New Character Sketch of One of my first Original Characters

is coming BACK

To the extent that people know my work as an artist, they know me primarily as a freelance illustrator.  But before I ever managed to get anyone to pay me for sequential work, certainly before I ever got my hands on any digital coloring tools, I created this character and wrote, drew and lettered comics (in pencil only) for my own pleasure and the entertainment of a few of my high school classmates. 

This is my first time drawing him in over twenty years.  It felt good...

Start the Day Off Right with DJ JAZZY JEFF & THE FRESH PRINCE

Accomplished independent cartoonist and proud Philadelphian Jamar Nicholas (LEON: Protector of the Playground, Detective Boogaloo) posted the video for Brand New Funk, my personal favorite song from DJ JAZZY JEFF & THE FRESH PRINCE, on Facebook on Thursday.  I wound up listening to it many, many times last night, and now I'm sharing it with you. 

My MOST POPULAR Image of 2012

Part of this series of comics

Samax here!  Yesterday Facebook Memories pointed out that the Phoenix Jones comicbook page below was my most-liked image of 2012.

#KickstartTHIS comic- MINE TO AVENGE: The Book of Layla #3

If you're not familiar with cyberpunk horror tour de force MINE TO AVENGE: The Book of Layla, you can cop all three issues via the Kickstarter that launched on October 30.  Peep the promo vid below.

Start your day off RIGHT w/ Tobe Nwigwe and nem

It's the start of a new work week, so I know you need to get it jumping.  GhettoManga Emcee of the Year Tobe Nwigwe got that fire to start the whole week off RIGHT...

Happy Birthday PARIS CULLINS!!!

I don't make those numbered lists y'all like to argue about so much, but if I did, veteran cartoonist PARIS CULLINS would be in my top ten favorite comicbook artists of all time.  Since October 26th is Paris's birthday, let's talk about why.

#SheGoHARD - UNBOW YOUR HEAD by Julio Anta and Katherine Lobo

I just ran across this short comic Unbow Your Head about a woman who turns the tables on a street harassing douchebag.  Read the whole joint below.

John Oliver Talks About the National Weather Service, and You Should Care

"Because everything Trump Does is designed to destroy the government from the inside."

"It's Elementary. They Want Us ALL GONE Eventually." -Nas

I catch a fair amount of flack for occasionally depicting cops as bad people in my comics, or for saying things my conservative friends think are unfair to so-called "good cops" on social media.  I never really feel  the need to defend my positions, because I know that now that they cannot hide, the "bad apples" will show their colors and make my point for me.

Happy Birthday AHMAD!!!

October 10th 2019 is Ahmad "Back in the Day" Lewis's 44th birthday.  So because he is one of the dopest emcees to ever do it, I don't want the day to pass by without a shout out.  So celebrate MODsday with some music and such...

How to Complete Your Back Burner Project, Once and For All!

Use this simple plan that includes the important ingredients of reward and accountability

Use this plan to complete projects that includes the important ingredients of reward and accountability.

It's a mermaid thing, fam. 🐬 You wouldn't understand.

A quick email (NO, REALLY)

Anybody interested in a mermaid comic? I've been sitting on a script since late 2016. But before we talk about that, here's a thing I drew for Inktober...

#NowPlaying MEAT MARKET by M.Slago + Midaz the Beast + DJ Spiderman

This new M.Slago single Meat Market takes me back to simpler times with a noisy loop worthy of the Bomb Squad, Midaz the Beast's syncopated flow, and liberal cuts from DJ Spiderman of a beloved Public Enemy sample.  Also has a Tony Kukoc shout out.

Put NARUTO + Michael B Jordan + Coach Menswear on Your Chest

Viz media PR dude Erik Jansen put me on to the new NARUTO-INSPIRED clothing line coming from COACH Menswear spokesman and iconic actor Michael B Jordan.

Did you catch my interview on Sunday, fam?

On "How to be a Freelance Artist"

Hey fam, My friend Marshall Lee invited me back to his show to chat about things that hold artists back who are trying to make money freelancing.  You can check out the interview here.  It's about two hours.

[SUNDAY⭐COMICS] Imani VS Ishu, Making money With Art Interview, Freelancer Life Flashback and more!

Brand New Interview on "Marsh Makes Comics"

It's been a while since I put out an issue of Sunday Comics, so let's make it a good one, shall we?

#NowPlaying H.U.S.T.L.E. by @MURS w/ John Cena (yeah THAT John Cena)

MURS rhymes about all the money he made in them streets, longside John Cena doing his best LL Cool J impression...

What's your greatest challenge, fam?

Challenge Accepted! A Daily Sketch

MXGA: Make the X-Men Great Again 😂

The more things change...

