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Cartoon News and Views
June 1998
by ED McGEEAN
Reuben Awards
The Reuben weekend in Pasadena, Calif. is now nothing more
than a warm memory of meeting old friends and making new ones. And a helluva
time was had by all.
Following is a list of the nominees in each category and
the name of the winner.
Newspaper Panel Division: David Gantz (feature and syndicate
unknown), Rich Moyer; ICK; Tribune Media Services, Al Scaduto; "They'll
Do It Every Time"; King Features Syndicate. Winner; David Gantz.
Jim Borgman brought down the house when he presented this
award with a tongue in cheek ad lib of, "I don't know what to say,
I'm not a writer."
Advertising & Illustration Division: Jerry Buckley,
Jack Pittman and B.B. Sams. Winner; B.B. Sams.
Newspaper Illustration Division: Hadi Farahani, Jim Hummel
and Bob Staake (pronounced Stack -- I asked him). Winner: Bob Staake.
Magazine & Book Illustration Division: Hadi Farahani,
Guy Gilchrist and Kevin Rechin. Winner; Guy Gilchrist.
(Mr. Blackwell fashion note: Gilchrist took a wrong turn
at Texas on his way out from the East and accessorized his tuxedo with a
ten-gallon white cowboy hat.)
Television Animation Division: Ed Baker, David Feiss and
CAPSer Scott Shaw!. Winner; David Feiss.
Feature Animation Division: CAPSer Nancy Beiman, Nik Ranieri
(both for their work on Disney's Hercules) and Frans Vischer. Winner; Nik
Ranieri.
Greeting Card Division: Dave Coverly, Roy Doty and Bob
Staake. Winner; Dave Coverly.
Gag Cartoon Division: Mort Gerberg, Glenn McCoy and Mark
Tonra. Winner; Mark Tonra (who tactfully declined to emulate Titanic director
James Cameron and plug his new United Feature Syndicate comic strip by shouting,
"I'm on Top of the World.")
Editorial Cartoon Division: Glenn McCoy; Belleville, Ill.
News-Democrat, Jeff Parker; Florida Today (Orlando), Bill Schorr; N.Y. Daily
News. Winner; Glenn McCoy.
Newspaper Comic Strip Division: Scott Adams; "Dilbert";
United Feature Syndicate, Jim Borgman (and Jerry Scott); "Zits";
King Features Syndicate and Pat Brady; "Rose is Rose"; United
Feature Syndicate. Winner; Scott Adams.
The above eleven category or division awards are often
mistakenly referred to in publicity and stories as Reuben Awards. These
silver plaques, while important, are not Reubens. Cartoonists, including
those not in NCS, submit their work to various NCS Chapter juries, who select
a winner from these samples or the work of cartoonists, whose art is known
to them. Jurors are ineligible for awards in the division they are serving.
Each Jury selects a winner and two runners-up and sends
them to the Awards Advisory Board, consisting of past presidents of the
NCS for final ratification.
If you are not a NCS member, send a large self-addressed-stamped
envelope to: National Cartoonists Society, 4101 Lake Boone Trail, Suite
201, Raleigh, N.C. 27607 for complete entry details. Maybe next year you'll
be a winner.
Finally, the Big Kahuna, itself, AKA the...
1998 Reuben Award.
The nominees were: Scott Adams; "Dilbert", Pat
Brady; "Rose is Rose", Greg Evans; "Luann", all with
United Feature Syndicate and Patrick McDonnell; "Mutts"; King
Features Syndicate. Winner: Scott Adams for "Dilbert".
Reuben Awards Rules
(That bubbling sound you may be hearing might be my ulcer,
which I'm trying to control, in order not to break my New Year's resolution
to stop dissing you-know-who for what.) The following paragraph from Article
X of the NCS By-Laws, should explain my attitude to anyone with a grasp
of the English language.
Reuben - Statuette to be presented to the "OUTSTANDING
CARTOONIST OF THE YEAR" (Caps mine) by Rube Goldberg or Presidential
succession at our Annual Awards Dinner. Winner will be decided by paid up
members of the National Cartoonists Society by secret ballot in two votes.
