courtesy of terry...

okay...

as craig and i--along with a select group of special guest artists--continue to move full steam ahead on the next thrilling installment of the perhapanauts, i find myself lacking in any real news or subjects to cover here on the blog. hence the long gaps between postings. sorry. (also, i think a lot more people are following the twitter these days than the blogs...am i right? hello...? ...)

anyway, 'cause i was getting tired of looking at the last post, here are a bunch of cute, cool, and funny pictures--in that order-- forwarded to me by my moe's-loving pal, terry. (mmm...moe's...!) enjoy!


on the cute front, here are a couple of pups that are just that--too cute! (after seeing me well up at the sight of uggie the jack russell terrier in the artist, i think terry is trying to blackmail me into getting a new dog. but, sorry ter--too soon...)














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these are, apparently, the cool new thing in germany... a series of wallpapers for your garage door...






















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...and here are some pictures to think about the next time you do something dumb...
(so you don't feel all alone in your stupidity, i guess...)













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and finally...





that's it for me~
have a great weekend!
smell ya later~!
todd

Imagination 101 with J.M.DeMatteis

okay...

here's a little plug for my pal, J.M. DeMatteis' writer's workshop that, if you're an aspiring writer or just interested in the craft, you really oughta check out...



IMAGINATION 101
writing for comic books, graphic novels and animation
with J.M. DeMatteis

When:
Friday April 13th, 7 pm to 9 pm
Saturday April 14th, 10 am to 5 pm (90 minute break for lunch)
Sunday April 15th, 9 am to 1 pm

Where:
Modern Myths
34 Bridge Street #4
Northampton, MA. 01060

Join master storyteller J.M. DeMatteis for a weekend exploring the realms of imagination, from the metaphysical to the practical. We’ll ponder the big questions...

~ Where do ideas come from?
~ What part does will play in the creative process?
~ Is the best writing actually an act of channeling?
~ Do we create the story or does the story create us?

...and tackle the day-to-day realities of a career writing superhero sagas, fantasy epics and animation:

~ What’s the difference between “Marvel style” and “full script”?
~ What’s the value of editors?
~ Are agents necessary?
~ How do you handle rejection without jumping out the nearest window?

Come prepared to listen—as JMD shares stories and insights gleaned from more than thirty years writing comics, television, film and novels—but be prepared to work: you’ll pitch ideas, dialogue artwork and help create a story from the ground up.

Bring all your questions, too: this won’t be a brief, two hour seminar. You’ll have an entire weekend, in an intimate setting, to explore your own creativity with J.M. DeMatteis as your guide.

Cost $415.00
Class size is limited. To guarantee your place, register now.


We have a group rate at two local hotels.

Clarion Hotel
One Atwood Drive
Northampton, MA 01060
(a two minute drive from Modern Myths)
www.hampshirehospitality.com/clarion/clarion_hotel.html
Call directly to book—(413) 582-0002
Tell them you’d like to book a room for the Imagination 101 group block.


Hotel Northampton
36 King Street
Northampton, MA
(a two minute walk from Modern Myths)
www.hotelnorthampton.com
Call—(413) 584-3100 and mention Imagination 101

These rates are only available for one more week.

For more information: imaginationworkshops@gmail.com

In anticipation of the Northampton event, JMD will be doing a signing at Modern Myths on Saturday, March 24th from 1—3 pm.


have a great weekend!
smell ya later!
todd

eric's blog and sundry jpgs...

okay...

i'm posting this on the "small" setting to inspire and encourage you to head on over to our pal eric henson's blog to see, not only this awesome--and in full size--big marker sketch, but also to check out eric's versions of batman, the silver surfer, and another colored version of eric's sweet perhapanauts cover!




here's the pic and here's the link--go check 'em out! they're great!

http://erichensonart.blogspot.de/2012/03/marker-sketches-splash-of-color.html

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and while we're doing a little blog-jumping this morning, may i also direct your attention to christian's blog where mr. leaf has been busy doing several way-cool pieces for a benefit to help a local artist out with medical bills following a brain tumor. this big daddy roth/ratfink inspired zombiker got my motor runnin' the first time i laid my bulging, blood-shot eyes on it! and i've seen the final, colored version!! hopefully, christian will post that soon too!




go see some more of christian's stuff at

http://inkblatt.blogspot.com/


(oddly enough christian is currently inking the second half of eric's back-up story that will be featured in the upcoming perhapanauts miniseries, danger down under! and he's also inked both parts of matt wieringo's back-up story too! that's a lotta inkin', stinkin'! thanks christian!)

