Video: Eike Exner on Comics and the Origins of Modern Manga

 

Eike Exner has just written Comics and the Origins of Modern Manga, published by Rutgers University Press in 2021. In this video he dispels popular myths about the history of Japanese manga and the influence of early American comic strips.

National Film Board of Canada: "Star Wars Kid: The Rise of the Digital Shadows"

In this Mathieu Fournier documentary on the first viral phenomenon of the digital age, Ghyslain Raza (the “Star Wars Kid”) breaks his silence and reflects on his story for the first time. In doing so, he also explores our collective experience living in an online world in which we have to make peace with our digital shadows. 

From the Dick Buchanan Files: More Vintage Gag Cartoons 1945- 1964

Dick Buchanan, the keeper of the legendary Cartoon Clip File (located somewhere in NYC's Greenwich Village), takes us behind the scenes, deep into his single panel cartoon stacks. Thanks and take it away, Dick!

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MORE VINTAGE GAG CARTOONS
(1945 – 1964)

The cartoon clip file consists of an array of folders envelopes, and cartoon clips scattered all over the place. This enables us to arrange the files in no particular order. We just stumbled upon them. They are not arranged in alphabetical order as we simply don’t trust it -- there are several letters we suspect don’t belong. So here, is a clear example of one such folder—some vintage gag cartoons, arranged in no particular order, plucked from an unmarked cardboard box . . . Take a look!

1. KATE OSANN. Collier’s June 10, 1950.

2. VIRGIL PARTCH. True Magazine April, 1960.

3. HANK KETCHAM. Collier’s March 29, 1949.

4. ROY WILSON. American August, 1955.

5. BO BROWN. This Week Magazine March 25, 1945.

6. CHON DAY. The Saturday Evening Post September 27, 1958.

7. PAUL PETER PORGES. For Laughing Out Loud April – June, 1964.

8. GARDNER REA. Collier’s April 13, 1940.

9. PETER ASTIN. American Magazine August, 1955.

10. JANE SPEAR KING. Collier’s April 18, 1953.

11. JANE SPERRY. The Saturday Evening Post February 9, 1952.

12. BILL POLVOGT. The Saturday Evening Post April, 18, 1959.

13. LAFE LOCKE. Collier’s February 16, 1952.

14. SYLVIA GETSLER. Argosy January 1957.

15. DANA FRADON. Collier’s August 5, 1955.

16. MISCHA RICHTER. Collier’s July 26, 1947.

17. BILL HARRISON. American Legion Magazine May, 1954.

18. MAR HOONING. American Magazine November, 1950.

19. HERBRAM. Herbert J. Brammeier later signed his work Bram. American Magazine November, 1950.

20. JOSEPH SORRANO. American Magazine December, 1955.

Best Cartoons of the Year 1964

 Here are some cartoons from the book BEST CARTOONS OF 1964, "being a selection, by the artists themselves, of the best cartoons they drew for the leading magazines in the country for the past year." It's copyright 1964 by the series' long time editor Lawrence Lariar. The nice paper cover has long since been landfill, so here's the frontispiece.



Bob Weber's cartoons are always fun. Full of lowlifes, full of action -- and there's always an old timey cartoon touch to admire. In this case, I'm admiring the little puffs of smoke behind the hubby. This guy gets snaps for escaping the police and running through town without losing his stogie!


Here's a nice pen scratchy Joe Farris cartoon. It's only by letting my eye wander for a moment, keying in on what the shrink is looking at, that I was able to see those patient's fingers.


George Dole is one of the greats. I like his wide-eyed characters and easy, quick sketch style.


I like how the kid's hand is at his hip. So theatrical. Bo Brown has made a good point.


Jack Tippit with a prescient cartoon. Lariar wrote in his introduction that, "The past year may well go down in history as The Year of the Unleashed Libido." This cartoon certainly qualifies.



Arthur Henrickson with an early raw food market cartoon.


The one and only Don Orehek with a dopey cop. Note how his black spotting gets your eye bouncing between the 4 "Budapest String Quartet members" and the foreground.


Vahan Shirvanian gives us a 2 panel take on an old idea. I laughed at it. Maybe you saw it coming, but I didn't!


Do kids even know what a divining rod is? Here's another multi-panel by Jack Tippit. You can never have enough Tippit.


Michaud made me laugh out loud. Another "Year of the Libido" cartoon, for those who are counting! Look at the lovely little details of the room, and that easy, sweeping wash.



Jim Whiting reporting on the wild, drunken parties. Nowadays, a quick phone call from one of the kids' cell phones to Child Protective Services would bring about a swift end to this behavior!


This is maybe a dated and silly gag, but look at the composition: a sea of frowns as we look from left to right -- and then we see the exception, and read the gag line. All done in an economic 2-3 seconds.

-- This was an edited version of a May 30, 2008 blog entry. 

Marriage Cartoons from YOU'VE GOT ME – AND HOW! Edited by Lawrence Lariar Part Seven

 
This is the seventh and final selection of gag cartoons from the book YOU'VE GOT ME – AND HOW!, edited by Lawrence Lariar and published by Dodd, Mead and Company. It's copyright 1955 by Mr. Lariar.




























Frank O'Neal's HONEY, I'M HOME cartoon became the title of a collection of Saturday Evening Post cartoons. I wrote about that collection here.