The Rotten Adventures of Zachary Ruthless

Warning! Beware! Danger! Caution!

The Rotten Adventures of Zachary Ruthless- the new book series I'm illustrating is out on evil shelves now! I'm so thrilled to be working on this fun and funny series written by Allan Woodrow and published by Harper Collins.

Zachary Ruthless is a ten year old boy determined to become the next big super villain. Along with his henchman, Newt, they set out to turn Plentyville's mayor into a zombie and make him do their evil bidding. They hope to be inducted into S.O.U.R.B.A.L.L.S.- the evil society of super villains, led by Mr. Maniacal.

Learn more about Zachary Ruthless, tremble at the Rogues Gallery, and browse the shop at Evilbadguystuff.com (the number one evil gadget web site on the planet, and probably the universe). There's a super villain posted very month so keep checking the site. This month- Knock Knock (The Joker's third cousin, once removed)!

You can buy the book at these places-
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Borders
Indie Bound

The next book - The Stench of Goodness is out later this year.

Cover for Book 1

Zombie Laser

Evil Blimp Headquarters for S.O.U.R.B.A.L.L.S.

What's Black and White and Stinks All Over?

What's Black and White and Stinks All Over?

Book four of the George Brown, Class Clown book series for Penguin I'm illustrating is out now! George and the gang head to the park for outdoor class scavenger hunt and run into a stinky skunk.

Check out the George Brown Website for more book and purchase info. You can also send a Super Burp to your friends.


Sample spreads from What's Black and White and Stinks All Over...

Baseball Player Characters

There were two things I hated while growing up - math and baseball. So I couldn't pass up an opportunity to face my demons and design dozens of baseball players for a project that would meld the two together. Glad I did it because it was fun going back to look for characterful players from my youth- especially the 1982 Milwaukee Brewers. The project was to create several players for each position for a series of baseball cards that would come in a workbook for classrooms to help teach students about math and statistics.

Above are some of the front action shots and below are the character's profile mug shots.

I'll leave you with this-

Take me out to the ball game,
Take me out with the crowd;
Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack,
I don't care if I never get back.
Let me root, root, root for the home team,
If they don't win, it's a shame.
For it's one, two, three strikes, you're out,
At the old ball game.

Awards for Paul Bunyan Graphic Novel

The Tall Tale of Paul Bunyan, the graphic novel I illustrated last year has won a few awards!

Paul Bunyan has been selected for 3x3's Children's Illustration Show in the Book Cover division. 3x3 is a magazine showcasing the best of contemporary illustration around the world. Big honor to be a part of it. It's appearing in their Illustration Annual No. 7 now. Order it here.

Paul Bunyan also won a gold at the Moonbeam Children's Book Awards for Best Children's Graphic Novel of 2010. "The Moonbeam Children's Book Awards are intended to bring increased recognition to exemplary children’s books and their creators, and to celebrate children’s books and life-long reading." What awesome news- thank you!

You can buy Paul Bunyan at Amazon US, Amazon UK or a buncha other places!

Paul Bunyan, written by Martin Powell, is the third graphic novel I've done in the Graphic Spin series for Stone Arch Books. First two were the The Three Little Pigs and The Ugly Duckling.

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I also did an interview with Literary Asylum back during the Halloween season and forgot to post about it. Read about my process, inspiration and other nonsense HERE.

Matt from Literary Asylum has also interviewed the authors I collaborate with - Kevin Bolger (Zombiekins) and Allan Woodrow (The Rotten Adventures of Zachary Ruthless).

OK- that's enough of that. I'll post some artwork soon! Promise.

Zombiekins in the New York Times!

Zombiekins has made an appearance in last Sunday's New York Times. Thanks to 10 year old Marvin for reading it (and liking zombies)!

Here's the link on their website.

Zombiekins Animated Book Trailer

World's Worst Wedgie

World's Worst Wedgie, Book 3 of the George Brown, Class Clown book series I'm illustrating is out now! It's my favorite of the series so far- full of slimy worms, a backyard circus, mischievous hamsters and a mega embarrassing/painful wedgie! I forgot to mention in the last post that the George Brown books are hilariously written by Nancy Krulik, author of the popular of Katie Kazoo series.

Check out the George Brown Website for more book info and to send a Super Burp to your friends!

Synopsis-

In his continuing but mainly disastrous efforts to be an upstanding, responsible ten-year-old, George Brown decides it's time to earn some money. (There's also an expensive remote-controlled toy that he's been coveting.) But no matter what he tries whether it's working at his mother's craft shop, opening a lemonade stand, or setting up a backyard circus for neighborhood kids the magic burps erupt at exactly the wrong times and wreak havoc on George's entrepreneurial plans.

Pick your own Wedgie at-

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Indie Bound
Borders
Penguin

Sample spreads from World's Worst Wedgie...

George Brown, Class Clown!

B-U-U-U-U-R-R-R-P!

Introducing George Brown, Class Clown- the new book series I'm illustrating for Grossett Dunlap (a division of Penguin)! The books center around George trying to fit into a new school and to behave himself despite his past reputation as a troublemaker and class clown. But he is victim to the Super Burp- a humongous belch that makes him do weird and crazy stuff at the worst possible times. The first two books Super Burp and Trouble Magnet are out now. The third book in the series, World's Worst Wedgie will be in bookshops next month. Check 'em out in all of their belchy (and Blecha) glory!

Email a Classic, Long, Frog, Ripper, or Super Burp to special someone at the George Brown, Class Clown website.

