Comics on the Rack (Quick Picks for Comics Due 01-06-10) by John Judy

The former Quick Reviews with a new name for a new year. Happy 2010!

COMICS ON THE RACK

(Quick Picks for Comics Due 01-06-10)

by John Judy

 

BLACKEST NIGHT: WONDER WOMAN #2 of 3 by Greg Rucka and Nicola Scott.  Diana must battle the Black Lanterns, a hot-tempered fish-woman and Death itself!  Did I mention the hot-tempered fish-woman?

 

BPRD: KING OF FEAR #1 of 5 by Mike Mignola, John Arcudi and Guy Davis.  The BPRD is gonna put the frog menace to rest once and for all!  And that's just for starters!  How can any red-blooded American resist?

 

THE BOYS #38 by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson.  The secret origin of The Female, in the inimitable BOYS fashion.  Recommended.  Not for kids.

 

DOOM PATROL#6 by Keith Giffen and Matthew Clark.  This month features everyone who's ever been wrapped completely in radiation-proof bandages to keep from killing their team-mates.  Plus, the Metal Men.

 

JSA ALL-STARS #2 by Matthew Sturges and Freddie Williams II.  Big fights and loud arguments!  And that's before the bad guys show up!

 

LIFE & TIMES OF SCROOGE McDUCK , VOL. 1 HC written and drawn by Don Rosa.  What it sounds like, kids: The biography of the fowl plutocrat who makes Monty Burns look like a dude wearing a paper hat at the deep fryer.  Great for all ages.  Recommended.

 

MARVEL BOY: THE URANIAN #1 of 3 by Jeff Parker, Marko Djurdjevic and Felix Ruiz.  A little background on your favorite Agent of Atlas: bubble-helmeted saucer jockey, Bob Grayson, the boy who fell to Earth.

 

NATION X: X-FACTOR #1 by Peter David and Valentine DeLandro.  Yeah, so like Cyclops is asking X-Factor to move into Utopia with him?  And it's like, y'know, maybe it's too soon?  Cuz, there are still, like, issues?  And Cyke's a bit of a control freak and X-Factor likes their space.  On the other hand, he would totally pay for utilities!

 

ORC STAIN #1 written and drawn by James Stokoe.  I really just wanted to type the title.  From Image Comics.

 

PREVIEWS by Marvel and Diamond Comics.  "It's 2010.  Do you know what your comics are?"

 

SIEGE #1 by Brian Michael Bendis and Olivier Coipel.  This is the big one:  Norman Osborn versus the World.  Or is it the other way around?

 

STUMPTOWN #2 by Greg Rucka and Matthew Southworth.  Chronic gambler and private investigator Dex must be getting closer to her target because the bullets keep getting closer to her.  Good stuff, set in Portland, Oregon, one of America's great cities.  Recommended.

 

SUICIDE SQUAD: BLACKEST NIGHT #67 by John Ostrander, Gail Simone and J. Calafiore.  A one issue revival of a classic DC title as the Squad goes after the Secret Six, the Black Lanterns and anyone else that happens along.  It's a ruckus!

 

SUPERMAN WORLD OF NEW KRYPTON #11 by Greg Rucka, James Robinson and Pete Woods.  Supes and Adam Strange uncover some shenanigans in their murder investigation on New Krypton.  Super-shenanigans!

 

UNCLOTHED MAN IN THE 35^TH CENTURY AD HC written and drawn by Dash Shaw.  A series of short stories from the creator of the acclaimed BOTTOMLESS BELLY BUTTON, plus some production material from his series airing on IFC.com.  Gotta look.

 

UNWRITTEN, VOL. 1: TOMMY TAYLOR AND THE BOGUS IDENTITY SC by Mike Carey and Peter Gross.  Collecting the first five issues of the breakout hit series that blurs the line where fictional characters end and real people begin.  Clever, scary stuff for mature readers.  Recommended.

 

WALKING DEAD, VOL. 11: FEAR THE HUNTERS SC by Robert Kirkman and Charles Adlard.  Collecting one of the creepiest story arcs yet, in which the flesh-eating threat is no longer coming from the zombies.  Rough stuff, even for this bunch.  Recommended.  Not for kids.

 

WEIRD WESTERN TALES #71 by Dan DiDio and Renato Arlem.  Come on, admit it, you've always wanted to see DC's old Western heroes rise from the dead as evil Black Lanterns!  Y'see where the "Weird" part comes in here?  Eh?  Eh?  Yippee-ki-yay, Black Lanterns!

 

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Spider-Man fan film continues

I'm still working on a book-length listing of films adapted from comics - Randy Scott's got it for indexing at the moment. I just got an email that part four of a Spider-man fan film has been put online - PETER'S WEB "BURIED ALIVE" is now available for viewing at bagandboardproductions.com

NPR's Weldon's year in review

2009: The Comics That Clung, By Glen Weldon, National Public Radio's Monkey See blog December 30, 2009.

Michigan State U's Comic Art Collection's year in review

2009 in the Comic Art Collection at Michigan State University Libraries is featured in the International Journal of Comic Art's blog this morning. Ohio State's Billy Ireland Library and Museum will be appearing tomorrow.

The fund-raising Interplanetary Journal of Comic Art is still available. Proceeds support IJOCA. And it's funny.

Comicsgirl interviews with Jo Chen, Laura Martin and Tonya Kay

I just realized I hadn't been reading Comicsgirl this fall (sorry!), so I ran back through her blog until summer. Here's 3 other good interviews she's done:

Five questions with Tonya Kay, Monday, 19 October 2009 - with 'superhero' reality show star.

Five questions with Laura Martin, Thursday, 8 October 2009 - with one of the best colorists in the business.

Five questions with Jo Chen, Thursday, 1 October 2009 - with our local comics cover painter.

Comicsgirl interviewed DC Ass't editor who's also ... a woman!

I missed this earlier, but it's still good - Comicsgirl interviewed a DC Ass't editor in "Five Questions with Janelle Siegel," Tuesday, 24 November 2009.

ESPORTS AUTÒCTONS DEL PAÍS VALENCIÀ (1): ELS SALTS D’ESQUÍ

Si poc sabem d’alguns dels nostres esports autòctons, com per exemple la pilota valenciana o la colombicultura, molt menys sabem d’altres que hem arribat a oblidar, fins i tot, les seues arrels valencianes. Sota el títol Esports autòctons del País Valencià s’inicia una sèrie de posts on tractarem de retrobar tots eixos esports originaris que, per les circumstàncies que siguen, s’han esborrat de la memòria històrica de nosaltres els valencians. Com que demà, u de gener, se celebra el primer dels esdeveniments esportius internacionals amb la tradicional prova de salts d’esquí d’any nou de Garmisch-Partenkirchen (Alemanya), este primer post el dedicarem a l'esmentat esport.

