Category: Celebs

Live & In Person

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I just want to remind everyone that at about 11am EST, John Beatty will be drawing live $10 head shots.  Not only can you watch as he creates ’em, you can even order your own to be drawn as you watch. I’ll be in the luxurious JBI studio to co-host the event.  It will be a blast.  Hopefully you can drop in, even if you don’t plan to order a sketch or five. I’m on board for at least two! Full details are here.

I also want to remind ZONErs that John and I will be guests at Tim Gordon’s November 7th TampaCon.   Tim’s Tampa show is always a blast and this one will be no exception.

Tim has put together an anthology Christmas comic with the proceeds going to charity.  John and I did a three page story for it [which John pencilled, inked and colored] and we’ll be there with about 2 dozen guests including:

Mike Zeck’s “Demolition Man”

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My buddy, Mike Zeck sent me the scan above as well as this one. That is of course, Sly in his role as John Spartan from “Demolition Man”. Here’s what Mike had to say about his involvement with DC’s “Demolition Man” adaptation:

DC asked for a pencil image of these two characters. I delivered, got paid, and that’s the total extent of my knowledge. No idea if they were ever used for anything, ever inked, or anything else.

Site map

Interesting unseen art though for the ‘Zone‘.

I thanked Mike and said that I wondered how much Stallone-related art is out there that hasn’t been seen. I told Mike that when Joe Kubert was a guest at an OrlandoCon several years ago he told me that he had worked up some dailies for a potential “Rocky” newspaper strip that never sold. Mike wrote back to say that he’d been approached about samples for a potential “Rambo” newspaper strip, but because the pay was so low, he never got around to doing any.

At least we have these two previously unseen pieces of Stallone art to enjoy. Thanks to Mike for sharing.

Otis Frampton’s Rambo

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Otis Frampton is an extremely talented artist who loves drawing for his fans. Every Sunday [okay, ALMOST, every Sunday], Otis has a live UStream broadcast that he calls the 7×7 Sunday. Lucky fans can get a headsketch of ANY character drawn live by Otis on a 7X7 inch bristol board for 7 bucks postage paid. It’s the best deal going.

I’ve been lucky enough to get four pieces from Otis and the Rambo shown above is my first. I’ll be showing the rest in the coming weeks. In the mean time, check out Otis’ Gallery. Most likely, after seeing more of his work, I’ll be competing against you in Otis’ next 7×7 Sunday.

Dick Giordano’s Demolition Man

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Dick Giordano, the comics legend is back! During his fifty plus years in the biz he’s done everything from ink all the greats (including himself) to serve as Editor-in-Chief of DC Comics, to co-founding his own comic company.

I recently had the good fortune to pick up six model sheet headsketches of Sly that Mr. Giodano did before starting work on DC Comics adaptation of “Demolition Man”. This is the fourth.

Patrick Swayze: RIP

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Patrick Swayze died yesterday, after a 20 month battle with pancreatic cancer.  He was just 57 years old.

I first remember seeing Patrick Swayzee in “The Outsiders” based on the classic S.E. Hinton novel.  Later that same year he appeared in “Uncommon Valor.”  But it was in “Red Dawn” that I really took notice of Patrick’s work.  He was excellent as the leader of the young rebels fighting against a Soviet invasion.  Patrick’s next big hit was “Dirty Dancing” and it propelled him to superstar status. Patrick went on to star in such films as “Road House”, “Ghost”, and my personal favorite, “Point Break”.  I also have to mention his appearance on Saturday Night Live and the classic sketch with Chris Farley. 

Patrick Swayzee was a dancer [“Chicago” and “Guys and Dolls”], an actor [nominated for three Golden Globe awards], a composer and singer [he co-wrote and sang “She’s Like the Wind” from “Dirty Dancing”], and even People’s Sexiest Man of the Year.  But was his role as a husband [married for 34 years to Lisa Niemi], humanitarian and conservationist that he would probably most want to be remembered.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends and fans.

