Here’s a taped piece which just recently went live that I did while in attendance at the New York Comic Con several weeks back. I did my best to give all the low down (ramble) about Neil Jam. I hope you don’t find my voice too annoying. They told me to say this particular thing at the very end– So if it gets weird there, it ain’t my fault! Oh, and I guess you’ll have to sit through an ad before the video starts. Sorry about that. Again, it ain’t my fault!
I recently picked up a copy of Peanuts #0, published by Kaboom. As it states on the cover, this issue serves as a preview for an upcoming comic book series of all new Peanuts stories. Since Peanuts has long been my favorite comic strip, coupled with the one dollar cover price on this issue, I figured there wasn’t any reason for me not to check it out.
This comic book series is the first instance of new Peanuts material, as Schulz made it known that he did not want his newspaper strip to continue without him. I guess some fans are against the idea of any new Peanuts content penned by anyone other than Schulz, but I figure each reader can determine for themselves whether or not it is worth their time.
Peanuts #0 is comprised of a couple of all new stories, a preview of an original Peanuts graphic novel that actually was released a few months ago, as well as a handful of classic Sunday Peanuts strips by Schulz himself. All of the new material is actually very much in the vein of what Schulz’s Peanuts was like.
They are obviously striving to do it exactly the way Schulz would have done it. I have mixed feelings about this. If you’re going to try and craft new Peanuts comics exactly like Schulz would have done, a part of me can’t help but wonder what the point of that would be. Wouldn’t we be better off just reading the original strips by Schulz himself? But on the other hand, if someone were to tackle Peanuts in a new way with a new style, at what point would it cease to be Peanuts? Hmm, it seems even I don’t know exactly where I stand with this new Peanuts series.
I guess I like it. Peanuts is Peanuts, after all. I don’t know… You can call me wishy washy if you want.
Holiday shopping madness is upon us. Each year it feels like the craziness gets harder and harder to avoid, so as long as we’re all going crazy, we might as well get crazy with Neil Jam!
I’ve been dilligently filling up my Etsy shop with plenty of items to soothe the holiday soul. The traditional holiday offering of choice around these parts is the ever growing selection of Neil Jam Icons. This series of portraits features a cornucopia of pop culture personalities, all depicted in the trademark Neil Jam style. They are all hand drawn and come in fun little picture frames too, which only makes them that much more of the ideal gift. There’s already a sizable selection of characters listed in the shop, but I’ll be adding more in the coming days as well. So by all means, come on down and jam it up!
*Enter the code CYBERJAM and get 15% off everything in the store through Saturday! Only because I love you.
Welcome back to Custom Characters, the regular feature where I’ve been showcasing all of my custom vinyl figure creations. Today I’d very much like to introduce you to my newest friend, Kneecrunch P. Jones.
Mr. Jones (or Kneecrunch, as I like to call him) has an interesting note of duality about him. His “hair” simultaneously obscures and reveals a lot about him. There’s no telling what some time at the salon might reveal– Perhaps a completely different Kneecrunch than we’ve all become accustomed to here.
Kneecrunch was made using a Creatology Doodle Budz figure with acrylic paint, hot glue, and a semi-gloss finish. That’s all for this installment of Custom Characters. Tune in next time or I may have to sic a certain Mr Jones on you…
A little while back I contributed to a Kickstarter campaign to fund the fifth issue of the Big Plans comic book series by Aron Nels Steinke, and within the last week or so the completed book arrived at my doorstep. I’ve been a fan of this series from the first issue, which I picked up from Aron himself at a convention a few years back. Both the artwork and stories are delightfully simple and fun, but with just the right amount of “edge” thrown in as well. These are the kind of elements that I love and strive to include in my own stuff.
This issue has a great mix of strips and stories, and has a great flow as well. It is the meatiest issue yet (over 100 pages), but the simplicity of it all makes it a breeze (or a joy, rather) to get through. It really is the kind of book you can pick up at any point and enjoy. Needless to say, I recommend checking it out.
Perhaps the coolest thing of all (to me, at any rate) was the postcard Aron included in the package. What a cool dude!
Say hello to Melty, everyone. He’s the latest entry in Custom Characters, a regular feature where I’ve been rolling out all of my custom vinyl figure creations.
Melty is the first figure I’ve added something other than paint to. The textured fur/sludge covering his body was actually crafted with a hot glue gun. Covering him up with that goop, his head in particular, felt very much like frosting a cupcake.
Melty was made from a Rose Art Color Blanks figure. After the hot glue, the usual acrylic paint and glossy finish were applied. Another contender for the custom figure throne!
It all started with the Munny. Months back, I knew I wanted to try my hand at a Munny figure. Since then I’ve discovered all sorts of other blank figures that I have had a blast turning into my very own “custom characters,” but I knew eventually I would have to return to the one who started it all.
And so while I was in town for the New York Comic Con I figured I would stop by the Kidrobot store and pay respect to the legend in person. Isn’t he pretty? Did you know that blue is my favorite color? The two of us talked for hours that night.
I told him that I’ve had a Mini Munny of my own for a little while now. I’ve simply been waiting for the right kind of inspiration to strike before tackling it. I promised the big guy I’d do my best to make him proud with it, and we left it at that.
It is still as blank as ever right here in my little hands, but it won’t be that way forever. I’ll make him pretty and share him with you when the time is right. I promise.
Welcome to an all new spook themed edition of Custom Characters, a regular feature where I’ve been showcasing the latest and greatest of my custom vinyl figure creations. Today I’d like to present to you a trio so creepy that they dare not go by any other name than Scary Skivvies.
There is much yet to be known about the Scary Skivvies. Are these their trick-or-treating outfits? Did Halloween fall on laundry day this year? Or are they just a care free group of fellows who simply enjoy showing off their well toned bodies? Whatever the case may be, I think it’s safe to say that Halloween won’t be the same this year… If these guys have anything to say about it.
The Scary Skivvies were made using Creatology Halloween Vinyl Decorating Toys with acrylic paint and a semi-gloss finish.
