Fantagraphics To Publish Carl Barks

This news has been all over the internet since early this morning but it's worth repeating: After already announcing this past summer plans to publish Floyd Gottfredson's classic Mickey Mouse comic strip in hard cover volumes (the announcement was the news of the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con), that fantastic publisher of comics Fantagraphics got 2011 off to a ducky start by announcing today that they will publish the complete Disney comic-book work of master comics writer/artist Carl Barks. In a very wise move, Fantagraphics will start with Barks' top-of-the-crop work (rather than starting with Barks' still-evolving first stories), with Volume One (to be published this fall) spotlighting some of the epic Donald Duck book-length adventures and Volume Two to showcase Carl's first epic Uncle Scrooge adventures. For more details and an in-depth interview with editor Gary Groth about the Barks project hurry on over to Robot 6. This of course fits right in with my current Walt Disney's Comics and Stories postings, the past and future home of Carl Barks' Donald comic stories. More to come!

1/1/11

We're celebrating this first day of the New Year here at Tulgey Wood in style with the very first issue of Disney's flagship comic book Walt Disney's Comics and Stories. Issue Number 1 was published in October 1940, and what was inside? In addition to the latest episode of Floyd Gottfredson's Mickey Mouse comic strip reprint serial "Mickey Meets Robinson Crusoe" (originally published in newspapers in 1938 and 1939, and started serially in Walt Disney's Comics' predecssor Mickey Mouse Magazine), there were reprints of Al Taliaferro and Bob Karp's Donald Duck newspaper comic strip, "stories" about the Silly Symphonies The Robber Kitten and Water Babies, puzzles, riddles and even "Mickey's Hints" about such matters as table manners. The cover with that mischievous Duck giving a sly wink as he opened up the "Opening Number" might be an indication Donald knew he had not only taken over for Mickey on the cover of Mickey Mouse Magazine (Donald was on the last four Mickey Mouse covers of that Magazine, of which the new comic book was a continuation) but would also appear on almost every Walt Disney's Comics cover from 1940 through today (although in recent months Mickey has been spotlighted on the cover). On the back cover was a list of winners for the drawing contest from the July issue of Mickey Mouse Magazine, another indication that Walt Disney's Comics is a continuation of Mickey's mag. After you enjoy this primo Disney art (attributed to premier Disney artist Hank Porter), check out my online article about Walt Disney's Comics and Stories at the (free) D23 website. The 1st issue of the number 1 best selling comic book in history just seemed appropriate for 1/1/11—stop by for more about Walt Disney's Comics and Stories in the following days.

Santa(s) Love Winnie the Pooh And Tulgey Wood Too

It's a New Year Eve's surprise— Santas Working Overtime, that tireless collector of all things Christmas all over the Internet today recommended the special Sears art of Winnie the Pooh and his whirlwind tour of worldwide Christmas customs. Check out all the other Christmas goodness at Santas Working Overtime, and if you haven't already done so, feast your eyes on Winnie the Pooh's International Christmas starting here.

Happy New Year (Almost)

To ring in 2011 what else would we possibly do but look back to 1942 (or 3)? The classically cute cover (attributed to Carl Buettner) of Walt Disney's Comics and Stories # 28 (January 1943) bid farewell to 1942 and welcomed 1943 as only Unca Donald and his nephews could. Stay tuned for more about Walt Disney's Comics and Stories in the New Year.

Christmas In Jellystone And Bedrock

Back here I posted a Yogi Bear comic book cover but Yowp—home to all kinds of classic Hanna-Barbera animation treasures—has given us some truly rare gifts: Yuletide themed Sunday comic pages from the Yogi Bear and Flintstones newspaper comic strips from the 1960s and 1970s. These fun and finely drawn comics (click on the above example from December 24, 1967 for a larger view) are rearely reprinted so these are a real Christmas present. Check out these Christmasy comic strips and while you're there, delve into Yowp's pic-a-nic basketful of Hanna-Barbera treats.

Christmas in New York

Christmas and New York City just seem to go together—witness the festive department store windows, the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree and of course New Year's Eve in Times Square. No wonder then that The New Yorker has run many Decembers' worth of holiday covers since it was first published in 1925. This year's double issue dated December 20 and 27 2010 brought a double cover One Small Step at a Time by Christoph Niemann designed around Rockefeller Center's famed Atlas sculpture, a New York landmark almost as well known as The New Yorker itself.

