Dale Martin, Cartoonist
@smearysoapbox.bsky.social
Artist. Writer. Reader. Publisher. Caretaker of WATUSI the TALKING DOG. I've been handcrafting comics since 1985, & don't see any reason to stop now!
Blog: smearysoapboxpress.com
Webcomic: watusithetalkingdog.com
Newsletter: eepurl.com/bawHc9
Blog: smearysoapboxpress.com
Webcomic: watusithetalkingdog.com
Newsletter: eepurl.com/bawHc9
It's been a number of years since I've been a part of it, but I'm really looking forward to being in MAC's 2025 Holiday Artist Market! Located at 4998 Summer (in Memphis), the space is full (despite the sparse look my setup photos convey) of local art & handcrafted treats! Opens tomorrow!!
November 20, 2025 at 10:35 PM
It's been a number of years since I've been a part of it, but I'm really looking forward to being in MAC's 2025 Holiday Artist Market! Located at 4998 Summer (in Memphis), the space is full (despite the sparse look my setup photos convey) of local art & handcrafted treats! Opens tomorrow!!
I had the biggest, goofiest grin on my face as I finished this issue! @chrissamnee.bsky.social & Mark Waid really crafted something to be proud of with this series: excitement, intrigue, and heart, all gorgeously drawn. #LunchtimeReading
November 18, 2025 at 8:14 PM
I had the biggest, goofiest grin on my face as I finished this issue! @chrissamnee.bsky.social & Mark Waid really crafted something to be proud of with this series: excitement, intrigue, and heart, all gorgeously drawn. #LunchtimeReading
Reposted by Dale Martin, Cartoonist
Bill Watterson’s “Calvin and Hobbes” first appeared 40 years ago, on November 18, 1985. Here’s the first week of dailies:
November 18, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Bill Watterson’s “Calvin and Hobbes” first appeared 40 years ago, on November 18, 1985. Here’s the first week of dailies:
Odin is missing! Is he dead? Hela says "nay" in Thor #251, with this satisfyingly grim Kirby cover. It took a while for Tony DeZuniga to fill Joe Sinnott's shoes, but by #252 it feels like his inking's less rough, & better suited to portraying Asgard. #ThorReread #LunchtimeReading
November 12, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Odin is missing! Is he dead? Hela says "nay" in Thor #251, with this satisfyingly grim Kirby cover. It took a while for Tony DeZuniga to fill Joe Sinnott's shoes, but by #252 it feels like his inking's less rough, & better suited to portraying Asgard. #ThorReread #LunchtimeReading
Thor and Co. are back in Asgard ... but something's wrong with Odin! Turns out his self-created amnesia followed by possession by the Egyptian pantheon (in preceding issues) have driven him mad! #AbsolutePowerCorruptsAbsolutely #ThorReread #LunchtimeReading
November 11, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Thor and Co. are back in Asgard ... but something's wrong with Odin! Turns out his self-created amnesia followed by possession by the Egyptian pantheon (in preceding issues) have driven him mad! #AbsolutePowerCorruptsAbsolutely #ThorReread #LunchtimeReading
Reposted by Dale Martin, Cartoonist
Good morning! AI is being force-fed to you by a handful of billionaires who will lose a bunch of money if they fail to convince you that you need it. You do not need it 🫶
November 6, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Good morning! AI is being force-fed to you by a handful of billionaires who will lose a bunch of money if they fail to convince you that you need it. You do not need it 🫶
Finally made it to "Stage & Sketch" last night at the Dixon, the life drawing sessions led by Shelda Edwards (this time w/ belly dancer Felicity Fox). Shorter drawings felt better, but I came out w/ a good one to end the night. Sounds like I'll have more chances to draw there in the new year...
November 7, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Finally made it to "Stage & Sketch" last night at the Dixon, the life drawing sessions led by Shelda Edwards (this time w/ belly dancer Felicity Fox). Shorter drawings felt better, but I came out w/ a good one to end the night. Sounds like I'll have more chances to draw there in the new year...
In the middle of their Thor run, Wein/Buscema/Sinnott casually drop my favorite single issue of all, just like it was nothing special! The Warriors three haven't had many outings w/o Thor, but this gem lets them shine on their own! #ThorReread #LunchtimeReading
November 3, 2025 at 8:06 PM
In the middle of their Thor run, Wein/Buscema/Sinnott casually drop my favorite single issue of all, just like it was nothing special! The Warriors three haven't had many outings w/o Thor, but this gem lets them shine on their own! #ThorReread #LunchtimeReading
Yesterday's drawing with Memphis Urban Sketchers at Dixon Gallery & Gardens. Beautiful (tho a bit chillier than "crisp") morning; great time drawing before the afternoon rains moved our way...
