The Original Mario Gully launches first KICKSTARTER project.

Hey folks you need to come down and check out the Original Mario Gully's new Kickstarter out. It is a beautifully illustrated project. From the press release it states.

"It's like Scarface meets Avatar with dogs and cats, but better! :-) 

Original Mario Gully artwork. 

DIRTY BONES 

New Bark City, Growlsville. This is an epic tale of a mutt by the name of Rover - an ex "Gangster" that gave up his life on the streets to embark on a quest of self discovery while standing up against the segregation between the mutts and the pedigrees. Rover quickly finds out that life in the city has changed as Dirty, the notorious "BIG DAWG", has taken control of New Bark City by force and is now fighting a vicious turf war with Madam Kitty for ultimate power. It's a dog-eat-dog world and no animal is safe in this adventure of romance, gangsters, tommy-guns, fast cars and flea bitten varmints! DIRTY BONES, where every dog has it's day!"

So check it out folks. Here is the link: DIRTY BONES

Jake Estrada

Super Star Artist Mario "O.M.G" Gully now has an official website

The Original Mario Gully, or A.K.A O.M.G has a new official website. The site has many tasty treats, and from the looks of it. O.M.G has a new title coming out very soon. You can check it out.

Future new title known as Dirty Bones, will soon have a Kickstarter Campaign. Art by O.M.G

O.M.G has been hard at work, as you can see by his new title. I am excited to see O.M.G working on a new personal project and I look forward to see it all come together for him. 

Check out his website here. O.M.G's official website HERE!

Talk soon folks.

Jake Estrada

IS BUGG REALLY AN ANT RIPOFF? ANT VS. BUGG

Cats out of the bag.

Here is one of my new titles launching soon!

Special thanks to Edward Phillip Bola on colors and Oscar Saavedra's logo!

No shit like this in comics!

I promise you.

Story by Mercedez Gully

Art by O.M.G

Back on April 12^th, I reported that Mario Gully (OMG) had decided on his new comic Bugg. Many have come forward and stated that it looked exactly like Ant which is now owned by Erik Larsen. There was a recent spat between the two creators over the direction of ANT due to some racy art pages drawn by OMG. However, they seemed to have ended the fight rather easily. Recently OMG has been asking for investors to invest in a new property of his, and then the following week this comic cover was release as the new comic property he would  be doing with his daughter.

I had wondered if Larsen would react to this. Well he has already spoken, and this is what he said over twitter.

@thecelticclan @jakeestrada That looks like a lawsuit about to happen.
— Erik Larsen (@ErikJLarsen) April 20, 2013

MARIO GULLY'S LATEST TITLE, COMING SOON.

Coming to OMG's site, I stumbled upon this, "

Cats out of the bag.

Here is one of my new titles launching soon!

Special thanks to Edward Phillip Bola on colors and Oscar Saavedra's logo!

No shit like this in comics!

I promise you.

Story by Mercedez Gully

Art by O.M.G

So what do you people think? Let me know.

Jake Estrada

MARIO GULLY LOOKS FOR INVESTORS!

Interview by Dion Johnson with Mario Gully (O.M.G) 

He's known to a few but has gained a place in comic book history.  His name is Mario Gully and he is a comic book artist with a very inspiring story.

In  1996 he was convicted of robbery in Florida at 19 years old. The youngest child of a family of six, Mario started drawing at an early age. While incarcerated, His life  was changed forever. "One day,"Mario recalls."I was looking out the cell window and I noticed a tiny ant crawling on the window sill". "I was feeling so bad". "That my life was over and I was so ashamed, I wanted to disappear." I felt like that tiny and I wanted to trade my life for his". Filled with grief, his cell mate encouraged him to draw to pass the time. What happened next is nothing short of amazing. 

"I turned that Ant into a superhero in my head."Mario says, I wanted to better my life so I decided to draw again."

Draw is what he did and the character ANT was born. A red hot sexy female with razor sharp antennas that could block bullets! \

Mario was a huge fan of comic books and especially Todd Mcfarlane the Creator of Spawn.  "He was my idol, my focus".The young artist recalls.  Trying to get Mcfarlane's attention wasn't an easy task. Mario's character was turned down by Image Comics and many other publishers.    

                                                                                                                                                                                One publisher saying "A idiotic idea for a character that nobody is interested in".

'

Not being deterred, Gully kept trying for 8 years! Even getting financing from a friend to get better color and variant covers from comic book superstars for a better package.

"Finally, when I exhausted all my resources, I received an email from an small publisher in Canada". My wife kids and I were living with my dad in a small apartment because money was hard to come. I was working at an air conditioning helper in Louisville KY. 

