yet another sign of the impending apocalypse...

& his lips even fuckin' move.

people deserving of more respect, pt. j

Evan Dorkin

ain't too proud to beg...

Today I turn 40...
& I'm still not a superhero.
Please help me~

jawbone

The last piece before the "Circus" leaves town~

for the blogger who has everything...

Hey kids-

This angst funnyman's gonna' be 40 next week (egads!), so if you wanna' get yer favorite blogger a lil' somethin'-somethin' for all these years (okay- months) of entertaining you folks, you could simply fulfill my lifelong dream~

Seriously, how freakin' cool is this Brooklyn Superhero Supply Co., "online purveyors of high quality crimefighting merchandise"?!

It is indeed a real store in Brooklyn that does indeed sell supplies to Superheroes (& yes, it does screen out any & all super-villians); It is also the brainchild of the uber-talented Dave Eggers & all proceeds from heroic goods go to support 826, the wonderful community writing center for youth.
I especially dig the Vapor Blaster just so's you know...

starfish (sans coffee)

The "Circus" continues~

pan

Another in the "Proletkult Poetry Circus"~

proletkult poetry circus

Back in the day, I was asked to do a series of illos for a performance art collective known as the "Proletkult Poetry Circus". I did small black & white pieces for their readings & such. It was interesting because of the constraints involved (size & placement) coupled with the choice of subject matter (total artistic freedom therein).

Some of the pieces were successful; some were not. I think this week I'll share some of the successful ones as is my wont. Enjoy~

captain america (as represented by robt seda-schreiber) v. stephen colbert

This morning, Stephen Colbert, host of "The Colbert Report" & right-wing alter ego of Stephen Colbert, will be served with a legal document called a writ of replevin.
A writ of replevin is a prejudgment process ordering the seizure or attachment of alleged illegally taken or wrongfully withheld property to be held by a designated official, under order and supervision of the court. This type of writ is commonly used to take property from an individual wrongfully in possession of it and return it to its rightful owner.
In 2007, upon the supposed "death" of Captain America, his shield was given to Mr. Colbert by Marvel Comics Editor-in-Chief, Joe Quesada.
As I am sure comes as no surprise to anyone, Captain America, aka Steve Rogers, has returned (“reborn” if you will) from his supposed death. More to the point, reports of his death were greatly exaggerated in the first place. It was under this false pretense that Mr. Colbert was “bequeathed” said shield, so it would follow that the good Captain’s shield be returned to him post-haste. I bring this legal action in his name, with the help of my brilliant & beautiful lawyer-wife.
Now being a poor schoolteacher myself, I am willing to negotiate with Mr. Colbert. I would think he would like to keep Captain America’s shield in his so-called “Eagle’s Nest” & I am willing to discuss terms by which he could do so.
I truly hope that we will be able to reach an amicable & fair agreement & we can settle this before it becomes an ugly & embarrassing courtroom spectacle.
I will let you, my dear readers, know of any & all progress as it occurs.
For now, here is a copy of the aforementioned writ of replevin for your perusal:

click to embiggen

friday funnies

all the news that fits...

monkey in a jar

When I first began "very secret monster things", I wasn't sure of the exact direction this great & beautiful unwieldy beast would take. I knew I would post some muzik, given my predilection thereof; some comix, because they're "not just for kids anymore!"; &, of course, lots of art, my own as well as others who inspire me to create said art. Now that I'm getting my sea-legs as it were, I see more clearly my path. The music is fun & I like to share some stuff you kids may not have (mash-ups, remixes, covers, etc.), but I think I'm going to start concentrating more on the art, especially my own~ some old, some new, but hopefully, never boring.
Let's start with a vintage piece that I still like for some odd reason...

it's okay if only five folks read this blog if one of 'em is this guy...

