Fly Crimes and Misdemeanors

Bizarro is brought to you today by Olympic Athletes of Other Worlds.

Today's cartoon is a collaboration between my friend, Richard Cabeza and I. We were discussing how short fly's lives are and then came to the idea of appropriate jail terms. We didn't actually bother to look up the lifespan of the common housefly, of course, that would have been too much like work. One of the nice things about being a cartoonist is that nobody can really hold your feet to the flames about inaccuracies. "It's just a cartoon," is a pretty good defense in virtually any situation.

Tonight is the big comedy show in NYC. I'm a little edgy, as I always am before a show, and I can't keep myself from ad libbing punch lines and cracking wise. It's a subconscious thing as my mind prepares itself to think quickly, but it's obnoxious as hell and CHNW does her best to stay away from me and keep conversation down to a minimum until showtime. Hope to see some of you there.

Until tomorrow, be well, my friends, and keep your hands and feet inside the cockpit at all times.

Here Comes the April Fool!

New Library Comics: February 2010

Here's a list of the comics we added to our library collection in February :


Alcott, Louisa May, 1832-1888. Louisa May Alcott / Mount Horeb, Wis. : Eureka Productions, 2009.

ʻAlī, Nājī. A child in Palestine : the cartoons of Naji al-Ali / London ; New York : Verso Books, 2009.

Allbritton Taylor, C., 1967- One model nation / Berkeley, CA : Image Comics, c2009.

Apostolidès, Jean-Marie. The metamorphoses of Tintin, or, Tintin for adults / Stanford, Calif. : Stanford University Press, c2010.

Azuma, Kiyohiko. Yotsuba&! v. 7 / New York, NY : Yen Press, 2009-

Baker, Kevin, 1958- Luna Park / New York : Vertigo/DC Comics, 2009.

Bashi, Parsua, 1966- Nylon road : a graphic memoir of coming of age in Iran / New York, N.Y. : St. Martin's Griffin, 2009.

Bell, Marc, 1971- Hot potatoe / Montréal : Drawn & Quarterly, c2009.

Brubaker, Ed. Criminal / New York : Marvel, 2009.

Buhle, Paul, 1944- Comics in Wisconsin / Madison, Wis. : Borderland Books, c2009.

Buzzati, Dino, 1906-1972. Poem strip / New York : New York Review Books, 2009.

Campbell, Eddie, 1955- Alec. "The years have pants" : (a life-sized omnibus) / Marietta, GA : Top Shelf Productions ; London : Diamond [distributor], 2009.

Campbell, Ross. Wet moon v. 2 : unseen feet / Portland, Or. : Oni Press, 2004-

Campbell, Ross. Wet moon v. 4 / Portland, Or. : Oni Press, 2004-

Casper the friendly ghost 60th anniversary special. / Milwaukie, Or. : Dark Horse ; London : Diamond [distributor], 2009.

Churilla, Brian. The engineer : "konstrukt" / Los Angeles, CA : Archaia Entertainment LLC, 2009.

Comtois, Pierre. Marvel Comics in the 1960s : an issue-by-issue field guide to a pop culture phenomenon / Raleigh, North Carolina : Twomorrows Publishing, 2009.

Cotter, Joshua W. Driven by lemons / Richmond, VA : Adhouse Books, 2009.

Crumb, R. The complete Crumb v. 12. Working with people : co-evolution quarterly winds of change American splendor zap comics / Seattle : Fantagraphics Books, [1987?]-

Dany&Dany (Writers) Anima / Las Vegas, Nev. : Yaoi ; London : Diamond [distributor], 2008.

Dany&Dany (Writers) I.D.O.L. / [Las Vegas, Nev.] : Yaoi Press, [2007]

Dany&Dany (Writers) The lily and the rose / Las Vegas, Nev. : Yaoi ; London : Diamond [distributor], 2007.

Dany&Dany (Writers) Wishing for the moon / Las Vegas, Nev. : Yaoi Press, [2007]

Davis, Eleanor, 1983- Stinky : a toon book / New York : Toon Books, c2008.

Ditko, Steve. The art of Ditko / San Diego, Calif. : IDW ; London : Diamond [distributor], 2009.

Drooker, Eric, 1958- Blood song : a silent ballad / Milwaukie, Or. : Dark Horse ; London : Diamond [distributor], 2009.

Duncan, Randy, 1958- The power of comics : history, form, and culture / New York : Continuum, 2009.

Eagle annual : the best of the 1960s comic / London : Orion, 2009.

East, Oliver. Proper go well high / London : Blank Slate Books, 2008.

