ADW ART DEPARTMENT WEEKLY ISSUE 112 VOL. 14
MULTIPLES HANGING ON TO EVERYTHING
Comics
AND A WHOLE LOT OF CHEETOS
THROWBACK 25-YEAR-OLD MEMORIES
toys THE BEST
OF 2021
MINI BOARD
BABY SHARK Betty lost her first two teeth at the dentist’s office. The adult teeth were coming up behind instead of underneath. —MV
SUPER RESPONSES The best part of Twitter is having other people confirm you weren’t alone in thinking that. —MV
Art Department Weekly is published by Dinosaur Girly Productions, 184 Bay 26th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11214. The entire contents of ADW are protected by copyright and may not be reproduced without expressed written consent of the publisher. ADW accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts and/or photographs and assumes no liability for products or services advertised herein. ADW reserves the right to edit, rewrite, refuse or reuse material, is not responsible for errors or omissions, and may feature same in other mediums for any and all purposes.
D
AR E H R
T R NA
OVE
I
“I just ʻugh’ a lot” -Luis
“Your face is good enough for the basement” -Boom
“I didn’t get notes of Dijon from that”
RELATED OBSERVATIONS Ruth Bader Ginsburg was born in 1933, but in the picture above it looks like Bella Hadid was born in 1918. There are so many things to question in this picture. Are those really dishes? Am I a thousand years old? Is that cool? Is Bella still cool...?! —MV
-Luis
“He’s still staring at me” -Boom
“I tried to accidentally swallow a TicTac” -Megan
“Yeah, they’re fine but I fucking hate them” -Luis
“It was a palate cleanser from the ’80s” -Madeline
Barbie is still producing dolls of all shapes sizes and genders because I think they know your friends don’t have to look like you. It’s an easy way to model better behavior.
It’s so true, it’s insane.
“They didn’t use ʻunremarkable’ and I appreciate that” -Luis
February 22, 2022 • Art
Department Weekly
3
PERCEPTION PATTERN Rounding up and sorting out what warranted a screenshot between issues
Nope. I'll play Spelling Bee before I play Wordle Mass
NOT SINCE 2011 Remember 1/1/11, 1/11/11, 11/1/11, and 11/11/11?
ALL THOSE GREEN BOXES THEY SHOULD
Brilliant
Despicable
Girl, you know it’s true, pull it all down. Blame it on the rain.
Madeline doesn’t play Wordle, but she saw everyone posting their results that day
REBOOT TIME I would sit through at least a 5 minute skit of this.
BETTER THAN UBER Ride share for $18 or take an empty bus for $5.50? And it was a Limited so we skipped stops!
SO FANCY Does Chris Wittyngham know Walmart has jeans labeled as trousers?
Selective
She could totally play Renesme, too 4
Art Department Weekly • February 22, 2022
LEARNING MORE FOR BLACK HISTORY In the past, February brought historical figures through my social media. This year I saw more about correcting perceptions. LinkedIn fed me a post about the significance of cornrows while Facebook broke down racist terms. Considering “CakeWalk” was a carnival game at my elementary school, I’m horrified. Last, the Daily News called out how unfair high school applications are in this city. —MV https://www.africanexponent.
@monachalabi
com/post/7891-how-cornrows-were-used-by-slaves-to-escape-slavery-in-south-america
BLACK AND WHITE Why are there only six choices for race on the U.S. Census? And why was there such a big jump in “other” between 2010 and 2020? The Feb. 21 episode of United States of Anxiety explores what it’s like to pick a box that doesn’t really apply to you and how the data matters with Mona Chalabi, a data journalist and artist. I had just read about Sally Hemmings as proof that the one-drop rule endured so slave owners could create new slaves for free. Thomas Jefferson’s descendants (who looked like him) were property, not people. This podcast does address the motives of the original census, but also spends the majority of its time in the present with the need for accurate data and personal accounts. Ms. Chalabi is Arab, which is not one of the six options. The category was supposed to be added for 2020 but Trump allegedly blocked it to prevent the number of “whites” from dropping. The results appeared to say there was a decrease in the white population anyway. Is it no longer acceptable to be “white”? Are people opting out of answering the question? Do they want to be more nuanced than simply “white”? Maybe we should go back to the system where citizens could see the results and amend them before the data was finalized. I highly recommend the episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ the-united-states-of-anxiety/ id1155194811?i=1000551741944
Also, check out @monachalabi on Instagram for her insightful takes on available data.