The first to narrow a selection from all cartoonists to a list of three
names. A second vote to select the winner from those final three names.
(Yes, I noticed that there were four names this year. I presume this was
due to a tie between two of the cartoonists on the second ballot.)
As it should, NCS does not reveal who tied, or how many
votes each nominee received. Only one Reuben is awarded each year, unless
there is a tie between the top vote getters. In this case, two Reubens would
be awarded, as happened only once in 1969, when Johnny Hart and Pat Oliphant
tied for the 1968 Reuben and each received the prized statuette.
A new rule states that a cartoonist can only win one Reuben
in a lifetime. It is a rule I agree with, mainly because it opens the award
up to many who might not otherwise win this coveted statue.
However, it does present a problem that the NCS board may
have overlooked. For instance, Jim Borgman won the 1993 Reuben for his fine
editorial cartoons, but would be unable to win another for his equally great
work on "Zits" with Jerry Scott, which is probably seen by far
more people then his editorial cartoons, leaving fans who don't know about
the single Reuben win in a lifetime rule wondering why he is not being honored
with a Reuben statuette.
(Editors note --an exception in the rules already exists to allow
a second Reuben award for work in a different category.)
Should the rules be amended to allow cartoonists in different
categories a second win (one in each category) and include writers like
Scott, who is also a fine cartoonist, to have their names on awards (This
is to be put to a vote of the entire membership in the near future). If
this amendment is accepted by the NCS members, would both the artist and
writer receive a Reuben, or only the artist half of the team? Certainly
these are not easy questions to answer. They may even require the wisdom
of a Solomon.
In general I'm for writers, who are equal co-creators,
receiving these awards and having their name on awards. Without the writer,
many strips throughout the years wouldn't exist. But this is a call that
may have to be made on an individual basis.
Reuben Journal
CAPSers David Folkman and his partner in crime Mell Lazarus,
once again produced a beautiful Reuben Journal. This year's issue focused
on, what else--Hollywood.
It is a cover-to-cover laugh riot featuring movie posters
with cartoonist's phizzes morphed in to replace those of the actual stars
and the names of NCS members shown in place of the stars, supporting casts,
directors, et al.
As with MAD magazine, you have to read all the small print
to appreciate the real humor in this journal. My name is on the Superman
poster that features another CAPS member.
Rumor has it that next year's Ruben Journal is titled "Days
of Swine and Grosses," an epic tale of a cartoonist's valiant struggle
with his syndicate for ownership and a better percentage deal.
Reuben Planning Views
It was not announced where the 1999 Reubens will be held,
but several places are under consideration and have to be checked out.
Personally, I feel the NCS has to start working on this
more than a year in advance, like the Association of American Editorial
Cartoonists has done for many years.
This was the first Reuben weekend I was involved in working
on and the logistics are unimaginable, especially in trying to set-up activities
away from the hotel.
Our local NCS chapter had only one meeting to get ideas
on what to do for the Thursday preceding and Sunday afternoon following
the event and never met again.
CAPer Zeke Zekley attempted to get a party at the Playboy
Mansion, but was turned down due to Hefner's pending divorce. He then tried
for a cartoonists night at Dodger Stadium and a cocktail party at the Palm
Restaurant in Beverly Hills. The Dodgers turned us down and The Palm said
they were out of blank walls to draw on.
Fortunately, CAPSer and former NCS president Mell Lazarus
and his wife, Sally stepped in to save Thursday evening, by hosting a cocktail
party at their house for the early out-of-town arrivals.
CAPSer Chad Frye and I both attempted to get a tour or
screening at Disney Studios, that also fell apart. Universal Studios turned
me down flat, when I talked to a P.R. man that CAPSer Gary Owens told me
to call.
Part of the problem here was that Disney is closed on Saturday
and both studios wanted to know how many people were coming (we could only
say that about 500 people were expected and did not know how many of these
would want to take a tour, or if any of the cartoonists would be willing
to give lectures or chalk talks.
Mort Drucker came in early and gave a sold out demonstration
at Disney on Wednesday, but it's not known who arranged for that.
