Category Archives: Comics

Before Little Nemo

Posted on April 14, 2009 by Marco Graziosi

“Wicked Willie’s Dream” by Walter M. Dunk appeared in Harper’s Round Table, vol. XVI, no. 821, 23 July 1895, 760 (click for full story): It clearly anticipates Winsor McCay’s Little Nemo in Slumberland, in particular for Willie’s position after his … Continue reading →

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Peter Newell, American Comic Illustrator

Posted on April 11, 2009 by Marco Graziosi

The blog has been quiet for a long time, as I have been very busy and had to keep up with the daily publication of Edward Lear’s diaries. However, I have at last found time to add an article on … Continue reading →

Posted in Comics, Peter Newell | Leave a comment

The Cowboysterous Kangaroosevelt Bear

Posted on December 28, 2008 by Marco Graziosi

Theodore Roosevelt‘s refusal, in 1902, to shoot an imprisoned bear spawned a long series of political cartoons and, since the bound animal was often represented as a cub, and brought to the creation of the Teddy Bear. Roosevelt’s hunting mania … Continue reading →

Posted in Comics, Gustave Verbeek, Peter Newell | 1 Comment

Irish Sources of Edward Lear's Early Picture Stories

Posted on September 14, 2008 by Marco Graziosi

In a previous post I quoted a passage from Prothero’s biography of Arthur Penrhyn Stanley reporting the event that might have originated Edward Lear’s picture story “St. Kiven and the Gentle Kathleen,” an illustrated version of Tom Moore’s “By that … Continue reading →

Posted in Comics, Edward Lear | 8 Comments

Non-Limericks 2: Alfred Crowquill

Posted on August 31, 2008 by Marco Graziosi

Like Thackeray, Alfred Crowquill (pseudonym for Alfred Henry Forrester) has his place in the prehistory of comics thanks to an 1849 booklet entitled A Goodnatured Hint about California, a satire of the California gold rush. Besides publishing a successful series … Continue reading →

Posted in Comics, Edward Lear, Limerick | 2 Comments

Non-Limericks 1: W.M. Thackeray

Posted on August 20, 2008 by Marco Graziosi

In his recent book on the Father of the Comic Strip: Rodolphe Töpffer (Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 2007), David Kunzle also discusses British parallels to the Genevan inventor of comics; among them a special section is devoted to William … Continue reading →

Posted in Comics, Edward Lear, Limerick | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

The Explorigator

Posted on July 18, 2008 by Marco Graziosi

Rush to Barnacle Press to enjoy the full run of The Explorigator, one of the most original, and nonsensical, comics of all times and meet a crew on a par with the one that set out to hunt the Snark.

Posted in Comics, Lewis Carroll | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Shadows

Posted on June 17, 2008 by Marco Graziosi

After the success of his two Topsy-Turvys, Peter Newell published A Shadow Book (New York: The Century Co., 1896) in which after looking at a picture, e.g. of an Arab leading a camel, you turn the page and place it … Continue reading →

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Dye Inoculation by Peter Newell

Posted on April 29, 2008 by Marco Graziosi

  No. 1 “It seems to me it orter work,” Said Farmer Hiram Beggs, “By feeding Hens on Easter dyes To deckerate their eggs.” No. 2 And sure enough for several days The eggs were many-hued With stranger markings on … Continue reading →

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Animation Links

Posted on February 7, 2008 by Marco Graziosi

A few more interesting posts from the incredibly lively world of animation blogs: Michael Sporn has four new nonsense-related articles: Fantasia Program 1 & 2: a souvenir booklet sold with the initial roadshow presentation of Fantasia. Alices: on the clash … Continue reading →

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