Frankenberry redesigns by DC Comics

Just in time for...um...Halloween...it's a look at the new General Mills monster cereal boxes!  This year saw yet another convergence of things Jeff loves, as folks at DC Comics redesigned the three main monsters for the 2014 Halloween cereal line.  The front of the three boxes was drawn by a DC staffer: Dave Johnson drew Frankenberry, Jim Lee drew Boo Berry and Terry and Rachel Dodson did Count Chocula.  I am biased, of course, but I will say that Johnson's Frankenberry was the best of the bunch, even though none presented any major changes to the characters.

Target once again sold retro boxes.  These ones were my favorites, as they included cut-out Halloween masks on the back, but I had to get a few of the regular design to check out the artwork.  And as in years prior, the regular boxes featured brand new comics.

The 2014 version, at last, had new comics on the backs of each box, with each comic including all three monsters but highlighting the main character of each cereal.  Above is the Frankenberry comic...

...here's the Boo Berry comic...

...and here's the Count Chocula comic, which I didn't buy but took a picture of in the store.  It apparently includes some references to Twitter in it.

Each of these comics looks to be drawn in the same style.  I didn't recognize the artists offhand, but DC's press release names them (what a novel concept) as Sholly Fisch, Brent Schooner and Dave McCaig.  It's a pretty good step up from what General Mills has done in years past.  And, of course, the cereal is friggin delicious.

If General Mills is looking to expand even further on their comics theme in the future, let me suggest including a mini comic book in each box for 2015.  I'll write it.  Please let me write it.

In other Halloween news, my nephew dressed up again in superhero gear.  he actually got a Hulk costume for the big day, but here's a picture of him trying on the top half of my Comic-Con Superman outfit.

And Larry...went as Mrs. Doubtfire, interestingly enough.

Bag it and board it.

Well, I'm an uncle again, and once more my sister keeps naming these babies after pop culture figures.  Lilah Marie Quinn was born on July 14th and she is surely a cutie.  She was scheduled to be born right as I was leaving for Comic-Con, but thankfully she decided on a date that was a little earlier so I could get a chance to see her before shipping off.

So, for those of us keeping score, I've now got a nephew named Jacob (after Ben Grimm), another nephew named Logan (after Wolverine), and now a niece named Lilah, which is obviously a clever take on Leela from Futurama.

I'm sticking to that.

Zombie Shark: the Baby Zombie Shark

Last year, I posted the finished version of the one-page comic, written by my nephew, titled "Zombie Shark".  The premise...is exactly what it sounds like.  This year for Christmas, I helped put together the next one-page chapter of the Zombie Shark, titled "The Baby Zombie Shark".  It's got that same madcap feel to it that can only be created by someone under 10.  So here I present to you the next Zombie Shark, complete with other sea creatures and, for some reason, a guy on a hang glider.

The art on this comic was once again provided by the very adept, Pittsburgh area Meredith Moriarty, of whom we should be hearing more from in the next months.  FUBAR's Jeff McComsey graciously provided the greyscales, and this time I lettered the comic myself.  I'm pretty happy with how it turned out, though I'm slightly taken aback at just how easy it apparently is to write an entertaining comic strip.

Below you'll find the original layout of this tale, straight from my nephew Bobby.  As before, I tried to do my best to capture the feel of the original while presenting it in a professional manner.  The kid's got an eye for layout.

Extended family

I'm happy to announce that Tick and Teddy and the Yeti artist Duane Redhead and his wife welcomed their first child into the world just last month!  Pictured here we have little Alice Redhead, looking fine and proper in her tiny crochet Tick cap.  I have big hopes for Alice.  Maybe she'll grow up one day to be an artist just like her pop.  What a blessing it is to have this new girl in the world!

I wanted to send my best wishes across the Atlantic to Duane and his burgeoning family.  Welcome to planet Earth, Alice!

Happy Halloween, 2013!

Ah, Halloween, a time when people all over can come together and dress like gorillas poorly dressed as people.  It's a special time for all.

I took a few hours on Thursday to toss on my gorilla suit and head out with fellow Franks and Beans star Larry.  I thought it'd be funny to dress as a gorilla trying desperately to fool people that he was actually a human.  I don't think anyone got the joke, but whatever.  Larry spent a little more time on his costume and went as the Terminator.

Larry spent the entire night reciting lines from "Kindergarden Cop", which I thought was a really nice touch, though I eventually got tired of hearing about strangers' fathers and their employment.

