Simpsons Comics #20  (May 1996) The Artist Formerly Known As Bart MMMMMMMMPages:  21 Script:  Jeff Rosenthal Pencils:  Phil Ortiz Inks:  Tim Bavington Letters:  Jeannine Crowell Art Supervision:  Nathan Kane Colors:  Nathan Kane Mr. Tambourine Man:  Matt Groening Reprinted in:  Simpsons Comics Wingding  (book)   Simpsons Classics #11  (magazine) Roswell #2 of Four Roswell in: How Ya Gonna Keep 'em Down    on the Ant Farm?  Chapter 2 MMMMMMMMPages:  7 Creator:  Bill Morrison Writer, Artist:  Bill Morrison Lettering:  Tim Harkins Color:  Nathan Kane Reprinted in:  Roswell Walks Among Us     Front Cover:   Bill Morrison, Nathan Kane Back Cover:   Bill Morrison, Nathan Kane Departments:   The Bongo Beat, Junk Mail     ------------------------------    Bongo Comics Group  ----------------------     Publisher:  Matt Groening Managing Editor:  Jason Grode Art Director / Editor:  Bill Morrison Administration: Terry Delegeane Editorial/Marketing:  Scott M. Gimple Production:  Serban Cristescu Bongo Beat: The Hitherto Untold Secret Origin of a Certain Notorious Spiky-Haired Cartoon Character, by Matt Groening This Bongo Beat article was subsequently reprinted in Simpsons Comics Royale. The flip cover/story Roswell: Little Green Man is the second of four parts that appeared in sequence in Simpsons Comics. It would be followed by it's own Bongo six-comic series Roswell Little Green Man.

Another relatively obvious parody here, but once again we note the work done creating this cover. Note how precisely they mirrored elements of Michael Jackson's Bad album cover on the cover of Simpsons Comics #20. The buckles on the jacket, the handcuffs hanging from the belt, even the folds in the jacket are mirrored very closely. << Previous Cover   Next Cover >>

Simpsons Comics #21  (June 1996) Stand And Deliverance MMMMMMMMPages:  19 Script:  Sib Ventress & Tracy Berna Pencils:  Phil Ortiz Inks:  Tim Bavington Colors:  Nathan Kane Art Supervision:  Nathan Kane Letters:  Jeannine Crowell Mountain Man:  Matt Groening Reprinted in:  Simpsons Comics Wingding  (book)   Simpsons Classics #11  (magazine) Hey Kids! Fireworks  (faux advertisement) MMMMMMMMPages:  1 Reprinted in:  Simpsons Comics Wingding  (book)   Simpsons Classics #11  (magazine) Roswell Goes Hollywood! #3 of Four Roswell in: How Ya Gonna Keep 'em Down    on the Ant Farm?  Chapter 3 MMMMMMMMPages:  6 Creator:  Bill Morrison Writer, Artist:  Bill Morrison Colorist:  Nathan Kane Letters:  Tim Harkins Reprinted in:  Roswell Walks Among Us     Front Cover:   Bill Morrison, Nathan Kane Back Cover:   Bill Morrison, Nathan Kane Departments:   The Bongo Beat, Junk Mail Bongo Beat: What I Do Late At Night, by Matt Groening, discusses Life in Hell and reprints a 1995 cartoon. The Junk Mail section included the results of fan submissions in response to the invitation to "replace the bolt" on Radioactive Man in issue Simpsons Comics #16. The flip cover/story Roswell: Little Green Man is the third of four parts that appeared in sequence in Simpsons Comics. It would be followed by it's own Bongo six-comic series Roswell Little Green Man.

