'Best of TBH Politoons'
Cory!! Strode On Graphic Novels
'Bone'
Scholastic Books (publishers of Harry Potter) have announced that they are going to be publishing the comic "Bone" over the next couple of years. Bone is one of the success stories of the self-publishing movement that hit comics in the late 80's and early 90's, and for most of its 55 issues, Jeff Smith and his wife did everything needed to get the comics from his art board to comic shops and bookstores, keeping all of the rights, and not letting a publishing company tell him how to tell his story. Scholastic will be adding color and publishing it in a series of books, each reprinting about 6 issues and making it available through schools and major book stores. Most of the other creators who were publishing their own work have either signed up with publishing companies to help them with advertising, deal with distribution and all of the money and tax issues, but Smith tried going through a publisher for a year or two and decided he'd rather finish his work on his own.
As is, the comic is one of the success stories of the comics industry, as Smith was able to get "Bone" stories in Disney Adventures early on, has had success with the trade paperback collections of the title, and even took a couple of years off from the comic to try and put together an animated movie through Nickelodeon. With the conclusion of the series last year, Smith released a complete version of the story, so that readers could get the entire 55-issue saga in a single trade paperback. This is by far the best way to read his story.
Bone begins as a simple fantasy story with three brothers, Fone Bone, the protagonist, a bit of a Jimmy Steward everyman-type, and a fan of the book Moby Dick; Phoney Bone, an amoral conman who got them run out of town and into the woods where the story is set; and Smiley Bone, their simple brother who tends to go along with Phoney out of loyalty rather than wanting a part in his schemes. As they travel, they meet the creatures that live in the woods, including a dragon, talking bugs, evil rat creatures and a small town of villagers.
The story is constructed in thirds, with the first third showing how they find the village, Phoney's attempt to fix the yearly "Great Cow Race", and Fone Bone's crush on Thorn, a villager with a secret. The second section begins to show that there is more going on in the village than meets the eye, and the final third builds to a conclusion that shares more in common with "Lord of the Rings", than the Disney-esque style that Smith's artwork invokes.
As with any good fantasy novel, Smith has created a rich setting with compelling characters, and a larger background that only becomes clear as the story progresses. While "Bone" looks like a children's story, it is far more complex than the art implies. As they live in the forest, they become involved in the live of a mysterious girl named Thorn and her Gramma.
Smith's clean lines and iconic character design pulls the reader in and causes them to assume thing about the characters, while the story turns those expectations on their head and shows a complexity that would be hard to pull off in prose. Over the 55 issues, Smith shows his ability to do humor, action, character work and horror, without altering his art style.
The only flaw I have with the novel is that, as it gets to the final third, Smith's storytelling style changed. Where early issues of the comic felt as if they were complete by themselves, even if they were continued, later issues moved quickly, not telling as much story, and focusing more on the physical action. Smith abandoned the denser style used in the first third of the book, and completely altered the pace of the story, so much so that it feels like you've shifted from 1st gear to 4th.
In the collected version, it is not as noticeable, but it does lead to the story feeling a bit rushed. The ending also doesn't feel like a complete conclusion, and while in show business it's good to leave the reader wanting more, it feels more like Smith just wanted to wrap things up, and left some minor plot threads dangling. Still, it has a richness and depth that is rare, even in fantasy novels. Bone was Smith's first work, and if his storytelling skill continues to improve, his next work will be a must read.
Bone In One Volume is $40, but if you were to buy the 9 graphic novels that make it up, it would run you over $100. Another way to think of it is that if you were to buy a hardcover fantasy trilogy, it would cost about $75. So, if you are looking for a fantasy novel with great art, Bone gets a 4 out of 5.
Cory!! Strode (The Best Dressed Man In Comics) has written comic books, novels, jokes for comedians, Op Ed columns, the on-line comic strip
www.Asylumon5thstreet.com and has all kinds of things on his website.
Cory!! Strode (The Best Dressed Man In Comics) has also
started a campaign for Pope. - The only two requirements are that one is male and celibate. He's male,
so that takes care of the first one...and he reads a loot of comic books,
so that takes care of the second one.
www.solitairerose.com
Recommended Reading
from Bruce
Betty Bowers on Pope John Paul George & Ringo
Dear NRA and Culture of LifeŽ Member:
Well, the Pope's death extravaganza has confirmed as truth several suspicions of mine.
Russell Jacoby: The New PC: Crybaby Conservatives (The Nation. Posted on Alternet.)
Conservatives like David Horowitz complain relentlessly that they do not get a fair shake in the university. What fuels the persistent charges that professors are misleading the young?
Emma Pearse: New Adventures in Censorship (Women's eNews. on Alternet.)
Since Judy Blume began writing frankly sexual books for young adults in the 1970s, the category has come of age and moved on to increasingly harsh and sophisticated topics amid persistent efforts to censor what female teens read.
