Watusi’s back! And so is the East Buntyn Artwalk!

It’s been a long time coming, but I have a new Watusi issue for sale, featuring an ALL-NEW lead story! In “Copied by the Copy Cat”, Watusi crosses paths with an equally chatty animal … and it doesn’t go well! This issue also features a 3-page “Bad Joke Funnies” segment (originally published in 2022’s “cheese” issue of Bob Corby’s Oh, Comics! #30), where Watusi & many of his supporting cast deliver some real clunkers!

This issue has what I think is some of my best writing and some of my best art … unfortunately they’re not in the same story! “Copy Cat” has been in the works for a ridiculously long stretch of time, first appearing in my sketchbooks waaaay back in 2008! I had the beginning, the ending, and the cover idea all in one burst, but the meat of the story took a little while longer (to say the least!) to come together. As my Watusi comics began to favor the long-form stories I’ve gravitated to in his online comics, original stories for this print edition have become less frequent. But this is one that demanded the ability to be read in one sitting; its effect would be negated if it was spread out over a dozen weeks! It was a good little writing challenge for me, and I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. Plus, I’m glad to be moving beyond the three anthology stories I’ve completed so far this year to get one of my own publications completed and in print!

Watusi the Talking Dog #42 is a 16-page black & white digest w/ full-color covers; ask for it at your comic shop of choice, or get a copy by mail via my Square store (or old school mail order; direct order info on my Contact page) for just $3.00 postpaid in the US. Prefer digital? You can find it on my Gumroad store (for $2.00 US), too! You can also find copies at my next festival appearance …

Also a long time coming, the East Buntyn Artwalk is back! Saturday, April 20th marks the post-pandemic return of one of my favorite festivals, and has me excited to get out of the studio and share my new work (plus much of the work I’ve done since the last Artwalk in 2019, including a series of prints of Memphis’ iconic recording studios).

I’ll be setting up my tent at 490 Prescott Street from 10-5 as part of an amazing open-air bazaar of artist pop-ups in the front yards and porches of the inviting and walkable east Memphis neighborhood, located just to the west of Highland. It features a diverse range of artists working in a variety of media, from watercolors and oil paintings, to photography, pottery, woodworking, jewelry … and even comics! This was such a fun show (both as a customer and as an exhibitor) in past years that I hope this year’s event will be able to recapture that spirit. Come on out; it should be a good time! Admission is FREE, and the event is child and pet friendly.

Hope to see you there!

50 cent finds: Silver Comics!

I suppose it’s not too surprising that browsing the shelves of new releases at my local comic shop has been particularly uninspiring lately. Most titles present themselves as overly-serious and self-important, and genres of crime and horror don’t really grab me. It’s been harder and harder to find monthly comics that are fun for me to read; even the usually-reliable Mark Waid’s current Shazam! series doesn’t really satisfy.

Fortunately, there is a vast backlog of comics I didn’t read when they were initially released that come closer to giving me what I’m looking for in a comic book … many of which are sitting on my own bookshelves, unread. Case in point is Juan “Johnny” Ortiz’ Silver Comics (8 issues plus an annual, 2004-2008): too often Silver Age pastiches come off as derivative of vintage stories, or flat out mocking the strengths those comics actually had. Silver Comics manages to capture the spirit and fun of earlier comics, but with characters and plots that breathe with a life of their own!

Silver Comics is a multi-character anthology, featuring Sea-Bolt (amputee diver with a fish-tailed supersuit), Cloud Buster (armored secret agent, trapped at the size of a giant), and (my personal favorite) Doctor Monster (monster-fighting superhero is set up by a corrupt government, and sentenced to life– as a monster!) among others. Each feature manages to capture the excitement and oddball ideas of the Silver Age, without being direct “homages” to characters of that period (the path chosen by the also entertaining 1963 and Big Bang series). The stories are largely written by Ortiz and Dan Beltran, with pencils and often finished art by Ortiz. Other finishing artists include Mark Prudeaux, Vince Musacchia, Alfredo Nunez, Scott Seeto, Bryon Mon, and others, who each bring their own flavor to Ortiz’ dynamic layouts.

