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Comics Update: July, 2002
This summer Comics Update brings suggestions for cooling off with the comics! Features include:
Peanuts Baseball Screensaver
Comics T-shirts for Your Summer Wardrobe
Introducing Ben
New Dilbert IMVironment
New Dilbert Wallpaper
Test Your Comics Knowledge
20th Anniversary of Geech
Pibgorn Update
Canvas Bags for the Beach
Rudy Park, Jane's World and Pibgorn Products
Interview With Arlo and Janis Cartoonist Jimmy Johnson
New Arlo and Janis E-Card
Chat With Dilbert Creator Scott Adams
Get Fuzzy Horoscope Cards
Get Fuzzy Link Icons
Guess Who Said That
Comics Update Archive
Vacation Reading Suggestions
New Screensaver at Snoopy.com
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Download the screensaver at Snoopy.com and watch the Peanuts gang
play baseball on your screen!
http://www.snoopy.com/comics/peanuts/fun_and_games/screensavers.html
Comics T-shirts Can Make You More Attractive
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Avoiding your swimsuit? Throw on a comics T-shirt and stop
worrying! You'll be the funniest person at the pool (in a good
way).
http://www.comics.com/store/index.html
Ben Launches This Week on Comics.com
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Chances are you won't find it in your newspaper, but Comics.com
visitors can discover Ben, by Daniel Shelton.
Ben is a sixty-something retired grandfather who loves to nap and
watch TV. He's married to Olivia, an active woman who loves
spending time with her grandchildren and trying new things (when
she can get Ben off the couch). Their daughter Patty and her
husband Nathan have two children, Nicholas and Michael.
Read Ben here:
http://www.comics.com/comics/ben/index.html
Download the New Dilbert IMVironment for Yahoo! Instant Messenger
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The latest Dilbert IMVironment features Dilbert and Dogbert sending
their own messages. Guess who comes in for a break when you buzz a
friend?
Download the Dilbert IMV here:
http://messenger.yahoo.com/messenger/imv/
Dilbert Wallpaper
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Dress up your desktop with the latest Dilbert wallpaper designs!
Choose from "Demons of Stupidity," "Fake Desktop," "Fist of Death,"
or "Out to Lunch."
http://www.dilbert.com/comics/dilbert/desktop_diversions/html/wallpaper.html
Test Your Comics Knowledge
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Which comic character fits this description?
At his brokerage he's the managing director, but his lack of
investment knowledge is exceeded only by his inability to inspire
his staff.
The answer appears after the next section.
20 Years of Geech
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Congratulations to Jerry Bittle on the 20th anniversary of Geech,
his chronicle of small-town life. If you haven't already, discover
the strip that revolves around a no-account mechanic, a sarcastic
barber, a cynical bartender, a foul-mouthed diner waitress and a
wanna-be country music star!
Read a month of Geech here:
http://www.comics.com/comics/geech/index.html
Answer to the Comics Knowledge Question
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Jonathan Stone is managing director of Bull$ 'N' Bear$ Brokerage,
but his lack of investment knowledge is exceeded only by his
inability to inspire his staff.
Read a month of Bull$ 'N' Bear$ here:
http://www.comics.com/comics/bullsnbears/index.html
Pibgorn Update
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The saga of the fairy Pibgorn continues as the heroine battles the
demon Dru, who is jealous of the affection between Pibgorn and
Geoff. Read the story summary here:
http://www.comics.com/comics/pibgorn/html/about_comic.html
Download Pibgorn link icons here:
http://www.comics.com/comics/pibgorn/html/linkIcons.html
Canvas Bags for the Beach
Jane's World, Rudy Park and Pibgorn Products
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Three new comics have joined the list of designs available at the
Comics.com store!
Printed with your choice of characters from Rudy Park, Jane's World
or Pibgorn, these heavyweight cotton canvas bags will hold
everything you need for a day at the beach (or the office, if you
must go there.)
Other products are available for these comics, including T-shirts,
sweatshirts and mugs.
Order Jane's World products:
http://www.cafepress.com/cp/store.aspx?s=janesworld
Order Rudy Park products:
http://www.cafepress.com/cp/store.aspx?s=rudy_park
Order Pibgorn products:
http://www.cafepress.com/cp/store.aspx?s=pibgorn
Interview With Arlo and Janis Cartoonist Jimmy Johnson
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Question: Who are some of your cartooning influences?
