TV DEATHS 2009

Here is my annual list of TV friends we lost in 2009. There's no way I could have included everyone, so I only wrote up those who I've seen (but don't worry, I've watched A LOT of TV in 37 years).

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TV 2009

TOP 10 COMICS OF 2009

Milton Caniff - As reported in our Year in Caniff review, there was lots of material to be excited about in 2009. The Library of American Comics released The Complete Terry & the Pirates: Volume 6, reprinting Caniff's last two years on the strip (1945-46). Checker BPG continued their reprints of Steve Canyon with a 1955 volume, changing the format to make the strips larger. Bleeding Cool.com reported last week that the company is alive and well. Though a date for the 1956 volume remains elusive. Comics Revue magazine, which also reprints 'Steve Canyon' strips, also changed formats from a standard magazine to a squarebound journal on better paper with the Sundays printed in color. They're currently reprinting the early 1970s strips.

Chuck Dixon - If I gave Chuck separate entries, he's dominate the list, so I have to condense him to one. His ongoing run of G.I. Joe is his highest profile gig. I've enjoyed all his Joe work this year, especially the way it doesn't exclude a newbie like myself who was not a Joe fan in the 1980s. His stories for Simpsons Comics continue to be laugh-out-loud and episode-worthy, maybe even moreso for me since I stopped watching the show. Storming Paradise, pictured at left, relates the events of an alternate history in which the scientists of the Manhattan Project are blown up testing the Bomb, protracting the bloody war with Japan. More blood is spilled in Civil War Adventures, an ambitious self-publishing project with artist Gary Kwapisz ideal for history buffs and for educational purposes. Just making it under the wire is the collecting of Dixon's mid-'80s series Winterworld in a special hardcover with it's never before seen sequel, Wintersea. Of all of his work this past quarter century, this is near the top of my list.

CAPTAIN AMERICA/CAPTAIN AMERICA: REBORN - This is still the most consistently enjoyable monthly title in terms of story and art. I have been enjoying the Steve Rogers-less 'Captain America' for over two years. It's almost with disappointment that they bring him back, but I guess it's time. His former partner, Bucky Barnes, has been filling in and earned the right to call himself Captain America. I'm still interested to see how they resolve that in the next month or so. In 27 years of reading comics, my favorite character has always been Captain America. I've lived through the murky valleys when this comic has been awful, and I'm thankful for the peaks. I hope Ed Brubaker's tenure as writer continues. It's just a shame that the scheduling snafus (the 'Reborn' series is running late) had to somewhat spoil this momentous occasion.

BLAZING COMBAT - Blazing Combat was a black and white magazine from Warren Publishing, the company that found success with horror magazines 'Creepy' and 'Eerie'. It featured war stories from a brilliant array of artists, most of them veterans of the fabled EC Comics line. Often showing the futility and brutality of war, it came too far ahead of widespread protest of the Vietnam War. Their was a mild backlash against the book that affected it's distribution to newsstands and the book was cancelled after four issues. Those issues became legendary and highly sought after, with good reason. Collected now in this book, the masses can enjoy some exemplary work from art masters John Severin, Alex Toth, Russ Heath, Al Williamson and others.

DAVE SIM - Sim is currently self-publishing two titles - 'Glamourpuss' and 'Cerebus Archives'. 'Glamourpuss' continues to chronicle the history of photorealism in comic strips, exemplified by Alex Raymond's 'Rip Kirby' and Stan Drake's 'The Heart of Juliet Jones'. This close inspection of comic strips and the men behind them is right in my wheelhouse. Sim's recreations of photographs and art styles is scary impressive, both in terms of his skill and the dedication it takes. 'Cerebus Archives' is a new series chronicling his work and career before 'Cerebus', his 300 issue masterpiece. In 'Archives', he not only reprints his early published work, but his correspondence and rejection letters of the time. Unfortunately, 'Archives' was cancelled by the main comics distributor, Diamond, and is now only available through ComiXpress.

The Complete Rip Kirby Volume 1 - Speaking of Raymond, Dean Mullaney at IDW must have been listening to Sim's pleas for a decent reprinting of Rip Kirby. 'Kirby' was always one of those strips you heard about, but never saw. It was the last strip for Alex Raymond, one of the 'Big Three' cartoonists (Milton Caniff and Hal Foster being the other two). Kirby is a detective/scientist who is something of an archetype with his fedora, pipe and horn-rimmed glasses. I'm glad we get to finally see these, if only to see the much lusted after Honey Dorian in action.

