The By George! group is a loose association of illustrators and cartoonists who meet approximately once a month to share notes, learn from one another and enjoy each other's company in honor of the late Charlotte Observer cartoonist and National Cartoonist Society president George Breisacher.
ArchiveApril 2010March 2010February 2010January 2010December 2009October 2009August 2009March 2009January 2009November 2008October 2008August 2008June 2008May 2008April 2008March 2008February 2008January 2008October 2007July 2007May 2007February 2007January 2007December 2006October 2006September 2006August 2006July 2006June 2006April 2006March 2006February 2006January 2006 |
July 2010A total of two and half members of the By George group met at Heroes Aren't Hard to Find on Monday, July 26. Mainstays Steve Smith and Greg Russell welcomed newbie Leon Linet to his first meeting with firm handshakes to prove their manliness. Linet was not impressed. As a virgin By George member, Linet's first rite of initiation was standing place while listening to Smith talk for thirty minutes. Through Smith's ramblings, Russell picked out the reason he was able to attend so many monthly meetings: Smith only works about forty days a year! Linet figured out that Smith's job was to work as little as possible. He even got paid vacation days in exchange for creating his Captain Samsonite (now Jet Blast) comic book. Both Russell and Linet were insanely jealous. The group had to brave nearly 100 degree heat during their brisk 5-second walk to Crisp. Crisp is a salad restaurant. Of course, Smith ordered a sandwich. Some people always have to be different. There, Smith and Russell learned more about Linet. He was a contractor who designed equipment for the military. Kind of like Forge in X-Factor. 
Linet was originally from Connecticut. Being a contractor, he has traveled a lot, living in New York, Ohio and North and South Carolina. He also enjoyed drawing witty, biting editorial cartoons on his computer. He has had some printed in the Fort Mill Times and on the Fox News online forum. He brought several samples to show the others. The cartoon to the right created quite a bit of controversy on the editorial pages of the Fort Mill Times. Linet said he had been entering online contests run by greeting card companies, and he was looking for other methods to get his work seen. Russell had been pouring his energy into shameless self-promotion. He has established a professional Facebook page and posted his work on DeviantArt.com. He has also begun renting wall space at Charlotte Art League. And he has created an original comic strip titled "Curser and the Mouse," which he plans to update each week. Below is the first strip. 
After telling the others that he just wanted to be financially comfortable, that he didn't need a big house or expensive car, Smith explained the reason for his most recent free flight to Cleveland. He went to an audition for "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire." He camped out in a rental car across the street from the studio and jumped in line at 4:30 a.m. when the crowd started forming. He passed two written tests, then he blew away the interviewers with his superb wit and humor. The theme of the week he auditioned for was "movie week." which happened to be his specialty. Maybe Mr. Smith will be living in a big house and driving an expensive car before we know it. Let's wish him luck. If he's accepted, he will return in August for the filming of the show. Speaking of luck, let's wish Tom Haine's luck in recovering from his surgery. He's had some complications and had to return to the hospital. Hopefully, he will be well enough to rejoin the By George group soon. And also speaking of luck, Linet passed the By George initiation by not laughing out loud at any of Smith's jokes. To celebrate, the group had their photo taken by Heroes employee Jenny Bement. Pictured from left to right are Steve (Stinkin' Rich) Smith, Greg (Groovy) Russell and Leon (Line Master) Linet. 
|
|
