And We're At The End Of Another One...

Originally published in THE SALEM NEWS 12/31/2012. Happy New Year,everyone--despite it all!

Holiday Advice

I submitted this as a holiday cartoon to the SALEM NEWS. Was never published.

Year-End Wrap-Up

These cartoons were originally submitted to the SALEM NEWS but never published.

After all the hulaballo about windmills in Salem, I'm amazed that this went thru without a hitch..or did it?

This was based upon an article about veterans having seeking employment due to lack of "qualifications". So amazing how these people go out and fight, go thru hell to serve our country, and then get told THIS when they come back home?

And this one was inresponse to the recent Sandy Hook shootings. I realize I may have gone a bit over the top for this one, but for some reason, that old schoolyard chant just stuck in my head..It's amazing how we just used to PRETEND to play guns and never gave it a second thought back then..

Creative Characters: Xmas 2012

My NINTH annual promotional Holiday card for the media company CREATIVE CHARACTERS. This year, they decided to go for a more classical tone, though I must confess I've never been very good at copying the style of the late, great Charles Schulz..

Salem News: Third Term Wishes

Originally published in the SALEM NEWS 12/13/2012. Mayor Kim Driscoll announces her intentions to run for a third term. This cartoon also marks my 100th blog posting this year, making it a record. Whoopie Ding.

The Disney/Star Wars Deal

Originally published in THE COMICS BUYER'S GUIDE #1698. I'm sure this is old news by now, but given between the gap betweenCBG's deadline and publishing, it couldn't be avoided. Basically a "commentary" on the new mix between STAR WARS and Disney's OTHER accquired properties. It'd make for a Helluva crossover.

SALEM NEWS: Community Pot

Originally published 12/07/2012 in the SALEM NEWS: With the legalization of medicinal marijuana. local community councils are basically going nuts on where and how they're going to locate the dispensiary facilities, and frankly, many, if not most , are not to thrilled about it at all..Right now, many are taking a wait-and-see attitude, but you can't shake the feeling this is what they're thinking..

Think About It..

Just some silliness.. Kinda makes you think a WACOM tablet should be considered a dangerous weapon..

Truth In Media

Feeling unfair and unbalanced tonight. In short, nothing new.

Maybe I Should Have Said "Drunk as a Skunk", But...

A Special Holiday Message..

Happy Thanksgiving!

Okay, a couple days early, maybe, but still... Published in the 11/20/2012 SALEM NEWS.

Happy 90th B-Day Stan Lee!

Originally published in the COMICS BUYER'S GUIDE #1697: The theme for this issue was Stan Lee's Birthday, and I was thinking, "What would Mr. Lee rather NOT do on his Birthday? Made for an easy strip..But since a lot of you may not get the joke, the Mailman character here is WILLIE LUMPKIN, star of a short-lived newspaper strip written by Lee and drawn by Dan DeCarlo.

Isn't It Supposed To Be CHICKEN Little?

I don't mean to throw salt in anyone's wounds, but this to me seems to be the attitude of the GOP since the election.

Sunny Day, Sweeping The Clouds Away?

Originally published in the SALEM NEWS 11/09/2012. It if ain't one thing, it's another...

The Donald

Whatever anyone's opinion on the outcome of the election, I'm sure many have to agree that Donald Trump is seeming more and more like this every day.. And sadly, I don't mean the Carl Barks version.

Last-Minute Halloween Themed Sketch

I know it's kinda late, and Halloween will be over by the time you see this, but what the Hell?

Salem News: Halloween in Hamilton

Originally published in THE SALEM NEWS 10/30/2012: Some local communities had actually banned outdoor events due to concern over the high risk of mosquito bites. (and any disease they may carry) Hamilton decided to lift their ban in time for Halloween.

For ART's Sake: The Halloween Episode.

My latest from THE COMICS BUYER'S GUIDE # 1696...

Halloween is Coming!

My cartoon, originally published in the SALEM NEWS 10/26/2012.

Waking Up Weird at New York City Comic Con..

I was at the recent NEW YORK COMIC CON and one of the highlights was meeting SESAME STREET muppet performer LESLIE-CARRARA RUDOLPH, the voice and talent behind the popular fairy-in-training ABBY CADABBY. Leslie also stars in her own traveling show , WAKE UP YOUR WEIRD,centered around her original puppet character LOLLY LARDPOP, seen in the photo below. Leslie was both very sweet and very funny and was generous enough to let me take a photo. I also met BONNIE ERICSON, one of the chairpeople of the JIM HENSON LEGACY as well as the person who designed and dressed MISS PIGGY for many years, and NOEL MacNEIL, the Muppeteer who performed BEAR in BEAR AND THE BIG BLUE HOUSE. They were all very kind and patient with an old muppet geek like me! Thanks to you all! You can check out details about Leslie's show at www.wakeupyourweird.com

Salem News: Local Donors

Published in the SALEM NEWS 10/04/2012: The demographics of local people in the state of Massachusetts who donate money to the Presidential campaigns..

And the Call Goes Out For..THE MIGHTY HEROES!!

Separated at Birth?

Cartoon I just submitted to www.digboston.com..I'm actually seeing people dressed like this around town.. never mind that it's getting close to Halloween!!

