The Return of Stickman #1271

When you have something that needs to be torn down you learn three things:
1. Everybody has a truck.
2. Everybody has a chain.
3. Everybody makes the same suggestion that you use them to tear down whatever it is you need to tear down.

The Return of Stickman #1270

I didn’t ask my neighbors to help tear down my shed because the weather that week was terrible and I didn’t want to be responsible for anyone getting a cold. But, as soon as they heard the noise I was making, they come over anyway.

The Return of Stickman #1269

In real life I only found one dead rat when I was tearing down my shed. From what the neighbors were saying I was expecting the cast of "Ben".

The Return of Stickman #1268

The Return of Stickman #1267

The Comic Critic Presents: Grosse Point Blank

This is a first of a series or reviews that Joe and I will be doing together. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

The Comic Critic Reviews Super Mario Brothers - The Movie

Bob Hoskin’s kids were excited to hear that the Super Mario Brothers video game was going to be turned into a movie, then groaned their disappointment when he told them he was going to be the star. Bob’s kids may have sensed what the rest of us were thinking: “Hollywood just doesn’t get it.” Just because it was the first movie to be made from a popular video game (rather than the other way around) doesn’t mean it was going to be great. But as the first of its kind, it became an industry benchmark to be enjoyed with the understanding that it went boldly where no one had gone before. Too bad they made it with some overused stock movie scenarios. While I was tempted to give it a four, the sad fact is that it hasn’t held up over the years.

This review was delayed by the city of Tacoma, who, in their infinite wisdom declared that I needed to remove or repair a large eyesore of a shed. I've been meaning to tear it down for year, and now I had a deadline. So the last week I've been learning the difference between a catspaw and a crowbar. I've also learned that if you stack wood tightly in a rental dumpster you can fill it nearly solid. And the last thing I learned was that hiding under my shed's floor was one huge hole. Was it a well? septic tank? outhouse pit? We will never know because I'm filling it with sod and rocks from the yard. Anyway, my posting will go back to their normal schedule.

The Return of Stickman #1266

Ask Mark #3 Stance on Non-Profits

One of my New Year Resolutions was to do at least one vlog posting a month. So far I've been able to do that. The tough part is limiting myself to three minutes or less. That is a real challenge for me.

I have not posted any cartoons this week because I'm under a deadline imposed by the city to tear down my shed. One more day of work should get the last of it into the drop-off container. I've been very surprise by my neighbors who just pop up out of the blue to help me tear it down. I guess it's just in a guy's genetic coding to want to rip something apart with implements of destruction - if not just their bare hands.

Mark Monlux Interviewed by Ann Rea of Artists Who Thrive

I was interviewed by Ann Rea for the Artists Who Thrive website. I met Ann a couple of years ago after she contacted the Graphic Artists Guild to get some advice and they directed her to me. And it was the start of a wonderful friendship.
Listen to the interview.

The Return of Stickman #1265

I really did get a notice from the city telling me to tear down or repair my shed. Every time there is a strong wind the neighbors wonder if it will remain standing. It leaks like a sieve and is neither safe nor secure. The drop off dumpster arrives tomorrow for my little weekend project.

The Return of Stickman #1264

Truth or fiction? You decide.

Emerald City Comicon 2011

I thought I might be able to draw a movie review while I was at the Emerald City Comicon, but I was wrong. Attendance was through the roof and I was kept very busy signing books. So, in lieu of a comic this week, I thought I would share with you some of my photos from the event.








You can see, and leave comments for, the rest of my photos on my Flicker account.

The Return of Stickman #1262

I want to thank all my fans who keep sending in interesting and odd new article to inspire me.