The Return of Stickman #1240

This is the news story that inspired this strip. I just couldn't help but ask the one question missing from the article, "Why didn't the first doctor double check for another foriegn object?" Here's a hint to parents: If you kid starts talking loud after visiting an ear doctor to get a toy soldier removed from his ear canal, have the doc take another look to make sure there isn't a platoon in there.

The Return of Stickman #1239

In the end, no charges were filed. The amount for the fries was refunded. Did this incident really need the police? Or a news story?

The Return of Stickman #1238

After a lovely Christmas vacation it's time to get back onto a regular work schedule. I've no outside projects on my desk at the moment, but that will probably change in the next day or two. I was asked to bid on a number of jobs in January and even if half of them fall through or get put off, it looks like I will have a busy start in 2011. I will do my best to post up a new movie review every Monday and to fill in the rest of the week days with a stickman strip.

Today's strip was inspired by an e-mail from my friend Kevin Boze, in which he described a conversation he had on collective nouns for animals. The e-mail had both my wife and I in stitches. I thought I would make it one of my "random lists of things" stickman strips and see if anyone would catch the gag.

The Comic Critic Reviews Tron Legacy

Jeff Bridges has made a career of making Disney movies and I wanted to draw a little attention to that in my review of Tron Legacy. Nothing can ever quite capture that full-out wow factor of the first Tron’s ground-breaking special effects. The sequel required awesome special effects to keep pace with the emotions stirred by the first film. And while there is no way I can expect younger viewers to go back and see the first Tron with the same eyes I did, I did want my review to encourage them to take it in anyway. Commenting on the new and improved light suits was my way of tackling the iconic visuals of the first movie. The suits underwent huge improvements—from Atari to Armani. Mimicking but up-scaling, this sequel fulfills its task of mirroring the old one, still the modern adventure film that families can enjoy along with all of us die-hard geeks.

The Return of Stickman #1236

According to international law, no corporation, nation, or state can claim ownership of celestial bodies. However, the international agreement says nothing about individuals. Duran claims that she is just the first to notice and take advantage of this. Others claim she is nuttier than a can of cashews.

SlamBang Media Interviews The Comic Critic

Check out episode number 15, where I'm interviewed by Allen Freeman of Slambang Media.

The Comic Critic Reviews True Grit - 1969

John Wayne might have been buried in June of 1979, but as far as I’m concerned, he never died. He starred in over a hundred films, most of them westerns, and I think I’ve seen them all. And when it comes to True Grit, I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve seen it. I didn’t realize just how solidly this film was implanted in my brain as an icon of the western genre until I heard that the Cohen brothers were filming a remake. My first reaction was, “Sacrilege!” I confess that I over-reacted. I’m now looking forward to see how the Cohen brothers pay homage to the movie I love so deeply. And I felt compelled to review the original before I review their remake.

The Return of Stickman #1235

I spent a whole five minutes searching the Internet trying to get the straight scoop on whether or not cat litter is combustible. Almost everything I ran across said that something had to be added to the kitty litter first. I’m assuming that the truckload of litter being hauled was straight from the factory. I think the insurance investigators will have a load on their hands trying to figure this one out.

The Return of Stickman #1233 & #1234

The Comic Critic Review "Slumdog Millionaire"

Slumdog Millionaire does a fantastic job of giving its audience a glimpse of what it’s like to grow up in an Indian slum. Other movies have tried, but this one is truly appealing in that we are pulled into the characters’ lives by multiple levels of curiosity. And for once, we’re given an ending that doesn’t make us want to take a razor to our wrists and end this travesty called life. It’s fairly upbeat for an Indian Slum movie.

The Return of Stickman #1232

I'm not sure how hatchets became this week's theme. But this last strip seemed appropriate for Black Friday.

Happy Thanksgiving from The Return of Stickman #1231

Thanks to comments from yesterday's The Return of Stickman, I know know how to say, "Oh my god! There's an axe in my head" in several languages. Today I'm thankful that I do not have an axe in my head.

The Return of Stickman #1230

I spend half an hour typing up a huge rant on the quality of journalism. I erased it and decided that maybe I should stick to drawing hatchet buried in heads. It’s more gratifying.

The Return of Stickman #1229

Yes, this strip was inspire in part on a true story, but only an tiny bit. The news story was about a man who owned an exotic deer and because accidents happen, was gored/trampled to death in the animal's enclosure.

I had great fun at The Portland Comic Book Show and I plan on having a table there next year as well. You can check out the photos I took on my Flickr feed in the right hand column. I've also updated the blog so that you can now share this posting on Facebook and other social networks..

Copyright, Having vs. Filing - As Told by Zombies

Monica Gaudio, upon discovering that one of her articles was published without her consent by "Cooks Source" magazine, contacted the publisher. The publisher’s blatant disregard of Monica Gaudio's rights to her own work so outraged Monica Gaudio that she wrote about it on the Internet. It touched a very sore nerve amongst creative professionals who are daily finding their work pilfered and infringed via the Internet. The response was huge! A call went out that on Friday everyone should blog about copyright. This post is my participation in that call.