One email from Arcana Studios. That's when it all started.

ANT launched in 2003 and the book sold out in 9 days. Ant was legitimately a hit. "I cant say I was surprised".Mario says, "or I may have been in shock, "I've always believed in my characters". "I just think they are cool that's all". "It was fantastic to see other people believing they were cool also".

"I think Mario is one of the best talent I've worked with...brilliant!"-Publisher for Arcana Studios Sean O'Reilly

Mario's story gets even more interesting! Gully finally got excepted by his mentor Todd Mcfarlane's company Image Comics! 

ANT was now published at a major publishing house! The publisher at Image Comics Erik Larsen brought his book aboard with skepticism.

"I wanted it bad"! Mario say."I wanted to prove I could play with the majors"!

ANT played with the majors an issue#1 sold out now under a huge publisher. "I talked to Erik Larsen (the publisher) and he told me the numbers.  "I cried". "I fell down and cried because it was a huge accomplishment for me"

 ANT was in the starting line up and was one of the top selling independent comic books. Selling on ebay for over 100 dollars a issue for a specific retailer cover.

"Ant is one of the most iconic, original characters created in the last 20 years"!-Comic book veteran and a founder of Image Comics Erik Larsen

Later Mario continued his success drawing books for many other publishers including comic book powerhouse Marvel Comics! Drawing special illustrated books and working with a comic book legionary writer Roy Thomas!  

 "Hey,this is another great - looking batch of pages"! "You gave us some great action - packed pirate scenes with real drama". "I’m very impressed". "You continue to get better on all fronts". "And you keep such a wonderful schedule". "Glad you’re a big part of this fine effort"!-Senior Marvel editor Ralph Macchio

It would appear that this artist had everything he wanted. A Creator owner title, drawing a new series for Marvel Comics.  A promising road to success?

"It was difficult behind the scenes". "With all I've been through and how very hard I fought to get my chance to fight..I've kept battling with publishers about my ideas". "I had to change Ant's story for Image Comics to publish the book". "I believe the originally was her story not her costume".Gully bellows.""Also,many comic book creators didn't except me". "I guess they felt that I wasn't qualified enough to be where I had gotten to in my career". "Rather me being self taught and not being groomed by Marvel or D.C comics before I became popular like most creators were.. or being a black dude". "I can't be honest and say I didn't feel that animosity"."One time, I was even asked to not stand behind the Image Comics booth at San Diego Comic Con"! "I felt very bad". "That was like crushing my dreams all over again".

There were also the vultures circling Mario's success. People that promised movie deals and video games that ultimately took Gully for a ride.

"That was my biggest problem". Mario's recalls. "Most of these people I met didn't have the resources they pretended to have". "I would try to help develop my characters in other forms of entertainment but it was a lot of work". "In addition to penciling,writing and producing a monthly title at Image". "It was hard". "I was very worried that if I passed up an opportunity a deal I was looking for could fall through".

It became difficult for the artist. Having a wife and 4 kids things because hard financially and they couple decided to file for a divorce after 14 years. 

Gully: "Thats was the darkest time in my life".we separated and I have my 4 children".  "I left Florida to move to Nevada to start over". "Our Marriage was bad for 3 years before it finally ended. I tried everything even going to church and I even taught Sunday School while going to seminary".  "I wanted to save my family". "It seems it went from bad to worst". It felt like God was laughing at me".

More tragedy struck Mario when on route to Nevada he was in a serious car accident! 

"The car I was in flipped a couple times on route 66". "I know for sure I could have been killed". "I almost rolled into a semi truck in the snow."

 The relocation to Las Vegas Nevada was anything but smooth. Mario would eventually become homeless with his 4 children!

"It was very..very hard"." I literally lost my mind". "I felt like so many people I helped wouldn't even return my calls". "I couldn't draw because I was so depressed". "I thought about suicide one night very seriously". "To this day it was the lowest point I ever been". "I got locked up because we got evicted because I brought a puppy for my daughter". "The place where we were living wanted a pet deposit or us to vacate". "I didn't have it. "It was less then 200 bucks". "I tried to steal it".

This can be one of the best come back stories in comic book history. Since then Mario Gully has changed his name to O.M.G and he's more determined then ever to live the dream he always wanted!

O.M.G: "O.M.G stands for Original Mario Gully".  "It's that guy that I wanted to be that follows his heart and march to his own drum beat". "I feel I'm my original self".  "My honest self". "After all I've been through, I draw better now then I ever have".  "I'm more focused then I ever been".

