Friday, October 16, 2009
He's Not Dead, He's Restin'!
Getting to be crunch time on getting The Guide to U.S. Newspaper Comic Strips and Cartoon Panels ready for the publisher. I'm hip-deep in putting together the cross-indexes, a job I wouldn't wish on an enemy. So despite the quote above, I'm doing anything but restin'. Just to tide you over here's the final Sunday episode of Barney Baxter, published January 22 1950.
As long as I've got you here, what do you think of the title The Universal Guide to American Newspaper Comic Strips and Cartoon Panels? You'll recall that the book will not use the term "Stripper's Guide" over worries that libraries will find it ... um ... troubling. The generic working title sure doesn't have any identity or pizzazz, so I was thinking maybe "Universal Guide" might be a nudge in the right direction. Any other great titles you could suggest would be helpful. My brain has turned to mush over the past month getting the book ready, and my Imagin-O-Meter is pegged on zero.
Comments:
"The Universal Guide to American Newspaper Comic Strips and Cartoon Panels" sounds more like a subtitle.
I would try to punch it up with something that gives a sense of the imaginative worlds created on the newspages.
"Four-Color Universe" or "Worlds in Ink" are bad examples, but I think they suggest what could be a more engaging direction.
I would try to punch it up with something that gives a sense of the imaginative worlds created on the newspages.
"Four-Color Universe" or "Worlds in Ink" are bad examples, but I think they suggest what could be a more engaging direction.
Who is publishing it, Allan? Hope it is going to be loaded with illustrations! Here are some suggestions for you...
The Comic Strip Almanac: A Guide to U.S. Newspaper Comic Strips and Cartoon Panels
The Holtz Field Guide to American Newspaper Comic Strips
Strip Search: A Guide to Newspaper Comic Strips
The Funnies Files: An Illustrated Guide to Newspaper Comic Strips, 1890 to Present
Comicography: The Illustrated Inkdex of American Newspaper Comic Strips
The Comic Strip Almanac: A Guide to U.S. Newspaper Comic Strips and Cartoon Panels
The Holtz Field Guide to American Newspaper Comic Strips
Strip Search: A Guide to Newspaper Comic Strips
The Funnies Files: An Illustrated Guide to Newspaper Comic Strips, 1890 to Present
Comicography: The Illustrated Inkdex of American Newspaper Comic Strips
I only recently started reading your blog (after you were mentioned in a Belgian magazine about comics) and I really like it, so I wish you good luck with your book! Too bad you can't use Stripper's Guide, that sounds great. I agree with the other commenters that "the Guide..." sounds more like a subtitle by the way...
# posted by 
: 10/16/2009 12:53 PM
: 10/16/2009 12:53 PM
The Nation's Register of Newspaper Comics
The U.S. Guide to Newspaper Comics
Indexing the Funnies
I'll try to think of some more
The U.S. Guide to Newspaper Comics
Indexing the Funnies
I'll try to think of some more
Waiting for new life, eh?
Say, didn't Bob Nalor take this over after Miller left? Or was that just the daily?
Say, didn't Bob Nalor take this over after Miller left? Or was that just the daily?
I like the authoritative sound of "The Holtz Field Guide". Sort of like Petersen's Field Guide to the Birds.
# posted by : 10/16/2009 4:47 PM
: 10/16/2009 4:47 PM
"the Holtz Field Guide to Newspaper Cartoon Strips & Panels, sez it all, and leaves it open for you..... or" the International, Silver Newspaper Submarine Comics Guide & Index"
Hello, Allan---Why such an abrupt ending to the long-running BARNEY BAXTER?---Cole Johnson.
# posted by : 10/20/2009 2:46 PM
: 10/20/2009 2:46 PM
Everyone else has their name on their guides, why not you too?
The Holtz Guide to American Newspaper Comic Strips and Cartoon Panels.
The Holtz Guide to American Newspaper Comic Strips and Cartoon Panels.
Hi folks --
Sorry to take so long responding. Re Barney Baxter, the strip ended abruptly because Frank Miller died. And Bob Naylor did do the strip 1943-46, but then Miller took control again.
