Funnybooks, funny and otherwise.
“Comic books” are a form of visual narrative literature. The modern form is published monthly, costs too much, and usually features a couple of costumed knuckleheads beating on each other for some vaguely delineated purpose. As you might expect, these “comic books” are usually terrible. Recently, a synergy has emerged …
Goodness knows our society has long mistaken the exhortation to kill its idols for an invitation to shit on its most talented members, but sometimes it seems that comics fandom in particular is determined to isolate the best and brightest of their chosen medium’s creators and relentlessly heap bile on them …
Everybody’s got to start somewhere. Richard Fleischer, who would become a Hollywood fixture without ever reaching star status among directors, had a very curious beginning to his career: after the usual short subjects, he directed a critically acclaimed WWII documentary, a tight little noir picture written by a young Robert …
The Flash, like some Speed-Force-infused Rodney Dangerfield, don’t get no respect. Despite going through a respectable transition from Golden to Silver Age (and, in the process, inventing the multiverse), being a founding member of the Justice League of America, featuring some top-rate talent in his solo title, displaying one the …
As has been discussed here and elsewhere ad nauseam, when you are dealing with certain pop-cultural icons, they belong to everyone, regardless of the opinions of their corporate attorneys. Like any other mythological figure, from Odin to Jesus to Sherlock Holmes, there is no really ‘right’ or ‘correct’ interpretation of the …
Jan 14 – The syndicate has picked up Rick Ratso! I finally made it, baby. All the effort has been worth it. I want to celebrate, but there’s already no time — I’ve got to turn in the first 2 weeks of strips by next Wednesday. Jan 29 – Good …
Ladies and gentlemen, in keeping with our recent attempt to take this blog back to its roots, we are pleased to present the greatest guest columnist this site has ever had. We are honored more than we can express by the opportunity to present to you these exclusive excerpts from …
Heroism is a tricky thing. It’s difficult to define to the point that it’s almost entirely personal; it’s a thorny enough social concept that we spend endless hours debating what we mean by it in both fiction and reality. Some people don’t like the very idea, finding it too troublesome …
“Heil Hitler,” cutting through the air, bringing a chill to the summer night. I knew the voice, the curling insinuating sneer in it; there was no mistaking its owner. But I didn’t need to hear the voice to know it was Hessler. He was the only one that the men …
I got out of the business back in ’89, right before the bottom fell out. Nowadays there’s not much room for competition. It’s just like any business: once it gets going, and the big boys see that there’s money to be made, they start buying up the smaller competitors, and …
Hello, nerds! Welcome to Seattle. In honor of your arrival in my town, and in lieu of the original content I had oped to present to you on sunday at ECCC, I present to you “Taking Acid and Talking About Superman With a House Full of Thalidomide Castoffs”, or “Jimmy Olsen’s …
I’ve never particularly cared for those ubiquitous lists of “Rules for Writers”. (If I did, I’d probably present this one as more or less definitive.) Luckily for me, I am not much of a writer, and no one is sniffing around this site in hopes of getting a hot tip …
Joy: Still got your seaman’s papers? Lllewyn: Yeah. Why? Joy: If the music’s not… Llewyn: What, quit? Merchant marine again? Just…exist? Joy: ‘Exist’? That’s what we do outside of show business? It’s not so bad, existing. — from Inside Llewyn Davis Lately I’ve been thinking about Zen Pencils. Normally, I don’t …
1. JERRY FAN: I love pies 2. JACKY FAN: I also love pies 3. (both eat pies with little enthusiasm) 4. JERRY FAN: This pie would make a good cake *** 1. JERRY FAN: Did you hear Bill’s Bakery fired Baker Bob 2. JACKY FAN: But Baker Bob baked all …
“I can’t take you anywhere.” “Oh, that’s original.” “That’s it! Make it worse! Honestly.” “He provoked me.” “You behaved like an ass.” “Not an asshole?” “Take your pick.” “I like ass better.” “Well, by all means, let’s go with that one.” “He provoked me. You can’t deny it.” “You provoked …
