Sergio at WonderCon!
But not in person. Sergio is recovering from his recent back problems. He’s back at the drawing table working away, trying to catch up on his schedules. As a result, he had to cancel his announced appearance at the WonderCon in Anaheim on March 16-18…but he was there in spirit and by phone. The Quick Draw! game, usually played with Sergio, Scott Shaw! and a guest artist (under the moderation of Mark Evanier) was handled by Scott, Floyd Norman and Mike Kazaleh. And near the end, Mark phoned Sergio at his home, put the phone up to the microphone so everyone could hear him and Sergio gave a challenge to the cartoonists. He should be caught-up enough to join his fellow Quick-Drawers at the Comic-Con in San Diego this July.
A Sergio Video
Here’s a recent interview with Sergio…
Definition of “Mulching”
Mulching is a process of inbred fertilization which employs certain decomposed organic materials — including, but not limited to animal sediment — to blanket an area in which vegetation is desired. The procedure enriches the soil for stimulated plant development while, at the same time, preventing erosion and decreasing the evaporation of moisture from the ground.
Sergio Goes Batty!
DC Comics is now offering a statue of Batman sculpted by Jim Shoop but designed by Sergio. Consult your local comic book shop.
Sergio on Hiatus!
As some of you may have heard over on Mark Evanier’s weblog, Sergio has been experiencing back problems. For just about the first time in his life, he has had to take time out from drawing.
He still has work upcoming in MAD and will try to get back to the drawing table in time to not break his streak there. Sergio has not missed being in an issue since #111, which was dated June of 1967. His comic Sergio Aragonés Funnies will probably have to suspend publication for a brief time. And the Groo Vs. Conan mini-series will also experience a delay. #1 will come out on schedule in April but then there will be a gap before the remaining three issues appear. We’ll alert you on this site (and Mark will alert you on his) when it’s known just how long that gap will be.
Sergio also regrets that he’ll be canceling all convention appearances for the next few months. That means he will not be at WonderCon in March or the Boston Comic Con in April. He’s still hoping to be at the Big Wow! ComicFest in San Jose in May. Stay tuned for more details.
Another Sergio Interview
Did you ever read the interview that Sergio did for the A/V Club over at The Onion? If you didn’t, you can find it here.
Sergio Interviewed!
In 1989, Sergio sat for a long interview with The Comics Journal and discussed his life and work. They’ve put it up on the web and you can read it here.
Sergio Does the Bart!
Here’s another press release that involves Sergio…
Bart Simpson teams up with Sergio Aragonés beginning in Bart Simpson #50.
Matt Groening, creator of The Simpsons and Futurama, has announced that Sergio Aragonés (MAD Magazine, Groo the Wanderer) will become a regular featured artist and writer in Bart Simpson comics beginning with issue #50. Sergio Aragonés will provide the entire contents of Bart Simpson #50 as well as the cover art. The issue will include an eleven-page main story entitled “The Simpson Project.” Mr. Aragonés will also contribute a new and ongoing feature entitled “Maggie’s Crib,” a series of pantomime stories much in the vein of his classic three-page “A Mad Look At…” feature found in MAD Magazine. Sergio will also be a contributor of stories to the Bart Simpson title as well as other Bongo Comics Group titles on a regular basis.
Bart Simpson #50 will be released on October 28, 2009 in direct market comic book stores and at newsstands. Bart Simpson is a bimonthly comic book aimed at younger comic book readers and was launched in 2000.
“I have been a Simpsons fan from the very beginning,” says Sergio Aragonés. “I watch the show, read the comics, and collect everything that has come out, so imagine the pleasure to now be writing and drawing my favorite family… I couldn’t be happier!”
Bill Morrison, Bongo Comics Creative Director, says, “We’ve put some of the funniest characters ever created in the hands of the world’s funniest cartoonist. This is unprecedented in the world of humor comics, and it may result in more comedy than the average reader can safely handle. I predict it’ll be just like that movie The Perfect Storm, only hilarious.”
“Sergio’s the best,” says Matt Groening, Bongo Comics founder and publisher, “and it’s an honor to work with him.”
Sergio Aragonés, whom many have dubbed the fastest cartoonist in the world, is certainly the most honored, having won every major award in the profession, including the National Cartoonists Society’s Reuben Award and the Will Eisner Hall of Fame Award. He sold his first cartoon at the age of seventeen while still in high school and continued selling cartoons while studying architecture at the University of Mexico. He has been drawing and writing cartoons for a living ever since. Mr. Aragonés has contributed to every issue of MAD Magazine since January 1963 with the exception of one (due to an error at the post office). He distinguished himself at MAD Magazine with a series of “Marginal Thinking” strips, cartoons that were printed up, down, across, and around the corners of comic panels to fill in the margins. Sergio Aragonés cartoons have also been animated and seen on popular television shows such as Laugh-In and on many of Dick Clark’s blooper shows.
