The Leporidae and the Felidae: A Love Story Bun Toon! Yay!

My brother from another scientific sub-order.

Sorry I wasn’t here last week.  I was in Kansas City, helping to raise money for the wonderful HERO INITIATIVE  (Click on the name and go donate!) so, I could not come to the Bun Toon.

But I did do something this week that I’ve been waiting to do for decades.

No punch line this week.

Just jumping for joy.

Ty the Guy OUT!

Long time readers of this Bunny blog are familiar with my connection to Avengers #58.

It all begins here

I’ve “re-imagined” the story at least twice while writing different Avengers books over the years, and make no secret of my love of the Vision.

But the Black Panther holds a similar place in my heart because of that issue, and I made a point of including Panther as often as I could manage it when working on Marvel projects.

When Dan Slott and I were putting together plans and ideas for the Spider-Man/Human Torch mini-series we did, Dan asked if I had any wishes for the plot.  “Black Panther” was my only request, and he appeared in issue #4.

When I was writing the AVENGERS UNITED mini-series in the early 2000s, I was given a set of Avengers to work with (Wasp, Vision, Hawkeye, Ant-Man, Wonder-Man, Tigra, Falcon) and Black Panther was not amongst them.

Nevertheless, in the premiere issue of that series, the Avengers first appear on page 2-3 in a sequence where they’re working out in the training room…

….You’ll notice Black Panther is there, in the background.  The story claims he’s “visiting” the mansion while he’s in New York, even though he’s not an Avenger.  I’m sneaky that way.

Some months later, the Avengers are captured by the Collector and find themselves on the Collector’s ship, in orbit around Earth.

…you’ll notice T’Challa is there, behind cap’s leg.  Apparently the Collector didn’t know The Panther wasn’t an Avenger and he captured him along with the team “accidentally”.

He’s there in the next couple of issues, too.

I made sure the Black Panther appeared in as many issues as the editor would let me get away with.  I wasn’t writing the Avengers without him.

Why?

Because the Black Panther is the ultimate heroic character.  He’s insanely wealthy, he’s king of his own country, he’s young, handsome and good looking and a genius inventor….but he spends his time helping the less fortunate instead of wallowing in his remarkable good fortune.  And unlike Batman, T’Challa’s not doing the heroic bit because of personal trauma or compulsion…he’s doing it because it’s the right thing to do.  It’s his moral position that those who can help, must help.

As a kid, I never wanted to be Batman, because of the whole orphaned childhood thing.  And I never wanted to be Superman…it’s too weird that you could fly.

But I wanted to BE Black Panther.

Who wouldn’t?

Some pages from the amazing “Panther’s Rage” story that introduced Killmonger and the whole concept of a two hundred page comic book story.  Art by Billy Graham (the other one).

Nice job on the movie, guys.  You could have screwed it up and ya didn’t.  Thank you from this happy five year old boy who waited patiently.

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Unconventional Bun Toons! YAY!

I didn’t go to any conventions this week, unlike the rest of the population.

 

While everyone is in San Diego comiconning, I’ve been hanging out at home, going to see Star Trek Beyond (quite good!  yay!) and going through some of my beat-up old Fifties comics…where I came across a cover that seemed far more relevant today than it was when it was first produced in 1958.

 

Of course, it can’t be Donald Trump, he would have been only twelve when this cover was produced, but the portrait bears a striking resemblance to the future Republican nominee.  Perhaps this is a case of life imitating art, and young Donald saw this cover, inspiring him towards a life of public service.

Ty the Guy OUT!

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The Jack Davis cover looks more like Trump that THIS one does…

SPECIAL BONUS BUN TOON:

San Diego Memories, from a cartoonist not currently there…

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For last week’s Bun Toon, click the image above.

For the ancient Bun Toon archives, click here.

 

 

What Does It Matter Bun Toons?

ATTENTION:  The rabbit is NOT a Pokemon.  He cannot be caught.

Today’s Bun Toon was the subject of a lengthy, lengthy discussion on my facebook page this week.

What I talk about, I toon about.

While there are folks who MEAN well when they say “All Lives Matter”, they are doing the work of people who want to belittle the black community and silence their cry of alarm.  Whatever you thought you meant by “All Lives Matter”, it’s not coming across as anything but rude jackassery in the face of neighbours who need your help.

If you wouldn’t say it to an ambulance, and you wouldn’t say it to a breast cancer survivor, think about why it’s okay to say it to BLM supports…

Ty The Guy OUT!

