And speaking of Mike Peters…next week, he'll be a Special Guest at the Comic-Con in San Diego where, if I know Mike, he will attempt to personally hug every one of the 120,000 guests in attendance. Years ago on one of his trips to L.A., I was driving him to the airport and we stopped off for dinner on the way. I took him to a favorite barbecue restaurant of mine and introduced him to the cook, who was a grizzled old western type who could have won a Gabby Hayes look-alike contest. (Do they still hold Gabby Hayes look-alike contests?)
Mike loved the cuisine and we got to talking…and suddenly, I looked at the time and gasped, "Mike, we needed to leave for the airport fifteen minutes ago!" As I bolted from the table, Mike said, "Wait! Before we go, I have to go into the kitchen and hug the chef!" And he did.
The man is a brilliant cartoonist as you can see over on his website, which seems to be down at the moment, probably due to a right-wing plot. You can see how fast and funny he is if you attend the Quick Draw! panel at Comic-Con a week from this Saturday. This is one of the most popular events at the con and I'm betting that this year's will be mobbed.
Imagine if you will: On the stage are three cartoonists, each sitting at a projector. Whatever they draw is simultaneously projected onto a large screen in front of you, the audience member. I am out in the audience with a microphone, having you help me come up with silly challenges for these cartoonists, asking them to whip out sketches based on our suggestions. It's always hilarious. Ask anyone who's seen it.
Two of the cartoonists are always Sergio Aragonés, who has been drawing for MAD since John McCain was a toddler, and Scott Shaw!, master of Oddball Comics, Flintstones and many other fun things. We've had some brilliant folks in the third seat but as long as we've been doing this, I've yearned to get Mr. Peters in that spot. When you see his pen in action, you'll see why. Here's the official-type listing…
Saturday, July 26
11:15-12:30 Quick Draw! — It's the battle of the cartoonists, featuring the one artist who may be the match for the reigning champs! Join Sergio Aragonés (the world's fastest cartoonist), the quick-witted and quicker-penned Scott Shaw!, and the new kid, editorial and syndicated cartoonist Mike Peters (Mother Goose and Grimm), as they place their pens to paper to do their fastest, most clever work, while you watch them draw on the big screen. Host Mark Evanier puts them through their paces in one of Comic-Con's most popular annual events. Room 6CDEF.
And if you find Mike as fascinating and funny as I do, you'll want to attend the following conversation between the two of us later that same afternoon…
4:30-5:30 Spotlight on Mike Peters — You may have seen them match wits at "Quick Draw!" earlier in the day. Now Mark Evanier and Pulitzer Prize winning editorial cartoonist Mike Peters sit down for an hour-long talk covering Mike's incredible career, including the hugely popular syndicated comic strip Mother Goose and Grimm (and cartoon show, better known as Grimmy). Room 8.
There are many things you'll want to do at the con. Make sure that seeing Mike Peters is among them. You'll get a chance to meet a brilliant cartoonist…and you may even get hugged.