El salts d’esquí són un dels esports autòctons desconeguts del País Valencià i, per extensió, dels Països Catalans. De fet, resulta una tasca impossible trobar cap referència bibliogràfica que parle de les arrels valencianes d’este esport. El mesinfotisme valencià es tan gran que, mentre en la versió en castellà de la Wikipedia hi ha una entrada específica sobre els salts d'esquí, en la versió en català, a dia de hui, no en trobem cap. Tal és la importància de retrobar este esport, reivindicar-lo i promocionar-lo al País Valencià que es pot assegurar que, culturalment, no és el mateix un País Valencià amb salts d’esquí que sense salts d’esquí. De fet, per al nacionalisme valencià hauria de ser més important la reivindicació d’este esport com autòcton que la defensa de la llengua o, fins i tot, el territori.

Si bé, els salts d’esquí es van originar als països nòrdics, el seu inventor fou Batiste Enguix, conegut com el tio Ametla. A principis del segle XIX, este mestre torroner de Xixona va fer una sèrie de viatges als països escandinaus per promocionar internacionalment el seu producte (que en un principi era el torró i no els salts d'esquí). La seua idea era ben simple: cercar llocs amb una climatologia de postal nadalenca quasi tot l’any, la qual cosa facilitaria la venda de torró.

L’estratègia negociadora de Batiste Enguix començava convidant a sopar als comerciants d’estos països i acabava sempre d'idèntica manera: bevent com víkings (no com cosacs). En dormir la mona, al dia següent i amb més calma, era quan es tancaven els tractes, mentre es recuperaven de la ressaca amb una combinació de sauna i banys freds. ¿Què té a vore açò amb la invenció dels salts d’esquí? Molt, doncs en la seua visita a Hèlsinki, a l’endemà del sopar, el tio Ametla encara anava prou entonat i, en compte de baixar caminant des d’on estava la sauna al llac on prenien el bany, va decidir fer la gràcia i acurtar camí lliscant-se per la rampa d’un marge d’uns cinc metres d’alçada i llançar-se al buit nuet, equipat només amb un paraigües que va obrir durant la fase de vol, abans de cabussar-se en les fredes aigües del llac. El seu salt va fer tant de riure als seus amics finesos que de seguida el van imitar. A la setmana següent van organitzar una competició per vore qui feia el salt més graciós. Com es reien tant, decidiren celebrar este esdeveniment una vegada al mes. Els participants saltaven nuets, equipats només amb objectes per fer la gràcia. Per agafar impuls utilitzaven una rampa per on es lliscaven utilitzant una taula o uns xicotets esquis exempts de fixacions. Els propis participants és puntuaven per dirimir el salt que més riure els feia. A esta pràctica la van anomenar siirtyä alasti from ramp (salt nuet des de rampa). Al llarg del segle XIX, esta activitat va sofrir un procés d’esportivització, fonamentalment a Noruega, que es va orientar cap a la mesura dels salts, per tal de comprovar qui arribava més lluny, la qual cosa acabaria convertint l’activitat popular del salts nuets en rampa en l’esport dels salts d’esquí (skihopping en noruec), un dels esports hivernals més arriscats, complicats i de major concentració per part dels seus practicants. Encara que des d’aquell primer salt del tio Ametla els salts d’esquí han evolucionat molt, l’actual reglament puntua no només el fet d’arribar el més lluny possible, sinó també l’estil i la perfecció en l’execució tècnica dels salts.

No es pot finalitzar este post sense denunciar que, un any més i com és habitual, la televisió pública valenciana continuarà donant l’esquena a una de les arrels culturals del seu poble: els salts d’esquí. Els valencians, valencianes, magdalenes i mostatxons no podrem gaudir de la retransmissió de la tradicional competició d’any nou de Garmisch-Partenkirchen en valencià i haurem de conformar-nos amb la retransmissió en castellà que fa la 2. Però ara que ja sabem que els salts d’esquí són un esport autòcton valencià, sorgeixen moltes preguntes: ¿Quan es retransmetrà per Canal 9 o Punt 2 una competició de salts d’esquí? ¿Quan veurem un saltador del País Valencià a Garmisch-Partenkirchen? ¿Quan tindrem una Federació de salts d’esquí al País Valencià? Si hi ha diners per fer a València seu de l’Amèrica’s Cup i de la Fórmula 1, ¿per què no es fa que siga seu del Torneig dels Quatre Trampolins? Si s’estan construint en les escoles públiques valencianes espais per practicar la pilota valenciana, ¿per què no es construïxen també trampolins per a que els nostres fills s’inicien en els salts d’esquí? Es més, l'edificació de trampolins arreu del País Valencià amb diners públics podria ser una de les solucions perquè el sector de la construcció eixira de la crisi. ¿Per què no hi ha cap màster a les universitats valencianes per formar arquitectes especialistes en el disseny de trampolins? Esperem que este post servisca per despertar del mesinfotisme i recuperar els salts d'esquí com un dels nostres esports autòctons més emblemàtics i elegants.

Sabíeu que:

- El primer trampolí que es va construir a Espanya per a la pràctica dels salts d’esquí va ser a l’estació de La Molina en 1912. En 1928 es va construir un altre trampolí i cinquanta anys després, en 1979, es va construir un nou trampolí per a salts de 70 metres. que es va inaugurar amb la I Copa Sa Majestat el Rei de salts d'esquí (més avall teniu un enllaç amb la resta de trampolins construïts a Espanya).

- Espanya ha tingut representació en la competició de salts d’esquí als Jocs Olímpics d’Hivern de Sarajevo (1984) i de Calgary (1988). Als primer van anar els saltadors catalans Àngel Joaniquet Tamburini, Josep Ignaci Rivera i Marinello i Bernat Sola Pujol. Este últim saltador va ser l'únic en repetir participació als Jocs de Calgary.

- Actualment s'han deixat de fer competicions federades en el territori espanyol.

- Els salts d’esquí són un esport olímpic des de 1924 als Jocs de Chamonix (França). En l’actualitat, es disputen tres modalitats: trampolí de 90 metres, trampolí de 120 i una prova per equips de quatre saltadors, també en el de 120 metres.

- És un dels pocs esports sense competició femenina als Jocs Olímpics.

Enllaços:

¿En què consistix una competició de salts d'esquí?

L'única pàgina web espanyola dedicada als salts d'esquí.

Tots els trampolins construïts a Espanya.

Nate Beeler wraps it all up

I can't agree more with Nate's cartoon today. And the 21st century had such promise. Instead we're getting 1984, 25 years late.

Jan 1: Big Planet Comics annual sale

20% off everything. Friday, Jan 1, Noon-5 pm at all 4 stores.

Shadow Of The Colossus

Diciamolo subito: non avevo mai giocato a nulla di simile. Conoscevo già giochi molto simili, dalle storie simili o dalle stesse dinamiche, ma mai come in questo caso il contenuto è ininfluente di fronte alla forma. Shadow Of The Colossus è uno dei prodotti più raffinati e uno dei pezzi di storytelling videoludica migliori a cui abbia mai avuto l'onore di prendere parte. Forse l'unico gioco a cui abbia mai giocato per il quale la storia raccontata sia più importante dell'atto materiale di giocare.

