“…An animated altercation ensued (in which all took part) ensued among the F.O.T.E.I. as to whether the eighth or the ninth of March was the correct date of the birth of Ireland’s patron saint. In the course of the argument, cannonballs, scimitars, boomerangs, blunderbusses, stinkpots, meatchoppers, umbrellas, catapults, knuckledusters, sandbags, lumps of pig iron were resorted to and blows were freely exchanged. The baby policeman, Constable McFadden, summoned by special courier from Booterstown, quickly restored order and with lightning promptitude proposed  the seventeenth of the month as a solution equally honourable for both contending parties. The readywitted ninefooter’s suggestion at once appealed to all and was was unanimously accepted. Constable McFadden was heartily congratulated by all the F.O.T.E.I., several of whom were bleeding profusely.”

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Most of us working here on ULYSSES “SEEN” are based in Philadelphia, just a short ride into the Super-City. Wish I could be on-hand for this presentation there tonight though, and I encourage any friends and fellow cartoonists in the city to check it out;

The New York Center for Independent Publishing is hosting a roundtable discussion tonight “on how comics culture has promoted potent and memorable images of New York to readers worldwide.” The talk will be moderated by Peter Gutiérrez and includes Danny Fingeroth, Gene Kannenberg Jr. (who’s reviews will now be a regular feature on our ULYSSES “SEEN”  blog), Frank Tieri and Billy Tucci. Here’s a longer description of the event from Gene’s own blog with the “where, when and how much.” Stop by and remind the guys that NYC isn’t the only exciting spot in America for making comix. I would myself, but I’m stuck here in Philadelphia drawing Mr. Bloom!

-Rob

The Art of Ditko, by Craig Yoe. Introduction by Stan Lee. Yoe Books – IDW, 2009. ISBN 978-1600105425 (hc). 208pp.

Review by Gene Kannenberg, Jr.

Steve Ditko is best-known as the artist and co-creator of Spider-Man and Doctor Strange for Marvel Comics in the 1960s, his lithe, angular figures (with their expressive hands) defining those characters to this day. Comics cognoscenti also know him for various other superhero work at Marvel, DC Comics and Charlton Comics; his supernatural tales for various publishers, including Warren Publishing; and, most notoriously, his creator-owned work like Mr. A., based on the Objectivist philosophy of Ayn Rand.

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