Cartoonist and Friend Luisa Felix (1952 – 2013)

Just found out about the news of Luisa Felix’s passing.

Luisa Felix was a cartoonist, writer, peer and friend based in Hoboken, New Jersey. I don’t know the entire details. She died in January 2013.

According to this blog entry by cartoonist and publisher Paul Curtis, Luisa died of a stomach virus. It was complicated further by the power outages following Hurricane Sandy:

http://paulcurtis.livejournal.com/431990.html?view=1984630#t1984630

Luisa Felix had a love of films from the 1920′s and 1930s era. Inspired by actress Jean Harlow, Luisa created her character Candy Blondell.

Comic book character Candy Blondell created by Luisa Felix.

I had first met Luisa during the MoCCA Art Festival back in 2005 or 2006. She was a sweet lady who formed her own fantastic world through her comics. Here’s two of her front covers:

“Bury Me Not” comic by Luisa Felix.

“The Evil Cat” by cartoonist Luisa Felix. Featuring her main character Candy Blondell.

Luisa was a kind creative who was a regular fixture at the annual Indie comic con MoCCA Art Fest. It was there I first came in contact with her. A very sweet woman. When I first started taking my own comics and artwork seriously, she was one of the first comic creators who I befriended. Due to this, she kinda holds a special place in my memories. In addition, she was a wonderful artist.

Cartoonist Luisa Felix (1952 – 2013) at the MoCCA Art Festival. Photographer unknown.

Plans for a tribute in honor of this delightful female cartoonist is in the works.

Rest in peace Luisa.

Additional links:

http://comiccreatorsunited.blogspot.com/2010/03/luisa-felix-presents-candy-blondell.html

http://francisbonnet.com/archive/sft/?p=1136

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Review: This Is What We Do 2012

February here already? Time flies whether or not you’re having fun.

Last night was fun though, and here’s a brief review of last night’s event. Titled “This Is What We Do,” it took place over at the HillTap Tavern located in Elmhurst, Queens, NYC. The second annual event was created and hosted by fellow creator Sergio Zuniga. (Website:
http://www.beernutcomics.com/
)

This Is What We Do Flyer 2012

There were art, comics and prints for sales. Besides me and Sergio on the bill there was work from Amy Chace, Justin Melkmann (from the band WW9), Steve Pavlovsky, Thomas Doerrer, and Paul Benincasa.

Merch table and artwork

Artwork for sale

Sergio Zuniga's artwork

My Shuï Rhys painting. Originally exhibited in the The 2011 West Coast Eisteddfod: Welsh Festival of Arts in Los Angeles. Also published in the 2011 book "A Welsh Alphabet."

The three bands listed were The Barrens, Hidden Trax. Vol 1, and Losing Constitution.

The Barrens performing at HilltapFor the second year in a row, Liquid Light Lab put together awesome visuals for the show.

The Barrens live at This Is What We Do/Hilltap Tavern. Feb. 2012.

For the second year in a row, Liquid Light Lab put together awesome visuals for the show.

Liquid Light Lab aka, Steve Pavlovsky doing his thing, as Thomas Doerrer observes.

All in all a good night.

Hilltap Tavern 83-03 Grand Ave, Queens, NY 11373

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This Weekend: MoCCA Art Fest 2011

Okay, this is the deal. I’m going to have a small table at the MoCCA Art Fest 2011. (This weekend, tomorrow & Sunday) Whether or not I will have the latest mini-issue of Psycho Bunny ready, remains to be seen. Regardless, come by my table, say hi, and buy some of my artwork!

Poster For MoCCA Art Fest 2011. Artwork by Peter Kuper.

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NYCC 2010 Photos Part II

A week later, and here’s part two of the NYCC 2010 blog post.

During the the three-day weekend of the NYCC (New York Comic Con) 2011, I was stationed mostly behind my table. When Sunday rolled around, figured it was time for some quick explorations. Inside the Jacob Javits center, the NYCC took most of the main floor, while New York Anime Festival was downstairs.

Costumes from the NYCC/New York Anime Festival, Oct. 2010. Jacob Javits Center, NYC.

I’m not really familiar with the whole Manga/Anime/COS underworld. It’s not my thing, although I like some of Osamu Tezuka’s work. Like upstairs, the lower level where the Anime Festival was jammed packed.

Downstairs at the New York Anime Festival, Jacob Javits Center, NYC. Oct. 2010.

Upon entering the Anime section, it was crossing into a whole other world. The general age of this Anime/COS crowd was probably tweens, to early teens. Almost everyone other than the artists and vendors were sporting some kind of costume.