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and speaking of the newest perhapanauts adventure, over on the perhapanauts facebook page--please go over and 'like' us...and get your friends to, too--i've posted this picture as well as the story of the mysterious mongoose called gef. one of the strangest cryptid cases of all time, gef appeared to a small family in a small farmhouse on ireland's the isle of man back in 1931 and soon caused no small amount of scandal as a bizarrely intelligent--and well-spoken--talking weasel. ya gotta read the article to believe it. or don't--i'm not forcing you.
but it is fascinating...




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and here are a couple of jpegs that i found either cute or fun or funny.
big thanks to my niece jordyn who sent me that last one late at night and made me wake sharon up with my laughter.
(i dig sarah mclachlan--and, of course, cats and dogs--but those commercials are criminal.)









have a great monday~!
smell ya later~!
todd

the signing at October Country~!

okay...

as many of you know--or, if by chance you've seen my or weezie simonson's facebook pages--we had an awesome time this past saturday in the newly refurbished and dedicated "joe sinnott signing hall" in the downstairs section of october country comics in new paltz ny.

i will not bore you with the details of how writer/artist/satirist fred hembeck officially--yet secretly--declared early that morning that he would only be signing his name backwards all day, leaving many a perplexed fan scratching their heads as they pondered the huge "DERF" scrawled across their precious comics. or how inking legend and celebrated hand-model terry austin physically embraced every seventh person in line and gifted them with a vintage prize from a 1970s cracker jack box...
i'll just go ahead and run the reel...


the lovely ramona fradon and the equally stunning joe sinnott


joe and the charming bob wiacek
(points to bob for putting up with sitting next to me all afternoon. thanks, bob. and sorry...)


the better-looking half of our hoary hosts--mike giacoia.
(sorry, bruce--i'd already put the camera away when we finally got to talk...)


the terry and the fred--there is no doubt these guys think they're in a sitcom.


joe staton--you are reading the dick tracy daily strip, aren't you?--and my panel-partner, dr.who artist and enthusiast, matthew dow smith


matt and artist/instructor paul abrams



the king and the queen--walter and louise simonson. i think these two would be the wacky neighbors in fred and terry's sitcom.

or maybe it would be the other way around...?



weezie taking a picture of me while i'm taking a picture of her.
(she is a much better--and smarter--photographer, holding the camera out and not using a flash...)


and finally, a shot from over the shoulder of the inimitable joe sinnott~!

and i'm out~
smell ya later~!
todd

see ya saturday~ OCTOBER COUNTRY super signing~!

okay...

just in case you missed it, i will re-post this announcement that says that me and all my comic book buddies are gonna be in new paltz (ny) this saturday--that's tomorrow--signing comic books, acting out scenes from each other's stories, and playing "hi bob!" every time someone says hello to bob wiacek...
it's gonna be fun--you should come...



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and now we come
to a new feature we'd like to call
"pictures i stole."
(actually this is kinda an old feature; i've been 'borrowing' pictures from all over the internet since this blog began...)

this week, most have been gently lifted from my facebook friends, from their avatar/profile pics or from their walls...

now i had never seen this pic of possibly the creepiest twins in cinematic history, but it was really nice to see at least one of them smiling. and i did just read that neither danny lloyd--who played danny--nor the girls--louise and lisa burns--knew that they were making a horror movie. director stanley kubrick filmed all of their scenes in a fun and playful atmosphere and shielded them all from any of the creepy stuff.




i posted the earlier, rougher version of this awesome eric joyner painting some time last year 'cause i thought it was fun and cool. i'm posting this 2.0 version because i am now just so into everything the big bang theory. sheldon and leonard have this on the closet door behind the coach and i just dig it!




