Bezango WA 985 #6

1st ed., September 1, 2002, 40 copies, blue cover.

Print-on-demand for a short period starting November 16, 2002.

1st Danger Room Reprint Ed., June 2005. 5 copies (1 red, 1 blue, 1 green, 1 yellow, 1 pink).

The "It's the Arts" themed issue.

Trivia. Page 4: Based on a real performer I witnessed at The Evergreen State College open mic night in the student center in the 1970s. Page 6: Those twin WPPSS towers are still standing today. Incredible. Page 9: Homer T. Bone was a real person, another colorful character who represented Washington State in that other Washington. Page 13: McCleary has had several newspapers in the history of the town. One of them was called, and I'm not kidding, The McCleary Stimulater. And the Capitol Theater in Olympia was the inspiration for this character. The place that is now the home of the Olympia Film Society (and where Peter Bagge and I held a panel discussion last summer) really did have a little plywood guy like the one described here. Page 14: Both of the real life examples of bulldozer art referenced here appear to be gone now.

Annex Theatre Exhibit 1988

When Seattle's Annex Theatre moved to more permanent digs, they celebrated by hosting an exhibit of local comix artists, Feb. 11-28, 1988. The artists were Peter Bagge, Michael Dougan, J.R. Williams, me, Mark Zingarelli and Triangle Slash. I'm told "Morty Wanted to be a Cow" and "Sinking Islands" were among several of my works on display, but I've never been to the Annex Theatre so I can't say. I think Michael Dowers had a lot to do with my work being in there.

Getting up to Seattle is a big trip for us simple Grays Harbor County folk. Interstate 5 is not a fun drive. Anyway, by Feb. 1988 my daughter's arrival was about halfway along so I was a bit preoccupied.

There is more to this booklet, but I've scanned the parts of interest to comix people. It is true I have some issues with comic art displayed in gallery settings. One of the strengths of our genre is the fact it has been an under the radar art form, and very abstract drawings and concepts can be universally accepted by a wider audience. Once the art establishment gets their mitts on it, the comix form begins to lose the punch in the nose quality that has made it so powerful for so long.

But, it speaks well of the Annex they chose comix as a way to celebrate. And look, they're still here!

Olympia Film Society Art Auction

OK, I have a copy of the catalog, but am unable to post it here. And apparently it isn't online yet.

It is scheduled for Oct. 1. Keep checking the OFS website for updated info.

There are two of us local comix guys in there. Jon Strongbow's entry is described thusly:

Jon Strongbow has donated an homage to
the Broadway Market and movie theater
that once existed in Seattle. The Masai
dancers are men who in leaping experience
weightlessness which is akin to flying.
Mantis is a mythological being who may
have created the entire human race.
http://www.jonstrongbow.com/

It's in color. I don't know the dimensions or medium.

Jon and I go way back to but it has been many years since we've seen each other. I think I last saw him at the Starhead farewell party in Ballard about 1997.

Here's the entry for yours truly:

Steve Willis is a librarian who also writes comics.
He has donated 5 new issues of Morty Comix to
the auction. Read about the series at Olyblog:
http://www.olyblog.net/guide-morty-comix

http://www.mortydog.blogspot.com/

The Cap Theater has also been one the venues for the Olympia Comix Fest for several years. In fact, Peter Bagge and I had a nice little forum on politics in comix there just a few months ago.