Uncanny X-Men #8

cpjudd — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 20:21:37 +0000

Recently, in the Marvel title, Uncanny X-Men, my favorite character was abducted (this is actually absurdly common for her) and after speculating her fate with my friend Niels, he crafted up this script for me to illustrate. I think it turned out rather well.

Gay Children

cpjudd — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 21:33:02 +0000

Dear Parents of the World -
There is a phrase used often, when talking about portrayals of homosexuals in the media, by people who say that it’s okay for people to be gay in the privacy of their own homes but they don’t want to “expose their children to homosexuality”. No offense, they say. “I just don’t want to have to explain boys kissing to my 4-year-old.” To some people, it seems like a reasonable request, and you often get your way. Like the censorship of the gay kiss in Katy Perry’s Fireworks video in the UK.

Let me say to those people: get over it.

Yes, I want to expose your children to homosexuality. I absolutely do. It’s important that children are exposed to homosexuality. But not because it makes me feel better. Not out of some desire to be politically correct, or inclusive. But because it is potentially vital for their psychological well-being. Your children are already exposed to heterosexuality on a near-constant basis in advertising, in music, in television, in movies, in books. Snow White and the Seven Dwarves exposes children to heterosexuality. She kisses the prince! That is some full-on heterosexuality going on right there!
But homosexuality is much less accessible. Sure, homosexuality is not as common as heterosexuality, so, sure, I’d expect straight kisses on TV to outnumber gay kisses. But by hundreds, not by millions. Every romance is a straight romance, every teenager’s tale of self-discovery ends in their getting the girl. The princess always marries the prince, not another princess.
The reason there are confused kids who don’t realize they’re gay until their late teens, causing them much anguish and heartache, is precisely because they are not exposed to homosexuality. Some are just unaware that it is a possibility. Others know there are gay people, but because people request that images of loving gay couples not be shown to children, they get the clear impression that there is something Wrong or Bad about homosexuality.

I know lots of people, if asked, would say there’s nothing wrong with homosexuality. They may even believe it to be true. But their stance on this issue indicates differently. It’s the softest form of bigotry, but precisely because it seems so innocuous it remains unexamined and damaging to the psyche of the 4-8% of kids who, no matter what they see on TV, are going to turn out gay anyway. Not knowing the word “gay” won’t stop them being gay, it will just prevent them understanding why they feel so different, and that lack of understanding can be traumatic.

You don’t want to explain boys kissing boys to your four-year-old? GET OVER IT. You had to explain boys kissing girls to them last week. Whatever level of explanation you gave then (“they like each other”) will do just fine. If they ask questions about how gay sex works, then you can always say “I’ll tell you when you’re older”. You don’t have to give them the full blow-by-blow the first time they ask. Whenever you explain how straight sex works is fine. (However, I recommend you first find out how gay sex works before attempting to explain it. Apparently a lot of you still have some pretty weird ideas.)

Even if you are 1000%, completely, totally sure your kid is straight — or his first words were “I love vaginal sex”, or something — do it anyway. Because the second-worst thing to gay kids who think being gay is wrong is straight kids who do, and pass that mistaken belief on to their peers. You don’t have to sell it to them. You don’t have to convince them that being gay is a thing they want to do. They just need to understand that it is a relatively not AS common but entirely natural way to be, like being left-handed.

And sure, some kids, when they hear that some people are left-handed, try writing with their left hand too. They soon discover it doesn’t work for them, and switch back. So maybe your teenagers, hearing that homosexuality is an equally valid state of being, might try it out. But so what? They’ll discover it’s not what they’re into, and they’ll move on. Believe me, there’s no chance they’ll get confused about it. Either you like boys or you don’t. And if the thought of your children trying out gay sex scares you more than the thought of them trying out straight sex, you might want to examine your own beliefs for a second.

So go on. Expose your children to homosexuality today. It’s for their own good.

Extinction

cpjudd — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 21:05:35 +0000

This month, I’m celebrating two outstanding developments in the world of the X-Men.
Firstly, Uncanny X-Men is renumbering, starting at #1, after 544 issues, with esteemed writer Kieron Gillen at the helm, and he is knocking it out of the park in a very VERY big way.
And secondly, my absolute favorite character in comic book history has finally ascended into the big leagues, as a full fledged X-Man and core member of the Uncanny cast. Here’s to you, Miss Illyana Rasputin!!
And in honor of this X-citement, I’ve crafted this illustration depicting the 9 heavy hitters, as selected by Cyclops and/or Kieron Gillen for defending the mutant and human races from Extinction!

