MJ's Fiddlestix comic

MJ, one of the cartoonists who gave me a logo drawing, wrote in over the holiday with some information on his comic strip, Fiddlestix. With his permission, we'll show some strips and give some history. The earliest examples he sent were twenty years old. "I've been doing it for over twenty years, the first 3 were with a deal from Bill, then after he retired, they were hounding me to change this, change that. I couldn't take it no more. So I took my ball and went home. Wonder often what might of been though..."



These date from when he and King Features Syndicate were working it up. Of these he said, "They are the two main characters, had a few others but Grizzle, and Irving are always in the strips unless it is a FIDDLESTIX / Pinhead strip. Another main character that I rarely use because of Zippy from Bill Griffith. Pinhead was created not even knowing that there was another out there. At least I eventually learned and the strip now looks so much better."



These are two daily strips.




"These were in a digest published by Big Time Attic in 2007 which was distributed internationally. The last 3 panel FIDDLESTIX dailies appeared in SPOON Magazine (U.S.A.) during 2007. The dailies were pulled from publication in 2008 for the 20th anniversary and moved to a sunday only multi-panel format which are syndicated internationally through Newsblaze Publications, Folsom, California. The first color multi-panel format was featured through Scoop/Diamond International Galleries, Gemstone Publishing in March 2008. They appeared in comics distributed in Great Britian, U.K. throughout 2008. They currently appear in Newropeans Magazine (Paris, France), Newsblaze Publications (U.S.A.), and The National Free Press (Canada, Kingston, Ontario),. I am currently working on a FIDDLESTIX comic for distribution internationally in 2010. And of course I am an Editorial Cartoonist for The National Free Press in Canada. The editorial one-shots are also distributed through Newsblaze Publications internationally."

This week's new comics (or comic, singular)

I find this somewhat amusing, but as Joel pointed out to me, people want their new comics on Wednesday so this isn't good planning by the comics companies.

From: Joel Pollack

New comics arriving this WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30TH
 
DC COMICS
BLACKEST NIGHT #6
 
MARVEL COMICS
MARVEL 2010 CALENDAR
SIEGE PROMO BOOK
 
SIGNIFICANT OTHERS
 
PLANET PICKS
  

--
BIG PLANET COMICS
4908 Fairmont Ave.
Bethesda, MD 20814
301-654-6856

Also affiliated with:

BIG PLANET COMICS
3145 Dumbarton St. NW
Washington, DC 20007
202-342-1961

BIG PLANET COMICS
426 Maple Ave. East
Vienna, VA 22180
703-242-9412

BIG PLANET COMICS
7315 Baltimore Ave.
College Park, MD 20740
301-699-0498

Dec 30: Beyond Comics Comic Book Sale

B E Y O N D      C O M I C S Happy New Year December 29, 2009 Small Week HUGE SALE! ONE DAY ONLY... Wednesday December 30th. New Comics From 50 Cents!!! See below for details. IT'S ALMOST OVER INVENTORY CLEARANCE SALE ENDS JANUARY 1ST. QUICK LINKS NEW COMIC SALE Variant Covers New Comic Sale New Comics Cover Dated Before Jan 2010 $1 each   Blackest Night Comics & Crossovers 50% OFF   Dark Reign Crossover Comics 50 cents each Excludes Dark Avengers, Dark Wolverine, Dark X-men, The List Comics   Secret Invasion Comics & Crossovers 50 cents each   52, Aftermath, Final Crisis and Countdown Comics 50 cents each   Grimm Fairy Tales Comics (all) 25% OFF   Fist of Justice 25% OFF   INFO Website eBay Store New Items Added9/7/09 Amazon Store Follow us on Twitter Newsletter Signup Don't Miss: Blackest Night #6 HUGE SALE ON NEW COMIC BOOKS One Day Only Keep an eye out for our Tweeter Specials New Comics BLACKEST NIGHT #6 ESCAPE FROM WONDERLAND #3 GRIMM FAIRY TALES #43 ORIGINS OF SIEGE (First Come...) Variant Covers BLACKEST NIGHT VAR ED #6 BLACKEST NIGHT SKETCH VAR ED #6 Please Note, some items are not available at all store locations. For more information please speak with any store representative. Some items may also be allocated by the manufacturer and may not be available. Beyond Comics does not guarantee items being in stock; however we will do our best to keep them available. Email: Gaithersburg John Shine Manager or Frederick Jon Cohen Manager Gaithersburg Store: 536 North Frederick Ave Gaithersburg, MD (301) 216-0007 Hours: M,Tu 11-8; W-Sat 10-9; Sun 12-6 Frederick Store: 5632 Route 85 Frederick, MD (301) 668-8202 Hours: M,Tu 11-8; W-Sat 10-9; Sun 12-6

