See You in the Funny Papers!

Looks like Mr. DeMartino is having as hard a time with the Katzenjammer Kids, from a comic that debuted on this day in 1897, as he does with the students at Lawndale High. I'm just trying to figure out if the two children are alter egos of any Daria characters. Joey and Jamie, maybe?

Today is also National Ding-a-Ling Day, so this would be a good day for Mack to wear his little hat and ring that bell that goes ding-a-ling-a-ling-a-ling. A-ling. Or maybe the holiday is just an overall description of Kevin. You decide!

Fanfic Update!

• Arena (General "Daria in Morrowind" Thread), by welltemperedclavier (COMPLETE!): "Daria hated to admit it, but she kind of liked Drenlyn Academy’s library. Considering that Drenlyn existed only to help rich outlanders and rich natives exploit one another, it was remarkable that someone had taken great care in choosing the 64 books that rested on the library’s shelves."


• Daria: Winter Is Coming, by Meester_Lee (part 22): "It was late afternoon, the day after Uncle Ben had come back from the Cedars of Lawndale. Jane and Daria had walked home together. Track practice had been cancelled, and Daria snapped up the opportunity to walk home with her best friend."


• Dysfunction Junction (Life Goes On), by WildDogJJ (part 1): "Quinn was seated at the vanity putting on a gold ear ring. Her hair was styled in an upward pony tail with curled bangs and she was wearing a black evening dress that was both sexy and elegant."


• I STAY, by O-L-D-D (part 1): "It should not have been such an alien feeling. It had not been the first time that Daria Morgendorffer had flown solo; so why did it depress her now more than it had ever done in her lifetime?"

See You in the Funny Papers, Mr. D!

The Katzenjammer Kids, the longest-running comic strip ever, first debuted on this day in 1897. Mr. DeMartino is The Captain from the strip, presumably chasing after some students who couldn't tell him what year the War of 1812 began.

Fanfic Update!

• All Points (Something I bashed out....), by neonhomer (part 1): "'Open a channel.' Said Daria. 'Open.' Said Davies. Daria straightened her uniform, but only out of habit. They couldn’t see her. 'Romulan vessel, this is the Federation starship USS Lawndale, Captain Daria Morgendorffer commanding. We are prepared to evacuate you and your crew to the Lawndale.'"


• The Author as a Lesbian, Season 4, by DeacBlue (part 1): "'Oh, look,' sneered Sandi. 'It's the dyke and her artgeek girlfriend.' She put her finger to her lips and looked at the store that they had almost arrived at. 'Isn't she the girl that was so naive that she still believed in Santa Claus when she was twelve? and after that Christmas, painted all those ugly pictures of Santa Claus? and -' She was stopped by Daria's hand in front of her face."


• The Cupboard, by Vukodlak (parts 1 and 2): "It turns out there was a Zon in afterlife but to get past the Bouncer you had to tell him an interesting story about how you died or be a hardcore punk but they tend to have interesting deaths anyway. Three new arrivals in the afterlife are trying to get inside." (Part 2)


• Deck The Halls (Scenes no Daria fanfic should have: Last Friday Night!), by Roentgen (COMPLETE!): "'Daria!' Brittany shouted from the bedroom. 'Huh?' Daria was working on her reading for her graduate English seminar. 'We have to go downtown and buy a Christmas tree!' 'We do?' Daria said, not looking up. 'Did some horrible federal law get passed?'"


• John Lane 52: From the Last Step to the First, by RLobinske (part 1): "Daria said, 'I know it is almost unheard of these days for someone to become engaged at our age, but sheesh, this ring seems to be sucking the brains out of everyone within fifty feet. I swear that the average IQ of Lawndale High has dropped thirty points since I stepped on campus.' Mack said, 'That, and causing guys within fifty feet to become unduly paranoid.'"


• LLH Alternate Future - 09 - It Never Ends, by psychotol (parts 1 and 2): "'Are you going to cause problems Daria?' asked Stacy. 'Problems for whom?' asked Daria. 'That means "yes",' translated Jane." (Part 2)


• Quinn's Code 05: Morgendorffers vs. Amazon, by cfardell_Brenorenz29 (part 2): "That night Sandi Griffin looked in her mirror after cleaning her teeth. 'I'll will win that modeling contract! The Geekendorffer will not get it!!' She decided to find a way to sabotage Quinn's chances. 'There is no way that she will be allowed to win,' she thought with a slight frown."


• The Real Legion (LLH Mini), by Brother Grimace (COMPLETE!): "'I'm Jasper Wells, Miss Morgendorffer,' the man said. 'Quest Industries - Global Public Affairs. I’m with the Entertainment Division, and I used to work with ZNN. Miss Hall sent me to talk to you about the possibility of a reality show featuring the Legion.'"


