MAY OLD ACQUAINTANCE BE FORGOT...

Is it that time already? 2011 sure went fast. This certainly was a memorable year for me, in both good ways and bad. I'd like to think that the good outweighs the bad though, and has actually laid the groundwork for a great 2012. I won't go into the bad points of 2011, mainly because some of them hit a little too close to home. On the brighter side, I had a fun trip to Wizard World back in April, got my first Pro badge for Comic Con in July, and had a great trip to the Long Beach Comic Con in October, where I also had a pro badge. As an artist, I grew leaps and bounds and gained enough confidence in myself that I'm now preparing collected volumes of my work, and believe me when I say I'm not doing this on an ego trip. People have actually asked me for printed copies! The future looks bright, and I can't wait to show all of you the great comics and cartoons that I have in store for 2012.

Anyway, that's enough yammering for now. There's only two days left in the year, so let's end this sucker with a bang! I present to you the first in what I hope to be a new series of postings that I call GREAT SONG, CRAPPY MOVIE, the premise being a horrible movie that inexplicably had a great soundtrack. And since this is the very first installment, I present the epic cheese fest from 1980, Flash Gordon!

The less said about this movie the better. All I'll say, and you probably figured it out yourself already, was that this movie was made in an effort to cash in on the Star Wars craze that swept through the world in the late 70's and early 80's. Terrible acting, terrible story and special effects so bad, they're actually kind of funny is the best way to describe this polished turd. The movie's lone saving grace was the incredible musical score and soundtrack provided by Queen. It's because of the music that this film is actually tolerable.

It could be coincidence, but I've always felt it was quite odd that so many bad movies have awesome soundtracks, while so many good movies have really weak soundtracks. If anything, a strong soundtrack is probably a just a tool to help mask the shortcomings of a bad film. Ironically enough, George Lucas had wanted to do a Flash Gordon movie back in the mid 70's after American Graffiti had become such a huge success. Lucas, however, could never secure the film rights, so he decided to do his own space epic instead. Unfortunately, Lucas didn't have Queen to help make the Star Wars prequels more watchable.

Well, that's all for 2011 folks. May you all have a safe and happy time tomorrow and try not to party too hard. We really don't need to start the year off with any tragedies. Take care and I'll catch y'all in 2012. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

-Jon

MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY!!!

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah faithful readers! I know I promised another big announcement this week, but I've always been a better safe than sorry kind of guy. So until I know that everything is absolutely positively certain and squared away, I'm gonna have to hold off a bit longer. Believe me, it's killing me not to make this announcement, but I really don't want any egg on my face. I can say that it's looking very likely that I will have two collected volumes ready in the Spring and places that they will be available at! So stay tuned!

Anyway, the big day is just around the corner, so enjoy some more Christmas goodies from Team Crazy...

This came from the old Late Night with Conan O'Brien show back in 2002. I've never been too big on Bruce Springsteen, but I've always loved his back up, The E Street Band, especially the now late Clarence Clemons. I was heart broken when he passed away a few months back, but man did he leave a great legacy. Without question, the greatest saxophonist ever. All sentiment aside, this was a very fun performance. If only Conan knew that NBC would totally screw him over just seven years later.

And now, a new twist on a beloved classic...

Who knew a lamp could be so sinister? By the way, A Christmas Story is in fact my all time favorite Christmas movie, with Elf being a very close second.

And just because I love all of you, and feel bad about making you wait longer for my announcement, here's one more present...

"Band Aid," the song that started it all. For a good many of you not born yet, in the mid 1980's, a horrific famine ravaged Africa, killing millions. In an effort to help, virtually every major performer in Britain and Ireland banded together to perform the above song, raising millions of dollars in famine relief. Within months, other artists and musicians around the world joined the cause, leading to many other efforts, including "USA For Africa" and the incredible "Live Aid" concert (It also to led to the embarrassingly bad "Hearing Aid," done by a group of well-meaning but really dumb hair metal bands). To this day, "Band Aid" continues to raise money for starving Africans.

Well, that's all for now. I want to wish everybody a very happy and safe Holiday weekend, so watch what you're doing with those turkey fryers, will ya! And try to help your fellow man. There's still time to donate toys and food, so get a move on! I'll be back next time with some New Year's fun and hopefully that big announcement I've been yammering about. Until then, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Boxing Day and Happy Kwanza! (Sheesh! There's just too many holidays to remember!) Until next time, I'll catch y'all later!

HAUNTED HOLIDAY FUN!!!

Hey folks! Just a quick update today. As some of you may have heard, I will be collecting Mike and Mindy and the Mushrooms into collected volumes, with the first book, and possibly even the second, due out sometime in the Spring. I don't have a whole lot of other info right now, as I'm still finalizing some details, but rest assured, they're coming! I put a lot of thought into this decision and am very excited about it. Much thanks goes out to the many people that have encouraged me over the last few months, showing that there's an actual demand for the spike-head and the ponytail in printed form! Each volume will be a standard comic book collecting the previous year's stories, with volume one consisting of the comics from 2010 and volume two taking care of the comics from 2011. And best of all, each book will feature brand, spankin' new covers on the front and back, exclusive to those that actually buy it! It's an exciting time for Team Crazy, and I can't wait for the books to become available.

Now that that's out of the way, here's some Christmas madness, courtesy of the good fellas over at Losers, Inc.

Wow! Don't think I'll ever hear Jingle Bells the same way again. Still, its got a great Tim Burton-vibe going for it, so I'm sure it'll become a holiday standard.

And just because you've all been so good this year, here's another gift from Team Crazy...

This ad came out some time between 1996 and 1998 I think, and is definitely in my top ten of funniest Christmas ads. I can't decide which is funnier? The surly elf or the totally dejected kid with the the rocking horse?

