From: [bg 549] at [torfree.net] (Bob Heer)
Subject: [ZINE] Beanworld - Gunk'l'dunk v2#4
Date: Mon, 04 Nov 96 00:29:24 GMT
Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.info
Gunk'l'dunk v2#4
GUNK'L'DUNK
online newsletter for/adhesive force between
readers of Larry Marder's
TALES OF THE BEANWORLD
Vol. 2 #4 November 2, 1996
Gunk'l'dunk is here to provide a forum for fans of Larry Marder's
TALES OF THE BEANWORLD (TOTB), and to promote wider readership of
this unique comic. It's been just over a half year since the
last issue. I'm still more frequent that Marder...
Compiled by Bob Heer, [bg 549] at [torfree.net] or [b heer] at [genie.com]
E-mail me to comment or contribute, or to get on the distribution
list to get future issues and the occasional other Bean related
thing in your e-mailbox. Back issues of v2 available on request.
Founded by Jeremy York (editor, v1 #0-#11)
--------------------------------------------------
INTRODUCTION ETC.
Hoka hey, all. While the drought of new Beanworld stuff for most
people continues (there have been a few ashcans, mostly available
to those lucky enough to meet Marder at a convention), I decided
it was time for another issue anyway. The e-mail distribution
list is up to about 50 members now, which is cool.
Some neat stuff in this issue, if I do say so myself. The new
Beanworld Press address is down below. The usual look at what
little new Bean/Marder stuff has been sighted or promised
recently. I've got a Beanworld rarity review by me, and another
review by somebody who's not me, which =I= always like to see.
Except for the fact that it's a review of something I don't
have... And a poll for Beanfans to answer.
--------------------------------------------------
THIS ISSUE'S CONTENTS
Introduction
Contents page (you are here)
The New Address
Recent Bean Sightings
Review - "While we were eating!" (ashcan)
Review - "Closed Set" (GRIMJACK #42)
The Beanfan Poll
In Future Issues...
--------------------------------------------------
THE NEW ADDRESS
Sometime recently, the Beans pulled up roots and headed west.
Thanks to Keith at Nebula Bookstore (interviewer of Marder in
v2#3) for supplying the new address.
The Beanworld Press
363 White Cap Lane
Newport Coast, CA
92657
--------------------------------------------------
RECENT BEAN SIGHTINGS
Not too much actual TOTB stuff has been published in the last
little while. The serial in ASYLUM ran in #1-#6 and the
following story (mentioned in solicitations and the next issue
blurb in #6) wasn't to be seen in #7-on, presumably related to
the Image/Liefeld split. There was an ashcan reprinting that
story, reviewed later this issue, and apparently a second
sketchbook ashcan.
The new Beanworld Press printing of the second trade paperback
was solicited for September of this year, but so far I haven't
seen it or heard of any sightings.
My records are a bit of a mess, but I think the only other new
Bean appearance since last time was in GEN 13 #13B, from Image.
A bunch of indy comics types make cameos, including the Beans. I
don't think Marder drew them, and if not I'm pretty impressed by
the credible job that the artist did, given he's one of those
Image types.
IMAGES OF A DISTANT SOIL (formerly VISIONS OF...) has been
solicited from January from Image. Marder had been listed as a
contributor last time it was announced. And if your tastes are
like mine, you'll want to get it for some of the other
contributors as well (Swan, Garcia-Lopez, Cardy, Foglio, etc).
--------------------------------------------------
REVIEW - WHILE WE WERE EATING
by Bill Jacobs
I picked up 'While We Were Eating!' at the last San Diego Comic
Con. I believe it cost me five dollars--quite a bit cheaper than
getting six issues of ASYLUM. There is really only about six
pages of story spread out over twenty-three pages of art. Larry
clearly altered his story-telling style significantly to take
advantage of the possibilities color gave him. The book averages
only two panels per page with an even spread over three and two
pagers and splash pages. The art survived the transition to
ashcan well. The large panels remain clear at half size, and
I've got to say that I like the art better without the
distraction of the garish coloring.