Dick Giordano’s Demo Man 3

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Dick Giordano is a legend. During his fifty plus years in the biz he’s done everything from ink all the greats (including himself) to serve as Editor-in-Chief of DC Comics, to co-founding his own comic company. Mr. Giordano also has a great sense of humor.

I recently had the good fortune to pick up six model sheet headsketches of Sly that Mr. Giodano did before starting work on DC Comics adaptation of “Demolition Man.” That’s the third posted above.

Dick Giordano: Demolition Man #2

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To comic book fans, Dick Giordano is a living legend. During his fifty plus years in the biz he’s done everything from ink all the greats (including himself) to serve as Editor-in-Chief of DC Comics, to co-founding his own comic company. Mr. Giordano also has a great sense of humor.

I recently had the good fortune to pick up six model sheet headsketches of Sly that Mr. Giodano did before starting work on DC Comics adaptation of “Demolition Man.” That’s the second posted above.

Remembering Walter Cronkite

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Earlier this evening, Walter Cronkite died after a long illness. Mr. Cronkite was 92. From April 16, 1962 to March 6, 1981, Walter Cronkite was the anchor of the CBS Evening News.  Although it may be hard to imagine in this age of cable news where anchors are “entertainers” who consider their opinions to be more important than the facts, Walter Cronkite was, for most of America, the voice of reason.

Often called “The Most Trusted Man in America”, it was Walter Cronkite that we turned to when we needed the news.  During his tenure Mr. Cronkite covered the assassinations of President Kennedy, Martin Luter King, Jr. and Bobby Kennedy, the Vietnam war, the triumphs and tragedies of our space program, Three Mile Island, elections of Presidents, Watergate and so much more.

The year that he retired, Mr. Cronkite received our contry’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.  The tributes to Mr. Cronkite are coming in from around the world.  The world!  Twentyeight years after he left the nightly broadcast booth, Walter Cronkite’s positive impact is still felt!

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mr. Cronkite’s family, freinds, and fans.

CNN Michael Jackson Video

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CNN.com has posted video of Michael Jackson rehearsing with dancers during a June 23rd session at the Staples Center.  In that one minute and 34 seconds, we can see just how magical it was when MJ was on stage.  Anyone doubt that when the rehearsal tapes are released on dvd, they’ll shoot straight to number 1… as will the CD?

Alexis Arguello & Karl Malden – R.I.P.

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Alexis Arguello and Karl Malden passed on today.

Alexis Arguello, who was a champion in three weight divisions, died at the age of 57 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.  Arguello, was a charismatic champion who compiled an amazing 82 – 8 record before finally retiring in 1995.  Although Arguello never lost a fight 130 pounds he is best known for his first brutal and controversial war against Aaron Pryor in 1982.   Arguello moved up in weight with the hope of being the first champion in four weight divisions.  Pryor won the fight by knocking out Arguello in the 14th round of the epic fight which had seen both fighters taking and giving as good as they were getting.  Arguello seemed to be gaining the advantage, but in the respite before the 14th round, Pryor’s trainer, Panama Lewis, called for a specific water bottle — “the one I mixed” — the mysterious drink seemed to revive Pryor who went on to win.  The fight against Pryor was voted Fight of the Year and Fight of the Decade by Ring magazine.  Arguello fought for 13 more years and remained a popular figure after leaving the squared circle.  He appeared in commercials, carried his country’s flag in the Olympics and was currently the mayor of Managua, the capital of Nicaragua.

Karl Malden, 97, died today from natural causes.  An Oscar winner for Best Supporting Actor in 1951 for his role in “A Streetcar Named Desire” which starred Marlon Brando.   Malden also appeared with Brando in “On the Waterfront” and “One-Eyed Jacks” as well as several dozen movies without him.  Malden had a five year run with Michael Douglas in the popular “Streets of San Francisco” tv series which ran from 1972 – 1977.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families, friends and fans of Alexis Arguello and Karl Malden.