Biting the Bullet

Stumbled upon this strip while going through some old files the other day, which I created over a weekend for The Washington City Paper back in 2001. Written by Chris Flores, it details his attemps and experiences trying to register a gun in the District of Columbia. DC's laws have changed since then, as have Chicago's, which changed just yesterday. Figured it was a timely topic.

For my part, I hate guns, and would never own one. I find them to be, in most cases, a completely worthless accessory for paranoid types to own to feed into their persecution fantasies. Gun manufacturers further feed into this emotion, selling bigger and more horrible weapons to everyday citizens, framing their greed as a Constitutional rights issue, as if our sainted and infallible founding fathers could have conceived in their wildest dreams of a gun that could fire 500 rounds in ten seconds. If you ask me, real life just isn't that dangerous, and the possibility for unintended tragedy is far too high.

World Cup Fever...CATCH IT!

As it was last winter during the Olympics, I felt a deep sense of patriotic pride watching Team USA pull off their dramatic win vs. Algeria yesterday in the World Cup. Now, I'm far less knowledgeable when it comes to soccer than I am with hockey, but I do know two things: People love girls in sports jerseys, and they really love free stuff!

So with that in mind, I had a few stickers of my Team USA World Cup girl printed up, and am offering them to the first 15 or so commenters on this post. I'm looking for actual comments, too...something more than just "Gimme!". Your experience watching the game yesterday, a funny anecdote about your pants falling down while playing youth soccer, I dunno...something!

Like I said, I've got 15 or so of these babies to give away, but I'm holding a few back for folks who order stuff in the store...so should you decide to order something, I'll make absolutely sure you get one!

World Cup Fever

If you're like me, you're gonna wake up tomorrow morning and be watching some Team USA soccer before your second cup of coffee!

My apologies for the Landon Donovan jersey...I'm fully aware it's the most obvious choice, akin to putting #87 on a hockey sweater (and why wouldn't you?)...but my soccer knowledge is pretty limited to fevered interest every two years (World Cup and the Olympics), and I figured better safe than sorry.

Go USA!

Bond Girls Curling Team

When I was in San Diego for Comicon last summer, I met Matt, Jen and Donna, who happened to browse by my table and look at some of my sporty-girl illustrations. Somehow the topic of curling came up, and I discovered that Jen and Donna were on a women's curling team based in Hollywood called Bond Girls. A skeletal agreement to do a commission was made, and a few weeks ago, I finished this illustration, with which I am super happy!

Check out Team Bond Girls on the web, friend 'em on facebook...and hell, if it's convenient, check out a bonspiel!

Dejah Thoris, and 600 posts

I've been working on this illo here and there since Frank Frazetta left this mortal coil over a month ago...hard to think of Dejah Thoris, Princess of mars, without thinking about The Master. (Also, hard to believe it took me this long to do a drawing of Dejah Thoris!)

Also, this marks my 600th post on Atom-Bomb Bikini! Not a bad run, but I always feel like I should be posting more frequently...maybe I'll try the old post-a-day gimmick in July!

Strange and Stranger

I've got TWO illos in The Stranger this week...and I'm plastered all over the front page of their site! Everything's coming up Chappy!

Oilers

You'll never hear me call Wayne Gretzky the greatest player in NHL history...for my money that's Mario Lemieux. But in discussing the best teams in NHL history? The Oilers of the 1980's have to be on anyone's short list.

News Travels Fast

This was a spot for Remodeling Magazine, about how referrals and good word of mouth are more valuable than any advertising you can buy. Having had a ton of work done on our house over the last year, I can personally vouch for this sentiment!

Stars

Congrats to the Chicago Blackhawks on winning the Stanley Cup! 

Hockey season may be over, but the hockey art never stops!

