Atom-Bomb Bikini

The New Winnipeg Jets

2012-01-14T00:02:00.002-05:00

Can't say I'm a huge fan of the jerseys and identity...but it's growing on me!

Daaaaaa Bearss.

2012-01-13T23:43:00.002-05:00

Burger Time

2012-01-12T14:43:00.002-05:00

A couple years back, I was hired to create an identity for a new all-natural burger joint here in Richmond, Boom Boom Burgers. I came up with a logo, and was involved in creating several supplementary items like business cards, menus and employee t-shirts. I was well on my way to developing a cartoon pitchman (complete with three nephew sidekicks) for the restaurant, tentatively named "Bobby Boom and the Burger Bunch". Unfortunately, despite good reviews, the place was forced to close after only a few months, thanks to the concept maybe being a little too high-end for the RVA and the overall lousy economy.

Top o' the World, Ma!

2012-01-08T15:10:00.001-05:00

If you'll look close at this still of the great Paul Lukas, speaking about whacked-out, modern college football uniforms on today's episode of CBS Sunday Morning, you'll see a couple of my girlie pin-up stickers in the background. Which means my work was on national TV, and on one of my favorite shows, to boot! Sad that it's this exciting to me.

Make sure to watch the video...like almost everything on Sunday Morning, it's aces!

Cosmic Cathouse

2012-01-06T09:53:00.001-05:00

Another fantastic gig from Las Vegas Weekly to kick off 2012, this one about a soon-to-open brothel in southern Nevada with a sci-fi theme! I shoulda asked to be paid in "store credit"!

Jayhawks

2011-12-29T18:33:00.000-05:00

Sooners

2011-12-29T11:30:00.000-05:00

St. Looie Blues

2011-12-27T18:27:00.002-05:00

I can finally share some'a these commissions from the last few months, now that Christmas has come' n gone and they've been gifted!

Merry Christmas, All!

2011-12-24T16:58:00.001-05:00

Hope you're safe and happy, wherever you are!

One Call That's All

2011-12-22T12:04:00.000-05:00

From Las Vegas Weekly.

The Hammer of the Law

2011-12-21T10:26:00.001-05:00

I did this illustration a few years back, about a superstar lawyer in Texas. Confirms a lot of long-standing perceptions I have about how things work in Texas!

Cougar Team

2011-12-20T09:51:00.001-05:00

This commission was done for Stephanie V., who plays ice hockey for a women's team in Boston. They call themselves the Cougar Express! Great stuff.

10k Fail

2011-12-13T14:31:00.000-05:00

Every year I run the Monument Avenue 10k here in Richmond. I've noticed in the last couple years, and in 2011 especially, the design on the t-shirts they give to all the runners has been incredibly bad. So, when I saw a postcard advertising a contest to design the 2012 version I figured it was time to put my own skills to the test.

Right away I decided to focus on Richmond's historic Monument Avenue itself as part of the design...not the monuments themselves, as that idea has been kind of played out, but on the beautiful old rowhouses and mansions that line the brick streets. The beautiful scenery is really one of the most enjoyable aspects of the run. I sketched out a rough, then scanned it in and drew it in Illustrator, figuring that format would give me the most leeway to move the buildings and runners around. The deadline was November 1, and falling as close to Halloween as it did, I ended up having to rush the artwork a bit as things around the house got really busy. Still, I finally ended up with a nice balance and a composition I could live with, so I sent it in late Halloween night, already spending the $1,000 in prize money in my head.

Unfortunately, I received an email last week telling me that my design hadn't been selected. I haven't seen the winning layout yet, but I'm extremely anxious to harshly judge it. Guess I'll have to wait 'til March!

Avs Girl

2011-12-12T11:07:00.001-05:00

I keep going back to this pose...but results are results!

Cheeky Aquagirl, and 800 Posts!

2011-12-10T19:55:00.000-05:00

This is the 800th post on Atom-Bomb Bikini! This blog has been going for over six years now, and though I'm often disappointed with myself about how seldom I post (especially lately), I continue to be grateful to everyone who visits regularly!

Anyway, wanted to share a recent Aquagirl commission I did...full, for-real color coming soon. Enjoy!

Win Twins!

2011-12-08T12:58:00.000-05:00

Redder

2011-12-07T14:44:00.000-05:00

Hell Hath No Fury

2011-12-06T12:45:00.005-05:00

From the current issue of Virginia Living:

"On a November Saturday night around 8 p.m., a jealous Ocie Dunn went to the home of the single Henry Fugate in Hurt, in Pittsylvania County, where Dunn’s wife, Dorothy, was “visiting.” Once there, Dunn just blew up."

Red Sketchin'

2011-12-05T19:52:00.002-05:00

The Doctor is In

2011-12-04T19:57:00.001-05:00

A basketball image? What the hell?

This was some concept art for a project that didn't work out. Hope you dig it!

Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate

2011-12-02T09:46:00.001-05:00

Friend of the blog Todd V. contacted me late last summer about creating some artwork to be used at a big tailgate party that his bar, Cypress St. Pint & Plate in Atlanta, would be co-hosting for the University of Georgia/Georgia Tech rivalry game on Thanksgiving weekend. Hilariously nicknamed "Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate", the rivalry dates back to 1893 (!) with UGA holding the series lead 62-39 (with five ties). The bulldogs won the most recent contest as well, by a score of 31-17.

