YOU'LL SHOOT YOUR EYE OUT KID!!!

We are back again CRAZIES!!!  And just a little over a week to go until Christmas!  Hopefully y'all are snuggled up watching some holiday classics, drinking hot chocolate and/or cider and munching on sugar cookies.  And speaking of snuggly, today's art reminds us that not all PJ's are created equally.  What do I mean?  Scroll down and you'll see!  Enjoy...

Oh boy...  We all know this tale.  All Ralphy wanted for Christmas was a Red Ryder BB gun.  Although he eventually would see his dream come true, and nearly lost an already vision-impaired eye in the process, he went through a LOT of crap just to get his payoff!  Perhaps the worse hardship he had to endure were the pink, bunny pajamas his aunt made for him.  Even in the make believe world of film, this seemed like a cruel joke.  Luckily for all of us, Peter Billingsley is a real pro, and we got one of the funniest scenes ever shot for any genre!  This, as was last week's art, was again part of my Illo_Advent drive.  One of my simpler pieces, this one got some pretty big laughs.  Might have to take some time tonight and watch A Christmas Story.  Tis the season after all!

And that's all for this week.  Be sure to come back next time as we move into the final countdown to Christmas!  I also want to encourage everybody again to donate to food and clothing banks this Christmas.  Times are tough for all, but there are a good many that have nothing at all in these already stressed times.  We are all in this together and yes, every little bit does in fact help.  Until next time, take care, stay safe and I'll catch y'all later!

OH HOLY NIGHT!!! GALLAGHER MEETS HIS MATCH!!!

Welcome back CRAZIES!!!  Christmas beckons even more and hopefully y'all are finding ways to still have some holiday fun.  Baking cookies is a low risk, and delicious, way to still safely celebrate the season!  In fact, there are many seasonal treats that are enough to fill your hearts with joy in these trying times.  One "treat," however, should be avoided at all cost.  Which one?  You probably know already, but if I keep you in suspense, you'll be more inclined to scroll down and see for yourself!  Enjoy...

Fruitcake.  Hearty.  Hated.  Durable.  Few elements of this world are truly indestructible, but Fruitcake certainly makes its case here!  My Grandma Fiorentini, God bless her, would make them every year even though most of us couldn't stand them!  I, at best, could maybe handle two bites before I'd had my fill of them.  My Dad, God bless him too, and Grandma Nena loved them though.  Even after my parents split, my Grandma Fiorentini, who we all called Nana, would still make my Dad and his mom fruitcakes and date cakes every year because she knew how much they loved them.  It was a kind gesture that reminded me that despite some of the things she may have said, Nana really was a good and loving person.  She also loved to laugh and one of the people that made her laugh uncontrollably was the melon-smasher himself, Gallagher!  For those of you who don't know him, Gallagher was a comedian whose claim to fame was smashing watermelons, among other things, with a giant mallet!  One of the many jokes often thrown at fruitcake is how solid they are, and indeed, not even Gallagher's famed "Sledge-O-Matic" was enough to crack that tough exterior.  Gallagher is largely retired these days, but does do the occasional stage or TV appearance.  His act is actually pretty funny once you get past the food smashing.

And because the holiday season is in full swing, I got one more book recommendation for y'all!  My good pal Joshua Hauke is back, and this time, IT'S PERSONAL!!!  Just kidding, he actually just has a new book out, and it's gonna make you roar with approval, and laughter!  Check out Beasts To Feed Your Brother To: Vol. 1!

Got an annoying little brother but no means of permanently ditching him?  Then THIS is the book for you!  A comprehensive guide to all the various critters that hide under the bed, lurk in the closet or swim in the toilet, this book is your guide to finding, identifying and even attracting said monsters so that your home can be little brother-free!

In all seriousness, Josh Hauke is one of my closest pals in comics.  We both broke into cartooning around the same time, tabled at our first con together and have been booth-mates at many cons since and have provided each other guest comics many times over the years.  Having both grown up in large, wild families and loving cartoons, it seemed like destiny that our paths would eventually cross and it's been good times ever since!  Josh's latest book is a spinoff to his much beloved and critically acclaimed Tales of the Brothers Three, with many of the monsters featured in those comics finally getting their due!  It's a perfect book for all ages and actually makes a perfect stocking stuffer as it will actually fit in a stocking! Just keep it out of reach of Mook!  To get your copy, click the title link a few paragraphs back!

