Johnson, Brad – Itchy Scaly #2

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Itchy Scaly #2

There is no way on earth that you’re ever going to find this comic.  If you are, however, able to locate the Brad Johnson who did this through the internets or because you happen to know the guy, that would be wonderful.  Why will you never be able to find this comic?  Because it came out in June of 1983.  Christ, a good number of you whippersnappers probably weren’t even born yet (and I love the fact that my spell check has no problem with “whippersnappers”).  I’m listing it on this page anyway because this is the sort of thing I hope to include in the upcoming rental program, although it does raise an ethical question that I hope to get some feedback on: as I am setting up a pay-per-rental scheme with the creators of these books (something like $.04 a rental if they want it), what do I do with stuff like this?  The guy could be dead for all I know, and I’m sure that’ll come up a few more times before I get all this settled.  Anyway, send me your thoughts, and I’ll share my thoughts on this comic!  Meh, mediocre segue, but what are you going to do.  This is a collection of short pieces from Brad and a few amazing childhood pictures from various family members.  His stories include creepy job hunting, visiting senility, two losers trying to find something to do (just in case you wouldn’t be able to relate to this ancient tome), the dream of the mountain boy, a poem about magnet mummies that was excellent, armless people trapped in a room, and a story about a talking dog.  There are also a few drawings to go with the stories, as that usually does help make it feel like a more complete experience.  It’s hard not to notice how little has changed in mini comics over the years, as you could honestly plop this down on the shelf at Chicago Comics and not for a second think that it was dated.   Great artwork (in a few different styles) and solid stories never really get old, so if you do see this in the rental store (in the future, as it doesn’t exist as of 1/26/10), don’t be afraid of it because it’s old.  As I wasn’t able to find any contact info, the least I can do is give you two samples, so here you go.   UPDATE:  thanks to a knowledgeable reader I was able to get a website for the guy.  He also has plenty of free samples listed up there, and he’s been in all sorts of books including Weirdo, Blab, Kramer’s Ergot and Dirty Plotte.  Shows what I know to give up on finding a guy just because his last name is “Johnson”…