Monthly Archive for August, 2007Page 2 of 8

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Two new collections of rare comic strips published

Published
by
Charles Apple
on August 22, 2007
in Comic strips, Charles Apple and VizEds Blog
. 0 Comments

For you comic strip fans out there, there are a couple of new collections of ultra-rare work.

First, there is this new collection of Peanuts creator Charles Schulz’s non-Peanuts comic panels. The collection mostly consists of religious themes, apparently.

Schulz Youth

The Publisher’s Weekly review, as posted at Amazon:

Between 1956 and 1965, as Peanuts was becoming an international phenomenon, Schulz also drew a much less famous comic strip. Young Pillars was a biweekly single-panel cartoon for the Church of God’s teen magazine Youth, mostly about church-related themes: youth fellowship picnics, Sunday school homework, heavy stacks of Bible commentaries. Several hundred of them are collected here, along with a few other church-connected single-panel cartoons Schulz drew in the ’60s and some notes explaining jokes whose sense has been lost to time.

It’s only $10.17 at Amazon, not including shipping. Buy it here.

Read more about the creator of Peanuts at the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center.

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On the other end of the spectrum from Peanuts, we have George Herriman’s Krazy Kat. The book of rare material is called Krazy & Ignatz: The Kat Who Walked in Beauty and was published this week by Fantagraphics.

Krazy Kat sample
Ignatz and Krazy. This is NOT a sample from the book.
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Editor & Publisher reports:

The hardcover — a stand-alone companion to Fantagraphics’ Krazy & Ignatz book series — collects rare 1910s and 1920s comics by legendary Krazy Kat creator George Herriman of King Features Syndicate.

Krazy Kat book cover

Included are nine months of never-before-reprinted daily strips that look almost like mini-Sunday comics, Herriman’s first stand-alone Krazy & Ignatz strips from 1911, and illustrations from the cartoonist’s Krazy Kat Jazz pantomime/ballet performed in New York in 1922.

Very interesting. It’s available direct from the publisher for $29.95. Find it here.

Read more about Krazy Kat and its creator on this fan page.

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Happy birthday, Allisence Chang

Published
by
Charles Apple
on August 21, 2007
in Virginian-Pilot, Happy birthday, VizEds Blog and Graphics
. 2 Comments

Here’s wishing a happy 21st birthday today to Allisence Chang, who : 1) Was The Virginian-Pilot’s graphics intern this summer; 2) Is a rising senior at Michigan State University; 3) Will be a contestant in The Intern contest in Boston this coming October.

Allisence in Orlando with Chris Courtney’s hawg hat
Allisence models Chris Courtney’s Arkansas
Razorback hat at SND/Orlando last summer.
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Allisence left us three weeks ago after 12 weeks of busting her ass all summer on a huge array of charts, diagrams and about three million locator maps.

Because she’s several hundred miles way, I can’t be the first to buy her a legal drink.

But I’ll take a rain check. The beer in Boston will be on me, Allisence.

(Actually, if you’ve seen me drink, then you already know: Most likely, the beer really will be on me. All down the front of my shirt. But I digress… )

Allisence came to us via the recommendation of her former editor at the Michigan State Daily, Nick Mrozowski. Nick had been the design intern here two summers before and then the Pilot hired him full-time last winter. He introduced me to Allisence last fall in Orlando.

She was also highly recommended by her graphics professor, Karl Gude. We were lucky Allisence decided to spend her summer with us.

Allisence and Nick
Allisence with her pal Nick Mrozowski. Hell,
I can’t believe I’ve typed his name twice in
this post and haven’t misspelled it yet.
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Allisence is one of the quietest people I’ve ever met — although, admittedly, compared to me, nearly everyone seems quiet.

But Allisence would go hours, camped out in her cube, silently hacking away at the stack of work I’d give her each day. She hardly ever had a problem or even a question.

Hell, if she had asked more questions, I would have known for sure she was still awake.

But Allisence was more than awake. She was sharp — very fast, efficient and accurate. She was notified last week that she’s one of the ten finalists who’ll be competing in The Intern contest at SND/Boston this fall. She’d be a wonderful catch for some lucky paper after she graduates next spring.

Allisence: It sure is loud around here without you. We miss you. Come back anytime.

On her last day at the Pilot, veteran artist Ken Wright brought in his horse, Major, so Allisence could ride around the parking lot.

Allisence on a horse
Ken and Major take Allisence for a stroll
around the Pilot’s parking lot. YEEHAW!
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A few examples of the work Allisence did for us here at the Pilot this summer:

Allisence Sample One Allisence Sample Two Allisence Sample Three

See more of Allisence’s work here.

