Congrats to ADDTF for one solid year of reading comics naked.

Also, welcome back ADD and In Sequence.

Did I miss anyone?

 
Heavy Petting

Fantagraphics is putting out a collection of Romance comics? Who would have imagined it?

How To Throw A Groovy party For Less Than $5 - Part 1

From DC's Falling In Love. Author Unknown.

Do you love parties? Do you love having adorable guys over? Do you love having fun? "Yes, yes, yes!" you say--- "But--- who's got the bread to have a party?" you ask. The answer to that is: just about nobody! So go ahead and have a party anyway...just don't spend any money doing it. Here are some suggestions about how to get it on...

The big expense is refreshments, especially the soft drinks. Instead of buying a case of them, make your own punch. Just about any mixture of concentrated fruit juice and ginger ale makes a cheap but delicious, sparkly party drink. You can put it all in a big bowl, decorate the surface with orange and lemon slices, and ask the guests to serve themselves. Warning: Don't put the ginger ale in until the last minute! You can keep ten thirsty people happy for about $2.50 this way. That leaves you enough change to make some yummy eats. Get a couple of boxes of crackers and some salami or bacon and cheese. Decorate the crackers with the cheese and meat and place on a cookie sheet. Bake until the cheese just begins to melt. Pop a hefty batch of popcorn (super-cheap) and place it in bowls around the room. Everybody in the world loves popcorn. There you are--- food and drink for a gang, all for under $5.

Have a potluck party. Ask each guest to bring something fantastic to eat. Say you're having a party for 12, counting little old you. Tell four people to bring a main dish--- casseroles (or lasagna, macaroni and cheese, meat loaf) usually work best--- four people to bring salads, and then assign the rest of the people to be responsible for dessert and beverages. Some crazy menus can result, and if couples share in creating the food--- so much the better. You can have your boyfriend over to help frost cupcakes or something.
posted by Steven at 11:19 PM

 
Stretch and Squash

It's rare that I speak about my personal life on the blog, though I like to slip in the odd message to friends and family every once in awhile. If no one minds, I'd like to make an exception tonight.

Though I'm still a little nervous about something going awry, today I had confirmed for me that I would be receiving a job in my field within the next few weeks. This will count towards my education, and I will end up graduating with a little extra cash and experience on the side.

I've spent many sleepless, frustrating nights trying to get assignments just right, or just trying to get them finished at all, and as my friends and family will tell you, there were many times when I had decided to call it quits. I would like to thank my brother for being my roommate that first year and for making the transition easier, my mother for the immense amount of support, encouragment and ass-kicking she provided without which I would still be adrift, and especially J. for fielding all those late night calls and convincing me that I've become a different man from the time I started. Sorry for making this like the Academy Awards, but I'm also indebted to my teachers and peers in the program, my kitties, and my puppy, who passed away late last year.

And, if I'm allowed one more, I'm thankful for the support of the few people who read this blog. I started Flat Earth because, not knowing anyone in Ottawa and being thousands of kilometres away from home, I needed something to occupy my time when I wanted to clear my head. There were many all-nighters where I would become so frustrated I would nearly rip my animation paper right down the middle. Instead I would often take a step back and write up something on Owen Fitzgerald, or Leo Bachle, or Pete Millar, or any one of a great number of artists who have come before me. Thanks for sticking around and making my hobby worthwhile.

Now if only I could get a job on this Krypto cartoon, my life would be complete.

Put yer mind in gear before ya get yer mouths in action!

Our latest columnist comes from the unlikeliest of sources. Introducing the lovely Flabby from CARtoons.



Dear Flabby:
My boyfriend says I embarrass him when we go to the drag races, because I wear too much make up and my clothes are too wild. What SHOULD I wear, Flabby?
Barbara Buttonhook
Tampa, Fla.

Put the clown on--- show up in a fire suit, fuel mask and wedgies. Then while wandering around at the drags, lose the jerk in the pits.

Dear Flabby:
I have to make a book report at school, and I need your advice. Do you think I could make a report on "CARtoons"?
Sylvia Snidely
Pittsburgh, Pa.

Sure, if you don't care about graduating.



posted by Steven at 10:15 PM

 
Free Comic Thursday - Patsy and Hedy, Career Girls



"Romance is so much a part of my life. How could you be oblivious to it?"
-Stan Lee

I had planned on kicking off a month's worth of free romance comics with a repeat, namely Jenny Miller's Golden Age Romance Comic Archive which I linked to a year ago this month. Happily, it appears that there have been a few new additions to the Archive, namely two Patsy Walker stories. One of them, Sky, Sea and Sweethearts, I happened to read in Montreal a couple of weeks ago. It's nice to finally see the cover.

Stan Lee, author of the two Patsy Walker stories available on the site, once remarked that his favourite comics to write were of the romance variety. I still hold out hope that he returns to this genre some day, instead of messing around with more superheroes long after the genre seems to have passed him by.

