by John | Dec 17, 2017 | Uncategorized
I had a cat who used to do this—every Christmas. <Sigh> Sometimes several times a Christmas—fortunately never when we had presents under the tree.
Thanks and many helpings of eggnog to my pal Mike Pascale for revamping Diego’s art to give it a Christmas theme!

Artist unknown. From the story “Chip on Her Shoulder” in Ten-Story Love #196, 1954.
Transcript:
SCENE: Woman looking at a cat who is wearing a Santa hat. Behind them is a Christmas tree.
WOMAN: Ugh! You peed under the tree–again!
CAT (thinking): It’s my favorite Christmas tradition!
1954 Artist Unknown Recreation: Diego Jourdan Pereira
Feline Fashion & Eggnog Expert: Mike Pascale
DJP.lk54Xmas_MP
Artist unknown. From the story “Chip on Her Shoulder” in Ten-Story Love #196, 1954.
↓ TranscriptSCENE: Woman looking at a cat who is wearing a Santa hat. Behind them is a Christmas tree.
WOMAN: Ugh! You peed under the tree--again!
CAT (thinking): It’s my favorite Christmas tradition!
1954 Artist Unknown Recreation: Diego Jourdan Pereira
Feline Fashion & Eggnog Expert: Mike Pascale
DJP.lk54Xmas_MP
Artist unknown. From the story "Chip on Her Shoulder" in Ten-Story Love #196, 1954.
by John | Dec 12, 2017 | Uncategorized
I can’t remember which one of us wrote the gag, but the elfish revamp (piercings and more!) of the original romance art was all done by my pal Mike Pascale. Thanks, Mike.

Art by Vince Colletta Studio from the story “His Future Bride” in BRIDES IN LOVE #10, 1958.
Transcript:
SEXY FEMALE CHRISTMAS ELF WITH PIERCINGS: At last! Santa’s transferring me to the ADULT toy department!
1958 Art: Vince Colletta Studio Re-Creation: Diego Jourdan Pereirara
Elfin Makeover and Piercing Pioneer: Mike Pascale
Art by Vince Colletta Studio from the story “His Future Bride” in BRIDES IN LOVE #10, 1958.
DJP.lk98
↓ TranscriptSEXY FEMALE CHRISTMAS ELF WITH PIERCINGS: At last! Santa’s transferring me to the ADULT toy department!
1958 Art: Vince Colletta Studio Re-Creation: Diego Jourdan Pereirara
Elfin Makeover and Piercing Pioneer: Mike Pascale
Art by Vince Colletta Studio from the story "His Future Bride" in BRIDES IN LOVE #10, 1958.
DJP.lk98
by John | Oct 29, 2017 | Uncategorized
Happy Halloween from me & my frequent collaborator Mike Pascale. May all your tricks be treats! —John
Art Notes: Few pieces of Last Kiss art have gone through as many changes as today’s comic. Here’s the original 1963 FIRST KISS art:

Art by Vince Colletta Studio from FIRST KISS #33, 1963.
And here’s the art after I asked Allen Freemen to extend the drawing (of the woman on the left) back in 2009. (To simplify the art and focus on the coffee drinker, I also asked Allen to omit the woman on the right:)

Years later, I needed a higher-res version of the image for a zombie coffee gag for a Finnish licensee who put it on a travel mug. So Diego Jourdan Pereira re-drew Allen’s art for me and then Mike Pascale added the zombie touches:

And then this year—when Mike and I were scrambling for Halloween gags—I suggested he modify his coffee zombie (removing the coffee and adding some blood around the mouth.) See? Simple! (When!)
Transcript:
SCENE: Zombie woman thinking.
ZOMBIE WOMAN: When we broke up, he told me to…eat my heart out! But his was so much tastier!
1963 Artist: Vince Colletta Studio Re-Creation: Diego Jourdan Pereira
Master of Macabre Modifications: Mike Pascale
DJP.lk77_MP_17WHearts
FK33.3.7.5
Art by Vince Colletta Studio from FIRST KISS #33, 1963.
↓ TranscriptSCENE: Zombie woman thinking.
ZOMBIE WOMAN: When we broke up, he told me to...eat my heart out! But his was so much tastier!
1963 Artist: Vince Colletta Studio Re-Creation: Diego Jourdan Pereira
Master of Macabre Modifications: Mike Pascale
DJP.lk77_MP_17WHearts
FK33.3.7.5
Art by Vince Colletta Studio from FIRST KISS #33, 1963.
by John | Oct 26, 2017 | Uncategorized
A big thanks and a (virgin) Bloody Mary to my buddy Mike Pascale for the sharp-toothed art modifications and basic idea for this gag.
On Sunday night, I’ll be posting another Halloween collaboration I did with Mike. So stay tuned, kids—same vampire bat time, same vampire bat channel!

Artist unknown. From FIRST LOVE ILLUSTRATED #52, 1955.
Transcript:
SCENE: A flight attendant/stewardess is holding a tray of food and looks nervous as a vampire guy behind her looks like he’s about to bite her.
FLIGHT ATTENDANT: So, uh…coffee, teA, or <gulp!> me?
1955 Artist unknown Re-Creation: Diego Jourdan Pereira
Director of Vampire Dental Care: Mike Pascale
DJP.lk278_MP_Flat400
First Love Illustrated 52.0
Artist unknown. From FIRST LOVE ILLUSTRATED #52, 1955.
↓ TranscriptSCENE: A flight attendant/stewardess is holding a tray of food and looks nervous as a vampire guy behind her looks like he's about to bite her.
FLIGHT ATTENDANT: So, uh...coffee, teA, or <gulp!> me?
1955 Artist unknown Re-Creation: Diego Jourdan Pereira
Director of Vampire Dental Care: Mike Pascale
DJP.lk278_MP_Flat400
First Love Illustrated 52.0
Artist unknown. From FIRST LOVE ILLUSTRATED #52, 1955.
by John | Jul 3, 2017 | Uncategorized
Happy Fourth of July courtesy of Mike Pascale, Diego Jourdan Pereira and me.

Art by Vince Colletta Studio from the story “His Future Bride” in BRIDES IN LOVE #10, 1958.
Transcript:
SCENE: Uncle Sam and a woman embrace.
UNCLE SAM: Wanna make me great again?
WOMAN: You already are!
1958 Art: Vince Colletta Studio Re-Creation: Diego Jourdan Pereira
Fourth of July Makeover & Magic: Mike Pascale
DJP.lk129
↓ TranscriptSCENE: Uncle Sam and a woman embrace.
UNCLE SAM: Wanna make me great again?
WOMAN: You already are!
1958 Art: Vince Colletta Studio Re-Creation: Diego Jourdan Pereira
Fourth of July Makeover & Magic: Mike Pascale
DJP.lk129