Five Highlights from The New Nostalgia Journal 27

Image from TCJ Archive

THE NEW NOSTALGIA JOURNAL #27 (July 1976)

"[...]Gary Groth, whose first fanzine was so bad it could not be read[...] " Jim Wilson, page 23. Our out-of-context quote of the day.

This is an inauspicious  beginning to THE COMICS JOURNAL media empire. Thanks to the trio of Gary Groth, Michael Catron, and Jim Wilson however the future was definitely looking up. Digging into the many pages devoted to Alan Light, THE BUYERS GUIDE TO COMIC FANDOM, and Dynapubs is well worth the occasional cringe-worthy verbiage. Groth composes a detailed history of Light's evolution from "crudzine" publisher to fanzine mogul and his business practices to get there, the kind of in-depth reporting I'm sure had never been seen in the fanzines up to that point. The first TCJ-style interview is a real hoot, with Groth (in full Mike Wallace mode) grilling Murry Bishoff relentlessly, and Light having none of it. This is really the only content of historical interest in their first effort, but there's definitely other things of specialized interest to a few of us brave souls willing to read further:

Image from GCD

DOUG FRATZ: "TNJ Listings: Fanzines" is a time capsule of all the then current fanzines published in 1976. Fratz lists underground and alternative related zines like Clay Geerdes' COMIX WORLD newsletter, BOB VOJTKO'S COMIX CONVENTION adzine, Lee Marrs' PUDGE GIRL BLIMP (Star*Reach), and Eric Vincent's CERBERUS.

image from isfdb.org

"The Unlicensed Balloon Vendor: AMONG THE DEAD AND OTHER EVENTS LEADING TO THE APOCALYPSE by Edward Bryant." Review column by author Alan Brennert, who according to ISFDB had nine science fiction short stories published by the time he authored this column. Also listed on ISFDB are twenty-two other review columns written by Mr. Brennert between 1974-77 for  LOCUS and DELAP'S F&SF REVIEW. For what the author has been up to since his brief intersection with TCJ check out his website here.

Image from GCD

BUD PLANT (pages 15-17): This is an adzine so Comics & Comix and Bud Plant are naturally represented. Mr. Plant is still in business today, of course, but back then his was a unique one stop shop for undergrounds, fanzines, semi-pro zines, classic newspaper strip reprints, golden age comics reprints, comics history, classic animation, movie serials, foreign comics,  and art books. Just five things that stick out as tangentially future Fantagraphics publications: BERNARD PRINCE: GUERILLA POUR UN FANTOME by Hermann and Greg; PHANTASMAGORIA 1-4 by future TCJ mainstay Kenneth Smith; KRAZY KAT, PRINCE VALIANT, POPEYE, MICKEY MOUSE early reprint volumes; THE HISTORY OF O by Guido Crepax; and, AMERICAN SPLENDOR 1. Oh yes, fantasy-themed belt buckles in stock, in case you needed to be reminded it was the seventies (hey, I wore enough plaid and corduroy in that decade that I'm not judging anybody's fashion choices).

image from GCD

JACK KIRBY (page 18): a May 14, 1971 interview with Jack Kirby from The Tim Skelly Show on WNUR. The interview touches on his childhood, influences, Joe Simon, Fighting American, working relationship with Stan Lee, Steve Ditko creator of Spider-Man, why he left Marvel, In the Days of the Mob, comics as film (not pulps), character design, coloring, New Gods books, and DC's problems with his depiction of Superman.

JIM WILSON "The Creative Experience: Highest Castle, Deepest Grave" (page 23-26): I wish I could just post this whole essay, as it discussed many things that resonated through the future efforts of Fantagraphics Books and the sort of people they have gravitated toward. Here was the first paragraph which set out Mr. Wilson's theory more plainly than I could have summarized: (page 23) "Hello. You are very fortunate, you out there who are reading this. You are fortunate because you are a comics fan, which-from the viewpoint of creative achievement-automatically places you several steps above most in your peer group, whether that group be grade school friends, high school friends, college friends, common men, or whatever. You are fortunate because you decided that you weren't going to let your potential for creative work and self-expression atrophy; that you wanted an intellectual atmosphere where open-mindedness prevailed; where people could consider and discuss and believe in things which weren't necessarily consistent with the status quo of their daily lives. You came to comics fandom and found, to a large degree, what you were looking for. Anybody who could sit and enjoy the offbeat beauty of a comic book against almost universal disapproval would have to have an open mind. And then you discovered that fandom was much more than just comic books." Mr. Wilson went on to discuss the place in the general society of the people that read comics and made fanzines and what set them apart, no matter their level of talent or social standing. I'll leave it at that, if you identified with Mr. Wilson's observations (like I did) please seek out the full article on the TCJ Archive.

"[...]and whose present product is without equal in design and format." Jim Wilson (page 23). The rest of the story...

The Comics Reporter Index October 2004 Beta

OCTOBER 2004

Tom Spurgeon passed away November 13, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. He operated The Comics Reporter website from 2004-2019, being a daily presence in the lives of comics conossieurs worldwide. Before then he was Managing Editor of THE COMICS JOURNAL (172, November 1994-211, April 1999). I didn't know Mr. Spurgeon, we exchanged maybe one e-mail and some Five for Fridays. This is one way to pay back this wonderful gift he left us hopefully making it more accessible to future scholars. Any corrections or suggestions please comment on the blog, or on twitter @FtMoU69. I look forward to hearing from you.