When I post (like when I draw), I do so in a vacuum, in my studio, alone~ surrounded by my toys, my drawing table & my spinner rack of comix. I never know what the response will be to any given piece of work I produce, if it will be successful, or indeed if anybody will see/read it at all.
This blog has been fun thus far, still finding my way, finding my voice as it were. Sometimes I despair at the seemingly low number of folks who visit this dark crevice of the inter-webs; not that I don't cherish those who do. All the comments & e-mails I've received have been truly wonderful & have kept me sane, focused & indeed inspired.
But the following deserves special recognition~

"Very cool stuff!
I like what you did with the wolves--the final version definitely works. I also like the self-portrait, with your (very well-drawn, btw) hands, projecting towards the reader.
But what I like MOST--is the way that you write!
You have a very direct, unpretentious, endearing--and ultimately, very cool--way of expressing yourself in words! Much FUN to read!
I'm only sorry that it took me this long to check out your blog, and find that out.
All the best to you--and thanks again, for the very nice compliments about my work. (But you're no chopped liver yourself, y'know!)
Take care-
Trevor"

That's Trevor Von Eeden.
Of whom I wrote here.
Whose craft, imagination & talent, both when I was growing up & to this day, imbues me with huge amounts of knowledge & pleasure ~ with his beautiful line-work, thought-provoking layouts, & totally original & utterly wonderful style.
Here's something I scanned from an old Batman annual I have on my spinner~
It's just Batman flicking on a light switch, but it shows that when Trevor Von Eeden drew anything, it wasn't ever just anything at all...

'nuff said.

finally apprehended

"Fallin' Asleep" week concludes, very appropriately~

syllabus

More navel-gazing & nakedness (maybe that's what I shoulda' called the strip instead of "Fallin' Asleep")~

big bad wolf

"Fallin' Asleep" week continues with one of my favorites~

we interrupt the art for a very important message from the president of the united states...

touch the sky

& for my next trick, I draw myself nekkid~

the greenest hair

More "Fallin' Asleep" for y'all...
Remember: only dogs see in black & white; color-blindness is a misnomer, it should really be called "color-confused".
Enjoy~

fallin' asleep

Back to work, back to bloggin'...

Whilst in college (Rutgers '92), I really came into my own as an artist. I had transferred from School of Visual Arts in Manhattan & found a real home for my work on the pages of the three major college papers there. I first slung ink at the Rutgers Review with the cult hit "Skullboy" until they censored my work once too often (a story for another time, kids). Fortunately, Ian Jacobs & Heather Alevras (to both of whom I am eternally grateful) wooed me away to "The Medium", the ugly step-child of the school's papers, with the promise of a full page for my doodles &, more importantly, a lot more respect for my work. It was there I really found my proverbial niche. At the same time, due to my ever-increasing & even more inexplicable rising popularity, I was offered some space at the "Targum", the school's stalwart, staid & somewhat stilted paper of record, wherein I tested the boundaries of good taste with a strip called "Creative Juices" (this work I will share as well in the near future).

But it was at the aforementioned "Medium" that I gave my ink-stained heart & soul with the magnum opus called "Fallin' Asleep".

I was allowed full artistic freedom to create this work which allowed me to clear my head of all the insanity & inanity that kept me up all through the the night, at first revolving at around sexual proclivities (my own & others as well) & thankfully evolving into something a little more~ some political, social & environmental musings; some emotional & psychological explorations; some small answers to big questions; & lots & lots of drawings of me naked.

This week, I will share some of my favorites from the approximately 83 some-odd (& some were very odd indeed!) strips that encompassed "Fallin' Asleep" in all its inky glory some almost twenty years past.

This first piece is a good example of the navel-gazing in which I often indulged, one of the very things for which I believe college was created.

I was so much older then...

wolves on the walls...

Been painting the mural for my son's school that I wrote about last week, thought you kids might like to see it~

Would love to hear (read) yer thoughts...

one more for the webhead

The other day when I posted some sticky tunes, I totally spaced on this dub-tastic ditty from Big Youth~

Spider-Man Meet The Hulk

crying wolf

It's become tradition in my family that when my son starts a new school, we paint a mural on the wall of said school, both to help him get acclimated to his new surroundings & to thank the school for the part it will play in his life & further education.

