Rants & Raves

Opus Fifty-three:March 14, 2001
• Before We Forget: Beetle Bailey’s 50th and Mort Walker’s Autobiography
Opus Fifty-four: March 28, 2001
• Mad Distress: William Gaines’ Venerable Lampoon Magazine Starts Taking Advertising with What Disastrous Results?
Opus Fifty-five: March 28, 2001
• Breathed Speaks: Excerpts from An Interview with the Notable Comic Strip Recluse in Early 2001
Opus Fifty-six: April 11, 2001
• Reviewed are the Spirit Millennium Edition from DC, 10th Muse, Harvey Pekar’s return in American Splendor’s 25th Anniversary, Image Two-in-One (a 24-hour comic by Larsen and Eliopoulos), Image’s Double Image No. 2, Kurt Busiek’s Superstar, Allison Dare: Little Miss Adventure, Green Arrow No. 2, and Citymouth from England’s stellar Hunt Emerson.
Opus 57: April 25, 2001
• Current titles on the stands reviewed are Tellos, Heavy Metal with another appearance by Serpieri’s Druuna, the Dodsons’ Harley Quinn No. 7, Alan Moore’s Tom Strong, the latest issue of Desperate Times, Eduardo Risso’s work in 100 Bullets and Weird Western Tales, and a new reprint volume from Andrews McMeel of Darby Conley’s Get Fuzzy comic strip.
Opus 58: April 25, 2001
• This year’s Pulitzer Prize for editorial cartooning goes to Ann Telnaes, only the second woman to win in this category, and a novel with a Superman aura.
Opus 59: (May 9, 2001)
• Discusssions of some recent graphic novels—Dixie Road, Raptors II, and Gipsy as well as Rick Geary’s delicious latest (all from NBM) and a new collection of Alex Toth art, not to mention an obit on Big Daddy Roth
Opus 60: May 23, 2001
• Reviews of comics on the stands at this date include premiere issues of Bazooka Jules, Codename Knockout, Desperadoes, and Randy O’Donnell as well as Kane, Private Beach, Tom Strong, and Joe Sacco’s reportorial cartooning for Time.
Opus 61: May 29, 2001
• Jack Davis, EC’s legend and a world-class caricaturist and cover artist, won the NCS Reuben as "cartoonist of the year’ for the year 2000; all other winners of Reuben "division" awards are also listed.
Opus 62: June 6, 2001
• Editorial cartoonist Steve Kelley is fired at the San Diego Union-Tribune and other news from hither and yon.
Opus 63: June 6, 2001
• Remembering Hank Ketcham, who died June 1.
Opus 64: A New Outrage from a Familiar Source & Some Quick Reviews (June 20, 2001)
• Reviewed are 2024,Ted Rall’s latest work, and some newsstand comics (Daredevil Yellow, Savage Dragon No. 85, Herobear and the Kid, Scary Godmother, 10th Muse, and the "first" issue of Codename Knockout) as well as notes on the latest development in the Steve Kelley firing and the Happy Harv’s last word on whether he (or Douglas Sirk) is alive or fictional.
Opus 65: The Ladies on the Cover and a Dose of News and Reviews (July 4, 2001)
• A book about Robert McGinnis’ paperback book covers, a footnote the Steve Kelley firing, a visit to a clutch of old time New Yorker cartoonists, and reviews of a few comic books.
Opus 66: Another Con Job and News and Reviews (August 1, 2001)
• A glimpse of what went on at the San Diego ComiCon, some book reviews and news, rapid rabbit reviews of a few new comics (Stan Lee’s Just Imagine, Codename Knockout again, and Robert Gregory’s newest Bitchy Bitch and the new Elektra), and trolling for comics in mainstream mags.
Opus 67: A Few Curves and None Too Soon (August 15, 200l)
• Cover girls with comics connections—Julie Strain and Stacy E. Walker—and reviews of a spate of space adventuress material from the extra-talented off-shore Alfonzo Azpiri (who knows how to draw a pretty sexy girl).
