BUBBLE AND PEPPER: LOONY BALLOONISTS!!!

 

I'll keep it short this week.  Summer's coming to an end, it's super hot right now and the annual Guest Month is kicking off for Bubble Fox!  That won't affect the posting schedule for here since it's all cleaned up reposts anyway.  I do have some fun and VERY colorful posts coming your way that I'm excited to show off!  One of the reasons I take a month off every year is to not only rest and recharge for a bit, but also to work on other art, even learn knew skills and techniques.  I'm very behind on colored pencil work, so it'll be nice to catch up on those finally.  An artist never rests.  Even on break, I'm busy!

Well, that's a wrap on August 2026, but fear not!  We are gonna start fall off right with so much color it'll make Rainbow Brite lose her mind even!  So be sure to come back and check it out!  Until next time, take care, stay safe and I'll catch y'all later!

MIKE & MINDY!!! GOING GLOBAL!!!

Welcome back to the CRAZYVERSARY dear CRAZIES!!!  As you can see in the top pic, Mike and Mindy have floated out of San Diego and are on their way to any place the wind takes them!  (And before any of you ask, go check out last July's Comic Con splash page to see what led to their buoyant posteriors!)  A lot of pals in the web comic realm really wanted to see them travel, so I put it out there in an art challenge called #MMGoGlobal!  I got quite a few entries so far, and I'd like to share a few of them with you now as we continue to celebrate the Terrible Tykes' birthdays!  So scroll down and see where they head to first!  Enjoy...

First up, the kids head off to Lively, Ontario way up in Canada where they meet up with their old pals Gayle and Gloria from Off Season!  These kids often had a fierce rivalry out on the playing fields, but always shared laughs after the games were through.  As they floated by, little Gayle tried so hard to reach out for Mike's shoelace, but the winds blew in and changed the puffed pals' course!  It was a nice try at least!  Thanks to my dear pal Warren Frantz for this hilarious take!  Gubble Bum may strike soon here!

The winds didn't blow them too off course it seems as Mike and Mindy are still in Ontario, but have now floated over to Toronto where they meet up with their pal Lollipop and her trusty dog, Fraser!  Lollipop was happy to show the Buoyant Buds around, but the winds came in again, blowing them dangerously close to the sharp point of the CN Tower!  Luckily, they just missed it and they headed east.  Thanks to the always wonderful Jennifer Cuthbert for showing them around!  I hope Bubble Fox is behaving himself in that continuity! 

When I said east, I didn't realize just how strong those winds were!  Mike and Mindy have made it to Merry Old England where they encounter the very merry Dog and not-so-merry Cat, stars of the hilarious comic strip, What?  Cat is not known for his welcoming demeanor, and today proves not different for the Balloon Bozos!  Thankfully, he's a cat and as such has terrible aim!  Thank you to the great Anthony Moorin, aka, Weird Bean!  Going the extra mile and putting them into a comic made my day!  Thanks again Bean Of Weird!

Where will Mike & Mindy float to next?  We'll be seeing in the very near future I assure you!  It's busy times all over right now, hence the reason the CRAZYVERSARY is being cut short this year.  But there are quite a few locations that they have visited so far and I can't wait to show you all!  In the meantime, watch the sky!  You never know when they might float by!

And that's a wrap on the CRAZYVERSARY!!!  I know, it was way too short this year.  But there is a good reason, for you see, something big is starting up again next week!  For those of you who've been around this blog for awhile now, you can probably guess what's coming: The CRAZY WonderCon Countdown!  That's right folks!  It's that time of year again, and starting next week, we are going into eight weeks straight of WonderCon coverage!  So be sure to come back and check it out!  Until then, take care, stay safe and I'll catch y'all later!

MIKE & MINDY!!! 16 YEARS AND STILL CRAZY!!!

Welcome to February CRAZIES!!!  Already a month in, can you believe it?  Lots of big things coming up  this month.  Valentines Day, Presidents Day, the CRAZYVERSARY...  What's that?  You forgot about the CRAZYVERSARY?!?  Well, let's fix that right here and now!  Yes folks, it was 16 years ago this very week that Mike, Mindy and a very young, unsure cartoonist and writer all took their first steps towards web infamy!  It's certainly been an interesting ride to say the least, some lows, but far more highs,  I can honestly say it has been an absolute pleasure creating these silly comics and writing these blog posts for you CRAZY faithful!  And although Mike & Mindy ended their five-year run back in December of 2014, they still have fans, and every so often, I'm gifted some fan art of the Terrible Tykes!  Don't believe me?  Scroll down and take a look for yourself!  Enjoy...

Oh Mike and Mindy.  Those two sure did seem to get inflated a lot.  They must've really enjoyed having squeaky voices afterwards?  A good many of you will likely remember this gag from one of their most memorable comics where they inflated themselves with an air compressor and use the propulsion from deflating to get to get school on time, only to learn that they'd had the day off all along!  Well, that comic also inspired a host of pals and fans online to take part in a Draw This In Your Style challenge that led to a fun blog post several years ago with many takes.  Well, my good pal Alex Schumacher wanted in on it too and recently delivered this wonderful and insanely detailed take on that legendary moment!  Alex Schumacher is an incredible cartoonist and illustrator whose resume speaks volumes.  That he was willing to take time out of his insanely busy schedule, which included tending to a newborn baby, really means a lot to me!  Seeing this classic cartoon trope rendered in such a detailed and realistic way is also very mind blowing!  Thanks again Alex for puffing up my cartoon kids reminding everybody about the trouble that having an inflated ego can cause!

