Ultraman, Series II Sketch Cards

 

I've been seeing cards from this set up on eBay and I do believe the Kickstarter has happened, so I think that it is safe to show my work done for this set. I worked on these cards about a year and a half ago, so this is another one of those sets that's finally seeing the light of day. It's always fun to work on these Ultraman cards released by RR parks Cards. Oddly enough, I'm currently reading Turning Point 1998-2008 by Hayao Miyazaki and a few times he has stated his dismay over the Ultraman generation. What?!! I do fall into that category, and I get his point to a degree. However, Ultraman is super fun, even after all these years and very fun to draw, so we'll have to agree to disagree on this one. Artist Proofs coming soon. 

We All Have It Coming, Kid...

 

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from sketchbook

Norio Suzuki Sketch

 

I recently read Werner Herzog's novelization of Hiroo Onoda's exploits on the island of Lubang, thinking that WW II was still going for the 27 years that he was there. In 1974, the adventurer Norio Suzuki went in search of Onoda. After some convincing, he told Onoda that he had three goals in life: 

1. To find Hiroo Onoda.  2. To find the yeti in Nepal and 3. To find the mythic giant panda.

Well, he was only able to find Onoda. When in the Dhaulagiri range looking for the yeti, any yeti, he was killed in an avalanche. 

He did claim to see a yeti at a distance and also to have seen a panda, but not sure if it was the giant one that he thought to find.

P.s. one has to read The Twilight World in Herzog's voice. It makes for an entertaining read.

Upper Deck Cosmic Artist Proof Sketch Cards

 

These are my Artist Proof sketch cards from the Cosmic set recently released by Upper Deck. These cards were done in 2020, so it's nice to see them out and about. The links are below for those that are interested.

Cosmic Card 1    Cosmic Card 2

Cosmic Card 3    Cosmic Card 4

Dr Who? Wu? Hu?

 

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graphite in sketchbook

Last week I watched the 1967 movie King Kong Escapes. I'm not sure that I had ever seen it before and it was cheesy and campy as all that, but I was entertained. The main villain, Dr. Who, or maybe it was Wu, or Hu, depending on the American versus the Japanese releases, was this over the top, flamboyant character who (no pun intended) was modeled after the original 1960's Dr. Who, played by William Hartnell. The English dubbed voice was done by Paul Frees, so that combination of Japanese villain, Dr. Who looks and Burgermeister Meisterburger voice was a perfect cocktail of 60's fun. I need to do a sketch of him in ink, as I felt that I didn't quite catch the essence of the character.

Hammerhead Shark Sketch

 

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ink in sketchbook

I haven't done a #SundayFishSketch thingie in awhile now, so I felt that I couldn't pass up the theme of doing one's favorite shark. There are so many to choose from, but I went with the awesome hammerhead, nature's very own aquatic blacksmith. 

A Few Recent Sketch Card Commissions

 

Here are a few Empire Strikes Back themed sketch card commissions that I did recently. These were done of the client's custom made stock and are done in the wide vision format. As always, these were fun to do. 

This Lungfish May Have Some Thoughts On The Michigan Air...

 

The other day, Paul Shuert, the aquarist at the Belle Isle Aquarium sent me an idea on his thoughts of the quality of the Michigan air these past few days; a lungfish, that needs air, as well, may need a gas mask or air filter of some kind, just to get through its day.

Hopefully, the Quebec wildfires will abate soon and we can all breathe a little easier.

Cosmic Sketch cards

 

I have done some sketch card sets that have been sitting around for a few years because they haven't been released yet. This set, that I did in 2020, is one of them, but today the set has finally been released and I can show them.  UD Cosmic by Upper Deck is distributing these in a different way, with something called an e-Pack. I'm not sure how it all works, but I'm sure that the collectors do. I will post my artist proof cards soon. 

Cherry Capital Comic Con 2023

 

If you happen to find yourself in Traverse City, MI this weekend, you may want to find your way over to the Grand Traverse Resort for the annual Cherry Capital Comic Con. It is truly the best of cons with great organizers and staff and there will be a whole slew of creative talent and media guests on hand. It should be a great time!

I will be there in Artist Alley at booth #1004. I will have all the usual stuff, such as prints, AP sketch cards, original art, books, comics and I will be doing commissions. Stop on by and say hello.

A Great White Shark Innards Sketch

 

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ink in sketchbook

This week's theme for #SundayFishSketch is to show the inner workings of a fish, such as a dissection. I hesitate at times when I choose to go with humor, but I think that I'm in good company with the scientists. At least I hope so.

