Back at it.

This is the first night of painting in quite some time. Thank you to all of the coffee growers out in the world for giving me this opportunity to get back into it. We have been a little busy here at the homestead with the arrival of our third child. This normally is a tiring experience, but due to the combination of Foster's oil cans and coffee, it has given me a small window in which to get some of the work done that I would like to.

I really hate refering to it as "work". It is more of a hobby or even a passion. Actually, passion might be a bit much. Shouldn't it be a passion? Aassion should be something that you can't live without. Breathing is a passion. Carving wood is not as important. I do not see myself dying from not carving wood. Hobby sounds like I might be scouring the aisles of Micheal's looking for the exact size of styrofoam ball for my nativity scene. Well shit, I don't know how to classify it. Ah! I will refer to it as Papa's Fun Time!

Anyhow, I am hoping you have read the return to comics by Brian K. Vaughn. His new book is called The Saga. I really like it, but this isn't a review page. If you would like reviews please visit the comicast that I participate in at I Kick Your Face Comicast. (shameless plug) I have been working on carving and painting the main character in order to send it to the writer as a gift. It feels as though it might be the equivalent of a tween writing to Bieber, but I am going to do it! I am hoping for a signed headshot in return.

Ugh, back to work! (hobbying)

Avengers Assemble!

The Avengers vs. X-men came out today and I just read it with my son. It set up what should be an epic battle between one team containing upwards of 16 people and the other team which has Namor. I don't read X-Men at all, so you can imagine my surprise that Namor was on the mutant side. Why should anyone on the Avengers fear an amphibian?

When reading these "vs." books, I think it is only right to pick which side you are rooting for. According to my boy, Black Panther is the keystone to the whole series. I found this a little odd, but four year old boys are typically odd anyway.

If I had to pick, I would want the Avengers to whip up on that whining Cyclops and turn that Namor into a bucket of chum.

That's my opinion, whose side are you on?

IT Guy

So the IT dude at my company made a remark to me the other day about how he hasn't seen very many new characters lately. After I explained to him how I had lost my whole marketing team,(my wife)and had to rely on myself to take over the Facebook responsibility. Definitely not my strong suit. On a side note, another one of the things on my "not-strong-suit-side"; drinking out of a Foster's oil can. For some reason it infuses my lungs with lager and I spend the whole night coughing. It is better to stick to the tall boys of Modelo.

Anyway, while I blame the world for my technology shortcomings and all of it's computer crap and crazy robot phones, I have come to realize that it really is all my fault. It is all my fault that I haven't been carving as much. I just haven't. the good thing is that I have gotten back into a groove. Here is one of my latest.

Now relax kids! This is 12 inches of web-tastic Spidey! As always, he is looking for a good home to protect!!

Comicast

Some people have book clubs while others sit around and talk about sports. Those who read comics need to talk with others about what they are reading. It is law. I was reading books without having anyone to talk to about what I was loving or hating. While I love reading comics, it felt empty. I am drawn to discussion with friends about fictional characters. For this exact reason, when I got a call from my furry friend in Chicago to start a podcast about comics, I needed to jump on it.

How do you know if this podcast is worth listening to? You need to ask yourself if you like listening to four guys talk about comic reviews and upcoming movies. Do you like soup? Have you ever wondered what is your best course of action when confronted with a gamma-radiated monkey? Is there such a thing as a space-cowboy? (Obviously there is. It's the bad-ass from Fear Agent!) Do you like talking about gardening? The latest developments in the Vampire/Vampyre genre? Norwegian Meat Metal?

If you answered yes to at least one of these, then the I Kick Your Face Comicast is perfect for you!!! Please do yourself, and ourselves, a favor and check it out. I am more than 26% sure that you will not be dissappointed for 11% of the hour long show.

Oldies

I have just finished up some characters for a lady that I know here in town. She was looking for some guys that I would have never thought to do otherwise. She had asked me for the Phantom and The Rocketeer. I was a little intimidated at first. I wasn't sure how these would look carved in wood. I gave it a go and thought that my style actually went along pretty well with these two. Here are the old chaps.

I really need to get my assistant back. She was so much better at taking pictures than I am with my flip phone.

Here is one of The Roceteer from the side.