GUNK'L'DUNK e-mail newsletter for fans of _Tales_of_the_Beanworld_ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Issue 03 21 October 91 Gunk'l'dunk is here to provide a forum for fans of Larry Marder's _Tales of the Beanworld_ (TOTB), and to promote wider readership of this unique comic. This newsletter is sent out every 2-3 weeks. Compiled by Jeremy York, jeremy@stat.washington.edu Submissions, and comments on content and/or format gladly accepted! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INFORMATION AND ADMINISTRIVIA Submissions in any form are gladly accepted, just mail them to jeremy@stat.washington.edu. I'd appreciate it if you would label things like "this part for Bean News, this part for Misc. Discussion", etc, but free-form ranting and raving will be gladly accepted too. Longer submissions, like essays, reviews, or stories, are welcome. A complimentary forum to Gunk'l'dunk is the comix mailing list (send subscription requests to comix-request@world.std.com). That list is devoted to alternative, non-superhero comics, and TOTB discussions are welcome. The comix list allows for fast, spontaneous discussion which is impossible with a newsletter. If you don't feel like subscribing to the comix list, I will be including all the Beanworld discussion there in each Gunk'l'dunk. There've been a lot of interesting discussions on the list of late -- wish I could afford to buy half the stuff that's been mentioned... Spoiler policy : since most of us haven't read every issue of TOTB, discussion of just about anything could be a spoiler for someone. However, there'll probably be more people at a given time who have not read the most current issue, so here's what I'll do. I'll put references to the most recent issue at the end of the newsletter, prefaced by a warning. Not a big deal now, but it could be when a new issue hits the stands. Back issues of the newsletter are always available on request; #00 - written by me, just a sketch of what Gunk'l'dunk would look like #01 - news of the second trade paperback, character descriptions, a detailed list of sources for backissues, various discussions. supplement to #01 - Tim Tjark's Beanworld index, with plot synopses and cover descriptions for each issue through #16 or #17 #02 - mostly discussion by the readers, including the identity of the three lil' Mr.'s in TOTB #19, and The Planiverse vs Flatland WANTED : More ASCII art! I'd try, but I'm no Beanish. Somebody out there's gotta have some time to waste... WANTED : More subscribers! Feel free to advertise this newsletter through any local means, and give my e-mail address out. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INTRODUCTIONS New and old subscribers, feel free to step forward and introduce yourselves... From mward@maths-and-cs.dundee.ac.uk : Marty Ward, age 23, getting my Bachelor of Computer Science. Right now, I am on Exchange to the University of Dundee, Scotland. I decided to get TotB after reading about it in rec.arts.comics, got the TPB and have been reading it for a year and a half. I also get other b&w such as Cerebus, Zot!, Yummy Fur, Flaming Carrot, TMNT, and others. I get these from Wilkie's Wonderful World of Comics in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia so there is another store that stocks it. I'll have to check out Forbidden Planet if I go to London. Anyone have suggestions of places to go for comics in the UK? How about any Cons? I'm really interested. I have done a few reviews of b&w comics in r.a.c. [I remember Rick Innis was talking about the UK comics cons on the comix mailing list. I think you've already missed the big one in London in Sept; he did mention something about one in Glasgow in the spring. -- jeremy] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BEAN NEWS It's likely that TOTB #20 won't be available until sometime around the solstice/Hanukkah/Xmas season; see the next section for more info. If you've just tuned in, Eclipse has the second Beanworld trade paperback scheduled for a November release; it collects #'s 5-7, plus "Proffy the Snoopy Anthropologist", which ran in two parts in #3 and #5. Back issues : there's a used/collectible comics store near me that has several copies of each of #3 through #13. I haven't inspected them, but they seem to be in very good shape. There are also a couple of copies of #19 that have been read and fondled. Seattle folks, the store is the one next to Beauty and the Books on University Way. Everyone else, if you just can't get backissues any other way, let me know, we'll work something out. