CHILDREN, BE-HAYYY-VVVEE *** L.A. DWP Comic Book with Venice Arts -- THE COVER***

That's what they say, when we're together.. (Sorry, Been on a Tommy James and The Shondells kick)

Pardon my once again, for another month+ absense... I guess it does a body good to be busy and well, I was!...

I went back to the homeland of New Jersey for some partial business matters that were all totally fun. I enjoyed returning to a camp I once was a counselor at, and saw some of my former campers now 10 years older. A mega change from the 10 year olds I knew them as. I kept telling myself: time flies. Enjoy it and this, and everything... and I did. It felt great to get away from the drawing table or the guitar and just experience civilian life once again (haha)... and of course, seeing my family was amazing. I miss all of them incredibly. 

It's not like I'm too far off now from civilian life, mind you, but I will tell you, if I can compare my creative output right now to child birth, i'd say I'm giving birth to a small colony... but, more on that later.

I'm currently at the tail-end of a month-long workshop at Venice Arts, and the student cartoonist's work this year has been exciting me to the fullest. As promised, please find the cover to the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power cover of, 'Energy Vampires and Water Goblins" below.

I penciled the cover, my student Jesse Papik did the inks!..

This is a water and energy conservation comic book I lead in a workshop with twelve to fourteen 10 to 17 year olds. I'm super excited to see the change it hopefully brings to Los Angeles!

More on this later too!...

Divas of Wrestling art contest // A half & half from M.W.F. #7 // In the news!...

Hey everyone. This week was crazy. Wait - This month was crazy!.. From branded story boarding to non-profit work to anything comics in-between, I'm definitely running on all cylinders ^_^

Here's some of those results:

Masters of Ring Entertainment has chosen my piece here, for their 'Divas of Wrestling" art contest. The 'Divas of Wrestling' event is being held this Saturday, called  Lasting Legacy: A Tribute to Women In Wrestling where, i'm told me piece will be auctioned to help breast cancer screenings to those who can't afford. I'm happy to be a part of that!!..

Get your tickets, here for the event.

My piece is titled, 'Catch The Divas of Wrestling':

As promised, more M.W.F. half & halfs!... (half pencils, Half inks)

This one is the one i'm inking today, page 6 from issue #7 of Misfit Wrestling Federation:

In News: The second issue of my pro wrestling series, Misfit Wrestling Federation is going live on Comixology, this Wednesday, May 20th. 

Stay tuned for more news!!.. 

It's 1973, the DDT wasn't invented!.. // Wondercon Anaheim, CA this Weekend! - Table 873

It's 1973 folks!.. the DDT wasn't invented yet!..

A cool thing about doing a "period piece" like Misfit Wrestling Federation is knowing what came after. In this case of issue #7, I feel when it feels good, make it informative.. Why not?.. It never hurts to learn something while reading and this is an art form (wrestling) in itself... You'll learn about it in M.W.F. if I can help it ! : )

 Like it or not, it's a fascinating art form in which the most colorful and not-so-coloful, strongmen and women have been involved. In many ways, they're a direct reflection of our society and the understanding of the struggles and issues we go through as humans on our planet. There's a reason professional wrestling has captivated many, many people in many many ways.

Maybe you'll agree to disagree.. and we'll wrestle to figure it out!!..

Either way.. here's that finished page from the last posting:

 Also, find me, along with the Comic Makers Los Angeles Meet-up group, at Wondercon
This Weekend: April, 3rd-5th 2015:
At the Anaheim Convention Center - http://www.anaheimconventioncenter.com/ We're at table 873!!.. Fri-Sunday

I will have MOST of the Bombshell Comics line available for purchase. Cash only_^/

Half & Half (Sorta) // Working in circles, figure eights and "directionals" let's call them // Misfit Wrestling Federation is coming to Comixology March 18th

Hey everyone,

Been awhile since a posting... it's not a bad thing. That's what I keep telling myself, so.. let it be so, will you?.. ^_^

I guess I like to call me endeavor with making comics as well, "let the audience find me if they are looking..." and I know some of you are, after these nine years, and I thank you. Even for just your visits and views... the internet is indeed a blessing for the independent - but, it's still hard.

Well, i'm not stopping!.. Below is a half and half (sorta) page #3 from Misfit Wrestling Federation #7...

For my first unlimited series, Misfit Wrestling Federation goes live for purchase this Wednesday - March, 18 2015 on www.comixology.com ..The digital comics subscription and service. I would highly recommend if you're a cartoonist, to take a look at the books within the Comixology Submit program: https://www.comixology.com/ComiXology-Submit-Releases/page/169

I post this out of what I find to be one of the most enjoyable challenges beyond your standard representational art (as far as you take it as a cartoonist I guess) is the directional over-pass and under-pass let's call them, to the whole comics narrative as a form. Those over-pass and under-passes i'm calling them, involve not only word balloons of the comic with it's placement (which you won't find below) but mostly, a shape/panel relationship/flow.

That's what a "real" wrestling comic book needs. In my opinion. In order to feel the dynamics of the interaction of the wrestlers and their moves, the cartoonist ( writer and artist) must know when and how to place the moves and essentially, story "beats" within each-other fluidly. On top of that, the construction needs to work all at once to encapsulate environment and the energy involved. Just as a match transpires among a commentator reaction... and in this case, character reaction and interaction within the match.Where will the word bubbles fit?.. You'll have to wait and see. Will I go back to "standard" paneling?.. Yes, it's already happening... Look at the top of this page!...

This challenge gets my excitement.. my drive.. to make this the best pro wrestling comic series you never read.

Cover of the unreleased, issue #7 (Released sometime this year):

Stay tuned!.. I plan to post storyboards i've done within the last year or so!...

-MJ

A re-created poster ad that's not in the book // 'THAT BIKE' mentioned in Philly Blogs

As I might've shared or even "favorite" on my twitter recently, fellow blogs philebrity.com and passyunkpost.com mention my 2012 release, 'THAT BIKE'.


Frankly, I had a complete blast making 'THAT BIKE'. My first semi-autobiographical story set in south Philadelphia where I find one of the coolest things I still own, my 1969 AMF Roadmaster 'American V' "muscle bike".

Purchase it, here: http://www.bombshell-comics.com/thatbike.html


Below is my treat. A re-created poster ad that's not in 'THAT BIKE' (only available at shows):

Yes, I laid down to draw this ^_^ but not the background : )