I received my copies of Jetta Raye Adventures #2!
I contributed two items to this issue: A gag page called “Dramarama,” and a 9-pager entitled “Future Tense.” To get your first glimpse, check the video below!
And to get your own copy of Jetta Raye Adventures #2, click THIS LINK!
I did a similar unboxing of a previous Jetta volume, which you can witness HERE!
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Convention appearance queries – Info here!
Art commissions – contact me at craig@craigboldman.com .
Also see my caricatures page!
Paul Keinzle and Shawn M. Myers graciously invited me to join them, with guest Jim Beard, for the latest episode of their podcast, Batman Family Reunion at the Fire and Water Podcast Network. In this episode, we discuss The Batman Family #15 (DC Comics, December 1977).
The Batman Family was a DC Comics series that ran for twenty issues from 1975 to 1978. It focused on Batman’s supporting cast, mainly Robin and Batgirl. Silver- and Golden-Age reprints featuring obscure and forgotten characters rounded out the early issues.
Why I was invited:
Before I became a professional comic book writer, I was briefly and sporadically a comic book letter column contributor! In those days, young comic book writers-to-be caught the attention of editor Julius Schwartz by contributing letters of comments to his titles. That may have been my motivation for picking up my pen.
If you live in Ohio, you’ve probably seen a version of this commercial for Medical Mutual. It features me and my amazing TV granddaughter, Julia Paini! As you can see, Julia does the hard work while I just enjoy myself!
Originally slated to run in early 2022, I was gratified to learn that the spot (and one other Med Mutual spot) was renewed to run through March of 2023.
More than that, a version of this spot ran regionally (State of Ohio) during Super Bowl LVII, just before Rihanna’s Apple Music halftime show! This commercial has run in that slot in two consecutive Super Bowls!
I have appeared in commercials as a side hustle for years, and I’ll post some of them here from time to time.
I just discovered my original script for a story called “The Old Ball Game.” It ran in Archie’s Pal Jughead Comics #87 (December, 1996). As it happens, this was actually one of my earliest Jughead stories. A few months later, my tenure as the regular Jughead writer would begin. (As of issue #89, I’d be teamed with new regular penciller Rex Lindsey for over 100 issues!)
I was especially glad to locate this particular script. I was able to see the pencils for the job before they were sent to the inker; a rare occasion for me. The great Stan Goldberg, who illustrated the story, had kindly gifted me with photocopies of his pencils.
I thought it might be interesting to show the progression of a story from script, to pencils, to the page, with inks by Mike Esposito, colors by Barry Grossman and letters by Bill Yoshida.
As you can see, I write (sketch) my Archie scripts in storyboard format as opposed to screenplay format. In my mind, this makes my intentions for each panel absolutely clear to the penciller, and reduces the risk for misinterpretation.
I never assume or expect that the penciller will follow my panel layouts, but they’re always welcome to.
A decade ago today I was one of the on-camera talent in a commercial shoot for Southern Ohio Medical Center in Portsmouth, Ohio. I portrayed a husband driving his wife home from the hospital after her successful cancer treatment. They returned to their house where she enjoyed a celebratory homecoming.
I enjoyed the experience, but I regret that I have never seen the finished commercial, which never ran in my viewing area. I’ve searched for it online on YouTube and elsewhere with no success. However, I do have these few photos of the session .
Take a look at some drawings I did for the grand opening of the new offices of a local business. Thanks to everyone there for the great welcome!
if you’re interested in having me do drawings and caricatures for your event, investigate the links below.
i’m in the Cincinnati area, so distance is of course a factor.
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Convention appearance queries – Info here!
Art commissions – contact me at craig@craigboldman.com .
Also see my caricatures page!
Just about a year ago, I got together with several of my Archie Comics cohorts for an ad hoc summit meeting (really just a lunch) at the High Street Cafe in Hamilton, Ohio. It was a great place to eat, surrounded as we were by kitsch and pop culture memorabilia.
Here are the Kennedy brothers, Pat and Tim; Jeff Schultz (all top-tier Archie Comics cartoonists), and yours truly Craig Boldman.
Sadly, the pandemic took its toll on the Cafe during the past year, and they no longer offer sit-down dining, but have placed their emphasis on take-out, and catering service. They’re also leaning into memorabilia sales.
