Tag: Craig MacIntosh

Meeting Greg Howard

Post author By Jim Keefe
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2 Comments on Meeting Greg Howard

Cut to the Minikahda Country Club the summer of 1982 where a high school age Jim Keefe is busy bussing tables. The goal is to someday become a comic book artist, but there’s no clear path for that pipe dream.

The buzz Keefe overhears from the ritzy club members is about a local lawyer who had quit his well paying profession to become – of all the crazy things – buy Ivermectin scabies online a cartoonist.

The lawyer/cartoonist’s name was Druten Greg Howard.

Greg Howard 1982 — Greg Howard – circa 1982
*Pic by **Alan Light** from the*
**1982 Mpls Comic Con.**

The comic strip, Sally Forth.

With the cartoon landscape of the early 1980s showing woman only in the role of housewives, Sally Forth would become part of a new generation of comic strips – along with Lynn Johnston’s For Better or For Worse and Cathy Guisewite’s, Cathy – that showed woman taking center stage in a more modern setting.

Strips from the inaugural first week of Sally Forth.

Because of this, and the fact that the strips were original and funny, success in newspaper syndication followed.

Jump ahead to 1998 and I would be working on staff as a colorist at King Features Syndicate when Greg Howard would decide to retire from his writing chores on Sally (now drawn by Craig MacIntosh). I sent him a letter relaying the Minikahda Country Club story along with a Sally Forth collection from the early days that King had in-house.

His reply:

Thanks for your nice letter and the copy of the first “Sally Forth” book. It was very thoughtful of you to pass it along.

It’s true that I sold Sally to King Features and have skulked off into the sunset. I’ve spent the summer enjoying the relief from the inexorable deadlines. You’re familiar with those. I’m not sure what comes next but haven’t grown overly anxious about it yet.

I enjoyed your story about the Minikahda club gossip revolving around my career change 20 years ago. Thanks for sharing it with me.

Greg Howard

I got to meet Greg Howard just once in 2012 before I took over the drawing chores on Sally Forth. Francesco Marciuliano was writing Sally by this time and I had been working as an assistant to Craig MacIntosh for a couple years. Craig suggested we meet with Greg in regards to working out me signing on with King as the new artist.

It was truly memorable as Craig hadn’t seen Greg for awhile and I got to watch two comic strip greats catch up and just shoot the sh*t over lunch. I had brought along a King Features sales kit of Sally Forth from back in the day and took the following pic.

Greg Howard and Craig MacIntosh circa 2012

Sally Forth is 40 years old as of January 2022 with Francesco Marciuliano at the helm writing and myself drawing. It’s a different comic strip than when Greg Howard and Craig MacIntosh were steering the ship, but Francesco and I wouldn’t have this gig if not for the bedrock of success Greg Howard’s original Sally Forth had. To that I say, many thanks – and hope Mr. Howard is still “enjoying the relief from the inexorable deadlines”

-Jim Keefe

Tags Craig MacIntosh, Greg Howard, Sally Forth

Craig MacIntosh Sally Forth

Adieu to a Sally Forth Easter Tradition

Post author By Jim Keefe
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5 Comments on Adieu to a Sally Forth Easter Tradition

“As Jim Keefe and I prepare to enter “Phase Two” of the “Sally Forth Comic Strip Universe” this September (or “Phase 147,” depending on how many times you think I’ve altered/ruined the strip in my 22 years of writing it), we begin to say farewell to a few of the hallmark stories that made “Sally Forth”—in the words of one critical rave—”Available in print and online.”

First up is “Sally Forth Eats the Ears off Her Own Child’s Chocolate Easter Bunny Every Year,” a long-ago inherited running gag that began what I assume as a touching tribute to poor boundary issues and in the last two decades has evolved into a loving tale of parental mind games and ensuing childhood mental breakdowns.”

– Francesco Marcuiliano
Easter 2019

So without further ado, presenting a nostalgic chocolate bunny-eared look back at a Sally Forth Easter tradition!

