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
I have a bone to pick with Fate.
~Ogden Nash
As planned, I managed to stay away from the workspace and computer for a couple of days to welcome the New Year. My spouse and I enjoyed some lovely meals, hiked in brisk weather every morning, and spent time relaxing together without fretting (too much) about work.
Our blissful getaway was followed by a visit from that old bugbear, COVID. Fortunately, immunizations protected us from severe symptoms, and medication is knocking out the virus.
I'm getting back to normal, and returning to my regular work rhythm, trying to maintain a positive personal outlook. I'm glad to have had a few days off to recharge the creative batteries, and grateful for the medical science we still have available to minimize the effects of that particular infection.
If the past week of discomfort is the worst thing I'll experience this year, I have no complaints.
And, hey, I'll have natural immunity for the next three months.
This week's contemplative pipe pic comes from faithful Bizarro field correspondent Petri V.
I recently watched the music video for the Cat Stevens song "Father & Son." Although I've been familiar with the song for some years, I recently became reacquainted with it through happenstance, and so I thought that I would share this screen grab from the video with you for your weekly missives.
Thanks to Petri for sending the image our way.
We also have an update on last week's cartoon pipe pic.
Rob, one of our regular blog readers, provided a lead.
After looking through some Dr. Grabow vintage adverts, I found what appears to be a clearer signature of the same artist in another ad. It may have been Phil Hustis a commercial artist who had a short-lived comic strip "Army Antics" in the early 1940s.
I have to agree, the signatures appear to match, particularly the extended lines used to dot the letter "i" in his first and last names.
Further digging turned up a portrait of the artist.
A tip of the winter fedora to Rob for the detective work, and a salute to Phil Hustis (1916-1991) for his amusing art.
We like to keep the signatures in Bizarro nice and clear, to aid future comics historians.
If nothing else, their signage reflects their success rate.
Guess who's been baking the books.
I drew the female in this panel the way I usually depict mummies: a recognizable human outline wrapped in long bandages. However, I wanted the other character to look like Boris Karloff from the 1932 movie. Drawing him was tricky. Rather than being wrapped in cloth, he looks as if his head is caked in dried mud.
I studied several photos of Karloff, but the most vivid image in my head was this 1969 issue of Famous Monsters of Filmland, with its gorgeous cover painting by Basil Gogos (1929-2017). Gogos produced dozens of striking portraits of classic monsters for the magazine, which was a staple of my childhood.
Sometimes, a bedtime story reader has to act as a custom content provider.
"Also, my neck muscles have never been stronger."
The young one may already suspect the truth.
Bonus Tracks
The dB's: "Ups and Downs"
from the LP, Repercussion
from the LP, Repercussion
Albion Records, 1981
Island Records single, 1974
A couple of song selections inspired the blog intro and one of the gags.
Repercussion has received many spins around here since its release in 1981, and every track is a gem of guitar-based pop. I particularly recommend "Amplifier," and "Ask for Jill."
I became a fan of Sparks after hearing Kimono My House, their third album and commercial breakthrough. "Lost and Found" was the B-side of the hit single "Amateur Hour," and although I've been hearing it for decades, most of the lyrics eluded me until In the Words of Sparks, a book of lyrics, was published in 2013.
Lost and foundA wallet from a man, careless man, careless manToo bad, too bad, too bad, too badLost and foundA wallet from a man, careless man, careless manAnd all the streets are paved tonightAnd we won't be their slaves tonightAnd I ain't gonna feel bad at all, feel bad at allLost and foundA wallet from a man, careless man, careless manToo bad, too bad, too bad, too badLost and foundA wallet from a man, careless man, careless manHe's Robin Hood by accidentI need it more than he does andI surely will not feel bad at all, feel bad at allFeel bad at all, feel bad at allFeel bad at all, feel bad at allLost and foundA wallet from a man, careless man, careless manOh, is there anybody out there by the name of Mister Jones?No? No? Well, I triedLost and found, lost and found, lost and found, lost and foundLost and foundA wallet from a man, careless man, careless manToo bad, too bad, too bad, too badLost and foundA wallet from a man, careless man, careless manWe sailed off for the Barbary SeaWith Nina, Pinta, and MarieAnd none of us will feel bad at all, feel bad at allFeel bad at all, feel bad at allFeel bad at all, feel bad at allYes, all the streets are paved tonightAnd we won't be their slaves tonightAnd I ain't gonna feel bad at all, feel bad at allLost and found, lost and found, lost and found, lost and found
I'm still not sure I hear all the words as written, but my ears are older than they once were.
Big Bales of Bizarro Bounty
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