Il trucco di Shadow Of The Colossus, il motivo per il quale è qualcosa di diverso rispetto a tutto il resto, è in sostanza il linguaggio audiovisuale. Se molti videogiochi utilizzano i trucchi del cinema (oltre al gameplay ovviamente) per risultare più interessanti e convincenti dei propri rivali Shadow Of The Colossus sembra programmato attorno ai trucchi filmici.
C'è innanzitutto il subtracting design, ovvero in parole povere il fatto che il gioco è essenziale. Non povero ma essenziale. Non ci sono cuori, stelle, pozioni, munizioni, nemici da un colpo, passanti, segreti e via dicendo. Ci sei tu, il cavallo, la spada, le frecce (cioè l'arma da vicino e l'arma da lontano) e 16 colossi. FINE. Tutta l'energia dei designer e degli animatori è stata profusa in pochi elementi realizzati con cura e ognuno con un pensiero dietro. Per tutta la sconfinata landa desolata che percorri per trovare i colossi non c'è mai nulla, solo il vento che soffia e al massimo qualche rettile.
Il vento. Ecco un'altra cosa fondamentale.

VISUALIZZA IL RESTO

Assieme alla blooming light (quel tipo di illuminazione un po' precaria, un po' accecante e che sembra ottenuta con la calza) che ha un fortissimo valore emotivo, il vento contribuisce moltissimo all'empatia. Perchè se la dinamica è sempre la stessa (protagonista che affronta un quest che prevede la sconfitta di mostri per salvare ragazza) questa volta i due si amano davvero! E si amano perchè in quei luoghi non c'è altro da poter fare se non amarsi. Mi spiego meglio, fin dalla sequenza iniziale (che genialmente inserisce lo spettatore a metà di una storia non spiegando mai come si sia arrivati a quel punto) è evidente come l'ambiente ci parli dei personaggi, in quei luoghi ombrosi, solitari e impervi sembra potervi essere spazio solo per un amore disperato e doloroso (che era a grandi linee la stessa idea dietro Outer World). E' la stessa motivazione per la quale spesso nel noir classico fa molto caldo (Brivido caldo, La fiamma del peccato) o molto freddo (Neve rossa) o piove molto e per la quale le luci entrano di taglio. Perchè il paesaggio in cui inscrivi la figura in primo piano stringe con essa un rapporto determinante per la comprensione del suo ruolo nel mondo e quindi dei suoi sentimenti. Se hai pochi elementi per valutare una situazione, ognuno di essi sarà determinante.

Fumito Ueda ha una chiara percezione di cosa sia importante in un racconto videoludico e sa che non solo è bello prendere parte ad un'avventura in cui sei l'eroe ma che occorre convincere davvero lo spettatore che sta incarnando un eroe. Non basta dargli una spada e farlo vincere.
L'idea del colosso come nemico è perfetta, dal confronto grande/piccolo il protagonista ne esce sempre più audace e il giocatore più ricompensato. In più sequenze come quella sul colosso a forma di pterodattilo che ti porta in giro con il vento in faccia e qualche goccia d'acqua o quella del salto dal cavallo all'ala poggiata sulla sabbia del colosso a forma di drago, hanno il respiro dei film di John Ford nei quali ad ogni grande movimento corrisponde anche un piccolo movimento in armonia con esso e la musica ha le movenze del motion picture score, non della musica da videogioco.

Se però durante il gioco si ha la chiara percezione che ci sono molte cose diverse dal solito è solo dopo aver assistito al finale che si comprende davvero che ogni elemento del gameplay già di suo scarno (il suddetto subtracting design) ha una finalità chiara e più grande di quella intuibile immediatamente. Tutto punta a quel finale, non finire il gioco (che forse proprio per questo è molto facile) equivale a non vedere la fine di un film.
I colossi sanguinano e molto quando colpiti, una cosa cruda e inusuale perchè genera una sorta di perversa empatia con il nemico e pone dei dubbi sulla legittimità del proprio operato, elemento che alla fine sarà determinante come anche sarà determinante (e qui si parla di colpo di genio!) il fatto che durante alcune cut scenes del finale è ancora possibile controllare il giocatore. Il suo destino è segnato e la scena comunque finirà sempre nella medesima maniera ma il gioco ti consente di batterti comunque in una disperata lotta contro il destino, che è il succo della trama. E quella lotta finale (che prevede anche un clamoroso scambio di ruoli) disperata lo è davvero!

Shadow Of The Colossus con il suo finale aperto e rivelatore è un gioco che destabilizza il giocatore, lo costringe a porsi delle domande non tanto su quello che ha visto (che è solitamente ciò che fa un film) quanto su quello che ha fatto, levandogli alcune certezze granitiche del mondo videoludico e consentendogli di prendere parte al racconto non tanto di un uomo quanto di un mondo.
Superfluo dire che ora tocca ad Ico e che conto i giorni che mi separano da The Last Guardian.

cap d'any

Tot és apunt per sopar. L’Ernest i la dona han parat una taula un pèl abundosa per a la quantitat de comensals que s’hi aplegaran aqueixa nit, tenint en compte que només en gaudiran ells sols. Els fills, majors, ja fa temps que trobaren el niu petit per compartir un comiat d’any al voltant del tendur i al caliu de la flassada que arreplegue l’escalfor del braser elèctric, mentrimentres contemplen el televisor i els seus esforços balders per entretindre el personal. Sols, perquè han rebutjat les invitacions de passar una nit amb els amics en un local que els obliga a agafar el cotxe, i l’Ernest ja té, a la seua edat, totes les alarmes de prudència enceses, i no vol espatllar una nit com aquella. La conversa que mantindran durant la menjada esdevindrà tan tòpica com la pròpia celebració. Però s’afartaran de gambes, de patés de formatges especiats i saborosos, de vi del país, i de pastes casolanes. Fins i tot s’esforçaran per menjar-se els granets de raïm al ritme imposat de les campanades de l’església, ara que no poden seguir-les a TV3 perquè els han tallat el senyal amb nocturnitat i traïdoria. I la dona se’n lamenta perquè ja no pot resseguir el fil de les sèries que tan li agradaven. I ell maleeix sense vergonya, com si els bruixots de l’idealisme pogueren superar la tecnologia emmudida per la censura blavera i intolerant. Tampoc s’estalviaran les felicitacions i els desitjos de que, l’any vinent, tot siga, com a mínim, tan plaent com el que han deixat enrere. Després despararan taula i continuaran asseguts sota la flassada maternal que els hi acull des que començà l’hivern, matiner com feia temps, i acabaran pegant cabotades davant l’avorrit programa de televisió, que s’entesta en distraure’ls, esperant que arriben els fills. De fet, a l’hora convinguda, a l’escoltar la clau al pany, miraran de redreçar els seus posats marcits de son, i voldran fer creure que portaven una conversa animada, perquè “els xicots” no es malhumoren pensant que han estat esperats com si es tractaren d’infants. L’Ernest els ensumarà amb discreció per si fan olor de tabac o d’alguna altra cosa. I al final, tots ficats al llit, ben entrada la matinada, cadascú es lliurarà a forjar, en somnis, una nova vida per a un nou any que comença. L’Ernest se sent complagut, lliscant per la vida sense turbulències aparents, conformat. No sap que la filla té ja el cor ple, i que dubta si presentar-los els xicot que li agrada abans o després de reis. I que el fill ha decidit que no vol continuar estudiant perquè s’ha comboiat en un negoci amb els amics, però necessita un petit capitalet que, confia, li deixarà el pare. L’Ernest, fins i tot, somriu. No sent l’esclafit que fa el canvi d’agulles.