I have no idea of what other NCS chapter members tried
to arrange, but know that Mell Lazarus and David Folkman had their hands
full with the Reuben Journal and goody bags.
Likewise, CAPSer Scott Shaw!, who oversaw the matting and
display of all Reuben nominee artwork. Which, in my opinion, was one of
the best displays NCS ever had.
This is not meant to criticize anyone, but rather to point
out that a longer preparation time may be needed. The local chapter should
also be given specific times they can use for extra outside activities.
The local chapter also needs a deadline date to get information
on these extra activities back to the NCS president, so it can be approved
and publicized in the Reuben mailing, before members make their plane and
hotel reservations.
The local chapter also needs to appoint one person who
knows the overall plan and can pass information back to the NCS president
and he to them. This person then has to get this information back to the
local members, so we avoid stepping on each others toes on what we try to
set up.
NCS president, George Breisacher, probably got driven nuts
by multiple phone calls and messages. He is to be complimented for his help
and never losing his cool.
The NCS should also look into having a separate price for
the Reuben Awards dinner only. Many retired members, have told me they only
have Social Security for income.
They would love to attend when the event is close to where
they live, but say they can't afford to pay $300 plus for them and their
spouse for a three or four day weekend, plus the high prices of a hotel
room.
In many cases they would be glad to pay for the dinner
only, so they could come and visit with old friends they haven't seen in
many years.
This is a fault that should be addressed and corrected
for future Reuben weekends.
Health Insurance Views
Widows of some NCS members have told me that the society
should set up a committee to talk with syndicates about providing a pension
when that person dies.
Perhaps this could be done along the lines of profit sharing
plan, as many large companies do with their employees, where both the creator
and syndicate contribute a percentage of the earnings on a strip. Such a
plan could probably include assistants and letters, etc.
To avoid accounting problems, a plan of this type may have
to wait until a strip reached its third or fifth birthday and the syndicate
had a reasonable assurance it would continue. Perhaps health insurance could
become a part of this type of plan.
Milt Gross Fund
Profits, if any, from the Reuben Awards weekend go to
the NCS Milt Gross Fund. The Society's own charity, that comes to the aid
of needy cartoonists.
The Milt Gross fund deserves your support. Like the Motion
Picture Relief Home, it helps cartoonists to take care of their own (including
those who are not NCS members).
I urge you to support this charity by remembering it in
your will, as I have done, or by sending your check made out to: Milt Gross
Fund, Harry Devlin, Chairman, 443 Hillside Ave., Mountainside, N.J. 07092.
Donations are completely tax deductible. Unlike many other
charities, all money goes to help needy cartoonists. Nothing is deducted
for fund raising expenses, salaries, or other costs.
Hogan's Alley
Among the many gift items in the NCS Goody-Bag, was a copy
of Hogan's Alley #5. I haven't had a chance to read this issue yet, but
some of these articles may interest you.
Howard Pyle and the art of Hal Foster; Krazy Kat's First
Brick; an interview with one of Disney's original "Nine Old Men,"
Marc Davis; a pictorial sampling of Clare Briggs cartoons; Barry Windsor
Smith on storytelling and an interview with Jim Scancarelli, who continues
the "Gasoline Alley" legacy begun by Frank O. King.
This barely scratches the surface of this fine magazine.
It is a book that deserves your support, if you wish to see it continue.
Yes, it has had its growing pains. Started as a quarterly five years ago,
it became an annual. But thanks to the dogged tenacity and determination
of Tom Heintjes and David Folkman, it continues to amuse, educate and entertain
its readers.
David Folkman tells me they plan to get at least two issues
of Hogan's Alley out this year and get back on schedule in the near future.
But your help and support is needed.
Single issues are $5.95 U.S., $6.95 Canada, Four issue
sub $18.95 (Canadian and Foreign price not given). Send your check and order
to: Hogan's Alley, P.O. Box 47684, Atlanta, Ga. 30362.
Reuben Media Coverage
The Los Angeles Times, Daily News and television media
did the usual rotten job of covering the Reuben Awards weekend event, that
was attended by almost 500 members of the National Cartoonists Society,
spouses and their friends. Especially when compared to such other entertainment
shows as the Oscar's, Emmy's, Tony's and Grammy's, etc.