Sleepy Blog

2011-12-01T12:53:00.000-05:00

I've been a little sleepy about keeping up with the ol' blog lately, so I'm gonna go ahead and try to get back on track by doing a post every day to close out the year. Keep your peepers peeled, people...there's some good stuff a'comin'!

The Atom-Bomb Bikini Holiday Sale!

2011-11-30T13:01:00.000-05:00

Folks, if you'll permit me a moment of crass commercialism...I've added a few extra deep discounts to the Atom-Bomb Bikini web shop, which'll continue through the weekend (until Monday morning, to be exact)! Lotsa stuff is up to and over half-off, including:

Atom-Bomb Bikini: The Lurid Art of Robert Ullman!
Normally $16, my signature book is on sale for just eight clams. I've never offered it this cheap before, at a con or otherwise, so grab while the grabbin's good!

Grand Gestures!
Just $2! What a deal!

Stickers!
Only 50¢ each! Are you kidding me?

In addition, most prints are on sale for $10! No codes to enter or any of that BS, just click it and I'll ship it, well in time for Christmas, Hanukkah, Festivus, or whatever it is you choose to celebrate with mass consumption! But remember, the sale only goes through the weekend, at which prices will return to their usual gouge-tastic selves, so ACT TODAY!

Happy Holidays!

The ABCs of ABC

2011-11-27T11:46:00.000-05:00

A few recent Stranger spots, all of them having to do with the city's ever-changing liquor laws.

Bil Keane 1922-2011

2011-11-09T14:02:00.000-05:00

The funnies lost another grand old man today with the passing of Bil Keane, creator of The Family Circus. Family Circus, along with Peanuts, was one of the very first comic strips I remember ever reading...but though my fondness for Schulz's masterpiece grew and grew over time, I really soured on Keane's work as the years went by, as it seemed to lose every bit of its edge and descended into endlessly repetitive jokes and treacly, Extreme Home Makeover-esque forced sentimentality. Still, the first 20 years or so, as good a run as anyone could ever hope for, were often brilliant, helped by the fact that the kids came across as real kids (ie. sociopathic little bastards) rather than the type of children you'd find on greeting cards.

I even managed to work one of Keane's tropes into one of my odder Savage Love illos a few years ago, in response to a letter from a reader who surmised her boyfriend must be cheating on her, as the supply of condoms in the house always seemed to be running low. Not Me, indeed!

Rest in Peace, Mr. Keane!

Girls n' Guns

2011-11-03T23:04:00.000-04:00

It's great to have clients with a complete understanding of your wheelhouse.

Halloweirdos!

2011-10-28T14:17:00.000-04:00

For a variety of reasons, I've been remiss about posting about the fantastic Halloweirdos project that's been running all October at the Wide Awake Press website. A different creepy or crawlie every day, by some spec-fackin-tacular artists. The second of my pieces for the month went up this afternoon...do yourself a favor and page through the amazing entries that've gone up over the last few weeks. If it don't put you in the Halloween sprit, nothing will!

Vive les Nordiques!

2011-10-28T13:20:00.000-04:00

Whale Tale

2011-10-25T20:35:00.000-04:00

Vandy is Dandy

2011-10-19T11:44:00.000-04:00

Created for superpal Kevin F...the more the merrier!

Game Six - Sabres at Penguins - All the Neal Girls

2011-10-15T16:37:00.000-04:00

Just a quickie today, gang...it's too nice outside. Besides, it's just the Sabres, AMIRITE?
LET'S GO PENS!

Game Five - Capitals at Penguins - Black Helmet

2011-10-13T15:24:00.001-04:00

Let's be honest, this is the only piece of equipment anyone is interested in today!

Game Four - Home Opener - Panthers at Penguins

2011-10-11T14:26:00.001-04:00

Sadly, these sharp sweaters will probably always be synonymous with Sid getting his brain broken. But I still like 'em!

Regarding the Panthers...I harbor a surprising amount of hate for a team that's been a doormat for 85% of it's existence. I never have and never will forgive this joke of a franchise for clutching and grabbing us out of an epic, Lemieux/Jagr vs. Sakic/Forsberg Stanley Cup Final. The idiot fans with their stupid rats...and the completely inept embarrassment of a decade and a half that's happened since. How does a city as apathetic as Miami even still have a team? Just die and move already.

Game Three- Penguins at Oilers

2011-10-09T19:43:00.002-04:00

The streak continues! Here's tonight's good luck charm!

What? You'd expect a girl rocking a Cookie Monster sweater to have a hair color other than blue?

Game Two - Penguins at Flames

2011-10-08T14:11:00.000-04:00

I'm gonna post a new illo every gameday until the Pens lose their first game of the season. We'll see how long this takes!

It's a Great Day for Hockey

2011-10-06T17:05:00.000-04:00

'Nuff said.

Actually, not quite enough. My Stanley Cup pick? Pens over Sharks, for the fifth consecutive year.

Geeks and Sluts

2011-09-29T11:27:00.000-04:00

Some assignments are just too good to be true. I got a call from the Las Vegas Weekly a couple weeks back to provide an illo for a story wistfully recalling the days when the porno film industry's AVN Awards and the high-tech Consumer Electronics Show shared Sin City for a weekend each year, and the colorful hotel bar interactions that the pairing provided. God bless us every one.

Caps Couple

2011-09-20T10:45:00.000-04:00

I did this up recently for a sweet couple who also happen to be huge Capitals fans. Congrats and safe travels to the new bride and groom, and here's hoping their blessed union lasts longer than the average Caps playoff run! (just kidding, guys!)

