Relatively Tolerable New Year To Everyone!

Originally published in THE SALEM NEWS (MA) 12/31/2010

A situation I'm sure many of us can indentify with...

Good Luck. We'll all need it.

Salem News: Plant Grant

Published in THE SALEM NEWS (MA) 12/28/2010.
The Salem Power Plant has caused some controversy over the years. Many feel it's too old and too much of a risk to the enviroment.On the other hand, it's the city's biggest tax source. (Some groups have called it the SOLE threat to the ENTIRE PLANET!) In any case, they DID grant a whopping sum to Salem's beleagured school system. Publicity stunt or just corporate spin? Maybe, but at least this one will be beneficial..

Salem News: Better Parking

Published in THE SALEM NEWS (MA) 12/15/2010.
Turns out there's a local city with WORSE parking than Salem's! Whod'a thunk it?

Salem News- MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Published in the SALEM NEWS (MA) 12/24/2010. A Salem-Style Santa.

Salem News: If At First You Don't Suceed...FAIL AGAIN!!

Originally published in THE SALEM NEWS (MA) 12/18/2010:
A proposed Methadone Clinic, already booted out by a massive neighborhood protest. once again tries to gain a foothold in Salem. Unfortunately, their choice for an alternate area-in the vincinity of the local HIGH SCHOOL..as well as traffic concerns... once again bring up an uproar and the clinic was denied..Will there be a next chapter in this saga? Stay tuned...

Creative Characters Card 2010

I recently did my SEVENTH annual holiday card illo for the Philly print company called CREATIVE CHARACTERS. These cards are usually a challenge for me, because how easy can it be to come up with concepts based on copy machines and printing presses?
This year, however, they had something slightly different in mind.They told me they were going to be introducing a number of new services, and in one of my rough sketches, I suggested a riff on THE TWELVE DAYS OF XMAS, using each new service like one of the verses..(12 response codes, 11 maketing designs, etc.) And I even drew in a Partridge in a pear tree complaining about what a travesty this whole thing is..Well, they decided to go with a different format, but they loved my partridge so much they asked me to draw it into the card!
This was also the first card I did for them that would have both an inner AND outer drawing, as opposed to just a cover drawing for the ones I did previously, so working from their outline, their latest face shots, back and forth e-mail scans, and right down to old-fashioned coloring BY HAND (Professional prismacolor markers) I came up with the two drawings up above. (They added the typography/lettering afterwards) I think it came out pretty good myself, the slick cardstock they used just accentuates the shiny glowing effcts I was trying to get with the markers!

For Art's Sake: Digital Competition

Published in THE COMICS BUYER'S GUIDE #1674:
Video rental stores aren't the only businesses threatened by internet commerce..

More Muppet Fanart

My latest fanart that I did for the TOUGHPIGS site. Proceed at your own risk.
(www.toughpigs.com)

Salem News: Four Loko

Published in THE SALEM NEWS (MA) 11/20/2010:
A number of liquor stores in the area are refusing to carry this drink because of its rather powerful combined alcohol/caffein content...(In a way, I think they're afraid it might hurt their regular booze sales... why buy SIX cans of beer when you can get the same effect from ONE can of this stuff?

Salem News: Happy Thanksgiving

Published in THE SALEM NEWS (MA) 11/25/2010

Search Silliness...

A quick silly thing I just shot off.. with all the controversy about airline searches. i figure if there's ANYONE who wouldn't want HIS junk touched..

For Art's Sake: SEIGE

Published in THE COMICS BUYER'S GUIDE #1673. This one is geared more towards general comics Geeks based on the bestselling Marvel limited series (Google for details) BTW, the guy in the strip is NOT Santa Claus.

Salem News: Bringing Down the House

Published in THE SALEM NEWS 11/10/2010.
This was not one of my regular cartoons, but rather an illustration my Editor, Nelson K.Benton, requested for an editorial. The story concerned a long-standing court battle to tear down a neighborhood home that may have been built illegally, and its costs.

Two Unused Local Issue Cartoons

I submitted these to the SALEM NEWS but they were never used. The first is based on a story that MA Congressman Joseph Tierney's wife was doing the bookeeping for her brother's illegal operations without her husband being aware of it. (note the June Cleaver pearls)
The second cartoon is based on the results of the recent Midterm elections. In MA, Gov.Patrick managed to keep his position yet the Republicans have resumed majority control otherwise.

