Laugh Tracks

Allison Garwood Wants YOU to Draw Haiku Ewe!

Allison Garwood, creator of the colorful single-panel cartoon Haiku Ewe, needs your help!

Here's the scoop, from Allison herself:

HAIKU EWE'S ILLUSTRATOR FOR A WEEK CONTEST!

Have you always wondered what it would be like to illustrate a comic about a sheep who speaks in haiku? Now is your chance!!

I (Big Al, the gal) tore a ligament in my drawing hand (long story involving an angry shark and some floss) and I want YOU to illustrate a week of Haiku Ewe for me! Email a sketch of the following haiku to haikuewe@gmail.com:

Friends suggest mischief
Though farmer strictly forbids
It looks really fun

The best drawing will win its creator a week as the Haiku Ewe illustrator! I'll email the other four haikus for that week and you can get to work. Your artwork will be seen by thousands of people and it will go live the week of July 27-31, 2009.

* Deadline for entries is midnight July 3, 2009.
** Winner will be announced July 6, 2009.
*** No entries from family members of Big Al, the gal, or Haiku Ewe will be considered.
**** Please note: Rough sketches are fine, submissions don't need to be final art, but please keep the files small!

Sincerely,
Allison Garwood
a.k.a. Big Al, the gal

Well, what are you waiting for? Your Haiku Ewe contest entry isn't gonna draw itself! Get crackin'!

Free Eisner Awards App for iPhone and iPod Touch!

Uclick has announced the release of a free Eisner Awards app for iPhone and iPod Touch. The app gives a brief background of the Will Eisner Comics Industry Awards and their namesake, legendary comics creator Will Eisner, as well as information and images of each of the nominated works in the 26 award categories.

The app will update to note the winners shortly after they are announced at a special ceremony at the San Diego Comic Con on July 24.

To download the free Eisner Awards app for your iPhone or iPod Touch, click here or on the image below (launches iTunes).

I regret to inform you ...

... my pal, and fellow blogger, Lucas Wetzel is no longer with UPS. Good luck, sir. We'll miss you.

-JG

GoComics.com Reviewed by The Daily Cartoonist!

The new GoComics.com has been reviewed by Alan Gardner of The Daily Cartoonist, and it's safe to say he likes what he's seen:

"From where I sit, any feature launching today has about five years to battle it out for a limited newspaper slot. After that, its promise will be on the web. If I were to pick a partner with whom to launch, their digital strategy and capabilities would weigh heavily on my mind. Right now, Universal Press and Uclick has the upper hand in that department.”

Click here to read the entire post.

See Ziggy's Tom Wilson Jr. on Fox News

click here for video

-JG

Pay more, get less.

One of the things that baffles me about the comics industry is the rationalization of editors to stick with tired, old comics (which are almost always more expensive) vs. more contemporary, higher-quality fare.

Is there another industry where higher cost/lower quality is accepted as rampantly as in newspaper comics? It's infuriating.

And I know all the "humor is subjective" and "editors are giving the readers what they want" arguments.

And, yes, humor is subjective, but there's a difference between "Calvin and Hobbes" and "Johnny G's Calvalcade of Hilarity" (which is a strip I'm developing in an alternate universe ... long story).  

And readers hate change. So, saying you are giving them what they want is a cheap excuse for maintaining the status quo. Aim higher. Judge each comic on its merits. You are the editor. Now go forth and edit!

-JG

Paul explains it all

Here at the editor's blog, we do our best to give you a behind-the-scenes peek at the way the submissions process works, all while spotlighting some of our favorite cartoons. What's even more fun is hearing cartoonists themselves speak about their work and how they come up with some of their crazier ideas. On his most recent post at PoochCafe.com, Paul Gilligan is kind enough to explain the meaning of one of his most scintillating Sunday strips to date. 

And while you're on his site, make sure to scroll down until you see the pictures of Poncho pre and post Mexican feast. If all goes as planned, that'll be me in a few hours. 

-LW

Make your own rules

I've been greatly enjoying this week of Cleats, in which Edith, Jack and Katie each invent their own versions of classic games such as H.O.R.S.E., baseball and skipping rope. 

Editor's blog disclaimer: Do not try these at home. At least not the baseball heading. That could be painful. 

-LW

September Mourn? Not anymore!

 

Good gravy. I am excited. Book #2 of "Cul De Sac" hits the shelves in September. Check out the cover. As you witness, Richard is also an exceptionally talented watercolorist (is there anything he can't do?).

-JG

Mark Tatulli and Dave Coverly on Tall Tale Radio!

Mark Tatulli (Lio) and Dave Coverly (Speed Bump), winners of this year's Reuben awards for Newspaper Comic Strip and Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year, respectively, were recently interviewed by Tom Racine for Tall Tale Radio. Listen here.