"The Night Before Christmas" Wrap-up!

Regular followers of this blog have just finished reading my take on Clement Moore's immortal tale, "The Night Before Christmas". I hope you all enjoyed it. New readers can check it out by scrolling down or (if you wanna read it in the correct sequence) by clicking the links to the right.

I was inspired to do this series of posts after I looked through a  version of the story Perfect Wifey had dug up that really had horrible illustrations. "I can do better than this!", thought I. No one, though, really needs to see another traditional version of this tale. So, I thought maybe a parody version might be in order. Yes, I know, there are too many of those too, but this  would be my version.

Since it was doubtful I would ever find a publisher for such an effort, I decided to post it on this blog. Since illustrating an entire book in time for Christmas was a daunting prospect, I decided to take it page-by-page. That way, I could squeeze out a verse or two every day, and still make the Christmas deadline.

I planned nothing. I wrote and drew each post in about a half an hour, with no plan as to where I was going with the story. I didn't even know how the whole storyline was going to turn out,  but I thought that this "seat-of-my-pants" approach might produce some interesting results. It did. What I originally planned as a hilarious parody of the original poem,  with all  kinds of Un-Christmas-y shenanigans, instead became the somewhat saccharine, very preachy piece you've just read. I did learn a thing or two in producing it, though. I learned:

• I am a lousy poet.

• Santa's sleigh and his reindeer team are a pain in the eggnog to draw.

• I should take a bit more  time with my drawings. Even if they are "only" for this blog. Some of the drawings really make me cringe, even now, after "just" drawing them. Too late. "They belong to the ages, now."

• I was also toying with the idea, if the results were any good, of collecting the whole thing into a POD book. Unfortunately, it turned out far too short for that. Do they publish POD Leaflets? 

One other thing I learned is that, all cynicism aside, I really believe in the message of my story. Especially the part about continuing the Spirit of Giving throughout the year. It's easy to give at this time of year (Again, I will direct you to Infinite Hollywood's Toys for Tots Drive, but there are lots of opportunities for extending your generosity out there), however it's not so easy to keep doing it all the year long. I'm gonna try, maybe some of you will too.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed all of this. Thanks for at least tolerating it, and sharing your comments. If you didn't enjoy it, and just wish I'd get back to ranting and raving about various bits o' nonsense, no worries! The posts to follow should take care of that!

Merry Christmas!

Infinite Toys for Tots!

Well, the Holiday season is upon us, and Christmas is less than a month away. I love the Christmas season, mostly because I enjoy the feelings of goodwill and kindness towards others that the season generates. Most importantly, I love all the gifts I get!

Sadly, though, there are a lot of people out there who, for whatever reason,  won't  be getting any gifts this year. It would be hard for a grown man like me (derisive comments are expected,  speculating as to how mentally "grown" I am) to not receive the toys I crave at this time of year, but imagine how hard it is for kids to have nothing to look forward to?

Fortunately, there are people out there who want to make the Holidays happy for kids, and are out there doing something about it. The USMC has been running their "Toys for Tots" campaign for years, and have certainly brightened many a child's Holiday. Now the folks at my favorite Pop Culture site, "Infinite Hollywood", are upping the ante: For every toy donation you make to TFT, they will match it with a donation of their own. It's like giving TWO toys for the price of one! Saint Nick himself would be proud.

To participate, check out all the details here, and make a donation. Newton Gimmick, the overlord of "Infinite Hollywood", hopes for at least 30 donations by Christmas, but I'm sure we can do better than that. If you have a website of your own, why not post a link to this campaign on your site, too? Also, please give some quality toy, something you yourself would have liked to receive as a child. 

Yes,  that means NO Megablocks™!

Tee Shirted!

What goes around, comes around, or so they say. In the case of my cartooning "career", it's certainly true. Way back when, I designed a lot of tee shirts depicting popular characters of the day. It was easy and fun work. An added  bonus was that, once and awhile, you would spot some random stranger wearing a tee shirt you had  drawn. It was kind of a thrill. I always hoped I would spot a hot babe wearing one of the shirts I had designed, as it would give me a great opportunity to introduce myself: "Excuse me, miss, but you know that Slimer tee  you're wearing? I drew it". Hot Dog! Oh, the stimulating conversations that kind of line would have led to!

Sadly, most hot babes do not wear Slimer tee shirts.

I haven't drawn a tee shirt in years. As a result, the masses of my fans out there have been unable to parade about their town squares sporting my art. Thankfully, that has all changed.

Newton Gimmick (I dunno if that's his real moniker) runs the website, Infinite Hollywood, a tribute to all things geeky. This is one of my favorite blogs. Newton has the good taste to review Pop Culture, TV, Action Figures, Junk Food and Doctor Who action figures, among other things. A great site, and the photos he takes of action figures are a riot. I  think he is the only toy reviewer on the web to use an Al Molinaro doll in his photos. A big plus in my book.

The mascot of Newton's site is a little character he calls "Octo Joe". Awhile back, I sent him a sketch of Joe. Newton liked it, and started using it on his site. One thing led to another, and I drew a picture  of Joe dressed as the fourth Doctor Who, Tom Baker. More things led to more anothers, and now Newton has produced a tee shirt featuring this design, available for purchase.

That's right, for the low price of twenty bucks, you can now stroll about sporting a genuine piece of Bill White artwork! Fellas: Imagine the reaction from the gals when they realize the good taste you have in wearing this shirt*. Ladies, if you decide to don this garment, I hope you  are prepared for an onslaught of attention from the gents. You may want to have a club handy to beat off the excess suitors!

This stylish rag can be had by clicking this link. Even if you don't want a tee shirt, check  out Newton's  site. I think you'll like it.

* Note to Comic Book Fans: You will still have to bathe on occasion to attract the ladies.