Apes, Artists, Smallpox, & Ho-Ho-Ho Hate Movies!
By srbissette on December 21st, 2010Posted In: News
Hungarian Apes in English?
You Bet! More on Hungary’s Planet of the Apes Comic Adaptation from 1980; Joe Citro on Vermont’s Most Eccentric Artist; Falling Sensations at Vertigo!
This past Sunday, I shared images Péter Kollárik sent me of particular interest to fellow Planet of the Apes lovers: an exquisite Hungarian comic book adaptation “by Hungary’s best comic book artist, the late ERNŐ ZÓRÁD from 1980,” an adaptation into comic form of Pierre Boulle’s La Planète Des Singes / Planet of the Apes (1963).
It’s all over at Hunter’s Planet of the Apes Archive, where overseer Hunter Goatley has posted Dave Ballard and James Aquila‘s English translation of the Hungarian comic, and an alternative translated version from Neil Foster, Michael Whitty, and “the PotaDG.” Enjoy!
Thanks, Rich, and thanks again, Péter!
_______
* Vermont folklorist and archivist of all things strange hereabouts—and my good friend—Joseph A. Citro has been plenty busy of late.
Among his preoccupations has been uncovering tales of eccentric Vermont artists, and
For those fellow artisans plagued by unwanted attention from time to time in their careers, I do think Risley‘s solution to keeping all unwanted persons away from his personal gallery could be applicable to 21st century needs. Give Joe‘s account a read, and let me know what you think.
* You may recall my recent serialized Myrant essay on “Hate Movies,” which most recently prompted
So far, it’s attracted only one (negative) comment, so weigh in with Roger if you’ve a mind to.
I still think it’s important to take a hard look at these kinds of pop cultural artifacts and artworks, and I’m glad Roger thought so, too.
* I’ll have more to say before the end of the year, but just wanted to bring to everyone’s end-of-year attention span that
The party is most definitely over, folks.
More later this week.

[Vertigo's seed: My pencils from Saga of the Swamp Thing #23, pg. 16, in which Swamp Thing is reborn; it's come full circle, folks, and—sadly—it's all over.]










Alas, poor Vertigo, I knew them once. But then they cancelled Unknown Soldier, one of the most interesting, passionate series I’ve read in years. End of an era indeed, and the height of bullshit and short term thinking.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen the original art for one of my favourite pages. Beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
I’m saddened that it’s pretty much the end for Vertigo, but I’m also amazed that it lasted as long as it did.
You’re quite welcome, Steve. And I, too, am very saddened by the end of the Vertigo era. It was amazing while it lasted.
Just to set the record straight, Dave Ballard did the english translation. My contribution was merely emailing the pdf to Hunter.
That artwork is fantastic, by the way. Although I loved the Veitch, Collins and Millar runs that came after yours (not so much the Wheeler run), I think that Swamp Thing was never as perfect as it was with you, John Totleben and Alan Moore at the helm. And although series 3 (Vaughan) and 4 (Diggle, Pfeifer and Dysart) were enjoyable, the magic of that second series has never been matched. It almost makes me glad that a fifth series has never been greenlighted.
Almost.
Thanks for the writeup, Steve!
There’s no reason you should remember, but we met at NECON way back in 1990.
Hunter
To be fair, the commenter on my has subsequently reconsidered her position after your comment!
Yes, Roger; and that was nice to see. Thanks, above all, for providing a one-stop set of links to the complete essay, with your kind words and consideration.
Really sad news about Vertigo, Steve. It was one of the most interesting programs to come out of the mainstream & paved the way for the wide acceptance of comics today. Have a great Christmas & best in the New Year.