ST. JOHNS SHUFFLE

Kind of an impromptu blog post today. I was talking with a friend about NY and it got me thinking about this comic strip I did back in 2007 while living in Crown Heights, Brooklyn on the edge of Bedstuy. There are likely some people who visit this blog who haven't seen some of these old strips, so I thought I'd share (click to enlarge):



While I'm reminiscing, this mural was on my route to the post office. It's one of my favorite things ever...



Anyways, lately I've been posting images from the current NOIR project I'm working on. HERE is a good place to check out any you might have missed.

Hope you enjoy. More very soon...

JUNK IN DA TRUNK

Today's post is probably one of the last of the NOIR images that I feel comfortable showing. Make of it what you will. (Clickty click click):



I wanted to write a real blog entry but I have nothing. Nothing but to offer colorist extraordinaire and Captain of Industry Russ Lowery a happy birthday. Drink life up you sum beech.


More soon...

LIVIN' THAT CRAZY DREAM

My friend Mike Freiheit started up a group art blog over at:
http://grawgroup.blogspot.com/

It features contributions from guys like Chris Brunner, Ed Tadem, Rico Renzi with the basic concept being as follows "So back in the day my friends and I would have a little drawing game that would excite the senses and incite a mind riot.The idea is simple; we choose a photo to use as reference, then use whatever we want from the photo to create our own interpretation, or story. It can be whatever you want."

After a work slammed weekend I had a free minute this morning and needed something to get me going. I was kind of inspired by the picture Mikey picked so I thought I'd contribute. Done pretty quick and dirty with a ballpoint pen and PShop.



Reference:


I never thought I'd EVER draw the Dog Whisperer, but it was a fun quick exercise. Not sure how much I'll be able to contribute but you guys should keep an eye on GRAW.

Anyway, real work calls. More soon...

ROUNDING THE CORNER

Today, more Noir... clicky clicky:



As this project draws towards a close I want to give a shout to Joltin' John Lucas for dragging me into the offices to show my work in the first place. John is a great cartoonist and has finally stepped into the 20th Century and begun blogging. So give the guy some love:

JOLTIN' JOHN LUCAS

I'm currently considering my con season schedule, which might include to trip to Canada for TCAF. Any suggestions on shows I don't normally do would be great.

Anyways, have a great weekend. More soon...

ROCK N' ROLL NEVER FORGETS

Today, more Noir. More sound effects...

(clicky clicky)


The end of this project is near. I can see it. I can smell it. I can taste it.


-WARNING: SOUTHERN ACCENTS AHEAD-
One of my wiser moves in the last couple of months was to buy my brother (and myself) tickets to see THE DRIVE BY TRUCKERS as a Christmas gift. So this past Friday, I drug myself from my tomb and took a trip up to see him and catch the show. Insert craptacular cell phone photo evidence:



Who are those guys? I could say that was Frank Sinatra and who the hell could say it was or wasn't? Get your shit together Blackberry.

Anyway, DBT is my favorite modern BAND and I consider Patterson Hood one of the best songwriters going. As it was my first time seeing them live I was thrilled that they lived up to my expectations.They basically played for 3 hours straight with a 5 song encore that included Warren Zevon's "Play it All Night Long" (a personal Zevon favorite) and (de?)volved into faithfully punked out "These Are The People who Died" cover.

If you don't know the band, I suggest you give them a solid listen. It's a good mix of genres and I don't think too off putting for people who don't like a southern rock or country sound. Here'sPatterson Hood on punk rock, The Pixies and influences:



I didn't know the band when I was writing LOOSE ENDS, but I think this one would make it as one of my picks for the soundtrack:




Anyways enough geeking. More soon...

Ouch! Went the son of a gun.

I have a great appreciation and affection for sound effects that are well timed, placed and designed. I don't know if these qualify but here are a couple of recent spots in the current project where I took a little leap SFX wise...





Wally Wood once did a really cool story using nothing but SFX/onomatopoeia:



I'd die happy if I did something half that creative. Anyway, have a great weekend. More soon...

-J La

MOVIES WITH DAD: DELTA FORCE 2

This one served as the warm up this weekend. As it says, excerpts from real events.

CLICK the image for the full comic:



I know Chuck Norris has seen his heyday as a comedic figure, but I still contend that his actual movies/TV shows are far funnier than any joke that could ever be made about him. For the record I didn't write that Norris Dialog. No one could make that shit up, well other than the guy who did.

More soon...

Are you cussin' with me?

I finally got around to watching THE FANTASTIC MR. FOX and man did it live up to it's title. Before settling in for a loooong (and I mean looooong) weekend of inking I decided to try and show how much it inspired me...



I was so into the vibe of the story that it literally only took me an hour to do this, so I sort of consider it somewhere between a plan and a finished thing. When I get a breather I'd like to go in and fix some things, clean up some lines, etc. It's a strange challenge to take something like that and try to stay true yet adapt it to your own sensibilities, I hope I did it justice. Here's the pencil version for the hell of it:



If you're worried about diving into a kids flick, don't. MR. FOX is basically a straight, smart, adult Wes Anderson movie but the subject matter returns a whimsy and wry silliness that I feel he's sort of slowly been losing. For me it ranks below RUSHMORE and THE ROYAL TENNEBAUMS... but maybe somewhere between BOTTLE ROCKET and LIFE AQUATIC (depending on the day those are interchangeable given my mood). DARJEELING LIMITED being my least favorite, despite liking it quite a bit the first time I saw it.

Anyways, back to real work. Have a great weekend everyone. More soon...