Word: nicks
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Dates: during 2000-2009
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...commissioning many of alternative comix' most interesting artists to fill its back pages. Why they have yet to collect the best of these works into a full book is beyond me, but at least they have finally issued a short compilation in magazine form as part of the their "Nick Mag Presents" series (58 pages; $5). Available where the magazine is sold, the issue includes full color contributions from the likes of Craig Thompson ("Blankets"), James Kochalka ("The Sketchbook Diaries") and even underground veteran Bobby London...
...Comparing the Nick Mag comics issue with "Little Lulu" reveals some interesting similarities and differences. The use of licensed characters is one thing the two share. I'll admit to having a knee-jerk negative reaction at seeing Spongebob Squarepants and Jimmy Neutron, two characters who started on the Nickelodeon TV network, with their own strips. Synergistic marketing makes me queasy. But it's easy to forget that Lulu was already a star of other media and advertising campaigns at the time of her comic book appearance. What the creators do with the characters matters most, as proven by Lulu...
...very noticeable difference between the two books is the vastly increased level of visual sophistication in kid's comics. Where "Little Lulu," and most every kid's comic of the time, maintains a strict grid structure for a layout, and simplified, "cute" characters, the Nick Mag comics explode with a variety of visual styles. Craig Thompson's "Juanita and Clem" strip takes the reader's eye on a roundabout, tour of the entire page as Clem, a frog-like creature in a purple suit, searches for water to pour over Juanita's flowers. Scott McCloud, who's seminal book "Understanding...
...course the one thing that remains consistent over the years of kids comics is their focus on humor, though the styles have changed. Where "Little Lulu" derives its humor from situational comedy, the Nick Mag strips clearly exhibit the lasting influence of "Mad" (which first appeared in 1953) and its distanced take on very nature of things like "Little Lulu." Perhaps the funniest piece in Nick Mag's special comics issue is Michael Kupperman's "Worst Comic Book Heroes That Never Existed," a gallery that includes Citober, the invisible, silent robot whose adventures were "mostly people saying 'Hey, where...
...Lulu" should not be missed by anyone of any age who enjoys classic cartoon comedy. The ensemble cast as written by John Stanley and masterfully rendered by Irving Tripp evoke as many "HAW!"s today as they did when they first sat in racks at the soda shop. The Nick Mag special comics edition may not be as lasting but still has humor and a good heart. Hopefully it will serve as an example for Nickelodeon to collect more of their comics work, under the guidance of a strong editor, into what could be a major anthology for both children...