How Martians Changed my Life

Let's talk about movies, shall we?  I've been rather bored today, (at least during the times I haven't been working on something) and I wanna talk about something that has always been an interest to me.

Movies have always been a sizable portion of my life, in ways both good and bad.  When I was around 6 or 7, I recall having been shown the film "Mars Attacks!" by one of my babysitters.  The film in question, for those who haven't heard of it, revolves around aliens from mars and their nonsensical attack on human-kind.  I say nonsensical because, in the movie, the aliens never really give a valid reason for their attacking of earth, and appear to be doing it just for giggles if nothing else.  Of course, being 6-7, I couldn't have cared less about the plot, as I was simply mesmerized by the f***-ugly martian invaders.  Those big cartoon eyeballs, those skeletal faces, those big brains... all of which made for the scariest thing I'd ever see as a child.

Here we see one of the f***-ugly martians politely escorting a constipated Jack Nicholson out of the building.

So, why do I bring up the film that gave me nightmares as a kid?  Because despite the fact that those manic, wide-eyed skeletons would haunt my subconscious for years to come, their creative design and unique look would be one of the main reasons I become interested in the world of cartooning.  A world which I have yet to escape, but now realize I would never want to leave.

Hmm.  Looks like I changed the subject matter a bit there haven't I?  I set out to talk about movies, but just wound up talking about my creepy inspiration for my cartoons.  I guess this explains why I never drew smiley face suns like the other kids used to draw...

Grimacing Sun: Nick Lives age 12

...And with that image fresh in your head, I bid you all good day.