Comic Book Christmas Cards

Ah, the bounty of Google is plenty.  It's almost Christmas once again, and comic books have a long tradition of celebrating the holiday in their own way.  Here are some of the better comic book Christmas cards/greetings from over the years!

Marry Christmas!

Merry Beast Wars Christmas!

Beast Wars, without question the greatest Transformers cartoon of all time (trust me), has been off the air for quite some time, but it keeps on giving.  Here's David Kaye, the voice of Megatron, who apparently decided to start filming himself around Christmas of last year while using his best Predacon voice.  I have no idea why this exists, but thank all that is holy that it does.  Perhaps it's a Christmas miracle.

FUBAR: Free Comic Book Day 2013 special

A few days ago, I broke the news about the 2013 Tick Free Comic Book day special.  If you took a closer look at Diamond's list of all the FCBD offerings, you'll see another book with my name attached to it.  FUBAR, everyone's favorite zombie war comic, will have a special issue out with all new stories and a new Frank Frazetta-inspired cover by Mike Hawthorne!

This issue will feature four stories that span US history.  My story is in the familiar WWII timeframe and deals with Edward R. Murrow, journalist and patriot in one of his early war assignments.  Other contributors include Jeff McComsey, Steve Becker, Chuck Dixon, Shawn Aldridge and Jason Copland.

May just got a lot bigger for me.  Two books on the same day, with a pretty wide release for both!  It's very exciting.  So if you go to a comic shop on Saturday, May 4th of next year, you can be sure to pick up two books: the Tick and FUBAR, absolutely free!

The Tick: Free Comic Book Day 2013 special

Hello, everyone.  I enjoy this blog because it allows me to:

a) talk to no one in particular (and often times to no one)
b) discuss the Thing
c) endlessly self promote

In general, this is a comic book blog, and I'm always happy to talk about my current or upcoming projects (or past glories...), but I've never been in the situation before where I've had to hold off to any great degree on talking about a project.  So it was tough for me to keep this current news under wraps for the several months that I've known about it, but today I'm happy that I can finally let the cat out of the bag, so to speak.

Diamond released its full list of 2013 Free Comic Book Day titles earlier today, and if you scroll down far enough, to the New England Comics section, you'll see that I'm writing this year's Tick FCBD selection!

This is, of course, big news, and if I can say so, it's a privilege and a responsibility to be able to get this opportunity.  I have been a fan of the Tick for about 20 years, and to be able to put some words in the character's mouth and to contribute to the history in some small way is an honor that is not lost on me.

If you're not familiar with the character, do yourself a favor and start at the beginning with Ben Edlund's masterful 12-issue run.  If you're not reading the book currently, do yourself another favor and take a look at what Benito Cereno and Les McClaine are doing with it.  Benito (I've gotta get myself a Moby Dick pen name, too) and Les are not going anywhere, as they are still contributing to the main title in their usual manner, so there's no confusion as to any of the creators involved with the characters.

Providing the art on this story is none other than my Teddy and the Yeti counterpart, Duane Redhead.  The cover above is by Duane and art director Bob Polio.  I've seen some of the interior pages that Duane's worked on and they look just fantastic.  Leonardo Pietro, T&Y and FUBAR contributor, is drawing some backup stories that are just incredible to see.  It's equally exciting to be able to bring along Duane and Pietro for this project, because if the comic creation process isn't about working with friends, I don't know what it is.

I'm sure to write much, much more on this subject in the future, and if I'm able to, I'll show off some previews when the time comes.  But for now, it's enough that I get to announce this news here on the blog.  I'm extremely fortunate to have this opportunity, and I'll do my best to live up to the high expectations that Tick fans are right to possess.

God bless the creator of this Thing Halloween pumpkin creature

I saw this marvel of humanity when it first appeared on the Internets around Halloween of this year.  Why it's taken me this long to mention it is beyond reasoning.  Simply put, good work should be praised, and this is some of the good-est work involving a pumpkin that I've ever seen.  It's a pumpkin Halloween statue, nay, shrine!, to Ben Grimm, the Fantastic Four's Thing.

This monstrosity was created by the Reddit user wizardtig using bits and pieces of 11 pumpkins, including the head, a wooden framework and chicken wire.  The effort and determination were well worth it, in my opinion, as the final product in nothing shy of incredible!

