Art

We'll start out our mini-seasonal tribute with, of courseEclectic Micks, the sketch blog by a bunch of Irish artists. Above, Banshee by (this time for real) Declan Shalvey.

Holy shit, James Jean. His latest show of paintings is up at the Martha Otero gallery in Hollywood and it runs until April 30. We're jealous of those who get to see it in person. Jean has also just released this limited edition silk scarf which you can buy at the link. ALL PROCEEDS WILL GO TO THE RED CROSS. THe scarf retails for $385. Only 50 were made. There is a B&W version as well, same price, same run.

History repeats itself as one more Roger Langridge's Muppet comics have been put in the vault by a business move. Fans of his near-universally acclaimed run on Boom's Muppet franchise may recall that his run on the beloved puppets began as a strip for Disney Adventures magazine, which was cancelled before the strips could run. Langridge made a few mini comics which he furtively handed out at cobs and the legend of the strips greatness grew. Result: when Boom got the license a call went out.

The fine folks at Comics Alliance did a very sensible thing and hired artist Ulises Farinas -- whose previous Marvel art efforts have been widely admired -- to create a massive Marvel vs DC Where's Waldo type illustration. Your mission: find the Invisible Woman and dozens of other people and objects. We've reproduced only a tiny portion of the whole here -- to see the whole thing at once would overwhelm your senses!

Skottie Young, who has thrilled us with his Oz comics, and Pixar's Scott Morse have a sketch blog together and it's lovely. Today they are doing some Harry Potter sketches and they are, predictably, awesome. Above, Dumbledore by Young; below, Lumos by Morse.

Speaking of Vermont, Beat Spy Inky Jen passed along this epic photo of a huge Batman carved from the icy terrain spotted by a passing motorist/blogger. (Click link for larger image.)

Everyone else has lauded this illustration of the Masters of the Universe by the great Gilbert Hernandez, and we will not be the only ones to miss out on the action.

Okay we have not been linking to EVERY single Charlie Sheen comic because, let's face it, we're beating this thing to death. Yes there was Family Circus and Superhero Quotes and Sheen vs Deadpool and even some Comics Alliance didn't link to. But it is Kate Beaton who has supplied both the only necessary Charlie Sheen comics and the FINAL Charlie Sheen comic, in a page featuring Marge Gundersson, the sensible sheriff from Fargo. That is a tiger blood rocket to Mars right there.

Just to balance out the International Women's day stuff here Man-Thing by artist (and Beat pal) Art Adams.

Art blog Comic Twart is drawing Plastic Man. Above, Ron Salas. Below, Dave Johnson.

Darna is a popular Filipino superheroine created by Mars Ravelo and Nestor Redondo in 1950. Contemporary creators Gerry Alanguilan (story and art page 1) and Arnold Arre (letters and art pages 2-8) have created a 9 page tribute called DARNA LIVES! which is inspired by Alan Moore's Marvelman.

Although comics are such a cool, welcoming place that sometimes it seems no one ever goes away, that isn't true. People drop in and out all the time. Two recent blog posts rack down some of the most missed MIAs. At Comics Comics, the indie side of things gets covered with Frank Santoro and friends recalling Guang Yap, (above) Joel Orff, Jeff Nicholson among others. The long comments thread brings u many other memories and ideas of Things That Are Best Left Forgotten: