Hey, Jim and Ed! Thanks for all the kind words. A few points worth noting...Doug and I wrote the book together, with Doug doing the full script on stuff like the tv page, the fake letters page, etc. And the final, gorgeous cape "The End" gag was drawn by Doug. I pretty much inked his pencil sketch. All the other the art in the book is all my fault. The Mitch O'Connell piece in the indicia was drawn, and was not late. It was a fake ad, but it was CENSORED by the Image office--which was Rob's office. When it was cut at the last minute we swapped in the real ad for the Tom Artis drawn Tiger Files, which never did see prnt.
I was actually just reading an old Wizard (issue 29 I think) where they were going over books that were canceled. They mentioned this book and McFarlane was asked why it got canceled and he simply said "It was just....well, stupid."
This reminds me of the one-off "Marvel RIOT" comic from the same era, which was a MAD magazine style riff on the Age of Apocalypse. As a kid who didn't have regular access to comic shops (and thus eventually gravitated to self-contained graphic novels), the parody comic gave me a more coherent picture of that storyline than I was able to get from the few actual comic I got my hands on!
It makes absolutely no sense that a kid who was a teenager at the time when this came out and collected image religiously never saw or heard of this book. Thank you so much for bringing it to my attention. I really think the art in this book is fantastic and I immediately fell in love with it. My goal today is to find a copy and pick it up. I would love the artist to sign a copy for me. I wonder if he does conventions. Thanks again guys for introducing so many fans to some great work.
I had pictures of the issue cut out into a collage in my room at the time,I bought 2 copies but I have no idea where it went I moved out of there long ago. I wish I would’ve at least taken a picture or if I still had the issue I’d send it to you since you didn’t see it at the time. I haven’t thought about that in at least 25 years til right now
Fun vid guys! I think 2 of the funniest issues i have seen are an Ambush Bug Special and What if...no one was watching the watcher. Comics needs more funny books for sure.
By ‘93, I was actively avoiding anything published by Image Comics (though, as a Silver Age fan, I made an exception for the 1963 miniseries). When the caption said “stupidest Image comic,” I immediately thought of Jim Mahfood’s “Stupid Comics” (one issue published by Oni and three published by Image). I loved his little mascot, a turtleneck attired white bull terrier. Even though I’ve largely traded off comics like that from my collection (even Mahfood’s Generation X Special), I still own all those “Stupid Comics.”
Haha 😄 this was great. I thought you guys were going to bash an image comic which is really unlike cartoonist kayfabe, so I was a little upset when reading the title before watching the vid. Touché
I have a few issues of WHAT THE--? with art by Hilary Barta, and you can definitely see the Wally Wood influence. Real fun stuff. I recently dug through some dollar bins and found a YOUNGBLOOD parody called YOUNGSPUD from Spoof Comics. Kind of dumb, but a dollar's worth of entertainment.
Todd Mcfarlane gave his opinion on Stupid. He did not care for it. His exact words were: "Stupid? That was stupid..." It's from a panel interview with the Image guys, and I'm fairly certain it was in Wizard, or the briefly published competing magazine I can't remember the name of. Probably Wizard, so you'll eventually stumble across it in your reviews. I took note of the quote as at the time I was a fan of books like Stupid and "What The...!?", and Todd was being his usual undiplomatic self.
Too bad the Tiger Files never came out. The late Tom Artis' art style had a touch of Mike Golden circa Marvel's Micronauts. He was quite an underrated artist.
Hey, Jim and Ed! Thanks for all the kind words. A few points worth noting...Doug and I wrote the book together, with Doug doing the full script on stuff like the tv page, the fake letters page, etc. And the final, gorgeous cape "The End" gag was drawn by Doug. I pretty much inked his pencil sketch. All the other the art in the book is all my fault.
The Mitch O'Connell piece in the indicia was drawn, and was not late. It was a fake ad, but it was CENSORED by the Image office--which was Rob's office. When it was cut at the last minute we swapped in the real ad for the Tom Artis drawn Tiger Files, which never did see prnt.
Great to see you reply to this. Props!
I loved PLASTIC MAN!
That staple gag is a thing of beauty!