(Benvolguts penjollers i penjolleres, us desitge de tot cor que tingueu una innoblidable -per bona!- entrada de cap d'any, i que no s'acaben ni els projectes ni les il·lusions que els menen. Feliç any nou!)

Bill Mauldin and Sunday Funnies US stamps coming in 2010

On my Cartoonphilately blog, you can see more details about Bill Mauldin and Sunday Funnies US stamps coming in 2010

The Real World: D.C. features a cartoonist of sorts

The Real World: D.C., a reality show thing filmed on Dupont Circle this summer, features Andrew, a would-be cartoonist of sorts. The Express and the LA Times mention his chosen career in passing. I'm sorry I didn't find out sooner so we could have had a ComicsDC event over the summer with him. On the other hand, he didn't contact us either.

Seth 'Family Guy' MacFarlane interview in Express

Seth 'Family Guy' McFarlane has an interview in today's free Express paper, reprinted from the LA Times.

The Express cropped the last question which totally changed the tenor of the end of the interview. The last Q&A was:

How did it make you feel?

Like I had no spine.

Toles through the decade feature on Post website

A Tom Toles through the decade feature is on the Post website. "Washington Post political cartoonist Tom Toles talks about highs and lows of "the Aughts" and the inspiration behind some of his most memorable cartoons from the past 10 years."

Little Nemo animation entered into Library of Congress Registry

Winsor McCay's Little Nemo animation entered into Library of Congress Registry, reports the Associated Press on the Washington Post website.

The Library's press release says:

Little Nemo (1911)

This classic work, a mix of live action and animation, was adapted from Winsor McCay’s famed 1905 comic strip "Little Nemo in Slumberland." Its fluidity, graphics and story-telling was light years beyond other films made during that time. A seminal figure in both animation and comic art, McCay profoundly influenced many generations of future animators, including Walt Disney.

This is not the 1990s Japanese animation of course. Speaking of McCay, I had an original of one of his political drawings in my hands this weekend. Hoo-hah!

Another cartoon I'm not familiar with was added as well:

Quasi at the Quackadero (1975)

"Quasi at the Quackadero" has earned the term "unique." Once described as a "mixture of 1930s Van Beuren cartoons and 1960s R. Crumb comics with a dash of Sam Flax," and a descendent of the "Depression-era funny animal cartoon," Sally Cruikshank’s wildly imaginative tale of odd creatures visiting a psychedelic amusement park careens creatively from strange to truly wacky scenes. It became a favorite of the Midnight Movie circuit in the 1970s. Cruikshank later created animation sequences for "Sesame Street," the 1986 film "Ruthless People" and the "Cartoon Land" sequence in the 1983 film "Twilight Zone: The Movie."

Caricaturist David Levine dies, Post runs AP obit

David Levine, one of the best American caricaturists of the 20th century, has died of complications from prostate cancer. The Post ran an Associated Press obituary (which does note that his work is in the Library of Congress - go here and enter "David Levine" in your search and you'll get 78 hits including this McDonald's illustration). Read the NY Times for more information.

Michael Cavna had a good piece on Comic Riffs though. The Times is running an appreciation, or rather an appraisal tomorrow too.

Maira Kalman reviewed in Post

Kalman's done these clever blog posts for the NY Times which are sort of comics. The past year's have focused on American holidays, but the 2008's have been collected in The Principles of Uncertainty. The Post reviewed it today.

Nits d'àpats

—Estaràs content! Van a suprimir les corregudes de bous.

—No sé què dir-te. Mal per mal, preferisc el cós taurí. Proporciona una mort més heroica.

—Què vols dir?

—Que la felicitat absoluta no existeix. La supressió de les corregudes és un pas endavant, però mentre continuen existint els escorxadors...

Herblock! exhibit review

Another one for the International J of Comic Art that you're getting to see first...

Herblock! Sara Duke, Martha Kennedy and Cynthia Wayne. Washington, DC: Library of Congress, October 13, 2009-May 1, 2010.

By the terms of Herbert “Herblock” Block’s will, the Library of Congress must mount an exhibit of his work every three years. In spite of Block’s staggering 72-year long professional career and four Pulitzer Prizes, this reviewer begins to feel a bit jaded. Fortunately, this is an excellent exhibition that is well worth seeing and is accompanied by an excellent companion book, Herblock by Haynes Johnson and Harry Katz (New York, Norton, 2009) that also has a cd of 18,000 of Block’s cartoons (produced by Warren Bernard). The occasion for the large scale of these events was Herblock’s 100th birthday.

The exhibit is in a new gallery, created recently from a reading room, and to get to it, one has to walk through a recreation of Thomas Jefferson’s library – a highlight for any book lover. The curators (who are my friends) cleverly chose 82 original drawings that have not bee on display before. These are out of the 14,460 cartoons and 250,000 roughs he left to the library. They also added the twelve books of his cartoons that Block published in his lifetime. These copies, unlike the ones originally added to the Library, have their dustjackets because they are a recent donation to the Prints and Photographs division from the Herb Block Foundation.

The exhibit opens with a précis of who Block was and includes some of his iconic images such as the footsteps leading from the Watergate break-in to Nixon’s White House. “The Approaching Perils” covers his early years. One can see Block’s early typical Midwestern cartoonist style using pen and ink – a style that is unrecognizable to us as Herblock. This style soon gives way to his familiar use of heavy crayon or graphite lines. Some notable works were “Winged Victory” (1938) in which he quoted the sculpture from Samothrace, and “What ‘Peace Now’ Would Mean” (1940) in which he showed Hitler armed with a machine gun and sitting on the globe.

Other sections were “Psychopathic Ward” on the Depression, fascism and World War II, “White is Black, Black is White, Night is Day—“ on the Cold War, “Naughty, Naughty” on McCarthyism, “Everything’s [Not] Okay” on the 1960s, “Here He Comes Now” on Richard Nixon, “It Gets Into Everything” on the 1970s and terrorism, “Joy to the World” on Ronald Reagan, “Closing Years, Contrasting Styles of Leadership” on Clinton and the elder George Bush, and “Classic Cartoons by a Master” to catch anything that might have been missed.

One could easily select favorite drawings from each section – my notebook is full of notations such as “Man’s Reach” (1968) in which he drew, apropos of Apollo 8, a white hand with its finger and thumb meeting to encircle the moon on top of a black layer covering most of the paper. By the end of his life, and thus the end of the exhibit, Block’s ability was slipping somewhat and the images are covered with Avery labels and ink redrawings. “Creationism or Evolution – That’s Up to the States” has Bush’s head reworked and pasted on, but the final image in print would have looked fine.