Heroes Con 2010-The Haul

Left to right: Enquirer Dharbin by Dustin Harbin; Amelia Earhart: This Broad Ocean by Ben Towle; Nathan Sorry 1 & 2 by Rich Barrett; Richard's Poor Almanac by Richard Thompson; Fast Food Feud by Bradwick McGinty; Everyday by Joe Lambert; CHAING! by Cliff Chaing; Oh, WOW! by Adam Hughes; Pale Rider anthology; Cleopatra in Space and Cow and Buffalo: Superheroes by Mike Maihack; Tracy Lee Quinn's self-titled sketchbook; and Black & White and Character Flawed by Nathan Fox

Heroes Con is This Weekend!

What the what? It's time for Heroes Con already? It seems like I've been looking forward to the 2010 edition of one of my very favorite comic conventions since about an hour before the 2009 version came to a close...and now, all of a sudden, it's dead ahead, this Friday in lovely Charlotte, NC!

Anyway, I'll have a few new items on the table this weekend, including a second collection of my auto-biographical "Traffic and Weather" comic strips, and a little set of prints of all the Legion Ladies illos that've been appearing on the blog since the fall. I'll also have a ton of new artwork and have added a bunch of pieces of art to the "Fire Sale" box...little odds and ends and stuff that I sell for a measly eight bucks apiece, of 3 for $20. Hell, even though it seems like it's been out there forever, this'll actually be the first Heroes Con appearance of the Atom-Bomb Bikini hardcover...I  had a dummy copy last time around, but I didn't receive the physical shipment of books until a couple weeks after the show.

Otherwise, I'll be indulging in the best thing about Heroes Con...hanging with all my pals. In addition to all the usual suspects like Jim Mahfood, Cliff Chaing, J Chris Campbell and the Wide Awake Crew, there'll be a few new faces at the show this year, including Jill Thompson and Scott Morse. I'm also hoping that I'll be able to convince at least a few of these nerds to watch Game Four of the Stanley Cup Finals on Friday night...as I write this, Game Three is knotted at 3, but if the Hawks manage to pull off the win, that fabled silver Cup will be in the building and the Blackhawks will have a chance to win it.

So, for god's sake, come to Charlotte this weekend and have the time of your life! And don't forget to stop by and say hello!

Andromeda

More Legion! This is Laurel Gand, also known as Andromeda...She's a kind-of pseudo-Supergirl first introduced during the excellent "Five Years Later..." Legion storyline in 1989, back when DC was on the fence about whether Supergirl had ever actually existed or not. Even though she lives in the 30th century, she dresses like an early-90s comic book character!

Stanley Cup and Cheesecake 2010 - Stanley Cup Finals Edition

Chicago Blackhawks vs. Philadelphia Flyers

What an interesting final. Lots of storylines and interesting facts here. For one thing, a longstanding trend will be broken, as either team has won it all in a loooong time; 35 years for the Flyers, nearly 50 for the Hawks. In fact, each of these teams was swept the last time they made it to hockey's biggest stage. You know the TV networks gotta be loving it, with two of the nation's biggest cities represented and a chance at boffo ratings (if the people in those cities have any damn sense).

Now, the Blackhawks...I gave them a good chance of being here since the end of last season (though I did have a stint there where it was looking, at least to me, that it was the Canucks' race to lose). But the Flyers? I've enjoyed their misfortune all season...from their hilarious goaltender troubles to their having to squeak into the playoffs with a shootout win on the season's last day. Still, I had to hand it to them when they continued their season-long mastery over New Jersey in the first round. They ended up playing fellow Eastern Conference red-headed step children Boston and Montreal, as even-money a trifecta as you could hope for, to advance to the finals. Now here they are, and you gotta give them credit for it.

To be honest, once the Penguins ignominiously bowed out, I wasn't sure I'd even keep doing hockey previews the rest of the way...but historical affection for the Blackhawks and, more importantly, disdain for the Flyers won the day. I'm glad it did, because I LOVE this image!

Considering the roll Chicago has been on, I can't imagine the Hawks having too difficult a time with the Philly, who frankly just aren't used to seeing the type of competition they'll see this weekend. The hockey fan in me wants to see a long, entertaining series...but the Penguins fan in me, the fan who hates the Flyers with the burning intensity of a thousand suns, wants to see them swept and humiliated. Even considering this series going longer than six games leaves way too much to chance for my liking...but I ultimately don't think that'll be a concern. Blackhawks in five, meaning they'll win on home ice and we'll have to hear that awful Fratellis song about a thousand more times. Annoying, yes, but better than seeing the Flyers win.

