Pool Thing page 10

 

Well, there you have it. An innocent young couple dies and the monster goes free, gotta love these morally uplifting tales from the fabulous fifties. That concludes the preview of the next issue of SHAM Comics. Zombie Marge returns tomorrow with even more mayhem. See you!

Pool Thing page 9

Pool Thing page 8

Pool Thing page 7

Pool Thing page 6

Pool Thing page 5

Pool Thing page 4

Pool Thing page 3

Pool Thing page 2

Pool Thing page 1

The original story was the cover feature in Tales of Horror #2 in 1952 and featured one of the oddest monsters who did, indeed, live in a swimming pool. My version mixes in a little H.P. Lovecraft and some good old real estate scams. Enjoy!

Sneak Peek

The next issue of SHAM Comics is coming along nicely. It's an all-horror issue, featuring some grisly pre-code tales of murder and mayhem, completely rewritten as cynical, sarcastic satire in the SHAM tradition. It starts off with Frank Frazetta's only horror cover and contains four morbid stories plus horror-related ads.

While I work on the next episode of Zombie Marge this week, stop by the blog every day and read  pages from the lead story "The Pool Thing," a torrid tale of lust, revenge and real estate.

Sequential Tart interview

Well, lookie here! There's a very nice interview with me over at Sequential Tart talking about the Zombie Marge strip. Here's the link:

http://www.sequentialtart.com/article.php?id=2586

Episode 51

NEXT     BACK     FIRST

With this installment of Zombie Marge, we’ve reached the halfway point in the story. From here on buckle up for non-stop action. Will Marge be the hero of this story or not? And what of the mysterious Mothman, is the alien commander right about him? What is his motivation in this story?

You won’t have long to wait. I will be kicking off the second half of the story in just a few weeks. But first, I need to take a little break to get caught up on some other projects, like editing the second issue of the comic and illustrating some pin-ups for other books. Don’t worry about the blog, it won’t be idle. I will be posting some new material here as I finish it. Maybe even another of Zombie Marge’s Fun Pages. In fact, check in next week for some news on the next issue of SHAM Comics, the all-horror issue. I might even run a full story from this issue. Stay tuned!

Episode 50

NEXT     BACK     FIRST

"Where's Zombie Marge?" you ask. Don't worry, she'll return soon. But some of the supporting characters have some business to do first. Stay tuned.

Zombie Marge's Fun Pages 1

These "Fun Pages" may end up as back-up features in future Zombie Marge Comix & Stories. Print this out and keep your children entertained for 3-to-4 seconds.

The reviews are in...

...and they are good! Below are the links to some very insightful reviews on Sequential Tart by Sheena McNeil for Zombie Marge Comix & Stories #1 and Cap'n Catnip #1. I spoke with Sheena at the Lexington con and am delighted she enjoyed the books so much.

http://www.sequentialtart.com/reports.php?ID=9066&issue=2014-03-24
http://www.sequentialtart.com/reports.php?ID=9065&issue=2014-03-24

Episode 49

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In classic zombie movie fashion, the surviving humans regroup and hold up in a "secure" location. Will they be able to find help in time?

Episode 48

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With Marge locked away on the orbiting spaceship, all hell is breaking loose back in Purgatory Park.

Episode 47

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Because it’s Valentine's Day and because Zombie Marge has such a big heart, (several, in fact. She’s chewing on one now.) here’s a new episode. Feel free to share with friends and neighbors.

Next episode, we check back in with Lois Lame as she copes with the zombie outbreak.

Episode 46

 

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Marge mixes it up with the Plan 9 aliens. Will she get the better of them? Only time will tell.

This just in...

Great news for everyone who enjoys reading their comics digitally. (And, face it, who doesn’t?) ComiXology, the leading provider of downloadable comics is offering Cap’n Catnip #1 for the low, low price of 99 cents. ComiXology is a free app for your favorite device that gives you access to over 40,000 titles, new and old, in one convienent, easy to search location. The New York Times calls it “the iTunes of comics.”

Here’s a little background on Cap’n Catnip, he was created in 1981, written by John Leasure and drawn by me for Charlton Comics’ Bullseye #2. More stories followed, but Charlton stopped publishing before the other stories could run. Now all the work has been collected in a newly colored collection that also includes some new pin-ups and other material. It’s fun for all ages.

