Tom's Mad Blog
June 5th, 2019 | Posted in MAD Magazine
I have to cop out this week on a new SotW because… BUSY. However here’s a look at a rare revision on a splash page for MAD. It’s especially relevant since this show just ended a few weeks ago. I don’t often have to do more than minor revisions for my MAD stuff, because the MAD staff knows what to expect from me and I know what they are looking for. Every once and awhile we have differing opinions on what works and what does not. This was the pencil rough for the splash page of MAD‘s parody of “The Big Bang Theory” from MAD… READ MORE
June 4th, 2019 | Posted in MAD Magazine
I was remiss yesterday in not recognizing that it was the 27th anniversary of the passing of MAD Magazine’s founder and, as his business card said, “Publisher and Chief Bigot”… those were simpler times. I started with MAD in 2000, a full eight years after Bill had left Planet Earth. I will always feel that I missed out on something special in that I never met or knew Bill Gaines. While MAD has of course continued since his death a chapter of it’s history closed on June 3rd, 1992. In his time as publisher I’ve heard that nearly every page of original art for the… READ MORE
June 3rd, 2019 | Posted in MAD Magazine
Here’s another sneak peek at a panel from the parody I drew for MAD #8, written by Alec Owen. This one is tough to figure out. It it a parody of the 1971 classic “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory”? Why is Guy Fieri playing Willy Wonka? What’s with the bucket of chicken parts? Was someone on drugs when they came up with this stuff? All questions will be answered (except the one about the drugs) when you run out and buy a copy of MAD #8, on sale June 11th! Fa fa fa! READ MORE
June 2nd, 2019 | Posted in Mailbag
Q: I love your signature… it’s perfect for a cartoonist. Is it just your natural signature or did you engineer it? A: Thanks! No cartoonist I know did not design their signature in some way. It’s an extension of their art, really. I can’t remember exactly when I ‘engineered’ my signature, but it was very early on in my career. Certainly before I started doing professional illustration work, when I was signing about 3,000 live caricatures every summer at the theme parks. It’s evolved a little bit over the years, but the elements I intentionally incorporated into it remain: The big swooping “R” and the… READ MORE
June 1st, 2019 | Posted in News
My workshop in Austin in October is now sold out, meaning all workshops for the rest of 2019 are booked solid. That, however, does not mean you have no chance of getting in. Right now I have no one on the waitlist in Austin or Denver, so if one of those locations interests you, being first or in the top few of the waitlist gives you a good chance of getting a spot if someone backs out. Drop me a line and mention the workshop location you are interested in, and I’ll put you on the waitlist. I other workshop news, we have planned a… READ MORE
May 31st, 2019 | Posted in MAD Magazine
The official sneak peeks at what’s coming up in MAD #8 have started, beginning with TV Insider’s look at Game of Thrones Spin-offs!, featuring PhotoShop art magic by former MAD art director Ryan Flanders, and written by Brian Firenzi! One of the many spin-offs pictured above. They also released a look at the cover, art by Jason Seiler: Ecccch. The entire nauseating issue hits the stands on June 11th! READ MORE
May 30th, 2019 | Posted in Illustration Throwback Thursday
Back in early 2000 I started doing work for MAD Magazine clone Cracked. That all started when I showed the new editor of Cracked a parody of “Godzilla” I had written and drawn to show then newly minted MAD Art Director Sam Viviano in an effort to get in at MAD. Sam expressed polite interest and encouragement to keep working at my art, but no job offers. Cracked, which had just been bought by American Media and was looking for new contributors willing to work for a truly insulting page rate, bought that “Godzilla” parody (a three year old film at the time) and asked… READ MORE
May 29th, 2019 | Posted in Sketch O'The Week
A little late today, but here’s a sketch of Keanu Reeves as “John Wick” from the movie series of the same name. Original available in the Studio Store as usual. READ MORE