Opus 68: Good Ol’ Mary, News & Notes, and Pithy Pronouncements (August 29, 2001)
• The Real Truth about Apple Mary and Mary Worth (and the syndicate’s recent snafu), news about the International Museum of Cartoon Art closing its doors in Boca Raton and Erik Larsen revealing the Savage Dragon’s origins in February, and reviews of Stan Lee’s Wonder Woman, Gleason’s Daredevil, Dick Tracy’s Sam Catchem, Vandala II, Dollz, Dexter’s Lab, Samurai Jack, Angel and the Ape, Hunter, Prime8, and Oni’s Color Special 2001.
Opus 69: Ol’ Hatchet-jaw Hits 70 (September 12)
• Dick Tracy reaches his 70th but his anniversary is celebrated in Jim Scancarelli’s Gasoline Alley.
Opus 70: Muse, Reviews, and News (September 26)
• The question of laughter in cartoons in the wake of the 9eleven atrocity is examined and then come reviews of The Good Girl Art of Bob Lubbers, John Buscema Sketchbook, Jake Cole and Plastic Man and news about the forthcoming Will Eisner book, The Name of the Game, a new collection of Peanuts strips and art, Spy vs. Spy, and the latest skirmish in the Peanut Butter Battle over Percy Crosby’s famed Skippy.
Opus 71: Laughter and a Festival of Cartoonery (October 10)
• After a brief notice that we’re laughing again in the wake of the September 11th atrocity, we sample the festivities at the 7th triennial Festival of Cartoon Art at Ohio State University.
Opus 72: Reviews and the Simpsons and the Right to Know (October 24)
• Reviews of Savage Dragon, Harley & Ivy: Love on the Lam, Codename: Knockout, Astra, Battle Pope, Usagi Yojimbo, Hammer of the Gods, Stan Lee’s Superman, Vamperotica, Harvey Kurtzman’s The Grasshopper and the Ant, and the latest strip reprints for Baby Blues, Zits, Baldo, Grand Avenue, Lola, Dilbert, For Better or For Worse, Mutts (Sundays). We also ridicule scholarly attention to the Simpsons, and ask what became of our "right to know"?
Opus 73: A Ramble through the New Yorker’s Cartoon Issue, Two New Books, and Some Tantalizing Pretty Girl Art (November 7)
• Reviews of The New Yorker’s annual cartoon issue, Chip Kidd’s Peanuts: The Art of Charles M. Schulz, Great Comic Cats (reprised), Danger Girl Sketchbook, Draw No. 1, Sketch No. 4, and the first issue of Bloodstone or Tombstone or Bloodraider or what-have-you.
Opus 74: Back to Print (November 21)
• Notes on the Harry Potter movie and recent events on newspaper comics pages, plus reviews of Heavy Metal’s Attila and Women of Manara, Garth Ennis’ oafish Rifle Brigade, and Ron Goulart’s superior up-dated history of comics.
Opus 75: E&P Awards and Other Fresh News plus Reviews (December 5)
• Lynn Johnston and Clay Bennett are picked as "cartoonists of the year" (strip and editorial), plus reviews of various comic books.
Opus 76: NBM's Quarter Century (December 21)
• NBM's 25 years in the business--with reviews of line and some of its current graphic novels and other titles.

Opus 77: Happy Year's End (January 2, 2002)
• Highlighting events of the last month of the year: a nifty new book about Hal Foster, Walt Kelly's version of comics history, heroic images for Twin Towers Fund, Eduardo Risso again and again, Dark Horse's latest imported graphic novels, and the Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year.
Opus 78: Two Line King Books and Comic Book Reviews (January 16, 2002).