O.M.G has creations he's been developing for years.  He is looking for one investor that can help make this story the beginning of his new life!

O.M.G: "I just need one chance". "One shot to do a few books my way without the restraints or any of that jazz I get from publishers every day". "I only need one investor". "I've done a lot with very little experience and very little resources with Ant and my career.

I've learned a ton". "I've worked with so many great people in this biz". "Now, I want to show the world I'm ready for round two"! "I know I've got a golden opportunity here". "I'm ready now and I'm disciplined! 

O.M.G is offering a percentage of his characters for life as well as a return on the investment!

O.M.G. "I know I'm a sure investment". "I've proven most wrong about my characters all my life". "I've had time to develop my strategy and marketing plan". "I know with certainly this is my destiny.

I asked the amazing artist does he has any thing to say to anyone looking to invest in his new venture? 

O.M.G:

Yes. This is to my possible investor. All my life I felt I was meant for something. I know in my heart it's to inspire people to be better today then you were yesterday. To show kids that no matter what obstacles that are in your path you can overcome them with hard work and dedication.  Sometimes everyone needs just a little push to take off and fly higher then one ever has.

Help me live the life I was always meant to live.

Wow. A truly amazing story that has an ending waiting to be written!

Invest inquires can me made to Creator / artist Guru O.M.G by contacting him here:

Mariogully@gmail.com

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/mario.gully

MARIO GULLY SEEKS INVESTOR FOR NEW COMIC PROPERTY! (April 10th 2013)

Mario Gully needs your help. He needs someone to invest in one of his latest comic book. If you want to be in the ground running on a new property from this creator you should email him quickly to learn more details. this is what I received in my email from OMG. He requires your help. Thanks folks. ~Jake

Interview by Dion Johnson with Mario Gully (O.M.G) 

He's known to a few but has gained a place in comic book history.  His name is Mario Gully and he is a comic book artist with a very inspiring story.

In  1996 he was convicted of robbery in Florida at 19 years old. The youngest child of a family of six, Mario started drawing at an early age. While incarcerated, His life  was changed forever. "One day,"Mario recalls."I was looking out the cell window and I noticed a tiny ant crawling on the window sill". "I was feeling so bad". "That my life was over and I was so ashamed, I wanted to disappear." I felt like that tiny and I wanted to trade my life for his". Filled with grief, his cell mate encouraged him to draw to pass the time. What happened next is nothing short of amazing. 

"I turned that Ant into a superhero in my head."Mario says, I wanted to better my life so I decided to draw again."

Draw is what he did and the character ANT was born. A red hot sexy female with razor sharp antennas that could block bullets! \

Mario was a huge fan of comic books and especially Todd Mcfarlane the Creator of Spawn.  "He was my idol, my focus".The young artist recalls.  Trying to get Mcfarlane's attention wasn't an easy task. Mario's character was turned down by Image Comics and many other publishers.    

                                                                                                                                                                                One publisher saying "A idiotic idea for a character that nobody is interested in".

'

Not being deterred, Gully kept trying for 8 years! Even getting financing from a friend to get better color and variant covers from comic book superstars for a better package.

"Finally, when I exhausted all my resources, I received an email from an small publisher in Canada". My wife kids and I were living with my dad in a small apartment because money was hard to come. I was working at an air conditioning helper in Louisville KY. 

One email from Arcana Studios. That's when it all started.

ANT launched in 2003 and the book sold out in 9 days. Ant was legitimately a hit. "I cant say I was surprised".Mario says, "or I may have been in shock, "I've always believed in my characters". "I just think they are cool that's all". "It was fantastic to see other people believing they were cool also".

"I think Mario is one of the best talent I've worked with...brilliant!"-Publisher for Arcana Studios Sean O'Reilly

Mario's story gets even more interesting! Gully finally got excepted by his mentor Todd Mcfarlane's company Image Comics! 

ANT was now published at a major publishing house! The publisher at Image Comics Erik Larsen brought his book aboard with skepticism.

"I wanted it bad"! Mario say."I wanted to prove I could play with the majors"!

ANT played with the majors an issue#1 sold out now under a huge publisher. "I talked to Erik Larsen (the publisher) and he told me the numbers.  "I cried". "I fell down and cried because it was a huge accomplishment for me"

 ANT was in the starting line up and was one of the top selling independent comic books. Selling on ebay for over 100 dollars a issue for a specific retailer cover.

"Ant is one of the most iconic, original characters created in the last 20 years"!-Comic book veteran and a founder of Image Comics Erik Larsen

Later Mario continued his success drawing books for many other publishers including comic book powerhouse Marvel Comics! Drawing special illustrated books and working with a comic book legionary writer Roy Thomas!  

