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NICKELODEON December/January 2004
(available at newsstands everywhere)
Obviously, a magazine offshoot of the Nickelodeon kids' TV network is far from being an "independent" project, but I like to mention it every now and again because of their great use of alternative cartoonists and illustrators. Each issue features "The Comic Book" in the center of the mag and this section always contains worthwhile color comics and gag cartoons for younger and older readers alike. This Christmas issue's got Drew Weing, Sam Henderson (a hilarious pantomime take on O. Henry's "The Gift of the Magi"), Andy Ristaino, Jay Stephens, Mark Martin, Johnny Ryan, Gregory Benton, Brian Ralph (a beautiful two-pager), a Jack Cole reprint and more. Besides the comics, there's also great illustration work from Brian Biggs, John Kerschbaum (which ties with Henderson's piece for funniest thing in the issue), R. Sikoryak, Wayno and many others. There are also a few non-comics features that made me laugh out loud. If you've got a kid in your life, I encourage you to check this out.
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