Monday with Miss Cellany
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And with Stephen R. Bissette, Steve Nease, Dennis the Menace. Jason Chatfield, Mickey Mouse, others.
Stephen R. Bissette is Sixth Vermont Cartoon Laureate
Mary Ann Lickteig for Seven Days reports on the honor and profiles Stephen R. Bissette:
Windsor cartoonist Stephen R. Bissette has been named Vermont’s sixth cartoonist laureate. The artist — renowned for his work as cocreator of the graphic novel series The Saga of The Swamp Thing, his comic book S.R. Bissette’s Tyrant and his adaptation of the Steven Spielberg film 1941 into a graphic novel — will receive his appointment at the Vermont Statehouse on Thursday, April 9. The term for the laureate role is three years.
Vermont is the only state that regularly appoints a cartoonist laureate. Norwich cartoonist Tillie Walden currently holds the post. Past honorees include James Kochalka, Alison Bechdel, Rick Veitch and the late Ed Koren.
Canadian Comics
Still on comic books … when I saw Steve Nease‘s editorial cartoon with Captain Canada my first thought was of the 1970s comic books I read of Richard Comely‘s Captain Canuck. Captain Canuck is still under copyright and trademark so Nease couldn’t use that name. But what about Leo Bachle‘s Johnny Canuck? Probably not enough of a superhero name.
Double Trouble
Two imps of the same name debuted on March 12, 1951. In the United States there was Dennis the Menace by Hank Ketcham and in the United Kingdom there was Dennis the Menace by George Moonie, Ian Chisholmand, and David Law. People are getting a jump on the birthdays.
Dennis the Menace U.S.
From Harish Bhat at The Hindu Business Line:
Dennis the Menace turns 75 this month. This famous character and comic strip, first created in March 1951 by the American cartoonist Hank Ketcham, has appeared in over 1,000 newspapers across the world, charming millions of readers.
Despite turning 75, Dennis is still exactly five-and-a-half years old, as he has been ever since he was born. With his unruly shock of hair, impish freckled face and striped black shirt, he creates such beautiful chaos at home and throughout his neighbourhood.
Dennis the Menace U.K.
And from Sue Lee and Shannon Miller for The Mirror:
He might be eligible to draw a pension but as a rebellious agent of childish chaos, Dennis the Menace still dominates the world of comic books.
With a ‘year of mischief’ planned to mark his 75th birthday and The Beano continuing to sell tens of thousands of copies each week, the spikey haired prankster shows no sign of losing fans. According to Steven Marchant, learning co-ordinator at The Cartoon Museum in London – one of the UK’s foremost tutors in comic-strip and cartoon skills – the reason for Dennis’ longevity is simple:
Steve, 62, says: “I think even as an adult there is a part of you that wants to be a bit naughty. People like to live out their slight criminal tendencies vicariously and Dennis fits the bill.”
UPDATE: The Mirror further explores the Dennis the Menaces differences.
A New Editorial Threat to Cartoonists
The Metropolitan Review which was founded last year as “a books and culture magazine” has hired Jason Chatfield as cartoon editor. We see Jason going into the history books alongside such famed cartoon editors as Gurney Williams, Lee Lorenz, Michelle Urry and others who made print magazines much better with their choice of cartoons.
Says Cartoon Editor Jason Chatfield:
Which brings me to my role in all of this. I am proud (and slightly terrified) to say that I am the Cartoon Editor for The Metropolitan Review.
I know. Me. The guy whose internal “Check Engine” light is permanently illuminated is now in charge of curating cartoons for a prestigious new literary triannual.
Moving forward, the upcoming issues will feature a massive roster of cartoonists from entirely different backgrounds, wielding different styles, and hailing from different publications.
Mickey Mouse in Vietnam (1968)
From Will Howard at Dangerous Minds:
Anyone with a passing knowledge of animation history knows that the Disney icon himself, Mickey Mouse, pops up in the most unexpected places.
A sky-high, unprecedented cameo inRobert Zemeckis’ masterpiece, Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Battling Sephiroth and other Final Fantasy villains, Sora by his side in the interminable, yet delightful Kingdom Hearts series. There are countless other examples of Ol’ Mickey showing up in the most unexpected places, but then you get the other side of the coin. Where parody and fair use clauses allow the mascot of one of the world’s most powerful corporations to get a little weird with it.
We get some background on Mickey Mouse in Vietnam …
The director was Whitney Lee Savage (the father of Mythbusters’ Adam, fun fact!). The producer was the famed graphic designer and the man behind the I <3 NY logo, Milton Glaser. The story is very simple. Mickey Mouse spots a US Army recruitment ad to “Join the Army and see the world”. The poor mouse is hooked and signs up on the spot.
… with a kind of Bambi Meets Godzilla take.
I hadn’t heard of [the] Country Joe [news] until reading Mike CSotD this morning.
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