With the unexpected death of Michael Jackson, I wanted to post a drawing I did of him that was published in a short-lived magazine that debuted (and canceled) in 2005. Unfortunately, I can't find this image on the web. I have a copy of the magazine somewhere, but it would require me to look in boxes and I'm too lazy to do this.

Instead, here is the article about the illustration that caused a bit of controversy.

Michael Jackson Image Deemed "Pornographic" By U.S. Postal Service
Author: BERNARD FOX Associated Press Writer
---Los Angeles, CA
The U.S. Postal Service notified the Los Angeles-based publisher of a national humor magazine today that the image of Michael Jackson on the magazine's back cover is "pornographic", and that as a result, the USPS refuses to mail the magazine to thousands of subscribers.
The image in question is a one-panel color cartoon on the outside cover of the recent issue of RAVEN Magazine, a national humor magazine for men. It depicts the pop singer in his signature crotch-grabbing dance pose. At the same time, Jackson seems to be putting his other hand in the pants of a young boy who wears a shocked expression on his face. The image is captioned, "Michael Jackson, 1993-2003, Don't Stop Til You Get Enough" and seems to refer to the two cases of very similar molestation charges leveled against the singer, one in 1993 and another ten years later.
Post Office Supervisor Heather Ortega in the bulk mail center in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida said the one-panel cartoon of Michael Jackson was "sexual" and so the mailing of it is prohibited by the USPS Domestic Mail Manual. She said, "It's right in front of me while we speak. Personally, I think it's hilarious. But just like the Eminem video. That's considered offensive too". Ortega is refering to the recent video by rapper Eminem depicting Jackson chasing after young boys and trying to get them onto his bed.
RAVEN Magazine publisher Zane Valenti responded, "I doubt there's anyone who would feel anything sexual looking at this totally satirical cartoon which is clearly meant to be funny. Who needs to be protected from seeing this cartoon? Nobody. This is totally silly and is a sign of just how far out of hand things have gotten in this country."
Valenti said that the forbidden magazines will still be mailed to subscribers after being placed inside opaque envelopes and readdressed, causing delay and additional cost.

Although Michael Jackson was a freak of nature, he was also a talented superstar. The sort of world-wide phenomenon that you'll probably never see again. Its very hard to feel any sort of mourning to a man who may or may not be a pedophile, was or wasn't proud of his heritage, and may or may not have been an animatronic automoton.

But I'll admit, when I was a kid I would try to do the moonwalk, emulate his "woo" and listen to my brother's Michael Jackson records with glee.

And when I hear "Smooth Criminal" my head tends to bob.

Labels: music, my work, video