DAVE COCKRUM ( 1943-2006 )

DAVE COCKRUM
(Nov 11, 1943 - Nov 26, 2006)




DAVE COCKRUM PASSES AWAY

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According to several sources, legendary X-Men and comic book artist Dave Cockrum passed away in his sleep last night, his death a result of diabetes and its resultant complications. He was 63 years old.
While his Legion work is widely known to Legion fans, Cockrum will forever be known as the artist who, with Len Wein, and later with Chris Claremont, created the new X-Men, and redefined both the existing characters and revitalized the world of the mutants and the franchise for Marvel. Cockrum had two major stints as artist on Uncanny X-Men, from Giant-Size X-Men #1 in 1975 through 1977, and then from 1981-1983.

"Newsarama"
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HANDELS NOTE.

For anyone growing up in the 70's who was even remotlely interested in comic books, you had your share of great GREAT artists. Surely some of the cream of the crop in super critters were:
Gil Kane, Neal Adams, Ross Andru, John Romita, and ......Dave Cockrum.

Dave Cockrum Died yesterday morning. Due to complications from diabetes. Dave was a fantastic guy. Down to earch, Humble and just an all around accessible person. He was you and me. He was a fan of the medium. And the fans of the medium loved Dave Cockrum.
Now I'm sure that there are those out there that arent familiar with anyone predating Jim Lee, So have no idea of who Dave is. In a nutshell, Dave Cockrum is responsible for the Creation of the modern day X-men. Starting with Giant size X-MEN #1 (which I own, thank you very much) and for characters such as "Nightcrawler", "Storm", "Collusus", And "Phoenix","Thunderbird", "mystique", "the Brood" and "StarJammers".
And while not the FIRST artist to draw 'Wolverine',(HERB TRIMPE Hulk 180-181, circ1974), Cockrum was the first to draw him in the way he's been drawn (for the most part) for the past 30 years.
Comic book Accomplishments that are indeed rather on the huge side.
Unfortunatly, like so many comic creators working at that time, as in the golden age...Dave didnt have the knowledge or the foresight to see what impact those characters...HIS characters, would have on the entertainment world.
As with Seigal and Shuster...you had people, both comic book creators AND fans that came to his defense and with a spotlight on Marvel that was NOT altogether positive, Marvel settled with Dave Cockrum on his royalties.
Dave had been sick off and on for some time and in 2004, the comic world was stunned to see just how sick he was. Diabetes. The mounting costs of treatment and lack of ducket had made things pretty tough, And his many fans and peers held a benefit for him to help out someone who'se work inspired them and will continue to inspire.

Sadly, Yesterday morning, (monday the 26th) at the age of 63, Dave Cockrum passed away in his sleep.

So passes a GREAT ARTIST and more importantly a GREAT, GREAT MAN. To be always remembered through countless stories from friends and family, and TONS of truly beautiful artwork, in panels, strewn together to make what we call....Comics.

God bless ya Dave Cockrum. And my prayers and heart go out to your loving family.
Thank you.

RESPONSE TO THE RECENTLY DECEASED 'ROBO' (PART TWO).

Robo says::

“””I keep politics out of Chipps and Loopus for a reason. I want their world to feel like their world, not ours. I go out of my way not to reference pop culture or politics in the strip. I am a big fan of Walt Kelly, and he mixed politics into his strip all the time, to the detrement of the strip at times. Many have said that the politics in Pogo tainted that little world forever, and that is why I stay out of it in "Chippy and Loopus."”””

Well! A moment of agreement. I think that it’s a wise choice. UNLESS you’re whole thrust is pretty much a political cartoon. Where it IS what it is. Even the ones that do it REALLY, REALLY WELL, it still kinda bothers me. No matter what the slant. It always reminds me of a cameo of a star that’s just in the movie for like a split second..(ala Christian Slater in the star trek movie….bugged the crap outta me!). It’s just a mental speed bump and assumes wrongly that everyone is gonna think you’re the bees knees in being clever. When it’s just being arrogant and narcissistic. COUGH! COUGH! COUNTSY! COUGH! COUGH!!!

Lastly,

Robo says:::

“”””I know who you are, and you know I know, so let's drop the coy double talk. Don't worry, I won't "out you" so just calm down. “””

Again, I don’t know how else to be more clear. You assume that I’m worried. Somehow a’shakin in muh boots <<<”so just calm down”>>>. At the thought of being “outted”.

Tell me, robo…..even countsy who we can safely say, pretty much can’t stand me, even HE doesn’t think I’m stupid. Do YOU think that I would come into this thing and say the things that I say, in the manner that I say them. Straight from the gut, and not think that someone, SOMEWHERE wouldn’t know who I am?

Of course not.

Do I care?

Of course not.

We both know it’s really not that big of an industry. We, no doubt know many of the same people.

You may or may not know me or at the least, know who I am. Let’s return to my original question. How have I been unfair to YOU? Yeah….I’ve called you out on a few issues. Yeah, I’ve been in debate with you about art issues, and I have also been complimentary towards you. I’ve been honest with you, both in crit and compliment.

If you DON’T know who I am, then go back to one of my waaaaaaaay earlier posts, where I say that you will know me by my posts. You will. I will be honest with people. About their work, (if they are posting) or their philosophies from art to politic to ANYTHING. I WILL do my very best to be honest with people. Countsy is a monkey ass, but a very, VERY talented monkey ass. I can say that. And it aint even hard, sweetheart. Because it’s the truth, and I have to be honest enough to myself to say it. AND admit when I’m wrong. You still have me pondering something these many months later. And I’ll get around to that, Later.

NOW! THAT SAID,

IF you DO know who I am, then all you have to do is look into my past, and tell me if what I have had to say is anything that I wouldn’t tell anyone. Be it a friend or be it a foe.

Would I have it in me to say it. No matter to whom, if it were what I observed it to be or felt it needed to be said. If I believed it was important enough to say. IF I believed it to be the TRUTH.

If you DO know who I am, then I think you would have to come to the conclusion,

‘Yeah….he would.’

Maybe that’s the thing…I wont needlessly pet someone for pettings sake. I will always TRY to be honest with them. Whether I know them or not. I owe it to them to be so.

But trust me when I say this robo, and I mean this with all my grisly blackened heart.

I don’t care WHO knows who I am. Let me say that in Spanish just in case you’re of the Latino descent.

“”Los pies huelen como los monos hacen””

Or of the French descent:

“”Hé le marin est que mes fesses que vous mâchez sur ?”””

Maybe German descent:

“”Meine pepperoni Brustwarzen sind spur mit Vorahnung””

And what the heck, so there is no confussion, just in case you’re an IIII-TALION:

“”””Prego, la faccia di conti somiglia al mio pooper su un giorno pruriginoso.”””

So please..dont think otherwise. Feel free to spread the word if you like. It ISNT I who is afraid of not being invited to the Starbucks to laugh at fat people. Somehow…I…I think I will carry on

My confidence is high, and

My priorities are elsewhere.

I think I’ve answered your post. Although I WOULD still like to know where you feel I’ve been unfair to you. I really am curious. So do tell me if you like. I mean, it’s not as if I’ve said anything to you that’s just OUTRAGEOUS! Or said anything to you like: “ “”You SIR, are a punk a@@, hairy back Martha, jerk weed, camel nose, retarded, stinkwad, weevil bottomed, baboon a@@, noodlespined, sissy of a Nancy boy, bill clinton, hack of a toad testis, flaccid, weenie, anal gland, turdball, pansy that stinks of beck Bristow penis.

Because THEN you would have a legitimate beef with me. Because it’s not true, and I would be speaking a falsehood. And besides, ‘countsy’ already HAS dibbs on that name, and I cant give it to the BOTH of you.

OH and let me say for the record, that I really am glad that you are at the pixie!! I was praying for ya, during that bout. I really do think it will be great for you and that you will learn and hopefully do something that I think is hard to do at Disney for a story guy…GROW. So hopefully they will kick your assy, cuz you need to delearn all the butt gags, and get back to…well…making good stories.

And you will..cuz you good.

I wish you well robo. Believe it or not, I don’t wish ‘countsy’ any ill will either. I hope nothing but the best for ya both! With that, I will say I hope you had good turkey day. Although you are a lefty so I hope you had good tofurky day, and I wish you a fantastic Christmas! (Although you are a lefty, but sorry, I just cant bring myself to say happy ‘winter solstice’—again, ssssssssssssssssssorry.)

