Morty Comix # 2366

Morty Comix # 2366 was dropped into the after hour depository slot of a bank in Elma, Washington, that has been closed probably since the 1970s. Ron Austin was my witness in this act. Ron commented that I had a very strange way of distributing my comix, but I feel it is actually quite normal. In fact, I am so normal the U.S. Bureau of Normality uses my life as a median. Need I say more?

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Mini-Comics Day in McCleary, pt. 9.

It is so impressive Frank Young drew this minicomic in one sitting right here in little old McCleary. This guy knows how to write and convert it to graphic form. Beautiful work in such a short time.

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Mini-Comics Day In McCleary, pt. 8

Emanations and Expectorations was a jam conceived by Jim Gill and included Frank Young, Paul Tumey, and myself in honor of Mini-Comics Day.

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Summit Lake Grocery

This place still has gas pumps that counts your gallons in a non-digital way. Yes!

Woody Barker's hangout is no more than a quarter hour from this store.

Mini-Comics Day in McCleary, pt. 7

My untitled solo contribution to Mini-Comics Day. From conception to final printing, collating and stapling of 10 copies = 44 minutes. The tremor in my drawing hand is getting worse but I'm still good for a few more comix.

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Budd Inlet, 4th Ave. Bridge, and on the horizon the old St. Pete's Hospital where my brother was born

Back then in the late 1950s, St. Pete's would not allow child visitors in the hospital. So I remember my uncle and aunt taking shifts watching me in their 1958 Chevy parked in the parking lot while I drew cartoons with my finger on the late November rear car window condensation as my sibling entered the world.

Morty Comix # 2365

Morty Comix # 2365 was slipped into Jim Gill's clipboard while he was busy trying to figure out Frank Young's photocopy logistics during Mini-Comics Day in McCleary.

This particular Morty Comix shows signs of me testing which of my long standing drawing tools still worked.

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Under the boardwalk, Budd Inlet, Olympia, Washington

Favorite Movie Quotes: Silverado

"The world is what you make of it, friend. If it doesn't fit, you make alterations."

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Mini-Comics Day in McCleary, pt. 6

Although he unfortunately no longer resides in Washington State, our old pal Bruce Chrislip in McCleary's sister-city of goetta-rich Cincinnati (Henry McCleary was from Ohio, so it isn't so far fetched. Plus, I have actually met and shook hands with the mayors of both cities. Who else can say that?) participated in McCleary Mini-Comics Day from afar! We love you Bruce!

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Mini-Comics Day in McCleary, pt. 5

Paul Tumey and his rogue frog weigh in on McCleary Mini-Comics day!

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Washington State Department of Labor and Industries Building, Tumwater, Washington

Mini-Comics Day in McCleary, pt. 4

Jim Gill drew this without any pencils, just directly on paper in fairly quick order. Amazing.

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Scotch Broom

An invasive species plant here in the Pacific Northwest and about this time of year makes we hay fever sufferers really sneeze. As a cheap thrill, kids dry the stems and then smoke them like cigarettes but to no real real reality-changing effect.

Mini-Comics Day in McCleary, pt. 3

Jim Gill has compiled a nice post on McCleary Mini-Comics Day.

Taken in Elma, Washington (where we went for dinner) by Ron Austin with Jim's camera: L to R: Jim Gill, Morty the Dog, Paul and Reid Tumey, Frank Young.  

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Carriage House, State Capital Museum, designed by Joseph Wohleb

Mini-Comics Day in McCleary, pt. 2

Original drawing by Paul Tumey. We all had a chance to pick one and I loved this piece.

The great Seattle Post-Intelligencer cartoonist Ray Collins advised me to study poetry when I met with him in 1977. I think Paul must've overheard our conversation.

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Washington State Capital Museum, the backyard view

Designed by Joseph Wohleb

Morty Comix # 2364

Morty Comix # 2364 was stuck into the brickwork of a far pillar in the entryway of a long defunct buffet feeding trough business on Olympia's Westside.

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Legislative Building, Olympia, Washington

Favorite Movie Quotes: Die Another Day

"One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter."

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One of the set of the doors at the Washington State Legislative Building. The right-hand image depicts the old wooden territorial and early state capitol building.