Morty the Dog

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Morty Comix # 2414

Before

After

Morty Comix # 2414, part of the Watercolor Series, was inserted into a menu at a restaurant in Forks, Washington, where I met filmmakers Louise Amandes and Ron Austin for breakfast.

As I was stuffing the menu, Ron asked, "Aren't you worried someone is going to kick your ass?"

Well, as a matter of fact, yes. Particularly in the town of Forks, which had a much different reputation before the national media discovered this place. In the 1970s, we hitchhikers knew this was a town never to get stranded in.

Ron's question is a good one. This method of distributing Morty Comix could easily cross some legal/social boundaries if I am careless. Maybe I have even already crossed some. I am sure in some cases my distribution actions have been recorded by security cameras. But as we saw with Morty Comix # 2407 a security guy appeared to enjoy discovering the comic.

This is a blending of graphic and conceptual art. The rules of the game reveal themselves as we play. I'll try to be a bit more playful than those old Jack T. Chick comics I used to find in phone booths, but in many ways his method of distribution helped inspire me on this project.

If the old mailed Morty Comix drove completist collectors crazy, this new set, starting with Morty Comix # 2279, will be extra hard to find and I must say there is some satisfaction in that.

But at some point I'll stop and allow this certain slice of Morty Comix to be incredibly hard to collect and then move on to something else.

Phone photo 1744

Dandelions take over a school lawn, Tumwater, Washington

Supposedly this invasive species was introduced to this area on purpose by Catherine Maynard in the early 1850s.

Favorite Movie Quotes: Tender Mercies

"I don't know the answer to nothing, not a blessed thing. I don't know why I wandered out to this part of Texas drunk and you took me in and pitied me and helped me to straighten out, marry me. Why? Why did that happen? Is there a reason that happened? And Sonny's Daddy died in a war. My daughter killed in an automobile accident. Why? You see I don't trust happiness. I never did. I never will."

Phone photo 1743

Tumwater, Washington

Morty Comix # 2413

Before

After

Morty Comix # 2413, part of the Watercolor series, was left in a phone booth at Kalaloch, Washington, overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Phone photo 1742

Amanda Park, Washington

Favorite Movie Quotes: Stripes

"So we're all dogfaces. We're all very, very different, but there is one thing that we all have in common: we were all stupid enough to enlist in the Army. We're mutants. There's something wrong with us, something very, very wrong with us. Something seriously wrong with us. We're soldiers. But we're American soldiers! We've been kicking ass for 200 years! We're 10 and 1! Now we don't have to worry about whether or not we practiced. We don't have to worry about whether Captain Stillman wants to have us hung. All we have to do is to be the great American fighting soldier that is inside each one of us. Now do what I do, and say what I say. And make me proud. Fall in!"

Phone photo 1741

Clallam Bay Comicon 2012

Filmmakers Ron Austin and Louise Amandes suggested we get together for the First Annual Clallam Bay Comicon. If you look on a Washington State map, you'll see Clallam Bay is way the Hell from anything, almost in the corner of the lower 48. It's a four hour drive from McCleary.

I met Ron and Louise for breakfast in the town of Forks. Ron suggested we take a hike down to the beach at La Push. Believe it or not I had never been there.

During the 3 mile round trip hike all three of us heard something growl just a few feet away. Bear, raccoon, cougar? You can bet we didn't stick around to check it out. We made to the beach and back in one piece.

One of the most beautiful beaches in Washington. I was so appreciative to have been invited to visit it.

Eventually we made it to the Clallam Bay Comicon, which basically consisted of a couple covered booths set up in Donna Barr's front yard. Ron is recording Donna for the documentary he is working on.

Donna Barr and Llywelyn Graeme

Kevin D. Boze

He's reading a copy of Terminal. I brought what few comix I still have in print to give away

Donna talks with Rick and Vickie Bligh

Dara Korra'ti provided the live music

Donna's table

Mark Monlux

Dara's stuff

Not the largest comic gathering I've been to, but at least I can say I attended the first one. Having just hosted McCleary's Mini-Comics Day last May, I can appreciate how much work this was for Donna.

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Phone photo 1740

No, that isn't me. The only elected office I ever sought to gain was for Democratic Precinct Committeeman for Mud Bay Precinct in Thurston County, Washington, in 1974, which has just dawned on me it was ALMOST 40 YEARS AGO! And I beat the incumbent only because I filed first and my name topped the ballot. But before my term was up I moved so I had to resign.

The Willis currently running for re-election as Grays Harbor County Commissioner is no relation to me, so far as I can ascertain from conversations with members of that family. I did vote for her when she first ran. But the brain cell jury is still out on whether or not I'll re-elect. Still gathering data.

There used to be a lot of Dickenson County, Virginia (Clintwood, Va.)-traced members of the Willis family in Grays Harbor and Pacific counties in the last century, but as far as I know, as of 2006 I am the last one of us left out here in this corner of the world between the two jurisdictions.

Morty Comix # 2412

Before

After

Morty Comix # 2412, one of the Watercolor Series, was carefully folded and inserted inside a promotional tablestand for some product at a local Burger King. I think I had a crispy chicken sandwich that day. Not bad.