Squids, Change-Bots, and Kittens

I was just doodling the other day on the couch and came up with a few squids, floating eyeballs and some who-knows-whats-its.

And then I took it in to Photoshop and colored them, for you know, fun.

In the newest of news, I sent my favorite comic book artist, Jeffrey Brown a copy of The Dabbers first album and a letter expressing gratitude for continually making such great art. Great art which includes the next issue of The Incredible Change-Bots (I already have it pre-ordered of course) and a collection of cat books, see sample below:

This is a good idea of what Zeppo is like in person. Oh, have you met Zeppo the Kitten? We’ll get to that in a minute.

Mr. Brown sent me a super cool postcard in reply, and I can’t say it enough – artists who continue to keep in touch with their fans are increasingly rare and very appreciated. It made my day to see his handwritten note in my mailbox, hopefully it’s not embarrassing to post this, but I’m just so excited!

If you’re reading this at all Mr. Brown, just know that you’ll be getting our full length vinyl sometime this year!

We are still in the studio mixing, it’s taking us a little longer than last time because it’s booked way more than it ever has been, and squeezing in a spot every month makes the process a bit more tedious (but intensely gratifying when we get a song ‘done’). We are releasing it through United Record Pressing again, and like I mentioned to the phantasm of Jeffrey Brown just a moment ago, we are going to press our full length (not just a 7-inch) this time (!!!!). It will include a download card (the newest thing these days) which will allow you to get the digital version for your iThing or what have you.

Phew! I’ll post more about Zeppo next time. I think I’ll go eat some cereal right now instead.

book piles..//..update

Currently working on revising pages and pages of old writing, organizing the piles of paper and random newspaper cutouts and assorted drawings on tiny little pieces of paper that I find in every moving box I open. I need a bookshelf terribly, and have been piling all of my books into order of style, just for the sake of feeling accomplished perhaps. Poster books, hardcovers and paperbacks, and with my Henry Miller collection aside, I only have one other literature obsession that is apparent at first glance – Ayn Rand. I only own her paperbacks, and most of the versions are really quite boring visually, but the hardcover versions are incredibly expensive, since her cultish following is very dedicated to owning the most vintage prints of her early works (and most famous of course, i.e. Fountainhead/Atlas Shrugged). On the subject of books, my most recent reads are: Atlas Shrugged, We The Living (both Ayn Rand), Stand Still Like the Hummingbird (Henry Miller), and a few comics I picked up at Comic Con, my favorites being Jeffrey Brown’s “Incredible Change-Bots” & “Miniature Sulk”. I think I need to reread Atlas Shrugged a few more times to really take a head-first dive into its meaning…kind of like Crime and Punishment (Russian literature tends to be a pain in the ass sometimes with each person having four or so different names, formal/family/friend/social…). As of right now, I am reading nothing but the different specks on the walls of my room…

Comic Con 2008

This year I wore my lovely lizard costume that Trista made me for Halloween ’07 to help shamelessly self-promote my blog and my art. The Con was super crowded and even more commercialized then ever before, which is understandable considering the amount of easy advertising the event offers… thousands of people just walking around in a big room with nothing else to look at but what your company wants them to. Its a consumer meat market! BUT pretty fun at the same time if you know what to look for.
The Ugly Doll stand really expanded this year to a giant display, and with so many people just working in the booth, its easy to see that they really took off this past year even more than before. It was amazing to me just how many people are diving into the plush doll toys ‘market’, and making cute little things out of simple designs and selling them for good money.I think that soon the Ugly Dolls themselves are soon going to be overdone and too mainstream considering that smaller artists are making way more original and cooler stuff. Either way, for the past few years I usually find these giant dolls walking around so I can get a picture with them.
My loot at the end of the day was mostly composed of comics from some of my very favorite guys, Jeffrey Brown, Sam Brown , Andy Runton, and the annual Flight 2008 edition.

I finally buckled down and purchased a fine print from Sam Brown, which I am pretty happy about. As always, these guys were super nice and friendly, and as always, I wish that the “small press” section of comic con was just a tad bit bigger, but I guess then it wouldn’t be small press anymore right?

A few improvements could definitely be made too, like perhaps selling a little bit tastier food that wasn’t so damn unhealthy? It really isn’t that hard (and would probably be profitable) to have some more filling options to munch on besides greasy pretzels and pizza. And I’m not talking about a whole organic/vegan/veggie option (as if that would ever be catered to at the most American-ized Cheeseburger-eating crowds that go to the Con), I’m just talking about some basic 7-11 stuff. Yeah it would be low quality, but maybe just something that doesn’t make my stomach churn later? Well, I just brought my own PB & J anyway and ate its smashed remains while my friend Mike and his little sister ate half-eaten pizza from the trashcan. Comic Con is always an experience to say the least..