A fictional superhero who appears in Marvel Comics publications. The character, based on the Thor of Norse mythology, first appeared in 1962. He is a member of the superhero team The Avengers with Captain America, Iron Man and others.
Wonder Woman – No. 204
A DC Comics superheroine who first appeared in 1941, during World War II. She is a Princess of the Amazons (based on the Amazons of Greek mythology) and is known in her homeland as Diana of Themyscira. She utilizes the Lasso of Truth, which forces those bound by it to tell the truth, and has an invisible airplane.
The Notorious B.I.G. – No. 202
An American rapper popularly known as Biggie Smalls and Big Poppa. He was a focal point of the East Coast-West Coast hip hop rivalry and became a central figure in the East Coast hip hop scene. In March 1997, at age 24, Wallace was killed by an unknown assailant in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles. Sometimes your words just hypnotize me.
Tupac Shakur – No. 201
An American rapper and actor known by the stage name 2Pac. Themes of his songs include violence and hardship in inner cities, racism and other social problems. He was a focal point of the East Coast-West Coast hip hop rivalry and died on this day in 1996, after being shot four times in a drive-by shooting following a Mike Tyson boxing match in Las Vegas. No changes.
Johnny Cash – No. 200
An American singer-songwriter and one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. Although primarily remembered as a country music artist, his songs spanned many genres, including rockabilly, rock ‘n’ roll, blues, folk and gospel. The Man in Black died on this day in 2003 at age 71. By the way, I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die.
Captain America – No. 199
A fictional superhero in the Marvel Comics universe who first appeared in 1941, during World War II. Captain America is the alter ego of Steve Rogers, a frail young man who was enhanced to the peak of human perfection by an experimental serum in order to aid the U.S. war effort. He wears a costume that bears an American flag motif.
Note: A moment of silence on Patriot Day. Hard to believe that 10 years have passed since the 9/11 attacks. I love this tribute poster from Extra Credit Projects.
Travelocity Roaming Gnome – No. 198
The star of the Where is my Gnome? series of viral marketing ads used by Travelocity in early 2004. The ads consisted of a man looking for his garden gnome. The concept was inspired by the traveling gnome prank that began in the 1980s and was popularized by the 2001 film Amélie. The Roaming Gnome is now the de facto mascot of Travelocity.
The Traveling Gnome (Amélie) – No. 197
The garden gnome from the 2001 French film Amélie. This character/prop helped popularize the traveling gnome prank that began in the 1980s. In the film, Amélie’s father finds that the gnome from his lawn shrine has gone missing. Later, he receives unmarked photographs of the gnome visiting exotic landmarks. Je ne comprends pas!
David the Gnome – No. 196
The main character of the Spanish animated television series, which is based on the children’s book The Secret Book of Gnomes by Dutch author Wil Huygen and illustrator Rien Poortvliet. David the Gnome first came to U.S. television in 1987 on the Nickelodeon cable channel.
The Gnome from Nome – No. 195
A lonely gnome sets out to learn how to avoid being cold “from the inside out” and finds a friend in a sea otter. He is the main character of the 1974 children’s book The Gnome from Nome, written by Stephen Cosgrove and illustrated by Robin James. Watch an illustrated reading of the story.
The Tomten (and the Fox) – No. 194
A kindly old character of Scandinavian folklore featured in two 1960s children’s books by Astrid Lindgren. One story is called The Tomten and the other is The Tomten and the Fox, in which moonlit scenes of the farmyard under snow show Reynard the fox prowling near the henhouse. He’s hungry, but the tomten guards the henhouse at night.
Rosie the Riveter – No. 193
A cultural icon of the United States, representing women who worked in factories during World War II. The character particularly symbolizes the many women employed by manufacturing plants that produced munitions and war supplies. Rosie is commonly used as a symbol of feminism and women’s economic power. We can do it!
I am spending this Labor Day weekend in Seattle (mainly at Bumbershoot) and Vancouver, BC.
Brigham Young Cougar – No. 192
The Brigham Young Cougars mascot is NCAA Division I pixel art mascot #53 of 347. Since BYU has left the Mountain West Conference for the 2011-12 season, this is FBS independent schools mascot #4 of 4. (View reference images.)
Air Force Falcon – No. 191
The Air Force Falcons mascot is NCAA Division I pixel art mascot #52 of 347. Air Force Academy is one of the three NCAA Division I military academies (with Army and Navy). This is Mountain West mascot #3 of 8. (View reference images.)
Navy Midshipman – No. 190
The Navy Midshipmen mascot is NCAA Division I pixel art mascot #51 of 347. Yes, the United States Naval Academy’s “midshipman” mascot is a goat. Go figure. This is FBS independent schools mascot #3 of 4. (View reference images.)
Army Black Knight – No. 189
The Army Black Knights mascot is NCAA Division I pixel art mascot #50 of 347. Army has two costumed mascots: Blackjack the Mule and the Black Knight. I decided to draw the former. This is FBS independent schools mascot #2 of 4. Today is the start of the NCAA Division IA football schedule. (View reference images.)
Notre Dame Fighting Irish – No. 188
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish mascot is NCAA Division I pixel art mascot #49 of 347. Tomorrow is the start of the NCAA Division IA football schedule, so here is a leprechaun to kick off another short series of 8-bit college mascots. This is FBS independent schools mascot #1 of 4. (View reference images.)
Warren Buffett – No. 187
A legendary American investor, industrialist and philanthropist born on this day in 1930. He is the primary shareholder, chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. With a net worth of $50 billion, he is consistently ranked among the world’s wealthiest people. Two weeks ago, he wrote the “Stop Coddling the Super-Rich” op-ed, which criticizes billionaire-friendly tax laws.
Bob Marley – No. 203
A Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician. He was the rhythm guitarist and lead singer for the ska, rocksteady and reggae band Bob Marley & The Wailers (1963-1981). Marley remains the most widely known and revered performer of reggae music, and is credited with helping spread both Jamaican music and the Rastafari movement to a worldwide audience.
The Bob Marley is my favorite American Dream Pizza combo. Toppings: Jamaican jerk chicken, mushrooms, black olives and red onions.