A VERY TINY STORY AND A HOLIDAY MESSAGE

A VERY TINY STORY AND A HOLIDAY MESSAGE FROM CATMAN COMIX AND THE KITTY MAFIA ART WORX: If you have just a minute, please take the time to read it.

     Being a superhero in San Francisco can be a lot of work and a lot of fun. There’s crime to prevent, evil doers to apprehend, and when things are quiet, there is always time to fly around the Transamerica Pyramid and Coit Tower, or do aerobatic exhibitions for the tourists. And then, when the day is done, you get to go home to a nice meal and a warm bed.

     Both Catman and Super Sumie have a very nice home indeed, located high up on Russian Hill next to the cable car line, with a view of Alcatraz and San Francisco Bay, dry food in a bowl all day and night, plus tuna or salmon, sometimes with bonito flakes, three times a day. There are lots of toys to play with and a soft warm bed to sleep in. However, in flying about the city, tiny Sumie had noticed that things were not always so pleasant for other people in the city. She became curious, as cats will do, and one day decided, without telling anyone, to pack a few of her belongings and then to head off on her own down to the Tenderloin District, where she might be able to find out about the “other side” of life.

     Once she arrived, having walked all the way from home, and dragging her suitcase behind her, she quickly found that things were indeed not good — not good at all. Down in the Tenderloin, things were anything but tender. The neighborhood was cold, dirty and smelled bad. And the people — why, many of them were mean, ugly, smelled bad, and some were dangerous — very dangerous! She spent the entire day walking around the streets looking first for a friendly face, but she couldn’t find one. Then, as the day wore on, she grew hungry; however, she hadn’t brought any money with her. As the sun set and it grew dark, it started to rain; and there she was —cold, wet. no friends, no food, and no place to go.

     Sumie walked and walked until at last, she found a dry place to rest beside an old wooden shack in a dark, weed-filled alley. She took a rolled up blanket she had strapped to the top of the suitcase she had pulled around behind her all day, covered herself with it, hoping to fend off the cold, and then took out the one true friend she did have with her — her teddy bear.

     There she sat for hour after hour, alone, cold, and afraid, until she fell asleep. Then Catman, who had never been very far off, and who had watched over her all day, picked her and her belongs up and took her home where he tucked her safely into her warm, soft bed.

     Unfortunately, there are a lot of people out there who don’t have a Catman to watch over them, or to take them home to bed. A lot of folks have no home, no money, and no food —not even a teddy bear. On Thanksgiving Day, we have a lot of things, things we often take for granted, to be thankful for. But what about the others? If you have the means, drop by your local food bank and make a donation, or if you have nothing else to do that day, you might consider volunteering some of your time at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter, to make Thanksgiving just a little bit better for someone who doesn’t have much at all. There’s still time if you’d like to.

     Happy Thanksgiving from Aoi, Hayato, Catman and Super Sumie.

TEAMING UP TO MAKE SAN FRANCISCO SAFER

Copyright © 2013 by Aoi Tokugawa, Hayato Tokugawa, Shisei-Dō Publications, and the Kitty Mafia Art Worx. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without prior written permission of the artist, author, or publisher.

ABE AND TEPCO: More than meets the eye.

    

 Is there a relationship between Abe's lack of decisive action on Fukushima Daiichi and TEPCO? One wonders.

ABENOMICS = REAGANOMICS: THE "TRICKLE DOWN" ECONOMY

By Aoi & Hayato Tokugawa

ABENOMICS: Just a rehash of Reganomics...which marked the decline of the American Middle Class...trickle down economics which turned out to be more like "tinkle down" economics.

Copyright © 2013 by Aoi Tokugawa, Hayato Tokugawa, Shisei-Dō Publications, and the Kitty Mafia Art Worx. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without prior written permission of the artist, author, or publisher.

A PUBLIC SERVICE MESSAGE FROM CATMAN

    

    This is Shinjuku - seedy tech underbelly of Tokyo. The catch basin of a shocking segment of Japanese youth, addicted to “tech.” Here, day and night, rain or shine, you can find the youth of Japan, “jonesing” for a “fix.” And their numbers increase daily, their minds numbed by apps, tweets, twitters, social media – sometimes they just stare blankly at vacant screens…their batteries having worn down.

