emb021

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    Michael R. Brown

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  1. Here we are with the 7th volume, another complete volume with both sundays (in COLOR) and dailies. And here we have some of the BEST stories of Little Orphan Annie. I had read parts of several of these stories, so its a great collection I've been looking forward to. The introduction is also great, with a section highlighting a sunday-only strip called "Little Joe" that Harold Gray ghosted for his cousin for a couple of decades (sadly, the wikipedia article doesn't credit him). This strip I've heard of and wonder if we will ever seen a complete reprinting of this overlooked strip. As to LOA, we have 4 main stories. Two re-occuring characters are introduced in this volume. First, is the sinister Asp, a dangerous associate of "Daddy", who now rounds out the roster of the permanent characters in LOA. The next is the mysterious Mr. Am, who will come back on occasion, so I think this makes him the last re-occurring character to the strip. This character, a mysterious, almost Santa Claus like character, adds a strange element of mysticism to the strip, more so then Punjab. Who IS Mr. Am, and what is the source of his powers and knowledge? So, first off we have Annie again on the road after the conclusion of the Jack Boot story from the last volume. She meets up with a nice flower lady, Ginger, in a powerful story. We learn more about Ginger. She used to be rich, but now is poor. Gray uses this story to speak about how some people succeed and others don't, and that in bad areas good people can emerge as well as bad. In this story, she runs afoul of mobsters looking for protection money, and the story takes a tragic end. In the next story, the gangsters are out on bail. Annie tries to enlist the help of a crusading lawyer named "J. Preston Slime", who is really in league with the gangsters. They go out on another hit on a mysterious rich man, and run afoul of "Daddy" and his new associate, the Asp! Gray uses this story to speak of the law vs. justice. With "Daddy" back, he is off on another adventure, this time with Annie. He has 2 billion in gems, but is being pursued by the evil Boris Sirob and associates. Sirob is portrayed as a ruthless foreigner. So they leave the country. In another land, they encounter the mysterious Mr. Am. He becomes a new friend, who is able to render a great service with the story with Sirob comes to a conclusion. "Daddy", Annie and Mr. Am return to the States. But now having lost his billions, and down to only a couple of million, "Daddy" must leave. Annie stays with Mr. Am. But, as usual, the busybodies come out of the woodwork, and drive Mr. Am away, and Annie is put in the charge of the Brittlewits. The husband is a fool, look for easy money, and falls in with a crook named Brabble. But Annie finds a new friend and ally in an old man who lives in a "haunted house", where the ghosts of his extended family apparently reside as well. The matter of Brabble and Bittlewit comes to a nasty conclusion. As with the story of the mobsters who killed Ginger, we again get Gray's view of law and justice. Rounding out the story is the first of a two-part story that runs thru 1938. In a different way, Annie is removed from her friends and comes into a small town. Here she quickly finds a homeless mother, Rose Chance. Tying to find her help, they wind up moving in with a poor widow and run afoul of the local rich man, Gudge who owns half the town, and has a mortgage on the rest. They win allies in the local trucking company (run by Jack, an orphan himself), and are joined by a new, mysterious stranger, Shanghai Peg. We learn of his connection with the widow. Gudge is after the mortgage, and thru the help of their new working class friends, Annie and friends are able to help. Rose cooks up doughnuts in the kitchen, which Annie sells to the local truckers and others to raise money and earn their keep with the widow. Gudge then tries to put pressure on the police and later the sheriff, to get rid of the 'bum' Shanghai Peg. But in a pair of dramatic scenes, Shanghai wins both the police and the sheriff to his side. This doesn't stop Gudge, who starts a campaign to shutdown both the trucking company and Annie & friends little enterprise. But thru some smart thinking by Annie, she and her friends triumph over Gudge. Annie and Shanghai start to look into the matter of the death of widow's husband. He was murdered 20 years ago, and for no reason. The records were all lost in a fire. There seems to be some connection to Gudge, but its not clear. This part of the story closes with the return of Rose's husband, who seems a possible no-good-nick. We will have to wait for the next volume for the conclusion. Does Rose return to her husband, or does happiness come to Jack, who has fallen in love with Rose? Is the mystery of the murdered husband solved? And does Gudge play a part in that? The Rose Chance-Shanghai Pete is considered the BEST LOA story of all time. I can't wait for the next volume. In addition to the conclusion of the Rose Chance/Shanghai Peg storyline, we have a new storyline with the sinister Axel in it as well.
