The Comix Files: Jacques Boivin and Canadian Free Speech

Montreal cartoonist Jacques Boivin and I were correspondents from 1985-1993. Although Jacques is an amazing and talented artist, I chiefly remember him for his struggle against Canadian customs. I've included just a few of the articles he sent in the early 1990s. You serious researchers will have to enlarge the images in order to read most of them.

Ciribiribin

From 1935 with a stripped down Art Deco cover.

Yup, the ol' Yeast Foam Program. That title sure has a nice ring to it, eh?

Stephanie McIntosh Sings Bacharach

Wishin' and Hopin'

The Comix Files: Greg Blair

Greg Blair of Emporia, Kansas sent me a number of original graphics during our 1983-1984 correspondence. Here's a sample.

Favorite Movie Quotes: The Limey

"You're not specific enough to be a person, you're more like a vibe."

Penny Serenade

Nice cover on this 1938 piece, but the illustrator's name has been cut off by the printer. The back cover has some fun ads.

Favorite Movie Quotes: La vita è bella = Life is Beautiful

"Nothing is more necessary than the unnecessary."

Nancy Sinatra Sings Bacharach

Wishin' and Hopin'

The Comix Files: Jamie Berggren

Minicomix artist Jamie Berggren originally wrote to me from Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1989 but at some point he moved to Girdwood, Alaska. He produced a minicomic called Jambo in 1990. In one letter Jamie tries his hand at drawing Morty the Dog.

Jeanie With the Light Brown Hair (I Dream of Jeanie)

An artist known simply as "NPS" illustrated this 1939 sheet music with simple lines. I like the minimalist portrayal of the landscape. Dale Evans is shown early in her career, long before she hooked up with Roy Rogers.

Donna Loren Sings Bacharach (1982)

Wishin' and Hopin'

The Comix Files: Steve Beaupre

Steve Beaupre and I had a brief correspondence in the early 1980s. Based in Hudson, Massachusetts, Steve was a co-editor with Steve Lafler in the Buzzard series. I liked the way Beaupre decorated the margins of his letters.

That Beautiful Home of the Rose

This 1922 piece from Portland, Oregon is another rare example of Pacific Northwest sheet music. Unfortunately all that I have from this collection is the front cover and verso images. The cover artist is not credited.

Phone photo 3190

When clam guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have clam guns

Donna Loren Sings Bacharach (1964)

Wishin' and Hopin'

The Comix Files: Lynda Barry

Lynda and I actually corresponded quite a bit in the 1970s, but a lot of it vanished throughout my many moves in that era. However, a few bits have survived. These are from 1975-1979. Lynda had sent me a photo of herself, taken in 1975, and cut out her face for reasons mysterious.

As I recall the postcard was hand-delivered.

Phone photo 3189

Moclips, Washington

Favorite Movie Quotes: The Last Castle

"Any man with a collection like this is a man who's never set foot on a battlefield. To him a minié ball from Shiloh is just an artifact. But to a combat vet, it's a hunk of metal that caused some poor bastard a world of pain."

Phone photo 3188

Barcarolle (From Tales of Hoffman)

A minimalist Art Deco cover on this 1935 sheet music. Phil Baker is looking pretty sharp there.

The Merseybeats Sing Bacharach

Wishin' and Hopin'