Civic Arena, 1961-2011

It's a Hockey Night in Pittsburgh! She was an ugly old broad, but there'll never be another like the ol' Igloo!

Inktober sketch for Opening Night, 10/9!

Plus, a bonus Batman!

The Golden Age Flash

When I was a kid, those goofy-ass golden age versions of familiar characters were about the most exciting thing in comics...especially Green Lantern and the Flash!

Inktober post for 10/8

Ultra Boy

Ultra Boy was never really one of my favorite Legionnaires, but that all changed once they toughened him up during the "Five Years Later..." run.

Inktober post for 10/7

Gerrit Cole

Pittsburgh Pirates ace Gerrit Cole (more or less). Man, I miss Buctober already!

Inktober post for 10/6

Kirby Swipe

...from an issue of Mr. Miracle.

Inktober post for 10/4

Beach House

This is the house I stayed in with the fam and some friends last August in Avon, NC.

Inktober post for 10/3

Bumblebees

There are two kinds of Steelers fans: Those who love the "bumblebee" throwbacks, and those who are WRONG.

Random Hab

As near as I can tell, Inktober is a project created by Jake Parker to challenge himself and other artists to create an inked image each day, all month long. I'm not promising anything, but I'm gonna try and keep up!

You can also follow my progress on Instagram (atombombbikini) and Twitter (@RobUllman)!

BUCTOBER!

It's Buctober! My beloved Pittsburgh Pirates are back in the MLB Postseason for the second straight year, playing the SF Giants tonight for the right to go on and face the Washington Nats in the divisional round. I created this little image to celebrate the season...and it's a sticker too if you're interested! Beat 'em BUCS!

SPX and Old-Timey Hockey Tales #2

Hey all! I'll be exhibiting this weekend, as always, at the Small Press Expo in Bethesda, Maryland. I'll have issue #2 of Old-Timey Hockey Tales on hand, just in time for NHL training camp!

If you can't make it out to lovely suburban DC this weekend, you can still grab a copy of Hockey Tales #2 through the good ol' fashioned US Mail. Operators are standing by!

Coming Soon

Flips

This pretty well sums it all up, right?

Cons and Contests

Heroes Con takes place this weekend in steamy Charlotte NC! It's my favorite show of the year, like a super-fun three day family reunion. I'll be at AA-1127 in Indie Island all weekend long, and I'll be drinkin' and drawin' in the hotel bar of the nearby Hilton on Friday night to raise money for the fight against Parkinson's Disease. If you're nearby, I DEMAND that you go!

In other news, we have some winners in the Atom-Bomb Bikini Playoff Challenge! Third prize goes to Abram, with 6 out of a possible 11 points. Franklin comes in at number two, with 7 points. And the grand prize goes to Adam D., with an amazing, perfect 11-for-11 bracket! If you're one of the winners, get me your info so's I can get you your swag...and thanks for playing, everybody!

Stanley Cup and Cheesecake 2014 – Stanley Cup Finals

New York Rangers vs. Los Angeles Kings

In many ways, this matchup exemplifies one of the things I love most about the NHL: its unpredictability. For most of the season it seemed (to me, at least) as if we were locked in an inexorable march toward an inevitable finals between the Bruins and Blackhawks. I should have known better, because it happened the way it almost always does: the playoffs got here, and everything went crazy. As annoyed as I am that the Penguins managed to piss away a 3-1 lead against   a Rangers team it had on the ropes, I'm glad New York is still around, 'cause runs like theirs certainly keep things interesting. All logic points to the Kings winning in a laugher, but honestly, who the hell knows anything? Kings in five.

Stanley Cup and Cheesecake 2014 – Conference Finals

I've been so busy staring dumbfoundedly at my computer screen, marveling at what an utter disaster my favorite team has become, that I almost forgot to post my conference finals picks!

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Montreal Canadiens vs. New York Rangers

The Rangers took advantage of a Pens team that completely took their foot off the gas and let them storm back from a 3-1 series deficit. The Habs, meanwhile, stunned their biggest rivals, winning game seven in Boston to send the President's Trophy winning Bruins golfing. This series is a story of two amazing goaltenders, and the one who can steal the most games will win. Canadiens in six.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Chicago Blackhawks vs. Los Angeles Kings

At this time last week, we seemed destined for an identical final four as last year, but only the Kings and Blackhawks were able to seal the deal. Last year's matchup between these teams didn't live up to the expectations, as Chicago rolled to a fairly easy win in five games, but I'm betting this year is different. Kings in seven.