Michigan State U's Comic Art Collection's additions continued

I haven't done one of these posts on what's new at MSU's Comic Art Collection since June, and no one's asked where they are! Well, here you go anyway - July 2009 cataloguing.

There's a cartoon collection for everyone these two entries show-

A Nation Grieved : the Kennedy Assassination in Editorial
Cartoons / compiled and edited by Raymond B. Rajski ; with
a foreword by Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. -- Rutland, Vt. :
C.E. Tuttle Co., 1967. -- 134 p. : ill. ; 27 cm. -- Call
no.: E842.9.R28 1967

More Adventures of Flash Filstrup : the Fastest Overcoat in
Town / Peter Plant. -- London : Arrow Books, 1984. -- 94 p.
: ill. ; 11 x 18 cm. -- Cover title: "Filstrup Flashes
Again!" -- Key words: indecent exposure, exhibitionism. --
Call no.: PN6737.P55M6 1984

Surely someone can help finish off these important runs -

Total Justice. -- New York : DC Comics, 1996. -- col. ill. ;
26 cm. -- Complete in 3 nos. -- "Based on the Kenner action
figures." -- Superhero genre. -- LIBRARY HAS: no. 1. --
Call no.: PN6728.6.D3T62 1996

2020 Visions. -- New York : DC Comics, 1997-1998. -- col. ill.
; 26 cm. -- (Vertigo) -- Complete in 12 nos. -- Science
fiction genre. -- LIBRARY HAS: no. 1. -- Call no.:

Robert Osborn was all over the place in the 1960s, and is largely forgotten now -

The Vulgarians / Osborn. -- Greenwich, Conn. : New York
Graphic Society, 1960? -- 95 p. : ill. (part col.) ; 21 x
27 cm. -- Call no.: NC1429 .O62V8 1960
Osborn, Robert Chesley, 1904-1994.

Mankind May Never Make It! / by Robert Osborn. -- Greenwich,
Conn., New York Graphic Society, 1968. -- 92 p. : ill. ; 21
x 26 cm. -- Call no.: NC1429 .O62M3 1968

Animation isn't one of their main fields, but it sneaks in, especially in Francophone versions -

Histoire du Cinéma d'Animation au Québec : Essai / Mira
Falardeau. -- Montréal, QC : Typo, 2006. -- 186 p. : ill. ;
18 cm. -- Includes bibliographical references (p. 183-187).
-- Book about animated films in Québec. -- Call no.:
NC1766.C3F35 2006

Le Cinéma d'Animation : Dessin Animé, Marionnettes, Images de
Synthèse / Bernard Génin. -- Paris : Cahiers du Cinéma :
SCÉRÉN-CNDP, 2003. -- 95 p. : ill. ; 19 cm. -- (Les Petits
Cahiers) -- Bibliogr.: p. 93. -- Book about animated films.
-- Call no.: NC1765.G4 2003
Génin, Bernard, 1946-

I wonder if this is already dated into history?

