Thursday, March 2, 2017

DR. SEUSS DAY!

Yes, there really is a Dr. Seuss Day and it's today.  
I remember being very young, going to the library with my parents, and discovering Seuss's magical mix of whimsical, poetic text and brilliantly fanciful art.  (I wonder if my love of Seuss is what led me to seek out the equally-magical word/picture blend of comic books?) 
The man was a true genius of the imagination and his work enchants me as much now as it did when I was four years old, sitting in the children's section of the Avenue J library in Brooklyn, my eyes wide with wonder.  

So thank you Theodor Geisel for igniting my imagination and filling my heart.

12 comments:

  1. Seuss is beyond human comprehension. In a way every bit the larger than life figure that his characters. So much so that I thought the Cat in the Hat was a stand in for Seuss himself, when I was a lad. I should probably explain that the Cat I the Hat appeared in every book of Seuss's when I was a kid, and through some anomaly, that was one book that escaped me.

    When my nephew and niece were born, the first time that they were old enough to comprehend the books that they were being read, I made sure they had some Seuss to fall back on.

    It is a fleeting talent that Seuss had, where he produced books for kids that adults can still delight in.

    The Lorax book (and original movie from '72 which he had a lot of input on) was more more complex and intelligent then the one that followed a few short yeARS AGO.

    However, you forgot the most interesting aspects of Seuss. His early contempt for Nazis, his combating antisemitism in the 30s (he himself being treated poorly due to it, despite being a German-American Lutheran), criticizing the treatment of black people in the same decade, and able to come back and produce upbeat work for children after his first wife committed suicide.

    A true American original, that has almost n o detractor. The American Patron Saint of childhood wonder.

    Jack

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    1. "The American Patron Saint of Childhood Wonder." I love that. I wonder if we can get the Pope to make it official?

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    2. Well I said AMERICAN patron saint, and the pope has no more say in American proclamations than anyone else. I'm pretty sure it would have to be put into motion on the senate, or possibly on the ballot in a general election.

      Also since Ted was a Lutheran... I'm not hip to the inner workings of the Vatican or Catholicism as a whole, but I think it is a bit of a problem.

      If nothing else, quit giving the pope the power, take pride as an American. Use your comic contacts and have Captain America make a formal proclamation.

      Jack

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    3. Well, I think Dr. Seuss transcends, and includes, all traditions; but maybe we need someone more universal than the Pope or Cap. I wonder if Doctor Strange can bestow sainthoods? Or better yet, Eternity! If he can't do it, no one can.

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    4. I don't think Doc Strange has authority over any group but the Defenders, and all you have to do to join them is stand next to a few of them when they are ordering lunch.

      I think given his views on his country and the fact he is a forgotten, but very important part of the cultural tidal wave that made the US the dominant cultural influence int he world, I think American saint is appropriate.

      For that matter, I'm not sure Seuss really transcends and includes all traditions. His work is pretty American. Hell, the Cat in the Hat should stand in the American pantheon of Mythology along with Spider-man, Superman, Bugs Bunny, Paul Bunyan, Groucho Marx, Will Kane (of High Noon fame), flying saucers, and everything else that makes up the American cultural landscape that goes beyond just the creators and era.


      Typical hippies, always thinking America isn't good enough.



      Jack

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    5. Something can be very much of its time, country and culture and transcend its time, country and culture. Just ask Shakespeare, the Beatles, Dostoyevsky and Walt Disney to name four. The best art, no mater how singular, is also universal.

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  2. It's a family tradition to watch "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" every year in my home. My youngest daughter (who's now 13) has seen it dozens of times, and it never gets old.

    I'm going to try and share a link of a piece of art I had commissioned by Tom Yeates depicting my daughter and I and her favorite Christmas ornament, the Grinch with Max!

    http://www.comicartfans.com/gallerypiece.asp?piece=613407

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    1. What a great piece, George! (I've always loved Tom's art.) Hope your daughter treasures and enjoys it for years to come.

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  3. Shelly Bond is doing her own imprint at IDW. I am so excited! You should do a book for her. I mean if you want to, of course.

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    1. Yes, I know about that. What great news. Between Shelly's imprint for IDW and Karen Berger's new imprint for Dark Horse there are interesting days ahead for the business.

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    2. It's like getting two new Vertigos! So, what will your new book be about.

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    3. I would love to write something for either imprint. But that doesn't mean it will happen. Time will tell.

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