During the press tour Harry Katz noted that in the future “you’re not going to see cartoons on the wall – newspapers are changing” and “With Herblock missing, we need to get the voice of the cartoonist out there and revitalizing the art form” – two sentiments that most readers of IJOCA (and this blog!) can agree with and hope for the best.

Io Loro e Lara (2009)di Carlo Verdone

POSTATO SU

La carriera di Carlo Verdone ha smesso di essere cinematograficamente interessante da tempo, tuttavia negli ultimi anni la storia produttiva dei suoi film ha sostituito (per interesse) i film stessi.
Nel 2006 all'annuncio di Il mio miglior nemico dichiarava di aver cambiato produttore, dopo decenni con Cecchi Gori passava a De Laurentiis perchè si sentiva tarpato, voleva più libertà e soprattutto più respiro internazionale che pensava la nuova società gli avrebbe garantito. Quasi 4 anni e un Grande Grosso e Verdone dopo dichiara di passare alla Warner perchè De Laurentiis non fa per lui, è eccessivamente pressante con la sua mania di controllare e (ma questo lo aggiungo io) non si è visto uno straccio di distribuzione internazionale, solo una qualità tecnica delle pellicole in picchiata verticale.

Oggi con Warner dichiara di voler fare un cinema diverso, più personale, lontano dalle solite figure borghesi, più morale, etico e via dicendo. E poi magari cercare una distribuzione internazionale. Io Loro e Lara è stato già sottotitolato e, fa sapere la Warner in persona, presto verranno i colleghi delle altre nazioni a visionarlo.
Quello che si troveranno davanti è un film girato maluccio (non peggio dei film delaurentiisiani che quelli non li batte nessuno ma di certo peggio di quelli cecchigoriani) e anche scritto male, che affoga nel buonismo una trama piena di assurdità che affianca scene, elementi e avvenimenti senza che stringano una relazione di causalità plausibile, adoperandosi con cattiveria solo nei confronti delle figure già deprecabili (cocainomani arrivisti, ipocriti e via dicendo). L'unica cosa positiva, come è sempre stato, è lui, Verdone. Solo lui ha delle trovate (improvvisate e non di sceneggiatura) che siano divertenti e solo lui ha un personaggio degno di questo nome, dotato di un conflitto interiore, di sfumature e teso verso il raggiungimento di qualcosa.

Attorno a lui ci sono non-personaggi, macchiette buone a fare delle gag ma inadatte a reggere un film. Se c'è un certo impegno nel trattare di striscio la crisi della fede, l'umanità dei preti e la difficoltà di operare nella realtà dei fatti (argomenti visti e trattati con una struttura di racconto curiosamente identica a quella di La Messa E' Finita) qualsiasi altra cosa è passeggera, come purtroppo alla fine è anche il film.
Verdone dice che si tratta del primo prete della sua carriera, perchè gli altri erano caricature, tic di un clero vetusto eppure quando in certi momenti rispolvera quelle movenze caricaturali si intravedono le uniche possibilità di ancorare il discorso alla realtà. Per il resto il personaggio di don Carlo è un uomo con un abito da prete e mai un prete che è anche e soprattutto un uomo normale come vorrebbe il regista.

The Real Story of Superheroes exhbit review

I've submitted this for the spring issue of the International Journal of Comic Art, but will share it with my readers here first.

The Real Story of the Superheroes: Photographs by Dulce Pinzón. Washington, DC: Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallery, November 4-28, 2009.

Photographer Dulce Pinzón clothed Mexicans working in New York City in Halloween superhero costumes loosely related to their jobs, and photographed them doing that work. Thirteen large images were displayed. Pinzón’s biographical data sheet noted, “As a young Mexican artist living in the US, Dulce soon found new inspiration for her photography in feelings of nostalgia, questions of identity, and political and cultural frustrations. … ‘The Real Story of the Superheroes’ comes full circle to introduce the Mexican immigrant in New York in a satirical documentary style featuring ordinary men and women in their work environment donning superhero garb, thus raising questions of both our definition of heroism and our ignorance of and indifference to the workforce that fuels our ever-consuming economy.” While one should generally read press release material with ones critical faculties engaged, I actually agree strongly with the second sentence. The images do not quite stand by themselves, but with captions that explain whom the people and what their occupations are, one is easily led to musing about socio-economics and superheroes.

Some photographs were disturbing: an image of a young man in a Robin costume standing at night on a city street illuminated by a peepshow sign and a police car is labeled, “Robin. Ernesto Mendez from Mexico City works as a male prostitute in Times Square New York. He sends 200 dollars a week.” Other images are less disturbing, but still thought-provoking. “Elasticman [actually Mr. Fantastic of the Fantastic Four – ed.]. Sergio Garcia from the State of Mexico works as a waiter in New York. He sends 350 a week.” The photograph shows him in costume reaching across a diner to present a plate to a seated woman. A cook is shown as the Human Torch, Batman is a taxi driver, Spider-man is a professional window cleaner, Acuaman (sic, Aquaman) works in a fishmarket and the Hulk loads trucks for a greengrocer.

Pinzón had a clever conceit, took thoughtful photographs and the exhibit was well worth seeing. The images were for sale in several sizes and prices ranging from US$1250-$2500.

Bugs recommends

Here's a couple more shots of a cartoon character popping up in DC.





I love the homemade cartoon art, and the impulse that makes people do it.

Un nou cas de pirateria

El proppassat dia divuit, els mitjans de comunicació informaven de la detenció d’una dona i sis homes durant una operació antidroga enllestida per la Guàrdia Civil. Sembla que els detinguts pertanyien a una xarxa dedicada al tràfec d’anabolitzants, hormones i altres substàncies. Se’ls imputava, per tant, diferents càrrecs: tràfec de drogues, delicte contra la salut pública, extorsió i falsificació. En el transcurs de les recerques, la Guàrdia Civil havia escorcollat a Xàtiva i Canals un total de tres domicilis, un gimnàs i un local comercial. Les primeres detencions s’efectuaren al carrer Abú Masaifa de la capital de la Costera. Com a resultat dels escorcolls, els agents de la Benemèrita havien confiscat 1.300 dosis d’anabolitzants i hormones, 1.200 grams de marihuana, 25 d’haixix, així com eines i substàncies de tall. Els periòdics afirmaven que les recerques continuaven obertes fins al total esclariment dels fets i la detenció d’altres possibles implicats.