This old fan letter from the Claremont and Cockrum days of the Uncanny X-Men feels right at home in 2019, don't it?

Help us wish a Happy birthday to Homeboy Sandman!

(((airhorn)))

The Latin American Anime Experience

Cristal Marie Calderon and the Get in the Robot crew make the case that the experience of Latin American anime fans has been historically better than ours in the U.S.

And they're pro'lly right...

Your Life is Happening Now, fam...

Let's get it

Don't misunderstand... Patience is a good thing.  So is a spirit of graciousness and humility.  But waiting for things to be perfect is just stalling.

Happy Batman Day, fam (((airhorn)))

Not my favorite Superhero, but one of them!

Hey fam, In case you didn't know, today (September 21st) is BATMAN DAY, and 2019 marks Batman's 80th Birthday!  Can you believe it? EIGHTY YEARS of the Dark Knight Detective! To celebrate, here is a gallery of Batman art I have made over the years!

FREELANCER LIFE- So(called)cial Media Fans by Samax Amen

A Rant by Samax Amen

When I get mad about something, instead of vaguebooking or ranting on Twitter, I draw comic strips...

Making Comics with Samax Amen, PLUS a #ThrowbackThursday offer

with my favorite Album Cover I've ever done

Samax here.  Here's a sneak peak at a page I'm working on, PLUS some Throwback joints.  If you like this kind of content, click on the pencil to subscribe by email!

Start the day off RIGHTxTHGIR with PHAROAHE MONCH an'nem #91819 #PalindromeWeek

NERD RAP! NERD RAP!
(((airhorn)))

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the mighty LANCE TOOKS!

I just wanna take a second to give a birthday shout to cartoonist and former Marvel Comics assistant editor  Lance Tooks (the Lucifer's Garden of Verses series, Black Panthers for Beginners, Graphic Classics, Danger Funnies, Floaters)!

"One day, I got struck by knowledge of Self. It gave me super-scientifical powers..." -Jeru

One of my favorite clients that I don't get to work with enough is mixed martial artist D'Juan "Dirty South Owens.  

The other day he posted a quote by Pan-African scholar Dr. Amos Wilson.  

For whatever reason, that made me think of You Can't Stop the Prophet, hip hop classic by golden era emcee Jeru The Damaja ("damager" because alternative spelling is a hip hoppers prerogative).  You will find both below.

Are You Honoring People's Time Or Wasting It?

"Waste their time, not yours!"

I shared this sketch in my Daily Sketches email with some thoughts about lame marketing tactics this week .  I got some pretty strong words sent back to me.  I still stand by what I wrote, though, and figred some of the GhettoManga readers might wanna see.

Napoleon Da Legend is on his Nerdcore Sheez Again... AND WE LOVE IT!!!

The main reason I don't care about your favorite nerdcore rapper is that real emcees are into all the same cartoons and comics we are... 

#SheGoHard- AFUA RICHARDSON talks GENIUS, BLACK PANTHER, and The Space for Women in Comics

Y'all know all of us here at GhettoManga love the mighty multi-talented artist, musician, and cos-player Afua Richardson, so watching this interview on TVONE's SISTER CIRCLE just gave me an excuse to drop some photos from the Afuniverse...

Hey fam, Check out this old 9-11 tribute from the comic I was self-pushing back in 2002

#ThrowbackThursday indeed...

Hey fam, Since Wednesday was the 18th anniversary of September 11th terror attacks, I decided to share the memorial drawing I made the following year.

I Like Powerful Women #SueMe #SheGoHard

"Give the homeless homies money, so they eat well. 
Went and copped the Audi. Gotta go and get it detailed."
-RAPSODY 

This preview of BLACK HAMMER: Age of Doom #12 is FULL of SPOILERS for the series. #JustSaying

My favorite comic over the last year is probably Black Hammer, the award-winning story of an assemblage of superheroes stranded in a pocket universe that includes only one sleepy farm town.  As Age of Doom (and I assume the entire series) comes to a close, I will take this occasion to speak on my experience as a fan of the series.

Start the day off RIGHT w/ Big Daddy Kane

Who Flattop Rules in '89?

STICK or MOVE?

Make Like a Tree...

Start the day off Right w/RAPSODY #SheGoHard

Let's get going this morning with a couple jawns from that chick Rapsody.

NEW INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM- SOUL EVER LIFT by M.Slago #MusicToDrawTo

Had a weird day today... but I got some new instrumentals from the homie M.Slago in my email.  So it was a good day!

How I Finally met Jeremy Biggers (and Why You Should Care)

#ThrowbackThursday do you know who originally said this quote?

IT'S DRIVING ME CRAZY!!!

If someone can let me know where this quote originated, I'll update the posters before I go to print...