Faint praise? We’ll take it!

I'm just back from vacation, so I'd missed this nice item:  apparently Eddie Vedder wrote a piece on his website urging readers to complain to alternative newspapers about comics cancelations — of his friend Tom Tomorrow and other cartoonists.

The only way this vital artwork will return is through a sustained outcry from readers. We have to tell editors at our local alternative weeklies that we don’t want them to suspend cartoons; if they already have, we want them brought back.

This is amazing, and I really appreciate this very cool appeal.  So it may seem a bit churlish when I say that I found one phrase he used pretty funny — it not only undermines the position that political cartoonists are cutting edge humorists, it sort of makes the case for the newspapers that dump us:

Many cartoonists were the Jon Stewarts of their day, quickly cutting complex issues to their cores.

Ouch.  Yes, he's making a historical analogy that's intended to be flattering, but it's partly because of the fact that we have a Jon Stewart of today (i.e., Jon Stewart) that certain editors and newspaper executives are deciding the services of political cartoonists have been obviated.

Come see The Watchmen before it opens!! For a bargain price, if you’ve got a mask. Or a bathrobe.

MoCCA just sweetened the deal on their special advance screening of The Watchmen!  You can attend this event for only $20 (instead of $100, or $75 for members), if you're willing to…   well, here's what MoCCA says:

Come to MoCCA’s Benefit Advance Screening of WATCHMEN on March 5th dressed as your favorite Watchmen character and get a ticket to the benefit, including the advance screening, VIP reception and after party for only $20!  (That is $80 off the general ticket price.)  Call today to order your tickets: 212-254-3511

I'll be there — at the movie and the afterparty — so come say hello and hang out.

000watchmen_teaser_movie_poster