Rick Parker is my favorite dude today. The Maplewood artist called me to personally invite me to the exhibition he and Russell Christian are putting on at the 1978 Gallery this weekend, titled “The Depression Art of 2009.” But that’s not the only reason for his “favorite dude” status.

As a comic book illustrator, he’s been professionally associated with three of the greatest pop culture forces of the 20th century, Marvel Comics, Beavis and Butt-head and Tales from the Crypt (hundreds of pages from his comics will be on hand at the exhibit). As an eccentric artist trying to make his mark in Manhattan in the ‘70s and '80s, he invented the Barking Dog Museum on Grand Street. As a transplant of Savannah, Ga., he has a sneaky wit and a slow burning-delivery that’s hard not to be charmed by.

Not to mention that his plans for the gallery opening sound totally bananas. And he got mentioned in Time Magazine last year after he drew Sarah Palin on the cover of Tales from the Crypt. And he’s a total quote machine, which makes my job crazy easy. From here on out, I’m going to let the man speak for himself.

On the title of the upcoming show: “People say my work is depressing and that Russell’s work is depressing. So we thought this is the perfect time for us to put on a show.”

On the theatrical nature of the exhibit: “My son and another talented youngster are going to be dressed in depression-era clothes and selling apples for $1 a piece.”

On the tiny mobile art studio that will be part of the exhibit: “It’s a large box, large enough for me to get inside of. It’s outfitted with paints and drawing implements. Also, outside, there’s a shoe shine box, so if I want to I can get out and shine some shoes for money.”

On how the tiny mobile art studio differs from a jail-style hot box: “I could get out of it, and sit on the railroad tracks if I want.”

On his love of writing for humor and horror comics: “I’ve got so many pictures of zombies and ghouls and stuff.”

On his style: “Robert Crumb meets Basil Wolverton”

On teaching comic illustration at Geralyn’s Art Studio and other locations: “It’s a good thing for me. I thought I was doing them a favor, but I realized I was learning more from it than they were.”

On how the Barking Dog Museum, which he ran from the storefront of his Grand St. home from 1975 to 1987 got its name: “[People would come in] and my dog would start barking from the other side of the door.

On finding the balance between too weird and just weird enough: “I want to shock people. I don’t want to repel them.”

The exhibit will feature work from Parker’s years with Marvel comics, his own web comic (which he urges you, the reader, to check out) and his found object art. Also, on April 11 at the Baird in South Orange, he will teach a free three-hour class on creating cartoons and comics.