I WAS HUGGED BY DEATH AND LIVED TO TELL THE TALE!!!

Actually, my wife was too. By god, we're resilient people! Intrigued? Read below to find out what the heck I'm talking about!

MOTOR CITY COMIC CON:

I think this year's con wins for the most fun I've EVER had there. It was Laura's birthday weekend, and I'm very fortunate that my wife happens to love comics!

We ran into a couple friends from our past; my old CMU art pal Adam Talley (and creator of the comic book "Pleasant Hymns") with his wife Kelly and their new baby Scott, and my old CMU theater shop pal Edna Wolff and her wife Lindsay.

We hung around the multiple artist tables of Jeremy Bastian (creator of "Cursed Pirate Girl"), Katie Cook (artist on loads of Star Wars cards, comics and countless other characters) and David Petersen (creator of "Mouseguard"). David was cool enough to give Laura one of his gorgeous Wizard of Oz prints as a gift, and I plan on returning the favor with a drink and an illustration first chance I get. Katie and Dave are also putting me in contact with a guy who creates banners for cartoonists to display at conventions, and theirs are just awesome. So I'm hoping to have my own on display in Chicago this August at Wizard World!

But the number one reason I attended the con this year was to meet my friend and hero, Doug Jones. If you don't recall who he is (and after reading this blog, you have no excuse not to), Doug is the brilliant actor behind so many makeup and non-makeup-enhanced characters. Probably best known as Abe Sapien in the "Hellboy" films and as Faun and Pale Man in "Pan's Labyrinth", Doug was undoubtedly the biggest star to attend the Motor City con (Yeah, take THAT, Carrie Fisher!). Leastwise, he was the guy I most wanted to meet, since he wrote such a beautiful foreword for my forthcoming Dead Duck graphic novel. I was very nervous, but meeting such a warm, wonderful guy just put me totally at ease right away.

Here is me, Doug, Doug's tour manager (I apologize for forgetting his name) and fellow actor John Alexander (in the leather jacket) who played Johann Krauss in "Hellboy II"…


Here's Doug looking at a Dead Duck print I gave him as thanks for writing his foreword…


Here's a closeup of the image…


Discussing Doug's fascinating career….


And the previously mentioned hug from Death (Doug played the angel of Death in "Hellboy II", y'see)! Seriously, I love Ron Perlman, but looking at us here, couldn't I have played Hellboy to Doug's Abe Sapien? Maybe in the third film.


And here's Laura with us. When Doug saw her vintage 50's dress, right away he said, "Oh, she looks just like Laura Petrie (Mary Tyler Moore's character on the old "Dick Van Dyke Show"). Laura countered with, "Actually, that's who I was named after!" True story, folks!


So Doug Jones has won my heart all over again. Just a wonderful, friendly person, and someone I'm proud to call a friend as well as a hero.

Laura also took a quick snapshot of Julie Newmar, who she feels was the best Catwoman ever on film (from the old "Batman" TV series) I still contend that Eartha Kitt was the best, with that awesome growl. We miss you, Eartha.



ARCHIE CARDS:

I completed my Archie sketch cards last week and sent them out to my contact, Steve Frank. I promised I wouldn't show any of the cards without his permission, because understandably, I don't want to ruin the surprise for the people who buy the packs. But I just got an e-mail from Steve this morning who said he received the cards and really loved what I did with them. So much so in fact that he's allowing me to share one of the cards with my fans. So thanks to the kindness of Steve, I'm sharing one of my favorites right here with you guys!



LITTLE GREEN MEN:

I just sent in my cover for Little Green Men, and it got a very positive reception from my editors. I haven't been given permission to show any of the art from the book yet, but if I get the okay, I'd like to show you guys the cover. I'm very happy with how it turned out, and one of you people in my loooonnnng mailing list of friends and fans has been given a little tribute on it! All I'll say is, it's not Laura or Doug Jones! So I'll ask my editors if it's okay to show, and hopefully by next week we'll find out who the lucky person is! Be here to find out!

COMMISSIONS:

My current classic cartoon commission drive is going great guns still, and if anyone's interested, send me an e-mail (fourpanelhero@hotmail.com)or contact me on Deviantart.com, where I'm posting all my commissions. Rob Grabowski, let me know if you're still interested. Your Hanna Barbera dogs playing poker is a brilliant idea!

ONLINE DEAD DUCK:

Last Friday wrapped up the very first Dead Duck story, "The Soul-Taker's Apprentice." Next Friday begins a three-week long story (which amounts to three pages) called "Burn Baby Burn, Witchy Inferno" or "Everybody's Workin' For The Wiccan!" Make sure to check it out HERE, as it's a stone cold hoot, I tells ya!

That's it for now, kids! More news is a comin', and I hope to be back soon to show you the Little Green Men cover. Be here when it lands!

Much love,

--Jay