  2. Here is a recent interview with Joe Staton that speaks about the Anthem GN. I wasn't aware the art was taken from his penciled work. This may explain why some don't quite like it. http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=30753
  3. Here we are with the 6th volume, another complete volume with both sundays (in COLOR) and dailies. Finally, with this volume we move past what was covered by the past 5 volume Fantagraphics series. We have several new storylines and characters. This volume covers the years 1935-36. First off, is the Eli Eon storyline (which I've mentioned before), a minor classic, IMO. This one deals with Annie & "Daddy" meeting a crazy old inventor of a miracle material, Eonite. This storyline is broken up into 2 chapters. First off is a chapter that more focuses on Annie & "Daddy" getting back on their feet, with visits by Punjab. Punjab at this point works for a good friend of "Daddy", Henry Morgan. Punjab would soon become one of the few standard characters in the strip, working for Warbucks. During this time, they rescue Eli, who has been attacked. We later learn this was done by the command of crooked businessman who is in many ways the opposite of "Daddy", J. Gordon Slugg. After trying to use force to get Eli's invention, he turns to trying to use trade unions (but "Daddy" treats his workers too well for them to want to unionize) and then a political rabble rouser to turn the crowd against "Daddy", Claude Claptrap. Sadly, this leads to a greater tragedy. In many ways, Gray uses Slugg here to compare and contrast with "Daddy", showing the differences in how these 2 businessmen conduct themselves. Apparently the liberals at the time hated the strip for it. "Daddy" is now once again broke, when old friend Wun Wey returns, and informs "Daddy" that large holdings of his in Asia are actually very valuable. "Daddy", Morgan and Punjab journey to Asia, while Annie stays with Wun Wey, who will be dropping her off at a school. Sadly, sinister forces kidnap both. Annie escapes and is on the road again. The story continues with Annie in Hollywood, working as a double for a spoiled brat child star and in the next chapter, a romance between two minor characters Annie mets in Hollywood. In some ways, one sees some of the same nonsense today with Hollywood. A bried interlude story allows Annie to move East a bit, and find a new town, Buttercup, for the final story. The final story, actually broken up as 2 chapters, is another classic: the Jack Boot story (again, one I mentioned before), a story of a hardworking, innocent man whose life is turned upside down due to meddling busybodies and an old enemy. He seems nothing more then a simple shoe repair man. In the first part of the story, he deals with a crocked, possible competitor, George Chiselopolis, and the issue of charity (which I had covered in past postings). In the second part of the story, we learn more about Jack's background, which comes out when 2 new characters appear in town, who have a 30-year connection to Jack Boot. One is Fred Free, a river bum who travels the world and occasionally returns to a little shack near town. The other is the well off gentleman, Hunterdon H. Halk, who moves to town and impresses everyone (of course). This will lead to the next volume which will include the introduction of 2 more classic characters: The Asp and Mr. Am. Sadly, I don't know when we may see this volume.
  4. Here we are with the 5th volume, another complete volume with both sundays (in COLOR) and dailies. This one covers the years 1933-35. We have several new storylines and characters. First off, is the Dan Ballad storyline, here called "Who'd Chizzle a Blind Man". Annie, again on her own in the big city (Daddy is stuck overseas), teams up with a blind violinist, "Uncle" Dan Ballad. Annie sings, Uncle Dan fiddles, and they get good tips. Then a sharper comes in named Charles C. Chizzler, who becomes their manager and tricks them in signing a contract that gives him 50% PLUS expenses. They are pulling in a $100 a night at halls, but are being given only $5-10 by Chizzler. When Annie gets sick, another sharper comes into the scene. He's different. While he'll go after rich guys, he draws the line at ripping off blind men and kids (this is something we occasionally see in LOA: the bad person who has some good elements, and will actually help out Annie). So he tricks Chizzler out of all his money and gives it to Annie. And to wrap up the story, Dan Ballad is found to have inherited money and title in England, and so leaves Annie as we see "Daddy" working his way there. In the next story, we find Annie trying to get a job, but running afoul of annoying "do gooders" (who don't want kids to work- hint at the problem with 'child labor' laws and minimum wage), when "Daddy" comes to the rescue. Then we have a couple, the "Bleeks" who claim to be Annie's real parents. Is that possible? Will we finally get the answer to her parentage hinted at a few times in the past by Miss Asmaha (who makes a brief re-appearance). We have a long story where the Bleeks try to prove Annie is their daughter, and succeed. But it appears to be just a scheme by them to get money from "Daddy", who still cares for her. But then "Daddy" has serious problems with his business (due in no small part to his long absence). Some try to help him "save" his business at the expense of others, but "Daddy" won't (hmm, shades of today with bailouts and such). At the end, "Daddy" sets aside money to pay his taxes, and is ripped off by a crooked lawyer named Hare. Due to this, "Daddy" runs afoul of a crooked prosecutor named Phil O Bluster, which is the focus on the next story. Bluster, with his associates Ward Healy, Bill McBribe, and a crooked Judge Cogg (note those names!), try to railroad "Daddy". He's doing it for political gain. He sells himself as a "friend of the pee-pal" (frequent spelling that Gray uses) against a rich man like Warbucks (who obviously didn't earn his money fairly. Yeah, right). So we see corruption, including jury tampering, and a Judge in the pocket of the prosecution (who knows Warbucks is innocent, but doesn't care). The Judge hopes this will get him a higher position, too. Later in the story, we see the crookedness of Mr Bleek, when he gets in bed with criminals and they start breaking into rich houses. Bluster, unable to catch this gang, is under pressure from the "pee-pul" to get things done. Meanwhile, Mrs Bleek comes to care more and more for Annie. In the fourth story, these crooked politicans and judges get their comeupance, in no small fact due to the assistance of "Daddy's" friends Wuy Wey, Flophouse Bill, and Jake the storekeeper (from past volumes). "Daddy" is freed and helps clean up the town. Now he is poor once again, and forgotten by the public. And in the final story, Annie and "Daddy" work to get back on their feet. "Daddy" takes on any work he can (as he's had to do in the past when he lost it all), and not wanting to mootch off his friends, or even get a loan from them, they decide to move on for greener pastures. And we met for the first time Punjab!!!
