Tim's Notebook

Tim Larsen
tim@timsnotebook.com
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Every Tuesday and Thursday since late 2019 yours truly here has been diligently hammering away at the keyboards with insights, rants and general ideological regurgitation of brain farts and concepts. If you already subscribe that's great! You're getting them already. But if you want to 'try it on' before buying, so to speak, then by all means read away below!

Subscribe and get the new ones twice weekly!


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2022-12-20

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Comic books review: White Ash Season Two, White Ash Deluxe Edition

Really, I mean really good art!

2022-12-06

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Comic book review: Battle Panda

For the most part this was a fun story to read.

2022-12-01

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Comic creator profile on: Raulo Carceras

This shouldn't work, and yet... it's a masterpiece.

2022-11-29

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Graphic Novel Review: The Underwater Welder

At the end, it's a question of Jack Joseph's sanity.

2022-11-22

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Graphic Novel Review: Code 45

Rumors of a gigantic evil dragon lurking in the tunnels of Montreal's subway have been circulating for some time.

2022-11-15

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Comic book review: By the Time I Get to Dallas 3

A few new details emerge with part 3. Children are unaffected...

2022-11-10

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Comic creator profile on: Timothy Truman

Mr. Truman puts on paper a very dangerous and cruel looking world.

2022-11-08

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Comic book review: Gage and the Dragon's Tear 1 - 3

I'll start right here by saying that this comic went in a different direction.

2022-11-03

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Five Comic books that became movies

You may have not known these movies were originally comics.

2022-11-01

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Comic book review: Broken Trident

Broken Trident has some interesting concepts.

2022-10-27

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Remembering Underground Comix Artists from the 1970s: Bill Griffith

I had an odd infatuation with underground Comix artists...

2022-10-25

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Graphic Novel review: Peepland

The seedy, dark underbelly of New York in the Eighties.

2022-10-20

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Lisa and Moeshea hanging at the street corner

I ran into a problem. Albuquerque isn't there anymore.

2022-10-18

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Comic Book Review: Happy Hill 4

Will Mackenzie meet her mother again? It seems a strong possibility but I won't tell.

2022-10-13

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Remembering some trends in comic books.

Superhero story lines are hot now.

2022-10-11

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Graphic Novel Review: Ichabod Jones Monster Hunter

Nine years, and about 87 pages later they've achieved their goal of finishing the story.

2022-10-04

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Comic book review: Dig #1, a Sink Tale

This is the best comic of the year that I've read.

2022-09-29

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New from Mayfield Eight: The Creator's Cut

The Penciled Version!

2022-09-27

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Comic book review: Crossover Division part 3

The stakes get ramped up in CD 3, which is interesting.

2022-09-20

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Comic book review, 2 of 2: The Locksmith

A light in the night sky called Brightstar is about to come crashing down to Earth. Doomsday is approaching.

2022-09-15

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What to watch, what to watch?

I can recommend three things.

2022-09-13

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Comic book review, 1 of 2: The Locksmith

The story of The Locksmith is set in NYC, namely The Bronx.

2022-09-08

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Report back from The Long Con

How $1500 spent is worth $340 earned.

2022-09-06

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Comic book review: Magic Powder 2

In this case, it's the 'magic powder' so craved by the elves, dwarves, and other creatures that will spend great amounts of cash for.

2022-08-30

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Comic book review: The Truce

The world has come to an end. Civilization is in chaos.

2022-08-25

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Another YouTube video released!

This time I've got a short discussion on how you get out of writing yourself into a corner: Character Sheets!

2022-08-23

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Comic book review: The Alchemist of Aurillia Parts 1 and 2

Nuriye is a Wizard-in-training trying out new spells and incantations. She's succeeded in creating a small spirit, a familiar named Shale.

2022-08-18

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Three great YouTube channels about comics!

Once again, it's time to share a bit of what I routinely go to on the internet.