As Toonopedia reveals, Patsy Walker didn't die off with the humour or romance titles she cut her teeth on, but transferred from genre to genre until she finally ended up a superhero, Hellcat. in fact, according to an entry on the Defenders Non-Page, Patsy Walker the comic exists in the Marvel Universe, and was written by Patsy's mother who based the stories on Patsy's friends and expolits. Even more on the subject can be seen here.

Ms. Miller's site is a great crash course into one of my favourite genres, and a terrific way to get acquainted to this nearly forgotten world of Romance comics before I throw more at you later this month.

Excelsior!

I hate him...but I can't refuse his kisses!



I've been dreading this all week. Marc of DC's Young Love is one of the more controversial romance comic columnists. Before allowing him to utilize this forum, I made him agree to let the readers of Flat Earth decide whether he could stay on for further installments. Read on, and cast your vote.

Dear Marc:
I'm 17 and I'm in love with a guy who's 21. Everything was going great until three of my best friends (girls) started lying to my boyfriend Paul about my past. They've been calling him on the phone, telling him that I used to hang around with a bad crowd who belonged to a motorcycle gang, and did really sickening things. Marc, these girls want Paul, and they're so convincing that I'm afraid he's beginning to believe them! We've only been going steady for two months, but if I lose Paul I think I'll die! Help!
Cheryl

Dear Cheryl:
I feel sorry for ya, kid. Women---especially teenage women---can be the nastiest creatures in the world. Take it from me, Cher! You're not going to be able to shake those three little pigs from Paul's tail so level with him. Tell him that the stories are lies. If he doesn't believe you, then you've lost nothing.
And Cher, if I were you, I'd stick to diamonds for my best friends!

OK, gang---that's it for this month! Remember: with me in control, you girls will all eventually see the light. In other words:
A VOTE FOR MARC IS A VOTE FOR YOURSELVES!
Yours might be the vote that decides my fate. (I'm warning you now, though: don't expect me to give up without a FIGHT!)

Either vote YES for Marc to keep him, or NO for Marc and get rid of him!
Send to: stevenwintle@hotmail.com


posted by Steven at 10:39 PM

 
CartoonAnimationResearchBlast

I walk the line between comics and animation. Though animation is what I'm pursuing as a career, and both have been lifelong interests of mine, I find comics to be much easier to talk about. However, I still keep tabs on what's happening in the animation community, even if I don't say much about it here.

There are two absolutely indispensible sites devoted to animated films (and occasionally other pop culture, including comics). Jerry Beck's Cartoon Research and Amid Amidi's Animation Blast. I can't over-emphasize just how wonderful both of these sites are, though they usually tackle their subject in slightly different ways.

Those differences are why I didn't believe the rumours at first. According to both Beck and Amidi the two will be contributing to a shared blog.

"Before the end of the month, a new weblog co-run by me, Jerry Beck, and Amid Amidi (of Animation Blast) will debut. This new weblog will be where Amid and I will post news, reviews, observations and comments on a daily basis."

This is a real big deal. They already have the top sites in their field locked up, but both of them working together could produce one of the best entertainment sites on the internet, by far.

Don't just take my word for it. Cartoon Research has Marvel courting Pixar, Olive Oyl erotica, more on Roy Disney, etc. Animation Nation has the lowdown on Playboy's new cartoon hardcover collection, Gene and Kim Deitch's radio appearance, Stan Lee's Annie Awards endorsement, and so much more. Check them out!

Gone--like all my dreams...!



Join Ann Martin, Counselor-At-Love of DC's Secret Hearts, as she dishes out some advice we all can learn from.

Dear Miss Martin:
I notice that in most of the letters that are based on problems concerning the generation gap, the parents usually object to a certain boy because they don’t approve of him. Well, my problem is the exact opposite. My mother keeps insisting that I go out, fall in love with, and eventually marry a boy she has picked out for me. This boy is the son of an old friend of hers who is married to a very wealthy man in the real estate business. The son will eventually enter this business with his father, I am told. The trouble is, I don’t like this fellow, as a boyfriend, at all. My mother says I am too young to know my own mind. What should I do?
Disgusted

Dear “Disgusted”:
You may also have noticed that in the majority of answers, I usually advise teenagers to accept the better judgement of their parents. Well, my answer this time is the exact opposite. I think your mother is making a mistake in insisting that you involve yourself seriously with a boy of her choice. In any case, you are probably too young for a serious involvement, especially since you have no desire to enter one. If love should develop (and who’s to say it couldn’t?), well and good. If your feelings never change, then you’ve not lost anything but a little time. But stick to your guns---and follow your own heart and no one else’s!

posted by Steven at 12:08 AM

 
The Countdown Begins. For Real.



"Wow! It's too bad you're my sister!"

Today Flat Earth brings you the soothing words of Buck from Charlton Comics' All New Teen Confessions.



