Welcome back! Got lots of groovy stuff to share this week. First off, especially for you, Pops, we have the first, obviously unused version of this page. I just felt that this page was too preachy and wordy, and just didn’t work as well. Wish I had realized it before I lettered it.
How about one from the Way Way Wayback Machine?
Okay, so I didn’t write all of the dialogue. This is still one of my faves.
Speaking of Eleanor and Mac (who is now called Nelson), here’s their first date, from 1980 (yes, I’m old).
They went on to run into a Green Demon (not Caliban) before I lost interest and moved on to other strips. See that “To Ellen?” She was the editor of The Lode, the Michigan Technological University paper, and graciously gave me my start in newspaper comics.
Which leads to the Big News: My good buddy and all around swell guy Mike Curtis, writes the Dick Tracy newspaper comic. Now, I’ve done a number of stories for him in the dim dark past, for his Shanda the Panda comic. Yes, I’ve written and drawn anthropomorphic comics. If you’re nice, I might share a page or two.
So, a couple times a year Mike has a guest artist do a two week, “Minute Mystery” run on Dick Tracy. Next summer that someone will be yours truly. For two weeks (12 dailies and 3 Sundays) I’m gonna be a nationally syndicated newspaper comic artist and writer!
Ever since Mike offered me this once in a lifetime opportunity, I have been walking on air. And spending hours working on the thumbnails and getting the characters right. It’s been a lot of work, and an amazing learning experience. I’ve admired Joe Staton’s art since “E-Man” in the 80s.” He is simply amazing, and I’m stealing everything I can get.
Thank you again, Mike. You’re the best.
So far, Mike’s approved the daily thumbnails and the first two Sundays I’ve submitted. I’ll keep you posted on the progress. For copyright purposes, I can’t post any of it.
But you can see the finished product around May of next year!
Oh, you bet I’ll keep you posted.
That’s awesome, Charlie! Congratulations. I’d always figured you’d be great at doing newspaper dailies. Can wait to read it when it comes out.
Thanks, brother! I gotta say, doing newspaper comics is very different from books and webcomics. But it’s a lot of fun, and really stretching my artist/writer skills.
Hey, if you read it, I’ll be an international newspaper comic creator!
Incredible news! Really looking forward to seeing your DT strips.
I’ll do my best to make you proud, my Toonerville Trolley pal!
Grand, it’s about time. You have a knack with characters that I admire and envy. Give us warning of when these come out and I’ll see if we can find them in the Highlands. Stay happy.
I shall indeed let you know when it’ll be out, my friend. I hope you can get a paper copy, but if not, GoComics has it. You really should check it out. They haven’t won 3 consecutive Harvey awards for nothing. It’s a really fun strip.
I’m back in town and back on the ‘puter and… and… and Charlie is going to be scripting and drawing Dick Tracy??? The world will never be the same again! (It’ll be better!)
Congratulations, felicitations, best wishes, and all that! Couldn’t have happened to a nicer– Wait.
“…the Totie Fields?” Damn, you’re old!
You must be too, to get that joke, Pops!
And thank you! It’s been pretty amazing, and a heckuva learning experience, and I haven’t even finished the thumbnails yet!
Well, if Frank Frazetta could do Lil’ Abner, I see no reason why you shouldn’t do something for Dick Tracy! ^^
Ah yes, Totie Fields. I remember as a teen first seeing her on the variety show run by that life-sized wooden puppet, Ed Sullivan–good days, good days.
Frazetta was, well, incredible on Li’l Abner. He also did some work on a Little Annie Fannie comic.
Wait-did you just compare me to..? I’m not blushing, really. It must be warm in here.
Ed Sullivan, Uncle Delta? You’re showing our age.
“Kees me goo’night, Eddie.”
It is exciting to see you make the official announcement, and now that the cat is out of the hat I can join in the celebration. Looking forward to reading your story.
Looking forward to the Dick Tracy Story.
How deformed is the villain?
Not at all, though she does have a defining physical feature.
I’m reading a lot of Dick Tracy these days, and some of those villains are pretty way out. The Brow, The Mole, Flattop, The Pouch, and The Brush come to mind.