and this pic, well, it speaks for itself.
you know how much i love costumes and cosplay.
oh, and girls.




because i got this offa one of my italian facebook friend's pages and i don't speak italian, i don't know whether schimerys baal took this picture or eudes honorato. or maybe this IS one of them and the other took the picture. or the other way around. either way; smokin' costume!

see ya in new paltz!
have a great weekend!
smell ya later!
todd

2nd annual October Country signing spectacular!

okay...

so whaddaya doin' this saturday...?
i'll tell ya where i'm gonna be.
at october country in new paltz signing funny books with all my friends!
ya oughta come--it's gonna be big fun!

PRESS RELEASE

COMIC BOOK CREATORS TO GATHER

... New Paltz - It’s a comic books collector’s dream come true – again.

13 artists, inkers, writers will gather 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 10 for a free autograph signing session at The October Country, 5 Cherry Hill Center, New Paltz (across from McDonalds).

“Based upon the wonderful success of this event in 2011, October Country comics has decided to make this an annual event,” said Store Manager Mike Giacoia. “We encourage current customers and newcomers alike to join us and find out why both the attendees and guests had a wonderful time together last year. Up and coming writers and artists can get free advice and fans can get autographs or engage in conversation with this marvelous group of creative people.”

Scheduled to participate are artists/inkers Terry Austin, Dan Green, Joe Sinnott and Joe Staton; writers/artists Fred Hembeck and Walt Simonson; writers Todd Dezago, Ron Marz, and Louise Simonson; artists Matthew Dow-Smith, Herb Trimpe, Ramona Fradon; and inker Bob Wiacek.

Some guests will have items for giveaway or purchase; artists might have sketches. October Country will have their work products available for purchase. But there is no obligation except to have fun, said Giacoia.

For more information call 845-255-1115.






see ya there~!
smell ya later!
todd

joe and terry

okay...

i have often said that i know how lucky i am.
i have been blessed with a wonderful life; born to very loving and giving parents, a great brother, a wonderful extended family. lucky enough throughout my entire life to find myself surrounded with many friends who really understand what friendship is all about.
on top of that, i've been extremely fortunate to be able to work in an industry that i have adored all my life, allowed to shape the adventures of some of my most cherished comic book characters, and work alongside some of the most talented people that industry has seen.

i know i am lucky.
it was nearly two years before, after countless games of volleyball, dinners out with the guys, and going to the movies, that i was able to stop thinking of terry austin as my all-time favorite inker, responsible for many of my favorite comics in the late seventies and early eighties (detective, uncanny x-men, cloak and dagger, justice league, etc) and started thinking of him as, my pal terry.
and terry and i joke about how absolutely surreal it is to be such friends with some of our childhood legends. me with nick (cardy), him with joe sinnott.
just the other day he told me that he had that moment of clarity while standing in the frozen food section with joe at the local hannaford. terry said that, just for a second, he realized that he was grocery shopping with the guy who inked the galactus trilogy. holy cosmic cube!!! that's huge!

so how cool is it that i have such great friends.
as i've been on sorta house arrest for the past 6 weeks or so, many friends have called or dropped by to check up on me. terry stopped by a week or so ago and, as i posted in a short blog, left me with a lot of way-cool reading material. hearing about his visit, and planning a lunch out with terry anyway, joltin' joe suggested that they swing by and see me last week. not only that, they stopped by holy cow and brought ice cream with them! couldn't have asked for a more pleasant afternoon.
thanks so much, you guys!



joe--yes, JOE SINNOTT was in my house!!!--and terry.
(terry tried twice to rub the dirt off joe's forehead before we reminded him that it was ash wednesday...)



terry also dropped in this awesome batman sketch he did for the interior of my legends of the dark knight: marshall rogers edition (you should all go get one!) as well as an autographed postcard signed by steve englehart, (the late) marshall rogers, and terry his own self.
thanks, terry--they're great!

i don't know what i did to have such great friends...

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i always thought they grew in the mommy's belly.

this is the tree choopie dreams of at night.


have a great weekend!
smell ya later!
todd