The Thrilla in Vanilla

I directed this video (and drew all the characters) for my friends The Superfantastics.

Most of you will recognize the inspiration for this - Steph (the drummer) even went so far as to contact Paul Fierlinger, the creator of the original "Teeny Little Super Guy" shorts. Not only did he give his blessing, but he also said that the final product brought back a lot of good memories. I just had an awesome time working on this.

First ten songs in the shuffle queue on my iPod:

1. Modest Mouse - Invisible
2. The Superfantastics - Back to the Future III
3. Girl Talk - Too Deep
4. Of Montreal - I Was a Landscape in Your Dream
5. Destroyer - Watercolours Into the Ocean
6. The Detroit Cobras - Cha Cha Twist
7. Gram Parsons - Brass Buttons
8. The Kleptones - Get It On The Long Hard Road
9. The New Pornographers - These Are The Fables
10. The Magnetic Fields - The Cactus Where your Heart Should Be

I don't get it.

The Frigate is located at 1582 Granville St, next to the Tribeca. You can thank ever-generous Cal for all this.

This was one I did for the Toronto Star this past summer - it was right at the beginning of the "scary liquids!" scare at airports, so they wanted me to draw an airport of the future. Which I did. With surprisingly little research. And about eight hours between them asking me to do it and them wanting me to have it done.

I haven't posted on this thing since August. I've been thinking lately about just turning it into a place where I can post drawings. And so...



It really doesn't signify anything other than it's the first thing I've drawn for myself in... a long while. Many a season. I feel like working on the book really helped me get past a lot of hurdles when it came to inking and (shudder) backgrounds. But I guess the public will decide.

Anyway, I think I'm going to start posting a few of these a week - maybe older bits, hopefully newer stuff. Unless a lot of people say stop. Then we'll see.

I will be on the CBC tonight (the 6 o'clock news) -they did a story about me drawing the book.

Catch it!

Second entry in a week. You'd think I was up to somethin'.

So, my new comic strip (it's the second one down with my name on it) debuts in the Coast today. I am reluctantly taking over the spot vacated by Hope Larson's great "she's from away" (septic rhubarb!), and I hope to live up to what has come before.

As I'm normally given to making excuses about my stuff, I'll try not to disappoint - originally, it was a straight-up soap opera strip, an attempt to dredge up memories of all those great "serious" funnypagers - "Mary Worth", "Rex Morgan M.D.", etc.. I drew it in a style reminiscent of those strips and included the requisite pony-tailed eye-patched loner, the rich debutante with a horrible secret and wealthy industrialist who believes that killing orphans will improve his bottom line. They all lived in the titular New England town of "Chastity Bay", and every strip was to have at least one shocking twist.

When I submitted it, they said that it wasn't quite what they were looking for (and I'll admit, a soap opera spoof can run out of steam in a big hurry unless it's on SCTV), and they'd rather see something in my style. I had a day to come up with a new strip before my vacation, so I did what any self-absorbed artist would do - I made it about myself. Except I go on adventures and my friends are in it (also Jones the cat, who's an acquaintance at best). I called it "Buy Friends Easy" 'cause I figured the simplest way to get people to like you is to make them mildly famous.

Wasn't that a great story?

I never use this thing anymore...

Okay, so here's some LiveJournal-worthy news. As of this morning, I have been hired as a puppeteer for the new CBC Kids series The Mighty Jungle. We will be shooting the first season over the next two weeks.

Those of you who know me, know that I'm freaking out over this. Those of you who don't, understand that I am FREAKING OUT OVER THIS. I have wanted to be a puppeteer since forever, and when I found out about the auidtions, I made sure I was at them. When they called first (two weeks ago), I was still in Toronto, and I couldn't make it back for the audition. They were apologetic, but their hands were tied. I tried to understand.

Then, after I had returned and purged all thoughts of getting the gig, they call up on Saturday, after I get home from work. It seems the director just arrived and they go to camera on Monday and would I be able to audition on Sunday? So I did. Yesterday. And I get a call a half hour after I get home saying that I got it.

So, there it is. I'm a puppteer/comic book artist. Ladies?




Freaking.

Out.

Stolen from Ian Shaughnessy's LJ:

Amazon is now listing "Shenanigans". The due date is November 8. I'm slightly nervous and excited. It's like looking into the future.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1932664556/ref=sr_11_1/002-5346617-8328031?%5Fencoding=UTF8

PRE-ORDERS WILL BE ACCEPTED IN PERSON! I'll make sure Amazon gets their cut, don't worry.

The bottom should read:

SATURDAY APRIL 22! THE ATTIC! SIX BUCKS! 10PM!

WARNING: This monster may attempt to sleep with your mother. Do not let him.

Fuck you.

Regards,

Mike "I was going to watch 'LOST' tonight but I just found out that it's almost over because of some bullshit scheduling issue and God knows they wouldn't want their viewers to miss 'American Idol' or 'CSI New York' or, heaven forfend, our shitty new series 'Jeff Ltd.' and yeah maybe I'm getting a lttle worked up over a TV show but Jesus, 7pm? You're asking me to choose between that and 'ET Canada' and tonight they're interviewing Canada's biggest collector of 'Beachcombers' parephenalia" Holmes.

Thanks, Kari.

So...

The latest "Halifax Cartoonist's Support Group" is tonight. I want to do a comics demonstration, but I have no clue what to talk about. I'm asking you for advice. Bear in mind, I will most likely not entertain suggestions like "go piss up a rope", or "your mother". But who knows, I'm desperate.

What do you think I should do, readers?

Just 'cause I saw this on destroyerzooey's journal, and am desperate to be a part of a gang.



And because I wasn't happy with that one...



AND because most of these are redesigns...(I think she's picking up a batarang.)



My dear sweet lord, this is ridiculous.

My heartfelt appreciation and endless thanks go out to everyone who came out last night. You all get a handshake sticky with pudding.

Once again, we put on a show with the minumest of preparation time, and nobody seemed to give a shit. I think it was just 'cause Mom was there.

To all who helped us put it on, and all who attended: Thanks again, and we'll try to make the show longer next time.

Okay, just to prove to everybody that I'm not above some shameless self-promotion...



...also, I'm like barely in it. But still, first official interview thingy about the book sort of!

I shall be Mark Ibold for this night (i.e. the sloppy-as-fuck bass playing champion).

I don't care if you don't like the bands- I had better see your ass there.