Tax Package

by John | Apr 16, 2018 | Uncategorized

Many thanks (but none of my tax dollars) to Mike Pascale for the gag and the terrific Uncle Sam art.

Pencils by Dick Giordano (with inks by either Giordano or Vince Colletta) from the story “Letter from Long Ago” in FIRST KISS #6, 1958.

Transcript:

UNCLE SAM: What do you think about my new tax package?

WOMAN: I want less tax and more “package!”

1958 Pencils: Dick Giordano Inks: Giordano or Vince Colletta
Patriotic Imagery & Wicked Wit: Mike Pascale

6.1.7.4_TaxDay_MP.tif

Love Tax

by John | Apr 15, 2018 | Uncategorized

Many thanks to Mike Pascale for the art changes and for the multiple rewrites we went through for this comic. Sometimes our collaborations involve gags that are mostly Mike’s (with maybe a word or two changed by me.) Others are mostly mine—with a word or two of changes by Mike.

And then there are gags like this where Mike wrote the first word balloon. I wrote the second second and third. Mike suggested some great changes to shorten the dialogue in those second and third balloons. And then—inspired by his changes—I made some additional changes to make the dialogue even shorter.

What? You thought this comedy business was simple?

Art by John Tartaglione from the story “Elopement” in FIRST KISS #4, 1958.

Transcript:

YOUNG WOMAN (DAUGHTER): Why is love so taxing?

MOM: Beats me! But the sex tax is absurd! Some nights I can barely afford to pay your dad!

1958 Art: John Tartaglione Foreground Color: Dan McConnell
Master Taxer & Facial Fixer: Mike Pascale

4.4.2.1