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TALES FROM THE MARDERWORLD Larry and I had a short discussion about Gunk'l'dunk, interviews, and so on a week ago. We're hoping to conduct a telephone interview in late October (Larry's been to California in the meantime, where among other things he's talked with Dean Mullaney and cat yronwode). The full interview will be sent out to everyone who gets Gunk'l'dunk, and will also be submitted to James Drew's fanzine Ciao! (see discussion below). An abbreviated version will probably go out to the comix list and to rec.arts.comics. Ideas for questions are still gladly accepted; send 'em to me *fast* though! I almost forgot to ask Larry when TOTB #20 might become available; then I remembered that all of you would be hooting and screaming because I didn't ask when I had the chance. Although I didn't talk with Larry himself about it, his wife Cory answered when I called back. She said that TOTB #20 would probably not be available until around Xmas time. Sigh. Although Larry and I didn't do a formal interview, we did talk about a few things. He said that he had been feeling very frustrated lately -- since TOTB gets published so infrequently, he doesn't get a lot of opportunity to discuss it with anyone but other comics artists/professionals. Because of this, receiving the zeroth issue of Gunk'l'dunk was like a bolt out of the blue to him. Here was a chance to have a dialogue with a number of fans, instead of having to wait until the letter column of each TOTB to say or ask anything. He noticed that I was afraid that Gunk'l'dunk might wither away out of apathy if no-one wrote anything, and he said not to worry. He will be sending stuff in for the newsletter that he is *sure* will stir up some discussion! He's impressed with the circulation of the newsletter, because the 60 some people we have signed up represent around 1% of his total readership. He emphasized that a small book like this gives a unique opportunity for interaction between artist and readers; there's no army of editors and staff between us. The thought that this newsletter had made it much easier for him to talk with us seemed to have given him some new energy and hope. Larry was especially thankful for the exhaustive index that Tim Tjarks had put together. He'd been thinking of doing something like that himself, for his own benefit; then here all of a sudden he had this great resource that a fan had put together so carefully. So, Tim, a big Hoka Hoka Hey! from Larry. Lastly, we talked about how business is, and the possibility of TOTB going bi-monthly. I'd rather ask Larry about this again and give his response in his own words than go on from memory. The upshot of the discussion was that it's very unlikely that TOTB will go bi-monthly anytime soon. However, he's been negotiating a contract to do advertising for a comics retailer that, if it works out, will give him more security and less distractions (which would hopefully mean that TOTB could come out at least a bit more frequently). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MISCELLANEOUS DISCUSSION From: "josh ronsen" First, my thanks for taking the time and effort of making the newsletter. The greatness of Beanworld is something that is definitely better when shared. Second, I had an idea for an essay which would be a Marxian Interpretation of Beanworld. I should put my liberal college education to use, don't you think? However, I have only read the first four issues (in the collection) and it would probably be better if I wait until the next four come out. P.S.: By the way, that's Marx as in Karl, although I guess Groucho and Chico would also be appropriate... ******gunk'l'dunk****** From: jrd@frame.com (James Drew) [James publishes Ciao!], a quarterly fanzine. #3 is in production right now, features an interview with cat yronwode and Dean Mullaney (a chunk of which will concern Beanworld). (#1 featured Donna Barr; #2 featured Trina Robbins; future issues will hopefully have Redd Waller/Kate Worley, Andy Mangels, and Barb Rausch.). [contact him by e-mail, he'll be glad to sell you a copy of his fanzine! - jeremy] ******gunk'l'dunk****** [there's been lots of interesting stuff on the comix list this