My most important "commission," thanks to Makayla Duran

A composite of a character Makayla Duran is calling "Gabby." Continue reading to fully view each piece and the story behind them! Art by Makayla and Coyote Duran.

Just recently, Makayla was hip deep in creating a character and scenario, both based on the "Grimace Shake" online trend, most popularly featured (I guess?) on TikTok.

Last June into July, McDonald's celebrated the big purple taste bud (yes, this is how he's described) Grimace's 52nd birthday (yes, he and I are both 52, although I don't believe Grimace's debut was until November of 1971) with a purple, berry-flavored shake. For whatever reason - and who knows why anyone posts overly weird stuff on TikTok - folks everywhere began uploading videos of the "results" of drinking these shakes.

Some people shared how the shakes "killed" people, transported them to other locations or just changed them somehow. As the kids say, it was a weird "flex"; to me, it was random as hell. However Guillaume Huin, the social media director for McDonald's (per Wikipedia), seemed to get down with it.

So one day, our daughter Makayla put her own spin on this trend by not creating a video but her signature, manga-inspired digital art.

Makayla's character, tentatively named "Gabby," who's undergoing a possession of sorts after drinking a "Grimace Shake." Note Makayla's version of Grimace looming to your left. Art by Makayla Duran.

As you can see, it appears that Makayla's character is fighting off (or enjoying. The story is still developing...) a possession of some sort. (I love that kid. She won't watch horror films with me but shares a twisted bent.) On your left, "Gabby" seems to be a normal, six-year-old, little girl enjoying a shake and on your right, a delighted Grimace is enjoying her subsequent possession, as she transforms into a strange entity, drooling out a mouthful of this weird, frozen beverage.

After Makayla finished the drawing, she asked me if I wouldn't mind rendering this crazy character in my style. I had a few art things to button up but promised her I would absolutely tackle such a neat challenge. I broke out the Strathmore Art Bristol Board (8.5" X 11"), my trusty "Blue Special" lead holder, erasers and pens and went to work on this new, fun "commission."

A tribute to Terry Funk and Bray Wyatt in ink

Terry Funk and Bray Wyatt. Micron pen (.02 and .03), Faber-Castell PITT "B"-series brush pen and Pentel Pocket Brush Pen on Strathmore Bristol Board (8.5" X 11"). Art by Coyote Duran. (Please click image to enlarge.)

Growing up, I fell in love with professional wrestling, thanks to my dad, who watched Verne Gagne's American Wrestling Association and Bob Luce's "All-Star Wrestling" on Sunday afternoons. Dad wasn't hep to the WWF (now known as WWE) but sure loved following the exploits of Dick the Bruiser, the Crusher, Larry Zbyszko, Nick Bockwinkel and "Yukon" Moose Cholak, among so many others. I was practically hypnotized by such comic book-esque battles between good and evil, with shiny championship belts up for grabs amid it all.

My dad (who loved the heels. Still does, I reckon) was a big Funk fan, although he must've gotten attached during Funk's really short stay in the AWA. We didn't get much of the other territories in the late-1970s or early-eighties in syndication in Aurora, Illinois. But Dad sure knew who Terry Funk was, along with Terry's older brother Dory Jr.

Terry competed everywhere. including WWE on several occasions (although I didn't think much of the Funks' storyline "brother" Jimmy Jack Funk, portrayed by Jesse Barr. I just thought the added Funk was unnecessary, as well as Dory's change of his first name to "Hoss."). This brand of dedication to the art form is a top reason for Funk's legendary acclaim.

Funk, a Class of 2009 WWE Hall-of-Famer and former NWA world heavyweight champion (an honor he shared with Dory Jr.) passed away on August 23, at age 79.

Just one day later, Windham Rotunda - better known as former WWE champion and WWE Universal champion Bray Wyatt - passed away, at age 36, from cardiac arrest. Rotunda, who was sidelined after a bout with COVID-19 earlier this year, was supposed to make a comeback to the squared circle after having been absent from the ring since last February. The wrestling press was noted in articles stating Rotunda had dealt with a life and career-threatening illness. Many of us were feeling pretty positive that we'd see one of pro wrestling's most creative minds return and wondered what he'd have in store for us, this time around.

Upon further press releases, we all learned that Rotunda's bout with COVID exacerbated a pre-existing heart condition. As much as Funk's death saddened the business and fans alike, Bray Wyatt's passing evoked different emotions, mainly because he was so young. In addition, he was also a father of four young children, two of whom he shared with WWE ring announcer JoJo Offerman.

The tributes rolled in heavily. As a big fan of both gentlemen, I offer up one that pales in comparison to the global plaudits the business and non-wrestling supporters have given. Mine is an ink representation of both Terry Funk and Bray Wyatt (Micron pen (.02 and .03), Faber-Castell PITT "B"-series brush pen and Pentel Pocket Brush Pen on 8.5" X 11"Strathmore Bristol Board), complete with telling expressions.

