Category: Cartooning

Stuck between a Roku and a soft place

My buddy Dennis and I agree that “Leave it to be Beaver” is one of the best, if not the best, TV show ever made. Years ago, I told Dennis, in a hopeful tone, that someday the entire library of “Beaver” episodes, all six seasons, would be available online for viewing anytime. Well, that day is here — well, almost. A few episodes, for reasons unknown, are available only on disc. But the funny thing about that is, only the first two seasons have been released on DVD. Anyway, thanks to the amazing Roku Netflix player, I can watch Beav’ and lots of other neat stuff while sitting on the porch couch, looking at the 32-inch Sony, instead of sitting in front of the computer.

The Roku Netflix player is, for $100 (plus shipping), the single best deal in existence — assuming you already have a Netflix subscription. It installed easily, the WiFi reception is excellent, and I could say a lot more, but I’ve got to get back to watching more of the Cleavers. Gosh… there’s Cheryl Holdridge as Wally’s sometimes girlfriend, Julie…

Cheryl Holdridge as Julie, in \

D.F. Rogers, Con Man

Last weekend, D.F. Rogers was at the NY Comic Con. The big surprise was seeing Gene Colan there. Last May and June, Gene was at death’s door, but Gene is still with his family who love him and his fans who admire him, and for that we are all grateful. Dennis sent some photos from the show, with captions.

Gene Colan with Captain American #117 page

Gene Colan checking out something I acquired at the convention — a page of original art from Captain America #117, penciled by Gene forty years ago. This is the issue that made me a Marvelite and True Believer!

Joe Sinnott with Captain America #117 page

Joe Sinnott holding the page from Captain America #117. Joe didn’t ink Gene Colan often enough, but this was one of their best (and earliest) collaborations. Joe said that he loved to ink Gene’s pencils because he could do a lot of brushwork on those patented Gene Colan shadows. Two of my all-time favorite artists — and people! I never fully realized until recently that they, along with the immortal Stan Lee, produced the issue that hooked me on Marvel Comics!

D.F. Rogers with Gene Colan

Gene Colan and D.F. Rogers at the 2009 New York Comic Con. It was a dream come true to see Gene back at the Convention after a one year absence due to health issues. He had a steady line of admirers who stopped by to say hello and get their art or comic books signed by Genial Gene.

D.F. Rogers with Joe Staton

Joe Staton and D.F. Rogers with two pages of art that I purchased from Joe. Archie published a four part “modernization” of Jughead last summer – with art by Joe Staton and Al Milgrom. This is the first page splash and the last page splash — fun stuff! It just came out a few weeks ago in a trade paperback and the art is reproduced much better there than in the original “digest” sized issues.

Thanks, Den! That reminds me. I have a couple of pictures of my own to show, from the NY convention back in November. Here I am holding the original Iron Man art to the cover of the Marvel Comic Tales of Suspense #93, drawn by Gene Colan. It could be mine — for only $42,000! I’d be tempted, but Eric starts college the fall of 2010.

DOuG pRATt holding TOS #93 cover

I’ve always had a particular fondness for that comic book. Here’s a cropped, high-resolution panel scan from a page of the TOS #93 interior original art. Ya gotta click to enlarge it, y’know…

Original art from Tales of Suspense #93

… and this is artist David Lloyd, who illustrated Alan Moore’s famous political thriller “V for Vendetta,” which was later made into what I think is pretty darn good movie.

David Lloyd with \

Waiting and Watching

The best comic book series I ever read was Watchmen. Now the movie of it is about to come out. I agree with everything that Boston Globe movie critic Ty Burr says about his own sense of anticipation.

http://www.boston.com/ae/movies/blog/2009/02/the_watchmen_wa.html

I thought 300 was one of the worst movies I’d ever seen. I scanned through most of it on DVD. Something I’m worried about for a general audience is that a full appreciation of Watchmen requires a vast knowledge of the history of comic books and their creators. Everybody knows Batman, but almost nobody knows that Dr. Manhattan was adapted from Captain Atom, and Rorschach is based on the work of Steve Ditko.

Who Watches the Watchmen?

Happy Birthday, Monte Schulz!

Happy birthday to (paraphrase Stephen Colbert) friend of the blog, Monte Schulz. Has it been a year already? Aaugh!

On July 7, 2001, Monte accepted, on behalf of his late father, the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor bestowed by Congress. This picture shows Monte at the ceremony, with J. Dennis Hastert, then the Speaker of the House. Monte’s stepmother, Jean, is holding the medal.

Monte Schulz accepting Congressional Gold Medal

This, of course, is Monte’s father, Charles M. Schulz…

Charles Schulz at drawing board

… and this is the Peanuts comic strip that was published the day Monte turned twelve. The inscription seems to read, “For the Coroles.”

Peanuts, Feb 1 \'64Peanuts, Feb 1 \'64

Peanuts, Feb 1 \'64Peanuts, Feb 1 \'64

‘Blind Date’ by Morty Gunty

Recently I posted comedian Morty Gunty’s rendition of “There’s A War.” Here is the flip side of the single, a comedy routine called “Blind Date,” with Morty backed by a cool jazz ensemble.

[audio:http://www.dograt.com/Audio/2009/JAN/GuntyBlindDate.mp3]

The writing credit is “A. Cogan,” presumably a misspelling of comedy writer Arnie Kogen, who can be seen with Mark Evanier and some other noteworthy gents, all associated with MAD Magazine.

Arnie Kogen, Al Feldstein, Sergio Aragonés, Mark Evanier, Al Jaffee
Arnie Kogen, Al Feldstein, Sergio Aragonés, Mark Evanier, Al Jaffee