Mad Magazine

Whatever happened to the self-depracating "Mad" magazine that I knew and loved? When "Mad" decided to reprint their material in the past, it came out under names such as "The Worst From Mad", "More Trash From Mad", "A Golden Trashery of Mad", etc. Later, they cancelled all of these editions and replaced it with the "Mad Special" (or "Mad Super Special" if you prefer). Even more recently they cancelled that title and replaced it with "Mad XL" (a horrible title) and "Mad Color Classics". Now, they have cancelled those and replaced them with "Mad Classics". Bland and boring! Whatever happened to "Mad's" edge? Someone once said that "Mad" was good up until the issue that came out before you started reading it. I believe it! I first read "Mad" with #172 in January 1975 right after "Mad" had just hit its peak circulation with #161. It's been all downhill ever since. Sad.

-Mark.

Sad Sack

Alan Harvey has informed that there will be a new issue of Sad Sack coming out. It is issue #292. This is the first issue in a number of years. You should check out www.sadsack.net for more details on this and other Sad Sack information. Tell him you read about it in Mark Arnold's blog.

-Mark.

Selling

Selling is the only job I know of that you can get away without paying someone. The exception would be an internship, but since that's training, it is sort of excusable. I feel that everyone should get paid for every job that they do regardless of what it is. With sales, they usually say commission only figuring the incentive is enough to get you to do the job. What they don't realize is that it takes money to GET to a job, not just do it. And selling isn't magic. If I could sell every time I walked into a place or telephoned someone, I wouldn't need to work as I would have so much money I could retire. So for all organizations who utilize sales people, pay them a decent wage like everyone else. If they don't perform that's one thing, but don't penalize them for effort.

-Mark.

James Doohan

Well Scotty has died and so has "Bones" and Sarek (Spock's father) and of course, Gene Roddenberry. I met everyone of them during the 80s when all of those Star Trek feature films were being made. It was fun waiting for the next one, mainly because the Trek films had what the later Star Wars films didn't, and that was heart. Whereas the Star Wars films became very sterile, the Star Trek ones always had the human element, even when the film sucked, like "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier".

Yes, I stood in line and saw all 10 Star Trek films and kind of bemoan the fact that there are no plans to make any more in the foreseeable future. I am also saddened that as the original cast continues to pass away, there are no further opportunities for appearances by them in the future.

A lot of heroes from my childhood have died in the last couple of months. It's really sad. Life goes on. Time for new heroes...and I still hold candles to the old.

-Mark.

Harry Potter

Can someone please tell me why the need to secure a copy of any new "Harry Potter" book at the stroke of midnight? I mean, how many of these people will read this thing as soon as they get home? Would it matter if you bought it in the morning so that you could have all day to read it? Let me know the secret so I can publish something that people will stand in line for at midnight to buy!

-Mark.

Protecto

A lot of you have been clamoring for more Protecto! Well, when I get well I'll give you not one, but TWO new strips at the end of this week to bring things back up to date. I'm also working on "The Harveyville Fun Times!" #60, and finishing my latest set of comic book reviews for Comicbase. Being sick is a pain in the butt. I procrastinate a lot anyway, but this just makes it worse. Forcing yourself to do something when your sick is far worse than forcing yourself to do something when you're well...

-Mark.

San Diego Comic Convention

The San Diego Comic Convention (a.k.a. Comic Con International) is being held at the usual place in San Diego again this Thursday-Sunday. Although I would love to go, my recent illness and short finances have prevented me from seriously considering it. I hope everyone else has fun. It has really gotten huge over the last few years. It almost seems like they should split it up or run it longer or something. Who knows? Anyway, if you have anything to report about it, please let me know.

-Mark.

Being Sick

Being sick is a drag, especially because your mind thinks it can achieve all the things that you physically cannot do, and when you can't, you get upset and feel useless. At least I do. I'm managing today and kind of forcing myself to do this blog, but it is hard. I just want to go home and sleep. I had a minor bout of food poisoning last night. Although I didn't throw up, I came very close to it, and feel extremely drained today. I should feel better tomorrow, but I had all of these plans for Friday, that now I have to postpone until Saturday or later. What a drag!

