Tom Russell: December 2006 Archives

Newsarama has a new interview with Archie editor Victor Gorelick (that's go-rel-ick for you non-Archie fans) and artist Steven Butler, the guy behind the "new look" Archie.

http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=95140

Some excerpts to put our minds at ease:

VG: I did not feel any pressure with regard to making this change. We're not going to change all of our books to this new look. So far it's only one story. I looked at it as if I were casting actors for a movie.

...

NRAMA: An Archie story is usually funny. Is this a funny story?

VG: It has some funny parts.

SB: I was literally laughing out loud when I read the script.

NRAMA: After this initial story in Betty & Veronica Double Digest where will fans see this new look next?

VG: We're currently working on another script. It will probably be slated for Pals n Gals Double Digest.

NRAMA: Is there any chance this will become the house style at Archie?

VG: No. There will always be the traditional "Archie" look.

Now that is what I call a Christmas present. Thanks, Archie Comics!
==Tom

It's been a sad couple of months for comic book fans.

Jack Burnley was the artist on the Golden Age Starman, among other things. He was 95 years old.

http://www.newsfromme.com/archives/2006_12_21.html#012618
http://tinyurl.com/y668lq

KISTLER'S EDITORIAL NOTE:
Jack Burnley was also the co-creator of Ted Knight AKA DC's original STARMAN and the later Starman Jack Knight was named after him. Jack Burnley also was the artist for the Batman daily comic strip for years and was known as an excellent Superman artist during the Golden Age, lending detail and proportion to his work that a lot of other artists didn't at that time. Burnley was the first person to draw Superman, Batman and Robin other than their creators. His drawing of the three heroes for the cover of an issue of “World’s Fair Comics” in 1940 marked the first time the crime fighters appeared together in public

A review of Civil War # 3-5, an in-depth look at Amazing Fantasy # 15 (the greatest origin story ever) and my own thoughts as an Archie fan (and founding member of the Friends of Big Ethel, Dearborn Chapter) on this newfangledness are all in the works. You might even see one of these by Christmas time. My gift to you. :-)

But until then, as the entry title suggests, I'll indulge in some shameless self-promotion.

... until my wife brought this site to my attention.

http://marmadukeexplained.blogspot.com/

And, to give credit where it's due, it was boing-boing that brought it to my wife's attention.

==Tom also hates Family Circus and Dilbert.