Thursday, August 28, 2008

Omzig

I'm going to be delving into my old folders of stuff that I had collected and scanned for my old "Blast from the Past" section of the "Planet Racers" website. I only wish that I had been more organized with that project, i.e. putting things I'd already used into a folder labeled "Already Used". I remember most but not all of the things I used in BftP, leading to the slightly embarrassing duplication of a BftP entry about those Will Vinton Claymation Turtles in one of my early "palblog" posts. I will endeavor to avoid this in future posts.

Anyway, I found this odd piece in one of those BftP folders -- it's a fun little drawing of what you might call "Gizmo's Evil Twin". Gizmo, as all fans of cool non-oil drinking comic book robots know, is the creation of Michael Dooney. Together with his giant dog thing sidekick Fluffy, Gizmo traveled through space in his ship 'Soto, having wacky adventures.



At some point, Mike and I obviously collaborated on this sketch, but for the life of me I can't recall how it came about. It's possible that we did it deliberately, or maybe Mike started a drawing of Gizmo, didn't like it, and was about to throw it away when I grabbed it and started playing around. I really don't know -- maybe MD himself will show up here and cast some light on the subject.

But I can see clearly Mike's style in the head and torso of the character, and my style in the various spiky accoutrements and the gun. I can't remember who decided to name the character "Omzig", but it was certainly the result of much careful thinking. -- PL

8 comments:

Vaughn Michael said...

lol I love the name classic evil twin backwords name.
That is also a great drawing, you and Mike make a freakin' great team! *hint*hint*
Also Do you think there may be a chance that we will ever get NECA figures of Gizmo & Fluff?
Or heck even a Gizmo & TMNT crossover? That one's been years in the making!
-Vaughn M.

~ tOkKa said...

-->> ..Giz was suggested initally ' WAY - BACK - When ' as a Playmates toy ..


Agreed with Vee, i think it's time for Fluff and Giz, ..time for a return. Imagining a real set of Tiys is beyond surreal.

Could this have been illustration for a toy concept or -- no ??

damm wow ..>v<

Ectopaul said...

We could have gotten a Gizmo figure in the old playmates line?? Damn. He would have gone perfectly with the old Fugitoid toy.

Very cool drawing. I was just thinking about how I missed Gizmo this morning.

Bookgal said...

Bizzaro Gizmo. Love it!

Michael Dooney said...

Okay, where's that '"Make a Gizmo action figure" petition, I'll definitely sign it ;) Pretty sad that I've designed a zillion toys for Playmates but could they do 2 for me...no! Could he get on the cartoon? No? Man, maybe if I move in with Stan Sakai I'll get some props.
As far as that drawing goes, that's all you Pete. Check out the loose pencils showing through, plus Gizmo only has 4 fingers :)

PL said...

" Michael Dooney said...
Okay, where's that '"Make a Gizmo action figure" petition, I'll definitely sign it ;) Pretty sad that I've designed a zillion toys for Playmates but could they do 2 for me...no! Could he get on the cartoon? No? Man, maybe if I move in with Stan Sakai I'll get some props.
As far as that drawing goes, that's all you Pete. Check out the loose pencils showing through, plus Gizmo only has 4 fingers :)"

Mike, thanks for clearing up the question about the drawing. But just to be clear -- you DID do some of the inking on it, right?

As for a Gizmo action figure... I would love to have one. I think we tried to interest Playmates in doing one sometime in the past, but -- for whatever reason -- it didn't work. -- PL

Michael Dooney said...

you DID do some of the inking on it, right?
Nope, sorry, you're just going to have to accept that you did that one on your own ;)

Capital Chay said...

I hope everyone realizes that 'omzig' is Gizmo spelled backward.