Well, that's all for now. Come back next time for some more Christmas fun and another major announcement. Things are about to change here at the Stuff, and I hope everybody's ready for the ride! Until next time, take care and I'll catch y'all later!

SLAMMIN' CLAUS!!!

Hey folks! Just a quick update today. I've been slammed at work this week, with no off time in sight! It's actually a good thing, as December is usually a pretty slow month for me. So I gotta get it while the gettin' is good! Anyway, enjoy this little gift from the ghost of wrestling past...

Ah... The good ol' WWF logo from the "Attitude" era. How I wish they would bring the "F" back! A quick backstory: it was December of 1997, and Goldust (Dustin Rhodes) had just turned heel, aligning himself with the late Luna Vachon in his battle against Vader, who himself had just turned face after many years of wrestling villainy. I don't remember much else coming out of this feud, other than some great matches and standout moments at a time when it wasn't clear if the WWF would even make it to the next week. Since then, Rhodes has worked on and off for the WWF/WWE, serving as a backstage road agent these days. Vader didn't stick around much longer after this angle, returning to Japan in the summer of 1998 where he remains a top star. Much can be said about the "Rocky Mountain Mastodon's" career, but that's a story for another day.

And since it's christmas, enjoy another gift courtesy of Team Crazy...

From the first season of MAD TV back in 1995, the hilarious "C.L.O.P.S." sketch. They did a few of these over the years, and they were always very funny. The show itself was often a mixed bag, but it lasted for 14 years and had many great moments during its run, with "Da Trey Stoogez" and "John Madden Popcorn Popper" skits being among the show's real highlights.

Well, that's all for now. I'll be back next time with some more Christmas fun as the countdown to the big day continues. I still have a buttload of shopping to do, and hardly any time to do it in. This would be so much easier if days lasted 28 hours! Anyhoo, take care and I'll catch y'all later!

MIKE AND MINDY'S MERCHANDISE SPECTACULAR!!!

Hey folks! It's December! Man does time fly by! Anyway, enough exclamation marks for now. Those mischievous li'l tykes have done sold out on me, and are ready to show off some of their catalog. So enjoy these future products bearing the mark of Mike and Mindy. After all, merchandise is where the REAL money is made. Enjoy...

Ah, nothing says warm and fuzzy like a flame thrower! As you may have guessed, Mike and Mindy are not being merchandised, yet. It is a dream though, and if any licensing agencies are reading this: I'M INTERESTED!

In all fairness, fruitcake ain't so bad, so long as it's in small doses. VERY small doses. And if you ever wondered why Christmas used to be twelve days, now you know: 'Cause rabbits are really slow. Especially when led by a chicken!

These next two sketches are pretty special. They were done as part of a trading card series that David Castro is doing over at Taco Comics. I already did one for him on the fly at the Long Beach Comic Con last month, and have now finished up my contribution with these two cards. So here they are, for everyone to enjoy...

Wow! So this is what happens when two young lovers decide to cut loose. Although the ink smudged a lot on this card, I'm happy with the way it came out, especially Mindy. I don't do too many profile or back of the head shots. I've just never been able to master it. I guess the stars must have aligned, because I got it right for a change!

Oh boy. The dreaded sailor suit! A staple of childhood that many a kid wishes would disappear! Since the first card featured Mindy screaming in Mike's ear, I thought it would only be fair that she should be on the receiving end of some humiliation as well. If nothing else, I am an equal opportunity offender here!

I really wanted to color these so badly, but unfortunately, the card stock was glossy, making it tough to even pencil them without smearing. Still, I think they came out pretty good. I'm actually planning a trading card series myself, but it's still in the early stages.

And now, to kick off the holidays, enjoy this classic about an elderly old crank getting run over by some rogue livestock!

What can I say? It just wouldn't be Christmas without Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer. God Bless you Elmo & Patsy!

Well, that's it for now. I'll be back next time with some wrestling commentary and christmas fun from the top rope. Because nothing says christmas like pro wrestling. Just be careful. We wouldn't want Xanta Klause rearing his unmarketable head! Until next time, take care and I'll catch y'all later!

THANK YOU, GEORGE

It was ten years ago this very day that George Harrison passed away after a battle with cancer. As a tribute to the "Quiet One," I present a couple of his best solo works, starting with All Those Years Ago.

Harrison had written this song as a tribute to former bandmate John Lennon, just months after Lennon's shocking murder. Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr both play and sing back up for Harrison on this song.

Next up, the video for Got My Mind Set On You.

This is not the original video for the song. The original had Harrison sitting in his den, playing guitar as his decorations come to life and dance along. It wasn't his best work, I'm sorry to say, and it is often considered one of the worst music videos ever. George himself was said to be pretty embarrassed by it, which is no doubt why this alternate version even exists. Goofy music videos aside, this is my favorite solo song by George Harrison.

It's been a long ten years, but your music still speaks volumes. We miss you George. Keep Heaven rocking!

-Jon

AD REVENUE!!!

Hey folks! Just a quick little update this week. Since Thanksgiving is tomorrow, I'd thought I'd present a couple appetizers before the main course. Enjoy!

I have to admit, the first time I saw this ad, I fell for it! It wasn't until he wails "BAH BAHHHHHH!" that I realized it was a parody! This ad came out back in 1998, and is still one of the funniest damn things I've ever seen.

Next up...

For all my readers out on the east coast, this is a Jack in the Box ad. The reason I say this is because every year at Comic Con, I have to explain to at least ten people a day what Jack in the Box is and that it's delicious! Come to think of it, I had to do the same thing back in college too! Seriously, you east coasters don't know what you're missing! In addition to some really tasty food (even by fast food standards), Jack in the Box also has some of the funniest commercials on television. Rest assured, more will be posted in the future. In the meantime, head on over to Jack in the Box right now and get some TACO'S! Well, go if you live in a town that has one at least. If not, I'm afraid I just can't help you there!

