More of my PINK PANTHER & ROAD RUNNER comic covers from Novaro Publishing Co.

I started working at Novaro Publishing co., (which was one of Western Publishing Company's licencees) back in 1972.  My creation, EL MAFIOSO NICK (Mobster Nick) appeared under the DOMINGOS ALEGRES (Happy Sundays) banner and was one of four weekly rotating titles.
It lasted just 6 issues and was replaced by something else, but it helped me get the job of filling out additional issues of THE PINK PANTHER and BEEP BEEP, THE ROAD RUNNER, created for the Hispanic market.  All in all, I wrote and did the artwork for 156 Pink Panther issues and about the same for the Road Runner until 1985, when Novaro abruptly shut down production and vanished.

 .      
                                         

I've posted many of these covers before on this blog and here are a few more samples of my work during those golden years of comic book history.

                                                  BEEP BEEP THE ROAD RUNNER

                      

                         

                 

                        

                                                                  THE PINK PANTHER

                               

LORD OF THE IDIOTS.

Pink Christmas Wishes from The Pink Panther

I spent most of my professional years as a cartoonist, drawing and writing stories for The Pink Panther comics that were designed for the overseas market. Thanks to The Pink Panther (and Beep Beep, the Road Runner),  I managed to make a living and raise a family, and consequently, I will always feel a certain amount of indebtedness to this character.
Over the years, I've tried to keep him alive in my life by doing some new little illustration featuring this funny feline every once in a while. 

Thank you, Friz Freleng, David H DePatie and Blake Edwards for creating him!

As a bonus, I'm sharing the classic Pink Panther Christmas TV Special, which first aired on ABC on December 7, 1978. It was directed by Bill Perez and produced by DePatie-Freleng Enterprises.

                                          

(Another special, "A Very Pink Christmas", was produced in 2011 but the less said about it, the better).

VALENTINE'S DAY!

According to WIKIPEDIA:
Valentine's Day, also called Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is a secular and religious holiday celebrated annually on February 14. It originated as a Western Christian feast day honoring one or two early saints named Valentinus. Valentine's Day is recognized as a significant cultural, religious, and commercial celebration of romance and romantic love in many regions around the world, although it is not a public holiday in any country.

Whatever the case, February 14th is Valentine's Day, so...

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

MOBSTER NICK: One last look.

As much as I tried, I never could sell my MOBSTER NICK comic strip to any newspaper syndicate. Finally, I gave up and retired the character for good but today here's a Mobster Nick panel just to remember him by!

Mel Crawford's LIDDLE WOLFGANG

A short story from THE MUNSTERS comic book #5. (Gold Key 1966)

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!

WHEN YOU BEGIN TO SUSPECT YOUR CREDIT CARD HAS BEEN CLONED!

PLAYING WITH LITTLE KIDS!

The trouble of playing with little kids is that they expect you to match their level of energy!

POLITICALLY CORRECT CARTOONS!

Love Is A Many Splendored Thing! Happy Valentine's Day!

NICK'S NEW YEAR STARTS WITH A BANG!

Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas - 2017!

Mobster Nick Strikes Again!