Category Archives: Cartooning
Shonen Jump
Shonen Jump, “The World’s Most Popular Manga”, was a monthly Americanized version of the original weekly Japanese Shonen Jump. The first American Issue (no. 0) came out in November 2002. The magazine featured around 6 different comics, each by a different artist with ongoing stories that continued from one issue to the next. Featured manga titles include Naruto, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Bleach, One Piece, Dragon Ball Z, Slam Dunk, and Yu Yu Hakusho.
The library has a total of 98 Shonen Jump‘s (all but 2) from the first to the final issue.
Remember: manga reads from right to left!
The images that follow are all from the comic YuYu Hakusho by Yoshihiro Togashi, which centers around teenage rebel/gang member/punk Yusuke Urameshi.
The compositions, in fight scenes especially, are extremely dynamic, with onomatopoeia sprinkled all over the place (WHAM!):
The comic is graphically playful — many different textures (halftones, gradients, speckles, marble, probably achieved through Letratone) are juxtaposed side-by-side and flatten the image.
Togashi sometimes entirely changes his drawing style for a single panel and draws a character off-model for comedic or dramatic effect.
National Lampoon Magazine: Relevant Irreverence
The Visual Arts Library recently acquired an (almost[1]) full run of National Lampoon Magazine. Much can be said about this magazine that originally was spun off the Harvard Lampoon. From my nerdy consumer point of view, what really draws me to this publication is their incredible enthusiasm and attention to detail. Every page of every issue (at least in their heyday: see the irreverent–there’s that word again–1970’s) is crammed with creativity, artful considerations, and in most instances, meaningful audacity. The table of contents and editorial page from the June 1974 issue:
Most of the issues are themed. This one is their “Rainy Day Sunday Funbook Issue” which apparently didn’t reached the pictured rained-in kid soon enough. One of their favorite satirical devices seems to be confusing horror with comedy; both the blood and guts and social varieties. Many of the magazines have embedded publications in them that parody other actual publications, such as this one that is supposed to have been put out by the state of Mississippi Bar Association featuring articles on “Closing Those Loopholes in Mississippi Lynch Law” and “No-Fault Rape–New Concepts to Protect Our Menfolk:”
Civil Rights and Vietnam era politics proliferate the pages, along with heaping sides of boob and toilet humor.
The list of contributing writers, illustrators, and cartoonist involved with this influential comedy magazine are chronicled in the recent publication Drunk stoned brilliant dead : the writers and artists who made the National lampoon insanely great by Rick Meyerowitz (who was closely associated with the magazine from the beginning) which will soon be available in the Visual Arts Library.
Here is a short brag list of artists and writers: John Hughes, Michael O’Donoghue, Neal Adams, Frank Frazetta, Russ Heath, Bobby London, Shary Flenniken, and Edward Gorey.
Late last year the New York Public had an event in conjunction with the publication of the book: LIVE from the NYPL: AN EVENING WITH THE NATIONAL LAMPOON TO MAKE THE LIONS ROAR WITH LAUGHTER (there is an audio recording of the event if you follow the link).
And lastly, Bill Scheft ,when reviewing Meyerowitz’s book for the NY Times , credited National Lampoon Magazine for spawning ““Saturday Night Live”; “The Simpsons” and their spawn; all of late night; The Onion; and two generations who have no idea they’ve been so thoroughly influenced. ” Not bad.
[1]We are missing two issues from 1984. Also, our run ends in 1992, but only one issue was released in 1993, five in 1994, and three in 1995. For the last three years of its existence, the magazine was published only once annually until it died for good in November 1998.
NICKELODEON MAGAZINE
In December 2009 the Visual Arts Library received a generous donation from Dave Roman and Nickelodeon; a full run of Nickelodeon Magazine (1993-2008). Dave and Chris Duffy edited the comics section of the magazine which was a prominent feature in every issue. Sometimes they would feature a vintage comic, such as this one drawn by Harvey Kurtzman in 1947:
More often, they would feature some of the most talented underground comic artists of the day, such as Sam Henderson:
and Michael Kupperman:
The list of contributing artists is long and impressive. Many of the contributors (including Dave Roman) were/are SVA alums and/or instructors. It was a great get for the library, and we are very thankful to Dave and Nickelodeon. Come to the back stacks of the periodicals, turn the crank of the compact shelving to N, take a few volumes to a comfortable seat, and enjoy.
[Below, please see a small sampling of books in our main collection by cartoonists who were featured in Nick Magazine.]
Richard Sala
Kaz
Kim Deitch
Ivan Brunetti