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The history of black characters in comics included some strongly offensive characters in the golden age:

Back in the 40s, The Spirit’s assistant/sidekick “Ebony White” was a character of contrasts:  Besides being a ghastly stereotype visually and verbally, he was a resourceful and brave character.

Marvel’s “Whitewash Jones” (one of the Young Allies Hostages being saved by Bucky and Toro, lower right) was the same sort of offensive visual.  Like Ebony, the character was brave, uneducated and loyal.

In the late 40s, a black journalist named Orrin Cromwell Evans founded “All-Negro Comics” publishing, a venture that lasted only one issue, unfortunately, as he could not get wholesalers to sell him the newsprint he needed to print his books on.

In the late 50s, Dell introduced LOBO, arguably the first mainstream African American comic book hero that wasn’t visually offensive.  Unfortunately, the series didn’t last very long, likely too liberal an idea for the times.

Jackie Johnson, a gunner for Sgt. Rock’s Easy Company, became mainstream comic’s first  continuing character with African heritage in 1960.

Jackie continued to appear as a support character in Sgt. Rock straight through to the 90s, fighting alongside Ice Cream Soldier, Little Sure Shot and Wildman in an integrated platoon that never would have seen action in the real World War II.

Jackie was quickly followed in the early Sixties by Gabe Jones, one of Sgt. Fury’s platoon in the Marvel version of the World War II Sergeant genre.

Ironically, Gabriel Jones and The Young Allies’ Whitewash Jones, were BOTH created by Jack Kirby…who went on to co-create the Black Panther, one of comics coolest heroes ever.

Face Front, true believers!

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(-Thanks to B.C. Holmes and Robert Klarer for the head’s up correction on All-Negro Comics. I’m late, but I correct.)

 

For the last Bun Toon, click here.

For the Bun Toon Archives of years past, click here.

 

 

Another Swan Song Bun Toon. Not So Yay!

This keeps happening. I think this whole “mortality” thing is just awful.

No preamble.  The Bun Toon says it all.

Okay, I did end up with Ringo’s signature, but it was at the insistence of a friend, not me.

Ty the Guy OUT!

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The signatures…

Rather than just looking at the artwork, let’s consider the man we lost this week at 89  years old….

That’s Murphy Anderson, looking dapper in the ever-present suit.

My middle name is “Murphy” by the way, so I had an EXTRA fondness for the only other person I’ve ever met who shares that moniker.

I really do think that these two comic books have more influence on me than any two comics ever published…

This was the first time I saw the “new” Superman of the 70s…Clark and Lois worked for a TV station, and Lois was starting to dress in modern clothes (Jimmy, not so much.)  The story (by Denny O’Neil) seemed more “grown-up” than the previous Superman stories I read.  This seemed like it was “mine”, and not the old fashioned stuff my older brothers used to read.

I still have my copies of these two issues, though they have long ago lost their covers (and I purchased nice new copies at a convention).  This one also introduced me to my life-long fondness of Nick Cardy (quite a cover, no?)…as it had a Teen Titans reprint found within.

These two comics started me down my path of obsessive collecting, which led to me learning to draw them (like Curt and Murphy if I could), which led me to working in the biz…

…Which led to me eventually taking Murphy’s job after he retired.

Yup.  I became Curt Swan’s inker about two years after I met them.  Did it for a while, and it was like nothing I can describe to wake up every morning working your dream job.

Curt Swan and I even co-created ARM FALL OFF BOY, the greatest comic character of all time.

But enough about me.
Let’s finish off looking at some Swanderson artwork in their prime…from Action Comics #410.  One of those first issues I ever bought, back when I was nine years old….

Damn.  Look how good that stuff still is!  Every drop of ink is in the right place.

Thanks for the fantastic ride, Curt and Murphy.  You were both unimaginable treasures of my youth, and you are both unimaginably missed.

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For last week’s nostalgic and yet, futuristic Bun Toon, click here.

For the increasingly un-updated Bun Toon archive, click here!

Ty Cannot Come to the Bun Toon Today!

If only I had the time to draw this well today…

With all the comic book tsuris that happened this week (Batgirl covers and all), I had lots to say in bunny form, but alas, my opinions are restricted to my mouth today, as I am attending a Comic Convention in Toronto, and am out of the house by 8.30 this morning.

Sheesh!

I’m having a great time (except for the lack of sleep) so come on down and say “hi”, and if I’m functioning and awake, I’ll do you a sketch, and mouth off about something pithy.

