Hi Comics Fan,
Welcome to the New Year! This Comics Update invites you to:
 Download New Wallpaper Designs
Send a Get Well E-Card
Send the New Animated Pearls Before Swine Cards
Enjoy an Interview with Betty Creators Delainey and Rasmussen
Guess Who Said That
Order A Calendar
Test Your Comics Knowledge
Discover A Comic Category
Start Thinking About Valentine's Day
Choose From An Expanded Strip Selection For Dilbert Products
Jane's World Comic Books
 New Wallpaper Designs at Snoopy.com
Let It Snow: Download this winter scene and watch the flakes fall on Snoopy's doghouse!
The Doctor is In: Add Lucy and her psychiatric booth to your desktop!
http://www.comics.com/comics/peanuts/fun_and_games/wallpaper.html
 Get Well E-cards
Wish someone good health with an e-card:
http://www.comics.com/ecards/html/ecards_get_well.html
http://www.snoopy.com/comics/peanuts/fun_and_games/e_cards.html
 Pearls Before Swine E-cards
Don't miss the four new animated cards featuring the antics of Rat and Pig:
http://www.comics.com/ecards/html/pearls.html
Interview with Betty Creators Gary Delainey and Gerry Rasmussen
The comic strip "Betty" is about a confident woman who is juggling the demands of family and career.
Question: What made you decide to become cartoonists?
Gerry Rasmussen: I was studying painting, hoping to get a fine arts degree, when I realized that the cartoons I was drawing for the college newspaper were what I really wanted to do. So I dropped out of the fine arts program and began drawing cartoons full time. I still think it was the right choice for me.
Gary Delainey: I still haven't decided if I want to be a cartoonist. I think I'll give it another 10 years and see how it goes.
Q: Who are some of your cartooning influences?
GR: Sempe from France. His work is the yardstick I judge my own work against. Other influences have been, of course, Charles Schulz, R. Crumb, George Herriman, and "Asterix" creator Uderzo. There are more, but those are the main ones.
GD: There are so many! The earliest ones would be Jack Davis and Mort Drucker from MAD Magazine, and Charles Schulz, Johnny Hart and Mort Walker. The work of those guys, plus a big neon tiger on top of a local radio station. I saw that tiger every time our family went downtown. I was particularly interested in the radio station because I thought the Beatles were in there.
Q: How did your collaboration come about?
GR: Gary and I were both submitting cartoons to our college newspaper and were always trying to outdo each other. Since we were both in the same fine arts program we decided to pool our resources and work together on a strip. We soon found that Gary's writing was bang-on, and since I preferred drawing, we decided to do it that way.
GD: That's pretty much it.
Q: How do you work together - do you discuss the story line in advance? Is all the writing completed before the drawing starts?
GR: We work each in our own homes. Gary writes Betty quite independently of me (sometimes I'll suggest a theme or something) and then he faxes me the scripts, which I then draw.
GD: I think two guys writing a comic strip together would be about as productive as two guys drawing it using the same pencil.
Q: Is the character of Betty based on a real person? Which of the strip's characters are closest to your own personalities?
GR: I identify most with Betty's husband, Bub - and not just because of the nose we share.
GD: I'd like to say I identify the most with Betty because she is the most self-possessed person in the strip, but I'm afraid it's more likely Alex - Betty's quick tempered, impulsive, judgmental best friend. And as far as who Betty is, I can't say. I know my wife is convinced she's the inspiration for Betty but it could just as easily be any of her friends or soccer teammates. I like to keep them guessing.
Q: Betty recently encountered her "inner Mom" while buying shoes. What are some of the activities your "inner Mom" frowns on?
GR: My inner Mom's forte is pestering me to do the dishes... dishes and yard work.
GD: My inner Mom mostly leaves me alone. It's my inner Dad who keeps me in line.
Q: How does fan feedback affect the strip?
GR: Fan feedback is a real inspiration. Someone telling us that something in Betty struck a chord with them helps us a lot.
GD: It also keeps us on our toes. If we don't have our facts straight when we do strips about something specific we hear about it!
Q: What advice do you have for aspiring cartoonists?
GR: My only advice to aspiring cartoonists is: don't manufacture anything. Find characters, settings and situations that speak to you personally.
GD: If there's some aspect of your work that you know is not up to par, you'd better figure out how to fix it. Of course, if you can make a living while you're figuring this out, it helps.
Q: What professions would you like to try if you weren't cartoonists?
GR: I think if I started bulking up I could be a professional wrestler. That is, if they'd start a wheezed-out old guys with Cartoonist's Palsy circuit.
GD: You know, I sometimes look back fondly on my days of selling futons.
Read a month of Betty here:
http://www.comics.com/comics/betty/index.html
Guess Who Said That
Which comic character said, "Women can be very sensitive about presents"?
The answer appears after the next section.