Hip hop le hibby to da hibby.

Outta here.

RESPONSE TO THE RECENTLY DECEASED ROBO (PART ONE)

Hiya Robo.

Well its been awhile. Busy busy, busy. You know how it is.

I’m way behind on the many things that I’ve needed to write about. On that long list of things was a proper response to your post (way back in august on ‘countsy’s’ carnival blog.) And while you were a little farther down the line on the list, I DID want to get to you before things got crazy busy again.

Firstly, thanks for your post. I appreciate it…I do. Now, TO your post. I get the feeling as though you think I’ve been unfair to you in some way. I’ll come back to that in a second.

But to the specifics of your post: You quote me:

“”Handel sez:

"I don’t care if you and ‘countsy’ are friends. Not in the least!"

and robo says::

“””You say this, and yet your actions prove to be contrary. You may not care, and you may be a happy-go -lucky guy who is happy with his life and his family, and yet your actions are those of a warped frustrated old man….Guys who sit around and write angry rants on the internet are generally lonely bitter guys. Once again, you say that you do not fit this description, and yet in word and deed, you do.”””

Well robo, You believe what you want. But mind you, I didn’t even HAVE a blog before I came across yours and countsy’s blog. Of which I was met with the typical hostility that is trademark of the left. It was even YOU who said “BAN HIM”, and that was to the very mild criticism to countsy’s BS on ‘free speech’, and I said it was the left that preaches ‘free speech’ and then does everything it can to squelch it. I thought you by saying “BAN HIM” was SUCH a lovely illustration at just the right time. I thank you.

Again, You and countsy had a great deal of a head start on the ‘blog thing’ long before I came in, writing your own “ angry rants”. And that was fine then! Oh yes it was. Why? Hmmmm, was it because you were all engaged in a mutual thought, pet-athon? AAAAAND utterly UNchallenged. Well sure it was. Then and only then is writing angry rants on the internet a fine and dandy thing. And I would be careful with your terms and definitions about “guys who sit around writing angry rants…bitter LOOOONLY guys.”” I mean after all, what is your strip, but one loooooong bitter angry rant.

Comon robo, do you mean to tell me that countsy’s postings which far outnumber MINE are NOT angry rants? Is HE a “bitter, lonely, warped man”? Of course you would say no. because he’s your amigo, compadre, ((siiiiiigh))soulmate (in a non ‘broke back’ way of course…although I don’t really know ya both so I cant assume either way.)

Its just inconsistent robo…Not really surprised by it. But it IS what it is.

But if you want to see me in that light, well what can I say? I look around me and I see nothing but goodness. A life truly blessed. The fact that lil ole ME makes all of you lefties a little crazy…well…that’s just puddin’ sugah….just puddin’.

But STILL, back to you…where have I been UNFAIR to you. You’re mad because I have the gall to challenge you and countsy on any NUMBER of issues? Is THAT it?

Hmmm if that IS it then its pretty shallow ground you stand on. Seriously…tell me where I’ve been unfair to you. I would really like to know.

You quote me as saying:

"I’ve found it fascinating to watch YOU be loud on some issues and yet oddly silent on other issues. “Why?” I wondered….I pressed you on it and came to the conclusion that you just might have differing opinions than the rest of your crew….yet chose to be silent. Because you maybe what?....felt uncomfortable being…the ‘odd man out’ as well?"

and then robo says:

“””Which issues? Religeon? Hey, when the time comes, I'll throw my 2 cents in. This is an issue that is difficult to discuss in this day and age. What I did say on the issue was that I wondered why so many got the wrong idea about Christianity. I know of a few reasons. Like I said, when Count brings it up, I'll throw in. The last time he brought it up, I did a lot of listening in order to figure out what everyone was upset about.”””

Right robo..You’ll throw your two cents in. When? “when the time comes”. That’s what I thought. So I waited. I’m a people watcher. I’m just curious to see what they say and when they say it….I was curious on YOUR views of the subject. I knew countsy’s and it pretty much was what I thought it would be, bigoted, stupid, insipid, ignorant and smelling of bad cheese. Your typical thoughtless lefty.

But YOU robo…I wanted to hear from you. And so I waited and continued to wait…sifting through countsy’s and then rickarts silliness…waiting.

Nothin’.

YOU who were not too shy usually about piping up.((chirp, chirp, chirp)) It’s often said that when so many are shouting that the one voice that is the loudest is the one that is silent.

You were silent.

Which piqued my curiosity sompin fierce!

So I asked you a question…(POKE)

And another question…(POKE, POKE).

And I got a lil insight….(POKE, POKE, POKE}

And Then I knew that I had struck pay dirt.

YOU didn’t pipe in, or as you say “throw your 2 cents in”, and you wouldn’t have EVER piped in unless I pushed you. Unless I poked you out of your cone of silence. Turns out you might have a little different view (not by much maybe), than that of countsy, and the other bots. So it’s safer to be silent. Let it pass. After all, lunch is at the ‘smokehouse’ tomorrow and why rock the boat.

WHEN prodded…you then come out but then try and alter it as much as possible to still seem…oh I dunno…palatable to the wing nuts. (Remember the ‘smokehouse’. remember the ‘smokehouse’).

Some such sillyness about Bush and …..etc, etc.

But as you say….I know it’s a tough issue to talk about, especially in the world we work in. And its not always comfy. ESPECIALLY when you hear your pals bashing it to the hilt ---oh and they were. Hard! And yet….

How was lunch by the way? Good, I’m sure.

Robo says::

“””and I’m not the lefty you think I am”””

dude…I don’t care really what you are. As long as it’s for real. Countsy is a jack ass, fine. You’re a lefty, whatever. I can deal with all that. As long as I know that what I’m dealing WITH is for real.

You quote me as saying:

“”And sticking to my beliefs and values even if that means clashing heads with a lot of the people around me””

Robo says::

“””””Good for you, but on this issue, you have no idea what you are talking about. I recently lost a job because I wouldn't roll over and agree with what everyone said.”””

Ok robo. Let me put this to you bluntly…but as clearly as I can. Everything that I’m talking about there has to do WITH REAL LIFE!! NOT THE FRIGGIN CARTOONS! NOT TALKING SQUIRRELS AND DANCING FARTING BUNNIES!!

REAL LIFE, YA KNOW? THE STUFF THAT MATTERS?

Look, I’m sorry you lost your job over whatever. I can only imagine how that conversation went:

Director: “no, no I think that he should just drop his pants.”

Robo: “NO! NO! NO! It would have the cinematic PUNCH we’re looking for, the emotional pull if you will, if he farted a little while the pants fell.”

Director: “hmmm..nooooo I think we did that the last three films robo. Let’s return to the basics, okee doke?”

Robo: NO! We’ll move the camera and have an upshot of the pants and THEN the fart! THE CROWD WILL LOVE IT!

Director: “I…”

Robo: “&^%$# YOU! IT’S FART WAY OR THE HIGH WAY!!PISS PISS! CRAP! HAMSTERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!”

I mean really…If you lost your job, I’m sorry about that. I knew that you would bounce back. I did. And I’m glad you did, sincerely. BUT if you are equating what I’m saying about “beliefs and values” to your JOB. Then you have a problem with priorities. And that’s HUGE.

THERES COBWEBS IN HERE!!

Been away for awhile...busy busy busy! Bout' to make a return though. Lots to say..A tribute, some upcoming stuff and of course my heart to heart response (late in coming..busy busy) to a seemingly now deceased 'robo'. (havent forgotton about it.)
coming soon.

SCORCHED EARTH.....

Well I know that many of you are telling me about a response to my post. I HAVE read it. And I do think that it deserves a response. Particularly to ONE commenter.
Although it will have to wait a few more days as I really want to get my tribute (thats been long over due by the way.) , finally finished!


And my response might surprise you all. Dont write me with any more comments about it though, because they are all pretty much saying the same thing.
Check in in about a week for that response and in a few days for my tribute.

“MAKING PROGRESS WITH THE 'PROGRESSIVES'”

Well ok! Now we’re making some progress! It looks as if Ole ‘countsy’ is finally coming around to some sort of concession. On his bloggy entry of July 26^th, he ‘countsy’, said:

“””Sorry gang, it's hard to roll over when someone straight up lies about you. And also just lies...... I NEVER delete comments.”

