Sunday, February 25, 2024

The Updated Don Simpson Megaton Man Checklist 2024

Update 2024Most of the Megaton Man and Bizarre Heroes material listed below will be collected in The Complete Megaton Man Universe, Volume I: The 1980s (mostly the Kitchen Sink Press Megaton Man comics) and Volume II: The 1990s (the Fiasco Comics Bizarre Heroes and later ImageMegaton Man issues except the team-ups), coming in 2024 and 2025 from Fantagraphics Underground.

Megaton Man #1-10 (Kitchen Sink, November 1984-June 1986)
The Return of Megaton Man #1-3 (Kitchen Sink, July-September 1988)
Megaton Man Meets the Uncategorizable X+Thems #1 (Kitchen Sink, April 1989)
Yarn Man #1 (Kitchen Sink, October 1989)
Bizarre Heroes #1 (Kitchen Sink, May 1990) (no Megaton Man appearance, but ties in later)
Pteranoman #1 (Kitchen Sink, August 1990)
Savage Dragon vs. the Savage Megaton Man #1 (Image, March 1993)
Splitting Image #2 (Image Comics, April 1993) (cameo)
The normalman/Megaton Man Special #1 (Image, June 1994)
Don Simpson's Bizarre Heroes #0–8 (Fiasco Comics, May-December 1994)
Bizarre Heroes #9–17 (Fiasco Comics, February 1995-July, 1996)*
Megaton Man: Hardcopy #1 & 2 (Image, 1999)
Megaton Man: Bombshell #1 (Image, 1999
*Bizarre Heroes #16 and #17 are alternately titled Megaton Man vs. Forbidden Frankenstein #1 and Megaton Man #0

Further appearances:

Megaton Man Daily Reruns (some episodes reprinted or repurposed into Hardcopy and Bombshell)
Asylum (reprinted and repurposed in Hardcopy #2 and Bombshell #1)
Megaton Man blog: The Atomic Aftermath (and more)
Red Anvil Comics' War of the Independents #1 (2013) and #4 (2014)
CBLDF Liberty Annual 2010 ("Megaton Man and the Liberty Alliance in: 'Columbia Rising!'")
X-Amount of Comics: 1963 (WhenElse?!) Annual (Fantagraphics Underground, 2023) (cameo)

The Simpson Scholarship of Steve Replogle

This list was initially compiled by Megaton Man completist Steve Replogle, who had contacted me requesting information on compiling a complete and exhaustive list of every single Megaton Man comic book appearance of the past three decades, so as to organize his own collection.

An example of the late 90s Megaton Man Weekly Serial

Steve went on to provide further details, below:

Steve Replogle

Further Frenzied and Fanatical Footnoting for Megaton Man

The Megaton Man Weekly Serial is now only available as Don Simpson's Megaton Man Daily Reruns at http://www.worldfamouscomics.com/megatonman. It offers an Archives page that lists episodes 1 - 103 with titles, but not later episodes.

Publication dates given below are from the Comicbookdb.com.

Hardcopy #1, February 1999
Contains online episodes 1 - 55

Hardcopy #2, April 1999 
Pages 1 - 9: Megaton Man Weekly Serial episodes 56-71
Pages 10 - 12: three new pages of Gower Goose's radio show comic strips
Pages 13 - 22a: Megaton Man Weekly Serial episodes 72-89
Pages 22b - 28: new material

Bombshell #1, July 1999
Collects the Asylum installments with additional, new material.