 "Hey,this is another great - looking batch of pages"! "You gave us some great action - packed pirate scenes with real drama". "I’m very impressed". "You continue to get better on all fronts". "And you keep such a wonderful schedule". "Glad you’re a big part of this fine effort"!-Senior Marvel editor Ralph Macchio

It would appear that this artist had everything he wanted. A Creator owner title, drawing a new series for Marvel Comics.  A promising road to success?

"It was difficult behind the scenes". "With all I've been through and how very hard I fought to get my chance to fight..I've kept battling with publishers about my ideas". "I had to change Ant's story for Image Comics to publish the book". "I believe the originally was her story not her costume".Gully bellows.""Also,many comic book creators didn't except me". "I guess they felt that I wasn't qualified enough to be where I had gotten to in my career". "Rather me being self taught and not being groomed by Marvel or D.C comics before I became popular like most creators were.. or being a black dude". "I can't be honest and say I didn't feel that animosity"."One time, I was even asked to not stand behind the Image Comics booth at San Diego Comic Con"! "I felt very bad". "That was like crushing my dreams all over again".

There were also the vultures circling Mario's success. People that promised movie deals and video games that ultimately took Gully for a ride.

"That was my biggest problem". Mario's recalls. "Most of these people I met didn't have the resources they pretended to have". "I would try to help develop my characters in other forms of entertainment but it was a lot of work". "In addition to penciling,writing and producing a monthly title at Image". "It was hard". "I was very worried that if I passed up an opportunity a deal I was looking for could fall through".

It became difficult for the artist. Having a wife and 4 kids things because hard financially and they couple decided to file for a divorce after 14 years. 

Gully: "Thats was the darkest time in my life".we separated and I have my 4 children".  "I left Florida to move to Nevada to start over". "Our Marriage was bad for 3 years before it finally ended. I tried everything even going to church and I even taught Sunday School while going to seminary".  "I wanted to save my family". "It seems it went from bad to worst". It felt like God was laughing at me".

More tragedy struck Mario when on route to Nevada he was in a serious car accident! 

"The car I was in flipped a couple times on route 66". "I know for sure I could have been killed". "I almost rolled into a semi truck in the snow."

 The relocation to Las Vegas Nevada was anything but smooth. Mario would eventually become homeless with his 4 children!

"It was very..very hard"." I literally lost my mind". "I felt like so many people I helped wouldn't even return my calls". "I couldn't draw because I was so depressed". "I thought about suicide one night very seriously". "To this day it was the lowest point I ever been". "I got locked up because we got evicted because I brought a puppy for my daughter". "The place where we were living wanted a pet deposit or us to vacate". "I didn't have it. "It was less then 200 bucks". "I tried to steal it".

This can be one of the best come back stories in comic book history. Since then Mario Gully has changed his name to O.M.G and he's more determined then ever to live the dream he always wanted!

O.M.G: "O.M.G stands for Original Mario Gully".  "It's that guy that I wanted to be that follows his heart and march to his own drum beat". "I feel I'm my original self".  "My honest self". "After all I've been through, I draw better now then I ever have".  "I'm more focused then I ever been".

O.M.G has creations he's been developing for years.  He is looking for one investor that can help make this story the beginning of his new life!

O.M.G: "I just need one chance". "One shot to do a few books my way without the restraints or any of that jazz I get from publishers every day". "I only need one investor". "I've done a lot with very little experience and very little resources with Ant and my career.

I've learned a ton". "I've worked with so many great people in this biz". "Now, I want to show the world I'm ready for round two"! "I know I've got a golden opportunity here". "I'm ready now and I'm disciplined! 

O.M.G is offering a percentage of his characters for life as well as a return on the investment!

O.M.G. "I know I'm a sure investment". "I've proven most wrong about my characters all my life". "I've had time to develop my strategy and marketing plan". "I know with certainly this is my destiny.

I asked the amazing artist does he has any thing to say to anyone looking to invest in his new venture? 

O.M.G:

Yes. This is to my possible investor. All my life I felt I was meant for something. I know in my heart it's to inspire people to be better today then you were yesterday. To show kids that no matter what obstacles that are in your path you can overcome them with hard work and dedication.  Sometimes everyone needs just a little push to take off and fly higher then one ever has.

Help me live the life I was always meant to live.

Wow. A truly amazing story that has an ending waiting to be written!

Invest inquires can me made to Creator / artist Guru O.M.G by contacting him here:

Mariogully@gmail.com

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/mario.gully

Mario Gully (O.M.G) quits ANT due to racy fight scene.

