Letters From a Super Villian



According to a recent USA Now article, the recession, along with reduced metropolitan crime rates is making it very difficult for newly trained superheroes to find work. This year alone, over 2000 potential heroes graduated from super hero technical schools and four year colleges. According to 2010 statistics from the federal government, only 127 heroes were hired by municipalities nation wide, with another 300 estimated to have been hired for private contract work. That leaves approximately 1,600 newly graduated heroes without work.

This has led to rising concern that unemployed superheroes may be forced into less wholesome lines of work. This letter from The Red Phantom to his wife highlights just such a case.


In case you can't read it...here is the letter.

HI Diane,
I'm sorry I took so long to write, I guess I've been trying to put off the bad news, or stall hoping that things would get better.
I think I've been to interviews at 25 different city halls in the past month, and not a single offer. You should have seen the waiting rooms, filled with a dozen super heroes who looked just like me.

Anyway, I've finally found a job. Actually, it's an internship. I'll be working for the Midnight Assassin, as a sort of side kick in training. You probably haven't heard of him. He's a super vilian who mostly focuses on the Washington State Tri Cities of Kennewick, Richland and Pasco. Okay, I know he's not a super hero, and it's not exactly what I was looking for, but he just made it into Newsweek's list of 10 up and coming super villains. Right now, I feel like the name recognition is more important than which side he's on. Once I've interned under him for a year and made a name for myself, I can get a lot of media attention by switching over to the Super Hero side....then I'll probably have job offers coming out of my ears.

Starting Wednesday, I'll be moving into Midnight's loft in Spokane. It's a pretty nice place with hardwood floors and central heating, and he has the cutest Labrador/Poodle mix named NIgel. You'd love him.

I know that things haven't been going exactly as we'd planned. But, I promise you that I will provide for you and Toby. Please, don't give up on me. I love you so much. MIdnight says that you and Toby can stay here if you come to visit. Maybe you can get off work for a few days?
I think about you every night, baby.

Love forever,
The Red Phantom




This is in great contrast to a letter found just one year ago, written by now famed hero Atomic Atom.




It is frightening to imagine what our world would be like if heroes weren't present to help in situations like these shown below.


Batman- The Heartbreak



They had been together for a few years, but being with a super hero is never easy.

Is he off fighting crime? or is he with someone else?

When it got to be too much, she told Batman it was over.

Standing high above the skyscrapers of Gotham, Batman looked up towards the moon, and then down at the midnight streets below. The bat signal was shining bright, they needed him again,
but without her,
it all seemed so meaningless.



From DC Comic's Press Release
"Gotham's masked hero faces the ultimate existential villain. Is this the end of the Batman, or can his newly prescribed cocktail of anti-depressants get him out of bed in the morning?"

Find out in DC comic's new limited series Batman- The Heartbreak

Michael Robot and small tortoise friend.


Michael Robot is one of the only robot survivors of the Platnophian Wars which nearly destroyed all life on the tiny planet of Footha.

Hundreds of years ago, the native robot population of Footha invented a very simple model of human. The early experimental models were extremely large and cumbersome. These basic humans were able to solve simple mathematic equations, and could also tune instruments. In later versions, functioning legs and feet were added making the humans mobile and greatly increasing their potential.
Within 50 years, humans were in widespread use in factories and power plants. 100 years later, the first "human home model" was marketed by the Platnophian Corporation, and soon nearly every Robot on planet Footha had his own human. Robots no longer needed to waste time on mundane chores and menials tasks like cooking, cleaning, and Skeeter repair. It was the dawn of a new era.

200 years later, technology had advanced to the point that humans became self aware, autonomous beings, almost robot-like in nature. All over the planet, humans began to revolt against their masters and soon, large bands of freed humans roamed the streets.
What followed was decades of social turmoil as human's demanded robot rights from the reluctant robot master population. On Thiursap the 21st (Now known as Red Thiursap) humans all over Footha staged the first coordinated simultaneous attack on the robot population. Thus began the Platnophinan Wars.
After weeks of heavy fighting, and widespread robot casualties, the Platnophian corporation had no choice but to enact it's emergency contingency plan. 7 never before tested Hypolermanescent Phillipine Warheads were launched, targeting the areas most densely populated by humans.