Key:
Dead Link means I could not track the link, Wayback Machine is at archive.org, Secondary Link is a link within the archived link at Wayback Machine. Special thanks to whoever at The Internet Archive thought up the idea of preserving old web pages, it made the idea of this index possible.
C = Column or Regular Feature
(DL) = Dead Link
N = News
O = Opinion
QH = "Quick Hits"
R = Review
(SL) = Secondary Link
(WB) = Wayback Machine

This index is based on the structure of Peter M. Coogan's seminal "TCJ Index 2-142" now archived at the following link:

Peter M. Coogan's TCJ Index 2-142 at the Internet Archive Wayback Machine

1602: "1. A List, 2. Another List" [25 Oct 2004] N
1918 Comics: [11 Oct 2004] QH (DL)

ABE: FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS: "Pulled From the Longbox" [24 Oct 2004] review C (WB) (DL)
A CHILD'S LIFE: "Comics Censorship Battles" [18 Oct 2004] N
AdHouse Books: [23 Oct 2004] R
ADV Manga: "This Week's Reviews" [30 Oct 2004] R
Africa: [15 Oct 2004] editorial cartoons QH
AiT/Planet Lar: [27 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Alcaraz, Lalo: "Articles That Won't Die: Lalo Alcaraz Profile" [13 Oct 2004] C
Alixopulos, Trevor: [23 Oct 2004] R
Allred, Mike: [25 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Almond, Andrea: "Articles That Won't Die: Lalo Alcaraz Profile [13 Oct 2004] C
Alternative Comics: "CR Reviews: SALMON DOUBTS" [14 Oct 2004] R
Alternative Comics: "This Week's Reviews" [30 Oct 2004] R
AMERICAN HERITAGE: "Cushlamochree" [20 Oct 2004] N
Anderson, Kirk: [19 Oct 2004] QH
Angouleme: "Looking Towards Angouleme" [27 Oct 2004] N
ANIMAL TIMES: [22 Oct 2004] PETA magazine QH (WB)
Annable, Graham: [23 Oct 2004] R
APOCALYPSE MEOW VOLUME 2: "This Week's Reviews" [30 Oct 2004] R
Arad, Avi: "Fearless Leaders" [12 Oct 2004] Marvel Studios N/O
Arkansas: "Arkansas State Supreme Court Clarifies Elements of Display Law" [22 Oct 2004] Display Law N
Arkansas: "CR Week in Review" [23 Oct 2004] Display Law C
ARTBOMB.NET: "Pulled From the Longbox" [24 Oct 2004]  C (WB) (secondary links to Spurgeon's reviews of ten classic graphic novels, titles are indexed separately)
Auth, Tony: [15 Oct 2004] QH (WB)

Bagge, Peter: "Pulled From the Longbox" [24 Oct 2004] interview C (WB)
Bagge, Peter: "Go Look: Comics and Art On-Line" [31 Oct 2004] C
Barker, Clive: [29 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
BARNABY: "Cushlamochree" [20 Oct 2004] N
THE BEAT: "Stop the Presses!" [29 Oct 2004] O
Bell, Marc: "Pulled From the Longbox" [24 Oct 2004] review C (WB) (SL)
Benjamin, Paul: "Build it, and They Still May Climb Over It to Get to the Manga" [21 Oct 2004] N/O
Bennett, Clay: [14 Oct 2004] Population Cartoon Contest QH (DL)
Bennett, Clay: [15 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Bennett, Jonathan: "This Week's Reviews" [30 Oct 2004] R
Bird, Brad: [25 Oct 2004] QH
BIRTH OF A NATION: [29 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
BLANKETS: "Blankets Wins Dutch Award" [26 Oct 2004] Stripschappening award N
Bliss, Harry: [22 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
BLOOD ORANGE: "Blah Blah Blah" [29 Oct 2004] C
BLOOD SONG: "Pulled From the Longbox" [24 Oct 2004] review C (WB) (SL)
BLOOM COUNTY: "Opus, Too?" [26 Oct 2004] N
Bogan, David: [23 Oct 2004] R
BONE: "They Crunch Numbers So You Don't Have To" [18 Oct 2004] N
BONE: "Jeff Smith Speaks Out on Convention Sales and Retailers" [25 Oct 2004] N
BOOKMARKS: [18 Oct 2004] magazine QH (WB)
BOOK OF MORMON: [25 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Bookscan: [14 Oct 2004] QH (DL)
BOONDOCKS: [25 Oct 2004] QH
Bourgeois, Ronee Garcia: [29 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Breathed, Berkeley: "Opus, Too?" [26 Oct 2004] N
Breedveld, Peter: "Blankets Wins Dutch Award" [26 Oct 2004] N
Brinkman, Mat: "Pulled From the Longbox" [24 Oct 2004] review C (WB) (SL)
Brooks, Charles: [20 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Brother Voodo: "CR Week in Review: Winners of the Week" [30 Oct 2004] C
Brown, Paul: [23 Oct 2004] R
Buenaventura Press: [23 Oct 2004] R