That's all for this first week of February, but fear not!  We got a little more bloated fun to have with Mike & Mindy next week as we wrap up the CRAZYVERSARY festivities a little early this year.  Why such a short celebration?  Well, you'll have to come back next week to see!  Until then, take care, stay safe and I'll catch y'all later!

SUPER KID!!! THE NOT-SO-SUPER INFLATION BUSTER!!!

Well, we're a few days away from being a month into 2026.  Hopefully things are going good so far (I tend type these out well in advance).  Know what is good though?  Comedy!  And you wanna know what's funny?  Bloated cartoon characters pumped so full of gas they're practically bursting!  And since we are still fighting Bad Inflation this month, we may as well send in a REAL hero to take care of things!  Who is this man of myth?  Scroll down and find out!  Enjoy...

Well...  A young man of myth at least!  Meet Superkid, the sworn protector of Walnut Street down to its first stop sign!  A true marvel of genetic engineering created by the sinister Dr. G, Superkid has super strength!  So long as he holds his breath, which usually isn't for very long.  He can also fly!  So long as his eyes are closed.  Come to think of it, his abilities aren't very practical at all!  But make him go to bed early, and the tantrum he throws is epic!  Mooney the Turtle isn't totally wrong though.  Sometimes a moral foe is the WORST foe!  I need to get onto that scurvy dog JW Cornelius about using Superkid in the comics more often!  He's clearly got charisma!  That or he's full of hot air!

And that's a wrap on January 2026!  I do have some cool stuff lined up for February, including the return of the CRAZY WonderCon Countdown!  But in addition to that, it is also the birthdays my original cartoon stars, Mike & Mindy, and their awesomeness MUST be celebrated!  So stay TOONED for that one!  Until next time, take care, stay safe and I'll catch y'all later!

FOXLOONS!!! THE SAFEST WAY TO TRAVEL!!!

We are back at it CRAZIES!!!  More Loony mayhem is on the way because THAT is exactly what you fine folks demand!  At least that's what I think you all want.  Frankly, I have no idea how the metrics work.  The only thing I've ever truly noticed is that my Comic Con posts seem to be the only ones that ever get any traction on social media.  Which reminds me!  We're only a few weeks away from the CRAZY WonderCon Countdown!  So stay TOONED for that!  Speaking of toons, they tend to blow up like balloons a lot, and this month is a celebration of that classic cartoon trope as we use GOOD inflation to combat BAD inflation!  So scroll down and see how this week's LOONY TOON fares!  Enjoy...

Planes?  Trains?  Automobiles?  All outmoded and outdated!  Foxloons on the other hand?  Now THAT is the way to travel!  Sure, there's not much room, but the seats are comfy and with a quick tug of the tail, you're soaring at jet speed!  When my pal Mike Hartigan's characters needed a quick ride from Australia to San Diego for a book conference at the Marriott, Bubble was more than happy to help!  Unfortunately for Bubble, He wasn't expecting Super Unicorn Princess, Squish, Squash and Chase Speedington to have ten canisters of helium at the ready!  I guess they decided to do unto him before he did unto others!  Still, the flight was enjoyable and touched down long before Bubble "Deflated" much to Chase's relief!  Not sure how they made it back though.  Perhaps Mike can "Fill" us in on that one someday?

Well, only week left to go for this first month of 2026!  But fear not!  We'll end it on a high note, as any post about inflation should!  So be sure to come back and check it out!  Until next time, take care, stay safe and I'll catch y'all later!

INFLATED EGOS AND SWELLED HEADS!!!

Welcome back CRAZIES!!!  We are already having quite the ball here at the halfway point (ALREADY?!?) of January 2026!  And of course, you can't really have a ball without inflation, for THAT is what makes a ball round and buoyant!  And speaking of round and buoyant, we got some art below that will keep the ball rolling as we continue our fight against bad inflation with funny inflation!  So tie yourself down and read on!  Enjoy...

Ego can be a dangerous thing (Something we're learning daily, sadly).  It can be even more dangerous when said ego is inflated more grossly than a Macy's parade float!  And here, Peppermint Twist from Jennifer Cuthbert's Adventure's Of Lollipop comics demonstrates why it's better to be humble about things!  Although PT, as Bubble calls her, normally is sweet natured and loyal, she can be quite greedy and pigheaded at times, especially when things are going her way!  After she and Bubble Fox were given their own talk show on Canadian TV after a magic show gone hilariously wrong, she's let the success of it all go to her head.  And her arms.  And her gut.  And especially her huge butt!  If she don't curb her attitude soon, she'll be stretched completely spherical and have her own gravitational pull!  That or get a wicked case of gas, whichever is funniest!

Another week down as we float towards February, but I assure you the next two weeks will be a gas, likely because they are full of gas!  So be sure to come back and check it all out!  Until next time, take care, stay safe and I'll catch y'all later!

THE CRAZY INFLATION BUSTER 2026 IS HERE!!!

Welcome to 2026 CRAZIES!!!  New year, new opportunities, SAME PROBLEMS!!!  Yep, everything is much more expensive these days, and for very obvious reasons.  I, however, vowed long ago not to be topical in my work or posts, so instead I'll point my finger to an easy scapegoat: INFLATION!!!  And the best way to combat inflation is with even MORE inflation!  The cartoony kind to be precise!  So put away your economic fears and prepare for some belly laughs as the sight of these animated bellies stretched spherical will hopefully get a chuckle or two out of you!  Enjoy...

