PLANET GRIFFIN has quickly become known for left-of-center Pop Culture, the occasional tale of humor, and more plugs for one book 'coming soon' than anyone can imagine! Tonight on PLANET GRIFFIN, Tonight's post is something that weighed on me for a while. I figured it was about time to let it go and assure a few people that I'm not an inhuman machine when it comes to (art)--- just flawed like everyone else. Like someone told me: 'Tell it to someone who doesn't know you."
Well here it is.
The pursuit of dreams can be an arduous task, whether in its infancy, caught headlong in its planning stages, or the logistical nightmare of plotting out its final stages. It takes an unusual type of dedication to 'finish what you start'. Of course, sometimes the toll that kind of dedication can have on those around you isn't always noticed, nor appreciated. I know... I've been guilty of this.
For years, I have labored long and hard to create an independent enterprise from the ground up on the strength of my talents... Since 1991, I've toiled on my first works through alot of trial and error, hits and misses, and heartaches and triumphs. I gained the attention of the Hollywood machine, only to walk away because the deal wasn't going anywhere. ( I lost out to a romantic drama by Bruce Willis and Michelle Phiffer--- which tanked badly.) I've dealt with the Comic Industry on many an occassion, only to get cut off by ego's who were so afraid I would take their job. (Don't worry fellas... That's still comin') I have survived the pain of 2 marriages lost in pursuit of this. ( One thought the work was more important/ The other thought the work was more important than family and thought that 'nothing will come of it because nothing has happened') --- at one point, I found myself so heartbroken and waylaid, I burned pages! (I was saved by a friend who snapped me out of it by providing me with those very same page copies, saying ' Your talents are far too important to throw away... I refuse to see that happen.' Thanks MDouble) Time management and sacrifice walk a fragile line, folks... For those of you, like me, who ARE driven to succeed, be warned of this: The price you pay can be great if you're not careful, because not everyone can understand what it is that drives you to do what you do. Practical people, to this effect, only see the end results and not the 'behind-the-scenes' blood, sweat, and tears. Forgive those who either don't know or don't do.
I know. I have.
Art can sometimes be the cruellest of Mistresses--- 'Her' rewards can be overwhelming, but 'her' paybacks are a bitch--- This is the hard lesson of the perfectionist and the driven to learn. ( The legendary ALEX TOTH taught me that before he died.) This is the hard lesson I've learned. Now, I teach this to the neophytes and serve reminders to the hardliners. To be driven is to stop at nothing, yet appreciate everything along the way. Never lose sight of this, folks.
After reading this, walk away from the computer/art table and find your loved ones, whoever they are. Give'em a BIG hug and kiss and let them know where you stand and where they fit in. You'll thank me for this later.
PLANET GRIFFIN continues on with a design that I ran across earlier. As a film geek, I couldn't resist this--- New design swag from PAUL POPE! Paul's latest print is from the 1961 AKIRA KUROSAWA classic, YOJIMBO, featuring the legendary TOSHIRO MIFUNE.
(The kanji type in the center reads 'Yojimbo'; the type along the bottom is' Mifune Toshiro' and his birth and death dates)
The designs are currently selling through Nakatomi, and they have almost sold out already! Track'em down here
Hi there, boys and girls! PLANET GRIFFIN continues its nonstop ellipse around the Pop Culture Spectrum, putting in more mileage than the Soul Train itself! ( You can't tell me that train animation wasn't HOT, y'all) Tonight we continue with a little ticket from Image AlumRYAN BENJAMIN. It seems that he's now turning his attention to motion webcomics, and his answer to Fight Club comes in the form of PANCRATIA (Hmmm... That title...) Check it out and see for yourself, cuz' I think it's cool to view! Now, if he could do something about that crazy title...
Last week, I had to get schooled by World Of Hurt webguru, JAY POTTS on the work of artist JIM RUGG. I checked out his site, and low and behold, I realize that this is the same guy behind the Slave Labor series,STREET ANGEL. While Jim isn't working on the exploits of a skateboarding ninja killer, he's working on this little beauty called 'AFRODISIAC', a pimp among men, fighting injustice in the name of truth... And a few hoes... More than just these gems, Jim's work is definitely more than just comics... But those of you in the know already know this. I can dig it. Check out the link along the side, or catch the full review over at THE WORLD OF HURT.COM--- you'll be surprised at what you see.
Thanks Jay--- another lesson learned from the Hurt Locker.
Man, if you haven't checked out The VENTURE BROTHERS yet, you're missing out on one of the funniest parody series to hit Adult Swim! Watching the uncensored box sets (Season 3 just came out a few weeks ago ) --- have you ever laughed so hard, that you stagger to the bathroom hoping you made it? HA! THAT'S the Venture Brothers!
As a twisted send-up of Johnny Quest ( a personal old school fave my Dad introduced me to), the exploits of brother-boy clones HANK and DEAN VENTURE, DR. THADDEUS 'RUSTY' VENTURE and their swedish murder machine bodyguard BROCK SAMPSON rank among the wildest you will ever see--- meaning that writer-creators Jackson Publick a.k.a. Christopher McCulloch and 'DOC' Hammer are definitely NOT above throwing in twisted versions of the familiar to go along with the kitchen sink... Best example: The Groovy Gang--- those crime solving misfits from another time and place, with Sonny ( a highly unstable basket case version of Shaggy) and his dog Groovy ( a darker, mangier version of Scooby, who talks only to Sonny in a way that creepily reminds you of Son Of Sam back in the 70's)... And lets not even get into the 'Groovy treats', which comes in the little brown bottle. Recently, the creative team behind the show lost their heaviest hitter, the voice of Brock, PATRICK WARBURTON... The verdict on whether they can convince him to come back to conclude Season 4 (which may be the last go round) remains a mystery. At least they managed to release the soundtrack, done by Foetus frontman J.G. Thirwell . See, once you get something really good going... Sigh...
Anyways, for the uninitiated and the cagey veteran, Check out the Season 3 teaser AND the infamous VENTURE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL!
When I came across this magazine pic, I thought it was so cool, I had to let it shine on PLANET GRIFFIN! In Japan, the Blaxploitation era is alive and boomin'! ( Even I was amazed at how much of the era is archived and shared over there--- and don't get me started on their Jazz sets...)
Among some of the HOT memorabilia right now is this oversize mag called'Soul of Black Movie'(literal translation)--- featuring poster pull-outs of some the classic films of the 70's heyday, from the legacy ofPam Grierto 'Coffin Ed' and 'Gravedigger Jones'--- I'm not sure if this is a one-shot or an ongoing mag (This item was up for bid on EBay), but from the looks of it, the Japanese damn sure got it right!
...Farrah Fawcett. Iconic Sex Symbol of the 70's...
And, without question--- The Most Iconic Man in the World of Entertainment, Michael Jackson.
It's widely thought upon that entertainers, like planes, go in 3's... This week, the theory sadly proved to be true. For those of my generation, it's strange to think back on things like Star Search (the original blueprint of what American Idol is today), Publisher's Clearing House, and Carson and NOT think of Ed... To remember a time when we were introduced to 3 angels in a house, connected by a voice known only as Charlie... To finally realize that mortality and circumstance catches up to ALL OF US--- Even a star who ranked in a rarified stratosphere among the likes of James Brown and Elvis Presley.
Tonight, PLANET GRIFFIN presents this as more a reminder than memorial... A reminder that life is surely not promised, and that everyday is another chance to get it right. This is obvious of the three pictured here, who, for all their triumphs and tragedies, lived life to the absolute fullest and affected alot of lives along the way. So, with that said---
