You picked a fine time to leave me, Lucille

I like to consider myself a little stuffed bull who's involved in his neighborhood, so I enjoy pedalling my Big Wheel up and down the streets of Park Slope, Brooklyn, waving at everybody, stopping in at the fabulous new location of LaBagel Delight to cry "I'll have a chocolate croissant!" when one of the guys behind the counter shouts "Next!", or peering in through the window of Little Things to see what new toys have arrived, or excitedly hopping on the number 67 bus, popping my Metrocard in the slot, and journeying down to see my pals Tom and Amy at my fave comic book store, Bergen Street Comics. Hooray, always so much fun! When I'm out and about around the Slope, I even keep my eye out for the guy who rips down all the flyers that people put up on poles. He woulda had his work cut out for him this week, tho', because Park Slope's been blanketed by these flyers:



These signs are everywhere. Wow, Lucy must have really made an impression on this guy Karl. Also, he must have terrible, terrible jokes. And, he must live in the 1970s if part of his conversation includes the question "Hey Lucy, what's your sign?"

And hey, Karl, if you walked her home, why are there posters all over the Slope, and not just around the area you walked her home in?



Well, Karl, I do happen to know Lucy, and I've got both good news and bad news for you. The good news is...I happen to know Lucy. Oh wait, I've already told you that. Okay, how about the bad news? Karl, let me break it to you gently, man: you really don't want to date Lucy. She's rude, abrasive, cranky, sarcastic, selfish, hostile, and sometimes outright violent. In fact, you might even call her a fussbudget! No, take it from me, Karl...if I were you, I'd run far, far away from Lucy.


Lucy's no prize girlfriend, let me tell you that. She'll insult you at the drop of your blanket:


She'll take over your life, because she just loves meddling in your personal business:


And don't think that you can charm her over with those jokes that she didn't laugh at. Lucy is very critical of any sort of attempt to entertain her!


Why, Lucy's so spoiled that you won't impress her with an informal date at a local Park Slope eatery. She wants diamonds, pearls, black tie and grand formal dances to entertain her:


But truth to tell, she's pretty boring on a date:


Don't think she'll be pleasant and cheerful, oh no no no no. The girl does love to bellyache!


And in the end, Karl, I'm sorry to tell you...Lucy is brutally violent:


So, Karl, Karl, Karl. Take it from your friendly neighborhood little stuffed bull...run, don't walk, away from Lucy. She'll be a bad girlfriend who will take advantage of you at every moment, and what's more, she'll psychoanalyze you at every drop of a nickel. Now, I know your sad, sad story sounds like it comes straight out of a viral campaign for an online series of indie film shorts, but you and I both know the heartache of unrequited love. (Sigh). So all I can tell you is buck up there, pal...there's plenty of fish in the sea and turnips in the garden and tire change shops down on Fourth Avenue and there's a great Greek restaurant on the corner of...oh wait, where was I?

Forget about Lucy, Karl. She'll break your tender, aching heart. And besides...she's already got a boyfriend.

365 Days with Ben Grimm, Day 167

Pin-up page from from Fantastic Four Special Edition #1 (May 1984), art by John Byrne

Admiral Ackbar's Vacation Resort Reviews

And now it's time for another installment of

Looking for paradise? You've found it in the beautiful tropical land of San Marco, where fun, adventure, relaxation and delight are only a barefoot step on a crystal beach away. Basking in the balmy breezes of the South American Pacific coast, San Marco boasts over three hundred miles of pristine waterfront coastline, none so beautiful as Fiesta Quay, home of La Casa Fiesta, San Marco's premiere—and only—Michelin six star resort. A mere puddle jump from all major US airports, La Casa Fiesta's friendly and helpful staff are smiling to welcome you to the ultimate vacation...you'll feel so relaxed, you may never want to leave!



