The Home of the Creative Mind

Welcome to PooBahSpiel, the online voice and home of the creative mind of Mark Monlux, Illustrator Extraordinaire. Prepare yourself for an endless regaling of art directly from the hand of this stellar artist. And brace yourself against his mighty wind of pontification. Updates are kinda weekly and show daily sketches, current projects, and other really nifty stuff.

Friday, August 7, 2009

The Return of Stickman #1014


Both The Return of Stickman and The Comic Critic have been selected for inclusion in The Monsters of Webcomics exhibition at the Cartoon Art Museum in San Francisco, and will be featured in the Virtual Gallery along with a wide array of webcomics from around the globe. This historic exhibition will include over 100 artists, making this one of the largest exhibitions in the Cartoon Art Museum’s 24-year history.


Monsters of Webcomics opens to the public this Saturday, August 8, and will run through December 6 at the Cartoon Museum. You can find the full press release for the exhibition here: http://cartoonart.livejournal.com/29650.html Additional information about exhibitions and events can be found at LiveJournal (http://cartoonart.livejournal.com), Twitter (@cartoonart), on MySpace, and at their Facebook “Fan” page and their “Causes” page.

Thursday, August 6, 2009

The Return of Stickman #1013


This 'possible' version of events might be a little extreme. But, as a frequent business traveler, I can easily say that I would not want to be sitting next to, in front of, or behind, a little boy with a plastic sword. Of course, I'm also one of the crotchety people who don’t have kids and thinks that maybe children should be stored in barrels. And whether or not the bung in thrust into the hole is as well is a matter of debate. Maybe the youth in question is stellar in his behavior, but swords, especially pirate swords, are made for swashbuckling, and there really is no room on commercial airliners for swashbucklers. Niquil, yes, swords, no.

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

The Comic Critic Reviews: Appaloosa - 2008


Appaloosa is a slim, trim, and neatly executed Western. Driven by the depth of the characters, the story is lovingly framed with a level of set and costume detail that is hard to equal. The visuals are so tempting that, after the movie, you are left longing to know this mysterious little town’s location. I give it a very strong seven, and was very tempted to give it an eight. I nearly did it, since it contained so many of my favorite actors. I’m still tempted and will do so—if I get enough fans clamoring to sway me to score it higher.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

The Return of Stickman #1012


If they took my toenail clippers, they can damn well take bright red blunderbuss. True, I think flying toe nails are more dangerous, especially mine. But, I had my toenail clippers neatly stowed away in my bag and had no plans for taking them out one the airplane. Who knows what havoc that kid might have caused waving his plastic about? Actually, Stickman knows, and tomorrow it will tell you all about it.

Monday, August 3, 2009

The Return of Stickman #1011


There is no rule saying that people who win a huge sum can't complain about their luck thereafter. But, we all know it's in poor taste. And by 'we' I'm talking about the bitter and envious amongst us. Now, if you will excuse me, I have to go purchase a lottery ticket.

Friday, July 31, 2009

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.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

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.