Dale Martin, Cartoonist
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smearysoapbox.bsky.social
Dale Martin, Cartoonist
@smearysoapbox.bsky.social
80 followers 130 following 110 posts
Artist. Writer. Reader. Publisher. Caretaker of WATUSI the TALKING DOG. I've been handcrafting comics since 1985, & don't see any reason to stop now! Blog: smearysoapboxpress.com Webcomic: watusithetalkingdog.com Newsletter: eepurl.com/bawHc9
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As heart-wrenching as the end to #10 was, the final page of #11 was even more of a surprise! The final issue of
@chrissamnee.bsky.social & Mark Waid's series comes out tomorrow, & I can't remember ever being as excited to read a final issue of a loved series as this one! #LunchtimeReading
Len Wein comes on strong as writer/editor (#242) with a satisfying time travel adventure that takes Thor & co. to the end of time (after failing to stop the end of Earth itself) and back! Buscema & Sinnott continue to shine on art! #ThorReread #LunchtimeReading
Reposted by Dale Martin, Cartoonist
Rereading his 70s Thor (inking Buscema); such gorgeous art. And he was inking FF (if not more) at the same time! Such beautiful work, so fast, month after month - amazing!
Continuing my #ThorReread w/ #240; feels like Conway's departure left the title in a lurch, playing deadline catchup w/ Mantlo on script, Sal on art, and _every_ editor to help it make sense! I like a lot of Mantlo comics, but he struggled with Asgard-ese in this early effort. #LunchtimeReading
Just got back from helping hang this show; the work looks really good all together. 24 pieces by 10 artists!

Reception tomorrow, 5-7 at 3037 Forest Hill Irene Rd.
ARTISTS' RECEPTION in 2 Days!
Friday, October 10, 2025, at Germantown Community Theatre from 5 - 7 pm.

Costumes welcome!
It's a busy art weekend for me! Fortunately, Memphis Monster Market is open from Oct. 10-16th in the Medicine Factory, down by the river! It's not just a spooky curated art market, but a week packed with fun events!
It should be a great weekend for an outdoor festival! Come out and find me at V&E Artwalk in Memphis: I'm bringing comics, prints, and few other surprises!
Another great Redcoat issue from @bryanhitch.bsky.social & Geoff Johns! I love the mix of longer arcs and done-in-ones, and even their crossover issues stand on their own. I recommend this latest issue as a good choice to sample (and get hooked on) this series! #LunchtimeReading
I just backed ConCards! on @kickstarter.com www.kickstarter.com/projects/754...

It's been fun to watch as Greg's been developing this game engine over the years; it's fully baked, so now's a good chance to jump into this fast-paced card game!
ConCards!
The Matching-And-Counting Card Game made to play all over your favorite Convention! (and around the dinner table on Game Night)
www.kickstarter.com
#LunchtimeReading the latest from the Mid-South Cartoonists Association, a tasty little "good luck/bad luck/no luck at all" issue. For my part, I seeded 3 Watusi jam comics, picked up on by Jim Palmer, @kevinmule.bsky.social, and Eric McMeans. No spoilers here, tho!
Thor #235, featuring the art of John Buscema & Joe Sinnott, possibly my favorite Thor artists (not an easy call to make, actually). Check out the ALT text for more info about Gil Kane's cover, including a spoiler for a 50+ year old comic. #LunchtimeReading
More @elmwoodcemetery.bsky.social drawings from yesterday; both mine and a group shot of finished drawings from other Memphis Urban Sketchers . #urbansketching
Yesterday's drawing with Memphis Urban Sketchers at @elmwoodcemetery.bsky.social ... I was fascinated by the repeated symbolic elements of these markers, until @marthakellyart.bsky.social told me about the Woodmen of the World. Similarities explained!
Starting a reread from the oldest issue (#232) in my contiguous 70s/80s Thor collection. This one always stood out as an oddity because of the art: John Buscema inked by Dick Giordano, which seemed like an unlikely pairing (especially for 1974) ...
#LunchtimeReading
Reposted by Dale Martin, Cartoonist
Written 55 years ago, Schulz's heartfelt clarity cuts through the noise, even today.

h/t @tisserand.bsky.social
Great little essay! Thanks for the reminder that how I see my work isn't how others see it!
Reposted by Dale Martin, Cartoonist
Here is the gift of being a comic artist, if you’re lucky every single day you get to make something that didn’t exist before and that harms no one and adds something good to the world. Even if no one wants it.
Reposted by Dale Martin, Cartoonist
As you cancel streaming services, here is a casual reminder that only 16% of Americans read for pleasure anymore, and your local library has hundreds or thousands of books you haven't read.

They would love to see you stop by and renew your library card.
Silver lining: it means people besides just other artists read your comic! (Sorry to hear Mankato sounds about the same as when I left it 30+ years ago)