Online Comics vs. Printed Comics : a Study in E-Commerce and
the Comparative Economies of Content / Todd Allen. --
Indignant Media, 2005. -- 104 p. ; 22 cm. -- Book about
webcomics. -- Call no.: PN6714.A553 2005

You don't seen 'notes' about the artists in gag cartoon collections very often. You're usually left wondering who did the cartoon when the signature's been cropped out -

The Best Cartoons from France / collected by Edna Bennett ;
preface by Philippe Halsman. -- New York : Simon and
Schuster, 1953. -- 122 p. : chiefly ill. ; 28 cm. --
Includes "Notes about the principal artists represented":
Bernard Aldebert, Barberousse, Jean Bellus, Bil, Chaval,
Cosper & Mogensen, Jacques Dropy, Dubout, Gabriel Edme,
Jacques Faizant, Andre François, Gad, Gus, Maurice Henry,
Mose, Pouzet, Salo, Siné, Trez, and Guy Valls. -- Call no.:
NC1499.B44A45

I just saw an interview that says this title's being canceled in 2010 -

Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic. -- Milwaukie, OR : Dark
Horse Comics, 2006- . -- col. ill. ; 26 cm. -- Began with
no. 1 (Jan. 2006), cf. Official Overstreet Comic Book Price
Guide. -- Science fiction genre. -- LIBRARY HAS: no. 25,
31-33, 35 (2008). -- Call no.: PN6728.7.D34S7545

I miss the print Comics Journal, and its slightly-longer gone news coverage -

"ICAF Marches On" p. 38-40 in The Comics Journal, no. 272
(Nov. 2005). -- (Newswatch : Journal Datebook) -- Includes
photos of Ann Telnaes, Harry Katz, Charles Hatfield, Jerry
Robinson and Tom Toles. -- Call no.: PN6700.C62no.272

"New Yorker: Comics Renaissance Must Be Over" p. 40 in The
Comics Journal, no. 272 (Nov. 2005). -- (Newswatch :
Journal Datebook) -- Responds to an article by Peter
Schlejdahl in the Oct. 17, 2005 New Yorker. -- Call no.:
PN6700.C62no.272

"Come to Comic Convention, Meet Accused Killer" p. 40-41 in
The Comics Journal, no. 272 (Nov. 2005). -- (Newswatch :
Journal Datebook) -- O.J. Simpson will appear at the
NecroComicon in Los Angeles, Halloween Weekend. -- Call
no.: PN6700.C62no.272

I enjoyed this book a lot -

Bourbon Island 1730 / by Appollo & Lewis Trondheim ; art by
Lewis Trondheim ; translated by Alexis Siegel. -- New York
: First Second, 2008. -- 278 p. : ill. ; 22 cm. -- Summary
On Bourbon Island off the coast of Madagascar, a French
ornithologist and his assistant are caught up in an
adventure involving slavery, colonialism, and the last days
of the great pirates. -- Translation of: L'Île Bourbon
1730. -- Adventure story and funny animal genres. -- Call
no.: PN6747.T72 I413 2008

The month wrapped up with a story that probably sounded better than it read -

"Party in the Penthouse"* (Mr. Risk) / DOC. 7 p. in
Super-Mystery Comics, v. 6, no. 1 (Aug. 1946). -- Call no.:
PN6728.1.A2S77m v.6no.1

Stan Lee in USA Weekend

The magazine is an insert in today's Washington Examiner, and the wife just spotted the article.

Comics icon Stan Lee applauds a TV series you may have missed
DVD Insider December 27, 2009

Ann Hornaday's best and worst films of the decade were both animated

The article is not specifically about animation, but Ann Hornaday's best and worst films of the decade were both animated.

Best: Finding Nemo
Worst: Star Wars: Clone Wars

As much as I like animation, I find those two choices to be mindboggling. You can decide for yourself whether to read the article.

Steve Brodner illos in Post's Outlook section

The excellent caricaturist Steve Brodner did illos of some of the most famous women politicians in today's Post's Outlook section. The images don't appear to be online.

John McNamee in Daily Cross Hatch

John McNamee is featured in the Daily Cross Hatch, which notes that he did the Scrooge McDuck parody in the November issue of Big Planet Orbit, the newsletter from the comic book store.

That darn Lio!

Free for All roundup of short critiques of The Post
Washington Post Saturday, December 26, 2009

Christmas spirits

What a heartwarming Christmas message the "Lio" comic strip put forth Dec. 23. I only hope that when my 5-year-old is waiting in front of a liquor store to score some booze, he remembers that I prefer single-malt Scotch!

Mitch Katz, Falls Church

Joe Ciardiello illustrates Dave Barry's year in review

Joe Ciardiello illustrated Dave Barry's year in review for the Washington Post Magazine.

