by John | Jan 18, 2019 | Uncategorized
This is the second half of our two-day celebration of the day (Jan. 19, 2009) Last Kiss launched on GoComics. (Read Part 1 here!)
To celebrate the event, the nice folks at GoComics interviewed me and created a special collection of some of my favorite Last Kisses.
Again, many thanks for all the congrats and kind thoughts I’ve received!
Art by Bill Ward from Torchy #4, May 1950, Quality Comics.
Transcript:
SCENE: Two women fixing their makeup and hair in preparation for going to a party.
WOMAN #1: I’m so excited! It’s the 10th anniversary of Last Kiss on GoComics!
WOMAN #2: I can’t wait to meet Last Kiss fans at the party! I hear they’re all rich, witty…and so sexy!
CAPTION: Love and Last Kisses to my amazing readers for 10 years of enthusiasm & sexy silliness! —John Lustig
1950 Art: Bill Ward Color: Diego Jourdan Pereira
Art Code: DJP.lk512
↓ TranscriptSCENE: Two women fixing their makeup and hair in preparation for going to a party.
WOMAN #1: I’m so excited! It’s the 10th anniversary of Last Kiss on GoComics!
WOMAN #2: I can’t wait to meet Last Kiss fans at the party! I hear they’re all rich, witty...and so sexy!
CAPTION: Love and Last Kisses to my amazing readers for 10 years of enthusiasm & sexy silliness! ---John Lustig
1950 Art: Bill Ward Color: Diego Jourdan Pereira
Art Code: DJP.lk512
by John | Jan 17, 2019 | Uncategorized
Hi. This is actually only Part 1 of a two-day celebration. (Part 2 is tomorrow!)
Thank you all so much for reading and making these 10 years (on GoComics and off) such an incredible experience for me.
And double thanks to any of you who have been following me and Last Kiss even longer. (Sometimes much, much longer!)
If I was gonna do triple thanks—and apparently I am—I want to say how much I appreciate the comments made on this site by fans. In particular I want to thank “Jam” whose comments are so wildly imaginative and funny that I’m sure he’s developed fans of his own. Kudos as well for memorable and frequent posts from Dave Dell. And so many others.*
I hope to keep this going for many more years!
*Including commentators—just to sample from recent posts—such as: Rudolf vonLuchen, Peter Bromwich, inventor, Tony, Wes & Rex.
Although the art for today’s Last Kiss is taken from different stories by various artists, here’s the original art for part of it—created by Charles Nicholas & Vince Alascia for the story “Love Him…Love What He Does” in FIRST KISS #2, 1958.
by John | Jan 10, 2019 | Uncategorized
Most of the Last Kisses from my early days at Comics Buyer’s Guide are in black and white. But I did colorize the art sometimes if I used it later on the web. In the early years of the series, I always colored them myself—as I did here.
I think this one turned out okay. But I was rarely completely happy with my own coloring. And it always took me way too long as I’d often experiment and swap out colors over and over again trying to get something I liked.
I got better over the years. But eventually, I hired more experienced colorists—real artists!—such as Allen Freeman, Diego Jourdan and others. I liked their coloring more—and everyone of them could do the job much, much faster than me!
Art by Vince Colletta Studio from the story “Girl Meets Boy!” in FIRST KISS # 11, 1959.
Transcript:
CAPTION: Far too often we take them for granted! Our significant others! Our partners for life (we hope) in the trenches of domestic bliss! They put up with our minor peccadilloes…and sometimes even our more outlandish desires!
PANEL 1: Woman and man are inside a home, talking.
MAN: Good news, Darlin’! The comic shop is having a sale! Grab your credit cards and let’s go buy me some four-color masterpieces!
WOMAN: I’m sorry, hon, but…I can’t afford it!
PANEL 2: The couple are still talking. In the foreground are a bunch of books.
MAN: Don’t be silly! Big Al is waiting to take your money! Do you want to break his heart?
WOMAN: Well, I guess I could sell another pint down at the blood bank!
CAPTION: Make it a quart! I need some graphic novels!
Art by Vince Colletta Studio Color by John Lustig
©2002 & 2019 Last Kiss Inc
Art Code: 11.1.5.4-5
↓ TranscriptCAPTION: Far too often we take them for granted! Our significant others! Our partners for life (we hope) in the trenches of domestic bliss! They put up with our minor peccadilloes...and sometimes even our more outlandish desires!
