E-MAIL RYALL | E-MAIL TIPTON | ARCHIVES
MAIL SHOOT
October 10, 2005
Charles W. writes: The book of short stories that Stephen B. asked about was simply titled SUPERHEROES. (This must have been before DC and Marvel got the co-copyright on that term, I assume.) It was printed in 1994, and edited by John Varley and Ricia Mainhardt. There are some decent stories in that book, written by several fantasy, sci-fi, and comics writers (including Roger Zelazny, Michael Stackpole, Alan Dean Foster, and Dennis O’Neal).
I haven’t read my copy in some time, but I’m pretty certain that the story he’s asking about was in that book. The ones I remember were the story of the pediatrician whose practice dealt with superheroes’ kids, a superman born in the USSR (before Red Son), and Captain Housework. It’s a pretty good read if you can get your hands on a copy, but it’s out of print now—you’ll have to find it used. I hope this helps.
Tipton: Indeed, a whole slew of e-mails confirmed that this was the book he was looking for. Thanks to all who wrote in.
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Rob F. writes: Let me just say what a great job you do with your
column. I enjoy reading it every week.
I collected comics religously when I was younger, but
got out of the game in high school. It was like
kicking a drug habit. So reading your articles is a
good way to revisit my past as well as keep up to date
with the newer storylines.
When are you going to cover the Legion of Super
Heroes? That is one group that will keep you busy for
months. I used to love them but I understand that
there have been several reboots. I admit Im completely
confused as to what has happened to the LSH. The last
I remember, Mon-El was badly injured by the Time
Trapper and Superboy didnt exist or something like
that.
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Tom P. writes: I just stumbled across your column yesterday and have been spending most of my morning at work (I don't do anything important around here) reading the archives. I just wanted to say that it's tremendous, especially the comprehensive JSA columns (I'd always thought that the Roy Thomas stuff from the 1980s had been given the short shrift in the grand scheme of things and I was so glad to read about them). This is definitely going to become regular reading, especially if and when you decide to tackle the Legion of Super-Heroes (a grand task in itself).
At any rate, thanks for making my day and keep up the great work!
Tipton: LEGION is an intimidating one; I'm slowly accumulating research material, but it won't be anytime soon...
Waid and Kitson's new series is excellent, though. Highly recommended!
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Rob D.writes: This is my third or fourth time writing to you. Hopefully that doesn't scare you away from reading the rest of this letter. Firstly, I just want to say that above your ability to provide entertaining insight into one of my favorite subjects, is your willingness to connect and contact with people. The fact that after every time that I've emailed you with some nerdy questions, I get a speedy and extensive response from you is amazing. It's kinda lame, I know, but I do really get excited and touched by the fact that you are willing to take the time out of your life to responded to my inane questions and to patiently answer again and again that a "Watchmen column is on the way...a long ways off, though." Seriously, though, don't you get tired of people asking about Dave Sim's Talking Aardvark or The Sandman? Anywhoski, I just wanted to let you know that I really do appreciate all of your work, both in your column and in managing these (i'! m sure, countless) inquiries into our shared, if not a little socially awkward, passion.
That said I have a few questions about the industry itself:
1) When did serialization of comic books begin? I know in comic strips they were always "to be continued", and there were a couple of two-parters in certain comic book-esque radio shows, but didn't Comic Book stories used to be standalone? Where Batman found a criminal, beat him, and then made a joke about Robin's tights (or something along those lines)? When did the big story arcs begin?
--Also, I believe Crisis or Secret Wars 2 was probably the first crossover event; was there one before these two? And what do you think are the best ones?
Tipton: The first long serialized story I can think of was the MONSTER SOCIETY OF EVIL in Fawcett's CAPTAIN MARVEL in the 1940s, which ran something like 15 months. There were probably others before that, but none of that magnitude. The first real "Crossover Event" as we know the idea was SECRET WARS. I like CRISIS and SECRET WARS both, for different reasons, but CRISIS was by far more ambitious, and ultimately more satisfying.
2) Where are most comic book companies located? I know Marvel is in New York, as was DC for a long time, but are they both still there? And since Ryall's the EIC, IDW has to be on the West Coast somewhere, right? Like Nashville or Hollywood, what's the geographical center or Mecca for the comic industry?