And then on his entry on his August 5^th ‘countsy’ says:::

“”””Yes, you were banned from storyboredom……show up on storyboredom, and you'll be deleted again.””””

So!! What we have here folks is an admission of being a liar OR an admission to being an idiot. But I like ‘countsy’…and since ‘Liar’ is a very strong word, I’ll just say it’s an admission to being an idiot. But the facts are the facts. He DID delete posts. (said he NEVER did, but did. AND then admitted to it).

Although, I didn’t have any idea that I was BANNED entirely from that blog. Ha-ha! So that was news.

'Countsy' is like many lefties…a little bit on the crazy side. His rant of:

“””Yes, you were banned from storyboredom. Why? Because your "critiques" became personal grudge rants where you imagined us talking like this:

'countsy and robo' say::::

'countsy'::""""How's it going, John?""

'robo"::::"""Pretty good. I'll call you, we gotta do lunch again!"""

IN LEFTY SPEAK THAT TRANSLATES TO:

'countsy': Hows it goin?

robo': “Pretty good, I'll call you and we can jump into our cars and go to “Spagos” for lunch, and bitch about how much this country sucks for not conserving by carpooling. OR about how commercial this country is. Consume, consume, consume.”

'countsy': “Sounds good. Meet you at “Spagos” then?”

robo': “Yes master.”

‘countsy’: “g’boy.”””””……

Don’t be fooled. Yes I said that.. Still makes me giggle. Only because it’s so true. But my posts BACK THEN on his ‘story’ blog, consisted of me making some very pointed crits. And then defending them against some very bruised, overly sheltered egos. That were too used to being ‘petted’. This little ditty I wrote of ‘countsy’ and ‘robo’ talking to each other was the FIRST time I ever did something like that. ‘Countsy’ makes it seem like its all I EVER did. But….he knows the truth. And so does ‘robo’. It’s just that they don’t LIKE the truth. So they try and bend and twist it.

‘Counsty’ says::::

“”You clearly have it in for me more than anyone, so welcome, you "holier-than-thou" frustrated, Bush loving weirdo. Yes, I called you a weirdo. you're weird. Who else sits around making up people having conversations like that one above except an attention craving weirdo like you”””.

Whoooooooooooooooo hoooo! Wow. Looky here ‘countsy’..I don’t ‘have it in for you’…don’t be overly paranoid. Let not your iddy biddy heart be twubled! You said it yourself. I am your ‘political bizarro’. (I like that).

The typical thing about you lefties is that you are so apt to ‘dish it out’. On YOUR blog, you felt as if it were your duty to trash Bush and conservatives to the very max. And now…you whine and blubber “YOU HAVE IT IN FOR ME, YOU SCARY MAN YOU”! Crumpling like a paper tiger the moment anyone challenges you. Typical lefty. No wonder people don’t trust you guys with national security. They know it’s like giving the car keys to a 6 year old.

As far as the “attention craving weirdo,” Comment. Um….for the record, WHO has three blogs? (Three that I know of anyway).

WHO needs to have nothing but nonstop praise and adoration from his workmates?

Your ‘comments’ section is nothing of the kind. It’s a ‘compliments’ section. Just admit it and let’s move on. I’ll respect you more for it.

“countsy” says::::

“”””Here I am wasting my blog space answering you, because you're too big of a pussy to have comments”””

I’m answering you toots. Right here! What difference does it make if I have the ‘comments’ section open? I’m answering you and ANYONE else that wants to debate right here in the open…right on the BLOG ITSELF. Not in a comments section that may or may not even be seen. And I am quoting YOU word for word. You’re a nutty chick ‘countsy’.

Hope you had a grand time visiting family. Now for ‘robo’.

You said a lot ‘robo’. And I hesitate to quote it all just because it will take up a lot of space. But I want people to see what you wrote, because I feel a lot of it is very thoughtful. So here it is.

‘robo’ says::::

“””Every now and then I think "Handel ain't so bad. He's even had a good suggestion or 5 concerning my strip" and so I not only tolerated his comments on his blog, I welcomed them because they made life interesting. This is something I learned from a buddy of mine named Dean DeBlois. Dean hangs out with some of the most fucked up people you will ever meet. Why? Because they are interesting and thus they make his life interesting. And Look at my hero Howard Stern. He has crazies on his show all the time, even people that berate him like Elliot Often or Eric the Midget or even Daniel Carver. He does this because he finds them interesting and funny, and thus they help make his show funny. This is the reason why I let Handel have free reign on my blog, because after they read the little cartoon, they can pop in and check out whatever hi-jinx Handel is up to in the comments section.”””

First off, I thank you for the kind words. I do. But understand….I am not a random ‘throw away’ character on the howard stern show. Solely for ‘entertainment’ value. Artistically I have been in a lot of different things and have things to say. I have done so and have been met with both anger (‘countsy’), and with thoughtful debate and consideration (people on your blog). You don’t always agree with me, and that’s fine.

There are POLITICS in the arts as well as government. And I fight in both those fields. As ‘countsy’ does. The difference is, YOU are politically on ‘countsy’s’ side. So his ‘screeds’ are more…..palatable, to you.

‘robo’ says:::

“”””However, that little imagined conversation where we plan a lunch at Spago's revealed something else, a side of Handel I don't think about very often. This is a frustrated, bitter, lonely man. He attacks us because we are obviously friends and obviously having a great time. This seems to really burn his ass.””””

‘robo’….please. I don’t care if you and ‘countsy’ are friends. Not in the least! In fact I’ve said it many times before, that I am sure that he (and you) are probably very sweet people.(especially if one believes in the same things as you both do). You KNOW that I’ve said that. In fact I could probably hang out and have a beer with you two (who knows…maybe I have.> :)

And why not. I have many lefty friends. How could I not in this field?

That’s not the issue, never has been. The issue is the hypocrisy of your thought process, the groupthink of you and your mates. I’ve watched a few times someone give a good crit, and then swerve to accommodate your egos, because he didn’t wanna be the ‘odd man out’. And you just accept it. Ick.

I’ve found it fascinating to watch YOU be loud on some issues and yet oddly silent on other issues. “Why?” I wondered….I pressed you on it and came to the conclusion that you just might have differing opinions than the rest of your crew….yet chose to be silent. Because you maybe what?....felt uncomfortable being…the ‘odd man out’ as well?

THAT is what ‘burns my ass’. NOT that your friends with stalin jr, but at the lack of conviction. It makes me wonder what it IS that you DO believe in. And how much would it take to make you ‘change’ to accommodate others? You asked me once, in a serious way, “ dude, do you really like everyone hating you? Is that really what you want?”

Well my answer is this: It is not my goal to have people hate me, but dude…sometimes that’s just the way it is….IF you have values and you hold to your beliefs. And if that means you don’t go out for beers with the director, or a story pal. So be it. People are just going to not like you sometimes because of what you believe in. Dont overcompensate to 'fit in'.

‘robo’ says:::

“””This is a frustrated, bitter, lonely man….He's like the guy who goes to the senior prm by himself and grinds his teeth and mutters obscenities under his breath as he watches all the happy couples dancing together. That's no way to live. “”

Haha…well I’ll have to tell that to my love for the past 22 years. She may get a giggle out of that.

Truthfully…I did NOT go to the senior prom though. Just didn’t seem to have the want to.:(

Did YOU go to the snr prom? If so,,,what did I miss?? Did you get your girl/date a big ole pink flower to tack on her dress and was it awkward like in the movie ‘valley girl’? Do tell!

‘robo’ says:::

“”””So Handel! Come on man! Life isn't that bad! Don't be bitter!.... . It ain't worth it, man.”””

Ha-ha!! Well thanks ‘robo’. I appreciate the concern. I do. I think that you might actually mean that. Ha-ha! But believe me; I’m not bitter, really. I have had a truly incredible, blessed and happy life thus far. But it has been a life of not ‘going with the flow’. Whatever the cost. And sticking to my beliefs and values even if that means clashing heads with a lot of the people around me. And I’m glad to say that it’s made me a stronger and happier person for it! I might suggest you try it…who knows…..YOU too might be a stronger, happier person for it.

