Big Boys at Play

Here are some shots of Buddy and I working on putting some Johnny West figures together- great fun!

JOElanta 2008 Diorama

Here's just one angle of this amazing 8x12 ghost town diorama titled "Killer Mine at Bloody Canyon" from JOElanta 2008. With a church, general store, sheriffs office and an underground railroad tunnel this piece was really something to look at. Heck we even had a hanging at high noon! Check it out on utube as well as these other diorams from past shows.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFuQIu9qyqo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPHpWbx9Eek
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYHVPtM6S4w

10 th Annual JOElanta GI JOE & Action Figure show

The time is drawing nearer to our 10th Annual JOElanta celebration! Come on out and bring the family March 28th. Free parking. Special room price for show attendees.

And for all of you hardcore fans , please join us on Saturday night 27th (starting at 6pm) as part of our Commander's package that includes:

show t-shirt, show poster, exclusive (to be announced), Joelanta Trivia contest, JOElanta film festival, Sat night dealers preview room, lobby swap with Mr EJ White, parachute drop, early admission to show Sunday morning and 2 passes to the show itself. (price to be announced shortly).

The show hrs will be Sunday 28th 10am - 4pm Admission: $6 adults $5 kids 12 and under
under 5 free First 100 kids get a free toy!

Come check out our brand new show diorama, costumed guests, Collection of every vintage boxed adventure team era Gi Joe, Iron Joe competition (hosted by JOE World), custom figure and vehicle contest, over 100 tables jam packed full of:

Gi Joe, Star Wars, Captain Action, Barbie, Johnny West, Marx toys, Big Jim, Captain Action, Dragon, DID, comics, magazines, games, miniatures, monster toys and more!

Please visit www.joelanta.com for directions and more info. Dealers please contact Marten @ madjallads@bellsouth.net or 678-232-2871 to order your booths.

Respects to Steve Irwin

I was just sitting here in my studio looking at the spinning magazine rack when I couldn't help but smile at this cover to Australian MAD #389 which makes gentle fun of one of Australia's home grown heroes, Steve Irwin. I guess when you really think about it this man really did so much for conservation and animal rights by showing us in his own quirky way how important and beautiful all creatures are. Not to mention his great accent and wild enthusiasm! Yeah he was someone I certainly respected.

As a result of my publishing THWAK, and my love of MAD magazine I was able to become acquainted with Australian MAD editor DJ Williams and from time to time we send each other packages of some of our latest projects. The above issue came in one such package. I certainly hope that Australian MAD with much of its own original content can and will continue on a monthly basis.

More Behind the scenes at THWAK

Another behind the scenes look at Mike Arnold's "People to Avoid in School" premise and roughs and the final page after having to widdle it down to just 6 panels. This is just one of many great pages from The THWAK Bonfire of Insanity Collection book out next month at your local comic shop.

Still unpublished piece!

Here's another as of yet unpublished page illustrated by Ben Boling and written by Carson Demanns. It still amazes me that I still have so many pieces that never saw print. Enjoy!

Friends of THWAK - Mike Arnold

I guess Mike Arnold is much more than just a "Friend of THWAK" as although we have known each other less time than many of the other THWAKsters he has been an integral part of not only the brand new THWAK Bonfire of Insanity Collection book which he contributed art to but also laid out, he was also my co-publisher and lay out man for JOKESTER magazine.

This former Sesame Street animator has been freelancing for many years with many top notch clients such as Nickelodeon, Danimals, A&E, General Mills and Entertainment Weekly, just to name a few. Mike and I met during my tenure at CRACKED magazine. http://arnomation.com/

Check out Mike's appearance in MAD #481 Sept 2007 illustrated by non other than caricature superstar Tom Richmond.