A Merry Christmas in Walt Disney's Wonderland

60 years ago today, Christmas Day, the world was introduced to Walt Disney's first television production, a Christmas special on NBC (not ABC, as is sometimes reported) entitled One Hour in Wonderland, co-starring the wonderfully gifted Edger Bergen and his ventriloquist dummies Charlie McCarthy and Mortimer Snerd. Much has been made of the fact that Walt was friends with Edger Bergen and that friendship being the reason Bergen and his characters appeared on the special (Disney producer/writer Bill Walsh who produced this special had at one time written for Edger Bergen as well) but it was more likely Bergen & McCarthy's association with Coca-Cola that led to their guesting on the show; The Charlie McCarthy Show radio program broadcast on Sunday evenings over CBS starting in October 1949 was sponsored by Coca-Cola, and earlier in 1950, Bergen and his dummies had headlined at least one TV special for Coke. (By the way, the guests on the December 24, 1950 broadcast of The Charlie McCarthy Show were Disney stars Bobby Driscoll and Kathryn Beaumont, who were to appear with Edgar and Charlie the next day on the Disney TV special.) The Coke influence is seen not only in the Coca-Cola announcements at the beginning and end of the special and the commercial break halfway through (Walt insisted there only be one commercial) but in One Hour in Wonderland's main title music, which incorporates Coke's theme song. Although it really didn't have a title (it was usually called The Coca-Cola Theme Song although was sometimes known as "Coca-Cola Signature"), this tune would have been quite familiar to 1950 audiences as Coke had been using the theme since 1930 when it was composed by orchestra leader Leonard Joy. (The song continued on as the theme for the soda's very popular TV program Coke Time starring Eddie Fisher). The colorful detail shown above is from a grand poster, given to Coca-Cola distributors and bottlers. The full poster overflows with Disney art (I agree with those who think it looks like the style of Disney artist Al Dempster who illustrated the Alice in Wonderland Golden Books around this time) and is from the collection of Matt who just published the poster in all its glory on his awesome blog all about Walt Disney's Alice in Wonderland. Hurry on over and you'll also see a lot more about that amazing Disney first, Walt's original TV production One Hour in Wonderland, broadcast on Christmas Day 1950.

Ye who now will bless the poor Shall yourselves find blessing

One of the "Party Planner" items Hallmark has issued over the years has been a variety of centerpieces, some of which have featured Disney or Peanuts or other characters. Though I don't know if this is still happening, for many Christmases Hallmark also published a cardboard Nativity scene, such as the one pictured on the left, circa 1980. Though these cardboard creches were undoubtedly used for parties and as decorations, they were also used by poor households who were unable to afford even the most inexpensive figural Nativity. Though I have seen some elaborate and exquisite Nativity scenes in churches, homes and museums, this humble Hallmark somehow seems most appropriate to celebrate the birth of the Child born into poverty. This post is dedicated to my mother and father who, often at sacrifice for themselves, never failed to help someone in need, whether it was Christmas or not. Merry Christmas, Mom and Dad...and Merry Christmas to all.

The Wonder(Land) Of Christmas

Here's a wondrous way to kick off Christmas Eve—a rare and glorious Disney artwork by Russell Schroeder that was published in two cast member newsletters: Disney Newsreel (Walt Disney Studios) and Eyes and Ears (Walt Disney World). I love how it incorporates so many Wonderland characters (and the King). And if you have ever wanted to celebrate Christmas in Wonderland, check out this charming non-Disney comic-book story from 1943.

From @Disney To All Of You On Twitter

Starting today @Disney on Twitter is spotlighting Walt Disney's Christmas TV perennial "From All Of Us To All Of You" which originally was broadcast in 1958. @Disney is bringing to you a transcript of and photos (black-and-white, as was the show as originally aired) from Walt's rarely-seen introduction to the TV show. Pictured at right is one of the images you will see on Twitter as well as a color image from the show as found on the Animation Background blog. Be sure and sign up for @ Disney on Twitter so you can follow each day's Disney festivities. In the meantime, don't forget to read my online article all about "From All Of Us To All Of You" over at TV Party.