Recommended: KICKSTARTER for Mike Grell's 50th Anniversary Art Book Volumes 1 and 2

This past week, I received in the mail my copy of Mike Grell 50th Anniversary Art Book Volume 1. It is a fantastic book by one of my favorite comic book writers and artists that was launched last year on Kickstarter.

Mike Grell is renowned for his work on his comic book creations THE WARLORD (DC Comics) and JON SABLE: FREELANCE (creator-owned). But for me, it was his work on GREEN ARROW for DC Comics that caught my eye.

Mike Grell inspired me when I was kid to want to be BOTH a comic book writer and artist combined when I grew up. And in essence, I did that.

I even had the chance to meet him in person and later collaborate with him on a comic book cover for Shooting Star Comics in which he illustrated my character YELLOW JACKET: MAN OF MYSTERY from THRILL SEEKER COMICS on it and I did the graphic design and digitally colored the cover of his work. I still own Mike's original artwork and contributed a high-res image of it for Volume 2 of this upcoming book.

Volume 1 of the Mike Grell Art Book covered his career from 1973 to 1992, taking fans up to his work on James Bond!

Volume 2 picks up with Shaman's Tears, and brings us all the way to modern day, including some brand new pieces that are sneak peeks of sorts for some great things to come from Mike Grell during his second 50 years in comics! 

They have interviews with Mike, about his career, and a deep insight into his approach as an artist.

I can't recommend this enough if you're an old school comic book fan. Along the way, I'm sure many of you like me fell in love with his work.

Check it out on Kickstarter. This project will only be funded if it reaches its goal by Thu, February 20 2025 10:59 PM CST.

 

 

The Man Who Would Be King

Just a little missive here from my thoughts.

Last night, I rewatched the John Huston film THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING released back in 1975. It is based on a novella by Rudyard Kipling. The film stars Sean Connery, Michael Caine, and Christopher Plummer.

The film is set in 1880s India, follows the story of two former soldiers of the British Army who decide to set themselves up as Kings in Kafiristan, a land where no white man had set foot since Alexander the Great in Fourth Century B.C. The two sign a contract with Rudyard Kipling being the witness. Off they go on their great and tragic adventure. I won't spoil it for you, but it was one heck of a buddy movie (real life pals) with Connery and Caine together.

John Huston had tried to make this movie back in the 1950s. He originally picked Clark Gable and Humphrey Bogart to play the leads. Sadly, Bogart died before the movie could be made and not too much later, Gable also passed away. I can only imagine what that film would have been like with two of my favorite American actors -- but I do believe having an Englander and a Scot playing ex-sergeants from Her Majesty's British Army seems to be a little more authentic.

It had been almost 20 years since I'd seen this movie. I had forgotten how much I really enjoyed this film.

Still available for purchase on IndyPlanet

THRILL SEEKER COMICS ANTHOLOGY™ #1 is still available for purchase on IndyPlanet.com. You can choose either a "Print-on-Demand" comic book that will be mailed to you and/or you can also choose to purchase a digital copy.

Order the premiere first issue of THRILL SEEKER COMICS ANTHOLOGY™ #1 featuring YELLOW JACKET: MAN OF MYSTERY™ , THE GOLDEN AGE EMERALD MANTIS™ , and THE SACRED SCARAB™ and introducing new characters in ALL-NEW stories including The Dame Detective MS. TITTENHURST: FINDER OF LOST THINGS™.

 

SEA SHANTY FUNNIES™ Comic Strip #3 - 'Cause I'm the Taxman!

 

Enjoy my respectful nod 'n wink tribute to a classic at www.seashantyfunnies.com for a friendly all-ages public domain-based comic strip.

UPDATE: THRILL SEEKER COMICS™ Rescheduled Releases for 2025

While I have decided to dabble with a public-domain Popeye comic strip this year with the brand new SEA SHANTY FUNNIES™, I have not forgotten our fellow thrillseekers out there...

This year, we have two THRILL SEEKER COMICS™ issues in the making from BANDITO ENTERTAINMENT™ for upcoming release that we had to reschedule from last year's initial plans. 

This summer, watch for the 24-page THRILL SEEKER COMICS™ PRESENTS #1 featuring MS. TITTENHURST™: FINDER OF LOST THINGS in "Case of the Missing Guitar". This issue reprints the entire online web comic strip collected together from 2024 and includes a brand-new four-page epilogue to the story.

This story is co-written with my wife Jennifer.

 

 

This fall, keep your eyes peeled for the EXPANDED 52-page THRILL SEEKER COMICS™ ANTHOLOGY #2 with various stories (Four All-New Tales and Two Remastered Classic Reprints) featuring YELLOW JACKET: MAN OF MYSTERY™, MS. TITTENHURST™: FINDER OF LOST THINGS, THE MIGHTIEST EMERALD MANTIS™, THE BOLD BOWMAN™, and RED DEVIL-BAT™ and his sidekick KID DEVIL-MAYCARE™. This second issue promises to pack a wallop!

 

We will keep you updated when the issues will be available for sale.

Recommendation to Join the Official Popeye Fanclub

As a fellow fan of Popeye, please allow me to give a recommendation for you to join the Official Popeye Fanclub that issues a nifty membership package including a few newsletters each year.

I love the newsletters with the articles that they publish and some of the reprints of the older Bela Zeboly strips you can read.

To join, go to http://www.popeyethesailor.com/club/main.htm for more information. If the link to pay online isn't working, you can mail a check (for $10 in the U.S.) to the Official Popeye Fanclub -  1001 State St. - Chester, IL 62233, or call Debbie at 618-826-4567 with a credit card.