The Daily News ran a one-page pre-Reuben story on Thursday,
April 23, that was picked up from the San Gabriel Valley Tribune.
But did no follow-up on the weekend or the award winners.
This despite the fact that I personally made a number of phone calls to
the paper's city desk, feature department and columnist Dennis McCarthy,
in addition to having a friend who works at the Daily News notify those
who should be interested. Not one person bothered to return my calls, to
ask for additional information.
To me, as a former newspaperman, this doesn't say much
for a daily newspaper that purports to cover the news of the valley better
than the larger L.A. Times. And I've been a subscriber for about twenty
years.
Mell Lazarus told me that the Times feature section editor,
a NCS member, was working on them to get coverage. This resulted only in
one decent sized story on Sunday, April 26, that was buried in the Metro
section. It only mentioned Adams as the Reuben winner, but nothing about
the other awards, or who won them.
The story did relate how the NCS was forced to scrap and
burn T-shirts and goody bags, that had already been imprinted with a whimsical
Patrick McDonnell cartoon reminiscent of the MGM studio logo, with his "Mutts"
characters in place of the roaring lion.
Even a plea from Mell Lazarus, failed to have MGM lift
the cease and desist order and it cost $3,000 to redesign and reprint the
shirts and bags at the last minute. I wonder if a request from cartoonists
to their fans, via the Web to boycott MGM films for a year would show our
thanks?
I don't know what kind of coverage the Reubens received
in other parts of the country, or around the world, but if it was more than
a few inches, we were lucky.
Granted, comics may not be as important as they were in
the early part of this century. But they are still among any newspaper's
top circulation builders, or you can bet they wouldn't be given the two
to four page news hole they now enjoy. This, in spite of the fact that comics
are squeezed and squashed down to an almost unreadable size
Hell, Garry Trudeau gets more ink with one of his "Doonesbury"
gaffes by accident, then NCS can get on purpose.
It seems to me that NCS is in bad need of a P.R. person
who knows how to get coverage for them. Perhaps someone like Editor &
Publisher's David Astor, who could handle this on a freelance basis. David
knows the cartoonists and they him. He also knows the newspaper business
and the best way to get the free publicity that NCS needs. Not to forget
that he is one of the best reporters in our field.
This year's Reubens and a number of cartoonists were interviewed
and taped for a future television show on the funnies. An air date was not
announced.
Rechin Accident
Bill Rechin, co-creator of the "Crock" comic
strip with Don Wilder for North America Syndicate, almost lost his left
hand in an accident with a power saw while doing woodwork, after he catching
his shirtsleeve in the moving blade.
The nearly severed hand was reattached. Rechin is recovering
and expects to regain about 80% of the full use of the hand. Fortunately,
Bill draws with his right hand and Vermin P. Crock will continue to abuse
Figowitz and the other legionnaires with his iron fist, for the amusement
of comics fans worldwide.
Pulitzer Prize Goes to Breen
Miracles do happen...sometimes. On April 14 the Pulitzer
Prize Award for Editorial Cartooning went to Stephen P. Breen, 27, of the
Asbury Park (N.J.) Press.
What makes this time unusual is that Breen, a former high
school teacher, was hired as a one-day-a-week editorial cartoonist in 1994--provided
he spend the other four days as a paginator, using a computer to design
copy, photos and headlines into pages.
Breen said it was a job he was terrible at, getting the
night editor mad and tried his best to work his way out of the job. He succeeded
in late 1996, becoming the medium sized papers full-time editorial cartoonist
and getting syndicated by Copley News Service in early 1997 as part of a
package that goes to 500 newspapers.
The Pulitzer jury had selected Paul Conrad, L.A. Times
Syndicate; Jeff Mac Nelly, Chicago Tribune and Joel Pett, Lexington (Ky.)
Herald-Leader as the three finalists and forwarded their choices to the
Pulitzer Board.
Breen had been told he did not make it as a finalist, but
in a surprised (though not unprecedented) move the 19-member Pulitzer Board,
who picks the winners, exercised its prerogative to reject all three finalists
and asked the head of the cartoon jury for other well-regarded candidates,
ultimately selecting Breen.