Savage Dragon Back-ups (Erik Larsen, Image Comics)
Courtesy of Nicolás Orizaga:
#52, August 1998 - (episodes 90-93, Gower Goose interviews Megaton Man)
#53, September 1998 - (episodes 94-97, “Untold Tales of Megaton Lad”)
#54, October 1998 - (episodes 98-101, the return of “Slagg Heep!”, who just wants to read comic books)
#55, November 1998 - (episodes 102-105, “Irving Lives!”, the living cactus attacks Yarn Man, then fights Slagg Heep)
#56, December 1998 - (episodes 106-109, “Action Figure Collectors From Mars” features the return of the Partyers From Mars)
#57, January 1999 - (episodes 110-113, “The Slick vs The Mooncat”)
#58, February 1999 - (episodes 114-117, “Megaton Man Meets The Slick”)
#59, March 1999 - (episodes 118-121, The Slick joins up and is “Along For The Ride”)
#60, April 1999 - (episodes 122-125, “Toujours Le Scandale!”, MM is interviewed by Gower Goose about his alleged affair with his underage classmate Nikki)
#61, May 1999 - * (episodes 130-133, Megaton Man defeats the Lava monster and Earth Mother drives up and drops off Simon Phloog)
#62, June 1999 - * (episodes 126-129, “Molten Magma Regrets”, MM fights a lava creature while dodging questions about his personal life)
#63, June 1999 - (episodes 134-137, Preston leaves with Earth Mother while elsewhere Bad Guy reveals his plan to Unleash)
The following issues feature newly created pages in the traditional comic-book format:
#64, July 1999 - (The Slick departs and Gower asks to interview Simon)
#65, August 1999 - (“Casey At The Bat” part one)
#66, August 1999 - (“Casey At The Bat” part two)
#67, September 1999 - (“Father and Son Day”, the gang enjoys a picnic and finally makes it to the comic con)
“The Comicon on the Edge of Forever” serial begins:
#68, October 1999 - (Jungle Gorilla sells the old comic books for gas money, while Megaton Man finds Harding Edison’s unpublished anthology has been turned into a VR game)
#69, November 1999 - (Paul Nabisco shuns the industry and his fans)
#70, December 1999 - (Paul Nabisco’s secret origin is revealed!)
#71, January 2000 - (Megaton Man’s costume begins to deteriorate and Paul Nabisco incites his loyal fans to start a riot)
#72, February 2000 - (Simon is crushed by a giant balloon during the riot)
#73, March 2000 - (Unleash and his villainous army attacks!)
#74, April 2000 - (Megaton Man gets a new costume for the new millennium)
#76, June 2000 - (The Bizarre Heroes fight the villains and X-Ray Boy gets his first kiss!)
#77, July 2000 - (‘Saur vs Jungle Gorilla, Blue Web vs Kozmik Kat)
#78, August 2000 - (“Bombs Away!”, Bombshell vs Yarn Man)
#79, September 2000 - (“Wings Of Desire”, the heroes defeat the villains)
#80, October 2000 - (“The Ol’ Switcheroo” features Phantom Jungle Girl and Cowboy Gorilla returning to their own bodies)
#86, April 2001 - (“Unmasked, Unleashed!” Megaton Man reveals his new costume and confronts Bad Guy, while Unleash quits and heads back to Project Mainstream)
#87, May 2001 (“Megs Cops Out!”, Megaton Man quells the riot, and Simon discovers his father’s costume was not made for the year 2000, so he resets his goggles (and the timeline?) to 1984 and Megaton Man returns to his old self!)
Asylum - Maximum Press

#7 (August 1996)  - "Megaton Man vs. Unleash"
#8 (September 1996) - "Megaton Man vs. Bombshell" 
#11 (Jan/Feb 1997) - "After Megaton Man"
Asylum episodes are gathered in Megaton Man: Bombshell #1

The CBLDF Presents Liberty Annual, October 2010
Megaton Man and the Liberty Alliance in: ''Columbia Rising!'' Introduces the character Miss Columbia.
 
One-Pagers for Hero Illustrated
There are several; exact issues are unknown. Three were reprinted in The Apocalypse Affiliation trade paperback; all of them will be collected in The Complete Megaton Man Universe Volume II (2025).
A. The Blue Web
B. YarnBlood
C. Untitled (MM relaxing by the pool with Stella and Yarn Man)
Graphic Novel Collections
Megaton Man: Volume I (Princeton WI: Kitchen Sink Press, 1990). Collects Megaton Man #1-4 in black and white, with alternate covers and minor art variations.