TOR: A Pre-Historic Odyssey - After a 15 year absence, Joe Kubert revived his "caveman Tarzan" character for a mini-series in 2008, collected in hardcover this year. But no knowledge of this character or his history is necessary to enjoy this story. Kubert establishes anything you need to know about Tor early on. In this tale, Tor suffers the consequences of being guided by morality, a nascent character trait of this world of 1,000,000 years ago. Kubert continues to prove, though he doesn't need to, why he's our greatest living comic book artist.



Forever Nuts Presents George McManus's Bringing Up Father - This collection reprints the early years of this classic comic strip that debuted almost a century ago. Humor never goes out of style, and I found myself chuckling at this book more than any other. It features the exploits of Jiggs, a blue collar roughhouser turned rich who misses the common life, and his wife, Maggie, who wants to climb the social ladder but is is continually foiled by Jiggs' lack of decorum with society folk. The foreword to the book is by Bill Blackbeard, who edited the 'Terry & the Pirates' reprint series for NBM in the 1980s. R.C. Harvey, author of the Caniff biography, wrote the introduction.

Charles Schulz - The Complete Peanuts 1971-1972/1973-1974 - Available separately or combined in a slipcase, we're still in what many consider to be Schulz's peak years. I find them all essential, and my thoughts on the earlier volume can be found here.






REYNOLD BROWN: A Life in Pictures by Daniel Zimmer and David J. Hornung - Ok, so this is more of an art book than a comic book, but there is a comic connection. Brown is a contemporary of Noel Sickles. Both cut their comic teeth on aviation strips in the wake of Lindbergh's historic flight ("Scorchy Smith" for Sickles, "Tailspin Tommy" for Brown). Each went on to magazine illustration, but Brown went the next step to the major portion of his career - movie poster illustration. His striking images ran the gamut, from B-horror movies ('Attack of the Puppet People') to cinematic grandeur ('Spartacus') Brown's realism and amazing likenesses make this book a lush feast. I can't comment too much on the text, as I didn't read it all, but this is a thorough retrospective on a deserving illustrator.

CHRISTMAS HAM 2009

Just in case you're not tired of it, here's the video from my recent appearance on "Northern Kentucky Magazine" on ICN6. It's the 9th year in a row for my "Christmas Ham" song. This year I got in some plugs for the blog. Thanks again to Sandy, Pat, Dennis, Dan and Joe and the rest of the gang at ICN6 who put on a good show.


Last weekend my family journey to fabled Santa Claus, Indiana. Our first stop was Santa's Candy Castle, where this display of Obama Jingle Buddies caught my eye. They're not quite as majestic as the Chia Obama.

One of our traditions is going to Holiday in Lights and seeing Santa Claus afterwards. As you can see, the kids are wild about Santa...

TOP 5 ALBUMS OF 2009

Far - Regina Spektor. This was the most anticipated release of the year for me, owing to five songs by my fave producer, Jeff Lynne. The nice surprise was loving the rest of the album, owing to the infectious music of these piano-based songs and the endearing charm of Spektor's vocals. She has a deliver all her own, whether she's singing, speaking, whispering or doing dolphin imitations. Those who criticize Lynne for 'over-producing' can normally take a flying leap, but in this case they can strap on some heavy stones for effect. His work here, while instantly recognizable, is perhaps the most understated of his career. Even when he breaks out the strings, drums, electric guitar and backing harmonies, he never really goes all 'Jeff Lynne' on us. The bonus is that the rest of the album is equally strong. I'm reluctant to delve too far into the songs individually. In my amateur analysis to divine their meanings I fear they may lose their power over me. I do want to highlight "Laughing With", the song Spektor played most often on the talk shows she was on which she appeared. It's sentiments jibe with my thoughts on religion -
god could be funny
when told he'll give you money if you just pray the right way
and when presented like a Genie who does magic like Houdini
or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket or Santa Claus
God can be so hilarious
iTunes as an exclusive live EP, 'Live from SoHo' that makes a nice companion to this album.