The person behind this has gained a special place in my heart.  My hat is off to you, wizardtig, for creating a lasting tribute to the Thing.  And by "lasting" I mean "until you had to tear it down".  I hope that, at the very least, when you had to tear this apart, you at least once yelled "It's clobberin' time!" between sobs of dismay.

Click here to see more pictures of the process, click here to see the original Reddit page with comments, and click here to see the short writeup io9 made for the project.

Teddy and the Yeti #4!

Here's something that showed up in my mailbox a couple of days ago.  It's everyone's favorite book, Teddy and the Yeti!  It's the fourth issue!  Here at last.

This issue has been completed for a while, but there have been a few snafus that have kept it from seeing print until now.  One of the biggest delays was caused by Hurricane Sandy - I had hoped to have the book on display at last month's small Pittsburgh Comics & Collectibles show, but the extreme weather caused the printer to lose power for more than a week and the backlog began after that.  But the book is now in my hands and, in my biased opinion, I think it looks great.  Above you can see both covers for the book, on the left with art by Pat Olliffe and Karin Rindevall and on the right with art by Ron Frenz.

Here's a shot of some interior pages with some fine artwork by Duane Redhead!

Since I was planning on having this book out for the show, I only printed out a handful and most of them have been sent out as creator copies.  Now that I've gotten these back and have given them the once over, I'll put in a larger order that I can actually sell a few and list them in the website store.  So if you've been waiting in desperation for Teddy and the Yeti #4, well...it's here.  But you still gotta wait a little bit longer.

The backup story for this issue is "Big Red Rex" with art by Paul Tucker.  It's a story that I've wanted to print for what seems like forever, and I'm happy to finally...FINALLY...get the chance!

In other very important news, this is the 500th post to the Teddy and the Yeti blog.  I'm happy that this one actually deals with Teddy and the Yeti.  Woo!

Karin Rindevall's Teddy and the Yeti, The Din and more!

If you've followed this blog at all since it started up in 2008, the name Karin Rindevall won't be an unfamiliar one - the Swedish artist has been a contributor to Teddy and the Yeti, Andromeda Jones and other various projects since the beginning.  It's hard to even remember the exact circumstances under which we met...I'm sure it was a generic Digital Webbing ad in some context or another, but in any case, Karin has been a major help with a number of my comics and she does a heck of a job on her own work as well.

Karin has been hard at work on a number of projects recently, not the least of which, from my perspective, has been a new, four-page Teddy and the Yeti story that will run in issue #6.  The first page from this story is above, both drawn and colored by Karin.  Her distinctly European, animation-influenced style is on display and in great form with this page, and I couldn't be happier with the results.  I'm not even sure how to letter this story yet - if I should try it myself or opt for a hand letterer, one who might mesh better with the artwork at hand.

Karin, who works in animation and game development, also puts together the webcomic "the Din", a story about a civilization in which all technology has been abandoned hundreds of years in the past.  In the Din, society is slowly reinventing itself as it reintroduces new machines and other technology into its midsts.  It's a fascinating read and, while some chapters are under construction and the story is far from finished, it's well worth the time it takes to check out.  The webcomic is housed at http://www.dincomic.com!

Karin's also got a blog that she updates regularly where you can find smilin' Steve Rogers as well as other gems.  Take a look and enjoy at http://www.karrey.com!

A big FUBAR update!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!  It's been a while since I've posted, but I promise, it's been because of other productive activities...and this time it's even comic related!  What a shock.

Quick, think of something that gets bigger and bigger every day!  Well, yes, "your mom" is an acceptable answer.  But also FUBAR, the comic that keeps on coming.  The success of this book continues to amaze, and it's something I'm proud to be a part of.  After this year's Empire of the Rising Dead graphic novel and the well received Summer Special, things have really been picking up steam to the point where 2013 is shaping up to be a banner year.

Above, you'll see the cover to the aptly named FUBAR: Winter Special, due out in January and in the "monthly" format that we all know and love so well.  Adorned by another beautifully rendered cover by Pietro, the Winter Special features stories by Chuck Dixon, Jeff McComsey, Steve Becker, and me. And a few other people.  It's gonna be great.

The FUBAR: American History Z Kickstarter campaign has been an unqualified success that I don't think anyone could have predicted.  With nearly two weeks left to go, the book has raised more than double of its fundraising goal and has just passed the $13,000 mark.  Who knows where it'll end, but it was certainly helped along when it was showcased on the very front page of Kickstarter as a staff pick, as you can see in the screenshot above.

