BOOK(S) REVIEW! MUTT & JEFF GIANT-SIZE STANDARD COLOR EDITION, VOLS. ONE AND THREE (Retro Comic Reprints)

Hardly a man is now alive who can remember when MUTT & JEFF was hotcha potatoes in the world of newspaper comic stripdom. Beginning in 1907, this once-all over the place cartoon had the distinction of being the first (or at least one of 'em) to appear on weekdays, and at one time you just couldn't escape the thing what with animated films and products based on the strip permeating just about every aspect of one's life the way PEANUTS would forty years later. This comic even affected various other realms of life---f'r example "Mutt and Jeff" became a common police term to describe a pair of suspects with drastically opposite features. Creator Bud Fisher was also one of the first celebrity comic strip artists even if, for the most part, the guy hired out all his work as time went on but eh, he sure coulda afforded it given the dinero being raked in!

As anyone would prob'ly expect MUTT & JEFF eventually fizzed out as time went on, and during its final days it became a daily groaner for many a comic strip hound on the search for a good badgag. In no way could the thing survive in today's comic strip world --- had it somehow lived on it would have gone through, like NANCY, some heavy "updates" that would have made it agonizingly unrecognizable from the original form. But then again, had it lasted into the present day perhaps the public would have protested loudly to any slight change in style in the same fashion that fans got into an uproar when the news that the BLONDIE strip was gonna creep into the present day what with new decor, hairstyles and even a spiffy new suit for Dagwood --- now THAT was something for one to grab the pitchforks and get riled up about if you ask me!

One interesting thing about MUTT & JEFF was that for quite a spell the two were part of Max Gaines' All American branch of the DC publishing empire. Yes, before they headed out for the somewhat less green pastures of Harvey Comics the duo's old newspaper strips were being recycled for perhaps thee premier comics line of the day and sheesh, at times you could see the two of 'em on some comic book cover appearing right next to such luminaries as the Flash and Green Lantern which I gotta admit does give 'em some class, at least by association. Unfortunately they had about as much of a chance to join up with the Justice Society of America the same way that Dennis the Menace had joining the Avengers during his brief stint at Marvel, But sheesh, the thought of it does make for a kinda/sorta funny brief moment in this agony we call life now, doesn't it?

And yet another comic book publisher of past triumphs, namely, Retro Comic Reprints, have gathered these now PD titles for present day consumption, volumes one and three which were graciously zoomed my way by none other than Bill Shute.

Not being too familiar with MUTT & JEFF other'n when I would pour through old comic histories, out of town newspapers or especially MAD spoofs, I will admit that this pair of books were a refreshing high dive to the strip. And after all of these comics presented to me in overdose fashion I will admit that MUTT & JEFF was a groaner true, but a groaner in a good way when a bad gag is needed in one's life just to give it a break from the mundaneness of sophistication and class. Like I said over and over again, bad gags can be done up right as they often were in the Bob Montana-era ARCHIE strips or they could flop about as a cursory look into any cheap comedy-oriented title of the fifties will attest to. 

The jokes you see in MUTT & JEFF work out like --- OK. Some of them hit you right in the funnybone while others miss by a mile, but that don't always matter because the artwork is grand in that old style where it seemed as if the artists had some sort of craft about themselves and bothered to add things like detail and style into their work. Things that are in quite short supply if my recent glances at the comics page are any indication. Not only that but the characters are well formed, what with Mutt being more of the stupid yet in charge Bud Abbot of the two and Jeff a naive simp worth the punchline you know that he's eventually gonna deliver on.

Also included in these comic books were other efforts related to MUTT & JEFF or not for that matter. Strip "topper" CICERO'S CAT (Cicero just happens to be Mutt's son and rarely even appeared in these strips) rates well with all of the other pussy comics that were appearing at the time and heck, sometimes even Mutt or Jeff show up in these in supporting roles. However, I thought SIMP O'DILL didn't have a thing going for it, coming off like the kind of har har filler you say in more'n just a few Golden Age titles of the forties. Funny thing is, this strip must have been somewhat popular since there was at least one Tijuana Bible featuring the guy.

