Archive for December, 2008
Happy New Year!
Wednesday, December 31st, 2008
A fantastic 2009 to everybody!
Pooch On The Phone
Tuesday, December 30th, 2008Did you know that you can get the daily Pooch strips right on your phone? I didn’t, ’cause I don’t have one of those fancy new ones, but some people do. And I assume if they do they know how to access certain downloadables (i.e. Pooch Cafe). It looks like this. It’s free, and you get a 7-day archive. Apparently it’s simple, and the icon on your phone appears like this:
Poncho Look-Alike (And How!)
Sunday, December 28th, 2008
Harley, the French Bulldog, submitted by Brandi Bruce.
One of our best look-alikes yet, I’d say!
Editors Blog
Saturday, December 27th, 2008The editors at Universal Press started up a blog a few months ago and have been putting up some really interesting editorial-esque perspectives on all things comic. Check it out here. And, if you feel so inclined, scroll down to see an interview between yours truly and able-bodied editor-of-the-year John Glynn. (No, that is not a shot of me in my underwear).
Happy Holidays To All
Thursday, December 25th, 2008
Poncho’s First Christmas
Wednesday, December 24th, 2008This is the Sunday from the first year of Poncho’s syndication, back in 2000. Didn’t take him long to get the hang of being a stinker, although perhaps his strategies of manipulation became more refined.
It Was A Dark And Snowy Night
Monday, December 22nd, 2008This comic was done a few years ago for a special section in the Ottawa Citizen Newspaper where various cartoonists were given free reign to produce stories that had some Christmas, or at least wintery, slant. This was based on partially true events.
Look At Those “Get Out Of Jail Free” Eyes
Friday, December 19th, 2008
Perrro sent by Christhian
Channeling the spirit of Poncho right after getting caught with a paw in the cookie jar. Or cat dish. Or running an internet scam operation.
Wiki-Poochia
Thursday, December 18th, 2008A team of crack commandos with degrees in literature, marine biology, and knife throwing, have been working day and night (Sundays off) for many moons, but their efforts have finally born some succulent, pulpy fruit: The new Pooch Cafe Wikipedia page is now ready for viewing. Please peruse at your leisure. Comments welcomed.
Pooch Christmas Poster
Tuesday, December 16th, 2008
Here’s the latest Pooch movie poster parody, just in time for a certain holiday. Eat your heart out Will Ferrell and the chubby guy from Swingers!
When You Wish Upon A Poncho
Monday, December 15th, 2008
Today’s post comes courtesy of Kim Clay, who decided to honor both Poncho and Christmas (two of the most important things going around this time of year, I’m sure you’ll agree), by creating this special little tree topper. Thanks for sharing, Kim!
A Very Beavertons X-mas
Sunday, December 14th, 2008
Here’s the latest Beavertons entry from MAD Magazine. Can’t leave a beaver around a Christmas tree.
Book News
Saturday, December 13th, 2008It appears the first two Pooch Café books are finally finding their way out of of print limbo. I’ve been informed a new run of both books has been ordained, and just in the nick of time too, I’ve got wind that third party Amazon sellers have jacked up the price and you have to meet them in dark alleys and if you don’t give the correct password (“The Husky barks at dawn”) they knife you and leave you for dead. Unfortunately the books won’t be here in time for the holidays, I imagine spring is when they’ll appear, just around the time the snow is disappearing and revealing all the dog poop that’s been decaying there for months. At any rate, sit a little tighter, loyal fans who’ve been asking after these hallowed tomes, the time of their return is nigh.
Advance Panel Holiday Version
Friday, December 12th, 2008
Ever hear that Dean Martin song “Baby It’s Cold Outside”? It’s all about a rouge using the bad weather to try to get a gal to stick around and so he can get her drunk and get her in the sack, using cringe-worthy lines like “what’s the use of hurtin’ my pride” when she tries to get the heck outta there even in a blizzard. Ahh, the Christmas spirit. All that’s got nothing to do with this advance panel, other than it looks like it might be cold outside.
Poo Poo Love Child
Thursday, December 11th, 2008
Wiley submitted by Arcia Grant
She claims she’s never put a pink bow on his head, but he does have a pink sweater. He’s taken a ride in a purse, too, but only “to see if he’d fit”. Wiley is a mystery dog (maybe poodle, maybe Bichon) but he is a rescue. Arcia suggests “maybe Beaumont had an affair with PooPoo’s mother and Wiley is the love child…” Maybe it’s better we never know.
Good News
Tuesday, December 9th, 2008 
More news from the Pooch Movie front. The treatment for the movie that I submitted last month was shown around the Sony offices to positive response. Then the moment of truth came and the project was kicked upstairs to the studio executives. This was an extra truthy moment of truth since – as I understand it – all the people who were involved when Pooch was first optioned are no longer with the company. This never bodes well, as folks entering new posts often like to “clean the house” of earlier debris.
Yesterday I had a conference call with some people at Sony (after accidentally making them wait an hour while I got some groceries … boy, am I a player now or what?), and the news couldn’t have been better. Apparently the studio execs, and one in particular who is a pretty “big monkey” (I think that’s the term they used, I’m not up on this Hollywood jargon) loved the treatment and really thought this could be a great movie. They also thought that depending on how the coming rounds of revisions go that they could be willing to let me take a crack at writing the screenplay. I’ve noticed many animated features have multiple writers, but if I can get myself at least partially involved in the writing I’ll be happy as a dog getting into a car.
Poncho Hits Kingston (Heading Stateside next)
Sunday, December 7th, 2008KINGSTON, ONTARIO
Here are some shots of Poncho in Kingston, courtesy of host Marcela Oliver, who I must also thank for the administrations of minor veterinarial service as well. Kingston is an historic city on Lake Ontario near the St. Lawrence River. Below we see Poncho in front of the Murney Tower; the Spirit of Sir John A. MacDonald train; City Hall in downtown Kingston; a plaque commemorating Fort Henry (an important Canadian military fort of the 1800’s), and in front of a few more modern pieces of military hardware at the Royal Military College. God, don’t let Poncho get hold of a tank.
Mano E Mano
Thursday, December 4th, 2008
So often in comics when characters were all up in arms they’d get right up in each other’s faces. I’ve never seen people do that in the real world (then again I don’t hang out at biker bars or European soccer games), but it’s a great device for amping up tension. I think The Thing did it with another member of the Fantastic Four pretty much every issue; those guys were always breaking up. Anyway, the device was called to mind when I was drawing Poncho and Sheldon getting all up in each other’s grill a few weeks ago. Doggo e pigeono.
One Fine Day in the MAD Reject Pile
Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008Here’s a submission for MAD from last year that got the Alfred E. Neuman thumbs down. It starts out as a relatable enough situation to the average young reader and dips into stream of consciousness by the end. There’s certainly no explanation given for why the antagonist remains the same height as he was in grade 6. (And look at the pipes on his bullying classmate. He could steal the lunch money of most adults as well.)
The PoochFather
Monday, December 1st, 2008
Thank God for all of is he doesn’t really have this type of power.