More Help For Your Nerves - Roger Klug. Roger Klug is a Cincinnati-based artist known for his Beatles-influenced power pop. When my friend Jeff told me he pursued and hired Klug to play at his wedding reception, Klug was as skeptical as I was. Jeff's prodding, however, not only led to a great performance, I think it helped Klug emerge out of something of a career exile as he was finishing up this album. Picking up musically where 2000's 'Toxic' left off, Klug tunes his guitar with all the colors of the pop spectrum. At the forefront his whimsy, bouncy drive, and reverence for 'Revolver'. "Dump Me Hard", for example, is a direct heir to "And Your Bird Can Sing". The song itself is for every guy who always things there's a chance the girl who broke his heart will change her mind (she won't) and advises against stalking her (Don't beat around the bush. Don't sneak around the shrub). "Bi-Curious", an infomercial for the sexually confused, has my favorite couplet - Dial the number/you lazy cucumber. Klug is a man of many influences. "The Day I Had My Brain Removed" shows he's a one-man version of the Knack. On the a capella "My Life Is Sweet", he multi-tracks his vocals, managing to sound like the original Beach Boys harmonizing together. The album closer, "Your Diary", is very solo McCartney by way of 'Abbey Road'. He's innovative as well, using what sound like barber scissors as percussion on "Bogeyman". Having followed Klug for ten years, I think this is his best album yet.

Hills and Valleys - the Flatlanders. After their 2002 revival, 'Now Again', the Flatlanders found their masterwork hard to live up to with '04's 'Wheels of Fortune'. 'Fortune' was a musical misstep that found each playing solo with the other two as their backing band. It's not until 'Hills and Valleys' that we find a worthy follow-up in the Flatlanders legend. There's a certain magic that happens when they're writing together, singing together and trading lead vocals. The enjoyment they get from the experience draws the listener in. Each member's individuality still shines through. In "After the Storm", Jimmie Dale Gilmore shares his love bygone eras - "The paddlewheels are turning/the steamboat whistles cry." In "Wishing for a Rainbow", Butch Hancock carries on his theme of an unrequited existence - "Love letters in my heart go undelivered." In "There's Never Been", Joe Ely bares his Texas heart -
there's never been a season yet/that never had an end
there's never been a reason yet/for lovers to pretend
In these songs of life, love and loss, four decades of friendship and musical intuition is on display. Regrettably, the Flatlanders have only existed for a unit for about a quarter of that. Here's to making up for lost time.

Together Through Life - Bob Dylan. If you've ever heard Dylan's satellite radio show - 'Theme Time Radio Hour' - you know that he has an engrossing affection for old blues 78s. So it comes as no surprise that he'd make an album trying to emulate that style. The result is a laid-back, swampy roll. Dylanologists can put their decoder rings down, as this may be his most lyrically simple work to date. At its core is Dylan the romantic, to whom sincerity is king and obscurity doesn't have a place. For example, from "Life is Hard" - "I pass the old schoolyard/admitting life is hard/without you near me". "If You Ever Go to Houston" reflects Dylan's sense of humor - "Well I know these streets/I been here before/I nearly got killed here/during the Mexican war." and "Mr. Policeman, can you help me find my gal?/Last time I saw her was at the Magnolia Motel." That's not to say simple words lack their own meaningful poetry. On "Forgetful Heart" he sings - "The door has closed forever more/if indeed there ever was a door." Even on this collection of 10 sparely produced, accordion-laced songs, Dylan's power to surprise and confound is not diminished.

Ready for the Flood - Mark Olson and Gary Louris. Louris is the only one making a repeat appearance from last year's list. When it comes to these former Jayhawks and producer Chris Robinson, I have enthusiasm for the work, but lack erudition. I'm also lacking inspiration for something to say, and I don't want to force it. So, it's a bit of a cheat, but since I forgot to con my pal Jim Bates into writing a review, I'll link to the one at AllMusic.com.

THE YEAR IN CANIFF

2009 was a great time to be a fan of Milton Caniff, the man best known for his comic strips Terry and the Pirates and Steve Canyon. New books, DVDs and an ongoing web presence are an amazing feat for an artist who departed this plane over 20 years ago. The name, spirit and life's work of Milton Caniff are alive and well. While I think we'll never top Caniff centennial of 2007, this was still a huge year for Caniffites -

NEW RELEASES

The Complete Terry & the Pirates: Volume 6 was released early in the year, ending the reprinting of Milton Caniff's run of 'Terry' in its entirety. Aviation buffs take note - the 1945 strips focus primarily on air actions involving Terry, Hotshot Charlie and Flip Corkin. Then in 1946, the war ends for the world, but there are plenty of new intrigues for Terry Lee and Hotshot in postwar China. Just a reader's note: if you're new to these stories and want to be surprised, save the detailed text pieces that appear in the front of the book at the end.