PANEL 1: Woman and man are inside a home, talking.
MAN: Good news, Darlin'! The comic shop is having a sale! Grab your credit cards and let’s go buy me some four-color masterpieces!
WOMAN: I’m sorry, hon, but…I can’t afford it!
PANEL 2: The couple are still talking. In the foreground are a bunch of books.
MAN: Don’t be silly! Big Al is waiting to take your money! Do you want to break his heart?
WOMAN: Well, I guess I could sell another pint down at the blood bank!
CAPTION: Make it a quart! I need some graphic novels!
Art by Vince Colletta Studio Color by John Lustig
©2002 & 2019 Last Kiss Inc
Art Code: 11.1.5.4-5
by John | Jan 8, 2019 | Uncategorized
Art by Matt Baker & Ray Osrin from the graphic novel IT RHYMES WITH LUST, 1950. Writers Arnold Drake & Leslie Waller.
Transcript:
SCENE: Man and woman cuddling in a car.
WOMAN: I’ve dated powerful men before! But you’re…my first web cartoonist!
MAN: I draw women…like flies! Sexy, sexy flies!
1950 Art: Matt Baker & Ray Osrin Re-Creation: Kirsten Wilson
Art Code: KW.lk17
↓ TranscriptSCENE: Man and woman cuddling in a car.
WOMAN: I’ve dated powerful men before! But you’re...my first web cartoonist!
MAN: I draw women...like flies! Sexy, sexy flies!
1950 Art: Matt Baker & Ray Osrin Re-Creation: Kirsten Wilson
Art Code: KW.lk17
by John | Jan 3, 2019 | Uncategorized
As announced last week, I’m doing a little experiment. Every Friday, I’m going to run one of my old Last Kiss comics that originally appeared Comics Buyer’s Guide (CBG.) Most have never been reprinted or appeared anywhere except CBG. And almost all of them were multi-panel, black & white and had comic book themes.
I really have no idea how my current readers will react since these comics are so different from the color, single-panel gags I usually do now. But I hope you like ’em. If so, I’ll keep running them.
Art by Vince Colletta Studio from the story Love’s Lovely Mirage” in FIRST KISS #36, 1964.
Transcript:
CAPTION: Is Pluto a planet again? Or is he just Mickey Mouse’s dog? Can pigs fly? (And, if so…Economy or First Class?) Do robots have souls? (How about Rhumbas?) Will these dumb questions ever end? Who knows? Certainly, not Mary Mylar! And these mind-boggling uncertainties are making her sick!
PANEL #1: Female Nurse and woman patient talking in a hospital setting. The patient is in bed.
PATIENT: I thought reality was real! But now…I’m not sure! Maybe the universe is just a constantly shifting state of mind! Oh, maybe the doctor will know!
NURSE: Have you ever considered a brain transplant?
PANEL 2: Patient and male doctor talking.
CAPTION: Fortunately, Dr. Otto Quackenflap is on the case!
DOCTOR: I’ve quadrupled your tranquilizers and…I’m prescribing a lifetime supply of comic books! After a few years, you’ll find that nothing ever really changes in comics!
PATIENT: At last! Something I can believe in!
1964 Art: Vince Colletta Studio ©2006 & 2018 Last Kiss Inc
Art Code: 36.1.8.1-2
↓ TranscriptCAPTION: Is Pluto a planet again? Or is he just Mickey Mouse’s dog? Can pigs fly? (And, if so...Economy or First Class?) Do robots have souls? (How about Rhumbas?) Will these dumb questions ever end? Who knows? Certainly, not Mary Mylar! And these mind-boggling uncertainties are making her sick!
PANEL #1: Female Nurse and woman patient talking in a hospital setting. The patient is in bed.
PATIENT: I thought reality was real! But now…I’m not sure! Maybe the universe is just a constantly shifting state of mind! Oh, maybe the doctor will know!
NURSE: Have you ever considered a brain transplant?
PANEL 2: Patient and male doctor talking.
CAPTION: Fortunately, Dr. Otto Quackenflap is on the case!
DOCTOR: I’ve quadrupled your tranquilizers and…I’m prescribing a lifetime supply of comic books! After a few years, you’ll find that nothing ever really changes in comics!
PATIENT: At last! Something I can believe in!
1964 Art: Vince Colletta Studio ©2006 & 2018 Last Kiss Inc
Art Code: 36.1.8.1-2