CAI: [28 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Campbell, Eddie: "Looking Towards Angouleme" [27 Oct 2004] N
Campbell, Scott: [23 Oct 2004] R
Canadian Four-page Graphic Novel: [11 Oct 2004] QH (DL)
CANVAS: [23 Oct 2004] Fantagraphics Books R
Carey, Peter: [25 Oct 2004] QH
Cartoonists & Writers Syndicate, see CAI
Casey, Joe: [13 Oct 2004] Basement Tapes QH (WB)
Casey, Joe: "Blah Blah Blah" Basement Tapes [29 Oct 2004] C
Center for Cartoon Studies: "Jeff Smith Speaks Out on Convention Sales and Retailers" [25 Oct 2004] N
Chaillet, Gilles: [13 Oct 2004] QH (DL)
Chamberlain, Kody: [12 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Chelsea, David: "Pulled From the Longbox" [24 Oct 2004] review C (WB) (SL)
Child's Play charity: "2004 Version of Web Charity to Benefit Five Hospitals" [22 Oct 2004] N
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR: "Christian Science Monitor Stirs Up Comics in Classroom Issues" [12 Oct 2004] N
Claremont, Chris: "Listen Up: Gerard Jones on NPR" [28 Oct 2004] C
CLASSICS ILLUSTRATED: [12 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Cloonan, Becky: [27 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Cohn, Neil: [12 Oct 2004] QH (DL)
COMANCHE MOON: "Pulled From the Longbox" [24 Oct 2004] review C (WB) (SL)
Comic Book Legal Defense Fund: "Judge Dismisses CBDLF-backed Complaint But Eases Concern" [13 Oct 2004] N
Comic Book Legal Defense Fund: "CR Week In Review" [16 Oct 2004] C
Comic Book Legal Defense Fund: "Arkansas State Supreme Court Clarifies Elements of Display Law" [22 Oct 2004] Display Law N
Computers: [22 Oct 2004] QH (DL)
Congo, Democratic Republic of: "International Nerd Dozens: 'You're Like Tintin/In the Congo'" [29 Oct 2004] N
Cooper, Dave: "Looking Towards Angouleme" [27 Oct 2004] N
Crane, Shannon: [29 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Crowe, J.D.: [20 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Crumb, R.: [13 Oct 2004] QH (DL)

DAILYINK.COM: "King Features to Commit to DailyINK.com" [20 Oct 2004] N
THE DANDY:  [28 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Darling, Jay "Ding": [11 Oct 2004] QH (DL)
DA-RIN: [18 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Dark Horse Comics: "1. A List, 2. Another List" [25 Oct 2004] N
Dark Horse: [28 Oct 2004] QH
Dart, Rebecca: "This Week's Reviews" [30 Oct 2004] R
DAVID CHELSEA IN LOVE: "Pulled From the Longbox" [24 Oct 2004] review C (WB) (SL)
Davies, Matt: [14 Oct 2004] UW-Madison QH (WB)
DC Comics: "HIV-Positive Superhero Kerfluffle" [14 Oct 2004] Speedy HIV storyline N
DC Comics: "They Crunch Numbers So You Don't Have To" [18 Oct 2004] N
DC Comics: "Wildstorm: On the Ropes?" [18 Oct 2004] N/O
DC Comics: "Beware Their Power" [27 Oct 2004] N/O
de Campi, Alex: "Wildstorm: On the Ropes?" Ninth Arts [18 Oct 2004] N/O 
de Crecy, Nicholas: "Looking Towards Angouleme" [27 Oct 2004] N
DEMO: [27 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
DeOre, Bill: [29 Oct 2004] QH (DL)
De Vico, Jim: [28 Oct 2004] QH
Diamond Book Distributors: [15 Oct 2004] QH
Diamond Book Distributors: [20 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
DiDio, Dan: "Fearless Leaders" [12 Oct 2004] DC N/O
Di Filippo, Paul: "Warren Ellis Plays Rona Barrett" [11 Oct 2004] N/O
Direct Market: "Getting What You Asked For?: The Problem With Variants" [19 Oct 2004] N/O
Direct Market: "Beware Their Power" [27 Oct 2004] N/O
DIRTY BOULEVARD: "Pulled From the Longbox" [24 Oct 2004] review C (WB) (SL)
Dokes, John: [12 Oct 2004] Marvel QH (WB)
DOONESBURY: [12 Oct 2004]  QH (DL)
Dorkin, Evan: [12 Oct 2004] old but good reviews QH
Dorkin, Evan: "Blah Blah Blah" [29 Oct 2004] C
Dr. Seuss, see Geisel, Theodor
Drooker, Eric: "Pulled From the Longbox" [24 Oct 2004] review C (WB) (SL)
Drury, Graham: "Viz Drops Fat Slags Because of Movie" [19 Oct 2004] N
Duckett, Albert: [18 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Dunlap-Shohl, Peter: [18 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Dynamic Forces: "Between The Lines: DF To Support Top Cow Release" [13 Oct 2004] C

Eastern Illinois University: [20 Oct 2004] Comics course QH (WB)
Editions Dupuis : "Looking Towards Angouleme" [27 Oct 2004] N
Editorial cartoons: [15 Oct 2004] QH (DL)
Editorial cartoons: [18 Oct 2004] QH (DL)
Editorial cartoons: [19 Oct 2004] QH(2)
Editorial cartoons: [20 Oct 2004] QH (DL)
Editorial cartoons: [20 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Editorial cartoons: "Blah Blah Blah" [22 Oct 2004] C
Editorial cartoons: [22 Oct 2004] QH (DL)
Editorial cartoons: [25 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Editorial cartoons: [26 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Editorial cartoons: [28 Oct 2004] U.K. exhibition QH
Editorial cartoons: [29 Oct 2004] QH (DL)
Eichhorn, Denny: "Blah Blah Blah" [22 Oct 2004] C
Eisner, Will: [25 Oct 2004] QH
Ellis, Warren: "Warren Ellis Plays Rona Barrett" [11 Oct 2004] N/O
Eros Comix: [20 Oct 2004] Fantagraphics imprint QH
E.W. Scripps: [15 Oct 2004] United Media parent company QH (WB)
EYE WITNESS: [22 Oct 2004] Christian graphic novel QH (WB)