The Year According to Toles

The Year According to Toles appears in print in today's Washington Post. It appeared online a couple of days ago.

Nate Beeler's The Year in Cartoons in Examiner

Today's Washington Examiner has Nate Beeler's The Year in Cartoons feature. I haven't looked at it yet, but I'll be stealing copies off the sidewalk for libraries at Michigan State and Ohio State. Nate's one of the best young editorial cartoonists working now, as well as being a friend of mine. And bravo to the Examiner for both doing this and putting it on the cover.

Big Planet Sale and Schedule

From: Joel Pollack

Hope everyone had a good Christmas! I just want to let everyone know about our schedule for the next week. Wednesday will bring us only one new comic, Blackest Night # 6, and a bunch of Marvel freebies. Thus, Wednesday hours are 11-7. Thursday (New Year's Eve) hours will be 11am-5pm. Friday January 1st everything in the store will be 20% off.  Hours will be 12am-5pm.  Happy New Year to all.  Hope to see you all soon.

BIG PLANET COMICS
4908 Fairmont Ave.
Bethesda, MD 20814
301-654-6856

Also affiliated with:

BIG PLANET COMICS
3145 Dumbarton St. NW
Washington, DC 20007
202-342-1961

BIG PLANET COMICS
426 Maple Ave. East
Vienna, VA 22180
703-242-9412

BIG PLANET COMICS
7315 Baltimore Ave.
College Park, MD 20740
301-699-0498

Ok, back to work

The Post ran its full page 'The Year in Cartoons' today. A 1958 Herblock Santa cartoon is rerun on the next page. The Year according to Toles runs on Sunday. In the Style section, there's a bunch of cartoons by Tim Bower for the holiday memories section.

This week's Onion has a Christmas maze which appears to be illustrated by Emily Flake, although it's uncredited. She also had a spot illo in the Dec 24 NY Times editorial page.

Merry Christmas from ComicsDC

Captain America coopted

Christmas eve in DC. These political stickers are on a sign outside Smithsonian's Hirschorn Museum. Note the modified Captain American in the "Out of Iraq" sticker. He's 'fighting for non violence'.

Beyond Comics One Day Coupon Sale X-mas Eve!

COUPON MADNESS December 24, 2009 One Day Coupon Sale! BEYOND COMICS Gaithersburg Gaithersburg Square 536 North Frederick Ave 301-216-007 Frederick 5632 Buckeystown Pike 301-668-8202 Next Week News! With only one title shipping next Wednesday Beyond Comics will hold a One Day Comic Book Sale Wednesday December 30th Details to come next Monday. Christmas Eve Only Sale! Graphic Novels Buy Two Get One FREE! Of equal or lesser value. Offer Expires: December 24, 2009 Christmas Eve Only Sale! T-Shirts Buy One Get One FREE! Of equal or lesser value. Offer Expires: December 24, 2009 Christmas Eve Only Sale! Star Wars Action Figures By Hasbro Buy One Get One FREE! Of equal or lesser value. Offer Expires: December 24, 2009 Christmas Eve Only Sale! World of Warcraft Game Cards Buy One Get One FREE! Of equal or lesser value. Offer Expires: December 24, 2009 Christmas Eve Only Sale! GI Joe Action Figures Single Figures By Hasbro Buy Two Get One FREE! Of equal or lesser value. Offer Expires: December 24, 2009 Christmas Eve Only Sale! Posters Buy One Get One FREE! Of equal or lesser value. Offer Expires: December 24, 2009 INFO Website eBay Store New Items Added9/7/09 Amazon Store Follow us on Twitter Newsletter Signup Please Note, some items are not available at all store locations. For more information please speak with any store representative. Some items may also be allocated by the manufacturer and may not be available. Beyond Comics does not guarantee items being in stock; however we will do our best to keep them available. Email: Gaithersburg John Shine Manager or Frederick Jon Cohen Manager Gaithersburg Store: 536 North Frederick Ave Gaithersburg, MD (301) 216-0007 Hours: M,Tu 11-8; W-Sat 10-9; Sun 12-6 Frederick Store: 5632 Route 85 Frederick, MD (301) 668-8202 Hours: M,Tu 11-8; W-Sat 10-9; Sun 12-6

PR: Bamn #2 @ Indy Comic Book Week

From: Troy Allen <bamncan@hotmail.com>

Bamn #2

Bamn #1

For the uninitiated, Indy Comic Book Week is not the day that America invades Afghan stand-up comedians, nor is it the day that Harrison Ford tells dead baby jokes --- no, Indy Comic Book Week is the last week of December (12/30/09), in which, independent comic book creators around the known universe receive an opportunity to pimp their illustrated works to your local comic shop (in some cases for the first time).

