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.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

The Comic Critic will be at Jet City


On Saturday, September 24th 2011, The Jet City Comic Book Show is going to be held in Seattle at the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall located at 299 Mercer Street from 10am to 6pm. Tickets are only $8. If you pre-order your tickets you will receive a free Bomber Girl print by Matthew Clark. This will be the second year I’ll be attending the show. You can find me in the Artist’s Alley at table AA25.

I will be doing drawing/signing for those who buy my book. Almost everyone who subscribes to this blog knows what my book’s about. But, if you don’t, then check out this video.

It’s one in a series of reviews that tag into my book, “The Comic Critic Presents Seldom Seen Films.”

Special thanks to Adam the Alien for producing this and the other movie review videos for me, to Joe Izenman who created my jingle, and of course my good friend Joe Manfredini whose been my right hand man at so many conventions.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

The Comic Critic Reviews Wristcutters: A Love Story


I thought that Wristcutters: A Love Story would be a small, slightly sad art-house film. The initial setting lures you into thinking that you’re watching a purposefully dismal story. Then you get surprises. They aren’t big surprises, more like hints of surprises. And you can’t tell if they are dark or light surprises. Either way they are piling up and engaging in ways you didn’t expect. And the next thing you know, you’ve had a perfectly delightful experience.

I’m still mulling over how a dog ends up in a world inhabited by suicides.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

The Return of Stickman #1317



My friend Larry Erhardt asked on his Facebook page today whether if it's ethical to euthanize a dying insect? First I remembered that Larry is an atheist and a vegetarian. Next I briefly thought about euthanasia, then about a commonly reported dying experience, and lastly I thought about the ironically named Circle of Life. And that, that right there, is the moment when today's strip completely formed in my head.

Monday, August 29, 2011

The Comic Critic Reviews Skyline


My friend Chuck Messinger, comic book writer, owner of Comic Evolution, co-founder of Creator’s Edge Press, likes Skyline. I can’t tell you why he likes this movie because that would be a spoiler. I go out of my way not to drop spoilers. I’d love to describe this alien invasion movie by referring to other movies, but even those hints would be spoilers. The plot is so thin that if it were paint being applied to a wall, it would need a second coat. Let’s just say that this is meant to be a good movie and ended up being one of those bad movies that’s fun—that’s how bad it is. I finally found a few obscure, yet more-or-less accurate references to use. Oh, and I hear that Skyline 2 is in development.

My friends Gordon and Paul are part of the Norman Tweeter Productions. When they hit the movies they are merciless with their raw spewing of spoiler-filled comments - usually done in the back of their car in the theater parking lot while emotions (or other things) are high. Here is their video review of Skyline. By the way, Paul and Gordon are puppets.


Friday, August 26, 2011

The Return of Stickman $1216


Here is the news story that inspired this strip. What I want to know is what nine-year-old walks around with $300 dollars on them? I’m a full-grown man and whenever I have that much money on me it’s in a money belt. This kid needs a bank account. Of course the last time I lost my wallet it had $86, and if you factor in inflation it would probably be around $300.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

The Return of Stickman #1315


The news story that inspired this strip had a wealth of gags within it. I went with the the gag that made me gag.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

The Return of Stickman #1314


I hate riding buses. When I was a teenager I'd rather mooch a ride or ride my bicycle than take public transit. It might be one of the reasons I enjoy taxis. It might also be one of the reasons I've always worked from home.