Top 10 Issues of The Comics Journal: #38 Part Two

STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP (page 13):
Here are some numbers that reflect the circulation of the tabloid-version of THE COMICS JOURNAL, contrast these with the statement on the contents page (page 5) of "Paid Circulation: 9,000" for the magazine-version.
"Statement of Ownership, Management and Circulation (required by 39 U.S.C. 3685)
1. Title of publication: THE COMICS JOURNAL
2. Date of filing: 1 Oct. 1977
3. Frequency of issue: BI-MONTHLY
A. No. of issues published annually: 6
B. Annual subscription price: $1.80
4. Location of known office of publication: 9308 CHERRY HILL ROAD, COLLEGE PARK, MD 20740
5. Location of the headquarters or general offices of the publishers: SAME
6. Names and addresses of publisher, editor, and managing editor:
Publisher: FANTAGRAPHICS, INC., 9308 CHERRY HILL ROAD, COLLEGE PARK, MD 20740. Editor: GARY G. GROTH, SAME
Managing editor: J. MICHAEL CATRON, SAME
7. Owner (If owned by a corporation, it's name and address must be stated and also immediately thereunder, the names and addresses of stockholders owning or holding 1 percent or more of total amount of stock. If not owned by a corporation, the names and addresses of the individual owners must be given. If owned by a partnership or other unicorporated firm, its name and address, as well as that of each individual must be given.): FANTAGRAPHICS, INC., CHERRY HILL ROAD, COLLEGE PARK, MD 20740
1) GARY G. GROTH, SAME
2) J. MICHAEL CATRON, SAME
8. Known bondholders, mortgages, and other security holders owning or holding 1 percent or more of the total amount of bonds, mortgages or other securities (If there are none, so state): NONE
9. [...]
10. Extent and nature of circulation:
A. Total no. copies printed (net press run):
Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months: 3, 157
Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date: 3,500
B. Paid circulation:
1. Sales through dealers and carriers, street vendors and counter sales:
Average no. copies during preceding 12 months: 125
Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date: 500
2. Mail Subscriptions:
Average no. copies during preceding 12 months: 2, 632
Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date: 2, 682
C. Total paid circulation (sum of 10B1 and 10B2):
Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months: 2,757
Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date: 3,182
[D.]Free distribution by mail, carrier or other means. Samples, complimentary, and other free copies:
Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months: 206
Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date: 268
E. Total distribution (sum of C and D):
Average no. copies each issue during the preceding 12 months: 2,963
Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date: 3,450
F. Copies not distributed:
1. Office use, left over, unaccounted, spoiled after printing:
Average no. copies each issue during the preceding 12 months: 194
Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date: 50
2. Returns from news agents:
Average no. copies each issue during the preceding 12 months: ----
Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date: ----
G. Total (Sum of E, F1 and 2 should equal net press run shown in A):
Average no. copies each issue during the preceding 12 months: 3,157
Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date: 3,500
11. [...]
12. [...]"

COMICS REVIEWS (page 14-15 18-19):
-"Steel and Fire from Conway" (page 14-15) by Gene Phillips [STEEL 1 and FIRESTORM 1 by Gerry Conway] This was Mr. Phillips second review for the JOURNAL, he had previously reviewed THOR in #35. (source Peter Coogan)
-"Women's Lib and DC" (page 15) by Marilyn Jo Bethke [SHOWCASE 97 (Power Girl)] This was Marilyn Bethke's first contribution to the JOURNAL, she became a powerful voice in future issues especially valuable (in my opinion, at least) as an interviewer (Joe Staton: #45 and Howard Chaykin: #51, off the top of my head). This review is fairly conservative with some perceptive analysis of the incompatibility of the Joe Staton and Joe Orlando art team. Although she does get in a nice paragraph in the middle of the review, on feminism: "Power Girl's statements reek of token feminism, stereotyped 'women's lib' behavior, which has nothing to do with real sexism, feminism, or liberation. The condescension of 'Come to Momma' on page two and the reverse sexism of 'You men -- always making problems...' on page six are examples of a particularly disgusting new women's stereotype, the 'libber.' Such distortion of feminism and its issues does nothing more than hurt all feminists, women and men, and turn women's (and men's) liberation from a serious, important, and complex issue into an over-simplified cliche.[...]" (page 15, column two) (excerpt (c)2009 Marilyn Bethke)
-"The Schlumps and the Spacecraft: A Grouse at Close Encounters" (pages 18-19) by Dennis O'Neil [review of CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND by the comics writer and editor]

FEATURE:
"Asterix: 'These Frenchmen Are Crazy!'" (pages 20-22 25-30) by Dwight R. Decker
I. "These Gauls are Crazy"
[Introduction to the basics of the ASTERIX album series and it's two main characters.]
II. Background
[Historical perspective on Rene Goscinny and Albert Uderzo's work before ASTERIX, the early days of ASTERIX in "Pilote" magazine, and it's place among then contemporary French comics.]
III. The Creators
[Short biographies of Rene Goscinny and Albert Uderzo]
IV. The World of Asterix
[The intersections of ASTERIX'S fictional world and historical France.]
V. The Players
[Character descriptions of Asterix, Obelix, Dogmatix, Getafix, Cacophonix, and Vitalstatistix.]
VI. How to Read Asterix
[A reader's guide on where to start reading this (even 32 years ago!) long-running series.]
VII. Critique
[Mr. Decker goes over a few weaknesses of the ASTERIX series.]

sidebar 1: ASTERIX FILMOGRAPHY
"Asterix the Gaul" (1968)

via
"Asterix and Cleopatra" (1970)

via
"The Twelve Tasks of Asterix" (1976)

via
sidebar 2: ASTERIX CHECKLIST [link to gallery of all english editions of ASTERIX, click on "Universalis" and choose English]
sidebar 3: Don Rosa: illustration [Tribute to Rene Goscinny (1926-77) upon his death, featuring all the major ASTERIX characters]

THE COMICS JOURNAL (c)2009 Fantagraphics Books Inc.
Our examination of THE COMICS JOURNAL #38 concludes next time (thrill to Gary Groth's review of ALLEGRO NON TROPPO)...

