Dwight Howard Dunk Contest meeting
Garbage Time All-Stars has a humorous take on a meeting in which Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic try to work out this year’s attempt for the Slam Dunk Contest. This follows up on Howard’s winning “Superman” dunk from last year. This comic strip will work best for you if you get both comics-related and NBA-related jokes. (I thought it was pretty hilarious.)
– Matt Price
Rip Kirby to be reprinted by IDW
Announced at The Beat, IDW is adding Alex Raymond’s “Rip Kirby” to its Library of American Comics series. The five-volume archival hardcover series will contain every daily from the strip’s inception in 1946 through Alex Raymond’s tragic death in 1956.
More info from the release, from the blog of Chris Ryall, editor in chief and publisher of IDW:
Rip Kirby was the first hip and cool detective in newspaper comics. Created by Alex Raymond when he was deactivated from the Marines after World War II, it was a fresh approach to the genre, a departure from the prevailing hard-boiled style of detective fiction. Rip Kirby was urbane and cerebral, and used scientific methods as often as he used his fists when solving crimes and mysteries. But there was still plenty of action — Kirby was an All-American athlete and decorated war hero.
Co-written with Ward Greene, Rip Kirby often addressed contemporary issues, including trafficking in black market babies and the attempt to limit the proliferation of atomic and biological weapons. The supporting cast was comprised of Rip’s valet and assistant, Desmond, and plenty of breathtaking women, particularly Rip’s girlfriend, Honey Dorian, and the raven-haired and aptly-named Pagan Lee. Highly conscious of the fashions of the day, Raymond brought post-war and early-50s chic and fashion to the comics page, dressing his female characters in ultra-chic clothes obviously inspired by Dior’s “New Look.”
Dave Sim has been pontificating on Alex Raymond quite a bit in his series “Glamourpuss,” and “Rip Kirby” has seemed to be one of the big remaining comic-strip reprint projects that no one had taken on. Dean Mullaney, formerly of Eclipse, and IDW have done a great job bringing classic strips to the fore, including recent reprint projects “Little Orphan Annie,” “Dick Tracy” and “Terry and the Pirates.”
– Matt Price
Relive classic newspaper strips with collected editions
WORD BALLOONS
Comic strip fans had much to choose from in 2008. Several classic strips have been reprinted in new formats, many for the first time. While all the news for the future of the newspaper comic strip isn’t good – comic strip space in newspapers continued to be at a premium, and several editorial cartoonists were laid off in 2008 – the year did provide a window into the past with several top-notch collections.
Two of the reprint projects have Oklahoma connections – IDW continued its comprehensive “The Complete Dick Tracy” reprints, and Fantagraphics reprinted almost all of Bill Mauldin’s “Willie and Joe” panels.
Willie and Joe: The World War II Years collects 600 cartoons, many never-before reprinted, of Bill Mauldin’s cartoons from the front lines. Bill Mauldin’s early cartoons were published in The Oklahoman. Mauldin served with the 45th Infantry Division, and more than 200 of his cartoons are collected at the 45th Infantry Division Museum, 2145 N.E. 36th Street.
“The Complete Chester Gould’s Dick Tracy” volumes 4 and 5 were released in 2008. Volume 4 contains comic strips from July 1936 through January 1938. Storylines in volume 5 include “Chief Shellberry,” “Karpse,” “Scardol” and “Whip Chute,” which ran January 1938 through July 1939. Gould was born in Pawnee, and his hard-bitten police detective Dick Tracy is one of the world’s best-known comic-strip characters.
If you want a broader overview of the history of the comic-strip, “The Comics: The Complete Collection,” a Borders-exclusive book from Brian Walker, will do just that. The book is a compilation of his two previous books, “The Comics: Before 1945″ and “The Comics: Since 1945.” This book is lushly illustrated. Early color Sunday comic strips like “Flash Gordon” receive full-page reprints; the oversized trim of “The Complete Collection” gives readers a feel for what these comic strips looked like to readers of the time. Covering “The Yellow Kid” to “Zits,” Walker’s book is an excellent primer to learn what’s been great about comic strips through the years.
By Matthew Price
From the Dec. 19 edition of The Oklahoman
Dick Tracy sticking around, syndicate says
NewsOK’s Extremely Graphic blog points out this Daily Cartoonist post in which Tribune Media Services says it has no plans to end “Dick Tracy.”