And that's all for today.  We'll be back next week with art so cozy, you'll wanna bust out your snuggliest jammies and stay in bed!  As the holidays approach, please be mindful of those that need help.  Obviously, things are tight for everyone right now, and it simply can't be helped.  But even some spare change in a Salvation Army bucket can make a world of difference if enough people help.  So, if you can, try and donate to food and clothing banks this season.  We're all in this together and every little bit helps.  Until next time, take care, stay safe and I'll catch y'all later!

MERRY CHRISTMAS CRAZIES!!! DADDY DON'T LIKE!!!

Welcome to December my CRAZIES!!!  And welcome to the Holidays!  Be it Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza and so forth, all are welcome here to come celebrate the peace and joy of the season!  Things are obviously going to be very different this year, but we are a strong bunch.  We'll still find a way to make the holidays fun while staying safe.  You know who hasn't been staying safe?  The Jolly Fat Man himself, Santa Claus!  What do I mean by that?  Scroll down and see for yourself!  Enjoy...

Uh oh!  Santa snuck in MANY smooches with Mommy over the years.  We all thought it'd be a big laugh if Daddy walked in and caught them.  Turns out ol' pop is the jealous type and, well...  St. Nick might wanna use some of that elf magic right about now otherwise his belly won't be the only thing swollen on him!  This art was original part of my Illo_Advent series that I did on Twitter last year.  It got a pretty good reaction from friends and fans and indeed, it is one the rare few pieces of art that I'm 100% satisfied with.  Incidentally, it's also available as a Christmas card at my RedBubble shop!  Click here to check it out and maybe even pick up a few!

This week we have a special treat!  A book recommendation!  My good pal Joe Gillespie has a new book out, My Father Wrestles Alligators!  A while back, Joe was kind enough to do a hilarious Mike & Mindy guest comic that saw Mike reach stratospheric proportions!  Well, Joe's back and has an amazing new book to share with the whole world!

What happens when you're the youngest of six brothers?  MANY wild tales are told!  Well, that and probably an inhumane amount of noogies and wedgies too, but plenty of stories for sure!  This book is a collection of those wild tales and it's available in both paperback and digital forms!  Convenient, no?

 

Featuring great art, fun characters and wild action, it's a hoot for all ages to enjoy!  and seriously, look at the image directly above this text.  How can you NOT wanna read a book that features Lucha Gator?  The sirens song must be answered!  To learn more, click the title link a few paragraphs back!

And that's all for today in this first week of December!  We got a lot of fun planned for this month, so be sure to come back and check it all out, especially next week as we continue to smash through the holidays!  Speaking of the holidays, these are tough times, more so than ever.  As bad as things may seem, there are people out there who have it worse and need help.  If you can spare some, please donate to help those who need food and warm clothes during these harsh days.  Every little bit helps.  Take care, stay safe and I'll catch y'all later!

TOM TURKEY IN HOT AIR TERRORS, PT. 4

WOOHOO!!!  Tomorrow is THE day!  Turkey!  Stuffing!  Potatoes!  Pie!  I know it'll be different from what we are used to, but a good meal is still always a welcome thing regardless of what's going on!  And honestly, how can I be sad when I got +30 hours of MST3K at my disposal?  So yeah, some things may be different this year, but a few things thankfully remain intact.

You know what else remains intact?  The never-ending battle between bird and kids that is Tom Turkey and the Brat Twins!  Last week, Tom pulled the tape from their bulging faces after the Buoyant Bullies finally caught him.  Are Tom's days numbered?  Let's all scroll down and find out together!  What?  You think I actually know happens in advance?  I'm as in the dark as you are!  Enjoy...

And they're off!  Ol' Tom is always a step or two ahead of his enemies, and with the amount of helium he pumped into Billy and Dorothy, he'll likely be MANY steps ahead of those kids, depending on where they land!  But THAT, my friends, is a story for another day!

And that is a wrap on Tom Turkey's latest escape and on NOVEMBER 2020!  Hope y'all enjoyed this year's tale.  It's always fun coming up with gags for a turkey that's actually smart!  What does the future hold for Ol' Tom?  We'll find out next November!  And next week, Christmas comes to the CRAZYVERSE, so stay "Tooned!"  In the meantime, have a fun, happy and SAFE Thanksgiving.  This is a time where we all need to be cautious folks, so please take the necessary steps to ensure that a wonderful and safe experience can happen.  And do donate to a local food bank.  Every little bit helps.  Until next time, take care and I'll catch y'all later!