2022-08-16

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Comic Book Review: Forgotten Hymns 3

After reading the intriguing part three of this tale, I feel like everything is coming together while everything is coming apart.

2022-08-11

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Spotlight on American Chopper

The show's subject was Orange County Choppers, headed by Paul Teutul, his son Paul Jr. and other son Mikey.

2022-08-09

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Graphic Novel Review: White Ash part 2 of 2

I so wanted to love White Ash. And yet it fell short.

2022-08-04

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Finally... another Tutorial on YouTube!

How do you draw a circular thing in space... as an elliptical?

2022-08-02

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Graphic Novel Review: White Ash part 1 of 2

The artwork is a very high caliber -especially in the first few pages.

2022-07-28

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'm not the only game in town.

Here's five comic book newsletters worth checking out.

2022-07-26

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Comic book review: Happy Hill 3

Happy Hill is a horror story that contains the theme of 'paths' or roads (even shoots and tubes): a conduit that leads one towards a destination.

2022-07-19

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Graphic Novel review: Incognito: Bad Influences

Incognito is about Zach Overkill, a super-human crime stopper who once crossed the line and now is in hiding.

2022-07-14

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258 subscribers.

That's how many watch my YouTube tutorials.

2022-07-12

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Comic book anthology review: Toddler-pocalypse

The theme of 'End of the World as We Know It' -with children.

2022-07-07

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If they made Marvel Movies in the 1960s part 2

Who would you cast?

2022-07-05

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Comic book review: The Black Hand 1 - 4

Everything is cold and foreboding.

2022-06-30

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Outlaw culture profile on: Rat Rods

A Rat Rod is pure machine.

2022-06-28

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Comic book review: Happy Hill part 2

The trick of telling a good story is to hook the reader early on.

2022-06-23

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The adventures of moving...

I moved to a very expensive tiny house.

2022-06-21

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Comic book review: Daybreak!

There's alternative realities, worm holes at play here.

2022-06-16

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Great for a panel: Five Female Faces Favoring Fantastic Feeling!

have a new round of images culled from shows I have been watching that stood out for their expressiveness.

2022-06-14

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Graphic Novel review: Lucifer's Sword

The legend behind it packs an interesting punch.

2022-06-07

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Storybook review: Not So Fair Tales, part 2 of 2

Not So Fair Tales is an anthology that's a riff on fairy tales and mother goose stories...

2022-06-02

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Michelangelo knew how to draw superheroes 600 years ago

Would you believe that artists have been wrestling with this problem of 'action scenes' since the 1500s in Italy?

2022-05-31

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Storybook review: Not So Fair Tales, part 1 of 2

I loved 'Fractured Fairy Tales' when it was a cartoon on Saturday (or after school).

2022-05-26

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Comic Book and Cartoon Characters I Wish Got Their Own Movies

There were maybe a few superhero characters they missed.

2022-05-24

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Comic Book Review: Pipe Creepers 2

Two plumbers are sent to a spooky house to solve the water problem.

2022-05-19

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Great for a panel (again)!

I watch a lot of streaming TV on the computer.

2022-05-17

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Comic Book Anthology Review: 'The Becoming,' 3

Anthologies like these are great in that they allow new talent to get their artwork out into the world without the huge expense of self-publishing.

2022-05-12

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If they made Marvel Movies in the 1960s part 1

In 1961 to 1965 or so when Marvel was first getting started, who would I cast in a movie?

2022-05-10

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Comic Book Anthology Review: 'The Becoming' 2 of 3

Here we go in this anthology with the next five stories:

2022-05-05

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A Good Story Structure... being 'uneven'

What makes for a great story? It's not the subject matter...

2022-05-03

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Comic Book Anthology Review: 'The Becoming' 1 of 3

Compiled and edited by Lynsey G and Jayel Draco

2022-04-28

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1970s phenomenon: The Fern Bar.

What exactly was a 'fern bar?'

