New Bot Day! Several years collecting and only now do I welcome Bender! (fullname Bender Bending Rodríguez). Bender se hizo en Tijuana, México en 2996. Debuting in 1999, he’s from Futurama. My favorite quote of his: “I guess a robot would have to be crazy to want to be a folk singer.”
For my birthday last week my sister masterminded me getting sung to and it melted my heart
KEN \ NOW CLOSED
I added lights to a third shelf because my robot cup is very full.
Really weird but kind of cool to run across this doodle from work notes on a slow 12 hour night shift in 1993.
Age: 17.
Last week I went to an in-person comic book store. When the best expertise says it’s safe to go again, I will. Until then, gotta wait it out.
New Bot Day! Yes I got another Mechagodzilla (メカゴジラ, Mekagojira) who first appeared in 1974 and has had multiple incarnations. I’ve had that superdeformed (aka chibi) MG for a few years but I saw a deal and jumped on it.
Covid-19 affects everything. @sandiegobloodbank was super professional this morning.
I switched from giant gorillas to robots in the intervening decades. But that’s me! Thanks everybody for your sweet birthday wishes 💛 I am so so lucky.
New Bot Day! “Gonk. Gonk. Gonk.” says the GNK power droid the first time we see it in Star Wars. Welcome to my toy robot collection Gonk! Lovably goofy. Perfect to close out Birthday Bot Week! Happy Birthday to me!
New Bot Day! Gekkoku 2 (月光機 弐号 Gekkoki No. 2) – I got him at @billygalaxytoys in Portland last year. As I understand it he’s a mech from a series called “Tekkouki Mikazuki” in the year 2000.
New Bot Day! Welcome Machine Man aka Aaron Stack aka Mister Machine aka X-51! Created by Jack Kirby for Marvel Comics in 1977 for Jack’s 2001: a space odyssey adaptation. His sentience is partially thanks to A Monolith! Birthday Week of Bots has been a great comfort in this time of isolation and uncertainty. Be safe out there.
New Bot Day! Welcome Big Boss Robot (in black)! I was gifted purple in 2018 by @hellokellykuhl and recently black by my pal Eric L. @GiantRobot Magazine started making these in ~ 2010 based on their logo! The magazine has covered Asian and Asian-American culture since the 90s!
New Bot Day! We welcome Rosie (Rosey for a few seasons) the Robot Maid! She comes from 1962 in the prime-time animated sitcom The Jetsons. Jane Jetson hired her for all domestic tasks. Hanna-Barbera produced the Jetsons as a follow-on to their successful show The Flintstones. Rosie was voiced by Wilma Flintstone voice actor Jean Vander Pyl. The Jetsons is a mixed bag but it did predict video calls, domestic robots, and pushbutton food.
My whole wide entire family managed to throw me with a birthday party and my father traveled 2400 miles. All of it a giant surprise. I am so lucky.
Power outages remind me of my childhood
New Bot Day! From 1978’s Battlestar Galactica tv series it’s a Cylon Centurion! Never went to court Universal and Fox contested just how much of a Star Wars ripoff BSG was. Cylons like this one have been referenced across the culture; Wikipedia notes Futurama, The Simpsons, Family Guy, South Park, Robot Chicken… men my age loved these silver baddies!
Early 90s selfie. That awkward growing-out-your-hair phase. It worked out eventually. On Melrose Avenue.
Yes, I can rock Mickey Ears. Years ago.
For my birthday month I’m asking lots of people who their favorite bot is. The answers are always fun!
Me (really) and Carlos and Celsito. Halloween 75 or 76. Carlos & Celso (to me always Celsito) were constant companions before my family moved away from L.A. in 77-78. My childhood was in pieces all over but much of it was so so beautiful.
Me in Riverside. Student (with kids) housing. Dad was going to school there. My earliest dreamy memories are there.
This is my pal @chrisgreazel — but a few years ago—Hamming it up at Magic Mountain!
Obviously.
New Bot Day! Welcome Doublas M2 (ダブラスM2) — a terrifying mechanical robot beast from the Mazinger anime series—He’s from the 1970s—like me!
“CUBE CAT at BEAR LODGE (aka Devil’s Tower)” – from last night at Long Beach Ink & Drink #drawing @ink_and_drink_lb #longbeach #cubecat #closeencounters
It’s New Bot Monday! Welcome Red Tornado! Emerged in 1968 though has earlier roots (1960) DC Comics backstories are notoriously complicated and this android is no different. He joins Data and my other bots discussing becoming more human!
My first printed linocut: Shirley Chisholm: UNBOUGHT / UNBOSSED. #linksoul #oceanside #shirleychisholm #linocut #blackhistorymonth thanks @klart760 for the great instruction.
My first linocut. Class on WPA, Black history & printing at @linksoul in Oceanside. In theory, this will be a print of Shirley Chisholm. #linksoul #oceanside #shirleychisholm #linocut #blackhistorymonth
Only trust people who carry multicolored pens. @spill_drink_and_draw
always be drawing 🖤🖊 @spill_drink_and_draw #spillsantaana #spill_drink_and_draw #drinkanddraw
Made a little logo image for the San Diego Homebrew Website Club tonight. #indieweb #homebrewwebsiteclub
Desk tuned up with new @yayitzel print via @burn_all_books #buyart #risograph #risoprint
It’s New Bot Monday! Welcome to Twiki who hails from 1979 by way of the year 2491 on the tv show Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. He’s an “ambuquod” helper robot, carrying on his chest an artificial intelligence: Dr. Theopolis. Twiki is kinda funny, and was mostly voiced by Mel Blanc, famed Warner Bros cartoon actor.
The Great Leap, last night at Old Town/Cygnet Theatre Co., was great. I did in fact laugh and cry.