When it comes to cartoon foxes, they don't get any loonier than the great Bubble Fox!  And I'm not just saying that because he's my primary IP!  Bubble's been stretched every which way in his now 12th year of being a bad influence on children!  Today, he's hanging out with Marty & Spud, the creations of veteran cartoonist Matt Hansel who felt that Bubble was looking a little flat, so they decided to "Lift" his spirits while also "Expanding" his horizons, not to mention his waistline!  Last year, Matt was kind enough to do a doodle of Bubble meeting Marty and Spud for a cartoon playdate, as seen below...

As you can see, Bubble decided to help them test the limits of toon buoyancy, greatly inflating their expectations!  As Matt was a good sport about things, I felt it was only fair that young Marty and his feline pal get the last laugh as Bubble clearly had the first one.  It was well-rounded fun for everyone, and best of all, nobody questioned how any of them were able to float without helium!

Well, that's one week down for January 2026!  Only 51 more to go!  And for those of you still bummed about the holidays ending, just remember: There's only 352 more days until Christmas!  And only 322 more days before we are assaulted with nonstop holiday movies and music for two months straight, so how's about we just enjoy a few months of something different while we still can?  We'll back next week with more inflatable fun, so be sure to float back and check it out!  Until then, take care, stay safe and I'll catch y'all later!

JOLLY AND ROUND!!!

Welcome back CRAZIES!!!  We are back at it again as Christmas draws ever so closer and excitement is building!  I have it on good authority that Santa and his Elves are busy at the North Pole, making toys for the good boys and girls and the naughty children that found ways to cheat the system.  In fact, why don't we scroll down and go check in on Santa's Workshop and see how these amazing toys come about?  I'm sure Santa will be happy to show us!  Enjoy...

Would you look at that?  Santa's stress-testing the limits of the beachballs he'll be giving away to kids this Christmas!  What's that?  That's an Elf?  Oh...  Well, I'm sure Santa has his reasons.  Elves can be pretty mischievous after all.  Little twerp probably poked fun at Santa's rotund posterior again!  If you ask me, they are both blowhards!

Well, another week down CRAZIES, but the seasonal fun continues into next week as we deck some unconventional halls for the holidays, so be sure to come back and check it out!  As it is the holiday season, remember that folks need help.  Please give to food banks and toy/clothing drives this season.  Every little bit helps and can really give people their badly needed miracles in these desperate times.  Until next time, take care, stay safe and I'll catch y'all later!

TOM TURKEY: CRAZIES DAY HERO!!!

Welcome back CRAZIES!!!  IT'S HERE!!!  THANKSGIVING IS FINALLY HERE!!!  So darn excited for the return of my favorite holiday!  There's so much to do, so much to prep!  It's funny to say because as I write this, we're still five days away from Halloween.  But I know that when this actually posts, I'll be up to my elbows in cornbread stuffing and pie dough!  It's a lot of work for sure, and I'm certain a lot of you are probably busy prepping for tomorrow as well, so why don't we just jump into today's toon and call it a week, sound good?  Great!  Enjoy...

All's well that ends well!  Tom Turkey survives for another year and Billy and Dorothy Brat are no longer flattened!  They also now have bodies that are as inflated as their egos and are the leading "Floats" in this year's CRAZIES Day Parade!  And you all probably thought Ol' Tommy wouldn't help them.  For shame!

And so ends another tricky tail of Tom Turkey.  Next year will likely be the final edition as I'm just plain running out of things to do with these guys.  That isn't to say they can't come back in the future if something else pops up!  Ultimately, I'd like to collect these all in a volume as a bit of a graphic novel/picture book hybrid.  It's high time Thanksgiving FINALLY get some multimedia respect with the other holidays! Until next year, google on Tom Turkey!

Well, that's a wrap on November, but never fear!  You know we got some holiday fun brewing up for Christmas, so be sure to come back next week and help us kick off December properly! I would also like to remind you, dear readers, again to please think of those less fortunate this holiday season.  It doesn't take much to help others in these dire times.  Please donate to food, clothing and toy drives if you can.  Even a quarter in a Salvation Army Bucket can make a difference.  Giving is a gift in its own right and the more we share, the better we can be.  Until next time, take care, stay safe and have a very happy, fun and safe Thanksgiving!  Oh, and may fate smile kindly upon you on Black Friday!

THE BUOYANT PLAYDATE!!!

Welcome to October CRAZIES!!!  We are there!  The Witching Hour...  The Haunting Season...  It is time for some Halloween fun!  I know y'all are excited and so am I!  After all, we're not that far off from turkey dinner and Christmas presents too, but one thing at a time.  I got some SPOOOOOOOKY art lined up all month long and it's time to see what's FLOATING up first!  Enjoy...

Oh my...  When Sunny and Mindy get together, you never know WHAT kind of shenanigans will happen!  These two kids were wild without all that helium!  Now that they're airborne, Vinnie might wanna get out of dodge before they deflate!  As you may have noticed from the signature date, this one's got some years on it.  Over TEN to be precise!  There's quite a few pieces from way-back-when that have yet to make their way here, something that will likely be changing soon now that all the various online art collectives I regularly took part in have seemingly ended.  This piece if I recall was done to cheer up my dear friend Tim Green who was going through a very rough spot.  Others followed suit leading to the wonderful #VivaVinnie collective that appeared on Twitter, back when politeness was still encouraged on social media.  Tim loved the art and even made Sunny's skull bloomers a part of her repertoire, which was fitting.  I doubt the vampire tot would be caught alive in Mindy's more colorful and cheerful Balloon Bloomers!