Stanley Cup and Cheesecake 2014 – Pacific Division Finals

(1) Anaheim Ducks vs. (3) Los Angeles Kings

You gotta figure the Kings are awfully tired out from having to come all the way back from a 3-0 defect to win their first-round series against the Sharks, but the idea of a dialed-in Jonathan Quick has got to be terrifying for the Ducks. If Anaheim can get a jump and get a big lead in the series early,they might be able to advance, but I'm betting on the Kings in six.

HEY, YOU...WANNA BUY SOME ART?: All of the original, hand-drawn art for this year's Stanley Cup picks will be on sale soon...but much of the art from previous years is currently available at my Etsy store, and on sale for 30% off through the end of the playoffs in June, when you use the code CUP2014 at checkout!

Of course, 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 2014 – Metropolitan Division Finals

(1) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (2) New York Rangers

Of the matchups the Penguins could have drawn in the second round, the one with New York is by far the the more favorable. Which is not to necessarily say they'll win, given their duplicitous play thus far in the postseason...but the Rangers, divisional rivalry be damned, do not come close to the Flyers in their ability to rankle the Penguins and get them focused on anything but playing hockey.

That said, the Rangers are no easy out. The Rangers power play sputtered in the first round vs. the Flyers, but if it gets going, it'll cause problems for a Penguins penalty kill which has fallen off precipitously in the last month. New York might actually be more dangerous when on the PK themselves, as the Pens surrendered a short-handed goal in three games against Columbus.

No idea what to make of Pittsburgh. It all seems to be lining up for them, their two most recent games to close out the Jackets being by far their best of the postseason. Even so, they nearly gave it all away in the last 10 minutes of Game Six, letting Columbus turn a 4-0 shutout into a 4-3 nail biter. The Penguins have traditionally made Henrik Lundqvist look mortal, and if the real Pens' leaders can show up and score, they should be able to take advantage of and put away a weary Rangers team. Pens in six.

A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR: All of the original, hand-drawn art for this year's Stanley Cup picks will be on sale soon...but much of the art from previous years is currently available at my Etsy store, and on sale for 30% off through the end of the playoffs in June, when you use the code CUP2014 at checkout!

Of course, 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 2014 – Central Division Finals

(3) Chicago Blackhawks vs. (WC1) Minnesota Wild

It took the Blackhawks a little while to get rolling in the first round against the Blues, but once they did so they quickly began to look again like last year's champions. The Wild, who lost to the Hawks in five games last year, has revenge on it's mind...but the amazing depth and ability to score from all over the place will likely pace Chicago to another fairly quick victory. Unless Matt Cooke actually physically kills somebody (and maybe even if he does) it's the Blackhawks in five.

HEY, YOU...WANNA BUY SOME ART?: All of the original, hand-drawn art for this year's Stanley Cup picks will be on sale soon...but much of the art from previous years is currently available at my Etsy store, and on sale for 30% off through the end of the playoffs in June, when you use the code CUP2014 at checkout!

Of course, 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 2014 – Atlantic Division Finals

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

This is a classic, timeless rivalry, and this year's edition of the familiar matchup will feature what may be the two best teams in the Eastern Conference right now. Each dispatched their first-round opponent with relative ease, both essentially winning in a sweep after a game one loss by the Bruins against the Red Wings. Montreal can get under the skin of the Boston players perhaps better than any other team, and if the rascally Habs can get the Bruins whining about dives and thinking with their fists in addition to worrying about a rock-solid  Carey Price in net, le Bleu, Blanc et Rouge will have a really solid shot at the upset. Canadiens in six.

PDA

I created this image last week for my old pal Jandos at the Washington City Paper. He believed enough in a young Rob Ullman years ago to assign me a regular gig illustrating spots for Savage Love, a professional courtesy whose importance to my career is impossible to overstate. Working on this silly, sexy story brought back some good memories!