Anyway, when I feel better, I'll do another blog...

-Mark.

Frustration

I hate being frustrated, because it deters progress. I am trying to stay in a positive mood, but many factors of my day-to-day career life outside of my creative pursuits are really getting to me today. I know this happens to most people. I have many things to be thankful for and I feel really blessed; I just feel that I am not living up to my full potential. I'd like some of the more creative pursuits to really take off financially and fame-wise (is that a word?). I know that I have the skills and drive necessary to succeed greater than most other people and will not give up, but sometimes the setbacks get to me. I subscribe to the adage: "With every delay, there's a blessing on the way".

Don't give up on your dreams...I'm not...

-Mark.

ABC of Hand Tools Story Coming Soon...

This weekend I am working on a story for "Hogan's Alley" called "The ABC of Hand Tools". This was a Disney film made for General Motors back in 1946. I don't want to give you too many details as I want you to read it when it comes out, but just to let you know that it is a very interesting story featuring a very rare Disney character named Primitive Pete.

If you haven't read "Hogan's Alley", what are you waiting for?

-Mark.

Disneyland 50th Photos

Ok let's talk about something lighter. In about 2 weeks (July 17 to be exact) Disneyland will be celebrating its 50th anniversary. Supposedly, Fess Parker and Art Linkletter (among others) will attend. If anyone reading this is attending, please let me know and send me photos as I would like to upload them here. Send to: thft@att.net

-Mark.

FW: 6,200 Unreported Military Deaths in Iraq

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

What? No death? Yes.

Nobody famous that I know has died today. That doesn't mean there are a ton more casualties out there in reference to this ridiculous Iraq War we're in that has NOTHING to do with the events of 9-11. And, even if it did, 9-11 caused the death of some 3000 individuals. Surely, we have avenged ourselves mightily by killing over 1700 of our own soldiers and 100,000 arabs since that time.

I voted for Bush in 2000, voted for Kerry in 2004, and will vote for anything not Republican (despite still being a registered Republican) in 2008. Bush has a totally cockeyed view of his Vietnam, and why people haven't gotten up in arms yet about it is that stupid 9-11 fear. See what happens in 2008 when the casualties will be topping 3000 or more...

Normally, I don't get this political but the red states should be ashamed for believing Bush, ever. I tried in 2000, but never again. It's enough to make me change political parties, except that I still believe in the Republican values. I just wish Bush did.

-Mark.

Big Boy

I don't know if you remember Bob's Big Boy. They had a long history starting in Glendale, CA in the 50s and by the late 80s had fallen on hard times. Apparently, they didn't go comepletely away as I recently got issue #513 of "The Adventures of the Big Boy". Also, I purchased some choice issues from the late 60s and early 70s and realized that I have about 125 issues of the series, most of them numbering between #135 and #310. The earliest issue I have is #60, in a copy that must be an east coast variant as Big Boy is wearing a cap and there are numerous references to Frisch's restaurant. Not much more to talk about but it is just fun to know that Big Boy is still there publishing away. Where other comics go by the wayside, Big Boy is one of the few that has survived past the 500 mark despite the odds. Only a handful of comic books can make that claim.

-Mark.

First Tigger, Now Piglet!!!

Cry...

-Mark.

John Fiedler, the voice of Piglet, died Saturday at 80.

The news of Fiedler's death broke in the New York Times.

Fiedler served in the Navy during World War II, then started a stage career in New York. He performed in supporting roles alongside Sidney Poitier on Broadway, John Wayne in Hollywood and Bob Newhart on television.

But he was best known for the squeaky voice of the ever-worrying Piglet.

His brother told The Times that Fiedler landed that role when Walt Disney heard his voice on a program and said, "That's Piglet."

Like Winchell, Fiedler's film debut as Piglet came in "Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day" in 1968. He voiced the character all the way up to the film series most recent release, "Pooh's Heffalump Movie," which came out in February.