Just follow this link: http://cmxl.gy/1byWyQj

Episode 45

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 At last! This is one of the strips that I've been looking forward to working on for a long time. I knew when I started this UFO storyline that the aliens would be the lovable, bumbling, effeminate crew from Plan 9 From Outer Space (or are they?!) And I knew I had to set up a lot of others plot points before I could introduce them at about the mid-point in the story. So it was fun to watch the movie again with my sketchpad and try to get, not quite caricatures, but more like characters. And to get their stilted dialogue down as well. The next few episodes will take place on board the Mothership as they lay out their master plan for Zombie Marge. Stay tuned!

Episode 44

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You would think by this time Marge would be used to waking up in strange places.

Episode 43

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Zombie Marge took some time off during the holidays to deck her halls and jungle her bells. But she's back, baby! If this episode looks familiar, it's because it's nearly the same as Episode 26, with one very big difference.

Do I hear you say "Where is Magre?" She vanished in a ball of light some time back. Join us next time to find out just where she went. See you soon!

Episode 42

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This seemed like a good way to introduce ace reporter Lois Lame as she investigates the UFO/zombie plague on the town.

Episode 41

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At long last, here's the much-delayed new episode. Technical problems plagued the strip this time. My scanner software failed to keep pace with the updates to the Mac operating system. I had to find an alternate source to scan my art. I may have to keep going out for scans until the software catches up.

This episode takes an unusual turn, not only are the residents of Purgatory Park dealing with aliens, but now zombie invasion too. Are they related? Only time will tell.

Turn your head and cough!

What has surly doctors, sexy nurses and suicidal patients? SHAM Comics #4, of course. It's the all-medical issue. Five stories taken from various Charlton Comics doctor and nurse funny books from the early sixties. It's forty pages of medical mischief and not one joke about Obamacare. Tales of romance and heartbreak set amid life-threatening health crisis. If you're feeling sick, this is the cure. Don't worry, if you laugh your ass off, just see Dr. Fingerman, the resident proctologist. Buy one STAT!

Episode 40

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Some people just never listens to good advice.

Episode 39

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Rest In Peace-Sargent Ignatius P. Shenanigan. Died in the line of duty, fighting off an alien tentacle monster in the swamp. He will be missed.

How To Wash Your Hair

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but Zombie Marge’s latest action-packed episode is running a little late. However, I don’t want her loyal readers to go with out a ha-ha or two this week. Marge advised me to, “just run some public service crap. No one will notice the difference, honey.”

Cincinnati Comic Expo 2013

I just wanted to say a slightly belated thank you, to everyone who stopped by our little corner of the Expo to say "Hi." And an even bigger thanks to those who gave our books a good home. Our newest offering, Cap'n Catnip was a big success. We had a wonderful time, as always, and look forward to next year. Be there or be square.

Episode 38

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At long last, into the toxic swamp and closer to a finding the aliens. I have to say, this was a fun sequence to draw.

Episode 37

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Marge continues her involvement with the local police, although she is no longer the prime suspect in the recent rash of UFO sightings. She's just trying to be helpful by offering her dog to track the Mothman into the swamp. Hey! Wait a minute! Wasn't she wearing handcuffs a few episodes ago?

Cap’n Catnip to the Rescue!

Just in time for the Cincinnati Comic Expo, it’s our newest book, The Adventures of Cap’n Catnip & Womble the Wonder Gerbil. This all-ages comic collects all the material that was created for Charlton Bullseye in 1981. It was written by my good friend John Leasure and drawn, lettered and newly colored by me. Two of the three stories have never been seen in their original form. The art has been gathering dust in my filing cabinet all these years.  It’s about time they saw the light of day.

We will have copies for sale at the Cincinnati Comic Expo, along with a special commemorative art print. Or the book can be ordered online, just click the link on the left.

Episode 36

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 As promised, here's a brand new episode, hot off the drawing board. The rampant UFO flap continues in Purgatory Park with sightings of strange creatures and appearances of the ominous Men in Black. Marge, along with her police escort, Sargent Shenanigan and Officer Kelton are being led on a frustrating chase back and fourth across the county. Let's hope they are getting closer to an answer to these mysteries, and not just stringing us along like the X-Files did.

Back to the ol' drawing board!

Where the heck have I been for the last couple of months, you ask? I really just needed a little break from the demands of Zombie Marge and thought I'd take a week off. But the time slipped away and there hasn't been a new strip since June! That's about to change. New strips are on their way. But on a bit more reasonable, twice a month schedule. The weekly output was exciting, but impossible to maintain for long. I simply wasn't getting anything else done and burned out quickly.