Com que les meues ocupacions m’obliguen a estar sempre alerta, a traure punta als meus dots d’observació, vaig prendre esment d’un detall cridaner: els detinguts també estaven acusats de falsificació. Què havien falsificat? Vaig parlar amb un agent de la UDYCO que em deu més d’un favor. El meu interlocutor estava indignat. Em va dir que la coordinació amb la Guàrdia Civil és nul·la; els picoletos mantenen un mutisme total sobre les seues recerques. Decidí actuar pel meu compte. Després de camejar pels llocs on habitualment es fumen “xines” (els parcs, la plaça de l’Almàssera, diferents discoteques...), aní acumulant nombroses pistes. Més tard, descobrí que la casa Apple —sí, la companyia que fabrica els iPod, iPhone, iMac— s’havia personat a la causa oberta contra la banda desarticulada. Per què? Perquè hi havia, entre el material confiscat als delinqüents, els encunys amb què falsificaven la famosa poma —el logotip d’Apple— d'un giny, l’iPorro, que era tot un èxit de vendes. Un nou cas de pirateria!

It's a jungle out there

Here's a couple of shots from this fall of a Disney's Jungle Book nutrition ad for the USDA on a Washington, DC bus stop.

2009 Comics in the Rearview

2009 COMICS IN THE REARVIEW

by John Judy

Right. Technically this list is not confined to those little paper things with two staples holding them together on the spine.

Instead it encompasses monthly and even weekly periodicals as well as a huge number of quality hard and soft cover graphic novels, trade collections of previously printed material and associated stuff.

Basically if it uses words in conjunction with pictures to get an idea across in the year 2009 it was eligible for the list.

And of course I favored anything that was available at finer brick and mortar comic stores near you. Sorry, webcomics. I know you're the future but not just yet. Maybe next year.

In the meantime, here are my faves of 2009 with apologies to all the great creators and material I have certainly missed.

ART OF STEVE DITKO HC edited by Craig Yoe. What it says on the cover, kids. Plus an intro by Stan "The Man" Lee. Lots of amazing material plus tributes from Jerry Robinson, John Romita and P. Craig Russell. Highly recommended.

ASTERIOS POLYP written and drawn by David Mazzucchelli. So whatever happened to the guy who drew "Batman: Year One" and "Daredevil: Born Again?" Somewhere along the line he grew into a creator who could get a blurb like this from Entertainment Weekly: "It's as if John Updike had discovered a bag of art supplies and LSD." You want this.

BATMAN AND ROBIN by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely. Don't worry, it's not the perennially late-shipping ALL-STAR version by Jim Lee and the guy who killed The Spirit for a generation. This is the dream-team that gave us ALL-STAR SUPERMAN among other things. It's the new Dynamic Duo and their flying batmobile! All the weirdness you've come to expect from Morrison, plus an honest to gosh story you can actually follow.

BLAZING COMBAT HC by Archie Goodwin and a Pantheon of Sixties Art Gods. Collecting all four issues of the war comic that was so good it got put out of business by people who were afraid it would end the Vietnam War. Kudos to Fantagraphics for putting this together.

BLUEBERRY GIRL HC by Neil Gaiman and Charles Vess. The creator credits on this make it a Must-Have but if you need a taste try this: "Ladies of Light and Ladies of darkness and Ladies of never-you-mind. This is a prayer for a blueberry girl. First may you ladies be kind." And it's all drawn by Vess. Highly recommended for anyone who has or has been a daughter. No lie, the older my daughter gets the harder it is to get through this book without choking up.

BOOK OF GENESIS ILLUSTRATED HC by Robert Crumb. A straightforward adaptation of the classical Judeo-Christian creation myth, done up in R. Crumb style.

THE BOYS by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson. Trademark Ennis violence, depravity and dark satire with layer upon layer of fandom in-jokes, still managing to hold up as an accessible mystery-thriller with capes. A must for fans of Ennis's anything goes style.

CHARLES DARWIN'S ON THE ORGIN OF SPECIES: A GRAPHIC ADAPTATION SC by Michael Keller and Nicole Rager Fuller. A beautiful new presentation of the book that changed the world and raised us that much further from the muck of our common origins. Have a look at what's been pissing off the morons for 150 years. Highly recommended.

CHEW by John Layman and Rob Guillory. Set in an alternate United States where meat is outlawed and the USFDA is more powerful than the NSA and the Mossad's secret love-child. Agent Tony Chu has the ultimate power and the ultimate curse: He's a cibopath, a guy who gets psychic impressions off everything he eats. Imagine "The Dead Zone" meets "Top Chef." It's twisted, over the top and available in trade. Bon apetite!

COMIC BOOK COMICS by Fred Van Lente and Ryan Dunlavey. The Evil Twin boys and their comic about comics! The latest of their four issues features stories about the rise of Marvel Comics, Robert Crumb and Tin-Tin! More fascinating than a lot of imaginary stories being published today! Highly recommended!

CRIMINAL: SINNERS by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips. The latest of the story arcs has Tracy Lawless back, solving a crime only a guy who's not a cop can solve. Lawless is among the more fascinating and conflicted characters in the Criminalverse and it's great to see him back in action even as he seems more lost than ever. And the comics-exclusive back-up text features remain as irresistible as ever.

EC ARCHIVES: FRONTLINE COMBAT VOL. 1 HC by Various Geniuses. Collecting the first six issues of this masterful series of war comics from 1950-51. Still some of the best ever done. Highly recommended.

EX MACHINA by Brian K. Vaughan and Tony Harris. Yet another Vaughan maxi-series is drawing to a close. This sci-fi political thriller about a New York Mayor who communicates with machinery is a great read for political junkies and superhero fans alike. Lots of trade editions available.

FAHRENHEIT 451 GN by Ray Bradbury and Tim Hamilton. A graphic adaptation of Bradbury's classic story of firemen who really expand on the traditional definition of the job. Highly recommended.

FINAL CRISIS AFTERMATH: RUN by Matthew Sturges and Freddie E. Williams II. Full disclosure: I thought FINAL CRISIS was a huge let-down and all the other spin-off series were unreadable. This was the exception! All you needed to know was the main character was a costumed moron who taped the murder of the Martian Manhunter on his cell phone. The Red Flame. Everyone hates him so now he's got to RUN! And he does, growing more powerful and loathsome with every issue until… Well, let's not give it away, but the beauty of it is you're kind of rooting for him the whole time.

FLASH: REBIRTH by Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Sciver. More honesty: I still don't follow how exactly Flash #2, Barry Allen, came back from the dead or why, but this series makes me glad he did. And it looks great.

GARTH ENNIS' BATTLEFIELDS by Ennis and Several Artists. Ennis's obsession with World War Two and the people who fought on all sides of it seems inexhaustible. As a result we readers are able to enjoy (if that's the right word) two or three mini-series per year exploring the tragedy, gallows humor and tarnished nobility of those people whose sacrifices made everything we enjoy today possible. No capes, but lots of heroes. Recommended.

THE GOON written and drawn by Eric Powell. This one's hard to explain except to say, "Imagine if Tim Burton and Terry Gilliam had a baby and it was raised by Mickey Spillane…" I love it and so should you.

GREEN LANTERN by Geoff Johns and Various Artists. Okay, the whole "War of Light/Blackest Night" thing is a love it or hate it deal. Got it. But no one can deny Geoff Johns is pulling off the most successful, character-defining GL story since the Denny O'Neill-Neal Adams run in the seventies. Fine, you could deny it but you'd be wrong. And who doesn't love those promotional power rings?

