A number of readers (don't you love that expression? What number was that? One? Forty-two? Was it prime?)...where was I? Oh, yes. A number of readers of the new book, "Pibgorn Rep: A Midsummer Night's Dream," have lamented the absence in its pages of the post-performance actor interviews that I originally included online – after Oberon and Puck exited upstage. So, to be a good soul and a considerate cartoonist, I post here the interviews.

You may notice that the interview with me, at the end, was a mite bilious. I hadn't had my gallbladder out at the time. That's my excuse.

To get a larger view of the pages, click each one. To make it yet larger, click it again.

As always, ©2008 Brooke McEldowney

Before perusing these, you should know that these are the originals. Years later, I cannibalized them for 9 Chickweed Lane. You may recall the gags. I like them best as they appear here.











(click each one for a larger view)
©2008 Brooke McEldowney
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Finally, "Pibgorn Rep: A Midsummer Night's Dream" has arrived and awaits your orders. Pib Press went ahead and fulfilled a lot of your initial requests, sending out books from a small batch they got early from the printer. The response has been outstanding, and it caught everyone off-guard. We anticipated only moderate interest in a setting of a Shakespeare play; and the print run was accordingly small. Prevailing opinion, as it turns out, was very wrong - wrong in a most agreeable way. I hope the print run holds out. We may be the next Hoola Hoop, except, of course, "Pibgorn Rep: A Midsummer Night's Dream" looks more like a book than a Hoola Hoop.

Again, just send in your query to pibpress@verizon.net, and tell them your zip code, the number of copies you want, which copies you want (The Girl In The Coffee Cup, and/or Midsummer), and, if you have any preferences – media mail or priority, check or PayPal. That will help speed things along. If you are ordering from outside the U.S., just write. Pib Press will take over from there, and let you know the cost.

The response to news of "Pibgorn Rep: A Midsummer Night's Dream" has been, to indulge in bit of understatement, stunning. The small but crack staff at Pib Press have been inundated in queries and orders for the book, and they're scrambling rather in the manner of The Keystone Cops to keep up. If you don't hear from them right away, don't worry. You're in the queue. See below for the original announcement.

And, lest I forget, thank you all so very much.

IT IS TIME TO ROCK THE GROUND.

The next Pibgorn book is poised for pre-orders. "Pibgorn Rep: A Midsummer Night's Dream," is now in the offing exclusively from its publisher, Pib Press, to be released in the end of April.


(click to see a larger image)
©2008 Brooke McEldowney

During its original appearance online the cause of simultaneous exultation, controversy and vituperation, this bawdy performance of Shakespeare's play in cartoon format has occasioned innumerable requests for issuance in book form. College professors of English literature, high school teachers of same, have proposed it as a text in their courses; Shakespeare lovers (most of them) have solicited it for their bookshelves. Pibgorn fans in general have importuned me for it. All the more curious because other readers have reviled it as an obnoxious, Elizabethan imposition on their reading comfort, and others still have assessed it as rather dirty (although that last bit was not actually an objection). Looking back on the original installments of "A Midsummer Night's Dream," I have to confess that I nearly scrubbed the project in its final days, refusing to capitulate when I was told that my adaptation had become too salacious for readers ("soft porn" was the term ventured editorially, and highly inaccurately, to describe it) and that I perforce would have to tone it down. The truth is, the steeds of prurience had already thundered from those stables – but because the subject was Shakespeare, my online custodians had been snoring at their swabs. (I'll try to purée that metaphor later.) With less than an hour to spare, and desirous to see the story to its close, I relented and bowdlerized the penultimate drawing as stipulated (the honeymoon couples abed on their wedding night were required to be dressed – turning Lysander and Hermia into Ken and Barbie – a corruption now purged, I am pleased to say, from the book).

The present edition comprises nearly all of the original art. Some drawings I polished a bit, a couple I dropped because I hated them, and I dished up five new panels because I just wanted to. There's also a small glossary in the back, and a rather longer introduction by me in the front.