month; here's a brief excerpt of the least interesting stuff, but they were discussing Eclipse - jeremy] From comix-request@world.std.com Mon Oct 14 15:35:38 1991 From: scs@lokkur.dexter.mi.us (Steve Simmons) In regards to mail-ordering from Eclipse -- I've noticed a distinct difference between their printed schedules and reality. Two particulars: First, my usually-reliable retailer kept ordering one of the Scout collections for months until he was finally told it wasn't out. This was 6 months after it was listed available by mail order in Eclipses ads. Second, I distinctly recall hearing a claim from Eclipse that once Gaiman took over Miracleman it would become much more regular, including a statement that the first three or four issues were already completed and at the Eclipse offices. Given these, I'm somewhat nervous about sending them any money From comix-request@world.std.com Mon Oct 14 20:00:20 1991 From: avera@astrosun.tn.cornell.edu (Eric Avera) I've ordered from Eclipse now 2 or 3 times, and they have yet to let me down. I haven't had problems with their listing items not available yet, but I tend to buy new releases in the shops and use mail order only for backissues, etc. ******gunk'l'dunk****** From HOBBKD@morekypr.BITNET (Kenny Hobbs) Hallo, and Hoka Hoka hey. This is RiffRaff, and here is my first official post. First of all, a few letters in back issues pose the question, "Is the Beanworld 3 dimensional?" The answer is YES. Study how Marder draws it: you see the little island the beans live on from many different angles. If this thought bothers anybody, you should read _Flatland_, because it ives a b etter description of 2-D than I can. Suffice it to say, if the Beanworld WERE 2D, then the Beans would have to climb all over each other to get from the Legendary Edge to the Proverbial Beach thingy (unless they all went at once). I would like to hear other comments on the subject. [I like Larry's response to a question about this in the lettercol of #13 - jeremy] Next, I would like to ask if anybody else has had this problem: Smearing of ink on TOTB covers. I have had two issues where the ink smears, and it really wasn't any fault of mine! I ALWAYS make sure that my hands are free from dirt when I read TOTB. I never EVER eat food when I read it. (Unlike other comics, where I might eat some spaghetti or something that doesn't require actual physical contact). So has anybody else had this happen? I will post the issue numbers when I get back Wednesday. (BTW---when I ordered a couple of issues to complete my collection, I mentioned to Marder this problem, and also mentioned that the latest issue [#18 at the time] had a big blue streak down the front of it... Marder was nice and gave me another free copy of 18...so I gave my ruined copy to a friend, who is now hooked, and he also hooked another friend. Ha ha!) I am currently developing a Beanworld story. I just sat down one day and started drawing beans, and I came up with what I thought was a great little tale. When I have more time, I will post bits and pieces of it. Maybe someday I'll finish drawing it and send it to Marder and see what he thinks of it! ABOUT TOTB IN _SCOUT_... Nothing special...I only bought it because it's Beanworld. :) I think it is issue 17 or 18, and the beans (hundreds of 'em!) appear to the main character during a hallucinogenic trance of healing (or something) and save him from this big wolf thing. Then Mr. Spook gives him a message which I think is anti-drug or at least certainly anti-something. That's about it, really. GIANT SIZE MINI COMICS.... Marder drew the cover for GSMC #1, and it featured the first appearance of Heyoka, as well as a Bean strip and (I think) Uncle Xaspa, the hip insect. Also, there was a single page strip called _Tales from the Kidney Beanworld_ which Marder didn't do but was a hoot. Not a whole lot, but it did do two things for me... 1. It inspired me to draw my DIYB winnner in issue #17 (Heyoka's strip did, that is...) 2. Provided insight as to what Heyoka will break out as... DO-IT-YERSELF-BEANWORLD WINNERS.... Receive a neato cool and hip diploma, which I think provides insight as to a plotline that might come in later in the strip! Previously Mr. Spook had asked Proffy if it would be possible to visit the Big Fish in the Sky using the Float Factor. Well, the diploma (at least the one I got) shows this bean walking up this flight