It began at his preschool wherein my lovely bride & I painted a huge underwater scene over winter beak despite the fact that we were both stricken with some horrible illness that I am sure mutated into what is now called the swine flu. Nonetheless we had a great deal of fun painting (my lawyer wife especially showing great heretofore unknown prowess with a paintbrush) & knowing that our son Jack would be that much more comfortable entering his new surroundings.

When he started kindergarten, he requested we do the same & we did, painting a huge piece in an archway of his new school with the happy approval of his new principal.

Now he is entering, for lack of a better term, an "upper elementary" school, & again we are starting the process of "beautifying" his new surroundings. This process has been a little different that the previous two in that I submitted a sketch for approval beforehand & received some constructive criticism on some changes they wanted to see implemented.

I thought you, my small but dear readership, might be interested in this process so I am including all three drawings for your perusal.

The first sketch was a collaboration between Jack & myself, incorporating his new school's mascot, the wolf, portrayed as members of a band, in homage to his favorite group, Gorillaz.

Here's my first sketch~
This drawing was met with great enthusiasm from his new school, but it was felt that the wolves were perhaps too human-looking & perhaps didn't read clearly enough as wolves. I agreed as when I was doing the sketch, I was unsure whether to go full-wolf as it were or perhaps more human. I erred on the side of anthropomorphism & was happy to makes the musicians more lupine~

That sketch was then deemed to have more of a "middle school" aesthetic & it was requested that the wolves be a little more cartoony. I at first was disappointed & thought about politely demurring (I think the 4th & 5th graders were being underestimated & would enjoy these wolves, with their somewhat fierce & rockin' demeanor), but quickly remembered for whom & for what reason I was doing this, & happily acquiesced to my patrons' wishes~

This sketch was approved wholeheartedly by all involved & we start painting this weekend.

(I will post pics of the painted mural upon its completion.)

I am not unhappy with the final drawing, I think I stayed away from too much of a Disney-esque vibe & still kept enough of my own artistic sensibilities (& I especially like the new afro!), but I am still partial to the second sketch & feel that is the most successful drawing of the three. But given the mural's location, I understand that perhaps the compromise was necessary &, in the end, will produce the best work for its intended audience.

But, in the end, whatever the artist in me may think, the father in me is pretty damn happy to be able to once again be there for my boy...

I'd truly love to hear (read) your thoughts on the three sketches & perhaps you'd like to share a similar instance when you made an artistic compromise & your feelings about finding such a medium, whether it was a happy one or perhaps not so much.

Some of its parts

A mash-up is a curious thing. As I've stated before, most of them are pretty bad, whether ill-conceived from the start, or simply a case of a good idea (e.g., interesting tracks that would seem to fit) not assembled with the right skill, panache, &/or funk. Finding a really great boot is a rarity indeed; I think the mathematical equation (call this the "very secret monster things mash theorem", if you will) is about 37:1, as in I sift through 37 painful Frankenstein's monsters before I find one made by a true Dr. Funkenstein. I do this work not just for me but for you, my dear readers...

Even more rarely, though, a great DJ will take tracks that ya' don't dig & create a wholly new piece that rocks yer world. The always-reliable DJ Clivester pulls this seemingly-impossible task off more often than not.

Here's a great example~ A mash-up containing a buncha' songs that don't tickle my fancy at all, interspersed with one track I dig the most (guess which one), creating a stitched together masterwork that makes you want to scream from your castle against the thunder & lightning

as the square villagers approach, with their torches & pitchforks (& appalling lack of funk), "It's alive! It's alive!"

Extreme Galvanized Gays

contains fleshy parts from the following~

Moby - Extreme Ways

Chemical Brothers - Galvanize

Katy Perry - U R So Gay

Beenie Man - Dancehall Queen

Beyonce - Single Ladies

Reservoir Muppets

Definitely NSFW but oh-so-worth it!

sticky fingaz

"Spider-Man, Spider-Man does whatever a spider can..."

