Slab's First Fist 1

It started like any other fine morn, except for one thing.
Little Slab's fist was throbbing and aching like it was on fire.

"Hey Ern'!" he yelled to his brother on the upper bunk.

"Yeah Slab'?"
"Dude you woke me up with all your throbbing down there. What's goin' on?"
"I dunno Ern, my fist is aching and pounding! That's never happened before!"
"Wow! Hey Slab! That's your first burning fist! That means you've reached pooberty!"
"It hurts Ern'! Make it stop!"
Ernie: "It's not gonna stop on its own Slab. There's only one cure for a throbbing fist!"
Slab: "Ow! lick lick lick, Ow, Ow! Help me, Ern! Help me!"
Ernie leaps off the bunk.
"Slab! I know exactly what you need!"
"Yeah, suck it up Slab! Be proud of your aching fist! There's a purpose for it! It's all part of God's plan!"
"What you need kid, is a nice fat soft sissy to sink that thing into!"
Slab: "Where do we get one of those Ern'?"
"I know where there's one!"
"C'mon kid! We'll take the sting outta your thing!"
Ernie: "YES!"
Slab: "What's that, Ern?"

"That's a nerd, Slab! A real fat one! See its freckles? Check out his Char Wars collectibles! What a fruitcake!"
Slab: "Hey I've never seen one of those before! He's funny! What's he for?"
Ernie: "He's God's gift to your fist!"
Ernie" Hey, Bobby Bigloaf! We caught ya!"

Ernie: "Whatcha doin' there fat boy?"
Bobby: "I'm stirring up crap on the blogosphere! I'm arguing toons with other toon fans! I even get to threaten them with physical harm 'n' stuff!"
Ernie:"It's easy to be tough inside your room with Mommy home isn't it, Bobby Bigloaf!"
Bobby: "You bet! Hey...what's that thing on the end of Slab's arm?"

To be continued...

The Best Bugs - Pre 'Tude

This is one of my all time favorite model sheets and I can't figure out why they don't draw Bugs like this any more. Look how appealing he is!
It's a model sheet drawn by Bob McKimson for Bob Clampett's unit. There is an earlier version of the same sheet, also drawn by McKimson where he doesn't look as distinct. Clampett went over it and made Bugs' eyes splay at the top and gave his head more planes. Bugs became less egg-shaped. They also beefed up his cheeks, making him cuter. This design is full of tricky subtleties. He's not easy to draw.Maybe that's why he never looked quite like this except in Clampett's cartoons. Chuck came close in a couple cartoons-Hair-Raising Hare for one.It's funny, almost every classic WB cartoonist I met said that once they found this model, they never again strayed from it - when they all obviously did. Tom McKimson told me that he and his brother were the only ones that stuck to the Clampett model for the rest of Bugs' career. Chuck said it too. They also all said that everyone else changed the model except them. Friz never quite got the hang of it.
Shortly after that model sheet, Clampett and his animators made Bugs a little taller.Note how much more active and playful Bugs was in the mid 40s than what he has become. No damn 'tude for one thing! This Bugs is the one that made the character become the most popular in history, not because he had 'tude, but because he was actively mischievous and devious.

This Bugs actually did things in the cartoons. He didn't win by default. He went out of his way to cause trouble - and did it in a very likeable way. The 'tude Bugs is completely unlikable. He doesn't do anything to win. He just wins because the rules say so. It's like he was born an aristocrat who deserves to win because he's the star character.


Here he is cocksure and still playful, which is different than 'tude. 'Tude didn't happen till the 50s when Chuck turned Bugs smug and snooty like himself.

I wonder why they don't make merchandise and t shirts out of this Bugs. Who wants Bugs with 'tude? He may have started it, but now almost every character has 'tude so it's not unique anymore.

Here's Bugs Frog in the latest movie 'tude.

They oughta go back to the Bugs Bunny that made WB cartoons the most popular in the world, the one who did funny things, not the one who just stands around looking smug.

And they really should never team him with Daffy. That worked in 1 cartoon, but quickly became a predictable formula.

IMPORTANT NOTE TO ALL CARTOONISTS!

Amateur Cartooning at its Best

I think there is definitely a place for amateur cartooning. In fact, every pro was an amateur at one time. Even Frank Frazetta probably drew awkwardly when he was 5.Doing cartoons on no-name brand products in dollar stores is a good way to break in young cartoonists.One of the best places to find wonderful amateur cartoons is on store windows at Christmas. You gotta start somewhere! Hey, do me a favor and take some pictures of store windows near you and upload 'em and send me a link. I could make a best of Christmas post!
I remember we used to laugh at amateur art when it appeared on so-called professional products. I would have found this box art completely hilarious when I was a teenager, but now if you saw this design on an animated movie poster at a bus stop, no one would bat an eye. This would also be considered totally acceptable on a name brand cereal box or on television, so it's not quite as funny as it would have been 30 years ago.

This Mexican ice cream bar is still funny though. Thank God, someone is hanging on to culture.

Here It Is

Drawn and inked by me, colored by Kali.

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