New York Anime Festival/NYCC 2010. NYC

Don't ask, don't tell. New York Anime Festival, downstairs at the NYCC/Jacob Javits Center, NYC. Oct. 2010.

On the mini-stage was some sort of singing contest, with a costumed female contestant warbling off-tune. I walked around the Anime section some more, when some sort of COS conga-line broke out. Half-scary, half amusing, I figured that I had my fill of this mini-Neverland. Time to go back upstairs.

COS play outfit from the New York Anime Festival. NYC, Oct. 2010.

New York Anime Festival 2010. Jacob Javits Center, NYC.

My favorites were the like the frilly Victorian-style of the “Lolita” costumes. If I could get away with it, maybe I could have one of those Lolita dresses hanging in my closet.

From the New York Anime Festival/NYCC 2010. NYC, Oct. 2010.

NYCC/New York Anime Festival 2010. NYC

NYCC/New York Anime Festival 2010. NYC

Back upstairs to the NYCC:

BuzzBuzzBuzzBuzz...or as someone said on Facebook: "Where's the bug spray?" NYCC 2010. NYC

Is it a peanut? Is it a waffle? The result of too many carbs. NYCC 2010, NYC.

The real reason why I was at the NYCC 2010; I had a table in the Artist Alley section:

The section my table was located, NYCC 2010.

My DIY sign. NYCC 2010. NYC

Jammed full of goodies at my table. Artist Alley section at the NYCC 2010. NYC

My next two appearances: Welcome To My Nightmare 5, Williamsburg Brooklyn, March 27th 2011. MoCCA Art Fest 2011, NYC, April 10-11, 2011.

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Memories (Magician, 2007)

Mercury in retrograde has officially started. Due to this, I’ll continue with the trend of uploading old art.

This one’s probably like three or four years old. Originally used for the cover of my self printed sketchbook “Babalon Babes,” issue three.

Michele Witchipoo Illustration from 2006-2007.

If you find Babalon Babes issue three, hang on to it. Dunno if I’m going to print those up again.

Ugh. Already I’m getting tired of reliving these old memories. See you soon.

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News Item

In Spring 2010, I did the back cover of IF-X vol. 2 issue # 6. Today, I was doing a quick search, and stumbled upon this by accident:

http://apps.detnews.com/apps/blogs/animeblog/index.php?blogid=958

Photo featured in online article about International Read Comics in Public Day for The Detroit News, late August 2010. Amber Guffey is reading IF-X issue 6, which I did illustrated the back cover and was published in Spring 2010.

It was an article about International Read Comics in Public Day. The article was published on The Detroit News website, and reported by Eric Henrickson. Here’s the news photo up close:

If you want to get your own copy, you order yours here:

http://idea-men.us/if-x.html

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Next Weekend! New York Comic Con 2010!

Before I forget, letting everyone know that I will have a table at the New York Comic Con 2010. The New York Comic Con or NYCC 2010, will be held Oct. 8 -10 at The Jacob Javits Center, 655 West 34th Street. Just find my table, T14, in the Artist Alley section.

http://www.newyorkcomiccon.com/en/NYCC/Artist-Alley/

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Costumes Story In IF-X Halloween Issue

The four page story “Costumes,” is now available in the latest issue of IF-X. “Costumes” is a short Halloween themed story written by Patrick McEvoy, and drawn by yours truly, Michele Witchipoo.

Cover for IF-X v.2 # 9, Halloween 2010 Issue. Inside is a story, "Costumes.' Artwork by me and written by Patrick McEvoy.

Here’s a panel from the “Costumes” story:

Panel from the "Costumes" story, published in the IF-X v.2 # 9 Halloween issue. Story written by Patrick McEvoy and drawn by Michele Witchipoo.

You can order your own issue from this site:

http://idea-men.us/if-x.html
or
http://idea-men.us/if18_gallery.html

Don’t wait to get your own copy. After all, the v.2 # 5, the Longing and Desire issue originally sold out during its first run. The cover art for issue five was illustrated by me, with my rendition of the Knights Templar/Holy Grail:

IF-X v.2 # 5, Desire and Longing Issue. Holy Grail/Knights Templar Cover done by Michele Witchipoo. Released early 2010.

I will also be selling copies of this latest edition of IF-X at the New York Comic Con 2010. Find me in the Artist Alley section on the weekend of October 8-10, where I’ll not only have IF-X, but other goodies as well. See you then.

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Do I Have To Kiss Babies Too? Vote For Me, CAG/Haller Awards.

Last week I mentioned that I was nominated for three CAG/Haller awards. Best Artist, Best Cartoonist, Best Webcomic. I thought the elections were private. However, it looks as if voting is open to the public at large.