Well, that's one down in this extended month of October, but fear not, for we WILL be back next week with some art so terrifying, it may literally scare your pants off!  Come to think of it, maybe you should be a little fearful at least!  Until then, take care, stay safe and I'll catchy y'all later!

LITTLE DANIEL DOUBLES DOWN, ER, UP!!!

We are back my CRAZIES!!!  And it's the end of August!  Sheesh, weren't we just celebrating the New Year?  Actually, I think more people will be happier to see 2025 end than they were to see it start, but that's neither here nor there.  It's art time!  And this month has been a fun one exploring some of the fan art, guest strips and commissions I get throughout the year, and this week is no exception!  I said we'd end this month with some BIG laughs and this next toon will really EXPAND your waistbands it's such a gut buster!  Don't think I'm serious about this?  Then scroll down and see for yourself!  Enjoy...

It should be noted that in the realm of cartoons, you should NEVER trust expansive gasses, especially helium!  You are just asking for trouble of a well-rounded nature.  Unfortunately, "Little" Daniel here didn't heed Bubble Fox's warnings and now, well...  He's got a rather BIG problem!  Guess you could say that kid's a bit of a BLOWHARD, eh?  Daniel, and his friends Susana and Elias, are the creations of my good friend Alberto Gonzalez, an amazing cartoonist from Costa Rica who's had quite an amazing run in the world of cartooning.  We met years ago on Twitter and have thankfully managed to keep things going on BlueSky as social media tastes continue to shift.  Al had longed to take part in some of the CRAZY Art Events that Jennifer Cuthbert and I host on both platforms, but time never seemed to be on his side.  Thankfully, when it came time to do the fourth installment of the CRAZIES Day Parade, Al was prepared and had this hilarious entry/guest comic ready to go!  And indeed, the laughs were bigger than Daniel's rapidly expanding belly!  The wait was well worth it Al, so thanks again for taking part and including Bubble in shenanigans!  I just hope they all weren't standing downwind of Daniel when he was ready to deflate!

And that's a wrap on August 2025!  I know it's a bummer that summer's ending but hey, that just means the holidays are that much closer!  Pretty sweet, eh?  Be sure to come back next week as we get September off to a colorful start!  Until then, take care, stay safe and I'll catch y'all later!

MARTY AND SPUD MEET BUBBLE AND GET BUBBLED!!!

Well, after a long ten weeks, it's back to normal here at the CRAZYVERSE.  I mean, normal by this site's standards at least.  We've long tended to lean more towards the silly and absurd here than anything else, and nowhere is that more obvious than with the antics of a certain fox named Bubble!  He's at it again, this time with some new pals who were pumped to meet him, but didn't realize that Bubble Fox and "pumped" are a bad mix!  Think we all know where this might be heading, but it's worth scrolling down anyway!  Enjoy...

D'OH!!!  BUBBLE FOX!!!  MARTY AND SPUD SAID THEY WERE PUMPED TO MEET YOU, NOT THAT THEY WANTED TO BE PUMPED "BY" YOU!!!  That fox is a menace!  He just can't resist when cartoon physics are involved!  I know young Marty was probably looking forward to a growth spurt someday, but he was likely hoping to be taller, not wider!  Gonna be a wicked case of gas later on!  Marty & Spud are the creations of my good pal Matt Hansel, a veteran cartoonist of MANY titles, most notably Hagar The Horrible and a whole host of toons over at American Mythology Comics, including Casper The Friendly Ghost!  When Matt offered commissions on Twitter last summer, I jumped at the chance to get some original art from one of my favorites, not to mention see Bubble Fox in another awesome artist's signature style!  Might have to commission Matt again next year just to see how much more Bubble pumped them up!  Thanks again Matt!  Nice to see that Marty and Spud don't have inflated egos!

That's all she wrote for this week, but we'll be back next time for more antics from a CRAZY, and spooky, friend!  Until then, take care, stay safe and I'll catch y'all later!

IT'S HERE!!! COMIC CON 2025 IS A GO!!!

IT'S HERE!!!  IT'S HERE!!!  COMIC CON 2025 IS FINALLY HERE!!!  Okay, okay, I know.  Gotta keep calm.  After all, I am a Professional here.  Wait a tic, I'm a professional cartoonist!  We're the most immature kids in class!  IT'S HERE!!!  IT'S HERE!!!  IT'S HERE!!!  Okay, now that I got it out of system, I think we can continue!

You may have noticed we're posting a bit earlier this week than usual.  As is tradition here at the CRAZYVERSE, we're posting ahead of our usual Wednesday time slot so as not to conflict with everybody's busy Comic Con schedules, including mine!  Believe, I ain't promoting crap this week!  I won't have time to!  As we go through today's post, we'll also be highlighting a few tips and pointers throughout, which will be marked as so:

"TIP:"

And now, without further interruption, let us cap up our Code Red Mountain Dews, toss out our empty bags of Doritos and put on a fresh pair Batman Underoos, because the CRAZY Comic Con Countdown has launched!  Enjoy...

Recess is out!

The unbridled joy of launching foam hotdogs at people riding a giant, mechanical hotdog cannot be accurately described in a single sentence!

