Happy Thanksgiving! It's been a great year and I for one have a lot to be thankful for, and I hope you do too.
Here is a video for the Thanksgiving Song, which my brothers and I recorded in 2005. I had been listening to the radio and the DJ was talking about how there are no Thanksgiving songs, at least none as ubiquitous as the Christmas songs we hear for the last three months of every year, and challenged listeners to send in their own compositions. I went home and wrote and recorded this with my brothers that night, sent it in, and they never played the damn thing. They ended up giving a prize to a guy who recorded the Adam Sandler "Turkey Song" with his own dopey lyrics. This one, meanwhile, has become an annual favorite in my family. That's me on the first verse, my brother Steve on the second, and Joe on the third. Enjoy!
Lucky for Golden Age Strongman, he's an absolute master of disguise! Why it is so important to him that he arrive at the party in costume, I don't know.
For your Halloween delight, or if you are somehow unfamiliar with the original Monster Mash song, here is a version I recorded several years ago with a young talent named J-Monster Jones. He adds just the right touch of ghoulish charm to the track.
I'm sorry to say this is based on a real experience... and it only got worse from here.
Owning a house has its merits, but sometimes I look back wistfully on the days when I lived in an apartment, and could just call someone to come handle any unpleasant tasks that may arise.
The "Tornad-Ark", one of my favorite and most frequently used forms of punishment, is among the most satisfying instruments of justice in my repertoire. When I travel to the oceanside I find myself hoping to come across some manner of rogue, as it would afford me an opportunity to teach him a lesson. The message couldn't be more clear: if the hungry jaws of the man-eating shark don't do you in first, the gale-force winds of the tornado will most certainly tear you limb from limb! It is truly a sight to behold!
Sasquatch, Ol' Bigfoot himself, has officially learned what it means to be a celebrity in today's world. You should see what was hacked from his cell phone!
Poor Billy McWeepums - he just picked the wrong guy to idolize. To paraphrase Betty Draper on a recent Mad Men, he doesn't realize that the worst way to get close to Strongman is to love him!
This strip was actually inspired by my favorite comic book cover of all time, featuring a completely unrelated hero, "Superman":
So there's a new Superman movie opening this week. The occasion reminded me of the release of Strongman's first movie, "Man of Strength". As you can see, he was none too pleased with the results. The production went ahead without his involvement (rumor has it he was unwilling to negotiate his licensing fee of $All). And, really, who wants to see a cheap and obvious knockoff with a slightly different name?
Check back on Sunday for an king-size, full-color Strongman Father's Day special edition!
It took me many years to realize I actually like the original Planet Of The Apes. The trial scene actually goes something like this. They were trying to make a serious point about racism or something but it's pretty hilarious!
Finally, I can't let a post like this go without linking to this:
UPDATE: I just wanted to acknowledge my brother Steve, who inspired the basic premise for this one during an Apes viewing. He's a funny guy, that Steve!
Houndy B. has a reputation as one of the most ruthless killers of the animal kingdom. Definitely near the top of the food chain when it comes to animal apparel choices.
You may remember that Superman is able to perform this same trick in the Richard Donner movies to make Lois Lane forget his secret identity. Coincidentally, Golden Age Strongman can do it too!
It was only a matter of time before fellow superhero Batso figured out who Strongman really is, if his reputation as the world's greatest bat-themed detective is to be believed.
He looks so human, it is easy to forget that Golden Age Superman is actually an alien being from another world. It's important to note that he doesn't mean any harm... it's just that while his physical form may be highly evolved, his sense of humor is not!
Why does Golden Age Superman - oops, I mean Strongman - do what he does? It turns out, the urges that drive him are not all that complicated after all.
You're walking along, minding your own business, enjoying the fresh air and a lovely ice cream cone... and BAM... face first into the business end of an innocent puppy. It doesn't seem to pleasant for him either, incidentally. The point is... you never know when your day is going to go south. But if you're going to eat ice cream while strolling through the park, it couldn't hurt to keep your eyes open.
Travis Trent, the secret identity of Golden Age Strongman, knows he must keep up the illusion that he is less than the ideal specimen of manliness. In fact, when he gets the opportunity to bask in the irony of star reporter Carol Crane's contempt for him, he absolutely relishes it. If only he were more aware of how his half-hearted masquerade affects others around him! If only he cared!
This isn't the best comic I've ever done ("thrown together" might be a good way of putting it), but I just thought I'd post something to get things rolling.