The cartoon blog of Andertoons cartoonist Mark Anderson. He discusses his cartoons, cartooning, comics and, oddly enough, LEGO.
Our humble little cartoon blog was recently featured by Editor and Publisher!
You’ll need a subscription to read the article, but check under Syndicates for November 24, 2004 and you’ll see it listed as “Cartoon Blog Asks Funny Questions”.
Dave Astor was kind enough to pen a lovely mention of the Andertoons Blog and its recurring feature, Inside the Cartoonist’s Studio.
Check it out if you get a second!
I’ve never been a huge Batman fan (I’m more of a Spiderman guy), but on the recommendation of another blogger (bloggist? Anyone know the correct term here?) I gave Batman: The Dark Knight Returns a read during my continuing “Let’s Give Graphic Novels a Chance” read-a-thon, and here’s what I’ve come up with.
Meh.
It’s not bad, but it’s not great either.
While I loved Miller’s art (honestly, it’s just breathtaking), sometimes the story sorta crapped out one me. I very much enjoyed the notion of an older Batman with aches and pains, but Robin the girl wonder grated on me pretty quickly. I liked the more complex story and plot, but got really tired of the Reagan stuff. The graphic realism and grittiness was a lot of fun and a welcome change, but then the banter of the Mutants and the Sons of Batman bored me.
And pretty much that’s how the book went for me. Every time I found something I really liked, I found something soon after that balanced the equation again.
I know most of your comic book, I’m sorry, graphic novel aficionados see this volume as one of the best examples of the genre, but to me, Mr. Casual Reader, it’s a mixed bag.
I wanted to really love this, but if I’m to be completely honest with myself, it’s not something I’d pick up again. And yet I’m not giving up on the genre. I got a pile of stuff from the library this morning and I’m looking forward to digging in.
And I guess, in that way, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns was a success.