November 2, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Yesterday's drawing with Memphis Urban Sketchers at Dixon Gallery & Gardens. Beautiful (tho a bit chillier than "crisp") morning; great time drawing before the afternoon rains moved our way...
66 hours left! Fully funded (congrats, Greg!), there's still time to add decks for your own game night w/ ConCards! by Greg Cravens www.kickstarter.com/projects/754...
ConCards!
The Matching-And-Counting Card Game made to play all over your favorite Convention! (and around the dinner table on Game Night)
www.kickstarter.com
October 28, 2025 at 9:31 PM
66 hours left! Fully funded (congrats, Greg!), there's still time to add decks for your own game night w/ ConCards! by Greg Cravens www.kickstarter.com/projects/754...
As heart-wrenching as the end to #10 was, the final page of #11 was even more of a surprise! The final issue of
@chrissamnee.bsky.social & Mark Waid's series comes out tomorrow, & I can't remember ever being as excited to read a final issue of a loved series as this one! #LunchtimeReading
@chrissamnee.bsky.social & Mark Waid's series comes out tomorrow, & I can't remember ever being as excited to read a final issue of a loved series as this one! #LunchtimeReading
October 28, 2025 at 8:49 PM
As heart-wrenching as the end to #10 was, the final page of #11 was even more of a surprise! The final issue of
@chrissamnee.bsky.social & Mark Waid's series comes out tomorrow, & I can't remember ever being as excited to read a final issue of a loved series as this one! #LunchtimeReading
@chrissamnee.bsky.social & Mark Waid's series comes out tomorrow, & I can't remember ever being as excited to read a final issue of a loved series as this one! #LunchtimeReading
Len Wein comes on strong as writer/editor (#242) with a satisfying time travel adventure that takes Thor & co. to the end of time (after failing to stop the end of Earth itself) and back! Buscema & Sinnott continue to shine on art! #ThorReread #LunchtimeReading
October 24, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Len Wein comes on strong as writer/editor (#242) with a satisfying time travel adventure that takes Thor & co. to the end of time (after failing to stop the end of Earth itself) and back! Buscema & Sinnott continue to shine on art! #ThorReread #LunchtimeReading
Reposted by Dale Martin, Cartoonist
Did a new one
August 7, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Did a new one
Continuing my #ThorReread w/ #240; feels like Conway's departure left the title in a lurch, playing deadline catchup w/ Mantlo on script, Sal on art, and _every_ editor to help it make sense! I like a lot of Mantlo comics, but he struggled with Asgard-ese in this early effort. #LunchtimeReading
October 16, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Continuing my #ThorReread w/ #240; feels like Conway's departure left the title in a lurch, playing deadline catchup w/ Mantlo on script, Sal on art, and _every_ editor to help it make sense! I like a lot of Mantlo comics, but he struggled with Asgard-ese in this early effort. #LunchtimeReading
Just got back from helping hang this show; the work looks really good all together. 24 pieces by 10 artists!
Reception tomorrow, 5-7 at 3037 Forest Hill Irene Rd.
Reception tomorrow, 5-7 at 3037 Forest Hill Irene Rd.
ARTISTS' RECEPTION in 2 Days!
Friday, October 10, 2025, at Germantown Community Theatre from 5 - 7 pm.
Costumes welcome!
Friday, October 10, 2025, at Germantown Community Theatre from 5 - 7 pm.
Costumes welcome!
October 9, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Just got back from helping hang this show; the work looks really good all together. 24 pieces by 10 artists!
Reception tomorrow, 5-7 at 3037 Forest Hill Irene Rd.
Reception tomorrow, 5-7 at 3037 Forest Hill Irene Rd.
It should be a great weekend for an outdoor festival! Come out and find me at V&E Artwalk in Memphis: I'm bringing comics, prints, and few other surprises!
October 9, 2025 at 5:22 PM
It should be a great weekend for an outdoor festival! Come out and find me at V&E Artwalk in Memphis: I'm bringing comics, prints, and few other surprises!
Another great Redcoat issue from @bryanhitch.bsky.social & Geoff Johns! I love the mix of longer arcs and done-in-ones, and even their crossover issues stand on their own. I recommend this latest issue as a good choice to sample (and get hooked on) this series! #LunchtimeReading
October 9, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Another great Redcoat issue from @bryanhitch.bsky.social & Geoff Johns! I love the mix of longer arcs and done-in-ones, and even their crossover issues stand on their own. I recommend this latest issue as a good choice to sample (and get hooked on) this series! #LunchtimeReading
I just backed ConCards! on @kickstarter.com www.kickstarter.com/projects/754...
