Filed under: Comic Strips

According to AirForceTimes.com, the storyline Trudeau has used in his comic strip “Doonesbury” (of B.D. losing a leg in combat) has been helpful in the healing of real-life soldiers.

Scott Adams, the creator of the comic strip ?Dilbert?, will address the Assemblly Technology Expo (ATExpo 2006) as the keynote speaker.Not familiar with Expo? As in years past, it’s where you can discuss everything “from lean manufacturing to adhesive use and wire harness assembly.” Hold me back!

“Stone Soup,” drawn by Eugene’s own Jan Eliot, once again reigns supreme in The Register-Guard of Eugene, Oregon. It was re-elected their favorite strip after also finishing No. 1 in the newspaper’s previous poll in 2000. It was closely followed by “Zits” and “For Better or for Worse.”

I received and email from Dawn Douglas, the founder of GoGags (not to be confused with Universal Press’ GoComics) who is wheeling and dealing to get more cartoonists to sign up for their mobile cartoon and “My Fridj” products.  These products allow any cartoonist to publish their cartoons on to mobile phones and take a generous percentage of the advertising and direct sales for each cartoon.

Rick Stromoski writes in to alert readers that this year’s Reuben division winner for TV Animation, David Silverman, will be on Jay Leno’s Tonight Show tonight (June 23rd) to play his “Flaming Tuba” during a segment called “Don’t Try This At Home.”Check your local listings for time and channel.

Last May, I reported that Chris Brown, “Hagar the Horrible” had got fed up with the over development in Sarasota, Floriday and was moving to a much more peaceful life in Sioux Falls South Dakota.The Argus Leader has a very good Q and A regarding the move.

“It’s great to have all my Liberty Meadows covers and pin-ups in one fat volume since even I’m missing some of the early issues.”LIBERTY MEADOWS: COVER GIRL features an all-new cover, plus a behind- the-scenes look at the development of some of your favorite images of Brandy and the gang, from rough sketch to full color.Welcome to Frank Cho’s Liberty Meadows Internet Sanctuary:THERE’S ONLY ONE WOMAN FOR FRANK CHO AND HERNAME IS BRANDYA new Liberty Meadows art book (and more) arrive in AugustBERKELEY, CA — 15 June, 2006 — This August, Frank Cho and Image Comics are bringing a whole lot of Brandy for their fans….  “It’s great to have all my Liberty Meadows covers and pin-ups in one fat volume since even I’m missing some of the early issues.”LIBERTY MEADOWS: COVER GIRL features an all-new cover, plus a behind- the-scenes look at the development of some of your favorite images of Brandy and the gang, from rough sketch to full color.”People will be amazed how much color adds to the art,” added Cho.

Next Friday, Jok Church, “You Can with Beakman and Jax” will the be the featured cartoonist on the Washington Post’s live chat to discuss his feature and cartooning…. “Beakman and Jax” is now in nearly 300 newspapers and Church created the CBS television series “Beakman’s World” based on the comic strip.

John Rose, the cartoonist for “Barney Google and Snuffy Smith” and his family will be the guests of honor during a July 29 Heritage Parade parade in Rural Retreat VA according to E&P.  John will also speak to high school students.

The panel will include Marc Silvestri, founder and chief executive officer of Top Cow Comics, Gale Anne Hurd, producer of over 25 movies including “The Terminator” series, “The Hulk”, and “The Punisher” and Scott Mitchell Rosenberg, chairman of Platinum Studios and founder of Malibu Comics, where he discovered and developed “Men In Black” into a billion dollar entertainment franchise.  “Men in Black” itself was written a previously unpublished comic book creator, highlighting Rosenberg’s belief in new talent.The top three finalists will appear on NBC-TV 7/39’s “Streetside San Diego” on July 21 to pitch their comic vision to local audiences.

Paul Gilligan, “Pooch Café,” recently attended Green Acres School in Stone Creek Ontario as a Universal Press Syndicate: News Release:Cartoonist Fights Illiteracy with Visit to Ontario Middle SchoolStone Creek, ON (06/16/2006) Paul Gilligan is the ?Top Dog? of cartoonists, according to the kids at Green Acres School in Stone Creek, Ontario….  It supports community-based programs that emphasize adult literacy and non-formal education for both children and adults.As Gilligan made his way through the halls of Green Acres School, he was greeted with the sounds of kids ecstatically calling out, ?There he is!

Zits has joined several other comic features to be added as premium content for mobile phone users.� Airborne Entertainment announced that it has signed a deal with King Features to allow Zits to be used on mobile phones.

From Star Pulse blog and a Universal Press press release comes news that Aaron McGruder is trying to get an Emmy for his Boondocks television show by shaming the producers through a series of advertisements…. But, f**k it, we’ll try anyway.”Apparently the ads are geared to remind those involved in the Emmys that African-Americans have not faired well in the annual ceremony.We’ll see how it goes.

Brian Walker who is the writer behind “Hi and Lois” and “Beetle Bailey” will be a special guest at the San Diego Comic-Con this July 20-23rd….  Brian wrote the book cataloguing the exhibit.Brian also attended the New York Comic-Con with his father and brother earlier this year.

The Albany Democrat-Herald recently wrote that they are adding a new serial comic strip “Sudden Squail” to their line up and then offered an explanation as to why the paper still ran serials such as “Judge Parker” and “Rex Morgan” and a went as far as suggesting that the cartoonists and writers should add a “what happened last week…” panel to keep people up to date on the goings on.lEvery once in a while somebody asks why we still run those ancient comic strips.The answer is tradition, but if nobody reads a comic, tradition is not going to keep it alive forever.