Well, that's all for this week. I'll be back next time with some Christmas fun featuring Mike and Mindy, the Mushroom gang and a treat or two to kick the holidays into high gear! With that said, have a fun and safe Thanksgiving and remember not to go too crazy on "Black Friday." And if you do go shopping, be sure to buy some bigger pants. Chances are you're gonna need 'em come January!

HEAVY D, ONE OF A KIND

It had been a pretty long day for me last Tuesday, a day that started at 4am due to a really early call at the Civic Theater and ended on a darkened soccer field at a South Bay YMCA. It seemed that everybody around me was doing their best to be annoying, with my family in particular being the worst. As I was finally heading home, I turned on the radio only to get a little more salt rubbed into my wounds: Heavy D had passed away.

I've never really been all that into rap music, but I liked Heavy D. To put it simply, his music was fun to listen to and even more fun to dance to. If any one of my relatives could have afforded a video camera back then, they could have made ten grand off a tape of me, my brother Dante and our cousins Ivan, Vanessa, Stevie and Brian trying to dance to Now That We Found Love!

It was good times back then, and Heavy D was a obviously a part of that.

When Michael Jackson premiered his video for Jam, I remember my brother and me going nuts when Heavy D did his rap towards the end. Back in the day, when Michael Jackson premiered a music video, it was an event, especially for his Dangerous album. So when it came time to premiere Jam, it aired not only on MTV, but VH1, BET and Fox as well!

The big hype was Michael Jordan appearing in the video while rap group Kris Kross also have a cameo. But it was Heavy D, who wasn't even announced, that steals the song. It was a big surprise when he popped up and it's still one of my favorite music videos.

Heavy D also did all three version of the theme song for the hilarious sketch comedy show In Living Color, even performing on several episodes and would later do the theme song for MAD TV.

This was the second theme from the show, which was always my favorite. In Living Color was very much ahead of it's time but that a story for another day.

I'm still sad over Heavy D's passing. Beyond being a talented performer he was also a good person. I think what I liked most about him was that he was a big dude who did big things, which I found inspiring. I wasn't the fat kid, but I definitely wasn't skinny either. To see Heavy D do the things he did, well, it kind've gave me hope. He made me feel that regular folks can be extraordinary if they try hard enough. I also loved his nickname, the "Overweight Lover." That always cracked me up!

So long Heavy D. The world is a much better place for your having been here. Make Heaven dance.

-Jon

IT CAME FROM THE TOP ROPE

Hey folks! Blogging a little early this week due to a busy work schedule this weekend. Normally, I'd be posting something from the absurd side of professional wrestling today but this time around, I'm going to take the high road and comment on the two things that have had many fans buzzing these most recent weeks.

The first would be the appearance by the Muppets on RAW last week. Many fans are still split on the whole Muppets/wrestling thing. Many diehards are still pissed about it, while many casual fans seemed to really enjoy it. As a diehard fan of both wrestling and the Muppets, I was a little split about it myself. It was hard to understand how such an appearance could be pulled off without making both sides look bad, but overall, I enjoyed the show. I felt they did everything just right, with the opening skit being a real highlight (Kermit calling Vicki Guerrero Jack Swagger's "mother": PRICELESS!). I also thought revealing Shemus as Beaker's cousin was also great. I never would've thought that Beaker was Irish.

So yeah, I enjoyed the show. What makes a lot of the diehards angry is that they want to see some "Attitude" again. They miss wrestling from 1998-2001. I admit, wrestling was a hell of a lot more entertaining back when I was a teenager but the facts are this: the extreme era had its time, as did the rock 'n' wrestling era and the brief time in the mid-90s when all wrestlers had day jobs. The whole point of WWF Attitude was shock value. At the end of the day, however, you can only see it so many times. The WWF pulled so many violent stunts back then that after a while, people started getting desensitized to everything. When it ain't shocking anymore, what's the point. If anything, the WWF should've dumped the whole "Attitude" thing ten years ago after the "Monday Night Wars" ended, as that was the true end of the era. Another reason they dropped the excessive violence was due to increased injuries. As I've stated before, wrestling may be scripted, but accidents do happen, and these matches can be very dangerous. I do see some improvement though, thanks to CM Punk. The return of the Rock should also help in giving WWE some of it's edge back. We'll just have to see how it goes.

The other thing that has the wrestling world talking is the recent ESPN report on Scott Hall. From 1993 through 1998, Hall was probably one of the ten best performers in wrestling. Great on the mic and even better in the ring, the man had charisma and a presence that the fans just ate up. His ladder match with Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania X was one of the greatest ever and really set the bar as ladder matches became more common. His return to WCW in 1996 shocked the wrestling world and launched the infamous Monday Night Wars, bringing pro wrestling to heights unheard of. Over time, however, Hall began having issues. Actually, he'd always had issues, but they started becoming bigger and then started costing him jobs. In the fall of 2000, WCW fired him. In the spring of 2002, the WWF fired him. Most recently, TNA fired him in the summer of 2010.

As I said earlier, things weren't always like this, and Scott Hall really was an awesome wrestler. To prove it, check out this match from RAW back in 1993 against the 1-2-3 Kid (Sean Waltman).

In those days, Hall wrestled as Razor Ramon, a character heavily based on the Scarface film from 1983. It should also be noted that as Razor Ramon, Hall had one of the best entrance themes ever, something that today's wrestlers are sorely lacking, although I love that Living Colour's Cult of Personality is being used as CM Punk's new theme (He actually used back in ROH as well). The point is, it's really heartbreaking what has happened to Scott Hall. It's even sadder that most of today's fans have only seen him as a pathetic figure beyond redemption. I, however, choose to remember Hall as the awesome performer he was, and still could be if he can get his life back together. Hopefully, things will get better for him. If you call yourself of wrestling fan, I only ask that you keep Scott Hall in your prayers. His is a soul worth saving.