As a voice actor, Fiedler's voice was also heard in Disney's "The Fox and the Hound" and "Robin Hood," and he made several guest appearances on television and equally as many roles on film.

Fiedler's television credits included "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour," "The Twilight Zone," "Bewitched," "Star Trek," "The Bob Newhart Show," "Kolchak: The Night Stalker" and "One Life to Live."

On film, he had roles in such classics as "12 Angry Men" and "True Grit."

Paul Winchell

It seems that I am always talking about someone dying. Well, that's because a lot of my childhood heroes are now passing away. Today's casualty is Paul Winchell, best known for the voice of Tigger is Disney's "Winnie the Pooh" cartoons. He also was Fleagle on "The Banana Splits" and Dick Dastardly and as ventriloquist for Jerry Mahoney and Knucklehead Smiff. Watch the Three Stooges compilation "Stop, Look and Laugh!" for Winchell in action.

But Winchell's lasting contribution to mankind is probably the invention of the artificial heart (and you thought I'd say Gargamel). See www.paulwinchell.com for more on Winchell's work.

He will be missed.

-Mark.

Herman Munster Beatnik Quote

Life is good,
Life is earnest,
If you don't like the cold
Turn up the furnace.

Bruce Hamilton

I just got this news from "Scoop":

"A towering figure in the history of American comic books is gone. Bruce
Hamilton, publisher of Gladstone Publishing, comics historian, and fan
activist, passed away at 3:00 AM on Saturday, June 18, 2005."

Though Hamilton had his detractors, credit must be given to him for keeping Disney comic books alive in the US. In contrast, when was the last time you saw a Harvey comic or one starring "Tom and Jerry" or "Woody Woodpecker" or "Dennis the Menace". Granted, Disney comics were always more popular, but the fact is that they could have died a similar death than any of the others (and have many times since 1984), so the fact that they are being published today in any form must be credited to Hamilton.

-Mark.

FW: RE: Disney Magazine Summer 2005

Here is my response to my Disney Magazine letter. They've ceased publication!

-Mark.

-------------- Forwarded Message: --------------
From: Dismag Letters <Dismag.Letters@disney.com>
To: "on behalf of Mark Arnold" <thft@att.net>
Subject: RE: Disney Magazine Summer 2005
Date: Mon, 20 Jun 2005 16:37:36 +0000
Thank you for your recent letter. Disney Magazine is no longer in publication.
Disney fans have many ways of being part of the Disney family and staying
informed. Please consider adding your email address to disney.com's Disney
Insider newsletter, at www.disney.go.com/features/insider, which is a great
resource to help you stay informed of the latest news and events throughout the
company, and is available without charge.

If you have a Disney Magazine subscription and want information about the
options for fulfilling your subscription, please call 800-333-8734 and we will
help you expedite your choice.

We greatly appreciate and thank you for your commitment to the Walt Disney
Company.

Sincerely,
The Editors

Betty and Veronica

In 1986 for really lame reasons, Archie Publications decided to start over a lot of their titles with #1 issues. The thinking was that now kids could collect their series from #1 on. At the time "Archie's Girls, Betty and Veronica" became "Betty and Veronica"; "Archie's Pal, Jughead" became "Jughead" and "Laugh Comics" became "Laugh". "Laugh" was soon canceled and "Betty and Veronica" and "Jughead" have racked up suck numbers that the second series is almost as long as the original. What's really odd is that Archie never renumbered its flagship title "Archie Comics" which is now almost 600 issues old. Had "B&V" or "J" kept their original numbering, they would have joined the ranks of "Archie". And since not too many comic book titles have reached that magical number of 600 or more, it would have been more impressive. For your information, the ones that have exceeded or are near 600 issues or more at this point of consecutive numbering are "Action Comics", "Detective Comics", "Journey Into Mystery", "Walt Disney's Comics and Stories", and soon "Archie Comics" and even "Adventures of the Big Boy"!

Oh well, my point is, for those interested, I am selling #1-155 of the SECOND series of "Betty and Veronica" on my Mark's Rare Comics website. Just click on the link to the left of this column.

-Mark.