Tom The Dancing Bug Blog

This week's comic

Billy Dare is on the case again!

Be the first on your block to see... WATCHMEN!

If you live in or near NYC, here's your chance to see the Watchmen movie before anyone else -- and it's to benefit the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art...

Consult your tax professional as to the deductibility of the ticket price.  Unless you're thinking of becoming a member of Obama's cabinet.

I have half a mind to call a meeting somewhere!

I've only just begun reading this, but I'm already finding it funny, and I want to call your attention to this fake right-wing blog Tom Tomorrow and other conspirators perpetrated in '06.

 Out of the Mouth of Freedom Comes a Mighty Roar!

DID YOU KNOW? The Oscars, 2009

In this week's comic- How did Sean Penn prepare for his role as Harvey Milk?

 

Super-Fun-Pak Comix

Fun Fact about this week's comic:  Joe LaBum is a character I actually created when I was in fifth grade.  We were studying India in school, and that inspired me to create a big-nosed character who wore only a pair of white shorts (despite the fact that I was in the midst of actually learning about the country, this was my idea of traditional Indian garb -- blame the public school system) and a very poorly drawn turban (looks more like a Devo helmet), and had the funniest name I could think of.

The character became so popular in the class, we made a homemade movie about him with the help of our teacher Mr. Nestor, featuring limited animation.  And I mean very, very limited.  It was called "Joe LaBum Gets Drafted."  I don't remember the plot details, but apparently he was he was called upon to serve his country (yes, he's American!).  Somehow, he ended up in jail -- perhaps I was making a political statement about dodging the draft -- and the highlight of the movie came in a close-up of the jailhouse clock because, it actually looked like its hands were moving (unlike the "animation" in the rest of the movie), drawing oohs and aahs from the audience.

#$&%@

Okay, I'm now officially in the echo chamber of the blogosphere.  I had a conversation with a friend, which used to be a simple enough activity.  But then he blogged about it, and now, because others have emailed and blogged about his blog, I'm going to respond to his blog post in my blog.

So here it is:  As reported on his blog (scroll to 2/4/09), "Pain" cartoonist Tim Kreider and I did have a conversation about the use of certain epithets in art, and whether they could/should/might be used in a work of fiction (such as our comics), when in the voice of a character.  Tim wrote that I'd said that "it's never okay to use such words."

I've gotten some feedback on this, so I've got to set the record, such as it is, straight.  I only said that I decided early on in my career that it doesn't feel right for me to use those epithets.  This is a purely personal choice/idiosyncrasy, and I have absolutely no problem with any artist using them in many circumstances, including, as Tim puts it, "in vox personae," or ironically, or with good or mediocre intentions, or for a cheap laugh etc. etc. 

Now, I'm sure that Tim did not intend to imply that I was making a statement about others' use of epithets in art -- he knew I was talking about my own inclinations.  But now he can feel free to blog about this post, and then I can blog about his response, and we can all revel in what a wonderful new world this internet is, raising the level of communication to a far higher plane.

 

More Harvey

Here is a local cable news channel's report on the Harvey exhibit at the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art in New York City.

HARVEY EXHIBIT AT MOCCA

Lucky Ducky!

THIS WEEK'S COMIC

Of course, Hollingsworth Hound will get bailout money from the U.S. Government.   And, despite his bank being decimated, he's still fabulously wealthy, but STILL...!  THAT LUCKY DUCKY!!

This week's comic:

 

THE LEGEND OF LOUIS

The title for this was inspired by an offhand remark Patton Oswalt made on his blog once, as I recall, referring to when he was young and immune to advice, saying he had to maintain "the legend of me."

I especially like one reader's comment on this, mentioning the "30 Rock" episode (rerun last week) in which Liz Lemon goes to her high school reunion thinking she was a picked-on nerd in school, and finds out she was (and still is) a verbal bully.  I wasn't thinking of that show when I did this comic, but did think it was absolutely brilliant -- poignant, even.

Act Now

I've been away for a few days, but I'll expand on my last post:  Yes, the slow, steady, relentless drip of newspapers canceling comic strips in recent months has just become a dam burst.  To say it's alarming is an understatement.

I certainly agree with Tom Tomorrow and Max Cannon, that if you like a comic strip, you can actually have an impact on this by letting the newspaper that carries it know.  If you drop a note the editor, it helps ensure that as difficult decisions are being made about the budget, he/she is aware that the comic strip is something the readers value and perhaps shouldn't be the first thing on the chopping block.