The following comic I drew during this years 24 Hour Comic Challenge, wherein cartoonists and comic book artists, write, sketch, and ink a 24 page comic in 24 hours. I thought the theme of a Zombie Apocalypse, where the dead eat the living and the living fight back, was a suitable gore-dripping backdrop for discussing the otherwise dry topic of copyright. Enjoy.

























DISCLAIMER: Mark Monlux’s advice is self-indulgent pontification which may or may not cover general principles of law in response to issues of concern to the illustration community. Nothing in these articles should be construed to be a substitute for advice of counsel regarding the specific facts and circumstances of an individual case. Laws and their interpretation differ from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Legal advice addressing a specific situation should be sought from an attorney duly licensed in the appropriate jurisdiction.

"How to Get Paid What You're Worth" presentation is Saturday, November 13th

Is your career floundering? As a creative professional, do you find that you’re barely able to cover your bills from month to month or feel that you might have to leave the world of art because you need a “real job?” Then you’ll want to invest a few hours of your time to hear Mark Monlux tell you how to get paid what you are worth.

Mark Monlux is an award-winning illustrator and cartoonist. Featured by the Graphic Artists Guild, ...he is nationally known as an authority on copyright, contracts, and ethical business practices through his “Ask Mark” column. Attend this presentation and you’ll receive crucial survival tips, a strategy for planning your career, and the basic principles which any creative professional—writer, photographer, painter, illustrator, or cartoonist—needs to apply to build a solid career.

“How to Get Paid What You’re Worth”
This presentation by Mark Monlux, sponsored by Tacoma Art Supply, is part of Tacoma’s Art at Work Month.
1 – 3 PM, Saturday, November 13, 2010
UW Tacoma Campus, Dougan Building, Room 160, 1721 S Jefferson, Tacoma, WA 98402 – In the cul-de-sac across the street from Tacoma Art Supply, 1552 Commerce Ave.

$10 at the door
$5 for Students with valid ID
$5 for CLAW members wearing their fezzes
Call Warren Caves at (253) 444-2341 to register via phone, or pay in person at Tacoma Art Supply, 1552 Commerce Ave, Suite 101, Tacoma, WA 98402

The Return of Stickman #1228

I learned a simple, obvious truth when I was doing ride-alongs with the Kent Police Department: Since committing a crime is stupid, most criminals have an IQ of a hamster.

The Return of Stickman #1227 "Liberace"

I've been to Las Vegas twice. The first time was back in the day when you still put coins into the slot machines. The second trip was a couple of years ago and I made a point of going to The Liberace Museum. I had a chance to see up close all the costumes, pianos, cars and rings that I saw on live on television when I was growing up. It brought back many memories of my childhood. When I've discovered that the museum has closed I suddenly felt that some bits of myself were going into deep storage. Now I'm glad I had a chance to see it all one last time.

The Return of Stickman #1226

It doesn't matter if you are a freelancer or work in a cubical farm somewhere, Arbitrarily set deadlines suck.

The Comic Critic Review Lords of War, and the Bellingham Comic Con

I’m sure you have seen an animated flip-book, one with a stack of images you quickly flip through that change from page to page, the end result being a short animation. I want you to keep that image in your mind for a moment. The opening credits for Lord of War almost appear as a tacked-on social message that should be at the end of the movie. But from the opening credits onward, there is a series of social messages stacked together, each saying nearly the same thing, all telling the same story. I don’t need to tell you what the story is because you see it daily in the news. Lord of War is just like a flipbook. Its real message is how everything is black and white on each page; the only illusion is the blur as its pages are flipped.

The Bellingham Comic Con
My friend Joe Manfredini helped me man my table at the Bellingham Comic Con this last Saturday. This is the second year for the show. Last year's show was such a success that the promoters located a larger venue this year, and again they sold out. I saw some friends there such a John Lustig who does Last Kiss and Drew Pocza who does Pokeweed. A number of my fans came out to see me to get signed copies of the books and I also met several new fans. I did far better at this show than I anticipated. Perhaps I'm getting better at marketing myself, but I really do think it is thanks to the promoters and their efforts. I'm looking forward to participating next year.



Thank for the fun time!

The Return of Stickman #1225

I think I have made my point abundantly clear. When it comes to zombies vs. badgers, badgers are going to win hands down.

And a special treat for those of you who line in Northern Washington State: I will be at the Bellingham Comic Con this Saturday. Mention that you read this blog when you pick up your copy of The Comic Critic Presents Seldom Seed Films and I will draw you in a scene from your favorite movie.

The Return of Stickman #1224

I dare you. Can you name one zombie movie that has a badger in it? No. And tomorrow's strip will explain why.

The Return of Stickman #1223

Just in case you were wondering - yes, my theme this week is Zombies vs. Badgers.

The Return of Stickman #1222

My brother Randy brought this news article to my attention. Our phone conversation gave rise to several ideas that you will see reflected in the strip this week.