09 December 2005
It Ain't Over Till It's Over.
Back on 21 November, Peter David, comics and SF writer, referred in his blog to artist John Byrne's appearance as an expert witness in an obscenity trial, charging a small local comics shop with selling obscene materials to minors.
No, it wasn't the case up in Rome, Georgia, which i believe is ongoing as we speak, and in which the Comic Book Legal Defence Fund (long my it wave) is involved.
No, this was the trial of John, owner of Komix Korner, the comic shop in the syndicated newspaper comic strip Funkie Winkerbean.
Back in May -- 3 May, 2005, to be exact, a friend of the owner, meaning to do him a favour, referred her mother to the shop to buy a gift for someone who liked comics. Her mother is (a) a total jerk ("serial idiot" is the phrase Becky uses when she hears about her mother's actions later) and (b) a City Councilwoman... And John wound up busted for selling obscene material to minors.
The trial began ( November 12), with the afore-mentioned John Byrne appearance on November 17 and 18.
Byrne's testimony is immediately followed by the high school art teacher who speaks glowingly of art and the creative process and then refers to cartooning and comics as trash.
However, on 29 November, John is acquitted, followed by a party at Montoni's, the pizza parlor that is the moral center of the Funky universe (and in whose basement the shop is located).
All over, right?
The Good Guys won, no?
Maybe.
As of today, Tony Montoni is wondering why city workers have totally closed and begun tearing up the street in front of Montoni's, just as the holiday season, which he says are "our busiest part of our year", begins.
Lessee -- who's affected by that shutdown?
Montoni's, where the conspiracy against decency has its headquarters, the Komix Korner, in the basement, and Lisa Moore's second-floor walkup law office,
And what do all of thse people have in common?
They made a City Councilwoman look ludicrous at the comic shop trial, and personally humiliated her on the witness stand.
No matter who you vote for, the Government aways get in.
[panel from funky winkerbean all characters copyright ©
by Batom, Inc]
¶ 2:38 PM
No, it wasn't the case up in Rome, Georgia, which i believe is ongoing as we speak, and in which the Comic Book Legal Defence Fund (long my it wave) is involved.
No, this was the trial of John, owner of Komix Korner, the comic shop in the syndicated newspaper comic strip Funkie Winkerbean.
Back in May -- 3 May, 2005, to be exact, a friend of the owner, meaning to do him a favour, referred her mother to the shop to buy a gift for someone who liked comics. Her mother is (a) a total jerk ("serial idiot" is the phrase Becky uses when she hears about her mother's actions later) and (b) a City Councilwoman... And John wound up busted for selling obscene material to minors.
The trial began ( November 12), with the afore-mentioned John Byrne appearance on November 17 and 18.
Byrne's testimony is immediately followed by the high school art teacher who speaks glowingly of art and the creative process and then refers to cartooning and comics as trash.
However, on 29 November, John is acquitted, followed by a party at Montoni's, the pizza parlor that is the moral center of the Funky universe (and in whose basement the shop is located).
All over, right?
The Good Guys won, no?
Maybe.
As of today, Tony Montoni is wondering why city workers have totally closed and begun tearing up the street in front of Montoni's, just as the holiday season, which he says are "our busiest part of our year", begins.
Lessee -- who's affected by that shutdown?
Montoni's, where the conspiracy against decency has its headquarters, the Komix Korner, in the basement, and Lisa Moore's second-floor walkup law office,
And what do all of thse people have in common?
They made a City Councilwoman look ludicrous at the comic shop trial, and personally humiliated her on the witness stand.
No matter who you vote for, the Government aways get in.
[panel from funky winkerbean all characters copyright ©
by Batom, Inc]
¶ 2:38 PM
