1989/1990 Morty Award Nominations

The form from the MU Press folks. A snapshot of cartoonists from our genre of comix over two decades ago.

For the results, check out my post of May 12, Comics F/X Morty Awards

Outside In-Formation # 1

Mostly by Hal Hargit with some touches by Edd Vick, published by Miscellanea Unlimited, December 1988.

This is a history of the Outside In series midway through the run. Hargit and Vick stopped at issue # 30 and the title was handed to Bruce Chrislip, who was living in Seattle but had moved to Cincinnati by the time he decided to end the series with issue # 50 in June 2003. During Outside In's 20 year, 50-issue run, over 400 artists had contributed their self-portraits.

Move Over Superman, Make Way for Morty / by Johnny Dodd

A profile piece on Edd Vick and Miscellanea Unlimited Press from the University Herald (Seattle, Washington), February 7, 1990.

The "comics aren't just for kids anymore" was an expression journalists liked to use a lot when describing our kind of comix. I first started reading that phrase in the mid-1970s. Today, I think it is pretty much taken for granted there is a huge bloc of Boomers who never let go of the medium and comic art has grown up right alongside us as we spin through the mortal coil.

Johnny Dodd, the author of this article, apparently went on to write for People.

Miscellanea Unlimited Press Catalog

I think this MU Press catalog was produced in 1989. I believe Morty the Dog vol. 1 was, in fact, already published and distributed at the time this catalog was produced. Morty the Dog vol. 2 wouldn't be releashed (get it, a little dog publication wordplay, nyuk, nyuk) until 1991.

Morty the Dog vol. 2

Another compilation of reprints but the title moved up in the world since vol. 1 when it gained an ISSN.

Published in the spring of 1991, Peter Bagge wrote the intro for this one. He paid me a visit here in McCleary not too long before this was printed, and I can see the experience of stepping into Rural Land left deep emotional scars on his urban soul. Actually, it was pretty funny, and he is always an entertaining speaker and writer. I was honored to have such a prominent cartoonist introduce the comic.

Last summer Peter and I appeared together to talk about politics and comix at the Olympia Comic Fest.