Ellis, Warren. Transmetropolitan v.4 The new scum / New York : DC Comics, c2009-

Gamache, Line, 1956- Poof! / Montréal : Conundrum Press, c2009.

Goddin, Philippe. The art of Hergé, inventor of Tintin v. 2. 1937-1949 / San Francisco, Ca. : Last Gasp, c2008-

Godwin, Frank, 1889-1959. Connie : battle for titan predators of polaria. / Long Beach, CA : Pacific Comics Club, 2009.

Godwin, Frank, 1889-1959. Connie : captives of the space pirates master of the Jovian moons. / Long Beach, CA : Pacific Comics Club, 2009.

Gould, Chester. The complete Chester Gould's Dick Tracy v. 9. Dailies & Sundays, 1944-1945 / San Diego, Calif. : IDW Publishing, 2006-

Gray, Harold, 1894-1968. The complete Little Orphan Annie v. 4. A house divided (or will fate trick Trixie?), dailies and color Sundays 1932-33 / San Diego, Calif. : IDW Pub., 2008-

Green, Justin. Binky Brown meets the holy Virgin Mary / San Francisco : McSweeneys Books, 2009.

Grist, Paul. The eternal conflicts of the Cosmic Warrior. / Berkely, CA : Image Comics, Inc., 2009.

Hernandez, Gilbert. The troublemakers / Seattle, Wash. : Fantagraphics, 2009.

Huizenga, Kevin, 1977- Ganges no. 3 / Seattle, WA : Fantagraphics, c2006-

Katsumata, Susumu, 1943-2007. Red snow / Montréal : Drawn & Quarterly, 2009.

Keane, Bil, 1922- The family circus : [daily and Sunday comic 1960-61] / San Diego, Calif. : IDW Publishing, c2009.

Kibuishi, Kazu, 1978- Copper / New York : Graphix, 2010.

Langridge, Roger. The treasure of Peg-Leg Wilson. / Los Angeles, CA : Boom! Studios, 2010.

Linthout, Willy, 1953- Years of the elephant / [Tarragona, Spain] : Fanfare/Ponent Mon, c2009.

Mangin, Valrie. Scourge of the gods v.2 : the fall / New York : Marvel ; London : Diamond [distributor], 2009.

Mann, Marvin Perry. Some new kind of slaughter, or, Lost in the flood (and how we found home again) : diluvian myths from around the world / Chicago : Archaia, c2007.

Marder, Larry. Beanworld bk. 3. Remember here when you are there! / Milwaukie, OR : Dark Horse Books, 2009-

Matsumoto, Taiyo, 1967- Gogo monster / San Francisco, CA : Viz, [2009]

Mawil. Sparky O'Hare : master electrician / London : Blank Slate Books, 2008.

McKean, Dave. Pictures that tick. Book one / Milwaukie, Or. : Dark Horse, 2009.

McManus, George, 1884-1954. Bringing up father : "from sea to shining sea" : the cross-country tour of 1939-40 / San Diego, Calif. : IDW, 2009.

Mills, Pat. Underground and over the top / London : Titan, 2009.

Moore, Alan, 1953- Saga of the Swamp Thing v. 2 / New York : DC Comics, 2009-

Morrison, Grant. All-star Superman v. 1 / New York, N.Y. : DC Comics, c2007-

Motter, Dean. Electropolis : the infernal machine : a Menlo Park mystery / Milwaukie, OR : Dark Horse Books, 2009.

Murray, Doug. The 'Nam. v. 1 / New York : Marvel, 2009.

MySpace Dark Horse presents v. 4 / Milwaukie, Or. : Dark Horse Books, 2008-

Noir : a collection of crime comics / Milwaukie, Or. : Dark Horse ; London : Diamond [distributor], 2009.

Nowlan, Philip Francis. Buck Rogers in the 25th century : the complete newspaper dailies vol. 3. 1932-1934 / Neshannock, Pa. : Hermes Press, c2008-

Parkin, Lance. Alan Moore / Harpenden, Herts : Pocket Essentials, 2009.

Perker, M. K., 1972- Insomnia café : a graphic novel / Milwaukie, Or. : Dark Horse Books, 2009.

Pink is for girls / [Cambridge] : Sweatdrop Studios, c2005.

Rall, Ted. The year of loving dangerously / New York : NBM Comics Lit ; London : Turnaround [distributor], 2010.

Raymond, Alex, 1909-1956. Rip Kirby : the first modern detective : complete comic strips 1946-1948. / San Diego, Calif. : IDW, 2009.

Rilly, Ethan. Pope Hats. no. 1 / Toronto : Ethan Rilly, c2007.

