Monday, May 19, 2008

Mad Kids #11 part deux


Here's the actual comic from the previous post.

During SDCC 2007 I was introduced to an editor at MAD Magazine and he encouraged me to start submitting stuff to them. It was a great opportunity that just "dropped into my lap," something that has never happened to me before. Although it was never something I had actively pursued, it was kind of a childhood dream realised. I LOVED MAD when I was a kid. So, I started submitting work (a lot of it I have already posted here.) The above pic is the first one they bought.

As a little back story to the comic, this is actually based on an idea I've had since I was a little kid. No, I didn't think about single panel gags when I was a kid. I did think it would be funny if someone thought that the outside was "CLOSED" instead of that they were just looking at the back of the "Yes We're OPEN" sign.

My original submission looked like this...


MAD got back to me and said that they wanted to purchase this one but, thought it might be better for MAD Kids, and that the characters should be changed to fit that demographic better. Sam, the Art Director, also suggested more of an Urban New York Pizza joint instead of a San Francisco Coffee Shop (I was picturing it taking place at a coffee shop across the street from Golden Gate Park.)

So, I made the changes and presto, a few months later it was in the magazine. This was a GREAT experience. Editorial and the Art Director were fantastic to work with, and every idea they had made the comic better, clearer, and funnier. I hope to do more work for them.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

These are both great John. Congrats!

I like the character design and extreme angle on your original panel better. But the final definitely works best and suits the story/gag much better. So win win. You got two great new illos out of the deal and some awesome exposure!

Catch up when you get a second pal.

Marcelo Braga said...

I agree with you. Working for MAD is a great child dream. Really cool you did it! The piece is really funny!

Great work, congrats.

Larry Levine said...

Great drawings--you have this humble cartoonist in awe!!!

Tobias Schwarz said...

Great!

flaviano said...

the old is my favourite, i think this gag is more funny acted by an adult! and it's just me o the character looks like Arvey Peekar?!! it would be fine to immagine the gag vith the voice of Paul Giamatti in American Splendor.
anyway congrats man! you really catched an old naive kind of humor!
and thanks for your words on my work!

Gerald de Dios said...

Many congrats buddy! I'll have to look out for that issue the next time I'm in Borders. That art direction story was great. Love how they both turned out. Yo, the "waiting game sucks". Have a good weekend.

Archit said...

are you a genious than proof it

Archit said...

nice

Ted M said...

Congrats! Is there a story behind "Two Fingers Tony"?

Angelo said...

nice line quality and Jhon K. style humour... :)

orbit over luna said...

Congrats, John-boy!

monkeyfeather said...

Thanks guys.

Ted - Two Fingers Tony had to take a pension from his Mafia Day Job when he lost his fingers in a work related accident. With his ruined hand, all that he could still do is flip pizza dough thus, he started his own pizza joint.

Bill Ferguson said...

That is pretty damn funny. Congratulations.