Madcap Marvel Mego (Custom) Madness! "1967 Cartoon Spidey!" Steve Rogers! Cap!

Back again with the latest load of fabulous Mego-like custom action figures (and packaging)! Click below to see (and read about) these very latest (and very greatest) bits of superhero surprises!

Above two images: Direct from the recent Diamond Select boxed set of Mego-like figures,
here is their Captain America (with some custom touches), along with military private 
Steve Rogers! I added the original Mego "Cap" uniform beneath Steve's regulation 
gear, along with his Golden Age shield, a customized empty helmet, and...

Above three pics: Here is Diamond's recent  Mego Spidey, with a re-painted 
custom head! Great and perfect version of the Web-Slinger that we all 
wanted in '73!

BELOW: Click to enlarge this parcel of power-packed pics of a custom Spidey figure, based on the gripping graphics from the sensational '67 cartoon series!

The talented Austin Hough provided the special screen-printed bodysuit (I added
the customized painted head) seen here paired with a custom box (acquired
from the land of eBay!

Above: I had to do it! I used the great graphics (supplied by Anthony Durso) from 
the box, and made my own custom display card, using those same memorable 
images that evoke thoughts of the swingin' '67 series!

Above: The customized card and figure are enclosed in a clear clam-shell!

Above: My custom card, created for the unique action figure
seen above! Love those '67 cartoon graphics!

Above: What fan or collector wouldn't have loved this sensational Silver-Age figure back in the day?

POW! TV Batman and Batgirl at Discovery Place! 2015 Colossal Cosplay Contest! DC Comics!

That's right! It was cosplay-mania at this recent "Drink-and-Draw" event, staged at the wonderful kid's museum, Discovery Place, in Charlotte, North Carolina! The venue also hosted a comics-themed "open house," inviting all to attend, and encouraging fervent fans to model superhero costumes and attire! Click below to see all the photos, fun and fan-tastic frolic!

Above: Discovery Place employee and event coordinator, Kalliste Cosplay, poses
as the "TV Batgirl" (as originally portrayed on the famed 60s BATMAN series by actress 
Yvonne Craig) the drink-and-draw group! What an exacting costume!

Above: Now it's my turn to step up for the animated
artists, once again in my "TV Batman" gear!

Above: What's this? It seem we have our own personal rogue's
gallery, "cheering" us on in our art-minded efforts! You can spot
the Riddler (Amberle Linnea) and Catwoman (Tracey Buzzio)!

Above: You try holding a still pose for ten minutes or more! It's tough!
I'm used to being on the other side of this equation! But--Batgirl's arm
begins to weaken after a long pose, so...

Above: ...Batman comes to her aid! The day (and many drawings) is saved!

Above: Now, a duo pose! At least I can lean on somebody for this one!

Above: Hey! Even a superhero can get tired! 

Above: Oh no! The wily Joker (in the person of Vic Goldberg) has made the scene! This we need?

Above: As you can see, Batman went into instant
action against the newly-arrived Joker!

Above four images: Let's take a look at some of the best Bat-drawings from this
awesome event! They're all fabulous! That last one, tho…No comment. It
was not that kinda drawing class!

Above: The wowed winner of the contest is flanked by Batman and Batgirl! 

Above four images: Time for Batman to mingle with
the proud citizens at this epochal event!

POW! Robin and His "Choke Hold!" Batman! 1973 Albert Bigley Art! DC Comics?!

Another journey into the vast vaults that house my childhood (child-ish?) drawings! This time, I come out with this 1973 masterpiece, whipped up by an 8-year-old me, featuring Batman's own teen sidekick, Robin! Callously cribbed from a re-issued 1967 BATMAN coloring book, here is Robin administering a very savage choke hold (while busting a few fingers in the process) to some felon or super-foe helper! Click below to enlarge, if ya must!

Above: So, the wretched robber is being apprehended in front of a rope-festooned
trap? In front of the very bank he was robbing (or is that a bank sign)? All for that
tiny bag of change he's dropping? And--Is that blood on the crooks' shirt!?

Above: The coloring book page that inspired me to craft such timeless art!

Above: Yet another inspiration for the above superhero sketch! I was so crazed
with the Aurora Robin model kit that I had to include its
chemical-splattered platform in my drawing!

The Monkees Yell "Charge!" 1977 Albert Bigley Original Comic Art!

Another Monkees masterpiece (?) from my youth! Dig this 1977 drawing of "Mikey," Mike, Peter and Davy, as they charge up a hill in complete "foreign legion" garb! Copied from one of the famed 60s Dell MONKEES comic books, you can tell that the 11-year-old me had a long way to go, specifically when it came to capturing celebrity likenesses! Click below to enlarge!

Above: My 1977 drawing (part of a planned "portfolio?"), cribbed from a 1967
Dell MONKEES comic, the only one I owned at the time (along with a small
smattering of Monkees LPs, 8-tracks, and other memorabilia)! I bought the
 comic from a used book and magazine shop, where I regularly gorged on back-issue
superhero comics, and was thrilled to make this find! Who even knew there
were Monkees comics? Note my wonky tracing of the logo, my oh-so-funny 
captions (swiped from daily afternoon reruns of the show), and the odd 
logo featuring silhouettes of the band!

Above: The page from that same MONKEES comic book that 
inspired my pencilled piece! Art is thought to be by Jose Delbo!

Take a BREAK With the Monkees! Rare 1996 Reunion Article and Pics!

When the reunited Monkees (Peter Tork, Micky Dolenz and Davy Jones) hit Charlotte, North Carolina on a concert tour stop in 1996, the local free newspaper, BREAK, was there to deliver the inside story of the band to the uninitiated! Tho mostly consisting of cribbed info from the three books (one by Davy himself) on the group that were available then, this long-form article still delivers the abridged story to the local masses, also priming the pump for the Monkees' shows in the area! During this time, the band also made a "meet-and-greet" appearance at the now-defunct Media Play store, and Micky also held a gallery showing of his artwork while in NC! Click each image below to enlarge and read!

Notice how the above heavily-Photoshopped cover indulges in more than a little
sensationalism, in order to grab the eyes of passers-by and potential readers!

The above pic, tho a reunion photo, comes from
the 1986 tour, not the 1996 concerts.

BONUS! Click below to enlarge these two clippings from NC area papers, detailing Micky's art gallery showing while in Charlotte!

BONUS BONUS! Click below to see me, posing with Micky Dolenz, during his 1996 gallery art display event in Charlotte, North Carolina!

BONUS BONUS BONUS! Click below to see rare video coverage of the Monkees' 1996 NC visit! Their concert! Store signings! Micky's art show!