Tipton: Marvel and DC are in New York, Dark Horse in in Oregon, I believe, while Wildstorm and IDW are in San Diego. Nowadays, there really is no center for the industry, since technology allows people to work from anywhere.
3) I'm sure you get this question a lot, but how does one break into comics? Agents? Portfolios? Nepotism? Infinity Gems? Avoiding making lame nerd jokes about Infinity Gems? I was just curious what's the standard way most people break into the business. Especially writers. How do you display you can write a comic book well (besides being a famous writer for TV and/or Film)?
Tipton: It's not easy to break in as a writer. Your best bet is to find an artist and try to collaborate on some books, and, if you can't get anyone to publish it, publish yourself in the small press and make a name for yourself that way.
4) Part of what made the Mark Gruenwald article one of the best is that it shed some light onto your life (much like "One Hand Clapping" does with Ryall's life). I was wondering if you could tell us some more about yourself. How are you involved with comic book? Do you now or have you ever worked on a comic? Is Ryall going to realize that he's sitting on a goldmine and unleash the cybershackles so you can work on one for him? Just curious.
Tipton: Sorry, but I prefer to remain out of the spotlight. Just a simple historian. However, I will let the cat out of the bag a bit and say that people may want to check the IDW section of the November issue of PREVIEWS…
5.) Elektra: Did you go to this Atrocity Exhibition? Was it as bad as They say?
Tipton: No to Elektra. Maybe when it hits cable.
6.) Counting clones/alternate universe/etc., has anyone stayed dead? The only person I can remember is that old guy that used to date Aunt May who died of a heart attack when the Vulture carried him into the sky (this was at the beginning of the "Return of the Sinister Six" story arc).
Tipton: Bucky Barnes and Uncle Ben. That's about it.
Hold on...
Okay, scratch that. Just Uncle Ben.
Once again, if you could answer these questions, that would be great. Your column really is one of the best pieces of writing in any publication. I hope you know this and that you're proud of it. You easily educate the unenlightened (I never knew about Starro the badass Starfish, and now I love the sonofabitch!), you hit on all the nostalgic points that get our geek hearts pumping (Doc Ock did look kick ass in that suit, and with that cigarette holder), and you even show the profundity of a character or book that veterans sometimes pass over on initial glances.
Thank you once again for all of your time and your work.
Tipton: Glad to hear you're on the Starro bandwagon.
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Andy writes: I've never heard of this title until coming across an eBay listing of it. I
checked it out a bit; the premise and direction seem interesting enough, but
how does a title go from having a second printing of its first issue to not
even making it to issue twenty? Was the creative execution ultimately lacking,
or did DC marketing just screw up?
Unless you're saving this for a future column, I was wondering if you can
please tell me whether this is worth checking out if I come across it, and what
are the chances of a TPB coming out.
Speaking of trade paperbacks...what comic was the first to be reprinted in a
TPB?
Tipton: I liked YOUNG HEROES IN LOVE a lot. The problem with the book was that it was an entirely new cast of characters, so it was hard to bring in new readers, and the art style was very much in the vein of BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES, which led people to believe it was a kiddie book, and not the action/drama/romance it actually was. This was before Oeming's work on POWERS made people see that cartoony art in comics didn't mean kids only.
I highly recommend it, but don't wait for a trade. It'll never happen.
No idea on the TPB question, although my money would be on the ORIGINS books that Fireside put out for Marvel in the 1970s.
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Michael P. writes: Love you, love your stuff, love the site.
Talk to me about Moon Knight. Was he just a low rent answer to Batman for
Marvel, or was/is there something more there? Is there any truth to a Moon
Knight renaissance in '05? How does a character who hangs in the shadows go
unnoticed when his costume appears to be white?
Tipton: Moon Knight was kind of a Marvel attempt at Batman, with the added wrinkle of Marc Spector having multiple personalities. Plus a giant moon-shaped helicopter. A later revamp made him a quasi-mystical Egyptian warrior. He never did much for me, but some people liked him. There's been whisperings of a MK return, but nothing's happened yet, although the new “Ultimate Moon Knight” is running around in ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN these days…
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Ric T. writes: Absolutely love the column, keep up the stellar work!
