A trip to St. Marks Ale House...

Today, P.I.C. members Scan, Martin, and Al visited St. Marks Ale House (2 St. Marks Place New York, NY 10003). Least to say, a fun time was had by all. During the festivities, P.I.C. reflected on some of these moments in P.I.C. history…



Above photo: Al taking a nap after a Sloane House night of, um… festivities. School year 1986-87.



Above photo: Al and Caitlin lighting a smoke at Twin’s Pub. School year 1987-88.



Above photo: Hanging out in Scan’s dorm room. (Left to right) Al, Scan, Emily, and Caitlin. School year 1987-88.



Above photo: (Clockwise) Amanda’s cousin, Bucky, Amanda, Scan, and Al. September 1992.

Happy Birthday, Martin!

Hey! It’s Martin’s birthday today. Happy Birthday, buddy!

Stop by Martin’s website to see some cool artwork: http://martinschneebalg.com/illustration/.

Pro is alive and well in Wisconsin!

Above photo: Pro and Hulya.

It’s true! Pro states that, "I am in beautiful Madison WI with my wife, Hulya, and our little pup." Pro and Hulya are currently working on a children’s book.



Above photo: Madison, Wisconsin… home of Pro, Hulya, and Gucci.



Above photo: P.I.C. member, Pro.

Recently, Pro has had the opportunity to work on the upcoming Batman film THE DARK KNIGHT starring Christian Bale. "Yes, I worked two days with about fifty other people, but I did meet Bale and Eckart, and was directed by Chris Nolan and his assistant director. REALY COOL." Pro continues, "I'm in a scene with Bale and Eckart. It was a real surreal treat to see how they film a big Hollywood movie. I signed a non disclosure so I can not give you any details at this time."



Above photo: Killer puppy Gucci. Don’t let that cute puppy face fool you!

P.I.C. answers back…

Last week, I sent out a questionnaire to P.I.C. members around the world asking the following questions: "Where are you?", "What are you doing?", "What’s new?", "What are you reading now-a-days?", and "What music are you listening to?" Here are some responses…



Heather

-Where are you?: San Bernardino, CA

-What are you doing?: Teaching full-time at the Art Institute of California

-What's new?: I just bought a house!

-What are you reading now-a-days?: Textbooks - I'm working on my MFA. Also Christopher Moore - He's hilarious

-What music are you listening to?: I've been in a Jimmy Cliff mood lately.



Al Nickerson

-Where are you?: New York.

-What are you doing?: Inking for DC Comics and Archie Comic Publications, writing for BACK ISSUE magazine, and promoting NIHILIST-MAN AND HIS AMAZING FRIENDS #1.

-What’s new?: I just started a blog!

-What are you reading now-a-days?: The Bible (as always); and I finished "45 Minutes in Heaven" by Don Piper. I’m also reading some great comics like INVINCIBLE, BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER: SEASON EIGHT, and JACK STAFF.

-What music are you listening to?: Delirious, Rebecca St. James, and BarlowGirl.



Martin

-Where are you?: Ocean Parkway, Brooklyn

-What’s new?: See my website: http://martinschneebalg.com/illustration/

-What are you reading now-a-days?: Birds of Prey, Astonishing X-men, All-Star Superman

-What music are you listening to?: Magnetic Fields, XTC, I Like itunes to experiment with different types of music- I downloaded Peter, Paul, & Mary, Serge Gainsborough, Robert Pollard, Franz Ferdinand, Stuff from the 70s & 80s...



Joel

-Where are you?: Los Angeles

-What are you doing?: Art Studio Manager. Still working hard at trying to get my Lilz License launched.

-What’s new?: My work is out in a new Magazine called Carrie Leigh's "Nude". My name is even on the cover I will be a featured illustrator in every issue to come.

-What are you reading now-a-days?: LOL.. I don't think I have picked up a comic book in over a year. The last thing I read was the last Harry Potter book

-What music are you listening to?: Korn, Brooklyn Bounce, Metallica, My Chemical Romance, Linkin Park...

Hope everyone is well. –Joel




Pro

-Where are you?: I am in beautiful Madison WI. with my wife Hulya and our little pup.

-What are you doing?: My wife and I wrote a children's book and I'm currently illustrating it.