Fantagraphics Books: [23 Oct 2004] R
Fantagraphics Books: "This Week's Reviews" [30 Oct 2004] R 
Fatunia, Tayo: [15 Oct 2004] QH
FAT SLAGS, see TWO FAT SLAGS
Feiffer, Jules: "Pulled From the Longbox" [24 Oct 2004] review C (WB) (SL)
Fellows, Alex: [23 Oct 2004] R
Festival International de la Bande Dessinnee, see Angouleme
Fiore, Mark: [19 Oct 2004] QH
Fitzpatrick, Tony: "Pulled From the Longbox" [24 Oct 2004] review C (WB) (SL)
Fitzpatrick, Tony: "Go Look: Comics and Art On-Line" [31 Oct 2004] C
Fitzsimmons, Bill: [25 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Fitzsimmons, David: "Blah Blah Blah" [22 Oct 2004] C
FOODBOY: "Pulled From the Longbox" [24 Oct 2004] review C (WB) (SL)
FORBES: "1. A List, 2. Another List" [25 Oct 2004] N
FORBES: "Schulz Estate #2 on Earners List" [26 Oct 2004] N
Fort Thunder: "Pulled From The Longbox (2)" [17 Oct 2004] C (WB)
Fox, Greg: [15 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Fraction, Matt: [13 Oct 2004] Basement Tapes QH (WB)
Fraction, Matt: "Blah Blah Blah" [29 Oct 2004] Basement Tapes C
Frankel, Josh: [23 Oct 2004] R
Frauenfelder, Mark: [29 Oct 2004] Graphic Novel Review C
Fredo: [23 Oct 2004] cartoonist R
Friends of Lulu: [29 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
FRUITS BASKET: "CR Week In Review: Winner of the Week" [16 Oct 2004] C
FRUITS BASKET: "1. A List, 2. Another List" [25 Oct 2004] N
FUNNY PAGES: [23 Oct 2004] Buenaventura Press R

Gaiman, Neil: [18 Oct 2004] QH
Gaiman, Neil: "Miracleman to Marvel; Staff Movement" [20 Oct 2004] N
Gaiman, Neil: "1. A List, 2. Another List" [25 Oct 2004] N
Gaiman, Neil: "Speaking of Neil Gaiman..." [25 Oct 2004] N
Gaiman, Neil: "Bill Liebowitz Remembered" [29 Oct 2004] N
Garn, Andrew: "Truly Underground Comics" [25 Oct 2004] N
Gatlin, Greg: "Bill Liebowitz Remembered" [29 Oct 2004] N
Ghandi: [20 Oct 2004] QH (DL)
Giesel, Theodor: "Schulz Estate #2 on Earners List" [26 Oct 2004] N
Gloeckner, Phoebe: "Comics Censorship Battles" [18 Oct 2004] N
Gold Circle Films: "CR Week in Review: Loser of the Week" [30 Oct 2004] C
Golden Apple Comics: "Bill Liebowitz  1941-2004" [28 Oct 2004] N
Goulart, Ron: "Cushlamochree" [20 Oct 2004] N
Grant, Steven: "Blah Blah Blah" [22 Oct 2004] C
Grayson, Devin: "Listen Up: Gerard Jones on NPR" [28 Oct 2004] C
Groth, Gary: "Pulled From the Longbox" [24 Oct 2004] interview C (WB)

HANUMAN: [20 Oct 2004] Indian film QH (DL)
HELLBOY: "1. A List, 2. Another List" [25 Oct 2004] N
Hernandez, Gabriel: [29 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Hernandez, Gilbert: "This Week's Reviews" [30 Oct 2004] R
Hernandez, Jaime: "Blah Blah Blah" [29 Oct 2004] C
Hernandez, Jaime: "This Week's Reviews" [30 Oct 2004] R
Hernandez, Mario: "This Week's Reviews" [30 Oct 2004] R
HI AND LOIS: "It's Love Your Bland and Slightly Amusing Neighbors Day: Hi and Lois Begins Second Fifty Years" [19 Oct 2004] N/O
Hibbs, Brian: [15 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Hibbs, Brian: "Jeff Smith Speaks Out on Convention Sales and Retailers" [25 Oct 2004] N
HICKEE V2#2: [23 Oct 2004] self-published R
Hiroshi Motimiya: [11 Oct 2004] QH
Hiroshi Motimiya: "Nanjing Massacre Manga Pulled" Kuni ga Moeru [14 Oct 2004] N
Hiroshi Motimiya: "More On 'Kuni ga Moeru' Suspension Over Nanjing Plotline" [15 Oct 2004] N
Horror comics: "CR Sunday Magazine: CR's Halloween Special: Brief Notes on Horror Comics, Art Comics, and Their Intersection" [31 Oct 2004] C
HOUSEBROKEN: [27 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Hudlin, Reginald: [29 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Huizenga, Kevin: "Pulled From the Longbox" [31 Oct 2004] interview C (WB)
Humanoids: "Build it, and They Still May Climb Over It to Get to the Manga" [21 Oct 2004] N/O

ICV2.COM: "They Crunch Numbers So You Don't Have To" [18 Oct 2004] N
ICV2.COM: "Arkansas State Supreme Court Clarifies Elements of Display Law" [22 Oct 2004]
Display Law N
IDENTITY CRISIS: [25 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
IDW: [29 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Image: "Image Comics is Berkeley-Bound" [19 Oct 2004] N
THE INCREDIBLES: [25 Oct 2004] QH
INDY MAGAZINE: "Go Look: Comics and Art On-Line" [31 Oct 2004] C
IN THE SHADOW OF NO TOWERS: "Manga Takes Bookscan Chart Back From Spiegelman,          Towers" [11 Oct 2004] N
IN THE SHADOW OF NO TOWERS: [12 Oct 2004] QH (DL)
IN THE SHADOW OF NO TOWERS: "1. A List, 2. Another List" [25 Oct 2004] N
Ishimori Shotaro Pro Inc.: [15 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
ITOCHU Corporation: [15 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
IT'S WALKY!: [27 Oct 2004] QH