Don Simpson’s Megaton Man, introduction by Al Franken (New York: ibooks/Simon & Schuster, 2004). Reprints Megaton Man #1-5 in color, with recolored covers and newly colored inside covers and additional material.

Bizarre Heroes: The Apocalypse Affiliation (Pittsburgh: Fiasco Comics, Inc., 1995). Reprints Don Simpson's Bizarre Heroes #1-5, with additional material.
 
Border Worlds (Mineola NY: Dover Publications Inc., 2017). Reprints Border Worlds #1-7 and Border Worlds: Marooned #1, with a new 30-page conclusion.
Splitting Image 80-Page Giant (featuring normalman vs. Megaton Man with Jim Valentino, Larry Marder, Bob Burden, et al) (Berkeley: Image Comics, 2017). Reprints Splitting Image #1-2 and The normalman vs. Megaton Man Special.
Megaton Man: Return to Megatropolis (completed spring 2016; coloring in production). Original material. No publication plans as of spring 2018. __________
Anyone with further info, please comment! I'm too busy drawing new stuff! Best, Don

This is an update of a 2016 blog post compiled by Steve Replogle! Revised in 2018, 2024.

Monday, January 29, 2024

Show Schedule 2024: Megaton Man's 40th Anniversary!

2024 is Megaton Man's 40th Anniversary, and a couple big projects are in the works! I'm proud to announce that I will be guest of honor at Northeast Ohio (NEO) Comic Con Sunday, August 3, 2024! We are doing a special print for the occasion (below), and other events and panels are planned at various shows. Here is how things are shaping up:

My schedule for 2024 (so far):

Shows and dates subject to confirmation.

*I do not plan to table at Pulpfest this year, but I am likely to attend Friday or Saturday just to show my face at Farmercon (which is part of Pulpfest); this is because NEO is that same Sunday. But I hope you will still support Pulpfest; it's a great show and my annual favorite! (See you there!)

Note: I will NOT be doing Gem City Con, Dayton Ohio, Saturday, July 20, 2024 this year, as I've done for the past several. But I hope you will support the show so I can come back in 2025!


 


Monday, October 23, 2023

Don Simpson 2023 Pre-Holiday Book Mail Order!

HELD OVERBy popular demand, I am offering pre-holiday mail order on select books and comics (including the hitherto show-only VICTORY FOLKS, 2023) now through December 1, 2023 until the cows come home! I will be mailing out packages approximately once a week. You can mail me a personal check to me (below) or PayPal at donsimpsonart (please include PayPal fees; see instructions below). Books are personalized (autographed to your name, if you wish); headshots are available only on certain books with blank pages at an additional price.

Wednesday, August 23, 2023

Commission Artwork Price List, Fall 2023

Update: For the time being, I am only entertaining commission assignments from collectors wanting to own a piece of original comic art. I am NOT doing pinups, covers or variant covers, collaborations, freelance assignments, or renderings other people's IP for publication at the present time, including creator-owned IP, small press, big press, crowdfunders, etc. It is true that I have done such work in the past and may still have one or two pieces coming out from various third parties in the months ahead, but I have been turning down all such work for several months now. This is because of a very poor batting average I've had in recent years with various schnooks and some particularly terrible experiences in 2023 (I intend to blog about some of these soon). Nothing personal to all you creator-publishers out there; best of luck to you and stick with it! -- August 23, 2023.

Don Simpson Commission Art Price List, Fall 2023

I've been drawing sketches at comic book conventions & shows and commissioned art pieces for fans and collectors since 1984, even before the first issue of Megaton Man #1 hit the stands. Many of these pieces can be found on the internet, and depending on how long and crazy the convention was in the old days, they can vary in quality a bit (invariably, every drawing I drew after five jet-lagged days in San Diego for twenty bucks at three in the morning has found its way online!).

