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Comics R.I.P.s

If 2016 was the years the music died, then 2017 may be shaping up as the year the comics died, In the space of less than two weeks, the industry has lost two pioneering underground cartoonists in Jay Lynch and Skip Williamson. 

I spoke with Lynch only once, in a discussion online about an old newspaper clipping I had found on him. Craig Yoe introduced me to Williamson a few years back, though, with whom I worked on promotional ideas for his two ebook memoirs. 

Both men were published very early in their careers in Harvey Kurtzman's HELP and were EC devotees, as was...

Bernie Wrightson. Wrightson had grown up idolizing Graham Ingels and the EC horror crew rather than the MAD guys, and that would serve him well! The first time I ever saw Wrightson's work was on NIGHTMASTER but the first time I ever really loved his work was with the cover seen here.

Rest in Peace, guys. And thanks!

Batgirl Photos-Yvonne Craig-1967

Animation Articles from the 1961 Picture Show Annual

New Books Here at the Library

Off work today, so son David and I hit the Public Library Used book sale over in the next county. He got one and we picked up one for Rene (who wasn't feeling well and had to beg off). THESE were my choices. The entire haul cost us only $5.50! 

The Jon Gnagy art book seems to be the 1950s original (there's no date on it) as it references the artist's then-popular TV series.

BRAIN DROPPINGS is George Carlin's first book in a nice hardcover. 

HIPPIE is by Beatle biographer Barry Miles and is thick with lots of color pics I've never seen.

One of the Garland books covers her career and the other her life. Both are heavily illustrated so between the two, one is likely to get the full Judy story.

Top right is THE SEWING CIRCLE, a book I read when it was new. It's about the lesbian subculture in old Hollywood. Gossipy and a tad questionable as I recall but interesting reading.

The volume sans dust cover is Steve Allen's THE FUNNY MEN, the last book of his that I did not have, I believe, and one I've been hoping to encounter for about 3 decades now.

Taxi is one of two books on that TV series--the one I didn't already have.

The remaining books are autobiographies from Christopher Reeve,Don Rickles, Terri Garr, and Sally Kellerman, who by sheer coincidence, was answering a question from me last night on STU'S SHOW!

Dee

I haven't been doing much computer art lately but my friend and sometime protégée Dee posted a photo of herself this evening on Facebook that just screamed for me to mess with it. In doing so, I seem to have come up with the perfect album cover if she ever decides to do pursue a music career and record a collection of psychedelic cover tunes!

The Silent Treatment-1968

According to multiple reports in VARIETY and the Newspaper Archives, this late 1967-shot film was actually made. It starred the later controversial Marty Ingels and a cameo cast similar to that of later flops such as THE PHYNX and WON TON TON, THE DOG WHO SAVED HOLLYWOOD.

But was it actually finished? It was never released and not a trace of it has ever turned up in the public eye. I'm betting that shot of Marty below was just a general publicity pic even. 

Later in the next decade, it would be Mel Brooks who ended up releasing the first new silent film in decades--SILENT MOVIE. Ironically, it was also peppered with cameos but from much bigger stars of the day--Burt Reynolds, Liza Minnelli, James Caan, and Paul Newman. It didn't do very well either.

In Rare Spirits--Will Eisner at 100

One more Eisner post for now in honor of his centenary today. Actually these aren't all by the master himself but here are some rare Spirit covers from around the world.