Well, if that’s the case, then you can vote for me by clicking on these links:

http://www.pollpub.com/best-webcomic.aspx

http://www.pollpub.com/best-artist.aspx

http://www.pollpub.com/best-cartoonist.aspx

It should be noted that I didn’t ‘create’ the webcomic “Shitty Mickey.” John Reed wrote the script, I do the art. Just wanted to give credit where its due.

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Fourth of July, Oversized Captain America Style.

“I stayed at home on the Fourth of July
And I pulled the shades so I didn’t have to see the sky
And I decided to have a Bed In
But I forgot to invite anybody”

- “Fouth of July”, a song from the 1990 album “This Is Our Music” by Galaxie 500.

Those following lyrics that I just quoted…that’s exactly what I did today. I stayed at home for the Fourth of July. Not complaining though, ’cause I was working on some forthcoming stories. One is for the next season of Shitty Mickey, the webcomic I’m doing with writer extraordinaire John Reed. The other story is for a future comicbook anthology.

Lady Gaga on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, July 2010.

I only stepped outside once today from my apartment. Got my usual iced coffee and the latest issue of Rolling Stone, which I haven’t read in a hot minute. On the cover was Lady Gaga adorned in riffle gun glory. Ted Nugget would be jealous. The current cover price for Rolling Stone circa 2010 is $5.99. Made me wax nostalgic for the days when comics were $1.oo, and music magazines were $2.00 -$3.00 a pop. Not gonna lie; during my ‘tween’ years I wasted my allowance way more on music magazines than on comics. You see, I went from Harvey comic titles straight into Rock and 80s New Wave. Later on I became a serious comic fan thanks to Love and Rockets.

Safe to say that if I was a teen today, I would probably skip publications like Rolling Stone and go straight for graphic novels. For starters, most new music is utter crap. Knowing me, I would probably be the only kid in junior high who would know, for example, who The Gossip is. That’s exactly what my tastes would most likely gyrate to.  Like back then, I was the only kid into bands like (early) The B-52s, Devo, Bow Wow Wow, etc. And I watched reruns of Doctor Who, when Tom Baker was king. So most likely, if I was a kid now, I would probably go online and order graphic novels from Amazon. I mean…$5.99 for Rolling Stone? And where’s my hommie, Hunter S. Thompson? No thanks.

Anyway, a few hours later, the boyfriend starts digging through his Captain America back issue slash. For the occasion, he showed this particular one:

Captain America 1976. Marvel Treasury Edition. Artwork by Jack Kirby.

Wow, this took me back. For those who don’t know, the Marvel Treasury Editions were oversized comics popular in the 1970s. Usually it had the legendary characters like The Hulk, Conan, Thor, as well as the lesser known ones like The Defenders and Luke Cage. DC had oversized comics too, but for today we’ll focus on the Marvel stuff. Oh, and btw, you know you were made in the 1970s when you landed your very own Marvel Treasury Edition. The infamous rock band Kiss had their very own edition. So if you translate this into today’s terms, no doubt Lady Gaga would have one to call her own.

The films of the days got their own Marvel Treasury adaptations as well. I can fondly recall getting my Star Wars copy, thanks to mom. Strange, I have no idea whatever happened to that issue. Actually, I can’t really recall whether I had issue one or issue two, but I did own a Star Wars edition.

Star Wars Issue One. Marvel Treasury Edition.

You learn something new everyday. I just found out that Stanely Kubrick’s seminal 2001: A Space Odyssey” also reached Treasury status. Bet you it must be really trippy.

2001: A Space Odyssey. Marvel Treasury Edition. Artwork by Jack Kirby.

Years later as an adult, I got a Treasury edition of Howard The Duck. Picked this one up last year at the Boston Comic Con.

Howard The Duck, Marvel Treasury Edition.

Back to the Captain American issue. The artwork was done by the man himself, Jack Kirby. Check out the back cover featuring Uncle Sam (which Cap affectionately just calls ‘Sam’) and a funky inside splash page. The back cover is particularly fetching since Jack Kirby was a veteran of World War II.

Captain America Back Cover, Marvel Treasury Edition. Art by Jack Kirby. 1976

Funky splash page. Captain America, Marvel Treasury Edition. Art by Jack Kirby. 1976.

Sorry about not being able to fit the full size of these Marvel Editions onto my scanner. These Marvel Treasuries are of course, oversized. Then again, its “fitting” to say that nothing’s more American than being ‘oversized.’ The only difference between these and let’s say a McDonald’s ‘Supersize’ meal is that these comics were much more healthier. Plus comics last longer. You never have to worry about sequential art infecting your colon while leaving behind unwanted calories. So there.

Squeaky, July 2010

http://www.angelfire.com/comics2/treasury/

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