mrkessell

Scroll and Scroll and Scroll

batboy sits and ponders with a pencil in hand
| Mister Kessell

I’ve talked about the perils of social media before and my addiction to it, a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…also here on my blog in 2018.

And I don’t know if this makes me a hypocrite or what, but I continue my love-hate relationship with it. As an artist, or writer, or any other creative person in 2024, you need to have some level of social media presence. It’s really how I’ve made the handful of good connections that keep me going. But, sometimes social media use gets out of hand, it becomes addictive and so much easier to scroll forever, until your eyeballs dry up and your tongue lolls out of your mouth, than doing the creative work that needs to be done.

Comic in which Batboy sits at desk with pencil and blank paper caption reads: "Hmmm ... Maybe I should look at my phone for some inspiration."
Batboy knows the struggle.

Some of my Batboy comics from the past couple of years have dealt with this phenomenon. As pictured above, Batboy sits at a dangerously blank piece of paper, pencil in hand, needing some inspiration, and he has the most unhelpful thought: Maybe I should look at my phone.

BOOKS

“DON’T DO IT!” I say, as you are more than likely already reading my words on your little pocket computer screen right now. Otherwise you will end up like Batboy in my short animated PSA below:

SCROLL AND SCROLL AND SCROLL…

Comic in which Batboy is drawn sketchy in pencil and ink, he looks flustered as he holds his phone. The caption reads: "Been scrolling for hours and somehow I'm not better."
Do you ever feel like this after a TikTok binge?

Again, this may seem like I am biting the hand that feeds me, because in reality my Batboy character wouldn’t even exist without the prodding and support of a few friends on social media.

comic in which a cartoon boy angrily takes a bowl of matzo ball soup away from a monstrous hand with teeth

But sometimes it feels like I’m feeding the hand that bites me.

So, until all us indie artists get the attention and support we deserve from the mainstream pop culture institutions, I guess we just have to find a balance, set some limits on our screen time and try to get back to our creative pursuits as much as humanly possible. Before brain death sets in.

I try to hide my phone when working, or to put it in a completely different room.

How do you deal with the addictions of the internet and social media?/

If you happen to be scrolling, you can find my fantastic content on Instagram. And as an antidote to Scrolling Fever you can find my physical books on my books page, they’re a lot easier on the eyes.

BOOKS
I’m a Social Media Junkie

Pumpkinspice is Back Again!

pumpkin-headed demon sprinkling spice on a moonlit night
| Mister Kessell

It’s late August and there’s a slight chill to the air, one of a few signs that my favorite season is near.

Merle the squirrel sniffs the air in autumn as leaves fall

I’m speaking about Fall of course, it’s the best, most spooky season and a time when I really come alive.

comic drawing of a bat boy lying in a pile of orange and red leaves in the woods
This is how I roll

One of the other indications of Autumn’s approach is the return of Pumpkinspice Everything!

a pumpkin headed demon returns to sprinkle pumpkinspice on food products in late august
Pumpkinspice is back! Again. And again and again.

I made this funny illustration five years ago poking fun at this phenomenon. I call it “The Return of Pumpkinspice.” I posted about it here on my blog.

It was both a critique of our consumer culture and an homage to Pumpkinhead, one of my favorite horror films of the 1980s. My illustration had a brief, nearly viral couple of weeks, which was exciting. Seeing something that I thought was funny also being liked and shared by hundreds of other strangers on the internet! Wowzers.

So why am I going on again about this Pumpkinspice thing? Word on the street is that Starbucks has released their Pumpkinspice creations earlier than usual this year. And I am here to continue to ridicule it while also enjoying the trendy flavor of the season.

What are your thoughts? Are you a fan of the spice?

In the years since, I’ve revived Pumpkinspice from time to time, most recently in this Batboy comic from last Fall.

batboy and merle love the smell of pumpkin spice in the fall
Pumpkinspice bringin’ back those spicy pants!

You’ll find this and many other hilarious comics in my latest Batboy Collection, Shvitzin’ to the Small Stuff which is available on Amazon.

