Notable Links for 03/04

Hey everybody. If you're interested, scroll on down past today's links and you'll find some actuall commentary from yours' truly. I'm going to try and be better about putting more original content on the page besides just the weekday linkblogging, but there are only so many hours in the day... so we'll see.

Also, I still haven't got any responses from anyone who's got a copy of the Comics Journal #255 to sell. More than anything, I guess I'm disappointed. I expected so much more from you people.

>sigh<

* "A comic book about Kim Jong Il, the leader of North Korea, sold 530,000 copies in Japan last year. The comic book's title is the 'Introduction to Kim Jong Il,' which tells stories of Kim Jong Il ranging from his abduction of Japanese civilians to his private life." Read more here, courtesy of The Weekly Post (link courtesy of Nailalien).

* The Seuss Centennial continues apace: Time's Richard Corliss takes another look at the erstwhile Thedor Giesel here. Meanwhile, Nancy Beardsley for the Voice of America commemorates Seuss here.

* The Crossville Chronicle wishes Popeye a belated happy 75th birthday here.

* Silver Bullet Comics points out here that one of every two comics sold in January were Marvel Comics.

* Steven Grant's Master Of The Obvious is back this week after a slight detour last week. Of course, it remains essential reading, as Steven Grant has evolved into just about the most vital mainstream commentary around. This week he tackles Marvel's "Secret War" reprint, the essential nihilism behind 90's comic books, as well as some political stuff that you will either love or loathe. Always interesting, never less than compelling. Link courtesy of Comic Book Resources.

* Silver Bullet Comic's "Panel" feature asks a slate of creators just what's going on with the future of comics here.

* Here's an article on Santa Cruz-based comics-inspired artist Koak, from the Bay Area Metroactive.

* "They’re as unlikely a bunch of superheroes as there ever were: Menorah Man, Dreidel Maidel, Minyan Man, Magen David, Kipa Kid, Shabbas Queen and Matzah Woman. But on creator Alan Oirich’s glossy comic book pages, the Jewish Hero Corps leaps, spins and multiplies to fight the enemy Fobots — robots charged with stealing Jewish memories." Read more here, courtesy of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

* There have been to my knowledge two musicals written around Charles M. Schultz's "Peanuts" strip. The other one is returning to New York for a limited all-star engagement after a hiatus of some thirty years. Read all about "Snoopy!"s return here, courtesy of Playbill.

* Here's another article on reknowned fine-art thief Roy

* The Daily Yomiuri takes a look at the "Ghost In The Shell" sequel, opening March 6, here.

* PopMatters.com reviews "X-Statix"'s recent "Back From The Dead" storyline here, and they're a lot kinder than I was to that shambling mess...

* 13-year-old Patrick Ugas has won a guest appearance in an issue of "Batman Adventures". Read more here, courtesy of the Ansonia Valley Gazette. (I'd make a joke but - come on, he's thirteen years old, he's probably thrilled to death.)