Damn Weird Comix # 6

Butler, Pennsylvania : Maximum Traffic, 1996.

A jam with Max Traffic and the wonderful Mark Campos. The image on page 3 was no doubt lifted from a Morty Comix.

Both of these beer swilling aliens appeared in print three years later in Modernman # 3; Maximum Traffic # 210.

Morty the Dog in Grimjack # 28!

One day back in 1986 I was thrilled to find out of the blue a letter in my PO box from the great cartoonist Hilary Barta. He not only ordered some of my comix but let me know he slipped a pic of Morty the Dog into a story in Grimjack # 28.

The black and white images are what Hilary sent me. I found a copy of the comic itself in my files to scan and post as well.

Barta later joined Maximum Traffic, Mike Hill and myself in our last comic of the 20th century, Modernman # 3 ; Maximum Traffic # 210.

SPACE 2011 Report, pt. 6

I had Mike Hill here as a guest long ago when he dropped by McCleary. By coincidence, collector/reviewer Lynn Hansen was visiting as well, so we held a mini-convention.

Mike is an important figure in the Newave story, his Worker Poet publication pushing the movement to a more literary edge. His art is distinctive and wonderful. It was a true joy to jam with Mike and Maximum Traffic at the of 1999 for Modernman # 3 ; Maximum Traffic # 210.

On Saturday night Mike put together a quick mini (with Blake's help, I understand), Modernman # 4. I like to call it the quint-Hill-sential Mike comic.

Above: Bruce Chrislip, Colin Upton, Mike Hill

Modernman # 3 ; Maximum Traffic # 210

If you agree with the popular notion the 20th century ended on Dec. 31, 1999 rather than Dec. 31, 2000 (and I'm with the pops) then Modernman # 3 ; Maximum Traffic # 210 was my last published work of the 20th century.

To call this a real jam might be wrong since there was some planning and coordination behind it by that crazy man named Tom in Butler, Pennsylvania who used to call himself Maximum Traffic but has since been known by a few other monikers (my favorite being "Borpo Deets"). He was this project's originator, editor, publisher, and all-around ringmaster.

Nothing was drawn before we had script cranked out by Max, myself, and the great Mike (Worker Poet/Modernman) Hill. Mike, also a Pennsylvanian, once paid me a visit here in McCleary, when he dropped in one day when Lynn Hansen happened to be here. I used to have a photo of that event, and it is possible it is still around in this house.

Anyway, Max wanted me to do all the lettering to give the comic a more consistent look. Contributions were also made by the always amazing Hilary Barta, and a few other artists got their 2 cents in one way or another: Ted Bolman, Mark Campos, Jeff Zenick, and Sean Bieri.

The comic was published in December 1999 and the spine measures 28 cm. I'm also including a scan of the Draft edition, from October 1999, of which only 4 copies exist and is regular digest size.

The Jasper the Pleasant Ghost toy story is actually based on a toy my brother once had and is essentially true. Well, partly true. OK, a little bit true. I've retold this tale in different forms in 3 or 4 comix. It's called recycling. One of the benefits of posting all this old stuff is that I am starting to see where I repeat myself a lot like some old coot blathering away in the corner of the bus station. Hopefully when I put together my next work I'll do something different.

Curve-Vision Man came from a conversation with one of my cousins in the early 1970s. We were talking about useless superpowers, and he mentioned this particular talent, which has stuck in my head ever since.