Freedom! Yeah!

Some lessons learned from this year's Free Comic Book Day:

1.  Anyone who complains about a lack of comics for kids is full of it.  Donald Duck, The Simpsons, Sponge Bob, Adventure Time, Yo Gabba Gabba, Barnaby and Mr. O'Malley, Zombie Kid, Superman Family, Tinkerbell and the Disney Fairies, The Smurfs, and Moomin all had FCBD offerings this year.  Factor in all-ages material like Atomic Robo and Spider-Man, and that's a ton of comic books for young readers.

2.  I don't understand licensing.  Disney owns Marvel Comics, yet the Donald Duck book was put out by Fantagraphics,
Labrynth through Archaia Comics, and Tinkerbell by a company called Papercutz.  Is there any reason why Disney doesn't just put out all their comics material through Marvel?

3.  Marvel is kicking DC's ass.  Marvel offered two new Avengers comics that were accessible to new readers, with great art by John Romita Jr and Bryan Hitch and snappy Brian Bendis dialogue.  DC offered some muddled, ugly sampler that had something to do with parallel universes, or something?  If I were a twelve-year-old today DC wouldn't even register on my radar (although I'd probably be really into that Young Justice cartoon).

4.  Free comics are the best comics.  Free Comic Book Day is awesome.  If you missed out this year definitely hit up your local comic shop next May. 

 

Cock a Doodles

From The Big Blog of Kids Comics, here's a Bootleg Donald by the great Sheldon Mayer:

Doodles Duck!

He's got a bow tie, he wears a hat, he's got nephews, and he don't got pants.  Doodles Duck, everyone.

Byrne Notice

Hey, did you guys know that DC/ Marvel superstar artist John Byrne once pitched a Muppets comic strip?

Because I sure didn't.  Thanks, AV Club commentors!



The Death and Resurrection of The Little Mermaid

No, not that Little Mermaid.

Touchmarks the spot

In today's Comic Book Legends Revealed:  How Disney invented Vertigo comics.

Another Uninvited Guest

Here's an unexpected Mickey and Donald cameo from Jerry Lewis #92:

The story is called "My Son, The Witch" and is completely awesome.   My biggest comic collecting regret  is this one time when I was in a vintage clothing store and saw a big box of Jerry Lewis, Bob Hope, and Mad Magazines, and stupidly didn't buy it.   Thankfully now we have the Internet to find the ones that got away.

Uninvited Guest

Here's an unexpected Mickey cameo in Bob Hope #92:

I wish DC would put out an Absolute Bob Hope Omnibus, because that comic was CRAZY.