Book Review: SNOOPY'S TENNIS BOOK

Charles Schulz incorporated sports into “Peanuts” strips. In SNOOPY’S TENNIS BOOK, Schulz gathers together a various strips featuring Snoopy playing tennis.  The book includes an introduction by Billy Jean King. Some of the strips are part of a series (such as Snoopy being paired with Molly Volley in a doubles tournament), but many are just single offerings. About half-way through the book, there is a series of colored sketches that feature “Snoopy at Wimbledon.” The end of the book features “Snoopy’s Tournament Tips” that is a collection of 17 tips from Snoopy about playing in a tennis tournament.  SNOOPY’S TENNIS BOOK is now more of a collector’s item, but it’s initial appeal is for fans of Snoopy and anyone who likes tennis.

SHREK THE MUSICAL

If you happen to be around the St. Louis area this weekend or next (July 24-26, July 31, Aug. 1-2), I recommend making a trip to Highland, IL to catch SHREK. It's the latest theatrical endeavor I've been involved with. The theatre group (Hard Road Theatre) is one I've been a part of for several years and I'm now the Executive Producer. This is our 15th Season as a company and SHREK marks the largest and biggest production we've ever tackled. We've gone all out and have gotten Broadway-style costumes, a massive 12" foot dragon, and lots more to bring this show to life. Plus, if you come you can see me as both an ogre and the Big Bad Wolf (who has a secret revealed in Act 2). It's a show you won't be disappointed in having seen. It's great for families, for a date night, or if you're just in the mood for some great entertainment. So, don't miss out. Come out and see SHREK THE MUSICAL!

Book Review: YOU'VE COME A LONG WAY, CHARLIE BROWN

YOU’VE COME A LONG WAY, CHARLIE BROWN is a collection of “Peanuts” strips that first appeared between the years 1974-1976. They are undated and there is unifying theme to the whole collection. There’s the usual stuff of Charlie Brown fretting over the red-haired girl, Charlie Brown waiting for Valentines that never arrive, Linus waiting for the Great Pumpkin, Lucy teaching Linus incorrect facts, and Schroeder playing his little piano. However, some of the longer story lines include a riot breaking out at the Daisy Hill Puppy Farm while Snoopy is delivering a speech; Snoopy becoming infatuated with the author of the “six bunny-wunnies” series; Peppermint Patty invited Snoopy to a school dance; and Charlie Brown letting Snoopy manage his baseball team for awhile. I’ve always enjoyed “Peanuts” and am a lifelong fan, so I enjoyed YOU’VE COME A LONG WAY, CHARLIE BROWN. Although most of “Peanuts” is timeless, Charles Schulz was never afraid of addressing current events in the strip. Therefore, there are a few strips that have dated references or parody things that don’t seem as relevant today (for instant the riot storyline with Snoopy was far more relevant in the early 1970s when Vietnam was still be protested). Other than those few instances, many of the strips in this collection of “Peanuts” are as timeless as ever.

A Good Egg

By: Jonny Hawkins

The Audition

1. Life is unfair.

2. Theatre is less fair than life.

3. Acting is the least fair part of theatre.

4.  Humans submit themselves to nothing less fair than the audition.

How To Catch a Flying Elephant

"The Argyle Sweater"  May 26, 2015

Habit Forming

 "The Argyle Sweater"    February, 19, 2013

The Tin Man Pays Up

"The Flying McCoys" April 20, 2011

Graphic Novel/Comic Review: THE FOX – FOX HUNT #1

Paul Patton is The Fox, a crime-fighting superhero of sorts. His wife and son know about his secret identity and all the good he has accomplished. Paul really wants to put his life of The Fox behind him, but he constantly finds himself involved in mysterious situations that only The Fox can seem to solve. For instance, while on a routine photography/social media assignment to his old hometown that's about to be bulldozed to make room for a water basin, Paul catches sight of a mysterious woman in green.  Something strange is going on and it's up to The Fox to find out what. I enjoyed reading THE FOX-FOX HUNT #1. It has a strange mix of mystical and realism that really plays around with the superhero format: it reminded me of an ANIMAL MAN story or DEADPOOL. I look forward to reading the rest of the series and finding out how the "Fox Hunt" will end.

Graphic Novel/Comic Review: THE BLACK HOOD #1

BLACK HOOD #1 is the origin story of a particular version of a crime fighter called The Black Hood. The story focuses around Greg Hettinger. Greg is just a normal cop in Philadelphia trying to do his job. He becomes a hero, loses half his face, and accidentally kills a vigilante called The Black Hood while on a routine stop near a public school. After months of therapy, he finds himself back on the force, but he is not at all himself. A series of unwise choices lead Greg into becoming what he thought he had killed. BLACK HOOD #1 is fairly straight-forward as action stories go. However, it is a bit more realistic in some aspects than other super-hero/crime-fighter stories, for instance illustrating how a pain medication addiction can affect one's behavior and cause a person to make strange choices. The story did keep my interest and I look forward to reading other parts of the tale.

Book Review: YOU CAN'T FIGHT CRAZY

YOU CAN'T FIGHT CRAZY is a collection of "Get Fuzzy" comic strips that ran in newspapers from Apr. 24, 2011 – July 14, 2012. "Get Fuzzy" usually includes a couple of longer running storylines and several week-long storylines. THE FUZZY BUNCH isn't any different in that regard to any other "Get Fuzzy" collection. A few of the storylines in this collection include Bucky writing his autobiography, Bucky invented a variety of fish-flavored junk and snack foods, and Bucky trying to harness the powers of a dead bat to become Batcat. Unlike many of the previous collections, this book focuses on just Rob, Bucky, and Satchel although a few other characters do make appearances. There's also the introduction of a completely new character, Astral Bob. Astral Bob is a cat who reads horoscopes. "Get Fuzzy" is usually at its best when it focuses on just Rob, Bucky, and Satchel. While still funny, YOU CAN'T FIGHT CRAZY isn't as hilarious as other "Get Fuzzy" collections are. For instance, the previous "Get Fuzzy" collection, THE FUZZY BUNCH, was a collection on par with the collections from the earlier years of the comic strip. YOU CAN'T FIGHT CRAZY doesn't quite live up to that level. Overall, YOU CAN'T FIGHT CRAZY is a decent collection of "Get Fuzzy" strips, but it's not quite on the same level as many of the other collections.

Book Review: PHOEBE AND HER UNICORN

A collection of the comic strips of the same name, PHOEBE AND HER UNICORN is about an eccentric and precocious little girl named Phoebe. One day while skipping rocks across a pond, Phoebe hits a unicorn in the face. This incident results in the unicorn, Marigold Heavenly Nostrils, to become best friends. Marigold shares in the adventures of Phoebe's life. Marigold is real, but no one is very impressed with her because of a magical "Shield of Boringness" that keeps people from being overwhelmed by her natural splendor. Although written from a young female perspective, PHOEBE AND HER UNICORN is a comic collection that both male and female readers or any age can enjoy. Although often compared to "Calvin and Hobbes" and "Peanuts", PHOEBE AND HER UNICORN is only similar to those strips because it revolves around a child and that, like those other strips, it contains some humor that can only be appreciated by adults.