Side note and further ado…
Sally Forth first premiered in 1982 written and drawn by Greg Howard. The bunny ear storyline retrospective shown here only goes back to 1999 due to the digital files that were available.

For those keeping track: The writing credit switch from Greg Howard to Francesco Marciuliano can be found on the top of the strip in the credit line.

For art credit: The strips start off in 1999 with Craig Macintosh handling the drawing chores, then in 2011 Craig hired Jim Keefe to assist with inking and coloring the Sunday pages. The March 31, 2013 Sunday page was where Jim was in charge of the whole package – pencils, inks, lettering and coloring.

– Click on images to see larger –

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

Special Added Bonus!
Here’s two links to the Sunday Comics Department blog’s spotlight on chocolate bunny ears past – Greg Howard edition!
Chew Your Ears Off

Getting a Leg Up

And now an unabashed plug…

If Sally Forth isn’t in your local paper you can check it out online at…

A yearlong subscription to all of King Features’ comics (new and vintage) plus ten years worth of archives for every single strip is a pittance at $19.99 a year!

Tags Craig MacIntosh, Sally Forth

Artists - Cartoonists Craig MacIntosh Francesco Marciuliano Sally Forth

2008 Sally Forth/Pearls Before Swine Crossover

Post author By Jim Keefe
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The following email exchange is from 2007. I grabbed it from Francesco’s Marciuliano’s blog, Francesco Explains It All. It’s between Pearls Before Swine creator, Stephan Pastis, and Sally Forth’s writer, Francesco Marciuliano.

Hey Francesco…

My name is Stephan Pastis…I do a strip called “Pearls Before Swine”….I’m real sorry to be a bother, but is there any chance i could get a right-facing full body pose of Ted from you?….I’ve looked through the strips online and can’t seem to find one…

I’m doing a series where my main character, Rat, is a concierge at a hotel, and I’d love to have Ted approach him trying to hire a prostitute for the night…he needs a break from Sally….

Stephan

Stephan:

Okay, I’ve read this message three times and I’m still laughing.

I don’t do the artwork but I can get you said sketch (actually, I can do it for you. I’ve done enough joke strips of the characters that I can draw them pretty accurately). However, there are a few conditions:

1. If this is indeed not a joke–and you are indeed Stephan–can I have the original artwork?
2. For the love of God, please make it a typical prostitute, not a tranny or some 14-year-old Haitian boy. My syndicate will be weeping enough as is.
3. Can I have the original artwork?
4. Ted is still unemployed, so cost will be an issue. With few dollars to his name we may be talking more a quick yank behind the dumpster than anything else.
5. Can I post your email request on my site? I know that may ruin the surprise of the gag but trust me, the fact Ted’s cruising for a woman is going to be enough of a shock to bring in the readers.
6. Can I have the original artwork?

Ces

And here’s how it all played out. The March 27, 2008 Pearls Before Swine is followed by Sally Forth for the same date.

Note: Sally Forth artwork from 2008 by Craig MacIntosh.

Click on artwork to see larger.

Speaking of Pearls before Swine, here’s Stephan Pastis getting an art assist (in the middle panel of the following strip) by none other than Bill Watterson.

More on that here…
Ever Wished That Calvin and Hobbes Creator Bill Watterson Would Return to the Comics Page? Well, He Just Did.

Personal note – I had the pleasure of meeting Stephan (or as I call him, Mr. Pastis) back on October 14, 2011 when he gave a Visiting Artist lecture at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design.

MCAD recorded the lecture and made it available on Vimeo – so without further ado…

For more on Stephan Pastis, check out Stephan Pastis’ blog – it features video, interviews, appearances and much, much more. I highly recommend it!

-Jim Keefe

Tags Bill Watterson, Craig MacIntosh, Francesco Marciuliano, Sally Forth, Stephan Pastis

Craig MacIntosh Francesco Marciuliano King Features Sally Forth

Sally Forth – Passing the Torch

Post author By Jim Keefe
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6 Comments on Sally Forth – Passing the Torch

As many of you have already heard, I’m the new artist of the Sally Forth comic strip. My name has been on the dailies since March 11th, and even though I drew the strip for this past Sunday (3/31/2013), that was the last one overseen by cartoonist Craig MacIntosh and bears his name.