"IN THE LAND OF THE ORWELLIAN"

Ok...thought I’d take a sec and answer a few more things from our old friend 'count flatulence' and some of his comrades, before going on to some other things.

‘countsy’says:: in his July 26th post,::::

"""""Sorry gang, it's hard to roll over when someone straight up lies about you. And also just lies. Handel , when he started his blog, said he was going to open up his blog to comments and that has never happened."""

Yes, if you look at my very FIRST post. My introductory post, you will see that I did indeed say that I would open my bloggy for comments at SOME time. But I later said that I might have to rethink that. Why? Well because I tend to want to answer (and argue) with each comment/commenter. I feel like I would be obligated to do so, as I do when I argue on other people’s blogs. I tend to (for better or worse) garner LOTS of response. One only has to look at any of the other blogs that I attend and offer comment on. For instance, take poor 'robo'....for a while he was garnering 6 comments, maybe 7comments per post. Till I left a comment, which THEN garnered something like 60 comments, (And up to 87 on countsy’s blog : kagematch march 16th),consisting of allot of back and fourth argument and debate. Fun...but also time consuming. VERY time consuming.

SO! I had to rethink the open comments for my bloggy. If I did have it open. I would spend MORE time answering comments than writing on my own bloggy.

Which is one of the reasons that I have momentarily stopped commenting on other blogs such as ‘countsys’, and ‘robos’? Also not coincidentally, the reason you've seen more posted on MY bloggy.

It’s either: find the time (somewhere!) to write on this thing or cancel it out totally. So I've found the time from NOT commenting as much on other blogs, OR my own.

But that’s not to say that I won’t be commenting on the other bloggys again soon though....stay tuned.

The kind of nice thing is that THIS sort of becomes my "comments" section. THE ENTIRE BLOG. I can answer comments and attacks leveled at me from others in other blogs AND post on MY OWN blog while doing so. Viola!

""""Countsy""" says::::::

""""""Coupled with the fact that he calls me a hypocrite about free speech. AS always always always, I am here with the comments section wide open and I NEVER delete comments, even those that disagree with my politics""""

Wooohoooooooo!! There be some serious B.S. stank in here now, and it aint my bottom lip (not tonight anyway)! Well lessee here. Firstly, 'countsy'..you are a hypocrite. No doubt about it sweet cheeks. You IS! You IS! And you are, sadly but not surprisingly, also a liar. (You big fat fibber McGee you!)

You say that you "NEVER delete comments".....And yet....for some reason, I couldn’t find any of the comments that I left on 'storybordom'. HMMMMMMM! curious id'nt it? Where did they go? ALL gone! POOF! Well, except for one. It's quite telling that out of ALL the comments that you deleted of mine, the one that you left up happens to be.................a compliment.

Quite telling indeed.

But you said that you never delete any comments though, right? Sorry to break it to ya sugar. But I'm afraid that’s EXACTLY what that is: "DELETING comments". Is it not? Not to mention the "lest we offend" thread that no longer exists due to you DELETING it.

What’s more of an amazing thing to me than you saying these stupid things ( ''I NEVER delete comments!!"), is that everyone there such as 'scrbles' and ESPECIALLY 'robo', KNOW that you have ‘deleted comments’ and WHOLE threads. And yet......silence about the lie. Hmmmmmm.

My theory on this is: That while all you lefties are 'emote’rs' rather than thinkers....the 'power' belongs to the one that can whine the loudest. The others just kind of roll up on their backsides and well.....follow. Soooooo, your kinda the "LEADER"!! You’re kind of like "KING OF THE BOOBS"! "LORD OF THE WHINERS"!! So good for you 'countsy'. Who says you don’t have aspirations and lofty goals.

Although I feel sad for the others though. Not solely for the fact that their standard for leadership is so low. But also because I wish I could give them more credit for at least standing on their own beliefs, instead of being cowed to believing what others do, solely to fit in with the crowd. It’s disappointing.

"robo" says:::::

""Ignore him. If he wants to argue, he'll post a comment. Currently he's not posting on any of our blogs anymore. Perhaps we hurt his feelings. Ahh, well, I've moved on.""

Naw, you didn’t hurt my feelings robo..not at all. I think I've stated quite clearly what I’m doing though. But I’ll be back around. Don’t fret. (And for the record, I like the Photoshop colors.) And if you want to ignore me...well you go right on ahead and do so. Its a free country (unless hillary gets in***shudder***).

'robo' says::::

""It's like Pat Benatar says: "Love is a Battlefield",
Right Handel? Wink,wink, nudge nudge!"""

WOW! What are you, like 45 years old or something????

'countsy and robo' say::::

'countsy'::""""How's it going, John?""

'robo"::::"""Pretty good. I'll call you, we gotta do lunch again!"""

IN LEFTY SPEAK THAT TRANSLATES TO:

'countsy': Hows it goin?

'robo': “Pretty good, I'll call you and we can jump into our cars and go to “Spagos” for lunch, and bitch about how much this country sucks for not conserving by carpooling. OR about how commercial this country is. Consume, consume, consume.”

'countsy': “Sounds good. Meet you at “Spagos” then?”

'robo': “Yes master.”

‘countsy’: “g’boy.”

That’s it for now! Next up,,,A tribute of sorts, And a wrap on comic con. Have a good one all and be good people.

RESPONSE TO THE PENIS GALLERY. Part two. DING DING!!

Ok! FINALLY, some time. As promised part two of my 'response to the penis gallery'! In this response, I will respond to the comments directed at me from the aforementioned 'countflatulence' post in which HE was responding to MY July fourth post. (Whew).

So let’s start with all of the relevant ones from beginning to end.

'robo says':

""Yeah, I went to Handel's site....Handel is Ann Coulter."""

First of all, a big thank you about the comparisons to Rush and Ann Coulter. I am very flattered. (Especially to Ann). Believe it or not, I have NEVER read a single Ann Coulter book! I want to though. Maybe soon. But I am very familiar with her, and think that she’s just awesome!

'robo' says:

"""He's like Rush Limbaugh without the drug problem."

Well thanks for the benefit of the doubt on the drug thing! But I'm more sure that that comment was more of a dig at Rush than a compliment for me. Obviously from someone who:

1) Has had a very sheltered life.

2) Has been very blessed in life, to not have to experience much physical pain in life.

3) Is just hateful person, and more than willing to take pot shots at people like Rush.

So being that I want to return the favor to 'robo' of giving the benefit of the doubt, I will choose JUST #1.

'robo' says::::::::

"""Just kidding. Handel's political rants make even less sense than Ann Coulter's idiotic babble.""""

Well, what can I say.......Maybe if I pepper my sentences with 'cock', and 'fuck', and 'shit'...then perhaps you would be able to follow a little easier. But then I don’t think I would be doing everything in my power to teach you. I think of myself sometimes as a " “Anne Sullivan” type, and you robo, ‘countsy’ and the others are my lil Helen Kellers, slamming your heads against the water pump saying: "Gooooo twa! GOOOOOOOOOO TWAAAAAAA!!!". So sorry 'robo'. I simply cant lower the standards so that you and 'countsy' can pass the class. This after all is NOT public education. So along with the aforementioned words, you’re going to have to learn some of the two syllable words as well. But don’t fret! I'm a very patient person. What? Patient.....'pAy----sh-----ENT'. SOUND it out, youngster.

"ricart says""

"""I will say this for him... he had a nice post about Alex Toth. ""

Thank you. Toth was and will always be amazing. He is already deeply, deeply missed.

'ricart' says:::

""The rest not only sounds like Coulter, it sounds like it was lifted from Coulter. It's all designed to enflame rather than enlighten. Piss people off on both sides of the spectrum and don't allow for a middle""

Believe it or not 'ricky', I actually very much appreciate your comment. It is a thoughtful response and while I don’t think I would agree with you on much of it, I thank you for it.

In response; I don’t 'lift anything. Nope. Also, I'm not 'trying to piss people off'. Its just that I wont water my opinion down, OR water down the truth in order to make friends based on the shallow ground of compromise. I don’t feel comfortable with that. Neither does 'countsy'. Just look at his past posts. He has no want or desire to taper down his opinion. And yet you have no problem with HIM saying what he says, because well, you agree with him. But when others with an opposing view come in. Well! Then that’s crossing the line. And you view them as inflammatory. But to be fair, I know that you include franken and Carville ( I believe he’s the name you couldn’t remember). But in this case, with 'counsty' and myself.....you see me as the 'inflamer'. Yet NOT 'countsy'. Interesting no? Double standard, yes.