Reaching seemingly unattainable goals means the unlocking of pretty decent "stretch" rewards, and FUBAR does its best to impress with the announcement of a brand new one-shot title: FUBAR: By the Sword, a medieval anthology that's in its very infancy, but already has a beautiful cover by Steve Becker:

This book further expands the FUBAR universe and will keep us all busy well into next year.  I'm already thinking of potential story ideas, and I'm doing my best to try and not let Games of Thrones influence me too much.

These things all add up to an exciting year ahead, but there's even more to come, and dare I say the most exciting news of all is still to come.  In the next few weeks, there'll be an extra special announcement from the ranks of FUBAR Central Command that'll really blow the doors off their hinges.  It's definitely something to keep an eye out for.

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Blogger is now telling me that I've reached my quote on pictures for this blog.  To which I can only have one realistic reaction: PANIC!  I had no idea that there was a limit on the amount of images one could upload to a Blogger account, but apparently there is, that number is 1GB, and I've reached it.  What to do?  What to do indeed.  I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Links! Twitter! And random notes!!

Who doesn't like reading a little bit about a lot of different subjects?  No one, that's who!  Plus, I have a number of blog related pictures cluttering up my desktop, so it's time for another rousing edition of random notes!  Please hold any applause until the end.

- A couple links have come my way in the last week or two that are worth sharing.  The first is the Cyberspace Comics Blog, which covers a lot of topics, and one that is of particularly interesting to me.  The blog is in the process of providing in-depth commentary on every single issue of Marvel Two-in-One, including all crossover titles.  This is a herculean task to be sure and it takes a real Thing fan to accomplish something like this.  I myself am working my way through every issue of MTIO (plus the crossover titles), and I'm now around issue #80.  Two things of a few that I've taken from the series: first, the Thing is awesome.  Second, there are some tough issues to get through.

- Sean Kleefeld's always interesting blog had a post recently about why old comic books smell the way they do.  The answer isn't shocking by any means, but it's still a good read, with some insight on the printing process for new books, too.

- Well, the Steelers won again yesterday.  After some early season struggles, the team is rounding into form and on their way to taking the division from the hated Baltimore Ravens.  And because even retired Steelers are more newsworthy than than anyone on the Ravens team, the NFL put together a story about Hines Ward and his guest appearance on the Walking Dead!  Oh, Hines.  I miss ya.  If a receiver gets hurt down the stretch, I wouldn't mind resigning #86 for a lengthy playoff run.

And speaking of Super Bowl MVPs, I got this five dollar bill as change a few weeks ago.  The writing at top says "My 1st lost bet - maybe next yr...Super Bowl XL".  Why Super Bowl XL was won by Hines Ward and the Steelers!  And this joker bet against them?  That's what you get, Tess.  After scanning it, I put the bill back in circulation so someone else could experience the joy/misery.

- The blog has been enjoying a pretty steady upswing of late.  The big spike you see at the right took place the month surrounding Comic-Con.  Afterwards it came back down to earth a bit, but the numbers are still better than any point before the convention.  I'm glad that more people are enjoying the blog, or at least the pictures of Spider-Man I post.  I'll take what I can get.

- I'm sure we all saw the amazing Google doodle a few weeks ago celebrating Winsor McCay's birthday and his Little Nemo comic.  I'm also sure that Google doesn't need any more good press.  But I'm giving it to them anyway.

- A long, long time ago, I did a signing for the FUBAR Summer Special at Pittsburgh Comics in McMurray, PA, always a fun time.  I'll be doing another signing this coming Sunday (don't worry, the Steelers play on Monday night) for the Pittsburgh Comics & Collectibles show from 11:00-5:00.  You can get more details here!

- Google, as a matter of fact, is good for more than just looking up how to spell "Winsor McCay".  A quick image search revealed some images of two of my favorite comic characters - the Thing and the Tick - embroiled in daring combat!  The first one looks like it takes place in a garbage dump.  Okay.

And the next is more of an intellectual battle, I guess.  Neither of these two compare, though, to Steve Rude's battle royale between the Tick and Space Ghost!

I'd also enjoy seeing Arthur vs. Brak.

