NEWS: Comic related news/comments for August 30, 2001
Ken Dreger
articles that are accessible as links at http://www.comicgeek.ca
August 30, 2001 - TWO DAYS LEFT TO ENTER AUGUST'S TPB DRAW!!!
Working the web: Graphic novels, "What exactly are comics? The answer
is not always clear, even to the artists who make them. In his comic
book about the form, Understanding Comics, Scott McCloud goes through
six pages of elaborate discussion before dryly defining comics as
"juxtaposed pictorial and other images in deliberate sequence". Which
is about as far from Kapow! as you can get. One thing is clear,
though: while mainstream culture is just catching up with comics -
sugaring the pill by calling them "graphic novels" - comics have
already moved on, by moving online. Free publishing space,
interactivity and the possibility of animation are giving an old
medium a new life. If comics to you are all superpowers and utility
belts, David Gaddis's Piercing, with explicit Van Gogh references and
more than a nod to Lucian Freud and Marvel Comics' Jack Kirby, should
convince you that the form goes beyond caped crusaders."
As per Toonopedia, "On this day in 1943, an icon of the underground,
who went on to become one of the most talked-about cartoonists of the
late 20th century (and early 21st) was born. R. Crumb, creator of
Fritz the Cat, Snoid, Mr. Natural and many, many others, is 58 years
old today."
Comic Book Galaxy has added Ted Rall to their line up of columnists.
TALKING TO THE TALIBAN, "The three Taliban guys were going to shoot
us, but to hear them tell it, it was our stupid fault. "You knew about
our decree," the older soldier, who spoke impeccable English, scolded
while fingering his Soviet-made Kalishnikov. "Any Americans, even
those with diplomatic passports, will be executed if they enter
Taliban-held territory."." It's all about hits, isn't it?
SpinnerRack.com has Rob Liefeld, Silver Bullet Comics has Hal Roth and
now Comic Book Galaxy has Ted Rall. If you don't know, the lawsuit
between Ted Rall and Danny Hellman has created some hard feelings
amongst some comic book readers and although Ted Rall is very
talented... anyways, are you hated in the comic community? Want to
write a column? Email me .
A NEW JOECARTOON
Stone Flies II, "George Hemp and his "fly" buddy return for more
shameless fun and gratituous violence." DON'T LICK THE TOAD!!!
Wertham: What Constitutes Obscenity?, "I have testified six times
under oath on the harmfulness of comic books. On only three of these
occasions were comic books the original issue. On all six occasions
comic books and/or photostats of comic-book pictures were received and
filed as evidence by the court or the legislators. In all but one case
(in which I testified in affidavit form), I was subject to searching
cross-examination. In all six cases the issue was decided in
accordance with my testimony, and for the side for which I testified.
This sounds very optimistic, but that is not how it turned out in the
long run..."
We need a statute of limitations on those statues, "If you are the
type of person who does not particularly like polyurethane statues of
comic-strip characters strewn all over town, the past two summers have
been painful indeed. The public embrace of the Snoopys, and now the
Charlie Browns, has been so overwhelming that admitting you don't
think they're just the cutest things ever is like admitting you don't
like puppies, or chocolate chip cookies, or little kids with curly
hair and lateral lisps. As one woman I know put it: "Last year, it was
OK to say you thought the Snoopys were insipid, but now we're so
outnumbered. This summer, I've had to just keep my mouth shut and
smile."."
Ottawa's nasty cartoon guy is back, "Past the frayed and faded
colonial-style sofa, beyond the Arborite kitchen table, down a flight
of stairs carpeted in bilious green shag, behind a stack of video and
audio components that would have been cutting-edge 30 years ago, there
lies a secret lair, pine-paneled and acoustic-tiled. Here, in the very
womb of '60s suburban kitsch, Johnny K, Manly Cartoonist, fights to
save the children of the free world from the clutches of the evil
Canadian horde. Biff! Take that, Care Bears. Pow! And you, Babar. Bam!
You can't escape, Arthur. Bonk! Flee, Franklin, and take your
simpering, soft and fuzzy cartoon minions with you. The vehicle of
John Kricfalusi's righteous wrath, evident in the storyboards spread
across his drafting table, is an animated TV series called The Ripping
Friends, which premieres on Teletoon Sept. 7." The John Kricfalusi
Tribute
New Yorker Cartoonist Robert Kraus has died, "Robert Kraus, cartoonist
turned author who wrote, illustrated and edited more than 100
children's books including "Leo the Late Bloomer," has died at 76.
Kraus, who also drew 21 covers and 450 cartoons for the New Yorker
magazine, died Aug. 7 of congestive heart failure in a nursing home in
Kent, Conn. His books, including the 1970 favorite "Whose Mouse Are
You?" earned American Library Assn., Horn Book and Children's Trade
Book awards. The charming, encouraging 1971 tale of little Leo, the
underachieving lion who learns that simply trying is an achievement,
was read on national television 10 years ago by then-First Lady
Barbara Bush in her literacy campaign."
Tarantino's toys spark controversy, "A range of collectable dolls
commemorating the 10th anniversary of the release of Quentin
Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs has sparked controversy with children's
advocacy agencies and toy retailer groups. The action figure of Mr
Blonde carries the cutthroat razor he used on the character, Marvin
Nash, whose doll has a detachable ear and blood on his face. A
Melbourne shop that sells the dolls believes the outrage is misplaced
because the figures are expensive collectors' items for adults, not
children. The set of four sells for $149.95 and carries a notice that
they are recommended for "mature collectors". "We are shocked and
horrified at violent toys like this being put out on to the market,"
said Barbara Romeril, executive director of Community Child Care
Victoria." $149.95?!?!?!? Forget the adult content! The price alone
means it's not for kids!!!