Get on board, learn something new, support your local hipster, and give back to the only printed media not on its' deathbed: http://www.indycomicbookweek.com/

All kidding aside, ICBW is a great opportunity to take advantage of what the comic industry has to offer besides the usual superhero stuff. Not to mention the fact that Bamn #2 will finally be making its' comic shop debut at, both, Third Eye Comics and Alliance Comics and Games on December 30^th 2009. If you're in DC, Maryland, or Virginia, be sure to grab a copy.

THE NITTY GRITTY:

Indy Comic Week is December 30^th, 2009 at Third Eye Comics, Alliance Comics and Games, as well as, these comic book specialty shops.

Be sure to snag these titles from The Bamn Crew on this exciting day (and if your retailer doesn't carry them…ASK FOR THEM!):

Bamn #1

Written by TROY JEFFREY ALLEN
Penciled by JAY PAYNE

Edited by RON CRISTOBAL

Nerds vs. Jocks, Bullies vs. Misfits, the Weak vs. the Strong...Everyone loves a good underdog story, SO LETS GET READY TO RUMBLE! BAMN gets its title from the embittered main character. A surly and washed-up former pro wrestler, Bamn has spent the dying years of his career throwing up in bars. He lives out of his car and uses stolen credit cards to pay for beer. A chance encounter with a pair of local high schoolers, Art and Ian, brings him to the FWF, A backyard wrestling federation ran by the two young fans. When the school's wrestling squad shows up to bully the kids, Bamn steps in. In a rare moment of clarity he promises all the teenagers that he's going to teach them the most important thing they will ever learn…HOW TO FIGHT BACK AND LOOK GOOD DOING IT!

24PGS.(each)/Black & White/Parental Advisory …$3.50 (each)
www.bamncan.com

Also Available for purchase at http://www.comixpress.com

Bamn #2

Written by TROY JEFFREY ALLEN
Penciled by JAY PAYNE

Edited by RON CRISTOBAL

Bamn, a fallen pro wrestling superstar, has spent the postscript of his career throwing up in bars and living out of his car.
A chance encounter brings Bamn to a group of teenage fans who have long-idolized the has-been wrestler. Wanting to impress Bamn, the kids invite him to their backyard wrestling show. Unfortunately, the only audience they attract is the group of bullies that comprise their school s amateur wrestling team. Bamn arrives to end a confrontation between the kids and offers to teach the backyarders how to fight back.
Training day has begun...
24PGS.(each)/Black & White/Parental Advisory …$3.50 (each)
www.bamncan.com

Also Available for purchase at http://www.comixpress.com

For more visit: http://www.indycomicbookweek.com/ and http://www.bamncan.com

Please contact Troy Jeffrey Allen at BamnCan@hotmail.com for retailer information and details.

Comics articles in today's Post

A suprisingly positive review of the Chipmunks, an animation voice actor obit and a wire story on the Simpsons and religion...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/22/AR2009122203159.html
'Alvin and the Chipmunks' sequel is cute enough
By Michael O'Sullivan
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, December 23, 2009; C01

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/22/AR2009122203479.html
Vatican newspaper has kind words for The Simpsons
Associated Press
Wednesday, December 23, 2009; C02

Obituaries: Arnold Stang Actor, Cartoon voice
Washington Post Wednesday, December 23, 2009
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/22/AR2009122203576.html

Jan 1: Big Planet Comics New Year's Day Sale

20% off everything. Friday, Jan 1, Noon-5 pm at all 4 stores.

