Mad Men Characters as Comic Book Stars, in Ad Campaigns, Plus Other Mad Men News

The peerless Mad Men-obsessed illustrator Dyna Moe has created quirky new Mad Men images for those of us who simply can't get enough of the period AMC drama.

In addition to her book, Mad Men: The Illustrated World where she interpreted key scenes from the show in colorful illustrations, she keeps a Flickr stream where she uploades images inspired by the 1960s show.


Her latest pics have placed Mad Men characters into ad campaigns which complement their storylines, or as comic book heroes/villains or even on album covers.

Love.

Be sure to check out Sally as Nancy Drew, gal detective.

In other Mad Men news:

Jessica Pare, otherwise known as Megan Draper on Mad Men, is on the cover of New York Magazine's television-centric issue this week, talking all about her infamous "Zou Bisou Bisou" scene in the season premiere, becoming Don Draper's wife and the intriguing bit of trivia that she initially auditioned to be the prostitute who slapped Don in the face last season before landing the part of Megan.

Meanwhile, my retinas remain scarred from seeing Alexis Bledel -- forever Rory Gilmore from the Gilmore Girls to me -- in smarmy Pete Campbell's fantasy in the "Dark Shadows" episode, wearing a fur coat and underwear while trying to seduce Pete at the office.

In an interview on the Mad Men web site, Bledel said that her character Beth Dawes, a depressed housewife who sought out a fling with Pete, is intriguing. "I instantly wanted to know more about her because she's quite mysterious and she's conflicted," Bledel said. ". . . I felt for her right away. She is stuck in a bad marriage that is really taking a toll on her psyche I think, so I just wanted to explore what that meant for her."

I just keep picturing Bledel in season one of Gilmore Girls in the "That Damn Donna Reed" episode where Rory dressed up like a 1950s housewife, complete with faux pearls, serving up steak and instant potatoes to impress her boyfriend Dean. I know, I know, Bledel is in her 30s now. She's no longer a teen. And that episode aired way back in February 2001, but even now, you've got to admit, she still looks very young, way too innocent for the likes of Pete Campbell.

Image credits: Dyna Moe/Nobody's Sweetheart, New York Magazine and TV Fanatic.

The Harry Potter Series . . . Lookin' Fabulous in Cartoon Form

Image credit: Lucy Knisley

These are too cute for words. The Harry Potter books . . . in cartoon form.

I discovered Lucy Knisley’s clever cartoon interpretations of the Harry Potter series via USA Today’s Pop Candy blogger. Knisley takes each book and chronicles the tale via brilliant illustrations. They remind me a bit of of Dyna Moe’s Mad Men illustrations in that they put a unique twist on the dramatic scenes she depicts.

You can see them in a larger format on her web site. It's worth the visit.

Image credit: Lucy Knisley.

Notes on Pop Culture: JibJab Christmas Greetings, All Things 'Mad Men' & Christmas

JibJab Christmas Greetings

Our neighbors send us our first e-greetings of the season this week. They used the JibJab.com web site’s personalization option by uploading images of their family of four which were superimposed over musicians/dancers performing, “Feliz Navidad.”

I spent way too much time messing around with the site and saw that they offer an It’s a Wonderful Life video. You input photos of people and watch them re-enact a massively truncated version of the famous Jimmy Stewart/Donna Reed flick. I, being a major Mad Men fan, selected Mad Men characters and put them into a JibJab re-creation of my favorite movie.

Wonder what Don Draper – who Peggy Olson said “sees everything” -- thought of the movie, of Jimmy Stewart’s down-trodden family man?

Mad Men-Themed Gifts

Speaking of Mad Men and Christmas . . . here are a ton of official Mad Men-themed gifts available at Gold Label from T-shirts, hoodies, mugs and iPhone covers, to tote bags, greeting cards and calendars featuring cartoons of Mad Men characters. Among my favorites -- many featuring the illustrations of Dyna Moe --  are the ones of Joan and the one of Don saying, “Fear stimulates my imagination.”

Additionally, the Mad Men-obsessed Dyna Moe also has a cool book out, Mad Men: The Illustrated World, featuring her insightful images based on the AMC drama. (This is one I’d personally like to see under my Christmas tree . . .)

