3-D Monster

This One is For The Cousins Whom We Miss Terribly...

2010-03-18T10:43:00.002-04:00

You guys should get this for Momo and a cute girl costume for Sophie!
Via SkullSwap!

I Wish I Had An Teacher Like This...

2010-03-18T10:02:00.003-04:00

I was visiting one of my favorite comics sites; Robot 6, when I stumbled upon their newest "Shelf Porn" (in which yours truly was once prominently featured) entry; a NYC teacher who has amassed an impressive graphic novel collection for his students to enjoy as well as improve their reading skills. Intrigued, I visited the provided link for the teacher; Chris Pearce. Turns out that Chris is a cartoonist as well as a high school English teacher, and keeps an online comic strip journal based on his adventures in education; "Teachable Moments", which is both amusing as well as enlightening.

As a father who is married to a teacher, it is refreshing and inspiring to see teachers who are so genuinely interested and invested in the education of their students. Speaking as a former student in the Alabama public school system who had very few inspiring teachers, Chris truly is the real deal. Keep up the good work, Chris!

Ben Newman Covers Batman #72!

2010-03-18T09:16:00.002-04:00

One of my favorite artists, Ben Newman, has contributed to my all-time favorite blog dedicated to artists re-interpreting classic comic-book covers; COVERED! I absolutely love the ultra-clean linework and minimalistic style he employs here!

"Retptillian Dirty Harrys"; I Could See This Working on Adult Swim...

2010-03-18T09:08:00.003-04:00

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

I mean, what the Hell do you think swords and nunchucks are SUPPOSED to be used for?!? DUH!!
Via ToplessRobot

This is Absurdist Nonsense... And I LOVE IT!!!

2010-03-18T08:15:00.002-04:00

I swiped this from the Facebook page of a friend I haven't seen since a Grateful Dead show in '92, and it had me cryin'! Perhaps it will put a smile on that sour-puss of yours, eh?

Vintage Batman & Robin

2010-03-17T16:05:00.002-04:00

They have the collected serials at Wally World for like, $10. I don't know why I can't just buy them. If they suck, they suck. It's only $10, right?
Via ThisIsn'tHappiness

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!! Happy Birthday Dad!!!

2010-03-17T15:42:00.003-04:00

In honor of the holiday & my father's birthday, I've posted an actual news report from my home town of Mobile, Alabama from a couple of years ago in which people in the Creighton area claim to have chased an actual Leprechaun up a tree.
No $hit, really.
As if we southerners don't have enough crap to put up with!

The Evil Dead in 60 Seconds... In Claymation....By English Dudes

2010-03-17T15:40:00.002-04:00

Evil Dead done in 60 seconds with CLAY - 2010 from Lee Hardcastle on Vimeo.

Yeah, I guess that pretty much sums it up!
Via ToplessRobot

To All of my Wonderful Readers....

2010-03-17T10:04:00.002-04:00

I really, really do.
Via SkullSwap!

Normally, I don't care for wallpaper, but....

2010-03-17T09:43:00.002-04:00

I think I can make an exception for this. I wonder if the wife will go for getting this for the dining room?
Via HauntStyle

More Love For Zombie Che!

2010-03-17T09:22:00.002-04:00

Punk Rock/Horror/DIY blog "Raise Your Fist inc.", has posted an eloquent article regarding my favorite Cuban Revolutionary zombie; Che Guervera! The blog also has great articles custom zombie portraits, mummified bird art, and much, much more! Thanks Ben!

The Canyons of Mars?

2010-03-17T09:11:00.002-04:00

Nope, what you are looking at is a single groove in a vinyl record taken by an electron microscope magnified 1000x. View more staggering photos of "innerspace" at Reckon.
Via Boing-Boing

New Art! (Well, Kinda New)

2010-03-16T15:54:00.003-04:00

The Astronaut toy print is brand new, the robot 4-panel set is made up of old robot Illustrations except for the Astronaut, w/ new colors. The Ironman is the same except I added the background w/ the Mego logos. That piece was reworked for the "First Friday Art Walk". They are all available right here.

This is Pretty Cool...

2010-03-16T11:39:00.002-04:00

I started to read "Pride, Prejudice & Zombies, but I didn't even finish it as I felt it was waaaay too much "Pride & Prejudice" and not enough Zombies. However, this book trailer for the sequel; "Dawn of The Dreadfuls" (or is it a prequel?) looks pretty awesome!

I'm Still Not Sure What This Means, But I Have My Suspicions...

2010-03-16T10:01:00.001-04:00

Via BigFun!

Office Spaces....

2010-03-16T09:25:00.005-04:00

My current (and favorite) workspace.

My last workspace at Crestline.

This was my workspace when I made custom Mego toys for a living. I would design the packaging here...

...and put the toys together here. Ah, good times!

I have held a few jobs over the years. Some of those jobs involved standing for long periods preparing food. Some involved long periods of driving and delivering food. Others involved sitting at a desk for long periods and occasionally eating food.

The latter jobs were usually the creative ones, and it would drive me crazy to sit somewhere for eight + hours per day and stare at bland, corporate surroundings. To combat such drabness, I would decorate my desk area with toys, comics, movie posters, art from my kids and whatever else I could get away with under company policy. Sure, some people would sneer, think it was childish, or scoff; thinking it to be unprofessional. But luckily, the vast majority would be fascinated, ask questions, or confess their secret inner-nerd to me.