Dear Buck:
Last night my so-called boyfriend and I got into a fight, and I called it quits.
Here’s how it was: a couple of my girlfriends and I went to a dance. My so-called best girlfriend was there, and she was dancing with my boyfriend. It seemed to me that they were dancing too close, and then I saw them kissing. At first I tried to ignore them, but then I couldn’t. I went over, and my girlfriend said that she was sorry, and that she just got a bit carried away. Later, I saw them walking away arm in arm, so I went up to them and asked them where they were going. My boyfriend told me it was none of my business. Then he told my girlfriend that he’d see her later and walked away. She asked me why I ever put up with him and I couldn’t think of any answer.
He used to be so nice to me. He’d visit me and bring me things when I was sick, and when I broke my leg he stayed with me all the time. My friends didn’t like him. They said he was ugly, but I loved him anyway and I really thought he loved me.
I don’t know why I broke up with him because it wasn’t over girls. I know he has many girls the same as I have many guys, because I can’t stick with one guy all the time. What would I do in a case like this if I only had one guy? I’d be stuck with no one. The same goes for him. We talked about this over before we started going together and decided that we both could go out with other people if we wanted to.
Buck, I want to go with him because he’ll always be my guy and I’m his girl. I don’t know what to do though, or how to explain to him. I’ll take any advice you could give me; I just want to get back together.

Signed,
Help Needed Badly

Dear Help:
I don’t see how you two could have been going together, because from the sound of your letter, it seemed as though you both were going with other people more than each other. You want him to be yours forever, and yet you want a lot of other fellows. This won’t work later on in your life. If something does come up between you two, you can’t have any other fellows to go running to. You’re going to have to decide if you really want your boyfriend or if you want a lot of others, because you don’t have the right to get angry with him for seeing other girls if that’s what you’ve agreed on.
Sincerely,
Buck

posted by Steven at 12:28 AM

 
The Toughest Editor In Town!

Even the most condensed listing of Julius Schwartz' accomplishments both within and outside of the field of comics would take more than a week of steady blogging. He is, without a doubt, one of the most important people in superhero comics history. As Mark Evanier has been reporting recently, Julius Scwartz has been hospitalized and Evanier has set up an email address for fans to send their best wishes which he will print off and send to Mr. Schwartz. The address is schwartz@newsfromme.com. Evanier has just announced a deadline of Tuesday for these emails. Though I've linked to it before, feel free to take a gander at The Last Earth-Prime Story starring none other then Schwartz himself.

If you have enjoyed a superhero comic in the past 40-odd years, you most likely owe at least part of that enjoyment to Mr. Schwartz. Please write.

"I do love you...but how can i tell you I'm not the kind of girl you think i am?"

For the next few weeks Flat Earth will be showcasing the remarkable talents of some of the most famed of all romance comic advice columnists. These writers are specialists in teen-age problems. They have a wide range of experience with young people, and welcome the chance to help you with any problems you might have. Just write a letter c/o stevenwintle@hotmail.com, stating your situation clearly and briefly, and be sure to give all important facts. Names will be withheld in all cases, and there cannot be any personal replies.

Today's guest columnist is DC Comics' Young Love correspondent, Jane Ford.



Dear Miss Ford:
What's the best-possible way to get rid of a creepy guy... that a well-meaning Aunt gave my number to, and who keeps calling and won't take "NO" for an answer?
Blanche

Dear Blanche:
Off-hand, the best way is to give him the number of a girl who you think may be his type! Other than that... you might try having YOUR telephone number changed!
That's as I see it...
Jane Ford
posted by Steven at 2:27 AM

 
"Isn't this cozy. My man...and my best friend!"

As a comic blogger I often receive correspondence from people looking for relationship advice. February is an especially tough time for the heartbroken and forlorn. Though I do what I can to help, sometimes my merely adequate counseling skills are not enough. This is why for the next few weeks Flat Earth will be showcasing the remarkable talents of some of the most famed of all romance comic advice columnists.

These writers are specialists in teen-age problems. They have a wide range of experience with young people, and welcome the chance to help you with any problems you might have. Just write a letter c/o stevenwintle@hotmail.com, stating your situation clearly and briefly, and be sure to give all important facts. Names will be withheld in all cases, and there cannot be any personal replies.

Today's columnist is Barbara Miles from DC Comics' Heart Throbs.



Dear Miss Miles,

What can you do when all the girls in school keep making fun of your boyfriend? I am going steady with a boy in my school who is very smart. He is just wonderful to me, but he has one problem: he is very unattractive. At first this didn’t bother me because his personality made up for it, but now it has gotten to the point where we are the class joke. I’m thinking of breaking up with him just to have a little peace again. Please give me some advice. -Heart-broken

Dear Heart-broken,
Criticism and jeering are always hard to take---especially when one is young and it is still very important to gain peer acceptance. You have to evaluate yourself and what means the most to you: do you want to enjoy someone and have the experience of learning from them, or do you want to please your class? Looking at it from this viewpoint, one can see the absurdity of the situation. Trying to please your classmates so you are in a safe world of approval would be an endless struggle. Can you please everyone?
Enjoy your boyfriend and be happy with him. Good looks do not merit a true evaluation of what one is worth. You realize this and have learned it sooner than most. Believe in your decisions, feelings and have fun.


posted by Steven at 11:46 AM