I also liked the thoughtful Mad Men Unbuttoned: A Romp Through 1960s America by Natasha Vargas-Cooper which examined pop culture and the 1960s world of advertising, placing the reader in the mindset of the era.

Another Mad Men book I read over the summer but would recommend only to those who like somewhat dense, scholarly examinations of what motivates people (or doesn’t motivate people) from ethical, pragmatic, moral and sociological points of view is Mad Men and Philosophy: Nothing Is As It Seems I personally enjoyed it, found it thought provoking, but it did remind me of something you'd read for a college class.



'Christmas Comes But Once a Year'

And, for those of you (including me) who miss seeing new Mad Men episodes, you can fondly remember the second episode of the recent fourth season, the one in which Roger Sterling played Santa and Don bedded his first of two secretaries that season. How ironic was it that by the season’s end, Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce lost the client for whom they put on the dog and pony show – as well as the Santa suit – and Don got engaged to his secretary?

Image credits: Gold Label, Amazon.com.

Want to 'Mad Men' Yourself? New Options for a New Season.

After AMC announced last summer that my favorite Mad Men-centric artist Dyna Moe had created a series of 1960s avatars which not only allowed you to personalize them (hair, face, body type, clothing, etc.) but allowed you to insert your 1960s self into a Mad Men scene, Mad Men-ning Yourself it became all the rage of the internet.

In honor of the "fresh start" -- which everyone's proclaiming season four of Mad Men to be -- Dyna Moe has added not only new scenes, but new accessories, hair, clothing, etc. from which you can choose.

You could insert yourself into a scene with Don in Rome (as I did above, borrowing Betty's attire from the "Souvenir" episode last season, the last time Don and Betty were happy as a couple), or picture yourself next to Betty and her new, ginormous fainting chair, or even opt to grab hold of an accordian as Joan did when her idiot husband Greg insisted she play a song for his colleagues during a dinner party like a performing chimpanzee.

However, if I were being honest, a real me, circa the 1960s, wouldn't be jet-setting to Rome and donning a swanky beaded dress. I'd likely look more like this, chillin' with Betty in Ossing (though I was annoyed that my avatar couldn't hold both a cup of coffee in one hand and a newspaper in the other):

Another Illustrator Gets Inspiration from 'Mad Men'

I've written frequently in this space about the fabulous illustrations Dyna Moe has crafted featuring Mad Men characters and episodes. (She's also the one who designed the icons for "Mad Men Yourself." )

Today, courtesy of an NPR blog, I came across another artist who drew inspiration from one of the best shows on television. Illustrator Danny Hellman wrote in his blog:

"I'm hopelessly addicted to Matthew Weiner's wonderful AMC series Mad Men, so when Boston Phoenix Art Director Kristen Goodfriend asked in early November if I'd like to draw a Mad Men-themed cover, I felt the familiar rush of nervous excitement that accompanies every dream assignment. I can't speak for other illustrators, but when I'm asked to draw something that I love, the stakes are somehow higher. I suppose that's because in these rare instances, I'm working not just to please the art director, but also myself as a fan.

At first, Kristen said that the Mad Men cover would be part of the Phoenix's Ski Guide, although neither of us knew how they'd manage to connect the show to skiing. Fortunately, the editors soon decided that their Christmas Gift Guide cover would be more appropriate for the Mad Men treatment, and I agreed that this was a much better fit."

The image above is what he came up with, based on the season three finale, "Shut the Door. Have a Seat," where the new firm of Sterling Cooper Draper & Pryce met for the first time in a hotel room at Christmas time. Hellman's blog contains other Mad Men-Christmas themed images he created for the Phoenix.

Image credit: Danny Hellman.

Has 2009 Been 'The Year of Women Fighting Back'?

The Daily Beast’s Rebecca Dana was able to shoehorn Betty Draper, Taylor Swift, Jenny Sanford and Tiger Woods’ wife Elin Nordegren into the same column, lauding them for not taking adverse events that befell them lying down. Dubbing 2009, “The Year of Women Not Taking Sh**,” Dana wrote that Woods’ wife taking a “golf club to his Escalade” was only one among many instances of women striking back.

