Category: Cartooning

Doggone Biographers

If you haven’t read Monte Schulz’s comment on Mr. Media‘s audio interview with David Michaelis, and how the book came to be written, click here. This Peanuts cartoon seems somewhat apropos. Note that the word balloon in the first panel is not touching the top border. I’m sure you must know why!

Linus and Snoopy
©UFS

Cartoonist and Charles Schulz admirer Jimmy Johnson seems to have started his commentary on the Michaelis biography of Schulz. I’ve figured out how to link directly to Jimmy’s posts, so click here for the first one, and here for his second. At the moment it appears Jimmy has a missing image at that link. In reference to his former wife Rheta’s authorized biography of Sparky Schulz, Jimmy says, “As I indicated in an earlier post, I was not just a bystander to all this.” I’m looking forward to what he has to say.

Bob Andelman, Mr. Media

Bob Andelman, aka Mr. Media, makes a comment on one of my posts about Monte Schulz, at this link. Andelman has posted an audio interview with David Michaelis, the author of the controversial book Schulz and Peanuts.

I’m going to do something I don’t normally do, and that’s hotlink to Mr. Andelman’s MP3 file. I think he should give streaming audio a try, and this is my way of nudging him in that direction. I would also suggest editing the properties of the MP3 files to include an artist and title, so the player could display something like “Mr. Media” and “David Michaelis Interview.” First, the David Michaelis interview…

[audio:http://www.andelman.com/mrmedia-pod/MM-DavidMichaelis101707.mp3]

I recommend listening to what Michaelis has to say, but as I’ve said before, while reading the book I’ve come around to an understanding what Monte and his sisters Amy and Jill are getting at in their criticism of Michaelis’ analysis of Charles M. Schulz as a man and as a father.

I’m very pleased to see that Andelman has also posted an interview with none other than Joe Sinnott, who I saw in New York a week ago. Thanks very much for this, Bob!

[audio:http://www.andelman.com/mrmedia-pod/MM-JoeSinnott071007.mp3]

Big Apple Con — Marvel Comics Panel

Mark Evanier comments at this link on a panel he moderated at the Big Apple Con last weekend. Hey, I recognize that photo! My best friend Dennis took it, and Evanier gives him credit for it. Here’s another version. Refer to Mark’s post for the names.

Big Apple Con - Marvel Comics Panel

I could have listened to these guys talk all day! Dick Ayers told some great stories from WW2, and it was fascinating hearing these talented pros delve into their past as comic book creators, when they were all sitting at home drawing and writing, working as freelancers, yet bonded together in the minds of fans by Stan Lee’s insistent descriptions of Bullpen camaraderie.

The PA system at the hotel was, to say the least, inadequate. I hate — emphasize HATE — technical problems such as these. Evanier complained, and the A/V boy in me sprang into action, doing the best I could to make the audio sound as good as possible.

Sgt. Fury 1970 AnnualGary Friedrich wrote many issues of Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos, as well as the 70’s version of Ghost Rider that was turned into a movie earlier this year that I didn’t much care for, as I stated here. During the Q&A portion of the panel I made a point of telling Gary that he helped me think through my opposition to the Vietnam War when I was 14. I cited the Sgt. Fury summer double issue from 1969, but it was actually the 1970 annual special. Click the thumbnail picture to see the particular page I was thinking of.

Mallard Fillmore Gets It Wrong Again

One of the worst comic strips I know of is Mallard Fillmore, by Bruce Tinsley. The Mallard character is like Howard the Duck, except he’s a neo-con. Mallard Fillmore is amusing to me only when Tinsley says something so inanely misinformed or misleading that I laugh at his idiocy. An excellent example is the installment from a few days ago, about Stephen Colbert.

Mallard Fillmore, 19Nov2007

I saw Stephen Colbert last week in New York, and he certainly had no difficulty being funny and entertaining, entirely on his own. Colbert is as much a writer as he is a performer, with improvisation and ad-libbing being what he does best! I don’t know if Tinsley doesn’t know this, or if he’s deliberately trying to create a false impression, but once again he has proven himself to be a cartoonist with no other point than the one at the tip of his pen.

Big Apple Con — Sinnott and Son and Steranko

A big highlight at the Big Apple Con in New York last weekend was seeing legendary comic book artist Joe Sinnott, who is featured at this link. It’s been thirty years since Dennis and I first met Joe. Dennis saw him earlier this year, a few months after Joe lost his wife Betty, and shortly before Joe had a heart attack! So it was with great relief that we saw Joe looking hale and hearty, with the ol’ Sinnott gleam and glint in his eyes. Here’s Joe with Dennis and myself.

Dennis Rogers, Joe Sinnott, DOuG pRATt

At a panel moderated by Mark Evanier (more about that later), Sinnott commented that he felt he’d reached his peak in 1962 and hadn’t diminished since then. Joe is a modest fellow, so that isn’t boasting, it’s just plain fact! At the convention Dennis bought an original Spider-Man strip from this past August that Joe had inked over Alex Saviuk’s pencils, and it looks as clean and slick and snappy as anything Joe has ever done. The man is amazing, especially considering that he’s retired!

Dennis spotted Joe talking with Steranko (with a name like Steranko, I wouldn’t bother with my first name either!) and snapped this great picture. That’s Joe’s son, Mark Sinnott, behind these two titans of comic book art.

Joe Sinnott and Jim Steranko

One of the many memorable examples of Sinnott inking over Steranko’s pencil drawings can be found in Strange Tales #167, from almost exactly 40 years ago. The story was called “ARMAGEDDON!” In it is something that had never been seen before — an extravaganza of four full pages that formed a single picture. I’ve always wanted to see these pages put together, and thanks to my scanner I’ve finally done it!

Strange Tales #167 pages 2-5
Click to enlarge

I was 12 years old when I saw that. What a time it was to be a comics fan! These gifted gentlemen were paid so relatively poorly, for turning out page after page of stunning material like this! I’m so glad that I can tell them how much their talents are appreciated.

Did you see the Zaro’s black and white cookie I got at Penn Station? While Dennis was at the counter I saw Joe and Mark Sinnott outside of Zaro’s, deciding if they were going to eat there. Well, I wasted no time helping them decide! What a surprise Dennis had when he came back to the table! We sat and ate and chatted with Joe and Mark, and for me it was the highlight of the weekend — yes, even more special than meeting Stephen Colbert.

P.S. The man in the blue shirt behind Joe is Mike Burkey, otherwise known as Romitaman, the highly reputable dealer in original comic book art. Dennis and I will probably be doing some business with Mr. Burkey in the near future.