It is about time for me to renew my own annual membership!

 

The Nazis were bad.

My Granddaddy fought Nazis. In France. Belgium. Germany. And Czechoslovakia. When I was a boy, he taught me that the Nazis were bad. He taught me a lot of things. He never steered me wrong. I'm going to continue to believe my Granddaddy. The Nazis were bad. I hope you'll remember that, too.

 

 

Subscribe to me on Substack for Webcomic Updates, Articles, and other Missives

The shadows make me look like I’m behind bars this morning in my cubicle at work here at the day job. How apropos.

Anyway... I just started a Substack page last night. Looking to post my webcomic strips and other articles and missives in the near future in order to allow for people to subscribe and receive them via app or email when I update. 

Going to give this a test spin and see if I can build an audience. Want to get in on the ground floor?

 Ryan Scott McCullar | Substack

Update: Deactivated Facebook Account. Find me on Bluesky and THIS website

Quick update. I deleted and/or deactivated all of my social media apps other than Bluesky.

I will also maintain and update my blog here at my website at www.scottmccullar.com more often.

Last night I deactivated Facebook after previously deactivating Threads and Instagram about a week or so ago. Mainly due to Facebook turning into what feels like 85% ads and groups it is suggesting for me in my feed to join and the lack of interaction with family and friends dwelling. Rarely seeing posts now. Plus the rarities of responses to my posts getting almost no interaction. Plus Mark Zuckerburg's latest decisions to cozy up to Trump didn't help.

I just had enough. 

For now, unless it turns into a shit show, I will only use for the foreseeable future Bluesky as I mentioned.

Find me at https://bsky.app/profile/scottmccullar.bsky.social 

 

SEA SHANTY FUNNIES™ Comic Strip #2 - Happy Popeye Day on his 96th B-day!

Quick Update

I'm in the process of moving my art studio office into another part of the house - so my Intuous Cintiq is not set up at the moment. We're painting the new room this weekend that I'm about to move into as my den. 

However, I finished writing another comic script earlier today!

And I have a few more stories in mind.

Look for a new SEA SHANTY FUNNIES comic strip this Friday to celebrate Popeye Day.

I hope to return to production for the two THRILL SEEKER COMICS publications next month to finish up. Sorry for the delay, but family life got in the way a bit.

Public Domain Popeye and his Spinach Debate

Yes, the Public Domain Popeye can eat his Spinach due to a loophole in which a 1931 copyright lapsed.

 

 

 

Full Article Here: 

 https://mashable.com/article/public-domain-day-2025?fbclid=IwY2xjawHsQb1leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHU6DfBZmJq_A_YzHx5t1xL_kogqM1QmowluqupFNv3TWi-nP31wE-p-ZzA_aem_6ZgLIrwFMs0dqSmtn8DYfQ

Ouch! My tongue!!!

Accidentally bit my tongue last night and spit out about half a cup of blood. Hurt like hell. Lots of blood my wife almost fainted. Ran cold water and ice on it. Miraculously, bleeding stopped and healing began quickly. Amazed at the healing process. 24 hours later, just a little sore.

Social Media Update

I deactivated my LinkedIn, Instagram, and Threads accounts this morning. I'm weening off of Facebook by the end of next month, but I have to take care of a few matters there first. It is time. 

I'm staying on the Blue Sky app for now. 

I'm moving my online presence to my personal websites and blog.

More later...

 

The Times They Are a Changin' on Social Media

I'm rethinking my approach to using social media and use of the Internet itself with all the changes going on in the world and out here in cyberspace.

I left Twitter/X a few months ago thanks to Elon Musk turning it into a shit pile.

I barely use Instagram.

I'm not and have never been on Tiktok. I never will.

I'm not on Mastadon or whatever.

I did open an account on Blue Sky, but it really isn't working to well for me to connect and/or interact with others.

Over a year ago, I got onto Threads. I didn't use it for most of the year. Then after leaving Twitter, I started using it more. I've met a few new online friends, but 97% of the folks on here I do not know and I have conversations for a moment and then poof, they are over. I've had some negative experiences there with some people. I don't know how much longer I can stay on there.

Which leads me to Facebook...

I've been on Facebook for almost 20 years. I was originally on there to connect with family and friends. Most have gone silent. It is mostly ads and groups now. The only reasons I've been on there was to keep in contact with my mother to interact and to promote my comic book projects. 

Which leads me here...

I'm thinking about leaving social media all together at the end of February and just making this website and blog my only online footprint out there for others to follow me or connect.

Anyone here reading this? If so, give me a shout out!

 

 

SEA SHANTY FUNNIES™ Comic Strip #1 - Welcome Aboard, Swabbies!

Happy New Year!

 

Popeye enters the public domain today here in the U.S.

 

Yours truly decided that I would like to do my own take on this character that I've loved since childhood. I am writing and illustrating a comic strip called "SEA SHANTY FUNNIES™". There won't be any Rated-R slasher style stories here. No twisted takes to titillate or cause any controversy. I just want to do my own all-ages respectful ode to those classic stories that many of us have loved. Hope you'll enjoy.

 

“SEA SHANTY FUNNIES™” is in no way associated with King Features Syndicate, Inc., nor are any claims made against their trademarks. Popeye was created by E.C. Segar.

 

I have also launched a webpage today at https://seashantyfunnies.blogspot.com/ where I will post new one-page short stories sporadically in the future. .