The book covers-
Synopsis-

The first day at a new school is always the hardest, right? No, not always as George finds out the hard way. On the second day at . . . Sugarman Elementary School, he is suddenly seized by uncontrollable burps, burps so loud they practically break the sound barrier, burps that make him do wild and crazy stuff and land him in trouble with a capital T. One thing is for sure: these are not normal burps, they are magic burps – and they must be stopped! But how?

Sample spreads from Book 2 of George getting in various forms of trouble, courtesy of his Super Burp!

Lunch Lady trouble...

Doing his best squirrel imitation...

Playing with his band, "The Runny Noses"....

Stage diving after an infamous Super Burp!

Zombiekins!

Unbelievable, Uncontrollable, Undead... FUN!

I'm thrilled to announce that a new book for Penguin I've illustrated, Zombiekins, has shambled to the bookshelves! It's been over year in the works and I'm very happy how it turned out. The zombie book for kids is hilariously written by Kevin Bolger, whom I worked with previously on Sir Fartsalot vs The Dragon cartoon.

You can check out book excerpt, news and more at at www.zombiekins.com.

The synopsis-

The little town of Dementedyville is as boring as they come--but a mysterious stuffed animal is about to liven things up . . . Stanley Nudelman buys Zombiekins at the yard sale of his neighbor, the Widow Imavitch. It looks cuddly and creepy-cute--but expose the TEDDY OF TERROR to moonlight, and strange things happen. . . . When Zombiekins gets loose at his school, Stanley finds himself in GRAVE danger. Because if his teacher Mr. Baldengrumpy discovers he turned the whole school into zombies, Stanley will be in detention till he's, like, 80! Can Stanley and his best friend Miranda save their schoolmates from eternal zombiefication? If not, will Mr. Baldengrumpy even notice?
A few early reviews for Zombiekins-

“A contemporary riff on Dahl, but perhaps even funnier”
- Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“A very lively zombie tale that will no doubt be gobbled up by readers”
- Quill and Quire
You can buy Zombiekins at-

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Indie Bound

Powell's

A few samples of zombie mayhem...

Illustration Pages

My work is now featured on the excellent Illustration Pages- a site dedicated to showcasing artist's Facebook pages. Check out the rest of their inspirational posts.

Illustration Pages on Facebook

Thanks Lou!

Paul Bunyan Characters

Character designs for the
Tall Tale of Paul Bunyan graphic novel.
You'll find them lurking in the dark woods of the ol' Midwest.

The Tall Tale of Paul Bunyan Graphic Novel!

Ol' Bunyan is so big I could barely fit him on the cover!

T-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-MBER!

The Tall Tale of Paul Bunyan, a new graphic novel I've illustrated has lumbered to the shelves! It's a classic American Tall Tale hilariously retold by Martin Powell.

In this story we discover the Paul and his blue ox, Babe are the cause of the Grand Canyon, Lake Superior, the Smokey Mountains and many more American landmarks. The giant twosome also have epic battle royales with Bee-skeeters, Giant Saber-Toothed Beavers and Old Man Winter himself!


This is the third graphic novel I've done in the Graphic Spin series for Stone Arch Books. First two were the The Three Little Pigs and The Ugly Duckling. But this story was especially close to me because I grew up in Paul Bunyan country and have heard his legend told around campfires and have spied him looming over diners and rest stops throughout the highways of Wisconsin.

Paul Bunyan was designed by the super talented Bob Lentz- an art director at Stone Arch. Here's the Olde Timey Northwoods Shoppe (and character page) in the front of the book...


The climatic ending with Ol' Man Winter...


Other "Big Men" Johnny Appleseed, Pecos Bill and John Henry round out the Graphic Spin Tall Tale series. Have a look at John Henry- beautifully illustrated by Nelson Evergreen.

You can buy Paul Bunyan at Amazon US, Amazon UK or a buncha other places!

Three Little Pigs Graphic Novel- Best Illustrated of 2009

Original Sketch of The Big Bad Wolf

Ashbooks, a book review and community website has named The Three Little Pigs Graphic Novel one of the fifteen best illustrated children's books of 2009. Wow!

Read more HERE.

Santa's Little Helpers

Happy Elfin' Holidays Blogcha Readers!
Here's the Blecha card for this year. Hope you all are filled with the holiday spirit (vodka)!

Yes, Virginia Animated Holiday Special

This summer I was hired to design some background characters for an already-in-production animated Christmas special of Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus.

I'm not sure if any of my creations (below) made the final cut, but if you watch it, be on the lookout for any of these unsavory characters lurking in the background crowd scenes. It was a good exercise for me to keep my usual cartoony style to a minimum and try to keep clothing and facial features closer to realistic proportions.

The special is showing on CBS in the States on Friday, December 11th, , 8/7c. Sponsored by Macy's.

Directed by the talented Pete Circuitt.

Digital Arts Showcase

I'm one of the spotlight artists in the December issue of Digital Arts magazine. See my page below or I recommend buying one for tons of helpful tutorials and inspiring artwork.

Featured on Drawn!

My animation work on Kurfood and Leadwire has been featured on the awesome illustration and cartoon art blog, Drawn!

Check it out HERE!

Thanks Leif!

Interview with Ape on the Moon!

I was just interviewed by the contemporary illustration news site, Ape on the Moon, about my recent graphic novels, work process, and inspirations.

Read it here!


Thanks Alex!