Comic Strips – The B Side
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Guests
Flash Gordon isn’t the only comic strip with guest creators this week, Dick Tracy began a new story with a guest writer – though the guest writer remains Eric Costello.
I understand that Mike Curtis is in ill health, but sooner than later Eric is going to have to get a promotion from “guest” to regular status since he has scripted more than Mike for the past year.
Though Janco got “guest artist” credit for years on La Cucaracha.
Tuesday’s Slylock Fox brought a smile just by having Moose make an appearance. For those who came in late Moose is the creation of Bob Weber, the father of Slylock Fox creator Bob Weber, Jr.
The Saga of Brann Bjornson features a couple of marvelous Norse gods realized as a couple of modern characters. (From president to king to god, I can see him proclaiming himself.)
The Press
The Press made appearances on newspapers funny pages this week with Clay Jones featuring The White House standing up against The First Amendment and Tom the Dancing Bug featuring the rest of The Press folding. Sam and Silo reruns a comic strip from 1997 with sad news that continues to this day.
Digression
Readers of the Austin American-Statesman will soon see a change to their comics pages (probably).
TEXAS — The Austin American-Statesman is being acquired by Hearst from Gannett Co., Inc.
“Hearst has a stellar reputation in the publishing industry and their values are uniquely aligned with ours,” said Michael Reed, Gannett chairman and chief executive officer. “The sale of the Austin American-Statesman from our portfolio is a strategic decision that will complement the Hearst brand while positioning Gannett and the USA TODAY Network of more than 200 local publications for future growth.”
Hearst currently owns the Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News.
Spectrum News reports Gannett has sold the paper to Hearst so The Gannett 34 may disappear in Austin.
Hearst Newspapers has 26 daily and 52 weekly papers in the U.S.
Comic Strips in the News
Hotel Fred (and much more) cartoonist Roger Landridge informs us of his impending return:
Hi everyone. Hope you’re all doing well. Currently I’m on track to start posting new material on March 1st, and regularly from then on.
The Complete Alley Oop! Chris Aruffo tells us:
The dailies are done! Yep, all ready to roll and on the schedule. If you visit the webpage
http://www.aruffo.com/alleyoop
you will see all of 1943–1953 and 1966–1973, which means that, once these are released, that will be all the dailies from 1932 through 2001 reprinted! Woo hoo! I’m still waiting for Kevin to get back from vacation and color the remaining covers, but I’m sure that will happen and that they’ll look as good as they can be!
As for the Sundays books: I am working on em now. They will be 10 x 13 hardcovers (same dimensions as the big black dailies HC, Atlantis, and Julius Caesar) with five years per book (260 pages). I’ve got the sources I need for v5 (44–50), v6 (51–55), v7 (56–60), v8 (61–65), and v9 (66–70). I’m still missing all but three of 1975 in half format (thirds are easy to come by, but halves are impossible to locate) and 90–92 can’t be found in color (or even in decent quality gray) for love or money… so I can’t predict when or if I’ll be able to release v10, 88–90, or 91–93… but whenever I can, you’ll be the first to know!
Back to the Funny Pages
A strange synchronicity.
On Monday both Arctic Circle and Rubes had milling as the topic. What are the odds?
So you have just ended an abusive, thankfully short, relationship. What to do now? Mary Worth knows.
Asparagus and Apple Pie is the correct action!
Future Funnies
Patrick McDonnell returns Sunday with his first new Mutts of 2025, featuring Jane Goodall!
“Wait!” some of you are saying, “What about the February 8th strip? That was copyrighted 2025.”
Yeah, well…
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