We all know the tune, not a day goes by wherein it doesn't swing through my head, & with Spidey revvin' up to make his big Broadway debut next year, I thought I'd post some sticky tracks, some good, some bad, all at least interesting to say the least. Uncle Ben certainly wasn't talking about these musicians when he imparted his better-than-your-average fortune cookie wisdom~ "With great power comes great responsibility".

First up we have the ubiquitous 60's cartoon theme, which swings almost as much as our web-headed friend his own self & then we turn it up to 11 to let The Ramones rock it out with their version.

Next Freddie McCoy vibes us out with his jazzy samba-riffic tune that had Spidey on the album cover but had seemingly little ease to do with the wall-crawler. But still a nice mellow tune nonetheless.

From across the pond comes an odd "mastermix" from MC Spy-D & "friends" which has some BBC Spider-Man cartoon dialogue interspersed with some pretty generic beats; Appropriate does basically the same with the 60's theme, mashing it up with some electronica- This track was featured in some video game or some such I believe.

Italian Spider-Man? Ridiculous, repulsive, offensive, you so don't want to laugh, but you will (& aren't those things the very foundations of the Internet itself) & the song will end up on your iPod, I guarantee it...

Finally because I couldn't find one song good/bad enough to feature, I leave you with a triumvirate from the mid-70's classic, "Spider-Man: Rock Reflections of a Superhero".

Until we hear what Bono & The Edge are cookin' up, this is what the music world has offered up thus far in celebration of Peter Parker & his sticky alter-ego.

(& I do want to share this as well~ whilst doing the research for this post (read: Googling "Spider-Man"), I learned something I wish I could unlearn: There is a pretty perverse & very un-gallant sex act known as the "Spider-Man" & I beg you not to find out for yourselves. Don't do it! I beg of you!)

As one of the great literary figures of our times sez~

"'Nuff said, true believer!"

Spider-Man 60's cartoon theme

Spider-Man Ramones styley!

Spider-Jazz

Amazing Spider-Man BBC Mastermix

Spider-Man Appropriate Mix

Italian Spider-Man

Spider-Man theme: Rock Reflections of a Superhero

Peter Stays & Spidey Goes: Rock Reflections...

No One Has A Crush On Peter: Rock Reflections...

kiss or kill, round tres

This round of "kiss or kill" allows you kids to pick or pan this ultra-new & shiny track from Cornershop's forthcoming album, "Judy Sucks A Lemon For Breakfast". It's certainly rocks hard, but is it sitar-iffic?!

What say you? Leave your votes in the comment section & decide Tjinder & the boys' fate......

"Who Fingered Rock & Roll?"

edible misogyny

Only in Japan~

She's enticing you to "Please eat it gently and kindly."

& behold the slightly NSFW pudding "cups"...

found on Danny Choo's waycool portal to Japan

trece años eróticos maravillosos hermosos

Thirteen years ago today I watched my girl walk down the grassy aisle, more stunning than the sunlight itself that was streaming through her hair.

She has only gotten more beautiful, more interesting, & far more sexy since then...

robinson crusoe on mars

by Bill Seinkiewicz

you can own this thing of beauty here.

people deserving of more respect, pt. 9

Trevor Von Eeden

ain't it the truth...

We All Wanna Be Prince

retro-mash

French masher DJ Zebra concocted this great lil' ditty, marrying the late '70's to the late '80's, introducing Diana Ross (no, not Donna Summer!) to Michael & the boys in a wonderful disco-poppy-dancey melange to which I woulda' danced my bike-shorts off @ the Melody in my club daze.

Upside Down Tonight

& it was still warm.

