2007 RAMBLINGS
January 6th, 2007
HAPPY 2007!!!
Hopefully you found the holiday season to be joyous and safe and the dread of having to return to the workplace or school hasn't brought you down. For us, we welcome this new year as a fresh start, not only with this website but our personal lives as well.
For those of you wanting to know how Tony is doing, he began the brunt of his long treatment a few days ago and already things are starting to look good. He's of course sick of being cooped up in a room all day, exhausted, and misses playing with his kids, but that's understandable given what's going through. Hopefully it'll only be a few more weeks and he can finally put this whole cancer ordeal behind him once and for all. And while he won't be able to reply to them for awhile, I'm sure any words of encouragement you can send him at his e-mail address would make his day.
Alright, now to the ugly part of this whole rambling. After a five month chain of unforseeable accidents and whatnot, we finally have a new posting in our Summer Blockbuster Gallery. Yes, we know it's January and there's snow on the ground and the air is colder than a witch's 'you know what'. All the blame can be cast on me and solely me. But unlike a few years ago when I gave up and left the 2004 gallery a little short, I'm determined to see this recent one finish with all the movies we originally planned to cover intact. And look at it this way: if you don't understand our little homage to "Lady in the Water", you can pick up the DVD now available in most stores nationwide from Warner Home Video.
Before we take off, we'd just like to take a moment and acknowledge the passing of James Brown last week. Now normally the two of us would express our condolences... but the Godfather of Soul's departure is something else. No offense, but it just doesn't seem right to be sad at his passing, nor is it something that really deserves a moment of silence. With all due respect, we'd much rather crank up "Live at the Apollo" or fast forward our "Blues Brothers" or "Rocky 4" DVDs to his scenes because it doesn't matter how you remember him... just as long as it involves a lot of celebration, dancing, and loving your fellow man. That was his gift to the world and it's a better place for it.
Next week: another movie, a new pin-up, and because you asked for it, me sinking to a new low depicting Kari. So until then! - Jake
February 14th, 2007
Ah, Valentine's Day. That time of the year when it doesn't matter how many medications I take or how much Nyquil I chug down hoping to pass out and Rip Van Winkle my way through the day - I become a raving, angry lunatic hellbent on destruction and fury. To spend the day looking at all the happy couples and all the sugar-sweet gifts being passed around. Quite simply, the Grinch is to Christmas as I am to Valentine's Day. Does that make me a sorry, whiney loser? Sure. But if you were in my shoes, you'd be more than a little miffed too.
And yet it seems I wind up observing it almost every year on this website; and always in a positive light. What's up with that?
Anyhow, if this year's pictures have a theme, it's certainly along the lines of equal equality. For all the men out there (and some of the ladies), we have the next request that won last year's poll. Some thought I wasn't going to do it or find a cheap way out of it, but a promise is a promise. So if you click on the newly added "Requests" link located the top of this page, it will take you to my... *shaking his head*... rendition of Kari as a Hooters Waitress.
But since this is the holiday of love and I wouldn't want anyone to feel deprived of any 'affectionate feelings' they might be looking forward to, I also have something for the other side. That's right - for all the ladies out there (and some of the men), we have a new Valentine's Day picture homaging a very familiar scene from "American Beauty". All I can say is check it out. If you thought the Hooters picture was shocking, just you wait 'till you get a load of this.
That's all for now. I'm going to go curl up on the couch and cry for a few hours. Later! - Jake
May 4th, 2007
If you've been surfing around the internet lately, chances are my name's been popping up like a disease. That's because for the last few months I've been a regular contributor to sites like Comicspace.com, the Jinxworld Message Board, Comicartfans, Ninjaturtles.com, fanboyradio.com, jediaayla.com, and all sorts of crazy personal websites (yes, even MySpace) over the internet along with an occasional gift or two for some folks. But the problem is while I was 'on tour' doing tons of artwork, this website got the cold shoulder and for that I'm sorry.