Newsarama goes Looking for Calvin and Hobbes

Nevin Martell is interviewed in Author Goes LOOKING FOR CALVIN AND HOBBES, By Zack Smith, Newsarama 21 December 2009.

Dembicki books on ComicsXP

From: Matt Dembicki

My books are now available for digital download at ComicsXP.com, and they substantially cheaper than the print versions. Please take a look.

Thanks, and have a great holiday!

Matt

Matt Wuerker's appearance at Newseum continued

The recordings of Matt Wuerker's appearance on the Newseum's Inside Media have appeared on Youtube - part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, and part 5.

Washington Times scraps Sunday Comics too, says Daily Cartoonist

Alan Gardner found a notice on the Washington Times website saying they weren't producing a Sunday comics section anymore. For a long time, they actually produced a Saturday color comics section - it only moved to Sunday about five years ago, I think. It's actually easier to find information about that than it is about the current state of their paper.

Kal, The Economist and The Daily Show's John Oliver

From: kevin Kallaugher -

Recently in Washington DC, The Economist held a fabulous event titled "The World in 2010 Festival". Among the exhilarating and diverse group of speakers was John Oliver, correspondent for The Daily Show and, well, me (he was the exhilarating one). You can see videos and sketches I created from the event here: http://www.kaltoons.com/wordpress/

Best

Kal

Kevin Kallaugher

kal@kaltoons.com

www.Kaltoons.com

Quick Reviews for Comics Due 12-23-09

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 12-23-09

By John Judy

 

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #616 by Fred Van Lente and Javier Puilido.  So why has the Sandman gone bad again and what's with the little girl he's got sleeping inside him at night?  Just typing that I know the answer ain't good.  Gotta look!

 

ANGEL ANNUAL #1 by Brian Lynch and Stephen Mooney.  The movie version of Angel's adventure in LA/Hell!  But could it ever be as good as the comic?

 

ARCHIE #604 by Michael Uslan and Stan Goldberg.  Archie and Betty move further down that aisle.  This one's already more fun than the Veronica version!  Go Betty!

 

BLACKEST NIGHT: JSA #1 OF 3 James Robinson and Eddy Barrows.  Dead Black Lantern JSAers come back for the hearts of their namesakes.  What's sad is you're actually rooting for a couple of them...  Okay, fine, it's just me!

 

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER: WILLOW ONE-SHOT by Joss Whedon and Karl Moline.  Focusing on Ms. Rosenberg herself with cameos by some of the most disturbing giant female anatomy ever.  Yeah, see if I'm joking.  Gotta look.

 

CAPTAIN AMERICA REBORN: WHO WILL WEILD THE SHIELD? By Ed Brubaker and Butch Guice.  Steve Rogers is back but who gets to keep the shield?  Steve-O?  Winter Bucky?  I think they should arm wrestle for it!  Recommended.

 

CHEW #7 by John Layman and Rob Guillory.  Tony Chew meets his nemesis.  His incredibly sexy, dangerous nemesis.  Maybe his luck is changing…  Recommended.

 

CRIMINAL: SINNERS #3 by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips. Tracy Lawless is tracking a killer even as loose women and the Chinese Triad get in his way.  If only it were just Chinese Triad…  Highly recommended.

 

DETECTIVE COMICS #860 by Greg Rucka, JH Williams III and Cully Hamner.  Wrapping up "The Origin of "Batwoman."  Plus the Huntress teams up with the Question to beat up some pimps.  Awesome!

 

FALL OF THE HULKS GAMMA by Jeph Loeb and John Romita Jr.  Hulks smash!  Yeah, that's about it really.

 

FANTASTIC FOUR #574 by Jonathan Hickman and Neil Edwards.  Franklin Richards' birthday party.  Need we say more?

 

GARTH ENNIS BATTLFIELDS: HAPPY VALLEY #1 OF 9 by Ennis and Paul Jason Holden.  The story of a bomber crew going after the industrial heartland of Germany, the Ruhr, a.k.a. "Happy Valley."

 

GREEN LANTERN #49 by Geoff Johns and Ed Benes.  The Black Lanterns are focusing on John Stewart.  Too bad for them he's focusing back.  Recommended.