Back in 2012 O.M.G sold his beloved ANT to Erik Larsen, and the two had decided that they would conclude the series with one final issue that would tie up the dangling plot lines from the previous series. After that Erik Larsen would reboot the series, and go his own direction with the character.

So O.M.G would get a script along with breakdowns from Erik Larsen, and O.M.G being the creator felt he knew his character best would follow Erik’s script, but made small tweaks that he felt would show his flavor and ultimately give his character a proper sendoff. 

The changes had ANT in a deadly match against a villain where she got her foe into a leg strangulation with her legs and the bad guy has his tongue come out licking her vagina. Here is the image below.

Here is the page that steered the hornets nest? What do you think?

Erik Larsen was not quite as thrilled about the scene and almost worried that he could get sued, along with retailers which I felt was a odd response considering that Image Comics had published Howard Chaykin’s Black Kiss II that had very explicit sex scenes, erect penises left and right, hardcore sex scenes, blowjobs and crotch shots.

Here is what Erik said:

Erik Larsen I like Mario's work--make no mistake--and this is sexy as all shit--but panel two would mean this book would be on the porn shelf. Retailers would hit the roof if this showed up without having been told about it. I'm not saying the book needs to be suitable for a six-year old--but I don't want retailers being sued for selling adult material to minors either. It can be sexy--WitchBlade is sexy--but it can't be obscene and panel two with a tongue out at her crotch and panel three with a dripping cooch is asking for trouble.

Then he shows what his scripted breakdown page looked like, and what he expected O.M.G to draw, and didn’t want any deviations of the completed page. He felt that the page was awkward.

Here's the page Erik had laid out and wanted O.M.G to follow.  You decide?

 Mario felt that he was censored but Erik argued it was the other way around.

Erik Larsen This isn't a case of me "censoring Mario"--it's a case of him not following the script. If you're writing a story and ask for a shot of a character kicking a bad guy and you get back a shot of the bad guy licking her crotch--it's unreasonable for the guy who made the change to argue censorship. He's censoring me--not the other way around.

Mario charged back.

Mario Gully: I'm a keep this shit real. Erik, first off..I was helping you out. My storytelling isn't flawed, its that you don't know Ant at all. First.. Ant is bulletproof. Her Suit is her SKIN harden to armor. She is bulletproof to small and heavy gunfire bro. She blocks bullets because she can. I'ts fun for her. So, Having her use a "human shield" is cute but I decided to put some stank on it. For your info.. she jumped on his shoulders/ blocked bullets and broke his neck... and yes his tongue slobbered on her Pussy. That's ANT bro. Are you serious? In the following panel.. where she is running...Ant don't run bra. She fought a whole army remember? Issue 5? I guess you guys-- think I was just bullshitting huh? Why would she run from a few guys with gun?? Instead, I appealed to your ego and made her get a better position. I don't run from fights. She don't either. Now about the Pussy licking? Who in here don't eat pussy? Honestly..RAISE YOUR HANDS IF YOU EAT PUSSY!! We all do. If you don't either are a lie or pussyless. I hate censorship and this is a sad example how far Image has fallen. I not changing your book. BTW didn't even get my imput on it which in itself is dumb. You don't know Ant better then I do. Just like that time you drew a tumbnail of Ant and Spawn cover#3. I drew it flawed for me to not correct my idol and drew a bad ass ANT IN SPAWNS LAP!! Same thing happening here ..yeah, And it's funny how a few post ago how that very cover was posted here! My last point. I think people are tired of seeing the same old shit. I KNOW i'm tired of looking at it. I also tired of be underestimated. I think nobody can draw Ant better then I can. Because Ant has soul. I've had letters from ministers and from single parents that got her. I don't think you get it Erik and that's cool. You will find out like the rest. Now. Respectfully I would like very much to draw this book and end with Image with a conclusion and teaming up with you will be nice. But I'm O.M.G man...Mario been gone for some time. So if I draw Ant..your story of not, I got to do my thang. Breaking a neck instead of shooting a guy is still killing him. If you think that I'm really going left then we do have a problem. I got to play my way. Shit, if I can't keep it real then comics are doomed. None of ya is a real as I am and one of these days you will appreciate it. Erik you can make Ant like a all ages Spiderman if you want to. But I know the bitch! People remember when in Ant unleashed her roomate sucking dick. If you turn Ant into a billiondollar girl it will forever trickle down to O.M.G. and I'm raw and uncut so...yeah. They want to see that shit. What gets me the most is everyone passed on Ant and thought it was a bad idea. You even said that " Ant was "too urban" and "Ant was the worst book at Image"! After me proving everyone wrong a million...lets say Thousands times over you guys still think you are right? I hope you are. I hope you can make a sucessful ANT without me. Nobody else did. It's you who should ask me how to make an Ant book. Not the other way around. You'd fuck it up.

