The Return of Stickman #1010

This strip is dedicated to Tom Brazelton over at TheaterHopper.com who did his next to best in attempting to remove his thumb with a router. I'm sure if he had done his best he would be known and One-Thumb-Up Tom.

The Comic Critic Reviews Requiem for a Dream

There are films depicting the trials and tribulations of a descent into drug addiction, ending with deep soul-searching as our hero climbs up and gets on the wagon. This is not one of those films. Rather than being a joyful after-school special in which lessons are learned with tears shed and hugs given, Requiem for a Dream is more along the lines of some driver’s education films banned in the fifties for their overenthusiastic avoidance-instruction-by-example. If you enjoy watching a sad story about to become a tragedy, then this film is just perfect for you. And you will be well rewarded too. The quality of the script, acting and editing is top notch. So, why didn’t I give it an eight? Because it depressed the bejezus out of me.

The Return of Stickman #1009

Farewell, Gidget! You cute little dog.

The Return of Stickman #1008

One of the reasons this policy has worked well, and undetected, is because the prisoners are provided civilian clothes to wear while in transit. Those orange jumpsuits just make them stand out a bit too much.

The Return of Stickman #1007

Let's see if you know this one, Four Mayors, Three Rabbi and Two Assemblymen walk into a courthouse...

The Return of Stickman #1006

Many thanks to my good friend Stowe for this wonderful topic.

The Comic Critic Reviews Two of a Kind

But first we have to get caught up on a couple of strips of....



Have you ever wondered why John Travolta needed a comeback? Or why Olivia Newton John was never seen in another big hit after “Grease” came out? It’s because there are movies out there that go beyond box office bomb. These films are more than just duds; they reek of the vile stench of the unholy. Mere association with such a film is enough to derail your career, but to be the star of such a fiasco? Oh, Mommy! Good luck to you, Mate. With any luck whatsoever, the industry and viewing public will completely forget this travesty, and your involvement with it. That is, unless some cartoonist comes along to encourage his readership to leave this dusty DVD on the shelf.

Crest for Construx

Steve McConnell and I back in 1993 when we were introduced by Kim Eggleston, who was then working at Microsoft Press. Steve was just finishing up his book “Code Complete” and was looking for a few illustrations to go inside it. He liked what I did for that book so much that he asked me to come back and do illustrations for his next book “Rapid Development”. Around this time Steven formed his company Construx. Construx Software has become a regular client, hiring me to do all sorts of drawings for them each year. For this project Steve sent me an email with some rough concepts about what he and his crew wanted in the way of a company crest. He was very pleased with the first sketch I sent back to him, and being the absolutely great client that he is, only requested one minor color change. What a great client.

The Return of Stickman #1003

When I read the news that Mississippi is the fattest state in the country once again, I had so many ideas I didn’t know where to start, so I grabbed the second gag that came to mind. The first gag involved Paula Deen, and then I remembered that while she’s from the South, she’s not from Mississippi.

The Return of Stickman #1002

I know this is an ancient news story. Good luck finding a link to it anywhere. But I felt that anything I went through the trouble of drawing, and then losing behind my desk for a few months was still worthy of being posted.

The Return of Stickman #1001

I overhead a conversation in a diner where a little kid turned down fries because he wanted the healthier salad option instead. I was impressed by how grown up the little tyke was behaving. And it got me reflecting on the random bits of conversation I heard as kid that caused me to rethink and evaluate.

The Return of Stickman #1000

I know there have been many losses in the world of pop culture since I first drew this strip a few weeks ago. Michael Jackson, Ed McMahan, Farrah Fawcett, Billy Mays, all dead. But, I’m still stunned and perplexed by the circumstances, by the odd events of this death that seemed to trigger all the rest.

The Return of Stickman #999

I’m wondering just who is going to be the keynote speaker at Michael Jackson’s funeral. Or will there be a Master of Ceremonies? Did Michael have any special preparations or requests for his funeral? If so, will they be in keeping with his long-standing history of more-than-just-a-little-odd?

The Return of Stickmna #998

This is just one more reason that I think most people should not have dogs. Oh, I’m a big dog lover. I grew up with a dog and I’d have a dog right now if my wife and I weren’t flying every other week on business. I still want a dog. And I can guarantee you that if I got in a fight with my wife I would not take it out on the dog. What type of message are you sending to your spouse by duct taping the dog to the refrigerator that you can’t say directly to his face? Good luck, Rex!

The Return of Stickmna #997

Okay, I probably shouldn’t be tossing rocks. My geography sucks. But at least I can point to Slovakia on a map. But, I couldn’t say that before my brother Randy met his wonderful wife Eva. In high school you would find me hard pressed to match all fifty capitals with all fifty states, let alone tell you the capital of Brazil. Thank you public education. Given all that, it's down right amazing that I've drawn thousands of maps as an illustrator. Who would have thought?

The Return of Stickman #996

The Retro Television Channel does show some of my old favorites like Dragnet and McMillan and Wife, but I wish they would expand out and show some of other great shows of the day, and even older stuff. I would love to see F-Troop, Seattle, Hennesey, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, Have Gun, Will Travel or even the Dean Martin Show. And there are so many great shows that only lasted one season, or twelve episodes, like Jennie Slept Here. Why that didn't take off I will never know. And there are shows that I never got a chance to see, like Car 54 Where Are You? Sigh. Can you tell I grew up sucking on the boob tube?