My most popular requests are Megaton Man, Yarn Man, Jenny Woodlore from Border Worlds, and Wendy Whitebread. Since my 1992 adaptation, King Kong remains a perennial and crazy popular. The first three of these happen to involve labor-intensive detail and the fourth ... well ...

OMAC, 14" x 17" pen and India ink on Bristol board.

Ann and the Ape, 14.5" x 23" India ink on Bristol board.

I've also done almost as many drawings of Spider-Man, a character I'd never drawn professionally until the 2019 Marvel CRAZY! one-shot, as I have of Megaton Man, my most famous and popular subject. Some of the better examples can be found on the Comic Art Fans website and on my Donald Simpson Facebook page. I've also gotten quite a few requests for the Thing, whose rocky scales are almost as labor-intensive as Spidey's webbing.

Because of this, my base price for 11" x 14" or 11" x 17" pen and brush and ink these days has been running @ $200 on up. Factors like multiple figures, subject matter, display lettering (sound effects, emulated logos, etc.) increase the price. Pencil only would start at $150.

In 2023, most of my commissions have been averaging in the $400-700 price range, although some larger format and more elaborate compositions with backgrounds and/or color have been over $1000. Whatever is agreed upon, I always try to work within your budget and give you your money's worth. 

I insist on payment up front either by check or PayPal (buyer must cover PayPal's fees), including generally $25 to cover shipping U.S.; I have a strong track record of quick turnaround and very satisfied collectors that can be verified by reaching out to numerous happy owners of Don Simpson art on social media -- they're not hard to find.

(Here are some recent examples. There are more if you scroll to the bottom of this page.)

I don't have separate pricing for "head shots," "torso up," or other configurations because my fans very seldom ask me to do anything other than full-figure drawings.

Pen and ink commission for connoisseur Dean Focareta. A quick online search will offer a plethora of further examples of sketches and drawings I've created over the years.

I use only the finest archival materials: graphite pencil, pen, brush, India ink, pigment pens, Dr. Martin's watercolors, color pencil, and the best acid-free paper (Strathmore 400 or Bristol board, generally). I don't use markers or anything impermanent that will fade or discolor over time (although constant exposure to light may affect some watercolors). (With very few exceptions, this applies to my published original art as well, although some techniques, such as Zip-A-Tone, have aged.)

Collector commissions are so unique and personal that a comprehensive price list is impossible, but I try to address a few FAQs, below. But your best bet is to email me at donaldsimpson1713 - at - gmail - dot - com and describe what you have in mind and the price you have in mind, and we can go from there.

Note: I have also done very many sketch cards and blank variant sketch covers, but these are supplied by fans and usually created on-the-spot at only at shows. Please inquire.

Sketch cards for the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund set, 2011.

Sketch cards for the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund set, 2011.

Note: Many fans have themed sketchbooks they want me to draw in; I will only do these at shows.

What follows is only the most basic ballpark of price lists:

My characters/creations (including Megaton Man, Bizarre Heroes, Border Worlds, "In Pictopia," etc.)
  • Basic 11" x 14" Strathmore 400 Drawing or Bristol, pen/brush and India ink: $200 on up.
  •  Display 14" x 17" or 12" x 18" Strathmore 400 drawing or Bristol, pen/brush and India ink: $500 on up.
  • Color pencil on Strathmore Toned Grey, 9" x 12": $200 on up.
Other media may be available; please inquire.

Particularly complex or detailed characters such as Megaton Man, Yarn Man, and Jenny Woodlore (in her textured spacesuit) are more involving and labor-intensive, and may be priced 25%-50% more.
  • Emulating a cover, 11" x 17", pen and brush and ink, with display lettering and or multiple figures, background: $500 and up.
Number of characters, backgrounds, color, etc. will influence pricing.

