Support Parkinson’s Research With Team Cul de Sac

Team Cul de Sac

Sparking Design‘s Chris Sparks is leading Team Cul de Sac and raising funds for Parkinson’s research in honor of inky pal and Cul de Sac creator, Richard Thompson.

From the TCDS page:

Richard was recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. With Richard’s support, TCDS has asked cartoonists across the country to draw his characters so the artwork can be compiled into a fundraising book and the artwork auctioned to raise additional money. Hundreds of cartoonists have responded and sent artwork in to be compiled in a book soon to be published by Andrews McMeel. We’ve received cartoons from many of Richard’s personal friends including Stephen Pastis (Pearls Before Swine), Sergio Aragones (Mad, Groo), Patrick McDonnell (Mutts), Pat Oliphant (Pulitzer Prize political cartoonist), Dave Kellet (Sheldon, Drive), Gene Weingarten and David Clark (Barney & Clyde), Mason Mastroianni (B.C.), Roger Langridge (Muppet Show comic book, Marvel’s Thor: The Mighty Avenger, Fred the Clown), Shannon Gallant (G.I.Joe), Michael Cavna (Washington Post), Steven Artley (Artleytoons), Barbara Dale and Steve Conley (Astounding Space Thrills, Bloop) and even Bill Watterson of Calvin and Hobbes fame. That’s just the list of people we asked first because they know Richard. Many other fantastic cartoonists contributed, space doesn’t permit us to list them all, but we appreciate everyone’s contributions.

Team Cul de Sac Book

So, the book is available now for purchase here, and all of the art is currently up for auction (just a few days remaining!) here.

Petey's Oboe Chart

If you love the oboe or know someone who does, my original art and contribution to the book is available here.

I’m proud to be part of Team Cul de Sac, and so amazed at the efforts of everyone involved. Please support TDCS and Parkinson’s research (and get an awesome book to boot!)  today.

5 Totally Amazing Cartoon/Comic Blogs and 1 Guilty Pleasure

It’s difficult to believe, but I’ve been blogging for over seven years now. That’s a long, loooong time. In fact, when I began my developer wasn’t yet familiar with the word “blog.” And every so often I think it’s a good to take a step back and take a critical look at what this blog is and should/could be. (Stick with me, the list of awesome cartoon blogs is coming right up.)

So recently, in addition to completely revamping the site, I’ve been rejiggering how and what I present here at the Andertoons Cartoon Blog. For a while I was blogging a wider range of interests in an effort to connect more personally with readers, and I think I’ve done that. (But just in case, I really like jazz trombone and LEGO.) But I think it’s time I got back to blogging more about cartoons.

My idea is this – blog less often, but more in depth, and mostly about cartoons. I’m tentatively looking at about one blog per week. (Probably on Tuesdays, but don’t hold me to that.) Occasionally it will be more, sometimes less, but when I write I’m going to really write.

But I don’t want to leave you out in the cartoon blog cold the rest of the week, so I’m going to recommend five additional totally amazing cartoon & comic related blogs you should read, and one awesome guilty pleasure.

(Note – a lot of these cartoonists are friends or acquaintances of mine, but I never said it was unbiased. So there.)

1. Mike Lynch Cartoons

mike lynch cartoons blog

Mike’s long-running blog is a must read for any cartoonist or fan of cartoons. Honestly, there’s so much great stuff here it’s almost a crime to point out only a few notable posts, but here’s some current standouts to peruse:

Mike’s not only a cartoonist at the top of his game (and my brother-in-ink), he pretty much knows everyone and everything related to cartoons. Put Mike’s blog in your RSS reader ASAP!

2. The Daily Cartoonist

daily cartoonist

Alan Gardner does a really great job of digging up all kinds of cartoon news, presenting it clearly and succinctly, and, in what I’m assuming is a massive undertaking, keeping his commenters on-topic and mostly civil. Some recent must-reads:

Wanna keep up on pretty much on all the latest cartoon happenings? Check out The Daily Cartoonist.

3. Comics Alliance

comics alliance

Covering the world of comics thoroughly and entertainingly is Comics Alliance. There’s just gobs of new, deep, and downright fun stuff here almost constantly. A few newish notables:

Laura Hudson and crew deserve top bookmark billing in any comic fan’s browser. Do it now!

4. Webcomics.com

webcomics

So far I’ve featured blogs covering what can be considered the traditional mediums of cartoons, comic strips, and comic books, but the world of webcomics, if it hasn’t already become mainstream, is well on its way. And Brad Guigar’s Webcomics.com is a terrific guide. Here’s some fresh examples:

A quick note that this is the only entry here that charges for its content, but if you’re really serious about succeeding online it’s money well spent. Check it out and you’ll see what I mean.

5. Cul de Sac

cul de sac

If you’ve by chance missed every other glowing review of Richard Thompson’s Cul de Sac, I think you could trust Calvin & Hobbes creator, Bill Watterson, who said, amongst other heady praise, “The artwork in Cul de Sac bowls me over.”

Even better, we all get an inside look at the Cul de Sac blog! A few of my recent faves:

Do not miss!

And last but not least, my favorite guilty pleasure:

F**k Yeah Bruce Timm

f yeah bruce timm

I’m not sure I completely understand what makes Tumblr different from regular blogs, but there seems to be a whole host of these F**k Yeah Tumblrs. That being said, I love, no, LOVE Bruce Timm‘s art! So a constant stream of Timm awesomeness? I think F**k Yeah Bruce Timm about sums it up. A few recent posts:

OK, well that wraps it up. Please be sure to give each blog a try, and be sure to stop in each Tuesday (or even better, subscribe to my RSS feed) for more Andertoons Cartoon Blog goodness!