Blog

Everything I’ve been up to!

Talking Monsters on Ben & Zack’s Monster Market Podcast

My buddies Zack Giallongo and Ben Hatke were kind enough to invite me to sit in on their Monster Market podcast, a show where they talk about mythical and literary monsters.

Of course, I showed up with a 1950s B-Movie monster for the discussion. The Colossus of New York:

And the final monster from Lovecraft’s Re-Animator series:

“He was a menacing military figure who talked without moving his lips and whose voice seemed almost ventriloquially connected with an immense black case he carried. His expressionless face was handsome to the point of radiant beauty, but had shocked the superintendent when the hall light fell on it—for it was a wax face with eyes of painted glass. Some nameless accident had befallen this man.”

If you enjoy story analysis and monster talk, I think you’ll get a kick out of this!

And you can find the other monster drawings on the Monster Market website.

Talking Monsters on Ben & Zack’s Monster Market Podcast Read More »

Season 1 Wrap-Up Pt 2 – Four Million Years Later, Episode 16.2

Part two of our Season One Wrap-up includes a lot of praise from listeners! Comments come in from Chris Giarrusso (yes, THAT Chris Giarrusso, of MINI MARVELS and G-MAN), David Cabal (of the RETROCABAL podcast), Miguel @LogosMinor/@BoricuaConvoy, Rick Heinichen (of the podcast JEFF AND RICK PRESENT UNPACKING THE POWER OF POWER PACK), Guy Jessop-Braithwaite, Ashley Knapp, and Rob Stenzinger (of the LEAN INTO ART podcast). The sites we recommend in this episode:

The sites we recommend in this episode:

Thanks to everyone who’s ever left a comment, posted a review, sent an email, or recommended the podcast. You make this all worth it.

Season 1 Wrap-Up Pt 2 – Four Million Years Later, Episode 16.2 Read More »

Eurythman Harmony T-Shirt

New t-shirt in the Four Million Years Later TeePublic store!

If you are a G1 Transformers fan who enjoyed the Three Wolf Moon shirt, my FMYL podcast co-host Hoover and I have something for you.

For those who get the latter but not the Transformers reference, these are characters from what is considered the worst episode in G1 Transformers, Carnage in C-Minor:

And here is our discussion on the episode:

Eurythman Harmony T-Shirt Read More »

Lewis Hyde: The Trickster Trap of Appetite (1995)


Listen here
Lewis Hyde tells the wild Tsimshian trickster story “Raven Becomes Voracious,” as a way to explore the contradiction of having a mortal body while trying to lead an ascetic life, and offers wisdom on the unavoidable trap of desire.

Says Hyde, “This is a story of descent. In heaven there are beings who do not eat; in this lower world of stomachs and fish there are mortals who eat constantly. The trickster Raven is a mixture, the shining boy plus appetite, a being of considerable power who is unable to satiate his hunger. Trickster makes the world, gives it sunlight, fish, and berries, but he makes it “as it is,” a world of constant need, work, limitation, and death.”

An exclusive recording of the 1995 Minnesota Men’s Conference. Register and attend the 30th Annual Conference in Ely, Minnesota by visiting http://www.minnesotamensconference.com

===

Original video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qySmiZgLl2w

Downloaded by http://huffduff-video.snarfed.org/ on Sun Jun 4 02:38:13 2023

Available for 30 days after download
Check out the original post on my Huffduffer page.

Lewis Hyde: The Trickster Trap of Appetite (1995) Read More »

Live stream replay – Inking A Friendly Game

This was another fun one! I talk a bit about how comics opened up for me when I was 13, plans for a possible 2nd Doctor Baer book (and how I made the first one), and how I think about writing dialogue.

But this was my favorite moment from the live stream:

Avoid disappointment and future regret! Follow me on Twitch to find out when I’m streaming next.

Live stream replay – Inking A Friendly Game Read More »

Monster Market Podcast

I’m loving this podcast by my art buddies Zack Giallongo and Ben Hatke!

Each episode the hosts pick a theme regarding mythical creatures, then each shows up to discuss three of their favorites. As you can see above, a recent episode’s theme was Cunning Canines and Haunting Hounds. Fans of fairy tales, folklore, and mythology will love this show.

And they release cool art to accompany every episode:

Monster Market Podcast Read More »

Super Comics Challenge!

The global health crisis that kicked into high gear in early 2020 challenged us in so many ways. But one of the less dramatic ways it invited us to level up was in creating meaningful and engaging activities at virtual comics festivals.

I’m so grateful to Gerimi Burliegh, Aaron Polk, Gregg Schigiel, and Elizabeth for stepping up to participate in the first Super Comics Challenge game show. And thanks to Rob Stenzinger for the voice over!

And if I may congratulate myself, I’m proud of this playful, fun game show that incidentally teaches some techniques of comics storytelling. Playful teaching is my favorite kind of teaching. I think it came together pretty well. Virtual or in person, I’d love to do this one again.

You can watch the second edition below!

Super Comics Challenge! Read More »

Season 1 Wrap Up Pt 1 – Four Million Years Later, episode 16.1

So we went to do a season wrap-up show not sure we’d have enough to talk about, and it ended up being twice as long as usual, so we decided to post it in two parts, as I’d be very surprised if anyone wanted to listen to us for 2 1/2 hours in one sitting! In this half, we set the scene talking about the cartoon and toy landscapes of 1984, and how Transformers changed so many things, being an innovation, and literal worldwide phenomenon. You’ll get to hear Jerzy discover UHF stations! Experience young Hoover shocked and excited that a GIRL collected Transformers!! And learn the terrible tragedy slash CBS Special Event that forever distanced Jerzy from his family!!! YOUR LIFE WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AFTER THIS EPISODE!!!! (Ok, so it probably will, but hey, you never know…)

Befriend the FOUR MILLION YEARS LATER page on Facebook!
Closing theme by Nick Mehalick

Season 1 Wrap Up Pt 1 – Four Million Years Later, episode 16.1 Read More »

Bleacher Creature at Huntington Park

A view of our constant baseball companion Bleacher Creature at a Columbus Clippers game.

We’re almost halfway through the season already, and I’m trying to remember to drink it all in and be present at every game.

More on the Bleacher Creature:

Bleacher Creature at Huntington Park Read More »

Facing Feelings

Just saw the new Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum exhibit, Facing Feelings: The Art of Raina Telgemeier and I have to say this might be the most comic-booky exhibit I’ve ever seen. Which is to say, it trusts the audience to navigate multiple threads of information the way (good) comic books do.

Dan Mishkin once described the way images and words interact in comics as “syncopation.” I thought of that description a lot as I moved through the spaces.

A data visualization at Facing Feelings: the Art of Raina Telgemeier. Visitors are prompted to share their emotions on an iPad as they enter, and the data is displayed anonymously above the exhibit title wall. Every corner invites you to think about what’s inside you. ❤️

You’ll learn about an influential cartoonist’s journey, how cartoons have a special power to foster empathy, and quite a bit about how to articulate emotions and feelings–whether through words, lines, or colors. Teacher friends in the Midwest, I strongly encourage you to bring your students to this exhibit. I know I’m going to be dragging a few of my mentees here.

Facing Feelings Read More »