Well, that's all for this week. I'll be back next time with a tribute the late, great "Overweight Lover," Heavy D, who sadly passed away this week. I ain't even 30 yet, and I'm already having to do tribute pieces for dudes I grew up watching. I know death is inevitable, but why does it have to be so sad? Anyway, take care and I'll catch y'all later!

MIKE AND MINDY: MIND BLOWING!!!

Well, I'm back from an awesome trip to Long Beach and ready to share my experiences. It's also the first week of the month, which means only one thing: COMICS WEEK! So here they are, comics' answer to Fred and Ethel, Mike and Mindy!

Well, that's one way to "expand" your horizons. I guess nobody can accuse Mindy of not having a "well-rounded" personality!

That's right folks. In the Crazyverse, anything goes!

These are a couple of quick sketches I did during the weekend in Long Beach.

I did this quick little sketchcard for Dave Castr over at Taco Comics. I have two more cards that I gotta do for him, so I better get going on that!

I did this sketch in my hotel room during a fit of boredom. The Hilton's a nice hotel and all, but the seriously need to get more channels. I must've watched that Welcome to Los Angeles promo video ten times!

And now, it's time for some new additions to my guest gallery!

First up, this insane piece by Bordin Mark Marsinkul. He really got the spirit of Mike and Mindy down perfectly. More of his work can be found at www.hyperbooster.com.

Next up, this incredibly realistic portrait of Mindy by illustrator Ashleigh Popplewell. Could you imagine Mike and Mindy pulling some of their stunts drawn in this style? More of Ashleigh's work can be found at ashleigh-michelle.deviantart.com.

This awesome Mike portrait was done by Beth Sotelo. I love her style. Somehow, Mike looks so natural with a marshmallow head! Check out Beth's site at www.BethSotelo.com.

This last piece was done by Cuddly Capes, giving Mike and Mindy an Adventure Time flair. Come on folks, say it with me: What time is it? For more of Cuddly Capes designs, check out cuddlycapes.deviantart.com.

And now, for some pics from the Long Beach Comic and Horror Con!

This wasn't a huge show, but it was a lot of fun, and I found some great books and toys!

Silent Bob makin' the rounds.

Quailman and Deadpool Ash! I swear this world would be a much better place if there was more Doug cosplay!

What's left of the National Wrestling Alliance had a ring set up and put on a couple of matches even. Believe me, these guys won't be showing up on RAW or Impact! anytime soon.

Speaking of wrestling, a couple of dudes decided to pay their respects to a recently departed icon during the weekend.

OOOOOOOOH YEAH! SNAP INTO A SLIMJIM!

This guy asked me to deliver a message to the world, but this is a family site, so I had to decline.

A convention first, DILBERT COSPLAY!

Another convention first: MARRIED WITH CHILDREN COSPLAY! Party on Al and Peg! Party on!

Jedi Big Boy! Why wasn't he in the prequels?

The Long Beach Con was a lot of fun. I made many new friends and got a ton of great feedback. So much so that I have finally decided to cave in to peer pressure and start showing at conventions. For sure I'll be at Long Beach next year. I just sent in my application for Wondercon. It's a bit late, but hopefully I'll get in in time. We'll see how it goes. Thanks again to all the great artists and attendees that made this show a memorable one, including the 5,000 or so folks that showed up for the "ZOMBIE WALK"! I would also like to thank Martha Donato for getting me my pro badge and to Sheika Lugtu at OMGcow.com for the kind words and encouragement that she gave me. It was a great time, and I'll see everybody next year!

Well, that's all for now. I'll be back next time with a new wrestling post, as well as my thoughts on some recent events involving the wrestling world. Until then, take care and I'll catch y'all later!

A HALLOWEEN CLASSIC

Hey folks! Just a quick update today. I'm headin' to Long Beach tomorrow and still gotta pack, so I present to you this classic music video! After all, it just wouldn't be Halloween without Michael Jackson, so here it is, THRILLER!

Not much more I can say about this video that isn't already known; it was directed by John Landis (Animal House, Coming to America, Beverly Hills Cop) and came off of the highest selling album of all time (Actually, Thriller is tied with the Eagles Greatest Hits, but come on now, that's a compilation album.). So why post it? Well, back in the day when MTV, VH1 and BET actually played music videos, Thriller was a tradition. These days, not even a mention! So I post it now because Lord knows MTV has no plans to do so. And just so you know, I am an Eagles fan, so no hate mail!

Well, that's all for this week. I'll be back next time with an all new Mike and Mindy comic that will surely "expand" your horizons and a new Mushroom that may very well cause you to question reality. Plus, I'll have some pictures and tales from the Long Beach Comic and Horror Con, so be sure to come back and check it out. In the meantime, have a safe and happy Halloween, and remember kids, a pillow case holds way more candy than that wussy little pumpkin pale your mom's makin' you carry. I'm just sayin'. Until next time, take care y'all!

A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT CONCERNING VAMPIRES

Hey folks! You know, there has been a lot of debate in recent years over what is and isn't a vampire. Well, your ol' Uncle Jon is here with a handy visual aid that should finally put to rest how a vampire should appear. For example...

This is a vampire.

This is Not a vampire.

Just to make sure we are clear on this...

This IS a vampire.

This is NOT a vampire.

And now to really drive the point across...

Vampire

NOT a vampire

VAMPIRE!

NOT A VAMPIRE!

VAMPIRE!!!

NOT A F*%#ING VAMPIRE!!!

I hope that this was informative and beneficial.

