LAST BLOG POST OF 2011

I know that towards the end of 2011, my posts have gotten more infrequent. I think that's connected to my workload, which slows down considerably around winter. Less work means less to report on. I do appreciate everyone who's kept up with what news there has been. This being my last post of 2011, I'll give you a run down of what you can expect in 2012.

• DEAD DUCK: I launched my web comic on Halloween of 2011, and have been re-posting all my old Dead Duck stories ever since. Readership has been small but steady, with a reliable group of people who comment on the comic almost every time I post a new page. I'd like to see that group grow in 2012, which would assure that I continue Dead Duck after the old stories have run their course. If you want to help, please spread the word for people to check out Dead Duck at this link. I feel there's plenty more Dead Duck stories to tell. Let me know that you still want to hear 'em.

• NECRONOMICOMICS: Since July of 2011, I've been blissfully plugging away at this single panel cartoon. My editors have been pleased with them, and it seems I still have a home for my horror-spoof comic at Rue Morgue Magazine for the coming year. You can help assure my comic's future by picking up a copy of Rue Morgue at the first of each month, available at Barnes and Noble and most major bookstores. But that's just half the job. I also need you folks to write in and make sure Rue Morgue knows how much you enjoy and support Necronomicomics. And with the digital revolution that's overtaking publishing, it wouldn't hurt to suggest to the editor that they start running Necronomicomics as a web comic. I've put that bug in their ear already. It's up to you to poke it with a stick and send it scurrying. Here's the fella you guys should contact:   DAVE ALEXANDER (Editor in Chief) dave@rue-morgue.com  Let's keep Necronomicomics alive (or at least undead) and get it run online in 2012!

 

• LITTLE GREEN MEN: 2012 draws a close to my writing and drawing of the all-ages comic for Ape Entertainment. The final graphic novel comes out on January 25th, and you can order it here. It's been a fun few years working on the book, and this last installment is a fun way to round out the series. But Little Green Men isn't my last gasp of kids comics for Aoe. Not by a long shot...

 

• DINO DUCK: This is another kids comic Ape has had me writing and drawing for the past year. It's about a duck in prehistoric times, and has absolutely no relation or connection to my Dead Duck (For one, Dino Duck is a kids book, while Dead Duck is anything but). I'm down to creating the last seven pages, and then it'll be sent to the printer. This may actually be the first mention of the book anywhere, so no official release date has been set, though I assume it'll be at the tail end of 2012. Once this book's done, I'm actually beginning another all ages comic for Ape that I can't even mention yet. I'll be writing and drawing it as usual, and I'm developing the character designs as we speak. Count on seeing that one in 2013.

 

•  BODIE TROLL: My plans for releasing Bodie in 2012 were a bit premature. I have had a completed script written for months now, and I have a couple sketchbooks loaded with notes and character designs. But I'm not absolutely confident that everything is as ready as I want it to be. So I plan on developing the book further, and will report any news when I think I've finally got it all locked down.

 

• CONVENTIONS:  I may not be hitting as many shows as I did last year, mostly for financial reasons. It's a rare circumstance when I do any better than break even at a con, and right now, I'm counting every penny I pull in. However, I'm already socking away for one major convention for sure. The San Diego Comic Con is the biggest convention in the world, and for the first time, I'm going. My main goal is to meet as many publishers and pros as I can with my portfolio and pitches firmly in hand, so I won't be in artists alley. However, since I'm a member of The National Cartoonists Society, I've been told by my pal Greg Evans (creator of the comic strip Luann) that I can hang out at the NCS booth and sell my wares there for awhile. Plus, I imagine I'll put in some time at the Ape booth if time allows. It's going to be a whirlwind to plan and a whirlwind to do, but I think it's the best way to assure a sunny forecast for my career.

 

So that's what's on the books for 2012. Anything else that's to come is as much a surprise to me as it is you, and I look forward to it. I'll leave it here with some of the last drawings I did in 2011. Happiest of New Years to all you kids, and thanks for sticking with me!

The 2011 Christmas card I did for my friends, Jason and Renee Hedgcock. They've been two of my closest pals since college, and I'm honored that they have me draw their card each year.

