- The Learned Fangirl talks about a (sadly not online) article in the December issue of Decibel which tackles the female un-friendly attitude over at DC. While the debate is hardly new for comics folks, it's surprising to see it turn up over in "America's only extreme music magazine."
- Erika D. Peterman interviews Cheryl Lynn Eaton about the Ormes Society for CNN. "We don't look the same, we don't create the same work, we don't read the same comics, but we'd all like to be respected, please."
- Doc Jenkins presents a Comics and Graphic Storytelling syllabus "which is designed to expose students to a range of different methods for studying the medium and to as broad a sample of (primarily) American comics and graphic storytelling as I could cram into one subject." A lot of the usual suspects show up in the reading list -- Eisner, McCloud, Spigelman, etc. -- but there's also other less well-known folks like Howard Cruise and Ho Che Anderson. Jenkins' stuff is always worth a read, but with my (and presumably your) interest in comics, this is particularly relevant.
- Blake Bell points to this image showing the Fantagraphics catalog entry for The Secret History Of Marvel Comics: Jack Kirby and the Moonlighting Artists at Martin Goodman’s Empire.
- The Globe and Mail takes a look at how tablet sales are a boon for digital comics.
It was only about four or five years ago that my comic reading was primarily limited by my bank account. I had a finite amount of income and I had to pay my bills before I could buy anything like comics. When my financial situation changed pretty radically, I had to cut my comic buying to zero. I just simply did not have the extra cash to afford comics on top of the mortgage, electric bill, water bill, food, etc.
I'd been reading a handful of webcomics before that -- I think I started reading them regularly around 2004 -- but I now found myself with more time to read more webcomics. Since I was no longer purchasing print ones. I set up a decent reading system, including for those that don't have handy RSS feeds, and I would add new comics as I came across ones that looked/sounded interesting.
I did some traveling for Thanksgiving this past weekend, and couldn't really keep up with all my regular comics. I caught a few of them, but mostly just the ones that tended to be more time-sensitive. I knew I could catch up on the others later.
Tonight I sat down to 300-some pages of webcomics that I hadn't read yet. I got through maybe half of them. And many of them will get updated overnight, so I'm sure I'll be back over 200 by morning. With my other obligations, I don't expect I'll get caught up until the weekend. And that's only from missing a couple of days!
So, for the first time ever, I'm considering paring back my reading because I simply don't have the time to keep up with everything. It's an interesting change from earlier where money was my limiting factor. Now, I can get a hold of everything I want, but it's more than I can actually keep up with. It's an interesting challenge to face, and I'll need to set aside some time to think about what comics really appeal to me in a very different way than I have before.
Not only are there the quality and genre components to consider (which I'm accustomed to) but also a frequency issue. A webcomic that comes out daily will eat up more time than one that's weekly or simply irregular. How does that factor in? Does a really great daily comic equal a mediocre weekly one? What about something pretty good that comes out three times week?
Also, I keep finding new comics. How do those fit in? What sort of "grace period" should I give them before making a choice between that one and another one I had been reading previously? (Since I obviously don't want to just wind up with the volume of comics I'm at now again in a few months.)
Just something new and interesting for me to consider.
I'd been reading a handful of webcomics before that -- I think I started reading them regularly around 2004 -- but I now found myself with more time to read more webcomics. Since I was no longer purchasing print ones. I set up a decent reading system, including for those that don't have handy RSS feeds, and I would add new comics as I came across ones that looked/sounded interesting.
I did some traveling for Thanksgiving this past weekend, and couldn't really keep up with all my regular comics. I caught a few of them, but mostly just the ones that tended to be more time-sensitive. I knew I could catch up on the others later.
Tonight I sat down to 300-some pages of webcomics that I hadn't read yet. I got through maybe half of them. And many of them will get updated overnight, so I'm sure I'll be back over 200 by morning. With my other obligations, I don't expect I'll get caught up until the weekend. And that's only from missing a couple of days!
So, for the first time ever, I'm considering paring back my reading because I simply don't have the time to keep up with everything. It's an interesting change from earlier where money was my limiting factor. Now, I can get a hold of everything I want, but it's more than I can actually keep up with. It's an interesting challenge to face, and I'll need to set aside some time to think about what comics really appeal to me in a very different way than I have before.
Not only are there the quality and genre components to consider (which I'm accustomed to) but also a frequency issue. A webcomic that comes out daily will eat up more time than one that's weekly or simply irregular. How does that factor in? Does a really great daily comic equal a mediocre weekly one? What about something pretty good that comes out three times week?
Also, I keep finding new comics. How do those fit in? What sort of "grace period" should I give them before making a choice between that one and another one I had been reading previously? (Since I obviously don't want to just wind up with the volume of comics I'm at now again in a few months.)
Just something new and interesting for me to consider.
Here's some special Cyber Monday comic-related deals I've found. Most are good for today only.
- Comic Buyers' Guide is offering $5 off $30 purchases, $10 off $50 purchases and $15 off $75 purchases. Also if you spend $30 or more, you'll receive free shipping. Use the promo code KPCYBER at checkout.
