Comics Interview — Issue #128

Main Topics: Judge Dredd Film and Licensing, Fleetway/2000 AD British Comics, Moon Mullins and Classic American Newspaper Comic Strips

Contents
  1. Ferd Johnson
  2. Jon Davidge
  3. Mark Freedman
  4. "Up Front: The Eternal Verities a la DAK" (David Anthony Kraft)
  5. "The Last Word" (Letters)
interview Ferd Johnson
Interviewed by Shel Dorf
Ferd Johnson Cartoonist, Freelance Working on: Moon Mullins (concluding long run)
A career retrospective (Part One) with Ferd Johnson, who holds the record for the longest continuous stint by any creator on an American comic strip — 68 years on Moon Mullins, beginning in 1923 as assistant to strip creator Frank Willard. Johnson recalls the creative culture of the Chicago Tribune cartoon bullpen alongside Frank King, Harold Gray, Chester Gould, and Sidney Smith, and the origin stories of Moon Mullins, Dick Tracy, and Little Orphan Annie.
interview Jon Davidge
Interviewed by Bojan M. Djukic
Jon Davidge Managing Director, Fleetway Editions Working on: 2000 AD, Judge Dredd, Fleetway's new titles and European expansion
The managing director of Fleetway Editions — who came from Harlequin romance novels with no prior comics background — discusses the ongoing success and colorization of 2000 AD (selling 100,000 copies weekly), Fleetway's century-long publishing tradition, investment in creator royalties, and plans for Judge Dredd's expansion into North America ahead of the Sylvester Stallone film. He also addresses the British market's resistance to superheroes and the influence of Scottish comics talent on American comics.
interview Mark Freedman
Interviewed by Mark Lucas
Mark Freedman President / Licensing Agent, Surge Comic Properties, Inc. Working on: North American licensing for Judge Dredd film and merchandise
As the licensing mastermind behind the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles phenomenon, Freedman describes his strategy for building a long-term Judge Dredd franchise around the forthcoming 1995 Hollywood Pictures film starring Stallone, with cornerstone licenses already secured including master toy rights, arcade games (Williams/Bally Midway), video games (Sega/Nintendo), and a new DC Comics series. He predicts the film could gross $200 million with a billion dollars in wholesale merchandise.
article "Up Front: The Eternal Verities a la DAK" (David Anthony Kraft)
A holiday editorial in which DAK offers five "genuine gifts" he encourages readers and professionals alike to give: time, gratitude, quality, opportunity, and the benefit of the doubt.
article "The Last Word" (Letters)
Includes a letter from German animation artist Mike Nilles seeking information about the American and British comics syndicate business; DAK opens the request to readership. ---