Interview: MAD Magazine’s John Ficarra and Nick Meglin on ‘Don Martin: Three Decades of His Greatest Works’

MAD Magazine, Don Martin cover art, March 1974

MAD Magazine, Don Martin cover art, March 1974

Don Martin. We know his uniquely surreal and eccentric cartoons from MAD Magazine. Who better to shed light on Don Martin, and the world of MAD, than longtime MAD editors Nick Meglin and John Ficarra. Mr. Meglin goes back to the early years of MAD. He retired in 2004 but remains a contributing editor. Mr. Ficarra was brought on board by Mr. Meglin and the two worked together for many years. Both men are quick with a joke and just a pleasure to talk to. The subject for this interview is the uproariously funny work of Don Martin and “MAD’s Greatest Artists: Don Martin: Three Decades of His Greatest Works,” a 272-page hardcover published by Running Press and available as of November 11.

Continue reading

3 Comments

Filed under Comics, Don Martin, Interviews, John Ficarra, MAD magazine, Nick Meglin, pop culture

Zeusvision Democratizes Outdoor Advertising and Makes It Affordable for Everyone

Zuesvision-Digital-Double-Decker-Bus-Disney

Zeusvision levels the outdoor advertising playing field in an exciting and innovative way and makes it affordable for anyone to get their message out. You’ll be hearing a lot more about Zeusvision in the days and months to come. Let’s start with a closer look now.

“Outdoor advertising is an elitist business. I want to bring the power of large-scale outdoor media within reach of the average person.” –Giovanni Wolfgang, CEO, Zeusvision

Here’s a great way to look at it in a nutshell: Think of Zeusvision as a huge iPhone™ on wheels that can position itself wherever the client desires, delivering customized multimedia messages and experiences for as little as $99.

Today’s tech makes it possible to do things unheard of, or just beyond reach, a generation ago. So, it makes perfect sense, and it’s perfect timing, for Zeusvision, digital double decker buses that can get your message out into hot spots, with lots of people traffic, at a price anyone can afford.

More details follow from our friends at Zeusvision:

Continue reading

Leave a comment

Filed under Marketing, pop culture, Technology, Zeusvision

Review: ‘MAD’s Greatest Artists: Don Martin: Three Decades of His Greatest Works’

Don Martin, MAD Magazine, June 1974

Don Martin, MAD Magazine, June 1974

By 1974, MAD magazine had hit an all-time high in popularity, selling more than 2 million copies per issue. It was also the height of the Watergate scandal, Vietnam War protests, and the counterculture. MAD helped bring about the age of subversive satire that we see today everywhere from “The Simpsons” to “The Daily Show.” It was the underground before there was an underground. And, among the wackiest of cartoonists, in fact, “MAD’s Maddest Artist,” was Don Martin. Martin was from some other planet. “MAD’s Greatest Artists: Don Martin: Three Decades of His Greatest Works,” published by Running Press, lets you see this extraterrestrial cartoonist at his best.

Continue reading

8 Comments

Filed under Art, Art books, Book Reviews, Books, Cartoons, Comics, Don Martin, MAD magazine

SEA/PDX: Getting To Know Max #2

SEA-PDX-Hotel-Max-0001

SEA-PDX-Hotel-Max-0002

SEA-PDX-Hotel-Max-0003

SEA-PDX-Hotel-Max-0004

SEA-PDX-Hotel-Max-0005

SEA-PDX-Hotel-Max-0006

2 Comments

Filed under Comics, Hotel Max, Max at Hotel Max Comics, SEA/PDX, Webcomics

Movie Review: FROM INSIDE, Directed by John Bergin; Original Music by Gary Numan & Ade Fenton

From-Inside-John-Bergin-Gary-Numan-2014

John Bergin is a very interesting illustrator. He’s out there. He’s got a touch of gonzo to his style. He’s a cross between Ralph Steadman, Dave McKean and Tomi Ungerer. Just the sort of chap you’d want to guide you through a dystopian nightmare such as “From Inside,” his animated adaptation to his graphic novel of the same name.

Continue reading

Leave a comment

Filed under animation, Comics, Dave McKean, John Bergin, Ralph Steadman, Tomi Ungerer

Review: FATHER’S DAY #1 (of 4)

Fathers-Day-Mike-Richardson-Dark-Horse-Comics

Mike Richardson has hit a home run with “Father’s Day,” which shows no signs of losing momentum with its first issue. As the founder, president, and publisher at Dark Horse Comics, Mr. Richardson also finds time to write and has contributed a variety of work (The Secret, Cut, Atomic Legion). With “Father’s Day,” there’s a palpable sense of purpose to this story of conflict between a daughter and her long estranged father, twenty years of estrangement to be exact. And there’s more to this quirky crime thriller, plenty more.