-What’s new?: Let's see... I recently worked on a small movie call The Dark Knight, I think that's the name of it. It stars a couple of actors, Christian Bale, Aaron Eckart, some guy named Gary Oldman hee-hee. Yeah I got some Extra work in the up coming Batman movie when it was filming in Chicago. I'm in a scene with Bale and Eckart. It was a real surreal treat to see how they film a big Hollywood movie. I signed a non disclosure so I can not give you any details at this time.

-What are you reading now-a-days?: Other than Joss Whedon's Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I've lapsed on comics the last four or five months, but I'm just starting Barack Obama's "The Audacity Of Hope" and re reading "Living the Martial Way" by Forrest E. Morgan.

-What music are you listening to?: I am currently entranced by Brandi Carlile. Her song "The Story" roped me in and now I enjoy much of her other work. I also really love KT Tungstall. If you people have not switched to Satellite radio do yourselves a favor and invest. You'll never go back to radio. (I chose Sirius)



Scan

-Where are you?: Back in Jersey in the lost wilderness of Atlantic Highlands.

-What are you doing?: No comment.

-What’s new?: My nephew, who I adore, and is the main reason I'm glad to be back in Jersey.

-What are you reading now-a-days?: Periodicals, left wing web sites, and some blog by a friend of mine.

-What music are you listening to?: My ipod collection of 70's pop, 60's garage, 21st century alt pop. Mostly one hit wonders and of course, RINGO!



Jujo

-Where are you?: I hate quiz’s!

-What are you doing?: This must have been Nickerson’s stupid idea!

-What’s new?: Where are my smokes?

-What are you reading now-a-days?: Where are the chicks?

-What music are you listening to?: So, I said to me wife: "No! I said I wanted EIGHT bananas!"

Spider-Man versus the Savage Dragon…

Speaking of the Savage Dragon… my pal, Brandon Carr (creator of The Kenmore) sent me this shiny Erik Larsen sketch...

THE GIANT SIZED JOHNNY RAYGUN / SAVAGE DRAGON FULL COLOR TEAM-UP!

It’s no secret that I am a huge fan of the JOHNNY RAYGUN comic. So, when (cartoonist extraordinaire) Rich Woodall asked me if Nihilist-Man could be part of THE GIANT SIZED JOHNNY RAYGUN / SAVAGE DRAGON FULL COLOR TEAM-UP, I responded with a resounding, "Heck, yeah"!



Nihilist-Man’s cameo appearance in THE GIANT SIZED JOHNNY RAYGUN / SAVAGE DRAGON FULL COLOR TEAM-UP.



Besides the Savage Dragon, Johnny Raygun, and Nihilist-Man, other characters appearing in the comic include Buzzboy, Invincible, the Moth, and the Goon.

What sort of impact does Rich Woodall think Nihilist-Man has made on THE GIANT SIZED JOHNNY RAYGUN / SAVAGE DRAGON FULL COLOR TEAM-UP? "Well, he helped train some Raygun Agents, so overall, I'm guessin' he was a big part of saving the world... once again!", states Woodall.



THE GIANT SIZED JOHNNY RAYGUN / SAVAGE DRAGON FULL COLOR TEAM-UP is written and penciled by Rich Woodall, inked by Ken McFarlane, and lettered by Matt Talbot. I don’t know who’s coloring this baby.

And the comic will be hitting comic book stores in early 2008.

Some JOHNNY RAYGUN links:

JOHNNY RAYGUN’S website

Rich Woodall's blog

Quiz Time!

Above photo: Taken in a classroom at the School of Visual Arts. (Left to right) Mitch, Jujo the Monkey, and (comic book legend and SVA instructor) Gene Colan. School year 1986-87 (I think).

If you’re a member of P.I.C., here’s your opportunity to let everyone know what’s new in your life and how you’re doing. Just answer the questions listed below and e-mail me your responses at pictoons@hotmail.com…

-Where are you?

-What are you doing?

-What’s new?

-What are you reading now-a-days?

-What music are you listening to?

I’ll post everyone’s responses on Tuesday, the 25th. We’ve already received several responses from some P.I.C. members that we haven’t seen in years.

"In Search of Steve Ditko"

On September 16th, the documentary, "In Search of Steve Ditko", aired in the United Kingdom on BBC4. Steve Ditko is best known as the co-creator of Spider-Man and Dr. Strange. Now, thanks to the greatness that is YouTube, we can watch a clip of "In Search of Steve Ditko". The following clip has interviews with Alan Moore and Neil Gaiman concerning Ditko…

Watch clip on YouTube.

Blake Bell’s review of "In Search of Steve Ditko".



