Postcard - Moscow, Idaho

"Since 1889, this progressive university has gained national distinction by stressing quality in its teaching, research, and service. The campus, inspirationally beautiful with its many ivy covered buildings and tree lined paths covers more than 1200 acres. The 18,000 seat Kibbie Dome is at upper left. Over 8,000 students are enrolled in 8 major colleges and a graduate school."

ca. 1980

Postcard - Moscow, Idaho

"The sign sets the theme for downtown Moscow, now that the through traffic has been diverted one block east and west. New curbs, traffic controls, and some parallel parking have all added to the shopping ease. Incorporated in 1877, Moscow soon became County Seat of Latah County and home of the University of Idaho in 1889."

Early 1980s.

Postcard - Moscow, Idaho

"The Nobby Inn - 'Home of Moscow's finest foods and beverages' - has been located on Main at Fifth since 1936. It is not far from the beautiful University of Idaho Campus, and has taken great pleasure in serving carefully selected foods prepared to please our many friends. Wayne Mayburry, Owner and Manager."

1960s. The Nobby Inn was still in Moscow in the mid-1980s, when I worked just across the border in Pullman. I ate there a few times. It was such a highly loved institution in the Palouse region I was surprised to read they closed up about a decade ago or so.

End of the Earth and Turn Left

This jam with Clint Hollingsworth was published by him under the Kage Comics label in Pullman, Washington, 1986 (I know, I know, the copyright statement says 1985, but it wasn't printed until 1986). I believe he only printed 50 copies in enlarged digest size.

I first met Clint when he was an employee of Kinkos in Pullman. I had seen one of his comics for sale in a comics shop in neighboring Moscow, Idaho and tracked him down as the only other self-publishing cartoonist in the area at the time. He was active in martial arts and his comic art reflected this interest. Clint later found a job with Washington State University, where I worked, and we sent this jam back and forth through inter-campus courier. I enjoyed visiting with him and having the opportunity to talk with another cartoonist in person while living at the left turn at the End of the Earth.

Today Clint lives in the central part of our state and, I'm happy to report, is still very active in drawing. I see by this link we share having an abundance of cats.

Trivia:

Page 5: I love the old eye poke.

Page 9: Those of us who were raised in the Puget Sound area used to joke about the "Aroma of Tacoma." In fact, once when I was a little kid we were going up to Seattle on Highway 99 and as we drove through Tacoma I announced, "I didn't do it!" But since the paper mills and other industries have vanished or cleaned up their act in the past couple decades, the aroma is almost gone.

Page 10: Leavenworth, Washington is Clint's hometown.

Page 16, panel 1: Paraphrases from Camus and Sartre in this feelgood comic of the year.

Page 22, panel 6: Ignatz! George Herriman was one of my cartoonist heroes.

Page 24: Clint is making a reference to a then recently published jam I had with Brad Foster called One Normal Guy Talking With a Nut.

Page 25: "Use as tool for evil plan!" They just don't make sound effects in comix like that anymore.

Page 27: Actually I really did like Pullman. Working at WSU wasn't all that wonderful, however. And yes, being born in Spokane, I am a native of Eastern Washington.

Page 38, panel 4: Although I really hate it whenever this happens, I must say this bit by Clint is one of my favorite panels in the whole comic.

Inside back cover. A little plug for Will Shetterly. We regarded him as one of us independent press guys. In 1985-1986 Will was really becoming well known and we were excited to see one of our own make it big. I still have my signed copy of Will's first book, Cats Have No Lord, which considering the title makes Will's "Viva Morty" inscription sort of ironic!