WELCOME!!!

Thank you for visiting the brand NEW, Official BEARMAN Headquarters! It is, indeed, an honor and a privilege to introduce and present this comic strip to the world. Bearman was originally created during the summer of 1994. I was thirteen years old. Like many young teens, I had found myself the odd-man-out due to my unique attraction to drawing, and was adjusting to that awkward social transition from Grade School to Jr. High. I had always loved the collective works of Calvin & Hobbes, Garfield, Peanuts, and the like, so meanwhile, I had spent most of the school year buying and reading two remarkable, new comic strips: Mother Goose & Grimm by Mike Peters and Shoe by Jeff MacNelly. I was particularly drawn to the unique, yet complimentary styles in which these artists inked and rendered their work. The appeal of their drawings blew me away and my inspiration soared to an all-time high. As the end of the school year closed sluggishly in and finals drew near, I began sketching doodles of this dreary-eyed, hunchbacked bear and his smart-alacky animal friends. By the time I had designs and a look I was thrilled with, however, school let out for summer and the excitement was just powerful enough to force my new creation onto the back-burner...but not for long.

Over the first week or so of summer vacation, I discovered that my taste in "fun" was beginning to differ from that of my friends. While we still enjoyed hanging out, my desire to create was stronger than ever and the more I tried to just pal around with my buds, the harder that desire tugged at my heart. I was genuinely torn! Finally, after an unforgettable conversation with my dad, Larry Raspberry (that handsome fellow in the upper lefthand corner of the page), I realized it was high time I listen to that creative voice and finish what I'd started. It was time to make something happen! Thank you, Dad. I'll never forget your advice!

I spent that entire summer drawing the first collection of Bearman comic strips...the ENTIRE SUMMER!! From 8 or 9am to 7 or 8pm, I drew. Breaking only for meals, brainstorms, and restroom visits, I worked by the light of glorious mid-90's daytime TV. Schnookems & Meat, Lucy, Andy, Bob Barker, Vicki the robot, Baywatch, Scrooge, and the Tiny Toons kept me sane as I churned out page after page of rediculous, off-beat humor (that was probably only going to be funny to me.) I didn't care! By the end of summer, I had enough work to distribute copies to as many people as I wanted -- including Matt Groening at a Golden Apple Comics signing of Bart Simpson Issue #1. As always, Matt was very kind, humble, and generous, and he not only accepted my work, but sent me a letter of thanks and advice within a few months. That letter was one of the few staples of encouragement that kept me pushing toward my goal of becoming a professional cartoonist. Thank you, Matt! As fate and the Good Lord would have it, I journeyed on to secure a full-time gig at The Simpsons, and have since been able to share this story with Matt in person. So in a way, my little summer comic strip was the spark that started it all. To this day, I can't help but think back to that summer of 1994 and crack a tearful smile. I had pulled off the completion and major distribution of my first big project...what a feeling! Bearman was born.

TO BE CONTINUED . . .

IN THE BEGINNING...

Now where were we? Ah yes, the beginning...always a fine place to start. Well as promised, the above is just one of many drawings from my care-free days as a wanna-be-cartoonist! This is what Bearman and his cohorts looked like in the earliest days of the comic strip...you know, before I really knew what I was doing. In fact, most of these are the first drawings I ever did of the characters (including Bearman himself), so before we go any further, I'd like to take a moment to explain the true purpose of this site.

A T T E N T I O N

All young, aspiring cartoonists, artists, and students: This Bearman website is for YOU! Most, if not all, of the artwork on this page was created between 1994 and 1999. It is some of my earliest, rawest material, which I'm sure will become all too clear...if it isn't already! The reason I am sharing all of this with you now (over a decade later) is because I CAN! The internet is one of the most powerful resources the world has ever known, and certainly one of the most valuable to us artists. We can share anything online without having to worry about our work being altered or censored, and the exposure is not only worldwide...it's FREE! My point is that while I did create this website to share Bearman with the world, it's real purpose is to give you all a taste of what a professional's art looks like at first, and to encourage and inspire you to KEEP CREATING and take advantage of all the great resources, outlets, and ways we now have to share our creations with the globe. If nothing else, remember that everything you draw has value!! SAVE YOUR WORK...you just might want to share it someday!

Now this look and design style for Bearman did not change until I revisited the comic in 1997, which brings me to Part II of our story. When we left off, I had just completed the original collection of strips and was feeling pretty darn satisfied! However, as is the case with any big project, a time of rest and reflection is always a nice way to wrap things up...unless it lasts for two or three years. Just as I was feeling fully refreshed, summer vacation ended and my last year of Jr. High began. From there, High School sucker-punched me in the face and before I knew it, I was too busy to even think about comics! My only saving grace was the Studio Arts class I attended during third period...all four years of my high school career. Our instructor, one Mr. Paul Hogan, was pretty laid back when it came to "doing your own thing," so about a year and a semester in, I began getting ideas for NEW Bearman strips. Combined with my new level of skill and ALL the great comics I was still reading in my spare time, I began revising the look and feel of the series. Bearman was BACK!

Over the next two years, I wrote and drew the second series of Bearman cartoons, which are being presented on this website in color for the very first time. These strips were originally created in black and white using mechanical graphite pencils and ink pens. The thought of applying color to the originals had never crossed my mind. Fortunately for me (and the originals), the strips remained line-art until years later when I was introduced to a handy-dandy little program called Photoshop! Over the course of 2005, I rendered the entire second series of Bearman in full color with the hopes of releasing a book. Though I didn't have nearly enough strips to complete a full volume, my mind was made up -- Bearman had to go public!