La Casa Fiesta features an ultra-modern seventeen-hundred room high-rise western-style hotel rising above the sapphire-blue waters of the Pacific, ranging from simple but elegant single bedrooms to our exotic and breathtaking El Fiesta Honeymoon Suite, a mutli-roomed paradise featuring your own personal valet and chef on call 24 hours a day. Want an omelette at 3 AM? Just ring for Pierre, and let him know what kind of cheese you want in it—we have over three hundred varieties in our kitchens!

Speaking of food, La Casa Fiesta boasts eighteen world-class restaurants ranging from the formal La Barque, presided over by head chef six-time European Culinary Crown winner Marie Yvonne Coulais, to our poolside snack bar "Funnybones"! In fact, every one of La Casa Fiesta's six Olympic-or-larger sized pools is equipped with bars and restaurants, including the ultra-romantic under-the-waterfall Misty Cavern Lounge.

You can bask all day by the pools or on the beach, or if you're more athletic, take to the high seas on any of the available paddleboats, jet skis, SCUBA equipment, or if you're more of a turf type, La Casa Fiesta's award-winning eighteen-hole golf course, designed by twenty-time PGA Tour-winning pro Greg Norman. Greg spends two months out of the year at La Casa Fiesta, so be sure to enquire if he's available for personal golf lessons!



But if you want to "get away from it all," La Casa Fiesta also offers private beach cabanas to give you that real-world "castaway" experience...bask on your own private stretch of beach in utter privacy. Go ahead, take off your swimsuit...nobody's watching!

It's only a short jitney hop (jitneys run every twenty minutes from six points throughout the resort) to the gorgeous and festive San Marco City Center, where you'll find delightful local artisans' shops, authentic South American cuisine, bars ranging from the raucous to the sophisticated, and even the latest European fashions in the top shops that line "La milla de oro," the ultimate shopping experience. Leave your shopping bags at home...any shop is happy to deliver directly to your room at the resort, or ship back to your home in the States for a nominal charge!

After the sun sinks down over the Pacific, party through the night at one of La Casa Fiesta's three nightclubs, or try your luck at our internationally acclaimed casino, featuring over seventy gaming tables spread out across three expansive decks overlooking the sea. Baccarat, world class poker, roulette, blackjack, craps, plus the widest variety of slot and electronic gaming machines in South America, and all the up-to-the-minute sports and race books!

Yes, La Casa Fiesta, the six-star resort that caters to your every whim...for relaxation, excitement, a vacation you'll never forget, book a holiday to San Marco's most prestigious and acclaimed resort...once you're here, you'll understand why the natives say the only time to go home is always...mañaña!

So, Admiral Ackbar...what's your review of La Casa Fiesta in San Marco, please?

365 Days with Ben Grimm, Day 166

Panel from Fantastic Four #49 (April 1966), script by Stan Lee, pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Joe Sinnott, letters by Sam Rosen

Ten of a Kind: Good old-fashioned nightmare fuel

(More Ten of a Kind here.)

365 Days with Ben Grimm, Day 165

Still from the animated cartoon Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Heroes "Trial by Fire" (2006)

Say, whoda thunkit?: this is my 1700th post on this blog! Thanks for readin', folks!

Separated at Birth: And Homaging a Cover is Half the Battle

L: G. I. Joe, A Real American Hero #21 (March 1984), art by Larry Hama and Klaus Janson
R: Deadpool #42 (July 2000), art by James Calafiore and Mark McKenna
(Click picture to merc-mouth-size)

365 Days with Ben Grimm, Day 164

Panel from Ultimate Fantastic Four #10 (October 2004), script by Warren Ellis, pencils by Stuart Immonen, inks by Wade Von Grawbadger, colors by Dave Stewart, letters by Chris Eliopoulos

Saturday Morning Cartoon: The Fantastic Four "The Way It All Began"

The Fantastic Four "The Way It all Began" (1967), starring the voices of Gerald Mohr (Reed Richards), Jo Ann Pflug (Susan Storm), Jack Flounders (Johnny Storm), Paul Frees (Ben Grimm), and Joseph Sirola (Dr. Doom)

Bully's Sketchbook: Spike

Hey, let's count down Bully's Top Ten Favorite Spikes!