TIP: This particular activity takes place at the Adult Swim Carnival behind the Convention Center near the bay.  It is free to attend, HOWEVER, only 18 and up are allowed in.  Also, as of this writing, it has yet to be confirmed to be returning, but it's almost a lock at this point, so prepare accordingly.  

The Lego booth has really stepped it up in recent years as opposed to the old booth which was literally just a video wall, a table full of Legos and a small shop in the back.  Now they do full-on themes and in 2023, they gave us all a nostalgic gut punch with a booth themed like an old Blockbuster Video store! 

Blizzard Entertainment always delivered big when it came to their booth as 2023 proved to be their final year (To date) at SDCC.  With all the turmoil surrounding their sale, it's hard to say what the future holds for them as even their huge show up in Anaheim, Blizzcon, has been postponed indefinitely.  Guess we'll see how it goes eventually.

Nothing like wasting money on a huge campaign for the anniversary of a (Sadly) tainted TV show on a network that doesn't even air in San Diego anymore.  When the Project Manager of this offsite overheard me tell one of the volunteers that LaffTV had left San Diego airwaves nearly three years prior, he just about had a heart attack.  This would be akin to promoting a Baltimore Ravens convention in Cleveland.

TIP: MANY offsites and activations line the sidewalks and grassy knolls between Petco Park and the Gaslamp Quarter Trolley stop.  Some are simple, some are quite sophisticated.  These spots also tend to be hotbeds for swag and photo ops.  Research accordingly which ones may be worthwhile.

Garner Holt is a pretty cool animatronics company responsible for many theme park installations that don't have Disney-size budgets but at least have Disney-size dreams!  You can count Knott's Berry Farm among their satisfied customers!

They paid their dues and the check's in the mail!

ARRRRRGH MATEY!!!  It be the Voodoo Ranger Pirate Ship!  For two years now they've set sail for Comic Con and plundered many a drunken sailor!

TIP:  As of this writing, the Voodoo Ranger has not been confirmed, but it is highly likely they will be back for a third go around in the bay.  Because alcohol is served, all attendees must be 21 and up and this is NOT a free outing.  I don't recall the price, but it wasn't expensive.  I also don't know if beverages are included in the price. 

Plenty of adventures to be found when a boy teams up with his tiger...

I wouldn't pick up THAT hitchhiker!

Hulu's Animayhem offsite!  A truly massive experience and a truly massive pain in the ass!  Some of it was cool, but to wait so long for photo ops you could simply walk up to...  It just made no sense!  I will say though, the mini backpacks and pin sets they gave us were pretty cool at least.  It was like a consolation prize for taking up half of our day and giving us heat stroke!

TIP: Another one that has yet to be confirmed as of this writing (They are seriously lagging on major announcements here with less than a month to go as I type this!),  but also a likely returner here as it's success can't be argued with.  However, the lines for this one are NOT quick and it is not a well shaded or even air conditioned area.  If you plan on doing this one, plan accordingly!

He's got a golden ticket!  Sadly, that didn't count with the badge registration people!

The big deal at the Nickelodeon booth that year was Good Burger 2...  Does anyone even remember that it had a sequel?  Does anybody even remember the first one at this point?!?  All I remember is the dance number at the insane asylum!

Nothing sadder than an abandoned Morty...

We were all Toys 'R' Kids once and largely still are to a degree, even though nostalgia probably paints a better picture of it than it really was.  Seriously, the two closest to my house always looked like a tornado tore through them!

The Pinball Lounge at the Marriott Marquee is truly one of SDCC's hidden gems!  I highly recommend the Godzilla and 60's Batman machines!

TIP: The Pinball Lounge is located in the Pacific Ballroom on the first floor of Marriott Hall, a large exhibit space added to the hotel several years ago that replaced the old Marriott Hall.  The Pinball Lounge is FREE and requires NO badge at all!  The Marriott is also home to the SDCC Film Festival, Anime Rooms, (Some) After Hours Movies, SDCC Gift Shop and Con Hospitality Suite.  The latter five DO require badges, though some of the Anime Rooms have been known to be generous towards those without badges, depending on how empty the rooms are.  Always ask first!

TIP: The Marriott Marquee is also home to the Dragonball Experience offsite.  As of this writing, it too has yet to be confirmed, but a 6th go around is highly believed to be happening given the many DB projects still in the pipeline and the fact that its distributor, Crunchy Roll, also has a massive offsite planned for Embarcadero South near the Rady Shell concert venue.

The awesome Shogun activation at the FX Zone thrilled con-goers with its martial arts displays and staged battles!  It was one of the real highlights that year!

TIP: The FX Zone is located at the lawn adjacent to the Hilton Bayfront Hotel.  As of this writing, it hasn't been confirmed yet (I know folks.  Lotta question marks here, but I can only work with the info available as I type this.  I promise I have SOME confirmations coming!), but it is highly likely to return.  It is a FREE event for all to attend, but it IS outdoors and unshaded, so sunblock, water and proper shoes are a must!

The Peanuts Museum was themed to Camp Snoopy that year and offered a few fun activities for all to enjoy, including a few unaired episodes of the new series and plenty of photo ops.

The Peanuts Museum WILL return this year at its usual spot across the street from the Gaslamp Quarter near the Hilton Gaslamp.  It is FREE for ALL to attend!  No badges needed!  See?  Told y'all there were SOME things confirmed!

PL-PL-PL-PLEASE EDDIE!!!  Put Roger down!  He may not be able to feel it, but toons still have feelings ya know!

