BOSKO #1 is a slick, full-color comic book, (approximately 36 pages), and as far as I know, this is the first comic book to bear the proud imprimatur of PUNK Magazine, (if you need me to explain what PUNK Magazine is, you should go away, study everything on this page, and come back when you're done). Inside the covers of BOSKO #1, you'll find the exploits of (who else?) Bosko, a hard-drinking, good-natured smart-ass; you'll also find a true-life tale of 70's era NYC terror as Holmstrom, Ken Weiner (a.k.a. Ken Avidor) and their drunken pals go toe-to-toe with a pack of belligerent bridge & tunnel goons. Many of these strips are brand new, some are not-so-new, (although appearing in color here for the first time), but all are great fun and definitely worth your $4.95. Support the PUNK Magazine publishing empire and buy direct from the PUNK website!
Snapshots from the BOSKO #1 launch party at BOXCAR LOUNGE:
The man himself, JOHN HOLMSTROM takes us on a tour of his tonsils
SCREW alums KEVIN HEIN and ERIC DANVILLE soak in the glory of 2-for-1 draught beers
NEW YORK PRESS alums (and ghost hunters) MIKE WARTELLA and TANYA RICHARDSON join Holmstrom in a dizzying kaleidoscopic whirlwind of all things BOSKO, (and no, that is NOT a clip-on beard)
It's great news to read Holmstom and Punk magazine hasn't disappeared altogether. As a young(er) laddie I used to mail-order STOP! magazine, as it was otherwise totally unavailable here in the UK. Bosko was certainly one of that mag's offensive highlights and one of the reasons why I look back with affection at that particular flurry of humour activity.
ReplyDeleteSTOP was also a favorite of mine, John, although I had a much easier time getting my hands on the mag than you did. A year or two out of High School, my friends and I would discover free copies of the latest issue of STOP stacked up on the bar in various East Village watering holes; nothing went better with a cheap pitcher of shitty beer, (STOP was printed on some highly-absorbent newsprint).
ReplyDeleteI think the deal with STOP was that cartoonist (& STOP contributor) Ken Weiner (aka Ken Avidor) was art directing SCREW magazine at the time, and he was able to gang STOP up on SCREW's press runs and save big on printing; this would explain why STOP was printed on the same newsprint stock, and had similar spot color on the cover. If we're lucky, maybe Weiner or Holmstrom will stop by and confirm/deny this story.
Thanks Danny for the kind words about Stop.
ReplyDeleteOne correction... The incredible, phenomenal Bruce Carleton was the amazing Art Director at SCREW during the STOP years.
I was Art Director of SCREW later. Unfortunately I left before Danny Hellman created his classic, incredible, phenomenal covers for SCREW.
Great to read about Homstrom's great new, color BOSKO comic on your blog. Holmstrom is a freakin' genius and the new comic is an instant classic.
However, I understand that some evil lawyer contacted Weiner (who sometimes lives in my basement).... anyways I heard that Weiner is going to sue Homstrom for "deformation of cartoon character" which out here in Minnesota is an offence punnishable by dunking in a vat of Summit Ale... anyways, it's been rumored that Weiner is boasting that he's got his "sneaker on Holmstrom's neck" or something like that.
(incidentally, great Hellman and Holmstrom roasts in Weiner/Avidor Roast in Lutefisk Sushi Show! )
It's all true.... and I'd do it all again if I could find my glasses... and my teeth.....
ReplyDeleteHey Holmstrom can I get a swig off your Geritol?
Am I the only one who thinks that shocking picture above of Holmstrom sticking his tongue out at first glance looks like G.G. Allin has risen from the septic ta--er, grave?
ReplyDeleteBosko was certainly one of that mag's offensive highlights and one of the reasons why I look back with affection at that particular flurry of humour activity.
ReplyDelete