Thumbnail of Book cover with Batboy dressed in 1980s gym shorts, leg warmers and headband doing aerobic exercise and sweating puddles. Title of the book is "Shvitzin' to the Small Stuff: Yet another Batboy Comic Collection by M. R. Kessell

Additionally, I have one signed and numbered, limited edition “Return of Pumpkinspice” 11×14 Print available in my Etsy Shop. Grab it now before it’s gone FOREVER!

a pumpkin headed demon sprinkles pumpkin spice on an assortment of coffee and food products
The last 11X14 Print available on Etsy

You can also grab Pumpkinspice as a T-shirt in my Amazon shop, or as a mug or a print here in my Redbubble Shop.

So will we see yet another incarnation of that evil Spice Demon in years to come? Probably, maybe, most definitely, yes!

Until next time, my friends, MAY THE SPICE BE WITH YOU!

M. R. Kessell is a dark artist and a writer/illustrator of silly comics. Check out his portfolio here. You can follow him on Instagram. Stop by and say HEY!

How The Grinch Stole Christmas -Museum of the Moving Image

| Mister Kessell

Being that the holidays are right around the corner, I will continue in my yearslong quest to prove that I’m not really a Grinch by sharing with you some photos of a trip I took to the Grinch exhibit (Ironic, isn’t it?) at the Museum of the Moving Image in Queens, NY.

This post is a follow up to the one I wrote about Thurl Ravenscroft, the previously uncredited singer of the You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch.

grinch animation cel 1966 stealing christmas tree star

How The Grinch Stole Christmas! is a 1966 animated TV special directed by legendary animator Chuck Jones. You might know that I am a huge fan of animation and cartooning (I dabble in it myself) so getting to see behind-the-scenes of this production by the co-creator of Bugs Bunny was not to be missed!

TV Guide ad for How The Grinch Stole Christmas 1966
Original Grinch TV Guide ad from December 17th, 1966
Dr Seuss Boris Karloff and Chuck Jones in the studio

The animated special was based on the 1957 children’s book of the same title by Theodor Geisel (aka Dr. Seuss.) pictured above with director Chuck Jones and Boris Karloff, the voice actor who portrayed the Grinch and also did the narration. You might recognize Karloff from his most famous role, as the creature in the 1931 film Frankenstein.

black and white acrylic painting of Boris Karloff as Frankenstein's monster, behind the scenes holding a cup of tea
Just don’t call him Frankie
two grinch pencil sketches
Fantastic rough pencil sketches
grinch in santa hat pencil sketch
maquette sculpture of the grinch in santa claus costume 1966
Looks like there’s gonna be rumble in Whoville tonight!
four framed Grinch animation cels
A wonderful sequence of animation cels
Animation Cel of The Grinch with evil grin
He might look evil, but the Grinch hopes you have a wonderful holiday!

So there you have it! I think you should put this animated special on your watch list this holiday season, I promise it’ll make your heart grow with Christmas spirit!

“And what happened, then? Well, in Whoville they say – that the Grinch’s small heart grew three sizes that day. And then – the true meaning of Christmas came through, and the Grinch found the strength of ten Grinches, plus two!”

Hey there! I’m Mike, an indie artist and writer. Check out my books or my store! Or just peruse my portfolio. Thanks for hanging out!

M. R. Kessell is on Etsy!

| Mister Kessell

Happy October all!

I’m a little bit behind this month due to a lot of traveling and some events, but I just needed to stop in and tell you that I am now on Etsy!

Click here to check out my Etsy shop!

Please take a look and give me a follow. I have my usual assortment of paintings, prints, pins, books and more, just in time for the holiday season. Finally I can offer you worldwide shipping.

Below are some of the pieces available for purchase:

pencil illustration of the creature from the black lagoon, emerging from a framed underwater background onto the white surface of the paper, with webbed claws outstretched and a trail of bubbles floating upwards
11X14 Art Prints of Batboy the comic character in an homage to Edvard Munch's The Scream. Colorful pencil art in red, orange, blue and white.

That’s all for now, I need to go work on my Halloween costume! Until Next time!

My Problem with Instant Gratification

| Mister Kessell

Give it to me now. I need it yesterday. I just can’t wait.

Batboy presses the streaming device remote anxiously, as the "Loading" symbols reflect and revolve in his eyes. The caption reads: Sometimes instant gratification just ain't fast enough.