We'll end today's loaded post with these attendees doing what I'm about ready to do right now: HAUL ASS TOWARDS THE EXHIBIT HALL!!!

And that was Comic Con 2023!  A rather bizarre year actually that saw a good chunk of the panels get cancelled due to strikes from both the Writers and Screen Actors Guilds, which led to the Producers and Directors Guilds also bowing out in solidarity of the writers and actors.  It was actually kinda nice to see comics and art be the primary focus of SDCC once again, but it also led to some of the most insane exhibit hall crowds I've ever witnessed in over 20 years of attending!  It's a year I certainly won't forget anytime soon for sure!

And now, here's a few more pointers for a more enjoyable con before signing off.  Most of these tips are pretty much common sense, but you'd be amazed how quickly that flies out the window once Comic Con starts, and I am no exception in that regard either!  Anyhoo...

TIP: Wear proper shoes!  No wing tips, no sandals, no boots!  You're gonna be doing a LOT of walking on concrete, and no, it doesn't look likely that the Convention Center is gonna be bringing the aisle carpeting back anytime soon, but we can always hope, right?

TIP: Bring water and sunscreen!  It gets VERY hot during the show and a lot of time WILL be spent outdoors doing the offsites.  And even indoors, with so many people crammed inside, air conditioning isn't always noticeable, so stay hydrated and try to wear lightweight/light colored clothes if you can.  Also, water coolers at the Convention Center are pretty much gone unless the client pays for them.  If they won't foot the bill for carpet, they ain't gonna foot the bill for water either!  Luckily, all the participating hotels have water coolers, so take advantage of refills when you can.

TIP: The San Diego Convention Center is a cashless facility; credit and debit only.  HOWEVER, that is merely for Convention Center services like concession stands and Starbucks.  Most of the booths still take cash and often prefer it.  Some exhibitors even offer discounts when paying with cash, so be sure to ask around.

TIP: WiFi at the Convention Center is absolute garbage and most cell services fall flat in the building too with so many inside trying to use their phones.  Just know you'll be lucky to get text messages off.  Also, consider investing in a portable phone charger if you don't already have one.

TIP: Restaurants in Downtown are gonna be packed, especially in the immediate blocks.  As a result, many don't do reservations because the demand is too great.  There are periods though, usually between 11am and 1pm, where the action is focused on the Convention Center, so take advantage of the down periods and grab a bite.  Also, if you don't mind the walk, about four or five blocks out, the crowds lighten up a bit and there are some solid eats around Market and G Streets.

TIP: Many offsites are walk up and wait while others, like the Paramount Lounge, require reservations.  Some are easier to get into than others.  Just know that even with a reserved spot, the waits can still be very long.  Do you due diligence when picking events!

TIP: News CONSTANTLY changes surrounding every aspect of the show.  Luckily, there are numerous social media accounts across numerous platforms that are always on the case, with the SDCC Unofficial Blog being among the most reliable.

TIP: If cosplaying, try to make your costume out of lightweight material and have a handler to help out with things.  Also, take bathroom breaks into account.  The call of nature and a cumbersome costume are a bad mix!

TIP: Finally, be cordial!  It's hot, it's crowded and things aren't always gonna go as planned.  As easy as it is for tempers to flare, it's even easier to simply walk away.  Nothing is ever worth going to jail for or even getting banned from a show for, it just isn't.  And if someone is causing trouble, there are HUNDREDS of overzealous security guards that are more than happy to try and impress the dozens of police officers hidden and not-so-hidden within the exhibit hall!  We're all fans and we're all in this together, so let's be kind and respectful of each other.  It goes a long way.

And now for something REALLY exciting!  For the first time ever, I will be BEHIND the table at Comic Con, sketching for the Cartoon Art Museum out of San Francisco!  That's right folks, CRAZY is now a featured guest!  If you'd told me back in 2002, the first time I ever set foot at SDCC, that I'd be a guest at a booth someday, I would've asked what you were smoking!  But here we are, 23 years later, and I'm at a table!  I'm very honored to be there and very humbled as well.  For those attending and interested, you can find me at the Cartoon Art Museum Booth #1634, around Hall B on Thursday, July 24 from 1-2pm PST!  Because it's only an hour, the sketches will be simple black and white, pen and ink sketches.  As much as I'd love to add colors, it's a slow process for me and these gotta be done quick.  I should also mention that all proceeds help fund the museum, so it's all for a good cause!  I hope to see y'all there!

Well CRAZIES, it's time to head out, but I'll be back next week with more past Comic Con fun to keep our Con withdrawals from setting in!  If you are going please be safe and have a wonderful time and come say hi if you see me!  Until next time, take care, stay safe and I'll see y'all at COMIC CON 20205!!! 

FULL OF HOT AIR!!!

Welcome back CRAZIES!!!  Can you believe how late we are into April already?  The month ends next month fro crying out loud!  We're not too far off from some summertime fun, but first we gotta enjoy what's left of spring!  And what better way to enjoy the season than some art?  Art with critters no less?  Scroll down and enjoy...

Oh my, those foxes are quite full of themselves.  Well, foxes that work in the news business, particularly those that cover politics, do seem to be constantly gassed up!  That turtle certainly said it best: Those foxes really are blowhards!  This piece was part of Foxloon Day from the former Animaloonies Art Collective on Twitter.  The theme was Foxloons (Inflated foxes), which I admittedly have drawn a few of over the years.  With things being the way the were in the world at that point, this seemed like a perfect commentary.  Another funny little tidbit about this piece are the station call letters.  XETV is a station based in Tijuana that broadcasts in San Diego.  From the 1950's into the 1970's it was our original ABC affiliate before they moved to KGTV Channel 10.  In the 1980's, XETV became our inaugural FOX station and would hold that position well into the 2000's, when FOX moved to KSWB Channel 5.  These days, it's a CW affiliate but for a good chunk of my life, it was a FOX affiliate and so I paid homage to that in this art!