Jack Lake Productions Inc.: [12 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Jackson, Jack: "Pulled From the Longbox" [24 Oct 2004] review C (WB) (SL)
Jacobs, Edgar P.: "Looking Towards Angouleme" [27 Oct 2004] N
JAKKS Pacific, Inc.: [26 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Jenkins, Paul: [28 Oct 2004] QH
Johnson, Charles: "Blah Blah Blah" [22 Oct 2004] C
Jones, Amelia Opdyke: "Truly Underground Comics" [25 Oct 2004] N
Jones, Gerard: "Listen Up: Gerard Jones on NPR" [28 Oct 2004] C

Kang Do-young: [27 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Kang Sung-su: [27 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Kartalopoulos, Bill: "Go Look: Comics and Art On-Line" [31 Oct 2004] C
Kelso, Megan: "Pulled From the Longbox" [24 Oct 2004] interview C (WB)
Kennedy, Jay: "King Features to Commit to DailyINK.com" [20 Oct 2004] N
Kidd, Chip: [25 Oct 2004] QH (DL)
KID FIRECHIEF: "This Week's Reviews" [30 Oct 2004] R
Kim Jun-bum: [27 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Kim Poong: [27 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Kim Su-bak: [27 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
King Features Syndicate: "King Features to Commit to DailyINK.com" [20 Oct 2004] N
King Features Syndicate: "CR Week in Review" [23 Oct 2004] C
Knight, Keith: "Blah Blah Blah" [22 Oct 2004] C
Kochalka, James: [15 Oct 2004] QH (DL)
Kochalka, James: [29 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Kochalka, James: [29 Oct 2004] QH (DL)
Korea Cartoon Day: [27 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
KUNI GA MOERU: [11 Oct 2004] QH
KUNI GA MOERU: "Nanjing Massacre Manga Pulled" [14 Oct 2004] N
KUNI GA MOERU: "More On 'Kuni ga Moeru' Suspension Over Nanjing Plotline" [15 Oct 2004] N
KUNI GA MOERU: "CR Week In Review" [16 Oct 2004] C
KUNI GA MOERU: "CR Week In Review: Losers of the Week" readers [16 Oct 2004] C
KUNI GA MOERU: "Comics Censorship Battles" [18 Oct 2004] N
KUNI GA MOERU: [19 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Kurtz, Scott: [14 Oct 2004] PVP QH (WB)
Kyoto Kokusai Manga Museum: [26 Oct 2004] QH

Larsen, Erik: "Image Comics is Berkeley-Bound" [19 Oct 2004] N
Lasky, David: "More On 'Kuni ga Moeru' Suspension Over Nanjing Plotline" [15 Oct 2004] N
LA STAMPA: "Tutte le notizie che valgono la pena de stampare" [29 Oct 2004] N
Laszlo, Tony: [18 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Lee, Jim: "Wildstorm: On the Ropes?" [18 Oct 2004] N/0
Lethem, Jonathan: "Blah Blah Blah" [15 Oct 2004] C
Lethem, Jonathan: [25 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Lewis and Clark: [21 Oct 2004] graphic novel QH (DL)
Liebowitz, Bill: "Bill Liebowitz  1941-2004" [28 Oct 2004] obituary N
Liebowitz, Bill: "Bill Liebowitz Remembered" [29 Oct 2004] N
Liebowitz, Bill: "CR Week in Review" [30 Oct 2004] C
Lijewski, Christy: "CR Week in Review" [23 Oct 2004] C
List, Top-earning Dead Celebrities: "Schulz Estate #2 on Earners List" [26 Oct 2004] N
List, Top Earning Fictional Characters: "1. A List, 2. Another List" [25 Oct 2004] N
List, Top 100 Comics: "CR Sunday Magazine: The Comics Reporter's Top 100 Comics Works of the 20th Century" [24 Oct 2004]
List, Top 25 Comics Trades: "1. A List, 2. Another List" [25 Oct 2004] N
Loth, Cedric: [25 Oct 2004] QH
LOVE AND ROCKETS 11: "This Week's Reviews" [30 Oct 2004] R
Lucca Festival: "Tutte le notizie che valgono la pena de stampare" [29 Oct 2004] Italy N
Luedke, Robert: [22 Oct 2004] QH (WB)