Simpsons Comics #22  (July 1996)    Get Rich Kwik! Little Big Mart MMMMMMMMPages:  21 Script:  Gary Glasberg Pencils:  Stephanie Gladden Art Supervision:  Stephanie Gladden Inks:  Tim Harkins Letters:  Jeannine Crowell Colors:  Nathan Kane Paper or Plastic:  Matt Groening Reprinted in:  Simpsons Comics Wingding  (book)   Simpsons Classics #12  (magazine) Roswell #4 of Four Roswell in a story we're getting tired or calling: How Ya Gonna Keep 'em Down on the Ant Farm?  Chapter 4 MMMMMMMMPages:  7 Creator:  Bill Morrison Writer:  Bill Morrison Artist:  Bill Morrison Colorist:  Nathan Kane Letters:  Tim Harkins Reprinted in:  Roswell Walks Among Us     Front Cover:   Bill Morrison, Nathan Kane Back Cover:   Bill Morrison, Nathan Kane Departments:   The Bongo Beat, Junk Mail Bongo Beat: The Day Lovells, Michigan Stood Still, is a guest editorial by Bill Morrison. Junk Mail  includes fan art by Tammy Hocking paying homage to Doris Grau. The flip cover/story Roswell: Little Green Man is the last of four parts that appeared in sequence in Simpsons Comics. It would be followed by it's own Bongo six-comic series Roswell Little Green Man.

Simpsons Comics #23  (Aug 1996) Bart De Triomphe MMMMMMMMPages:  21 Script:  Jeff Rosenthal Pencils:  Phil Ortiz Inks:  Tim Bavington Letters:  Jeannine Crowell Colors:  Nathan Kane Art Supervision:  Nathan Kane Maitre D':  Matt Groening Reprinted in:  Simpsons Comics Wingding  (book)   Simpsons Classics #12  (magazine) Reverend Lovejoy's Hellfire Comics No. 1    God's Favorite Comic Book! Citizen Shame! MMMMMMMMPages:  5 Script:  Dan Studney & Jim Lincoln Pencils:  Bill Morrison Inks:  Tim Bavington Letters:  Jeannine Crowell Colors:  Nathan Kane Pew Warmer:  Matt Groening Reprinted in:  Simpsons Comics Wingding  (book)   Simpsons Classics #12  (magazine)     Front Cover:   Bill Morrison, Nathan Kane Back Cover:   Bill Morrison, Nathan Kane Back Cover Text:   Lovejoy: Buy this comic book, and avoid being cast into the fiery lake of sulphur! Departments:   The Bongo Beat, Junk Mail Bongo Beat: Feelin' Goopy: My Life as a TV Star, by Matt Groening The front cover above shows Krusty poking his head through the Mona Lisa.

Simpsons Comics #24  (Sept 1996) Send In The Clowns MMMMMMMMPages:  22 Script:  Mary Trainor Pencils:  Stephanie Gladden Art Supervision:  Stephanie Gladden Inks:  Tim Harkins Letters:  Jeannine Crowell Colors:  Nathan Kane Photo Opportunist:  Matt Groening Reprinted in:  Simpsons Comics On Parade  (book)   Simpsons Classics #13  (magazine) Li'l Homey #1    Starring: Homey Simpson Li'l Homey in: Homey Alone MMMMMMMMPages:  5 Script:  Chris Simmons Pencils:  Shaun Cashman Inks:  Tim Bavington Letters:  Jeannine Crowell Colors:  Nathan Kane Inner Child:  Matt Groening Reprinted in:  Simpsons Comics On Parade  (book)   Simpsons Classics #13  (magazine)   Simpsons Treasure Trove #3  (digest)     Front Cover:   Bill Morrison, Nathan Kane Back Cover:   Bill Morrison, Nathan Kane Back Cover Text:   Homey: I'm so hungry I could eat a cow, man!, Banner reads "GASTRICAL DUDE" Departments:   The Bongo Beat, Junk Mail Extras:   Cartoon by Mike Luckovich Bongo Beat: Who Should You Vote For, by Matt Groening

A famous image that has been parodied many times previously in popular culture, the painting The Spirit of '76 by Archibald Willard. Homer and Marge on drums mirror the first two characters, with Marge observing Homer just as the drummer on the left is turned to the leader. Lisa on saxophone fills the role of the flutist, replete with bandaged head. Completing the image carrying the Betsy Ross flag in the background we find Bart. Archibald Willard painted this scene multiple times, so there are multiple "originals" with various variations. Like all parodies, Bongo uses the Betsy Ross flag, and not the "non-standard" 13 star flag depicted in the painting (back in revolutionary times there wasn't an official standard). We should also note the reddish brown sky / background in the original and on the cover, and taking things too far, is the patch of blue sky in the top right of the painting also represented on the Simpsons cover? << Previous Cover   Next Cover >>