That's all for this week CRAZIES, but fear not!  We'll be next week to finish April off right!  It's my birthday this weekend, so I'm off to celebrate!  Until next time, take care, stay safe and I'll catch y'all later!

WINNERS AND LOSERS!!!

We've done it!  We've reached the end...  Of January!  What?  Did you think I meant something else?  We still got plenty of fun to be had this month and this year in general, but more on that when the time is right.  Speaking of more, we gotta wrap up our fight again Inflation this month, and we saved quite a doozy for last!  Don't believe me?  Well then, just bounce your way a little further down the page and see for yourself!  Enjoy...

BUBBLE FOX?!?  WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!?  I mean, I know the Little Princesses are evil and no doubt deserved to be turned into dirigibles, but what did their Goblin Butler ever do to you?!?  This is what happens when you enter a CRAZY contest.  You get a CRAZY prize!  Another Twitter art collective run by Jennifer Cuthbert and myself, this time it was the #CRAZYTalentShow!  We got quite a few entries, all insanely good, but at the end of things, Jennifer and I decided that the piece done by the incredible Nora Racz, featuring her Evil Little Princesses putting on a show, was the best of the bunch!  And so they were given their prize, a year's supply of helium, all at once by Bubble Fox himself!  This was a fun piece to do, but boy did it take awhile to color, especially later when it came time to do Photoshop corrections!  Darker colors are just a straight up pain!  Hopefully these kids didn't get a swelled head over their win, but as far as inflated egos go, these Evil Little Princesses are usually pretty pumped!

And that's a wrap on January 2025 and our Fight Against Inflation for the year!  I can't think of a funnier way to kickoff the new year, well, maybe a whole month of fart jokes instead, but that would likely get old fast.  Be sure to come back next week as we begin a new month with new fun.  Until then, take care, stay safe and I'll catch y'all later!

IT'S A ROUND DOG'S LIFE!!!

What the?  Company?  Oh my!  I wasn't expecting visitors today!  What's that you say?  Loons?  You want...  LOONS?!?  Well then, you've certainly come to the right place because we are using good, old fashioned cartoon loons to fight bad inflation with good!  So pull up a chair and relax as I roll up some laughs for you!  Enjoy...

Oh dear!  When Mr. D said he wanted to do some lawn bowling, Jazz and the others should've been a little more cautious about just how extreme the notorious Dalmatian would take things!  A regular bocce ball simply wasn't enough for this daredevil dog, so he downed five canisters of compressed air to become one puffed pooch!  Hope he has some air left because it looks like Libby's in dire need of decompression herself!  And Jazz, y'all are cartoon dogs.  It's best not to question the logic here!  The pooches above belong to my dear friend Janet Gamble, creator of the webcomic Get A Dog's Life, the tale of the world as seen through the eyes of four dogs!  One of those dogs is a rascally Dalmatian named Mr. D, who lives at the firehouse with a bunch of bachelor firefighters and as such has taken on a rather carefree, and frankly dangerous, party lifestyle!  He even dates a similarly dotted racehorse named, wait for it...  DOTS!!!  I'm sure the next time Mr. D tries this stunt, he'll use hydrogen as regular air just isn't intense enough for him!

Well, one more week to go in our fight against inflation!  Will good prevail over evil or are we all doomed to be enveloped by the bloated bodies of our own excesses?!?  Come back next week and see!  Until then, take care, stay safe and I'll catch y'all later!

PARALOONING!!! CATCH THE BREEZE!!!

Back for more are we?  Well then, you've certainly come to the right place as we got MORE of EVERYTHING this month as we continue our Battle Against Inflation, which in and of itself is all about more to begin with!  Well then, now that I've grossly inflated this paragraph, let's say we float down and see what artistic masterpiece (HA!!!) is in store for us today, shall we?  Enjoy...

Bubble and his pals sure know how to have fun.  Why parasail when you can para-loon?!?  Willow may not get it, but Pepper and Charlie sure do!  They stayed puffed for hours, enjoying fun in the sun and even taking a bounce or two among the waves!  I think that shark and octopus might be a little jealous that they didn't get to have a few turns themselves!  Eventually, all that helium came to pass, leading to Pepper and Charlie having the squeakiest farting contest ever!  This piece is from another art collective that Jennifer Cuthbert and I hosted on Twitter last summer called the #CRAZYSummerBlowup!  In it, artists are challenged to draw their characters either inflated into beach/pool toys or just having some summer fun in general!  This piece was a lot of fun to draw and features a very rare shot of Bubble Fox front-facing!  Can't thank Jimmy Gownley enough for showing me how its done!

Well, another week down as we are already at the halfway mark for January, but our fight against inflation is far from over because next week, it's all going to the dogs!  So be sure to come back and check it out!  Until then, take care, stay safe and I'll catch y'all later!

LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!! THE CRAZY INFLATION BATTLE RETURNS!!!

