Comic Strips and Cartooning in News and History
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Archie and Flash Gordon Together Again for the First Time
The Hollywood Reporter reports that Flash Gordon will appear in an Archie comic book:
The 48-page special issue will be written by Jeff Parker — who wrote Flash Gordon for Dynamite Entertainment — with art by Archie mainstay Dan Parent. In the book, the Riverdale gang discovering a crashed alien spaceship that leads them to the planet Mongo and Ming the Merciless, with Flash Gordon in tow.
The two comic characters have been around for 80 years, give (Flash Gordon) or take (Archie). They have often shared close quarters, such as both of their comic strips being syndicated by King Features from 1956 – 1988. Currently King Features has licensing rights of characters from the comic icons.
Now following in the footsteps of The Punisher, Batman, Red Sonja, Vampirella, and others, Archie characters will team-up with characters outside their “universe.”
Another Comic Strip Myth Exposed
Mickey Dugan’s nightshirt was not used to experiment with a new yellow.
Tad Dorgan did not coin the words “Hot Dog.”
And now: Rudy Dirks did not quit Hearst for a European vacation.
In an article about comic strip doppelgangers Richard Marschall exposes the long-held legend that Rudolph Dirks quit The Katzenjammers Kids over a trip to Europe.
National Cartoonists Society Live Drawing
We missed Johnny Sampson tonight, but more are coming.
The National Cartoonists Society Instagram account.
Jeffrey Lindenblatt’s Comic Strip Trends of 40 Years Ago
Peanuts still keeps the number one spot gaining six more papers to a high of 197; maybe next year it will pass the magic 200 mark. Hagar the Horrible gained another 13 papers pushing it into the top 5. Family Circus moved from 15th position to 11th position, one spot behind the king of the panels Dennis the Menace. One rookie and one new strip entered the Top 30. Star Wars entered the Top 30 at position 21 but we know that in the near future it will fall out of the Top 30. The other new strip entering the Top 30 is Marmaduke, gaining four new papers.
Just a reminder that Jeffrey Lindenblatt’s fascinating survey of newspaper comics has reached 1980.
Cartoonist’s Fame Continues to Spread
It’s 2020 and we’re still doing firsts, y’all.
And as unacceptable as that is, people like Elizabeth Montague continue to break down barriers in industries and positions across the board. In Elizabeth’s case, she is a living example for Black girls and young women everywhere that they, too, can pursue the field of their choice. At just 25 years old, Montague is the first Black woman to have her illustrations featured in the New Yorker magazine.
Our fascination with young cartoonist Elizabeth Montague continues.
Mal Practice, M.D.
The comic strip “Mal Practice M.D.” made its debut in the Athol Daily News. The creator, Thomas Mailman of Templeton and illustrator Jack Kacian of Royalston have been collaborating on the strip for the past six months with hopes of eventually having the strip syndicated nationally. The strip features Dr. Mal Practice, a “40-something” bumbling physician at Mediocre Hospital, who graduated last in his class.
The Athol Daily News notes it was 25 years ago that the Mal Practice, M.D. comic strip debuted.
I’m begging someone in The Daily Cartoonist audience to dig up a sample of this – I really, really want to see it! Is it a Rex Morgan satire or a Doc Smock-like comic?
Awaiting the Return of a Slow Death
Among the contributors are old school Slow Death alumni William Stout (who contributes the lead story and cover art), Bryan Talbot, Tim Boxell, and ol’ Gore himself, Richard Corben. Plus Rick Veitch, Hunt Emerson, Peter Bagge, Drew Friedman, Savage Pencil, Rick Altergott, Carel Moisewitch, Bob Fingerman, Danny Hellman, Mike Diana, and many more – all share tales about the unfolding climate change cataclysm that’s ruining our planet.
Running to 128 pages, edited by Jon B. Cooke and Ron Turner, price to be determined, Slow Death Zero will be available this summer.
We don’t feature many comic books here, but this is a revival of a favorite from my youth; and that’s an impressive list of contributors! Down the Tubes carries more details.
41 Years of Steve Canyon Tearsheets
Michael O’Connell on his successful quest to own the complete Steve Canyon.
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