February 2007
Meeting attendance went through the roof in February when four (Count 'em. Four!) cartoonists reared their ugly heads at Zio Italian Restaurant. (Check out the chart below.) The meeting location was a suggestion from Tittering Tom Haines, who, like the owners of the restaurant and Doggone Dave McDonald, is from the thriving metropolis of Endicott, NY. What does that make them? Endicottians? Endicotites? Or just plain crazy?
The food was excellent, and each member had a lot to talk about.
Dave brought a copy of the Charlotte Fire Department's "Home Fire & Safety Guide" which he illustrated last year. He will be working on WTVI's 2007 auction next month before he begins filming his documentary on Vernon Grant. Dave is also continuing work on his Hamster Sam series of books.
Dave read Tom's "Snafu" book and actually encouraged him to add a new chapter to the ending. Now it finishes with a really funny, upbeat story about his return home from Vietnam.
Tom has been rounding up business for his new printing press. Remember, if you need t-shirts printed, he's the man to call.
Tom also laid a new idea for a reality television show on us, and it rocked! We certainly hope he connects with the right people and gets it produced. If you want to hear more about it, ask him. But he may have to kill you afterward.
Handy Andy Smith was also in attendance and let us take a gander at his World War III Part 2: The Valiant pencils for DC. (See the page to the right.) The first issue will be available April 18. He will also begin penciling and inking chores on Wildstorm's Stormwatch series beginning with issue number eight.
Andy told us about his recent bout with tonsillitis and said that he is still performing regularly with the Charlotte Comedy Theater. And to top it off, he gave us a demonstration of how he draws in perspective without finding vanishing points.
Gargling Greg Russell was in between jobs and didn't have much to talk about, so he just sat and listened.
Below is a photo of Dave McDonald, Greg Russell, Tom Haines and Andy Smith at Zio.
Look out for an e-mail from Chairman Dave with the date and time of our next meeting. We look forward to seeing you there. The more the merrier!