Drafting well-known comic artists like Frank Brunner, Jim Starlin, and Nick Cardy (whose cover to issue #3 is particularly striking) to grace the covers (and help build pre-order numbers, no doubt) doesn’t really do the inside art justice. While both are good in their own way, the interior art sparkles with a lively quality, especially in Ortiz’ own “The Man Called Santa” feature, where Santa Claus and Rudolph battle Martians and even Satan himself!

Ortiz seems to keep a pretty low profile online, and I can’t find where he did much else in the world of comics. In addition to Silver Comics, Ortiz has had a career as an illustrator/designer for Disney and Warner Brothers. He’s also created a series of posters for the original (and Next Gen) “Star Trek” episodes, published in book form by Titan Books.

Full disclosure, I’m not sure that I actually found these at a 50-cent price point, but I didn’t get them when initially published, either. And if you’re able to find them at all– I suspect, like many indy comics of that period, they had a pretty small print run– they’re likely to be found in bargain boxes. If you ever do run across a copy of Silver Comics, give it a read; I don’t think you’ll be disappointed!

Influence & inspiration: Will Eisner

Today marks the 107th anniversary of the birth of the man often credited as the father of “the graphic novel”, an honor which may or may not be accurate… but an honor that is certainly appropriate!

Something I like to do at my shows (if the venue allows it) is bring along a smattering of reading-grade back issues for my table, highlighting the work of my influences and inspirations. While that’s not usually an option at most comic cons or art shows, where the focus is– as it should rightly be– on original creations, I find giving customers something familiar can be a good icebreaker which makes it easier to steer the conversation towards my own comics.  I sort this little collection not by title or character, but by creator, which helps bring home the fact that comics aren’t just a commodity, but also a means of artistic expression.  My dividers include a brief bio, what I like about that creator, and a selected bibliography: essentially a mini primer on some of my favorite creators! Here’s what my divider says about Will Eisner…

Will Eisner (1917-2005, USA)

Will Eisner was a gifted cartoonist, one of the first wave of creators to work in the early American comic book industry. He was best known for his Spirit comic section, distributed as a Sunday newspaper supplement beginning in 1940. Drafted into service in WWII, he later spent 20 years creating educational comics for the Army, notably PS: The Preventive Maintenance Monthly. In the 1970s, he popularized the term “graphic novel” with the publication of his book A Contract with God, and was an early contributor to formal comic studies with his book Comics and Sequential Art.

I appreciate his dedication to expanding the form of comics beyond newstand superheroics and the way he shared the theory and practice of his art via teaching and instructional guides. But mostly I love how much story he could fit– never just cram– into those seven-page Spirit sections!

50 cent finds: The Purge!

When I last wrote about my bargain bin finds, I thought my days of finding fifty cent comics was a thing of the past … but last year 901 Comics had a sale they called “The Purge”, which put their $1.00 back issues into that sweet, sweet price 50 cent price range! Taking advantage of the opportunity, I took a deep dive into both their 50 cent and dollar comics offerings. Pair that with my nostalgic longings for my old #50centFinds and #LunchtimeReading hashtags (from the days when Twitter was still Twitter), this seems like the perfect opportunity to write about some of the treasures I found there …

Following Cerebus #5 (Win-Mill, 2005): I was never a regular reader or big fan of Dave Sim’s Cerebus comic, but this collection of Sim interviewing self-publishing cartoonists about how they edit their work &/or work with editors was pretty good reading!

Yeah! #3-4 (DC, 1999-2000): I know I shouldn’t be surprised at how good these comics are (given that they’re by Peter Bagge & Gilbert Hernandez), but the rock ‘n’ roll sci-fi adventures of this girl group are worth a read if you ever come across an issue! I know I’ll be on the lookout for more!

Optic Nerve #1, 8-10 (Drawn & Quarterly, 1995-2005): Adrian Tomine’s low-key– but full of well-observed characters– comics are usually a good read. The first issue had five short stories, but by later issues he was stretching into multi-issue tales. In addition to the development of Tomine’s writing, the later issues also featured nicer covers, printed on an uncoated stock not usually seen in comics.

Legends of the DC Universe #14 (DC, 1999): In the years following Jack Kirby‘s death, it seemed like DC couldn’t stop revisiting his Fourth World concepts in the Superman titles. Of all those rehashes, this one, written by Kirby associate & biographer Mark Evanier and drawn by Steve Rude in his best Kirby-evocative style, may have been the best!

Off on the right foot!