Jimmy Johnson: The wartime work of Bill Mauldin probably had more
influence on me than anything. When I was in college in the
seventies, Bill Mauldin was approaching the end of a long
cartooning career, and the student newspaper at Auburn University -
with which I was heavily involved, being a journalism major -
carried his syndicated editorial cartoons from The Chicago
Sun-Times. I really was more impressed by the political philosophy
of his contemporary work than his simple cartooning style, but I
was interested enough to go to the library and find his World War
II best-seller, Upfront. I was vaguely aware of his famous cartoon
soldiers Willie and Joe, but the subtlety, maturity and irreverence
of his work from wartime Europe, reprinted in the book, dumbfounded
me. Most impressive then and now is the fact he was barely 21 years
of age at that time. I'd always been interested in doodling and
cartoons, but it was that exposure to Mauldin which inspired me to
seriously consider becoming an editorial cartoonist. I eventually
broke into professional cartooning by that route. However: it
wasn't Bill Mauldin the cartoonist who had the most influence on me
but Bill Mauldin the philosopher. The dignity and worth of ordinary
people and empathy for the underdog were themes that resonated
through Mauldin's body of work, and they resonated with me.
Other more traditional cartooning influences include Walt Kelly,
the artists of Mad Magazine, Cliff Sterrett, Garry Trudeau and
Charles Schulz, although the impact of Schulz was more in the
nature of, "If he can do it, I can do it!" Young cartoonists are
cocky that way.
Q: Arlo and Janis recently sent fake digital vacation photos to
their friends. Have you ever done that?
JJ: No, not really. Once, I did scan a photo of my wife and myself
at the beach, standing side by side in the style of American
Gothic. With a paint program, I removed the top of her bathing suit
and filled in the resulting blank as best I could. I must've done a
credible job: when I showed it to her, she wracked her brain to
remember when the picture had been taken and how much she'd had to
drink. I finally 'fessed up. No, we didn't send that one out. I
believe Arlo did something like that in the series of strips to
which you refer. So, I guess maybe the answer is, yes.
Q: Do you have a cat? Any other pets?
JJ: I have two cats, Pirogue and Stella, the latter so named just
so I can go to the front door and holler, "Stelllllaaaa...!" As
readers know, I get a LOT of mileage out of them.
Q: When did you first become interested in boats? What's your most
harrowing sailing story?
JJ: I swear this is true. My earliest memory is of being a small
child in my mother's arms. I was bawling my eyes out, and she and
my father were laughing at me. I was crying, because I understood
my father to say he was "going to boat," and he wasn't taking me!
What he said was, he was leaving the house to "vote." My parents
were working-class people, and our home was hundreds of miles from
the ocean. My point is, I guess it's genetic. Cartoons and the sea
are two things I've always loved. My most harrowing sailing
experience is the amount of money and time I've poured into my old
Tartan 27 sloop.
Q: How did your trip to Cuba come about? What was your most
memorable experience there?
JJ: Actually, I've been to Cuba twice. I first went with a tour of
editorial cartoonists in 1999. That was where I got the idea to
return by boat and do a series of A&J cartoons from Cuba, which I
did last year. Cuba is a place I've wanted to visit most of my
life, probably because most of my life my government has told me I
can't go there. I've never understood that: to promote freedom, the
government takes away my right to travel. I believe if it weren't
for that policy, Cuba would be a much different and better place
than it is today. I think the most memorable thing about my Cuban
trip is learning that the vast majority of my readers apparently
feel the same way. I was prepared for controversy, because the
issue is so delicate among Cuban Americans, but my mail was all but
unanimous in favor of changing our official policy toward Cuba and
giving Americans back their right to travel. I was pleasantly
shocked. And it's worth mentioning, the Cuba series generated far
more mail than anything I've ever done.
As for Cuba and the people, they're magical. Some day - despite the
efforts of our government and theirs - Cuba will be a paradise and
the hottest American travel destination.
Q: Do you share any other hobbies or travel experiences with the
characters in the strip?
