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by Molly McCall
Mon, July 02, 2007, 8:00 am PDT

Meet Josh Fruhlinger, the Comics Curmudgeon. For years now, the mainstream funnies have been subjected to his sharp eye, sharper tongue, and troublesome insistence on truth—or at least consistency. From Archie to Ziggy, from syndicated strip to single-panel gag, nothing escapes Josh's scrutiny. And the results are hilarious. Not only is The Comics Curmudgeon a web success, but the site consistently draws praise from such online stalwarts as the Reverend Brendan Powell Smith (amen).

We wrote about Josh's blog almost two years ago. We check in with him now to find out how the Curmudgeon is holding up, what advice he has for building a blog readership, and what online comics get his stamp of approval...

Josh, you know we love your site. And we're not the only ones. Your posts now garner hundreds of comments, you've scored a couple other comics-related gigs (like at Wonkette), and you got a rousing reception at ROFL. Has anything about the boom in readers been tricky for you?

The trickiest thing for me has been just keeping on track of all the comments. Every single one is e-mailed to me! On my typical days, most of which are spent in front of the computer, it's manageable, but when I step away from the keyboard, even for just a day or so, I'm overwhelmed by the amount of stuff to wade through when I get back. But I hate to just cast them aside unread as so many are so funny! Read the full profile...

by Gordon Hurd
Thu, June 07, 2007, 8:00 am PDT

Larry Smith had a dream of letting you and me tell our stories to the world. As simple as it sounds, a publication about average folks telling their above-average tales wasn't a quick sale (damn those cold-hearted execs!). Undeterred, Smith toiled away, writing and editing for national publications like Men's Journal, Might, and Yahoo! Internet Life. Finally, in 2006, with the help of some volunteer editors, a clear vision, and fortuitous timing, Larry launched his namesake SMITH.

In an age when MySpace and Facebook rule the roost, the world blogs itself silly, and social “interconnectivity” is blowing up bubble 2.0, SMITH mag is in the right place at the right time. Larry's vision is to spread human tales—what he calls "personal media"—online and, eventually, in book form. With a much-hailed graphic novel and a slew of intimate, personal, and top-notch contributions, we think Larry's just cracked the book open.

The moral of Mr. Smith's story? Stick to your dreams and never let someone say "the end" before your adventure's even started.

by Molly McCall
Mon, June 04, 2007, 8:00 am PDT

Without Ethan Persoff, the Web would a slightly more subdued place—bereft of esoteric cartoons, historic comics, and the sounds of Nancy Reagan and a host of mid-'80s stars rapping against drugs. ("Stop the madness!") Never one to say no himself, Ethan creates his own graphic tales, records his own music, and, recently ventured into all-out animation with friend and cohort Scott Marshall.

We have known Ethan longest, though, for his jaw dropping collection of vintage comics. Ranging from the heroin warning "Hooked!" to the CIA propaganda "Grenada" to any number of "comics with problems," this stuff is sometimes bizarre, occasionally shocking, and always golden. We asked Ethan what has surprised him about running ep.tc all these years. Here's his answer:

"I think the most surprising thing about the site is how it's responded to by different kinds of audiences, the Web over. Like "Johnny Surge" ended up on a forum for male lactators; that made my year. There are unintended surprises, like the Alcoholics Anonymous comic strips being absorbed into psychology sites and 12-step groups. There are lots of stories about things I post and the weird places they go. It seems if you're a troubled or perverted person I've got a piece of pop culture or comic book JUST for YOU."

Never stop the madness, Ethan.

by Molly McCall
Fri, May 18, 2007, 3:00 am PDT

This "webcomic" from SMITH magazine opens with the quiet and the denial that gripped so much of the Gulf Coast (and the rest of the U.S.) before the storm came crashing through the levies to batter everything in its path. Artist, writer, and cartoonist extraordinaire Josh Neufeld is only three chapters (and two prologues) in to the tale so far, but we couldn't wait to feature it. The panels have been set up, the characters introduced. And even though we know how the overarching story will unfold, we're on the edge of our seats wondering about Hamid, Kevin, Denise, and the others whose real-life tales wind through "A.D." Start at the beginning, with its lush aerial shots of New Orleans and the ominous renderings of Katrina's approach. One fan has commented that "the mounting tension is stifling." We would only add: "and addictive."
by Jon Brooks
Wed, January 17, 2007, 3:00 am PST

Okay, we know there's a lot of good stuff in Canada. National health care? Fab. But when it comes to fantastical beings who roam the earth compulsively fighting evil in their underwear, who you gonna call? We're talking superheroes, Jack—they're as American as apple pie and tax cuts! But knock us over with a maple leaf, it seems a thriving hero community actually does exist up north. During WWII, financial conditions led to a ban on U.S. comic imports, allowing such homegrown heroes as Nelvana, Johnny Canuck, and Canada Jack to take up the slack. After a super-lull from 1947 to the 1970s, do-gooders like Captain Canada, Northguard, and Capitaine Kébec—he of the French-speaking Kebecs—emerged. The Northern Light can actually catch a ride on light beams. Damn, that's cool!

Filed under: Comics, Superheroes, Canada


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