Top 10 Issues of The Comics Journal: #38

Introduction: This is the first installment of my in-depth examination of the "Top 10" issues of THE COMICS JOURNAL in chronological order. Following is my experiment with applying the template of a TCJ index over a "link" structure much like the "Love and Rockets Links" feature. Maybe this is a bad idea, it's certainly a lot more labor intensive than I had projected. I am trying to track down the writers in this issue, anybody knowing the whereabouts of Dwight Decker, in particular, please send a comment. Thanks. -Gary Usher 1/12/10

THE COMICS JOURNAL 38 (February 1978)
Fantagraphics Inc., College Park, MD
GARY GROTH Executive Editor/Art Director
KIM THOMPSON Editor/Circulation Director
"Special thanks to JOHN CORNELL and BOB AULL for their invaluable artistic assistance, and to MARK DIEVENDORF for his editorial assistance." (page 5)

COVER:
"Star Hawks" by Gil Kane, his major project for 1978 was this comic strip written by science-fiction author/comics historian Ron Goulart. Mr. Kane also worked varied jobs at Marvel Comics Group including covers and filler stories for various titles, and pencilling stints on DAREDEVIL and JOHN CARTER WARLORD OF MARS. source

NEWSWATCH (pages 7-11):
*"DC News" pages 7 9 10 (mostly on the fallout of cancelled and new titles introduced after the DC Implosion. I believe this was around when that collapse occurred, anyway. Where's John Wells when you need him??)
*"DC Announces Format Change: 50cent-40 Page Books in June" pages 8 9
-sidebar: "The Story of 40 Page Comics" (a rare look into the mechanics of comic book printing)
-sidebar: "The Ever-Rising Cost of Comics" (history of prices and formats from the 1950s to 70s)
**On the "Superman" movie (page 10): "The world premiere of the SUPERMAN film will be at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, at the Eisenhower Theatre, on June 11 [1978] as a benefit for the Special Olympics.[...]"

*"Marvel News" pages 10 11: (movie adaptations, WHAT IF? creative teams, and various other creator announcements. Humble Beginnings Dept.: "...while, on the newcomers front, Frank Miller will pencil a Doc Samson backup story. "
**On the "Action Art Studios" (page 10): "This is also the reason for the creation of Tony and Mary DeZuniga's ACTION ART STUDIOS, which will help Marvel battle the Dreaded Deadline Doom by pencilling and inking terminally late jobs. The studio is composed mainly of New York-based artists, including some graduates from Buscema's and Kubert's cartooning schools, and is supervised by Alfredo Alcala, with Rudy Nebres giving the artists basic training. Currently the studio is working on the MARVEL CLASSICS line; the first few titles they are doing are ALICE IN WONDERLAND (pencilled by Ken Landgraf) and THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER (pencilled by Chuck Nanco and Ed Menji), and a fill-in inking job on NOVA. DeZuniga himself will be inking SPIDER-WOMAN and THOR, presumbably with the help of his new
Tribe."

*Obituary (page 11): JOHN VERPOORTEN (1940-December 18, 1977)

*"Alternative Comics Publishers News" page 11:
-John Workman promoted to Art Director of HEAVY METAL
-ETERNAL CHAMPION 3 story by Michael Moorcock, Mike Friedrich/art by Howard Chaykin a graphic novel to be published by Integrated Pierrot Press
-STAR*REACH adding color and changing format
-HEAVY METAL news
-GASM new magazine edited by Jeff Goodman. Notable contributors were to be Ben Katchor and Mark Wheatley.
-HOT STUF' 5 published by Sal Quartuccio. Notable contributor Richard Corben.
-WEIRD HEROES 8 and 9 news, announced the series sold for publication in Japan's COOL GUY MAGAZINE
-THE ILLUSTRATED ROGER ZELAZNY by Gray Morrow published, various publicity measures are listed
-EMPIRE story by Samuel Delaney/art by Howard Chaykin graphic novel published by Byron Preiss Visual Publications, Inc. [Here's a review of this book by modern TCJ critic Jog]
-Announcement of graphic novel written by Doug Moench and Theodore Sturgeon/art by Alex Nino to be released in the Summer of 1978. [MORE THAN HUMAN, serialized in HEAVY METAL]

(THE FIRST) BLOOD & THUNDER (page 13):
*Here we go, folks! Kim Thompson renamed the letters column "Blood & Thunder" with this issue, and it leads off with a letter from Larry Charet[this link will take you to a jpg file, top photo/far right figure is Larry Charet, photo posted by Joe Sarno] Chicago Comicon Convention Co-Chairman. He criticizes Stan Timmon's report on the Convention published in the previous issue (#37), and in classic B&T fashion Timmons is given a chance to respond. Tame stuff compared to later issues, but it's the beginning of something special.
*The other letter is a fan lament from Bill Cantey.

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