Update: It looks like more of "In Search of Steve Ditko" is now on YouTube... even this video that features an interview with Stan Lee about the creation of Spider-Man.

I like ink...

Today, I mailed out a Jughead story, "Nut of the World", to Archie Comics. The story will appear in JUGHEAD AND FRIENDS #26. Normally, I have no idea what books my Archie stories appear in until after they are published. This story was a special case. "Nut of the World" was written and penciled by Fernando Ruiz, lettered by (I think) Jack Morelli, and inked by me.

What's in a name?

Where did the name "P.I.C." originate? Well, that tale is lost amongst the great legends. However, the P.I.C. sign might have something to do with it. I’m too tired to go into the whole story right now, but this SCAN’S CORNER cartoon by Scan might shed some light on the subject…





Above photo: A Polaroid of P.I.C. while living at Sloane House. (clockwise) Sean, Miguel, Al, Scan, and Pro. School year 1986-1987.



Above photo: Al with the famous P.I.C. sign. 1998.

About P.I.C. TOONS Studios...

Above photo: Outside of Sloane House. I have no idea when this was taken.

Like many fabled myths, this one started a long time ago... back in 1985, actually. Back then, the School of Visual Arts’ dorm was a run down old building in mid-town Manhattan called Sloane House. Here, P.I.C. was formed. Being young art youths, Sloane House was paradise for the members of P.I.C.. They freely indulged in beer-drinking, practical jokes, poker-playing, and comic books.

Over the years, the bond of friendship between the members of P.I.C. strengthened as did it’s ranks. One day, around 1993, the members of P.I.C. decided to put their genius and artistic talent to good use. Thus was born P.I.C. TOONS Studios. With their new studio, P.I.C. was able to produce their creator-owned animation and comic book projects.



Above photo: Some ancient post card of Sloane House.

Famous Moments in P.I.C. History: Scan on MTV News!

Hey! You remember when Scan was on MTV News? Well, it’s true. It all happened back in 1989 when MTV News was doing a news report about comic books. Luckily, Scan was shopping at (New York City’s) St. Mark’s Place Comics where this interview, this famous moment in P.I.C. history, took place.

"Well, I’m buying something called NEAT STUFF which is very warped humor that has… it’s so warped.", states future cartoonist.

Please keep Joey B in your prayers...

Joey B has a heart problem. Joe explains:

"I was in the hospital about 3-4 weeks ago for my ticker, and well it's gotten worse so I need surgery on my valve. I'm pencilled in for surgery on Oct 4th. Just FYI, it's the mitral valve, and they have to trim excess tissue off the flaps which was caused by the prolapse, and repair the cords that work the valve. All of that is causing sever blood regurgitation, hence my bod isnt getting enough blood making me fatigued and generally blah. I have one more test to get done. Good thing is that these valve repairs are common now, so I'm not worried - just want to feel better again. So pass on my thanks to all those who wrote such nice things, and I'll pray to the Big Guy to send some love back their way!"



Above photo was taken during Joey B’s two week stay in Costa Rica last May. Joe’s trip was made possible from an artist residency from the Julia and David White Art Colony.

Steve Pro lives in Wisconsin!

It's true. Above photo is of Pro walking his two puppies Bob (we miss you, Bobbie) and Gucci.

The Baptism of Al!

As some of you may remember, I was baptized at my church, Cornerstone Baptist Church, on April 1st. Here’s a photo of me right before my baptism where I recited Psalm 116:12-14. That’s Pastor Mike on the left. I’m the handsome fellow on the right. This was a wonderful day for me. I’m glad my pal, Sean, was able to capture this moment for me on film.

Cornerstone Baptist Church’s website.

Psalm 116:12-14 (King James Version): 12 What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me? 13 I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. 14 I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people.

NIHILIST-MAN AND HIS AMAZING FRIENDS #1 now on sale!

NIHILIST-MAN AND HIS AMAZING FRIENDS #1 is now available at finer comic book stores everywhere. If your retailer hasn’t ordered copies, the book is listed in the June issue of PREVIEWS. The code is JUN073801.

As we mentioned previously, you can also purchase online your copy of NIHILIST-MAN AND HIS AMAZING FRIENDS #1 here.

For a preview of NIHILIST-MAN AND HIS AMAZING FRIENDS #1, go here.

Looking Back: SCAN'S CORNER!

Scan's blog.

Famous Moments in P.I.C. History: A road trip to the Words and Pictures Museum!