Squish & Squash

Slabbing, The Red Hook pre-launch, & Winter Blues

My pal/cartoonist, Niall O'Rourke asked me to draw a variant cover for his series, SQUISH & SQUASH #4, published by Keenspot. I don’t normally feel comfortable drawing kids stuff, even though I clearly have an All-Ages art style (and have created kids books), but I was glad that this came out well.

Meanwhile, my old pal, Ruben Torres asked me:

”Given your stature in the industry, what is your opinion on graded and slabbed comic books? I have a collection of books. Although bagged and boarded, most are from childhood and read a few times over. I see the fad of pressing, cleaning and slabbing. I’m hesitant to do any of that as it entombs the book, never to be opened again. I’m not in it for “ investment” but I see some books that have been insanely priced slabbed. Thoughts?”

I responded:

Like you, I read my comic books and they tend to get a little beaten up. I respect that for some people collecting is a business, ergo, the desire for mint condition comics/etc., but it's not my thing.

I have experienced signing comics for a fan while a person (a signature cop?) witnesses me sign said comic book just so said fan can pay the person (cop?) money to make my free signature official. As if a second pair of eyes insures I did what I did. I think they register the signed comic book and get it graded or something. Kinda takes the spirit away from the fact that I signed the comic for free while someone else/the signature police (more accurately, the company that person works for -- who has NOTHING TO DO with said signed comic book) got paid a fee. This is why some creators make it a policy to charge money for signatures when they see the signature police hovering like a shark.

Bottom line: I just want people to read my work. Not carbon freeze it like Han Solo in "The Empire Strikes Back."

Speaking of reading my work…

THE RED HOOK x DEAN HASPIEL is a new project I'm profoundly excited about. Please click on the Kickstarter link to get notified when the launch goes live and you will learn much more about the campaign.

CLICK HERE

I was invited by artist/curator and Jacked Kirby podcast co-host, Tommy Lombardozzi to participate in a group art show in Brooklyn. I painted a small watercolor featuring “Fireman Mark,” a new character that will debut in THE RED HOOK x DEAN HASPIEL.

Here’s the art show details:

Join us on Saturday, March 2nd 2024 for BrooklynONE’s first group art event of the new year: “Winter Blues: A Group Art Show”

20+ NYC artists interpret the theme of winter blues in a gallery of original works of art. What are the winter blues to you? Come see what the are for the participating artists.

The family-friendly gallery will open at 2pm and be available to view all day. A reception will take place at 7pm. Artwork will be for sale. Come support the theatre and the arts while awaiting the end of winter.

Get reserve tickets here: www.bkONE.org
$5 suggested donation at the door (but feel free to donate more!)
Cocktails (21+) and soft drinks for sale.

BrooklynONE’s Tom Kane Theatre
51 35th St., Building 5 (“Imagination Alley”)
Store 17 in Industry City, Brooklyn, NY 11232

Participating artists include:
Alfred Accettura
David Askew
Kathryn Bailey
Allison Conway
Donny David
Rebekah Delaney
Jen Ferguson
Danielle Fisher
Simon Fraser
Zena Gurbo
Eric Hamilton
Dean Haspiel
Miguel Heredia
Alithea Howes
Anastasia Koshik
Aynsley Leonardis
Tommy Lombardozzi
Joseph Milazzo
Letizia Principato
Kieran Quinn
Adam Suerta
Angela Torresi
Ray Wang

Happy 86th Birthday, Dad!

love, Dean

PS — CONGRATULATIONS to my dear friend/studio mate, Whitney Matheson for finishing the first draft of her memoir! I’ve read every chapter, thus far, and it’s great!

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