• Two new books of the great Al Hirschfeld's work, Hirschfeld's New York and Hollywood: The Film Art of Hirschfeld, are reviewed, as are several comic books: Catwoman 2, TV Western, Some Trouble of a Serrious [sic] Nature, Shades of Blue, Justice League Adventures 1, DC's reprint of Jack Kirby's Green Arrow stories, Jack Kirby Collector 9, Tom Strong 15, Stan Lee imagining the JLA anew, Groo: Death and Taxes, Batman: The 10-cent Adventure, Eightball 22 (in color!).
Opus 79: Still Having Fun Yet Plus Reviews (January 30, 2002).
• How Zippy survived an attempt on his San Francisco life plus reviews of Will Eisner's The Name of the Game, Steve Gerber's new Howard the Duck, and other works by Stan Sakai, C. Scott Morse, Terry Moore, Greg Rucka, Eric Coile, and Devon Massey, who doubles his fun.
Opus 80: Fanny Valentine, Wonder Woman, News, and Olymping (February 13, 2002).
• A long-eared look at Little Annie Fanny: Volume II, 1970-1988 from Dark Horse, Wonder Woman: Spirit of Truth from DC, a few odds & addenda of news, and a parting reminder of what the Olympics are all about.
Opus 81: News & Comment, Four-Color Rambling about Female Anatomy, Punch and Judy, and Frank Miller's DK2, plus Pithy Pronouncements (February 27, 2002).
• A statue of Prince Valiant, Aaron McGruder and NAACP, Disney and Pooh, plus a rambling essay on Arthur Adams' Jonni Future and female anatomy in the funnybooks, Punch and Judy and newspapering, Frank Miller's DK2 and short reviews of Queen & Country, America Century, Amazing Spider-Man, Superman in Tarzan's jungle and vice versa, and Eustace Tilley's return.
Opus 82: News & Reviews, Appalling Rall, Toppling Kopple, Piraro's Sunday Bizarro, Arnold Roth's Free Lance and Others (March 13, 2002).
• Ted Rall's "Terror Widows" cartoon, Letterman's good taste, Griffith's spite, Piraro's Bizarro collection, Arnold Roth's 50-year retrospective and such comic books as Trout, Spider-Man's Tangled Web, Catwoman, Howard the Duck, Love Bunny and Mr. Hell, Ruse, and Ring of the Nibelung.
Opus 83: More Roiling about Rall (March 20, 2002).
• Ted Rall attracts online fire from Alan Keyes, who is then admonished by the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists, after which Rall outrages NY firefighters, and then, in appearing on MSNBC to defend himself, betrays editorial cartooning, saying "It's just a cartoon."
Opus 84: Controversy, News & Reviews (March 27, 2002).
• Ted Rall strikes back, Oliphant and the Church, Modesty Blaise movie, religion in the comics, the demise of Comic Relief, R. Crumb in the world of "fine" art, recipients of this year's Sparky Awards, and reviews of The Sword of Zorro from AC, Stan Lee and John Byrne on Robin, and Bluntman and Chronic.
Opus 85: Awards and Alarums, Rescue and Reviews, and Other News (April 10, 2002).
• Clay Bennett wins the Pulitzer, nominees for the NCS Reuben, Oliphant and the power of pictures, Tom Toles replaces Herblock at the Washington Post, Top Shelf rescued by comics fans, some other online comics columns, Brooke McEldowney's 9 Chickweed Lane (a masterpiece that you can now sample in a new Andrews McMeel book), the latest Dilbert book, and--as a Special Bonus--the entire, UNADULTERATED (which is to say "fully adulterated"?) "Catching Up with Craig Yoe" article that I produced, at great pains, for CBG but which, due to their rigid rules about length, they shredded to a mere shadow of its magnificent self when publishing it.
Opus 86: Marvel Hype, Movies & Reviews (April 24, 2002).
• Marvel's hype (including a fiscal fact or two), Marvelous movies, and reviews of Strangers In Paradise, Paradise Too, Deadline, My Friend Dahmer, King David, Perdida (Part I), and AC's latest title, America's Greatest Comics.