As usual, though, my nephews end up being so damn cute that it makes me wonder why I try at all.  They even helped me out by pulling up the comic book quotient for this blog.  Thanks, guys!

This looks like he's going to fly off, leaving shattered pavement behind.  Perhaps he will.

Happy Halloween!  Let's eat some candy.

another entry for the database

A little over two years ago, I posted a picture of my nephew Jacob here a little while after he was born.  And then I proceeded to make the obvious connection between the little tyke and the Thing, because after all, the Thing's middle name is also Jacob.  So what I'm trying to say is that my sister and her husband named their first child after the Thing.  This was a pretty cool thing to do.

Yesterday, they had their second child, Logan Bronson Quinn, and here's a picture of the little guy.  It's a shame that they didn't keep up the comic book theme with this one, but who knows, maybe one day a comic book company will create a character with the name Logan and that character will garner at least a modicum of popularity.  That way we can retroactively keep the streak alive, so to speak.

Here's a mind bending prospect to think about: if this kid lives until he is 88, a real possibility, he will live until the year 2100.  THAT'S THE 22nd CENTURY!  He might use a rocket pack one day.  And I'll give him all of my 2099 comics, tell him to wait, and see if he gets the joke.

Zombie Shark!

When I was in elementary school, I had a cousin, Randy, who was (and still is) a painter and had done a little work in comics.  Upon learning this, I of course thought that this was the most amazing thing in the universe, and I wrote a letter telling him as much.  This is when I started collecting comics in the first place.

Apparently I now employ the role of older, comic-savvy relative, because I received a letter from my elementary school-age nephew a few days ago with a letter and a hand-drawn comic.  The title: "Zombie Shark: the New Zombie Shark".  The similarities are not lost on me, nor is the fact that when I sit down to write a new FUBAR story, I'm essentially doing the same thing as my eight-year-old nephew.  In any case, I've posted the comic for all the world to see...and I'll say that it has potential.  I especially love the panel where the man watching television (complete with rabbit ear antennas...how does an eight-year-old know what those are?) breaks the fourth wall, looks at the reader, and says "OMG, sharks!"

There's even a...cover, maybe?  Anyway, it was drawn on the back of the comic, so I'm assuming it's related, even though it includes the letter "N" flying around on a jet pack and a clown getting chainsawed in half.

In the letter, my nephew writes, "Will you make me a comic book using my ideas?  When you are done, please send it back to me."  Demanding little guy.  But hey, you never know.

The Journal of Morphology - another publication with words and pictures

A bit of good news came my way yesterday when I learned that my wife had her manuscript accepted to the Journal of Morphology, an academic journal that deals with...what, science?  I guess.  It's well over my head.  The title of her work is "Microvascular Patterns in the Blubber of Shallow and Deep Diving Odontocetes", which, and I'm sure you can gather, should be a thrilling piece of excitement from first page to last.

I like to think of myself as "the writer" when it comes to the two of us, but it's obvious that this piece of work is much more impressive than anything I've ever done in similar fashion...which gives me some perspective, I suppose.  Of note, though, is that the article contains an image of a pig...an image of a pig that I totally drew.  This means that I am also a published artist (of great skill, naturally).  I am disproportionately proud of this.

Here's the necessary copyright information, as "the man" now has the rights to the article and what it contains: "Microvascular Patterns in the Blubber of Shallow and Deep Diving Odontocetes", S. McClelland, et al, Journal of Morphology, copyright 2012, published by Wiley-Blackwell.

This is excitement of academic proportions.

Pictures from the FUBAR signing

Today was the day for the FUBAR signing at Pittsburgh Comics, and if I had to qualify it (AND I DO), I'd say that it was a success.  I didn't take as many pictures as I might have liked to, but that's because I spent a lot of time selling books and talking to people, and that's a good thing.

Directly above is the table that Colin, the owner of Pittsburgh Comics in McMurray, had set up at the front of the store.  It's a great looking shop, and if you're from the area and haven't checked it out yet, take a ride down route 19 and stop in one day.  I gave away copies of Teddy and the Yeti #1 to anyone who bought a copy of FUBAR, so hopefully I managed to get a few people interested in T&Y as well.

I ended up selling a few books almost immediately after I arrived, including to this fine customer.  I drew zombie sketches in most of the books I sold, which probably immediately lowered the value of the book.

...not everyone was happy with the product, though, and I spent some of the day in fear, which is only natural, I guess.  You make a book about zombies and some people are bound to be violently outraged.  It comes with the territory.