One comment. In your 1/19/05 column, "Everybody line up for roll call", you refer to the Manhunters as "reoccurring JLA foes". True enough.
However, I was a little surprised that you didn't mention the fact that the Manhunters have a complex history of their own, although it was Jack Kirby's 1975 version that was incorporated into the GL mythos. A brief timeline:
1) Manhunter I/Dan Richards - first appearance, Quality's POLICE COMICS # 6 (March 1942), drawn by Alex Kotzky and probably written by Tex Blaisdell. Ran until issue # 101 (August 1950).
2) Manhunter II/Paul Kirk - first appearance, ADVENTURE COMICS # 73 (April 1942) and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby. Ran until ADVENTURE # 92 (June-July 1944)
3) This incarnation was picked up briefly by Archie Goodwin & Walt Simonson, DETECTIVE COMICS # 437-443 (1973-1974).
Here's the biggie:
4) FIRST ISSUE SPECIAL # 5 (August 1975) Jack Kirby created a new Manhunter. The project lasted only one issue but introduced much of the Manhunter mythos that would eventually find its way into GL/JLA. (I actually had this book as a kid)
Here's where it gets a little tricky. From what I've researched, it was in GL vol 2 #90 (Aug-Sept 1976) that first established the fact that the Guardians had less successful precursors to the GL Corps, the Hallas.
However, this was overshadowed by JLA #140 (March 1977), in which the writers *brilliantly* incorporated the existing Manhunter mythos into the GL continuity, establishing the fact that the Manhunters were created by the Guardians as their first project, albeit a failure.
I just can't say enough about what a great idea this was. Taking a character from the Golden Age, reworking the mythos, then integrating it into established continuity of one of their biggest characters at the time was nothing short of *genius*.
But I've said enough, so I'll let ya go. Always looking forward to Wednesdays, and thanks for the memories!
Tipton: The Manhunters' history is so convoluted, as you prove so elegantly above, I didn't want to take up space in my JLA column with a long digression, especially since if casual readers have any knowledge of the Manhunters, it would be the version I referred to, which was seen a couple years back on the JUSTICE LEAGUE animated series.
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Zak K. writes: What is the deal with Wonder Woman and flying. The modern incarnation
I am familiar with is fond of flying all over the dang place, but I've
gotten the impression that past incarnations were not so blessed (who
needs an invisible helicopter when you can fly?).
When did Wonder Woman take to the air, and what were the reasons for
it? Was it to put her more on a par with Superman power wise?
Tipton: She was always able to "glide on air currents," but lately people seem to like to bend that rule and let her fly outright. There was never an explanation for it or anything.
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Greg S. writes: A few random topics:
1. I caught some of Blade II on TV the other day so I popped it in my DVD player and watched it all the way through. After seeing it and the first one numerous times now I have to conclude that when vampires call him Daywalker it just sounds incredibly cool and bad ass.
2. In reading your stuff over the past year or so you seem to be a big fan of Teen Titans. So what is your opinion on the cartoon and how do you feel about Marvel’s old title New Warriors. I read Marvel exclusively (except the Death of Superman) as a kid so I never knew of the Titans. How did the series’ compare, I am going to assume though that you will say Titans was better.
3. Any interest on doing a Rogue’s Gallery for Spiderman? What levels would you do? Obviously top guns like the Sinister Six, but down to guys like Puma and the Spider Slayers? Even further to the Boomerang and Speed Demon, etc?
4. I read something the other day from an interview with Sam Raimi that said he was seriously hinting that Venom would be the villain in the next movie. Considering the way they ended the last one with Harry and the fact that you would need to have one movie with Spidey wearing the costume himself, wouldn’t it make sense to get everyone signed on for 2 more and then use Venom in the fourth installment. Granted I am not sure I like having the Goblin return already but I guess you don’t have much choice since it will be hard to keep the cast along for more than 3 or 4 of them. I think they should have Peter get the black costume in this one (maybe in a shuttle accident which is how I think they did it in the 90s cartoon) and then while fighting with Harry he beats him into a coma or even kills him because the costume is driving him mad, that would set up Venom nicely in a fourth film, what do you think?