WE ARE BACK CRAZIES!!!  51 weeks to go in this year 2025, so we may as well get to the meat of the matter: INFLATION!!!  It's not a good thing in an economy that will likely get even more volatile in the coming years.  As a cartoonist though, it is among our best tricks at getting somebody to laugh, and starting today, the CRAZYVERSE's annual Fight Against Inflation returns in an effort to bring more smiles and fight bad bloating with good bloating in the coming weeks!  So let's quit chewing the fat and float in with the Helium Hijinks!  Enjoy...

Uh oh Bubble!  Head official Gully is on to your scheme to give your pole vaulters more of a lift at the CRAZY Summer Olympics!  Just a pity your methods worked a little TOO well!  Sap, Clover and Mooch floated all the way to the Alps before finally being rescued and deflated and returned to Paris to watch the rest of the games!  Today's art was part of the #CRAZYOlympics art collective that Jennifer Cuthbert and I hosted on Twitter last July!  A fun effort that saw cartoonists from all over the world draw their characters performing in popular (And not so popular) Olympic Events.  Here, Bubble Fox was hoping to coach the Ragtags to Olympic glory, but his use of Performance Enhancing Gasses (PEGs) led to disgrace!  In a funny turn of events, my good pal Shaylee Robson sketched a few quick revenge doodles that saw her character, Invisibella, rescue the Ragtags while also giving Bubble his just desserts!  Eventually I'll share these hilarious pieces with the CRAZY faithful, but for now, let this be evidence that cheaters never prosper, unless they're politicians of course!

Well, that's all for now, but be sure to come back next week for even more puffed posteriors as our fight against Inflation continues!  Until then, take care, stay safe and I'll catch y'all later!

SANTA AND THE DIRTIER SIDE OF CHRISTMAS!!!

One week to go until the jolly fat man makes his long trip over!  What?  No wise ass, not Uncle Elmer!  Santa Claus!  'Course, Santa has a lot of prep to do before heading over.  In addition to the toys, he's gotta make sure the sleigh's well oiled and properly aligned and that the reindeer are fed and well rested.  With all these incidentals going on, how does Santa find the time to prepare his own self for the long night ahead?  Scroll down and find out if you really wanna know!  Enjoy...

It's not all fun and games for the elves.  Some are good at making toys while others excel at baking cookies in trees or repairing shoes for old cobblers.  Then there are those that just plain can't cut it anywhere.  Those elves get designated as Santa's personal groomers!  Exactly why Santa would want the career slackers to be in charge of how he looks is anyone's guess, but some say it is a means of coaxing these bottom feeders into trying a little harder!  And it seems to be working as these elves have found a very creative means of escaping their duties using a little bit of diligence and a LOT of helium!  Lucky for them, Santa's jelly bowl belly prevents him from looking up much, so they are in the clear...  So long as they don't deflate too soon! This art was originally part of the legendary Animaloon Collective on Twitter.  Elfloons were a bonus challenge held for a few Decembers during Animaloonies run from 2017-2023.  Those were fun days, but all good things must come to an end eventually.  The Loons always gave us a lift I tell ya!

Well folks, one week to go, but I promise next week will be a fun post, and a quick one, to compliment all you holiday merrymaking!  So be sure to come back and check it out!  In the meantime, please think of others this holiday season!  Donate to food/toy/clothing banks ASAP!  It's never too late and your help makes a world of difference.  Until next time, take care, stay safe and I'll catch y'all later!

TOM TURKEY AND THE SWEET SMELL OF VICTORY!!!

 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING CRAZIES!!!  I'll keep it short today as y'all are no doubt already prepping.  I know I am! (Today is stuffing and pie day traditionally!) So let's dive on in and see if Tom Turkey's plan worked this year, shall we?  Enjoy...

Welp, looks like Billy and Dorothy did in fact meet their new friend in that cave, and as expected, he delivered a smelly greeting from the dark chasm!  Turns out Tom's Cackle Corner only makes HIM cackle! And he certainly has reason to!  But what of the Brat Twins?  Well...

...They are certainly feeling it.  They should be thankful Tom ain't a rabbit!  For those wondering why Tom ain't running away, well, he doesn't really need to.  The Brats know when they are defeated.  Plus, I've had two dogs that were spayed by a skunk.  They had no energy at all for days after, and those pooches were a boxer and pitbull, nothing BUT energy!  Tom can merely stroll away while Billy and Dorothy look for a bathtub!  (Contrary to popular belief, tomato juice has ZERO effect on skunk smell.  A solution of vinegar and dish soap helps with the initial smell as it is somewhat oil-based while dusting the affected areas with baby powder also helps absorb the skunk spray.  It just takes time to wear off.)

And so ends another tale of that Tricky Tom Turkey!  Will he be back next year?  Hard to say really.  As much as I have enjoyed coming up with these tales, it's getting tougher.  You can only do so much with a turkey and two incredibly dumb kids.  The Looney Tunes school of gags only goes so far folks!  But it would be nice to tie up any loose ends with these characters, so we'll see.

And with that, we close the book on November 2024!  Don't be too sad though.  The holiday y'all are REALLY looking forward too is already underway having usurped the throne of the turkey ages ago,  but next week it becomes more official as we kick off our CRAZY Christmas celebration, so be sure to come back and check it out!  In the meantime have a safe and happy Thanksgiving and please be mindful if you're braving the Black Friday shopping crowds.  No gift is worth getting hurt over!  And while you are out, donate to any of food/clothing/toy drives currently open!  Spread kindness in this rude world when you can!  Until next time, take care, stay safe and Happy Thanksgiving!