I’m not the first person to identify a problem with instant gratification. Maybe there isn’t really a problem. Maybe it’s good to have your wants and needs met immediately and constantly. Life should be pretty perfect then. But maybe you begin to feel entitled to it. You lose patience. You get anxious or angry if something stands between you and your pleasures. You need to eliminate the obstacles. Cut out the middleman. 

But, maybe we’re cutting out more than just the man in the middle. Maybe now that you can order a new book without leaving your couch or your bedroom, and have it delivered, without even dealing with a delivery person for that matter, you’re missing out on some actual, real life experiences. 

Even walking to the bookstore could expose you to some idea, an image, a scene, or a weird snippet of conversation from passersby. At the store you might flip through a bin of used books and discover some unknown classic that has never been and never will be digitized. The clerk might have some recommendations that the Algorithm couldn’t possibly deliver. They might be wearing a cool T-shirt with one of your favorite bands or an obscure 1980s cult horror film. This could be your new best friend. Or maybe they’re rude and awkward and it’ll result in a good anecdote someday.

But now with instant, next-day, prime delivery, you’d never know.

Speaking of bookstores

Three Batboy books on display

If you want to grab some Batboy books and get out of the house, you can head on over to East Side Mags in Montclair, NJ or Desert Island Comics in Brooklyn, NY. Both stores are extremely cool and worth the trek.

Tell ’em Batboy sen ya!

FREE BATBOY MINI COMIC WHEN YOU SIGN UP TO MY MAILING LIST

One last thing before you go, have you gotten your FREE BATBOY MINI COMIC yet?

Just click here to sign up for my incredible mailing list and you’ll get it, in addition to some other BONUS MATERIALS and FREEBIES sent out periodically throughout the year!

Meet Batboy This Weekend!

| Mister Kessell

Just two days to go!

Come by and say hi to Batboy (and me) at East Side Mags in Montclair on Saturday May 13th!

CLICK HERE FOR FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE

Bask in the glow of Batboy’s awkwardness and chat with us about your favorite comics, monsters, and junk foods.

A black and white photo of Alfred Hitchcock reading a Batboy zine

All Batboy books will be available, plus an assortment of other goodies, like prints, pins, and stickers.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ON THE EVENT FROM EAST SIDE MAGS’ WEBSITE

Batboy and the Art of Self-Sabotage book by M. R. Kessell used comically to chop a carrot

You must provide your own vegetables though.

FREE BATBOY COMIC ALERT!

| Mister Kessell
Cover image for the free Batboy comic "Neverything Nowhere All at the Same Time" written by Peter Hammarberg and illustrated by M. R. Kessell. Showing Batboy hitchiking on the roadside with a sign that reads "Existential Clarity or Bust...Probably bust."

FREE COMIC ALERT! 

WOOP! WOOP! WOOP!

I’ve been collaborating with my friend, the impressive wordsmith, Peter Hammarberg for a few weeks now on an all new Batboy mini comic.

Neverything Nowhere All at the Same Time

He wrote the words, I squiggled the doodles. 

As usual there are some bonus materials jammed in there, I think you’re gonna enjoy it.

To get the free comic, one must face three arduous trials by the glow of the waxing gibbous Moon adjacent to the Cave of the Crepuscular Hermit Wizard known to some as “Larry.”

Or just go to this link and SUBSCRIBE TO MY MAILING LIST! 

I will periodically announce events, send updates, and give you more exclusive bonus stuff.

I’ve set up the mailing list just in case any of these social media platforms go down, we can still keep in touch.

Just a heads up, this mailing list is separate from my blog, in case you’re subscribed to my blog via email.

Please let us know what you think of our little experiment! Leave a comment!

Thanks you guys, talk to you soon!

Dirt Behind the Day Dream

| Mister Kessell

I’ve been in the studio painting up a storm for the past few months. Experimenting with acrylic paint and exploring some weird, dark areas.

The painting above “Dirt Behind the Day Dream # 1” is one result of these explorations.

I’ve opened up a new online store if you would like to purchase any of my original paintings, click the link below to check it out.

https://www.saatchiart.com/mrkessell

In other news, Batboy is still putting himself out there.

You can catch up on his adventures by purchasing any of these three books below! And/or follow along on my various social media accounts to see new comics as they are released.

CHECK OUT MY BOOKS PAGE FOR MORE INFO

#BatboyComplains