The story is simple enough: Mr. Spook and the Spear Fling'n
Flank'rs defend the Beans against a threat from the Big Big
Picture. It is fun to see Mr. Spook in action in a bit more
detail than usual. Plus the ending has just a touch of
foreshadowing that makes me think that this episode may have some
importance in the larger story (that is, in a different way than
Larry tells us outright that it's important in the author's
note).
And speaking of the author's note, it's a nice value added part
to the book explaining, in Larry's words, just how the oddity of
Beanworld in the same book as Battlestar Galactica came about.
On the whole, I'd say that 'While We Were Eating!' is worth the
money for the serious Beanworld fan.
--------------------------------------------------
REVIEW - CLOSED SET (GRIMJACK #42)
by Bob Heer
Last time I looked at one of the few stories you'll ever see
written by Marder to be drawn by another artist. This time
something equally unusual, Marder drawing a story by someone
else. "Someone else" being John Ostrander and Del Close, the
story being the backup in GRIMJACK #42. It's a "Munden's Bar"
story, which means a short story set in a bar which is at a
meeting point of all realities (so various guest creators are
free to bring in their own creations if they want). Usually fun
stuff. I've got about two dozen issues of GRIMJACK, and I
haven't yet read the main story in any but this one, but have
read all the backups. So I'm not sure if this issue is also good
as an introduction to GRIMJACK. The main story is a standalone,
but it's really just a fairly uninspired sci-fi update on a
cliche sports story. I preferred most old "Strange Sports
Stories" from DC to this.
Getting to the important part, this is a pretty decent story,
maybe just slightly above average for "Munden's Bar" (the best
ones I read are by Phil Foglio). No regular Beanworld characters
show up in here, although there are a lot of bugs that could be
related to Der Stinkle. I suspect that Marder may have had a
hand in plotting it, since in addition to various jokes about the
movie business, there's a lot of jokes on advertising, which of
course it what he used to work at.
The story is also in colour, and actually doesn't look bad
(especially compared to the over rendered colour Marder got in
ASYLUM). Except that one page is =way= out of register.
Overall this was pretty enjoyable, showing a different side of
Marder than TOTB usually allows. Worth picking up, and even if I
didn't like the main story much, at least it's a complete story
and not just a chapter of a long serial.
Bob
--------------------------------------------------
THE BEANFAN POLL
Now that the distribution list is up to a healthy number, I
thought it might be fun to try this. I'll start off with some
easy stuff which should be easy to tally, and depending on how
much work it is I might do another one in future issues with more
detailed stuff. Suggestions for questions are welcome. What
would =you= like to ask 50+ Beanfans?
E-mail all answers to [bg 549] at [torfree.net], and if possible putting
the word "Poll" in the subject line would be a great help. Oh, and
anyone reading can answer this, whether you're on the e-mail
list or not.
1. Where did you first read Beanworld? (issue #, tpb, TOTAL
ECLIPSE, ASYLUM, etc)
2. What's your favourite Beanworld story? (issue # preferred,
but I can look up story titles)
3. What three other current comic books would you most recommend
to Beanworld fans? Anything counts, but ideally this should be
stuff that you could find or order in any good comic shop and
which comes out more frequently than Beanworld (like that's hard.
Halley's Comet could give Beanworld competition).
--------------------------------------------------
IN FUTURE ISSUES
The results of the poll, of course. I'll send preliminary
results to members of the e-mail list after a few weeks, and then
keep a running tally of any late entries and run totals in the
next full issue. This is a cheap ploy to get more people who
read this elsewhere to join the distribution list. Or to get
people on the list to run screaming. I forget which.
And the Marder rarities reviews I enjoy, and I'd still like to
see some from other people. Duplication of stuff already
reviewed is okay, a different perspective is fun.
And I previously promised an essay examining how Jack Kirby's
work informs and influences the Beanworld, but I haven't gotten
around to it yet. I'll try to get it done for next issue.
And anything else I might get sent to run has a great chance of
making it in.
Bob
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