Year: 2005

The previous thread on this topic seems to have gone hopelessly off the rails, so let’s try it again.

This is the thread for discussing developments in the “Funky Winkerbean” strip that parallel real life cases of a comics store owner/manager getting arrested for selling adult comics to an adult.

What’s interesting is that, within the context of the strip, the woman who alerted the police apparently had an ulterior motive…namely she wanted to torpedo the restaurant above the comic shop because she didn’t like that her daughter was going to have the wedding reception there.

If this sounds preposterous, let’s remember some stuff:

A real life comic book retailer wound up being arrested for selling adult comic books to adults because one woman felt that the store was charging too much for Pokemon cards and vowed revenge.

A real life second hand dealer of used comics was arrested after a complaint was filed against him by his ex-father-in-law (over an issue of “Elfquest,” of all things) because the dealer had custody of his son from the marriage and his ex-in-law wanted to get back at him.

You’d be amazed how often personal enmity or self-interest enters into these cases. Unfortunately, they often get left by the wayside once prosecutors get going on the “save the children!” angle.

PAD

As has been mentioned elsewhere, “Funky Winkerbean” is dealing with the hazards of selling comics in an increasingly reactionary world. Interested parties are invited to check out the beginning of the storyline here:

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/fun/funky.asp?date=20050303

Idiots are invited to suggest the strip is due entirely to me being alarmist.

PAD

Several people have written to me bringing my attention to a completely insane incident where a student in Kentucky has been thrown in a juvenile detention center for writing a short story in which zombies overrun a high school. More details can be found here…

http://www.lex18.com/global/story.asp?s=2989614&ClientType=Printable

What I keep thinking about was that when I was in seventh grade, I had an assignment to write a ghost story, and did a story where the ghost of a student exacts horrific revenge upon an obnoxious teacher. If I’m in seventh grade now and write that same story, next thing I know, I’m going to wind up talking to police and social workers.

PAD

Featuring the return of Sachs & Violens. Whad’ja think?

PAD

Here, for the first time, the full truth behind the House of M crossover.

M stands for “Mode.” Yes, in a daring Marvel/Incredibles crossover event, fashionista Edna Mode will be redesigning the costumes for every single Marvel character.

This, of course, will mean banishment of capes from the Marvel U. But at least everyone will look fabulous. No more hobo suits.

PAD

Keeping in mind that I’m the guy who wrote the Doc Samson Passover story, the following was brought to my attention by Glenn Greenburg and Howard Margolin. Check it out.

http://portlandmercury.com/2002-05-02/feature4.html