Well, that's all for now folks. It's been a rough couple of days, but I'm still kickin'! I just found out that I lost the U-T Cartoon Contest. I'm bummed obviously, but I'm not gonna let it keep me down. The fact is, it was only $25 a week, and they would have retained the rights to my characters. So the silver lining is that Mike and Mindy and Mushrooms still have a home here at Jon's Crazy Stuff! Right where they belong! Which reminds me, thanks again to Jim and Dave over at ARTLAB San Diego for posting my comics on their site. These are two great men who have done a lot for many artists here in San Diego. I'm proud to be friends with them. Anyway, take it easy, and I'll catch y'all later!

SPIN THE WHEEL, MAKE THE DEAL!!!

Greetings fellow bloggers! And welcome to another installment of Jon's Crazy Stuff! We're in the second week of October, and that can mean only one thing: IT'S WRESTLING WEEK! So sit back and enjoy this long-forgotten "gem," courtesy of the ghost wrestling past.

It has often been said Halloween Havoc was the worst wrestling pay per view ever. Personally, I don't think Havoc had anything on Road Wild, but then again, Road Wild didn't have Havoc's longevity. It also didn't suffer from a long history of outrageous gimmick matches that constantly plagued the card. I could literally go on for hours about the ridiculous matches that took place at Halloween Havoc over the years. Everything from Hogan vs. Warrior II, the previously posted Chamber of Horrors, and no less than two angles featuring fake Sting's. And let's not forget the Yeti's attempt to go doggy-style on Hulkamania! So yeah, this show pretty much always sucked. But in 1992, WCW threw together a main event that actually managed to get people interested: Sting vs. Jake "the Snake" Roberts.

That alone was a good selling point for most fans. After all, Sting was WCW's top babyface, and Jake had just come in after a wildly popular run in the WWF and was probably wrestling's top heel at that point. With so much going right for a change, leave it to WCW to find a way to screw it all up. Enter the WHEEL...

In case the video wasn't clear enough, the basics were this: a big roulette wheel with a bunch of gimmick matches on it was spun prior to the match. Whatever match the wheel landed on, would be the type of match that took place. Now, any promoter with a lick of common sense would have rigged the wheel so that it landed on a match that people wanted to see, like a "Falls Count Anywhere" match or a "Texas Death" match. Of course, this is WCW we're talking about here, so you know right away that a genius wasn't running things (in this case, the booker was "Cowboy" Bill Watts). So WCW actually left it all to chance and, not surprisingly, the wheel landed on its stupidest match: the "Coal Miner's Glove" match. Basically, this was a run of the mill item on a pole match. The glove was placed at the top of the pole, and whoever got it first won.

Yep, WCW turned what should have been a great main event between two of the business' top stars into a crap fest that saw two groan men fighting over a glove. And in true WCW fashion, they ignored the rules of a pole match and ended it when Sting hit Jake with the glove and pinned him (after Jake's cobra turned on him, or tried to anyway, long story). Despite the debacle, the show drew a huge buy rate based on the buzz of Sting vs. Jake, and was WCW's highest grossing pay per view until Starrcade '97, which, ironically enough, saw another botched main event. But that's a story for another day.

As for Sting and Jake Roberts, most of us know their stories from here. Jake left WCW shortly afterwards, wrestling in Mexico for a few years and returned to the WWF in 1996. Sadly, Roberts had severe issues with drugs and alcohol that cost him his job and nearly his life. After an embarrassingly short run in TNA in 2006, Jake finally entered rehab, taking advantage of the WWE's wellness policy. He has been clean as of 2008 and recently retired from the squared circle. Sting stayed with WCW until the bitter end, always remaining the company's top babyface. From 2004-on, he's been floundering about in TNA for reasons that nobody can really figure out. He's currently gearing up for yet another main event with Hulk Hogan this Sunday. Here's a lesson to any future wrestling promoters out there: NOBODY WANTS TO SEE TO DUDES PUSHING 60 WRESTLE EACH OTHER!!! And Dixie Carter wonders why nobody ever watches Impact on Thursday nights.

Well, that's all for now. I did five different shows in five consecutive days, and worked seven of the last eight days, so as you might have guessed, I'm pretty bushed. But I'm committed to this blog, and committed to entertaining you, the readers. I'd also like to take this time to promote the Long Beach Comic Con, coming up Halloween weekend. They got a great lineup this year and it's looking like a lot of fun. For more info, check out www.longbeachcomiccon.com. Until next time, I'll catch y'all later!

TOTALLY RAD HALLOWEEN FUN DUDES!!!

Hey folks! A quick and early update this week. These are some busy times, so I got's to get it while the gettin' is good! So instead of some long, overblown intro, here are some comics...

What can I say? Sometimes the best solution is the easiest one. I will say this though, this cartoon was a pain in the butt to color. I really wanted to get everything right on this one, so I put a lot of focus on it (And the splash page at the top too!).

Sheesh! I don't know what's worse? Having to sleep with a skeleton, or having to sleep in all that pink!

And now, for a little pre-Halloween fun...

Man! I always knew there was something off about her.

Well folks, that's all for now. If I survive the next five days, I'll be sure to come back and post something very spooky next week! If I don't make it, well, it was nice knowing ya! Either way, take care, and I'll catch y'all later!

THANKS BATTON!!!

Hey folks! The above drawing was done by the great Batton Lash (Archie Comics, Supernatural Law). I met Batton last weekend at the Adams Ave. Street Fair here in San Diego. He keeps his studio at the ARTLAB on Adams and was a very nice guy. While talking with him, he quickly sketched this portrait of me! I must say, it's always kind of weird to see yourself in cartoon form. Aside from my own self-caricature, this is only the second time that anybody has ever drawn me (The other one was done as part of a group caricature back when I was the humor writer at the Southwestern Sun.). I really love this drawing, although I must admit, my right cheek isn't quite as squiggly. Thanks again for the drawing Batton, and for the kind words of encouragement you gave me. I'd been having some self-doubt lately, and talking with you definitely helped!

