Wow, this is great. Thanks for letting us share this process. It's going to be a kick-ass (or, eh, sucker-punch) painting.

Steve, can I just say that you seem to have the most talented friends?

:O)

Awesome concept.

One thing though: The original Rock'em Sock'em robots were limited to uppercuts. This sketch seems to depict a right cross - not that I'm suggesting that verisimilitude is in any way a factor here. For example, I, personally, see very few robots in sporting event crowds (with the obvious exception of Philly fans).

I'd like to believe that the uppercuts are a limitation of the toy, and not an accurate depiction of the actual robots the toy might be based on if any of this were real.

I'd also like to believe I'm not loser, despite typing that last sentence.

great sketch.. will prints of the final be available?

The original robots were limited to uppercuts. If you're going to take that away from us, at least have the defeated robot's head separated from its body, connected only with a serrated metal post. In other words, the defeated robot must have his block knocked off. Didn't the original commercial air with one kid challenging another, "I'm gonna knock your block off!"?

It will be. Like I said in this post: "...don't worry, we'll make sure the knocked out robot's head will be popped."

One day about 15 years ago, my friends and I were just arsing around, doing y'know...shit...when Al finds a Rock-em-Sock-em Robots in PERFECT condition (70's packaging and all). Man we did a Brian Adams on that game that summer. Played it till our fingers bled right up until Freddie bit the blue robot's head off for no particular reason. We reattached his head with no complications, but "Tundar" (the Blue Robot) was never the same. He was used goods. He sunk into a Blue Robot funk and retired soon after. "Action Jackson" (the Red Robot) grew slowly more and more sallow. His will to fight was gone. The game? The league closed later that summer for good. OH WHY-HY-HY-HY-HY-ooooogahh-ha-ha-ha-hawwwwd. Love the tonal idea. Wanna see finals.

Great take-off of the Dempsey-Firpo painting. (See http://www.allposters.com/gallery.asp?aid=429858&item=319164&cat=101372926901 for poster of the 1923 painting.) Another chuckle thanks to The Sneeze.

Where is the robot referee??? You have to have a referee.

Posting here because I can't seem to post comments on any of the later updates... but it's good to see the hanging robot fully recovered. Or is this a prequel as to why he hanged himself? Perhaps he had bet on the blue robot, and was rendered destitute, taking his own life rather than facing his creditors. Or perhaps I am merely insane. Who knows?