Peak Expatriate Kid. This is a not-happy smile. I want to tell my younger self: “the unease you’re feeling is your mind expanding to learn the world is unfair, but also magical. This wisdom will comfort you in the far future. Also, take better care of your teeth.”
That long hair I had in the late 90s remains one of my finest accomplishments.
Going through old photos to send for proper scanning. Found one of my tata “Artie” Silva. Not enough photos of him!
Yesterday I’m gonna party like it’s 1999.
Rainy day simplify.
submitted a comic to a literary journal today. comics are malleable and I am a cartoonist. I think of the terrible gag strips I sent to The New Yorker in 1989 and the very nice, very deserved rejection they got. and I plot my next comic.
I don’t really miss this haircut. My sister and mom look great! From, 20-ish year ago.
zappa. #comic
New iPad hang ten. Drawn w/@procreate
“BE KIND” – a message from the Pacific Beach York Street graffiti giraffe.
Grace. From @spill_drink_and_draw Thursday. The 80s were not all garbage. #spillsantaana #drinkanddraw #inkanddrink
With Kelly at the special showing of Picard at the Comic-Con Museum! Hashtag #starfleetBlessed
Ok then #toonme #toonmechallenge #drawing
See ya later NoVa.
Virginia and DC have been wonderful to me but I gotta return to California and my succulent today.
Family walk at Huntley Meadows Wetlands habitat
miaow
Yesterday I drew Gritty at #UXCampDC for… not really good reasons.
Snowed overnight. Dusting. On the Metro into DC for #UXCampDC
Reading @melstringer’s new travel zine North-Bound in San Diego’s most classic diner Rudford’s seems right. (And I got to stop into @burn_all_books and talk a lil #risograph tech with Nick on my lunch hour too)
“You came in that thing? You’re braver than I thought.” Tuesday was terrific.
mom
Happy Divorce Day to me and Leah. 15 years, 14 days. It is impossible to encapsulate all I learned from and with Leah. I would not take it back. I remain very lucky and am happy to call her a friend. A+
Detail of panel from my latest submission to @burn_all_books art anthology zine “Sundays Quarterly”—I’m working on a way to make it easy for folx to get ahold of the comics I’ve done. Possibly Gumroad. Maybe web. In the meantime get down to the @burn_all_books shop behind @verbatim.books and buy SQ! Also playing with purely web-based formats but I like them less.
Presently.
Early dinner last night with Kelly. Then we explored San Diego seeing what the shinier people were up to! Happy New Year!
It is hard to imagine what it would mean for the holidays for someone to lose their mother or grandma on New Year’s Eve. Every year I understand my elders more and more and the struggles that come with the inherent hardness of life.
Brünhilde, Valkyrie. Not a cosplay to look for in 2020.
Merry Facehuggermas! #facehugger #alien
My top 9 features walks on the beach, my late mom, San Diego Comic Con, drawing at the Vietnam Memorial, candy sushi, plenty of time with @hellokellykuhl and a post from @spill_drink_and_draw. It’s been quite a good year. #top9 #sdcc2019 #cosplay #spillsantaana
Watch the Throne. With Kelly.
The Del is a treasure. I am so lucky.
Christmas with Kelly
Free old markers from @susanmyrland, tested. 35% usable.
I’m a big fan of the Anaheim Intermodal Transit Center. Even more when they make with pretty lights! Raced by it at midnight last night.
Me and this fellow @chrisgreazel have been drawing near each other for a long time. Amazing time at @ink_and_drink_lb last night.
Uh. Wut. #inkanddrinklb #cubecat
Cube Cat Christmas Resistance! @ink_and_drink_lb #cubecat #inkanddrink #inkanddrinklb
Lumpy but also super happy. I fell for the Instagram-magnet but I loved it.
Beachlettering.
Rereading 13 years later. Impressed @_scott_mccloud’s “Chapter 5-1/2” is still online. I have a record of bookmarking it in 2006. Also, I’ve made some comics. Never to late to start making things. Bookmark by @ronnyvardyart
I don’t do resolutions for a new year. Don’t really even believe in them. But I made 4 pieces for @burn_all_books in 2019. Follow and Support them! Wherever I publish, more comics are coming. #indiecomics #risograph #localbookstore
Very happy with how my piece in the next @burn_all_books Sundays Quarterly turned out. Test Riso print on pink.
In 2013 I discovered the @bee_paper 9×9″ notebook and it’s my favorite. Glad to have this raw material for inspiration making comics.
Kelly and I made sugar cookies. Happy Thanksgiving!
Work donuts were sprinkletastic today.
Happiness is dropping by @burn_all_books & @verbatim.books when I want to (this was yesterday)
Sometimes my brush pen gets used in goofy ways.
Nephews @ Mosaic last week.
Yesterday was a long day but leaving Denver gave some nice views.
Sorry I’m running late my United flight on a 757-200 had an engine failure necessitating a non-emergency landing in the Mile High City and a stopover. I think I’ll use my lunch voucher on a Bloody Mary. (I kid, it was all handled very professionally. From fault to safe landing was about 25 minutes).
Time to get back to California.
Leave in the morning and goodness I’m going to miss family. I won’t miss the temperatures.
Cool cat.
Yesterday there was Jenga!
The Vietnam Women’s Memorial is lovely. Women leave hair scrunchies and hair rubber bands there. A lovely Veteran’s Day, visiting there. #veteransday
Corpsman James J Crawford 2nd/506 “Curahees” 101st Airborne Div. Vietnam 1969-1970. Our visits to Virginia co-incident with Veteran’s Day. There’s a ceremony happening here at The Wall today and we’re checking it out.
A+ pumpkins
Mom and son with scooter
Piggyback attempt