INCOGNEGRO SC by Mat Johnson and Warren Pleece. The paperback of Johnson and Pleece's powerful graphic novel about a light-skinned African-American reporter passing as white in the deep South at the height of the segregation era. Highly, highly recommended.

INCOGNITO by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips. This is the mini that took Ed and Sean away from CRIMINAL for a while and, though I would have preferred more CRIMINAL, this story of a super-villain busting out of witness protection was still pretty darn good. Shocked if this isn't a movie in a few years.

IRREDEEMABLE by Mark Waid and Peter Krause. A little number from the author of KINGDOM COME about a god-like superhero going bad. Really, horrifyingly good. Recommended.

LOGICOMIX: AN EPIC SEARCH FOR TRUTH SC by Apostolos Doxiadas, Christos Papadimitriou, Alecos Papadatos and Annie DiDonna. A graphic biography of philosopher/mathematician Bertrand Russell woven with interstitials of the creation of the bio itself. An well-crafted, informative brain-melt with which to pass an afternoon.

MARVELS PROJECT by Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting. The best thing to happen to Marvel/Timely's golden age since THE TWELVE. See how it all came to be with a little retroactive continuity polish. Highly recommended.

MASTERPIECE COMICS HC written and drawn by R. Sikoryak. This one is a true Must-Have if you are a fan of classic literature, classic comics and ingenious mash-ups. This one lives up to its name. Highly, highly recommended.

MIGHTY AVENGERS by Dan Slott and Khoi Pham. A niche book for people who always wanted to see founding Avenger Hank Pym really come into his own. If you like your hero/scientists eccentric and unpredictable Dan Slott delivers yet again.

MORE THAN COMPLETE ACTION PHILOSOPHERS SC by Fred van Lente and Ryan Dunlavey. Collecting all nine issues of the original run, plus four all-new stories written just for this book! A real treat! Also a bit of aggravation for those of us who bought all the comics and original trades. I suppose we must be philosophical about it….

NORTHLANDERS by Brian Wood and Various Artists. A series of stories (sagas?) unconnected by anything but the setting of Viking culture 1000 years ago. Some are almost like westerns, some are police procedurals, but all of them create a sense of place more successfully than most books. Wood turns cold, bleak isolation into unexpectedly fertile ground. Recommended.

ODD AND THE FROST GIANTS HC by Neil Gaiman and Brett Helquist. A hardback edition of the story Neil wrote for the UK's World Book Day about a boy in Viking times who must save Asgard from the Frost Giants and restore springtime to the world. Illustrated by Brent Helquist (of Lemony Snicket fame), 128 pages and appropriate for young readers. Recommended.

PICTURES THAT TICK SC by Dave McKean. A graphic brain-bender from the guy who brought you every single cover of SANDMAN among too many other works of genius to mention here. Gotta look!

PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES GN written and drawn by Ben Templesmith. I'll let Mr. Templesmith speak for himself on this one: "All 43 (well, technically 42, but Cleveland served two nonconsecutive terms) plus, technically, I think the 44th as well will be in time for printing. A portrait each, plus some facts. Especially about some of the lesser known ones. Damn some were sick/quirky/weird bastards." Highly recommended.

RASL written and drawn by Jeff Smith. The latest ongoing from the creator of BONE. This one's more for mature readers as it involves reptilian assassins chasing down a scientist turned dimension-hopping art thief. Cartoon, sci-fi noir is the closest it comes to a category, so don't be fooled by the simple appearance of it. There's dark doings here as each issue reveals another layer to the onion and draws you that much further in.

RICHARD STARK'S PARKER THE HUNTER HC written and drawn by Darwyn Cooke. Donald Westlake's first Parker novel adapted by comics master Cooke. Yeah, you need this, especially if you enjoyed the movie "Payback" with Mel Gibson and Maria Bello. Unbelievably good and highly recommended.

SCALPED by Jason Aaron and R.M. Guera. This series continues to be among the most underappreciated on the monthly stands, even as its trade collections sell out. A bloody crime comic set on a fictional Indian reservation with a hero who seems on a race to destroy himself before his past can do it for him. Joyously unpredictable even as it grinds the reader's face in the squalor and hopelessness of The Rez. Forget the year, this is one of the best comics of the decade. Read it.

SECRET IDENTITY: FETISH ART OF SUPERMAN'S CO-CREATOR JOE SHUSTER HC by Craig Coe. Exactly what it sounds like. Spicy pictures drawn by the guy who helped create the all-American icon of the 20^th century! Not for kids but highly recommended anyway.

SPECIAL FORCES written and drawn by Kyle Baker. Okay, so this title comes out about as often as Boo Radley. It's still Kyle Baker so it's gorgeous, clever and edgy as all get out. This comic was inspired by the corrupt recruiting practices of the US Military that put kids with autism in the front lines of the Iraq War. Seriously. This happened. Highly recommended.

THE STAND by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Mike Perkins. This encompasses all the mini-series thus far in this epic adaptation of Stephen King's most famous novel. For the two guys who haven't read it already, a strain of flu wipes out 95 percent of the population and the survivors have to choose whether to ally themselves with well-intentioned do-gooders or a goal-oriented monster. Having seen the 1994 TV adaptation I can say with assurance that this is a more skillful and satisfying beast. Accessible even to the above-mentioned two guys. Here's hoping the Aguirre-Sacasa/Perkins creative team sticks together when it's all over. These guys have the magic.

STRANGE SUSPENSE: STEVE DITKO ARCHIVES, VOL. 1 HC edited by Blake Bell. The complete two-year run of all Ditko's pre-code horror comics from the earliest days of his career. You must have this.

STUDS TERKEL'S WORKING GN by Harvey Pekar and Various Artists. An adaptation of the late journalist's anthology of first-person accounts of what it was like working various jobs in 1974 America. Recommended.

STUMPTOWN #1 by Greg Rucka and Matthew Southworth. When a private dick with a gambling problem finds herself on the hook for big money to a casino the best way out is probably to do the casino owner a favor. Because that always ends well. Highly "Rucka-mended!"

SUPERMAN: SECRET ORIGIN by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank. It's the new Official Canon of Superman's Life and Times. Put your Byrne-autographed MAN OF STEEL back on the shelf, kids. It is now an antique. Recommended.

TROTSKY HC written and drawn by Rick Geary. A graphic biography of Stalin's arch-nemesis, and it ain't Hitler. Two pick-axes up! Recommended!

UNDERGROUND #1 of 4 by Steve Lieber and Jeff Parker. "Thriller set in a cave" doesn't really do justice to this tense, good-looking comic by the artist of WHITEOUT and the author of AGENTS OF ATLAS. Highly recommended.

UNWRITTEN by Mike Carey and Peter Gross. This one's heating up fast, kids. It's the story of a guy who may or may not have been written into the real world and all that implies about other pop fiction characters. This is not your father's Earth-Prime! Recommended.

