This 2010 take on a classic cartoon scenario is about as culturally insensitive as we get at A&J, I hope. I’m going to mention the book clearance one last time today, but stick around! I promise this gets interesting. First, the spiel: Embarrassingly, there still are a few new hardback copies of “Beaucoup Arlo & Janis” left. This is true partly because I innocently underestimated the remaining stock. There were closer to four dozen than the announced three, but the supply is dwindling, and I need the space in my newly rearranged office. Of course, the pocket money isn’t terrible, either. Wait! We’re not to the interesting part yet. So, this will be your last chance to purchase this book new, and you must use the link below. Now, the interesting part. Back in 1989, a small paperback reprint book of the earliest A&J strips, called “Bop Till You Drop,” was published. At the time, it sold so poorly that no outside publisher has touched me since. Today, on Amazon, there are three used copies of BTYD, beginning at $1,000 and ranging to $10,000. I looked up that last listing, thinking it was a joke or some idiot’s fantasy, but it comes from a legitimate rare book dealer in Washington state. (I’ll bet they’d take $8,000.) Am I saying “Beaucoup Arlo & Janis” would ever be selling for such numbers? Noooo, I’m not saying that! Used copies of BA&J can be had on Amazon for a mere $120.
39 responses to ““We must have you for dinner sometime!””
I have a copy of Bop Til You Drop.
I don’t, but I’m not about to buy it used! — JJ
Believe me, I wouldn’t be asking that price. I saw a Beaucoup Arlo & Janis on Ebay for $200, being sold by a bookstore here in Tulsa. Wonder whose that was? It sure isn’t mine. If you really want the Bop book, let me know. You ought to have your own work, and I would rather it be in your hands.
I am one of the proud owners of Baucoup Arlo & Janis. However, I am also still looking forward to finally getting my hands on “Arlo & Janis after Dark”. Any idea when that will be mailed?
I have a book out through a POD service from over ten years ago. Not only is it available new through Amazon, there’s one idiot trying to sell a used copy there for several hundred dollars because it’s “rare and out of print.” Rare, yes, because it only sold a few dozen copies, but POD only goes out of print if the publisher folds, and Xlibris is still there. I’ve tried complaining, but Amazon just ignores me.
And, the real reason I came here to post is that as of about 10 AM, it’s snowing here in Trinidad! First time I’ve ever actually seen it snow. We might even have a white Halloween if this goes on.
Just ordered one, I actually meant to do this when they came out and just kept forgetting to do it. So a sense of electronic victory and acceptance is mine!
You’re welcome, Jimmy. And you have great taste in other cartoonists, too. Personal circumstances have reduced my interest in collecting, but I still buy what I like. If I had been able to afford some of your original art when it was up on Ebay, it would have been one of the exceptions. And I’m picking up those Fantagraphics Carl Barks Library books as I can.
My label was just printed, too. Thanks! (I’m Becky.) Now that I know where you live (scary, isn’t it?), I don’t have to worry about Michael messing with you — or do you still have the house on the coast? My brother was near Panama City on vacation, and has had to evacuate. He’s in a motel in Montgomery, and said they could have filled 1000 more rooms than they have. So it should be jumping around there for at least a couple of days. And I, also, am looking forward to the A&J After Dark. Whenever you’re satisfied with it will be just fine.
“…with fava beans and nice Chianti.”
… “a nice Chianti.”
The snow stopped at about 2 PM, and it’s almost all melted by now. Sigh!
Sideburns, it’s early yet. Bet by the time spring comes around again you will be tired of looking at the white stuff.
Yeah, I know. I was just hoping that it’d last until mid-afternoon. And now, Leo’s out exploring all of the wet ground in the neighborhood.
I just found a few “leaves on the family tree” for which, apparently, baptism occurred before birth! That’s German efficiency taken to the extreme.
Either the old church records in Buxtehude aren’t legible, or the transcriber had a poor session, I guess.
I have *two* copies of “Bop Till You Drop”, and I’m not sellin’ ’em.
Two copies of BA&J, too.
Neener neener neener.
Hi, Jimmy! Even odder than the asking prices on Amazon is the fact that as the condition of the book goes down, the price goes up. They must be rarer in low grade. But you’d think the guy with the “very good” condition copy would rough it up a little and price it up to “good”– or if he were really unscrupulous, seriously knock it around and back until it was merely “acceptable” and really cash in!
Continued annals of poor Ghostly feeding. My cooking skills continue to wither. Tonight was red beans and rice, baked sweet potatoes, corn on cob and.leftover beer bread. Sounds a lot better on menu than it was in execution. And from a premade Uncle Ben’s mix at that!
It is like suffering through meals with a young noncooking wife who trys unsuccessfully to make edible food.
Keep postponing that split pea soup. I could have whipped that out in a rest break in the old days. Feeling useless.
Thanks for the “After Dark” update. Best of luck finishing it! In the meantime, I’ll enjoy the new strips and the classic ones here. Cheers!
not useless, Jackie, just out of practice. You’ll get your hand back in. 🙂 Don’t be so hard on yourself!
Jackie, when you consider all the time you spent taking care of others as a mother and a wife, it’s time you took care of yourself and didn’t worry about what you can’t do till you’re well. Like Llee said, you’ll get it back when the time comes.
Thanks for cheer guys. I have become a creative smoothie blender but Ghost ???? doesn’t do those
Just bought mine as well!
Rusty
And Jackie, hang in there! I promise to try to check in here more often!
Oh, the psychological difference between spring and fall. And the fact that spring temps can only go up, while in fall they are on the downside. Here in Tulsa it has gone from 80 plus to a predicted high of upper 60’s in just a few days time.
Theology [benign and “lite” enough, I hope]:
As mere mortals, I believe we cannot be certain about anything important. But we are told that Elohim is both just and merciful. If so, there is no Hell and we need not worry about anyone’s ultimate salvation, Jackie’s, mine, or yours.
Some may, however, have to “do time” one way or another. A well known “creation scientist” once lied about me the evening after debating me [at another debate, which a friend attended], and later did so in print. Perhaps he is now observing the actual transition from primitive synapsid reptiles to the earliest mammals, back in Permo-Triassic times. It took some tens of millions of years, but for his sake [really], I pray that he had to do only an hour or so for every century. Afterwards, he might sing “How Great Thou Art” with both a clearer conscience and deeper understanding.
Me: I’m afraid I’ll have to join Heracles at the Augean [it’s in JJ’s dictionary!] stables. Elaine may have had to spend a day or 2 there; she once wrote a poem/prayer about her distaste for housekeeping, but I was the real slob. I’m also guessing she now has the figure she had at 21. More than a handful is wasteful.
Here is today’s A.W.A.D. quote: “When small men begin to cast big shadows, it means that the sun is about to set.” Lin Yutang, writer and translator (10 Oct 1895-1976). Lin was very popular during WWII. Mom owned a book of his, but this teen did not read it. Should’ve.
Peace
We’ve often heard people claim, “Fall is my favorite season.” Some in Bemidji do, but not so much this year. Rain mixed w/ snow so far; pred. today, 100%. Peace,
This past week the rain has allowed the fire crews to get 100% containment of our biggest wildfires… and this next week our highs will typically be in the 40s, and snow is creeping down the mountains. Not bad for a desert state where the highs the prior week had been in the 80s.