10. Spike Lee!
9. Spike Jonze!
8. Spike the Bulldog!

7. Spike Jones!
6. Spike by Puffy AmiYumi!
5. The Golden Spike in the Transcontinental Railroad!

4. Spike by Elvis Costello!
3. Snoopy's brother Spike!
2. Spike Milligan!

And the number one of my favorite Spikes...

1. Spike!

Yes, I love Spike, the creator of webcomic Templar, Arizona, who (whom? ) I met at last year's MoCCA (you know, the one that was even hotter than this year's). Kind Spike not only agreed to pose with me as seen above (one of the highlights of the show for me—don't tell anyone, but I've got a little stuffed crush on Spike!), but she drew this wonderful sketch of me. (Do you think she knew I was a little infatuated with her?)



Golly! She was sweet. And her comics are pretty wonderful, too! You too can pick up Spike's Templar, Arizona collections here. Don't let on that I really, really like her! I'd be so embarrassed I'd blush.

365 Days with Ben Grimm, Day 163

from The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition #13 (December 1986), written by Mark Gruenwald and Peter Sanderson; main portrait pencilled by John Byrne, inked by Josef Rubinstein, colored by Andy Yanchus, plus previously published panels from various Marvel comics
(Click any picture to Weight-class-1000-size)

Bully's Sketchbook: Carissa Halston

One of the great things about having a sketchbook of moi is the wide range of portrayals of America's second most popular stuffed animal blogger: how each artist interprets me is a continuous source of delight, amazement, and jumping-up-and-down- and-saying-wow to me! take, f'r instance, this wonderfully swirly portrait by writer, artist, singer, performer, and all-around cool person Carissa Halston:



I love the swirly bits, don't you? Thanks, Carissa! I'm not 'llowed to read your books yet (tho' Randi tells me they're great!) but you can order 'em through Carissa's well-designed and well-stocked online shop. I would like a Mexican Sugar Skull, please—them's good eating! Also: scary.

365 Days with Ben Grimm, Day 162

Panel from Dazzler #2 (April 1981), script by Tom DeFalco, art by John Romita Jr., inks by Alfredo Alcala, colors by Ken Klaczak, letters by Jim Novak

(Click picture to Tidy-Bowl-size)

Bully's Sketchbook: Batton Lash

Hey, do you like sketches of little stuffed bulls? (Sure, we all do!) That's why you've come to the right place tonight (and all this week) as I feature artwork of yours little stuffed truly, the photogenic...er, make that pen and pencilgenic bovine. Tonight's sketch comes from the talented pen of Batton Lash, the man whose name sounds like a pirate's, but who's actually a wonderfully delightful comics writer, artist, and fabulous all-around-human-bean! I got to meet Mister Lash at last year's San Diego Comic Con 2008, and he's captured me here in all my black-and-whiteness, not sparing a pun that made me giggle until milk came out of my nose (and here's the funny thing...I wasn't even drinking milk at the time!)



Thanks for capturing me in a pensive mood, Mister Lash! (Say, d'you think Bat is his brother?) If you're lucky enough to run into Batton Lash at a convention or comics show, shake his hand, thank him for his cool work, and maybe if you're lucky he'll draw you a sketch too!

But if you can't get to meet Batton Lash in person, well, the next best thing is picking up some of his work, especially the weird and macabrely delightful Supernatural Law (aka Wolff and Byrd, or some of his fabulous Archie comics (including the delightful Archie: Freshman Year miniseries. You can order 'em all right here on Batton's website, so stop by and tell him a little stuffed bull sent you.

One of Batton Lash's greatest works that isn't in trade paperback, however, is a comic you nevertheless oughta seek out, as it's one of the zaniest, craziest, wildest, Most Fun Comics of All Time: Archie Meets the Punisher! Seriously...it's one fabulously fantastic comic! (You can read more about it on Scott Shaw!'s "Oddball Comics" website here.) You can likely find a back issue of Archie/Punisher if you search your LCBS or convention, but hey, get off your rears and get this back in print, Archie and Marvel...you will never look at Archie Andrews or Frank Castle the same way again!

