This
is the regular 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, who created Bizarro in
the late twentieth century, continues to do the Sunday comic from Rancho
Bizarro in Mexico.
Wayno
I told people I was a drummer before I even had a set, I was a mental drummer. Keith Moon
I told people I was a drummer before I even had a set, I was a mental drummer.
Read more at https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/drummer-quotes
I told people I was a drummer before I even had a set, I was a mental drummer.
Read more at https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/drummer-quotes
I told people I was a drummer before I even had a set, I was a mental drummer.
Read more at https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/drummer-quotes
It was an unusual week at our Little Shop of Humor. My spouse had some business travel, and I was here holding down the fort. This was the first time we'd been apart for more than half a day since the initial pandemic lockdown. It felt odd being on my own, but I don't think I went feral.
And, because cartoonists know how to have fun, I doubled down on Bizarro and managed to complete two weeks' worth of comics.
I also had an interesting experience related to a recently completed side gig: a photo session with a professional photographer. One or more of the shots will supposedly turn up on the webs in a few days, and I'll be sure to share. I was a bit disappointed that the photographer didn't say things like "Sell it, baby!"
Our pipe pic for today is a portrait of Georges Simenon (1903 - 1989), a Belgian author who published nearly 500 books. Based on several image searches, he was rarely seen without a pipe in his mouth, but he managed to live to age 86.
He was even shown smoking in his portrait on a postage stamp.
A tip of the ol' porkpie to faithful correspondent, Bizarro reader, and pipespotter Andréa D, for bringing this dapper gent to my attention.
After the traditional pipe pic presentation, we like to review our most recent batch of cartoons, so let's get to it.
Oddly enough, this idea came to me at our local hardware store. Not as a cartoon, but as a service I hoped they might offer.
The guitarist used to play with Sting.
A Facebook friend called this one The Big Bad Breath.
Thursday's gag probably would have worked with the caption alone, now that I look at it again. My favorite detail is the inverted grounding prong opening to indicate which outlet is speaking.
This panel requires the reader to hear the dialog in the mind's ear, and inspired me to place the Keith Moon quote at the top of this post.
Although the trio I make music with isn't a rock outfit, we're all fans of the Who, none of us more than our own drummer, Dave Klug. He's modest about his musical talent, but he regularly stuns us with his skillful and inventive playing.
Our final gag of the week is not autobiographical, but could easily be.
And that covers yet another pile of Bizarro cartoons. Speaking of which, not too long ago, I drew the fifteen-hundredth cartoon since assuming the daily duties in 2018.
I store my original art in archival museum boxes to keep everything well preserved. Each box holds 150 pages of comic art (plus some sketches and rejects). When I close the lid on another box, it gives me a sense of completing a step in the ongoing work process. It's one of the rituals that keeps me motivated (that, and a weekly deadline).
In another four or five years, the pile will be taller than me. I hope to keep all of the art together, so some future comics scholar might stumble across it and wonder what the hell it's all about.
I was an early EARLY fan of Tom Waits, and attended a performance at a cocktail lounge in Chicago. His first album came out in 1973; I think it was 1976 when I went to his performance. Our SONOS plays his music quite often.
ReplyDeleteHowever, his later work - once he married Kathleen Brennan in 1980 [Heartattack and Vine came out that year and is the last one I listen to] - is nowhere near as 'approachable' as is his early work. A pity; it's like he went off the deep end to please his wife and just kinda lost his way. But, I'm glad I have his first seven albums to enjoy.
I like the early albums, but I can understand why he may have wanted to change over time. I love the next three Island Records albums (Swordfishtrombones, Rain Dogs, and Frank's Wild Years).
DeleteThe beauty of music is that there's so much out there, we can all dig what moves us.
I hear what you're saying.
And just to balance things, I find Tom Waits' first 7 albums mostly uninteresting; it's only with Swordfishtrombones and after that I really got on board. Rain Dogs is a masterpiece.
ReplyDeleteRain Dogs is indeed a masterpiece. My pal Ralph Carney played sax on some of TW's records at the time, and appears in the Big Time film. When they appeared on David Letterman's show, Ralph was unhappy that Waits introduced him as "Johnny Marinara."
DeleteI like a lot of the earlier stuff, too. My current musical group does "Ice Cream Man," and my previous outfit used to do "Whistling Past the Graveyard."
Thanks for adding the link to Dave Klug's site. He's got some neat artwork there. In fact I bought some!
ReplyDeleteYes, he's a terrific artist and designer, as well as musician!
DeleteIf the stamp bears the legend République Français, it isn’t Belgian
ReplyDeleteThanks for noticing that. I've deleted the word "Belgian" from the post. I appreciate the multilingual proofreading!
DeleteThat is SO like France, trying to take credit for someone/ thing truly Belgian. They did the same thing with "French" fries -- which first appeared in....TA-DAH...Belgium! (George Simenon was born in Liege, home of the chewy, caramelized Liege waffle!)
DeleteI don't believe he said it was a Belgian stamp...
ReplyDeleteMy post originally referred to it as a Belgian stamp, but the image is of a French one, so I just deleted the word "Belgian."
DeleteI've since discovered that Belgium and Switzerland also issued stamps commemorating Georges Simenon, and they all used slightly different illustrations based on the same photo.
The creative outlet comic might be my favorite you have done (which is saying something). Love the contrast with the blank faceplate and the smile on the one speaking really makes the plain one look "shocked". Do you sell prints of your work? I'd love to see the original sketch too.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Matt.
DeletePrints are available from cartoonstock.com. Search for Wayno & Piraro.
King Features also sells very nice prints. You can order by emailing solsen@hearst.com, and specifying the date of the cartoon (mentioning the caption/subject helps, too.)