X is for Xenops

2011-09-14T21:50:00.000-04:00

Backup debut date for the Animal Alphabet mini-sketchbook is October 1 at Crafty Bastards. I'll keep you posted.

Dylan Williams

2011-09-13T23:21:00.003-04:00

My friend Dylan Williams passed away last Saturday, after battling cancer for years. I wasn't super-tight with Dylan...and as I always suspected and as the outpouring of love and respect that has cascaded through the comics world over the last few days has proven, Dylan was friends with dang near everyone he ever met. But I had to just say a few words.

I first remember hearing his name way back in the mid-90s...picked up his Reporter comic somewhere, which I'm pretty sure I read about in Jeff Levine's Destroy All Comics magazine. We finally met in probably 2002 at the SPACE convention in Columbus, Ohio, by which time his Sparkplug Comic Books publishing concern was up and running, putting out all kinds of awesome stuff. We had dinner at the same restaurants if not the same tables, always chatted a good bit and it was always so enjoyable. He was so funny, so gracious. I'd see him at shows all over...Dylan was a road warrior, spreading the gospel of comics...and every minute I spent with him made me look forward to the next time I'd see him.

In 2008, Dylan emailed me, asking about coming to the Richmond Zine Fest. Knowing how Richmond events sometimes go, and knowing that he'd have to come all the way from Portland, I actually sorta warned him against it, thinking he could be wasting his cash. But he decided to come, and in the end I was glad he did. The show was pretty good...we hosted a panel on doing mini-comics, and blabbed about anything and everything all day, and then went to Ipanema for dinner. It was so great to finally get a chance to hang out and just shoot the breeze with no responsibility to selling books at a convention table...it was just like I always thought it'd be.

I didn't even know Dylan was or ever had been sick. I found out about it just a few weeks ago when the entire internet came together to implore folks to purchase some books from Sparkplug to defray Dylan's medical costs. I didn't even buy any, figuring that picking a few up at SPX in a couple weeks instead would serve the same purpose. I got back from the show, and somehow, he was gone. And I still just can't believe it. I just can't believe I'll never see him again.

Anyway, I'm sure there are still bills to be paid, so if you would, consider heading over to Sparkplug and spending a few dollars on some fine comics. I recommend everything there, but some particular favorites are Diary of a Mosquito Abatement Man by John P., Rambo 3.5 by Jim Rugg, Tales to Demolish by Eric Haven, The Natural World by Damian Jay, Watching Days Become Years by Jeff Levine, anything by David King, and Reporter by Dylan Williams.

This Weekend: SPX and More!

2011-09-07T22:05:00.001-04:00

Whew! I've been so busy preparing for it that I've had nary a minute to mention that the Small Press Expo is coming up this very weekend!

But first...

I was invited to take part in a comics roundtable discussion at the University of Maryland this Friday, September 9, from 1-3PM. It's called Bleeding the Narrative: Comics in Art and Culture, and I'll be there along with other panelists Jim Rugg, Monica Gallagher, Alexis E. Fajardo and Carolyn Belefski, who are all super-cool...it should be a really fun and likely quite hilarious time. I'll be talking about my comics and illustration, my techniques and methods, and how godawful the Terps football uniforms looked the other night.

It's open to the public at the Michelle Smith Collaboratory for Visual Culture, which is on the 4th floor of the Art-Sociology Building. Love to see you there.

The next day, I'll be at SPX, bright and early when the show opens at 11. I'll have at least one new book, the new Old-Timey Hockey Tales, and maybe a new issue of Teeny Bikini if the stars align correctly. I'll be splitting a table with my pal Bill Burg, whose new book March might end up being the book of the show. It's really that good.

We'll be right up front at E-15, right across from the CBLDF...be there or be squared!

W is for Wallaby

2011-09-05T07:49:00.000-04:00

As I was working on this drawing yesterday at the coffee shop, I discovered that one of the gals who works there was raised in Australia! How random is that?

Earthquakes, Hurricanes and Kids, OH MY!

2011-09-02T22:43:00.002-04:00

It was a busy as hell August, what with raising kids, surviving natural disasters and living without electricity for the better part of last week. But I did wanna post this little sneak peek of what I've been working on, set to debut at next weekend's Small Press Expo!

T is for Tortoise

2011-08-15T06:37:00.001-04:00

Considering it shares a name with one of my all-time favorite bands, a drawing of a tortoise for the letter T was a sure thing from the get-go.

A Little Love for the Flying V

2011-08-12T21:26:00.000-04:00

Been meaning to color this forever. One of the ugliest jerseys in NHL history, my ass!

S is for Sloth

2011-08-08T23:17:00.000-04:00

I never really paid much attention to sloths until I began searching for animals to draw for the letter S. Looking at some photos, I was shocked to see just how much they look like Muppets in real life! They're hilarious!

Q is for Quail

2011-07-25T12:09:00.000-04:00

I was gonna try and come up with something a little more obscure, but then I remembered that goofy little thing quails have coming off their foreheads and had to draw it. Plus this make three birds in a row (four if you count the heron I drew at the beach last week, in hopes of filling in the blanks of my Animal Alphabet posting schedule)!

