I'm The Family Recycling Bin

My Aunt Ellen sent each of our family here in LA a box of fine chocolate for Christmas. The box's delicate bows had fairly heavy duty tubes around them to protect in shipping. My Mom passes me the one from hers saying...

"I'm sure you'd want this to make something with?"

Before I could answer, the rest of the family starts passing me their tubes. Thank you Aunt Ellen and everyone...you shouldn't have.

A Star Wars Christmas Morning

I was going through old photos today and found the picture above. It's me Christmas morning in 1978 or '79 with my new Star Wars Electronic Battle Command Game. I was waiting for Aunts, Uncles and Cousins to arrive and begin the day's festivities. I remember never really figuring out how to play it well but it was hours of fun trying.

MEOW! MEOW! MEOW! MEOW! MEOW!

The Fiancee has gone back East for the Holidays. I've nobly stepped in and assumed care for the cats. I've also underestimated the amount of attention they usually get from her.

Tell tale signs...

of a disgruntled employee assigned to decorate the office.

My Halloween idea gears are spinning...

to the point of breaking thanks to this video.

My Niece's First Comic Shop Visit

You would think above everyone in the family, it would be my idea to take her to a comic book shop, but it wasn't.


Over the weekend, I wanted to visit a new store that opened in town. Having dinner with my Dad on Friday, I mentioned it. To my surprise, he said he wanted come along.

Then he paused and looked at me. I could see it in his eyes...a silent reality dawning that we were talking about a COMIC book shop. There has been a wonderful acceptance from my Father over the years towards my arrested development and love of all things geeky and dorky. At that moment though, I knew there was a line he couldn't cross and be comfortable. He needed a good reason to stand in a whole store dedicated to that culture with his fully grown son.

He smiled and said...

"Heeeey...we should bring Devin!"

And so that's how my Niece ended up getting to pick out her very first Marvel comic ...

Come On!

Get happy about the first day of Christmas...

A Werewolf Moon

It was 4 am. I woke up last night for no real reason and go to the kitchen for something to drink. I notice how bright and amazing the moon looked. Clouds moving past as if out of a werewolf movie. Next thing I realize, I'm standing barefoot in my backyard taking pictures of the sky. Growling and howling that I can't find the right exposure setting to really capture it.

The neighbors must think I'm a lunatic. Maybe I'll just tell 'em I've been cursed by an old Gypsy woman.

Drew Struzan At Work

It's always inspiring and just plain cool to see an artist who's work you enjoy creating it...

Goodbye Forry Ackerman

Click on image to enlarge.

When I was a little kid, the perfect Saturday started with constant spinning of the TV knob trying to watch all the morning cartoons at once on every channel. Hours tearing up the house and yard with my GI Joe followed. Late afternoon would be spent finishing and displaying my newest Aurora model kit. I'd then wind down reading my comics or Famous Monsters of Filmland magazines waiting for Mom's call to dinner from downstairs.

Thank you Uncle Forry. You were a big part of my childhood.

Waiter! There's a Fly in my Artery!

Back in 2001, I was working on the Battlestar Galactica proposal for FX artist Vincent Guastini. At the time, he was also doing creatures and make-up for the horror film INFESTED. It told the tale of mutant flies who lay eggs in people's veins. One shot needed to see the eggs and a vein interior. Because it would be fairly large and closer to a set than a make up effect, Vinnie asked me to help. These pictures are courtesy of writer/ director Josh Olsen. Thank you Josh!


It needed to come together fairly fast. Being anatomically accurate gave way to artistic license so it would look extra eerie, weird and creepy. I made a forced perspective frame of concentric circles about 6' to 7' long, curving to one side.


Over the frame, I stretched and glued sheets of rubber latex, letting wrinkles and creases happen where it looked organic and natural.


Next came airbrushed shading and blue veins. The "set" was decorated with tightly stretched scraps of latex. Vinnie took over, goring and gooing the whole thing up with his magic.


I remember him joking that his place was looking more like ILM than a creature shop.

Lookie What He Can Do!

Right after the Bumble put the star on, he went ahead and started decorating the whole tree for us. It's still a work in progress. It turns out Bumbles are decorating perfectionists...who knew?

The 25 Days of CRYPT-MAS!

Today, my web comic Para Abnormal begins 25 days of holiday cartoons. Hope you visit daily!