CANIFF NEWS - NOVEMBER 2012

The Shel Dorf Awards were held last month at the Detroit Fanfare.  Dorf, who passed in 2009, was letterer of "Steve Canyon" from 1975-88, though he is better known as a founder of the San Diego Comic-Con.  The website has not been updated with the winners as of this posting, but you can find many of the results here.

"Steve Canyon Volume 2: 1949-1950" came out in August.  This volume contains one of my all-time favorite Canyon stories, the introduction of Princess Snowflower.  Not only does the book print the strips directly from Caniff's proofs, but the strips are reprinted in color for the first time.  As a bonus, there is an introduction by Bruce Canwell providing historical context to the stories surrounding Caniff and the strip during this timeframe.  You can order it directly from the publisher here.

Research for the above book was done at the Billy Ireland Caroon Library & Museum in Columbus, Ohio.  The Library is moving to its new, larger space in Sullivant Hall on the Ohio State University campus in late 2013.  They are already planning a Grand Opening Festival for November 7-10, 2013.  The new home greatly expands their ability to have multiple exhibits, as well as house the largest collection of original comic strip and comic book art in the world under one roof.  They are not there yet financially, but are getting help from Jean Schulz, the widow of Peanuts creator Charles Schulz.  She has agreed to match donations up to $2.5 million, and they are at $2.38 million.  Click here to donate to Schulz Challenge!

The October 2012 issue of Comics Revue (#317/318) reprints the "Steve Canyon" strips from May 14 - June 10, 1972.  This magazine is an art lover's treasure trove every issue with Mac Raboy's "Flash Gordon," Russ Manning's "Tarzan," Al Williamson's "Secret Agent Corrigan"along with a dozen other classic strips.  Ask your local comics dealer!

Genius Illustrated: The Life and Art of Alex Toth is coming out on 12/18 from the Library of American Comics.  This is volume two of three of this biography/retrospective project.  Toth was a Caniff fan who grew artistically into a peer, culminating in a mutual admiration.  This volume focuses on his latter day comic book stories and his work in animation.