Normally I love sushi, however....

This could be the exception. I found this today via Google Images.
SPAM sushi? urgh...

DEAR MR. WATTERSON

Approximately two years ago, Matt McUsic (producer) and Joel Schroeder (director) of this film project contacted me asking about doing an interview in Los Angeles. At the time of they were interviewing I wasn't in LA so I wasn't much help. However, they've kept in touch with me, giving me updates on DEAR MR. WATTERSON. Now that the film is nearly done, I mentioned the film to a couple of people I know who are very interested in displaying DEAR MR. WATTERSON in their theater.
This is a film I would love to see. I'm sure that many of you feel the same way. If you feel compelled to help with a pledge, bravo! If you want to offer support by sending these folks a note to that effect, I have no doubt that they would appreciate the kind words. If you would like to be contacted for a possible interview, let them know!

Here is the Facebook message I received from Joel Schroeder earlier today:

Subject: 15 days to go for Dear Mr. Watterson

In the last 75 days, 257 Calvin & Hobbes fans--mostly complete strangers--have pledged a little over $17,000 for "Dear Mr. Watterson."

Thank you so much to those of you who have contributed, helping to give this film a huge boost. We believed that fans would flock to support this project, and "Dear Mr. Watterson" is now the 21st most popular project on http://www.facebook.com/l/fba81;Kickstarter.com, out of hundreds of projects! Greater participation will make the project even more visible in the Kickstarter community.

With 15 days left to raise money on Kickstarter, we want to go all out and make every minute of fundraising count.

Considering how quickly we reached our initial goal, it isn't impossible to finish off this fundraising drive by actually doubling that amount and hitting $24,000 if we can finish as strong as we started.

The more we raise right now, the more likely we'll have the flexibility to be able to travel to interview cartoonists such as Jef Mallet of "Frazz," Richard Thompson of "Cul de Sac," Jim Davis of "Garfield," Bill Amend of "FoxTrot," Stephen Pastis of "Pearls Before Swine," and other cartoonists living all over the country.

Our Facebook group has over 3,600 members, and this may be your last chance to support the film so easily--you've already got a Facebook account to sign into Kickstarter, so all you need is an http://www.facebook.com/l/fba81;Amazon.com account. Pledging at Kickstarter guarantees you'll get exclusive updates as we continue production, which will include occasional previews of interviews and scenes from the film.

And there are great perks when you support through Kickstarter: for instance, a gift of $75 includes a credit in the film and a DVD signed by the crew, including a disc of special features.

We hope you're inspired to make a pledge, and please spread the word about "Dear Mr. Watterson" so that we can complete our fundraiser with a bang.

Here's the link:

http://www.facebook.com/l/fba81;www.kickstarter.com/projects/fingerprintfilms/dear-mr-watterson-a-cinematic-exploration-of-ca

We'd love to see our number of backers climb to 400 or 500, and we can't do that without your help!

This is a film that will explore the magical world that Bill Watterson shared with us. Thank you so much for helping us to make it happen.

Joel

p.s. Oh, and check out page 18 of the March issue of Wired--we got a mention!

And the BUG goes on...

Here are pages 4, 5 and 6, for those of you who are counting, and sent them off last night. Very shortly it will be on the website, www.undercovercockroach.com. Check it out...

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

And so it did. The snow began very early Tuesday morning. Lincoln Public Schools, after seeing the forecast Monday night, closed at 9:30 pm on Monday. The University of Nebraska closed yesterday at noon. I can tell you from first-hand knowledge that driving was a challenge, yesterday. Last night the "real" snow hit! We must have over a foot on the ground now. I was literally snowed in. My front door wouldn't open. (The photo of Joey at the front door — that was as far as it would open. Blocked by the snow.)
Thank goodness my very good neighbor, Rick, was outside scooping his walkway. He was kind enough to shovel my front stoop so I could open the door. From there we worked together to get our common walkway shoveled as well as our own front walks and the area in front of our garages. All the while wondering where the guys were who are supposed to be plowing our driveway and parking area.... They arrived as we finished. (They were most likely snowed in... HA!)
Here area few views from my little abode — something to give you an idea of how lovely it is here. The temperature is now 6 F above zero with a -14 F windchill.

While on vacation...

So what does Mike do while hanging out in Montana?


... work.

I'm outa here!

Off to Montana for a few days, visiting family, and threatening the trout in the Madison River.
Back soon.

The top image is the view from the deck. The bottom image is my aunt and uncle's home with a river running through it...

Currently in the works....

Enjoy.

I found this on the Star City blog...

Great stuff, huh?
Makes me wish I was a cartoonist. Don't know who did it, but its fun.

He loves to sneak through poop and slime....

For the past several months, I have been working with Shea Butler and Cheryl Cain on little project that has great potential. Shea approached me through our mutual friend, Sandy Veneziano, and asked if I would be interested in doing character development and illustrating a story that she and Cheryl wrote. After I read the script and wondered what kind of trouble I'd be getting in, I agreed to create UNDERCOVER COCKROACH, SECRET AGENT 69. I won't go into the slimy (and I do mean slimy) details here, but let me lead you to the website www.undercovercockroach.com. There all the grizzly details will spew forth and you will see why UC-SA69 will go where no other secret agent will go. A word of caution though — don't read the story if you've just had a big meal. (I can vouch...)

I'm having fun now!

What do you think of this...

The launching of STAR CITY BLOG...

And here's my contribution.

How to love a bug...

The Undercover Cockroach is moving right along. Merchandise can be found at www.zazzle.com/undercovercockroach. The 'roach website is still www.undercovercockroach.com. Check it out. I'd like to hear your thoughts....

ME, just for fun

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM THE CREW OF SLEIGH BAY 4

I found this while rummaging through some old art. When I travel by plane, I prefer to sketch rather than read. Sleigh Bay 4 was done sometime in the mid-90s on a flight to Los Angeles. I hope you enjoy it.

UNDERCOVER COCKROACH is in full gear!

Check out the website at www.undercovercockroach.com
Merchandise can be found at www.zazzle.com/undercovercockroach
(And no, I'm not getting residuals. Rats!)



And one for the holidays...

LUX Art Center Cartoon Class

Here is my group of students from the 2008 Lux Art Center Cartoon Class. All middle school (what we use to call Junior High) students. We finished the last class last Saturday. Thanks gang. You were GREAT!
- ME

Join the fun of the Disney Toonfest

My copy of THE CARTOONIST arrived yesterday. Don't rush out to your local Barnes & Noble or news stand though — THE CARTOONIST is mailed out monthly to members of the NCS. So I thought it would be nice to put it up on the blogs, both mine and the NCS North Central Chapter blog (http://northcentraltooners.blogspot.com/).
Enjoy...

UNDERCOVER COCKROACH

These are two working renderings of the lead character in a comic book that I'm working on with two writers on the west coast. He is UNDERCOVER COCKROACH, SECRET AGENT 69.

From the files....

From the drawing board...

Here are a few pieces I did lately. Mr. Regal is one from a series for a printing company. The page from the sketchbook was part of the development for the Mr. Regal series. And the WebME piece is the UNDER CONSTRUCTION page from my website. Have to get back to work on the webpage...