- Dr. Doom co-starred in the first eight issues of Astonishing Tales (not to be confused with Tales to Astonish), which means that I had to buy and read all of them, as per my particular psychosis.  Within issue #8, I found the above image, and I thought to myself, "it really looks like that red headed guy bought his beard from the fake beard company that used to advertise in comics."  And then, a few pages later, I saw this:

It must be true!!

- Proving that Internet sensation show Franks and Beans was right to choose such a culturally relevant name, I present a panel from this month's Avenging Spider-Man annual #1, featuring a good old fashioned team-up between Spidey and the Thing.

- Lastly, I have a Twitter account!  This may either increase or decrease your hatred of me (I'll deal with it).  If you'd like, even in the least bit, to hear clever witticisms such as the one above perhaps two, three times a week, feel free to follow me!  My Twitter name, which should throw off all stalkers and yet convince followers of the veracity of my account, is @JeffMcClelland.  Or you can just go to my page here: https://twitter.com/jeffmcclelland.

See you next time!

LAST MINUTE EDIT!

Happy election day!  Here's a picture taken by a friend from the area:

Brilliant.  Megatron promises, I'm told, unprecedented change.  Mostly into the form of a much smaller gun that other Decepticons can carry and shoot.

FUBAR: American History Z on Kickstarter

You know that the next volume of FUBAR is around the corner when you see the latest Kickstarter fundraiser online.  This volume is the most ambitious yet and, dare I say, it's set up to be the most successful edition to date.  I'm extremely proud of what we at Central Command have been able to accomplish so far and believe me when I say that the best is yet to come.  Better yet, let's hear it from the soothing soundbox of head honcho Jeff McComsey, a good friend who has yet to beat me up in public:



If you have a second, head over to the FUBAR: American History Z Kickstarter page and take a look.  If you've got a couple bucks to spare, perhaps you can consider supporting an indy comic that has delivered on a few separate occasions so far.

Our newest cover is by Pietro, a familiar name around these parts.  There are some great rewards being offered this time around and more on the way.  Check it out and spread the word!

While you're at it, you should also check out the Kickstarter page for Rafer Robert's newest Plastic Farm publication.  Rafer is a fellow FUBARbarian as well as for former editor and contributor to the Magic Bullet.  His name also becomes, with an added t, "Rafter".  And I think that's funny.  Take it away, embedded video!

Happy Halloween 2012!

Doesn't this blog have enough pictures of people in costumes?  Oh well, perhaps it's like Jell-O.  There's always room for more.  Or perhaps this is the case:

In either case, Halloween is tomorrow and I might as well get these pictures up and online before something else comes along and distracts me, like any of the legitimate reasons I have for being on the computer as opposed to adding a new post to the blog.

The picture of the very top is another by my friend Vicki, a photographer who asked me to dress up like the Flash for a project featuring shoes.  I was sold when I heard the word "Flash".  Oh, who am I kidding.  I was sold when she said she wanted to take a picture of me.  I'm so damn photogenic.  Vicki also photographed me at Pittsburgh Comics a little while back.

It's interesting that a mass marketed Frankenberry costume is made.  If the brand is that popular, why doesn't General Mills make the cereal all year round and not just for one month, forcing me to buy a dozen boxes every October?  I guess I'll never know.  I bought this costume at the last minute on eBay. It was my fourth attempt at bidding on one.  At three separate opportunities I was outbid my voracious buyers on eBay.  How is that possible?  Oh well.  I got one in the end, and it showed up just in time.  I went out to a party on Saturday and poured out some cereal to those who wanted it, or at least those who allowed me, a stranger in a costume, to pour unknown cereal into their hands.

Larry was there, too, revisiting the wrestling theme.  He talked the DJ into creating a new category so he could enter the contest, which he won, and then won a prize for the best overall costume.  That smooth talker.

The place had a Ms. Pac Man machine.  Does anyone ever play Galaga on these dual cabinets?  My big Frankenberry mitts would present an added challenge.

And for some reason, my nephews decided to dress up for Halloween, too.  It's strange to see kids dressing up when Halloween costumes are obviously something that only adults do.  But whatever...maybe they're trying to emulate me or something.  Jake here dressed up as the Flash last year, so he's keeping the super hero theme going.  And his new little brother, "near mint" Logan, is his dutiful sidekick.

My sister and her husband have taught Jake the theme to the 1960s Batman TV show.  Fifty years old and that thing still has legs.  Crazy.