The warheads contained a gas that was harmless to robots, but would wipe out the human population within moments. The launch was a success and the entire human population was finally eliminated, leaving only the robots and a dozen small tortoises.
Robots celebrated their victory, and vowed to never again let their own technology master them. But even as they raised their sylar cups in raucous celebration, tiny micro particles of Phillipine dust( a bi-product of the warhead's detonation) were falling down about their fragile robot bodies.
The Phillipine particulates clogged the robots vetrical ducts and stopped them dead in their tracks. The entire robot population stood still and silent as a willburrough. To the surviving tortoises, it must have looked as if time had stopped,

Michael Robot was a Misroboanthope, a hater of robot kind. Anti social, and unable to form connections with other robots, Michael was cast out of robot society. Using a falthine drill, Michael robot dug himself 2 miles into the crust of planet Footha, where he carved out a small nook for himself. He lived there in peace and robotic solitude, only rising to the surface to refill his Glokosoil stock every 120 years.
When Michael next rose to the surface, it was some 75 years after the Platnophinan war. The robot afterbodies still stood where they died that day, but the Phillipine dusts had long settled and sedimentized. The land once ruled by robots now crawled with bright green tortoises, thousands and thousands of tortoises.
Michael Robot found the tortoises much easier to get along with.
Soon he had assimilated into their culture and was treated as
one of them.




Michael Robot and Tortoise will be on display at Cade Gallery in Phoenix Arizona starting May 6th, 2011.

Bumpy Planet



Before its destruction during the Filop Wars, Wabulix was known throughout the Smythe Galaxy as one of the bumpliest tropical planets. The ground was covered in colorful bumples and the planet is divided into 13 continents (called Bumplewhips). Each Bumplewhip was covered in different colored bumples which could clearly be seen from high above by space travelers. Wabulix was a popular tropical getaway for inhabitants of the snowy planets that lie in the outer reaches of the Smythe Galaxy (Such as Shiverton 5, Shiverton 4 and also SamuSamu Land).

This picture is thought to be a depiction of Wabulixian scientist Trovy Pecal Igstilviklapklapklap. Dr. Trovy was credited with several inventions used throughout the galaxy such as the Huffle Puff, the Frumpington Pup and the Nuffer Puff. He also invented the Microsonic Hyperponic Deathylaser, an invention which many historians say led to the planet's destruction.

This picture was purchased by a tourist and is one of the last known Wabulixian art works in the entire Smythe Galaxy. It is part of the Smiterion Collection and can be viewed at the Museum of Planets Past in SamuSamu Land. However, this piece is currently on loan to the Cade Gallery, in Phoenix Arizona, a small, deserty metropolis in the primitive MIlky Way Galaxy.


Artist: Killibisish Fillisip Xto-KlapKlapKlap
Medium: Bumplet pigment juicel on Shirap leave
Size: 7 Pelipiso x 3 Pelipiso

Ken and Takeo at Torrance ARt Museum Charity Event



On March 26th TAkeo and I visited an art charity event at Torrance Art Museum. I had a few pieces in the show that I posted on my blog a while back. The event was a big success and raised more than $7000.

My t-shirt event from a few weeks ago also raised $400. I'm happy to see so many people donating their work and money to help.

Takeo has also been active in organizing and donating.

If you don't know Takeo, here are a few videos we have made together.


I first meet Takeo



We made this "How to speak fluent Japanese" without saying a word video



We made these songs


Aquarium Day Planner


Alexander Box Turtle is a practical turtle.

Box turtles are known for their tidiness and their fondness for making lists.
For a box turtle, there is nothing more satisfying than crossing out the items on your list one by one at the end of a lovely day.


I originally drew this picture of Alexander, but when I held up to his aquarium glass, he made a sort of turtle grimace, which I took to mean that he was displeased, so I decided to start over. It isn't easy to please a box turtle.

Immature Greater Squirrel Cat


This is a portrait I drew of an immature Greater Squirrel Cat that I saw at Koganei Park in Tokyo. The Greater Squirrel Cat is not a native species of Tokyo (although the Common Lesser Squirrel Cat is). I was surprised to see him there.

He was scratching playfully at the bark of a maple tree and his cheeks were full of pudge from the nuts he had tucked away inside.

I didn't want to frighten him away before I could draw his likeness, so I sat very quietly, hidden behind a beer vending machine.
When I finished I stood up, but before I could call out to him, and ask his name and other business, he scurried off at great speed. He glided over the surface of a pond and then waved his bushy tail around till he propelled himself up into the air, towards Tokorozawa.

I ran to the Hana Koganei Station and took a Kyuukoo express train towards HonKawaGoe hoping I might catch sight of him out the window. I thought I saw him as I passed Sayama but when I held up my binoculars I found that it was just a ruddy kingfisher. I rode the train all the way to HonKawaGoe and walked down to the old town street where they sell the famous sweet potato candies. I kept thinking I would find my squirrel Cat, drinking tea and eating bean cakes in one of the touristic tea shops...but I never did see him again.