The way this chart breaks it down, a whole lot of kids shouldn’t be expected to be functioning near grade level—especially if they didn’t have a quiet well-connected remote school set up.
February 22, 2022 • Art
Department Weekly
5
FUN ON A FORCED WALK After a snow storm made it nearly impossible to park by the elementary school, Boom took advantage of his walk home from the bus stop to play with the snow. We dropped clean white blocks in the gutter to see how fast they turned brown. Yup. —MV
EDUCATION AND POLITICS More than anything else this month, banned books seemed to be the hot topic on my socials, underscoring the importance of local government and how we talk to kids about the world.
Taking advantage of the situation
LAST MEAL FOR THE WEEK Why do this on Fridays? Kal says it’s bean burritos so far.
6
Art Department Weekly • February 22, 2022
A minute after LV announced Senator Booker and Rosario Dawson are no longer together, a “Happy Valentine’s Day” email hit my inbox. All about love. On Valentine’s Day. But he just wants money...
FREEZE
@mateussgarcia
Return to Office is almost as scary as some public art. We’ll try to laugh about it here with the help of Instagram.
MEET STUMPY This door reminded me of Miss Minutes, the artificial intelligence that aids the Time Variance Authority on Loki. When I pointed it out to Boom and Betty, they had other ideas. Betty said it looked like a baby sun while Boom thought it looked like an underdeveloped Lorax, the orange Dr. Seuss character who speaks for the trees. Because the ball is balanced on a tree stump like the Lorax, we’ve taken to calling it Stumpy. Maybe his series will come to a streaming service this summer and he’ll grow a pair of legs. —MV @freeze_magazine
LOW KEY BRAG Betty didn’t tell us she was one of the Artists of the week. We had to read about it in the school newsletter like strangers. But it explained why she knew so much about how the teacher was behind on pictures.
February 22, 2022 • Art
Department Weekly
7
TOYS OF THE YEAR A round-up of Luis’ favorite toys of 2021 2021 was another atypical year of figure shopping. With the pandemic still raging and massive shipping delays, most of my toy purchasing happened over FaceTime or through exclusive retailers.
Lady Jaye
G.I. JOE CLASSIFIED Highly-detailed Hasbro figure that looks like it walked right out of the Real American Hero cartoon series. Great spear accessories, and an alternate head allows for possibility without a hat.
Beach Head
G.I. JOE CLASSIFIED One of the standout figures from the top toy line of 2021. The Target exclusive Beach Head was incredibly hard to find due to the pandemic and shipping delays. Once I had it in hand, it did not disappoint. An absolutely amazing figure. Great sculpt and costume details are a hallmark of this line, but the rarity of this figure made it my favorite of the year.
“My favorite F word is figga” -Luis
8
Art Department Weekly • February 22, 2022
Toy companies put out a plethora of amazing products. Hasbro and Mattel both went almost exclusively to real scans for actual likenesses. Hasbro debuted their pinless knee and elbow joints which allowed them to keep the same amount of articulation while providing a more attractive aesthetic. After all the problems and delays, it was still a wonderful year in the toy realm leaving me with very high hopes for 2022!
Soundwave
WAR FOR CYBERTRON: KINGDOM CORE CLASS The 3.5 inch scale of figures feels like its rendered right from the mid 80’s cartoon. A perfect blend of nostalgia in detailing, coloring and deco while having all the modernization of ease of transformation. The only thing missing were mini-cassettes which transformed into their own robots in disguise. Easily my favorite transformer of the year.