After awhile, I found myself peering at the desks of my co-workers; interested to see how they decorate their "job home". Which brings me to my point; I would love it if you, dear reader, would send me pictures of your own workspace; even if it's boring, or if it's fantastic, and especially if it's likely to get you sent to the HR department for a little "chat" on workplace appropriateness. Please send me your pics with whatever you want to say about it, and I'll post it here on the monster!

Wrong, Oh So Wrong....

2010-03-15T19:17:00.003-04:00

Actual vintage textbook? art. It may take a minute, but you'll get it.
Via RetroSpaceZeta

Bathroom Graffiti WIN!

2010-03-15T13:16:00.003-04:00

Well played, Mr. Burgundy!
Via SkullSwap!

Damn, I Wish I Had Seen This Before Valentines Day!

2010-03-15T13:14:00.002-04:00

My wife loves mushy V-Day cards!
Via SkullSwap

Great Photobomb!

2010-03-15T13:02:00.002-04:00

Steve Harris of Iron Maiden gets cheeky!BTW, love the bus name.
Via ThisisPhotobomb

Awww....

2010-03-15T11:17:00.002-04:00

My niece posted this picture on her blog as one of her favorites. It's our family portrait from 1976 or '77. Wasn't I a cutie?

New Swag!

2010-03-15T11:06:00.003-04:00

As I mentioned on Friday, I got to go on a bit of a shopping spree at Coast City Comics and Fun Box Monster Emporium. As you can see, I had a pretty decent score, especially with back issues! I also picked up "Dark Avengers Vol. 1", but while we were at the movie yesterday, the dog ate it. Had I finished it? No. Was I amused? Not in the least."I also picked up Mel Gibson's last good movie; "Signs" for the low, low price of $3! I've been a bit nostalgic for the original run of Master's Of The Universe figures, so I picked up my all-time fave; Trap-Jaw for $6.

WANT!

2010-03-15T10:26:00.002-04:00

Are you kiddin' me?!? 10" Vinyl Michael Jackson vinyl toys from the Thriller video with REMOVABLE MASKS?!? YES, PLEASE! But with a Buy it Now of $98 for just one, I'm gonna have to pass. I could see this perched on your desk, Patrick!

Alice in Wonderland: My Review

2010-03-15T09:38:00.002-04:00

Yesterday I packed the family into the cruiser, and we made the hour-long trek to Lewiston to once again, don our 3-D glasses, this time for Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland"; which should really be called "Alice Returns to Wonderland", as it is essentially a sequel.

We got off to a bit of a bad start; we were running late thanks to some family squabbling, and by the time we got to the theatre, the previews were almost over and the room was packed! While looking for seats, I missed the preview for "Tron Legacy" which looked pretty awesome from what I saw. So before the movie even began, I was annoyed from the fighting, wet from the rain, MORE annoyed at missing the Tron preview, and SUPREMELY annoyed at having to sit on the far right end of the third row from the screen! The reason I'm telling you this is because it may have influenced my review.

First off, the 3-D is excellent! Perfectly clear and so effective that there is no need for a cheesy paddleball to remind you that you are at a 3-D film. The film is visually stunning, however; this is a Tim Burton film, so the colors are muted, the envronments are dark, and the mood is gothic. I would have liked to see some brighter colors. I enjoyed the performances, and Crispin Glover was a great scene-stealer as "The Knave of Hearts". I was worried that Johnny Depp was going to overpower the film as the Mad Hatter, but that was not so; I enjoyed the depth he brought to the character.

That being said, the movie seems to drag a bit here and there and some of the plot elements are a bit silly. All things considered, I'll give it 2.5 stars out of four.

10 Stupid Questions

2010-03-13T12:56:00.004-05:00

I got busy yesterday, and dropped the ball with the Friday interview because I waited until Thursday to ask my guest to answer my questions. I know, I SCREWED UP! Anyway, since it's Saturday, and I have a minute before I go riding, I'll answer my own questions.

1.) What do you do and why? I'm a freelance graphic designer, blogger & artist. I do it because I hate getting paid on a regular basis and think 401K plans and health insurance are for chumps. Actually, I'm covered through my wife's insurance. Seriously, though; I love being able work when I want to, walk up a flight of stairs to get to work, and blog naked, of course.

2.) What or who inspires you? My wife and kids because they'll leave me if I say anything else.

3.) What's the best part of your day? When I get that magical email that exclaims "You've got cash!" It means someone has bought some of my art and paid me through Paypal.

4.) What's the most bizarre thing you've ever experienced? I've experienced a lot of weird stuff, but if I had to narrow it down to one, I would say seeing a huge UFO hover over my neighborhood when I was a kid.

5.) Who is one living person you would like to meet and why? Probably Stan Lee. 'Cause he's THE MAN!

6.) What are your three favorite posessions? My motorcycle, my new house & my new 42" flatscreen. Betcha thought I was gonna say something geeky, didn't ya?

7.) What one superpower would you like to have? Flying. No question. I have lots of dreams where I'm flying, and it feels like the most incredible thing ever.

8.) When is the last time you got into a fistfight and why? Back in 1992 I was at a party and a friend of mine was getting harassed by a couple of guys, so I went over to try and get him out of it. Out of nowhere, one of the guys sucker-punches me, and I lost it. I don't remember what happened after that, but my friends told me that I went crazy and trashed both of them. I'm kind of a badass.

9.) What song gets you pumped today? Really digging "Calm Like a Bomb" by Rage Against The Machine.

10.) What's your worst habit? Three + years ago it would have been smoking, but now I guess it's buying too many comics and toys. I tend to get carried away at times.

So there ya go - I promise to get someone more interesting for next Friday!