Pipedreams #19

 

I haven't posted a Pipedreams cartoon in awhile, so here is the next one in line that Darin Palmer and myself did many moons ago. This strip was about our time working in a mattress factory. I think that all of the characters were based on actual people, but the names have been changed to protect the guilty. These strips wrote themselves as this one actually happened. 

I do believe, word for word. 

Sand Tiger Shark Sketch

 

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ink from sketchbook

A sand tiger shark for this week's #SundayFishSketch theme of fish that are more active at night.

Breaking News Cartoon!

 

I feel safer already.

The Clawson Comic Book And Toy Show

 

show poster by Martin Hirchak

This Sunday, April 23 from 10-6, you can find me at the Clawson Comic Book and Toy Show at the Knights of Columbus Hall right there on Main St. This is a great show for comic and toy collectors, but there will be a few of us artist types there, as well. I will have all the usual Bruce propaganda, such as books, original art, prints (I'll be bringing out some of my older, bigger sized prints this time) and I will be doing b/w commissions. So, if you are in the area and are interested in such things, stop on by. Admission is on the low side!

Dumb Gulper Shark Sketch

 

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ink in sketchbook

This week's #SundayFishSketch theme are fish that might be forgetful, as in forgetting to do their tax returns. I'll bet that a dumb gulper shark (that's a real shark) just might eat its taxes and then forget that it had done so. You never know how these things can go.

The forms get stuck in the gills...

A Cubist Mako Shark Sketch

 

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ink in sketchbook

So, this week's theme for #SundayFishSketch is a bit different in that it is in depicting a fish in a cubist style. Now, I'm not entirely sure if I nailed it, but it was fun to do. I wasn't even going to participate this week, but thought I had at least give it a go, since it seemed like fun. Although, it looks more jittery than cubist. Picasso and Cousteau were my guides.

DC Bombshells Series III Artist Proof Sketch Cards

 

So, in continuing with getting these blank Artist Proof cards from previous sets done that have been sitting around for what seems to be forever, the next in line are these two from Cryptozoic's DC Bombshells set from 2019. I did a bunch of cards for the set, but was unfamiliar with the line/brand and assumed that they wanted pin-up style versions of their characters, not knowing that there was a 40's style line-up of the characters. They were nice enough about it and tried to get them pushed through anyways, but DC wasn't going for it. They still let me keep my AP's, though and here they are. Listings are below:

Batwoman   Zatanna

Arowana Sketch

 

Whoa, I've made two #SundayFishSketch themes in a row! The theme this week is in connection with 'springing' our clocks forward and so we needed to find a fish that does such a thing, something to do with that and time flies and all that. So, I was going to go with a flying fish, but then thought that an arowana will spring out of the water to snag its prey. They are quick too, as I can attest. I had one draw blood from one of my knuckles as it thought to teach me a lesson.

Plus, wouldn't this fish look great as a muppet with that mouth? Someone should do something about that.

A Cable Goby Sketch

 

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ink in sketchbook

This week's #SundayFishSketch theme are women who talk about fish. Louella Cable was the first woman scientist ever hired by the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries, which was the predecessor of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services. In the late 60's she invented a prototype for a digital fish-measuring calipers.

The above fish is called the Cable's Goby, named after the fish that she did study. Since I couldn't find any reference for the digital prototype, I went off the rails and did a steampunk fish-measuring device. It's steam powered, in case you were wondering.

Uncle Fester And The Great Lakes comic Con

 

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ink on bristol

I will be set up in Artists Alley at the Great Lakes Comic Con tonight from 5-9 and tomorrow 10-6. I will have all the usual goodies, such as books, AP sketch cards, prints and original art, including the Uncle Fester shown above. Check out all the details here. There will be a good showing of Michigan's finest artists and all of the big veterans, as well. Stop on by.

Whale Shark Sketch

 

5x8

ink and Dr. Ph. Martin's white ink

in sketchbook

Yikes, it's been over a month since I have shown anything new. I have been busy and will have more on that soon, including a new newsletter thing. Stay tuned.

This week's #SundayFishSketch theme is what fish we first think of when we hear the word 'fish.' This could change by the minute, but as of right now, it's a whale shark. 

Oranda Goldfish Sketch

 

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ink, colored ink and marker from sketchbook

This week's #SundayFishSketch theme are fish that are white as snow. So, being the rebel that I am *cough, cough,* I picked a fish that had some red and orange, as well. An oranda goldfish.