Yesterday I did this Miracle Man for a fan…literally HOURS after re-reading the 16 issue “Original Writer” reprints from Marvel earlier in the day. Talk about timing….

But if I’m muttering and snarly, I need sleep and might be about to pass away from exhaustion.  Then it’s best to ask for THIS character, as I can see her anyway…

Another Friday sketch from Toronto.

Ah, I’m kidding.  I’m still happiest drawing Batman.  I know what he looks like without reference.

Ty the Guy OUT!

So Sorry To Disappoint Bun Toons! Woah!

 

 

I’m in the middle of the most crazy deadline pressures of my adult life this last week as I wrap up Batman-Green Hornet and gear up for a quick, but fun visit with Spider-Man.   I’m so, so, so close to the bone with the deadlines that any waking moment not devoted to drawing Adam West and the gang is immoral and cruel to my editor (and colourist and letterer), so I’m afraid I have to run some RE-RUN TOONS this weekend.  (Only the second time I’ve done this in over four years of Bun Tooning! I’m NOT a failure.  I’m NOT!)

Since it’s Batman (and eventually Spider-Man) that are knocking my calendar days around, I figure it’s only fair to re-run some Bun Toons that feature ’em.

 

 Ty the Guy OUT! 

Bonus Comics on a Deadline Moment featuring my two favourite cartoonists:

 

 

 

For last week’s Bun Toon, drawn in a timely manner, click here

For the Bun Toon archive (where you could go find your own re-run toons) click here.

 

Simple and Easy Bun Toons! YAY!

I don’t want to hurt anyone’s brain…

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Based on a true story.

Ty the Guy OUT!

BONUS:  The not-at-all-secret origin of GOOD-MAN, written and drawn by a common street thief, down on his luck.

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For last week’s similarly themed Bun Toon, click here.

For Good-Man’s previous adventure, click here.

For the Bun Toon archive, which contains more than a few Good-Man Adventures, click here.

Everybody’s Happy Now Bun Toons! YAY!

Isn’t it nicer when everyone is happy? Sigh…

Hey, it’s in the news, it’s about comics, I have to make a comment.

There…I told you everyone was happy.

Ty the Guy OUT!

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The bonus moment is just as happy.  It was from Christmas a couple of years ago, and Christmas is always happy.

PS:  If you link back to this Bun Toon, try not to give away that it’s all about Jack, that’s sort of the punchline both times..

 

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For a link to a Bun Toon that’s all about ME for a change, click above.

More Bun Toons than you could reasonably read await after you click here.

 

Waking Up and Drawing

Too busy for anything but WorkWorkWork but I wanted to show off what I did for WAKE UP AND DRAW. So I’m going to write this Hemingway style.

Last week for WAKE UP AND DRAW, I woke up and drew. On the wrong sheet of paper.

Here’s my drawing:

Then I drew again on the official Hero Initiative page.

Here’s my drawing:

I was at FanExpo 2013 two weeks ago and gave a lecture on HOW TO PLOT YOUR STORY IN AN HOUR. Matt, of The Broken Couch, recorded it and put it up on YouTube.

Here’s a link to the video:

My WRITING FOR COMICS PART ONE workshop starts next week (I think there’s one space left, so let us know asap if you want it!). Click HERE to read about the class and the other two I will be teaching this fall, DRAWING THE HUMAN FIGURE FROM YOUR HEAD, and COMIC BOOK BOOTCAMP PART ONE.

Today’s Bonus Hemingway Moment:

 

It’s from artist Tom Gauld, but I couldn’t find a link to it on his own site so go check out his Tumblr  YOU’RE ALL JUST JEALOUS OF MY JETPACK.*

Sticky Bun Toons?

Ooh, look at the big shot, so BUSY with work.

I’m in the “so-late-with-my-latest-Marvel-project” zone that the clocks do nothing but terrify me, and have to spend the weekend catching up….(I want to have a job next month, you know.)

So…the Bun Toon had to be drawn in Stick Figure form this week, just to save time.

Of course, with the idea being that this was supposed to SAVE me time, the Jack Kirby and Frank Miller mock-ups took me EXACTLY as long as most Bun Toons do….sigh.

Ty the Guy OUT!

Of course, your Bonus Moment is the greatest Stick Figure Comic of all time:

Larry Marder’s Beanworld has been flying the Stick Figure Freak Flag since the 80s!

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For last week’s Bun Toon, click the plump, fully rendered family of rabbits above. (PS: It involves a free animated cartoon I wrote that you can watch here at Bun Toons Central!!!)

For The Bun Toon Archive, click the happy singing pastry.