Well, September is at an end here. Normally, I'd be posting tomorrow, but I got a super busy weekend ahead of me (Four shows in four days at three different venues!), so I'm doing a quick little update today. I found this little gem on youtube a while back, and it still cracks me up to no end. Enjoy...

As a fan of both anime and the classic Popeye cartoons (The Fleischer Popeye's, not the Famous Studios ones!), this video is great on so many levels. I think we can all relate with Popeye's reaction to his first exposure to anime.

Well, I think I'll wrap it up for this week. I'll be back next time with an all-new Mike And Mindy, a haunting new Mushrooms and even more Halloween fun to help get everybody in the mood. Until then, take care and I'll catch y'all later!

LAND OF CONFUSION!!!

Hey folks! Just a quick update today. Not much is really happening right now, so I thought I'd share with you one of the greatest music videos of all time, Land of Confusion by Genesis.

Man were those puppets creepy looking! I mean, look at them! They make H.R. Puff 'N' Stuff look like Fraggle Rock by comparison! Still, it's an amazing video made even more amazing not just because it still holds up well after 25 years, but because the message is still very much relevant. I guess it's up to my generation to set things right again.

Well, that's all for now. With September coming to an end, and Halloween officially upon us, I'll post something next time to get everyone in the mood. In the meantime, take care, and I'll catch y'all later!

MAKE SURE IT'S THE BOMB!!!

Hey folks! It's been a crazy six days here! After nearly three weeks of not working, I've finally gotten my cash flowing again. My job ain't always easy, but I can't argue about the pay. Plus, it's nice to have a flexible job that still gives me the time to work on my comics. Especially since I just entered a contest that the San Diego Union-Tribune is holding to find a new cartoonist. I probably won't win, but given the looks of some of the comics that are currently being published in the paper, I'd say my chances have to at least be somewhat good. Wish me luck!

Anyway, I have nothing interesting for you today, so instead, enjoy this "HIGHLY" entertaining song, courtesy of Travis Meyer and the Muppets...

Damn! Beware of that stuff that Johnny owns! By the way, I do not in anyway support or endorse drug use. I do find drug humor funny though! (Would you expect anything less from a dude that grew up in the generation of Halfbaked and and Chapelle's Show?)

Well, I'm gonna have to cut out for now. I still got one more day of work and a very busy weekend ahead. I'll be back next time with some more shenanigans. Until then, I'll catch y'all later!

COWABUNGA DUDES!!!

Man has it been a wild week! Between work, cartooning and a massive power outage that hit San Diego (and quite a few other places) last Thursday, I wasn't sure I'd have time to do this today. But luckily, here I am, ready to answer the many questions I've gotten from younger wrestling fans since last Monday night. So let's all take a short break from reflecting and listen in as I solve the mystery of the Super Shredder.

Not surprisingly, the CM Punk/Kevin Nash program on RAW is turning a lot of heads, with Punk very quickly becoming the next Stone Cold here. Having already called Nash on his previous failed gimmicks (he's yet to mention Master Blaster Steel for some reason), Punk had to really dig deep for his latest insult, and boy did he come up big. THE SUPER SHREDDER! Who was the Super Shredder you ask? Was this another WCW brain fart of the early 1990s? Well, not exactly. Although Nash was in WCW at the time, the Super Shredder was the mutated form of the Shredder that Nash played in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle 2: The Secret of the Ooze. What? Don't believe me? Well, here's the proof:

Ya know? The only question I ever had about this movie was if the ooze only mutated organic material, how is it that the shredder's armor mutated as well? My God! I just questioned the logic of a twenty-year-old kids movie! It's official, I've lost it! Amazingly enough, a lot of people don't remember this film, which is surprising given that it came out in 1991 and was wildly popular, despite having almost no name talent in it. They also show it on ABC Family on a fairly regular basis, so you'd think somebody would at least know about it. Of course, it also spawned Vanilla Ice's only other hit: Ninja Rap. I'd post it, but I'm just not that mean a person.

Anyway, I think we all know Nash's story from here. Went to the WWF, became Diesel. Went back to WCW, started the NWO. Came back to the WWF, blew out knee twice. Made a couple of movies. Went to TNA, left TNA, now back in WWF/WWE. And just to put some rumors to rest, Nash's "firing" was part of the show. You see, he's about to shoot a movie, but the production company's insurance will only cover injuries suffered on set. So until the shoot is over, he can't wrestle. It's a pity really, because this thing with CM Punk was really getting over too. Oh well. We'll just have to wait and see how it all plays out.

That's all for now. I'll be back next time with some more goofiness I'm sure. Until then, y'all take care now and never forget the fallen.

JUST IN TIME FOR LABOR DAY, IT'S MIKE AND MINDY!!!

Well, we're back and ready for another fall season! Yep, that means a new school year, a slew of new, really crappy TV shows and another season of football! Or, if you're a Chargers fan like I am, another great regular season that will likely lead to yet another disappointing finish in the playoffs. Oh well, at least the holidays are coming up.

Well, I see no need to stretch things out any further. You people want to see some cartoons, so pull up a chair and have at 'em!

Truth be told, I try to avoid gross-out gags, but not because I think they're wrong. I am a dude after all, so bathroom humor usually does get a chuckle out of me. No, the reason I try to avoid them is because they are simply overused in today's media. Gags like the one above used to be done as a means to shock or amuse people. These days, it's so common place, most people probably won't even flinch! Thanks a lot South Park.

Ah, the misery of childhood! Heck, my school couldn't even afford jugs or kazoos! All our band had were those stupid recorder things that you always had to play Hot Cross Buns on! And given some of the subs we had over the years, I'd of much rather been taught by a bum!

I had a chance to stop by the SoCal Comic Con in Oceanside last weekend. It's a very small but fun show that had some great artists hanging out. A few of these dudes were kind enough to put their spin on Mike and Mindy for me. So once again, I present to you the Mike and Mindy Guest Gallery!

