Monday, December 18, 2006

Buuuuuub the Builder!

Inspired by the lovely Nik Holmes of Zombiedollars fame, here's BUB THE BUILDER, a preschool homage to one of my favourite zombie movies, DAY OF THE DEAD. Anyone who's seen the movie should get the play-on-words.

Had a lovely time signing at Borders in Middlesbrough yesterday - must have signed and shifted about fifty or sixty books. Was much surprised to be accosted by my first customer who said my stuff looked "rubbish". I smiled in a slightly surprised manner. He looked like a goth loving Derren Brown lookie-likie in a black beanie. I actually spied the "Qurios Entertainment" logo peeking out from inside his jacket and his ruse was scuppered. Yes, Gordon Fraser, COME ON DOWN! :-D Thanks for calling by sir and picking up a SKELETON book. Hope the kids dig it and you get your chance to read it soonly.

Was also asked by one well-meaning young man, in the case of BOB THE BUILDER, if when designing I "put myself inside the characters". I said no, and that I was pretty surre it was illegal in the UK and most states of America. He didn't seem to get the joke, but the gathered public seemed to judging by the titters!

The BUB drawing was doodled while I was between signings yesterday. Thanks again to all the staff @ Borders Teesside Park.

JOE BARBERA - R.I.P

Was saddened to hear the news this morning of the passing of one of Animation's most enduring animators and producers. Hanna Barbera have produced over 100 shows over the course of half a century (I'm sure they don't need listing as we all know the usual suspects there). I for one fondly remember breakfast cereal boxes of the 1970's and the HB transfer kits of your favourite and obscure characters that you'd get on the backs of them - Huckleberry Hound, Quick Draw McGraw, Trixie and Dixie etc, the really early HB characters.

I did a little spot on BBC Five Live this morning (Tuesday) with Nicky Campbell, giving my thoughts on Joe and his legacy. Inspiring man and an inspiring studio. God bless him.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

That's right, Bub! Say hello to your Aunt Alicia! Say, "Hello, Aunt Alicia!" "Hello!"

Great Bub piccy! :)

Nik Holmes said...

Oh man! I was over Teesside Park yesterday with my boy Jonathan! Gutted to have missed you.

Great Bub, chunky marker lines too, mmmmm...

justinpatrickparpan said...

Some extremely gory work Mr. Bling. Bravo and a Merry X-Mas to you.

Niel Bushnell said...

Gordon's alive?? Will my work never be complete??

Jo Bling said...

Glazey - thanks sir, was sure it would please all fellow zombologists out there including...

Nik! Sorry to have missed you fella, I was signing from 12 through to about 3.30 as I recall. You like the chunky marker? It was all I had to play with. You wouldn't believe the disapproving/approving looks the gathered signees gave when they saw the zombified Bob!

JP - thanks good buddy. Big fat Xmas wishes back to your good self too!

Bushy - "Despatch War Rocket Ajax... brrring back his BODY!" Yes he is indeed alive and causing mischief in Teesside's premier book store...

Anonymous said...

Can he feast on the flesh of the living? Yes he can!
Nice pic.

dragonhead said...

OH gosh! Bub the builder... Now THAT would be a kids show!

I was saddened to hear about the great Barbera also. :(

Anonymous said...

Amazing dude!!!Happy new year!!!!! See you in 2007!!!!

Dee said...

HAHAaa...Bub the builder...
Now that would be great to see.
Have a happy holiday!!
Cheers!

Ryan Wood said...

That's one terrific version of the lil' guy, hats off man! Hope you have a jolly holiday season as well, Mr. Bling!

Anonymous said...

that picture below.
is wrong on so many levels:)

Have a Happy Holiday Season
-brian

Chris Battle said...

If you ever make it out to L.A., I'll have to share some some of my Bill and Joe stories with ya over a pint or two. Those guys were the greatest!

Dominic Bugatto said...

Lovely!

Jo Bling said...

Dee C.K - am in the process of engineering an undead spin-off show from BOB at present... or maybe not...

Ryan - thanks good sir, best to you too :-)

Gobeetsablog - isn't it? :-D

Christof - that's a date, sir, when I finally make it over there. Hanna Barbera cartoons were a staple for me as a kid growing up in the Seventies.

Dominic - thanking you kindly fella!