Allisence shares a birthday with basketball great Wilt Chamberlin, “Sex in the City” actress Kim Cattrall and country singer Kenny Rogers. In addition, today is National Spumoni Day.

Never heard of it? Me, neither. So we’ll consult the Wikipedia:

Spumoni or spumone is a molded Italian ice cream made with layers of different colors and flavors, usually containing candied fruits and nuts. Typically it is of three flavors, with a fruit/nut layer between them. The ice cream layers are often mixed with whipped cream. Chocolate and pistachio are the typical flavors of the ice cream layers, and the fruit/nut layer often contains cherry bits.

This dish comes from Naples, and the three-flavored Neapolitan ice cream evolved from it.

Ah. Perfect timing for your birthday, Allisence. Go eat some spumoni!

Happy birthday!

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Editorial cartoon has Jacksonville readers upset

Published
by
Charles Apple
on August 20, 2007
in Editorial cartooning, Newspapers and VizEds Blog
. 8 Comments

The fuss is about this editorial cartoon, drawn by Ed Gamble, the cartoonist for The Florida Times-Union in Jacksonville. It ran Friday:

 Ed Gamble cartoon from Friday, Aug. 17

Times-Union reader advocate Wayne Ezell, in a column posted with a Friday timestamp, wrote:

Expressions of outrage came quickly, including from the local president of the NAACP.

“Highly offensive and racist,” is how Charles Anderson described the cartoon.

It was wrong to suggest that the growing “Don’t snitch” phenomenon is limited to the African-American community and use of the terms “ho” and “nuttin’ ” were over the top, according to Anderson. Phyllis Hall said everything about the cartoon was offensive.

“Most of us are tired of the crime,” she said of Duval County’s murder rate, which is the highest in the state. “But I don’t think demeaning the culture of a race of people is necessary.”

…The cartoon came after police assertions that a “Don’t snitch” culture has impeded efforts to solve crimes in Jacksonville. A CBS 60 Minutes segment last Sunday focused on the growing problem, especially in inner-city neighborhoods, and how some rap artists have encouraged it.

Gamble conceded that the term “ho” is demeaning to women, but added, “I was making a point that rappers are demeaning to women.”

He is troubled by the influences of such things as offensive rap lyrics, drugs and no-snitch messages, Gamble said, and his commentary is meant to focus on those issues.

Read the column at the Times-Union web page.

Find Ed Gamble’s work online here.

This item via Romenesko.

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Happy birthday, Mark Friesen

Published
by
Charles Apple
on August 20, 2007
in Workshops, Web news design, Job changes, News design, Newspapers, Happy birthday and Visual Editors
. 3 Comments

Here’s wishing the happiest of VizEds birthdays to Mark Friesen of The Oregonian in Portland. Mark turns 42 today.

While many of you are familiar with his award-winning work for The Oregonian, others know Mark via the fabulous job he’s done over the past four years, covering the visual journalism beat with his NewsDesigner blog. NewsDesigner averages 30,000 visits and 60,000 page views a month, Mark says.

Matt Mansfield with Mark Friesen

Matt Mansfield of the Mercury News is wondering what the fabulous NewsDesigner will blog about next. Meanwhile, Mark wonders why Mansfield is walking around with his teeth in a glass.

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It’s been a big year for Mark.

In January, Mark and his wife welcomed a son, Noah, into the world.

Noah Friesen

Then, in March, Mark made another huge change by becoming the Oregonian’s online editor. This follows 12 years as the paper’s A1 desiger and eight months as the business designer.

Mr. Friesen agreed to celebrate his birthday by answering a few questions for us…

Q. This is your first child, right?

A. Actually, it’s not. I’ve got a 9-year-old daughter from Marriage No. 1. And she could not possibly be more over-the-moon thrilled to be a big sister.

Q. How’s fatherhood? Are you enjoying it? Are you sleeping?

A. It’s great. He’s a really happy kid. Sleeps through the night like a champ (and even sleeps in a bit on weekends!). The main reason I’m not getting as much sleep is because after working nights for most of the past 20 years, I suddenly have to get up at 5 a.m. Eccchhhh.

Q. How is the new job? Are you enjoying the non-print side of things?

A. It’s a lot of fun. It’s sort of a brave new world with a sometimes-refreshing lack of rules or entrenched standards. I’m finding it pretty exhilarating to be part of creating what comes next for newspapers.

Mark Friesen breaks out in giggles

Mark succumbs to an attack of the giggles in Orlando. Photo by Kenny Marlatt.
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Q. We can’t help but notice that you haven’t posted quite as often lately in your blog. Is this a temporary thing? Or are all your new duties both at home at at the paper, keeping you tied up?