5. I really only keep up with comics as far as what I read on this site, but from what I can tell it seems like they want to make the Avengers into a JLA clone by putting all of the big stars of Marvel in it. I don’t see this working. In the Justice League you have DC’s three major characters, then you’ve got guys who are clearly the secondary characters (Lantern, Flash) but are still big guns. In Marvel your three biggest properties are Spidey, the X-Men, and then I would say Hulk (as far as main stream appeal). So you can’t use the X-Men, unless you just take Wolverine. Obviously you need to throw in Captain America. So who do you have? Cap, Spidey, Wolverine, the Hulk. It doesn’t work, Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman can sort of demand authority. Cap does, but Spidey is insecure and would only be able to lead by example, Wolverine is no leader, and neither is the Hulk. Also who are your second level guys like Lantern and Flash? Would you put Daredevil, Punisher, Ghost Rider, Thor, Silver Surfer, in it? Marvel’s hero hierarchy just isn’t set up for a JLA copy. Plus they already have strong team books in X-Men and Fantastic Four.
6. I like Family Guy but I can understand your point of view as to why the show sucks. It seems that everything about Family Guy that is horrible was put into American Dad. The show is just incredibly not funny to the point where I might boycott Family Guy to spite them. You have to admit though that the episode of Family Guy where Peter says he didn’t have gas until he was 25 (or something like) and then they have a flashback to him sitting there, farting, and then he is like "What the hell was that?", it is pretty funny.
7. In the TV recommendations 24’s "nuclear remote" is considered pretty far fetched, ok but isn’t it far fetched that in Lost a rescue team doesn’t track the planes transponder and go get them. (I have never seen Lost so maybe there is an answer to this, just checking)
Tipton: 1. Yeah, BLADE II is awesome.
2. The TITANS cartoon is good for what it is. I know younger kids love it, and they try to incorporate a lot of the elements from the comics. NEW WARRIORS was decent if unremarkable comics, but it doesn't compare to the Wolfman/Perez Titans run.
3. Spidey Rogues gallery column is currently underway.
4. I'll let Sam Raimi surprise me. I've not been disappointed yet.
5. While I would prefer to be reading about the classic Avengers, NEW AVENGERS is slowly making a place for itself, I must admit.
6. AMERICAN DAD is so bad it physically hurts to watch it.
7. There's way too much to explain, but yeah, that's been addressed and then some on LOST.
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Zak K. writes: I read your article 'Too Many Earths', and I'm craving more info on
earth 2. A world where a rabidly anti-superhero Bruce Wayne becomes
police commisioner, Clark Kents becomes editor in chief of the daily
planet, and Batman & Catwoman have a child?
Did earth 2 make for a quality read, and has it been reprinted
anywhere? Which books were Earth 2 featured in?
Tipton: I loved the Earth-2 stories. A world where Superman and company aged, and married and had families and died. They were endlessly fascinating, and I hated to see them go. The Earth-2 characters appeared every summer in JLA for the first 22 years the book was published, and they can also be found in 1970s and 1980s books like ADVENTURE COMICS, INFINITY, INC. and ALL-STAR SQUADRON.
The first dozen or so Earth-2 JLA/JSA teamups are collected in three trade paperbacks, out now, entitled CRISIS ON MULTIPLE EARTHS, VOL. 1-3.
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Andrew C. writes: In the first issue of Dark Knight Returns, does Batman kill the mutant
who takes the child hostage when he shoots him with the M-60? I'm
thinking no, considering the fact they repeatedly state Batman doesn't
kill (and he doesn't even kill the Joker), but I thought I'd ask for a
number of reasons...
1) You're the comics guru so you may know something about this/have
picked up on something I don't/didn't.
2) It'll help put what I've found to be an irritating debate amongst
some people I know to rest
and
3) It'll put my own doubts about the scene to rest, as the art itself is
ambiguous enough to make me unsure.
Tipton: It always seemed to me that the bullet hole is just above the punk's head, and there’s no visible wound showing, which there clearly would be from a gunshot would at that range, so I thought the point was that he scared the punk into handing over the child. I think if Miller was going to have Batman break his oath against killing, he'd make a much bigger deal of it.