Happy belated new year, all! January has been a weather-driven challenge, to say the least– our prolonged MidSouth deep freeze felt like a Kansas winter … only in a place without the municipal or domestic infrastructure to handle it! This year we got through without burst pipes or power loss, so we fared better than many Memphians, for which I’m thankful.

Climate drama aside, I’ve gotten the new year off to a better start than I have in some time! I completed a six-page story for Bob Corby’s excellent OH, Comics! anthology, and have maintained a sketchbook practice I call a “daily-a-day” meant to get me back into the flow of how I used to produce my weekly webcomic. Largely a writing exercise at this point– and by no means finished comics ready to publish– it is a good first step towards that goal. I’m pleased with the way things are coming together, and planning to move on to the finished art stage this month, working towards the resumption of my webcomic and new print editions, too! I think it bodes well for things to come over the next few months….

Get the full scoop on my upcoming shows (yes, they’re already in the works!) and get a peek at work on my drawing board in my February newsletter!

Finding inspiration in my own past

2023 certainly wasn’t the “return to comics” I’d planned for it to be at this time last year. In fact, I didn’t publish any of my own comics in 2023, just a couple of anthology submissions! At least I also managed to complete a good number of prints & drawings that were included in group shows in Memphis and out of state, so it was by no means a completely wasted year. Just not what I set out to accomplish…

Anecdotally, it doesn’t seem like I was the only one in a creative funk last year, either. More than a few artists I follow on Instagram (artists who didn’t seem to be struggling, judging by their posted work) commented how hard 2023 had been for them. A friend of mine even decided to take the year off from art entirely (I hope she’s not done for good, though)! I’ve heard from my partner that a lot of the academic and science folks she works with have felt the same way, so there must be something still lingering in the air! And here I thought I was alone in being unable to resume work and creativity and life in general after the pandemic! I don’t know if that should give me some solace, or something else to worry about, though…

Towards the end of last year, as I was thinking about what I’d like to do in 2024, I looked back at my sketchbooks to what things were like going into 2019 (for what feels like my last “good” year) and to try to capture the vibe and creative vim & vigor I felt back then. I learned that even then, it felt like I was unfocused and doing too many things that took me away from the drawing table. Yet I managed to rise above that chatter and make good work despite it. And more of it than I’ve managed to make over the last couple of years, at that! I was also reminded of some of the motivational and organizational tools that used to work for me, tools that dropped away during the pandemic when plans and even the passage of time seemed to be irrelevant. For the first time in a long time, I’m feeling positive about planning longer into the future, and focusing on a body of work that will be meaningful to me and speak to a wider audience. And that I have the guiderails to help me get there.

So, what exactly are some of the things I’d like to have accomplished by the end of 2024?

• Maintain better studio habits: keep office hours focused on making and creating!
• Resume a better daily drawing habit. And don’t obsessively post them on Instagram when its algorithm has moved on to the next shiny new thing.
• Restart my weekly “Watusi the Talking Dog” adventure strip! While the done-in-one episodes have been fun, it’s time to give both me and my readers some richer content…
• Publish something new besides just prints and merchandise! Maybe some Watusi digest issues, maybe some Smeary Soapbox Press-ents minicomics, maybe some other artier kind of comic. Who knows, maybe all of them…
• Make work of a kind and at a pace that makes me happy. Bring joy to my work and pleasure to my readers…

In an effort to recharge my creative batteries, I took an extended break over the holidays and stayed (pretty much) out of the studio– but not out of my sketchbook. So far, it seems to have worked, as I’ve been more focused on working during my studio time, and excited about the work at hand. I’m even making steady progress on a couple of projects already! So, I guess it’s safe to say I’m feeling pretty positive about the year ahead; I’m planning to shake off the unproductive funk of 2023 and make my own comics again! I’m even starting this new year off with (looks at work on table)… a submission to an anthology. Oh well, this year already feels like it’s off to a more positive start!

Cheers to 2024! Let me know what you’re planning or would like to see from me..

‘Tis the _other_ season…

… the season when holiday markets move into high gear! As much as I enjoyed my monster-ific October shows (and thanks for those of you who came out to enjoy them), their nature limited the kind of work I brought to show and sell. My November events will give me the chance to show off a fuller range of what I do, so you can expect to see lots of Memphis-centric art at these shows…

Get the full scoop on my November shows and get a peek at work on my drawing board in my November newsletter!