Then Erik said.

Erik Larsen This is a free country. If Mario doesn't want to draw my story he can absolutely choose not to that.

Erik Larsen Hell, I encouraged Mario to do his own stuff. I wasn't twisting his arm to do this story.

Ultimately O.M.G relented and just let the topic go.

Mario Gully Honestly I'm over it. Especially now. I'm a do my own books my own way and see how it goes. Tongues?? Shit it gets way worst then that!?! I'm way beyond all this. Erik do Ant the best you can and I wish you the best. 

O.M.G

Erik Larsen Thanks, man. Sorry it went down this way.

Erik Larsen I do think folks deserve something of an explanation: Mario sold the character Ant to me last year. The book hasn't been published in years. Mario was NOT going to continue working on the book. He was done. He was going elsewhere to start something new. I was going to restart the book fresh--and do a new series that I would write and draw. 

Mario offered to do a last issue of his series to tie up the loose ends. I'd already laid out a bunch of pages for an issue #12 some years back and he agreed to work from those.

So--this wasn't a situation where it would have been an ongoing book with Mario back onboard. He was moving on. All this would have done is a single issue. We'd finish off the old series and honestly--it was an odd fit--an odd publishing choice on our part. It really didn't make a lot of sense to do a final issue of a series that had been discontinued long ago just to give it closure and then restart it. But I hate dangling plots and Mario seemed willing to do it so off we went.

But the book was a general audience title and the book will be a general audience title and it makes even LESS sense to do an isolated mature readers issue to cap off a book that ended a few years ago.

In any case--it is what it is. I'm not going to force Mario to draw my story and he's not going to force me to change my story so that's the end of that. As far as I know Mario's drawn just the one page so it's hardly the end of the world.

So that’s with the main thrust of the conversation between both Erik Larsen and OMG aka Mario Gully?

What do you think? Were the images to racy?

In my personal opinion, sure the images were racy, but Ant had always been a racy book, especially the later books. Furthermore, we all know that Image comics do publish comics that have hardcore sexual themes, but to suddenly have Erik Larsen be this squeamish is almost too odd.  However, he owning the character now does give him certain rights. Yet do you think he is being too squeamish? It''s a shame we will never see another Ant by Mario. What could have been. Seeing as he is walking away from the title to pursue new future projects. Let me know what you think.

Good luck, O.M.G.

To follow O.M.G go this his page: HERE

Thank you.

Jake Estrada

Any questions please email at estradajake@yahoo.com

Mario Gully (O.M.G) speaks to his fan base!

Check out what O.M.G has to say about breaking into the comic business, how he got here and what he is currently doing. Pretty insightful . Check it out folks. 

Enjoy folks!

Jake Estrada

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH SUPERSTAR ARTIST MARIO GULLY!!

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH SUPERSTAR ARTIST MARIO GULLY!!

Recently I had just reported Mario Gully had been arrested due to Robbery over in Vegas. There were many lingering questions out there as to why he had been arrested, and what had become of Mario himself. On Sunday, September 2, 2012 at 1.26 pm I was contacted by Mario himself for an exclusive interview to clear the air as to what happened, and he told me he now went by the name O.M.G.

My feelings over the entire matter are heartfelt. I consider O.M.G a great artist, and I can feel his plight. He is not just some common criminal, and people should read his story before they make any rash judgement. 

Below is the interview, enjoy!

Super Star Artist O.M.G The Artist Formerly known as Mario Gully.  

Jake: Okay the first question is exactly what happened?  

Furthermore, what is up with the name change from Mario to just straight up O.M.G?