Simpsons Comics #25  (Oct 1996)    Margemania!!! Marge Attacks! MMMMMMMMPages:  21 Script:  Jamie Angell Pencils:  Phil Ortiz Inks:  Tim Bavington Letters:  Jeannine Crowell Colors:  Nathan Kane Publisher Who  Loves Too Much:  Matt Groening Reprinted in:  Simpsons Comics On Parade  (book)   Simpsons Classics #13  (magazine) Itchy & Scratchy #0    Bart Simpson's Favorite Cartoon! Game Called Because of Pain MMMMMMMMPages:  4 Script:  Jamie Angell Pencils:  Phil Ortiz Inks:  Tim Bavington Letters:  Jeannine Crowell Colors:  Nathan Kane Beach Ball   Confiscator:  Matt Groening Reprinted in:  Simpsons Comics On Parade  (book)   Simpsons Classics #13  (magazine)     Front Cover:   Bill Morrison, Nathan Kane Back Cover:   Bill Morrison, Nathan Kane, Stephanie Gladden Departments:   Junk Mail Extras:   David Mirkin: Eco-Humorist Sidebar in letters seciton titled David Mirkin: Eco-Humorist discusses an interview with the Environmental Media Association and The Simpsons support of animal rights issues, support that resulted in "...several rewards from both the EMA and The Ark Trust [i.e., Genesis Awards from The Humane Society of the United States )". These are all documented on our Awards & Honors list.

Simpsons Comics #26  (Nov 1996) Get Off The Bus! MMMMMMMMPages:  21 Script:  Rob Hammersley, Todd J. Greenwald Penciled by:  Phil Ortiz Inked by:  Tim Bavington Lettered by:  Chris Ungar Colored by:  Nathan Kane A Matt Groening Joint Reprinted in:  Simpsons Comics On Parade  (book)   Simpsons Classics #14  (magazine) Homer, Barney & Moe in: The Unbearable Lightness of Barney MMMMMMMMPages:  1 Pencils:  Stephanie Gladden  (uncredited) Art Supervision:  Stephanie Gladden  (uncredited) Reprinted in:  Simpsons Comics On Parade  (book)   Simpsons Classics #14  (magazine) Lou and Eddie in: Diner Violations MMMMMMMMPages:  2 Script:  Terry Delegeane Pencils:  Phil Ortiz Inks:  Tim Bavington Colors:  Nathan Kane Letters:  Chris Ungar Steady Customer:  Matt Groening Reprinted in:  Simpsons Comics On Parade  (book)   Simpsons Classics #14  (magazine) Krusty's Celebrity Psychic Hotline  (faux advertisement) MMMMMMMMPages:  1 Reprinted in:  Simpsons Comics On Parade  (book)   Simpsons Classics #14  (magazine)     Cover Illustration:   Bill Morrison, Nathan Kane Departments:   The Bongo Beat, Junk Mail Bongo Beat: Right Under Your Nose, by Matt Groening, discusses the scent of comic books. The cover parodies the 1995 movie Speed; "I saw this movie about a bus that had to SPEED around a city, keeping its SPEED over fifty, and if its SPEED dropped, it would explode! I think it was called, 'The Bus That couldn't Slow Down.'"   - Homer Simpson, [3G01] The Springfield Files

