Loose Parts is a daily single-panel comic strip by Dave Blazek.[1] It is similar in tone, content, and style to Gary Larson's The Far Side, involving Theatre of the Absurd-style themes and characters. Loose Parts is currently syndicated by Andrews McMeel Syndication[2] and appears in newspapers across the country and overseas.
| Loose Parts | |
|---|---|
| Author(s) | Dave Blazek |
| Illustrator(s) |
|
| Current status/schedule | ongoing, daily |
| Launch date | April 20, 1998 |
| Syndicate(s) |
|
| Publisher(s) | Dave Blazek |
| Genre(s) | Gag, humor |
Loose Parts was nominated for Best Newspaper Panel Cartoon division award in the 2010 National Cartoonists Society Reuben Awards.[3] After being nominated an additional three more times,[4] it won the award in 2019,[4] repeating in 2020.[5][4]
History
editLoose Parts began in 1998 as a collaborative effort between Dave Blazek (the writer) and John Gilpin (the illustrator). Both men worked in the marketing department at The Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News.
The strip was originally syndicated by the Los Angeles Times Syndicate; it moved to Tribune Media Services in late December 2000 when Tribune Publishing bought the Los Angeles Times.[6]
In 2001 Gilpin stopped drawing for the single-panel cartoon and Blazek took up those duties as well; he now writes and draws Loose Parts.[7]
Blazek moved Loose Parts to The Washington Post Writers Group (WPWG) starting with the September 25, 2014 cartoon.[6] In early 2022, the WPWG announced it was winding down its comic strip syndication service;[2] soon afterward, Blazek moved Loose Parts to Andrews McMeel Syndication.[8]
Collections
edit- Attack of the Chortling Stomach (2011)[9]
- Weird Things in Small Boxes (2008) – ISBN 1-58822-061-3[10]
- Two Hundred Some Odd Cartoons (2006) – ISBN 1-58822-053-2
- Parts of My Brain (2003) – ISBN 1-58822-133-4
- Loose Upon The World (2001) – ISBN 1-58822-006-0
References
edit- ^ Holtz, Allan (2012). American Newspaper Comics: An Encyclopedic Reference Guide. Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan Press. p. 245. ISBN 9780472117567.
- ^ a b Tornoe, Rob (June 16, 2022). "New syndication options for illustrators: Syndicates facilitate ongoing opportunity for creators of comics and puzzles". Editor & Publisher.
- ^ Richmond, Tom (March 18, 2010). "2010 NCS Reuben Divisional Nominees Announced". TomRichmond.com.
- ^ a b c Simonetti, Isabella (Sep 21, 2020). "Philly artist Dave Blazek takes top cartoon award: Blazek has been nominated for the National Cartoonists Society Reuben Award five times". The Philadelphia Inquirer.
- ^ Times-News staff (Sep 27, 2020). "Erie native Dave Blazek wins cartoonists' big prize for 2nd time". Erie Times-News.
- ^ a b Degg, D. D. (June 1, 2022). "Loose Parts Changes Syndicates (Again)". The Daily Cartoonist.
- ^ Degg, D. D. (May 8, 2023). "Missed It: Loose Parts' 25th". The Daily Cartoonist.
- ^ Degg, D. D. (July 29, 2022). "Mike Lester Moves Mike du Jour to Andrews McMeel". The Daily Cartoonist.
...joins 'Loose Parts' and 'Pickles' as stablemates since those two had moved from Washington Post Writers Group to Andrews McMeel earlier this year (June 1 and July 1 respectively).
- ^ "Loose Parts Books". Archived from the original on 2011-11-12. Retrieved 2011-11-22.
- ^ "dave blazek". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2016-12-18.
External links
edit
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