MacDonald, Heidi: "Miracleman to Marvel; Staff Movement" [20 Oct 2004] N
MacNelly, Jeff: [15 Oct 2004] QH (DL)
Maduro, Vamberto: [23 Oct 2004] R
MALLARD FILLMORE: [26 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Manara, Milo: "Looking Towards Angouleme" [27 Oct 2004] N
Manga: "Manga Takes Bookscan Chart Back From Spiegelman, Towers" [11 Oct 2004] N
Manga: "CR Week in Review" [23 Oct 2004] C
Manga: [25 Oct 2004] QH
Manga: [25 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Manga: [29 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Manga survey: [19 Oct 2004] QH (DL)
Manga survey, Shojo: [29 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Marvel: "Motley Fool Writer Focuses on Marvel Remuneration" [14 Oct 2004] N
Marvel: [14 Oct 2004] Mega Bloks QH (WB)
Marvel: "Make Marvel Mine: Perlmutter To Assume CEO Role" [18 Oct 2004] N
Marvel: "They Crunch Numbers So You Don't Have To" [18 Oct 2004] N
Marvel: [18 Oct 2004] Neil Gaiman QH
Marvel: "Miracleman to Marvel; Staff Movement" [20 Oct 2004] N
Marvel: [26 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Marvel: "Public Service Announcement" [27 Oct 2004] N/O
Marvel: "Sign and Return: Marvel's Third Quarter Report Card (Filled Out By Marvel)" [28 Oct 2004] N
Marvel: [28 Oct 2004] QH
Marvel: "CR Week in Review" [30 Oct 2004] C
Mason, Jeff: "Go Look: Comics and Art On-Line" [31 Oct 2004] C
Mason, Marc: [13 Oct 2004] Danny Fingeroth QH (WB)
Mauldin, Bill: "Pulled From the Longbox" [24 Oct 2004] review C (WB) (SL)
Mavilia, Razmig: [23 Oct 2004] R 
McFarlane, Todd: [18 Oct 2004]  store QH (DL)
McGruder, Aaron: [25 Oct 2004] QH
McGruder, Aaron: [29 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
MEN AND CARTOONS: [25 Oct 2004] QH
MEN OF TOMORROW: "Listen Up: Gerard Jones on NPR" [28 Oct 2004] C
Merrit, Katie: [29 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Mhan, Pop: "Between the Lines: Pop Mhan Project At Tokyopop" [12 Oct 2004] C
Michigan: "Judge Dismisses CBDLF-backed Complaint But Eases Concern" Display Law [13 Oct 2004] N
MICKEY MOUSE: [21 Oct 2004] Greek magazine QH (DL)
Millar, Mark: "Blah Blah Blah" [15 Oct 2004] C
Mimei Sakamoto: [27 Oct 2004] QH (DL)
MIRACLEMAN: "Miracleman to Marvel; Staff Movement" [20 Oct 2004] N
Miranda, Mario: [22 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Misaka Takashima: "Public Service Announcement" [27 Oct 2004] N/O
Misaka Takashima: "CR Week in Review" [30 Oct 2004] C
Moby: [29 Oct 2004] musician not dick QH (WB)
Moebius: "Looking Towards Angouleme" [27 Oct 2004] N
Moriarty, Jerry: "Go Look: Comics and Art On-Line" [31 Oct 2004] C
Morse, Scott: "CR Week in Review" [23 Oct 2004] R
Motley Fool: "Motley Fool Writer Focuses on Marvel Remuneration" [14 Oct 2004] N/O
Motofumi Kobayashi: "This Week's Reviews" [30 Oct 2004] R
MUSKEG HEIGHTS: [18 Oct 2004] comic strip QH (WB)

Nader, Ralph: [28 Oct 2004] QH (DL)
Neely, Tom: [23 Oct 2004] R
Nihon Mangajuka: [21 Oct 2004] Japan cartooning school QH (WB)
Novick, Irv: "Irv Novick, First-Generation Comic Book Artist and Industry Veteran, Passes Away" [18 Oct 2004] obituary N

Obituary: "Bill Liebowitz  1941-2004" [28 Oct 2004] N
Obituary: "Irv Novick, First-Generation Comic Book Artist and Industry Veteran, Passes Away" [18 Oct 2004] N
Obituary: "Christopher Reeve 1952-2004" [11 Oct 2004] N
Obrador, Andres Manuel Lopez: [12 Oct 2004] QH
O'Brien, Paul: [25 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
O'Malley, Bryan Lee: "Blah Blah Blah" [15 Oct 2004] C
ONLY THE LONELY: [23 Oct 2004] Josh Frankel R
Oprisko, Kris: [29 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Overney, Marc: [23 Oct 2004] R

Panter, Gary: "Pulled From The Longbox" interview [17 Oct 2004] C (WB)
Pantheon: "1. A List, 2. Another List" [25 Oct 2004] N
Papercutz: [15 Oct 2004] graphic novel line QH
Parker, Isadore Jack "Izzy": [19 Oct 2004] obituary QH
PEANUTS: "Cushlamochree" [20 Oct 2004] N
PEANUTS: "Schulz Estate #2 on Earners List" [26 Oct 2004] N
PENNY ARCADE: "2004 Version of Web Charity to Benefit Five Hospitals" [22 Oct 2004] N
Perlmutter, Isaac "Ike": "Make Marvel Mine: Perlmutter To Assume CEO Role" [18 Oct 2004] N
Perlmutter, Isaac: "CR Week in Review" [23 Oct 2004] C
PERSEPOLIS 2: "1. A List, 2. Another List" [25 Oct 2004] N
Petty, Bruce: [19 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Pham, John: "Pulled From the Longbox" [31 Oct 2004] interview C (WB)
Pham, Thien: [23 Oct 2004] R
PINK SKETCHBOOK VOLUME ONE: GRRR!: [23 Oct 2004] AdHouse Books R
THE PIN-UP ART OF JACK COLE: "This Week's Reviews" [16 Oct 2004] C
Polkki, Chris: "Blah Blah Blah" [29 Oct 2004] TCJ Message Board C
Pontefract and Castleford: [20 Oct 2004] U.K. towns QH (DL)
Pratt, Hugo: "Looking Towards Angouleme" [27 Oct 2004] N
PRICKLY CITY: "Prickly City Suffers Porn Prank" [21 Oct 2004] N
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: "1. A List, 2. Another List" [25 Oct 2004] N

Quesada, Joe: "Fearless Leaders" [12 Oct 2004] Marvel N/O
Quesada, Joe: [18 Oct 2004] QH