This is an example of just how awful my artistry is.  Say what you will about my writing (no, seriously, someone react to it in some form), but at least they keep me away from the art boards.  Highlight of this image: finally getting to use the red Sharpie.

And look!  It's my adorable nephew, Jacob, along with a book that he won't be allowed to read for 17 more years, or until I'll be...uh...33.

Many thanks once again to Colin and Pittsburgh Comics for letting me set up shop in the store for a few hours.  FUBAR: Empire of the Rising Dead is in stores this Wednesday, so if you weren't able to grab a copy at one of the signings going on around the country, you can pick one up then.  I had a great time today for sure.

Happy Halloween!

I did absolutely nothing for Halloween.  ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!  But I'm thinking of going next year as evil Jeff, a la Spock from the Mirror Universe episodes of Star Trek...that's right, just adding a mustache and goatee and bam!  Instant costume.  Maybe I'll wear a Hulk shirt or something.

Anyway, that doesn't mean that others weren't more in the spirit of Halloween, if there is such as thing. Look at how Franks and Beans co-star Larry spent the night!

It's tough, however, to top cute babies, and it's even tougher when they're dressed as the Flash, as my nephew was.  Although he looks totally fat in this apparently padded costume.

Tomorrow: maybe I'll post something real.

Crochet, anyone?

I just received this image of a crocheted Yeti (capital "Y") in my inbox from none other than June Gilbank of PlanetJune.  I commissioned June to create the likeness of the Yeti character after seeing some of the other work she's completed - yes, pretty much everything she's done is adorable.  JUST LOOK AT THIS MONKEY:

I'm pretty thrilled with the way things turned out, and just as thrilled that June will be selling the pattern on her website (in case you want to make your own) with a link and a reference to the Teddy and the Yeti website/comic...so now I have an inroad with the crochet crowd...yes!

I will also be selling this Yeti - but the completed figure as opposed to the pattern.  That is, I will be doing that once I either learn how to crochet or find someone who is capable.  Uh, Mom?  I've never seen you crochet before in my life, but I'll bet you're able with your magic mom powers.  We'll see.  This is just one step in the process, but it's a big one.  Look for this to show up in the online store once we get up and running with the needlework.  If nothing else, I'll be sure to have a basketful on hand for the New York Comic-Con.

This is a separate entity from the Yeti doll crafted by codename: Punkvixen from the Etsy website.  Those are still on their way and are about twice the size of this crochet version, and I plan on having both available (for the discriminating consumer) at some point.  Just look at it this way: my ancillary potential Yeti merchandise just increased by 100%. The world is now a better place.

Follow along, won't you?

Like an expectant mother, I just confirmed that Teddy and the Yeti #2 is currently being shipped from the Comixpress warehouse in New Jersey to my parents' place in Undisclosed Location, PA.  UPS is making this...uh..."delivery"...so we can all wait in anticipation while this new...um..."addition" is making its way to the world.  Okay, so the newborn child analogy only goes so far.  I will be seeing an actual baby - my nephew Jacob - for the first time on this trip home, so maybe I just have that mindset right now.

Anyway, the books got on the truck a little later than I was lead to believe, which means that I'll be pushing the envelope on my signing date with Evil Genius a bit.  The books are supposed to arrive on Friday - I'll have a better idea tomorrow about whether the first signing, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm, is still feasible.  The second, from 6:00 to 8:00, shouldn't be affected.

If you click on the following link, we can all track issue #2's impending arrival together!  Marvel as Teddy and the Yeti makes its midnight journey across the Keystone State.  Gasp in suspense as I push my commitments to the limit and try to get to the comic shop on time!  If you time it right, you can show up at my parents' house and get the VERY FIRST copy out of the box!

I hope that truck doesn't break down.

adding to the collection

This is a bit of a departure from our normal fare, but I wanted to take some time out and announce that my extended family has just grown by one!  My nephew, Jacob Thomas Quinn was born just a few hours ago and he's ALREADY putting up cell phone pictures of himself.  Why, when I was his age, cell phones were so big, they weren't even invented yet!

Since this is a comic book blog, you might be asking yourself, "Jeff, isn't the Thing's middle name 'Jacob'?"  Why yes, astute reader, it is.  Is this little guy named after the Thing?  All I can say is that he'll be getting Fantastic Four related gifts from me for the rest of my life.  WHETHER HE WANTS THEM OR NOT!

The only question that remains is if he'll garner the nickname "The Snake" later in life.