With all of the original ads and text kept in place, these are a nice bunch of book that are gosh awful handy to have around when the cravings for an antique joke just needs to hit'cha. And hey, MUTT & JEFF was even educational for me because, even after years of reading and collecting 'em, I never knew that for a spell Gaines's All American line had its own logo, a slug with "AA" in the center almost identical to the long-running DC one I'm sure some of you remember from your early comic book scarfing days! When Gaines sold out and started EC the familiar DC logo was finally used on the covers but for the life of me I never did come across an "AA" in my born days! And given how this logo features curved letters aligning themselves to the edge of the inner circle I was reminded that, when I first discovered 'em, I once actually thought that EC comics were part of the DC empire because of the similarity in their ID! (Don Fellman thought I was a stoop for thinking this and given the people he's had to encounter in his life he should know!) Not only that but the inside front covers of the AA and EC books, what with their listing of available titles and "Editorial Advisory" list, are nearly identical (even the print!) which does make for a big "now how about that!" at least in my life!

Of course given the difference 'tween DC/AA and EC regarding content not to mention their cover schemes etc., these companies just weren't alike one iota. But sheesh, given how Gaines manned both AA and EC and the stark similarities in their circle within a circle slug logo perhaps the truth was a heck of a lot whole lot closer to what I had originally thought in my not quite formed twelve-year-old brain! In the "you learn something new every day" department this one really was a biggie!

WHAT DO ALL THESE CREATURES HAVE IN COMMON?

Well, besides taking what was totally freaked out and exciting in the seventies and making it boring in the twenties it should be obvious. NONE of 'em have ever read an issue of BLACK TO COMM in their entire bloomin' lives! That and the fact that they look like they might be closely  related to Dave Lang but that's another story...anyway, if they did read it do you think they would be stupid enough to look like this considering just how much shock has turned to flop these past fortysome years? 

Anyway, if you don't wanna end up like any of these woof-woofs howzbout buyin' one (or three, or ten, or a millyun for all I care!) old copies of this essential (to my bank account) fanzine before they're all gobbled up by the landfill! Prices are up due to inflation, and if you're outside of the USA forget it because the postage will kill you! (But if you're a rich kinda guy well...open up your bank account!) Two ways you can get 'em. One is to leave a message in the comments section (I will not publish it!) with your email and I will get back to you with more detailed information. Or you can send me the cash (check or money order suggested because some doofs have claimed to have sent me moolah in their orders though I have no record of 'em having done so!) to Christopher Stigliano (checks payable to him!) at 701 North Hermitage Road, Suite 23, Hermitage PA 16148 USA; just like you used to do in the old days.

 

PHFUDD! #11-Still have a few copies of this once-gone and forgotten issue featuring Mirrors (complete with the usual rare photos and flyers and ads and esoterica like that), Von Lmo photos taken at Max's Kansas City with Lou Rone mugging it up for the camera (plus a Rudolph Grey chronology!), Sonny Sharrock, Jeff Dahl and Powertrip, a live Styrenes photo taken by ME (which accounts for its fuzziness!), Birdhouse (remember them?), the Standells and some live Rocket From the Tombs snaps with lyrics that should cause your heart to be racing by now. Also included is the enticing article entitled "Is There No End To Those Pesky Chuck Eddy Rumors?" which, as we know, is still as relevant today as it was in April/May 1988 when this issue originally came out. Since this is a rarity, I'm asking $25.00 each, and no frowning! 

BLACK TO COMM #14-Early 1989. Featuring part one of the Ron Asheton interview, a nice though could be much better given all the information discovered since piece on the Deviants, an article on Peter Laughner's Cinderella Backstreet, the Seeds and Charlemagne Palestine. $15.00 and if that's too expensive just try getting hold of one on ebay at that price!

