Archive for October, 2009
Happy Halloween!
Saturday, October 31st, 2009This is about the scariest dog picture I could find.
Poncho Volunteering
Friday, October 30th, 2009
For those who may have been curious about Poncho’s slightly un-Poncho-esque turn of volunteerism last week, or who spotted the volunteering theme running through many other strips on or around Oct 23rd, there is an explanation. At the Reuben awards in Hollywood last May, film director J.J. Abrams appeared unexpectedly and asked if all the NCS cartoonists would consider helping promote a viral volunteering campaign. The idea was that rather than various organizations requesting volunteer help from folks individually, it would be better if the very idea of volunteering was planted in people’s minds in a more general way, so that it would occur to them more readily to give some of their time to whatever causes seemed relevant in their lives. I thought it was a great idea, so I spent the whole week with it. I didn’t quite earn that fantastic “I just rolled in garbage” feeling that Poncho got, but it was a start.
Look-Alike
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009
Charlie - submitted by Sgt Ryan Snider. “He’s a lazy dog and will hop in your lap as soon as you sit down which is cute and annoying at the same time. The only things that seem to excite him are walks, squirrels and lizards (in that order too). He can also chew up a stuffed toy in 1 minute flat.”
20 Questions with Paul Gilligan
Sunday, October 25th, 2009Scott Nickel of the comic strip Eek! has a blog called “A Nickel’s Worth”, and on it he gets cartoonists to answer 20 Questions. He asked these questions of me, and I answered most to them, here. There’s quite an impressive archive of other cartoonist’s answers as well.
Facebooked!
Friday, October 23rd, 2009Jason Fischbein from San Diego, CA sent me these three drawings he made using Facebook’s graffiti application.
The Poochinator
Wednesday, October 21st, 2009
Fan Doug Newman has been at it again. This time he’s gone T.V. with a Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles poster. Carmen’s worst nightmare.
Learn To Draw With Tom Gammill
Monday, October 19th, 2009My good buddy and fellow cartoonist Tom Gammill has been doing a comic strip for a while now called “The Doozies“, a sure bet for laughs on a daily basis. But not content to remain within the confines of the bordered panels, he has been creating hilarious behind-the-scene video “drawing lessons”, often featuring his family or other cartoonists. This here is his latest, Lesson 23, featuring comic strip living legend Mell Lazarus (”Momma”, “Miss Peach”). The rest of Tom’s lesson archive is available on YouTube, stop by and dig in!
Sunday, October 18th, 2009
I Wanna Be A Part Of It
Saturday, October 17th, 2009When Poncho was in New York recently, his hosts had his portrait drawn in Times Square. Here’s a few shots of him sitting quietly (a first!) while the artist does her thing.
Germaphobia
Monday, October 12th, 2009
I don’t have it, it’s one of the few phobias I missed. Hell, I’ll push the 5-second rule into very uncomfortable territory. But I did read an article on it and drew this art to accompany it, and have subsequently employed the timid journalist’s pictured public-toilet flush technique. It’s also far more difficult than you think to wash your hands in a public restroom and come out ahead of the game. (The trick? Use elbows as much as possible).
Poncho’s Travels
Sunday, October 11th, 2009Boston, MA
Dan Perkins battled some bad weather to show Poncho around Boston. Here he is schmoozing with one the few remaining mounted patrols in the Boston Common Garden; considering a tasty hot dog treat and appreciating the State House on Beacon Hill (and you thought dogs couldn’t multi-task!); getting in line at the “Make Way for Ducklings” statues (he’s such a kidder); next to the iconic Cheers sign (and Poncho is pleased to report that everybody did know his name);outside Fenway Park on Yawkey Way and then inside the famous stadium! Thanks Dan for these great shots!
Have You Seen This Dog? Reward Offered!
Friday, October 9th, 2009Becky Flarity sent in these pics of Poncho making his get-away during the Doggies of the Wild West at the Puyallup Fair, Washington. Hopefully someone will spot him and hand him in to the authorities before he holds up any more stage coaches!
The Music Of The Night
Wednesday, October 7th, 2009On his recent trip to New York, Poncho was taken to see the Phantom of the Opera and was mightily disappointed to discover the lead guy wore a mask and not a pig’s ear during the performance. I think Poncho’s dreams of entering the operatic arts has been shattered - “If you can’t eat the props after the show, what’s the point?”
A Poochiversary
Monday, October 5th, 2009For the past year now I’ve been using a virtual assistant. No, that’s not a computer app, or holographic projection that at first seems sexy but then goes awry and threatens Al Pacino or Tom Cruise or myself, it’s an actual guy, although I’ve never met him. Dave Coates is his name, and he helps put the finishing touches on the Pooch strips, leaving me with more time to plot world domination and battle inner demons and make omelets. Our relationship just turned one year old – the paper anniversary, as Dave reminds me – and to commemorate it he has sent the art below. Thanks Dave, for this, for your help, and for being a hilarious, talented, and top-knotch guy. Here’s to many more.
Poncho’s Travels
Friday, October 2nd, 2009New York City
Kathy and Chris Weimar took Poncho on a tour of the Big Apple recently. Here we see him outside the Guggenheim; shooting the breeze with the Lion who guards the New York Library; at Rockefeller Centre; pondering his hot dog choices at the Metropolitan Museum; admiring the Radio City building; out on the town in Times Square; snubbing The New York Times (for not changing their no-comic policy and running Pooch Cafe); trying on a giant pointing finger at the Yankees Store in Times Square; checking the time at Grand Central Terminal; and getting a friendly warning from one of NY’s finest (there’s never a public park when you need one !). Great shots guys - wish I’d been with Poncho hanging out in NYC!
Dem Bones
Thursday, October 1st, 2009
Advance Panel. October’s the beginning of Halloween - is Poncho checking out costumes already?