Morty Comix # 2468

Morty Comix # 2468 was slipped inside a videocassette container with the movie Sunset Blvd., at the Sou'wester VHS library, Seaview, Washington. My nephew Zach was with me during this caper.

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Nadine in the morning

Buttons - Comic Art - 1982

By Jamie Alder

On the curl: Industrial Dream Factory, Bill Shut (c) 82

On the reverse: Badge-a-Minit, LaSalle, Ill. 61301

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Favorite Movie Quotes: Enemy of the State

"Get the cat!!"

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A pair of perfectly nice shoes left neatly at the side of the road

Bay Center, Washington

Morty Comix # 2467

Morty Comix # 2467 was placed inside a book with selected works of Marlowe and Shakespeare. I placed it on the page that had one of my fave quotes from Macbeth:

To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.

The book was then returned to the shelves of the Sou'wester in Seaview, Washington

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Seaview, Washington

Buttons - Comic Art - 1982

By Jamie Alder

On the curl: Industrial Dream Factory, Bill Shut (c) 82

On the reverse: Badge-a-Minit, LaSalle, Ill. 61301

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Seaview, Washington

Favorite Movie Quotes: Caddyshack

"In the immortal words of Jean Paul Sartre, 'Au revoir, gopher'."

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Seaview, Washington

Morty Comix # 2466

Morty Comix # 2466 was left at a deserted house that looks like it could've been used in a Northwest version of The Blair Witch Project. This was close to the Mid-Nemah River, Pacific County, Washington.

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Seaview, Washington

Favorite Movie Quotes: Anzio

"Why do we do it? Why do people kill each other? How can a perfectly ordinary good natured guy who wouldn't slap down a mosquito sit up in an airplane and bomb a thousand sleeping strangers down  beneath him?"

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The Hostess rack is nearly empty as sugar addicts get their fix. Notice the caution sign!

No more Twinkie Weiner sandwiches!

Dog Walk Dog 2

I drew a page for the just published anthology, Dog Walk Dog 2, and in the course of doing so realized how rusty I am at drawing stories.

The comic includes work by August Lipp, Jason T. Miles, Ben Horak, Patrick Keck, Karissa Sakumoto, Marc Palm, Max Clotfelter, Tom Van Deusen, Kelly Froh, and Aidan Fitzgerald.

Tom Van Deusen is the editor and publisher. I believe he is selling this for 5 bucks, ppd.

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Buttons - Comic Art - 1989

On the curl: Max Traffic (c)1989

On reverse: Badge-A-Minit, LaSalle, Ill 61301

Although the image was drawn in 1989, I think the button itself might have been produced at a later date.

New Bezango WA Kickstarter Promo

Ron and Louise are over 2/3 of the way to their kickstarter goal! Click on the link and see their new promo, which includes footage of Morty Comix # 2378 being distributed.

My Aunt Pat Pearson and Olympia Folk Art

I grew up with 24 uncles and aunts and out of all them, my Aunt Pat Pearson (1922-2007) was the most unusual. And in my family, that is saying a lot, believe me.

In other places I have documented how wonderful my parents were in encouraging my development as a cartoonist. My Father had a genetic gift for drawing which was handicapped by his early years in grinding poverty in the Virginia Cumberland Mountains. Being great at illustrating didn't help much when one was trying to survive. But he was a great artist, just in the way he regarded life. In the rare times he drew anything, I recall being thrilled by the result. He didn't know it, but he was a poet and conceptual artist by the life he led. He took risks no sane person would take, and he was rewarded for those decisions.

My Mother, being a professional educator and the product of Washington pioneer stock (I had to slip that in), saw very early that I loved the graphic art form and really nurtured and promoted my art education. Ironically, although my Mom was not an artist herself, she recognized the strain more than my Dad, and saw that it was an important part of being human.

So I was lucky in the parent department.

So, what did my Aunt Pat contribute to this foundation?

Pat never had any children and she eventually became the stereotype Crazy Cat Lady, leaving perhaps as many 20 cats in her little apartment when she died. But when I was little she was the most glamorous woman I knew. She designed and made her own clothes. She carried herself as if she was on the runway. She was creative. And she painted.

At the time (mid-1960s) I recall being so impressed that someone I knew had actually painted a picture! In oil! That had a big impact on me. A grownup I was related to had produced a painting!

As an adult I now see her work as a form of folk art. But I honor her influence on my own creativity by hanging one of her paintings in my hallway. It is, I believe, a picture of 4th and Capitol, in Olympia, Washington, facing east in the late 19th century. 

Yes, it is not a great work of art by itself. But it means a lot to me.

 Pat's painting at the end of my hallway

 Another Pat painting

Pat, 1960

Me and my hero, my Dad, July 1959, Millersylvania

I actually recall this event in a spotty way.

So Aunt Pat, here's to your memory and contribution. You will be happy to know every single cat you left behind found a good home after you left us. And you let me know it was OK to be a grownup and creative. Thank you.

Favorite Movie Quotes: The Longest Day

"I wonder who won?"

A film way ahead of its time and a real tribute to our American regular guy heroes in the fight against Hitler and fascism. Oddly, the comedian Red Buttons had one of the most horrifying roles in this piece.

Morty Comix # 2465

Morty Comix # 2465 was left in a phone booth of an unusual design, Westside of Olympia, Washington.

Buttons - Events - 2005

McCleary Bear Festival

"Once Upon a Time"

July 8-9-10, 2005

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McCleary Mansion

Olympia, Washington

$300 - Original Art - Rainmaker Painraker

"Rainmaker Painmaker" original art, first appeared in Storm Warnings (1986)

12 pages, nonphoto blue pencil and felt tip on light bond, 11.5 x 9 inches.

In good condition. No whiteout or paste-ups from what I can see.

Includes cameo appearances by Arnie Wormwood, Morty the Dog, and Brad Foster (as a character, not as a contributing artist).

This is not one of my favorite stories. I always felt it was one of my more predictable and conventional pieces. Maudlin too. But, it seems those who are enjoy predictable and conventional comics like this story even if they are uncomfortable with my regular fare.

300 smackeroos is my asking price.

$300 ppd.
Check or money order to
Steve Willis
PO Box 390
McCleary, WA 98557-0390

or order through PayPal

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Morty Comix # 2464

Morty Comix # 2464 was left in a hollow spot where a leg connected to the bottom surface of a restaurant table on the Westside of Olympia, where I consumed a turkey sandwich for lunch.