This is the weekly dispatch from Bizarro Studios North, where I have been writing and drawing the Monday through Saturday Bizarro comics since 2018. My partner and friend Dan Piraro created Bizarro in the late twentieth century and continues to do the Sunday comic from Rancho Bizarro in Mexico.
Wayno
On vacation, you can wear all the colorful and casual clothing that you like, but you must always be elegant.
Christian Dior
And when you find a quote on the internet, you can't be sure if the person it's attributed to really said it. Nonetheless, this is a good one. I may not always (or ever) be elegant, but it's a goal.
I was searching for a pithy saying about clothing because the crews at Bizarro Studios and Comics Kingdom will soon offer a new line of Bizarrowear. Dan Piraro and I have been working on several designs that will be available soon.
As a gag-a-day comics feature, Bizarro has no recurring characters to generate action figure or plush toy income. Still, we can offer snazzy wearable art to help make up for the ever-shrinking newspaper biz. We're not complaining, of course! We love doing this job and connecting with our community of comics readers.
Watch this space for news when the new duds are available. Meanwhile, the Comics Kingdom Bizarro Shop still has plenty of booty for your enjoyment.
We generally avoid marketing and solicitation, so thanks for bearing with me today.
Here endeth the commercial.
Bizarro field correspondent Steve D shares today's subtitled pipe pic.
Earlier this year, Steve wrote:
I’ve been watching the original 1966 Ultraman TV show. Wonderfully bad. The head of the monster-fighting team is referred to as “Cap” in the subtitles. I assume they mean “Capt.”Cap frequently has a pipe in his mouth, but so far, eight episodes in, it’s never been lit.
I'm guessing that Cap might have used his pipe as a fashion accessory rather than a nicotine delivery system. It certainly gives him an air of authority.
A hearty thank you to our pal Steve for the screen grab.
Today, we feature the second AI Radio week. I haven't run out of hallucinatory musical performers, but I'll give it a rest for a while.
Again, we kicked off with a straightforward gag to set up the concept for the week.
Many years ago, I did a drawing of Jimi Hendrix for a guitar magazine (I forget which one). After it was published, the Art Director contacted me to say that Al Hendrix, Jimi's father, had seen the illustration and inquired about buying the original or a print for the Experience Music Project, now known as the Museum of Pop Culture. I was of course flattered, and honored his request.
The only image I was able to locate recently was this low-resolution one.
Oh, yes, the magazine article was about a symphonic adaptation of some Hendrix songs.
Wednesday's gag was one of my favorites of the week, and had me humming "Midnight Drain to Georgia" for several days.
"It's All Right, Ma (I'm Only Grilling) was on Kabob Dylan's 1965 album, Bringing It All Backyard.
My favorite ZZ Topiary album is Tres Árboles, which was rereleased under the title Tree Hombres.
Everybody sing along: "All the leaves are brown, but fortunately, we don't eat at this stage of our metamorphosis."
That concludes Week Two of our AI Radio hit parade.
Your regular programming will return on Monday.
Bonus Track
Omnigrad: "Like a Rolling Stone"
Omnigrad is a mysterious performer who has been creating "8-bit" covers of popular songs and posting them on YouTube since 2010.
A Gaggle of Bizarro Goodness
If you like what we do and appreciate that it's free, we encourage you to explore the following links.
Good rabbit holes today! Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mike!
DeleteLooking forward to the new merch. Happy to support artists like you.
ReplyDeleteI’m already the proud wearer of a “this is not a shirt” and jazz pickle tees.
It’s fun when people recognize them, makes us all like part of a secret club.
A few art afficianados also give the pipe shirt a thumbs up without knowing it’s Bizarro wear, just thinking I’m a fan of René. ( I am but…that’s not the point)
Yes, we are all part of a sort of club!
DeleteWhat a great two-week theme! I loved them all. I especially cracked up at Gladys Knight and the Pipe. I have fond memories of family get-togethers where, after a few drinks, my dad and his brother would sing Midnight Train to Georgia and do the Pips’ choreography.
ReplyDeleteAs always, your attention to detail, especially with regard to music, is second-to-none. A lot of artists wouldn’t bother making sure that one of the topiary was playing guitar and one was playing bass. As a bass player I feel seen!
Steve,
DeleteThe Gladys Knight gag was one of my favorites, too!
I'm so glad you noticed the inclusion of the bass. I'd have felt like I was cheating if I'd left that out!
Though I was slightly disappointed not to see drum (literal) sticks... I guess you had to leaf them out (sorry).
DeleteLaughed out loud at each of this week’s comics. Thanks, Wayno.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I had a lot of fun doing this series, and have more ideas for the future.
Delete"Midnight Drain to Georgia"! Now that's what I'm talkin' about!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to hear that new apparel is coming. I hope you will consider adding some bright, saturated color options. Obviously, tastes differ, but I just don't wear T-shirts that aren't bright, saturated colors. In the current line-up, only Kelly Green would work for me. I'd love to see a strong sky blue, a dazzling purple, and a (nearly) fluorescent pink added to the line-up.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Vere! I'll pass that along to CK and see what they can do!
DeleteThumbs up to eye-catching colors!
DeleteAnother good week of fantastic puns. I have saved both to enjoy at my leisure. I hope you will consider having more full week puns.
ReplyDeleteIf I come up with another repeatable framework, anything could happen!
DeleteBeing a refugee of the halcyon, bygone daze of FM radio, I particularly liked this edition of A.I. Radio week, and will look forward, hopefully to an extant replay, soon ...
ReplyDeleteThanks Wayno!
Music is never far from my mind, so it's possible!
DeleteThe AI Radio bits are great!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteI can’t believe that somebody was so up that was so upset at Dan Ferraro cartoons this week that he emailed them about it. The guy who wrote the email sounds like a real dick if he was that upset about them I’m not trying to minimize it but they’re only cartoons for God sakes
ReplyDeleteThank you, Eric. Agreed!
DeleteSorry I meant Piraro damn auto spell
ReplyDeleteI think a case could be made that the Secret Symbols are recurring characters that could be used for action figure or stuffed toy income…just sayin’
ReplyDeleteHmmm, who knows? Eyeball stress ball? Dynamite squeaky dog toy?
DeleteLove the ZZ Topiary. Since I am of Japaneses heritage and sport a long beard my user name on many websites is ZZ Top Ramen.
ReplyDeleteI love that user name!
DeleteI’m looking forward to seeing what future clothing options will be available from Bizarro but I think you could make plush or (in)action figures with many of the secret symbols (the eyeball or alien in flying saucer being my personal favorites).
ReplyDeleteWe'll see what the Comics Kingdom team can do! Thanks, Jarrod!
DeleteI agree - who wouldn't want a Eyeball or Alien plushie?
ReplyDeleteI hear you!
Delete