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©2008 Brooke McEldowney

I am most proud and honored to say that Alan Dean Foster very kindly provided the foreword to "A Midsummer Night's Dream," and I can't thank him enough. Did I say it is an honor? Well, it is an honor.

Also, I have to tender my gratitude to my collaborator, William Shakespeare, whose words I treated carefully and reverently, even given the circumstances. My intro will explain more on that count. All told, I don't think my meddling will leave him spinning like a lathe in his grave.

"Pibgorn Rep: A Midsummer Night's Dream," for those who are counting, is a square volume of 176 pages. It is also a special, limited run.

I loved creating every molecule of it.

Just write to Pibpress@verizon.net to queue up for the book. Don't forget to mention your zip code, or country of origin if other than the U.S. Also, let them know the number of copies you contemplate purchasing.

(click the image to see a larger one; do it again, and it get's really large)
©2008 Brooke McEldowney

The dog at the piano is the first Rudyard. The second Rudyard was more of a whippet, installed in 9 Chickweed Lane to hurl ironic barbs at the first cat, Ambrose. I think I still like the first Rudyard best. He played piano, lamented his amputated testicles, and experienced intense love pangs for a dead cat named Periwinkle. It was a rich tapestry.


Incidentally, for those of you wondering about "The Snark Ascending" (see the link to the right), she's approaching finals time at good old Aarkvard, yonder on the hill, masticating up our children and spitting them out as our nation's future buck-passers (Motto: We Masticate Up Your Children and Spit Them Out As Our Nation's Future Buck-Passers), and has precious little time for really worthwhile efforts like The Snark. But stop in to look at the archive. In May she'll be back (Did you feel a bum chill when I said that? I sure did).

...BOOK PUBLISHING FRIENDS AT PIB PRESS!


IT'S HEART HEALTHY!

NOW WITH 0g TRANS FATS (which means, 0.4g trans fats, which allows me to say it's 0g trans fats, by rule of law)!

HAVE YOU BEEN CONTEMPLATING ENLARGING YOUR LIBRARY WITH THIS LUSCIOUS VOLUME? NOW IS THE TIME TO MATCH THE THOUGHT WITH A DEED!

Just drop an e-mail to pibpress@verizon.net and let them know your zip code (if in the U. S.), or where you are (if further flung), and they will take it from there. If you wish to pay by PayPal or by check, you might mention that as well. And remember...

NOW WITH 0g TRANS FATS!

(click the drawing to see a larger image)
©2008 Brooke McEldowney

(click to see a legible enlargement)
©2008 Brooke McEldowney

This one, the broccoli bisque gag, caused one early syndicate editor to stop and shake her head, saying that I had gone too far. Perhaps. But I still like it.

On another subject, I noticed the other day that some booksellers who list their stock with the big, online bookstores are now marketing "Pibgorn - The Girl In The Coffee Cup" in new and used condition, at over twice its cost new from Pib Press. One even commented "direct from the publisher," or something to that effect. I rubbed my tiny chin thoughtfully and said "hm," for nobody to hear in particular. Beware the jabberwock, the jaws that bite, the claws that catch.

(click the image to see an enlarged version)
©2008 Brooke McEldowney



"Pibgorn - The Girl in the Coffee Cup" is still percolating, and available from Pib Press by e-mailing pibpress@verizon.net. Let them know your zip code and preferred manner of posting (media mail, priority, donkey), or if you reside in fabled Cathay or Serendip, lands far flown from Pib Press (which is located in Maine), let them know that too. It will get the ball rolling. This process may seem quaint, but it is Pib Press's purpose to charge you only the actual postage necessary to get Pib to you, which is usually a great deal less than the charge online booksellers incorporate into their fee under the heading "Postage and handling."