"Where The Wild Things Are" was my favorite book when I was a kid (mayhaps it still is) & it was my boy's as well. Now the ultra-talented mad genius Spike Jonze is finally releasing his celluloid version this fall. My thoughts on this have been mixed- the delays & troubles certainly didn't assuage any fears. Adding so much back story may ruin its simplicity or it may be bloody brilliant; I'll give Mr. Jonze the benefit of the doubt for now, especially given the wonderfully beautiful & perfectly odd trailer that is makin' the rounds on the tubes of the Internet as well as in those archaic monstrosities known as movie theatres. You can easily find that elsewhere so here is a the cover to the Japanese version that I was lucky enough to score whilst in country

& a refix of the Arcade Fire song as close to the version of the tune as heard in the trailer.

Enjoy~

Wake Up Where The Wild Things Are

had to be there

My lovely bride & I were just checking in to our hotel, stopping on the way to Cape Cod, & the news had literally just broken. Everybody in the place- young, old, black, white, brown, whatever- gathered around. Whatever his oddities, his peccadillos or indeed his larger sins, his quirks & his faults, he touched us all.

Pure & simple.

I owned "Got To Be There" on vinyl when I was a kid & the needle hardly ever left it.

I was not a huge fan of some of his later stuff, or certainly of his later antics, but his genius cannot, & will not, be denied.

He lived the ultimate irony~

He was a boy who never grew up yet who also never had a childhood.

A sad, sad life lived & ended too soon, but before it did, he left us with so, so much good music.

I hope the tunes outlast the punch-lines.

I know all the songs have been posted everywhere else & I'm oh-so-very-late to the party, so here are some somewhat rare or less mainstream remixes & mash-ups that hopefully will bring a smile to your face & a beat to your feet...

because it's that fuckin' awesome.

& the question is:

Why do i own four copies in four different formats of

"Whatever Happened To The Man Of Tomorrow?"

people deserving of more respect, pt. h

out of sight

Steven Soderberg's "Out Of Sight" is perhaps my favorite movie. It is simply a perfect film. The imagery, the performances, the music, the mood, all the oh-so-talented folk involved. If you have not had the pleasure, watch this flick; If you have seen it, watch it again.

What with Soderberg's incredible palette & truly genius manner of putting it all together, as well as taking it all apart; the smarter-than-it-should-be script that easily surpasses its source material; the cast who create & inhabit some pretty (& boy, is my boyfriend George Clooney pretty!) funky characters (Don Cheadle, Ving Rhames, Steve Zahn, Luis Guzman, Albert Brooks, Dennis Farina, even Jennifer Lopez works it, & a few great cameos to round out the fun) & the wonderful nouveau-retro score by David Holmes~

This move is an under-appreciated gem indeed!

You'll laugh, you'll cry... you will thank me for the referral.

& here's a funky taste of David Holmes' nouveau retro score to whet yer whistle~

ch-chemo it out

So last week the fresh & funky Adam Yauch broke the news that he had just a lil' bit o cancer. Seems he will beat it but the Beasties have to cancel their live groovin' for a bit & the album's gonna' drop a lil' later as well... not to mention the shit MCA must be going thru.

My agnostic prayers are with u, my brother.

& here's a lil' taste of the new album & all the funky-ass goodness to come

raison d'être

I staked this lil' piece of Internet real estate on the foundation of this book, "Design For Obama", which is due out in the fall from Taschen. When two of my pieces were selected to be published in this wonderful tome, I decided to make use of the opportunity to disseminate my wild & wooly ideas about the world & all its magick (or lack thereof) as well as every now & then showcase a lil' doodle I made.

You can read my very first post here for the full story & see the pieces that are to be included.

Now my Israeli friend Shahar gave me the skinny that they have unveiled the cover (see above) & a publication date (October).

It's even being pre-sold on Amazon.

Woo-hoo!

people deserving of more respect, pt. 7

DJ Andy Smith

lo siento

Okay, when I said the weekend, I meant the whole month...

Hey, she really is that beautiful.

Simply enough, I'm sorry.

I've been a bad blogger...