On Jenny Sanford – wife of the South Carolina governor who famously traveled to Argentina to visit his “soul mate” lover – Dana said that in the wake of the sex scandal, Jenny Sanford “declined to pull a ‘Silda Spitzer’ and saddle up next to her over-tanned Republican spouse for his meandering mea culpa. Instead, she released a sternly worded statement and took off with her sons to a house in the country. She gave a strong, unapologetic interview to Vogue and looked lovely in the accompanying photo. Eventually she packed some boxes, called some friends, and moved the hell out.”

After being dumped by a JoBro and then enduring Kanye West storming up onto the stage to interrupt her acceptance speech at the VMAs, Dana wrote that singer Taylor Swift then landed an SNL hosting gig, enjoyed the mammoth success of her hit CD, won a trunk full of awards and is now dating the werewolf from Twilight.

A woman who didn’t do so well hosting SNL, January Jones, fared better when she inhabited the persona of Betty Draper on Mad Men and “finally left serial womanizing husband, Don.” But, as one person mentioned on Twitter, Betty did leave Don to run right into the arms of another guy.

Other women mentioned as kicking some butt this year:

Kate Gosselin whose estranged husband was openly messing around with the daughter of the plastic surgeon who did Kate's tummy tuck and subsequently told ABC that he "despised" Kate, Bristol Palin soldiering on as a single mom -- using her teen pregnancy as a cautionary tale while the dude who impregnated her is making an idiot of himself, and the wife of the Italian prime minister who wouldn’t put up with his philandering any longer and lashed out at him in public.

Is Dana right? WAS 2009 a good year for women standing up for themselves? Anyone else you could add to her list?

Image credit: Illustration by Dyna Moe/Nobody's Sweetheart.

Still Reveling in Afterglow of 'Mad Men's' Finale

*Warning all you procrastinator Mad Men fans. This entry contains spoilers from the finale. Watch it already will ya?*

I remain blown away by Mad Men's season three finale, "Shut the Door. Have a Seat," as do many critics and bloggers who've gone ga-ga over the hour of goodness that was both fun and exciting (had a bit of that madcap caper feeling), as well as occasionally leaden heavy with elements that made the heart ache.

As I continue to absorb and contemplate the re-booted Mad Men -- Don'll be single (if everything goes as Betty hopes while she's in Reno), he'll be working for an upstart new company, Peggy's asserted herself as being on equal footing with the men, Betty'll be married to a politician -- here are some cool Mad Men items I've found while surfing around them there internets:

Don Draper's 10 Tips on Succeeding in Business: A GateHouse News Service writer has a great column where he says that everything you need to know about how to be a successful businessman, you can learn while watching Don Draper. Tip number eight: "If you call a subordinate into your office to be fired, don't invite them to sit. It's easier to absorb a blow standing up, and they'll appreciate that you didn't lull them into a false sense of security."

Joan Holloway Harris Paper Doll: Mad Men-obsessed illustrator Dyna Moe has released her new Joan Holloway Harris (I hope she dumps the hubs and becomes Holloway again) paper dolls. Among the items you can dress Joan in include the green dress with random blood splatterings from the unfortunate incident with the riding mower. I'm anxiously awaiting Dyna Moe's illustration for the season finale. There's so much to choose from.

Everything Don Ever Said: A blogger who runs the site Unlikely Words has taken an extraordinary amount of time and claims to have chronicled every word that's ever come out of Don Draper's mouth. And he's put it under the heading, "Everything Don Draper Said," and it's organized by season and episode. Now I can't vouch for whether the blogger's captured every single utterance -- I haven't fact-checked him or anything -- but while scrolling through it it looks mighty comprehensive to me.

Which Characters' Futures Are Uncertain? TV Squad writer Joel Keller wondered about how much we'll see of Sal Romano, Betty (once she divorces Don) and others in season four.

Cast Discusses Finale: AMC's Mad Men web site has posted a video which includes interviews with the cast -- mostly Jon Hamm and January Jones, as well as show mastermind Matt Weiner:

Dyna Moe Captures ‘Mad Men’s’ Aqua Net Moment

I didn’t mention it in my review of “The Color of Blue” Mad Men episode, but this scene, where members of the Sterling Cooper creative department acted out the ad pitch for the Aqua Net account, was highly amusing, didn't you think? The only way to improve it would've been to have Kinsey in the scarf.

By the way, what do you think will happen to Sterling Cooper? Bought back? Bought by a malevolent outsider?

Image credit: Dyna Moe/Nobody’s Sweetheart.