Opus 87: Spider-Man in Motion and the Fate of Four-color Comics (May 8).
• The Spider-Man movie and how it relates to comic books, plus news about nudity, the Simpsons almost sued, museums of cartooning arts, and reviews of DC's replica edition of Sugar and Spike, the inaugural issue of Bastard Samurai, Powers No. 19, and Howard the Duck No. 4.
Opus 88: News, The Pro Forthcoming, and Reviews (May 24).
• Chris Yambar's slam and DK2, comic strips rib Episode II, a long and loving anticipation of The Pro and Marc Hempel's Naked Brain 3-issue series, reviews of the latest strip reprints (Ziggy, Zits) and comic books (Pantheon No. 11, Fables No. 1, Queen and Country No. 8, Stan Lee imagining Catwoman), and Batman in the Fifties.
Opus 89: Reuben Winners (May 28).
• Nominees and winners of the National Cartoonists Society awards for 2001 are listed.
Opus 90: NCS Corrections, Spider-Man Too Evocative, Outlaw Nation and The Big Hoax (June 5).
• Corrections to Opus 89's report on the Reubens, David Broder's attack on the Spider-Man movie, memorial statues abound, and reviews of Outlaw Nation, The Big Hoax, Oddballz, and the current issue of Hogan's Alley.
Opus 91: The Filth, Guardian Angel, and Cages (June 14).
• Reviews of the first issues of The Filth and Guardian Angel and of NBM's re-issue of the monumental Cages.
Opus 92: More Liberty Meadows and Nancy Drew's Guide to Life (June 19).
• Frank Cho wins Max and Moritz Award and Liberty Meadows goes into overseas syndication, plus a glimpse at NBM's forthcoming titles and a fond look at the real Nancy Drew.
Opus 93: Strip Contest, Punch, Work for Editoonists, and a Monument to Dick Tracy (June 26).
• How many entered the Beetle Bailey naming contest, Punch's demise (again), Doug Marlette and Steve Kelley find editoonery berths, and an absolutely colossal encyclopedia about Dick Tracy.
Opus 94: Mad's Spider-Man, Larsen's Dragon, Ida Red & Bastard Samurai and Reprint Collections (July 5).
• Funnybook reviews of Mad No. 418's Spider-Man spoofs, Kanigher's contribution to the Webslinger flick, Savage Dragon Nos. 98-99, Mutant Texas: Tales of Sheriff Ida Red, and Bastard Samurai No. 2, plus an extended examination of the Andrews McMeel reprint of Mark Tonra's James strip and a glimpse of Bill Amend's latest Foxtrot collection.
Opus 95: Tina's Groove and the Big Thousand-plus (July 17).
• A new strip that seems likely to threaten Cathy and a list of the strips in 1,000 or more newspapers.
Opus 96: Reviews and A Trip Report (July 29).
• Reviews of Marc Hempel's Naked Brain, Elektra: Glimpse & Echo, Y-The Last Man, 100%, Apache Skies, the new League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, and Hellboy's "The Third Wish," plus-a somewhat perverse travelogue about Harv's recent sojourn in England.
Opus 97: News, Stan Lee's Autobiography, San Diego's Con, Martha's Fate (August 14).
• Contemplating the forthcoming Nine Eleven, Stan Lee's autobiography, the stupendousness of the San Diego Comic-Con, and Martha Stewart's fate.
Opus 98: Cleavage Mags, Copyright Law, News, Teddy Bears, the Marvel Family (Fawcett's), and Reviews (August 29, 2002).
• Plus greed at the Cartoon Bank on the anniversary of 9/11, and reviews of The Pro, Decoy: Storm of the Century, Big Daddy Danger, Gotham Girls and the Wertham snare, Live Nude Girls No. 2, Selina's Big Score and DC's Shazam Annual No.1. And some Bushwah.