By Carolyn Kay: Is Tax Money Your Money? (MakeThemAccountable.com)
When George Bush was touting his various tax cuts, he used the mantra, "Tax money is your money." But is it, really? Let's imagine what would happen if Bush were able to do away with the income tax completely-tomorrow.
YOSHI TSURUMI: Hail to the Robber Baron? (Harvard Crimson)
Thirty years ago, President Bush was my student at Harvard Business School.
Amitabh Pal: Bush Snubs Carter (The Progressive)
The Bush crowd is now busy insulting Jimmy Carter.
The Wall Street Poet
Offshore Tax Shelters
Some pay taxes. Others have found a better way...
©2005
**********
For more financial verse:
www.wallstreetpoet.com
Selected Readings
from that Mad Cat, JD
In The Chaos Household
Last Night
Sunny, breezy spring day.
Had Open House at the kid's school tonight. He's doing well except in one class where he's elected himself class smartass.
Heh - made sure he was watching when I passed the teacher my e-mail.
The little counter at the bottom of the page should register the millionth hit sometime today. Yowee.
Decries Anti-Hillary Fund-Raiser
Bill Clinton
Former President Clinton says it's "sad" that a Republican political consultant who married his male partner is raising funds to defeat Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. But an associate says there's nothing wrong with being gay and Republican.
Arthur Finkelstein is lining up donors to help raise $10 million for a "Stop Her Now" committee to defeat the senator's 2006 re-election effort. New York magazine first reported Finkelstein's "Stop Her Now" plan in February, and a GOP operative speaking on condition of anonymity confirmed the account to The Associated Press at the time.
At a news conference Monday about his foundation's AIDS initiatives, the former president was asked whether the anti-Hillary efforts made him angry.
"Actually, I was sort of sad when I read it," he said.
"I thought, one of two things. Either this guy believes his party is not serious and is totally Machiavellian in its position, or you know, as David Brock said in his great book 'Blinded by the Right,' there's some sort of self-loathing or something. I was more sad for him."
Bill Clinton
Performing at Fenway?
Rolling Stones
A plan to bring the Rolling Stones to Fenway Park this summer, which was unveiled at a public hearing in late March, must get approval from the city.
Mayor Tom Menino's office has said that six people spoke in favor of the concerts at the March 30 hearing - and none were opposed. Menino supports the concerts at the historic home of the Red Sox.
The licensing board, which did not take a vote, asked the Red Sox to submit a "neighborhood impact" report in 30 days. It would be the third summer concert at Fenway. Bruce Springsteen and Jimmy Buffett already have performed at the ballpark.
Rolling Stones
Excused From N.Y. Jury Duty
Dave Letterman
Maybe the lawyer remembered that crack about the electric chair. David Letterman, who lives in North Salem, reported for jury duty Monday at the Westchester County Courthouse and was considered for a medical malpractice case. He assured the doctor's lawyer that he could be fair, but was eventually excused.
Before being excused, Letterman sat quietly, reading a book about Montana, where he has a ranch.
"I'll be serving jury duty next in Montana," he told The Journal News. "I plan to serve on jury duty in all 50 states."
Dave Letterman
Delivering Harvard Speech
John Lithgow
John Lithgow will deliver Harvard University's 2005 commencement speech, in a departure from the school's tradition of inviting world leaders and other dignitaries to address graduates.
Lithgow, a 1967 Harvard graduate, is the first professional artist to be Harvard's main commencement speaker since novelist Carlos Fuentes in 1983.
"Harvard's commencement platform is a very different kind of stage for me, but one I am very excited and honored to have the privilege to speak from," the 59-year-old actor said in a statement. He was announced as commencement speaker late last week.
John Lithgow
Blames Chappelle's Show for Sign Theft
Rick James
City council candidate Rick James says having the same name as the late funk legend is no laughing matter - his campaign signs have been stolen or defaced because of a popular sketch on Comedy Central's "Chappelle's Show."
At first he was confused about the popularity of his "Vote for Rick James" signs, having never seen the show.
Friends then informed him about the sketch, in which comedian Dave Chappelle dresses as James and utters a catch phrase beginning, "I'm Rick James ... "
James, a former state mental health department worker, estimates that $600 in signs have been stolen. And with only three weeks left until the May 3 primary election, James said he's down to his last 10 signs.
Rick James
Garland's Dress to Be Auctioned
'Wizard of Oz'
"Wizard of Oz" fanatics hoping to own the dress worn by Judy Garland in the iconic film might need to appeal to the "Great and Powerful Oz" for financial support.
The blue and white gingham dress worn by Garland when she played Dorothy Gale in 1939 is on display at Bonhams & Butterfields here, and is set to be auctioned April 26 in London. Bonhams said the dress could fetch from $50,000 to $70,000.
s will also be displayed in Los Angeles in mid-April. The auction house didn't identify the previous owner.
