Mutts to You!

Today’s MUTTS comic strip isn’t a one-of-a-kind artistic collaboration between cartoonist Patrick McDonnell and the recently retired Joe Sinnott, because one more will be coming along in a not-too-distant Sunday.

Mutts, by Patrick McDonnell, King Features Syndicate, March 24, 2019

The idea for this little project came out of a visit that McDonnell had with Joe a few months ago. As familiar as I am with Joe’s technique, I see none of it here. A few of Joe’s trademark “Sinnott dots” on the floor would have been a giveaway of his handiwork, but there are none to be found. I’m told that’s because Joe wanted to be true to McDonnell’s drawings when applying ink to them, and he certainly succeeded.

Did Whatever A Spider Could

After more than 42 years, the Amazing Spider-Man comic strip is coming to an end. Today is the last new Sunday edition of the strip, written by Roy Thomas (credited to Stan Lee) and illustrated by Alex Saviuk and Joltin’ Joe Sinnott. With no deadlines to meet after almost 70 years in the business, Joe can take it easy. Happy St. Patrick’s Day to my pal Joe!

The Amazing Spider-Man, King Features Syndicate, March 17, 2019

Now I’ve Seen Everything

My good friend Bismo from B-Movie Blues… on stage at Terrificon in Connecticut… with legendary comic book writer/editor Roy Thomas… doing a couple of Elvis songs?? It was a fantastic scene, and a once-in-a-lifetime event that was straight from the Bizarro World!

For an extra special bonus, before joining the ranks of Elvis impersonators, Thomas visited with my pal Joltin’ Joe Sinnott, who was one of Roy’s most valuable artistic assets at Marvel Comics.

Joe Sinnott at Terrificon 2018

Mr. A. Machine

Before and after working for Marvel Comics, Steve Ditko was an artist for Charlton in Derby, Connecticut. In its Atlas days, before returning to superhero comics, Marvel was a step down from National Periodical Publications, aka DC, with Charlton at the low end of the comic book publishing business.

Konga #1, 1960, based upon the movie and illustrated by Steve Ditko. Incredibly, there is a significant connection between this comic book and my friend Prue Bury — “Konga” director John Lemont.

When Atlas nearly collapsed in 1957, Stan Lee kept the company going by using a large stash of previously unpublished inventory stories. But Stan had to lay off his reliable stable of artists who had drawn those inventory stories, including my pal Joe Sinnott. Joe was desperate for work and he found it at Charlton by anonymously penciling thousands of Romance story pages for Vince Colletta.

Ten years later comic books were back in a big way, and Marvel was taking over the top spot from DC. Joe had returned to the Bullpen, but Steve Ditko left for reasons that will never be fully explained. Ditko returned to Charlton, where he drew mystery stories, undoubtedly for a fraction of the page rate that he was earning at Marvel plotting and drawing Spider-Man and Dr. Strange.

One of the ways that Charlton saved money was by not having staffers who were specialists in hand lettering. Instead, Charlton had A. Machine. One of the fixed links I have on this blog is for Charlton Comics: The Movie. The team behind the project have uncovered the secret identity of A. Machine, and they will reveal it in their upcoming documentary.

KIRBY KRACKLE!

Jack Kirby and Joe Sinnott, at the 1972 New York Comic Art Convention

Jacob Kurtzberg — aka Jack Kirby — was born the same year as JFK, 100 years ago, in 1917. At the first link below you will find a collection of items about he who is the King of Comics. That’s “comics” as in books, and not comedians, as Johnny Carson once incorrectly interpreted the meaning. You’ll find something about that at the second link.

http://seanhowe.tumblr.com/search/kirby

http://www.newsfromme.com/2006/07/11/jack-n-johnny/