The Home of the Creative Mind

Welcome to PooBahSpiel, the online voice and home of the creative mind of Mark Monlux, Illustrator Extraordinaire. Prepare yourself for an endless regaling of art directly from the hand of this stellar artist. And brace yourself against his mighty wind of pontification. Updates are kinda weekly and show daily sketches, current projects, and other really nifty stuff.

Monday, April 27, 2009

Fly in the Ointment


Due to a computer crash, the daily updates which you have come to expect will be on a short hiatus. With any luck, it will not take longer than a week. You have to love technology.

Sunday, April 26, 2009

The Comic Critic Reviews The Visitor (2007)


I’m a big fan of character actors, often huge in talent and often overlooked. Thankfully, there has been a trend in recent years to recognize their awesome capabilities and provide them with vehicles to show their stuff. I’ve watched Richard Jenkins for years, wondering when he was going to get his chance, so I rooted pretty hard for him to win the Oscar for his terrific performance in The Visitor.

The Comic Critic is a product of Monlux Illustration, “Home of the Creative Mind!”™

Friday, April 24, 2009

The Return of Stickman #980


I decided to end this week's comic book convention theme the same way comic book conventions end for those who attend; a big party for some, and a return to loneliness for others. And I had fun rehashing the gag line from the first one following the theme.

The Return of Stickman is a product of Monlux Illustration, “Home of the Creative Mind!”™

Thursday, April 23, 2009

The Return of Stickman #979


Sometimes there is only standing room over in the food court at comic conventions. And I sometimes think you could make a killing by renting out chairs.

http://198.173.235.195/stickman/stickman_979.html

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

The Return of Stickman #978


While I had many friends with booths at the Emerald City Comicon, it was at Bill Morse's table that I would stop by and drop of my purchases so I could be light on my feet. Bill does a strip called Rhapsodies for which he has drawn over a thousand strips. And of course a few of his books grace my shelves. Here is a shot of Bill displaying his wares at the Comicon.

Bill Morse showing his stuff

The Return of Stickman is a product of Monlux Illustration, “Home of the Creative Mind!”™

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

The Return of Stickman #977


A lot of comic conventions have very affordable tables in the artists’ alley. And when you think of how they provide two passes per table, and how much a full event pass is, well, okay it doesn't even out. But, as I waddled along in line with the rest of the fanboy kingdom, I thought of two things. One, freaks and weirdos have a lot of disposable income. Two, it sure would be nice to be sitting behind a table right now.

The Return of Stickman is a product of Monlux Illustration, “Home of the Creative Mind!”™

Monday, April 20, 2009

The Return of Stickman #976


While I was standing in line for the Emerald City Comicon, I saw these two guys, obviously buddies attending the convention together. And both were wearing Indiana Jones outfits. And it was right then that a week's worth of strips popped right into my head.

The Return of Stickman is a product of Monlux Illustration, “Home of the Creative Mind!”™

Friday, April 17, 2009

The Return of Stickman #975


You can make anything sound both cool and menacing by adding an 'ator' to the end of it. I love the name The Rodenator. But, I think the company is straying from their branding by having the next version title The Rodinator Pro. It should be something like The Verminator.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

The Return of Stickman #974


I was too tired to track down this news story until after I drew the strip. You can expect a follow up tomorrow.

The Return of Stickman is a product of Monlux Illustration, “Home of the Creative Mind!”™

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

The Return of Stickman #973


When I read the news story of the false alarm with the prosthetic leg, my first thought was that someone must have been trying to turn in a lost leg. Then the gag line popped into my head and I had one less strip to worry about.

The Return of Stickman is a product of Monlux Illustration, “Home of the Creative Mind!”™

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

The Return of Stickman #972


It was my brother Randy who gave me, nearly word for word, this strip. He of course has been married for many years. But, having been in the Navy, knew many a single fellow.

The Return of Stickman is a product of Monlux Illustration, “Home of the Creative Mind!”™

Monday, April 13, 2009

The Return of Stickman #971


I was in the midddle of drawing this strip when I realized that I had a Panda attack on my hands. The very least I could do was pay homage to Scott Kurtz of PVP whos character Brent is a long-standing victim of Panda attacks. In fact, Scott's panda attacks have taken on a life of their own as any Google search will reveal.
See some of the Pandamonium.

The Return of Stickman is a product of Monlux Illustration, “Home of the Creative Mind!”™

Sunday, April 12, 2009

The Comic Critic Reviews Black Sheep


I am a bit of a zombie movie snob. I’m of the belief that a zombie should be categorized by one of two definitions. The first and easiest to understand is that something living dies and then becomes reanimated, usually with a craving for living flesh and/or brains. The second is that original and deliciously obscure version from the Caribbean, a true zombie. A combination of mind games, secret chemistry, and the supernatural are used to manipulate a living creature into a zombie state. Now, I understand filmmakers having fun turning herbivores into carnivores alongside characters who are doing their best to be vegans. And I can understand the argument that because chemicals and the mystic art of science were involved to somehow change these docile creatures, it technically falls into that second category. But part of me just can’t embrace a genetically-engineered zombie. Then again, I never would have conceived of sheep as zombies, either.
So, I'm curious. Do you think that Black Sheep is a zombie film or not?

Friday, April 10, 2009

The Return of Stickman #970


The runaway packed his clothes too. Oh, and something I couldn't fit into the strip, he ended up in Texas. Pretty organized for a young kid.

The Return of Stickman is a product of Monlux Illustration, “Home of the Creative Mind!”™

Thursday, April 9, 2009

The Return of Stickman #969


As has happened so many times before, a friendship started at a Dunkin' Donuts ends in misery.

Monlux Illustration, “Home of the Creative Mind!”™

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

The Return of Stickman #968


Just in case you wonder where I get all my wonderful material, I pull it from the odd things which occur in my life, or which I read in the news. Sometimes, how it is reported is more funny than the actual story.

The Return of Stickman is a product of Monlux Illustration, “Home of the Creative Mind!”™

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

The Return of Stickman #967


In the wonderful world of advertising, it is always a good idea to have your proofreader actually call the phone numbers listed in the ad. Or, in this case, on the side of the cereal box.

The Return of Stickman is a product of Monlux Illustration, “Home of the Creative Mind!”™

Thursday, April 2, 2009

The Return of Stickman #965


I hear stories about cubical farms and the need to change, even if the room is the same.

The Return of Stickman is a product of Monlux Illustration, “Home of the Creative Mind!”™

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

The Return of Stickman #964


Hey, would you look at that? Instead of a fart joke I used a political reference.

The Return of Stickman is a product of Monlux Illustration, “Home of the Creative Mind!”™