Breen was quietly drawing in his newsroom cubicle when
reporters saw the news appear on their computers, pointed to him and stood
up and cheered. "I thought it was a joke. Your mind is spinning and
you don't know what to think."
This was the first Pulitzer for a Press staffer, coming
less than a year after Gannett Co. bought the paper from family owners.
It was also the first awarded to a New Jersey journalist in 24 years.
Before the Pulitzer, Breen was planning to marry his fiancee,
Cathy in late May and honeymoon in Hawaii. He noted that with the $5,000
prize and a matching $5,000 from the Press will help fund an upgrade.
Breen also noted that a lot of medium sized papers, like
the Press, have the means to hire an editorial cartoonist, but choose not
to. He hopes his win may spark at least some of these dailies to reconsider.
Breen describes himself as an "extreme moderate."
By way of example he says he is for gun control and against abortion. He
now draws five or six cartoons a week. About two-thirds of them are on national
and international topics, the rest have local, regional or statewide themes.
Breen grew up in California, he earned a B.A. in political
science from U.C. at Riverside in 1992, then unable to find a cartooning
job in a field with few openings, he earned a history teaching degree, before
landing the Press job.
He was tipped to the Asbury Press job by Jimmy Margulies,
cartoonist for the Bergen County, N.J. Record.
The Pulitzer wasn't Breen's first honor. While in college
he received both the Charles M. Schulz Award from the Scripps Howard Foundation
and the John Locher Award from the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists.
Sherffius to St Louis
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch announced they selected John
Sherffius of the Ventura (Calif.) Star and Scripps Howard News Service as
their new editorial cartoonist. He succeeds Tom Engelhardt, who retired
Jan. 1 after 35 years with the Post-Dispatch.
You may recall that the paper used a panel of Pulitzer
Prize winning cartoonists, including Jim Borgman of the Cincinnati Enquire,
Doug Marlette of Long Island, N.Y. Newsday, Mike Peters of the Dayton Daily
News and Signe Wilkinson of the Philadelphia Daily News to help in the selection
process last February.
After narrowing the field to three finalists and interviewing
them, the paper picked Sherffius, who had been with the Star six years and
worked his way up from graphic artist to editorial cartoonist.
The 36-year-old artist earned a bachelor's degree in psychology
from UCLA. After getting interested in editorial cartooning, he went on
to earn another bachelor's in art from Cal State Northridge. After graduation,
he was unable to find a job in editorial cartooning and freelanced during
much of his 20s.
Sherffius also does a comic strip, "County Tails"
for the Star and said he will miss the paper. He planned to start work in
April, but return to the West Coast in May (when his wife--L.A. Times reporter
Stephanie Simon--is due to give birth). He hopes to submit cartoons from
California until moving to St. Louis in the summer.
AAEC Convention in Las Vegas
It would appear that the Association of American Editorial
Cartoonist, like the NCS, has taken to heart the advise of Horace Greeley
and is heading West for their convention at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas,
June 24-27.
Editorial cartoonists Michael Ramirez, L.A. Times and AAEC
president and host Mike Smith, Las Vegas Sun, with an adroit assist from
Amanda Davis and Shannon Parham seem to have arranged for a great time for
these ink dippers.
Thursday evening, June 25, Black Tie Optional. The AAEC
and Opportunity Village will host a gala Art of the Matter cocktail party,
dinner and silent cartoon art auction. Some AAEC members will provide caricatures
of guests. Guest speaker is Shimon Peres, former Prime Minister of Israel
and entertainment may possibly include Las Vegas showgirls, Radio City Rockettes
and Legends in Concert.
A number of other meetings and events are scheduled throughout
the convention. Here are some of the highlights.
June 24, AAEC Board Meeting, Locher Meeting, Opening Reception/Cartoon
Exhibit/Book Sale, sponsored by Pelican Publishing Co.
June 25, Continental Breakfast/Portfolio Review. A discussion
on the Future of the Editorial Page with editors and cartoonists Ranan Lurie
and Jim Morin. Is Affirmative Action Still Necessary in America? Luncheon
and address by Steve Forbes, sponsored by Copley News Service. Afternoon
open. Evening, Art of the Matter Reception.