A. Yeah, I think it’s temporary. Still trying to get my bearings with all this new stuff going on. But I’m already trying to pick things up a bit.

Q. Will you be in Boston this fall?

A. I will. They’ve got a great program lined up. I’m extremely happy that they’ve got a robust new media track with people like Adrian Holovaty, Khoi Vinh, Brian Storm, etc. I think it’s crucial for SND to get to the forefront of these emerging issues.

Mark is a 1987 graduate of the University of Missouri, where he worked on the student paper, The Maneater. Among the artifacts Mark has posted online is this 1985 Maneaster staff photo. Click on the thumbnail for a larger view:

Maneater 1985 staff photo

See the third guy from the left wearing the dark hat and the white tie? No, that’s not Billy Joel. That’s Mark.

A few examples of Mark’s print work:

Friesen sample 1 Friesen sample 2 Friesen sample 3

Find Mark’s NewsPageDesign portfolio here.

Find Mark’s NewsDesigner blog here.

Mark shares a birthday with Bill Bootz of The Quad City Times, Fred Durst, the lead singer of Limp Bizkit; Robert Plant, the lead singer of Led Zeppelin; TV journalists Connie Chung and Al Roker; and author Jacqueline Susann, most famous for writing Valley of the Dolls.

In addition, today is National Radio Day. Seriously.

Best wishes for a happy birthday, Mark!

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Happy birthday, Bill Bootz

Published
by
Charles Apple
on August 20, 2007
in News design, Happy birthday and VizEds Blog
. 2 Comments

Today is not only The Big Four-Oh for my pal Bill Bootz, it’s also his first day on a new job: Assistant Managing Editor of the Quad City Times in Davenport, Iowa.

Now, that’s how you celebrate a 40th birthday!

Bill Bootz sings
It’s just karoke. It’s not like
he’s jamming 50 blocks of
cheese in his mouth. Yet.
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Bill accepted this new position last month after umpteen-million years as presentation editor of The Oklahoman in Oklahoma City. Bill writes:

I have been in OKC nearly all my life, 34 of my 39 years. So, there’s a lot of uprooting to do.

Bill’s been a great pal for a number of years. He was the perfect host during last summer’s SND Quickcourse in Oklahoma City, driving me around town and stuffing me with food and beer — not necessarily in that order.

A few examples of Bill’s work:

Bootz one Bootz Two Bootz Three BootzFour

See more here, of course.

Bill shares a birthday with Mark “NewsDesigner” Friesen, Fred Durst, the lead singer of Limp Bizkit; Robert Plant, the lead singer of Led Zeppelin; TV journalists Connie Chung and Al Roker; and author Jacqueline Susann, most famous for writing Valley of the Dolls.

Plus, today is National Radio Day. Seriously. We think we’ll celebrate National Radio Day by turning off our radio and playing a little Zep on the iPod.

Congratulations again on the new gig, Boots! Best wishes for a happy birthday!

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Happy birthday, John Earle

Published
by
Charles Apple
on August 18, 2007
in Virginian-Pilot, Happy birthday, VizEds Blog and Graphics
. 1 Comment

Here’s wishing a happy VizEds birthday to John Earle, who has worked in The Virginian-Pilot’s graphics department for 18 years. John turns 52 today (Saturday).

John Earle photo

John grew up in Danville, just a couple hours’ west of here. He studied at Parsons School of Design in New York and worked at The Danville Register & Bee and The Roanoke Times before joining The Pilot in 1989.

He’s won a number of SND awards over the years, including four in the four years I’ve been supervising him.

Of all the pieces he’s done for me, this is my favorite:

John Earle sample - Ears

I asked him to draw me a simple science piece that could nestle among all the wonderful portrait photos we planned to run. Instead, John touched bases with photographer Genevieve Ross, found a nice side-view that had been edited out and used it as the basis for a wonderful graphite portrait that not only covered the technical part of the story but also matched its tone.

A masterful job. Yes, it won an SND award. I’ve been using it as the cover of some of my handouts.

Here are a few more samples of John’s work:

John Earle crab page John Earle Osprey page John Earle Two John Earle Three

See a little more of John’s work in the Pilot graphics department’s group portfolio.

John shares a birthday with entertainers Robert Redford, Patrick Swayze, Christian Slater, Martin Mull and with director Roman Polanski.

In addition, today is National Bad Poetry Day. Seriously.

Best wishes for a happy birthday, John!

Now: Stop goofing off on company time and get your ass back to work!

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