Rosenberg, Jonathan. The corndog imperative / New York : Del Rey/Ballantine Books, c2009.

Sacco, Joe. Footnotes in Gaza / New York : Metropolitan Books, 2009.

Sakabashira, Imiri, 1964- The box man / Montréal : Drawn & Quarterly, c2009.

Sakai, Stan. Usagi Yojimbo : Yokai / Milwaukie, Or. : Dark Horse Books, 2009.

Sally, Zak. Like a dog / Seattle, Wash. : Fantagraphics, 2009.

Sánchez Abulí, E. Torpedo. v. 1 / San Diego, Calif. : IDW, 2010.

Schulz, Charles M. (Charles Monroe), 1922-2000. Celebrating Peanuts : 60 years / Kansas, Mo. : Andrews McMeel, 2009.

Scott, Jeremy R. PTA night / Berkeley, Calif. : Silverline Books/Image Comics, Inc., 2009.

Seth, 1962- George Sprott, 1894-1975 : a picture novella / Montreal : Drawn and Quarterly, 2009.

Shanower, Eric. Little adventures in Oz v.1. Enchanted apples of Oz ; The king of Oz. / San Diego, Calif. : IDW ; London : Diamond [distributor], 2010-

Shaw, Dash. The unclothed man in the 35th century A.D. / Seattle, Wash. : Fantagraphics Books, 2009.

Stevens, Dave. The rocketeer : the complete adventures / San Diego, Calif. : IDW Publishing ; London : Diamond [distributor], c2009.

Swain, Carol. Crossing the empty quarter and other stories / Milwaukie, Or. : Dark Horse ; London : Diamond [distributor], 2009.

Takahashi, Rumiko, 1957- InuYasha vols. 42-44 / San Francisco, CA : Viz, LLC, c2003-

Taniguchi, Jirō. A distant neighborhood v. 2 / Wisbech, England : Fanfare ; [Rasquera, Spain?] : Ponent Mon, c2009-

The great anti-war cartoons / Seattle : Fantagraphics ; [N.Y.] : distributed in the U.S. by W.W. Norton, c2009.

Urasawa, Naoki, 1960- Pluto : Urasawa x Tezuka v. 6 / San Francisco, CA : VIZ Media, c2008-

Usui, Yoshito, 1958-2009. Crayon Shinchan v. 10 / La Jolla, CA : CMX, c2008-

Veitch, Rick. Abraxas and the Earthman / West Townshend, VT : King Hell Press, c2006.

Wilson, Gahan. Gahan Wilson : 50 years of Playboy cartoons. / Seattle, Wash. : Fantagraphics ; London : Turnaround [distributor], 2009.

Piraro Meets Larson

Bizarro is brought to you today by Sex, Violence, and Illegal Aliens.

Here is a completely true story that I don't believe I've ever mentioned in a public way before.

In 1981, I was 23 and working as a rookie ad designer for Neiman Marcus in Dallas, Tx. (Their headquarters, believe it or not.) I was drawing cartoons simply to entertain myself during downtime and my coworkers encouraged me to get them published. I hadn't seen a comics section of the newspaper in years and thought there was no place for anything more surreal than Marmaduke. But one of them brought in a cartoon from a newcomer, Gary Larson, called "The Far Side". I'd never seen his work before and was surprised that newspapers were, in fact, publishing the sort of cartoons that previously had only been seen in magazines. So I decided to submit my work.

I sent work to the 8 or 10 cartoon syndicates whose addresses I could find at the public library (NO INTERNET!!) and got encouraging responses, but no "takers". One day, I got a phone call from an editor at Chronicle Features in San Francisco, the same syndicate that gave Larson his start. He said he liked my work a lot but since they were selling Larson's work and it was only just then starting to catch on with editors, they didn't feel they had the resources to push another feature in the same category. But he wanted me to keep submitting new work so he could see how I was progressing.

We kept in touch and I sent in new work every month or so. A couple of years later, in 1984, I got a call from them saying that Larson had jumped to another syndicate and that now they had room for me. I was ecstatic. This began a several-month period of my submitting work, them editing it, giving suggestions, and generally grooming me for a daily gig.

During this grooming period, I happened to see an ad in the paper saying that Gary Larson would be appearing for a book signing at a local shopping mall bookstore. I was extremely shy with strangers back then, but decided to go meet him and see what he could tell me about the syndicate he had just left and I was about to join.