RABBITHEAD: "This Week's Reviews" [30 Oct 2004] R
Raeburn, Dan: [13 Oct 2004] Chris Ware QH (Link to paid site)
Raeburn, Dan: "CR Week In Review: Quote of the Week" [16 Oct 2004] C
Ralph, Brian: "Pulled From The Longbox" interview [17 Oct 2004] C (WB)
Ralph, Brian: "Pulled From The Longbox" bibliography [17 Oct 2004] C (WB)
REASON: "Go Look: Comics and Art On-Line" [31 Oct 2004] C
Reed, MK: [29 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Reeve, Christopher: "Christopher Reeve 1952-2004" [11 Oct 2004] obituary N
Reeve, Christopher: "CR Week In Review" [16 Oct 2004] C
Reklaw, Jesse: [23 Oct 2004] R
Reynolds, Judith: [27 Oct 2004] QH (DL)
Robinson, Jerry: [28 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Roman, Dave: [29 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Ruiz, Mario: [14 Oct 2004] Valor Comics QH (WB)
RUROUNI KENSHIN: "1. A List, 2. Another List" [25 Oct 2004] N
Ryan, Johnny: [23 Oct 2004] R

Sacco, Joe: "Go Look: Comics and Art On-Line" [31 Oct 2004] C
Sacks, Adam: "CR Reviews: SALMON DOUBTS" [14 Oct 2004] R
Sakai, Derek: [23 Oct 2004] R
Sakanyi, Henri Mova: "International Nerd Dozens: 'You're Like Tintin/In the Congo'" [29 Oct 2004] Congolese Information Minister N
Salazar, Souther: "Pulled From the Longbox" [31 Oct 2004] profile/interview C (WB)
SALMON DOUBTS: "CR Reviews: SALMON DOUBTS" [14 Oct 2004] R
SALMON DOUBTS: "This Week's Reviews" [16 Oct 2004] C
Sang, Ant: [15 Oct 2004] QH (DL)
Santa Inoue: [13 Oct 2004] QH
Saori Oguri: [18 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Sayers, Joe: [23 Oct 2004] R
Schulz, Charles: "Schulz Estate #2 on Earners List" [26 Oct 2004] N
Scroggy, Dave: "Bill Liebowitz Remembered" [29 Oct 2004] N
Seven Seas: [15 Oct 2004] QH
SHRIMPY AND PAUL AND FRIENDS: "Pulled From the Longbox" [24 Oct 2004] review C (WB) (SL)
SICK, SICK, SICK: "Pulled From the Longbox" [24 Oct 2004] review C (WB) (SL)
Simpson, Robert: [28 Oct 2004] QH
The Sims': [15 Oct 2004] QH (DL)
Smith, Beau: "Bill Liebowitz Remembered" [29 Oct 2004] N
Smith, Jeff: "They Crunch Numbers So You Don't Have To" [18 Oct 2004] N
Smith, Jeff: "Jeff Smith Speaks Out on Convention Sales and Retailers" [25 Oct 2004] N
Smith, Jeff: "Public Service Announcement" [27 Oct 2004] N/O
Smith, Jeff: "CR Week in Review: Quote of the Week" [30 Oct 2004] C
Spangler, Frank Jr.: [18 Oct 2004] obituary QH (DL)
Spiegelman, Art: "Manga Takes Bookscan Chart Back From Spiegelman, Towers" [11 Oct 2004] N
Spiegelman, Art: "Looking Towards Angouleme" [27 Oct 2004] N
Spiegelman, Art: "Go Look: Comics and Art On-Line" [31 Oct 2004] C
Spurgeon, Whit: photo [20 Oct 2004] Jay Kennedy
Spurgeon, Whit: photo [22 Oct 2004] Keith Knight
Stalin's cartoonist: [19 Oct 2004] QH (DL)
Stantis, Scott: [20 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Stantis, Scott: "Prickly City Suffers Porn Prank" [21 Oct 2004] N
Stapley, Nathan: [23 Oct 2004] R
Studio Foglio, LLC: [20 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Sturm, James: [20 Oct 2004] curmudgeon QH (WB)
Sturm, James: "Jeff Smith Speaks Out on Convention Sales and Retailers" [25 Oct 2004] N
SUBWAY STORIES: "Truly Underground Comics" [25 Oct 2004] N
THE SUBWAY SUN: "Truly Underground Comics" [25 Oct 2004] N
SUPERMAN: [15 Oct 2004] QH (DL)
SUPERMAN: [20 Oct 2004] QH (DL)
Swain, Carol: "Pulled From the Longbox" [24 Oct 2004] review C (WB) (SL)
The SyFy Genre Awards: [21 Oct 2004] QH (WB)

Tait, Ruth "Rutz": [29 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
TALK OF THE NATION: "Listen Up: Gerard Jones on NPR" [28 Oct 2004] C
Taschen, Benedikt: [19 Oct 2004] publisher QH (WB)
Taylor, Judge Anna Diggs: "Judge Dismisses CBDLF-backed Complaint But Eases Concern" [13 Oct 2004] N
Telnaes, Ann: [15 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
TERATOID HEIGHTS: "Pulled From the Longbox" [24 Oct 2004] review C (WB) (SL)
Terhune, Andy: [23 Oct 2004] R
Tiberga, Guido: "Tutte le notizie che valgono la pena de stampare" [29 Oct 2004] N
THE THIEF OF ALWAYS: [29 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Thompson, Craig : "Blankets Wins Dutch Award" [26 Oct 2004] N
Thompson, Craig: "Tutte le notizie che valgono la pena de stampare" [29 Oct 2004] N
Thompson, Kim: "Pulled From the Longbox" [24 Oct 2004] interview C (WB)
Three Families Winery: [26 Oct 2004] QH
Tinsley, Bruce: [26 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
TINTIN IN THE CONGO: "International Nerd Dozens: 'You're Like Tintin/In the Congo'" [29 Oct 2004] N
Tokyopop: "Between the Lines: Pop Mhan Project At Tokyopop" [12 Oct 2004] C
Tokyopop: "Miracleman to Marvel; Staff Movement" [20 Oct 2004] N
Tokyopop: [28 Oct 2004] QH
Top Cow: "Between The Lines: DF To Support Top Cow Release" [13 Oct 2004] C
TOP 10: "Warren Ellis Plays Rona Barrett" [11 Oct 2004] N/O
TORRENTIAL: "This Week's Reviews" [30 Oct 2004] R
Tortie, Rodolfo: "Tutte le notizie che valgono la pena de stampare" [29 Oct 2004] N
TRIGUN: "1. A List, 2. Another List" [25 Oct 2004] N
TWO FAT SLAGS: "Viz Drops Fat Slags Because of Movie" [19 Oct 2004] N
TWO FAT SLAGS: "CR Week in Review" [23 Oct 2004] C

