HOUSE OF FUN NEWSLETTER

Fall, 2002 dispatch

“Wanna see my finger? ” — Baltimore tow-truck driver showing us his left hand, sans middle finger. We said, “no”, but he showed us the finger anyway. It’s a long story.

Welcome, once again, to the House of Fun, I do hope this dispatch finds you in good health and good spirits. I’m too tired for the usual introductory chitchat, so I’ll just get to the updates and the news, after which I can go back to cleaning up the kitchen. Ah, the glamorous life of a cartoonist!

“WELCOME TO ELTINGVILLE” UPDATE AND VCR ALERT

Well, to be honest, the chances of Eltingville getting picked up as series are pretty much the same as Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper doing a reunion tour, but while I’m disappointed we won’t get to do more episodes, I am consoled by the fact that we at least got the pilot produced and on the air.

Speaking of being on the air, we still get a lot of folks asking about whether or not the pilot will be rebroadcast, and the good news is that we’ve been told by the Cartoon Network that the show will be repeated on Sunday, November 24th, at 10:30 pm. So, those of you who missed it will have another opportunity to catch it, and those who wanted to tape it can warm up the VCR for what could be your last shot.

DORK #10 IS A GO!

Okay, so it was supposed to debut at the San Diego con - did any of you actually expect it to come out on time? We did eventually debut the book at the Small Press Expo, and the issue is now available in those shops that ordered it. This is the first issue to contain all-new material from stem to stern, featuring The Devil Puppet’s Invisible College of Secret Knowledge, the Eltingville Club in “As Seen On TV”, an autobio strip called, “How to Get Your Ass Kicked in 3 E-Z Lessons”, something called “Mighty Carl Jung” and another “Advertising Characters of Yesteryear” strip, as well as a few other odds and ends.

IN THE WORKS AT THE HOF

My next planned HOF project is an Eltingville Comic Book, Science-Fiction, Fantasy, Horror and Role-Playing Club one-shot, which will most likely be the final word on the fanatic foursome. I won’t rule out doing the odd strip sometime down the line, but for all intents and purposes, this will be the club’s last meeting. I hope to be able to put it together by next summer. No, I do, really.

I also still have plans for a new issue of Milk & Cheese, but I don’t even want to think about it until after the Eltingville Club adjourns. The M&C beer mug set is still in the Phantom Zone.

We have more contributors tentatively on board for the Action Girl co-ed special, but things are still moving at a snail’s pace as we deal with other projects. Our fingers are crossed that progress will be made on the anthology in 2003. I know, we’ve all heard that one before, but we’re doing the best we can.

I KNOW! LET’S PAY THE MORTGAGE!

Sarah and I recently illustrated the “Real Life Rock Tales” feature for the back page of SPIN magazine. Our episode features overly sensitive musician/millionaire Moby, relating how he was beaten up by bouncers at his own concert. In stores now - look for the Foo Fighters cover(and the semi-scowling picture of me on the contributor’s page, eegad!).

We’re also working on a comic strip for a new magazine prototype. More news on that when and if anything happens with the project.

Tokyopop’s manga series, Kodocha, has switched to an all-graphic novel format, and the fourth book has recently shipped. Sarah’s English re-writing on the comic has received very enthusiastic notices from reviewers and fans alike, if you like Action Girl and/or manga, you should certainly check out this oddball series.

Captain America: Red, White and Blue recently shipped from Marvel -- it’s a hefty (over 200 pgs) $30 hardcover featuring new strips and a few “classic” reprints. Sarah and I contributed a 2-page Red Skull and Baron Zemo gag strip done in the style of a Milk and Cheese strip (?!). The book looks pretty nifty, but I haven’t read it yet because I don’t actually have a copy. Apparently Marvel’s decided not to provide comp copies to all of the contributors on this book so they can save some money. Cute, huh?

The B-Sides has also recently shipped from Marvel, this is a three-issue limited series written by my friend and first publisher Brian David-Marshall. I designed the main characters, Fateball, Mize and Jughandle, a trio of inexperienced and disenfranchised young super-types managed by a hustler named Charley Huckle, who is trying to turn them into the Marvel Universe’s hottest properties. #2 features a pin-up illo I did on the introductory page.

The Thing: Night Falls On Yancy Street has been pushed back to Spring 2002. This is a four-issue limited series, which I’m writing, Dean Haspiel (Keyhole, Billy Dogma, Tangled Web, SPX softball games) is drawing, and Matt Madden (Odds Off, Bizarro) is coloring. It features the FF’s resident grumpy golem trading fists with some old enemies (how original!), with some crime noir trappings, a bit of Hectic Planet-style romance, and a small touch of comedy relief. Hopefully it’ll all come together for a decent read.

I’m supposed to be working on a script for the Bizarro Comics sequel for editor Joey Cavalieri at DC. I’m also discussing some other script gigs with some folks at both Marvel and DC, but nothing has been confirmed so why am I even mentioning this?

PLUG-O-RAMA

Marc Hempel’s Naked Brain #2 features a six page dialogue between the creator/cartoonist extraordinaire (Tug and Buster, Breathtaker, Gregory et al), and myself on the subject of humor and humor comics. The series is available from Insight Studios and better comic shops.

MORE SIGNS OF THE APOCALYPSE

Since the last newsletter was posted, I somehow managed to win the Harvey Award in the Special Award for Humor category. I also won two Eisner Awards, for Best Short Story (“The Intervention”) and Best Writer/Artist - Humor. Deserved or not, the vote of support is appreciated, and my thanks go out to those who voted for me. The checks are in the mail.

WE HAVE A WEBSTORE!

Sarah’s set up an all-new handy dandy webstore for the House of Fun site, featuring all the comics, trades, shirts and merchandise of ours that are currently in print and available. Feel free to check it out and browse through everything, if you like what you see, you’re only a few clicks away from ordering the fun you need.

AS IF I DIDN’T BLATHER ON TOO MUCH ALREADY

Sarah’s also set up a blog for me so I can keep a running journal through the site. I haven’t started posting to it yet, and don’t know when I’ll have the time to start doing so, but consider this a warning.

OVER AND OUT

Well, that’s all for this dispatch. As always, thanks to you, the House of Fun faithful, for stopping by to check in on our cartoon shenanigans. We thank you for your time and attention, as well as your continued support of the HOF.

Best,
Evan Dorkin,
on behalf of Evan Dorkin, Sarah Dyer, and the H.O.F.
10/24/02

		All contents © 1996-2002 Evan Dorkin & Sarah Dyer
		www.houseoffun.com	last updated: 2002-10-24