     There are both “tech” addicts here and dealers – the perverse purveyors of the latest in “apps,” games, tablets and “pods.” The “pod society.” Addicts flock here hoping to get the latest app from the Apple cult, Microsoft, and a myriad of other manufacturers. Perhaps, they hope, they can “score” the latest Apple pod or some knockoff or imitation.

     You can sense, almost feel, their intelligence being sapped from their brains, right before your eyes. The “dumbing-down” of our future. Kids with finger tips inflamed from texting – kids with severe hearing losses from the blasting of music from iTunes and YouTube. Young bodies and minds damaged beyond repair.

But it’s not too late. There is something you can do to stop this tragic downward spiral to intellectual oblivion. Kids and perhaps a nation with no future. Take away your kids “tech” toys. Ignore the hype that they are harmless. Give your kids a book, some paper, art supplies. Make them go outside and play…even if it means locking them out for a few hours. And don’t whimper and whine that., “Oh, they might get hurt!” Cuts and bruises, scrapes and scratches are part of being a kind. They’ll be better adults for it.

     There is still hope…but time is running out.

     For Eyewitness News…this is Catman reporting.

CATMAN AND PROFESSOR NUTS IN THE UK

     Earlier this year, Scotland Yard, the former employer of Professor Nuts, called on them to come to London to provide security for Prince Charles at the Burough Market.

ORANGEMAN AND CATMAN: THE GAVEL

Is Orangeman planning on misusing his powers of office to get Catman? Oh my!

HIJACKED: Episode 2 Of A New Old Film Starring Catman

     It looks bad! The government has been hijacked! Everything is shut down and the government is systematically being dismantled. The heads of government put their collective heads together and call the only person who might possibly be able to capture the desperadoes responsible and restore truth and justice to a nation that needs to be made safe for democracy. The message, the desperate cry for help goes out to the secret lair of intrepid caped crime-fighter Catman, hidden from prying eyes in the depths of San Francisco's Alcatraz Island.

     Deep within the island, down in the depths of "The Rock," in a laboratory known only to a few, the super-secret Cat Console is activated. Professor Archibald Quincy Nuts, of Scotland Yard, answers the call.

     Meanwhile, our intrepid furry feline hero is at the Fairmont Hotel, high on San Francisco's Nob Hill, doing a set with Tommy Dorsey and Sinatra.

     When the song is over, Catman sensing it is urgent, answers his super-secret two-way wrist radio. It's Professor Nuts.

     Professor Nuts immediately notifies the Washington D.C. Prefecture of Police who immediately jump into action.

     The next call is to Agent Elliott Hiss, head of a special unit of G-men known to one and all as...THE UNSCRATCHABLES!

     Catman immediately heads down California Street from Nob Hill and over to the Flood Building to the office of Spade & Archer, Private Eyes. Actually it's Catman, Spade & Archer, but the fuzzy, flea-bitten crime-fighter decided to become a silent partner in the operation after the Maltese Tuna case.

     And with that, Catman speeds east to Washington D. C. and a date with destiny!

Catman (TM), Catman Comix, The Adventures of Catman, Hijacked, are copyright 2013 by Hayato Tokugawa, Shidei-Do Publications, and Kitty Mafia Art Worx. All rights reserved. No portion of of anything contained in these pages may be reproduced or stored by any means, without the express, written permission of the author.

HIJACKED: A New Old Film Starring Catman

     Early one morning the American people awake from their passive acquiescence and empty-headedness to find that their nation has been hijacked by a band of ultra-conservative, right-wing, greedy, self-serving, thuggish politicians intent on undoing everything that has been accomplished in the last hundred years. Greed and corruption is rampant as the government goes broke and shuts down. Even the National Security Agency is closed down leaving only American citizens to spy on American citizens. Even ultra-conservative spokesperson Angry Mole is angry!

Everything is shut down! People are sent home! Even the statues on the Capitol Mall find themselves unemployed! No job,no money, and no place to go!

