SKETCH AND AN INTERVIEW
I don’t have a lot to write about today– nothing significant has happened to me in recent days. I did go to see the TRANSFORMERS movie yesterday, and I loved it. It’s not big on story, by any means… .but it’s such a fun, high-action popcorn flick that I was enthralled from start to finish. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more… kinetic… movie than TRANSFORMERS. Michael Bay is, if nothing else, a master at depicting mayhem and peril on a grand scale. And the battles between the AUTOBOTS and the DECEPTICONS in the city in the last third of the film were truly spectacular (although they were at times confusing with all the jaw-dropping destruction going on). I was never the target audience for the original TRANSFORMERS cartoons and toys, as I was too old to get into them– but I have an appreciation for their appeal, I think… and I’d be curious to hear what true fans of the franchise feel about this big-screen depiction of their beloved characters.
I was interviewed by the Doug Zawisza for COMICBLOC,COM a couple of months back…. and that interview is finally posted up on their site. You can read it HERE if you’re so inclined. Doug is a great guy, and I really enjoyed our interactions for this interview. As I said, the interview was done some time back, so you should keep that in mind with some of the answers– such as to Doug’s question about the web site, which has, indeed, since then been redesigned by Steven Gettis.
OK.. that’s it for the start of another week.
This is Entry 401.
Mike
July 16th, 2007 at 2:01 pm
Mike, this gal and her animal pal are really starting to grow on me. I realize she is probably just one amongst many of your “creator owned” ideas, but I hope to see you do something with her somewhere down the road.
July 16th, 2007 at 2:17 pm
Can’t get out of my head that the little critter should be holding out a towel.
July 16th, 2007 at 2:50 pm
Ohhhhhhhh! Sexy pic!
July 16th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
All these island sketches make me think you need to take a trip somewhere tropical, Mike.
Still haven’t seen ‘Transformers’ and will probably have to wait until it’s out on DVD. Unless I get lucky at the beach this weekend and Angie grants me a birthday movie matinee. I e-mailed you this ten minutes ago, Mike, but figured I’d post it nonetheless for everyone else. It’s a letter to Optimus Prime from his Geico Agent: http://mcsweeneys.net/2007/7/9weaver.html
July 16th, 2007 at 3:33 pm
I pretty much hated the Transformers movie. Not only was the plot nonsense but, like you said, the fighting was so crazy, I had no idea what was going on! And also notice, the key fights weren’t even shown. It’d be “Hey I’m gonna fight you..!” “Oh yeah? I’m gonna fight you back!” Cut to a human doing something no one cares about and then back to the fight, which is now over, loser on the ground. Not to mention none of the Transformers got any real characterization, especially the Decepticons, who barely even got screen time.
That said, Michael Bay has a genius level knack for making movies everyone loves except me, so maybe I’m not the best judge.
July 16th, 2007 at 3:45 pm
Another great pic Mike1 I hope you use this girl in the future cause she’s starting to grow on me aswell (but not in a crepy way) 🙂
-Sean
July 16th, 2007 at 3:58 pm
I like this third installment the best in the Sea Girl series.
Enjoyed reading the interview.
July 16th, 2007 at 7:44 pm
Simply smashing!
July 16th, 2007 at 7:55 pm
The Transformers movie is awesome! I remember having some of the toys in the 80s. I had those little ones that turned into casettes. And I had one that turned into a plane. That might’ve been Starscream. I’m very much looking forward to the DVD release.
July 17th, 2007 at 12:51 am
HI EVERYONE, THIS POST IS COMING FROM SKOTTIE YOUNG’S BLOG –
I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE READ:
“When I became a man I put away childish things, including the desire to be very grown up.”
C.S. Lewis said this when people asked him why he wrote books for children. This reminds me to keep in mind the origin of what I love most…drawing. Before I knew what Marvel or D.C. was, before I knew what a comic book, or super hero was, I drew pictures. I love drawing. I can’t recall what I liked drawing the most, probably because I drew so much there is no way to remember. I drew all the time, with any tool that created a line on paper.
Amongst the contracts, negotiations, signings, failed projects, good and bad reviews, deadlines, tussles with editors and studio execs., 35 airports a year, the same convention halls over and over, and anything else that goes along with the professional artist label…it is easy for me to forget what I wanted to do this for.
I love drawing.
That’s the end of it really. I love it. I love the kid that lives here no matter how many books I sell, or how much money I put in the bank. I need to remind myself to put away the childish “desire to be very grown up.” and just put pencil to paper. I never used to need anyone to like what I drew. I didn’t know to want it. I just wanted to turn a blank piece of paper into something, anything, just as long as it looked fun. An animal, a world that I have never seen, a twist on the world I have. Amongst all the things that have over shadowed that ideal, I have lost the child.
After hearing this quote, I wrote it down and pinned it on the bulletin board in front of my table. That’s why these warm up drawings started happening. I always told myself I didn’t have time to draw anything for fun, I had to work. But, like those parents who have kids and need to make time for them no matter what…I am reminding myself to do the same.
PLEASE GO TO SKOTTIE YOUNG’S BLOG AND COMMENT THERE
AND REMIND YOURSELF TO DO THE SAME
THANKX
July 17th, 2007 at 5:09 pm
I’m loving all the seagirl sketches!
I grew up on Transformers and still watch the old ones today, usually with my nephew, heh. I’m sure when I have a kid I’ll force it on him or her as well. I love the originals. But the fact that Bay directed this new movie completely kills it for me. I just can’t muster up any enthusiasm for it. I *might* see it if I notice when it goes to the dollar theater, but that’s about it.