Mike Allred's MADMAN Series from Dark Horse Really Hit the Ground Running!

[@Michael-tf8om]

Still camera shy (and zoom-less). I dig you guys so much it's always a humbling thrill when you take the time to feature something of mine. Before I was ever published, pal & "Future Legend" Steven T. "Ben 10" Seagle gave me this advice: "Never tell anyone what you think is wrong with your own work. They may like it. So why talk them out of it.?" But for youse guys I'll be just a little candid... With the release of the definitive "MADMANiverse Library" from DHC I've been re-visiting a lot of my work for the first time since it's original publication and it can be daunting (if not cringey). Stuff I thought that really rocked at the time doesn't hit the targets I was aiming for. Most of my "evolution" occurs with my attempts to apply/incorporate the influences of favorite inkers. This issue reminds me how desperately I wanted the line of Dave Stevens or Frank Frazetta. Later when you see my line get insanely "chunky", it's because I took a deep dive into the work of Yves Challand (who Geof Darrow turned me on to). Works beautifully for his cartooning, but not so much when I'm trying to render more realistic character work. For example, I think I was reaching my personal goals more successfully here than my later more "Challand influenced" SUPERMAN/MADMAN (only now am I finally getting SUPERMAN down on the page to any degree of satisfaction with my current "SPACE AGE" gig). I'm always stretching and experimenting, hungry to progress. Some influences and efforts more successfully (personally) than others. But what's always kept me going is, what's in front of me on my drawing board, always being my favorite thing. Ever hoping for the next thing to be the best thing I've ever done. And yes, Love and ROCKETS! ;'D

[@Michael-tf8om]

I'm SO tempted to ignore Stevey's advice. Maybe when I join the 21st Century and figure out Zoom. Wink.

[@CartoonistKayfabe]

Thanks for the insights, Mike! Another thing I often think about when we revisit your early work -- it was so different than everything else at the time. The Pop quality of your style was a million miles from the dominant grim-and-gritty, cross-hatch-heavy style of Image and their imitators in the early 90s. Your art and stories felt different and fresh. But before long, you were drawing comics for Marvel/DC and it worked perfectly with the "mainstream" comics too. It was fascinating to see an artist succeed on both sides of American comics when American comics were two camps -- corporate superheroes and alternative/indie. That seemed rare to me at the time. Super cool! Your work has been a big inspiration for a long time, Mike. Madman grabbed my attention when I was ready to leave comics and showed me there was a lot more to this artform than I realized! Thank you! - JR

[@Michael-tf8om]

@@CartoonistKayfabe Thanks Jim!!! No consistent strategy on my part. Just always "following my bliss" and having just enough luck/sucess to be "allowed" to continue. I love making comics SOOOO much! Never-ending inspiration by peers (like youse guys), newbies, and timeless Legends to fuel & re-fuel my ever-shifting targets. "So much to do. So little time".

[@robintwiddy4246]

Everything about Allred is the best. His world is fascinating, his figure work is dynamic and solid and his ink is fantastic. And not to forget Laura’s colours. Love it. So glad you guys are covering this.

[@dwaynemuth8775]

Absolutely fun comic! I got into Madman in first series and it came at the right time my dad passed away after a battle with cancer and a comic book with the top right corner /flip book Madman dancing pages plus very creative avant-garde story ,genius of real name inspired by FRANK Sinatra/Albert EinSTEIN kept my interest! Laura Allred always deserves attention for her on point details to color! I would love ❤️ to see a shoot interview with Mike & Laura +more videos looking at their progress through over the years! What a blast! Keep reading and making comix!👍❤️😎🎯⚡️🤪

[@karlbrubaker2593]

Shout out to Comics Scene for introducing me to Allred. Also, when you guys go to the Billy Ireland, grab some originals from Caniff and Chester Gould!

[@RyanBrown314]

One of my favorites as a kid

[@marcbaker3947]

One of my all time favourite creators. Madman Comics owns. Really glad to see you guys covering this one and shining some light on Mike and Laura Allred

[@sammajkrzak8887]

"Crash Course For The Ravers" is a David Bowie lyric from the song "Drive In Saturday". "The Living End" is probably also from the Bowie song "Time"

[@Michael-tf8om]

You are CORRECT, Sir!