Dave Brown writes: Just read your TV Recommendations column this week, and thought it was great. I don't know if this was a one-off or if this is part of a new format, but I found the column to be more interesting and funnier this week. I'm sure that you must find it easier to write about one show (the good or bad) than 50. If you're looking for votes, put me down for the one-show a night approach. And what's going on with the Daily Show? Why do they have TBD on as a guest every night? I'm sure that who is going to B on the show as been D by Sunday - or maybe not. I guess you'd know, 'cause you have your own column on the internets.
Ryall: Funnier? And... one show a night? Damn, way to bruise my ego. So, all these years of 40+ shows and 40+ bad jokes a week and I could've just skimped all this time?
Also, Comedy Central sends me their DAILY SHOW guest lists midday on Mondays. They're always updated soon after that same day. (Between you and me, I absolutely hate updating all those talk show listings every week. It takes forever to get 'em all, so I'm at least glad to know someone's looking for them.)
# # #
JR writes: Heya, Chris. I'm just writing to tell you I actually like the new column layout. It's clear and actually could change my usual TV viewing habits. I actually skipped your columns from the last month (Sorry! Sorry!) since there was so much stuff and I didn't even read most of it. This is a lot (as lame as this sounds) more fun to read, and since you go into more detail, a reader gets more information about a specific show. One thing you could do if you don't think this is enough is do two shows a day, one to watch, and one to avoid like herpes.
Ryall: Well, there's two votes in a row for me to do less work. And here I thought all the added "season premiere" episode info would be useful. Now you tell me that you skipped it entirely because I did too much?
Coming next week: a one-show haiku per day.
You seem to say how awful the layout is throughout the whole column, but I think it's actually an improvement. Just one reader's thoughts.Thanks for the funny read, as usual!
Ryall: You liked it? I felt like I was just out of things to say by about Thursday... I think it's much easier to just throw out a dumb joke than have anything meaningful to say (such is life on the Internet, eh?). But maybe I'll try it again soon, and do it your way, with one "pick" and one "avoid" for each day, something like that.
You skipped the last few? Damn... and all that work I did, too! It was a lot, though, I know. And probably what convinced me to try this, because all of that burned me out a bit.
Anyway, thanks--glad you liked. I'm sure I'll give it another shot soon enough. Now that I know I can get away with less and please people.
JR replies: Oh, one more thing: Bob Loblaw could be the funniest thing I have ever seen or heard. So subtle, so esoteric, so hilarious. That makes it a perfect "Arrested Development" joke. The show it just getting better and better. Taste the happy.
Ryall: Yeah, I've been using "Bob Loblaw" in conversation non-stop since last Monday.
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Jeremy T. writes: While I'm tapping this out, I may as well fire off a quick question. I never had any interest in Gilmore Girls, but based on your praise in TV Recommendations, I decided to give it a shot. I managed to get through perhaps a dozen episodes of the first season before giving up. This is my question: Would you consider the first season somewhat representative of the series as a whole? If so, I can skip watching any more feeling confident that I simply don't connect with the material very well. Otherwise, I might try and jump ahead a bit (in case the series took some time to find its stride).
Ryall: I never watched the first two seasons, and the couple times I've tried on ABC Family, well, I'm okay with not having seen more. The show seems to have hit its stride in season 3, at least as far as its appeal to me.
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Tom A. writes in re: ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT, too:
Actualy it was the Charleze Theron (yes, I saw the Playboy layout) guest
shot that got me to tune in, but it was the "You had your picture taken
with Sadam Husein!" "I thought it was the guy who played the Soup Natzi"
That really cracked me up.
And the thing with the hand? Creepy, but funny.
Ryall: I liked that the Hussein joke allowed for a quick but nicely pointed joke at Donald Rumsfeld's expense, too. The show actually almost requires repeated viewings each week to catch everything.