Re the title suggestions, a lot of interesting fodder there. I've suggested my editor come by and read your suggestions.
Though I of course like the ego-boo of 'Holtz Guide', and recognize that it worked out rather well for a certain fellow named Overstreet and others, I have to consider that hundreds of people have contributed important information to the book, including some who spent many, many hours in libraries doing research specifically for my benefit. It just seems like a slap in the face to those people who made such invaluable contributions. Maybe it should be called "The Holtz Horde Guide"...
Best, Allan
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Sorry to take so long responding. Re Barney Baxter, the strip ended abruptly because Frank Miller died. And Bob Naylor did do the strip 1943-46, but then Miller took control again.
Re the title suggestions, a lot of interesting fodder there. I've suggested my editor come by and read your suggestions.
Though I of course like the ego-boo of 'Holtz Guide', and recognize that it worked out rather well for a certain fellow named Overstreet and others, I have to consider that hundreds of people have contributed important information to the book, including some who spent many, many hours in libraries doing research specifically for my benefit. It just seems like a slap in the face to those people who made such invaluable contributions. Maybe it should be called "The Holtz Horde Guide"...
Best, Allan
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Obscurity of the Day: Bumper to Bumper
As we've discussed before here on the blog, the New York Daily News frequently included extra features in their Sunday sections of the late 1940s to mid-60s that were never syndicated. The reason for these fillers is a little murky since there were additional Sunday features available from the Chicago Tribune-New York News Syndicate. Perhaps because most of those other features were continuities they preferred to have gag material that could be inserted purely on a space-available basis.One of those unsyndicated gag features was Bumper to Bumper from the versatile pen of Gill Fox. According to the artist, he produced 20-30 installments per year of this series about a garageman from 1952-1963. Perhaps I just haven't seen the right issues of the Daily News comics section (which unfortunately has not been indexed in full) but I certainly have not seen anywhere near that many actually appearing there; in fact the only printed examples I've found are a pair from 1961-62. Does the Daily News still have a huge drawer full of these strips still unused, or have I had the bad luck to find the wrong sections of the Daily News?
Labels: Obscurities
Comments:
Alan,
I found many more and have put them up on my blog about a year ago. I love Fox's work and this style appeals to me particulary. I remember that my samples ran from somewhere in 1955 to possibly 1961. At least you have another onde than I.
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I found many more and have put them up on my blog about a year ago. I love Fox's work and this style appeals to me particulary. I remember that my samples ran from somewhere in 1955 to possibly 1961. At least you have another onde than I.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Obscurity of the Day: Eph Jackson
The highly regarded Saturday Evening Post cartoonist Herbert Johnson was for a short time the art director of the Sunday comics section of the Philadelphia North American (specifically 1906-09 as per Rick Marschall). During that period Johnson only applied his considerable talent to a Sunday comics feature once. His somewhat crude but energetically drawn Eph Jackson, also known as Uncle Eph Jackson, had a short run from December 3 1905 to February 11 1906. The stereotyping, both of blacks and rural whites, tempers our appreciation today for this otherwise delightful feature.Thanks again to Cole Johnson who provided the scan.
Labels: Obscurities
Comments:
I love the interaction between the two dogs along the bottom of the strip!
Just recently discovered your site; keep up the great work.
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Just recently discovered your site; keep up the great work.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Jim Ivey's Sunday Comics
Two books by Jim Ivey are available at Lulu.com or direct from the author:
Graphic Shorthand: Jim Ivey teaches the fundamentals of cartooning in his own inimitable style. 128 pages, coil-bound. Lulu $19.95 plus shipping, direct $25 postpaid.
Cartoons I Liked,Jim Ivey's career retrospective; he picks his own favorite cartoons from a 40-year editorial cartooning career. Lulu $11.95, direct $20 postpaid.
Send your order to:
Jim Ivey
5840 Dahlia Dr. #7
Orlando FL 32807
5840 Dahlia Dr. #7
Orlando FL 32807
When ordered direct, either book will include an original Ivey sketch.
Labels: Jim Ivey's Sunday Comics