A family portrait that Jason and Renee had me draw for their extended family as a Christmas present.

A commission I received to draw The Black Cat, a sexy villain from the Spider-Man comics.

An artistic experiment I did, once again combining my cartooning with my photography.

A piece I just did for fun, lampooning 80's cartoon characters Jem and Slimer.

 And lastly, this piece I drew of Kitty Pryde and Sabertooth, from the X-Men Comics. This is part of an art trade I did for Ryan Ruffatti, who built the comicpress site that hosts Dead Duck.

--Jay

NEWS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A MONTH AND A HALF!

I'm sorry for month and a half delay since my last post. I've been playing catch up with commissions and deadlines all this time, and both my blog updates and Live Sketch Show had to take a backseat. But things have slowed down a bit, and I'm finally able to get back to business!

To begin, my LIVE SKETCH SHOW returns tonight at 8 pm eastern time. One thing I haven't had time to do during my absence is to draw just for the fun of it. So that's tonight's theme. I have two ideas I've wanted to illustrate for awhile now, one a mash up of two 80's cartoon icons, and the other a loose parody of a 70's Saturday morning cartoon. That will be what's on the drawing board, so no requests will be taken tonight, but you're encouraged to tune in and chat it up with me while I draw. You can reach me during the show via Ustream's chat window. You need to log in to Ustream to use the window, but registering is easy. It only takes a username and an email address. Once you've entered that info, you can chat with me all you want. I hope to see you all there!

Next up, I hope you're all faithfully following my DEAD DUCK WEB COMIC. Though you may think you're familiar with this current run of stories, there's plenty of brand new trivia with each page I post that should keep you interested and anxious for the next installment! Plus, by this time next year, there should be all new Dead Duck stories to share. So stick with Dead Duck, and be sure to tell me what you think of the comic!

December marks my fifth month working on "NECRONOMICOMICS", my monthly horror movie-themed cartoon that runs in Rue Morgue Magazine. I'm still having an absolute blast drawing it, and Rue Morgue has been incredible to work for. I've posted some of my recent installments below for you to check out. Be sure to look for it in each issue of Rue Morgue, available in a bookstore near you!

For those unaware, the cartoons parody (top to bottom) John Carpenter's The Thing (1982), Predator (1987) and Splice (2010). It could be argued that these three are as much sci fi movies as horror, but to me, that's like calling Frankenstein sci fi. So let's call a spade a spade and use it to bury the dead--until they rise again!

Lastly, for those interested in what's been keeping me busy this past month and a half, I've posted some of my recent commissions below:

 This was a commission where I was asked to draw Dead Duck on a date with the Pagan goddess Eostre and the Greek goddess Nyx. I thought drawing them as Betty and Veronica andand Dead Duck as Archie would be a hoot!

 This was a commission for my friend Char of she and her husband as Linus and Sally from "It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown".

A commission for a fellow who asked me to draw he and his friend alongside vampire hunter Peter Vincent from the movie "Fright Night"(1985). The Coke cans and Chef Boyardee pizza kit were an inside joke he requested I include, but I liked those little details even without understanding them.

This was a commission from a friend who asked me I draw her brother and sister-in-law as characters from the sci fi movie Dune (1982). They're trying to have a baby, so she asked me to include the infant-to-be as another Dune character. I purposefully made the baby nondescript (yet still cute) so it fit whatever sex the baby turns out to be. 

A Scooby Doo and Shaggy commission from the same fellow who requested the "Fright Night" piece. I drew him as Shaggy.

This is a piece I drew for cartoonist Jon Morris' Marvel Universe Too What If blog where artists were asked to re-interpret popular Marvel characters. The colors on this piece were done by my good friend and talented artist Evan "Doc" Shaner.

 This was a birthday card I drew for my friend and fellow cartoonist Katie Cook, who, besides being wicked talented, is also a fan of the recent animated reboot of My Little Pony.

This last one is the holiday card I made from Laura and I. Our families have already received theirs, and are probably still scratching their heads in confusion. It's weird, it's silly, it's us.

To the rest of you, if I don't post again before Christmas hits, all my best to you and yours during the holidays season! I hope to have big news for you in 2012, with lots more artistic lunacy to come!

--Jay