Cartoonist Harry Bliss has been drawn into a bit of controversy over at the New Yorker because his illustration for last week’s cartoon caption contest (right) is the spitting image of a Marvel comic book cover from 1962 (left). Bliss’s editors were seemingly unaware of the resemblance, and no credit was given to the original, inked by Jack Kirby and Dick Ayers. And yes, life is now imitating Seinfeld episode #169, in which The......

Indie animator Bill Plympton has just finished his sixth animated feature, for which he hand drew every cell. Called Idiots and Angels, it tells the haunting and humorous story of a dyspeptic working stiff who wakes up one morning and finds, to his horror, angel's wings sprouting out of his back. Try as he may to rid himself of the grotesque mutation, they inevitably take over his life and soon become the wings of desire......

Cartoons just got a little more real with The Three Thug Mice, an online series set in New York City. The 35 animated shorts follow the tales (and tails!) of three rodent crooks named Vic, Tik and Brik. Described as an "ongoing ghetto saga" set in some of the seedier sectors of the concrete jungle, the trio's home turf is light years away from Disney World. (Though that is the Hotel Chelsea in the......

In an announcement that surely pleases voters, State Controller Thomas DiNapoli released a report saying the MTA should think again before raising its fares and tolls. DiNapoli said that the MTA hasn't made enough internal budget cuts yet to warrant an increase in fares and tolls. The proposed increases in fares and tolls is 6.5% in 2008 and another 5% in 2010. With the MTA set to vote on the fare increase in December,......

The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Restaurant Inspection division is on a tear. The DOH shut down three Pizza Hut restaurants owned by the franschisee who owns the rat-infested KFC-Taco Bell in Greenwich Village, the restaurant that launched a thousand shocked giggles and a million more eeewww's. And maybe there were a couple, "Oh, the rats look cute. Behind the glass." Franchisee ADF has eight restaurants in NYC that were allowed to remain......

Breathe easy, New York City - the NYPD has removed the LED pieces with Aqua Teen Hunger Force's mooninite Ignignokt from locations. It's unclear where they were, but WNBC reported that one was at 54th Street and 9th Avenue. And don't worry, folks, the Boston police have arrested Peter Berdovsky for planting the LED devices. Berdovsky's website, Zebbler.com, shows the locations of 20 devices (or, as the Massachusetts authorities are calling them, "hoax devices").......

Up in Boston, parts of the city were at a standstill when the police discovered a variety of suspicious packages. Streets were closed and mass transit was suspended as the police investigated... and found out the packages are part of a promotion for Aqua Teen Hunger Force! Seriously, major roads, a bridge, subway stations, and part of the Charles River were shut down for that. The Beantown police bomb squad blew up packages, finding......

You may recognize Jon Glaser from his appearances on Conan, Wonder Showzen, or Cheap Seats. You may have even heard his track on the Invite Them Up CD compilation, where he reads a series of letters written by his recently deceased father to the band ZZ Top. By the track's end, one thing is certain: Jon Glaser is a comedic genius. What are your earliest memories of seeing or hearing things that made you laugh?......

Tonight is the opening reception of She Draws Comics at MoCCA (Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art). The exhibit will celebrate a century of women cartoonists, the opening reception features curator Trina Robbins. Featuring over 50 artists and 100 artworks, it's the largest retrospective of women’s work in comic and cartoon. From turn-of-the-century cartoons to the 1940's comic "Brenda Starr: Reporter" to the Campbell Soup Kids to 1970's women superhero artists and graphic novelists -......

Happy Friday the 13th! Get out there and tempt fate this weekend... MUSIC: Songs of Rebellion brings musicians and artists together to invoke songs and images of rebellion. Some come out and get stirred up! Participants include Lenny Kaye, Invert, Kenny Wollesen, Marc Ribot, Rebecca Moore, Bonfire Madigan, Hanifa Walidah, John Frazier, Jeff Lewis, Seth Tobocman (slides and music with Eric Blitz, Steve Wishnia and Emilio (zef) China), and filmmaker Jem Cohen. Little know fact:......

The feds have arrested members of an intricate marijuana operation called the "Cartoon Network." Was Mojo Jojo in on this? Newsday reports that the operation spanned NYC and Long Island, and offered home delivery of high-grade marijuana, with customers shelling out $100 for 2 grams. A source said, "It is the best. They called regular marijuana 'Grandma.'" Aw, that's not nice. Anyway, members of the drug ring claimed that they had some high-profile cilents ("professional......

-As you can see from Tien's picture above, the ING New York City Marathon is over. Check flickr for more photos. -Here is a brief and probably counterproductive reminder: For this Thursday only, pizza at Lombardi's costs only a nickel. Get in line early. -In order to save it from the wrecking ball, some folks are trying to landmark the tunnel garage in SoHo. -Gunshot sensors in the Bronx? -Pirates. Really. Pirates. -Even as......

We hate to admit it, but when we were younger we were very judgmental about comics as an art form. We mocked and ridiculed our friends who were into them. We used judging words like "star trek" and "virgin." We utterly refused even to pick up a comic to see what all the fuss was about. In short, we were very very stupid. Luckily we've seen the error of our ways since then and now......

Today kicks off the New Yorker Festival and if you haven't snagged your tickets for some of the events yet, here's our list of last minute events we think are more than worthwhile...that still have seats left! Friday (night) Seymour M. Hersh interviewed by David Remnick Hersh has been writing about foreign policy and politics for decades and will be discussing the aftermath of 9/11 and the Bush administrations actions since then. Saturday (day) Literature......

The Fox cartoon, The Family Guy, which ran from 1999-2002, will be coming back. According to the Post, production on new episodes will start very soon. Fox is reviving the series because the DVDs have been selling extremely well. When the new shows will air or what channel (Fox, Cartoon Network, both?) they will air on is to be determined. The Family Guy is shown on the Cartoon Network at 11PM and 2AM during Adult......

The coolest crime fighters around these days, the Powerpuff Girls, have a Christmas special tonight, 'Twas the Fight Before Christmas, on the Cartoon Network. Zap2it details the plot in a Clement Moore style poem: The villain in this cartoon is a brat named Princess Morbucks Whose sole unmet wish is to be a Powerpuff Girl -- shucks Spoiled to her marrow, she travels to the North Pole With thoughts of computer hacking poisoning her soul.......

According to Michael Fleming in Variety, former Warner Bros. head Lorenzo DiBonaventura is going to be pitching a live-action movie based on G.I. Joe. Yes, the Real American Hero! Gothamist wonders who will play Cobra Commander, because based on some analysis maybe it'd be great to see Alan Cumming in the role. Other thoughts: Vin Diesel as Destro, Julianne Moore or Alicia Witt as Scarlett, maybe Paul Walker as Duke, Catherine Zeta-Jones as the Baroness.......

When I was little, I used to be obsessed with Family Circus, probably because the protagonists are kids and pretty simple ...but now, as an adult, I find it pretty dull and have more of a "Damn, wish I had thought of that so I can have a career" thought. Apparently, it's the most popular comic, according to readers of the Dallas Fort Worth Star Telegram. On the other hand, Doonesbury is very low. Must......