Mon Feb 11, 2008 6:46AM13 comments ›
Mon Feb 11, 2008 — by Mike Gold
Today, We Are One, by Mike Gold
Whizzy's Wazoo #53!
Well, it says here that this is Whizzy’s Wazoo #53. That means today ComicMix starts our second year.
Wow.
This is a good time to look back at what we’ve done, what we’re trying to do, and how we’ve made the world a better place. Whereas that last point is undoubtedly true, I’d rather look forward. Not a whole year forward; that seems like bad luck. Just the next few months.
ComicMix is going to increase our number of pages by tens of thousands. No kidding. We’re almost ready to do that; our tech team has been working furiously to do the tech voodoo that they do so swell. We’ve already got enough broadband to bury Atlantis. You’ll be seeing a lot more of… well, everything, including some of the greatest names old and new in comics and related media.
And speaking of comics…
You’ll be seeing some brand-new series over the next several months. Trevor Von Eeden has finished penciling a 240 page graphic novel called The ORIGINAL Johnson that is, literally, going to set the world on fire, just as the original Jack Johnson did 100 years ago. Trev has started inking it, John Workman’s busy lettering, and as soon as we’ve got a nice safety margin in our art bank we’ll be putting it up on ComicMix. Stay turned; you’ll know when.
When it comes to grand masters of comics, it hardly comes any grander than the celebrated team of Dick Giordano and Frank McLaughlin. These guys have teamed up to produce a new heroic graphic novel,White Viper – created by Frank and marking his return to the martial arts field (he created Judo Master back before such was fashionable). Working with Frank on the script is newcomer Erin Holroyd, who’s breaking into comics at the high end while simultaneously beginning her Hollywood career.
We’ve got the return of Munden’s Bar, with stories by John Ostrander, Stuart Gordon (yes, that Stuart Gordon), Mike Baron (featuring The Badger; yes, that Badger), Martha Thomases and Val D’Orazio, and art by Joanna Estep (artist on TokyoPop’s Road Song), Hilary Barta, Rick Burchett, Chris Burnham, Bill Reinhold and a host of others. We’ve got the long-awaited return of Black Ice, by Mike Baron and Lee Oaks. And we’ve got the return of The Prowler as well. And Fashion In Action.
As for the people who helped get ComicMix off the ground… The aforementioned John Ostrander is cooking up something entirely brand-new – as opposed to only practically brand-new, which we see in comics all-too-often. Mike Grell will be doing something he hasn’t done in a long, long time: he’ll be drawing a graphic novel from a different writer’s script; in this case, actor (The Transformers, The Prestige, Robin of Sherwood) Mark Ryan. Oh, and Timothy Truman’s been talking with a rock’n’roll legend about a major collaboration.
Not bad for free, huh?
That leaves only one question.
Does anybody else remember Whizzy?
Mike Gold is editor-in-chief of ComicMix.
Jump to comments (13) 
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Comments (13)
MARK WHEATLEY (7:41 AM on Mon Feb 11, 2008)
Happy Birthday ComicMix! Of course it is closer to a three year mark if we go back to the beginning. And it has been a fascinating and rewarding (almost) three years. I can't wait to do the next three.
Sal Loria (9:09 AM on Mon Feb 11, 2008)
Congrats on the one year anniversary. Here's to many more!
Bev Keddy (9:11 AM on Mon Feb 11, 2008)
I feel I have to comment on this Jack Johnson novel. Obviously, I haven't read it, or seen it. I just want to express the hope that Tommy Burns' memory is not further diminished as a result of this graphic novel. Burns was not a bum. He deserves a place in the list as the top heavyweights of all time.
I have read a book about Tommy Burns, which focuses a great deal on the Burns-Johnson fight. It was not the blowout you might have expected.
As I wrote at the beginning of this post: I just hope that the GN will not slag the memory of poor Tommy Burns more than it already has been for the last 100 years.
Mike Gold (9:35 AM on Mon Feb 11, 2008)
Interesting comment; thanks. We'll pass it along to Trevor.
Bev Keddy (11:26 AM on Mon Feb 11, 2008)
Thank you. It is just that Tommy Burns' reputation has been slagged for 100 years now, by people who don't know what they're talking about.
Tommy Burns (born Noah Brusso) should be a hero because he was the first white fighter to agree to fight black fighters. Others refused, saying they were too gentlemanly to do so, or they were out and out racists, referring to Jack Johnson by the N-word. They were afraid they'd lose, is why they wouldn't fight Johnson, of course!
Burns fought Johnson, and did not win. He didn't lose either, exactly, as the fight was called off. But because he didn't destroy Johnson, he was vilified by the press, because the title then went to a black man. People like Jack London (yes, that Jack London!) wrote long opinion pieces about that match, making Burns look as if he had lost handily, when Burns got lots of good punches in.
After the fight, Johnson called a press conference where he said that Burns was no good. Johnson then checked himself into a hospital where he later admitted to urinating blood.
A couple of points.
Johnson would never agree to a re-match with Burns. I wonder why?
Burns continues, 50+ years after his death, to hold records. He only had one actual defeat in his career, and the Johnson fight doesn't count.
Mike Tyson referred to Burns as a good fighter.
I can cite everything I just wrote. The book is excellent, and is fully cited as well. I can send you a link if you are interested.
I am sorry for being so passionate about this. It is just that poor Tommy Burns' reputation has been slagged for so long, literally 100 years, and I hate to hear about further, even inadvertent, attempts to besmirch this man's reputation.
Back to comics talk!
Bev
Alan Coil (12:25 PM on Mon Feb 11, 2008)
But it IS comics talk, Bev! Good to see you're still around.
Bev Keddy (12:29 PM on Mon Feb 11, 2008)
Thanks, Alan. I may have left that other board, but have been busy with my own blog. Have more than 110 posts in less than 2 months. Not sure if I am allowed to post the name of my blog here, but you can write me off the board and I'll be happy to supply the name.
Not that much comics talk, actually, but my blog has pictures of me on it. And lots of comments on what is happening in my life.
Bev
Alan Coil (12:24 PM on Mon Feb 11, 2008)
Congrats on the anniversary. And they said it couldn't be done! ;)
Howard Johnson (12:52 PM on Mon Feb 11, 2008)
I'd like to slip in past the Johnson-Burns comments to congratulate all on a great first year, and wish you a whole lot more!
Michael Davis (1:37 PM on Fri Feb 15, 2008)
I did not see this. I have had the flu for what seems like forever and not been reading a lot of stuff these days. But Happy Birthday AND Valentine Day! No, Mike I will not be yours.
Jim Martin (8:32 PM on Mon Feb 18, 2008)
Congrats on getting this far. I have only been an occasional visitor but the material for free here is as good and better then much of what is being published monthly.