It's been fun to watch as Greg's been developing this game engine over the years; it's fully baked, so now's a good chance to jump into this fast-paced card game!
It's been fun to watch as Greg's been developing this game engine over the years; it's fully baked, so now's a good chance to jump into this fast-paced card game!
ConCards!
The Matching-And-Counting Card Game made to play all over your favorite Convention! (and around the dinner table on Game Night)
www.kickstarter.com
October 8, 2025 at 9:45 PM
I just backed ConCards! on @kickstarter.com www.kickstarter.com/projects/754...
It's been fun to watch as Greg's been developing this game engine over the years; it's fully baked, so now's a good chance to jump into this fast-paced card game!
It's been fun to watch as Greg's been developing this game engine over the years; it's fully baked, so now's a good chance to jump into this fast-paced card game!
#LunchtimeReading the latest from the Mid-South Cartoonists Association, a tasty little "good luck/bad luck/no luck at all" issue. For my part, I seeded 3 Watusi jam comics, picked up on by Jim Palmer, @kevinmule.bsky.social, and Eric McMeans. No spoilers here, tho!
October 8, 2025 at 9:04 PM
#LunchtimeReading the latest from the Mid-South Cartoonists Association, a tasty little "good luck/bad luck/no luck at all" issue. For my part, I seeded 3 Watusi jam comics, picked up on by Jim Palmer, @kevinmule.bsky.social, and Eric McMeans. No spoilers here, tho!
Thor #235, featuring the art of John Buscema & Joe Sinnott, possibly my favorite Thor artists (not an easy call to make, actually). Check out the ALT text for more info about Gil Kane's cover, including a spoiler for a 50+ year old comic. #LunchtimeReading
October 6, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Thor #235, featuring the art of John Buscema & Joe Sinnott, possibly my favorite Thor artists (not an easy call to make, actually). Check out the ALT text for more info about Gil Kane's cover, including a spoiler for a 50+ year old comic. #LunchtimeReading
Yesterday's drawing with Memphis Urban Sketchers at @elmwoodcemetery.bsky.social ... I was fascinated by the repeated symbolic elements of these markers, until @marthakellyart.bsky.social told me about the Woodmen of the World. Similarities explained!
October 5, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Yesterday's drawing with Memphis Urban Sketchers at @elmwoodcemetery.bsky.social ... I was fascinated by the repeated symbolic elements of these markers, until @marthakellyart.bsky.social told me about the Woodmen of the World. Similarities explained!
Starting a reread from the oldest issue (#232) in my contiguous 70s/80s Thor collection. This one always stood out as an oddity because of the art: John Buscema inked by Dick Giordano, which seemed like an unlikely pairing (especially for 1974) ...
#LunchtimeReading
#LunchtimeReading
October 3, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Starting a reread from the oldest issue (#232) in my contiguous 70s/80s Thor collection. This one always stood out as an oddity because of the art: John Buscema inked by Dick Giordano, which seemed like an unlikely pairing (especially for 1974) ...
#LunchtimeReading
#LunchtimeReading
Reposted by Dale Martin, Cartoonist
Written 55 years ago, Schulz's heartfelt clarity cuts through the noise, even today.
h/t @tisserand.bsky.social
h/t @tisserand.bsky.social
October 2, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Written 55 years ago, Schulz's heartfelt clarity cuts through the noise, even today.
h/t @tisserand.bsky.social
h/t @tisserand.bsky.social
Reposted by Dale Martin, Cartoonist
Here is the gift of being a comic artist, if you’re lucky every single day you get to make something that didn’t exist before and that harms no one and adds something good to the world. Even if no one wants it.
September 29, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Here is the gift of being a comic artist, if you’re lucky every single day you get to make something that didn’t exist before and that harms no one and adds something good to the world. Even if no one wants it.
Reposted by Dale Martin, Cartoonist
As you cancel streaming services, here is a casual reminder that only 16% of Americans read for pleasure anymore, and your local library has hundreds or thousands of books you haven't read.
They would love to see you stop by and renew your library card.
They would love to see you stop by and renew your library card.
September 18, 2025 at 7:55 PM
As you cancel streaming services, here is a casual reminder that only 16% of Americans read for pleasure anymore, and your local library has hundreds or thousands of books you haven't read.
They would love to see you stop by and renew your library card.
They would love to see you stop by and renew your library card.