Andrew Robinson: Pencil Punisher

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Here’s a pencil sketch of the Punisher for a Marvel trading card set.  The art is by Andrew Robinson and appeared [in much smaller form] in Rough Stuff #4 [April 2007].  Here’s what Andrew said about the piece:

“When I think of the Punisher I see him as being very stoic.  For this composition I was inspired by the propaganda posters of WWII.  The straight lines in his form help define his defiant attitude as he pulls a ‘John Wayne’ in the midst of enemy fire.”

If you’d like to see the finished card, then click here.  We’ll be back tomorrow with another of Andrew’s card pencils.

UFC 112 Results

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UFC 112 is now history.  Here are the results and my earlier predictions:

  • Mark “The Philippine Wrecking Machine” Munoz (7-1) vs. Kendall “Da Spyder” Grove (11-6).

Prediction: “The Philippine Wrecking Machine” wrecks “Da Spyder.” Munoz win by TKO.

Result: Munoz won by TKO due to strikes in round 2 which makes me 1-0 with a perfect call of TKO.

  • Matt Hughes (43-7) vs. Renzo Gracie (13-6-1)

Prediction: Hughes win via unanimous decision.

Result: Hughes wins by TKO due to strikes in round 3 at the 4:40 mark. Although that keeps me perfect at 2-0, I missed calling how the fight would end.  If only Gracie could have held on for 20 more seconds!

  • BJ “The Prodigy” Penn (15-5-1) vs. Frankie “The Answer” Edgar (11-1)

Prediction: “The Prodigy” knows “The Answer” to defeating Edgar. Penn win via submission.

Result: Edgar defeats Penn by unanimous decision to become the new UFC Lightweight Champion! What an upset.  Hats off to Edgar for find “The Answer” needed to beat “The Prodigy.”  That knocks me down to 2-1.

  • Anderson “The Spider” Silva (25-4) vs. Demian Maia (12-1)

Prediction: Silva wins by KO.

Result: Silva defeats Maia with a lackluster performance but a unanimous decision and retains the UFC Middleweight Title.  Although I was wrong about how it would end, I did pick Silva and so I end the night at 3-1 or 75%.

Silva clowned and danced and was warned by the ref in later rounds to mix it up.  Yet, Silva was content to stay on the outside and pick his shots.  Maia, for his part, tried to make the fight competitive and continued to swing for the fences for all the good it did.   Dana White was very upset by Silva’s performance and told the press:

“… what a disgrace the main event was… To end it the way that we did was an embarrasment for me, the UFC, the Fertittas and  the UAE… I’m so blown away and disgusted and saddened… I don’t know how yet, but I will make this up to the fans… ”

According to Steve Cofield of YaHoo Sports

White also said Silva may be the first UFC champ to fight on the non-televised prelims in the future.

While 75% ain’t bad, I bet I feel better about my wins than Silva does his.

UFC 112 Predictions

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UFC 112 takes place later this afternoon live from the Concert Arena in Ferrari World on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.  There are four fights that interest me and here are my predictions:

  • Mark “The Philippine Wrecking Machine” Munoz (7-1) vs. Kendall “Da Spyder” Grove (11-6). Munoz is coming in to this fight with a 3 win streak.  Munoz has the better stand-up and wrestling skills.  Grove, a former Ultimate Fighter winner, has a six inch height advantage and better bjj skills.  The question becomes will Grove be able to use his reach advantage to prevent takedowns?  If taken down will he be able to submit Munoz?  I think not.

Prediction: “The Philippine Wrecking Machine” wrecks “Da Spyder.”  Munoz win by TKO.

  • Matt Hughes (43-7) vs. Renzo Gracie (13-6-1)
    Hughes     will have the wrestling, strength and experience advantage.  He’ll also be the crowd favorite.  While it’s true that Hughes is no longer as young as he once was, he won’t have to be.  Gracie is 43 years old, hasn’t had an MMA fight in three years and in the five years before that had won only once while losing six times.

Prediction: Hughes win via unanimous decision.

  • BJ “The Prodigy” Penn (15-5-1) vs. Frankie “The Answer” Edgar (11-1)
    Edgar     is a tough kid with a great record.  He’s a small lightweight, but that hasn’t stopped him from imposing his will in previous fights.  Of course in previous fights, he wasn’t facing “The Prodigy.”  Edgar’s greatest strength, besides his toughness, is his wrestling.  Unfortunately for him, Penn’s takedown defense is legendary.  Penn has not lost a fight at this weight class in eight years and he’s faced the best in the division.

Prediction: “The Prodigy” knows “The Answer” to defeating Edgar.  Penn win via submission.

  • Anderson “The Spider” Silva (25-4) vs. Demian Maia (12-1)
    If Maia can get Silva to the ground things could interesting.  I just don’t see that happening.  Silva is the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world and although Maia is world class, as in Highlander, there can only be one, and that, at least right now, is Anderson Silva.

Prediction: Silva wins by KO.

We’ll know the results later today.  They’ll be posted here tonight or tomorrow.

“The Vega Brothers”

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Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction are my two favorite Quentin Tarantino movies.  For years Tarantino has teased fans about a potential movie featuring Vincent Vega [John Travolta from Pulp Fiction] and Vic Vega [Michael Madsen from Reservoir Dogs].  As the years drug on, every now and again a rumor would start about The Vega Brothers movie and how Tarantino was going to do it.  But the rumors turned out to be just that.  I gave up hope of ever seeing The Vega Brothers movie.

Two days ago, Michael Madsen gave an interview to WAAF [a Boston radio station].  A question came up about The Vega Brothers movie and Madsen said that Tarantino had finally figured out how to make it work.  You can see Madsen explaining Tarantino’s plan here.

It would either be the stupidest thing ever — or perhaps the coolest.  Tarantino could pull it off.  LOL.  I’d love to see it.  My guess is that in the long run it’ll just end up being another one of those Vega Brothers movie rumors.

Mitch Byrd: Quite a Character

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I love Mitch Byrd’s art.  Check out the pencil sketch above and you’ll get a taste of why.  Although Mitch doesn’t do a lot of comic work, when he does, it’s always exciting.  This piece comes from Sketch magazine #37 and an article that Mitch wrote about making each character in a scene distinctive.

Hellboy in Mexico (Or, a Drunken Blur)

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If the title [Hellboy in Mexico (Or a Drunken Blure] doesn’t suck you in, and the Corben cover doesn’t do the trick, then maybe the Dark Horse Comics summary will…

During the 1950s, Hellboy caravans across Mexico with a trio of vampire-killing luchadores, finding the undead; evil turkeys; a terrible bat god; and a little too much tequila.

Reuniting Mike Mignola and Richard Corben, the creative team behind the Eisner Award-winning miniseries Hellboy: The Crooked Man!

There’s also a variant Mignola cover.  Make sure you let your local comic shop know you want a copy because this one shot is sure to go fast!