UP FRONT: "Pulled From the Longbox" [24 Oct 2004] review C (WB) (SL)
University of Texas letter writer: [12 Oct 2004] QH (DL)

Variant covers: "Getting What You Asked For?: The Problem With Variants" [19 Oct 2004] N/O
Varon, Sara: [29 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Varon, Sara: [29 Oct 2004] QH (DL)
VILLAGE VOICE: [11 Oct 2004] "Best of New York 2004" QH (WB)
VIZ: "Viz Drops Fat Slags Because of Movie" [19 Oct 2004] N
VIZ: "CR Week in Review" [23 Oct 2004] C
Viz: "1. A List, 2. Another List" [25 Oct 2004] N
Viz: [29 Oct 2004] Shojo survey QH (WB)

Watkins, Steven: [27 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
WEEKLY YOUNG JUMP: "Nanjing Massacre Manga Pulled" [14 Oct 2004] N
WEEKLY YOUNG JUMP: "CR Week In Review" [16 Oct 2004] C
WEEKLY YOUNG JUMP: "CR Week In Review: Losers of the Week" readers [16 Oct 2004] C
WEEKLY YOUNG JUMP: "Comics Censorship Battles" [18 Oct 2004] N
WEEKLY YOUNG JUMP: [19 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Weing, Drew: "Pulled From the Longbox" [31 Oct 2004] interview C (WB)
Weissman, Steven: "This Week's Reviews" [30 Oct 2004] R
Wendling, Claire: "Tutte le notizie che valgono la pena de stampare" [29 Oct 2004] N
White, Joe: [23 Oct 2004] R
Wildstorm: "Wildstorm: On the Ropes?" [18 Oct 2004] DC imprint N/0
Wilkinson, Signe: [26 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Willem: "Go Look: Comics and Art On-Line" [31 Oct 2004] C
Willis, David: [27 Oct 2004] QH
Winnick, Judd: "HIV-Positive Superhero Kerfluffle" [14 Oct 2004] N
Winnick, Judd: [25 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Wood, Brian: [27 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Woodring, Jim: "Pulled From the Longbox" [24 Oct 2004] interview C (WB)

X-MEN: "CR Sunday Magazine: X-Men Neither Advance Nor Retreat; They Run In Circles" [17 Oct 2004] O

Yamane Ayano: [18 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Yaoi-Con 2004: [18 Oct 2004] QH (WB)
Yonzon, Hugo Jr.: [18 Oct 2004] obituary QH (WB)
Young, Larry: [27 Oct 2004] QH (WB)

Zep: "Looking Towards Angouleme" [27 Oct 2004] Angouleme president N 

Five Highlights From THE COMICS JOURNAL #115

This is the first issue of THE COMICS JOURNAL I can remember buying new, probably from Omaha's Dragon's Lair Comics (also the store where I bought my first issue of LOVE AND ROCKETS, permanently poisoning my comics brain). I've had a love/yawn relationship with the magazine over the years, somehow completely missing the Tom Spurgeon years for example. Anyway, thanks to THE COMICS JOURNAL ARCHIVE I can go and revisit, or discover, past issues and ruminate on them for all the other fans and haters out there.

1. That Don Simpson cover was the perfect bridge between mainstream comics to cool mainstream comics to groundlevel comics to alternative comics to underground comix. An amazing mix of characters I followed and, then unknown to me, future favorites.

2. It's hard to imagine what a shit show the Direct Market was in 1987 with the end of the so-called Black and White Boom. This issue has some in-depth coverage of that, as well as several articles on one of the true characters of that era: Scott Rosenberg.  "Distributor Finances Five Publishers; Sunrise Distributor's Scott Rosenberg finances and assumes presidency of five comics publishers"; "The Battle for Amazing, Wonder Color Titles: Pied Piper Comics and Scott Rosenberg claim the rights to publish the same titles"; and, "Sunrise announces it may not pay some publishers until July" all three articles written by Managing Editor Kim Fryer.

3. "It would be a lot easier to take Milo Manara seriously if he'd learn when to keep his thing in his pants." Boom, drop the mic. Review over. Seriously though, this is the classic opening line of R. Fiore's review of Hugo Pratt and Milo Manara's INDIAN SUMMER, as well as two other less salacious Catalan Communications books. (page 31, column 1)

4. Jim Shooter's Michael Fleisher libel trial testimony (pages 75-107) is summed up by publisher Gary Groth in his own inimitable loquaciousness: "In his role of Enemy of Artists Everywhere, Shooter proudly endorses the work-made-for-hire concept, which legally institutionalizes the function of the artist as nothing more than a commodities broker, as well as legitimating, however spuriously, the view that human imagination may have no moral obligation beyond that of being an adjunct to corporate profit-making." (page 63, column 3)

5. Joe "Scoop" Sacco, as he's referred to on the credits page. All kidding aside, his article on the  Friendly Frank's obscenity case is very well done. (page 24)