 2003 Calendars
It's not too late to get one of this year's comic calendars:
Dilbert 2003 Page-A-Day Calendar: "Step 1: Identify the Problem":
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0740724509/newsletter1-20
Dilbert 2003 Wall Calendar:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0740724797/newsletter1-20
Dilbert 2003 Engagement Calendar: "E-mail is Down… Hold Me":
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0740724746/newsletter1-20
Get Fuzzy 2003 Block Calendar: Scratch-A-Day:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0740724541/unitedmedia
Get Fuzzy Wall Calendar:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0740724819/unitedmedia
Peanuts Calendar: The Gang's All Here:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0740724770/unitedmedia
Here's Who Said That
In the December 24th Monty strip, Monty Montahue said, "Women can be very sensitive about presents." Find out why here:
http://www.comics.com/comics/monty/archive/monty-20021224.html
Test Your Comics Knowledge
Which comic character fits this description?
Born maybe 30 years ago, he's the school janitor and Renaissance Man - a friend, role model, teacher, buddy, kid, grown-up, and the only real authority figure in the school. He took the job when things weren't working out for him as a songwriter. He kept it when he hit it big.
The answer appears after the next section.
Comic Category Spotlight: Cats
Whether you love cats or don't understand them, you'll find a feline to follow in the Comic Cats category! Aloof, mischievous, lovable or mysterious, you'll recognize all the personalities displayed by this popular pet.
Favorites include:
9 Chickweed Lane:
Solange the cat brings feline entropy to preexisting human disarray.
http://www.comics.com/comics/chickweed/index.html
Arlo and Janis:
Ludwig doesn't talk or think or do much of anything, really.
http://www.comics.com/comics/arlonjanis/index.html
Get Fuzzy:
Bucky Katt is aloof… bizarre... sarcastic... volatile... he is a CAT after all.
http://www.comics.com/comics/getfuzzy/index.html
Kit 'N' Carlyle:
Carlyle is mischievous and lovable all at once.
http://www.comics.com/comics/kitncarlyle/index.html
Rose Is Rose:
The family pet and so much more. Peekaboo offers a fresh, feline perspective on everything inside and outside of the Gumbo household. Peekaboo lovingly accepts the affection the family lavishes and is usually happy to lavish some right back.
http://www.comics.com/comics/roseisrose/index.html
For more comics featuring cats, visit the categories page:
http://www.comics.com/categories/index.html
Answer to the Comics Knowledge Question
Born maybe 30 years ago and christened Edwin Frazier, Frazz is the school janitor and Renaissance Man - a friend, role model, teacher, buddy, kid, grown-up, and the only real authority figure in the school. Frazz took the job when things weren't working out for him as a songwriter. He kept it when he hit it big.
Read a month of Frazz here:
http://www.comics.com/comics/frazz/index.html
Get a Head Start on Valentine's Day
Now's the time to order gifts for your Valentine!
Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown:
Will Charlie Brown get a Valentine from the Little Red-Haired Girl? Find out when you watch this animated classic. The DVD also includes two bonus episodes: "You're in Love, Charlie Brown" and "It's Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown."
DVD:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000714CP/unitedmedia
VHS:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/6304286260/unitedmedia
Valentine's Day embroidered sweatshirt:
Schroeder plays the piano while Lucy listens.
PEANUTS© Valentine's Day Sweatshirt
Key to My Heart Figurine:
Show your Valentine how you feel with this adorable Snoopy figurine.
Snoopy™ Key to My Heart Figurine
Snoopy Heart Photo Frame:
Snoopy dances beside a two-photo heart shaped frame.
Snoopy™ Heart Photo Frame
Match.com
If you don't have a Valentine yet, there's still time to meet one! Search for your soul mate at Match.com:
Try the quick search to view photos of singles in your area:
http://www.match.com/commonsearch/index.asp?TrackingID=513787&BannerID=530306
Use the seven-day free trial to contact members and use advanced searching:
http://www.match.com/promotemplate/index.asp?PageUrl=tryitout&TID=100&TrackingID=513793&BannerID=530316
Dilbert Mints
When you meet your match you'll want fresh breath, so order these character-shaped mints in collectible tins!
http://www.candy2you.com/products.asp?brand=5&aid=dilbert
More Dilbert Strips Available in the Store
More classic favorites have been added to the categories section in the Dilbert Store, with topics ranging from annoying co-workers to cubicles to dating. You can order the strip of your choice on prints or clothing.
Newly available strips include:
Alice dates a vice president:
http://www.cafepress.com/cp/sotd.aspx?storeid=dilbert&stripno=5672
Dilbert is transferred to Elbonia:
http://www.cafepress.com/cp/sotd.aspx?storeid=dilbert&stripno=5708
Cubicle farming:
http://www.cafepress.com/cp/sotd.aspx?storeid=dilbert&stripno=5665
You can also choose any strip published in the last 90 days.
http://www.cafepress.com/cp/store.aspx?s=dilbert
 Jane's World Comic Books
The first three Jane's World comic books are here! Longtime fans of the Jane's World gang will love the combination of brand new material and previously published strips. For readers new to the strip, the comic book are the perfect entrance into Jane's World.
Order a comic book set:
http://www.cafepress.com/cp/prod.aspx?p=janesworld.4344263
Read a month of Jane's World:
http://www.comics.com/comics/janesworld/index.html
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