Mastodawn

J. Steven York RESISTS Jul 2, 2025

Tried to take a picture of the cover of Pulphouse Fiction Magazine #36 with my new Minions at Work cartoon in it, but Nottycat decided to jump up on the counter and "help."
#pulphousefictionmagazine #WMGPublishing #magazine #cats #nottycat #notmycat #CatsOfMastodon #catstodon #cathelp

J. Steven York RESISTS May 16, 2025

I'm building a second "Minionmobile" prop for my "Minions at Work" photocomics which I'm doing for #PulphouseFictionMagazine these days. Almost finished. I just need to extend the roof supports to accommodate the larger figure (the golf cart I started with is about 1/10th scale, the figures 1/6th). Lots more info in the photo's alt text. Check it out.
#hobbies #minatures #actionfigures #minionsatwork #photocomics #toys #webcomic #hollowVolcano

J. Steven York Mar 27, 2025

I turned in the latest installment of my "Minions at Work" photo comics to Pulphouse Fiction Magazine today, allowing me some time to work on building some Minions props, a process that's a lot more relaxing that doing comic layout and dialog writing.
One ongoing element of my comics is that most of them incorporate one or more "Minion Cats," even if they aren't integral to the plots or jokes of that comic. The premise is that, due to a lab accident, Minion cat (there was originally only one) has become in space, time, and now, the multiverse, and they pop in and out of existence at will, sometimes "many" of them at once.
The cats are "played" by hand painted and sometimes customized plastic cat figures decorated in a "Minion uniform" pattern. The originals originated as a bag of toy cats I ordered from Amazon. Later, I ordered a whole BOX of the same cats from a seller who supplies prizes and favors to carnivals and fairs. With extras, I started cutting them up, swapping parts, and adding limited articulation to some like turning heads and movable tails. A few others are actually 3D printed.
But before I found that carnival supplier, I ordered a lot of other cats on-line hoping for alternate poses to use. Instead, I discovered that most listing for these things are vague or inaccurate in describing the size, and ended up with several assortments of cats that were too small. And thus, came the idea for "minion kittens." I started painting a few, and finished exactly one, before putting it aside as being very difficult. My hands aren't that steady, some some of the "Minion" pattern is pretty fidgety.
But recently I discovered "brush tip" markers for art and calligraphy and wondered if they could be used for painting details on action figures. Tonight I tried it out, and so far, pretty good. I made some slips, but it made it MUCH easier to paint the details on the smaller cats. I don't know of the paint will fade or rub off. Only time and further experiments will tell. But I'm happy with things so far.
In related news, I today and realized that our new shorthair cat, Notty, is a very good physical match for Minion cat. I pulled out a tape measure and sure enough, she's an almost exact scale match for her 1/6th scale counterparts. I can use photo reference of her to design future custom cats, and to figure out better carrying positions and poses for my 12" action figure characters. I asked my wife if that made Notty tax deductible, but she just laughed...

#minionsatwork #pulphousefictionmagazine #Minioncats #notmycat #nottycat #catstodon #catsofmastodon #cats #minatures #comics #photocomicsl

J. Steven York Mar 6, 2025

I sometimes go to absurd and pointless effort making or modifying props for my "Minions at Work" action Figure photo comics. I enjoy it, and especially now (how about this failed timeline, huh?), I find it to be an anxiety reliever and mood booster.
I found this weird but interesting fashion doll sink (Maybe from the "Monster High" line? Just a guess...) in a thrift store. Originally the stand was black and the sink itself a dark pink. I gave the stand a weathered antique gold finish with acrylic paints, and tried to give the sink more of a natural sea-shell look. The drain was painted with metallic chrome and black brush markers (my first time using the, VERY nice!) and I also used the chrome marker to detail the faucet and valve handles.
Now it will go with the collection of set items for the evil steampunk submarine Naughtyless, belonging to supervillain Captain Rehab. Unlikely it will ever appear as more than a background piece, but maybe I'll think of something more prominent to do with it.

#MinionsAtWork #PulphouseFictionMagazine #actionfigures #fashiondolls #comics #photocomics #making #makers #minatures #dioramas #comics

J. Steven York RESISTS Feb 12, 2025

I'm late shooting another "Minions at Work" photo cartoon for Pulphouse Fiction Magazine, so I had to build this mad scientist lab this afternoon, and will be shooting tonight. These are some test and behind-the-scenes pictures.
#comics #photoComics #minionsAtWork #PulphouseFictionMagazine #actionFigures #MadScience #madScientist

J. Steven York RESISTS Dec 5, 2024

Detail from the newest "Minions at Work" photo cartoon that I just sent to Pulphouse Fiction Magazine. I've been doing this thing for 18 years now! Wow! The aesthetic of the comic walks a balance between janky toy crap, unnecessarily detail, and Easter eggs (That's regular super-villain character "Doctor Head-in-a-Jar lurking on the shelf behind the bar). Some details and thoughts in the thread...
(1/?)
#comics #photoComics #actionFigures #MinionsAtWork #Pulphouse #PulphouseFictionMagazine

J. Steven York RESISTS Oct 28, 2024

I'm building (or rebuilding, I've done similar bar setups many times over the years) the "minion bar" in 1:6 scale for my next Minions at Work photo cartoon in "Pulphouse Fiction Magazine." Misplaced the bar and back bar parts I have used before, so had to improvise something new this time. At least I still had the barstools!
#PulphouseFictionMagazine #minionsAtWork #photocomic #actionFigures #comicStrips #comicstripsunday

J. Steven York RESISTS Oct 3, 2024

Submitted the "Minions at Work" cartoon for #PulphouseFictionMagazine issue 35 at 3:34AM last night. I'm currently doing a 2 page story plus a "cover" photo for the mock comic cover that leads off the feature. The cover is essentially a stand-alone single panel cartoon having nothing to do with the actual story (but probably with the following issue's story). We've had printing contrast problems on the B&W print edition, which I hope we've fixed.
#comics #sequentialArt #minatures #actionFigures

J. Steven York RESISTS Sep 29, 2024

Back at work shooting another "Minions at Work" photo cartoon for Pulphouse Fiction Magazine. Shooting on an improvised table in my shop/studio rather than the usual benchtop "mini-stage" in my office. I really need a bigger/better sky backdrop, but this was unplanned and I had to improvise.

#comics #photoComics #actionFigures #minatures #specialEffects #MinionsAtWork #PulphouseFictionMagazine

J. Steven York RESISTS Sep 17, 2024

Working on laying out the newest "Minions at Work" comic in Adobe InDesign for Pulphouse magazine. Have a rough script in my head, lay out the panels from there, then go back and write the final dialogue balloons, often starting at both ends and meeting in the middle. And yes, they're doing a classic Star Trek TOS "Lean to the left" in the final panel. Page 1 of 2.

#comics #MinionsAtWork #PulphouseFictionMagazine #sequentialArt #MinionsAtWork