# # #
Sean B. writes: Had some time to kill so I actually watched the pilot for Night Stalker last Thursday. It would’ve been mildly entertaining if I could have completely shut my brain off & ignored the glaring potholes. Not possible though. That thing with the cremated “coyote” carcass was just too idiotic for words. I’ve been reading that the ending was reshot since the pilot you reviewed. I was curious if you’d seen the revised episode & if it was any better than the original pilot? I don’t see how it could’ve been much worse. What I saw was still pretty mediocre. If I wasn’t cutting Stuart Townsend some slack due to his fun performance in “Queen of the Damned” I doubt I would’ve watched at all.
Ryall: I didn't watch the pilot again--couldn't bring myself to sit through it twice. I might give it another look ay some point, to see if the show's gotten any better, or at least just embraced the implausible a bit more. Plus, I like Gabrielle Union, and Townsend's not bad, so I might have to check back at some point. Just not in a hurry to do so...
You're a Good Man, Shermy P.
Ryall: This exchange is easily my favorite in some time. Next, I want to hear from the real Franklin, or Frieda!
Todd W. writes: I'm a big fan of the column and have written you a few notes before. Anyway, I'm a weekly columnist for the Daily Courier in Grants Pass, Ore., and write about all manner of stuff. Since I got my column months ago, I had wanted to write about "Peanuts," and the fact that, since the reprints that began appearing in daily papers after Charles Schulz's death begin in 1974, a lot of readers won't ever get to know some of the Peanuts cast who'd largely been written out of the strip by then.
ANYWAY, I wrote the column (which I'll include here), and then I got one of the best fan letters and best experiences in journalism I can remember (and that includes the fact that my first flight in an airplane had a famous co-pilot — Gen. Chuck Yeager!)
Anyway, here's the column and the letter:
From the beginning, 'Peanuts' was special
More funny pages commentary? Good grief!
Last week, we took a look at the funny pages for the 75th anniversary of Blondie.” This week, we’re going to take a look at Peanuts,” which turns 55 on Oct. 2.
I, like countless others worldwide, have an attachment to this strip that began early in my childhood. Indeed, I can remember that one of my first triumphs in learning to read was that my dad no longer had to read "Peanuts” and the other Sunday comics to me.
From the beginning, "Peanuts” was special, in that it came from a darker place than did, say, "Blondie” or "Dennis The Menace.” The characters had more humanity, and not all turned out well. Charlie Brown never kicked the football, his baseball team almost never won, and that Little Red-Haired Girl just never seemed to notice him. And still, he struggled on, his spirits only slightly diminished by constant failure.
I’ve always thought that Schulz’s original title for the strip, "Lil’ Folks,” was more appropriate than was "Peanuts,” which was foisted on the strip by Schulz’s editor. In interviews, Schulz, who died in 2000, said that he hated Peanuts” because he felt the term denoted unimportance.
Following Schulz’s retirement (and death soon thereafter), many papers (including the Daily Courier) opted to continue running reprints of the strip. United Feature Syndicate chose to begin running the strips from 1974 forward, as, by that time, the familiar Peanuts” cast was largely set, as was Schulz’s art style.
While this decision makes sense from a certain point of view, it also means that modern-day newspaper readers are missing out on not only the strip’s artistic high point (the mid-’60s, by my reckoning), but also on a big chunk of the early Peanuts” cast, who had basically fallen by the wayside by the time the ad reps for Hallmark and Met Life came calling. Here are just a few examples:
* SHERMY. The original "Peanuts” cast consisted solely of Shermy, Charlie Brown, Snoopy and Patty. Shermy, in fact, has the only dialogue in the first Peanuts” strip, referring to Charlie Brown as "Good ol Charlie Brown” as he walks by and professing his hatred for him in the next panel. As the "Peanuts" cast grew to include Lucy, Linus and others, Shermy’s role diminished significantly, and by 1970, he was gone. The last mention of Shermy occurs in a 1977 strip, when Charlie Brown refers to Shermy (who doesn’t actually appear) as his baseball team’s designated hitter.
* PATTY. Patty, who is distinguished visually by the orange bow in her hair, survived a bit longer than Shermy, though her appearances were few and far between after the debut of the similarly named "Peppermint” Patty in the mid-’60s. She, like most of her female "Peanuts” castmates, is memorable mostly for her cruelty to Charlie Brown (in her second appearance in the strip, she punches Charlie Brown in the face while reciting "Little girls are made of sugar and spice and everything nice.”) Patty’s last appearance in the strip was on April 11, 1976.
