Ten Years After: a Video Interlude

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A 1987 photo I took of ‘Peanuts’ cartoonist Charles M. Schulz (1922-2000) on the right, ‘Terry and the Pirates’/’Steve Canyon’ cartoonist Milton Caniff (1907-1988) on the left, and Snoopy.

Today, I’m doing something different in this usually literature-focused blog of mine. 🙂 I was surprised and pleased to see on the Bluesky social-media platform three days ago that my Canadian writer friend Dan St.Yves had re-posted a filmed interview he did with me almost exactly ten years ago, so I decided to re-post it again here instead of going with a more typical lit post.

In that summer of 2015 conversation, we talked about various syndicated cartoonists and columnists I had met and covered while working for Editor & Publisher magazine from 1983 to 2008 — before I started blogging on literature. Among the creators discussed: Charles M. Schulz (“Peanuts”), Jim Davis (“Garfield”), Lynn Johnston (“For Better or for Worse”), Bill Watterson (“Calvin and Hobbes”), Stan Lee (“Spider-Man”), humor columnist Dave Barry, and twin-sister advice columnists Abigail Van Buren (“Dear Abby”) and Ann Landers.

When Dan and I had our conversation, we were in Indianapolis attending the 2015 conference of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists — for which I was a board member from 2009 to 2023.

Again, this is not a typical book post for me, although all the cartoonists and columnists mentioned above have seen MANY sales of paperback (and in some cases hardcover) collections featuring their work, and some have written some non-collection books as well. (For instance, Dave Barry has authored and co-authored a number of novels.) Also, the 2012 Comic (and Column) Confessional memoir I wrote about my time at Editor & Publisher comes up during the interview. I could add that Alexandre Dumas wrote an 1845 sequel to his famous 1844 novel The Three Musketeers titled Twenty Years After — twice the length of time since this post’s 2015 video of ten years ago. So, if one read half of Twenty Years After…

Anyway, below is a link to the video, which lasts a bit over 20 minutes. Whether you watch it or not (no obligation!), I’ll be back with a more normal literature post next week. Actually, Misty the cat is soon due for another guest blog effort here to discuss books from his feline perspective, but he’s not sure yet if that will be on August 3 or sometime later in the month. In the meantime, Misty is reading Marcel Proust’s In Search of Lost Treats and hoping for a happy ending.

Misty the cat asks: “Why is there smoke in July when the new Pope was chosen in May?”

My comedic 2024 book — the part-factual/part-fictional/not-a-children’s-work Misty the Cat…Unleashed — is described and can be purchased on Amazon in paperback or on Kindle. It’s feline-narrated! (And Misty says Amazon reviews are welcome. 🙂 )

This 90-second promo video for my book features a talking cat: 🙂

I’m also the author of a 2017 literary-trivia book…

…and the aforementioned 2012 memoir that focuses on cartooning and more.

In addition to this weekly blog, I write the 2003-started/award-winning “Montclairvoyant” topical-humor column every Thursday for Montclair Local. The latest piece — about the cancellation of “The Late Show,” whose host Stephen Colbert is a resident of my town — is here.

80 thoughts on “Ten Years After: a Video Interlude”

  3. Exactly, Dave. The thing is that, the graphic novels have kids as characters and children’s stories as the plots, but some behavior and language shouldn’t be there. A few boys in my granddaughter’s first grade (before summer) were reading graphic novels also. They’re in the children’s section in the library.
    Of course, I’m more conservative as an educator in my generation.

    My daughter and son-in-law seldom say no to the kids without explaining why. They’re millennials. I appreciate their philosophy and patience with the kids.

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  6. I enjoyed your post, Dave! I watched part of the interview but I wanted to comment before going to bed. I’m a Peanuts and Grafield fan – have a collection of two Garfield books, but favor Peanuts and every character in it a bit more. “Psychiatric Help 5¢” is one of my favorite. When we were still reading the newspaper, I usually took out the comic page and read every strip. Hubby only reads WSJ these days. Hubby likes one kind of bubble gum that has comic strips. He shared that with our granddaughters, 5 and 7. The 7-year-old loves to read the comic and she’s good to catch on the joke.

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    • Thank you, Miriam! Yes, “Peanuts” had more depth than “Garfield,” and was just as funny in its way. That recurring scene of Lucy in her modest-priced psychiatry booth was always fun to see.

      I remember that bubble gum that had a comic — starring “Bazooka Joe,” I think. I’d buy/read that as a kid. That’s still sold?

      Many kids age 5, 7, etc., definitely love the comics. 🙂

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    • LOL, Susi! 😂 Thank you! Yes, not much newsprint can be “lifted” from an iPad screen. 🙂

      I’ve always enjoyed the “Mother Goose and Grimm” comic by Mike Peters — who is a hilarious, very charismatic guy.

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  12. I really enjoyed that interview, Dave. I have been reading the comics forever, and I still consider it a mandatory part of my day. It’s fascinating that you knew so many of my favorites. I just snagged your book, and I look forward to reading it.

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    • Thank you, Dan! Happy you liked the interview! 🙂

      Great that you’re a fan of comics, and that you still read them! I must confess I don’t follow them regularly anymore; the one print newspaper I still get delivered is the comics-less New York Times. But I do read some comics online, often in the Facebook feeds of cartoonists I used to cover with whom I’m now FB friends.