But I'm back and I'm going to HAVE to stay put for the foreseeable future because it's time once again for the SEVENTH ANNUAL SUMMER BLOCKBUSTER GALLERY. That's right - another pass at weekly updates where no big blockbuster movie is safe. And before you worry about late updates, would it help if I told you we're already done with both May and June's entries? Granted it's only me steering the ship right now, but it's my hope that by the end of the season I'll have had a few contributors (as well as a certain partner-in-crime getting back in the game).
Anyhow, today's illustration is based on the highly anticipated "Spider-Man 3" in which this time around our hero gets attacked by some alien tar and turns evil. Now I would have ran with that idea, but as you'll soon see I was influenced by some rather powerful individuals who persuaded me to touch on something from the first flick.
Next week it's back to zombie carnage when we take a cue from "28 Weeks Later", post up a new professional artist entry, and (are you sitting down for this?) debut a new comic page. See you then!
*sigh* I missed this place! - Jake
May 14th, 2007
Sometimes it just takes one little thing to interfer with the best of plans. Last weekend's delay was caused by just such a thing. To make a long story short (real short), on Friday I found myself house-sitting and taking care of a very hyper 8-pound Shishu named Callie. It was a responsibility I had thrusted on me all of a sudden and as a result, I wasn't anywhere near my computer this weekend. Fortunately I already had the link up on the summer blockbuster page. But because I didn't change the date on the main page, most of you folks missed it. So for that I apologize.
Anyhow, everything is up now. This time around we tackle one of the scariest zombie productions ever created. I'd like to say it was directly based on "28 Weeks Later", the basis for this picture, but we wanted to take it even one step further! So check out "Too Scary for an Actual Title" and be ready to scream in terror!
Over in the miscellaneous page we have another acquired picture done by a professional artist; Bill Maus. Maus is the creator of Zen: Intergalatic Ninja and currently the writer and artist for "ShyGirl". And today we have a sketch done by him of Gen-13's Caitlin Fairchild wielding another comic property, the Witchblade. My thanks to "Stubbs" for the illustration. When I gave him the original drawing of Fairchild I did for last year's request gallery (it was drawn on an actual copy of Gen13 #1), I never expected I'd receive something this cool in return. That was really cool of you, man!
Okay, I'm done. Again I'm sorry for the slight delay and I guarantee you I'll see you in five days. Until then!- Jake
May 18th, 2007
Hey everyone! I'm going to do something that has never been done before in these ramblings: I'm going to make this short and sweet because I'm just so very, very tired. Today's entry to the Summer Blockbuster Gallery is based on the new movie, "Shrek the Third". Yup, it's a Shrek movie which means you know there was lots and lots of trouble trying to come up with something cool. Was a third time the charm? You'll just have to see for yourself.
Alright, next week: pirates and a re-do of a previous picture. Until then! - Jake
June 21st, 2007
No, your eyes don't deceive you. We're actually back and, rest assured, everything is working in top top shape again. It's frustrating this junk usually happens around this time of year, but at least we weren't locked out or had files erased like what's happened in the past (knock on wood!)
However it does pose the dilemma of being a couple of illustrations behind in the Summer Blockbuster Gallery. As I write this, we've got four movies that still need to be tackled before we're back up to speed. However, if you take another peek at the first three pieces of art from this season, you'll quickly see they've all been revised in some shape or form. One required some spelling corrected, one needed the resolution increased, and one, well, needed something more 'apparent'.
But when it comes to a spanking new entry though, we present our last homage to the "Pirates of the Caribbean" trilogy with a picture we've cleverly labelled "At Line's End". For those of you who've been with us since the first movie opened up back in 2003, you know exactly what to expect. And for you newbies, you can easily get caught up by clicking on here and here.
But that's not all. We continue our showcase of gifts I've received from other artists with a new picture (and one of my favorites) in the "Professional Artist" section of the Miscellaneous page. Today we feature a talented bloke by the name of Robin Thompson who's depicted the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles rescuing April O' Neil yet again. Now if I can only get these guys to draw stuff featuring the Plight cast of characters.