When I arrived, it was one of those small, narrow bookstores you see in the typical suburban mega-mall, and at the entrance of the shop was an average looking guy with round, wire frame glasses sitting by himself at a folding table with a stack of books. No one was speaking to him. I introduced myself by saying something like, "I'm Dan Piraro, I've been hired by (editor's name) to replace you at Chronicle Features." He smiled at this and said, "replace me, huh?"

He was a very nice, soft spoken, quiet sort of guy and he answered my questions about syndication. He vouched for Chronicle Features and their editors and said he'd had no complaints about them at all, but that he decided that now that his work was starting to gain some momentum, a bigger syndicate with a larger sales force seemed like a good business move. His words were something to the effect of, "I have no idea how long this is going to last so I figure I have to make as much as I can while I am able."

He fully expected his popularity to wane and wanted to make the most of it, which seemed logical at the time, neither of us knowing what an epic career lay ahead for him. I chatted with him for perhaps half an hour, during which time he signed and sold maybe three books. He hated that first book tour so much that I believe he never did another. I've sat at lonely tables in bookstores, too, and I don't blame him.

I saw Gary only once more, about ten years later, at the funeral of one of our mutual editors. Afterward, we smiled and reminisced about the bookstore meeting and it turned out the "replace you" line was what he remembered most. By this time, he lived in a huge, gated property outside Seattle with attack dogs roaming the grounds like Mr. Burns of "The Simpsons". I was still in a normal house in a normal neighborhood in Dallas, of course. I had a Papillon that roamed the yard from time to time, but it wasn't really the same.

I hadn't thought of that incident in years until it sprang into my head last night like a ninja from the past. Just thought you might enjoy it.

New Library Comics: January 2010

Here's a list of the comics we added to our library collection in January :


Flix. Der Swimmingpool des kleinen Mannes / Hamburg : Carlsen, 2009

Flix. Für dich - du bist süss : Cartoons von Flix / Hamburg : Carlsen, 2006.

Flix. Heldentage / Hamburg : Carlsen, c2007.

Flix. Mädchen / Hamburg : Carlsen, c2006.

Flix. Tut mir leid, aber Weihnachten fällt aus / Hamburg : Carlsen, c2009.

Flix. Verflixt! : Cartoons ; [und jetzt?] / Hamburg : Carlsen, c2005.

Flix. Verliebt! : das Glücksbuch / Hamburg : Carlsen, c2009.

Haque, Mohammad F. Applegeeks bk. 2. Weird science / Milwaukie, Or. : Dark Horse, 2009.

Kawachi, Izumi. Enchanter v. 2 / Gardena, CA : Digital Manga Pub., 2006-

Mariotte, Jeff. Barack Obama : The first 100 days. / San Diego, CA : IDW Pub., 2009.

Martell, Nevin. Looking for Calvin and Hobbes : the unconventional story of Bill Watterson and his revolutionary comic strip / New York ; London : Continuum, 2009.

Mihara, Mitsukazu, 1970- Shigeshōshi vols. 1-7 / Tokyō : Shōdensha, 2003-

Watase, Yuu. Ayashi no seresu vols. 1-10 / Tōkyō : Shōgakkan, 1997-2000.

Yuki, Kaori. Tenshi kinryō-ku vols. 1-15 / Tōkyō : Hakusensha, 1995-2001

Facing It

Bizarro is brought to you today by camouflage.

One of my father's-in-law and I were driving through Florida recently, saying things with our mouths and we came across this idea of having your eye teeth dilated. So I made a comic about it. I'm blessed with funny in-laws all around, so it's fun to visit CHNW's family.

I'm happy with the character who is speaking in this cartoon because he actually looks like he's thinking about the way his food tastes. Achieving the proper facial expression is important to me and is something that comes from experience. It's a difficult and subtle art, moving an eyelid up or down, or a mouth a fraction one way or another can completely change the character's expression. You just have to do it enough to develop an intuition about it.

Somebody who has tons of great opinions about character design is John K, the dude who did Ren and Stimpy. I spend lots of time on his blog, just because it's fascinating. No modern animator that I know of has John's amazing level of expertise and talent. I often wish I'd worked for him when I was young instead of getting into newspaper comics. But I've had a good run and have no complaints.

KOMEDY WITH A K

One more mention of the awesome comedy show I'm MCing in NYC this week. If you're in the area and you like funny things, this is the deal you want to see. All of our comics are headliners, you'll never see this many bigtime TV comics on the same stage again without having to wear a tuxedo. And ALL the money goes to rescued critters!

Dave Attel
Louis C.K.
Wyatt Cenac from The Daily Show
Lizz Winstead creator of The Daily Show
Gary Gulman
and ME.

Tickets, info, and more laughing pig pictures: http://woodstockfas.org/events.shtml