Steve Canyon: 1955 came out from Checker BPG, and it's an exciting change. They switched from the standard trade paperback format to a new square format. The big knock against the Checker reprints thus far (1947-54) has been the reprint size of the strips - 6" x 1 5/8". Now they have a little more breathing room at 8" x 2 3/8". The 1956 volume was due out in September, but has yet to be released. I'm actually concerned about Checker as their website is down and I haven't noticed any recent releases. Anybody with a line on Checker's status, please let me know. [12/22/09 update - Checker is alive and well. Thanks to Bleeding Cool for tracking them down.]

Volume 2 of Steve Canyon on DVD The 1958-59 TV series is being painstakingly restored and converted to digital by John Ellis and his loyal minions from the original films. The show is being released in three sets. Volume 2 includes episodes 13 - 24 of the TV series, as well as guest commentary tracks from aviation experts and guest stars from the show (like Richard Anderson). They are now taking pre-orders for Volume 3, due in 2010. I can't stress enough what a labor of love this has been for Ellis and his desire to put together the most comprehensive, quality product possible. Visit him today at the Steve Canyon DVD website.

ON THE WEB

Daily reprints of Steve Canyon and weekly reprints of Male Call are hosted by Dan Thompson at RipHaywire.com.

Doug Drexler continues his reprinting of the "Eel Island" story from 'Steve Canyon' over at Drex Files.

IN THE NEWS

The National Aviation Hall of Fame inducted its class of 2009 at an Enshrinement Ceremony on July 18th in Dayton, Ohio. The Milton Caniff Spirit of Flight Award was presented to the Apollo astronaut crews at the NAHF President's Reception and Dinner. Twelve of the surviving Apollo astronauts, including Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Gene Cernanand Gene Lovell, were there to accept the award. July 20th was the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. The Spirit of Flight has been awarded every year since 1981. Many of the Apollo astronauts are already enshrinees of the Hall as individuals.



The Cartoon Research Library at the Ohio State University went through many changes. First, they received the contents of the International Museum of Cartoon Art (IMCA). The IMCA had been created by Mort Walker of Beetle Bailey fame and the collection had been rendered homeless after losing financial backing in 2002, with the contents stuck in storage ever since. Second, they received a $1 million donation from Jean Schulz, widow of Charles Schulz, as well the challenge of a matching gift of $2.5 million. Third, they received a $7 million gift from the elizabeth Ireland Graves Foundation in memory of Billy Ireland. Ireland was a cartoonist for the Columbus Dispatch and a mentor/boss to Milton Caniff. The Library is using these gifts for a major expansion. The name has also expanded to the Billy Ireland Cartoon Research Library and Museum. Not bad for a library that started when the contents from Caniff's childhood home were donated and stored in two classrooms in the journalism building!

We recently reported on the death of Shel Dorf. Dorf was letterer of the 'Steve Canyon' comic strip from 1975 until the strip's end (shortly after Caniff's death) in 1988. Dorf was key to the production of 'Canyon', as lettering came before the pictures in Caniff's strips. Caniff would write it in Palm Springs (later New York) and then dictate the strips over the phone to Dorf in San Diego, who would letter them and then mail them off to Dick Rockwell. Rockwell would do the rough pencilling and then send it off to Caniff for changes and finishes. I wrote more about Dorf and Caniff here.


Billy Ireland drawing by Milton Caniff
Shel Dorf photo by Alan Light

MATT'S MUSIC REPORT

Recent Releases of Note

Beatles - entire catalogue*

Adrian Belew Power Trio - e (available at Belew's website

Johnny Cash - A Heartbeat and a Guitar [book]

Johnny Cash - I See a Darkness [graphic novel]

Elvis Costello - Secret, Profane & Sugarcane

Elvis Costello - Live at the El Mocambo [reissue]

Elvis Costello - Spectacle [TV DVD set]

Crosby, Stills & Nash - Demos

Bob Dylan - Christmas in the Heart

Jay Farrar/Ben Gibbard - One Fast Move Or I’m Gone

Flight of the Conchords - I Told You I Was Freaky

Genesis - The Movie Box 1981-2007 [5 DVD]

Nanci Griffith - The Loving Kind

George Harrison - Let It Roll [compilation]

Jayhawks - Music from the North Country

Paul McCartney - Good Evening, New York City [CD/DVD]

Willie Nelson - American Classic

Willie Nelson - Lost Highway

Willie Nelson - Special w/Ray Charles [DVD]

Randy Newman - The Princess and the Frog [sndtrk]

Tom Petty - Live Anthology [4 CD set]

Frank Sinatra - New York [4 CD/1 DVD box set]

Son Volt - American Central Dust

Regina Spektor - Far**

Bruce Springsteen - “Wrecking Ball” [iTunes single]

They Might Be Giants - Here Comes Science!