2022-04-26

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Comic Book Series Review: Road Kill Du Jour

It's well within the horror genre. And... there's a biker protagonist.

2022-04-21

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Profile on Outlaw Biker Culture artist: David Mann

There are few artists who encapsulate the heart of the 'outlaw' side of the 1960s as much as David Mann.

2022-04-19

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Graphic Novel review: James Versus the New World Order

'Bad-Ass' won't cut it by itself.

2022-04-14

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Motorbike Builder Profile on: Indian Larry

Indian Larry was a widely respected builder of custom motorcycles.

2022-04-12

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Comic Book Review: Snow Paw #1

There's a real warm-glow aesthetic going on here, for the first few pages for sure.

2022-04-07

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Profile on the 1970s: The American Indian Movement (AIM)

The early 1970s saw at the aftermath of the Viet Nam War a rise in radicalism.

2022-04-05

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Comic Book Review: Magic Powder

This is a comic where I definitely will be wanting to read more chapters to get filled in.

2022-03-31

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More nutty script ideas.

They keep trickling into my head.

2022-03-29

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Comic Book Review: Brokenland 4

Lots of mushrooms are key in this comic, as well as studies on garbage and refuse.

2022-03-24

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A new tutorial on YouTube for comic book artists.

This time around it's all about getting that inked page ready for coloring.

2022-03-22

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Comic Book Review: Starweed part 2

Part 2 opens up, the cover promising a dinosaur somewhere in the story...

2022-03-17

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Mad Magazine Artist profile: Al Jaffee

What was a fold in?

2022-03-15

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Graphic Novel Review: The Deadliest Bouquet part 2 of 2

Author Erica Shultz obviously has an interest in the relationship of the three sisters.

2022-03-10

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George Herriman, genius behind Krazy Kat.

Newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst loved Krazy Kat.

2022-03-08

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Graphic Novel Review: The Deadliest Bouquet part 1 of 2

Three sisters who come together to solve the mysterious murder of their mother.

2022-03-03

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Great for a panel!

Screen grabs of shows I've been watching that would work out great for a comic book page.

2022-03-01

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Comic book review: Spectress and Sabanion

We get a tale spun on a very well-travelled road indeed.

2022-02-24

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Realism vs. Wish Fulfillment.

Archie Bunker or Marcia Brady. Which one are you?

2022-02-22

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Comic book review: Time Trader 1 and 2

Dylan Sharpe has an ability. He can rewind a 24 hour period and re-live it.

2022-02-15

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Comic book review: Crossover Division 1 and 2

This book is like Quantum Leap meets Inception meets Men in Black.

2022-02-10

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Depicting 1970s fashion

How do I go about making sure their clothes (and hairstyles) are authentic looking?

2022-02-08

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Comic book review: Happy Hill #1

Happy Hill is an overpriced Vacation Resort with a past.

2022-02-01

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Graphic Novel Review: Crucifix Executioner

Crucifix Executioner is a graphic novel that could have been a great work.

2022-01-27

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Comic book illustrating hacks: Posing for a two-way phonecall

What does it look like to depict two people having a phone call conversation?

2022-01-25

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Comic Book Review: Pipe Creepers 1

Two plumbers are sent to fix some 'bad water' issues with an ancient decrepit old house.

2022-01-20

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Mad Magazine Artist profile: Dave Berg

Dry, reverential, sober, clean. His people always stood stock straight. They lived in very neat places.

2022-01-18

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Graphic Novel Review: Sons of Anarchy 3

A simple story line, one based in believable circumstances. That's what I expected from Ed Brisson, and that's what I got.

2022-01-13

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Underground Comix Artist spotlight on: Spain Rodriquez

My biker-related comic has strong ties with Spain's Trashman.

2022-01-11

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Graphic Novel Review: Stray Bullets

Stray Bullets isn't concerned with story arcs.

...

Go to 2021