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Reviews and commentary by Tony Isabella
"America's Most Beloved Comic-Book Writer & Columnist"
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TONY'S ONLINE TIPS
for Monday, April 11, 2005
I have been slowly making my way through the chaos that is my office and storage areas at Casa Isabella. During this adventure, I discovered a file folder with the above masterpiece...an original convention drawing by my pal JIM SALICRUP. He did it for me during the New York City stop of my 2003 Farewell Tour.
Jim and I have been friends for over three decades. I first met him when he was a teenage editorial assistant at Marvel Comics in the 1972. He worked his way up the ranks to become one of the best editors the company ever had. I wrote around a dozen scripts for him during his time there and he was never anything less than professional with and supportive of the talent with whom he worked. After Marvel, I wrote SATAN'S SIX and a few other things for him at Topps Comics. Who says lightning, or, to be specific, a terrific editor/writer relationship can't strike twice?
These days, Jim is editing NANCY DREW and THE HARDY BOYS for the Papercutz imprint of NBM, as well as working for the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art in New York City. I don't know when I'll get the chance to visit the Museum, but I will be reading and reviewing his Papercutz stuff later this month.
Thanks again for the drawing, Jim. I should start planning my next farewell tour so I can get another one.
Guy Gilchrist was also at that 2003 convention and, much to my surprise and delight, gave me this terrific pin-up of the gorgeous Fritzi Ritz from the NANCY newspaper strip he does with his brother Brad. Fritzi is Nancy's aunt and guardian, as well as being one of the most positive role models in comics.
Created by cartoonist Larry Whittington, Fritzi was a typical 1920s beauty when her strip debuted in 1922. Ernie Bushmiller took over the strip in 1925 and introduced Nancy in 1933. Nancy assumed the star billing in 1938, contemporaneous with the arrival of her pal Sluggo. If Fritzi was the least bit upset with that turn of events, she never showed it. For sixty years, especially since the Gilchrist Boys came aboard in 1995, she has cared for and nurtured Nancy as if she were her own daughter.
NANCY is one of my favorite newspaper comic strips. Brad and Guy have kept the wholesome humor of Bushmiller's work and updated it for today's readers, young and old. The gags - even the corny ones - make me smile. The art is beautiful, easily among the best to be found on our comics pages.
I read NANCY every day at COMICS.COM:
www.comics.com/comics/nancy
And, while I'm directing you to spiffy websites, let me also mention DON MARKSTEIN'S TOONOPEDIA, the source for my information on the origins of Fritzi and Nancy:
www.toonopedia.com
My pal Don is closing in on a thousand fact-filled entries at his site. It's an incredible resource for anyone who loves comics in all their myriad forms.
The same convention got me this sketch from Scott Roberts of his PATTY CAKE character as she'd look twelve years in her comics future. Earlier this year, in PATTY CAKE AND FRIENDS #13 [Amaze, Inc.; $4.95], Scott decided to celebrate his little darling's tenth anniversary of publication with a story set twelve years in advance of her current adventures. Look for a TOT review of this special issue later this month.
There are many more wonderful drawings in my official Farewell Tour sketchbook. The book itself has yet to surface from the chaos I mentioned earlier, but, when it does, I'll share as much of it as I can fit into my scanner.
Thanks for spending a part of your day with me. I'll be back soon with more stuff.
Tony Isabella
<< 04/10/2005 | 04/11/2005 | 04/12/2005 >>
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THE "TONY" SCALE
ZERO: Burn your money before buying any comic receiving this rating. It doesn't *necessarily* mean there's absolutely nothing of value here - though it *could* - but whatever value it might possess shrinks into insignificance before its overall awfulness.
ONE: Buy something else. Maybe I found something which wasn't completely dreadful in the item, but not enough for me to recommend it when there are better comics available. I only want what's best for you, my children.
TWO: Basic judgment call. I found some value, but not enough to recommend it. My review should give you enough info to decide if you want to take a chance on it. Are you feeling lucky today, punk? Well, are you?
THREE: This denotes something I find perfectly respectable. There are better books out there, but I wouldn't regret buying this item. Based on my review, you should be able to determine if it's of interest to you. Let the Force guide you.
FOUR: I recommend anything earning this rating. Unless you don't like the genre, subject matter, or past work of the creators, I believe you'll enjoy this item. Isn't it uncanny how I can look right into your soul that way?
FIVE: Anything getting this rating is among the best comicdom has to offer. You should buy/read this, even if the genre/subject matter doesn't appeal to you. It's for your own good. Me, I live for comics and books this good...but not in a pathetic "Comic-Book Guy" sort of way.
Please send material you would like me to review to:
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Medina, OH 44256
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