'Mad Men's' Betty in Rome

When she's not hurling metal lock boxes filled with campaign donations for the New York governor's re-election at his top political aide for whom she has the hots, Mad Men's Betty Draper likes to spend time vacationing in Rome, donning mod attire, speaking Italian and flirting with the local men at an outdoor bar.

Dyna Moe of Nobody's Sweetheart created this fab illustration. See all of Dyna Moe's fabulous interpretations of Mad Men scenes here. I'm hoping that she offers a 2010 calendar as I was too tardy in ordering a 2009 calendar and missed the boat.

After Getting Its Second Emmy, AMC's Trying to Lure New Fans to 'Mad Men'

On the heels of its back-to-back best dramatic show on television Emmy win, AMC has decided to try to lure new fans to Mad Men as it's about halfway through the third season.

One way to pull in some new eyeballs is to have a season three marathon which the network has slated for this Sunday, September 27 starting at 10 a.m. through 4 p.m. (See the AMC schedule here.)

Another is to produce a video explaining the "story thus far," kind of like a CliffsNotes for the entire Mad Men series.

It makes for an interesting parlor game to examine which clips the show's creators decided to use in this nearly five-minute summary. The video starts off with scenes from Don's affair with the odious Bobbie Barrett, Peggy's affair with Pete, the birth/adoption of Peggy and Pete's baby, Peggy's confession to Pete and Betty kicking Don out of the house and letting him return. Roger's infidelity and subsequent marriage to Don's secretary was also touched on briefly, as was the British invasion of Sterling Cooper. The remainder of the third season episodes, including the death of Grandpa Gene and the birth of Baby Gene (though not Sally's reaction to all of this), made the cut.



After watching it, do you think the video offers any clues to what might unfold in future episodes, especially given that it included the scene of the man who works in the New York governor's office openly flirting with a very pregnant belly?

Image credit: Dyna Moe/Nobody's Sweetheart.

Sneak Peek of New 'Mad Men,' Plus Dyna Moe's Peggy & the College Boy

For your viewing pleasure . . . Dyna Moe's take on episode two of Mad Men's third season, "Love Among the Ruins." Peggy, in blue, kind of reminding me a bit of the color of the blue egg from the Easter episode last year.

Plus, AMC has released its sneak peek for next week's installment, "My Old Kentucky Home," which, if you go by the previews, seems like it'll be explosive. Gotta love -- or hate -- Jane *cough* Sterling's hat.



Image credit: Dyna Moe/Nobody's Sweetheart.

Artist Dyna Moe Starts Illustrating New 'Mad Men' Season

If you were following this blog last year during Mad Men's second season, you no doubt read my heaps of praise for the genius of Dyna Moe, an illustrator who created quirky interpretations of the AMC drama and posted them on Flickr.

Remember all those Mad Men avatars on Facebook and Twitter that AMC heavily promoted, where you could "Mad Men Yourself" a few weeks ago? Those were Dyna Moe's work.

Well she's now started providing images inspired by season three -- which started Sunday night -- and has created, "What the Bellhop Saw" of Don and the stewardess spotted in the hotel hallway by the bellhop, whom we all know was on his way to Sal's room.

I'm looking forward to a new batch of Dyna Moe images. Can't wait to see her interpretation of a pregnant Betty Draper.

Image credit: Dyna Moe/Nobody's Sweetheart.

Go 'Mad Men' Yourself

I'd seen AMC's new cool app -- where you "Mad Men yourself" -- on a number of sites, including on USA Today's Pop Candy. Using the illustrations of the fabulous Dyna Moe, you get to pick your body type, hair, eyes, nose, clothing, props and scene where you can appear with other Mad Men characters such as Senor Draper.

After a bit of monkeying around with my laptop (I initially had trouble downloading my Mad Men image) I finally managed to save my version of me, Mad Menned.

For the Mad Men Fans on Your Holiday List

I've written several times on this blog about my admiration for the Mad Men-inspired illustrations by Dyna Moe. She expertly translates pivotal moments of the show into illustrations.

Now she's not only added to her repertoire -- selling notecards and T-shirts with her Mad Men images -- but now she's crafted a 2009 calendar.

I'll certainly be dropping hints to my near and dear hoping to find this calendar under the Christmas tree.