• A Song About a Quail (Scenes no Daria fanfic should have: Last Friday Night!), by Smijey (COMPLETE!): "Daria's face suddenly had a huge, out-of-character grin on it as she spotted another camp alumni who was drawing near. 'AMELIA!' she cried out. 'DARIA!' Amelia returned. The two embraced warmly."


• Tigresses of Lawndale (Reposted), by taishigi (part 11): "Seeing Amy still looked stunned, Daria realized what she should do. She took Amy's hand and asked, 'Are you my mother?' 'No,' Amy replied, her eyes wide. 'Aren't my parents alive? Solvent? Non-abusive, and even, in their own clumsy way, at least somewhat caring?' Amy nodded. 'And, whatever our private opinions, aren't they legally sane?' 'I suppose,' Any conceded. 'Then I absolve you of any moral dilemmas.'"


• The True Story of How Tiffany Blum-Deckler Destroyed the Fashion Club, by ticknart (COMPLETE!): "'And it’s such a shame,' continued Sandi, 'that all my years of training went to waste.' Tiffany took a non-committal sip. 'I mean, seriously, what is Stacy thi--' 'I think,' interrupted Tiffany, taking the straw out of her mouth and speaking slowly, 'that she looks cute.'"


• Unnamed story (Scenes no Daria fanfic should have: Last Friday Night!), by Charles RB (part ): "KILLER: I'm KILLER QUINN, the PRINCIPAL of this high school - and Educator Burnout here says you jerks DIDN'T DO YOUR HOMEWORK! Time for PUNISHMENT! BURNOUT: Yuhhhhh... ERIC: B-But we weren't told of any homework- Panel 2. Extreme close-up of Killer Quinn with a chainsaw! KILLER: EXACTLY!!"


• Unnamed story (Scenes no Daria fanfic should have: Last Friday Night!), by Greystar (COMPLETE!): "'Lisa, don't you think I would know if I had a tattoo?' Sandi frowned as she and the cheerleader walked out of the girl's showers, wrapped in towels. 'Something like that would be a fashion don't of the lowest order!'"

You Dumkoffs!

The oldest continuously published comic in existence is the Katzenjammer Kids, which appeared 108 years ago today in a New York City newspaper—and never stopped once. Mr. DeMartino poses as the Captain, though he should be fatter to more properly resemble the character. Want to see this comic strip as it exists today?

An amazing amount of superb fanfiction has come out this week. I've ignored it long enough. (Note: The following has not yet been added to the 2009 Big List of Daria Fanfiction, but it will be, with corrections sent to me by everyone else.) Enjoy!

FF.net

• The Girl with Golden Eyes, by Michellesdaughter (Parts 2 and 3): “I could have taken her…” Jesse was barely able to control Jane as he pulled her from the bar. It wasn’t the first bar fight he’d seen, but Jane had jumped from nowhere and everyone had been surprised at the sight.
  

PPMB

• Apocalyptic Daria: Scarlett's Tale, by Doggieboy (preview): Roger clamped his right hand on his left forearm where the knife had hit. He looked at the two men on the ground and quickly kicked their heads to check for any reaction. He looked at the blood around his fingers, groaned in frustration, and released his arm. Then he drew his pistol and cocked it. Blood ran from the cut and dripped from his fingers. “When in doubt, kill.”
• Chillin' with the Brisco, by Roentgen (COMPLETE!): "Hey Daria!" "Hey." "Are you chillin' with the Brisco'?" "Am I what now?" "You know... chillin' with the Brisco'?"
• Daria: Hunter 3—Mind over Plasma (continued): Jane's gravbike settled gently into the space next to Daria's car. After shutting it down, Jane entered the anti-theft security code into the control panel, causing the grav plating to reverse its flow and activate. With a heavy thud that was felt more than heard, the plating glued itself to the surface of the parking lot.
• Finn Morgendorffer 19: It's Edgy, Dammit, by HolyGrail2007 (COMPLETE!): “Daria, you couldn’t pay me to pass this chick around.” “Fine.” Daria raised her hands. “I’ll just have to pass the time with telling her old stories. Like that time you drove the golf cart into the lake, or headbutted the stop sign.” “You told me you made that up!” “Wouldn’t that be great in the men’s section of Val?”

