Victor E. Hodge

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Glamazonia - The Uncanny Super-Tranny

"Glamazonia the Uncanny Super-Tranny is busting heads and breaking hearts! Watch as our heroine gains her powers from the bite of a radioactive drag queen, has a three-way with Fidel Castro and Che Guevara, and tussles with that witch, Power Princess. Comics have never been so fabulous!"
Glamazonia the Uncanny Super-Tranny by Justin Hall is a 136 page book that has been released from Northwest Press. I had the pleasure and honor of meeting Justin at the Small Press Expo a couple years back here in the DC area. (Rockville, MD is not DC. It just isn't.) Justin is one of the coolest queer cartoonist (outside of Jen Camper) that I have ever met. Plus, he does incredibly hot erotica. Not only is this dude incredibly talented, he's prolific. The man actually gets work done! And, his work is INCREDIBLE!!! (Plus, I hear that he's secretly ruling the West Coast in queer comics. Shhh.) Everyone would be doing themselves a disservice if they didn't pick up this book. A 30 page preview (Yes -- 30 pages!) is available here! It's available for purchase here! What's even more rewarding to me is that the book has special guests Dave Davenport (Hard to Swallow), Mari Naomi, Paige Braddock (Jane's World), Steve MacIssac (Shirtlifter), Diego Gomez and my own personal FAV, Rob Kirby (Curbside, Boy Trouble, Three). Plus, Justin has stuff --- or as he calls it --- "crap" (and, it's SO not) on his own site, All Thumbs Press for sale. Especially check out his incredible "True Travel Tales."

Justin, just to let you know, as always, I'm proud of you and always looking forward to more work from you. Keep gay comics alive!

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Brenda Starr Retires

After 70 years in the newspaper biz, Brenda Starr, Reporter is being retired by the Chicago Tribune. Writer, Mary Schmich and artist, June Brigman have decided to call it quits. Rather than find a new team, the Tribune has decided to cancel the strip. (I knew I should have finished that two year script! Brenda would have had story lines FOREVER! Starr Twinkle! Basil! Hank! B-Bomb! Pesky! Merrie Ryder! Wanda Fonda & Sage, etc. Didn't want to draw it --- just wanted to write it!) But, our beloved red headed reporter will not be forgotten. She is being commemorated in a new hard backed, full color compilation series of Sunday and Daily strips by Hermes Press in June 2011.

I have been wanting to write about Brenda on this blog for AGES, but every time I started --- I would honestly just get overwhelmed. Like now. She had SO much history. SO many adventures. So much of it SO incredible. She influenced me SO much in my life as a storyteller and cartoonist. I just wanted to do her justice. In the end, I don't know if I can. But, I will try. This is just a tid bit. Brenda's creator, Dale Messick was a genius (1906 - 2005). She changed her name from Dalia in order to get in the door and prove that a strong female lead could head a strip. Originally, Brenda was supposed to be a girl pirate. But, I'm glad that changed. She evolved into the glamorous red headed reporter that chased story after story, helped people, solved problems, then eventually met her Mystery Man. (Now ... she chased him for over 30 years, but still ... So, hang in there, gurls!) I hate to see her go, but I'm happy she's actually not going anywhere. Dale ... you did good, girl. It's about time you got more props. This is just the beginning !

Brenda Starr, Reporter

Being saved by The Mystery Man