JJ: The things we have in common are more intangible. A&J is really
kind of one-dimensional usually, a set-up for a gag. However, A&J
also is very character-driven and real. I think I have much in
common with the characters' attitudes and personas, especially
Arlo. Funny, when I started out 17 years ago, I thought I saw a lot
of my father represented in Arlo. Now I see me.
Q: What's your advice for aspiring cartoonists?
JJ: Well, draw, but you probably do that already, or you wouldn't
be an aspiring cartoonist. Beyond that, it's simple. Learn all you
can about everything.
Read a month of Arlo and Janis here:
http://www.comics.com/comics/arlonjanis/index.html
Say "I Love You" with the newest Arlo and Janis e-card.
http://www.comics.com/ecards/html/arlonjanis.html
Discuss Dilbert With Scott Adams
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Join Washington Post Comics page editor Suzanne Tobin and Dilbert
creator Scott Adams online Friday, July 26th at 3 p.m. EDT. You can
submit questions before or during the discussion.
http://discuss.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/zforum/02/cartoon_072602.htm
Read a month of Dilbert here:
http://www.dilbert.com/
Get Fuzzy Horoscope Cards
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Every month there's a new Get Fuzzy horoscope card. See what's
predicted for your birthday month:
Cancer:
http://www.comics.com/webmail/SendAStrip?AppName=ECards&ComicName=getfuzzy&Attachments=/ecards/cards/ecard_getfuzzy_cancer.gif
Leo:
http://www.comics.com/webmail/SendAStrip?AppName=ECards&ComicName=getfuzzy&Attachments=/ecards/cards/ecard_getfuzzy_leo.gif
Virgo
http://www.comics.com/webmail/SendAStrip?AppName=ECards&ComicName=getfuzzy&Attachments=/ecards/cards/ecard_getfuzzy_virgo.gif
Get Fuzzy Link Icons
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Decorate your web site and introduce your visitors to Bucky, the
sarcastic cat; Satchel, the naive dog and Rob, their stressed-out
"guardian."
http://www.comics.com/comics/getfuzzy/html/linkIcons.html
Guess Who Said That
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Guess which comic character said, "Why does that coast guard
helicopter keep circling us?"
The answer appears after the next section.
Comics Update Archive
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If you're a recent subscriber to the Comics Update, you'll want to
catch up on the cartoonist interviews and other news you may have
missed. All the updates are now archived at Comics.com. You can
read them here:
http://www.comics.com/comics_update/index.html
Here's Who Said That
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In Grand Avenue, Grandma Kate asks Gabby, "Why does that coast
guard helicopter keep circling us?" Find out why here:
http://www.comics.com/comics/grandave/archive/grandave-20020714.html
Summer Reading Suggestions
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Payne & Ink: The Cartoons and Commentary of Henry Payne, 2000-2001:
This new book by editorial cartoonist and reporter Henry Payne
includes insightful cartoons and reporting on topics ranging
from gas prices to public schools to terrorism.
Order Payne & Ink here:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0971728704/unitedemail-20
Read Henry Payne's cartoons here:
http://www.comics.com/editoons/payne/index.html
Family Business: A For Better or For Worse Collection:
Catch up with the Patterson family in this comic strip compilation
by Lynn Johnston. It will be published in August - order now to be
one of the first to own it!
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0740726692/unitedmedia
Read a month of For Better or For Worse:
http://www.comics.com/comics/forbetter/index.html
FoxTrot: Assembled With Care:
This compilation by Bill Amend includes the last two years of
Foxtrot, and it's the eighth treasury for the strip. Foxtrot
features 10-year-old Jason, his parents Andrea and Roger, and his
teenage siblings Peter and Paige. Order now, and get your copy when
it's published in August.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0740726641/unitedmedia
A Doonesbury Book: Peace Out, Dawg! Tales from Ground Zero:
This comic strip collection, by G.B. Trudeau, is a compilation of
cartoons about the Doonesbury characters' responses to September
11th. The book will be published in August. You can order now and
the book will be shipped when it's available.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0740726773/unitedmedia
Close To Home Exposed: A Close To Home Collection:
This comic strip compilation by John McPherson is the 12th book for
this single-panel strip. It covers topics ranging from health care
and parenting to car repairs and shopping. You can order now and
the book will be shipped in August.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0740726722/unitedmedia
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