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Convention appearance queries – Info here!
Art commissions – contact me at craig@craigboldman.com .
Also see my caricatures page!
Not to brag, but the badge below signifies that Craig Boldman is a TOP PERFORMER for event caricatures for the third consecutive month! Click it to be transported to my GigSalad page.
What is GigSalad? It’s a resource for event planners and for individuals who are interested in hiring talent for their parties, wedding receptions, corporate events, etc. I don’t mention my live caricature work often enough, but I can be available for such appearances.
I customarily draw my popular super- caricatures at comic conventions, but I also do these fun side hustles, and enjoy interacting with people outside my customary circles.
Another great booking agency for me is The-Nose, which is where I originally took the plunge into live event caricatures. Tell Tad I said hi!
So, keep me in mind for your upcoming event. Caricatures are always very popular keepsakes and make occasions even more memorable.
Alternatively, I do commissions from my home studio, and you can find more information about that on my COMMISSIONS page.
Below are a few photos of my work at a recent event.
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Convention appearance queries – Info here!
Art commissions – contact me at craig@craigboldman.com .
Also see my caricatures page!
The National Cartoonists Society is taking the occasion of its 75th anniversary to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
As many of you know, I’m a longtime creator for Archie Comics. I’ve worked on most of their titles, but am best known for my efforts on the Jughead comic book, and the Archie syndicated newspaper strip.
Here’s a video preview of a piece of original Archie art I created and have contributed to the National Cartoonists Society Art Auction.
Since this year is also Archie’s 80th anniversary, I decided to pay homage to the cover of Archie Comics #1, cover dated Winter 1942. The original cover was drawn by the great Bob Montana. This update is a rare acrylic painting by me!
The online auction, which runs from October 27 through November 3, 2021, features original artwork from about 150 cartoonists, including such greats as: Cathy Guisewhite (“Cathy”), Dik Browne (“Hi and Lois”), Greg Evans (“Luann”), Jeff Keane (“The Family Circus”), Jerry Ordway (“Captain America”), Sergio Aragones (“Mad”), Jim Borgman (“Zits”), Joe Staton (“Dick Tracy”), Ron Ferdinand (“Dennis the Menace”), Marcus Hamilton (“Dennis the Menace”) — There really are too many to list. I may just come back and trade out a few names every day or two.
You can browse now! The auction is live at
NCS Art Auction
This is your great opportunity to own a fun piece of art and to help a good cause. Christmas is coming, by the way, and this might be a perfect solution for that comics geek on your friend list.
Share this info around, please! Thanks and good luck!
INFO ABOUT THE AUCTION AT THE NATIONAL CARTOONISTS SOCIETY SITE
DIRECT LINK TO BID ON THIS ARCHIE ART
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Convention appearance queries – Info here!
Art commissions – contact me at craig@craigboldman.com .
Also see my caricatures page!
I wrote the lead story for Archie 80th Anniversary Jumbo Comics Digest #3! Look for it on sale in stores on June 23, 2021. My story, titled “Happy MANYversary,” focuses on Betty’s penchant for remembering and celebrating events. Not only big events, but also, small, insignificant ones! I believe Bill Golliher does the art. If so, it will be our first collaboration in quite a while. Previously, Bill drew a mini-series I wrote starring Dilton — It was a digital comic which I’ve never yet managed to see!
Look for my new story behind a nice cover featuring Archie in a retro style, by Bill Galvin.
The rest of the issue is filled with classic stories from Archie Comics’s eight-decades history. I don’t have a list of contents, but chances are good that you will find work by Bob Montana, Frank Doyle, George Gladir, Dan DeCarlo, Samm Schwartz, Bill Vigoda, Harry Lucey, Joe Edwards, Bob Bolling and many other favorites.
In keeping with the Archie Comics 80th anniversary theme, editors Mike Pellerito and Stephen Oswald invited me to write a story having to do with anniversaries in some fashion. For your interest, in an upcoming post I’ll show a few pages from my script and layouts for this story, along with some commentary.
Following that, I might even post an alternate script/story that I wrote for the issue. It’s a story I never submitted for reasons to be revealed!
Convention appearance queries – Info here!
Art commissions – contact me at craig@craigboldman.com .
Also see my caricatures page!