FOUND: Atom-Bomb Bikini #4

2011-07-25T09:32:00.001-04:00

Browsing one of Richmond's crappier comics shops a couple weeks back, I discovered that one of the copies of Atom-Bomb Bikini #4 I sold them back in 2005 or so languishing on a shelf in the back of the store where nobody would ever find it. It's been out of print forever...I ran out of copies in 2007 or thereabouts...so I decided to just buy the damn thing back from them and offer it to any blog readers who might've missed out the first time around.

It's on etsy now...act fast, there's seriously only one of these to be had. I'll throw in a mess of free stickers to whoever grabs it up.

EDIT: And it's gone! Thanks, A. If I ever uncover another copy, I'll be sure & post it!

P is for Predictable

2011-07-18T06:45:00.000-04:00

...and of course, penguin. If you didn't see this one coming, shame on you for six weeks.

Girl Friday

2011-07-15T17:00:00.000-04:00

Roofin'

2011-07-14T17:39:00.000-04:00

From University of Virginia Magazine, an article on students who elect to volunteer with organizations like Habitat for Humanity over their spring and summer breaks.

O is for Owl

2011-07-11T12:44:00.000-04:00

I read a book when I was a young kid...something about barn owls, I think it took place somewhere in Canada...Saskatchewan, I think. Does that sound familiar to anyone? I'd love to hunt it down and read it to the kids.

Career Gag

2011-07-11T09:24:00.000-04:00

This one I could actually see The New Yorker digging.

The Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins

2011-07-10T09:41:00.001-04:00

FINALLY! It's taken almost three years, but another Boston team has finally won a championship! Our long national nightmare is over!

In all seriousness, congrats to the Bs. A likable team, and a well-deserved championship!

EDIT: Honestly, the things I do for you people...

N is for Narwhal

2011-07-08T15:15:00.001-04:00

I was out of town all last week and didn't have access to a scanner...so my Animal Alphabet post is a little late. Not that I was in any real hurry to post it anyway, because it's pretty awful! But I did it, so here it is. I'll try and make up for it this week.

M is for Manatee

2011-06-27T14:31:00.002-04:00

Back on track!

Shocking the World

2011-06-26T10:09:00.000-04:00

The Wichita State Shockers shook off their disappointment at not making the NCAA Tournament last March and surged to the NIT title!

A word about the composition...I realize the way she's sitting on the trophy looks a bit uncomfortable, so I'll thank you not to make any cracks (ulp, there I go again...see how easy it is?)!

5 Questions with Original Retro Brand

2011-06-24T17:23:00.000-04:00

A murderous deadline last week caused this item to get lost in the shuffle a little bit, but I wanted to make sure I hipped you guys to it. I recently did a little five questions interview with the fine folks at Original Retro Brand, sellers of some really swank old-timey hockey tees, hoodies and whatnot! Seriously, where else are you going to find a Montreal Maroons shirt? Give it a gander here!

Winnipeg Jets it is!

2011-06-24T14:53:00.000-04:00

If TSN and NHL.com are to be believed, the name of the new team in Winnipeg (the relocated Atlanta Thrashers) will be a familiar one...the Winnipeg Jets! The correct and only choice, really...they never shoulda left in the first place. Pass the word, Manitobans – The Jets are back!

Mail Call

2011-06-22T16:46:00.000-04:00

I got some unfortunate news from my mailman Ray early last week...turns out that after five years, he was being transferred out of the route in our neighborhood. It was a real bummer, and not just because it wasn't his decision. When you work at home as a freelancer, you depend on the USPS a good bit, delivering checks and tax forms and whatnot. When you sell stuff and have it shipped out through the mail, you depend on them even more. I send out packages of varying size, weight, etc. several times a week, and it was always nice to know that there was someone dependable and who, frankly, gave a shit, in charge of getting it where it needed to go. There was also the fact that we'd kinda gotten to be pals a little bit, often chatting about art and whatnot...he has a teenage son who's become interested in drawing recently, and I passed along the name of one of my favorite how-to books, Jack Hamm's Drawing the Head and Figure.

Anyway, last Friday was Ray's last day on the route, and my wife bought a thank you card to pass along. I enclosed the drawing below, which I knew he'd appreciate, on a little piece of Bristol.

Punks on Parade print

2011-06-13T18:13:00.001-04:00

The extremely kind commissioner of the Clash "Punks on Parade" image I posted has volunteered to allow me to produce some prints of the image, based on the amazing response to it in the comments section! So, if you've had your eye on 'er (and let's be honest, who hasn't?), here's the print, for sale in the webshop!

And thanks a million, J!

Door #1

2011-06-10T10:17:00.000-04:00

Pit Bull Gag

2011-06-08T06:05:00.000-04:00

Lobby Lobby

2011-06-07T11:37:00.000-04:00

From a recent Washington City Paper article, about a regular gathering for lobbyists who lobby for lobbying. Apparently they're all beautiful, perky and positive. With surprisingly few fangs.

J is for Junebug

2011-06-06T12:43:00.000-04:00

These big bastards never fail to wig me out every summer. Apologies for the kinda-lousiness of this drawing, but I had to get back in the game!

Santorum

2011-06-06T10:13:00.000-04:00

One of my proudest accomplishments as an illustrator was helping establish the alternative definition of Santorum with my illos for Savage Love. In honor of this gay-hating, world-class shitbag declaring his candidacy for president, I'd like to share one of those illos, tweaked a bit to bring it up to date. As you can see, it's a Santorum 2012 t-shirt, soaked in santorum, the frothy mixture of lube and fecal matter that is sometime a by-product of anal sex. Please steal it and post it literally anywhere you want.