(click to enlarge the image; click again to make it even larger)
©2008 Brooke McEldowney

Pardon my absence. Many of you wrote to ask if I'm still well and mending. Thanks for asking, and yes, I'm fine. Just tardy. Here I've posted two daily installments.

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©2008 Brooke McEldowney

This one was a sticking point for the first editor who viewed it. She loved it, and just said, succinctly, "No." Then, for clarity, she added, "No no no no no no no no no no." ("No" was a summary word in her vocabulary. She also loosed a salvo of them at the "Seven Nipples" cartoon.) The early 90's were not good days for mucus. I like to think we're more embracing now.

To catch you up, I offer three sweetmeats from the confectioners here at:




(as always, click the picture to see it enlarged)
©2008 Brooke McEldowney

By the way, I want to thank each of you again for the now countless letters wishing me a quick recovery from my bout with the gallbladder. The surgery, I'm afraid, wasn't really all that interesting. I slept through the most dramatic part. All I retain is a conviction that I dueled several musketeers bearing very antiseptic épées – and I have the wounds to prove it.

I just got back from the local hospital where they took my gallbladder and gave me a breakfast. I'm rather sore, sitting here typing this, so I won't stay on for long except to say thanks so very much to all of you who wrote good wishes.

All best to you. I'll try to start cranking out Pib as soon as I can. It might take a couple of days more.

Brooke

Greetings all,

This is the Snark, logging in from Aarkvard to pass along my father's apologies for being unable to post a Pibgorn. This message he has conveyed to me from the emergency room, where he must (as he put it) surrender his gallbladder for his efforts.

Bottom line, all is well. In the meantime, he just wanted you to know.

Nicola

(click to see a larger version)
©2008 Brooke McEldowney

This is, I believe, the first drawing I dished up for Wahoo Terminal. I remember feeling inspired by it. It may be the second. But I think it's the first. Don't hold me to that. I don't want to make any wild claims I have to retract later. Still, I think this is the first. Depending on what the meaning of "this" is. And what the meaning of "is" is.

Now my throat is getting dry. Is it warm in here?

(click the drawing to get a larger view)
©2008 Brooke McEldowney

A Pib reader asked if I might make today's sketch a bit darker than it is, so I ran it through Photoshop and brought the greys closer to black. Take a look and see if that helps. Actually, it will be posted tomorrow, so take a look tomorrow.

Meanwhile, here is another installment of:




(click to enlarge the view; click the enlarged view to see it even further enlarged)
©2007 Brooke McEldowney

Many of you may recognize this gag as one belonging to Thorax in 9 Chickweed Lane, where it appeared in a retread. The Thorax version did not contain the word "nipples." This version, the original, is the best, and I would have used the word "nipples" in the Thorax version as well, except that editors noticeably blanch and pull their knees up into a fetal position when cartoonists use the word "nipples." "Nipples," is a bad word. "Nipples" will get your strip dropped from uncountable papers. The first editor who saw this cartoon saw the word "nipples," and said, "Oh, no no no no no no no no no.........". "Nipples" just appalled her. "You can't say 'nipples,' " she said. I have, therefore, until now, never used the word "nipples" in a cartoon, because it is bad. This has caused a kind of strain on my system, a weird constipation, because "nipples" is, was, and always will be the perfect word for the gag line in this cartoon.

Excuse me.......

Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples, Nipples.

Thank you.

I'm feeling much better now.

(click to see larger image; click that one to see yet a larger one)

©2008 Brooke McEldowney

Kirk Haverkamp, a Pibgorn reader in Michigan, wrote to suggest that, rather than give away each step of the Pib story by previously posting the sketch thereunto appertaining, perhaps I should post the sketch on the day following. This strikes me as a good idea, and easily implemented. Henceforth, the compositional sketch of each cartoon will appear on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays – unless I forget, or absentmindedly throw the drawing out, or am otherwise engaged plowing snow out of the drive.

Many thanks to Kirk.

Oh, and did I wish everyone a happy new year?



um.......happy new year.