Postage: add $25 to cover packaging and shipping via Fedex Ground (since the pandemic, I won't use USPS) in the US. Canada and overseas or special shipping instructions will involve an additional fee.

"Special Requests" (and what isn't a "special request" in a custom-made commission?!):

Popular characters that are not mine (straight or parody): Since I am drastically limited in the ways that I can publicize and exploit images of characters that are not my own creation (and not under my trademark or copyright), I generally charge 25% more, on up.

Team-Ups, Parodies, and Caricatures
 
Generally, I will not mix characters that I own with characters I do not own unless those characters are in the public domain or stock types (barbarians, monsters, swashbucklers, etc.).
 
As a professional freelance artist, I have drawn comics for Marvel, DC, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Mr. Monster, and other characters. I've also done team-ups (The Savage Dragon vs. The Savage Megaton Man, normalman vs. Megaton Man, and so on).
 
For fans, I've often drawn characters I do not own, or drawn Megaton Man as a parody of various characters (Green Lantern, Captain America). As parody, this is protected by fair use.
 
I cannot, however, honor requests to mix my creator-owned characters (Megaton Man, Border Worlds, et al) with characters I do not won (Marvel, DC, Archie, etc., etc.). For one thing, this would be presumptuous; for another, such unauthorized team-ups trigger a number of ethical and legal issues that are more hassle than they are worth.

Teaming up my characters with generic or public domain characters (a jungle ape-man or woman, a giant ape, a robot, a stock science fiction pulp swashbuckler, a barbarian, Sherlock Holmes, etc.) are permissible. Also, in certain cases, I have caricatured media personalities, movie stars, politicians, etc., which is protected under fair use.

Requests likely to antagonize copyright holders or owners of celebrity likenesses legally, morally, or otherwise will not be considered. So please don't request Marge Simpson in a BDSM scene with Buzz Lightyear. For that matter, please--no Simpsons requests at all! :)

Frontal Nudity/Explicit Erotica:
 
Ordinarily, I will NOT draw my mainstream characters (Megaton Man, Bizarre Heroes), or other popular characters that are not mine, completely or partially nude or in compromising sexual or suggestive situations, let alone in explicit acts. I reserve the right to turn down any request I find objectionable for any reason. Please inquire if you have any questions.

Border Worlds, a "Mature Readers"/"Adults Only" title, is a different matter; many requests are subject to ordinary pricing, but commissions involving nudity or eroticism begin at 150% of the above prices, and may be turned down for any reason. Please inquire.

Commissions for Anton Drek characters (Wendy Whitebread, Forbidden Frankenstein, Dracula's Daughter, et al,) involving nudity or graphically explicit situations begin at 150% (mild nudity) and start at 200% for more graphically explicit themes, on up. Please inquire.

Please note: I reserve the right to turn down any request I find objectionable for any reason.
 
Right to Reproduce:

Commission art prices include owning the original piece of art. Unless the subject matter is sensitive, owners are permitted post images on thier social media.

Price does not include permission to publish or reproduce the work in print or in any media for profit.

Copyright and tradmark, as well as the right to reproduce my creator-owned characters, remains with me, without limitation. Characters owned by others cannot be reproduced or exploited in any way, except as posts on social media.

Nudity or erotic subject matter must remain private and cannot be posted without my permission.
 
Approval: For many commissions involving ink and/or coloring, I usuall email or message a preliminary sketch or pencil version to make sure it satisfies the buyer's expectations before finalizing the art.

Payment: Usually payment in full is required before I will begin work. Check (mailing instructions will be provided) or Paypal to my above email address is preferred. Total must cover the price of the art plus shipping fee.
 
For Paypal plus 2.9% of the total + $.50 (50 cents) per transaction. Please don't try to scam Paypal by claiming you are "Friends of Family!"

The Paypal Fee Calculator is a handy online tool for estimating total prices.
 
In certain cases I can accept shipping payment as a second payment, once shipping fees have been determined.

