Our Roots: The Victorian Age of Comic Book Fandom! 7 7

[SolitaireOne]

Bravo, Flee!

 

lol

[JohnT]

Steve Meyer was kind enough to send me this link (Mucho thanks, friend Steve)

 

This thread story is a lot of fun, thanks for spending the time, would luv to sewe some of these other Flee stories referenced by others

 

Am set up at Heroescon this week end, already seen a bunch of CGC-listeer regular types

 

Just to set the history correct, Topffer's first version of this issued in Geneva Switzerland in 1828, first hit Paris in 1833, first English translation by Tilt & Bogue in 1841, those very printing plates brought to America summer of 1842 and then almost continuously being reprinted in America as late as 1904.

 

Twas also issued in other Euro countries contributing to the origins of comic books all over the place, not just America.

 

This is undoubtedly true. However, it isn't the whole story. It has been indisputably established that Topffer was a mercenary in the War of 1812 (attached to a French contigent), and he travelled extensively in the American west after the conclusion of the war.

 

It was during these travels that he encountered a half-blood Pueblo indian, whose mother was white, named Obadiah "Elder Buck" Wingfoot. Obadiah had gone to school in the east (Harvard), and it was the adventures that he experienced there that laid the foundation for Topffler's stories. It is also a little know fact that Topffler's illustrations came from Wingfoot himself (he majored in drawing at Harvard). In fact, judging by various extant letters, it is likely that Wingfoot added much of the text for the original versions of Obadiah "Oldbuck".

 

As partial payment for these illustrations, Topffer gave Wingfoot several boxes of his first American publication--the adventures of Obadiah Oldbuck. One of these boxes apparently accounts for the Chief Rose-in-the-sky pedigree obtained from a Pentacostal Church by "the Podiatrist."

 

The inescapable conclusion to this history is that the comic book in fact originated in America, though it became established through a circuitous route that passed through Switzerland, France, and back to the states.

[balloon_knot-migration]

This thread is not complete until this link is posted, because it's just as funny as this one:

 

http://boards.collectors-society.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Main=68922&Number=1258483#Post1258483

[showcase4]

This thread is not complete until this link is posted, because it's just as funny as this one:

 

 

Bye Bye Stu......I mean Shill

[Bosco685]

In order to share their newfound passion, "picture-book" collectors took to the wires

and formed telegraph forums to discuss all-things-Obadiah.

 

 

 

Awesome stuff!!!!

+ INFINITY

 

Greggy tapping away gleefully is just too funny.

[s-man]

Cool stuff!

[balloon_knot-migration]

This thread is not complete until this link is posted, because it's just as funny as this one:

 

 

Bye Bye Stu......I mean Shill

 

It's not me - my drunken son signed up this name, trying to make me look bad.

[seanfingh]

 

Flaming_Telegraph

 

[Comicopolis]

[chrisco37]

Great job (yet again), Flee.

[HouseofComics.Com]

Soon industries arose out of this need for the best.

The Corn Growers Collective for a small fee would wrap your Obadiah in a protective

husk and certify it Grade A or Grade AA or Grade AAA.

 

Oooh, nice one! (thumbs u Love the telegraph image too.

[Flee-Marquette]

A few addendums:

 

 

In the late 1800's, there weren't too many options for obtaining your Obadiah Oldbucks

if you didn't live close to a city. If you ordered one through the mail your options were:

 

Pony Express Standard Service:

 

 

 

Shetland Pony Economy Service:

 

 

 

And if you needed Tracking, it could be expensive

 

 

The California Gold Rush in the late 1840's resulted in hundred's of thousands of treasure

seekers flooding the area. With their newfound income the need for picture-books could

not be met through the mail system. A young entrepeneur, Horatio Yee headed west with

a huge cache of Obadiahs and struck gold himself.

 

[Flee-Marquette]

To promote the high-grade condition of their picture-books some unscrupulous dealers

would manipulate the images in their advertisements to get rid of blemishes. This

practice was known as "Daguerro-shopping" and much scorn was heaped down upon

those who engaged in such activities.

 

 

[Flee-Marquette]

A charismatic Floridian who called himself the Obadiah27-Kid saw an opportunity to

fashion an action figure in the likeness of Obadiah. He stormed the south going to

revivals, state fairs and health communes and soon every home had an OO doll

on their mantle.

 

 

 

 

 

He convinced a group of investors in the long-term viability of the action-figure market

and sold his enterprise for a princely sum. It appears he got out just in time because

the bloom was off the rose in the picture-book industry. He later retired to his beloved

state of Florida, opened up a gator farm and discovered the elixir Coca Cola.

 

 

 

Edited June 22, 2009 by Flee-Marquette

[Point Five]

And if you needed Tracking, it could be expensive

 

Classic...

 

Great job as always, Flee!

[slym2none]

 

The California Gold Rush in the late 1840's resulted in hundred's of thousands of treasure

seekers flooding the area. With their newfound income the need for picture-books could

not be met through the mail system. A young entrepeneur, Horatio Yee headed west with

a huge cache of Obadiahs and struck gold himself.

 

 

Between these pics and the Greggy9000, I have laughed a stitch in my side...

 

STOP MAKING ME LAUGH, IT HURTS!!!

 

 

 

 

-slym

[The Black Hand ®]

[ashrael]

Well done

[User 01001010]

you need to do one on SOTI.

 

just throwinf it out there.

 

j

[TupennyConan]