When I saw the thumbnail in my subscription box I thought you'd be covering Jim Mahfood's Stupid Comics!
McFarlane had a one word review when image fit this book; "stupid". He hated it
"Hey! Bud! What's a Brav-vur-uh?"
I was actually just reading an old Wizard (issue 29 I think) where they were going over books that were canceled. They mentioned this book and McFarlane was asked why it got canceled and he simply said "It was just....well, stupid."
This reminds me of the one-off "Marvel RIOT" comic from the same era, which was a MAD magazine style riff on the Age of Apocalypse. As a kid who didn't have regular access to comic shops (and thus eventually gravitated to self-contained graphic novels), the parody comic gave me a more coherent picture of that storyline than I was able to get from the few actual comic I got my hands on!
Marvel, during the 1950s Atlas era, published a MAD parody called Riot.
It makes absolutely no sense that a kid who was a teenager at the time when this came out and collected image religiously never saw or heard of this book. Thank you so much for bringing it to my attention. I really think the art in this book is fantastic and I immediately fell in love with it. My goal today is to find a copy and pick it up. I would love the artist to sign a copy for me. I wonder if he does conventions. Thanks again guys for introducing so many fans to some great work.
I had pictures of the issue cut out into a collage in my room at the time,I bought 2 copies but I have no idea where it went I moved out of there long ago. I wish I would’ve at least taken a picture or if I still had the issue I’d send it to you since you didn’t see it at the time. I haven’t thought about that in at least 25 years til right now
Fun vid guys! I think 2 of the funniest issues i have seen are an Ambush Bug Special and What if...no one was watching the watcher. Comics needs more funny books for sure.
Hilary Barta did work for Marvel's What The..?! parody comic.
By ‘93, I was actively avoiding anything published by Image Comics (though, as a Silver Age fan, I made an exception for the 1963 miniseries).
When the caption said “stupidest Image comic,” I immediately thought of Jim Mahfood’s “Stupid Comics” (one issue published by Oni and three published by Image). I loved his little mascot, a turtleneck attired white bull terrier. Even though I’ve largely traded off comics like that from my collection (even Mahfood’s Generation X Special), I still own all those “Stupid Comics.”
Haha 😄 this was great. I thought you guys were going to bash an image comic which is really unlike cartoonist kayfabe, so I was a little upset when reading the title before watching the vid. Touché
What do you call an armless, legless guy in a pile of leaves?
Russell.
I have a few issues of WHAT THE--? with art by Hilary Barta, and you can definitely see the Wally Wood influence. Real fun stuff. I recently dug through some dollar bins and found a YOUNGBLOOD parody called YOUNGSPUD from Spoof Comics. Kind of dumb, but a dollar's worth of entertainment.
Whenever I hear Doug Rice's name, I think back to the Ostrander/ Yale MANHUNTER series, with Mark Shaw. Good times :)
Brings back memories of the old MAD magazine spoofs, like 'Superduperman'.
Damn, that STAPLE gag!
Todd Mcfarlane gave his opinion on Stupid. He did not care for it. His exact words were: "Stupid? That was stupid..."
It's from a panel interview with the Image guys, and I'm fairly certain it was in Wizard, or the briefly published competing magazine I can't remember the name of. Probably Wizard, so you'll eventually stumble across it in your reviews. I took note of the quote as at the time I was a fan of books like Stupid and "What The...!?", and Todd was being his usual undiplomatic self.
Ed! I have that Batman Year 2 Figure, You have to pop the arms off to put the cape on . . . Just Sayin'
3:07-3:24
EddieP just teased the next season of Red Room
Gawd! That work reminds me of Gilbert's Mr. Monster and of course Wally Wood, how come I never saw this. I just purchased a copy on Fleabay.
What will be in the 40 extra Hulk pages?
crazy that spewn didnt pop up in spawn's universe 🤣
7:20 that looks like G I Shmoe from classic MAD
The Spawn spoof comic had a better plot than the live-action movie 😂
Too bad the Tiger Files never came out. The late Tom Artis' art style had a touch of Mike Golden circa Marvel's Micronauts. He was quite an underrated artist.
LOVE Hilary Barta!