  5. Here we are with the 4th volume, another complete volume with both sundays (in COLOR) and dailies. This volume covers the years 1932 to 1933. We have several new storylines and characters. First off, "Daddy" gets a new wife. But she is trouble and is soon 'dealt with'. "Daddy" will remain a bachelor (or is that widower?) for the rest of the strip. A new character is introduced who I have mentioned in the past: Wun Wey, an asian character. But not the stereotypical asian of the time, either a menial or a 'yellow peril' villian. He is an associate of "Daddy", treated as an equal. He will be a minor character for a few years before he fades away. The main storyline in this volume is the long "Cosmic City" storyline, which I had previously mentioned, actually broken up over 3 chapters. It follows the basic storyline of most Annie stories: "Daddy" goes away and puts Annie under the charge of others. Something goes arrie, and Annie is on her own, finds a small town, and some ordinary people to live with. But here is some mystery/danger there that Annie gets involved with and must resolve. After this, Annie is either reunited with Daddy or moves on to the next town. In "Cosmic City", Annie moves in with the Futiles, a elderly couple. She is able to help them out, eventually setting up a small store for Mr. Futile to run. But she runs afoul of the town 'richie', a Mr. Pennypincher. There is a mystery to resolve with him, which she does. As is usually, the town busybodies think the work of him, because they don't know his real side. I first read the "Cosmic City" storyline in a Dover edition, and it wasn't until later that I got to read the 'rest of the story'. You'll get it all here in this volume.
  6. Been a while since I'e been here. And there have been 3 additional volumes. So am posting my reviews from Amazon, a little expanded.
  7. Am familiar with Joe Staton's work, and have to agree that it seems a little crude (perhaps the right term is 'loose'), compared to his usual work. Perhaps this is due to him working in b/w when he usually does color comics. I think Steve Ditko would have been a better choice.
  8. This time I will cover the new Ditko comics: Ditko Once More, Ditko Presents, Act 2, Act 3 All of these are black and white, 32-page comics. You may order them directly from Robin Snyder. All are $4 each, but you must include postage. Full info on ordering them may be found here: http://ditko.blogspot.com/p/ditko-book-in-print.html "Ditko Once More" is a kind of hodgepodge of stuff. Most of the work are single page items, in many cases a large panel filling the whole page. Some put forth Ditko's Objectivist ideas, others put forth his dislike of nosy fans. There are a couple of multi-page stories dealing with his new 'Hero' characters. We see the appearence of his "Outline" character in a few pieces, and an appearance of a new character I'll call the "A is A Man" in several one-page pieces. The next 3 comics are different. They mainly consist of 8 page stories (all set in little towns in the 1930s) staring several of his new hero characters: Miss Eerie, Mad Man, !?, The Outline, The Cape, as well as some with The Gray Negotiator. I suspect that Act 4 (out, but I don't have) and Act 5 (coming soon) will continue in this style. * "Ditko Presents" introduces the new character of "The Madman". He's really Matt Madder (a lot of the character names in this one are like that), who is an apparently violent man who has escaped from a mental ward and was accused of killing someone. So he decides to be a "Madman" and find out who's really behind the crime. "The !?" is the next new character, a masked character who is taking money from criminals and returning it to the victims. "A Crime Story", a continuing story of criminals getting their just deserts. "Miss Eerie", is yet another new hero character, a women who dressing up with a frighful mask and fights crime. * ACT Two continues this with the following stories: The next "Madman" story, another story with "The Cape" (see my first item for more about this 'character'), the continuation (conclusion?) of "A Crime Story", another story with "The Grey Negotiator", and a new 'character' "the Almighty Zero" in a three page intro. * ACT Three continues this with the following stories: The next "Miss Eerie" story (and we learn who Miss Eerie really is), another "Grey Negotiator" story, a 2 page story introducing 'Fan-Man' and 'Fan-Boy' (who like anti-hero comics) against the "A is A Man", a VERY different story with "The Cape", which will be continued, a 2-page story with "The Outline" and "Hero", and several 1 & 2 page pieces.