(Hey, I got through this entire post without even once mentioning Maid Marian! I guess I've finally moved on! The thought of Daniel Carcillo and Scott Hartnell's names on the Stanley Cup will do that to you.)

Dayton Bombers

"On March 30, 2009, it was announced that the Bombers would not be playing during the 2009–2010 season. Despite the arrival of the International Hockey League's Dayton Gems, the Bombers had not folded nor planned to relocate yet, and continued to aim towards securing additional investors and season-ticket holders to play in Dayton once again for 2010-11. However, on June 25 of that year, the Bombers owner turned the team's membership back to the ECHL, citing lack of a suitable business partner or re-entry plan."

The 'Nucks

They were my pick to reach the finals in the west, but it just didn't happen. Still, enjoy this illo, Canucks fans, and remember that the new season is only four months away!

Arsenal FC

Never Talk About Religion or Money

'Nuff said!

Stanley Cup and Cheesecake 2010 - Eastern Conference Finals

(7) Philadelphia Flyers vs. (8) Montreal Canadiens

Maybe shoulda made that "Leastern Conference".

Philly makes the playoffs on the very last day of the regular season, needing a shootout victory to do so. Montreal knocks off the President's Trophy-winning Capitals and the defending champion Penguins, making it look easy much of the way. And here they both are in the Eastern Conference Finals. That's the Stanley Cup playoffs for you.

Gotta admit, though I have a soft spot for the Habs (much like the Hawks and Sharks out west), I'm really not feeling them too much this season, which I suppose is to be expected after their drubbing of the Pens. But I absolutely loathe the Flyers, and everything they stand for.* Much as I think it'd be hilarious for Philly to beat Montreal, get to the Cup Finals, then get swept by either Chicago or San Jose, that scenario leaves way too much to chance...especially in a year where absolutely nothing makes sense.

Anyway, to cut to the chase...I think Halak waits until the finals to melt down, and I like theCanadiens in six.

Simply cannot believe I'm writing that.





* Has anyone caught the "Broad Street Bullies" special currently airing on HBO? It's tremendously well done, but unlike other such documentaries, where I finish watching and feel ...I dunno, a respect, I guess, for the team profiled, even if it's one that I don't usually like...this one left me hating the Flyers more than ever, with their goon mentality and the shit-for-brained fans who come to every game demanding to see a fight. Nothing I'd like to see more than 35 more years of failure for that organization.

Stanley Cup and Cheesecake 2010 - Western Conference Finals

(1) San Jose Sharks vs. (2) Chicago Blackhawks

When I picked the Blackhawks in the quarters, some anonymous jagoff in the comments section accused me of having an east coast bias (and dropped an N-bomb, to boot)...and when I picked against them in the semis, a different (I'm assuming) anonymous jagoff accused me of the same thing. You just can't win.

Anyway, this series could prove to be the de facto Stanley Cup Finals, and matches up a couple of the teams I traditionally root for when the Pens aren't in the mix. As such, I find myself in the rarest of positions: No rooting-against interest! Yeah, the Hawks have Marian Hossa, and I can't stand the guy, but I like enough of the other players on the team that it kinda cancels him out...and besides, once the Penguins beat him with Detroit to win the Cup last June, and in a series in which he was largely invisible, a lot of my disgust for him dissipated, kinda feeling like justice had been served.

So, factor in that with the fact that, though they largely seem to have overcome their seasons-long case of chokeitis, I just can't bring myself to fully believe in the Sharks, much as I like them. So, give me great entertaining series, and the Blackhawks in seven.




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.

Happy Mom's Day!

It's been a great day hanging with the fam, enjoying a picnic at Maymont with the girls. And here are a few mom-centric illos from Richmond magazine to mark the occasion!