'rickyart' says::::

"""""'Most Americans are neither conservative nor liberal... most people can't be graphed easily on a single sliding spectrum but feel differently about a variety of issues and subjects. But Cable news and the like need the extreme conflict to keep viewers interested, so they put on the entertainers.""""

I only 'kinda sorta' agree with you on this topic. To be sure, this country is most definitely politically divided. Between the people that actually VOTE. Then you have that small little sector of voter: The 'mushy' middle. The people that are like reeds in the wind. Listlessly swaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaying from one side to the other. Those that really basically believe in nothing. Have no real core. Just swaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaying back and fourth. The clueless. Now before you get all breathless with being insulted. YOU said it yourself....:"""So if you a leaning one way or the other, they might tip you to one side because of their over-the-top rhetoric."""

THERE ARE CLEAR differences between parties and their beliefs. There is no reason to be leaning ONE way or the other. You should KNOW by now what it is YOU believe in. Not wait to be "tipped".

And then you have the people that are barely aware of what day it is. That have way too much on there minds than to be bothered with becoming aware of the issues. Things to do! Such as going to the mall, or getting a keg for the Saturday get together, Or learning to fart and burp at the same time. These people are the ones commonly seen on 'the tonight shows' "Man on the street" segments. HILARIOUS, but extremely depressing at the same time. These lazy minded people usually when pressed, tend to say " uhhhh yeah, I'm a democrat, because... uhhhh, they are cool." And really they say that, because the democrat’s view of things appeal to the lazy minded. The only problem for the demoncrats is that, well...these people don’t vote....they're at the mall, remember?

Remember when, before the election, dems were touting what a big turnout they were going to have with the youth vote? And NOBODY turned out!!!! HAHAAAAA! The IRONY is FANTASTIC! “the want to give a message that appeals to the lazy...." But then the lazy don’t VOTE!!!!

PISS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry folks...that was to wake up 'robo'. If you don’t throw in one of those, his eyes roll back into his head. And I DO so want to include him as much as possible.

'''''county says"""::::

"""You know what's interesting though is I did see a similarity (gasp!) to something I posted recently. The idea in my "I'm Keen on Dean" post that I assert that Republicans hate America and liberals love it."""

Wow...Well, firstly the day that I ever cop anything from ‘countsy’ is the day I should just stop and give it all up entirely. 'countsy' is not the most original individual. Creatively or thoughtfully. Don’t get me wrong, he’s talented, but he's stunted. I guess we all SOMEWHAT fall victim to that. Some more than others because they get 'comfortable' with it.

Back to the question at hand...I'm not sure EXACTLY how he thinks I 'cop' from him. His 'keen on dean' post, is basically saying that this left wing moron is a 'straight shooter'. (right...sure he is). I was commenting in my bloggy about a GALLUP poll that came out saying that Republicans are more patriotic and loved their country more than their leftist, selfish, flag burning counterparts. Exactly, HOW is that 'copping' from him?

'countsy' says:::::

"""""I also realize that Handel seems to eerily cop from me on occasion. Look at his early posts and mine on kagematch,
I see similarities. Hmmmm...."""

Oh really? Aaaaaand where exactly are the similarities in those debates? In every one of those, where I wiped the floor with you? Please do tell me where in kagematch you are talking about sweety. Just curious.

"Cop from you"...Please. Its makes no sense. If one were ever to 'cop' from someone, I don’t think that the 'norm' is to 'cop' from someone so obviously below ones self. Try again, cookie.

"Robo"" says::::

"""This is the interesting thing about Handel. He has a lot of great things to say about art, comics and animation. The guy knows his stuff when it comes to those things. I like his article on the Daredevil comic too."""

Well thank you 'robo', I think you’re pretty too.

'countsy' says:::

""I'm not saying Handel never has a point. It's just the source is so tainted, that it's harder to give even a decent idea credence coming from him. His lack of respect for others' points of view also makes even his stories of how he was moved by Daredevil hard to swallow. You have to feel someone is capable of sympathy to give them sympathy."""

'Source is tainted'? How? Look, you either disagree or you agree with what I have to say. You dislike me because I don’t 'pet' you like 'robo' or 'scrbles' and the rest. I've been honest with you. Ever since our peepers met for the first time across a crowded blogger room. The problem was and still is that you have an ego and you get easily bent out of shape when confronted. I understand that. You are more comfortable being in conversation with your bubble of small thinkers. Which reminds me, hold on a sec.

PISS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok..I'm back. Lets move on.

'Ricky schmutz' says::::

""" …Dead on about not being able to take a guy seriously when so much of what he says is absolute do-do. How do you tell when he is being straight with you when he can go from reasonable to hysterical from post to post? The natural assumption is that he is never straight with you""

Well here’s the thing lil ricky. One thing about me, Is that I am always up front and straight with EVERYONE. About everything.

I come from a different political side than the rest of you, to be sure. I love this country and you guys like to burn the flag. And that’s where we both can say that we are both trains heading for a collision course. Our values are totally different.

ARTISTICALLY, I haven’t made a single comment to 'robo', scrblbs' or even 'count' that was meant out of malice or spite. I WILL not JUST compliment someone for the sole purpose of stroking someone’s ego so that we can all go to lunch. Its dishonest, its disingenuous, Its narcissistic....Its sickening.

If I had the same political mindset as the rest of the pack, I don’t think it would be that big of a deal. But the fact that I don’t, Is a big source of the battles. But again...I am always 'straight' with people. Well,,,I sure try to be in any case.

'countsy' says:::

""It's anyone who blasts others for their points of view and ideas, who wants to eviscerate them for even putting them out there. It's anyone who claims others are narrow minded and afraid of contradiction and then refuses to allow open debate about their own views. If I'm not mistaken, Rush Limbaugh is the same way. I believe he doesn't allow callers on his show, right? Or liberal callers? If anyone knows different, let me know. I (obviously) don't listen to his show."""

Oh, please, you can almost hear violins in the background, do you need a hanky 'county'? Pooor lil fella! I certainly don’t mind you saying anything you want. I'm just gonna challenge you on it. And when I do you start to cry and pout about it, like your fee-weengs are hurt. If your going to say stupid things, then we are going to have a lil talky bout it sugar. Deep down you know that that’s the case. You want to make charges. You want to make accusations and attack. BUT you don’t wanna be challenged on it. And when you are, you cry foul and play the part of what all democrats are at heart....victims. With a sad, small, weak, victim mentality.

tsk tsk tsk.

As for Rush's show. Yeah, his show is more of a 'information' type show. So is Hannities show. I don’t listen to either one because I tend to like more of a debate type of show. A fun and spirited debate. I've heard Rush debate though....He's incredible. I wish his show was more like that.

Dennis Prager is fantastic. So is Larry Elder. And they (and other shows that I listen to) are about 80-90% leftist callers. They are encouraged to call. That’s why its so interesting and fun.

The funny thing is that Dennis is a Jew and Elder is black. And they are both despised and called 'self haters' and "uncle toms". Hmmmmm, By WHO I wonder??? Hey 'Countsy', does your line :"""""....It's anyone who blasts others for their points of view and ideas, who wants to eviscerate them for even putting them out there"""....

Does that line of yours apply here? hmmmmm?

"lilrickart" says::

""Rush and his ilk do take callers, with opposing views. Those who disagree with conservative dogma are shot down pretty fast."""

It’s a debate sweetie, Not a 'get on and just start spewing your leftist nuttiness' (ONE of the many reasons npr sucks so badly and ESPECIALLY why air-head america SUCKS really badly-and not surprisingly why they are failing).

If you get on a Prager show, or Larry Elder, and IF you have something to say, you should be able to defend it and why you think that. If you cant, (and some do have trouble because their beliefs are not very well thought out, or logical) then your gonna have some troubles. But please don’t make excuses for them like "oh they are just not slick enough, or the callers are nervous"....that’s pathetic.

hold on a sec......

PISSSSSSSSSS!!!!!

