Showing posts with label Mazur. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mazur. Show all posts

Saturday, May 29, 2021

Two Bass Hit

This week we celebrated the birthdays of two of our favorite musicians. Monday was Bob Dylan's 80th and Wednesday marked 95 years since the birth of Miles Davis (1926-1991). These artists are heavily represented in our music library, and we'll share some appropriate comic art after we check out today's pipe pic.

Monty Python's Graham Chapman is shown here taking a break during the filming of Monty Python and the Holy Grail in 1973. Chapman (1941-1989) was often photographed with a pipe in his hand or between his teeth.

It appears that he's holding a pipe on the cover of this Python record, which he autographed for me during a lecture tour in 1981.

In the past, we've done comics featuring both of this week's birthday babies, which we're always happy to repost.


With those preliminaries out of the way, let's review our current cartoon output.

We hear that Crockpot's engineers are developing an ultra-slow cooker for consumers who can't get to the kitchen before their dinner is ruined.

Some readers thought I was making fun of the customer in this gag, but in truth I find his tolerance to be commendable.

PS: The Lost Loafer "Loaf is Good" t-shirt is ©2021 by Bizarro Studios.

One of our frequent musical references popped up in Wednesday's Bizarro. This monarch was known for opening his speeches by shouting "I, II, III, IV!"

The Widescreen Version

Shortly before leaving the Ramones in 1989, bassist Dee Dee released a rap album under the name Dee Dee King.

We don't own a copy of this legendary flop, but found a decent photo on eBay. Check out the crown on the back of his jacket.

 
One person's miserable job is another dummy's dream career.
 
The Grim Flusher signals that it's time to shuffle off this mortal bowl.
 

We closed out the week with yet another music-inspired pun.

The musician is based on Derek Smalls, Harry Shearer's alter ego from This is Spinal Tap. I arrived at this image after a couple of false starts.

 
My first sketch showed a stereotype politician speaking to a guy we'll call Generic Rock Dude.

When I penciled the panel, I drew John Entwhistle, the bassist from the Who. In the middle of inking the art, I changed my mind for some reason, and decided to do the Harry Shearer character (who looks a bit like the GRD in the early sketch).

I also decided to delete the unnecessary background details meant to suggest a political campaign. The UFO, dynamite and eyeball, on the other hand, are essential to a Bizarro comic.

You may award yourself a Jazz Pickle Gold Star if you can identify the fictional band whose logo is shown on the black t-shirt.

That's the latest from Bizarro Studios North in scenic Hollywood Gardens, PA. Thanks for stopping by. I'd also recommend paying a visit to Dan Piraro's weekly blog, for more colorful commentary along with a brand new Bizarro Sunday page.

Bonus Track

The Who: Silas Stingy
From The Who Sell Out (1967)


Last month, The Who Sell Out, was released in an expanded edition, which includes stereo and mono mixes of the LP, plus tons of b-sides, outtakes and demos. I've been listening to all of it over the past few weeks, and was reminded why it's my favorite of their albums. From the multiple real and imagined commercial jingles between songs to the product placement on its cover, Sell Out is the band's purest pop art expression. It's also packed with classic songs, including "Silas Stingy," which was composed by John Entwistle.

As always, we must note that some YouTube videos are unavailable in some parts of the world, and that the mobile version of this blog doesn't always show the video preview link. If you don't see it, click on View Web Version.

Friday, June 03, 2011

Simian Suds and a Cigar Smoking Scribbler

It's been a while since I've designed a beer label, but I always enjoy working with Scott at East End Brewing Company. He's a good friend and a good neighbor, and he always has interesting, fun ideas for his projects.

Here's the latest item, which I understand is already in the bottles and awaiting application of labels, now that the Federal authorities have given their approval.

Scott contacted me about doing the label last month, during what turned out to be quite a monkeycentric week. Within days I started sketching this pipe-smoking specimen, got a preview of an upcoming Bizarro gag involving monkeys, and designed a half-dozen simian characters for a project that must remain secret for the time being. 

For a guy born in the Year of the Monkey, that week had a pleasantly eerie vibe.
•••

Speaking of Bizarro... be sure to check out the funny papers tomorrow and Sunday for two new (non-monkey) gags from Your Humble Bloggerator, and if you're within driving distance of Pittsburgh, please plan to attend Comics for Comics III,  featuring the Bizarro Cartoon Comedy Show! Dan Piraro his very self will do one of his rare live comedy sets, talking about his life and work as a cartoonist, showing old family photos and some of his best work, and strumming a guitar he's borrowing from me. Another good pal of mine, Nathan Mazur, will open the show with some of his hilarious animations. The show benefits The ToonSeum.

Let's pack the Rex Theatre for Dan's visit to P-burgh!

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Hamstrung

I just completed my contribution to Zombo Gallery's upcoming Ukulele Show, curated by Nathan Mazur, and here it is - a genuine porkulele. The piece is titled Hamstrung.


Offers are now being considered for this one-of-a-kind, less-than-concert-quality piece of inept craftsmanship!

Wednesday, April 02, 2008

Bizarro Encounter, Wheels, Hoagy, Mutliple Links

Catching up with a few recent items...

1) Crossing swords with Bizarro cartoonist Dan Piraro

Photo by Miss Ashley Stone

The formidable Mister P visited Pittsburgh Pi Day (March 14) to serve as host for Dr Sketchy's Anti-Art School. The art school meets once a month as a fundrasier for The ToonSeum, Pittsburgh's new museum dedicated to the cartoon arts. Our official DJ is the mighty Zombo, but he was tied up hosting the opening of Nathan Mazur's terrific art show, Wee Beasties, so yours truly fumbled and flailed with a borrowed laptop and PA system. Despite the ineptitude of the substitute DJ, the evening was a success.

2) Inflatable Art


Speaking of bizarre items, I was recently contracted to draw four views of a loaded-up shopping cart for a local agency. The photo above was provided by the folks who fabricated the inflatable display.

3) Feline Hooligan

Tag for an auction basket Kim and I assembled for Animal Friends, our amazing local shelter. That's our shelter cat, Hoagy, an Animal Friends alum.