Cartoonists Conundrum
While we’ve been in the throes of office hell, we’ve noticed some changes going on in cartoonist-land that bear passing along:
- Alison Bechdel has announced that she’s cutting back on production of her popular Dykes to Watch Out For comic strip from biweekly to monthly, in order to work on her new memoir, which she estimates will be ready in 2009. She’ll be interspersing the new strips with "archive strips" (aka reruns), the first of which was published today — check out the very first episode of DTWOF, from 20 years ago! (And be sure to check out Amanda Marcotte’s review of Bechdel’s Fun Home on the A-list political blog Pandagon.)
Mikhaela Reid passes along the news about Ward Sutton ending Sutton Impact (check out The Beat for more) and about the closing of The New Standard, a very friendly venue for political cartoonists which will be sorely missed. (See Glenn’s post below for further cartoonist troubles at larger circulation papers.)- We do have some good news to pass along, however. The Ormes Society’s Cheryl Lynn has kicked off the Torchy Brown Art Meme over at her blog, the results of which will be published on TOS’s site. (That’s Torchy over on the right.) And Heidi MacDonald crows that the House of Twelve Comic Jam folks have a new meeting place, starting this very evening. It’s not far from Jim Hanley’s, so Manhattanites can grab their weekly haul and a drink with that jam, if they have the bread.
Mikhaela Reid And if you are going to drink, please draw responsibly.
The mob boss looks like a cross between Edward G. Robinson and Clark Gable.And I think the mob boss has got his logic entirely crossed. If Lone Justice isn't working with the Police, there's nothing holding him back from the Vigilante Justice of being a one man Judge, Jury and Executioner.When LJ says, "I wouldn't bet on the Execution thing either," he's saying in effect, "I probably won't become an executioner." Which isn't what you want him to say, is it?Ever the Kibitzer. How about this line? "This time, I'll break your jaw! Next time, your kneecaps! And don't bet AGAINST the Execution thing either!" I know, this line is too long for that panel. But put, "This time, I'll break your jaw," in the top panel, and the rest will fit.
Hey Mark! I know it's been forever and a day since I commented, but allow me to jump back in, now that I'm caught up.What I like: Still LOVE the color work you do. You have a defined palate which serves the story wonderfully. I'm also a big fan of your inking style. Part loose, part painterly… it really stands out to make a simple and accessible page (for example, your rendering of the train, and the backgrounds always stick out to me as being a fantastic set piece to the whole production). Mike Gold had me read "Kings In Disguise" and in a small way, this story is like a pulpy tread in the same waters, and for that I'm happy to be back on board as a reader.If I'm being constructive: The story jumps a ton, from piece to piece. I know this is largely due to the format, and in some ways can be an homage to the pulp style of storytelling, but… it's hard to be grounded by Octavious/John/LJ. While I love that he's realizing the world he was used to is not what it is anymore… and that he's trying to "find himself"– this is good. But due in part to the chopped nature of the storytelling at times, I feel like chapters 8-18 have all happened without a "beat" for him to settle, and get his barrings. So, I know it's a ton of "notes" from some punk kid, but I'm a fan through and through Mark. Kudos thus far, and I'll be recommending people check out LJ for a great romp of period pulp adventure.And the geek in me says that awesome glider better show itself again.
Thanks for the comments, Marc. I think I know what you're talking about – Bob and I were thinking that the only thing that would turn Octavius from his path would be a long series of slaps in the face. He's just such a strong willed character. And it is pulp style. Have you read THE SPIDER? I think we take it pretty easy compared to that. But I would be lying it I didn't say that Bob and I are constantly aware that we might be pushing too far one way or another. But damn it, Jim – it we're not here to push it, then why?
yes, I'm familiar with the Spider, for sure. Yes, the constant slaps in the face certainly push Octavius down this new path… and it's forcing him to find the new hero within… It's a great hook for some fun pulp. But I'm afraid the evil Scion is not far away…. dun dun dun…..
Scion? Who? :)
You just got me. For a second I was like… "the villain in issue 2… it's Scion… isn't it?" and then proceeded to re-read half the story. Well played Mark, well played.