Don't think that I've been goofing off. I completed two new books, Cap'n Catnip #1 and SHAM Comics #4. I will post more about both of them here as soon as they are ready for sale. I've also spent a great deal of time bringing all my comics over to our new printer, KaBlam. Most of the books on the left side of the page are now available from Indy Planet. Click on the covers to be taken to the site.

Thanks for everyone's patience in my absence.

Episode 35

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When last we saw Marge, she was in police custody and investigating a strange disturbance at the old Gummfungus farm...

UNMAIMED LOVE part 8

And there you have it. Just like in life, the story didn't end happily ever after for anyone but Disney.

UNMAIMED LOVE part 7

UNMAIMED LOVE part 6

UNMAIMED LOVE part 5

UNMAIMED LOVE part 4

UNMAIMED LOVE part 3

UNMAIMED LOVE part 2

It should also be pointed out that Frazetta colored his own work on this story, which was an unusual practice for the time. Even with the limited color palette at he disposal, he still did an exceptional job.

UNMAIMED LOVE part 1

The original story appeared in Personal Love #32 in April 1955 as "Untamed Love." Often cited by comic historians as one of the finest drawn stories of the golden age, it is obvious that Frank Frazetta was not interested in telling a typical love story. The romance takes a back seat to adventure in the lush jungle setting. An interesting side note was Frazetta's choice of models for this story. He used his friend Al Williamson as the central character. Williamson was close friend and, like Frank, was a young artist just breaking into the comics field at the time. Al would go on to produce amazing comics, including one of the best versions of Flash Gordon outside the original news paper strip.

As I mentioned the other day, most of these romance comics from the fifties have fallen into the public domain and are fair game for a smartass like me to use them as I see fit. In my rewritten version of the story, the action takes place in Anaheim, California in 1954, just months before the grand opening of Disneyland. In fairness to Walt Disney, who was a difficult boss, by all accounts, there are no stories that paint him as a womanizer. Except this one.

Stop by every day this week for a new page of Unmaimed Love!

Behind the scenes

I thought I’d take a minute to pull back the curtain and discuss some recent events that are affecting the Zombie Marge strip. It’s been busy over the last few weeks, and by busy I mean disruptive. Since I started the Mothman storyline on March 15^th, I  have posted a new strip every Monday like clockwork. But there will not be a Marge strip this Monday. Life has gotten in the way.

Several weeks ago I began serving jury duty, which is proving to be much more intrusive than I would have guessed. I’ve used up my cushion of strips I had built up. I need to draw more as time allows.

Also a few weeks ago I got the news that ComiXpress was closing it’s doors suddenly and unexpectedly. Most of the books listed on this page were printed at ComiXpress, so that meant I had to scramble to find another printer to do the job. After much research, I've decided to print all the books with KaBlam and offer them for sale through Indy Planet and Indy Planet Digital.

But this will take time, the printer files from ComiXpress are not compatible with the specifications for KaBlam. This means that each and every book needs to be remade to the new specs. And that takes time away for the weekly strip. Currently only two links on this page are active. The Little Olden Book is already available from Indy Planet and Zombie Marge #1 is available, as of today. I will continue to place books one at a time until I have them all up. Stay tuned.

So, no Marge for a week or two as I get ahead again. But you don’t have to go empty handed. In its place I will post a very special SHAM Comics story, featuring an amazing artist you might have heard of. Frank Frazetta did a handful of romance stories in the mid-fifties. All have fallen into public domain. One of them appears in SHAM Comics #2. But the most famous by far was “Untamed Love.”  It was more of a lush jungle adventure than a typical love story.

So beginning Monday, and appearing every day next week, stop by to read my take on this fantastic story. See you then.

Episode 34

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Episode 33

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Oh, no!! There's trouble brewin' at the ol' Gumfungus place!

Episode 32

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Hey, isn’t that the guy from that thing? Why, yes. Yes it is. That’s Patrolman Kelton as played by actor Paul Marco, who appeared in Ed Wood’s “Bride of the Monster,” “Night of the Ghouls,” and, best of all, ‘Plan 9 from Outer Space,” his finest performance. It seemed fitting for Officer Kelton to join Marge in her quest for aliens, for reasons that will become obvious later. Marco died in 2006. To learn more visit his website at: http://www.winvisual.com/marco/index.html

Episode 31

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Well, there you have it! Definitive proof a zombie can beat a bunch of Men In Black. But can a law-abiding zombie like Marge get the best of the cops? Join us next week to see.