June 26, Continental Breakfast and Portfolio Review. Discussion,
Editorial Cartooning Today, featuring Paul Conrad, Mike Luckovitch, Michael
Ramirez and Tom Toles. Gambling: Pros and Cons, the effects of gambling
on a state locality. The Trials and Tribulations of a Mob Lawyer. How to
Get Syndicated. Featuring John B. Matthews, United Media; Mark Mathes, Tribune
Media Services; Mike Santiago, Creators Syndicate; Jerry Robinson, Cartoonists
and Writers Syndicate; Lee Salem, Universal Press and Bob Witty, Copley
News Service. Evening: Optional shows at either Caesars or Monte Carlo.
June 27, Continental Breakfast/Portfolio Revue. AAEC Business
Meeting. Innovations in Cartooning: Non-traditional cartooning, comic strips,
other venues for selling cartoons and computers. One on One Computer Training.
Afternoon: Official Golf Tournament or free afternoon. Evening: Cocktail
Reception and Closing Banquet (coat and tie), Sponsored by the Las Vegas
Sun. President's Remarks, Locher Award, Ink Bottle Award, Golden Spike Award
and Lifetime Achievement Award, Keynote Address and AAEC President's Party.
New Strip from Chris Cassat
Creators Syndicate has announced its latest comic strip
release, "Downe the Tubes" by Chris Cassatt. The strip appears
to have started April 6, but it was not announced what papers have bought
it. It is not in either of the two Los Angeles papers as yet.
The strip features the Downe family, Eldon and Laverne,
two teen-age kids, Andy and Kelly and a yellow lab dog.
Chris Cassatt has been a cartoonist for more than 20 years.
He works with Jeff MacNelly on "Shoe" and created and maintains
his Web site. He is also an editorial cartoonist for the Aspen (Colo.) Times
and has an advertising services business that uses the latest computer technology
to produce brochures, catalogs and magazine ads.
Exhibition in Brea, California
The City of Brea (Calif.) Gallery has announced an exhibition,
Cartoon Mania: The Art of the Comic Book for June 19 to July 31, 1998. The
exhibit name is misleading, in that it is intended to encompass comic strips,
cartoons and animation as well.
The gallery is seeking the loan of artwork, comic books,
cels and other collectible cartoon related items for use in the exhibit.
Members wishing to take part or wishing additional information can contact:
City of Brea Gallery, Brea Civic & Culture Center, 1 Civic Center Circle,
Plaza Level, Dianna Rivera, 714-990-7736, Wed.-Fri. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. for further
information. Material is needed by June 5.
The Brea Gallery states that the building is designed to
house high security exhibits and is equipped with security and alarm systems.
All items will be covered in Plexiglas to insure their safety and protection.
They are immediately adjacent to 24-hour police protection within the Civic
and Culture Center.
All exhibits are insured through the American Federation
of Art in San Francisco. Shipping costs will be covered by the gallery.
Gallery labels will reflect the origin of all artwork loaned for this exhibit.
"Betty" Wins Religious Award
Gary Delainey and Gerry Rasmussen, the writer-artist team
for the NEA distributed comic strip "Betty," won the Wilbur Award
presented by the Religious Public Relations Council on April 28.
Delainey and Rasmussen, who were unable to accept the award
in person stated, "Incorporating religious themes into the strip was
a challenge because we want to keep `Betty' light and amusing without getting
heavy or preachy."
"Betty" is distributed by Newspaper Enterprises
Association, a United Media company to over 600 newspapers, but does not
run in Los Angeles. Members can see this humorous comic strip in the copyright
books that are brought to every meeting.
Animators Declare War Against Nickelodeon
Local 839 of the Motion Picture Cartoonists Union declared
war on Nickelodeon's two-month-old animation studio in Burbank, accusing
the cable giant of offering inadequate pay and benefits.
The union's two-page ad in Daily Variety spoofed Nickelodeon's
ads that ran when the studio opened. The ads trumpeted such amenities as
a miniature golf course and proclaimed the network was opening the facility
with the goal of "spoiling" the artists so that they could do
their best work.