This piece was done by Chris Moreno. In addition to doing this great illustration, Chris taught me the joys of a kneaded eraser! I love the can and banana peel thrown in for added emphasis. This is definitely one of my favorites.

Tony Fleecs did this awesome piece. I love how he gave it the look of a title card from a 1940's cartoon. In a way, Mike and Mindy do owe some of their inspiration to Tom and Jerry, although they're not nearly as violent. I also love the shading. If there is any one skill I wish I could pick up, it would be shading.

Tone Rodriguez is responsible for this piece. Tone, as it turns out, is a huge wrestling fan, and really got a kick out of my Wrestlecrap splash page. We spent nearly an hour talking wrestling, totally oblivious to the fact that there was a line of people waiting to get sketches from him! To all who were waiting, sorry about that. When two marks get to talking, we just get lost in the wild world that is professional wrestling!

This last piece was done by Tom Hodges. Tom does a lot of stuff for Star Wars and Disney and was a very busy man at the SoCal Comic Con. Everybody wanted a sketch from him, and it's easy to see why. I mean, look at the portrait above; Mike and Mindy look like total badasses!

Well, that's all for now. I'll be back next time with an all new wrestling post, one that I'm sure will make your heads spin. I'd like to once again thank everybody at the Artlab for being so welcoming. Artlab is a weekly meeting for all types of artists, and I've really enjoyed hanging out with everybody and getting feedback on my comics. They've also been posting some of my cartoons on their site, of which I'm very appreciative of. If you'd like to know more about some of the Artlab's events, check out their sites at www.artlabsd.com and www.artlabonadams.com.

Until next time, I'll catch y'all later!

INSPIRATIONAL AND MUPPETATIONAL!!!

I have long been a fan of all things Muppet-related, and this new video by OK Go certainly gets me excited about the future of the Muppets.

It's been a tough couple of decades for the Muppets since Jim Henson passed away in 1990. Henson was far more than just the creator of the Muppets, he was the life force. When he died, the zaniness and spontaneity that was the Muppets went along with him. Certainly, many have tried to carry the torch since then, but nobody has ever been able to match Henson's wit and creativity (Not that anybody ever could). That's not to say that things can't get better. Disney floundered for a long time after Walt Disney's death in 1966, and roughly 20 years later, they started turning out good movies again. This video, along with the new Muppet movie coming out in the fall, show a ton of promise. I've been impressed with what I've seen thus far, and not just because it's funny, but because it seems people finally quit asking "What would Jim do?" and started asking "What would the Muppets do?". Of course, the movie hasn't come out yet, but if it's anything like this music video, then I think we're in for a lot of fun this fall.

You know, every time I start to think that music videos are a dead art form, these dudes come along and keep 'em on life support a little while longer. If only there were more artists like OK Go, and if only MTV would pull their heads out of their butts and play music videos again!

Well, that's all for now. I'll be back next time with an all new Mike and Mindy as well as a new Mushrooms. I'll also have some new sketches for the Guest Gallery. I'm talking an all new "new" here! So tune in next time, and I'll catch y'all later!

SIMPLE NOSTALGIA

Hey folks! Just a quick update today as not much has really happened since last time. Okay, I did set up Monday Night RAW a few days ago, and it was a lot of fun (as it usually is). But I'm afraid I have no backstage secrets or spoilers for you. People never seem to realize that when they aren't wrestling, these guys are pretty normal behind the scenes. Still, I always love working the wrestling shows, and I can't wait 'til the next one comes in.

Anyway, I dug up this video classic in hopes of it waking up that warm, fuzzy feeling we all had back in the day when we got our first Nintendo Entertainment Systems, or NES's (It's hard to believe that that was 23 years ago for me!). Enjoy...

This was actually one of the first viral videos I ever saw back in '05, when sites like iFilm and youtube were just popping up. My friends and I laughed our asses off at this video, and yet we were amazed at how this simple A Capella group was able to nail each of the classic Nintendo themes. The only thing I take issue with here is including the Mortal Combat theme. As funny as it was, Mortal Combat wasn't on the original NES. It was on the Super Nintendo and the Sega Genesis. And for all you young bucks out there curious about why the dude at the beginning blew on the cartridge, well, old school video games would get really dusty and that was the only way to really clean them. Heck, I still prefer cartridges over disks. They were way more durable.

Well, that's all for now. But before I go, I'd like to say hello to my new friends that I made at the Artlab last night. It was nice to meet some other artists, especially from so many different fields. I got a lot of great feedback on my cartoons and I certainly look forward to the next meeting and to making even more friends. Take care, and I'll catch y'all later!

NO WONDER THEY WENT UNDER

It's been a busy week for me folks. I just finished loading in Mary Poppins at the San Diego Civic Theater, had to load out Katy Perry at the Sports Arena and will be loading in Monday Night RAW this coming Monday at the arena! Anybody who regularly reads this blog no doubt knows that I am a lifelong wrestling fan, especially when it comes to the WWF (That's right World Wildlife Fund, you read that right!). In fact, I have been involved in one way or another with every RAW that has ever been broadcast in San Diego. The first time it came to town (1998), it was still taped on alternate weeks, and my brother Dante and me bought the last two tickets. In 2003, my brother snagged me comp tickets to the show, by then a weekly live broadcast. Every show since, I've worked it. Needless to say, I'm pretty excited about the whole thing and can't wait 'til Monday!

In the meantime, it's time to do something that I haven't done in two months: A FUNNY WRESTLING POST! I got quite a few angry e-mails from people demanding more wrestling and less Comic Con. Well, I'm always happy to oblige, so sit back and enjoy the show...

