• Tilt-Shift – An Illustrated View Of War From A Combat Photographer

    A Kickstarter campaign raising money to produce this graphic novel style illustrated 12 issue series:

    TILT-SHIFT marries police procedural intrigue with hard-hitting modern warfare action in its hyper-real presentation of the work done by Special Operations teams throughout Afghanistan.   More than that, it paints a picture of young Americans rising from their varied upbringings, distinguishing themselves from among their peers and flying to the most desolate ends of the world to quell a violent insurgency that suppresses the freedom of the Afghan people and threatens the security of their families back home.

    Quite a boilerplate description above, but as you can see the artwork looks like it speaks for itself.  The 12 issue series that they want funding for follows a team of American soldiers as they pursue enemy combatants in Afghanistan from their fortified mountain strongholds to their booby trap filled bomb factories.

    As you can see (left) they are getting very close to getting complete funding to make the book a reality.  Click on the title of the kickstarter embed to visit the page if you want to read more about the project and/or throw a few dollars their way.

    Lots more pictures and information also available on the Tilt-Shift facebook page.

  • Mission Workshop Arkiv Field Packs

    Meet the R2 and The R6. Waxed canvas modular backpacks for the hipster minimalist:

    The R2 field pack (only black in color) goes for $229 over at Mission Workshop.  The R6 field pack comes in 2 sizes small $209 and large $229 and is available in black or dark grey cordura nylon with a +$30 option to substitute that out for tan waxed canvas.  The modular accessories listed on the respective pages and range from ~$30 – $100.  The field packs and accessories are made in the USA and backed by a lifetime warranty.

    After checking out the nice pictures website and watching the overview video I can say they definitely both look like solid bags which I would like to own.  Waxed canvas (the material the standard R2 is made from) is one of my favorite materials, because it’s not only waterproof but it looks and feels great.

  • Cartoonist Mort Walker Explains The History Behind Beetle Bailey Comic Strips

    On adding Popeye as a character to represent the Navy:

    Interesting how Beetle Bailey wasn’t in the Army when Mort Walker originally started the comic strip.  A newspaper editor’s suggestion to have Beetle visit a recruiting office and get drafted proved to be the best advice Mort Walker ever received.

    Lots more strip explanation videos over on the Beetle Bailey YouTube channel.

    If you’re a fan make sure to check out the official Beetle Bailey website.

    The drawing style and “safe” humor are both very typical of the 1950s era time period comic was extremely popular in.

  • Mark McNairy Woodland Camouflage Twill Derby Lace-Ups

    Where menswear and street style collide with camouflage:

    Sick of wearing a suit 5 days a week due to a ban on “casual day” at your stuffy office?  Test the limits and dress it down a bit with these Mark McNairy joints available exclusively at Park & Bond for $395.

  • 1911 Diamond Grip Pattern iPhone Case

    Patterned after the veritable G.I. 1911 service Pistol:

    Machined out of g10 plastic by custom 1911 grip company VZ Grips.

    $180 over at Element Case.  Quite pricey for such a subtle homage to the 1911 if you ask me.  I hear Element makes some pretty solid cases though.

    I’m pretty careful with my phones so I never was much for spending a grip on a case.

    Thoughts?

  • LOGAN ZANE CAMOUFLAGE LEATHER SHOE HORN

    I’m 30 so I haven’t reached shoe horn age yet, but I still want this:

    $59 over at Logan Zane if your style and creaky old man back require such a beautifully crafted tool.

    Logan Zane is killing it in the realm of camouflage leather small goods right now.  I posted a camouflage leather lunch bag from them a while back. I’d really like to know where to buy or get quantities of leather done like that… if anyone knows drop me an email or let me know in the comments.