Opus 99: News, Defining Comics (Again), Funnybook Review, Milton Caniff Profiled, Newspapers for the Elderly (September 11, 2002).
• Includes reviews of Fred the Clown, Y: The Last Man, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Fables, Max Hamm: Fairy Tale Detective, Milton Caniff Profile book from Italy, and a plea for newspapers to attend to the richest demographic.
Opus 100: Number Ones and Al Capp's Shmoo (September 15, 2002).
• Reviews of freshly minted Number Ones: Dungeon, Paradigm, 21 Down, Crime Comics, Spider-Man and the Black Cat, and the first issue of Liberty Meadows from Frank Cho's new publisher, Image; plus, a review of The Life and Times of the Shmoo.
Opus 101: Pogo's 60th, The Sopranos and Dubya, and Red and Rover and Brian Basset (October 4, 2002).
• Celebrating the 60th anniversary of Pogo's birth with a smattering of misbegotten history and a review of a freshly minted Pogo video, plus some Bushwah on the Sopranos and reviews of comic strip reprint albums from Andrews McMeel.
Opus 102: Misleading Bushwah, Mr. Magoo, the Mickey Mouse Copyright Law, Editorial Cartooning with Female Candidates, and Sherman's Lagoon (October 10, 2002).
• More political commentary and comics news, including the McFarlane vs. Gaiman case, brief reviews of current funnybooks and of two reprints of Sherman's Lagoon, with a short history of Jim Toomey
Opus 103: Negative TV Ads, Reviews, Corrections, Islam and Bushwah (October 31).
• Reviews of 21 Down 2, The Goon 1, Black Widow 3, Ballad of Utopia 1-3, Hawkman 7, and some Own Fitzgerald and Jim Mahfood, Gonick's latest History of the Universe, the most recent Rose Is Rose reprint and other new tomes from Andrews McMeel.
104: Fresh Number Ones and Volume 2 of Giardino's Pasaran (November 13, 2002).
• Plus news and the usual Bush League bashing.
Opus 105: Reviews of Comics New and Old and News about Cartoonists of the Year, plus the Usual Bushwah (November 29).
• Shelly Mayer's famed Scribbly re-visited and reviews of Jane's World, Truth, 3 Days in Europe, Marville, and a reprint collection of Non Sequitur, plus news about the Superman movie, John Cleese, Stan Lee's suit, Don Rosa's strike, Steve Geppi's Disney contract, Blondie's greeting card, Jules Feiffer's latest book, Schulz suing Walker, and an assortment of notes about the last national election.
Opus 106: Liberal Bias, New Yorker Profit, A Christmas Graphic Novel, and a Dual Autobiography (December 13, 2002).
• Plus—a vacancy at Garfield, Bizarro changes syndicates, more on the Schulz suit against the Walker museum, and a review of the autobiography of Stan and Jan Berenstain.
Opus 107: Rawhide Gaiety, the Berenstains Mystery, Disney's Treasure, and Crankshaft (January 15, 2003).
• Shameless promotion of the new Rawhide Kid, the Berenstains mystery solved, plus reviews of Disney's Treasure Planet and a lingering look at the latest Crankshaft collection.
108: Rawhide Kidding, Copyright Extension, and the Columbia Disaster (February 24, 2003).
• Rabbit Reflections the Gay Caballero, news and my view about the copyright decision from the Supremes, another installment in the Schulz-Walker Museum case, Dale Messick, what funnybooks the Happy Harv is reading and enjoying these days, a footnote on the Columbia disaster
109: Harvey Pekar Cops a Prize, Art Spiegelman Bows Out, the Yellow Jar, and the Impending War (March 6, 2003).
• News, including American Spendor's Sundance win, Spiegelman's anguish, and the Big Lie in American political life, plus a review of NBM's The Yellow Jar
Opus 110: Award Finalists, Songs of the Pogo, and Controversy over Comics for Kids (March 13).