Punks on Parade

2011-06-03T15:55:00.001-04:00

This was a recent commission, with the direction of "a girl wearing headphones and a fitted Clash t-shirt". The client and I were both so pleased with how it came out that I'm considering branching out and taking some commissions that aren't limited to sports teams, and have more general appeal...things like band t-shirts, favorite outfits, etc. What say you, readers? Any takers?

Fun with Impotence!

2011-06-02T22:14:00.000-04:00

Credit (blame?) for writing this joke goes to my pal Mark Ricketts.

Stanley Cup and Cheesecake 2011 - Stanley Cup Finals Edition

2011-06-01T11:50:00.000-04:00

Boston Bruins vs. Vancouver Canucks

Well, this oughta be fun.

I'm not a huge fan of Boston in general...blame it on Red Sox/Patriots fatigue or whatever, but the last decade or so, I'm usually for whatever leaves the Massholes feeling disappointed. I have trouble hating this Bruins team, though...Tim Thomas, creepy sex-offender mustache aside, seems like a good guy, and I still have some affection for the Recchin' Ball. Classic, sharp-dressed team...difficult to manufacture much rancor.

But I'll probably be rooting for the Canucks, and here's why: It's about damn time a Canadian team won the Stanley Cup again! Also, in straight financial terms, Vancouver fans order more commission than just about anybody! Canucks in five.

Now, the only question is, with a newborn in the house, will I actually get to watch any of it?

(Apologies for the art re-run...I have a lot more fun and entertaining image in mind, but I just gotta find the time to produce it!)

Trivia Night!

2011-05-31T22:18:00.002-04:00

A piece for the Las Vegas Weekly, in which a bunch of bookish types take over a local bar's trivia night, to their peril.

Gil Scott-Heron 1949-2011

2011-05-27T22:17:00.000-04:00

Cop Sex

2011-05-26T22:57:00.000-04:00

From The Stranger's "Cops We Have Loved" dept.:

Phantom Girl

2011-05-25T11:44:00.000-04:00

Not to be confused with Phantom Lady, Phantom Girl, a.k.a. Tinya Wazzo, is a Legionnaire with the ability to phase through solid objects. She's worn a ton of different uniforms over the decades, but for my money none of 'em have had the wacky charm of this boob-window/bellbottoms combo from the late 70s.

Habs Fan Problems

2011-05-20T13:48:00.000-04:00

HeroesCon Sketches

2011-05-18T10:57:00.000-04:00

At press time, there's only about a 10% chance I'll be able to make it away for the Heroes Con...it'll be a last-minute decision, in any event. I always dig doing sketches for folks, and occasionally do them in advance... but advance commissions may well be the only ones I can take for this Heroes Con! So here are the details if you'd like to get one.

My sketches usually run $25 for colored pencil, or $50 for ink, on 9 x 12 Bristol board... If you're interested, I can work something up for you, have you pay via PayPal or something and if I can't make it, arrange to send it down... I'm planning to have a few new items for sale at my pal J Chris Campbell's table, so you can pick it up there! Just shoot me an email and let me know what you had in mind!

Oh, and I'll take requests up to and a week after the con...Thanks!

G is for Golden Retriever

2011-05-16T11:36:00.002-04:00

...in this case, my own Golden Retriever, my sweet boy Puck. True, he's not a purebred, but that's what he most closely resembles, so that's what I've always called him. Puckie turned 12 back in March, which I can scarcely believe. He's definitely lost a step or two...the poor guy has to wear special grippy "kitten mittons" on his back feet so that he doesn't slide all over our tile and hardwood floors thanks to degenerating nerves in his rear end. Man, getting old sucks.

Still, he's mentally the same old Puck, and loves to bark at cats and get his mane scratched. And he still does "The Fang", which is my name for the snaggly front tooth that shows when he curls up his front lip during an especially productive scratch.

He'll always be my first baby...I love him soooo much!

Stanley Cup and Cheesecake 2011 - Conference Finals Edition

2011-05-14T16:56:00.001-04:00

EASTERN CONFERENCE

(3) Boston Bruins vs. (5) Tampa Bay Lightning

If this was a VS. game of the week, I'd probably elect to endure an episode of How I Met Your Mother with my wife instead of watching (And I hate How I Met Your Mother). Still, these noble teams managed to sweep both the Flyers and Capitals, and that's a situation where everyone wins! So I'll always be thankful to them for that.

Last thing I ever thought I'd be predicting was Tampa Bay moving on to the Stanley Cup Finals, but that's just life in the crazy world of the NHL. Apologies for the pencil drawing, as opposed to something a little more polished, but I kinda busy, y'know, having a baby! Lightning in six.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

(1) Vancouver Canucks vs. (2) San Jose Sharks

Despite a no-show by the Sedin twins, Vancouver looked pretty sharp vs. Nashville...just as well, as I think the Sedin-bots are mainly what I don't care for when it comes to the Canucks. I'd much rather enjoy Ryan Kesler in beast mode, tearing it up on the way to a Conn Smythe trophy. Seems like they've put past failures behind them and are ready to live up to their promise.

And the Sharks...took them forever, and they almost pissed it away, but they finally managed to kill the Red Wings, and for the second year in a row. Maybe they've finally laid to rest that choker label as well.

At any rate, I look for the winner of this series to go on and win the Stanley Cup as well, which'll mean somebody will end a long drought and win their first championship. Always a good time. Canucks in six.