Megatron
WAR FOR CYBERTRON: KINGDOM CORE CLASS While this version transforms into a tank instead of a handgun (a transformation that was abandoned in the early 90’s) Megatron, just like Soundwave seems to have been ripped right out of my childhood and transported to the modern era. The Kingdom Core class focuses on playability and accuracy of sculpt in the smaller scale. A great figure, at an even better price point which provides a nice point of entry for new, young fans.
February 22, 2022 • Art
Department Weekly
9
TOTY
Big Van Vader
WWE LEGENDS Amazing Target exclusive WWE Legends figure which allows you to recreate 3 different eras of Big Van Vader. His headpiece from his AJPW/ NJPW run, his mask from the WCW run, or remove them both and have his smaller mask from his WWE run. On top of that the sculpt and scale of the figure honors one of the best big men in the history of professional wrestling.
Santos Escobar
WWE ELITE The figure features one of my favorite head sculpts of the entire year. His smirk and man bun capture the attitude of the former cruiser weight champion and leader of Legado de Fantasma. One of my favorite alternate heads of the year is the masked luchador head which lets you transform Santos into his luchador guise El Hijo de Fantasma.
10
Art Department Weekly • February 22, 2022
Koska Reeves
STAR WARS BLACK SERIES Right in line with the Bo-Katan figure, Koska’s armor and jetpack are beautifully rendered with the proper amount of weathering. My one regret with this figure is that it wasn’t posed in package with the helmet off. If they had done that (as they did with Bo-Katan) they would have sold more units as wrestling fans would have rushed to buy figures of Sasha Banks as a Mandalorian. All we need is Axe Woves to complete Bo’s team.
Bo-Katan
STAR WARS BLACK SERIES This figure perfectly captures the likeness of geek goddess Katee Sackhoff. Katee reprises the role of the badass Mandalorian in pursuit of the dark saber that she originally voiced in The Clone Wars and Rebels. The weathering on the helmet helps sell the fact Bo is a hardened warrior who has been doing this a long time. Absolutely one of the standout Star Wars figures of 2021.
February 22, 2022 • Art
Department Weekly
11
TOTY
Captain Carter and Sam Wilson/Captain America
LEGO MCU DISNEY+ WAVE My favorite Lego blind bags of 2021 featured characters from the MCU Disney+ series. Pictured here are my favorites of the bunch: Sam Wilson as he ascends to the mantle of Captain America and Captain Carter (yes, again...I really like this character) from the very first What If? episode. Easily the most cost effective way to get a figure of Sam’s Falcon Captain hybrid. Captain Carter comes adorned in my preferred Union Jack inspired gear. Simply perfect mini figures.
Captain Carter
MARVEL LEGENDS WHAT IF? My favorite character from the Disney+ What If? animated series. While the figure is short on accessories (only packaged with her captains shield) the head and hair sculpt is perfect. I wish the figure would have utilized more of a union jack color scheme but the more stealth style color scheme worked really nicely.
12
Art Department Weekly • February 22, 2022
Into the SpiderVerse
MARVEL LEGENDS The figure foursome of Peter B. Parker, SpiderGwen, Spider-Ham and Miles Morales will make you feel like you are still watching the brilliant Into The SpiderVerse. Each figure comes with alternate heads and hands to easily convert from action to civilian
IN STOCK BUT NOT REALLY Finding Marvel Legends in general was not hard if you were looking for Eternals characters. Madeline hates to pass up photographing toys that have been swapped. This is a package for Salma Hayek’s character (note the extra head) with an X-Men: Age of Apocalypse Wave 2 Jean Grey (“a deep cut,” according to Luis) from three years ago. What...
February 22, 2022 • Art
Department Weekly
13
TOTY
Mandalorian
RETRO SERIES The Hasbro Retro line perfectly captures the charm and simplicity of the late 70s line of Kenner Star Wars figures. The simple sculpt and the plastic cape will instantly transport you to 1982. Special props to the packaging which features a weathered look to really sell the retro feel.