TOM TURKEY IN HOT AIR TERRORS, PT. 3

WOOOOOOOOOOO!!!  One week to go before Turkey Day!  So little to do and so much time!  Wait a minute, strike that, reverse it!  So yes, Thanksgiving is next week and all month long we've been celebrating with Tom Turkey, despite the fact that he's actually in a world of trouble right now!  Billy and Dorothy Brat have closed in on him and are angry, determined and inflated; as dangerous a combination as any!  Have the Puffed Problem Children FINALLY caught their meal?  Well, y'all know the only way you'll ever find out is to scroll down and see for yourselves!  Enjoy...

Youch!  That had to sting!  Imagine ripping off a bandaid and multiplying that by 12!  But that might be the least of the Brat Twins' problems right now.  The only thing holding back all that gas is now gone...  Tom Turkey may have just gotten another pardon.  Will he live to see another Thanksgiving or will the Brat Balloons FINALLY inhale their coveted meal?  The exciting conclusion is coming next week!

That's all for now, but next week is well worth a return visit, so come see how the story and November ends!  In the meantime, stay safe and help those in need in these tough times.  Until then, take care and I'll catch y'all later!

TOM TURKEY IN HOT AIR TERRORS, PT. 2

Welcome back!  Thanksgiving ain't too far off now!  Y'all excited?  I know I am!  I've even bought some bigger pants for the occasion!  I'm also in the process of hand-selecting 15 Joel-era MST3K episodes so that I can have a proper Turkey Day Marathon.  Tradition is tradition after all!  Speaking of tradition, Tom Turkey is back and continuing his battle with the Brat Twins!  The Bully Blimps were slowly closing in last time, but is Tom aware of the danger slowly floating his way?  Scroll down and see!  Enjoy...

Uh oh!  The Buoyant Babes have closed in and they don't look all too pleased with the bird responsible for their bloated figures!  Tom's never been in a scrape this tough before, and his quick mouth seems to have stalled! Does this wily poultry have any tricks left up his feathered sleeve?  Hopefully next week will yield a positive answer! 

That's all she wrote for now, but fear not!  This maniacal trio still has a little bit of fun planned for next week, so be sure to come back and check it out!  In the meantime, stay safe and think of others.  There are some in need of meals this season and every little bit helps. Take care and I'll catch y'all later!

TOM TURKEY IN HOT AIR TERRORS, PT. 1

Welcome to November CRAZIES!!!  Hope y'all aren't still crashing too hard from all the Halloween candy you hopefully snagged over the weekend.  Things were a bit different this year, be we still found ways to safely celebrate a cherished holiday, and you know what?  We're gonna find a safe way to celebrate our next cherished holiday as well, because Thanksgiving is now on deck, and I'll be damned if Turkey Day doesn't get its due!

Now, it's no secret to long time readers that I am absolutely CRAZY about Thanksgiving!  The food, the family, the parades...  It's my favorite day of the year by far!  We all have our annual traditions that we look forward to come the fourth Thursday every November, and the CRAZYVERSE is no exception!  For a few years now, a certain wily gobbler has found new and creative ways to escape his would-be captors, and this year is no different!  That's right folks, Tom Turkey is back and once again ready to go to war with those vile Brat Twins, Dorothy and Billy!  Tom certainly sent the kids flying their last go around, but can he keep his hopes of surviving another Thanksgiving afloat?  Scroll down and find out!  Enjoy...

When we last left them, Tom had tricked the devious dolts into letting him inflate them like parade balloons after he convinced them their scrawny bellies were far too small to hold a bird his size.  But what goes up eventually comes down, and Tom may have gotten a little too confident after his victory.  The Twins seem to be losing altitude as some of that gas escapes!  Will Tom turn around in time or is he destined for the bellies he ironically fits into now?  Come back next week and find out!

And that's it for this first week of November.  Be sure to come back next Wednesday and see what those nasty Brat Twins have in store for Tom Turkey!  In the meantime, stay safe and do think of others as we approach the holidays.  People have fallen on harder times than ever before and every little bit helps, be it your pocket change in a Salvation Army bucket or a donation to a food bank.  Let's all get through this together.  Take care and I'll catch y'all later!