OUTSIDE IN #51 – Self-Portraits

Some “real” mail landed in my postbox this week, which is a rare event these days and always a welcomed surprise. Rare because fewer people are taking the time, cost and effort to assemble a physical thing and put it in the big pipe these days. It is not as easy or cheap as it once was and it is a helluva lot less reliable no matter where you live, so it is a beautiful act of faith to stick those stamps on the envelope and drop it in the slot. So a big thanks to Rick Bradford of the Poopsheet Foundation in sunny Denton, Texas. Rick started PF way back in 1993 as a physical review zine that went online in 2004. He is a dedicated soul and is doing holy work gathering so many underground/DIY/small press pubs of all shapes and sizes that would otherwise be lost forever. If you are a comix/zine maker, send Rick your pub! You’ll be glad that you did, and if you want to support Rick’s efforts, click on over to his Patreon page and sign-up (full disclosure – I am a long-time supporter)

The theme of “OUTSIDE IN” #51, is self-portraits. On the cover is a mystical Enrico Ariis, staring with intent intensity into the less-than-bright-future. Open up the fold and find my, “Here I Am at 59” from last year. The original drawing is A4 size, so I’m pleased at how readable it is at this small size. I will include it in “RELUCTANT SADIST” #10 (to be released sometime later this year). On the opposite page is the prolific Andy Nukes with a simple, silly profile. On the back page is Bob Vojtko’s humble self-assessment, or maybe he just needs some new glasses? Unfold the whole thing and reveal the centerfold that barely contains the TMI-self-portrait by Hal Mundane that is a part Robert Crumb and part Hieronymus Bosch. It is a playground for the eyeballs, so much to see and explore. I love it.

Here’s my piece. The big sideburns are gone now and so are my 50s, sigh.
Poopsheet Foundation also has an archive of RELUCTANT SADIST, probably one of the few complete collections (at least it will be once I get Rick a copy of #9) and other publications that I have contributed to, so check it out!

Yes, there will be a new self-portrait forthcoming, I plan on doing at least one a birth-year until I kick, which won’t be for awhile if I got anything to say about it.

Hope this post finds you warm and happy, if it doesn’t, then get warm and happy.

May your wish be granted,

OK HW