* VIOLET. Violet was the first addition to the cast (introduced in 1951), and was known primarily for her snobbery. In one strip, she tells Charlie Brown, "It goes without saying that you are an inferior human being” (to which a humiliated Charlie Brown answers, "If it goes without saying, then why did you say it?”). In many ways, she is even crueler than later addition Lucy Van Pelt, who eventually took over her role as Charlie Brown’s biggest antagonist. An interesting bit of trivia is that it is Violet, not Lucy, who is first to pull the football away from Charlie Brown before he can kick it (in November 1951), doing so because she is afraid he will kick her in the hand. Seldom appearing after the late 60s, Violet’s final appearance in the strip comes in 1984.
* FRIEDA. Frieda, who sat behind Linus in school, debuted in 1961. Her chief characteristic was her "naturally curly hair,” which she always managed to bring up in conversation. Frieda was a chatterbox who often ignored what was going on around her. She also often tried to get Snoopy to go with her and chase rabbits (which Snoopy was reticent to do, preferring to frolic in the fields with them). Frieda’s last appearance in the strip came on March 20, 1975.
* CHARLOTTE BRAUN. Charlotte Braun is notable for the fact that she is the "Peanuts” regular with the shortest shelf life. Charlotte Braun (whose name was a feminization of "Charlie Brown”), was loud, abrasive and obnoxious and was so detested by fans that she only appeared from Nov. 30, 1954 to Feb. 11, 1955, in less than 10 strips total. After Schulz’s death, it was revealed that a fan had written to him begging him to remove the character from the strip. In response, Schulz wrote back asking if the letter-writer really wanted to be responsible for the death of a child and included a picture of Charlotte Braun with an ax through her head!
Fortunately, there are plenty of books of reprints out there for Peanuts” completists to peruse to get a look at the strip’s early years. The ambitious Complete Peanuts” collection from Fantagraphics Books is reprinting each and every strip at a rate of two books per year for the next 12 years, with strips from 1950-1956 currently available, and a volume covering 1957-1958 debuting in October.
Anyway, two weeks go by, and then I get this in my email inbox:
Hi Todd,
A Grants Pass friend, (actually Hugo) Lois White,sent me the your Sept.13th article on Peanuts,and I'm the Shermy that the character was named after.Sparky & I grew up together in St.Paul,Mn. and we were the best of friends through out his lifetime.
Sparky was asked numerous times why he dropped Shermy from the strip and he would always laugh and say that it was because he was a colorless character.Anyhow he was always my claim to fame.As a matter of fact I'm about to be interviewed on TV tomorrow by PBS for an upcoming program regarding our childhood together.
I just wanted you to know that I enjoyed your article, and wish you well as a writer.
Sherman Plepler
L.A.,Calif.
They're Not Even Supposed to Be Throwing 12-Sided Dice Today
Doug F. writes: Dude,
A new indie film called Gamers, about a bunch of dudes still role playing in their '30s.
Ryall: Was it filmed on location at Comicon?
Watch the teaser trailer yourself and decide.
Please show your support and visit
www.gamers-themovie.com
They are having a cast & crew party on October 15th in Calabasas Hills, CA at 7PM
They will show the film for the first time.
It's a comedy with stars such Kelly Lebrock, William Katt, Beverly Diangelo, and John Heard. Featuring the voice of Richard Blade and Michael Bell (E True Hollywood Stories voice over) as the narrator.
The web site just went up and they only have the teaser trailer posted and the information about the movie. It's rated "R" for Mature Language.
It was done by a first time writer and director who maxed out his credit cards and sold stock to shot the comedyon 35mm in six days. They shot an additional two days on video to go with the lead characters job at a public access station.
These guys didn't know anybody from Hollywood, they just got a casting director and started pleading with the actors to appear in the film.
Ryall: Maybe it's my CLERKS or FREE ENTERPRISE-loving nature, but I just dig these kinds of low-budget flicks. Looking forward to seeing this one. [Note: the producers were kind enough to invite me to the premiere party on Oct. 15, but I'm unfortunately already booked up. Still hope to see it soon, though.]
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