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.

The Comic Critic Reviews Little Otik

This movie was recommended to me as a zombie movie, so it was a bit of a surprise to discover instead this kooky and weird modern telling of an old Czech folk tale. I’ve seen and easily accepted modern spins on well-known tales like Sleeping Beauty and Little Red Riding Hood, but I was unfamiliar with this story. I found that to be both beneficial and awkward at the same time. I tried to figure out why I wasn’t completely drawn to it. My thoughts keep circling back to it not being in my memory bank. Or it could be my lingering disappointment that it wasn’t a zombie film. Still, if you are into kooky, odd, offbeat films – with subtitles - this just might hit the spot.