• Finn Morgendorffer 20: Pet Store Peril, by HolyGrail2007 (Part 1): “What did you get?” Joey asked once his gang finally all received their career aptitude results. “Mine says TV host,” Jeffy stated. “Hey, mine also says TV host,” Joey noted. “Wow, cool.” Jamie noted before he opened his results. “Wait, mine also says TV host.” “How did that happen?” Joey puzzled. “We couldn’t have answered every single question the same, could we?” Jeffy wondered.
• friends (more than), by Jim North (COMPLETE!):"Hey," said Daria. "Hey back, amiga!" Jane replied, pulling back to hold her friend at arm's length. "Why look at you, all grown up and matriculated." "I'm having a doctor look into that," Daria said. (FF.net)
  
• A Girl with Something Extra, by Roentgen (COMPLETE!): Daria and Charlene came face to face. Charlene was at least as tall as Jane was and for a girl, had broad shoulders, big hands, and her gene pool was marked with "Recessive Genes Only." Jane's right. I've seen homely, but this takes the cake. "Charlene!" said Jane. "Hey, there's a new amiga of mine that you should meet. Daria Morgendorffer, Charlene Rutt. Charlene Rutt, Daria Morgendorffer."
• In Silence Sarcastic, by Trscroggs (continued): “Well, as much as I hate to admit it,” Ms. Barch began, “you did a very nice job presenting, Kevin. Unlike some people.” Ms. Barch glared at an unrepentant red-head. “And excellent work on your end of the project, Daria.” Ms. Barch’s facial expression went through a few contortions before she continued. “I’m going to give you both an A.”

• Initial S, by Wraith (Part 1): Stacy was surprised how almost no one ever rode with her more than once. She knew she liked to drive fast, but it wasn't like she was being reckless. She did stay within 10 mph of the speed limit. Well... she usually did. Okay, maybe 15. Or 20. But when she was behind the wheel her heart started pounding and she started breathing fast. The sensation was completely different from her panic attacks. Somehow it was really hard to keep from weaving in and out of traffic.
• John Lane 44: Fizzy Logic, by Richard Lobinske (Part 4): When a hurried student bumped against Andrea while she waited in line at the cafeteria, she said, "Try some meth, it might slow you down." She made a point of grabbing a carton of milk to go with her lunch before moving away. Daria watched the scene and said, "Is it me, or are our fellow students more hyper than normal?"
• Love Is a Series of Burning Sensations, by Undefinedlust (Part 13): "I'm guessing this is what a hangover is. Between my headache and being sore from the wreck, I'd have to say I feel pretty lousy." "I had a feeling you wouldn't be doing so hot. Are your muscles stiff? How is your neck? That's usually what hurts after an accident." "Neck isn't so bad. My shoulder and chest are a different story. My shoulder feels like it's on fire, and I have some nasty bruises where the seat belt was." "Do you need to go to the hospital?"
• Rainbow Disconnection, by Disco316 (Part 8): “Quinn?” “Yeah?” “This never happened." “What never happened?”

• Reflections, by MidnightStorm (continued): Daria turned around and saw a broad-shouldered brunette, her hair cut shoulder length and wearing a pair of square-rimmed glasses. Before Daria had any chance to reply, the girl brought out her hand to shake Daria's. "Hi, my name's Amelia!"
• The Substitute, by Echopapa (Part 2): The receptionist closed the intercom and turned again to the applicant, who was brushing stray hairs from her jacket. “You can go in now, Miss Kitka,” she told her.
• The Secret Life of Tammy Sloane, by MidnightStorm (continued): Tammy looked from her mom to the paper she held in her right hand. She could not believe it. So many times her parents have threatened her, yet they never did follow through. The icy cold glare from her mom could only mean she was indeed telling the truth.
• Second Life, by Legendeld (Part 1): : How dare she? Quinn Morgendorffer thought as she shook the stinging out of her hand while watching the woman being drug away with a shocked expression on her face along with the bright red hand print. Like it's my fault that her husband looks at me.
• Unnamed story (Three-peat! New Ideas Thread Wins Again!), by Trscroggs (Part 1): "So let me get this straight," Jane said as she entered the cafeteria with her best friend Daria, "you can feel death coming?" "Death has been trying to kill me since the second I was born, Jane." Daria replied. "The only reason I'm still alive is that my parents, Quinn and I have become VERY good at feeling when Death is about to make any kind attempt." (Daria/Final Destination)

Who are the Katzenjammer Kids?

The oldest continuously published comic today is the Katzenjammer Kids, which appeared 107 years ago today in a New York newspaper. I used to read this when I was a kid. Not my favorite comic, but when you're a kid you'll read anything. I recognize Mr. DeMartino at right (as the Captain), but not the kids. Anyone?

Working with animation is very hard. I'm not likely to get far with it yet, until I get the hang of creating animated GIF files from some of the SMK files on the two Daria CDs. I would hazard a guess that someone other than me on PPMB has long been at work on this very same project. More power to you.

More later. This, by the way, is my 900th post on this blog.