“Talk show! Meow!”

To wrap up this batch of Watusi jam comics, here’s an all-new collaboration with my friend and fellow APA-5 alumnus Drew Boynton! I rarely get the chance for my drawings to share a panel with another artist’s, so this one was a lot of fun! While real life activities have conspired to keep Drew away from his drawing board lately, you can see more of his Doggie & Jilly comics in my new Doghouse Funhouse anthology, as well as on his website.

I hope you all have a happy start to your 2018! See you back here next week as “Watusi in Oz” resumes!

“Wrapping up Christmas”

This little comic was my holiday piece for 2008, and it’s also included in my Festive Funnies collection. Wishing you all the best for the holidays ahead!

(“Watusi in Oz” resumes in two weeks– Wednesday, January 3, 2018!)

“You win a few…”

This comic is from one of the earliest Watusi issues (#4, Aug. 2003), an issue assembled from fellow exhibitors at my very first comic convention as an exhibiting artist– SPACE 2003. That show was a great experience and a great introduction to other artists who were soon to become my peers and, in many cases, my friends. Unfortunately, most of the cons I’ve attended in recent years (which, granted, are geared more towards vendors and cosplayers than to creators) haven’t measured up to that experience…

While I may not be in this video from the event, both of this comic’s other collaborators are: James West (small press cartoonist & RPG illustrator) and Matt Dembicki (who has only gotten busier as an artist, editor and publishers since then).

(“Watusi in Oz” resumes in three weeks– Wednesday, January 3, 2018!)

“Soak’d!”

I may have drawn this strip years and years ago, but it’s only now seeing print– so I thought I’d share it with you online, too!

The second issue of Watusi’s Doghouse Funhouse (my giant-sized kid’s comics anthology) had a l-o-o-n-g road to completion; I won’t go into it here (since I’ve already gone into it here), but I’m glad it’s finally done and available to the public. I’m really pleased with everyone’s contributions in the issue, and hope you’ll purchase a copy for yourself– more details about the comic, its contributors, and how to order a copy can be found here. Or…

You can just stop by the Memphis Arts Collective’s Holiday Show and Sale, where that issue will be on sale along with my other comics, prints, drawings, paintings, buttons, and more! I’m excited to be a part of the event again this year– it features over 30 artists and artisans from the Mid South showing and selling unique handcrafted items you won’t find anywhere else! It’s open at 1501 Union Avenue every day through Christmas Eve, so you’ll have lots of opportunity to shop local, support local artists, and have FUN! Watch my Twitter feed for announcements of when I’ll be at the market; it’s your chance to get comics signed or just chat with me about my art. Hope to see you there!

(“Watusi in Oz” resumes Wednesday, January 3, 2018!)

 

“The art lover”

This is an alternate version of a strip I first published in Watusi #8 (Oct. 2003); it appeared with this frame in 2004’s KC-centric anthology Show & Tell #2. But more exciting than its black and white print publication(s) was its full-color street painted version that happened during the weekend of October 4-5, 2003…

“The construction zone”

When I published the first Watusi Promo Sampler, this was one of the “best of strips” I included to show what was possible with that jam comic format; it dates from Watusi #6 (Oct. 2003). About the contributors: Tom Cherry is a cartoonist, a writer, an actor, the host for an old time radio show and even once judged a chili cook off ; Jack Bertram was an active member of the Small Press Syndicate during my time there, and you can sample his work here.

With Thanksgiving coming up, I want to take a moment to wish a happy Thanksgiving to all my readers– I’m truly grateful for all of you who take the time to check in on Watusi’s adventures every week. Knowing that you’re waiting for a new episode keeps me motivated to do my best each week (even if that means curating the best reprint episodes I can pick)!

(“Watusi in Oz” resumes Wednesday, January 3, 2018!)

 

 

“The perfect place”

I never wanted to get bogged down in how Watusi lives as an emancipated dog in a world of humans, but here’s one way he’s able to lead such a carefree life…

Here’s another strip from the Small Press Syndicate’s Rap Sheet, this time from issue #141. And, yes, I know that these aren’t technically “jam” comics, but this is an easy category to file the breaks from the ongoing storyline into.

(“Watusi in Oz” resumes Wednesday, January 3, 2018!)

“The Whiz-Banginator! (Daydream believer)”

From 2005-2009 I was a member of the Small Press Syndicate, a collective of cartoonists who got together in print every other month to share our comics and talk shop. From time to time I drew a new Watusi strip for the pages of our bimonthly newsletter Rap Sheet, most of which have already been collected in Watusi print comics … but here’s one that hasn’t! Hope you enjoy…

(“Watusi in Oz” resumes Wednesday, January 3, 2018!)

 

“Return of the Slime! (Dance Party remix)”

Happy New Year– hope you’re able to kick 2014 off with a dance party of your own!

This is another alternate take on a previously published strip; the version of this comic I finally picked had a drier wit to it, but I’m glad I revisited this “dance party” ending, as I like it more now than I did when I was sketching up possible endings. You can see the one I picked in Watusi #28 (June 2013).

About the contributors: Keith O’Brien makes wonderful postcard comics and blogs about life in Forbidden Falls, Maine. Brien Wayne Powell is the creator of one of my favorite minicomic series of all time, Magnet Man Minicomics; he’s been producing “Boogieland or Bust!” twice a week since 2010.

Best wishes for a happy and productive 2014; I’ll be back next week with the continuation of Watusi’s newest adventure. Hope to see you then!

“Watusi’s white Christmas”

Every year I try to make some sort of holiday piece to mail out to family and friends. Ten years ago (has it really been that long?!?), I made this as my first Watusi-centric piece as an 8-page minicomic. I reformatted it as you see here to fit on a single digest page for inclusion in Watusi #26 (May 2008). May you all have a happy holiday, whether or not it’s covered in a fresh blanket of snow.