When I saw this post on Lizzie’s blog this week I just had to share it over here as well. Lucky for me Lizzie said it was cool. I was a huge fan of CARtoons when I was growing up, like most of you probably were as well. So enjoy the post, thanks Lizzie for letting me post your content here! Folks go over to Tin Lizzie Design and make sure you like her Facebook page and follow what she’s up to.
-Royboy
Ask almost any kustom kulture artist these days who or what inspired them to draw they way they do, and you’re likely to hear it mentioned. Packed full of work from George Trosley, Jim Willoughby, Russ Manning, Fred Boatman, Errol McCarthy, Shawn Kerri, and so many more, CARtoons Magazine combined all of the passion, dedication and constant learning involved in both art and building cars. It tied them together, gave artists an outlet to show their work off to the hot rod community, and even now it continues to be a part of our culture.
There was just something about opening the pages of the old magazine. The comics and the art weren’t something for the general public. Most of them just wouldn’t get it anyway, but that’s why it was special. It wasn’t for just everybody. It was for the hot rodders, the kustoms guys, the drag racers. The guys and gals that got out into their garage and worked on the cars that inspired these artists in the magazines. The writing and the art was only truly understood by those that had a love for cars. It was around for over 3 decades, and influenced thousands of artists. Unfortunately, in 1991, the August issue was the last one to hit the news stands.
Sadly, I was too young when the magazine was still being produced to remember getting to open my own fresh copy from the rack. However, I have my own fond memories of grabbing a stack of them, and running off somewhere quiet to flip through the already dog-eared and grease fingerprinted pages. As a rugrat, I didn’t get most of the jokes yet, but what mattered to me the most was the art. It wasn’t something taught in art class at school, and to most people, it just looked like a ragged old magazine that should have been tossed in the trash. Getting to know the names of artists that no one my age had even heard of, let alone most of the adults was a wonderful experience. I felt like I had been let in on a great secret, and even now looking through my stash of old issues of the magazine, I feel the same way. I’m almost 30 now, and it amazes me that something as simple as an old hot rod art magazine could have had this much of an impact on my life. I’ve loved hot rods and kustoms as long as I can remember, and CARtoons definitely had a huge impact on the artist I became.
I wasn’t the only one either. I’ve had other people tell me their stories about what the magazine meant to them. It brought a lot of artists and car builders together, and it played quite a large role in expanding and building the community we have today.
“Back in ’62 I discovered “Car-Toons” magazine at my local variety store and started picking it up every chance I could. It was the art and drawing that grabbed my attention. I bought “Car Craft” and “Hot Rod” for the same reason…the Roth t-shirt ads. They were originally done by Ed “Newt” Newton who did the t-shirt designs and then came an amazing cartoonist by the name of Robert Williams. Anyway I loved “Car-Toons” and Pete Millar’s “Drag Cartoons”. The characters, the stories, it all spoke to me. Fast forward 25 years or so and I’m looking through the magazine rack at my local Safeway and lo and behold my peeps fall upon none other than “Car-Toons” magazine! There it was in all its glory just as I remembered it. I bought it and kept an eye out for it every week. One day I decide to send some of my work to the editor, DennisEllefson, totry and break into the magazine. I send in my stuff but…nadda. My wife say’s “Call him up, what do you got to lose?”. I do and Dennis and I talk. I re-send my stuff, he tears it apart but only to make me a better cartoonist and one that’ll be in “Car-Toons”. He especially liked my writing and I become a principal writer for the title. He nick-named me “The Idea Guy”. We became good friends. A couple of times a year he’d drive up the coast Hwy, Hwy. 1, to go to comic book conventions and car shows in the S.F. bay area with me. Hehad a passion for lighthouses and he’d visit them on the drive up. He’d stay with us in a spare bedroom and we’d sit up ’till 3 am drawing disgustingly inappropriate cartoons and talking about publishing. He was a big brother, a mentor, a true friend. He introduced me to Pete Millar who I then went to work for and Pete introduced me to Ed Roth who I worked for also. It was a GREAT ride and I’m thrilled a part of it is starting up again…HOLD TIGHT.”-Jon Pogorelskin – Principal Writer of CARtoons Magazine“I grew up with Cartoon Magazine. “Everything I know, I learned from Cartoons.” Drawing cars and motorcycles was how I made it through school. It kept me out of trouble. Iwas influenced by the artwork and styles of GeorgeTrosley, Dave Big Deal, Steve Austin and all the others in the 1970s. The magazine helped shape mylil mind into a cartoon. As an adult I am luckyto be able to make a living as an illustrator/cartoonist/pinstriper… and musician. Would love to see this publication back in print.”-Kirk James (aka Bluzman) – Pinstriper and Artist
Nostalgia aside, If you’ve been on social media at all in the last few months, you might have seen conversations starting. If you haven’t, I might as well let you in on the news. It’s coming back. The same format, with Trosley, Boatman, the Iron-Ons, the comics, the “How to Draw” section… all of it. It will also be featuring newer artists, as well as being available in a digital format on top of the traditional print version!
I’ve been lucky enough the last month to spend time talking with the new owner of the magazine, Marc Methot, and he is definitely pulling all the stops out on this. I know there will be a lot of questions out there, but you should know that Marc is a great guy, and really cares about doing this the right way. He was even nice enough to let me interview him, so all of you could get a chance to learn about him and what his plans are for the magazine.
So Marc, who are you? I’m sure people are going to want to know who it is that’s bringing back our beloved CARtoons magazine.