In Space, no one can hear your jump rope songs.




I found this drawing at an imaginary estate sale in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles. This is a drawing of Russian Astronaut Jacoby Denisovich.

In the early 1970's the Soviet Union launched a secret space shuttle (Utkanos) into space. The mission was to try out various children's games in zero gravity to see if they were more fun, less fun , or the same amount of fun as when performed on Earth.

Hula hooping, yoyoing and jump rope proved to be "Much more fun" while multiple attempts at playing Jacks and Twister proved unsuccessful and nearly resulted in the death of Mr. Denisovich.

This was the first and only Russian mission to employ an on-board illustrator who captured the tests in ink and watercolor. Illustrator Zlatina Velasko defected to the United States shortly after returning from space. This illustration was the only one that she was able to smuggle out, the rest remain stored in the Kremlin's top secret "vault of illustrations and children's drawings".

Someday I hope that the information is released and scientists around the world can better understand the varied fun-ness of playing different children's games while floating high above the Earth.

What game would you like to play in space?




Upon returning

Elephant was pasted into high grass.



This Elephant named Toby was drawn long ago. He was a circus elephant all his life, since he was a pup. But last week, I cut him out with a pair of scissors...out of the piece of paper where he lived, and the circus and his comfortable zone.

Today I pasted Toby into the African savannah. I could see, in his eye, the look of fear and surprise at first, and then it turned to wonder, as he saw his first mountains, and felt the pads of his elephant foot touch moist grasses.

Toby is probably worried about making new friends. I am hoping one of those cleaner birds will land on his back soon and keep him company.

Wallpaper friend 1983



In 2009 I bought a roll of old wall paper from the 1960s or 70s. The back of it had a very nice rough texture, and I used it to practice water coloring on. The paper absorbs a lot of water and gives a muted and aged look to whatever I paint on it.

This red fellow,well, I don't know much about him really. I don't even know his name, though I suspect it is Jacob. He seems to communicate not with words, but with long, long moments of silence. I have taken to setting him down by my bed and keeping him with me all the time so that eventually I can learn to understand the meaning of these silences and what he is trying to tell me.

My friend Takeo says he looks like ET mixed with a frog. ET came to Earth in 1983. If he fell in love with a small tree frog, maybe while Elliot was at school, he could have had some hybrid tadpoles. Today, the hybrid would be 28 years old. I feel like he looks about 27 in this painting...but I haven't seen enough extra terrestrial frog hybrids to know exactly how to tell their age.

The painting below is called "He Lives in your Neighborhood". IT was sold at my first show at Billy Shire Fine Arts in 2009. This one is also on the same wallpaper.

Blue Kitty




I accidentally drew this blue kitty yesterday. I was trying to draw something else, maybe George Washington, or maybe a small piglet. I think this blue kitty must have been on this piece of paper already, so when I rubbed some paint on the paper he surfaced. I was quite pleased to meet him.

It Will all be over Soon




Fatalistic Chick
"It will all be over soon"

I am back to painting again for the first time in many moons. I spent most of last year making my picture book Everybody Dies- A Children's Book for Grown Ups. I finished it in Decmeber, but then in early January I met Jacob the herniated disc (L5) and Jacob makes it hard to paint because I can't sit down for long.

It's been two months since I met Jacob, and I am learning to live with him. He's not a good neighbor though. I started painting again a few days ago since I am getting ready for several art shows.

1. This Saturday I will have a piece in Torrance Museum to benefit the quake.
2. It is the anniversary of the Billy Shire Fine ARts Gallery where I had my first show in 2009. They are doing a show with a piece from all artists who have showed there...the work will be published in a book. So I need to finish a piece for that by March 31.
3. I am applying for a museum show in Hokkaido.
4. I have my first Solo Art show in Los Angeles coming up on June 10th in Chinatown.
5. I have a show at Cade Gallery in Phoenix Arizona on the First Friday in May.

So I have to make peace with Jacob and start painting. I made Fatalistic Chick Today.


This is a companion to the piece below which I did quite a while ago. Click here and scroll down and you can see a little bit about the original piece.



I would like to do one more "It will all be over soon" but I haven't though of it yet. I think the thought is coming soon. Yes

Quake aftermath update- what people in Japan are saying

I am currently in Los Angeles, not in Japan, but am in email and skype contact with peopel from Fukushima(where reactors are) , Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka and Shimane. I would like to talk a little bit about what people are saying and feeling.