Simpsons Comics #27  (Dec 1996)    "Highbrow Literary Humor For Everyone" They Fixed Homer's Brain! MMMMMMMMPages:  22 Script:  Doug Tuber & Tim Maile Pencils:  Stephanie Gladden Art Supervision:  Stephanie Gladden Inks:  Tim Harkins & Tim Bavington Letters:  Jeannine Crowell Black Colors:  Nathan Kane 2  18  1  9  14  9  1  3:  Matt Groening Reprinted in:  Simpsons Comics On Parade  (book)   Simpsons Classics #14  (magazine) The Matt Groening credit above translates to BRAINIAC. Tales of the Briny Deep Featuring Captain McCallister in Down The Hatches Boys MMMMMMMMPages:  5 Script:  Jamie Angell Pencils:  Phil Ortiz Inks:  Tim Bavington Letters:  Jeannine Black Colors:  Nathan Kane Landlubber:  Matt Groening Reprinted in:  Simpsons Comics On Parade  (book)   Simpsons Classics #14  (magazine)     Cover Illustration:   Bill Morrison, Nathan Kane Departments:   Junk Mail The cover is obvioiusly a fair use parody of a series of instructional books.

Simpsons Comics #28  (Jan 1997)    Liberty, Mirth, Free Food! Join Krustonia! Krustonia MMMMMMMMPages:  21   Materials prepared for Krustyburger Inc.   by Bongo Advertising Co.: Copy:  Scott Gimple Design:  Bill Morrison Drafting:  Chris Clements Embellishment:  Steven Steere, Jr. Typography:  Jeannine Black Chromatic    Enhancement:  Nathan Kane Account Executive:  Matt Groening Reprinted in:  Simpsons Comics Big Bonanza  (book)   Simpsons Classics #15  (magazine) Credits above supplied in the format of advertising copy. The "Krustonia" title did not appear in the comic but was first supplied in the Big Bonanza reprint. Flanders' Big Score    A Ned Flanders Mystery MMMMMMMMPages:  5 Script:  Gary Glasberg Pencils:  Phil Ortiz Inks:  Tim Harkins Letters:  Jeannine Black Colors:  Nathan Kane Usual Suspect:  Matt Groening Reprinted in:  Simpsons Comics Big Bonanza  (book)   Simpsons Classics #15  (magazine)     Cover Illustration:   Bill Morrison, Nathan Kane Departments:   The Bongo Beat, Junk Mail Bongo Beat: Signed, Sealed and Delivered, a guide for sending in letters and art, and Deep Space Homer Returns!, discusses the use of Homer on the logo for the Sperm / Shuttle to MIR Biorack experiment by NASA.

This cover takes its cue from a famous 1931 Russian propaganda poster by Gustav Klutsis titled "The USSR is the crack brigade of the world proletariat", with the Russian writing along the pole replaced in The Simpsons comic by "A Belly Laff Rebellion by a Prankster's Proletariat", with the "R's" printed in reverse in imitation of the Cyrillic alphabet. The poster is considered a classic illustration of Constructivism, art for a social purpose. << Previous Cover   Next Cover >>

Simpsons Comics #29  (Feb 1997) Let's Get Ready To Bumble! MMMMMMMMPages:  21 Written by:  Jeff Rosenthal Penciled by:  Phil Ortiz Colored by:  Nathan Kane Lettered by:  Jeannine Black Inked by:  Tim Bavington   Matt "The Brain" Groening presents 21 pages   of Bone-Breaking, Tendon-Twisting Action Reprinted in:  Simpsons Comics Big Bonanza  (book)   Simpsons Classics #15  (magazine) Maggie Simpson in Bringing Down Baby MMMMMMMMPages:  6 Story:  Bill Morrison Art:  Bill Morrison Letters:  Jeannine Black Colors:  Nathan Kane Barred from picnic  after last year's  "incident":  Matt Groening Reprinted in:  Simpsons Comics Big Bonanza  (book)   Simpsons Classics #15  (magazine)     Cover Illustration:   Bill Morrison, Nathan Kane Departments:   The Bongo Beat, Junk Mail Bongo Beat: These Aren't the Pages You're Looking For asks readers to name all the Star Trek references in Simpsons Comics; Milking it With Bart and Lisa discusses advertisements by The Milk Council using Bart & Lisa, and Blown Away By Independents' Day in San Jose has a brief thanks to fans for showing up at the Alternate Press Expo.

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