And speaking of getting back to all things Plight-related, we've updated something to this site that hasn't been touched upon this year yet: the "Letters Column"! This time out we've got some nice compliments, some questions for advice, and (if you haven't read it yet), the infamous hate letter I was e-mailed last month which threw me for a major loop. If you thought some of the notes I got in the past were spiteful, this one tops them all!
Well, the clock on the wall says my time here is up. So if you'll excuse me, I've got to make sure I have more stuff to debut next week. Until then, I hope you're all enjoying the summer! - Jake
July 7th, 2007
Hey guys and gals, I've got keep it super short today. We've got two new movie pictures today: one for "Knocked Up" and another for "Surf's Up". And that's it. No new comic pages this time or requests fulfilled or even a witty little sketch on this page. Just telling you of two new pictures. But I promise next time to talk up a "storm". Until then, I hope you all had a great holiday! - Jake
August 11th, 2007
I've used some pretty big excuses to explain some delays over the years, but I think this is the first time I'm ever going to use this one: it's all Tony's fault.
I don't mean that in a negative way at all. It's just after trying to tackle this season of Summer Blockbuster pictures, I've come realized how much I've depended on his input over the years. In the past when I was coming up blank on ideas for certain movies, he always stepped up to the plate. When I stuck my tongue out in disgust thinking about what cinematic crap I'd eventually have to cover, he was always willing to shoulder the majority of the responsibility himself. And because of him, I wound up doing movies I wouldn't even have thought of putting on the list. Plus lets face it - when we collaborate on something together, I feel it makes it all the more better.
So now that I've finally hit the half-way mark on movies for this season, I'm all the more bitter for my best friend being ill. The gallery, not to mention practically every aspect of this entire website, probably wouldn't have lasted as long as it has without his involvement. I have the next 'Die Hard' movie coming up and I can't help but think "Tony's a bigger 'Die Hard' fan than I am. He should be covering this one; not me". But all I can do is keep chugging along; hoping to take my mind off of things and stop worrying about my pal if only for a short while. It's just going to be more difficult, that's all.
I'm two months behind because Tony's unable to help me out. That point-blank shows me that when push comes to shove, he's the more professional artist. Not me. And if he was able to help me out (which I know he'd love to), chances are we'd have wrapped this year up by now.
Anyhow, we finally have our homage to "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer" up. I apologize for the delay and assure you the next entry will be posted as soon as I finish up a few more little details.
Take it easy and I'll see you all next time! - Jake
August 24th, 2007
I've just made a huge mistake in my life.
When I was growing up, one of the coolest people I knew was my Aunt Kathy. I guess you could say she was the wild child on my mother's side. She lived in the basement of my grandparents house and every time I'd come over to see my grandparents, I remember being even more excited if Kathy was home. It didn't matter if she smoke and drank (and while she never admitted it, her bedroom always smelling like Mariquana), she was very laid-back and friendly around me and my brothers. Maybe a little too laid-back. It was my Aunt who taught me how to operate a car by practicing going up and down my grandparents very long driveway.... when I was only seven.
There was never a time when she wasn't funny or outrageous, and because of that I always wanted to hang out with her. Problem is, it was never as often as I wanted to. Oh she took me and my sibblings to places like the movies or the playground (and I won't lie, I enjoyed every single minute of it). But for every ten times she'd plan to do something with us, nine times she'd break them; often with really flimsy excuses. They were the type of excuses that even a 10-year old wouldn't believe.
Well, that hurt me. Even to this day I remember how awful and unimportant it made me feel like. I've never said this out loud or shared it with anyone before but I consider Tony's children like my Niece and Nephew. So when they want to do something with me, I try my hardest to be a more accomidating Uncle than my Aunt was. True, some times I've had to cancelled on them, but never without making it up to them later on.