Salem News: Sliding Grades

Originally published in THE SALEM NEWS 09/21/2012: After a publicized drop in the quality of several if its schools, Salem makes some major turnaround efforts and actually brings up some MCAS scores..

For Art's Sake: Evolution

My latest FOR ART'S SAKE strip from the COMICS BUYER'S GUIDE # 1695.

Captain Caveman

Look! Up in the sky! It's bad toupee! It's a rabid Tribble! It's...

Salem News: Fair Food

Published in THE SALEM NEWS 09/12/2012: I've heard plenty about fast-food joints offering things like bacon-flavored Milkshakes and Sundaes recently, and now, the upcoming TOPSFIELD FAIR is going to introduce some new members of the extreme junk-food club..Don't we already eat enough NORMAL junk food already? Is there NO concoction we'll pig out on without shame?

09/11/01..plus 11...

My cartoon for the SALEM NEWS commemorating the eleventh anniversary of 09/11/01.. Sometimes I have to wonder if this country would be better off if we'd all just shut the hell up now and then...

Having An Off Day...

Must be in a weird kind of mood.. How else could I explain drawing a picture like THIS?? Not like me at all..

Neil Armstrong: 1930-2012

Published in the SALEM (MA) NEWS 08/30/2012: The SALEM NEWS editorial page ran a special tribute article about first man on the moon Neil Armstrong and used my cartoon to illustrate it..

Jerry Nelson: 1938-2012

Another of the greats has just left us. JERRY NELSON, one of the original Muppet Performers has passed away. Jerry was the creative force behind SESAME STREET'S Count Von Count, Herry Monster, Amazing Mumford, Biff, THE MUPPET SHOW'S Floyd Pepper, Robin the Frog, Lew Zealand, FRAGGLE ROCK'S Gobo, Majory the Trash Heap, Pa Gorg, and numerous more other characters on those shows as well as many others than even The COUNT himself could Count.. He was also a talented singer/musician, and even put out a CD of his own, TURUO DAYDREAMS. I had the pleasure of meeting Jerry in person twice, during THE MUPPET SHOW LIVE at MUPPETFEST and at the NY MUSEUM OF TV AND RADIO, and both those times he was nothing less than awesome. My deepest condolences to the Nelson family and all of his closest associates. The man will be missed, but definitely not forgotten. Jerry once stated that he got into puppetry by lying and wearing cowboy boots.that inspired this little tribute..And I'm honored that he appreciated my work..Thank you for everything, Jerry.

Salem News: Bat Invasion

Published in the SALEM NEWS 08/22/2012: Salem has been having a bat infestation.. and not the kind that attract comic book fans, either.....

Salem News: Putting The Town On The Map

Published in the SALEM NEWS 08/22/2012: The neighboring town of Marblehead Massachusetts prepares to honor its Olympic ties. In fact, the winner of this year's Gold winner for Judo (the US' first) was born in Marblehead..Given the geography of the town, this seemed VERY apt..

Drop-Dead Gorgeous...

Pirate Queen BANGLADESH DuPREE from PHIL FOGLIO'S webcomic GIRL GENIUS. www.girlgeniusonline.com

And Now A Word From Our Sponsor...

..And now back to our regularly scheduled programming...

For ART's Sake: It's Definetly Not PUPPY Love...

My latest from COMICS BUYER'S GUIDE #1694..

Salem News: Important Yet Secret

Published in the SALEM (MA) NEWS 08/15/2012: Recent debate over the necessity of the Governor's Council: A position that isn't widely known outside of political circles..And I can guess one reason why it's been that way.. SIGN ME UP!!

Hong Kong Funeral

I think he would have wanted it this way..funnier to imagine how the pallbearers would be carrying that thing, though..

Staying True To Your Values

Another CHICK-FIL-A based cartoon. Appears in www.digboston.com 08/11/2012.

Coming Out At Dinner..

A graphics tablet sketch I did based on the recent Chick-Fil-A controversy:

Salem News: The Deal Comes Down

From the 08/09/2012 SALEM (MA) NEWS: The deal is done in the saga of the old Salem Harbor Plant. The Footprint Power Co. bought the site, and the time is coming for the old plant to be demolished and the area cleaned up. Let's hope things go smoother than what the drawing implies.

Salem News: Cleanup Plan

Published in THE SALEM NEWS 08/03/2012: A plan to close down, eliminate, and clean up after the old Salem Harbor Power Plant is set. In other news, a promotional gimmick by store chain Cumberland Farms results in mass thefts of life-size cutouts of David Hasselhoff. If this makes any sense to you, feel free to explain how.

Transylvania TV!

My take on a weirdly funny puppet webcast series about a bunch of monsters that run a TV station! From left to right..Batfink, Furry Ackermonster, and the Vampire LeShoc. Episodes can be seen at www.transylvania-tv.com WARNING! NOT FOR KIDS!!

Salem News: Cigarette Ban

Published in the 07/30/2012 SALEM NEWS: Cigarette sales are going to be banned from Pharamcies.. as if THAT'S going to make any difference!

Obligatory Cat Picture

Here's a cat picture you wouldn't normally find on Facebook:

Salem News: Police Dogs

Published in THE SALEM (MA) NEWS 07/26/2012: The city of Salem wants to add an extra couple dogs to the Police force, often stating how much they can do the work of ordinary officers..