Make Believe

cpjudd — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 20:55:57 +0000

The concept of make-believe and the implementation of our imagination in our day to day lives is at its strongest in our youth. For me, I spent countless hours defending my home against zombies, vampires, dragons, witches, mutants, and whatever else came across my Saturday morning television screen.
Here, for example, is an illustration I found that I did a few years back, of myself adorned in the latest and greatest monster fighting attire for that period in my life, taking on infamous fabric softner spokesman, Snuggles the bear. I’m sure many can relate to doing their laundry and then finding a sock missing from the pair you put in. Well that would be Snuggles’ doing.
I’ve left a trail of socks to lure Snuggles, where he and I would inevitably do battle over my mother’s laundry.

Being a monumental nerd, this particular recreational activity lasted well into my early teens, and I can only imagine what my mother must have thought, looking out the kitchen window, into the backyard, watching her youngest cartwheeling across the grass, swinging punches at nothing and launching my best attempts at tornado kicks followed by stabbing the ground with a big wooden spike I’d crafted in our garage.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer was a big influence on me, and became an obsession throughout my formative high school years. Though I found the idea that all Slayers were girls to be a creative twist, I also found myself disappointed that this meant I would never acquire an ancient call to duty with enhanced strength, prophetic dreams and exceptional fighting skills of my own. I felt there had to be a gay loop hole, for me, as there seemed to be in so many other aspects of life ( the army, donating blood, marriage, etc.) but, of course, in reverse. Any girl has the potential to become “the chosen one”….. and maybe this gay kid too.

But it just goes to show you that teenagers, with all their raging hormones and emotionally driven decisions, don’t necessarily think clearly on everything. Because really (?) what was I thinking wishing that I would be chosen to fight vampires, give up my life and family and friends, in exchange for a short life expectancy with super strength, constant nightmares and insomnia. Pffft. Kids.

My Favorite Things

cpjudd — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 19:51:42 +0000

I’d been meaning to make an illustration displaying my favorite things for some time now. And then I did. And then…I never posted it. So this would be that illustration. I did it while at work one day, using an office pen, and it turned out pretty good, so I left it as is.
It features Zombies ( I’m inexplicably drawn to Zombie apocalypse stuff. It must be the survivor in me?), a manatee (nature’s sea cow), my Murse (male nurse) Wooby, holding a freshly baked batch of Tater Tot Hot Dish (aka Tot Dish), a stack of trade paperbacks collecting all of my favorite comic books (depleting my bank account, but I just can’t stop!), a kitty ( I LOVE cats, and have been prone to pulling over my car to pet one if I see it on the sidewalk, in someone’s yard, or wherever) and Illyana Rasputin, the mutant sorceress and younger sister of Colossus, of the X-Men.

Utopia

cpjudd — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 17:41:10 +0000

Formerly known as Asteroid M, before crashing into the San Francisco Bay harbor, Utopia was brought back to the surface under direction of Cyclops, to provide a refuge for mutants, escaping the government’s persecution. Here is a depiction of as many X-Men as I could muster, on their new home and base of operations.

Spring Con 2010

admin — Sun, 16 May 2010 22:43:19 +0000

Spring Con 2010 at the State Fair Grand Stand was incredible, and suprisingly draining.

Carpooling from Uptown to St.Paul, Miss Brittney Sabo, Miss Anna Brattonn (both fellow guests at the convention) and myself were met by my amazing friend Justin Head, with McDonalds breakfast in hand, for what would prove to be the beginning of a fantastic weekend. Special thanks to team “Brustiney” for all their amazing support and help with preparing for this event.

Saturday’s initial jitters were immediately washed away after introductions to my designated ‘creator neighbor’, acclaimed DC and Marvel artist, W.C. Carani. If you’re unfamiliar, then you’re missing out. Google him. I couldn’t have asked to be seated next to a better guy. He offered me advice (and a tool for inking), complimented my work, encouraged me, struck up conversation throughout the day and really became a role model for me. His generosity and professionalism really impacted me and set the tone for my experience there.

As a new face to the creator list at the Con, I found myself fully satisfied with the exposure I’d receieved as well as the number of sales I’d managed. My mini comics (the first 8 pages of Keystones, featured in my comics gallery) sold decently and a few fans even requested some commission work (Zatanna of the Justice League and the Element King of the League of Super Heroes, to name a few).

Spring Con also proved helpful in reacquainting myself with former classmates and talented artists, Joseph Reault and Kelly Brown, whom I had the pleasure of obtaining works from and hope to keep tabs on the success of their projects.

And last but not least, the amazing Georges Jeanty (current artist for the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8 comic series) signed all of my trade paper backs and I was able to purchase 2 of his sketch book collections, featuring his comments and pencils and designs, which he graciously allowed me to pay for ONLY ONE as a professional courtesy, wishing me success. With the sketchbook he even drew one of the lesser known slayers on the cover. Amazing!

Special thanks to “Team Brustiney” for all their amazing support and help with preparing me for this event, and, of course, to the Wooby for the 2 a.m. errand run to ensure I would HAVE mini comics at all.

Wizards

admin — Mon, 10 May 2010 04:00:00 +0000