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The usual reason for continuing a strip as a zombie is to keep the profitable business going. Both the creator's relatives and the [[Print syndication|syndicate]] stand to make significant money.<ref name = "WaPo" />
The usual reason for continuing a strip as a zombie is to keep the profitable business going. Both the creator's relatives and the [[Print syndication|syndicate]] stand to make significant money.<ref name = "WaPo" />
Continuing a zombie strip is commonly criticized by cartoonists, particularly younger ones, including [[Bill Watterson]] and [[Stephan Pastis]]. Pastis addressed the issue in a set of six "[[Pearls Before Swine (comics)|Pearls Before Swine]]" strips in 2005.<ref>[http://comics.com/pearls_before_swine/?DateAfter=2005年09月19日&DateBefore=2009年12月18日&Order=d.DateStrip+ASC&PerPage=10&x=36&y=15&Search=blondie "Pearls Before Swine"] at Comics.com</ref> [[Charles Schulz]], author of "[[Peanuts]]", requested that his strip not be continued by another cartoonist after his death. Schulz's family has honored his wishes and refused numerous proposals by syndicators to continue "Peanuts" with a new author. However, "Peanuts" continues as a "rerun" strip.{{citation needed|date = February 2012}}
Continuing a zombie strip is commonly criticized by cartoonists, particularly younger ones, including [[Bill Watterson]](追記) <ref name = "Cheapening">Bill Watterson, "[http://ignatz.brinkster.net/cheapening.html The Cheapening of the Comics]", speech delivered at the Festival of Cartoon Art, Ohio State University, October 27, 1989; accessed 2012年02月02日.</ref><ref>Dave Kellett, "[http://www.sheldoncomics.com/forums/sheldontalk/7472/ Festival of Cartoon Art]", Sheldon Comics, March 8, 2010; accessed 2012年02月02日.</ref> (追記ここまで) and [[Stephan Pastis]]. Pastis addressed the issue in a set of six "[[Pearls Before Swine (comics)|Pearls Before Swine]]" strips in 2005.<ref>[http://comics.com/pearls_before_swine/?DateAfter=2005年09月19日&DateBefore=2009年12月18日&Order=d.DateStrip+ASC&PerPage=10&x=36&y=15&Search=blondie "Pearls Before Swine"] at Comics.com</ref> [[Charles Schulz]], author of "[[Peanuts]]", requested that his strip not be continued by another cartoonist after his death. Schulz's family has honored his wishes and refused numerous proposals by syndicators to continue "Peanuts" with a new author. However, "Peanuts" continues as a "rerun" strip.{{citation needed|date = February 2012}}
The principal criticism directed toward continuing a zombie strip is that the replacement cartoonist is seen as generally less funny or inspired than the creator, and that the new cartoonist does not have the same style of writing or understand the characters as well.<ref name = "WaPo" /> An additional criticism is that continuing such strips prevents newer cartoonists from entering the business by filling the newspaper space that might be devoted to new strips.<ref>''E.g.'', [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=519743 Zombie comic strips], The Straight Dope Message Board, June 2, 2009.</ref><ref name = "WaPo" />
The principal criticism directed toward continuing a zombie strip is that the replacement cartoonist is seen as generally less funny or inspired than the creator(追記) ("still stumbling around decades after their original creators have retired or died"<ref name = "Cheapening" />) (追記ここまで), and that the new cartoonist does not have the same style of writing or understand the characters as well.<ref name = "WaPo" /> An additional criticism is that continuing such strips prevents newer cartoonists from entering the business by filling the newspaper space that might be devoted to new strips.<ref>''E.g.'', [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=519743 Zombie comic strips], The Straight Dope Message Board, June 2, 2009.</ref><ref name = "WaPo" />
Zombie strips include "[[Blondie (comic strip)|Blondie]]", "[[Dennis the Menace (U.S. comics)|Dennis the Menace]]", "[[B.C. (comic strip)|B.C.]]", "[[Hi and Lois]]", "[[Hägar the Horrible]]", and "[[The Family Circus]]".<ref name = "WaPo" /> Now-defunct strips that were zombies for a time before being discontinued include "[[Terry and the Pirates (comic strip)|Terry and the Pirates]]" and "[[Brenda Starr, Reporter|Brenda Starr]]".
Zombie strips include "[[Blondie (comic strip)|Blondie]]", "[[Dennis the Menace (U.S. comics)|Dennis the Menace]]", "[[B.C. (comic strip)|B.C.]]", "[[Hi and Lois]]", "[[Hägar the Horrible]]", and "[[The Family Circus]]".<ref name = "WaPo" /> Now-defunct strips that were zombies for a time before being discontinued include "[[Terry and the Pirates (comic strip)|Terry and the Pirates]]" and "[[Brenda Starr, Reporter|Brenda Starr]]".
Revision as of 15:25, 2 February 2012
In the comic-strip business, a zombie strip is one whose creator has died (or retired), but which continues in publication. The strips are taken over by others, often relatives of the originator. Zombie strips are often criticized as lacking the "spark" that originally made the strip successful.[1]
The usual reason for continuing a strip as a zombie is to keep the profitable business going. Both the creator's relatives and the syndicate stand to make significant money.[1]
Continuing a zombie strip is commonly criticized by cartoonists, particularly younger ones, including Bill Watterson [2] [3] and Stephan Pastis. Pastis addressed the issue in a set of six "Pearls Before Swine" strips in 2005.[4] Charles Schulz, author of "Peanuts", requested that his strip not be continued by another cartoonist after his death. Schulz's family has honored his wishes and refused numerous proposals by syndicators to continue "Peanuts" with a new author. However, "Peanuts" continues as a "rerun" strip.[citation needed ]
The principal criticism directed toward continuing a zombie strip is that the replacement cartoonist is seen as generally less funny or inspired than the creator ("still stumbling around decades after their original creators have retired or died"[2] ), and that the new cartoonist does not have the same style of writing or understand the characters as well.[1] An additional criticism is that continuing such strips prevents newer cartoonists from entering the business by filling the newspaper space that might be devoted to new strips.[5] [1]
Zombie strips include "Blondie", "Dennis the Menace", "B.C.", "Hi and Lois", "Hägar the Horrible", and "The Family Circus".[1] Now-defunct strips that were zombies for a time before being discontinued include "Terry and the Pirates" and "Brenda Starr".
References
- ^ a b c d e Michael Cavna, Is It Time to Bottle 'Blondie'? Now's Your Chance to Defend That 'Toon, The Washington Post, Sept. 16, 2009.
- ^ a b Bill Watterson, "The Cheapening of the Comics", speech delivered at the Festival of Cartoon Art, Ohio State University, October 27, 1989; accessed 2012年02月02日.
- ^ Dave Kellett, "Festival of Cartoon Art", Sheldon Comics, March 8, 2010; accessed 2012年02月02日.
- ^ "Pearls Before Swine" at Comics.com
- ^ E.g., Zombie comic strips, The Straight Dope Message Board, June 2, 2009.