BLACK TO COMM #16-From summer 1989. This one has the Rudolph Grey interview, some reprints of various Peter Laughner things I copped out of old issues of ZEPPELIN and elsewhere, more Electric Eels lyrics with a pic that's been reprinted all to heck, Laughing Hyenas and of course tributes to the recently departed Lucille Ball and Jim Backus. The first, cruddy version can be had for $7.00, the other for $8.00 or maybe I'll just send you whatever I come upon first! 

BLACK TO COMM #17-Early '90. The first of the "big" issues has a cover story/interview with Scott Morgan and Gary Rasmussen from the old Scott Morgan band, also inside's an interview with Borbetomagus' Donald Miller as well as one with Maureen Tucker, not to mention pieces on Fish Karma (who I liked until hearing his overly-preachy kiss kiss moosh anti-gun song entitled "God Bless The NRA" which blew Fish's snot-nosed toss off attitude to sanctimonious heck), the Dogs (from Detroit, not the French ones or the Flamin' Groovies for that matter!), Rocket From the Tombs (with loads of old photos and the like, some never seen before or since!), the top 25 of heavy metal, METAL MACHINE MUSIC, a piece on the then-new proto-punk reissues and archival digs of the day and the usual reviews and news. $12.00. 

BLACK TO COMM #19-Just found a few of these niceties with my Miriam Linna interview plus one done with Jeff Clayton of Antiseen, not to mention the Pink Fairies, Czech Underground Rock (Plastic People of the Universe, Umela Hmota...), Lester Bangs (unpublished photos too!), NUGGETS, the Shangs, a history of proto/early punk fanzines, lotsa old TV stuff and of course the regular departments. This is the first ish to really dig into a lotta the anti-youth fascism mentality so popular in rock circles these days, so sissies beware!!! Since this is getting rare you can have one of these soon-to-be collector's items for $15 each if you can believe it! A real steal deal!!! 

BLACK TO COMM #20-Found a few of these featuring tasty articles on the Seeds, MX-80 Sound, Lenny Kaye, Richard Meltzer, the Bowery Boys, DENIM DELINQUENT magazine and a smattering of praise regarding old television programs. Also featured are interviews  with Mick Farren, Roky Erickson, Adny Shernoff and Craig Moore (Gonn), $15 

BLACK TO COMM #21-From November '94. A VON LMO cover story and interview grace this ish, as do interviews with Metal Mike Saunders, Brian McMahon (Electric Eels) and rockabilly star Ronnie Dawson, plus you can read much-desired items on the Trashmen, Velvet Underground and Hawkwind like I knew you would! Not to mention a piece on the infamous TEENAGE WASTELAND GAZETTE fanzine! $15 

BLACK TO COMM #24- From spring 2001. This issue's cover feature's a nice interview with Doug Snyder of DAILY DANCE/Sick Dick and the Volkswagens fame, plus there are interviews with the Dogs (Detroit) and Greg Shaw, a piece on the old CAN'T BUY A THRILL fanzine and the usual feature-length reviews and the like. $15

BLACK TO COMM #25-The latest (December 2003), 162 pages brimming with such goodies as a New York City Scene history (featuring interviews with Max's Kansas City's Peter Crowley and Ruby Lynn Reyner from Ruby and the Rednecks plus pieces on coverboys the New York Dolls and VARIETY scene-booster Fred Kirby), an interview with J. D. King (Coachmen, comix) plus one with guitarist Lou Rone, who would probably be best known to you as leader of the early CBGB-era band Cross as well as one-time guitarist for both Kongress and VON LMO, the Screamin' Mee-Mees, CRETINOUS CONTENTIONS, Simply Saucer rare photos, family tree and gigography, rare fanzines of the Golden Age (and more), tons of book and record reviews (which make up the bulk of this ish!), plus a CD with live Simply Saucer 1975, the Coachmen, The Battleship, Ethel with David Nelson Byers and Ruby and the Rednecks. $20 

If you would like, I can slip in a Cee-Dee that came with the now dead and buried #22 for free with your order. Also, I am sorry to say that my previous offer to photocopy long-gone issues has been rescinded if only because the masters are so old they are deteriorating right before my very eyes. Well, ya shoulda bought 'em back when they were up and about, sweetheart!