[@4-a-e]

Madman was big part of why comics bit me as a kid. Allred on Doom Patrol would be amazing maybe reteaming with Milligan?

[@timothymarkin4481]

I picked up the three issue Tundra series off the rack without knowing anything about Mike Allred in 1991; his work reminded me of Bruno Premiani of Doom Patrol fame. And I later met Allred and had him sign my copies of both the Caliber and Slave Labor versions of Graphique Musique and my first printing of Dead Air, his first published comic. During the 90s, when the “Image Style” had me avoiding it hard, Allred was an indy cartoonist I was all-in on.

[@wowzertrousers9254]

This was my introduction to Madman, and these Legend/Dark Horse issues are still my favorite, so much energy and fun in these comics, and when you read it, it really feels and reads like an actual comic book. Super fresh to my then teenage self, love it!

[@andybrining]

I have that first bubblegum-less card set, it was from Dark Horse. I also got the Madman Zippo they put out.

[@montagethemovie5947]

Happy to say I have every single issue of Madman and pretty much everything Allred has worked on. Love it!

[@drawrobot]

Maybe I'm imagining it, but I remember something tonally changed in Madman after it landed at Dark Horse. I'm a long time fan of Allred's.

[@Michael-tf8om]

Not imagining. I was always experimenting with tone. MADness!

[@arch6921]

These early Madman issues were(and still are) everything to me back in the day. I read these along with Jaime's Locas stories over and over (and over) cos my broke college ass couldn't afford anything else. It was all I had. My early sketchbooks are filled with cribs from this exact issue.

[@LumberjackNick]

Just read this for the first time recently. Loved it. So much fun!

[@ahmedt2146]

Madman was one of those comics that I just didnt "get" back when I was collecting in the 90s. I loved Sin City and Hellboy but I just couldnt wrap my head around Madmans "genius" like everyone else and I wish I could. It just felt too inaccessible to me somehow- I could see the beautiful artwork and I wanted to love it so much but just couldnt get in to it. Instead my mature comics collection consisted of mostly Vertigo titles, Grendel, The Crow, Sin City, Hellboy etc- but Madman not a chance. Maybe I will give it another go now that Im in my 40s.

[@Michael-tf8om]

It's okay. I get that you don't get it. Maybe someday I'll get ya to get me ;'P

[@NeroLeMorte]

Just treat the comic like you would a silver age character then you'll get into it.

[@Therealmrmeow]

Great video and certainly can't wait to see all those Kayfabetober entries!

[@Leo_artistero]

MADMAN would work amazing as an animated film or series, so much potential.

[@thetonycanepa]

If you are looking to dig into this, I highly recommend the new Madman Library Editions from Dark Horse. Excellent reproductions of the entire Madman series through all of its iterations in oversized, omnibus editions. Vol. 1 features the early Tundra work (with new color by Laura Allred) and Madman Comics #1-10. I believe there will be six volumes in all.

[@Michael-tf8om]

FIVE volumes. Volume Three is should be out very soon.

[@usurper001]

Ironic that you are featuring this today, a day after I read the Fantastic Four Full Circle, because it totally has an Allred psychedelic space vibe.

[@hsatin20]

Such a great series

[@sammygreen9652]

I enjoy Madman and The Atomics in fact my first introduction to Madman was the crossover with Superman.❤

[@majorjoe23]

I’m reading the X-Cellent series by Allred (and Milligan) right now. It could be an interesting Kayfabe episode.

[@spiderphil]

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@steampunkster2023]

I have Madman vs Superman. I love his comics art style as if it's a work of Roy Lichtenstein - Pop Art from the 1960s, only BETTER!

[@portland-182]

The 'Doom Patrol character is a girl - Gale

[@forrfuun8470]

Its worth if you guys check out fresh 1 year old manga Dandadan. Explosive dynamic art and story on the same wild level.

[@MrEdWeirdoShow]

Ed or Jim - this question is serious, I swear. Is artist Mike Allred related to lawyer Gloria Allred? I've checked the web often and came up empty, and various forums seem to avoid answering this like the plague. What gives? Thanks in advance for any possible help.

[@Michael-tf8om]

Not that I know of. Most likely somewhere in the ol' Family Tree, but I dunno where if we are.

[@majorjoe23]

@@Michael-tf8om Unrelated to this, but I just finished X-Cellent yesterday. Any idea when season 2 might appear?