O.M.G: Well, it's a very long story to here. Jake, Ive tried to be a friend to everybody and a person that helped people. To make a very long story short.. the first hit was my separation from my wife of 14 years. We just grew apart and we have 4 beautiful kids together. No cheating or any of that shit. Hell, I was in Baptist College on my way to be a pastor when it happened. It was one of those relationships where I tried to make her happy. I pursued comics as a means to take care of her and my family. A lot of people don't know this but, Ant was originally a whole different concept before I finally met Sean O'Reilly and it was going to be published. So, I decided to make the protagonist after my daughter Mercedez. That way if anything happens.. at least I could leave her something of value. But it was very hard work.I was a novice artist and an bad writer in most respects. Most of my friends and family didn't believe I could do it or help me. I had to learn by trial and error. Then once I was ready for the big stage.. I had inherited a lot of bad habits and expectations. I drew my books fast and wrote most of them in a few days.  I mean bad habits like not plotting out my books and just drawing what I felt like drawing. I was working full time and trying to take care of my wife and 2 kids at the time. Shit was difficult. Well..fast forward a bit now I'm at Image Comics! My dream company! I've loved Image since it's conception. It was hard. It just wasn't what I thought. I'll keep it at that. Then towards the end of my Ant run.. I got help from people that were more unexperienced then I was. They promised me all kinds of stuff like, Action figures, Video games and shit like that. I had no choice but to bite because I couldn't figure out how to draw, write, ink and color edit my book and keep funds flowing in. They gave me a little bit of money and I thought things were gonna be ok. It wasn't ok. Image had problems with my people and rightly so. They were just using me for my success. I was put on opposite sides of one of my mentors Erik Larsen and I just lost it. I mean, honestly all that was left is me being "black listed" from comics all together. People was talking for me because Mario allowed that shit. Thats when I decided to pester Marvel for work. It was because shit was so fucked up that I wanted a break. Marvel treated me good but I honestly was very disappointed with the titles they put me on. Either I wasn't " great" enough or I drew too fast because I thought making deadlines were the most important thing. So I made sure I turned in my penciled pages a week early most of the time. I may have fucked that up. I don't know. 

     

After that I drew some books for more independents. Then I wanted to relaunch Ant and divorce my wife finally. On top of that after my wife and I separated. I got back with what I thought was my " True Love". Well, that lasted a year and I was fucked up again.One heart break after another. I was at fault that time. I lied to her about something serious. It seems like no matter how hard I tried my life was turning to shit. So I borrowed some money from a friend. My plan was to get a place, get my kids, Get a car and relaunch Ant. Plan failed. I helped out my family and my ex wife with money because she was really doing bad. Hey boyfriend is that kid of jerk that hits her and shit so I thought she would take the money I gave her and move. That didn't happen. I did fuck up some money partying and stuff. Im just keeping it real. Myself and my nephew with his pregnant girl and two kids was planning to move to Colorado. We drove with plans to relocate. Well, it was cold and I knew this chic in Vegas I was talking to. We were kinda serious so we figured we would move there for a while. Bad move! On the way there it was snowing. I brought my car in Miami and I had low profile tires on it. I tried to pass a semi truck in the slushy snow and I hit "black ice" i'm told and spun and rolled the car a couple times. That was the beginning of the worst. I was in bad shape and financially I was helping my nephew and I had to get my kids. I made a deal and sold Ant. Yes I sold Ant to get my kids to Vegas. myself and that girl didn't work out and we winded up almost homeless after I dropped a lot of cash on our place and her kids. Things were working but they were working slow. Plus my "baby momma" was calling me for help bothering me. Crying and shit. My nephew and I was doing what we could to take care of our kids. It was 9 of us and shit was hard. I was asking my friends and family for help and most people either didn't have it or didn't care. I felt they didn't care because over the years I've made some of them friends some good money. They know who they are. We were getting evicted one day. Myself and my kids and all we needed was a few hundred bucks. I didn't think too much of it because Ive given my family thousands of bucks. Well, I guess I didn't realize my people were that shady. I don't want to talk too much about my crime because I got to court in January. Yes I plead guilty. Yes I did it. Im a real dude. I'll tell you. I was in a tight so I decided to do something dumb. I left my kids over a chic's house I met and I went to make some fast loot for rent. Yes. It was that simple.I was frustrated and after all the shit I been though. Bad marriage, Bad religion.. Loosing all my shit. Crashing my Benz. Thoughts of killing myself. finding out my close family members wasn't there when I needed them the most. It really fucked me up. I had my kids with me and I just wanted them to have a place to sleep. I'm not making any excuses for my behavior. I'm just keeping it real. I had a very bad year. A bad few years actually.

The people that had my back are people I didn't expect or people I just didn't talk to anymore for whatever reason. That fucks you up when a person realizes that he made almost all the wrong choices in life. Friends..money..women. the whole nine. 