Sibling tag teams are nothing new to wrestling, although they're not quite as frequent as they used to be. WCW in 90's, however, seemed to be loaded with brotherly tandems, with the Harlem Heat (real life brothers Booker and Steven Huffman) and the Steiner Brothers (Rick and Scott, also legit brothers) leading the way. The Steiner Bros. are no doubt one of the greatest tag teams ever, but it was always obvious that younger brother Scott was the more talented member of the team and by 1998, the two bitterly split up after Scott joined the nWo. For a better part of the next year, the two battled back and forth, leading to a match at Halloween Havoc 98. In the months leading up to the show, a bizarre cackling laugh would fill the arena anytime Rick Steiner came out. Fans were baffled, but many pretty much shrugged it off, thinking that nothing would ever really come of it. Had they only known.

It was on Nitro one night that Rick came down to the ring to have an interview with "Mean" Gene Okerlund. Rick Steiner was never particularly gifted on the mic, so after attempting to put the fans at ringside to sleep for a few seconds, the cackling once again started, only this time, it had a source, for up on the video the wall, the culprit was finally revealed:

That's right folks, WCW felt that the best way to get Rick Steiner over was to have him feud with Chucky, the demented rag doll of the Child's Play movies. Having apparently learned nothing from the Robocop/Sting fiasco from 1990, WCW once again tried to cross-promote with the movie industry, this time teaming up with the film Bride of Chucky. Needless to say, the movie flopped and WCW dropped the whole thing the very next day, once again leading to a colossal waste of time and money.

As for Rick Steiner, he pretty much hung around WCW 'til the very end, winning several titles along the way and even reunited with Scott. Sadly, the bad angles only continued, one of which led to him "winning" the tag titles with "Buff" Bagwell's mother, Judy (trust me folks, the less said about that one the better). Other than a couple of TNA appearances, Rick's more or less been retired these last few years. You know, I realize Rick Steiner wasn't on his brother's level, but come on! Even the "dog-faced" gremlin deserved better than this!

Well folks, that's all for this week. I'll be back next time with some form of amusement for you. If you like what you see or want to recommend a bad gimmick, leave a comment and I'll try my best to get to it (No cartoon ideas please; I Can't afford to pay royalties!). Take care, and I'll catch y'all later!

MIKE AND MINDY ARE BACK AND HAVE FANS!!!

Here we are folks, it's the first weekend of the month and that can mean only one thing... No genius, not welfare check day! It's comics week, featuring the cartoon work of a newly minted award-winner, ME! That's right, I can now officially call myself an award winning cartoonist, not that I couldn't do that before, but it's much better when you can actually back your claim. You see, the Southern California Cartoonists Society, or SCCS, had a cartoon contest for Comic Con, and yours truly won first place! I'm pretty stoked about it. It may not be an Eisner or Harvey Award, or even an Inkpot, but it's still my first, and I'll always be proud of that.

Well, I've done enough blabbering for today. Enjoy the comics! (NOTE: The image above comes from the postcards I made up this year's Comic Con)

Boy is that kid flexible!

You know, there are many stereotypes and cliches that have been introduced into society as a result of media such as film, television and (of course) comics, which certainly begs the question...

I hope this has been informative.

This was a quick sketch I did for the SCCS/NCS Party at Comic Con. If you look closely, you can still see the pencil marks. You might also notice that I forgot to add the "d" in the word "and"! (I was drawing this on my knees, so cut me some slack!)

I did this sketch in a book that the San Diego County Public Library had at its table. I have always been an advocate for literacy and the Library System in general.

And now for something special. Mike and Mindy are starting to get a little bit of a fanbase going here, and I'm always interested in seeing how other people might interpret them. So once again, I present to you the Mike and Mindy Guest Gallery...

This piece is by Anne Cain, who did an awesome job of turning the mischievous duo into superheroes.

Brian Kolm did this quick sketch with a ballpoint pen. It also marks the first time ever that either Mike or Mindy has ever spoken!

This bizarre piece was done by Leon Killingsworth. At first I was puzzled by it until I realized he was pulling from Mike and Mindy #10 (October 2010), the one where Mike moons Mindy and turns her into a werewolf.

This awesome piece was done by Otto Dieffenbach, who makes Mike look like the lost son of Guile from Street Fighter!

This quick pencil sketch was done by Rachel Buecheler, giving Mike and Mindy an anime/manga makeover, which is actually pretty cool considering that Mike's hair was influenced by Goku from Dragonball.

This fun little piece was done by Rachel Dukes. I love the bad girl/cool cat feel the Rachel gives to Mindy here, especially since all the other artists seemed to put a lot more emphasis on Mike's personality. I was also very touched when Rachel asked me for my autograph.

This piece was done by Seamus Michael Smith, which shows that it is possible to draw either Mike or Mindy in profile, a skill that has always bedeviled me.

This last piece was done by Steven Kunz, giving Mike a bit of a mean streak here. Ya know? Everybody seemed to really like drawing Mike more than Mindy. Personally, I love drawing both of them, but Mindy didn't get much sugar at this year's Comic Con. Oh well, there's always next year I suppose.

Well, that's it for this week. But before I go, I would like to personally thank Scott Shaw! (Captain Carrot), Mike Bocianowski (Yets!), Stan Sakai (Usagi Yojimbo), John Murakami (Dragons of Hawaii), Phil Ortiz (The Simpsons) and Tom Richmond (MAD Magazine) for taking time to review some of my comics and giving me pointers. These guys are some of my favorite cartoonists and their advice and compliments mean the world to me. It ain't easy showing your work, especially to guys that are real pros in the business. But it's important to get your name out there and get critiques because it's the only way you'll grow and improve as an artist. And I know that when I see these guys again next year, I'll be even better.

Well, it's time to go. I'll be back next time with a new wrestling post that I'm sure will have everybody in stitches. Take care, and I'll catch y'all later!