'Wizard of Oz'
Checks Out Of Rehab
Billy Joel
Billy Joel has checked out of a California rehabilitation center a month after entering the facility for treatment of alcohol abuse.
The 55-year-old singer left the Betty Ford Center in Rancho Mirage, Calif., early Sunday morning, his publicist, Claire Mercuri, said in an email to The Associated Press Tuesday.
Billy Joel
Checks Out Into Rehab
Joaquin Phoenix
Actor Joaquin Phoenix has checked into an undisclosed rehabilitation facility for treatment of alcoholism, his publicist said on Tuesday.
"He was uncomfortable with the way that he was living his life and found the courage to deal with the disease," said a statement from publicist Susan Patricola.
Phoenix checked himself into rehab two weeks ago, it said.
Joaquin Phoenix
Playing 'Charades'
AMC
The AMC cable network said Monday that it has given the go-ahead for production of a new star-studded game show, "Celebrity Charades," the brainchild of Hollywood couple Hilary Swank and Chad Lowe.
Celebrities slated to participate on the show so far include Bebe Neuwirth, Hank Azaria, Ana Gasteyer, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Rosie Perez, Peter Bogdanovich and fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi.
In each episode, two teams of 10 celebrities will compete against each other in a game of movie-themed charades, with each star playing to raise money for his or her chosen charity.
AMC
Watch Most TV
Japanese
The average level of television consumption increased on nearly every continent last year, but a new study has found that Japanese viewers watch more TV than anybody.
The newly released report from Eurodata TV Worldwide, the focus of a panel discussion at the MIPTV convention in Cannes, also found Americans' daily dose of TV climbed by three minutes last year to an average of four hours and 28 minutes -- nearly 90 minutes above the world average.
The Japanese watched the most television last year, clocking in a daily average of five hours.
Americans were second, followed by Argentinians and the Greeks, who consumed four hours and 25 minutes and four hours and four minutes, respectively.
Japanese
Reveals Pregnancy
Britney Spears
Britney Spears has revealed what might be Hollywood's worst-kept secret: She's pregnant. In a posting on her Web site, Spears told fans that she and husband, Kevin Federline, were expecting their first child together. Her publicist, Sonia Muckle, confirmed the singer's pregnancy Tuesday but refused to provide additional details.
"The time has finally come to share our wonderful news that we are expecting our first child together," the singer said. "There are reports that I was in the hospital this weekend, and Kevin and I just want everyone to know that all is well. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers."
Britney Spears
Where The Money Is
Ageing Rockers
Middle-aged musicians who have neither burned out nor faded away -- yet may be some years past their creative peaks -- are pulling in the real money in today's topsy-turvy music industry.
In the young person's game that is popular music, the top of Rolling Stone magazine's 2004 money list is dominated by artists of a certain age like Metallica and Rod Stewart.
To find a group on Rolling Stone's list that has been around for less than 10 years, you have to go down to Linkin Park at No. 9.
The rock band trails artists such as Prince and Madonna, who both had blockbuster tours, and Jimmy Buffett, who released his first fully-fledged country album in 2004 but more importantly has a lucrative string of "Margaritaville" chain restaurants.
Artists dubbed "heritage acts" like Simple Minds, Iron Maiden and Bryan Adams still enjoy avid fan bases and are making good money and playing big concert dates.
Ageing Rockers
Charged With Murder
Closet Lover
A man was beaten to death after catching his wife's lover living in a closet in their home, police said Tuesday. Rafael DeJesus Rocha-Perez, 35, was charged with homicide in the slaying of 44-year-old Jeffrey A. Freeman over the weekend.
Freeman's wife had allowed Rocha-Perez to live in a closet of the Freemans' four-bedroom home for about a month without her husband's knowledge, police said. On Sunday, her husband heard Rocha-Perez snoring and discovered him, authorities said.
Freeman ordered his wife to get the man out of the house while he went for a walk, authorities said. Martha Freeman told authorities that when her husband returned, Rocha-Perez confronted him with a shotgun, forced him into a bathroom and bludgeoned him.
The Freemans were co-owners of a company that does background checks for apartment rental and job applicants.
Closet Lover
This reminded me of an old Shirley MacLaine movie - The Bliss of Mrs. Blossom (1968) (but it has a much happier ending).
The film is (loosely) based on a real incident - in the late 1910s and early 1920s, Dolly Oesterreich kept her lover, Otto Sanhuber in the attic where he lived for many years. Her husband Fred ran a company that made aprons. Otto even moved with the couple from Milwaukee to Los Angeles.
For the rest of the story of Dolly, Otto & Fred (which has an eerily similar ending to the 'Closet Lover').