      And, last but not least, thanks so much for your interest in the “Comic (and Column) Confessional” memoir! Very appreciated. 🙂 One cartoonist I used to cover was Bob Englehart when he was with the Hartford Courant; he’s mentioned briefly in the book.

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      • I always enjoyed Bob’s cartoons. I subscribe to the digital version of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Back when there were two papers in Pittsburgh (the Post Gazette and the Pittsburgh Press) PG had the comics we liked best. Although I’m sure we subscribed because my dad liked the sports section better. After I read your book, I’ll put it on the shelf between the hardbound collections of The Far Side and Calvin and Hobbes (both given to me years ago).

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        • Yes, Bob’s Courant work was excellent. He might still do freelance cartoons, but I’m not sure.

          Pittsburgh was a great newspaper town! I remember the editorial cartoons of Rob Rogers, Tim Menees, Randy Bish, and others; and the columns by Tony Norman, Eric Heyl, and others.

          I still have several “Calvin and Hobbes” and “Far Side” collections, too. 🙂 While it didn’t come up in the interview, I enjoyed some phone conversations with “The Far Side” cartoonist Gary Larson. He was one of the people who wrote a blurb for the back cover of my book, which was very kind of him.

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    • Thank you, Ada! Glad you enjoyed the interview! 🙂 Yes, comics in print newspapers are missed. They’re still around, but fewer of them in fewer print newspapers.

      Lasagna and long naps are definitely appealing! Garfield has been enjoying both for so many years — since 1978 — that I suspect that was soon after naps were invented. 🙂

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  16. Thanks Dave!

    I did watch the interview. It was fabulous. I’m glad you posted it.

    Hey, looking forward to another Misty Manuscript Mews post.

    Misty, in answer to your question, “Why is there smoke in July when the new Pope was chosen in May?”

    In May, he snuck off to the john and had a cigar. When they caught him, he put it out and hid it. He finally had to go to the bathroom again, and took the matches they use to light the incense.

    He’s one heck of a smokin’ Pope!

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  17. Yeah, it is different but why shouldn’t you share something of your life, of your past right at the chalk face of all these fascinating people? So thank you. The interview is amazing, opening a window on a whole different world.

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  18. Dave, I truly enjoyed this post and your conversation with Dan—what fun it was to revisit that YouTube interview. Your reflections reminded me how much has changed since those days, not just in syndicated comics and column writing, but in how we connect and share our voices online.

    The world of comics/columns once carried a certain resilience through newsprint, but as that medium faded, so too did the regular rhythm that once brought Schulz, Watterson, Johnston, Dear Abby and Ann – and others into our homes. Now, we’re seeing a similar shift in blogging and social media—people are reassessing how, where, and why they want to connect. Your reflections offer a timely reminder that we are all in an ongoing process of adaptation, looking for meaning and community in new spaces.

    I also want to say how much I admire your book Comic (and Column) Confessional—it’s brilliant, and I revisit it often (it is on a shelf behind my computer desk.) And I had to smile when you mentioned Lynn Johnston; she lived in my hometown in Northern Manitoba, which made For Better or for Worse feel even more personal growing up.

    As always I have a great quote: “In life, it’s not where you go – it’s who you travel with.” Charles M. Schulz

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    • Thank you, Rebecca! Very glad you enjoyed that 2015 conversation! 🙂 Your fellow Canadian citizen Dan shares the excellent interview skills you display every time you do a podcast. 🙂 And great that you have that geographical connection with the uber-talented cartoonist Lynn Johnston!

      Yes, times have sure changed. While there are of course still print newspapers and still syndicated comics and columns, they are not nearly as much a part of our daily life as they used to be. SO many fewer newspapers, and a lot of the ones that remain are much shrunken. As you note, social media and blogs are huge now — as are podcasts and other online content.

      I greatly appreciate the kind words about my “Comic (and Column) Confessional” memoir!

      And, as you often do, you ended your comment with a fabulous quote.

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  19. Sounds interesting, Dave. I’ve saved the link to watch later as it’s getting late and I need my bed. No harm in posting something different – says the woman who screwed up her own blog post today and ended up posting an apology for those who’d read the erroneous one! Must be the weekend for being different. Have a good week and I’ll respond further when I’ve seen your video. 🙂

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    • Thank you, Rosaliene! Glad you liked the interview! 🙂 Some newspaper comics were indeed VERY entertaining, and many were easily understandable for kid readers. One of the gateways to eventual book reading. 🙂 And while super heroes were more a comic book than a newspaper comic strip thing, there were some in newspaper pages. For instance, “The Phantom” comic strip predated Superman and Batman.

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  21. Dave! The interview is terrific! I learned so much from tuning in. I guess I didn’t realize that Peanuts continued after Charles Schulz passed away…offering ‘best of’ comics after his death. Revenue mattered more than his wishes, I guess. And I really appreciated the observation about the demise of comics along with the print/newspapers. Makes sense. I just never thought about it. Thank you for sharing…love the creative people you’ve had a chance to meet in your career. xo! 😊

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    • Thank you, Vicki! Glad you enjoyed the interview! 🙂 I was lucky to have that job covering very creative people.

      Yes, a shame Charles Schulz’s wish to end his “Peanuts” comic wasn’t honored. He brought in tons of money for his syndicate for 50 years (new “Peanuts” strips ran from 1950 to 2000, plus the TV shows and merchandise) but there still was no willingness to turn off the money spigot.

      Also a shame that newspapers and newspaper comics have become much-diminished things, but change is inevitable…

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