The solution hit me like Freshman Year about 2008 or so -- why not create a website that opperates like the Sunday paper?! I could post one new comic strip each week and alternate between Series I and II. It would be just like having my cartoon professionally published in the L.A. Times, only this paper would be available to the whole world! I'm sure, of course, that this idea hit at least a million or so artists before it got to me, but hey...great minds think alike and a good idea is a good idea!! The reason it all came about, and you are here reading this today, is because of the inspiration and love of one man -- Curtis Jay Reiley. Curtis, or CJ as we like to call him (the fine-looking gentleman in the upper righthand corner, who's photo is 100% coincidental), was the uncle of one of my very best friends, not to mention Bearman's biggest fan. He always wanted to see the strip published and offered many words of wisdom and advice regarding how I might accomplish that. Whenever the opportunity arose, no matter what the situation, CJ would pose the question, "What would Bearman do?" About a year ago, CJ passed away, but along with some of the best memories, good times, and smiles of my life, he left me with the incomparable drive to see this project through to its end and deliver Bearman to the eyes of the world! It is with great pleasure and privilege that I dedicate this site in loving memory to Curtis Jay. Without him, Bearman may never have come this far! I sincerely hope these comic strips bring you as much joy as they have brought me, CJ, our familes, and our friends. Because of them and all of you, Bearman lives on!

(Click any drawing for a closer look!)

Sunday, May 31st, 2009: Yep, that was my sense of humor alright...not much has changed.

Sunday, June 7th, 2009: Shades of adolescence...BASED ON A TRUE STORY.

Sunday, June 14th, 2009: ...If only it were that easy!

Sunday, June 21st, 2009: Aaahh yes, a familiar situation indeed, eh Dad?

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!

Sunday, June 28th, 2009: Seriously though, we love you, Barney! =oD

Sunday, July 5th, 2009: . . . Ain't it the truth.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ALISHA REILEY!!! =)

Sunday, July 12th, 2009: Heh heh, we've all been there!

Sunday, July 19th, 2009: I point at my nose like that when I get mad, too.

Sunday, July 26th, 2009: Kids, don't try this...well...anywhere!

HAPPY COMIC CON 2009!!!

Sunday, August 2nd, 2009: It's funny cause it's true...unfortunately.

Sunday, August 9th, 2009: I've known fellers like that.

Sunday, August 16th, 2009: His tail migrates when he's happy!

Sunday, August 23rd, 2009: Heh Heh...Freddy Cougar.

(SPECIAL THANKS: JUSTIN EDDY!!!)

Sunday, August 30th, 2009: Nothing makes me laugh harder than planned obsolescence...

Sweet, homicidal laughter. =D

Sunday, September 6th, 2009: BEHOLD...the world's only hybernating cougar!!

Sunday, September 13th, 2009: I love it...that guy hybernates and THIS guy watches TV all winter!!

The sheer accuracy of these comics impresses me even today!

Sunday, September 20th, 2009: Are you as sad as I?? (Impossible!)

Sunday, September 27th, 2009: God bless our greasy spoons (BURN the bacon!!!)

Sunday, October 4th, 2009: Looks like I actually tried to work some culture into this one!

(Remember the Mad Cow fiasco at Jack In The Box?? Well...IT HAPPENED!!!)

Sunday, October 11th, 2009: Above is the final strip from "Bearman: Series II"...

GOOD THING THERE'S MORE "SERIES I" & ANIMATION ON THE WAY...STAY TOONED!!!

Sunday, October 18th, 2009: Hey...I want a wooden outhouse with a flushing toilet!!!

Sunday, October 25th, 2009: Same character, new style!

Sunday, November 1st, 2009: UH OH, looks like a long-lost Bearman strip has come to light...

Yes...yes, that IS why it looks so...well...OLD!!!

~ HAPPY HALLOWEEN ~

Sunday, November 8th, 2009: Bearman a la Spumco...HE JUST KEEPS CHANGING!!!

Sunday, November 15th, 2009: I . . . .

Sunday, November 22nd, 2009: Bearman like Jane!

Sunday, November 29th, 2009: WHO THE CRAP ARE THESE GUYS?!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Sunday, December 6th, 2009: A bear is re-born.

Sunday, December 13th, 2009: *Sigh*...cause he's a SQUIRREL! GET IT?!? =D

Sunday, December 20th, 2009: Round n' round we go.

Friday, December 25th, 2009: MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Sunday, December 27th, 2009: It's the gift that keeps on giving...unfortunately!

Friday, January 1st, 2010: They told us not to make faces when we were kids...

Now we get paid to do it.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Sunday, January 3rd , 2010: In real life, Petey would bite Chucky's throat out.

Sunday, January 10th, 2010: If only I'd had these when I made the film...

BEARMAN (1998) - The Original Short: COMING SOON!!!

Sunday, January 17th, 2010: Oh sure...WE'RE the creeps!!

Sunday, January 24th, 2010: "Slimy, Disgusting, Worm-like Molusc Man!"

UNRELEASED STRIP - COMING SOON

Sunday, January 31st, 2010: MAN...I must've hated squirrels as a kid!