Note: This is everything I can think of, although the above list does not cover everything by a long shot, so you'll just have to contact me!

Go for it: Describe your commission request to me at donaldsimpson1713 - at - gmail - dot - com and please be as detailed as you can. I will respond as promptly as possible. Thanks!

Below: Some recent convention sketches and commissions have been colored pencil on grey or tan paper:

Ms. Megaton Man and Kozmik Kat. Colored pencil on grey or tan-toned paper has proven very popular with many of my collectors, lately.




More traditional pen and ink commissions are below:

Pen and ink, private commission for Brian Cremins, presented to Harlan Ellison in 2015. Captain Marvel, Captain Marvel Jr., and Mary Marvel are ™ and © DC.

Pen and ink, private commission for James Hall, 2015. Dracula's Daughter is ™ and © Don Simpson, all rights reserved. Mr. Monster is ™ and © Michael T. Gilbert, all rights reserved.

Pen and ink, private commission for Flavio Pessanha, 2015. In Pictopia is ™ and © Alan Moore and Donald Simpson, all rights reserved.
 
Blank cover variants (you supply):

A recent commission for a blank cover variant! (Scroll down to the bottom of this post for more recent commissions.)

 
Sketch blank variant cover
 
Gallery of more convention sketches and commissions (see elsewhere on this blog for even more):

Sketchbook commission (2-page spread with Inida ink and guoache).

India ink and watercolor.

Cover sketch in India ink and watercolor.

Pen and ink variant sketch cover.

Pen and ink and watercolor commission.

Computer-colorized version of a pen and ink sketch commission.

Pen and ink commission from back in the day (colorized later by another artist).

Pen and ink convention sketch from 1989.

Pencil commission.


Pencil sketch for Steve Bissette.

All other characters are ™ and © their respective owners.

More commission examples here.
_______
Read my YA prose experiment: The Ms. Megaton Man Maxi-Series! New chapter every Friday!

All characters, character names, likenesses, words and pictures are ™ and © Don Simpson 2021, all rights reserved, unless otherwise noted.

Friday, February 24, 2023

2023 Show Schedule and Recent Commissions

For more original art and commission examples, see my Comic Art Fans gallery!*

Since 1984, I have been a guest of numerous comic book conventions and shows from coast to coast, and many of the convention sketches I have drawn over the years can be seen all over the internet. I've also drawn a growing number of commissions in my studio and either shipped directly or delivered at shows. Below are some of my most recent commissions from 2021 shows.

Note: I guess I'm NOT a guest at Monroe Popfest, Monroe, Michigan, Fri-Sat, September 16-17, 2023, so you can scratch that off the list! (I already have!)

My schedule for 2023:

*I'm quite excited that this year at Pulpfest I will be moderating an evening panel, Friday, August 4, at 8:05 pm with Mark Wheatley and Mark Schultz about their experiences illustrating Conan the Barbarian!

I will be sketching and drawing on the spot at every show, but time will be limited, and requests fill up fast. So if you've always wanted that special Don Simpson cartoon drawing of your dreams, it’s always a good idea to contact me ahead of time (mature or adult imagery, especially of the Anton Drek variety, can only be drawn ahead of time and delivered at shows). See my commission price list page for ballpark pricing and contact info (every commission is different and negotiated individually by teams of trained union bargainers!).

Final inked version.

Pencil of work in progress, 14" x 17"

Ink, ink wash, and graphite pencil on blank variant cover.

Ink on 14" x 17" Bristol.

Pencil of work in progress, 14" x 17"

India ink on 14" x 17" Strathmore 400 Drawing paper.

India ink on 11" x 14" Bienfang Bristol.

India ink on 14" x 17" Bristol.

India ink on 14" x 17" Strathmore 400 Drawing paper.

India ink on 14" x 17" Strathmore 400 Drawing paper.

Link: Fall 2022 commissions | Spring 2022 Commissions