WALKING DEAD by Robert Kirkman and Charles Adlard. It's the awesome zombie movie that never ends, now into its 6^th triumphant year and heading to television on AMC. Kirkman is a master of the gut-wrench and the uncomfortable "What if?" and Adlard seems almost supernatural in his ability to render post-apocalyptic people and scenery just right. The skill these guys have in putting their readers shoulder to shoulder with the besieged survivors can't be overstated. This is the zombie book for people who don't like zombie books. And those who do. Not for kids.

WARREN ELLIS FRANKENSTEIN'S WOMB GN by WE and Marek Oleksicki. That nice Mister Ellis takes on Mrs. Shelley and her lad, teaching us a few things we didn't know along the way. Not for kids.

WAS SUPERMAN A SPY AND OTHER COMIC BOOK LEGENDS REVEALED SC by Brian Cronin. A fun collection of comics industry legends and apocrypha, perfect reading for the one seater or anywhere else.

WEDNESDAY COMICS by Many, Many Amazing Writers and Artists. This was the most audacious experiment of the year: DC Comics taking some of their best and least known characters and putting together a 12-week anthology book in the form of a traditional Sunday newspaper comics section. It was honestly very hit or miss and everyone had their favorites and their fishwrap, but this was a great reminder of how much we're missing in the real comics sections today. Let's hope DC learns and tries again. (BTW, my favorite strips were Adam Strange and Kamandi, two characters I never had much interest in when they had their own books.)

YOU SHALL DIE BY YOUR OWN EVIL CREATION SC by Fletcher Hanks and Paul Karasik. This is the sequel volume to 2007's deeply disturbing and entertaining I SHALL DESTROY ALL CIVILIZED PLANETS and completes the collected works of golden-age writer/artist (and monster) Fletcher Hanks. Publisher Fantagraphics has generously provided a 13 page preview on their website http://www.fantagraphics.com/. Highly recommended.

www.johnjudy.net

VIDEOCLIP AMB INSERCIÓ PUBLICITÀRIA

Això us passa per despertar la ira de la bèstia. Com a represàlia pel post anterior, penjollem un videoclip que ens ha arribat a les mans d'un grup aragonés de death-metal o black-metal (perdoneu però açò no m'ho sé molt bé, no és la meua especialitat), Blackmatadero, amb una temàtica molt nadalenca i familiar i, el que és curiós, una inserció publicitària a la meitat, cosa que no recordem haver vist mai. Au, a mamar! Una altra vegada torneu amb el Kalinka, ka-ka-la, i la mare que ho ha parit tot.

Postcoitum. Sempre m'he preguntat com és possible cantar així més de vint segons sense deixar la gola com un puto fregall. Agrairíem aclariments al respecte.

MJ's Fiddlestix comic

MJ, one of the cartoonists who gave me a logo drawing, wrote in over the holiday with some information on his comic strip, Fiddlestix. With his permission, we'll show some strips and give some history. The earliest examples he sent were twenty years old. "I've been doing it for over twenty years, the first 3 were with a deal from Bill, then after he retired, they were hounding me to change this, change that. I couldn't take it no more. So I took my ball and went home. Wonder often what might of been though..."



These date from when he and King Features Syndicate were working it up. Of these he said, "They are the two main characters, had a few others but Grizzle, and Irving are always in the strips unless it is a FIDDLESTIX / Pinhead strip. Another main character that I rarely use because of Zippy from Bill Griffith. Pinhead was created not even knowing that there was another out there. At least I eventually learned and the strip now looks so much better."



These are two daily strips.




"These were in a digest published by Big Time Attic in 2007 which was distributed internationally. The last 3 panel FIDDLESTIX dailies appeared in SPOON Magazine (U.S.A.) during 2007. The dailies were pulled from publication in 2008 for the 20th anniversary and moved to a sunday only multi-panel format which are syndicated internationally through Newsblaze Publications, Folsom, California. The first color multi-panel format was featured through Scoop/Diamond International Galleries, Gemstone Publishing in March 2008. They appeared in comics distributed in Great Britian, U.K. throughout 2008. They currently appear in Newropeans Magazine (Paris, France), Newsblaze Publications (U.S.A.), and The National Free Press (Canada, Kingston, Ontario),. I am currently working on a FIDDLESTIX comic for distribution internationally in 2010. And of course I am an Editorial Cartoonist for The National Free Press in Canada. The editorial one-shots are also distributed through Newsblaze Publications internationally."

This week's new comics (or comic, singular)

I find this somewhat amusing, but as Joel pointed out to me, people want their new comics on Wednesday so this isn't good planning by the comics companies.

From: Joel Pollack

New comics arriving this WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30TH
 
DC COMICS
BLACKEST NIGHT #6
 
MARVEL COMICS
MARVEL 2010 CALENDAR
SIEGE PROMO BOOK
 
SIGNIFICANT OTHERS
 
PLANET PICKS
  

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Dec 30: Beyond Comics Comic Book Sale

B E Y O N D      C O M I C S Happy New Year December 29, 2009 Small Week HUGE SALE! ONE DAY ONLY... Wednesday December 30th. New Comics From 50 Cents!!! See below for details. IT'S ALMOST OVER INVENTORY CLEARANCE SALE ENDS JANUARY 1ST. QUICK LINKS NEW COMIC SALE Variant Covers New Comic Sale New Comics Cover Dated Before Jan 2010 $1 each   Blackest Night Comics & Crossovers 50% OFF   Dark Reign Crossover Comics 50 cents each Excludes Dark Avengers, Dark Wolverine, Dark X-men, The List Comics   Secret Invasion Comics & Crossovers 50 cents each   52, Aftermath, Final Crisis and Countdown Comics 50 cents each   Grimm Fairy Tales Comics (all) 25% OFF   Fist of Justice 25% OFF   INFO Website eBay Store New Items Added9/7/09 Amazon Store Follow us on Twitter Newsletter Signup Don't Miss: Blackest Night #6 HUGE SALE ON NEW COMIC BOOKS One Day Only Keep an eye out for our Tweeter Specials New Comics BLACKEST NIGHT #6 ESCAPE FROM WONDERLAND #3 GRIMM FAIRY TALES #43 ORIGINS OF SIEGE (First Come...) Variant Covers BLACKEST NIGHT VAR ED #6 BLACKEST NIGHT SKETCH VAR ED #6 Please Note, some items are not available at all store locations. For more information please speak with any store representative. Some items may also be allocated by the manufacturer and may not be available. Beyond Comics does not guarantee items being in stock; however we will do our best to keep them available. Email: Gaithersburg John Shine Manager or Frederick Jon Cohen Manager Gaithersburg Store: 536 North Frederick Ave Gaithersburg, MD (301) 216-0007 Hours: M,Tu 11-8; W-Sat 10-9; Sun 12-6 Frederick Store: 5632 Route 85 Frederick, MD (301) 668-8202 Hours: M,Tu 11-8; W-Sat 10-9; Sun 12-6