14
Art Department Weekly • February 22, 2022
Superman
MCFARLANE TOYS Beautifully sculpted black suit Superman based on Henry Cavill’s portrayal of the Man of Steel in Zach Snyder’s Justice League film. The likeness is uncanny, the dimpling on the costume texture is unbelievable. The added clear stand allows for a variety of action poses. At a relatively modest price point, McFarlane has really done a nice job with his batch of DC figures, specifically the ones based on the likenesses of the actors portraying the characters.
February 22, 2022 • Art
Department Weekly
15
&
DITCHING OLD TECHNOLOGY UPDATING THE PORTFOLIO REARRANGING THE BASEMENT
&
(AGAIN)
The folder for updating LV’s website was created five years ago. It’s actually been on the to-do list for more than six years. With Scrappy moving into the basement, it was time to copy some files, post an update, and say good-bye to a lot of stuff
We couldn’t take down the Christmas tree (which turned 16 (that’s Meg in 2005)) until I knew where it would live after the basement was rearranged. (It’s actually not in the basement anymore.) The last time LV’s site was updated, Boom was new to the world (photographed on the iPad mentioned on Page 19).
The oldest photo on this page is Meg in wrapping paper, then LV with his notepad during a shoot for his portfolio site, then baby Boom, then Boom hugging the tree, and then the 2002 Gateway desktop.
16
Art Department Weekly • February 22, 2022
NEW
NEW
No sofa was moved in the creation of this new arrangement Issue 108 also used a pattern of Lego pieces on the cover because Madeline had just reorganized the basement. The map’s magenta lines are in addition to the yellow lines from Issue 108’s game plan. The article in that May 2021 issue referenced Issue 87’s cover of Betty jumping off the basement sleeper sofa. To recap, Madeline took the photo for Issue 87 in 2020 in the middle of the basement where the previous owners had dumped it. Then she moved the sofa to “the stage.” A year into the pandemic, she moved it all the way to the other end of the basement in 2021. She liked the way sunlight was introduced in the 2021 arrangement, so rather than move the sofa in 2022, she moved the loft bed as far as it could. It was the only way to get Meg a clearly definded space. Be sure to visit luisvegadesign.com
NO DUBS BACK THEN... We didn’t re-hang the bi-fold doors on the stage, but the how-to video literally had Madeline’s name on it. Backing up old technology meant revisiting MTA on strike, margaritas in 2005, LV in a shopping cart, San Diego hot tubs, and giant Dinoaur Girly art.
February 22, 2022 • Art
Department Weekly
17
WHAT WERE YOU DOING IN
1997
While Luis was playing with super models, Madeline was obsessing over yearbook
Four of Luis’ issues we found when updating his portfolio, ranging from September/October 1997 to March/April 1998
18
Art Department Weekly • February 22, 2022
From old iPad photos recently recopied: 1) MV had to put four more action photos on the sidebar because seven weren’t enough in the main design. 2) Being EIC meant designing the footer and changing the style on photo credits. MV also took a Field Biology course in 1997 that was really just a giant roadtrip. 3) Why did we set up templates to put the subject in the gutter? 4) The “Student Life” section didn’t have professional photographers (we had a huge budget), so MV walked around with a camera in addition to assigning articles, editing photos, designing layouts...
1
2
“Totally off the wall” was the theme
the issue theme “Getting closer” was
3
Entertainment weekly for sure was this headline inspiration
A paid adult took all but that one photo by mv
4
TELLING THE WHOLE STORY
Armed with film cameras and early desktop publishing, the goal was to show as many people as possible with the longest captions that would fit (and steal some magazine headline styles). Madeline was the sports editor on the 1997 and editor-in-chief on the 1998 editions of this 300-page beast.
WITH BLACK BOXES UNTIL JOSTENS SENT US THE BLUE LINES
February 22, 2022 • Art
Department Weekly
19
MAKE PEACE “I cherish peace with all my heart. I don’t care how many men, women, and children I have to kill to get it.”