Thanks for the sketch, Batton Lash!

365 Days with Ben Grimm, Day 161

L: Little Stuffed Bull. R: Benjamin J. Grimm (aka The Thing), from the Marvel Superhero Squad by Hasbro. It's the best toy a LSB could ever have or want! The package also comes with a Marvel Superhero Squad She-Hulk, which my kid sister Marshall is playing with. And now for the Secret Wars, Marshall...or to put it another way...It's clobberin' time!!!

Bully's Sketchbook: Lilli Carré

Hey, it's shaping up to be Sketchbook Week here on Comics Oughta Be Fun! (Which is another way of saying, whoo boy, it's a busy week, so bask in the joy that is primarily illustration-based posts!) So set your flux capacitors for that far-in-the-past era of October 2008, when I packed up my tiny carpetbag (full of tiny carpets) and hied it down to Washington, DC for SPX: The Southern Pajama Expo! Oh, wait...I've mixed up my conventions again, I think. It was actually the Small Press Expo, at which I was delighted to shake the talented hand (and she my jelly-smeared hoof) of Miss Lilli Carré, who was there promoting her brand-new fearsomely frantic Fantagraphics folio title The Lagoon, a delightful and beautiful graphic novel even tho' it did not have anything to do with, as I first thought, the Skipper, Gilligan, the Professor and the rest.

Lilli sketched me in my ever-present sketchbook, and what a sketch!

Golly! I look worried there! It is certainly another side of the Bully personality, because after all I am a Very Small Animal and apt to be eaten alive at any moment with nasty pointed teeth by Hoozles, Whuffalumps, or Ozzy Osbourne. Oh yeah, like you've never worried the same thing yourself!



Thank you, Lilli Carré, for the beautiful sketch! And believe me, folks, her books are just as gorgeous! Why not order one, or two, or a bunch of them up today? C'mon!! You know you wanna!

365 Days with Ben Grimm, Day 160

Panels from Marvel Comics Presents #105 (1992), script by Skip Dietz, pencils by Joel Zulueta, inks by Tim Tuohy, colors by Ariane Lenshoek, letters by Michael Higgins

Bully's Sketchbook: Stephanie Yue

Hooray for MoCCA 2009! It was fun as usual to run up and down the aisles of New York's finest indie and art comics festival, buying cool stuff, saying hi to friends new and old and occasionally posing to have my picture sketched by some of the wonderful artists at the show! This past weekend I sat as still as possible while Stephanie Yue drew me in my little sketchbook along with one of her ultra-cute Tai Chi mice, both of us practicing our training positions! The mouse was very patient in teaching me this relaxing and strengthening movement...it's a bit difficult with hooves! Why, I almost felt like I was being trained by a Yang master! A very small fuzzy one, but a master none the less.

I'm a firm believer in supporting the work of our talented MoCCA exhibitors, so I picked up the Novasett Island collection Stephanie's drawn with the writing of Zack Giallongo, and some of her cool and funny autobiographical minicomics (Queezie vs. Grapefruit and Irrefusable Dinner Engagement). Plus some nifty buttons featuring the characters from Novasett Island!



They're all great fun...I especially loved the adventures of the perilous prawn cult (defeated in a most citrusy way!), the nature guidebook pages to the Island and especially "Ronald, Part 1," with Stephanie's dramatic and dynamic use of solid blacks and fluidly moving characters to hike up the spookiness and excitement. In short, as I like to say, these comics are fun! You can...(and oughta!)...pick up some of Stephanie's wonderful work at her JellyCity.com store. Tell her a little stuffed bull sent ya!

So thank you very much, Stephanie...I had loads of fun hanging about with you and your talented mice, and your work is a delight! Hope to see you next year at MoCCA '10!

365 Days with Ben Grimm, Day 159

Cover of Alter Ego #26 (July 2003), art by Joe Sinnott