So the cops came to me a day later. I told the truth. Yeah, I did it. "Promise you all take care of my kids bra". "Then I will tell you what's up". He gave me his word. And he took me in and they flew my ex to Vegas and flew my kids back with her to Florida. They are still waiting for me. That's all I wanted. Social services hooked us up and that's all I wanted. I haven't been locked up in over 12 years. People was saying I may be going to prison because I had a class B felony. I was telling them niggas that I was just passing through. I knew I was getting out. I just didn't know how. I had no money. No phone and no way of talking to anybody. So I started focusing again. Drawing Marvel characters for cookies and shit just like I did years earlier. I became popular and my mentally was moving in a positive direction. I made some friends and I concentrated on what I wanted the rest of my life to look like. I wrote my kids and told them I would never fuck them up like that again. Long story short the D.A was told by my public defender that I was a comic book creator and it just so happened that the D.A was a comic book fan. I speak the truth. I got a sweet deal and here I am.

I changed my name because Mario Gully lost his mind. That's the only way I can explain it to somebody. All his friends..his family...all his shit is gone. Even ANT. Gone!  So in my mind Mario Gully is dead. I'm a new person. I think different. I talk different and I don't pretend and bite my tongue for nobody.Mario did a ton of that. He wanted to be liked. I feel like I'm now the person I was meant to be. My MIND is free and I feel alive. So I'm now O.M.G! That stands for " The Original Mario Gully". I've been through hell and I made it trough it. Im still here and I'm not scared of nothing! Every time something happens to me like that D.A knowing who I am.. I say " Yeah, that's some O.M.G shit"! Because I believe who I am. I now believe in me when Mario believed in everyone else. I know I control my destiny and no man or God can tell me different. It's just that simple. People can say what they want. I kick the truth. Most people lie. If I want to be known for anything..I want to be known for being " REAL"!

Jake: Wow that is really crazy dude. Okay O.M.G I must really say that is really an incredible story and a blessing in disguise that you got out of jail that way. I’m happy to hear that you used this to move forward and to remake yourself into the real person you were meant to be.

So seeing that you sold ANT, which by the way is staggering to say the least. I will say this what are your future plans in making any new comic books? I only ask because you do have thousands of fans out there that love your art including myself?

O.M.G: Well, I got a few books I want to do. Ant is in good hands, I hope. I got one book left to do that we are planning out. I’m brainstorming really about the future. I have a lot of fans, and I still have some friends in the industry. I’m either gonna look for investors or partners in creating a comic book studio. I know most people fail at that, and I do have precautions. Plus, after the last book Ant hits, my new book is kinda like Ultimate Ant for lack of better words. Ant fans will be pleased. Maybe Kickstarter will fund it. Since I got a following, it may help. I’m really looking to create buzz. I honestly feel like I’ve been done wrong by some of the right people.

Mario Gully's ANT

Jake: Yeah I feel you there man, about feeling like you’ve been done wrong. I hope those relationships can be repaired later or if not, at least you can get past this.

So seeing that you have other projects in the pipeline and I know it is hard to say where you are going, because you want to keep a lid over how the storyline is going to play out. You say you are going to be using Kickstarter for your next project. I think that is cool seeing that quite a few major names and studios have recently used kickstarter to fund their projects.

Are you planning on hitting the cons again?

Plus do you have any promo art of any of your latest projects? (If not don’t worry)

I am just trying to make sure everyone knows where you’re heading and how you are rising up above this sea of darkness.

Plus if anyone wishes to hire you how do they get a hold of you? They either email you, call you?

O.M.G: I don’t have any promo art yet, but I will be working on it. I'll keep you in the loop. I promise. My daughter actually found your page and told me about you. I know it's easy to jump on the "Hate Mario" bandwagon, and some people treat any creator bad once bad news hits. I’m happy to know I still have good guys out there.

For now, they can contact me by email. My phone is being shipped to me, and I'll give you that number once it gets here.

Is that cool?

Jake:You are human, and were only doing what you could to help your family, and anyone would do anything they can to help their family even if they have to do bad.  Thankfully, your kids are okay and you are trying to do a positive thing with yourself and your career and I do look forward seeing where you go in the very near future. You got my props and I will continue to have you in my prayers.

I do look forward to your future promo art, and to getting your number.

O.M.G: Oh. ok..cool

Jake: Thanks. 

O.M.G :Thanks Jake.

 :)

You can contact O.M.G@ mario.gully@facebook.com for any work, or future interviews. 

Jake Estrada

Email me at estradajake@yahoo.com for any suggestions or questions.

Jake Estrada is a published author who holds degrees in Multimedia Design and Criminal Justice. He is a father to three wonderful children and married to his beautiful wife, Beth.

He is the author and artist of his latest project the Human Virus at: http://www.facebook.com/TheHumanVirus or http://www.facebook.com/BridgetonNights

You can find his comics at http://graphicly.com/estrada-media and at other fine online sites. You can also purchase his print titles at http://www.facebook.com/RBCDistribution