It’s rare when Disney comics get a write-up in The Wall Street Journal, so today’s piece on the popularity of The Donald (Duck, that is) is long overdue. Disney’s comics are indeed more popular in Europe, and the standard characters (aka Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy and Pluto) are more well known today to children internationally than they are here in the USA. Susan Bernofsky does a good job explaining why Deutschland digs the Duck.

Today’s installment of Bizarro.

I’m not sure if today’s Candorville is a comment on the Wall Street bailout - or a critique on the excesses of animation industry executives.

This is from Tom Brazelton, who posts a new movie-themed webcomic three times a week at Theatre Hopper.com

(Thanks, Jerrett Zaroski)

Today I’m in New York City and, if I may plug it one more time, tonight I’ll be signing books — in particular Harvey Comics Classics Vol. 5: The Harvey Girls — at the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art. I’ll be telling the secret origin of how the Paramount Pictures cartoon characters (Casper, Baby Huey, Little Audrey, et al) ended up becoming the foundation of the entire Harvey Comics line. This is also the last weekend to view rare original Harvey Comics art on display at the Museum. The fun starts at 6:30pm. MoCCA is located at 594 Broadway, in Suite 401. More info online at the museum website.

The comic strip pages have been having their way with Disney characters lately. Here are two from today’s paper: Speed Bump by Dave Coverly and Argyle Sweater by Scott Hilburn. Click on thumbnails above for larger images.

(Thanks, Kurtis Findlay)

Read the rest of this entry »

Next Friday you can meet me at the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art in New York City where I will speaking about the origins of Harvey Comics and its connection to Famous Studios. I’ll screen some cartoon clips and sign books - in particular the latest volume of Harvey Comics Classics: The Harvey Girls. The fun starts at 6:30pm. MoCCA is located at 594 Broadway, in Suite 401. More info online at the museum website. Come by and say hello.

Ger Apeldoorn has uncovered a real find. A set of obscure comic strips, created for a local California newspaper in 1950 (The Redwood Journal-Press-Dispatch in Ukiah), that were written and drawn by Hollywood animators! Art by Gil Turner, Ray Patin, Gus Jekel, Dick Moores, Jerry Hathcock, Tom Ray, James Will, Dave Mitchell, Jack King, Jack Bradbury and (maybe) Cal Dalton has been identified. Ger is looking to find more information on this batch of mysterious strips. Check it out here.