– Matt Price
Is this the end for Dick Tracy?
The Gaylord Herald-Times, quoting from R.C. Harvey’s site, indicate that “Dick Tracy” writer-artist Dick Locher may retire at the end of this year. Tribune Media Services has made no official announcement, but speculation is that the service may end the strip.
“Dick Tracy” was created by cartoonist Chester Gould, who was born in Pawnee, Oklahoma.
Toys, cartoonists honored at Action Figure Museum
PAULS VALLEY – Oklahoma cartoonists and famous toy lines were among the honorees Saturday as the Toy and Action Figure Museum, 111 S. Chickasaw, celebrated its third anniversary.
Joining the museum’s action figure Hall of Fame were two action-figure lines that took the 1980s by storm: Masters of the Universe and G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero.
Masters of the Universe were supremely muscled characters who lived on the planet Eternia. The star of this line was He-Man, who gained his strength when he held aloft his magic sword and repeated the phrase “by the power of Grayskull.”
“G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero” was a 1980s update of the classic Joe action figure, which had been a 12-inch figure. “A Real American Hero” was in the 3 and ¾-inch size and introduced G.I. Joe, a special missions force for the U.S. military, who defended freedom against Cobra, a ruthless terrorist organization determined to rule the world. Rather than just one “G.I. Joe,” the brand now introduced a line full of characters, developed by comics and animation writer Larry Hama, including the ninja Snake-Eyes, leader Duke and counter-intelligence specialist Scarlett.
Introduced into the Oklahoma Cartoonists Collection Hall of Fame were four cartoonists – and it came as a surprise to one of them. Museum curator Kevin Stark, creator of the comic strip and comic book “Geezer,” was named to the Hall of Fame. “Geezer” ran for seven years in the Pauls Valley Daily Democrat, and further comic books are in development.
Also honored:
Russell Myers, the creator of “Broom Hilda,” who was raised and attended college in Tulsa.
George Storm, who created adventure strips “Phil Hardy” in 1925 and “Bobby Thatcher” in 1927. He co-created The Hangman for MLJ and drew Bugs Bunny for Dell. He died in 1976.
Terry Tidwell, who was born and raised in Claremore. He worked on “The Green Hornet” and “Conan.” Tidwell, who was in attendance at the ceremony, also co-created the Tulsa-based hero “The Twilight Avenger.”
– Matthew Price
Assistant Features Editor
From Friday’s The Oklahoman
Happy 75th Birthday, Alley Oop!
I went to the Toy and Action Figure Museum in Pauls Valley on Saturday to celebrate the 75th birthday of “Alley Oop” with Jack and Carole Bender, who are the creative team for the comic strip. Congratulations to them on their success! “Alley Oop” was created in 1933 by V.T. Hamlin. Jack Bender became an assistant on”Alley Oop” in 1990, and the full-time artist in 1991. Carole Bender has written the strip since 2001.
The Oklahoma-based Benders also work with the Oklahoma Cartoonists’ Collection, housed at the museum.
– Matt Price
Happy Mother’s Day
Much thanks to my mom, my kids’ mom, and all the other moms out there. You don’t get enough credit. (Calvin and Hobbes comic from Simply Calvin and Hobbes; check out http://www.simplych.com for more information about the strip.)
– Matt Price
Eisner award nominees announced
Pop on over to The Beat to see a complete list of this year’s Eisner nominees. With 148 nominations in 29 categories, this is going to be one looooong Eisner ceremony.
Good to see some love for longtime Nerdage faves Matt Fraction and Matt Silady.
And since I’m on a Caniff kick, it’s gratifying to see IDW’s “Terry and the Pirates” reprints getting some love as well.
– Matt Price
Matt goes on a Buck Rogers kick
If you’re as excited about the Buck Rogers announcement of new comics from Dynamite as I am, you can bide the time with other Buck-Rogers-related entertainment. For example, you can check out full episodes of the TV series free on NBC.com. Find out more about the comic strip at Toonopedia. I haven’t found any info about reprints of the comic strip, but if I do, I’ll post it. Dynamite’s release does indicate that reprints of classic material are included in their license, so maybe we’ll see reprints of the 1970s series and the original comic strip.
– Matt Price