Finally, I'd like to take a minute how stunned and sad I am over the passing of the Rangers' Derek Boogard, who was discovered dead in his home yesterday. Only 28 years old. Damn. RIP big man.

Max Robert Ullman

2011-05-12T12:55:00.000-04:00

Born yesterday, May 11, 2011. Nickname: Schwally. Everyone's doing fine...Though I guess he's the one you should really talk to, considering he's the one who got circumcised this morning!

Do I Hear $10?

2011-05-10T16:45:00.001-04:00

Young Schwally's impending arrival has left my ability to attend this year's Heroes Con, just four short weeks from now, very much in question. I do, however, plan to contribute something to the annual Art Auction and send it along in my absence, at the very least.

Here's a quick study of what I have in mind. I'm always so impressed when I see pieces in the auction fetch high numbers... I figured if I pandered a bit to the clientele while staying in my own specific wheelhouse, I could hopefully finally see one of my pieces reach into the triple digits! We shall see!

F is for Fox

2011-05-09T13:51:00.001-04:00

I sketched this yesterday (and inked it this morning) based on a stuffed fox in a diorama at the nature center of Richmond's Three Lakes Park, where we had our annual Mother's Day picnic. It was the last one as a family of three, as we're all set to welcome our second kid into the world this Wednesday, via the miracle of C-section. We're not 100% sure on the name yet, though Evie, my three-year-old, wants to call him "Schwally". Unfortunately for him, that'll probably be his nickname whether he likes it or not!

The Arm from Lunenburg County

2011-05-05T11:29:00.000-04:00

From the June issue of Virginia Living, the story of Charlie Montgomery, who excelled at many thing, including baseball, despite having only one arm!

The arm went when it “got in the way of a load of shot” when the 16-year-old Charlie was hunting, but still people said he could do “anything with that right hand that you can do with both of yours.” He amazed onlookers as he would “pick up a hot ground ball with his gloved hand, toss it deftly into the air, and, after shedding the glove with a flip, catch it again and peg that old apple in to nab a runner at the plate.”

E is for Elephant

2011-05-02T14:04:00.000-04:00

I had a little pencil sketch of an eagle all done up, but I was afraid it'd seem too much like a statement today of all days. Went with this quick, silly illo of an elephant instead...always fun to draw these chubby bastards!

Stanley Cup and Cheesecake 2011 - Eastern Conference Semis Edition

2011-04-29T16:02:00.000-04:00

(1) Washington Capitals vs. (5) Tampa Bay Lightning

Capitals in seven.

(2) Philadelphia Flyers vs. (3) Boston Bruins

Bruins in six.

Stanley Cup and Cheesecake 2011 - Western Conference Semis Edition

2011-04-28T17:46:00.001-04:00

Boy, really not into this today. Whatever.

(1) Vancouver Canucks vs. (5) Nashville Predators

Boy, what a scary first series that turned out to be for the Canucks, eh? With a 3-0 stranglehold on the series, Vancouver almost choked away the whole magilla, needing overtime in game seven to finally eliminate the resilient Blackhawks in one of the most exciting hockey games I've ever seen.

The question now is, how will that long, emotional series affect the Canucks in round two vs. a Nashville team that bested Anaheim in a six game series that, despite some tight moments, had nothing in comparison to Chicago/Vancouver. It was Nashville's first ever series victory, and they're sure to be bouyed the belief that, finally, they CAN win. (I might have more insightful analyisis if I'd been able to watch even one goddamn minute of it on TV.

While my heart wants to pick the Preds, my head says go with the 'Nucks. Whatever, as long as one of them beats the Red Wings. Canucks in six.

(2) San Jose Sharks vs. (3) Detroit Red Wings

I hate the Red Wings. I was really hoping for Chicago to win, so that Wings would have to face Nashville, who I still believe are due for a franchise-defining victory over Detroit. Ah well, maybe in the next round, 'cause the Sharks are sure to lay an egg. Bah. Wings in six.

D is for Dik-Dik

2011-04-25T10:40:00.004-04:00

"A dik-dik, pronounced "dĭk’ dĭk", is a small antelope that lives in the bushes of East Africa, Angola and Namibia. Dik-diks stand 30–40 cm (approx. 12–16 inches) at the shoulder, are 50–70 cm (approx. 20-28 inches) long, weigh 3–6 kg (approx. 7-16 pounds) and can live for up to 10 years. Dik-diks are named for the alarm calls of the females, which make a dik-dik, or zik-zik sound."

Seriously, these things look like they were designed by a manga artist to be adorable. It's ridiculous.

EDIT: And speaking of adorable...I've been printing out all my Animal Alphabet drawings for my daughter Evie to color...here's what she came up with for this one!

C is for Cheetah

2011-04-18T08:49:00.002-04:00

"The cheetah achieves by far the fastest land speed of any living animal — between 112 and 120 km/h (70 and 75 mph) in short bursts covering distances up to 500 m (1,600 ft), and has the ability to accelerate from 0 to over 100 km/h (62 mph) in three seconds."