Loudon Wainwright III - High Wide & Handsome: the Charlie Poole Project [2-disc]

Wilco - Wilco (the album)

“Weird Al” Yankovic - Internet Leaks [iTunes EP]

“Weird Al” Yankovic - Essential [2-disc compilation]

Neil Young - Neil Young Archives,Vol.1***

*The complete original UK Beatles catalogue has been remastered for CD. The remasters are in stereo and each album will be available individually, with the previously separate ‘Past Masters’ discs (which collected the non-LP tracks) combined as one set. The stereo albums (16 discs) are also available as a box set. The albums that were originally mixed for mono (‘Please Please Me’ through ‘The White Album’) will make up a remastered mono box, are not available individually.

** Includes 5 tracks produced by Jeff Lynne.

***The archives project, announced about 15 years ago, is finally here! It’s available in multiple formats: 10-discs on Blu-Ray with Book, 10-discs on DVD with Book, 8-discs on CD with booklet. The advantage of the Blu-Ray ($300) and DVD ($200) sets is that they will have both audio and video content. Also, with Blu-Ray you will be able to download new content as it becomes available. The CD ($100) set just has the music and no book, which is just fine with me. All the discs, and the book, can be purchased separately of the box sets.

Upcoming Releases

• Peter Gabriel - Scratch My Back [2/15]



• Ringo Starr - Y Not [1/12]



• Watson Twins - Talking to You, Talking to Me [2/9]
  
  
  
  

  On Tour in the Tri-State




• Abbey Road on the River - Louisville – 5/27 – 5/31



• Stacey Earle & Mark Stuart - Columbus, IN – 2/27; Kent - 3/6



• Jim Gaffigan - Columbus – 2/27



• Magnetic Fields - Bloomington – 3/5



• Manhattan Transfer - Vincennes – 3/6



• Poco - Cincinnati – 2/27



• Star Wars: in Concert - Cincinnati – 12/11; Indianapolis – 12/12
  

Reviews

Bob Dylan - Christmas in the Heart (Columbia) - If you like Bob Dylan's voice (and who doesn't), but wished he would make a straightforward, Andy Williams-style Christmas album, then this CD is for you! Crooning his way through a set of Christmas standards, this is Dylan as you've never heard him before. Personally, I really like it. The songs start in earnest with slick production and Welk-esque backing singers, then Bob croaks his way in. It brings a smile to my face every time.

Flight of the Conchords - I Told You I Was Freaky (Sub Pop) - As with it's predecessor, this song collection from Season 2 of their HBO series mostly falters without the visuals and the context of the show. The packaging, however, is a thing of beauty that recalls the LPs of long ago. A die-cut tri-fold with a 70s-ish illustration as the cover. Inside, the CD has it's own inner sleeve and it comes with a fold-out poster of the album cover art. Alas, the interior picture, a live shot of the duo in concert, only makes you wish you had more of their live debut EP, a form where they excel.

Willie Nelson - Lost Highway (Lost Highway) - If you were a 76-year old living legend, the last thing folks expect you to do is tour 2/3 of the year and release four albums...unless you're Willie Nelson. Only two of this year's releases are new material, the Texas swing of 'Willie & the Wheel' and the songbook-mining of 'American Classic'. 'Naked Willie' took This collection is a compilation of his past six years on the Lost Highway label, with plenty of goodies to entice completists to buy the songs again. Like Willie's albums, the collection is a mixed bag of mainstream country, alt.country, Western swing, live cuts and even reggae. As for the goodies, there's three previously unreleased songs and his duet hit with Toby Keith - "Beer for My Horses".

They Might Be Giants - Here Comes Science! (Disney Sound) - Continuing their lucrative association with Disney, TMBG brings us the latest in goofy but educational albums and their fourth bona fide children's record. They once explored children's music as a goof, a la 1994's "Why Does the Sun Shine?", a remake from a 1959 album of science-based children's songs. Fifteen years later they go all the way with their own science record, paying homage to their earlier foray with a faster version, but following it up with "Why Does the Sun Really Shine?", drawing on a half-century of expanded knowledge. The rest runs the gamut of astronomy, biology, physics, paleontology and chemistry. This is aimed at older kids than the previous two Disney Sound releases. Yours truly, still a kid, after all, can't stop dancing along to "Electric Car". Like 'Here Come the ABCs' and 'the 123s', 'Science' includes a DVD with videos of the songs.