The feeling that I am getting from friends and loved ones is that, although the idea of radiation is scary, it is the current suffering of the thousands of thousands of people in the North Eastern quake/tsunami hit area that is the immediate concern. There are freezing temperatures, and a lack of supplies. Yesterday four people died in a shelter in Miyagi Ken (quake epicenter). These are people who are at immediate risk. Also, of course, the power plant workers and police who are risking their lives getting close to the plant to drop water on it and check on the situation.

Some friends say that they are more worried about aftershocks and another strong quake coming than radiation.

I spoke to my friend Mika in Fukushima who I mentioned in one of my videos. Her family survived the quake and luckily is 100kim from the plants. They are scared and nervous because the wind is supposed to change and start blowing towards them.

From looking at Twitter tweets by YouTube foreign vloggers, many foreign residents in Japan are upset by alarmist Western media stories, and that the stories focus mainly on radiation fear and not the current problem of people suffering right now. Yesterday I read an AP article on Yahoo that said the UN says the radiation will reach Southern California on friday....but they left out that it is supposed to be diluted and not harmful.

The mood in Tokyo has become gloomy say some of my friends. On friend left Tokyo for Osaka and immediately saw that Osaka is much less gloomy. Osaka and Southern Japan are quite for from the reactors and I think radiation is less likely to hit. The US has announced some charter planes to evacuate people in tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya...but none in the more southern regions (Osaka, Kyoto, Fukuoka). I just heard on the news, that the first evacuation flight left Japan for US.

Another problem with WEstern media is that I notice is that the articles and news pieces make it sound that all of Japan is at risk and make statements of Japan as a whole...that people are hoarding food...etc... But friends say that life is very normal in many areas. There have been periodic hoarding in Tokyo and it is true that gas is hard to get and there are long lines. I'm not sure if this is true in south areas though...I don't think it would be true in Nagoya or Osaka, kyuushuu, shikoku.

Meltdown at Japan Fukushima reactor

Here is an english explanation of some of the news I'm hearing on NHK now about the explosion in Fukushima reactor.

There was an explosion about 2 hours ago. 4 workers were injured. They are saying the amount of radiation measured will expose a person to one year worth of natural radiation in one hour.

They have evacuated a 10 km radius from both reactor #1 and #2.
They are suggesting people in the area go inside, cover their skin in clothes, blankets, breathe through handkerchief and not pick and eat any fruit/vegetables growing outside.

There is still a lot of confusion about what is going on. Wind patterns currently show that wind will blow out towards sea for the next few days.

地震　earthquake in Japan

I was just talking on Skype to my friend Victor (Gimmeabreakman from Youtube) in Nagoya, Japan. While we were skyping there was a big earthquake, and he had to leave his building. I have never been on the phone with someone during a quake.

There was a big quake in Northern Japan a few days ago and there have been many aftershocks.

It was scary because I did not know how bad it was. All I heard him say was "Earth quake" over add over again...and that it was big. I hope it wasn't too big. and that everybody is okay. I don't like earthquakes, unless they are small and friendly.



So I send my wishes that nobody has been hurt.

You Don't Get There From Here- My favorite Zine Comic




This has become one of my favorite comics lately. It's a homemade zine made by Carrie McNinch
She calls it a "diary comic" and writes a 3 column episode for each day. It is a slice of life story and she talks a lot about her relationships with cats, friends, art and coffee. REading it makes you feel like you are living life with her.

Here is a good example of one of her diary entries. I like what the kitty says at the end.



I like to wear my lovely "You Don't Get There From Here" Kitty Kat T-Shirt. What a handsome kitty.



You can buy the comics here.

The Lobsta Truck (lobster rolls in LA) The real McLobster, and a stupid idiot fish



Cartoonish Keith KNight and I visited The Lobsta Truck in Culver City. It's a popular, roaming Los Angeles food truck that goes to a different spot every day. Keith is from Boston and knows a lot about lobster rolls.

I haven't been to too many trucks. Kogi (korean bbq tacos) is the most famous one, but I did not find it too tasty. Sometimes I make a cheese quesadilla at home and put kim chi in it...I think mine is a lot tastier than the Kogi truck.

At Nijiya Market in West Los Angeles, I met a very stupid dead fish. I bought him and took him home and made this video.
Stupid dead fish filet

Taipei Night Markets Yum Yum Yum




On my recent trip to Taipei, I visited some very handsome night markets. I spent about 10 days around Taipei and ate in night markets almost every day. There is great variety with all kinds of Chinese food, some Japanese, and I even found a Burmese Night Market.

One of my favorite night market foods isn't shown here. It was an oyster omelet with a somewhat sweet sauce. Does anybody know the name of it? It was available at most night markets.


Here is a video of me eating Stinky Tofu which is referenced in the above video.