Category: Cartooning

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

Captain Marvel Zapped Them Right Between the Eyes

There sure is plenty of zapping done in the Captain Marvel movie, and Brie Larson is certainly the best-looking incarnation of the character I’ve seen over the past 50+ years. The original Captain Marvel will be appearing in Shazam! next month, but this is the one I knew when I was a kid.

Marvel Super-Heroes #12, 1967, with art by Gene Colan and Frank Giacoia

One little movie semi-spoiler I’ll offer is that Nick Fury loses his left eye the same way I almost lost my right eye when I was 12. Before leaving the house for the school bus stop I decided to say goodbye to the family cat, while he was eating breakfast. With the inside of my eye oozing out of a large gash, I never made it to the bus stop that day.

Nazi Youth Tintin?

A while ago the Smithsonian’s commercial outlet had this item on the longstanding criticism about Tintin creator Georges Remi, aka Hergé. During WWII Remi produced Tintin under Nazi occupation in Belgium, apparently without protest. To put the controversy into context I recommend watching the excellent documentary, “Tintin and I”.

Last June, this single original Tintin page sold at auction for $425,000. Remi’s precise ink line was flat and unvarying, but his mastery of composition — simple yet highly detailed — made each panel and page visually interesting.