Back story: A few years ago I connected with Craig and began working as his assistant inking and coloring the Sally Forth Sunday pages. When Craig decided to retire last year I worked up some samples (under Craig’s watchful eye) which were then submitted to King Features Syndicate. After navigating the proper channels the word was given from on high – editorial approval – and I was given the green light

I can’t say enough about how great it was working with Craig. He’s the consummate professional who makes the incredibly stellar work he does look easy – a great friend and mentor.

He’s currently turned to writing. His two most recent books are The Fortunate Orphans and The Last Lightning. I was able to make it out for the launch party for The Last Lightning and posted about it last fall.

Sally Forth is currently written by bestselling author, cartoonist and writer, Francesco Marciuliano.

He was handed the baton by Sally Forth’s creator, Greg Howard, when Greg decided to retire from the strip back in 1999.

I found a great interview with him on the Jeff Rubin Jeff Rubin Show where he talks about his work on Sally Forth (below).

I was a fan of the Sally Forth comic strip long before coming on board, so I truly lucked out as far as being able to collaborate with Francesco. In addition to being a 15-year veteran on the strip, he knows the characters inside and out – which as far as I’m concerned makes the humor strike closer to home.

Warning: Unabahed plug time.

If Sally Forth isn’t in your local paper, you can check it out online at…

A yearlong subscription to all of King Features’ comics (new and vintage) plus a year’s archive for every single strip is a pittance at $19.99 a year. Unsure? Try a 7 day trial subscription for free.

Unabashed plug officially over.

Tags Craig MacIntosh, Francesco Marciuliano, King Features, Sally Forth

Craig MacIntosh

Craig MacIntosh – The Last Lightning

Post author By Jim Keefe
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Craig MacItosh, author of The Fortunate Orphans, has a new book coming out…

The Last Lightning — Click on picture to get info on purchasing.

Synopsis:

Nearly seventy years after a top-secret escort mission flown by four American aces ends mysteriously, a missionary in Papua New Guinea makes a startling discovery. One of the missing planes—a P-38 Lightning belonging to the flight leader—is found deep in the jungle. Half a world away, others who learn of the surprising discovery race to unlock the past. Greed, betrayal, and brutality descend on an isolated valley where tribal life, unchanged for a century, is about to be visited by a whirlwind of violence.

“A great story . . . you won’t want to put this book down.”

—Col. Perry Dahl, USAF (Ret.), WWII veteran and P-38 ace, 432nd Fighter Squadron, Southwest Pacific Theater

“MacIntosh has skillfully blended interesting fact with intriguing fiction to capture the experiences of our combat aircrews of WWII and the impact on their immediate families and descendants.”

—Brig. Gen. Dennis Shulstad, USAF (Ret.)

Events:

Launch Party

Oct. 13, 1 to 4 pm: the American Legion in Apple Valley, Minnesota.
14521 Granada Drive – Apple Valley, MN 55214

Book Signing

Nov. 11, 3 pm: the American Legion in Rosemount, Minnesota.
14590 Burma Avenue West – Rosemount, MN 55068

Book Signing

December 4th, 6:30 – 8:00pm: the Robert Trail Library.
14395 Robert Trail South – Rosemount, Minnesota 55068
Craig MacIntosh will be the featured speaker in the ongoing “Meet the Author” series.

When not writing, Craig MacIntosh can be found in the Sunday paper, with fellow cartoonist Steve Sack, in their Sunday comics feature Doodles. MacIntosh also illustrates the comic strip Sally Forth, written by Francesco Marciuliano, which appears in over 600 papers.

UPDATE: Book Launch on October 13th at the American Legion in Apple Valley, MN.

Here’s some pics from Craig MacIntosh’s book launch party for The Last Lightning, including a WWII reenactor that was on hand who introduced Craig.

Tags Craig MacIntosh