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The DUX EPISCOP 49!

Back in the early 60s, when I was about twelve or thirteen years old, I got an opaque materials projector which allowed me to display photos, drawings, and any other printed material by shining a bright light onto the object from above and then send it to the screen. A system of mirrors and imaging lenses was used to focus the projected image.
All technical data aside, the projector allowed me to put together "movie shows" in my room, by closing the shades and setting up a screen. I used to project some of my comic books on the screen, panel by panel, reading the text, doing each character's voices, creating the sound effects and humming the music as I went along. My siblings' patience was tried and tested as they endured these shows. Many years later, after I got married and had a kid, I bought an ELMO Super 8mm sound projector and the movie shows then became REAL movie shows, with Flip the Frog cartoons and Laurel & Hardy shorts being the main presentations.  A far cry from today's movie watching experience where you can enjoy any film in your iPhone, iPad, Laptop or Widescreen HD system.
I recently found that old Dux Episcop Projector, among some discarded items inside old boxes from my late father's belongings. It's still in working order in spite of some missing parts. I don't think I will ever hold a screening again but it's nice to have the quaint device back, if only as a nostalgic piece of memorabilia!

LIDDLE WOLFGANG by Mel Crawford!

This comic book character appeared in the ROCKY AND BULLWINKLE comic books and also in THE MUNSTERS as a bonus short story during Gold Key's golden era of the 1960s.  Liddle Wolfgang was a rambunctious and imaginative kid obsessed with monsters and horror stories. The comic artwork has sometimes been mistakenly credited to Al Kilgore (who was the artist on the BULLWINKLE daily syndicated comic strip), but it was the work of the much underrated Mel Crawford. I loved these little stories and here's a small sample of Liddle Wolfgang's adventures:

FERNANDO LLERA - Mini-Biography

FERNANDO LLERA is a comic book artist, editorial cartoonist, illustrator, actor and writer from Mexico City.   He created his first comic strip, "MOBSTER NICK" in 1970. Six comic book issues of MOBSTER NICK were published by NOVARO under the Domingos Alegres banner in 1973-74.     From 1974 to 1992, he wrote and drew the Spanish language versions of "THE PINK PANTHER" and "BEEP BEEP, THE ROAD RUNNER" comic books for Western Publishing Company's Latin American licensees, Editorial Novaro and later Editorial VID.  He performed as a comedian at several local dinner theaters.  In 1985, he wrote and appeared in two comedy TV series. He's also a licensed radio announcer and from 1995 to 2007, he co-hosted a daily two hour radio talk show for Grupo Radio Centro, a large Mexican radio network.  He has illustrated several humor books and his cartoons have been published in several magazines. He published some editorial cartoons for Mexico's Reforma newspaper from 2004 until 2006. He has also appeared as an actor in Mexican films: HASTA MORIR ('Til Death - 1994) and BORRAR DE LA MEMORIA (2010). He was interviewed on-screen for a feature length documentary about the NOVARO era: NOVARO, THE MEXICAN COLOSSUS (2016). Since 2006, his editorial cartoons have been appearing regularly in Excelsior, a Mexican daily newspaper. 

THE 2017 NEW YORK COMIC CON!

New York Comic Con is the East Coast's largest pop culture convention and the only one that takes place in the comic book, publishing, media, and licensing capital of the world — Gotham City.
Antonio, my little five year old grandson, who is a big comic book reader, attended the event wearing his Spiderman costume and made the scene with several Cosplayers!

Going back home by ferry, after a full day of fun and excitement!

The 1964/1965 New York World's Fair!

Ever since I saw this special souvenir issue of THE FLINTSTONES AT THE NEW YORK WORLD'S FAIR, more than 50 years ago, I've always wanted to visit the location.
The 1964/1965 New York World's Fair held over 140 pavilions, 110 restaurants, for 80 nations (hosted by 37), 24 US states, and over 45 corporations to build exhibits or attractions at Flushing Meadows Park in Queens, NY. The immense fair covered 646 acres on half the park, with numerous pools or fountains, and an amusement park with rides near the lake.
Finally, this past Summer, my dream came true and I walked around the big signature Earth Globe.
The site is no longer anything like it was back when the Fair opened. No dinosaurs or amusement park rides nor any pavilions and no sign of the Flintstones anywhere!
 Today the grounds are occupied by the Arthur Ashe Stadium, site of the U.S. Open. 
But the iconic globe is still there and it was just as exciting to be there simply trying to imagine what the fair had been like.

THE CASTLE presents: CREEPY CONDO

Back in 1964, during the height of the great 60s "Monster Craze", I developed a private comic book named "THE CASTLE". I was 13 years old and drew the comic in simple bond paper with pen and ink with color added with markers and color pencils. I only completed four issues and left the project for something else. "THE CASTLE" was never intended for publication of any kind and as I left my parents home years later, the comic books were lost. I recently recreated the cover of the first issue by memory and I am reposting it here as well as a few samples of a new comic strip inspired by the same characters. The new strip is called "CREEPY CONDO" and it was done just for fun in the spirit of the forthcoming Halloween. Hope you enjoy it!