 

HELLBOY: BRIDE OF HELL ONE-SHOT by Mike Mignola and Richard Corben.  There's human sacrifice on the menu and HB's gotta send it back!  The dream team of Mignola-Corben is at it again!

 

IMAGE UNITED #2 OF 6 by the Founding Artists of Image.  Big fights and lots of 'em!  Best of all, it's got those multiple covers that made Image the most beloved of companies by fans and retailers alike!

 

IRREDEEMABLE #9 by Mark Waid and Peter Krause.  The tide has turned against the Plutonian as we get a glimpse of just how far he's fallen.  Plus, the second trade collection comes out today for those of us who like our comics on our bookshelves.  Both are recommended.

 

JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #34 by Bill Willingham and Travis Moore.  The JSA's all broke up and now the new Dr. Fate's getting twinky.  Interesting times…

 

MORE THAN COMPLETE ACTION PHILOSOPHERS SC by Fred van Lente and Ryan Dunlavey.  Collecting all nine issues of the original run, plus four all-new stories written just for this book!  A real treat!  Also a bit of aggravation for those of us who bought all the comics and original trades.  I suppose we must be philosophical about it….

 

NEW AVENGERS #60 by Brian Bendis and Stuart Immonen.  Luke Cage.  Still illin'.  Get well soon, Luke.

 

NORTHLANDERS #23 by Brian Wood and Leandro Fernandez.  There's a boat full of goodies but it's guarded by plague-ridden Vikings.  What do you do?  What do you do?!

 

SPIDER-WOMAN #4 by Brian Bendis and Alex Maleev.  The SW's fighting the Thunderbolts but the real news is on this cover she's essentially only wearing body-paint.  Not that there's anything wrong with that!

 

THE STAND: SOUL SURVIVORS #3 of 5 by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Mike Perkins.  Things start heating up between Stu and Fran.  This leaves Harold out in the cold and not liking it one bit.  Recommended.

 

SUPERMAN #695 by James Robinson and Bernard Chang.  Mon-El dukes it out with the Parasite.  'Bout time!

 

THOR #605 by Kieron Gillen and Billy Tan.  Thor puts the hammer to Doctor Doom.  I wonder if armor rusts if you pee in it…

 

UNCANNY X-MEN #519 by Matt Fraction and Terry Dodson.  Tensions are rising even as the X-Men's new home is sinking beneath the waves.  And what about The Void?

 

VICTORIAN UNDEAD #2 OF 6 by Ian Edgington and Davide Fabbri.  By Jove, Watson!  What if the only way for Sherlock Holmes to defeat the zombie cannibals is to dig up Professor Moriarty?  The game's afoot!  And someone's chewing on it!  Recommended.

 

WOLVERINE: WEAPON X #8 by Jason Aaron and Yanick Paquette.  Wolverine is starting to suspect that not all is right in the Dunwich Sanitarium.  But will he put it all together before they come for his brain???  Recommended.

 

WONDER WOMAN #39 by Gail Simone and Aaron Lopresti.  WW has a new power and she's all set to use it on an old foe.  Big fight!

 

X-MEN LEGACY #231 by Mike Carey and Clay Mann.  The X-Men get a new member and a villain comes back from the dead.  It must be Wednesday!

 

www.johnjudy.net

 

Cavna's Our Town on the Mall Santa Experience

I don't think the Our Town feature has quite found its legs yet, but I enjoyed Michael's take on the Mall Santa Experience in today's Post, especially since we've got 20 inches of snow on the ground.

King Features Syndicate infects Adobe readers

I don't think the Post is breaking this story, but this is the only place I've seen it - Hackers exploit Adobe Reader flaw via comic strip syndicate, Brian Krebs, Washington Post Security Fix blog (December 18 2009)

Another Pekar interview

Haven't read it yet, but this looks good - My Interview With Harvey Pekar, Branwyn Lancourt, December 18, 2009.

New Herblock collection reviewed in Post

Book review: 'Herblock' by Haynes Johnson and Harry Katz, Michael Sims, Washington Post Sunday, December 20, 2009; B07. The web version has a heading of 'humor' which I think might be missing the point of editorial cartoons.