Well, as I grew older and more wiser, my admiration for my Aunt Kathy slowly dwindled. Things I didn't notice about her beforehand seemed to appear right before me. Traits she had, problems she ignored, people she took advantage of. By the time I was 28 years old, this woman who I thought was the coolest person in the world was now someone I felt pity for. Me, her stupid nephew, was feeling pity for her! I wanted to help her out; get her out of the vortex she was living in, but every time I even gave an inch it always bit me in the end. So gradually I saw less and less of her as she aged at an astounding rate with dozens of health problems until she began resembling my late grandmother.
Two years ago, when she in the hospital for not taking her medication for the umpteeth time, my family had enough of bailing her out and left her to fend for herself. It was the first time in her life there was no one but herself to fix her problems. So she did what she felt she had to: she just up and left. No one had any idea where she went or where she was staying. She just took off and never said goodbye.
Now this is where I feel I've made a huge mistake. For the last fifteen or so years, I felt my Aunt had the least positive importance on my life. With her, I thought all I learned was trickery and taking advantage of folks. I honestly felt she was the one who showed me all the wrong things to do so I could be defiant and say "I'm going to be a better person because I won't repeat all the wrong things Aunt Kathy did." Oh I still loved her, but just like my father, I decided the next move to patch things up would have to come from her.
Today at work I learned my Aunt had been driving up to Alexandria this morning and was involved in a fatal head-on collision. No one knows how it happened yet but it's believed given her previous medical conditions and such, she might have been responsible for it.
When I heard the news, I realized I was wrong about her. She didn't have the least positive importance in my life. She had one of the biggest.
Looking back now, she was the one who bought me my first comic book. She's the one who took me to go see "Superman: The Movie" in the theater. In short, she started me on my long love of comics. I know - so what? What does that have to do with anything? Well, reading comic books growing up taught me some valuable morals. I could have easily become a juvenile delinquent and be screwed up (okay, more screwed up than I am.) But I owe my Aunt for introducing that to me. And so I guess, I owe my Aunt for a lot more than I thought.
I'm in grief, I'm confused, and I'm angry. But most of all, I'm ashamed. I really made a terrible mistake. I really let her down. - Jake
October 31st, 2007
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!
No, it's not already Saturday. Tony and I decided rather than wait to post some new stuff up, we'd give out the 'treats' early in celebration of what is arguably the coolest holiday of the year. And we're not a couple of those stingy cheap people who only give out one or two treats. Hell no! And no stupid stuff like granola bars or apples either. We like to reach deep into the bucket and pull out a handful of stuff! After all, Halloween comes only once a year.
First off, we have a couple of long-delayed request pictures done. For those of you galavanting tonight as your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, we have a drawing of the love of your life, Ms. Mary Jane Watson. But if you're more of a DC Comics fan rather than Marvel, it's okay. We've also done the last survivor of Kandor and Clark Kent's cousin, Supergirl. And yes for those of you keeping track, that does leave us with one more request picture to go.
But if for some reason our artwork isn't your kind of thing (to which we'd have to ask just what are you doing on here anyway?), we have a couple of new pieces in our "Professional Artists" list. Returning to this website is a new piece by Garrett Blair featuring Gen-13's Freefall. The really cool thing about this piece is that he drew it completely with markers on the fly; no pencils or layouts beforehand! The second, and the one that came as a complete surprise, is a sketch done by Scott Kurtz, creator of "PVP". Lately his online comic strip and monthly comic book has branched out to be featured as a cartoon series and a series of theme and pictures for X-Box Live. So imagine my shock when I received a personalized sketch of his character Skull in the mail!
Of course there's a few kids out there who have a sweet tooth for the literary arts instead of illustrations. So while it's hardly "Harry Potter 8" or the next Judy Blume novel (or even fiction for that matter), we have a whole bunch of letters posted and replied.
Well before you leave our doorstep and run off to the next house, I just wanted to take a moment to wish Tony a very Happy Birthday. He turned 33 yesterday and while the last year wasn't the kindest to him, I hope he has nothing but the best this year. He's a great guy, a wonderful friend, and a joy to be with.
See you all next time! - Jake