The Art of Maurice Love

Maurice Love

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“Say What” is the brain child of self proclaimed

cartoonist Maurice Love.

 He’s been drawing as long as he can remember, but it’s been about

 eighteen years since the birth of his comic strip “SAY WHAT”.

 Although he loved comic strips the idea for the comic strip

came from such TV shows as What’s Happening and Good Times.

Nothing would have more influence than

the 1970’s movie Cooley High,

 but Charles Shultz served as his idol and inspiration of quality

and where he wanted to go in the business.

Maurice believes he is the standard of comic strips.

Upon graduating high school he began to send submissions

 to the various syndicates, such as United Artist, King Features,

 and the list goes on.

 After years and countless rejections, he and two of his brothers

 would form Gettosake Entertainment.

A media company geared to all forms of entertainment,

 such as cartoons, television, movies and comic books.

These were for a pitch we did at Disney.

 A boy with an imagination. Seen with his imaginary friends.

 I designed the look of the characters and the style we were using.

Gettosake Entertainment would go on to produce

comic books and graphic novels through such companies

 as Dark Horse and DC comics.

 Fierce and Shadow Rock, are some titles to name a few,

 Maurice would aid in some coloring and lettering to the productions.

 One part of the design we did for the pitch at Disney.

 A cartoon about my family,

which had a mother and father with nine children, and a dog.

Later the company would move into flash animation,

 producing many animated shorts.

He would design many of the characters, the look,

and style of the cartoons. His favorites were the two

animated shorts they produced for

 the Underground Railroad Museum in Cincinnati, Ohio

 entitled The North Star.

These are designs I did for the

North Star animated short we produced,

about the underground railroad.

The animated shorts can only be seen

at the Under Ground Railroad Museum in Cincinnati, Ohio.

 Disney considered their animated short

 Fearless Grasshopper for the network,

 ...but would later pass because another

 project in development they claimed was similar.

They would also do things with BET.com.

As of today his focus is, as he calls it, his eighteen year old child.
 Becoming a household name is the primary goal for the comic strip.
There are plans for monthly comic books and
 comic strip collection novels, with new as well as old comic strips.
 Cartoons are also in the plans, but he won’t get ahead of himself.
 He’s also looking to start illustrating children’s books.

Maurice is always open to taking on commission work.

You can contact him at Maurice@saywhatcomic.com.

Wow. A great new comic strip and awesome

artwork, animation and design work.

What's next from Maurice and the Love brothers?

We can't wait.

I suggest checking out their "Chocolate Thunder"

animation too. (a link can be found in the above video window)

We'll be watching and hope to have you back soon.

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Benson Comics

You've seen the whole

One Artist, One Comic thing. Right?

Pfff! Child's play.

Dig this...Two Guys, One Comic.

Benson Comics

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Bio: Peter Durston and Tristram Baumber

have been doing Benson Comics for as long as they remember,

 but that's only because they have done terrible, terrible things

to their minds that mean they can't remember their childhoods.

The strips come from a love of classic comic strips 

and a passion for car maintenance,

 although the car maintenance side of it

 has never made it into the strips. Still waiting for the right time!

Each strip is constructed by one artist drawing and writing a frame

before handing it over to the other
 and then repeating until finished,

 resulting in complete insanity and randomness.

We think you'll love the character of Benson

and his crazy cast of friends just as much as we do

(and we love him a lot because he looks us in the eye,

 and we're suckers for that)!

Benson History Month:

 All through March, Benson turns his skewed eye to

 the events that made today the day we're experiencing today

- for Benson History Month!

 From Ancient Rome to the Industrial Revolution and beyond,

 no one is safe from the razor blade wit and wooden club rhetoric

of Benson P. Bensonheimer III, famed historian.

So come and enjoy the fun and forensic archeology at

 bensoncomics.com!

Double crazy. Twice as fun.

Thank You, Thank You for sharing this twofold toon.

Please guys please, come back a second time

and bring more phrases like "wooden club rhetoric".

I get it...it just sounds so cool.

Tweet with Benson too: http://twitter.com/bensoncomics

Contact them at:  peter.durston@gmail.com

tristram.baumber@gmail.com

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Cool, Really Cool, Dud

This week I went deep into THE BIG BOX

and came out with a bunch of cool covers, a few 

cooler covers and one not-so-cool darn near

painful front sheet.

First up:
BATMAN

no.331 JAN, 1981

Cover Art by Jim Aparo

This is a sweet cover produced at the start of

what would be a very tough decade for cover art.

New printing technology and young artists

made this simple style tough to find for a while.

ZERO HOUR:CRISIS IN TIME

no.4 Sept, 1994

 Art by Dan Jurgens and Jerry Ordway

This is just one of many very nice covers from the

Zero Hour saga. Each story kept my interest much like this

Superheroes mask/cowl themed cover. So cool.

I love Hawkman's cowls along the bottom.

I do not love the bar code box.

POWER MAN

no.29 Feb, 1975

Art by George Tuska

Very good art, composition, color and fun 'make' this cover.

Another reason I miss the 1970's pop art.

And by the way...Cage won't be joking about your looks

now that he's heard your name. "Mr. Fish".

GHOST RIDER 2099

no.10 Feb, 1995

What can I say. It's creepy good.

It's so weird you've got to pick this issue up and read.

Inside you'll see lots of splashy art (that was the 90's) and

not a lot of dialogue. I kinda like that.

You will also find a four page Fleer ball card ad. 

