CANIFF NEWS - OCTOBER 2014

Could a femme fatale of the funny pages cause real-life controversy?  Yes, indeed, tells J.B. Winter in Miss Mizzou: A Life Beyond Comics.  Winter takes a deep dive into this 2-D bombshell and her 3-D effect on her adopted hometown of Columbia, Missouri and her fans at Missouri University.  The book is stirring up local memories, as reported in the Columbia Missourian and the Tribune.

The book is not only an engaging work of scholarship, but features rare Caniff art and a back cover blurb from yours truly.  The book is available in paperback and Kindle.

Hotshot Charlie made new appearances in the "Dick Tracy" comic strip.  In the storyline, Hotshot is called to the aid of Tracy and Little Orphan Annie, who is guesting in the strip.  Annie's own strip ended in 2010.  Here are the two strips that feature Hotshot - 8/17 and 9/10.

Hotshot Charlie was created by Milton Caniff for "Terry and the Pirates."  He first appeared on June 25 1944 and was a major character in for both Caniff and his successor, George Wunder.

The latest issue of Comics Revue (August 2014) reprints the "Steve Canyon" strips from March 18 to April 14, 1973.  It's the beginning of a Bitsy Beekman story, and features the return of Fireball Feeney, a character who appeared early in the strip's run.  

This issue also features "Tarzan" by John Celardo, "Tarzan" by Russ Manning, "Flash Gordon" by Mac Raboy and "Alley Oop" by V.T. Hamlin.

Kill My Mother is a new graphic novel by Jules Feiffer.  Feiffer is a famed Village Voice cartoonist who has been drawing professionally for nearly 70 years.  Feiffer was a longtime devotee and friend of Caniff and author of "The Great Comic Book Heroes", one of the earliest works of comics scholarship (Bonanza Books, 1965).  Feiffer was the 2004 recipient of the Milton Caniff Lifetime Achievement Award.  "Kill My Mother" contains a dedication to Caniff and other artists.

The work of another Caniff award recipient is at the subject of a new exhibit at the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum.  Will Eisner: 75 Years of Graphic Storytelling is a career retrospective of the legendary cartooning pioneer.  Will Eisner was a Caniff friend and peer.  Eisner's interview with Caniff about his career has been reprinted in both Milton Caniff: Conversations and Will Eisner's Shop Talk.   The exhibit runs through November 30th.