The parody ad depicted Viacom chief Sumner Redstone as
a topiary figure about to hit a golf ball off the backside of an artist,
whose mouth is taped shut. A sign on the studio gate reads "NO UNIONS."
"Nick loves to talk about its golf course and latte
machines, but its hard working artists deserve more from a world-class Hollywood
studio," the union's ad said. Whenever Nick wants to sit down and negotiate
a contract with wage minimums, overtime and portable benefits, we're ready
and willing."
Steve Hulett, business manager for the union, said Nickelodeon's
management has refused requests to negotiate a contract despite contentions
by the union that studio may be breaking the law by not paying overtime
to many of the employees who are not lead artists.
Hulett added that many employees are being paid as much
as $200 less per week than union minimums, which require $1,174 weekly for
animators, background and layout artists and model designers and $998 for
assistant storyboard artists. He acknowledged that the top tier of Nickelodeon
artists are paid over those minimums.
Hulett estimated that 85 percent of Hollywood's 3,200 animators
are covered by union contracts, including those at DreamWorks SKG, Hanna-Barbera,
Universal and Warner Bros. (What, no Disney?) Wonder what would happen if
strip cartoonists could get this union to negotiate for them with syndicates?
Many earn far less than the above minimums.
OBITUARIES
John J. Sikela, 91, died at New Life St. Joseph Hospice
in Lorain, Oh. on March 23. His work for DC Comics included Superboy #1
in 1949 and a long run on the title in the latter half of the 1950s. He
also drew stories for Adventure Comics and ghosted some issues of Superman.
According to Ron Goulart's Encyclopedia of American Comics, Sikela illustrated
the Siegel and Shuster series "Funnyman" both in the comic book
and comic strip forms.
Born in Slovakia, Sikela had lived in Avon, Oh. for 50
years and had previously lived in Lakewood, Oh.
He served in the US Army during World War II in Europe
and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. He was a member of the Disabled American
Veterans. Tony Isabella.
Lee Elias, 77, died April 8 in a nursing home in Indiana.
Born in England and raised in New York City, Elias studied art at Cooper
Union and the Art Students League. He began drawing comic books in 1943
for Fiction House and Wings Comics. He later became better known for his
work on the "Black Cat," a Hollywood star who disguised her self
in a mask, revealing costume and fishnet stockings to fight crime in Harvey
Comics.
In 1952, with writer Jack Williamson, Elias co-created
the science-fiction comic strip "Beyond Mars," a special Sunday
strip that ran only in the New York Daily News until 1955 and was never
syndicated. Shel Dorf later reprinted at least two or three books of these
strips in his series of Blackthorn book on old comic strips, introducing
the strip to a wider audience that had never seen them.
Elias later ghosted "Li'l Abner" for two years,
then worked on comic books until he retired in 1980. His art style imitated
Caniff's art better than anyone I can think of and it is my belief that
he ghosted many of the "Steve Canyon" comic books. I always felt
he would have made a perfect replacement for Caniff on "Terry."
Dorf learned that Elias had suffered a stroke in the 1980s
and his son, Dr. Joel N. Elias had moved him to a home in Indiana, to better
care for him.
Elias was a member of the National Cartoonists Society
and is survived by his widow, Winifred Ogden Elias, his children Karen Elias
Cooper, Adrienne Wolfe, Joel and three grandchildren.
Alex Schomburg, died April 7 in Newburg, Ore., where he
had lived since 1962. Born May 10, 1905 in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, he moved
to New York City in 1912.
Schomburg and his three brothers began a commercial art
service. He started illustrating for Hugo Gernsback's Science and Invention
magazine in 1925, did movie promotion art and covers and illustrations for
pulp magazines.
In the 1940s he started in comic books, doing covers for
Timely on The Human Torch, Young Allies and Marvel Mystery Comics. He was
known for his jam-packed action art.
In the 1950s he left comics and concentrated on illustrating
for science-fiction magazines. In later years he was kept busy recreating
color paintings of his comic book covers for fans, who remembered his work. | 