DAREDEVIL

no.327 April 1994

Cover Art by Scott Mcdaniel

The outstanding cover art was carried throughout the

"Tree of Knowledge" storyline. The almost non out-lined

artwork on the interior matches the covers appeal.

MOONSHADOW

no.1 Sept, 1994

I just dig the orange Moon thing and his funny grin.

It is a neat cover to a strange story.

The inside pages are also low gloss water colors of a

child like story for adults.

A nice piece to hold in your hands.

Did I say it's suggested for mature readers.

And now this public service message.

FRONT

BACK

"One bad habit leads to another". Now I collect comic books.

I don't know where I got this but it worked. I don't smoke.

Thanks super friends.

Having fun? Not so fast.

DEMOLITION MAN

no.4 Feb, 1994

I wouldn't have signed it either.

Simon Phoenix in the back there only has

one and a half legs... but he's drawn well. 

The colors are fine too but 'what up' with John Spartan?

What's he looking at for one thing?

Do I even need to bring his arms up? It's anarchy.

The page art is much better.

I dare say it's good.

Sell this one inside out.

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Tokka

The New Year Can Start Now.

CCU Presents:

TOKKA

http://tokkas-sketch.blogspot.com/

http://www.bekeen.de/

http://twitter.com/tokka79
http://twitter.com/bekeen_design

BEKEEN DESIGN and DEVELOPMENT

Hi, my name is T.R.Mayer aka Tokka (multiple personalities *sigh*)

 and I'm a freelancer :) A little bit about me:

I was discovered on 17.03.1979 in a chocolate

bonbon 50% Irish and 50% German in Berlin, Germany.

I started with the first cavepaintings

as I was able to hold a pencil.

After many years with various jobs,

 I decided to become a freelance artist to sell

my creative vein to other people.

Since then, I cheerfully create graphics, illustration and websites.

In my spare time I like to read webcomics

and look at digital art by other artists.

By the way I get my inspiration from movies and music.

They help stimulate me to paint something

 or get ideas for some new stuff.

Meanwhile, I compose and write songs

for small projects and work on small flash games.

                                           Cheers and all the best

                                           ur Tokka

CCU can't wait for you to return with more great artwork.

Wow. What a way to start the year off.

Be sure to check out all of Tokka's links.

Tell us what you think. Join the fun. Promote your work.

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The Art of: Christopher Chamberlain

It's your pal WIT with more great artwork.

This time around I'm bringing you Canadian talent

Christopher Chamberlain

http://www.c21.deviantart.com/

http://www.comicspace.com/christopherchamberlain

        Born in the great white north of Canada sometime in the last millennium, Christopher was caught many times by his parents

marking on the walls of the igloo while knocking over vases.

Eventually he turned to paper and other discarded items that took to being marked. Since then a few people have had him create some cartoons and drawings for their picture books. Christopher is always willing to scrawl on some paper for people.

Enjoy the next five pieces of art as Chris shows off:

"Our Hero"

I love this stuff.

The only thing better would be a drawing of me

trying to figure out the universe...oh, wait...

Throw your hats onto the ice folks.

Christopher Chamberlain has the hat trick.

Talent, Story telling ability, and a drawing of me to brag about.

Comic Creators United looks forward to seeing more of Chris and his

fine work on this blog and out in the world of art.

Thanks my friend. Come back soon.

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Out of the Big Box again

Steverino your android buddy brings us:

Cool Covers from Comics gone by

Let's start with this: Marvel's EXILES

Vol 1, No. 23, May, 2003

Cover art by: Kev Walker

It's the concept that helps this cover into the cool category. Simply put: It's  Ironman in Doctor Dooms cape.
This looks to be a canvas painting and that gives it a nice feel. Add a pissed off Ironman with beat up armor and put him in an old dirty cape and hood and you can't miss.The art under this cover is just as strong. I likey.

Moving on I bring you: DC's SUPERMAN: THE MAN OF STEEL
No. 44, May, 1995

Cover art by: Bogdanove & Janke
What do you say? It's in your face fun, lots of color, and wierd.
Check it out. Take a good look. It never gets dull. "3 D Kent". I did not know that was his address. Cool. I like our perspective looking up the door, past the big "S" logo, thru that scary knife, and into the mouth of that goofy head. Any cover (post 1970's) that can pull off goofy to me = cool. The good cover makes me want to read on. I think I will.

How about a back cover: Innovation's LOST in SPACE ANNUAL 
Vol 1, No. 1, 1992

Back cover art by: J.C. Palmer & Q Kmoore
Well, this is one of the best pieces of LIS art I have seen. Check the large view of this illustration. The resemblance to the actors us uncanny. I have seen a lot of bad Dr. Smiths.  The artwork has it all. The Jupiter 2, the Robot, and the Chariot. Do I see Debbie the Bloop inside?  I'm glad I pulled this book. Inside art is just good. It is not helped by a weak story. Lots of extras though . Front cover...just, ehh. Read this one back to front.

No really: Kitchen Sink Comix: YARN MAN
No.1, Oct, 1989

Cover art by: Don Simpson
He's MEGATON MANS pal. I'll have to look him up folks.... oh yea, him. There he is on the back cover. The front cover is so warm and fuzzy I ......nodded off. It is cool fun.
Simpson must have had a blast painting this. The solid yellow and strong type round out a sweet cover. I want to feel his tongue.

Lets wrap it up with a masterpiece: Marvel's FANTASY MASTERPIECES
Vol 1, No 7, Feb, 1967

I've gotta include one oldie. This book reprints stories from the golden age. This cover is a fine example of old printing with classic design form and great colors. I really like the preview boxes in the lower right. Old school. Cool.

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