Category: Cartooning

“Jesus hates you” — Westboro Baptist Church

It was fanatics vs. fans at the San Diego Comic-Con!

http://www.comicsalliance.com/2010/07/22/super-heroes-vs-the-westboro-baptist-church/

John 8:7 says, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” It does not continue with Jesus saying, “So somebody get me a rock! A big, jagged one.” Which is what the members of the Westboro Baptist Church seem to believe.

A splash of color

When the Boston Globe started printing its daily comics in color, there were complaints from some readers, claiming to be comic-strip purists, but my only complaint is when the color is printed off-register.

Here is Arlo and Janis from a few days ago, as it appeared in the Metrowest Daily News. Do the mouse-over thing to see how it appeared in the Boston Globe. The color adds a lot to the mood, don’t you think?

How much longer will there be printed newspapers? Ten years? Five?

Three deceased Greats

The 2010 San Diego Comic-Con is coming up soon. Over on Comic-Convention Memories, there are batches of photos taken at the San Diego con in 1974.

Here’s a pic of MAD cartoonist Sergio Aragonés. No! Wait! That’s not Sergio, it’s Peanuts animator Bill Melendez.

And here’s his de facto boss, Sparky Schulz, when he was — yikes! — a couple of years younger than I am now!

With special guest star, director Frank Capra! Frank Capra?? He attended a comic-book convention in 1974??? That was several years after his autobiography, The Name Above the Title, and ten years before She’s a Wonderful Wife — er, I mean It’s a Wonderful Life — was rescued from public domain abuse and rightly hailed as one of the all-time great movies.

The Black Widow?

My lack of worldliness and poor political acumen are leaving me perplexed. Why would the Russians consider this woman to be a good candidate for training as an alleged spy? What made them think she could possibly be able to gain access to the private quarters of influential men? Here’s another picture of her I found, training in Russia.

From sad to worst

I’ve not been writing because I’m away for a few days, but tonight I was saddened to learn that Gene Colan’s wife Adrienne has died.

My buddy Dennis and I first met Gene and Adrienne over ten years ago, when they made appearances at Paul Howley’s store, That’s Entertainment, in Worcester, MA. Those of us who know what’s been going on recently in the Colan family had been hoping it wouldn’t come to this, but it has.

The last time I spoke with Gene and Adrienne, I was calling to make sure they received a $2000 check I had sent to them. It was a straight gift. I asked for nothing in return, not even a sketch. I told Gene that it was my way of saying thanks for drawing so many great comic-books.

Adrienne was very appreciative, and she said the money would help pay for Gene’s medications. A few minutes before calling, I had told Steranko (who I first met in 1972) I would be speaking with Gene, and he said, with great intensity, “I want you to tell him that I am the world’s number one Gene Colan fan. Would you do that for me, please?” I promised I would, and when I told Gene, he said, “Jim Steranko said that? Oh my, that’s wonderful. What an honor that is.”

With the tremendous success of the first Iron Man movie, I was pleased that Marvel Comics did the right thing and kicked in with some substantial cash for Gene. It meant a lot to me to be able to help the Colan’s through one of their tougher times, and it hurts that the situation later became as bad as it did. Now is a time for peace, rest, and healing.