Happy 4th of July! (a day or two late)

Variations on a Boo

Been dealing with a summer cold...Finally getting around to posting these. More to cum...

Vacation Sketches: New York

A Day at Blatino Oasis!

Since the final installment of 'A Day in th' Life' coincided with my appearance in Palm Springs at Blatino Oasis, I thought I'd do this special illustration of Billy and Dane attending and give you just a brief glimpse of my experience there. Amazing! It's been almost 8 years since their last appearance and they haven't aged a day! We should all be cartoons...well, on purpose, I mean.
Anyway, Blatino Oasis was a friggin' BLAST! For those of you who didn't attend, I'm sure the word of mouth will insure that you're headed to lovely (and HOT) Palm Springs next year! For a first event of it's kind, it went off glitch-free, at least as far as I saw and everyone seemed to have a wonderful time. Thanks to the organizers of ClubRimshot.com for inviting me and treating me very very well. A lesson to all other organizers of these type of events, prides, etc.: Joe and Mark do it right! They treated all of us who they invited like royalty, paid for our accomdations and travel, made sure we were comfortable and all the while dealt with the paying guests who attended from all across and out of the country. Usually, with these type of events, the organizers make it seem like you should be lucky they invited you. This time, however I felt I was lucky because this was a unique event. Another special shout out to the owners of Helios where the festivities I attended were held. It's a great space for this type of event and they couldn't have been more friendly. It was a very warm open, festive environment in a very sex positive space. Folks were free to express themselves anyway they liked as long it was respectful to the other attendees. Being in a secluded enviroment let people feel free to let their hair down (so to speak).
I had the pleasure of accepting my award along with Tiger Tyson (a really down to earth guy who is really cool with his fans) from Karamu from the Real World. My speech was totally off the top of my head, next time I'll just say 'thank you'. LOL. But the award is cute on my mantle. However, the best part of the whole event like any of these events I attend, is always getting to meet my peeps( i hate that word, but it makes me sound 'friendly') who attended and picked up books and tee-shirts from me. I truly have the best fans in the world! All in all, I hope to be a permanent fixture at this event for many years to come. Book your reservation now for next year!

A Day In The Life Episode 15: the Conclusion

So around the time I was doing this story, the magazine it was appearing in, Kick, suspended publication. The little magazine that could decided it coudn't any longer. I completely understood the publisher's desire to get on with his life and around this time a lot of the homegrown black gay rags began to fold one by one. Mainstream culture had caught on to the afro homo thug aesthetic and stole some of the novelty of the magazines away. I mean what is gayer than Vibe magazine these days? What the mainstream magazines didn't steal from the small gay press, the internet rendered moot by providing an new open haven for information (depending on who you ask...). Anywho, so here it is, the last strip for "A Day in the Life". It was a short,sweet run and a very challenging but rewarding experience. Who knows? Maybe someday I'll revisit Billy and Dane....Until then, enjoy!

A Day In The Life Episode 14

a Day In The Life Episode 13

A Day In The Life Episode 13

A Day In The Life Episode 12

A Day In The Life Episode 11

Ok, when I first started reprinting these strips, I was pleasantly surprised how they had held up over time and not been terribly dated. This entry, however, is whole other can of Spaghetti-Os. It's very specific and quite 'policitcal' for me but reflects some of the conversations going on in the aftermath of The Million Man March. How long ago, and how almost totally forgotten that event has become it seems. I think we were all hopeful about the prospects of this country to change....and then came Bush...Oy. Anyway, it 'tis what it 'tis. Enjoy!

A Day In The Life Episode 10

Reminder: Blatino Oasis This Weekend in Palm Springs! Come Meat...er, Meet Me!

A Day In The Life Episode 9

This panel brings back memories of when the black gay prides were fun and not just about making money....

A Day In The Life Episode 8

...And now back to our program already in progress...
As I recall, this had to be cranked out in a hurry and it shows. Anyway, enjoy! And thanks to everyone who wished me a happy B-day! Muuuuuaaaaah!
ps Technically, it's 7:34 am here in AmDam ( I bet they hate when folks call it that...) and shortly I'll be getting in the Tardis and going back in time to LA LA...I hope I can sleep the entire flight....

Happy Birthday, Belasco!

I'm taking a day off from revisiting "A Day In Th' Life" to wish a happy birthday to a person without whom this blog wouldn't be possible: MEEEEEE! Yup, it's my boithday and I'm spending it appropriately enough in Amsterdam. A beautiful city. Legal marijuana and live sex shows. What's not to love? Actually, it's much more than that and I highly recommend it as a destination for anyone who hasn't partaken (partook?) of it's charms. Also a very special shout out to my pen-pal, Jerry, who has been a great host and become a new found friend!
I've done tons of drawings while on sabbatical and to say some of them are quite trippy would be an understatement. Can't wait to share them but I'll finish posting the ADNTHL strips first. Also a reminder to anyone in the Palm Springs area this weekend coming, I'll be there on Saturday as one of the guests of honor at Blatino Oasis! They're giving me and Tiger Tyson an award for services rendered or good servicing or something like that. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a gold plated dildo, so keep hope alive. I suppose this is a life time achievement award in gay years...Anyway, I look forward to meeting and shaking everyone's freshly sterilized hand (like Kelly Ripa said to Clay Aikin, " I don't know where that hand's been...") Lol. Until then, "Goedemiddag!" (Good afternoon...and if you think that's spelled funny, you should try the word for "hand jobs in the alley" ....But I kid.....I keeeeeeeeeeed.

A Day In The Life Episode 7

A Day In The Life Episode 6

Can anyone who's been reading these things closely spot the huge mistake I made in this strip? As I recall the time I wrote and drew this, I was also doing a Boo story for GBM magazine as well as juggling a demanding day job. It's pretty funny that I only caught the mistake after digging these strips out after all this time!

A Day In The Life Episode 5

A Day In The Life Episode 4

Ok, so I'm on vacation, not bored, but I have an annoying habit of traveling to another city (in this case, New York) then doing exactly what I would be doing if I were at home which in this case would be blogging from a coffee house. I've been in this Starbucks in Greenwich village for about five hours now. Oh my. And I thought Los Angeles had the market cornered on delusional mental cases (not to be politically incorrect but these folks are one taco shy of a combination plate!)But otherwise the eye candy has been dandy! I do love New York! So anyway, here's another strip. Hopefully, you get a chuckle out of it.

A Day In The Life Episode 3

After doing the first few "A Day in the Life" strips, I quickly began stream-lining and simplifying the characters. Most artists I think find after they draw a character repeatedly, they end up finding ways to draw that character in the most economical way possible. Looking back at these strips after having done them almost ten years ago, I see the evolution of them more clearly. The first couple I've posted were definitely done under the influence of Tim Barela, the creator of Leonard and Larry, one of the oldest gay slice of life comics that I knew of and a big inspiration to me as to how I would do "A Day In the LIfe". The strips to follow are much more in my own cartoonier style.