Toxic stuff

Just add humor

Detail of a gouache painting for my cover of Issue #2 for Toxic Avenger.

I’m plugging away at issue 3 of Toxic Avenger. The alternate covers can be seen here and I like all of them. I’m bothered that the art buddies I recommend usually don’t get an alt cover. Some do, but others haven’t. I have never felt as if I had that kind of clout to push my friends on art directors. Occasionally people have recommended me for this and that. The things some people recommend me for aren’t always what I’m good at but still greatly appreciated. Once my friend Ray got me in on a few Garbage Pail Kids. It was fun but I don’t think I was a good fit. Many years ago when I first started dating Molly, I introduced her to my art director at the Wall Street Journal while hanging out at the Society of Illustrators. Molly did the rest. She was smart, witty, and it didn’t hurt that she was cute. I could see that he and his partner who was also there immediately thought she was cool. A few days later she was asking me technical questions about turning in work to WSJ because she just did a spot for them.

A panel for Issue 2

I have recommended people for jobs that they got, but I’m more of an introduction guy. I imagine it would be annoying to be an art director and want to work with artists and be around them but you will always be that hunted creature in all their eyes. One time I spent a whole night drinking with an art director because I thought it might help when I hit him up for work. It started at Society of Illustrators and moved a few blocks away to a bar on 59th and Lex. They were open until 4AM. At that time, you could order a few drinks at last call, they’d lock the door so they could clean. You could stay inside and drink until 6AM when they reopened. The longer I spent with this dude and his small entourage the less I liked any of them. I never picked up any work with him.

A face

I showed at Copro Gallery in LA. My buddy Travis was curating it and put me in. I sold that piece but never managed to keep the door open. Travis has put me in a bunch of shows when he had that power. I have been so fortunate to have these opportunities. I don’t expect them, but I wouldn’t mind them happening more regularly! HA! I need to figure out how to produce shows and put my friends over. I like that we all help each other when we can.

My buddy Paul and I were at the 40th year anniversary screening of Toxic Avenger in Coney Island earlier this summer. Lloyd Kauffman was as animated as ever and it was almost like a family gathering feel. The two guys on the right were in the movie. They were the homicidal maniacs that were also Melvin’s (the TA) nemesis before he transformed. One actually worked at the venue!