Bhob,
I just came across this blog and I know I will be digging in the archives. I own your Against the Grain book, and reading it slowly, studying the details.
I have admired your thoughts and opinions of the art of the orginal MAD Madmen for a long time now.
Eddie Hunter
 

Eddie:

Thanks for the opportunity to read your writings about old Marietta places and encounters with people from your past. Really fascinating essays.

Which were your favorite vintage comic strips?

Bhob
 

Bhob,
I'm sorry, I didn't know you replied until I was just surfing and thought I would check on your blog.
Thnaks for your complement.
I liked Li'l Abner and couldn't wait every day to open up the paper to read it - but I think Al Capp and I grew apart poliically - both are probably at fault.. but I do have hs dailys for the first 27 years now.
Buz Sawyer and Steve Canyon I enjoyed. I think the little orphan boy "Dondi" was the name of another one. Little Lulu was good. Donald Duck, but in comic, not in the strips - the same with Scrooge McDuck adventures. Maggie and Jkggs, Katinzammer Kids (?), Dennis the Menace... and I know there are more but I just can't think of them so if they are not boiling up on top of my mind, they must have not been my favorites anyway.
 

Bhob,
P.S. - A few years ago I got my hands temporarily on your "Tale From the Frig" that I thoroughly enjoyed. I hated to return it.
 

My name is Gene Grant. I live here in Albuquerque, New Mexico and wanted to let you know that Vernon Grant, a cartoonist from the 70's passed away last week.

He was my Uncle and this article (link below) is likely the best archive the family has of his work and his life. You'll see your name mentioned during your time at The Comics Journal in Cambridge.

Uncle Vernon was a tremendous talent, and I'm in the process of hunting down some of his work. I'm new to the world of cartooning and am struggling a bit to find some leads due to the time span, but I'll get there.

I'm also thinking of making a documentary of his life and work (I'm an aspiring filmmaker). As you know he was one of the first American cartoonists to snap onto manga and write about it here.

Thanks so much and keep up the good work,

Gene Grant

http://www.pulp-mag.com/archives/5.12/pulpman.shtml#top
 

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
 

Gene:

I hadn't heard about Vern's death, so thanks for letting me know.

I had a lot of fun hanging out with Vern around Central Square in Cambridge. Sometimes I would encounter him in Cambridge or Somerville while he ran his five miles every day. He and his wife were very much into finding the right pair of running shoes. They had about 50 pairs of shoes all neatly lined up, filling one-third of the living room in their apartment!

Bhob