Old-Timey Hockey Tales: Vic Lynn, the Original Sixer

2011-04-15T11:07:00.000-04:00

Stanley Cup and Cheesecake 2011 - Eastern Conference Quarters Edition

2011-04-13T12:09:00.006-04:00

(1) Washington Capitals vs. (8) New York Rangers

It's time for the Capitals to put up or shut up. Nice as that Winter Classic Champions 2011 is gonna look hanging from the Verizon Center rafters, if it's not joined by a Stanley Cup Champs banner, and soon, heads are gonna roll. As it is, anything less than the Prince of Wales Trophy may see Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau on a street corner somewhere holding a hand-scrawled sign that say "Will coach for Haagen-Dazs."

They'll look to take the first step against the Rangers, who had to depend on Carolina to lose their last game to even get into the playoffs. But if New York was going to face anyone as an eighth seed, Washington is they team they'd pick, having won the season series 3-1 and having blanked the high-octane Caps offense twice by scores of 7-0 and 6-0. I came very close to picking the Rangers to get the upset in this series...I even did a drawing for them...but in the end, I think the loss of Ryan Callahan will prove too much for New York to overcome, and Washington will prevail in a series that goes the distance. Capitals in seven.

(2) Philadelphia Flyers vs. (7) Buffalo Sabres

Philly started the season where they left off the last one, hot and on a roll. They led the East much of the way all year, but lately, that mojo has been waning. The goaltending is questionable, and they went 3-7 in their last ten games, coming very close to losing the Atlantic division title.

The Sabres, on the other hand, are one of the best teams in the league since their sale to Sabres-superfan Terry Pegula in February solidified their place in Buffalo and put to rest their long-standing ownership issues. They've basically been playing playoff hockey with little margin for error since the All-Star break. Provided they aren't completely exhausted from the journey, they should be able to continue their winning ways and upset the Flyers. Sabres in six.

(3) Boston Bruins vs. (6) Montreal Canadiens

These two teams have had numerous memorable matchups over their decades-long rivalry, and this season has been no exception. Will we see the spirited Habs team that put 1000 penalty minutes on the board in February, or the team that rolled over and got destroyed by the Bruins in March? As last year proved, you can never, ever count out the Canadiens, but I think it'll be the Bruins in five.

(4) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (5) Tampa Bay Lightning

It's impossible to be objective about a Penguins playoff series, but I'll give it a try.

Steve Downie aside, the Lightning are a pretty likable team...young stars alongside some grizzled veterans. Major upgrade in management this past offseason, with the hiring of Steve Yzerman. You knew he was gonna turn it around, it was just a question of how long it'd take. Well, the turnaround has arrived, and you'd better get used to seeing Tampa in the playoffs, because it's gonna be an annual thing for the next decade.

The Penguins have been plugging along at an unthinkable clip, considering they've been without their two biggest superstars for most of the year. Strange as it may seem, this season has been incredibly fun for me...with player after player being knocked out of the lineup for one reason or another, only to see the players who are in the lineup somehow scrape together win after win in games they had no business even being competitive in. As a Penguins fan, I'm just really friggin' proud of how the team has responded in the face of almost comical adversity.

Strong as Tampa's offensive weapons are, I think this is a good matchup for the offense-depleted Pens. Their penalty kill has been good...historically good...all season long, and if they can simply limit the Lightning's chances on the man advantage, they should be able to score enough goals to win four 3-2 games. Penguins in six.

CRASS COMMERCIALISM DEPT: All of the original, hand-drawn art for the Stanley Cup pinup girls is available at my Etsy store...and if you'd like to go the extra mile and get a personalized, one-of-a-kind uni-girl illustration of your very own to your exact specifications, that information can be found here.

Stanley Cup and Cheesecake 2011 - Western Conference Quarters Edition

2011-04-12T11:43:00.004-04:00

Man, is there anything better than playoff hockey? The pucks finally drop tomorrow night! I for one have been going crazy since mid-February, thinking about matchups, seedings, who can beat who and who I'm excited about drawing! Without further ado, here's this year's edition of my guarantee-free playoff picks!

(1) Vancouver Canucks vs. (8) Chicago Blackhawks

Vancouver has been cruising all season, and has been in first place since about Christmas. They're loaded, they're rested, and they're ready to finally make that long Cup-winning run.

Standing in their way is their old nemesis, the Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks. Gutted by salary cap constrictions which saw them jettison almost a dozen players from last year's championship team, the Hawks have struggled all season, needing a choke job by the Dallas Stars to even reach the postseason. They seem ripe for the picking...a speedbump on the way out of the parking lot for the juggernaut Canucks. But you cannot discount Chicago so easily. They score a TON of goals, and they'll play without fear, having knocked Vancouver out of the playoff the last two seasons. In the end, though, I think the third matchup will finally go the Canucks way, and the Blackhawks championship reign will end on home ice. Canucks in six.

(2) San Jose Sharks vs. (7) Los Angeles Kings

Pity the poor Kings...they really seemed to be on the precipice of great things early this season. Hell, I was buying them as a contender in the West. But they've been bitten and bitten bad by the injury bug the last few weeks...you can't help but think they'll struggle to score with Anze Kopitar out of the lineup. Take it from this Pens fan...if you're pinning your hopes on Alexei Ponikarovsky to turn it up in the playoffs, you're going to end up disappointed.

The Sharks...what can you say about the Sharks? They're there every year, close but not quite. They took a big step in 2010, though...They actually kinda met expectations, despite being swept in the Western Conference final. Dumping veteran ~~choker~~ goalie Evgenii Nabokov in favor of Antti Niemi may be the move that ultimately makes the difference and takes the Sharks to the next level. He'll definitely be enough to win this round, as No Cal beats So Cal. Sharks in five.

