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HOTWIRE #2

 

(This is the cover to HOTWIRE #2, Glenn Head's anthology of alternative comics, published by Fantagraphics Books in early 2008.)

 

GRAPHIC NOVEL CLASS

 

Although this is a Wash U course, it will be available to non-Wash U students, as well. All pertinent information is noted in the poster.

 

"SMOKE SIGNAL" FRONT & BACK COVERS: TEMPTATIONS DIORAMA

 

Here are the completed covers for the upcoming issue of the comics anthology, SMOKE SIGNAL. It displays some of the various pieces of the ongoing TEMPTATIONS diorama I've been working on for about the past year. The intention behind the design was to give the impression of the box of a model, circa 1960's/70's. front cover

back cover

 

20th ANNUAL ST LOUIS INT'L FILM FEST POSTER

 

Below is the 2011 St Louis Int'l Film Fest poster

Below is the influence for this year's film fest concepts - both for this past summer's showcase, as well as this fall's Int'l FIlm Fest: A photograph I found of the making of the action scenes to Marlon Brando's "THE WILD ONE".

 

"HOPEVILLE" SPLASH PAGE, etc.

 

Below is the first page of a new "graphic feature story" I've been working on for the St Louis Riverfront Times. The story is about HOPEVILLE, a "tent city" or "tent community" located near the flood walls along the Mississippi River. HOPEVILLE is a kind of modern-day Hooverville - one in a string of three tent communities set up by the homeless near the river. I've spent a good part of the summer working on this story, doing research and getting to know the people who live in HOPEVILLE. The story is scheduled to run late in September.

The story is meant to capture the feel of the sketchbook notes and drawings I made while I was spending time in HOPEVILLE. Below are samples of a couple of those sketchbook pages.

 

ST LOUIS FILMMAKERS SHOWCASE

 

This year's influences are old Harley Davidson advertisements from the late 1930's. The Int'l Film Fest poster will have more of a biker theme, influenced by the myth of The Boozefighters motorcycle club, Marlon Brando & THE WILD ONES, the Hell's Angels and all of those great/terrible biker films from the 1960's. the poster (above) the handbill (above)

 

COMING SOON: WEBSITE/BLOG REVAMP & CONSOLIDATION

 

For the past year, I've been working in conjunction with two young hotshot designers, Alan Sheu & Michael Murdock, on a major renovation of the JACKIE NO-NAME INDUSTRIES & WORKS website & weblog. The design Alan & Mike have come up with, based on my very arbitrary collection of influential material (ranging from old Soviet poster designs, 1950's comic ads, and IWW propaganda to a large variety of memorabilia I've collected over the years) is excellent, in my opinion, and, although the site is still in progress, I wanted to post a sample of the design. Hopefully the site will be finished within the next month or so. It's been a long time comin', but in my estimation will be well worth the wait.

 

THE WHIRLING GYPSY COMICAROUSELESQUE REVUE & BURLESQUE

THE WHIRLING GYPSY COMICAROUSELEQUE REVUE & BURLESQUE WITH YOUR HOST, THE MAGIC DWINDLER, ESQ will be events loosely based on traditional carousel comic performances, but are also meant to facilitate explorations and experimentation in inventive ways of bringing comics - or I should say pictures and words - into the realm of performance. The events will take place once a month at Subterranean Books in St Louis, and will feature a revolving door of participants. Just about anything goes here. The Whirling Gypsy is funny that way. The first show is this Wednesday; come join us if you're in the St Louis area.

RIVERFRONT TIMES COVER ILLUSTRATION

Above is a cover illustration I recently completed for the St Louis Riverfront Times. The feature story it depicts involves an East St Louis murder involving a white man with a lengthy criminal record who ran down and killed the African American man with his pick-up truck. The culprit hasn't been charged, and isn't in jail. Because I like the way the illustration turned out, I plan to use it as the cover for HAPPY HOUR IN AMERICA #3, which I'm currently putting together. More details about that later. The concept was influenced by one of my favorite EC Comics SHOCK SUSPENSTORIES covers from the 1950's, illustrated by Wally Wood. See below: