A little birthday illustration for my Starlog editorial friend, David McDonnell.
Happy Dreikäsehoch! | Another Mrs. Berry Birthday Doodle
Every May, going back to 2010, I cobble together a German-themed birthday illo for the mother of my fan/friend in New Jersey. Nope, they’re not German — but, they did take me to a German-themed restaurant in Hoboken for Mrs. Berry’s birthday get-together in 2009.
And that’s the (in)joke. Ahh, I guess you had to be there.
If you were wondering, “Happy Dreikäsehoch” translates to Three Cheese High.
Cheese has nothing to do with anything with relation to the person, the day, or the theme… I just needed a long, complicated, funny-sounding German-ish word (“Dreikäsehoch”) and this one fit the bill.
That’s supposed to be me (Bort) on the left. The sentient purple plush critter on the right is "Trunko”, an Ugly Dolls character I picked up at FAO Schwarz with Mrs. Berry in 2011… but I digress…
At left: this is the illustration without the “Happy Dreikäsehoch” titles. Yes, that’s THREE cheese slabs stacked in the background (re:translation).
Peter Mayhew - A Tribute
A special Chewie doodle to this most beloved Star Wars actor.
Today's Easter Toon (not) Sponsored By Lindt
Rebels' Hoth Base Grand Opening! Free Tauntaun Rides! (with unfunny conclusion)
Originally published in Starlog Magazine sometime in 1998.
Can you guess this is a really low-quality scan? I think the original was black & white, but was colorized decades later (I might be wrong about the former).
Anyways, the above appeared on Facebook by a 3rd-party poster.
So, with time to spare, I drew up a sequel to the above toon:
Nobody Likes A Disrespectful Ozzel.
Important Safety Tip: DO NOT mess with Darth “Grumpy” Vader’s Starlog Magazine collection.
Admiral Ozzel (just prior to the events in The Empire Strikes Back) learned his lesson well… until he messed up again when alerting the Rebels on Hoth to the presence of the Imperial fleet. ***SPOILER ALERT!!!***
Über Von Doodle-Strudel | The First Mrs. Berry Birthday Doodle
In 2009, after jokingly badgering me I had to fly from Melbourne (Australia) to New Jersey to visit my (then) newly found vet-tech fan, Karen… and flying to NJ to do just that a few months later… and after one of several guided tours of NYC, Karen (with me in tow)(#typicalaussietourist) wound up at a German-themed bistro/restaurant thingy in Hoboken for Mrs. Judy Berry’s birthday get-together.
The scene depicted below is NOT of that night... just a fun 1st Anniversary illo of (a) that birthday dinner in Hoboken and (b) the first of "Mrs. Berry's Birthday Doodles" yearly installments.
The cast of characters (from left to right): me (in picture frame); Carolyn (Karen's sister), Charlie (Carolyn's fiancee); waiter in stereotypical traditional German lederhosen; Amber (Carolyn's daughter); Karen (fan/"get your ass over to NJ" instigator); and Mrs. Judy Berry (birthday girl).
This illo was drawn digitally in 2010 and is littered with in-jokes for the time. I'd point out and explain each one -- but I don't wanna.