Blue Moon Blog

I’ve been reading more comics again of late. I went to a comic book shop last week for the first time in over a year, and picked up PROOF #2 (from Image Comics), which is written by a friend of mine, Alex Grecian. I’ve seen it in some form or another over the last year and a half, from the earliest pages, pre-publication. But it’s quite another thing thing to see it all printed, and so nicely, at that. This is one fine book.

PROOF is John Prufrock, otherwise known as Bigfoot. He works for The Lodge, an underground U.S./Canadian cooperative which protects mammals and other weird creatures from each other. In this first story arc, “Goatsucker,” the reader follows rookie Lodge agent, Ginger Brown as she meets her new large, hairy partner, as well as other members of the lodge, including faeries, jackalopes and dodos. They team up in their inital case here to deal with the goatsucker itself, Chupacabra, or Mexican Bigfoot.

This comic is creepy, humorous, thoughtful, and tons of fun to read and look at. Grecian and artist and co-creator Riley Rossmo are enthusiastic collaborators, giving readers plenty of bang for the buck. The stories and characters and the world they inhabit are dense and well thought out. The art is unique, rough, experimental, and pulls you in. A myriad of facts, asides and musings are interspersed throughout in the form of pop-up Cryptoids, a clever device that adds depth and insight, slowing the pace down nicely to avoid a too-quick read. If that weren’t enough, each issue features a back-up that’s integral to story, and there are many pages of articles, essays and letters to round things out.

Rossmo’s art is lively and organic. Though stylistically different, he reminds one of a young Paul Pope, experimenting from one style to the next, not letting anything slow him down. Energetic and prolific, he makes this fellow artist jealous. As for the writing, Grecian knows what he’s doing. These two together are passionate about PROOF, are well ahead in terms of production and are ready for the long haul.

A great thing about this book is that one can read it lightly and just for fun, and it works well in that vein. But if one wants to dig deeper, there’s a lot going on under the surface that become more clear upon multiple reads. For example, let’s examine Prufrock’s name. Taking its cue from an early T.S. Eliot poem, we find that character feeling alienated and disappointed with the society in which he lives. No doubt our Bigfoot hero feels like he doesn’t fit in. He may be a mammal, but not one of us, so provides a no-longer-missing link between humans and the other creatures you’ll find in this fascinating world.

There’s a bunch more I could write about, but the highest compliment I can pay these guys is that for the first time in a few years, PROOF has me eagerly awaiting a monthly comic as its released. I’ve read issue #3 and could easily request more in advance from Alex directly, but I want to go on the ride with everyone else. So I’ve subscribed through heavyink.com. It’s totally worth it. You want proof? Pick up the comic, too. Third issue is due December 27th.

I’ve drawn so many Santas over the years, I try to take the opportunity to mix it up by using different styles with the character, as long as it’s appropriate for each job. I can’t recall for whom I did this particular illustration. Tough to keep track!  Looks like he’s holding what was a credit card.  Who ever heard of Christmas being commercialized?!

A snowman I did some years back for catalogue and online seller, Fingerhut.

If not Christmas, this one’s in the Winter theme, at least. From about five years back, here’s a quick sketch of my daughter Laura. About to board the school bus for another day of kindergarten, she was all decked out for Minnesota weather.

I like to wait ’til at least the day after Thanksgiving, but once that light goes green, it’s fun to get in the mood during the season with not only decorations, but with Christmas music, movies and TV specials. Here are a few suggestions, most of which you can find and purchase at our amazon store.

It’s become something of a cliche to watch It’s a Wonderful Life once a year, but that doesn’t stop us in our house (I’ll have an extended post about that movie in the coming days). A Christmas Story has been an annual favorite since making it’s debut in 1983. (The book that inspired the movie is Jean Shepard’s short story collection, In God We Trust, All Others Take Cash. Although the rest of the stories are not in the Christmas theme, it’s well worth a read.) For gut-busting laughs, nothing beats Will Ferrell in Elf, which also has a a lot of heart while riffing on Rankin-Bass Christmas specials. Zooey Deschanel is a revelation, and her duet on Baby It’s Cold Outside with Leon Redbone over the credits is fantastic. Coincidentally, one of the elves in that movie (and a producer of the film) is none other than Peter Billingsley, who plays Ralphie in A Christmas Story.

I’d encourage all to read Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. It’s only fifty or so pages, and one may find in it a few things that may surprise; it’s been watered down in many forms and adaptations over the years. I still find the 1951 movie version (with Alastair Sim as Scrooge) the best and most faithful, although the more recent TV version (USA network; 1999) featuring Patrick Stewart is also true to Dickens and has its moments of merit (especially Stewart’s take on Scrooge waking up on Christmas morn). In another slim volume, Truman Capote’s poignant autobiographical A Christmas Memory, li’l Tru finds a gleem of hope when two lonely souls find comfort in each other’s company. William Joyce’s Santa Calls is a classic for the whole family, painted in a style reminiscent of N. C. Wyeth, while all Joyce’s own. And although I found the movie extremely creepy, Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg is everything the movie is not.

After quitting his Bloom County comic strip, Berke Breathed produced a couple fine children’s books featuring the penguin who occasionally drops his derriere, Opus. A Wish For Wings That Work is a splendid book that pays homage to and deconstructs the children’s classic, Goodnight Moon. An animated adaptation of the book was broadcast in 1991. Long since unavailable, and sporadically seen since, I’m pleased to say it’s finally been released on DVD this year. So I can retire my old second generation VHS copy. For goofier, campier Christmas fun, check out the Pee Wee’s Playhouse Christmas Special, which packs in more weird cameos and crazy content than any hour-long TV special can usually muster. For more traditional holiday TV fare, the latest DVD of How the Grinch Stole Christmas is far superior to the DVD released a few years back (wherein the Grinch appeared a sickly mustard yellow). And there’s nothing like A Charlie Brown Christmas, which not only brings back memories, but still holds up.

Keep the glow of that show lingering by listening to the soundtrack by Vince Guaraldi. A big part of why that original show stands the test of time is his jazzy music. For more of the same, Ella Fitzgerald’s swinging Christmas album keeps the toes tapping…for me, right to the egg nog! For more relaxing moments, various Windham Hill artists contribute to The Carols of Christmas, which provide a peaceful new age twist to old classics, or A Music Box Christmas. Those glistening chimes filled our house every Christmas when I was growing up in Chicago.

There are many more I could mention, and I’m sure you have favorites I’ve never heard of, and if so, please leave a comment. I’d love to expand the collection. Merry Christmas!

An illustration from our Christmas card circa the end of the last millenium. Aliens like presents, too.

Over the years, I’ve done assorted art for various holidays, for friends and family or for presentation on the web. Here’s one that was originally done one year as a Thank You card to those from whom we received gifts. In the spirit of the Christmas season, I’ll be posting more.

From my point of view, this has been a long time coming, so I’m pleased and proud to present here the new Blue Moon Studios web site, complete with this fully integrated blog. We’ve set it up this way to make it easier for readers to not only keep up with the latest goings on here at Blue Moon through the blog, but also to check out other art, features and info, all while never leaving the site.

My particular and special thanks goes out to my pal and web guru, Mitch Rossow. For many months, he slogged through with me to get this site up and running. Mitch has been invaluable with advice and consultation at the early stages of the conception, design and structure of the site, and also through the building process, even teaching me a little code along the way. So now it’s a cinch for me to maintain and add content, and simple for readers to stroll through the site in smooth and streamlined fashion.

Check out his work and web philosophy at the Mitch Rossow Design site, and behold his daily photo blog at mitchster.com. Thanks, Mitch!