Salem News: Post-Halloween Scare

Published in THE SALEM NEWS 11/02/2010.
This was drawn before Halloween, but not used until afterwards, but I think it makes a good reflection on the times. Which group would YOU consider weirder, louder, and scarier?

Salem News: Psychic Zoning

Published in THE SALEM NEWS 10/15/2010:
This cartoon was based on an SALEM NEWS article about the city's proliferation of Psychic readers(fortune tellers,etc.) after certain restrictions to allowing these business were removed. It also seemed to me that if anyone can start such a business with simply just filling out a license and paying a fee, maybe some more controversial enterprises that have had trouble setting up in Salem might use this little loophole to get around it by simply combining services..

For Art's Sake: Making A Killing

Published in COMICS BUYERS GUIDE #1672 (Now on Sale)
Personally, I find this trend disturbing.From the original vote to "murder" Jason Todd, even to making a big deal over Wonder Woman KILLING someone..This is ONE reason why I hardly LOOK at most mainstream any more..I'm not against action and drama, but to PUBLICIZE things like this? We really haven't gotten past enjoying watching people get thrown to the lions, are we?
WHY DOESN'T HUMOR SELL??

Yeah, I know..rave, rave, rant, rant..and nothing I say will make a damn bit of difference.

Austin: The Original Puppet Version

If you've seen my earlier posts of my series of MA KABRE comic strips, you may remember I mention that the character of Austin the Bat was based on a puppet I had made several years back. The puppet no longer exists, but I did run across a old photo slide, which I enlarged thru my scanner. Forgive me for the quality, but this may be the only example of Austin in his orginal puppet form.

Salem News: Question Three

Printed in THE SALEM NEWS 10/02/2010

Question Three is a proposal to reduce the Massachusetts sales tax from its current level to around 3.55%. Needless to say, there is a lot of debate about that. The NEWS actually used this cartoon in an editorial by Citizens For Limited Taxation Head Barbara Anderson. Note I decided to do a "classical" take.

My First Animation!

I've been learning to use DIGICEL animation software on my computer and I managed to crank this piece out! Oh, I know it's on the rough side, but, hey, it IS my first...And I must say I'm rather proud how it turned out! It's posted on YOUTUBE, should you ever want to see it there!

Salem News: Garage Fail

Published in the 09/17/2010 edition of THE SALEM (MA) News. The city wants the MBTA to help build a new parking garage at the Salem Depot, But as usual, what the city wants and what the State can afford are two different things entirely. The city wants a attractive garage (to lure tourists) w/handicap ramps, coffee shop, weather protection, etc, while the State only wants the very bare basics..levels of cement..The quote used in the cartoon was actually used by Salem Mayor Driscoll.

For Art's Sake: Magnus Opus

My Latest strip from COMICS BUYER'S GUIDE #1671: You really have to be a comics geek to understand this one..The character here brooding is the main character of an old GOLD KEY/WHITMAN COMICS series known as MAGNUS,ROBOT FIGHTER. The series, known for its art by Russ Manning, took place in a futuristic time were a young hero, well, mainly, fought robots. (to keep mankind from becoming too dependent on them) MAGNUS is currently being reprinted/revived. That should pretty much give you an idea of the gag behind this strip.

Salem News: New Dormitory

Published in THE SALEM (MA) NEWS 09/01/2010.
Didn't college dorms simply used to be simply a place to live and study? Looks like education is turning more like vacation every year! I can't help feeling these students are being set up for a fall once they graduate out into the real world!

Salem News: Greedy Judgement

Published in THE SALEM NEWS 08/26/2010.
I KNOW times are tough, but for a well-paid Judge to try FIVE TIMES for a SECOND pension..When less well-to do folks are trying to get by on just ONE? Is this guy THAT hard up? Maybe he needs it to afford the lawyers and court fees from his earlier efforts!

For Art's Sake: The Return of Bruce Wayne

My latest from COMICS BUYERS GUIDE #1670. DC Comics, after milking all the publicity about Batman "dying" (He's actually trapped in the past- don't ask me to explain) Is now going to bring Bruce Wayne back and as most any comics reader knows, dying and then coming back is really no big deal..Hell, it's almost laughable...

A Real Steal

Illustration I did for a company's anti-employee theft campaign.

Well, It's a Cute Piece, Anyways...

Don't ask me to explain this one...

For Art's Sake- The Weekly Days-Continued

More of My COMIC BUYERS GUIDE feature strip FOR ART'S SAKE from around the early 2000s. It's hard to believe I've been doing this feature so so LONG...