Tom's Mad Blog
January 20th, 2020 | Posted in MAD Magazine
In a couple of weeks Showtime’s “Homeland” begins its final season. MAD spoofed the show back in #523 (Oct 2013) with art by me, written by David Shayne. The splash page of the spoof is above. In an interview for the Hollywood Reporter, series star Claire Danes has this to say about the popularity of the show: There were parodies on ‘Saturday Night Live’ and in MAD magazine. That’s a real sign that you’ve made it, getting roasted. – Claire Danes on the popularity of “Homeland” That’s an opinion shared by a lot of people who make TV shows and films. Not going forward, of course. :/ READ MORE
January 19th, 2020 | Posted in Mailbag
Q: I wanted to follow up on something you mentioned a short while ago about “getting yourself out there” as a caricaturist – with the aim of getting commissions/studio work. You had said to use social media “especially Instagram.” Would you mind elaborating on that point? How would one go about that? Beyond posting a lot and liking others work, I mean. I set up a business page, but, unless I’m doing something wrong, I don’t see how that’s much different than a personal one. Is it all about the hashtags? Getting likes? A: I think having a strong social media presence is a must… READ MORE
January 17th, 2020 | Posted in News
Attention European artists!! My planned workshop in Vienna, Austria is just 6 months away and I am still several students short of my minimum to not cancel the class. I have a few months to reach the minimum of 12 before I would have to pay a fee to cancel the event, but it is teetering on the brink right now. This workshop and the one the following weekend in Dublin are my only two workshops in Europe in 2020. It will be at least a year or longer before I get back across the Atlantic to teach again, so if your New Year’s resolution… READ MORE
January 16th, 2020 | Posted in MAD Magazine
MAD has started with the sneak peeks of issue #12 on their Instragram, and they started with this close up crop of a feature I did the art for. Yes, MAD is going to have some new content in each ongoing issue and, yes, I did the art for a two pager for issue #12. As they reveal on their post, the article is called “VH1 Drags Out… Even More RuPaul Shows!” written by Grant Reed. READ MORE
January 16th, 2020 | Posted in News
I just updated my “Appearances” page with all the dates and cons I will be appearing at in 2020. I’ve greatly scaled back on my convention appearances this year. You will find me at: C2E2- Feb 28-Mar 1, Chicago Emerald City Comic Con- March 12-15, Seattle Wondercon- April 10-12, Anahiem San Diego Comic Con- July 22-26th, San Diego New York Comic Con- Oct 8-11, New York Never say never… I may end up at a couple of other ones this year but right now this is it for 2020. Come visit The Lovely Anna and I! READ MORE
January 15th, 2020 | Posted in Sketch O'The Week
`I’ll have to resort to a flashback SotW again this week… this is one of legendary actor Spencer Tracy I originally did in 2008. I added the grays when I included it as a spot illustration in my book. READ MORE
January 14th, 2020 | Posted in General
I did the art for another little comic gag story in Viz #292 this month, on sale in the UK and via subscription elsewhere. I am enjoying these short stories and the small panel format. It’s a big departure from the larger MAD panels that are stuffed with dialogue and visual detail. The smaller format forces me to simplify the imagery/panel design in order to tell the story. The editors/production folks add the word balloons after I do the art, BTW… READ MORE
January 13th, 2020 | Posted in Monday MADness
This week’s Monday MADness is a look at the splash page from MAD‘s parody of “The Following” from issue #525 (Feb 2014) written by the great Arnie Kogen. This parody has the dubious distinction of being the only parody I did the art for 100% digitally… inks and all. It was an experiment on my part just to see if I could do it, if it saved time, and if the results met my expectations. The answers were yes, no and no. Don’t get my wrong, I am not disparaging digital inkers. There is fantastic work being done digitally that I greatly admire. It’s just… READ MORE