Marc: Lets see, I am a 38 year old male Canadian born and raised in a small city called Thunder Bay in the province of Ontario (45 minutes north of the Minnesota border). Because of my father, I was raised in the Hot Rod car culture with his 1940 Ford Coupe. From car shows to rod runs, I grew to love all car cultures, but the pre-50 hot rod Kustom hits home to me. I presently own many old projects, but cruise during the summer in my chopped, shaved, frenched, bagged taildragging 50 Plymouth. I was also blessed with the talent of being an artist from painting, airbrushing, illustrating etc, but because the survival of life and supporting my family I love dearly, my talents were put aside. I currently have a long list of projects, a 1963 Olds 88 hardtop (for sale), 1958 Metro International, 1956 Mercury COE, 1953 Ford COE, two 1953 Ford Pickups, 1939 International 3 ton, two 1964 international 3 tons, 1950 Dodge Fastback and a 1956 Auto Union Schnellaster.
Has CARtoons magazine influenced who you are today? What is your fondest memory of the magazine?
Marc: Definitely. I remember as a child waiting at the corner store knowing the next issue was coming out that day. I enjoyed all the stories and “how to draws”. Nothing could beat the stories George Trosley and Shawn Kerri told or even Joe Borers wild proportioned illustrations. Now because I was born in 77 and didn’t start reading CARtoons til the mid 80’s, I missed out on the previous artists that made the magazine what it was at the time like Unk and Them Varments. To actual say today “I own CARtoons Magazine” is a dream come true and to bring it back to print so everyone could read new stories motivates me to do so.
What is your dream team of artists that you would love to see involved in the magazine?
Marc: As to create the dream team of artists for the magazine, a mixture of original CARtoon artists and fresh unknown talent of today that all can create stories and unique illustrations to keep readers entertained with every issue.With at least four original artists on board, you will get to read some familiar adventures with fresh new stories that you will grow to love for example, picture a Zombie named Rotty (the head builder), his friend Frankenstiens Monster named Franky (the welder) and an old wise Wolfman named Jack (the experienced wise customizer), together build wild one off monster style hot rods. Expect to see a fresh new but known to social media artist Ben Mitchell to bring this characters to life with his extremely insane talent.
What are your goals with the magazine? Do you have a possible first issue date in mind?
Marc: Because I am starting at ground zero with bringing this magazine back to print, there will be no set date. All I can tell you is that Iam motivated to have the first out this year sometime in 2015. You should expect that magazine as original as itcan be with the colored cover and black inked stories inside.Also, we can’t forget the Iron-on. Who wouldn’t want an iron-on of a killer hot rod illustration to put on a T-Shirt and wear proudly, so expect iron-ons when you pick up and issue of CARtoons. Last I want to mention that I will be printing a trail #0 issue that will be limited. With the fans support with the issue could make CARtoons a guaranteed permanent series for you to enjoy. After the trial issue, starting with issue #1, subscriptions and even downloadable issues will be available. Many of you have been asking if CARtoons will ever come back, well I am here to answer that question, 110% Yes.
So you mentioned that fan support will be incredibly important to getting this project off the ground in a timely manner, what can we do? How can we get this going again?
Marc: If the fans want to see CARtoons here to stay, I started a crowd funding campaign on Indiegogo. There you can read about my plans and benefits to those that helps raise money to get this magazine launched. Don’t have the funds to help donation? As simple As sharing the campaign can reach out to many. Every dollar helps and even though the fund goal look like a lot. Remember today, nothing is cheap to start up a business especially a magazine from scratch. Plus I don’t need the full goal amount, just that the more donations received will bring the magazine that much closer to print with the quality and quantity it deserves. As you read each issue, you can feel proud that you were apart of bringing CARtoons back for your reading enjoyment.
Marc is so passionate about bringing this magazine back, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. He understands what the fans want, what the artists need, and how to give the magazine the reboot it deserves.
He also understands how important having the digital issues of the magazine and a social media presence will be to the success of the magazine coming back. So far, the social media response on the reboot of this magazine has been outstanding. Everyone I’ve talked to about it is extremely excited, and personally, I cannot wait to get a copy in my hands.
While there isn’t an official timeline yet, things are moving along, and very quickly. The website will be started soon, the publisher has been chosen, the artist line up is getting worked out. George Trosley coming back with a new comic, “Deuce and Pinstripe”, Fred Boatman is bringing back “Dip Stick” with him, and Ben Mitchell with his new comic “R.ust I.n P.eace”!
The trial first issue will include art from Bob Hardin, George Trosley, Fred Boatman, Nelson Dewey, Ben Drag Daddy Mitchell, Marcus Mitchell, Larry Williams, Marc Methot, Jeff Slemons, Hadi Madworx, John Skidmore, Dave Beaty, Jon Pogorelskin, Alberto Gantus Vlamonte, Paul Motorworks and Chuck Kelley. Every one of these artists is amazing, and being lucky enough to have a team like this is going to make the reboot of this magazine that much more exciting.
Marc is also accepting submissions from other artists for Mini Wheels and My Wheels. You can send an e-mail to cartoonsmagazine@gmail.com for more information or to submit your artwork.
In order to bring CARtoons Magazine back to stay, we do need help from the fans. You can contribute to startup costs at the Indiegogo page, and even sharing the campaign with your friends goes a long way into getting this magazine back on the shelves where it belongs. There’s nothing out there like this anymore, and the ability to give the next generation of artists and hot rodders alike the same memories and experience we had with this magazine is just a great gift, and I’m proud to be playing a small part in it.
-Lizzie
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