Notable Links for 03/01

Before we get started today, I'd like to take a moment to correct a mistake a made in Friday's "Notable Links". The Igor Kordey interview was mistakenly attributed to Silver Bullet Comics and not Newsarama, the folks who actually did the interview. Don't really know how that happened, but I'm glad the matter was brought to my attention. I'd like to thank the folks at Silver Bullet Comics, especially Mr. Tim O'Shea, for being such good sports about this.

Mea culpa, mea culpa.

Anyway, on with the show.

* "Quebec cartoonist and illustrator Albert Chartier was buried yesterday in St. Jean de Matha, the small town near Joliette that was his home and the setting for his beloved comic strip Onésime for more than half a century." More accolades for late Canadian cartoonist Albert Chartier (who I think I mistakenly referred to as Arthur last week) here, courtesy of The Montreal Gazette.

* In what has to be a first for the American comics industry, a calm and civil complaint over perceived censorious behavior by newbie Manga publisher Del Rey has resulted in, gasp, the reversal of said censorious behavior. Seems they were planning on inserting some innocuous towels to protect American audiences from the scourge of bared breasts in Ken Akamatsu's "Negima". Well, somehow the uproar succeeded and "Negima" is now going to be published as-is - albeit shrink-wrapped with a parental advisory label. Read more here, courtesy of The Pulse.

* Hankooki.com takes a look at Korean comics outreach organization Dugoboza on the release of its first anthology, "Manhwa Sekye Jungbok (Comics World Conquest)" here.

* The South Africa Sunday Times takes a look at South African cartoonist Joe Daly and talks with him about his debut graphic novel "The Red Monkey: The Leaking Cello Case" here.

* Marc-Oliver Frisch takes a look at Diamond's circulation numbers for DC comics and a few selected independent titles over at The Pulse. As per usual, their figures come courtesy of ICV2.

* Here's your Academy Awards link for the year: "Triplets of Belleville" director Sylvain Chomet takes a look at why there are so many bad animated films here, courtesy of The New York Times. (Link courtesy of Steve Lieber at the Comics Journal Message Board)

* "Comic Times", the first Chinese comics magazine aimed at an adult readership is apperantly off to a slow start. Read more here, courtesy of Eastday.com. China's own People's Daily has the story here.

* The gradual transformation of the comics industry continues apace, and the story is even catching on in mainstream news outlets as well, such as this Indiana Star article (reprinted from the Denver Post).

* "Two Sunday and Daily Telegraph cartoonists have been nominated as finalists in the British Press Awards 2004. Wally Fawkes, who draws under the pseudonym of Trog, and Matthew Pritchett, alias Matt, have been shortlisted in the Cartoonist Of The Year category." Read more here, link courtesy of The Telegraph.

* Dr. Suess, AKA Theodor Geisel is no longer with us but tomorrow - Tuesday the 2nd - is the centennial of his birth. This article attempts to articulate some of the many ways that Geisel's affectionate surrealism have infiltrated the length and breadth of our culture - and no, their not talking about that stupidMike Myers movie. Courtesy of Canada's National Post.

* Still no successful claimant yet in Garry Trudeau's attempt to pinpoint an eyewitness to President Bush's National Guard service - but 1,300 people have applied so far. Read more here, courtesy of the Free Internet Press.

* The grand tradition of the Rube Goldberg machine continues apace, even though by now there are probably fewer people who know who Goldberg actually was than have ever been to Antarctica... maybe that's a slight exaggeration but not by much. Read about this year's annual Golderg contest here, courtesy of the Indianapolous Star.

* The South Florida Sun-Sentinel takes a look and discovers that, oh my goodness, kids like reading comic books!

* Kids also like playing the video-games - but hey, looks like maybe history could be repeating itself... courtesy of the CBC.

* Indian-based Yashraj Films have come up with a one-of-a-kind promotional strategy for their upcoming venture “Hum Tum” - they're going to be utilizing the films comic-strip tie-in to get interactive with movie fans across the internet. Read more here, courtesy of IndiaFM.

* Comicdom's own Peter Bagge takes a look at the work of political cartoonist David Horsey here, courtesy of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

* And David Horsey himself takes a look at how childrens' cartoons can illuminate international oponion on the United States here, courtesy again of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

* Our own Alan David Doane has five questions with Mr. Johnny Ryan of "Angry Youth Comics" fame. Its a good interview - "AYC" is one of my personal faves - but take it from me Mr. Doane has some real treats coming down the pipeline in the weeks to come.

* Mr. Sean T. Collins takes a look at Mat Brinkman's "Teratoid" heights here. I'll say it again: I really want this book.

* Art Spiegelman and his "Comix 101" show are still on the road - and this Friday they're gonna be at Duke University. Check it out here, courtesy of the Comics Journal Message board.

* Sarrah Young takes a look at Dave Sim's "Cerebus" and Jeff Smith's "Bone" here, courtesy of Canadian music site Exclaim.

* Backstage.com takes a look at the recent stampede of Hollywood names to Marvel comics here.

* What the does underground comix movement have to do with Huey Lewis and Nancy's Yogurt? Find out here, courtesy of Sara Perry and The Oregonian.

* Take a look at the comics industry's presence at the recent Public Library Association conference at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center here, courtesy of the Seattle PI.

* Is Fantagraphics planning on moving to Portland, Oregon? I wouldn't bet on it but The Stranger's Mike Whybark takes a look at the decline of Seattle's cartooning scene here.

* SciScoop has a conversation with cartoonist/scientist Jay Hosler here.

* If you're like me, you've probably been wondering how the hell Dark Horse managed to get all those wonderful "Flash Gordon" strips by Mac Raboy into print. Well, wonder no more because The Pulse has an interview with Dark Horse editor Philip Simon about just that very thing.

* Here's another story about the fact that Superman is apperantly a leap year baby, courtesy of the Edmonton Journal. However, as cute as that may be, nobody points out that it couldn't be true - Action Comics #1 came out in 1938, which wasn't a leap year. Oh well.

* "The Honolulu Star-Bulletin finished in the Top 10 for Special Sections in The Associated Press Sports Editor contest, it was announced last week. The winning entry for the national award was the Star-Bulletin comic book previewing the University of Hawaii football team's 2003 season." Read more here, courtesy of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin.

* What's the connection between comic strip artist Leslie Turner and the infamous Gerber baby? Find out here, courtesy of the Los Angeles Daily News.

* Spaeaking of Dark Horse, have you ever wondered what Mike Richardson is planning on doing with his courtside season passes for the Portland Trailblazers this year? Me neither but just in case you were wondering, he's not very happy with the 'Blazers. Link courtesy of KGW.

* Fighting The Good Fight Dept: You should really check out DaveCockrum.net. Its still kinda raw but there's no doubt that their hearts are in the right place. If you want up-to-the-minute updates on Mr. Cockrum's condition, as well as all the latest information on the various benefit auctions and, of course, Aardwulf's Cockrum Benefit Book, this is the place to be. Its as close to a no-brianer as you can get.

. . .

OK, that's that for today - man, that was a huge entry. I know I promised some sort of essay this week - its coming along but it seems ot have grown in stature the longer i work on it. It's coming. It'll be good, trust me.

Oh, got a quick plea: if anyone has a copy of The Comics Journal #255 they would care to part with, please drop me a line. I missed it and there's not a store in my immediate vicinity that has a copy, and Fantagraphics is sold out to boot.

Thanks and all that...