Love that Danhausen (or be cursed!)...in ink

 

Danhausen. Micron pen (.02 and .03), Pentel Pocket Brush Pen, Copic markers and white Prismacolor pencil in a Daler Rowney sketchbook (5.5" X 8.5"). Art by Coyote Duran. (Please click to enlarge.)

If you're an all-around wrestling fan, you have to have seen Danhausen at least once!

A current member of the All Elite Wrestling (AEW) roster, Danhausen (who describes himself as "very nice, very evil") brings such new meaning to the word "character." A staple on the independent scene for most of the last 10 years, Danhausen's "human disguise," a guy from Michigan named Donovan Danhausen, describes his character as "Conan O'Brien possessed by a demon. Sounds pretty accurate as he's a huge fan of Conan, as well as "The Simpsons."

Danhausen's voice is said to be a combination of Conan and Mark Hamill's take on the Joker. When speaking, he often uses the suffix "Hausen" on random words. For example, in a Cameo-video I booked for Makayla, we were referred to as "Coyotehausen" and "Makaylahausen." The funniest thing about the video was, as a response to Makayla's desire to see Bray Wyatt and Alexa Bliss get their comeuppance, Danhausen cursed them! (Yes, he does curse people, so behave or you will be cursed too!)

And we think it worked. The Cameo was done in May 2021 and WWE released Bray two-and-a-half months later. Yikes...

Muhammad Ali vs. Superman in ink

Muhammad Ali vs. Superman. Copic marker, Prismacolor pencil and Micron marker on 8.5" X 11" Bristol Board. Art by Coyote Duran. (Please click to enlarge.)

I've always said that if I ever had the opportunity to meet Muhammad Ali, I would've likely cried my eyes out. I suppose it was a good thing that I didn't before the "Greatest of All-Time" passed away because I would've certainly made a fool of myself.

Ali set an unmatched standard of cool that I only could've dreamt to attain but this isn't to say I didn't try. Socially and ideologically outside the ring and masterful within it, there was seemingly nothing he couldn't do.

Even challenge the "Last Son of Krypton" to a fight.

In 1978, DC Comics released a one-shot I wanted so badly but never got: "Superman vs. Muhammad Ali." Now at the time of the book's release, Ali wasn't the world heavyweight champion. Ali had lost the championship to Leon Spinks that February but would regain it exactly seven months later. This little variable didn't dull my desire to have this tome in my hot little paws. And naturally we didn't have anything close to an internet then, so it wouldn't be until many years later, when I would find out what happened within its covers, thanks to any trade magazine that took the time to revisit the story.

So imagine my delight and surprise when, 32 years later, in 2010, a gentleman from DC Comics reached out to me and several members of the boxing media, offering us a comped hardcover copy of the company's re-release of "Superman vs. Muhammad Ali. What was I going to say, "NO!"?

And there it was...an oversized edition in all of its Neal Adams-penciled, Denny O'Neil-scripted scripted and Terry Austin/Dick Giordano-inked glory. Wow. It was indeed GLORIOUS.

Just recently I was given the opportunity to revisit this truly fantastical story when my good friend Bernie, a true blue comics, boxing and music guy, proposed a commission idea celebrating one of his favorite stories featuring his favorite superhero. I would've jumped at the chance, were it not for not initially seeing the comment in my Instagram notifications. That said, I  responded with a resounding "YES"

Brooke Dierdorff-Millbrook in ink

Brooke Dierdorff-Millbrook. Copic marker and Sharpie on 14" X 17" Bristol Board. Art by Coyote Duran

One might see a professional boxer's record of 6-5-2 (3 knockouts) and make a snap judgment about how said fighter is a gatekeeper, "tomato can" or a "bum." (Man, I hate those terms and never use them outside of referencing them, as I've done here.) However, in the case of Brooke Dierdorff, this record is a culmination of a fighter who took risks in the pursuit of success.

After all, Dierdorff (now known as Brooke Dierdorff-Milbrook, her married name)) packed a considerable amount of accomplishment in a mere 13 professional bouts, which spanned over just four-and-a-half months, from September 2006 to March 2011.

Among Brooke's wins was a six-round split decision over one of the most recognized names in women's boxing, Mia St. John, whose record at the time was 43-8-2 (18 KOs) (and that was in Brooke's fourth professional fight), an eight-round unanimous decision over St John in their rematch (in Millbrook's 10th professional bout), which netted her the WBC international lightweight title, and a six-round unanimous decision over then-future IBF junior welterweight titlist Mary McGee - a surefire future International Women's Boxing Hall-of-Famer - who was undefeated, at the time, with a record of 17-0 (10 KOs).

Not for nothing, Brooke even beat David Morrison - yes, a dude - in her third professional fight, by first round stoppage. Now Morrison could've been a reversed version of the late, great Andy Kaufman, known for his intergender professional wrestling spectacles, but what really matters is he got his ass handed to him by a woman.

"Hit like a girl," indeed. I'll bet that hurt, Dave. Dude had it coming. Shouldn't aspire to hit women, man.