of steps constructed with slats and pods using the Float Factor! I think that it's a clue as to what will happen in the future of Beanworld. Perhaps this is where the beans will go when winter comes to their little island, as Marder had mentioned before. Visiting the Big Fish! ABOUT TAGGING SUBSCRIBERS TO THE END... ...I don't really like it every issue, but what I *would* like to see is a list of who is subbing from where (what state, county, country). I myself am subscribing from Morehead, KY, and I live in Stanton, KY and buy Beanworld in Lexington, KY. Let's hear from other ppl's! [the people have spoken -- no more subscriber lists tacked on to the end. However, a current list will always be available upon request.] ******gunk'l'dunk****** Spoilers for #19 ahead ******gunk'l'dunk****** From: the Littlest Orc Our Moderator asks: > what/why is Mr. Spook? How did he come to be? I have a random and completely unproven theory: My guess is that the reproductive propellant delivered to Gran'ma'pa was Hoi-Polloi-type stuff, instead of the expected stuff-to-make-Beans. Which might explain why Gran'ma'pa was so upset, and why Mr. Spook has such a strong resemblance to them what lives below the Four Realities. > If so, will Proffy continue experimenting with float factor, and for > what purpose? Sure! She does it 'cause it's Fun to Understand, all the while explaining to the other beans that the useful applications for her research are just around the corner. (I should know; I keep stringing my advisor along that way.... :) ******gunk'l'dunk****** From: Jacob Butcher I just re-read the latest issue (#19?), and a thought struck me. [1] Mr. Spook look quite different from the other beans, and lacks certain, (small "b") beanish characteristics, such as enjoying the Fabulous Look-See Show. [2] Mr. Spook looks a bit like a Hoi Polloi (Isn't that plural?), and has certain non-beanish Hoi-Pollo-ish characteristics such as enjoying the competitive aspects of certain games. (Perhaps just "more".) [3] Reproductive propellant has to be delivered from a mold to the matching, uh, Parent Totality (?) by Goofy Service Jerks. [4] The Goofy Service Jerks screwed up Mr. Spook's origin. So, my thought is: What happens when you mismatch the reproductive repellant with the Parent Totality? Could Mr. Spook be the product of such a mismatch? ******gunk'l'dunk****** From HOBBKD@morekypr.BITNET (Kenny Hobbs) ABOUT ISSUE # 19: I'm surprised nobody has mentioned this, but that's the Fantastic Four on the cover! Look, The Thing is there, Mr. Fantastic, the Human Torch (that amoeba thingy) and the Invisible Woman (little transparent sphere). And has nobody made the connection between LimeLight (forgot which issue) and Green Lantern? Also in the Inspiration Constellation, the big ugly in the upper left corner is, I believe, a tip of the hat to Basil Wolverton, whose reprinted works can now be seen in Dark Horse's _SpaceHawk_, published erratically. I do not know what the rest of the thing is, though. Anybody? MR. SPOOK... No doubt longtime readers are thinking this...Mr. Spook is a Hoi-polloi/Bean mutant! It's like this, ffolkes: I believe thateproductive propellant was delivered to the wrong place. That's why the Goofy Sermon Jerk was so twitterpated about it...mis-delivering is a cardinal sin! So, although we haven't seen how the Hoi-Polloi reproduce (if they still do) and I although I know it's dangerous to assume anything in TOTB, I personally believe this. That's why he has both characteristics of beans and Hoi-Polloi! I think a woman wrote a letter in issue 19 concerning this, but she didn't exactly hit the mark I hit. Any comments? HEYOKA.... ...will, unless Marder changes his mind, be a philosopher. I believe this is the direction Heyoka is heading. If you'll remember in # 19, when it flies past the Wolverton-Fantastic Four thingies, the Wolverton one-eyed thing says "How do ya know what ya don't know?" or something...(to which Ben Grimm said "Ask yer Aunt Petunia!") Sounds like philosophy to me... ******gunk'l'dunk****** From jeremy@stat.washington.edu (Jeremy York) Three people with similar opinions about Mr. Spook's origin mailing me stuff all at the same time...Are they onto something? I've got my own ideas about their theories, but I'll give the rest of the readers a chance to respond first. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- End, Gunk'l'dunk #03