March 5, 2004
Cartoonist of the Week: Mark Heath
Mark Heath's new strip Spot the Frog made its debut in various US newspapers and on the web on Jan 5th 2004 courtesy of United Media. So far clients include the Chicago Tribune, Detroit Free Press, St Paul Pioneer Press, Portland Oregonian and Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
Ostensibly this is a simple strip about a guy (Karl) and a frog (Spot). Frog moves from pond to guy's house and turns guy's life upside down. You know the drill. It's happened to us all. However what makes the strip stand out from all the other guy and frog strips out there is its inherent charm and whimsy. Mark's experience as an illustrator, cartoonist, science fiction writer and essayist come together in creating a surreal world where stunning artwork links with loveable characters and bizarre storylines. This is gentle fantasy that offers that rarest of gifts, a distinctive alternative flavor. It's also very funny and refreshingly intelligent which may come as a shock to those of us who've practically given up seeking originality in today's funnies.
"After a lifetime of waiting for the fancy to become reality, I'm now syndicated, but it still doesn't seem real," says Mark. "For some readers, however, the reality is well in place. I heard from one who confessed to flinching whenever Spot took a lap in the kitchen sink (soap being disagreeable to a frog's health.) That's the omega moment I'm waiting for: when the strip makes me flinch."
Take a look at Spot the Frog and read more about the remarkable Mark Heath at Spot the Frog or Comics.com
February 16, 2004
Socialist website takes up NZ cartoonist sacking brickbat
The WSWS.org (World Socialist Website) has taken a position on the sacking of cartoonist Malcolm Evans in August 2003 by The New Zealand Herald. The article refers to the sacking as, "another indication of a rightward turn" by New Zealand and Australian business elites.
Of more interest to cartoonists is the coverage they give The New Zealand Herald's response to the sacking. The paper claiming it was Malcolm's response over a rejected cartoon which contributed to their decision to fire him.
Here's what the website says the paper had to say on the matter:
The newspaper’s first major statement on the affair, published in early December, came after four months’ stonewalling, purportedly because “legal advice” prevented it making any comment. The statement sought to further cover up the reasons for the sacking, claiming that Evans had written to the deputy editor “in an unacceptably abusive manner” after a cartoon was rejected on grounds that it was “not original and not funny”.
The statement asserted that Evans had “failed to acknowledge” the paper’s policy not to publish symbols which had religious significance—such as the star of David and the crescent and star of Islam—to represent secular or government bodies. On a number of occasions, Ellis alleged, Evans had resubmitted contributions that had already been rejected.
Evans rejected the claims as “nonsense”. He had written letters to Ellis and one to a deputy editor that was “curt but courteous”, but none were abusive. “All of my letters were sober and thoughtful and addressed the issues as I saw them. I have never written an abusive letter to anybody,” he said.