- Sideshow Collectibles has a number of items marked up to 50% off.
- TwoMorrows has their book catalog marked down by 50%! (I believe it applies to all the books except their new releases.)
- Marvel has 30% annual subscriptions to their digital comics if you use the promo code CYBER11.
- Thwipster has Thunderbolts by Warren Ellis Ultimate Collection, A Drifting Life and American Vampire hardcover volumes 1 & 2 for 34-46% off. Also, if you use the code LUDDITEMONDAY, you can get an extra $10 off any order over $100.
- Use the discount code CYBERMONDAY305 to save 30% off any/all Lulu orders. (Including, of course, Comic Book Fanthropology!)
- Cafe Press has an automatic 30% discount taken off t-shirts like these as you checkout. (No extra codes required!)
- The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is offering a number of personalized gifts from the likes of Neil Gaiman, Paul Levitz, Scott McCloud, Adrian Tomine and others. Plus, The Will & Ann Eisner Family Foundation will increase their donation to the CBLDF as more of you/us contribute! Details are here.
If you're at all like me, you're probably more familiar with Buster Brown via the shoes than anything else. Though certainly not as popular as they once were, I distinctly recall a time when "Buster Browns" were the 7-year-old's equivalent of Air Jordans or Crocs. However, Buster Brown was actually a comic strip character BEFORE become a shoe mascot.
Buster Brown debuted as a comic strip in the New York Herald in 1902. It was created by Richard Outcault, who is perhaps better known as the creator of the Yellow Kid from almost a decade earlier. The character was then bought by the Brown Shoe Company in 1904 and debuted as the company mascot at the World's Fair in St. Louis. Outcault continued drawing the character in the comics until 1921.
But the character continued on. Beginning in 1925, a series of live-action comedy shorts were produced featuring Arthur Trimble in the titular role. Tige the dog was played by Pal the Wonder Dog, who would later go on to become the iconic Petey in Our Gang shorts. Here's "Knockout Buster"...
There were, I believe, 49 Buster Brown shorts in all. "Knockout Buster" was #43 and was first released on March 6, 1929. Buster Brown didn't receive any notable media exposure again until a radio show in 1943, and then a television program in 1951. The Buster Brown comic book ran from 1945 until 1956, with a handful of additional one-off issues throughout the 1950s.
After that, the only new Buster Brown material I'm aware of are commercials. There were a few reprint books in the 1970s, but nothing new that I can find. Which would probably explain why many folks my age or younger aren't aware of Buster Brown's history as a bona fide comic character!
Buster Brown debuted as a comic strip in the New York Herald in 1902. It was created by Richard Outcault, who is perhaps better known as the creator of the Yellow Kid from almost a decade earlier. The character was then bought by the Brown Shoe Company in 1904 and debuted as the company mascot at the World's Fair in St. Louis. Outcault continued drawing the character in the comics until 1921.
But the character continued on. Beginning in 1925, a series of live-action comedy shorts were produced featuring Arthur Trimble in the titular role. Tige the dog was played by Pal the Wonder Dog, who would later go on to become the iconic Petey in Our Gang shorts. Here's "Knockout Buster"...
There were, I believe, 49 Buster Brown shorts in all. "Knockout Buster" was #43 and was first released on March 6, 1929. Buster Brown didn't receive any notable media exposure again until a radio show in 1943, and then a television program in 1951. The Buster Brown comic book ran from 1945 until 1956, with a handful of additional one-off issues throughout the 1950s.
After that, the only new Buster Brown material I'm aware of are commercials. There were a few reprint books in the 1970s, but nothing new that I can find. Which would probably explain why many folks my age or younger aren't aware of Buster Brown's history as a bona fide comic character!
Well, I'd be remiss if I didn't try to cater to the consumerism mindset going on this weekend. As you may or may not know, I have some items I created up for sale. Things your friends and loved ones might appreciate receiving this holiday season.
My book is called Comic Book Fanthropology and looks at who and what comic book fans are. It's available here in paperback, hardcover and electronic formats. If you you use the coupon code BUYMYBOOK305 between now and December 14, you'll get 25% off your entire order.
I also have "Comic Book Fanthropologist" shirts, bags, mugs and even Christmahanakwanzika cards available here. (Sorry, but I can't discount those.)
I've also got my "Almost a Superhero" line of shirts, too. There's some fun ideas there, I think, ones that you won't find anywhere else. (Though, admittedly, I'm biased.)
Happy shopping everyone!
I also have "Comic Book Fanthropologist" shirts, bags, mugs and even Christmahanakwanzika cards available here. (Sorry, but I can't discount those.)
I've also got my "Almost a Superhero" line of shirts, too. There's some fun ideas there, I think, ones that you won't find anywhere else. (Though, admittedly, I'm biased.)
Happy shopping everyone!
I'm Thanksgiving-ing today, so here's the Superman balloon from the Macy's parade circa the 1960s.
