“How Mirka Got Her Sword,” Page 35

I don’t like using tight close-ups very much, but panel four of this page is one of the times it seemed called for.

“How Mirka Got Her Sword,” Page 34

“How Mirka Got Her Sword,” Page 33

A couple of art notes:

This was the first page of “Hereville” I drew entirely on computer. The previous pages all had linework drawn with ink on paper, and then scanned in to the computer for coloring.

I try and do most of my figure drawing without photo reference, but for some poses it’s really needed. Many thanks to my friends Jenn Lee and Dylan Meconis — both of whom do great webcomics of their own, by the way, so check those links out — for their willingness to pose for this sequence. And doesn’t it look like Jenn is having far too much fun twisting Dylan’s arm?

Yet More Hereville Title Pages Sketches!

Remember, you can own a paper copy of “Hereville” of your very own!

This is my personal favorite of the title page sketches I’ve done so far… there are two more sketches below the fold.

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“How Mirka Got Her Sword,” Page 32

More title page sketches!

There’s another sketch below the fold….

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“How Mirka Got Her Sword,” Page 31

This is one of the nicer-looking pages, I think.

Camp Modin

From Joel Stein’s column in the LA Times, entitled “Camp Hollywood”:

After studying the book, I focused on the photo from Camp Modin in 1980. It demonstrates that by age 11, the kids at Modin had mastered the basics of not only the bowl haircut but networking. Standing side by side are future Hollywood players David Wain (of MTV’s “The State” and Comedy Central’s “Stella”), Stuart Blumberg (Ed Norton’s producing partner and writer of “Keeping the Faith” and “The Girl Next Door”) and Craig Wedren (composer on “School of Rock” and “Wet Hot American Summer”). When I asked “Camp Camp” coauthor Roger Bennett how this one tiny camp in Maine produced so much success, he said it “was a machine created by Lew Wassserman to make your town run on time.” People who write books think Hollywood runs on time.

I asked around and found out that Wain’s cabin of about 20 kids also housed comic book artist Barry Deutsch, jazz bassist Avishai Cohen and designer Laser Rosenberg — though his name suggests that even without the camp influence, he wasn’t getting pushed into the doctor-lawyer choice. Robert Smigel (creator of Triumph the Insult Comic Dog and “Saturday Night Live’s” “TV Funhouse”) was a counselor that year.

I’d really love to see that photo.

You know a writer is stretching to make their point when I’m included as an example of success. Nonetheless, it’s striking that we all knew what we wanted to do even then; even in the early 80s, David wanted to be a filmmaker, Craig wanted to make music, and I wanted to make comics. (Of course, I kind of assumed I’d get around to it quicker than I did).

I didn’t know Robert Smigel was a Modin counselor; I don’t think he was ever my counselor. David and Craig I’ve seen once or twice in the last several years, and we occasionally exchange emails. Laser and Stu, I haven’t had any contact with in two decades, but I remember them fondly. I especially adored Laser; he made seeming different and outstanding seem so natural (although as I recall, it wasn’t easy for him). I don’t remember Avishai Cohen being there, but my memory is famous for how awful it is.

Dave’s movie Wet Hot American Summer is partly based on Camp Modin days. Two of the characters are, Dave admitted (although maybe he was just being nice), partly based on me — the geeky kid who runs the D&D club, and (alas) the kid who smells horrible because he never showers.

Hat tip: Mari.

“How Mirka Got Her Sword,” Page 30

Panel three of this page always gives me the giggles, for some reason.

How To Find Me At MoCCA!

I’ll be at the MoCCA comic book convention this weekend, at the Cartoonists With Attitude table (which I’m told is table number A54). If you’re in New York City, I hope you’ll come say hi!