Ok...and lastly.

robo says:::::

""""Hey! FYI, although he is not commenting, Handel has been checking this blog out 2 or 3 times a day. How do I know? He has been visiting "Chippy and Loopus" 2 or 3 times a day for the last 4 days spending anywhere between of 40 seconds to half and hour clicking through the pages, and most of the time he clicks over from this very blog!
He's a PC user by the way. Scary thing that Site Meter. Want to know his monitor resolution?"""

I always kind of get a giggle with robo...Like this for instance. Sometimes its as if he thinks hes the only one in on something, like site meters, and he wants to let ya know that he’s learned about them and that NO ONE else probably knows about it. "Aren’t I clever? Look what I know!"

Yes 'robo' site meters are neat-o. But what’s even MORE neat-o are ISP protector filters, software that allow you to protect your internal information, files, and overall hard rive. One of the nifty things is that it gives you decoy addys.(several with a premium grade--too expensive and not needed). The downer is that I can’t have a site meter (unless I go with the premium pckg).Want me to post on your bloggy with a Canada addy?

Anyone who does any amount of computer work SHOULD get this! You do have to know a little bit about computers beyond just where the power button is, so story artists shouldn’t concern themselves with this.

But you are right. I do check the bloggy circuits often. (And not just you and ‘countsy’). I'm stunned that that’s a surprise for you. I think you and 'countsy' are FASCINATING! Not as much as you both think that you are. But interesting all the same.

That’s about all for now. There might be another on this, as I see that another post has been posted on 'countsy's’ bean.

But stay tuned.

COMING SOON!

Hey all....gots me some things to say. My 'part two' response to the penis gallery. A tribute. And some more on the cultural event of the decade. COMIC CON!
And some other junk as well. But it'll have to wait a few more days till I get some spare time..Busy playing catch up at the moment.
For those that I talked to: thanks. And it was good to talk WITH ya! Send me an email but as I said to you on sat, It might take me a lil while to respond.
Check back next week for some postings. I promise you.......it'll be fun.

STAY TUNED FOR PART TWO...

Of the post directed to the 'penis gallery'. Sorry all. It's just that its friday and COMIC CON time!
I wont be able to post part two till next monday (after comic con). Feel free to drop by artist alley (right next to eric joyner), for some good conversation with a swell guy!:)
COMIC CON BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABYYYYYYYY!!

A RESPONSE TO THE 'PENIS GALLERY'.

Well. I thought I’d take a brief intermission from the comic con posts, to answer a few comments from what I’ll call the 'penis' gallery.

There are a few 'artist' blogs that I visit and have all too often argued on. One of them (we'll call him "count flatulence") felt compelled to write a lovely little post on his own bloggy, after reading a July fourth post on my bloggy.

I'd like to address some of the things that were said. The good, the bad and the stupid. While there is usually very little good, there is alot of bad, and a TON of stupid. So I will have to make this a two parter. So hold on to your nose rings, here we go.

After screeching like a stuck pig about my post on July fourth, OBVIOUSLY angered and hurt by it, He then for whatever reason vents about our FIRST arguments waaaay back in February:

"COUNTSY SAYS:"

......."he would post anonymously and viciously. His comments were personal attacks as much as comments as on peoples art."

Let me correct ole 'countsy'. Correcting him is something that I find I have to do far too often. When I FIRST started to post, it WAS indeed anonymously. I had posted on other forums, but never on a "BLOG". I didn’t see the need to join and take a name for myself as I wasn’t really planning on sticking around to post on a regular basis. I really didn’t see that I had the time to do so! So I posted my first posts as 'anonymous'.

My first posts were basically directed at 'countsy's post about 'freedom of speech'. On a thread titled "lest we offend". He was basically spewing all the typical, soaring rhetoric about ‘freedom of speech’ and ‘expression’ to someone who had made a comment about the pic that he had up at the time.(which was a nasty drawing about Bush if I’m not mistaken)

I had said that I agreed with much of what he said...but that “I always get suspicious of those people---especially on the left--- that preach so hard about 'free speech'. They are usually the first to want to stamp it out"

What followed was a barrage of nastiness of which I just gave as well as I got. And wouldn’t you know it? What followed was the TOTAL deletion of that specific thread and the calls from the 'penis gallery' to Ban ME totally. Funny how quickly 'free speech' gets thrown right out the window, isn’t it?

Which goes to show how dead on CORRECT I was about WHO are the first to want to stamp on ‘free speech.’

So I was indeed banned from 'countsys' blog....And the funny thing is, I was called a 'coward'...ME! After smoking him, 'robo', scriblles, and everyone else that was posting at the time. Smoking them all in debate after debate...Yet I was called the ‘coward’ for posting anonymously. So...I gots me a lil name.

..............................."HANDEL"...............................

The debate continued...not only did I get a name o' my vewy own. But I got my own 'blog' to talky talk all I likes. About any and ALL subjects.

It didn’t go over very well with my America hating leftist pals though. Tuff.(lovers of 'freespeech' that they are!)

Only after calling them on the fact of their hypocrisy in the starkest, most embarrassing way possible...THAT IS WHEN they did a turn about and desperately tried to FORGET the obviously quite embarrassing (yet quite telling) showing of their hypocrisy.

Anyone from the other forums that I go to, who wants me to mail you that thread--contact me via email, I save everything that is written, for proof against lies and mis-quotes. And it comes in QUITE handy.

COUNTSY SAYS:

"""" Handel is still a chicken shit. I saw his blog today and he had a new post up. . Here's the difference between him and me however. I'll defend my point of view. He STILL doesn't allow comments. chickenshit. I welcome opposing points of view."""

HAAAAAAHAHAHAHAAAAAA!! You have gotta be kidding me. I have battled EVERYONE in his THREE rooms. And EVERYONE in ‘robo's’ room. Giving my 'point of view’, AND defending my point of view. In fact, there isn’t one person that can say that they've done that AS MUCH as I have. Not ONE.

And yet he thinks I'M the 'chicken shit'.....crap! I'M STILL waiting for a response from him on the 'minimum wage' argument that we were having BACK IN APRIL. I believe the last thing written by him on that was “I’ll respond when I want to! WAAH WAH WAH!" (That’s pretty much a quote folks, except I think I added an extra 'wah'.)

He "welcomes opposing points of view"...right...not until I kicked his puckered lil rumpus, and exposed him for the dweeb he is for attempting to 'ban' me.

Bottom line folks...is that what REALLY bothers "count flatulence" has nothing to do with 'defending my point of view', It has everything to do with ARGUMENTS, and the fact that I keep winning them.

Hold on for part two, which will have to do with the 'comments' made about his post about me from (what I'll call) the 'penis gallery'.....I feel that it would be only fitting to hand them their asses on a silver platter, to go along with 'countsy’s' head.

COMIC CON: THE "FAN/GEEK"

When attending these types of things. You encounter a WIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIDE variety of people. From the older 40-50 year old to the pre- teenager dressed up as their favorite "sailor moon" character. You also get to see a lot of the “hardcore” fan. You know the ones I’m talkin about. The ones that have their batman shirts on, or better yet, the ones that have their batman SUITS on!

You see so many different types of fans that you find yourself tending to roll your eyes as you pass them by. Upon going with some friends and fellow industry people, we were having a dinner after a fun day at the con. And as these things go, we were discussing the day, and the four that I was with were just hammering on allot of the people that we had seen during the day. Making fun of them in every way! One tends to get caught up in the discussion and I was no different while I laughed along with my group, I had been thinking about it the ENTIRE second day..And I just couldn’t seem to get it out of my mind

So the time that dinner rolled around once again,,(same place. sue us, we like sea food), There was even MORE conversation about the assorted people that we saw. I sat and listened as the jokes flew. This time I didn’t laugh.

I said to them:”.....But wait. Aren’t these people...US? I mean really?? The only difference is that THEY are just a little more honest about it? I mean crap! If only I could have enough courage to put on a killer batman outfit!! HA!"

Well needless to say, that kind of spurned a bit of a light debate at our table. But really...I mean the only difference is that we (at my table) are now within this industry, But it wasn’t all that long ago that we would go to these things with the hope of talking with our favorite artists and writers,(We STILL DO!). And we're talking about the "civil war" story arc, which is probably the same conversation that they are having at the OTHER table. And we're wearing our own industry paraphernalia, toting our own bags of crap that we spent the day acquiring. And WE'RE scoffing at THEM? Since when did we get so coo' for schoo'?

