hook, Mark Badger, Michael Davis, Rick Stasi, Paul Gulacy, Joe Landsdale, and, of course, John’s GrimJack collaborator Timothy Truman. We’re getting commitments every day,” committee co-chairperson Adriane Nash stated.

“We’ve set up a website – www.comix4sight.com – that will be carrying updated information about both the benefit and the auction items,” Nash continued. “We’ll also be posting the results of the auction, and any items that came in too late for the benefit will be auctioned off at the site. We will donate any excess revenue to other comics professionals suffering from major vision issues or to The Hero Initiative.”

Monetary contributions would also be gratefully accepted by check or through PayPal at www.comix4sight.com. Individuals and corporations interested in making contributions should send them to:

Mike Gold and Adriane Nash
arrogantMGMS
304 Main Avenue, #194
Norwalk, CT 06851

Con Artist

2009-08-02T13:02:00.013-05:00

Convention season is in full swing. I've barely
recovered from San Diego and this weekend
I'll be wandering around the Wizard Chicago
con. Saturday night I'll be at the benefit auction
for John Ostrander. I also heard that there's a
party at Chicago Comics that same night.
Just what is a social butterfly to do?

It's hard to grab a bite on the convention floor.
Above is a shot of me being accosted by a hungry
young lady at Comicon. (Photo by Andrew Kudelka)

Welcome Back

2009-07-30T13:27:00.009-05:00

Just back from San Diego Comicon International. That's a mouthful,
and so is the con. An impossibly huge and crazy show. It was great to
be there, but it's also good to be home. The photo above is just as
fuzzy as I was after a few days. It was taken in Artist's Alley, and
I'm looking at the portfolio of good pal and fellow Chicagoan, Scott
Beaderstadt.

Comiconned

2009-07-27T10:18:00.001-05:00

Confined in convention hall maze
the show lasts five very long days
Plus nights blurred from drinking
I'm dazed and I'm blinking
When home I'll just lounge in a chaise

Back from the madness that is San Diego Comicon International.
It's far too crazy, crowded, and exhausting, but still a great place
to meet new friends in the comics biz and bump into old ones.
Favorite fanboy moments: meeting and talking with the gracious
and talented Ramona Fradon (below), the best Plastic Man
artist after Plastic Man's creator, Jack Cole. And meeting Berni
Wrightson and his lovely wife at the Creepy signing. One of my
favorite artists and a primary stylistic influence turns out to be a
swell guy. Be still, my beating heart.

Top 2 photos courtesy of Parka Blogs

"Testing, testing, one, two..."

2009-05-13T09:04:00.001-05:00

Is thing on? Just checking.