• Reviews of the new CD "Songs of the Pogo" and of Rawhide No. 2, finalists in the Pulitzer and Reuben competitions, Biljo White and Bill Woggon, and whether comic books are for kids anymore.
Opus 111: Playboy's Erich Sokol Dies, Sinfest Emerges, and Rancid Raves on the War (March 22).
• Reviews of Sinfest, an online masterpiece now in book format, and the new syndicated strip, Pearls before Swine, plus news about Bloom County's return, superhero movies, Berry's World, and Annie.
Opus 112: Interviews with R. Crumb and Carl Barks, News Round-up, War Commentary (April 15).
• Plus editoonery that opposes the war, Daredevil movie review, Popeye's forthcoming anniversary bread, Stan Lee's latest ventures into reality tv, more real life in Edge City, Campbell's farewell to self-publishing, and a few thoughts about horses.
Opus 113: 2002 Pulitzer Winner, NCS Nominees, Editoonist Ranks Dwindling, Fond Farewells, and Shrink-squeezing (April 20, 2003).
• Plus John Byrne drawing Funky Winkerbean, Kirk Anderson getting laid off, Mike Luckovich getting spiked, good-bye to Codename: Knockout and (for the time being) Howard the Duck, and the history of Chester Gould's strips-within-a-strip.
Opus 114: National Cartoon Appreciation Week, the Age of Schulz, and the Feiffer Show (May 4, 2003).
• Plus news about Beetle, the IMCA, cheesey superhero movies, and a little commentary on the so-called war.
Opus 115: The Eisners, Reprint Reviews, and the Rawhide Kid Finale (May 18, 2003).
• A few nasty comments about the Eisner Awards and reviews of reprint books (Zits and Get Fuzzy), plus an apostrophe to the Jewish creators of the Golden Age and a final lambast for the Rawhide Kid.
Opus 116: Reubens Winners 2003 and Reprint Reviews (June 1, 2003).
• Winners of the annual honors at the National Cartoonists Society plus reviews of Andrews McMeel reprint tomes (Pooch Cafe, Zits and Get Fuzzy), a few nasty comments about the Eisner Awards, an apostrophe to the Jewish creators of the Golden Age, and a final lambast for the Rawhide Kid.
Opus 117: CartooNews, Criticism of Israel and Anti-Semiticism, FCC and The Media, and the Growing Oilogarchy (June 15, 2003).
• Plus: Fantagraphics survives, an unauthorized bio of Stan Lee, Tony the Tiger's 50th, new chief at the Mouse House and U.S. colonialism.
Opus 118: Reviews of Comic Books, Hulk Movie, and Stan Lee's Role in Marvel History (June 29, 2003).
• Kyle Baker, John Byrne, insights from Larry Gonick, the History Channel's so-called history of superhero comics, and (sigh) Stripperella's debut.
Opus 119: Comic Strip News and Reviews of Sinbad and the Krause Catalog of Comic Books (July 13, 2003).
• News about Marvin, Popeye, Disney being sued, nipple coverage, Zits sucks, Chickweed Lane's 10th, reprints s of Get Fuzzy and Tiny Sepuku and cautionary notes about fundamentalism.
Opus 120: News and Reviews of Two Number Ones, Plagiarism and Swipes, Ditko and Spider-Man (August 3, 2003).
• Plus Miramax's Archie's movie deal, "Spawns of Insomnia," editorial cartoonist being investigated by John Ashcroft's minions, Mickey Mouse being revamped for his 75th, law suit against Stan Lee from "Stripperella," Hugh Hefner as a new cartoon character, graphic novels triumph at the BookExpo in L.A., Eisner's latest graphic novel and racism, and the usual Bushwah. Beam up by clicking below.
Opus 121: Con Report, Airport Security Alarums, and Reviews of The Last of the Independents and Persepolis (August 17, 2003).