(3) Detroit Red Wings vs. (6) Phoenix Coyotes

The Red Wings did themselves a HUGE favor on the season's final day, beating Chicago to avoid a first round matchup with Nashville, who I think were due for an upset against their Central Division rival. Instead, it'll be Phoenix with revenge on their minds, having lost a hard-fought series to Detroit last spring. As was the case last year, I'd LOVE to pick the Coyotes, just to thumb my nose at the entitled, easily offended Red Wing fanbase and the massive persecution complex they share that bombed-out Detroit rowhouse with, but I just can't bring myself to do it. Let's never speak of this again. Wings in seven.

(4) Anaheim Ducks vs. (5) Nashville Predators

You heard it here first (okay, fiftieth): This is the year the Preds finally get off the schnied and win a playoff series. Yes, the Ducks are hot, scoring goals at a torrid pace, but the Predators have been strong and steady all year. This'll be a fun one to watch, with Nashville coming out on top and advancing to round two. I'd bet my buddy Davis' beloved mustard sweater on it. Predators in six.

B is for Boa Constrictor

2011-04-11T12:08:00.001-04:00

It's Animal Alphabet time! I managed to squeeze some extra details in this week (see what I did there?).

"Boa constrictors are ambush predators and as such will often lie in wait for an appropriate prey to come along at which point they will attack. However, they have also been known to actively hunt, particularly in regions with a low concentration of suitable prey, and this behaviour generally occurs at night. The boa will first strike at the prey, grabbing it with its teeth, it then proceeds to constrict the prey until death before consuming it whole."

Jade

2011-04-08T15:51:00.000-04:00

'Cause who doesn't love a green chick?

But seriously, weird story, I've been sitting on this drawing forever...Long ago, I roughed the pencils in, then dropped it in the portfolio I carry around in my messenger bag, where and its been sitting half-finished for probably five years. I finished it up while sitting in the coffee shop the other day waiting on approval for another sketch. Whether or not it was worth the wait is up to you.

Dress Shirt

2011-04-07T13:10:00.000-04:00

A is for Aardvark

2011-04-04T09:53:00.002-04:00

I'm working on a new weekly project, suggested by my pal Ben Towle...The Animal Alphabet! We'll post each Monday on our respective blogs and on the Twitters as well (#AnimalAlphabet)...hopefully some other folks will choose to play along as well! As far as I know, the deal is that we won't announce what we've chosen to draw ahead of time...I'm looking forward to seeing if we have some weeks where we both pick the same animal (it almost happened this week in fact...Alpaca was my second choice!)

Anyway, I'm doing this for two reasons...one, I'm historically pretty lousy at drawing animals...this'll be good practice, and I might actually learn something! And two...boy, it's nice to draw something I can share with my daughter. I showed her this drawing this morning, and she got very excited..."He looks like a piggy!" I said, "Yeah, he digs in the ground with his nose and eats ants!", which elicited a big "ANTS? EWWWW!" It was pretty great.

Enjoy!

Hey, Hey, Hey, Buccos Go All the Way

2011-04-01T14:03:00.000-04:00

Well, sadly, probably not...and it often seems like not ever. But today is the Pirates opening day, and while we Buccos fans likely can't hope for anything more optimistic than finishing only a handful of games below .500, we can celebrate the glory days by picking up Wilfred Santiago's beautiful new graphic novel "21: The Story of Roberto Clemente". I just bought it myself this morning, and am looking forward to digging into it...I'll share some thoughts about it later on!

Sticker Fun

2011-03-31T20:39:00.002-04:00

I'm having some stickers printed up of the VCU pinup girl! If you're interested in grabbing one (for jus a buck or two, 'natch), please let me know in the comments section...and if you're local, you can drop by Velocity Comics tomorrow and pick one up in person. I'll post an update here (and on my Twitter, @robullman) once I've dropped them off!

EDIT: They've been dropped off at Velocity, so grab while the grabbing's good. Also, I added 'em to my webshop, for those out of town! Please excuse the nominal cost...trust me, they're well-made, durable and totally worth it!

Mona

2011-03-31T11:51:00.000-04:00

Let's Go Rams

2011-03-30T15:23:00.000-04:00

Heaven knows I'm not the biggest basketball fan...but if there's only one hoops event I follow (and trust me, there IS only one), it's the NCAA Tournament. And how can you not be taken with the plucky VCU Rams and their improbable run to the Final Four? I think they're destined to win it all.

Spider Girl

2011-03-30T13:28:00.000-04:00

Sussa Paka of 30th century Earth has the power to use her indestructible and malleable hair as weapon. Taking the name Spider Girl, she applied for Legion membership but was rejected on the grounds that her power was lame. She instead became a founding member of the Legion of Super-Villains. She would later become a hero and Legionnaire after the Dominators' takeover of the Earth, but that was at least a couple reboots ago. I think she's a bad guy again now.

Again with the Hockey

2011-03-29T10:48:00.000-04:00

Another short Hockey Tales strip almost ready to go. See if you can guess who it's about!

Out with the old, in with the new!

2011-03-23T10:46:00.000-04:00

Please forgive the commercial here...I've dropped all my original 2010 Stanley Cup preview pin-up art to half price(which ends up being $30 or less) to make room for the new stuff I'll be listing next month. Use the code BLOWOUT11 at checkout, and you'll receive 50% off...please have a look!

Some of the pieces are pictured below, and there are a few more on the site as well!