  9. Ditko with Robin Snyder continues to put out 32 page b/w comic books. So far, they have put out Ditko Once More, Ditko Presents, Act 2, Act 3, Act 4, with an Act 5 promised soon. I recently got Ditko Presents and Act 2 & 3. So will do a brief overview/review of all of them soon.
  10. Beat me to it. Plus the fact that he got the Nobel Peace prize before he had done anything to deserve it (still hasn't), and that the nomination for it had to go in with a couple of weeks of taking office...
  11. I actually get books from several small publishers which use Lulu and Amazon/CreateSpace as their printers. they sell thru Lulu, Amazon, etc to their customers. They get their own ISBN numbers. The books have their name and contact info. Most have a website/webstore (some of which just link to lulu, amazon, etc). the quality of the books are very good. they are good, quality paperbacks. they can handle b/w artwork fairly well. Covers are good. While about 5-10 years ago POD wasn't that good, but I think for small publishers or self-publishers, POD is the way to go (you can also go with e-publishing with POD, offering your e-book for less then the print work). What makes it great for these publishers is they don't have to order and pay for a large print run, then sit on it as it slowly sells. Publishers I mean are Altus Press, Airship 27, Blood n Thunder, Wildcat Books, Age of Adventure, Age of Aces, and a few others. Hope that helps.
  12. As a bibliophile, I find the problems LFB seems to have with getting this book out strange. I am a fan of several small presses, who have now gone to using POD publishers like CreateSpace (part of Amazon) and Lulu. The books I get from them are good, quality paperbacks. They can apparently also do hardbacks thru Lulu (no idea with CreateSpace). These are, in many cases, small operations (1 guy, or a couple of people), yet are able to put out quality stuff. The Ludwig von Mises Institute has in recent years become (IMO) a sort of libertarian publishing powerhouse. They seem to be pumping out new (or in many cases, reprints) of works on an almost weekly pace. They just came out with a new, hardcover edition of Mises' "The Theory of Money and Credit". When ITIL took over LFB, they said they would restart the old Cobden Press imprint to bring out new and classic libertarian works. Yet, the Branden book seems to be their first effort, and they seem to have problems. Reading some other things they've said, seems to indicate they haven't taken advantage of the advancements in printing (I read of them complaining of the costs of putting together books. Yet Mises is doing it easily, and note my comments about the small pressing doing it). I look forward to seeing this new work, but really think ITIL/LFB needs to find out how Mises et al are doing things.
  13. err,...you do realize that my post was in jest? A somewhat clumsy attempt by me to spoof the "OOist" mentality that you were referring to. (Yeah, I know...."Don't quit my day job!") Oh, I got the joke. Mine was that if you were a 'proper Oist', you would have denounced me. ;) Reason has been slowly putting up those articles on their website. The Peter Bagge cartoon was from that issue. The Comics Journal message board as well as Yahoo Group about Ditko has been discussion it a bit. Also, on their Hit & Run blog, they've had some good discussions (marred only by the occasional non-libertarian aholes), even discussing some of the recent press on the new Rand books. Some good, some bad. Its funny that some are complaining about the Rand videos they've been doing, as if they are annoying. Yesh. they announced this a month ago. I hope this leads to similiar videos on other libertarian thinkers.
  14. I watched that one recently. A very good and positive interview. What I find interesting is that overall the videos have been very positive about Rand. Almost too positive. Even from people (NB, BB, and TM) who had negative personal experiences they have been positive.
  15. All- Am putting this in humour as I think that's the right place for it. This is a blog site I came across that is a satire of Rand: http://ayndie.wordpress.com/ Its billed as "Life advice from Ayn Rand, the creator of the everlasting truth of Objectivism -- firmly founded on reason, logic and the absolutism of reality." Not sure where the author of this site stands. They seem to know their stuff, as seen by their list of false and real objectivist. (but surprised that SOLOpassion is on the list of false objectivist...)