Mr. Aragonés is also a pioneer of creator-owned comic books and an advocate for creator’s rights. He created Groo the Wanderer (currently published by Dark Horse) along with frequent collaborator Mark Evanier. Together they have authored several titles, including: The Mighty Magnor (Malibu Comics); Boogeyman, Space Circus, and Sergio Aragonés Stomps Star Wars (Dark Horse); Fanboy and Sergio Aragonés Destroys DC (DC Comics); and Sergio Aragonés Massacres Marvel (Marvel Comics).
Along the way, Sergio Aragonés has garnered practically every award that the comic book and cartoonist industries have available. He has won the Harvey Award Special Award for Humor nine times (1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1997,1998, 1999 and 2001). He received the National Cartoonist Society Humor Comic Book Award in 1973, 1974, and 1976; their Special features Award in 1977; their Gag Cartoon Award in 1983; their Comic Book Award in 1986; their Magazine and Book Illustration Award in 1989, and their highest award, the Reuben, in 1996. He was awarded the Adamson Award for Best International Comic-Strip or Comic Book work in 1985, and in 2003 he was awarded La Plumilla de Plata (The Silver Inkpen) in Mexico. He has been awarded the Eisner Award four times for Best Humor Publication (1992, 1997, 1999, 2000), once for best Writer/Artist-Humor (1996), and once for Best Short Story (2001). He has also been honored with the Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award (1996) and with the Will Eisner Hall of Fame Award in 2002. In 2007, the Comic Art Professional Society honored Mr. Aragonés by naming their prized award “The Sergio” in homage to his body of work.
One of Sergio Aragonés’ Best Humor Publication Eisner awards was earned for his first collaboration with Bongo Comics in Bart Simpson’s Treehouse of Horror #5 (“Xt’Tapalatakettle’s Day”) in 2000.
Bongo Comics Group, owned and operated by Matt Groening, creator of The Simpsons and Futurama, has been publishing comics and books for 15 years. Titles include: Simpsons Comics, Bart Simpson, Simpsons Classics, The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror, Simpsons Super Spectacular, The Simpsons Summer Shindig, The Simpsons Winter Wingding, and Futurama Comics. Bongo Comics Group has won four Eisner Awards, the comic industry’s equivalent to the Oscar®, for Best Short Story, Best Title for a Younger Audience, and Best Humor Publication, and has been nominated for an additional 12 Eisner Awards.
Sergio the Exhibitionist
Well, obviously we haven’t kept to our New Year’s Resolution about updating this page more often. But this is such an important announcement that we had to get off our duffs…
The Ojai Valley Museum located at 130 W. Ojai Avenue in Ojai, California announced today that it will be mounting “Mad About Sergio,” a first ever retrospective exhibit of the work of world famous Mad Magazine cartoonist Sergio Aragonés, an Ojai resident.
The exhibit, scheduled from August 7 – October 4, 2009, will feature original work by the artist as well as inform the viewer about the process of cartooning. Also featured will be wood carvings and other artwork that Sergio produces while he is thinking about his next cartoon concept. An opening reception will be held on August 22 from 5-7 p.m.
As an internationally known cartoonist for over 50 years, Sergio is known as the fastest cartoonist in the world. He is certainly the most honored, having won every major award in the field, including the National Cartoonists Society’s Reuben Award and the Will Eisner Hall of Fame Award. He has published over twenty books, created several comic book series and has animated numerous television programs.
He will be speaking and demonstrating his amazing talent at museum Sunday Gatherings during the exhibit. The first Sunday Gathering will be on August 30 when the subject will be “Cartooning with Sergio.” On the closing date of the exhibit, October 4, the Sunday Gathering subject will be “Sergio on Comics and Humor.”
The Ojai Valley Museum and Historical Society dedicates itself to bridging the past and the future through stewardship of our community’s heritage. Founded in 1966 by dedicated volunteers, the Ojai Valley Museum and Historical Society today is directed and managed by a volunteer Board of Trustees, a small part-time staff and volunteer members of the Ojai community. This very strong group has managed to encourage and support many outstanding exhibits including art, photography, local history, student art and in December a very special exhibit being created in collaboration with the Ojai Green Coalition.
The Museum is housed in a 1919 Mead & Requa early Mission Revival structure, the former St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church – the only building in Ojai on the National Register of Historic Places. For additional information check out the Ojai Valley Museum website.
Hollow Promise
It’s a new year and believe it or not, we’re going to start updating this site more regularly. Keep an eye on it.