Fact is...we're just trying to cover up our own 'geekiness' as if we are somewhat 'above' that sort of thing. And yet...we are amongst the first to mark the con on our calendars.

Lets remember....once a fan, always a fan....lets just be honest about it, and stop being ashamed of it.

THE BIG EVENT

The time has once again come. A time of where unbridled joy is mixed with unspeakable horror. Where the vile and the beautiful come together in a sense destroying fusion of terror and delight. Where if you dare to venture...you will be lucky if you survive.

That’s right my lil nipplets! I'm talkin' bout COMIC CON TIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIME!!!

A time when we in comics, animation, film, television, games and toys. Professionals and fans of all sorts gather together to have a one to four day

Visual extravaganza!!!

The San Diego comic convention is one of the biggest (if not the biggest) comic book convention in the world. Held annually since 1970, and will be once again happening on the 19th of July(PREVIEW NIGHT).

Now for anyone who has never gone to one of these things (and if your a fan in any way), I gotta say...you HAVE to do this, at least ONCE in your life. It truly is an experience that is both exhilarating and nauseating. Exciting and exhausting. Beautiful and gruesome. All rolled up in one big fantastic sensory OVERLOAD.

Over the next few posts I'll have a few thoughts about San Diego comic con and conventions in general.

So....let me give you an idea of what "comicon" is all about.

I HIGHLY suggest that you spend more than one day at this thing. that’s right...get a HOTEL ROOM. Make a full on vacation of it. OR plan it AROUND your vacation and bring the family. If they (and by ‘they' I mean your wife) just cant stand the sight any more,, then send her packing to see the sights by herself for the day. I mean man…. it IS San Diego for poopers sake.

I like to stay in any of the hotels CLOSE by the con. Because after a day of meet and greets or just running around the floor, Trust me. Your gonna want sompin close! My hotel of choice is the Hyatt. A little pricey but mmm MMMM good! You can split the costs with your pals that will be sharing the room with you.

I like to get in early and since I am what is regarded as a "pro",,,I don’t have to stand in the long lines. Luckily the San Diego con is much more organized than the other conventions around the country( my opinion). With far less horror stories!

Once you do get in and your about ready to go through those doors. It’s like every dork gene in your body about to explode. You get through those doors and KAPOOW!

Your hit with so much visual stimulant you have to kind of blink a few times to adjust your frikkin eyes. So much color and items, it’s as if a great big comic book puked all over the place.

If you’re a newbie to it, It will be a bit overwhelming at first. So pace yourself. The first thing that gets you is the scope. It’s big, big BIG. With big huge company booths from all the top comic companies. Marvel, DC, Wildstorm, Image, etc.

Along with all the dealers and venders of anything and everything related. FROM comics to games to toy companies to people selling original art to animation to film to YOU NAME IT.

If you go with people/friends, I recommend you meet up with them somewhere at a set time. Say at the food stand (that will happily sell you a coke at the same price as the Jim lee trade paper back that you just bought.).

Why? because if you are there to do any sort of real buying, a lot of your experience is going to be about prowling in a very fast and methodical way. And trust me. Your going to slow each other down.

The con has several things that make this “EVENT STATUS”. Such as artist ally. A great place to meet up and talk to some of your favorite creators. And possibly pick up a sketch at a reasonable price.

The portfolio review is also great. Where industry pros will give you a very… and I mean VERY honest crit of your work.

Also: the programs and panels can be hit or miss, But if you get into one with people like Erik Larson, or Frank Miller...Your gonna be properly jazzed afterwards. So Bring a change of undies.

Another fun thing is all the kooky people that like to dress up as they’re favorite whatever. From pokemon to vampirella.To every star wars monkey that you can think of.

It can be creepy, but it is fairly harmless. And if you are a people watcher as I am...It’s a hoot. Its like a mardi gras without all the herpes and aids. But sometimes WITH the smell unfortunately.

Word to the wise...DO NOT EAT AT THE CON. Its too damn expensive and you can get way better food out and about. PLUS you'll need a bit of a breather for your eyes and lungs after a few hours. Use the time to get out and take your bags of crap to your hotel (another reason to get a room CLOSE BY).

After you leave the con, grab some great dinner somewhere downtown! Hang out with friends and talk about the day and swap stories over beers and margaritas (YEAH BABY!!).

And then off to the night time events for you! From the Eisner awards to the after party of the masquerade show. Where else can you watch wonder woman dance with an ewok?

The masquerade party is too damn long. I've never really enjoyed it. But it is usually always packs em’ in. (different strokes for different folks I guess).

Bottom line.…Your gonna have fun. Dress appropriately because your going to get hot. And always have some deodorant with you! Because while everyone else around you will be stinky, and sweaty. You can at least lift up your arm and smell the sweet aroma of someone that planed ahead.

ENJOY!

MORE BAD TIMES...ALAS.

Welllllllllllllllllllll, Its more bad times for our leftist friends.

As most of you know (or perhaps you don’t as it wasn’t covered all that much-why? because its a victory for the republicans), that Karl Rove has been cleared of any and all wrong doing that he was accused of (by the nutty left). And the special counsel said that he (Rove) would not be indicted. Serving as a good solid kick to the gut of the left. As they were wishing to whatever god it is that they worship (god of tofu perhaps? or maybe the tree gods.) for an indictment.

Also coming in the same time frame was the Iraq resolution that was argued and debated on the floor of congress.

Congresswoman' maxine waters screeched "many democrats are a'gonna git trapped!!!"

Trapped?

And just how does one get trapped when all this is, is just to get your, YOUR personal viewpoints recorded for history. Unless of course that’s what you consider being trapped. The paper trail record of what it IS that you actually believe in. This paper trail, this wonderful record consisted of statements that pretty much brought out for all to see what exactly the dems are all about. They couldn’t even say that they wanted to "WIN THIS WAR". Which was one of the statements.

Isn’t that pathetic. Not a surprise. Only that it was wonderful to see them placed in this position of a "NO squirm zone"

From waters to boxer to kook ball murtha. They had to put their black hearts out there for all to see. And boy did they!

freaky deaky brilliant!

Now when they look back 60 years from now, Hopefully Iraq will be a thriving ally of ours (God willing), the world will see who was working for freedom and democracy and sadly..(Again not surprisingly) who wasn’t.

Another event was President Bush going TO Iraq, to talk with Iraqi leaders face to face rather than over the phone. Something that the dumocrats poo-poo'ed as a 'stunt'.

Is it any wonder why our service people dislike, and distrust the leftists?

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAND as if that wasn’t just as deeeeee-licious as all get out! Even though it wasn’t covered at all by the media There was the stripping of post from the crooked congressman William Jefferson (DEEEMONCRAT) because he got busted for bribes and stashing it in his fridge! Pretty much taking all the steam out of their sails, and they could no longer really say with a straight face that "republicans = corruption, so trust us even though we hate our country democrats".

Bad times indeed for the demonrats.

But the demonrats had at least ONE victory to point to. A week or so later, two of our service people were brutally murdered by the terrorists. Mutilated and killed in a barbarous fashion.

So at least the demonrats have THAT to work off of for inspiration. Because remember...In order for the left to win, America has to lose.

"SIMPSONS" INTRO like never before seen.

If you tune in to see the "simpsons" one night and THIS is what you see...put down the bottle...and go sleep it off.
pretty fun though. ENJOY.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=49IDp76kjPw

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY AMERICA!

Well today is the Fourth of July! So HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY, AMERICA!

And to celebrate this fantastic day, to celebrate this fantastic country, the best country in the world. Let’s state the fact that is without question:

CONSERVATIVES LOVE THIS COUNTRY, leftist democrats.....hate this country.

Well perhaps that’s not news to most, only to those on the left of course. But its true and one has only to look no further than the Gallup poll just released the other day, stating that a whopping 74% of republicans are found to be EXTREMELLY patriotic and proud of their country.

While only 40% of leftist liberal democrats are even remotely proud. (Awww po' bebe's)

So often I find myself in heated battles with those on the left that say that they LOVE this country! That they are JUST as patriotic as anyone. That republican’s don’t have a lock on patriotism! They stand there just befuddled that anyone can even THINK that!

Oh really? Well let’s look at the facts, shall we?

Who are the ones that always want to tear up and stomp on the flag?

