Dennis Fujitake
source: TCJ Archive
Executive Editor/Art Director: Gary Groth
Editor/Circulation Director: Kim Thompson
Contributing Editor: Bruce Sweeney
Contributing Editor: Jay Zilber
Contributing Editor: Jonathan Speerloop III
Mascot: Harry Dalton
Mascot: Mark Dievendorf
Mascot: Gretchen Meyer (1st appearance)
Mascot: Jason Feit
Distributors: Bud Plant, Seagate Distributors, Well News Service
1. NEWSWATCH: UNDERGROUNDS
The project that would eventually become MAUS by Art Spiegelman is mentioned in the "Underground" news section. The first chapter of MAUS would appear a year later in RAW #2. Other new or upcoming Undergrounds are pictured below...
Last Gasp
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Last Gasp
It's hard to choose letters from Blood & Thunder for this series as so many of the better examples are one note grievances from comics professionals. I like this one from then new science fiction author Cover talking about the low standards for comics writing...
"[Gerber] merely believed the myth that there is something inherently different in comics writing that excuses stupidity and ineptitude."
"It has just occurred to me, as I am writing this, that only in the field of comic book writing that a person without talent can become an artist."
"What depresses me is that the creators and publishers have yet to realize that many of the economic and artistic frustrations of working in the field can be relieved simply by good writing. Most of them appear to have no idea what good writing is. Most of them kill time, make money, and keep what's left of their souls alive with dreams of getting out."
Ouch.
3. SUSPENDED ANIMATION: LORD OF THE RINGS: The Bakshi Years by Jim Korkis
Ralph Bakshi, 1978
"In the attempt to achieve a more human movement, does this film forget that fantasy, and especially animation, is the representation of a heightened reality and demands a different approach than most live action films."
BONUS: UFO CHECKLIST
4. MARILYN BETHKE WATCH:
CLASSIFIED AD: "Coming soon -- Instant Gratification, The Magazine About Comic Books For Fans Who Aren't Afraid To Grow Up! Issue #1 will contain an interview with Dr. Frederic Wertham, "The Future of Comic Books" by Mike Catron, comic book and fanzine reviews, and Much More! For advertising and subscription information, write: Marilyn Bethke, [...], Sommerville NJ 08876"
Poopsheet Foundation
GOOD HORSE ART by Marilyn Bethke. One page mocking the proliferation of Good Girl Art in comic collecting circles. Hilarious.
"This comic book illustrates some of the fascinating aspects of Good Horse Art; the most obvious characteristic of this particular cover is the depiction, however subtle, of the animal's genitalia."
Comic Book Plus
5. UNDERGROUND COMIX: COLWELL'S MEAN STREET COMIX by Bill Sherman
Last Gasp
Bill Sherman was really improving as a writer as evidenced by this excellent review of Guy Colwell's INNER CITY ROMANCE #4:
"Colwell is especially good at depicting those tensions and conflicts that arise among those in the poverty life, that threaten to keep the poor powerless and divided, and because of this he's able to show the muddle of motives and emotions that make for real political life."
THE COMICS JOURNAL was a member of the United Fanzine Organization for a short time in their early years. Members were to publish this checklist to promote fellow fanzine publishers in the UFO. The UFO is still active today with one of the requirements still being the inclusion of a list like this in every member zine!
TCJ Archive