It’s game on!

After a pandemic break, the members of the Mid-South Cartoonists Association are getting the band back together to release the newest issue in our digest comic series, The Good, the Bad, and the Sketchy! The “games and gaming” issue features comics and artwork from Devin Hodges (cover artist), Jim Palmer, Kevin L. Williams, Lin Workman, Eric McMeans, Jason Negen, Katie Jones, an interview with Greg Cravens about his Con Cards project, and even a playable gameboard by me! This issue turned out really good, and has a few surprises in store even for longtime readers!

The Good, the Bad, and the Sketchy #7 is a 28-page black & white and color digest, and is available in the area (soon) at 901 Comics and Comics and Collectibles & by mail (now) via my Square store for $4.00 postpaid in the US.

… but the funnest way to buy a copy will be from my table at this weekend’s Memphis Zine Fest! Crosstown Arts’  annual celebration of zines and zinesters is taking place Sept. 2-3, 10am-2pm on the second level of the Central Atrium at Crosstown Concourse. CA will even have a zine making station going on in the area, so if you’ve ever wanted to make your own zine, this is a great way to give it a try! The Memphis Punk Archive will be setting up a digitizing station upstairs, too! As always, this is a free and all-ages event, so feel free to bring your friends, your kids, and even your grandparents. It’s presented in conjunction with the Record Swap event, so there should be something there for everyone!

Influence & inspiration: Jack “King” Kirby

Today marks the 106th anniversary of the birth of one of the most legendary creators in the history of comics, Jack “King” Kirby!

Something I like to do at my shows (if the venue allows it) is bring along a smattering of reading-grade back issues for my table, highlighting the work of my influences and inspirations. While that’s not usually an option at most comic cons or art shows, where the focus is– as it should rightly be– on original creations, I find giving customers something familiar can be a good icebreaker which makes it easier to steer the conversation towards my own comics.  I sort this little collection not by title or character, but by creator, which helps bring home the fact that comics aren’t just a commodity, but also a means of artistic expression.  My dividers include a brief bio, what I like about that creator, and a selected bibliography: essentially a mini primer on some of my favorite creators! Here’s what my divider says about Jack Kirby…

Jack “King” Kirby (1917-1994, USA)

Born Jacob Kurtzberg, Jack Kirby was one of– if not THE– major innovator of American comic books, and an incredibly prolific creator whose career in comic books began with the medium itself. He created or co-created many of the most famous characters in superhero comics, including Captain America, the Fantastic Four, Hulk, the Avengers, the X-Men, Black Panther, Mister Miracle and many more. He created comics in other genres, too: war, western, science fiction, horror … and with his partner Joe Simon, he even created the romance comic genre! It’s no wonder he’s called Jack “King” Kirby (even tho he disliked that title)!

I first discovered Kirby’s artwork pretty much as I discovered comics; while his 70s work was a little too far out this 10-year old, I couldn’t deny the power of his artwork. I may have been too young to fully understand what was going on in his pages at that time, but I’ve come to appreciate his rich visuals, his collages, and even his oft-derided florid writing style. His comics really were ahead of their time!

Heating up!

I don’t need to go on about how hot it’s been here, because you all no doubt have your own tales of a blistering July (tales that probably outdo mine). Hope you can keep as cool as you can as the summer wears on.

A big thank you to those of you who attended my Artist Trading Card show last month. I had a good time there, met some new art collectors excited by the work I’m making, made some new artist friends, enjoyed a summery cocktail from Crosstown Art Bar, and even gave away a prize to a lucky winner from one of my mystery packs! A good time had by all, and an event I’d happily take part in again (and I’ll encourage you to do the same next time one rolls around…

In a bit of housekeeping news, I closed down my Twitter account after some 8 years. Kinda bittersweet, because while I will miss a lot of the fun interactions I used to have on that site, it hasn’t felt like that place for some time. I really cut back my use of it about 6 months ago, and found I didn’t miss it all that much. If a less agitating space comes my way (Blue Sky invite, anyone?), I might return to social media, but until then I’ll just stick with my blog…

In happier news, and to return to the title of this section, my schedule is heating up a bit, too, with a number of new events coming up over the next couple of months…

Get the full scoop on my upcoming shows and get a peek at work on my drawing board in my August newsletter!