Even the White House is not safe! The thugs are dismantling everything from the Constitution to the very building itself. The President consults with his closest advisors.

The call goes out to the office of Police Commissioner Jegger Hoover, who finds himself about to be unemployed, is at a loss. There's only one thing left to do!

THE SIGNAL IS SENT!

Is it too late? Is there anything that can be done? Will Catman pick up the phone? Will he answer even though the charges are reversed? Stay tuned! Same cat time! Same cat channel to find out!






Catman (TM), Catman Comix, The Adventures of Catman, Hijacked, are copyright 2013 by Hayato Tokugawa, Shidei-Do Publications, and Kitty Mafia Art Worx. All rights reserved. No portion of of anything contained in these pages may be reproduced or stored by any means, without the express, written permission of the author.

ORANGEMAN'S DOG

     With the favorability rating of Congress and especially the Republican Party down in the depths, one step above hell, particularly the rating of House Speaker John Boehner (aka Orangeman), this latest blow was too much for him! (What a wimp!)

   
"Sequstration" became a daily word in the news and in general conversation - a mandatory cut to certain budget programs. A lot of people didn't like it and neither did Catman. Once again, in negotiations between John Boehner (know known as "Orangeman" because of his synthetic sun tan) and President Obama, Catman made his presence known. Indeed he was "watching!"

"I IZ WATCHING YOU"

     Catman decided back in January of 2013, at a time when budget problems were again plaguing the United States, that House Speaker John Boehner was largely responsible and deserved watching. This was Catman's first political/editorial cartoon in his efforts to fight for truth, justice, and to make America safe for democracy.

NOIR NUTS

   

     Since we, Professor Nuts, and Catman live in San Francisco, otherwise known as "Fog City" and a rather "noir" place, we decided that Professor Nuts should be a bit noir himself, so Aoi gave him a fedora and trench coat in the style of Sam Spade.

MEET PROFESSOR NUTS

   

     After we first came up the idea for Catman, it became evident that our intrepid hero needed a "sidekick" of sorts as well as an inventor for all the nifty gadgets and technology that Catman would use from time to time. Batman had Alfred and Sherlock Holmes of course had Dr. Watson. We decided to provide Catman with Professor Nuts, based on a squirrel that loves to come by our window every morning and dance around and wave his bushy tail at our cats, who are fascinated by him. Of course, in keeping with the traditions of Sherlock Holmes, we decided that "Nuts" should be British and in the employ of who other than Scotland Yard.

Catman(TM) and Catman, The Adventures of Catman, and Catman Comix, and the characters contained therein, are copyright 2013 by Hayato Tokugawa, Aoi Tokugawa, Kitty Mafia Art Worx, and Shisei-Do Publications. All rights are reserved.

CATMAN ON THE ELECTION OF PRIME MINISTER ABE OF JAPAN

     CATMAN EXPRESSES SOME CONCERN ABOUT ABE-SAN'S ABILITIES.

EARLY CATMAN: An evolution

We decided to play around a bit with Catman based on the first drawing by Aoi.  This was the first result:

Which was followed by this:

Which was in turn, followed by this.

This little guy still often appears in political satire that we do as well as social commentary cartoons.

THE FIRST CATMAN

May 19, 2013

     The very first Catman sketch by Aoi Tokuawa - just an idea then.

CATMAN'S FIRST APPEARENCE

Here is Catman's first appearance online in July of 2013. A curiously cute little characer...cute but hardly heroic.

I'M CATMAN

FROM HIGH IN THE TOWER OF HIS SECRET LAIR ON ALCATRAZ ISLAND, A NEW SUPERHERO AWAITS THE CALL TO FIGHT CRIME AND MAKE THE WORLD  SAFE!

Catman™, and Catman Comixis™ copyright 2013 by Hayato Tokugawa, Aoi Tokugawa and Shisei-Dō Publications. All rights reserved. None of the illustrations contained herein may be reproduced in any way by any means without the expressed permission of Hayato Tokugawa, Aoi Tokugawa, Shisei-Dō Publicaitons,  Tajimi Japan and San Francisco California, or the Kitty Mafia Art Worx, Tajimi Japan.