at last: BABY BOOMER

[Phoenix]

I haven't seen the Count of Monte Cristo film where there may well have been lots of occasions when the animators played fast and loose with perspective but, where are the distortions in the image presented here? As far as I can see, the only candidate relates to the beams angled upwards, but it is just as unreasonable to assume that the beam attached to the right-hand upright is going to meet the one emerging from the left-hand upright at some sort of apex as it is to assert that there is a shadowy unicorn sniffing the unmade bed. Is it not just meant to be a badly-built, dilapidated rustic cabin? Is it not also the case that people see what they want to see in such pictures and that their natural sense of order will enable them to 'correct' any trompe l'oeil trickery, or accept it if they cannot adjust to it?

[ISPYSHHHGUY]

maybe the roof and floor ,----- which both slope alarmingly in different directions------are badly designed, Phoenix, and though I'm not a house-builder, something is clearly not correct with this viewpoint...it's still a good background, though. It's full of character and 'lived-in', which to me is preferable to a design that has been worked out with surgical precision.


Alan; one thing I learned years ago [regarding art being subjective] is that you'll never please everyone: it's patently impossible: no matter if you create the greatest work of merit ever, somebody, somewhere, is going to say it stinks!


There are people out there who casually dismiss the collective works of the Beatles, Beethoven and Disney as 'garbage' and don't care who knows it : I've actually met these dudes, and they are totally serious in their beliefs!

[NP]

"... the collective works of the Beatles, Beethoven and Disney"

That would be a great CD/DVD boxed set.

But it would have to include 'Leave My Kitten Alone', the 'Piano Trio in F minor' and 'Steamboat Willie with original sound effects.

[ISPYSHHHGUY]

nice one, NP: you clearly think like a cartoonist!

[alanultron5]

Mention of the `Monte Cristo` film reminds me of a true story in `Photoplay` annual! On the original release of `Monte Cristo` film (in late 40s I think!) A Kansas cinema (Its owners actually) was prosecuted under state `decency` laws. Cinema had faulty neon letters and the `O in `Count` had gone out! The owners didn't bother to fix it and members of public contacted the authorities! Wow!

[Brendan McGuire]

They probably wouldn't enjoy The Gimp in the Iron Mask either.

[alanultron5]

I just noticed in Rab's Jet Blanc display on page one of this thread-one of the cartoons is Veronica holding up a `ugly mask` which Jet-eyes closed and `puckering up` in anticipation of a smacker on the gorgeous Veronica-is about to (unknowingly) kiss the mask!

Just look at how that mask is drawn! FANTASTIC!! Really funny and so detailed! How many more well known artists could equal that?

[ISPYSHHHGUY]

Speaking of Veronica, Alan, she is the centrpiece of this week's theme:


'SUPERHERO' pastiche/parodies:


The theme of superhero in comics has always impressed me: 'BATMAN' artwork especially never ceases to amaze me in how the artists come up with striking, and seemingly endless, variations on the same concept using the same basic ingredients.

Having said that, I've never felt compelled to have a serious bash at a superhero [or similar] strip, and I feel that parody versions are all sewn up in this field, and I'd be struggling to come up with enough ideas to sustain a strip on this theme alone.



However, the following tryout sketch shows that female cat-babe VERONICA does show some sort of visual potential in this field, and I have bunged in a couple of finished strips with her as a night-time crime-fighter [she doesn't have any special powers, though, just Batman-like ultra-fitness and athletic prowess].

Her fingernails are pretty powerful, though, as can be seen below.


I'm not all that great in thinking up names for her alter-ego, and any suggestions would be welcome.


''CATWOMAN rip-off ' doesn't quite make the grade regarding what I'm looking for!

[alanultron5]

What a `stunner` My trousers explode in all directions!! Very difficult top draw attractive females I believe! Tex Avery used to like to portray rather voluptuous ladies in some of his 1940s MGM releases!

[skyromie]

we're waiting, SKY!

...show up, or shut up!

Oh dear, someone doesn't like a bit of criticism.....

I'd rather not show any of my majestic creations, Robert, as I wouldn't want for your low self-esteem get any lower. But keep trying there, you'll get good one day I'm sure. God loves a trier.

[colcool007]

I almost said Pantera, as it would cover Alan's reaction of panting! But I think Panther might be an idea.

[ISPYSHHHGUY]

'Pantera' sounds pretty good to me, Col.............I will keep that name for the moment, it sounds slinky and seductive.


Skyromie: my words were written in anger at the time, but I have risen above this sort of thing now, anyone is free to criticize my drawings, yourself included.

I don't want to stoop to the level of personal slanging matches on here, I'd rather do more cartoons instead. You're right, actually: I would have felt REALLY bad if your stuff was superior to mine. Luckily, my embarrassment has been spared! Thank you, kind sir! Very diplomatic, old beanie-me-lad!


READERS: ALL comments, good or bad, are welcome on here. My drawings/ideas are 'work-in-progress', and it's better to weed out the weak ideas before taking them further. You need a thick skin if you are serious about cartooning: a real 'get-out-of-the-kitchen-if-you-can't-stand-the-heat' scenario,if ever there was one.

[alanultron5]

There's always someone like Skyromie on every site-someone who cannot appreciate others work! Rab has gone out of his way to offer up wonderfully entertaining work to us on this site for free! It might not be to everyone's taste-but to `pick` at it in the way Sky did actually reveals more about Mr Sky than any deemed ` drawbacks in Rab's work!

[alanultron5]

Any chance of seeing Veronica in a floral pattern Mini-dress? The type that the girls wore in Summer 1970! Well! If you don't ask......!

[ISPYSHHHGUY]

h'mmm....I'll see what I can do, Alan: I have her down as a 'hot pants' gal, myself.....




now, then:

THEMES: [6]:

WAR IS STUPID



WAR is, in my estimation, the most wasteful, pointless, insane invention ever in the history of Mankind...... oh, alright, other than 'Brotherhood of Man's Greatest Hits,' perhaps] some of you may have been in the Armed Forces, and sorry if I'm getting political here, but to me it's caused nothing but misery in most cases. I'm not a pacifist, however, and under extreme circumstances when the final death-toll could have been much higher [eg: had the Nazis won WW2] war is justified, but overall, I think it should be avoided and rejected outright: although I'm realistic enough to realize as long as patriotism, racism, tribalism and sterile thought are around, WAR will sadly always be around...


All I can do, in protest, within my power is to present the concept of WAR in my cartoons as an insane idea, and it turns up as a subject in all manner of guises within this strip:






I must admit, I do enjoy drawing tanks, however.........