RAISING DION The gently floating bag sparked this article idea
WELL PLACED
20
PEACEMAKER Judo Master loudly crunches in most of his scenes
EUPHORIA Gas stations sell Pepsi products, so obvious but not distracting
RIGHTEOUS GEMSTONES It’s a vending machine
FREE GUY Not what I planned to write about Free Guy, which surprisingly reminded me of Truman Show
EUPHORIA Same episode as the gas station, but the Cheetos are sneaky here.
Art Department Weekly • February 22, 2022
subtle
The character of Peacemaker originally hit the spinner racks in November of 1966. Created by artist Pay Boyette and writer Joe Gill for Charlton Comics. DC acquired Charlton in 1983 and that is when the modern incarnation of Peacemaker really took off. DC changed his origin from a devout political pacifist turned vigilante to that of a son of Nazi with a twisted past and a violent way of achieving peace. When Alan Moore was writing the Watchmen he intended to use the original Charlton Comics characters (Blue Beetle, The Question, Captain Atom, Peacemaker, etc.). When DC acquired Charlton, Moore shifted to original creations based strongly on the Charlton characters with Peacemaker becoming the Comedian. The HBO Max version of Peacemaker is the best take ever on the character. Cena gives a remarkably nuanced performance for a relative newcomer in Hollywood. Over-the-top and funny, extremely violent, but mixed with tons of emotion and heart—doesn’t seem like a recipe that would work, but it does. James Gunn’s masterful take pulls the best inspirations from past stories while mixing in a lot of Comedian to create the biggest original hit in the short life of HBO Max.
obvious
Cheetos are in everything we’ve watched lately. Here’s a ranking of how subtle the appearances were...
COBRA KAI Only knew because of productplacementblog.com
ARTISTS WE LOVE: LEE WEEKS From Daredevil to Superman to a Tom King title, Luis has no shortage of opportunities to say nice things about this artist you should know The latest artist we love is Lee Weeks, a comic veteran who broke into the industry in 1986. His first published work was in Tales of Terror for Eclipse Comics. Marvel quickly took notice and he produced consistent work through the rest of the ’80s. In 1992 Lee finally got the breakout hit of his career, pencilling the Daredevil Last Rites storyline from 1990-1992. The defacto sequel to Frank Miller’s Born Again storyline featured the brilliant fall of the Kingpin. With his star turn on Daredevil, Lee’s brilliance was finally in full effect. His amazing linework, great facial expressions and masterful visual story-telling made the comics landscape take notice. After a decade-long run at Marvel, Lee made his way over to DC for a short stint in the late ’90s before taking a comic book sabbatical to work as a storyboard artist for Superman: The Animated Series. Weeks’ disappeared for more than a decade where he worked on a series of crime novels, before bursting back into the comics landscape in 2015 with the Superman: Lois and Clark series where he paired with Dan Jurgens to tell the story of how the original Superman was still on the New 52 Earth and secretly had a child with Lois. For a veteran who had been around for 30 years he enjoyed the greatest success of his career teaming with Tom King on the Batman/Elmer Fudd one shot (for which he was awarded the Inkwell Award) which led to the “Cold Days” run on the Batman series. Lee has had a long and brilliant career, which, like a fine wine, seems to get better with age.
MILLER TIME To Madeline the Catwoman/Batman picture reminded her of Frank Miller’s Sin City, but it’s actually Week’s work on Daredevil that is more like Miller
February 22, 2022 • Art
Department Weekly
21
FIVE THINGS *
MADELINE NEEDED TO THROW OUT RECENTLY
BROKEN TOYS This guy is beyond repair like more than a few of Betty’s playthings
HARD DISKS Some of them were corrupted and the labels already scratched out
IKEA TOOLS Wrenches and hex keys came with every individual piece of the shelf sets Madeline recently purchased and constructed. Luckily metal can be recycled?
LEGO BASES There’s really nothing to do with all these mini fig stands
COMPACT DISCS More old programs and files in a format that can’t be read on any current machines
22
Art Department Weekly • February 22, 2022