Ninja Turtles out of shell with multimedia barrage, "The Teenage
Mutant Ninja Turtles are planning a comeback with a $40 million-$60
million CGI feature film from Peter Laird's Mirage Studios -- which
owns the Turtles rights -- and Digital Rim Entertainment, whose John
Woo and Terence Chang will produce. Also planned are a new animated
Saturday morning television series, a live-action miniseries to air on
the Hallmark Channel and a series of next-generation video games." The
Hallmark Channel?
MARVEL DOMAIN NAMES UP FOR GRABS, "Marvel Comics fan Web site
operators may want to keep an eye on the domain name registries in the
immediate future, as X-Fan has learned that Marvel have let over
twenty domain names owned by or under the publisher's control expire
recently. According to Deborah Krier, Executive Assistant to the CIO
of Marvel Comics and one of the administrators of the publisher's
Authorized Fan Site Program, the following domain names will soon be
up for grabs..." Two I thought were interesting:
HouseOfIdeasOnline.COM and TrueBelieversOnline.COM.
Oeming comes across some of his sketches on Ebay, Ebay Item that
PISSES ME OFF,
"http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1183585088 -
Look at this. This is a sketch I did for a page of Bluntman. I think
its on tracing paper. I sold it at San Diego for $10 to someone I
THOUGHT was either a fan of Kevin Smith or of mine. Now, I dont mind
people reselling my art, but this particular thing pisses me off
because this guy is taking advantage- not of me, I parted the the
piece of my own free will- but advantage of some fan who just wants of
piece of Smiths work. Some poor schmuck is going to pay more than $80
dollars for this! I would have gladly given it to the same guy for $10
bucks. Because thats all its worth. Man." Actually, I don't see
anything wrong with it since in order to get a sketch by comic artists
you generally have to go to conventions and unless you live in/near
the city in question buying it off Ebay may be the way to go.
A NEW SHORT AT IFILM
Ninjai Chapter 5
The official winner of the writer portion of the first 2001 New Talent
Search, "The official winner of the writer portion of the first 2001
New Talent Search is Jose Armenta. By "official" we mean that he
followed the exact rules and will be write a bonus story in Thor #50,
on sale in December. Contestant Marlan Harris also turned in a winning
idea, however he did not follow the rules to the letter and instead
turned in a fully-scripted plot. But rather than ignore what was
clearly a stellar story, Tom elected to also purchase the second
story, which will also see print, however at a later date."
Top 100 Comics for August, 2001, "Diamond Comics has released the top
sellers list for August, and we have it here for you."
Yu-Gi-Oh! official website opens, "The official website of Yu-Gi-Oh!
has launched. It includes television show info, downloadables, a
section based on the author of the show and a news and events section.
Yu-Gi-Oh! premieres September15 on Kids' WB!" This is suppose to
replace Pokemon and revive the card market.
WGA Writers Rally Against Nickelodeon - Picket Scheduled, "The unfair
labor practice charges followed a Writers Guild petition for
certification of representation with the U.S. National Labor Relations
Board after Nickelodeon Animation Studios ignored a demand for
recognition by the writers of six Nickelodeon animated programs
(INVADER ZIM, SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS, CONSTANT PAYNE, HEY ARNOLD!,
FAIRLY ODD PARENTS and JIMMY NEUTRON, BOY GENIUS)."
FUNNY PAPERS: Y'know What Happened to Grandma in Mexico!, "FAMILY
CIRCUS: Also out of vacation: Sunday brings back the "Jeff and Bil
Keane" byline of today, with Thel taking Billy and Dolly
back-to-school shopping. "BOO! I don't even want to think about goin'
back to school!" gripes Billy, stomping into the store. Next panel,
the kids are coming out the door with new school supplies--skipping
out the door. "YEEAAAY!" Billy whoops. "I can't wait till school
starts!" No human child has ever reacted that way to a new backpack.
What happened inside that store? GASOLINE ALLEY: An addled and
agitated Walt continues to fail to understand his Life Ring service;
Jim Scancarelli continues to think this is somehow funny. "Uncle
Walt!" Skeezix cries. "What are you doing?" "Giving that loud voice
that scares me a taste of his own medicine!" says Walt, wild-eyed,
preparing to blast an air horn at a Life Ring operator over the phone.
God, just let the poor man die. B.C.: Two clams discuss the afterlife.
"When we die," one says, "we shed these earthly shells, and go to that
big bowl of chowder in the sky." This is the evangelism by which
Johnny Hart hopes to convert the Jews? How 'bout a talking pork chop?"
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Brian Jacks
>Yu-Gi-Oh! official website opens, "The official website of Yu-Gi-Oh!
>has launched. It includes television show info, downloadables, a
>section based on the author of the show and a news and events section.
>Yu-Gi-Oh! premieres September15 on Kids' WB!" This is suppose to
>replace Pokemon and revive the card market.
>
I wonder if I sense a possible lawsuit here by my former affiliated company,
UGO.com.
-Brian
Ken Dreger
wrote:
Good catch Brian! :) It didn't even dawn on me. I wonder if the
complication is that it's how you pronounce it so it's a grey area?
Brian Jacks
>Good catch Brian! :) It didn't even dawn on me. I wonder if the
>complication is that it's how you pronounce it so it's a grey area?
Probably. Or maybe WB is spelling it that way simply because it's a kids
program, and they have no idea UGO.com even exists. Maybe I'll ask UGO what
they think.
-Brian