Morty Comix # 2658 - Updated!

Morty Comix # 2658 was sent to Buzz Buzzizyk in Butler, Pennsylvania. He made a "bootleg" copy to practice his enhanced dialogue and color scheme (pictured above). Then he worked on the original and distributed it. I don't know what he did with the final copy of this issue. I love the text he added here!

Once again, the mysterious Borpo Deets has a hand in this. What is it with this guy? I tried to visit him when I was in western PA a few months back but never quite connected. Tom Rehm and Mike Hill (check out Mike's very nice Worker Poet blog)  who apparently know him, were constantly changing the subject whenever the name "Borpo Deets" came up. 

There's a story here, but it is too cryptic for me to decipher.

I submit Deets has a hypnotic spell on Buzzizyk, Rehm and Hill and prefers to remain "the power behind the throne" of their artistic public face. Just a thought. I did catch wind that he's an older hermit guru type who actually physically recoils when puns are used in his presence. Also, I understand he basically lives on sauerkraut, calls everyone he initially meets a "douchebag," and enjoys capturing lightning bugs with his mouth.  

Bil Keane Statue

Our old friend Mike Hill of Worker Poet sends us news that the rest of the world is waking up to what those of us in the City Limits Gazette who contributed to a section called "The Bil Keane Watch" knew over two decades ago, the guy was a Zen Master Class Act.

A statue of Bil will be dedicated on Nov. 8 in Scottsdale, Arizona (I would so like to be there) and possibly a museum will be built covering his life and work.

Here's the article.

Mike Hill Covers the Obscuro Bezango Show

Mike Hill of Worker Poet fame also performed a bit of photojournalism for the Rehm/Traffic/Buzzizyk Obscuro Bezango show in Pittsburgh's Future Tenant gallery. But unlike me, Mike uses a real camera and is an accomplished photographer! He has graciously given me permission to select a few of his photos. None of the artists wished to have their faces posted online, so I have to dance around that as I select:

Tom had cleverly hidden the part of the exhibit with my own comix art under that red covering until the last minute. I was touched-- and impressed by his stealth. It didn't make me feel so bad about hiding all those Morty Comix in his house!

That twisted face has scrawled on the reverse side something about the mysterious "Borpo Deets," who I am convinced was the mentor to all three artists in the show.

 

A break during the final stages of setup. My West Coast sensibility was prepared for massive humidity, but it actually was pretty nice the week I was there. Notice the Big Eyed Bean From Venus in the window. It was fun watching folks react to it as they walked by. 

 Opening night. Willis, Wayno, Chrislip

 Willis, Chrislip

 It's the shirt that draws these beautiful women to me

For your readers in the Pittsburgh area, this show is continuing to September 1st

Worker Poet Covers Obscuro Bezango

Our old friend Mike Hill has some coverage of the Obscuro Bezango show, including a few unusual photos:


Check it out at this link http://workerpoet.blogspot.com/

 

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