Continue reading

Leave a comment

Filed under Comics, Comics Reviews, Dark Horse Comics, Gabriel Guzmán, Mike Richardson

Horror Movies 2014: THE BABADOOK Arrives November 28, 2014 (Theatrical and VOD); October 30 (DirectTV)

The-Babadook-IFC-Midnight

Editor’s Note: Read my review of “The Babadook” right here.

IFC Midnight has got you covered for Halloween and beyond with a new genre film called THE BABADOOK.

Kim Newman, of EMPIRE MAGAZINE, describes it as, “one of the strongest, most effective horror films of recent years – with awards-quality lead work from Essie Davis, and a brilliantly-designed new monster who could well become the break-out spook archetype of the decade.”

The film premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival Midnight Section and it absolutely terrified audiences ever since. The film is a psychological thriller in the tradition of Polanski’s classic domestic horror (Rosemary’s Baby, The Tenant, Repulsion). In addition, The BABADOOK just won the “Best Horror Feature, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, and Best Actress” Awards at the 2014 Fantastic Fest. The film is coming out theatrically on November 28th but it also has an exclusive debut with Direct TV starting October 30th so Direct TV subscribers will have a chance to catch the film in their home on Halloween!

Continue reading

Leave a comment

Filed under Halloween, Horror, Horror Movies, Sundance Film Festival

Horror Movies 2014: ‘Blood Ransom’ Starring Anne Curtis and Alexander Dreymon to Premiere in L.A. on October 28, 2014

Anne-Curtis-Blood-Ransom-LA-Premiere

We all love a good horror movie. Keep an eye out for “Blood Ransom,” which will hit select theaters on Halloween in North America, Friday, October 31, 2014.

“Blood Ransom” will have its premiere in L.A. at Arclight Hollywood, 6360 W Sunset Blvd, on October 28, 2014, at 8pm. It stars Alexander Dreymon (American Horror Story: Coven & BBC America series The Last Kingdom), Philippine’s #1 actress & People Asia’s National Sweetheart, Anne Curtis.

Blood Ransom tells the story of Jeremiah, caught in the middle of an ill-fated plot to kidnap Crystal, his boss Roman’s beautiful young girlfriend. If that isn’t complicated and dangerous enough, there are some pretty fierce vampires to deal with too.

For more information, visit the Blood Ransom website here.

Continue reading

Leave a comment

Filed under Halloween, Horror, Horror Movies, movies, Vampires

SIC 2014: PIKE UP! Your Chance To Be Part of the Pike Place Market New Waterfront Entrance

Pike-Up-Pike-Place-Market-New-Waterfront-Entrance

Pike Place Market, New Waterfront Entrance

Pike Place Market, New Waterfront Entrance

“Pike Up!” That’s the call to action to help secure a once-in-a-lifetime improvement to one of Seattle’s beloved landmarks, Pike Place Market. At this year’s Seattle Interactive Conference, an audience was treated to a presentation by two of Seattle’s leading agencies, Wexley School for Girls and Slalom Consulting, to discuss the campaign to complete the 40-year vision to connect the Market to Seattle’s waterfront. It’s quite a job ahead and Pike Up! is a campaign that taps into the excitement and significance of this project.

Continue reading

Leave a comment

Filed under Interactive, Media, Pike Place Market, Seattle, Seattle Interactive Conference, SIC, SIC 2014, Technology, Web, Wexley School for Girls

Review: THE HOSPITAL SUITE by John Porcellino

John-Porcellino-The-Hospital-Suite

John Porcellino has a remarkable thing with his ongoing self-published zine, “King-Cat Comics and Stories.” This is a zine, and mini-comic, that has been around for 25 years. King-Cat dates back to 1989 and, in all that time, John P has shared his life with his readers. For his new book, “The Hospital Suite,” published by Drawn and Quarterly, he focuses on one aspect of his life and turns his personal journey into a universal one.

Continue reading

3 Comments

Filed under Alternative Comics, Comics, Comix, Drawn and Quarterly, John Porecellino, mini-comics, Self-Published, Short Run, Small Press, Small Press Expo, Spit and a Half, Zines