Who are the ones that are the first to want to tear down our military (whether in funding or verbally), the very people that protect our freedoms. Whether that’s the freedom to simply walk down the street or the freedom to gather with your likeminded elitist leftist friends, donning your favorite stinky "peace" t-shirts and in fact, BURN the flag.

Who are the ones that are constantly the first to BLAME this country for anything and everything? The first to say that this country "is no better than any other country". (this as they step into their mustangs and saunter to a two hour lunch with the directors somewhere on sunset).

Who are the first to want to do away with the saying of the pledge of allegiance?

Just a few examples, and believe me...there are tons.

But yet...these limpy spine, spoiled, little ingrates will do nothing to back up their blather. Like move to Canada. Or move to the Netherlands (the lefts idea of the "IDEAL").

Or better yet France!

Naw...and why would they?

Demonrats are stupid, crazy and if that means that they have to be deemed a hypocrite so that they can get together at the local java and jazz and bitch about this country.

So be it. They know a good thing when they leach off of it.

Hmmmmm, kind of reminds me a little of....a "parasite". But that’s a return to another conversation, and a much more accurate usage of that word than when it was originally used.

Don’t’cha think?

LOSING OUR GREATS...

As most of you know, We lost another one of our legends. The truely great ALEX TOTH passed away on may 27th at the age of 78. Its said from his eldest son, that Alex died at his drawing table doing what he does and always loved doing. If thats the case, Its the elegant end to a truley fantastic giant of our industry.
This guy is a guy that was looked at as an inspiration and influence from everyone from Bruce Timm to Alex Ross.
He was a brilliant and opinionated artist. Opinionated...He makes ME look tame in comparison. His views on the artform were STRONG and for the most part SPOT ON.
With the passing of Alex Toth along with the passing of the great Joe Grant almost exactly a year ago from Alex Toths passing
The originators...We are truely losing all of our greats.
Enclosed is a strong view from the great Alex Toth on the state of an industry. God Bless ya mr. Toth and thanks for the inspiration.

"ALEX TOTH VIEW FROM THE INSIDE."

"I'm rewriting this for the umpteenth time, in different ways, yet saying the same thing -- that the party's over, kiddies! Since I was born in 1928 -- and was just old enough to applaud the first comic books in the early and mid-1930's, I've witnessed the best and worst of the form from then to now -- I loved the medium of the comic book as I did the syndicated comic strip in its countless forms, subjects, treatments -- in my time. Now in the autumn or winter of my life, my eyes have seen the bad drive out the good, the terminal deterioration and all-but-lost/dead adventure strip -- and the fun and magic, and delicious innocence and surprises in the comic book; which, unless room is made for such again, will not, cannot, should not, survive.



The ugly, mean, vile, banal, twisted, sick, bloody celebration of torture, rape, cruelty, filth, demonic and socio-political psycho-babble -- and death -- is disgusting stuff to me -- and it's our youngest writers/cartoonists/editors cranking out this garbage! Which is sub-anti-human drek, devoid of original thought or of moral, ethical values -- it is hopeless fatalism, nihilism, anarchy, pointy-headed anti-everything gibberish -- and most of it dares to label itself 'adult' -- 'for mature readers' -- etc, ect -- which is nonsense!



Much more 'adult and mature' are the stories no one can, or will, write about and illustrate: Joy, wonder, love honor, humor, wit, intelligence, invention, compassion, trust, respect, duty, character, sacrifice, sentiment, family, discovery, exploration, history, the myriad peoples, customs, and stories abounding out there in the world -- human stories!



It's just too easy and predictable to grind out incessant repetitions of the doom and gloom, post-armageddon bilge, garbage anti- and non-heroic bumbling 'heroes', to feed the sickness of its own making -- damn how well it may be written or drawn! It's garbage! Created by the young for the younger and youngest readers -- who, for twenty years of it, almost two generations now -- keep buying it! It's beyond me! I fear for our future -- if we're to have one (?) -- if such is 'entertainments' for our fathers and leaders of tomorrow! What might their offspring be like, then, I wonder.



Nope, sorry -- I see no future for us, for them, for comics, tv, movies, etc, unless we kick 'sick', and give kids back their childhood years of innocence, hope, faith, joy, wonder, morals, morale, just plain good clean fun --



The sick kick plagues comics everywhere, east to west, from Japan to England to Europe to here --(I don't know about our Southern Latin neighbors)-- we've had enough of desolation of spirit and shock to our senses. The comic book is, in the hands of today's worst practitioners and proselytizers of this mind-set, committing suicide! and murder! of its traditions, roots!

It cannot stand --
As it is, it should not!



A pox on it, and those who uglify children's minds and senses and expectations with their miasmic miserable muck and mayhem!

And the pale horses they rode in on!

'Cursed be the fool who destroys wonder!

Remember?

I do . . ."

© 1991 Alex Toth

BAD DAYS FOR LIBERALS/DEMONRATS......

But wonderful days for Conservatives, our incredible military and everyone else that loves this country and freedom in general.

For starters, last week (June 7th), the roach known as abu al zarqawi was was killed by our fantastic guys in uniform. AND on the same day, Iraq filled two critical positions in their government. You would think that EVERYONE, and I mean EVERYONE, would be thrilled with this news. Well everyone but our sweet little radical lefties, also known as:...the demonrats.

As I sat there, reading the news via internet, and watching the incoming reports on TV, I could almost hear the shriveled little blackened olive pits that stand in for their hearts-----breaking.

You see this is bad news, BAAAAAAAAAAAAAD NEWS for the nutty left. I am positive that the reaction that they were having as they read and watch the same reports of this incredible news, that their reaction would be the total opposite of MY reaction. And I made bets with myself on what I would see.

And sure enough...My assumption was spot on. OOOOO the sorrowful faces that I saw at the death of this terrorist. Even as they stood before the microphone to say what good news this was. And then turn and try to downplay the meaning of this achievement.

Nutty 'san fran nancy pelosi'....democratic 'leader', (AHEM)...came out and said, “I salute the troops...." And then went on to talk about social security!

THAT WAS IT! …." I salute the troops...”.

SURE you do.

Glum faces all on the political hard left. I found myself actually looking for black armbands on them to mourn the loss of zarqawi.

But why? Why this reaction?

Were these NOT fantastic achievements? Is this not great news? Isn’t this good for ALL? To stomp out this roach and take in a treasure trove of intelligence and have the Iraqi government fill TWO key positions in there cabinet. Isn’t that a good thing? Well obviously, yes. Yes it is.

So why all the gloomy faces from the demonrats?
Well. ANY good news is bad news for them. Because they depend on sadness. They depend on tragedy. They depend on bad things happening to give them SOME sort of traction. EVEN if that is at the expense of the country. They don’t want zarqawi dead. Because He HELPS them. As long as he keeps those beheadings a’ coming, then they can point and shriek about "quagmires" and "Vietnam". He (zarqawi) is, in essence....an ally for the crazy liberals.

With the number three terrorist taken out, a person who is responsible for THOUSANDS of deaths..(THOUSANDS!).He is a pawn no longer on the 'payroll' of the spineless ‘cut and run’ liberals.

And that is EXACTLY what they are...'cut and runners'. They want out of this war. They do not have a good track record with evil or dealing with evil. Wrong over and over and over again. History is a good indicator of the liberal heart (and spine) when faced with true evil. And one of the reasons they are always wrong, is that they view THIS country to be as evil as or more evil than say....nazism/facism, communism, and now radical Islamism in the form of the Taliban and al-qaida.

Such brave folks. And why not? Its safer to take a stand against a government that WON’T slit your throat and hold your severed head up to a video camera, and then post it on the internet. Brave indeed.

So a bad day for our little pets known as the loopy lefties...The cut and runners. To them, a better world is one with Saddam Hussein still ruling, the rape and torture rooms still in effect and heavily in use. zarqawi still alive and beheading innocents. And the U.S. trying to coddle osama bin laden, to try and "understand why he hates soooo ve-wee much!"

The "cut and run" label is a perfect term for the demonrats. Because they've never met an evil that they aren’t willing to deal with in their own interesting way....To hang their heads, tuck their tail firmly between their legs and skulk away with a whimper.

The modern democrat.

PS: So long zarqawi! Hope you took some marshmallows so your hiney isn’t the only thing roasting.