<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><FONT SIZE=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0">Gary Leach dropped somewhat of a bomb on us by saying:<BR>
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>> The Disney comic book license no longer covers the reprinting of comic strips - that's now a license in itself. >><BR>
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With so much discussion of the prolonged situation in which Gemstone and Disney meticulously negotiated matters over a period of years, I must confess that it is a surprise to learn this. <BR>
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Oh, well... it is a small sacrifice to make when considering the great quality of that which has come from Timonium so far. Aside from the long awaited returns of Rosa, Van Horn (both of them), and the Blocks, the contents of DONALD DUCK ADVENTURES # 1 was simply amazing. Hopefully, however, a frequently asked question can be answered, without revealing details that, perhaps, we should not be privy to. <BR>
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In terms of this licensing agreement, what defines a "comics strip story" vs. a "comic book story"? Is ANYTHING that in any way originates in the Gottfredson MM strip, the Taliaferro DD strip, the Silly Symphonies strip, etc. ineligible for publication by Gemstone? <BR>
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If the contents of a strip has already been reformatted for comic book publication, is that version eligible because it HAS been published as a comic book story? Or, is it ineligible because of its comic strip origins? <BR>
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Can the version of "MM Outwits the Phantom Blot" that was "created" for the MM CLUB PARADE comic book of the 1950s be used (...if for no other reason than it includes original artwork by Paul Murry created for comic book publication)? <BR>
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Can the Dick Moores/Bill Right serialized version of "MM Outwits the Phantom Blot" created for 1950s issues of WDC&S be used? It is legitimately comic BOOK art, though adapted from a comic strip. <BR>
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Can anything Western or Gladstone reformatted to comic book form be used? <BR>
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I'll assume that anything never before seen in comic book form will remain so under the prevailing situation. <BR>
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We've just taken for granted that the inclusion of Disney strip material (...dating back to WDC&S # 1) is an accepted part of the mix. It seems so strange for this to not be so. <BR>
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An afterthought: Steve Geppi was quoted early on to be considering a set of WDC&S archives, at least for the earliest issues. How would the exclusion of all strip material affect such a project? <BR>
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Gary, you've been an incredible and greatly appreciated source of information to this community. If at all possible, please elaborate to whatever extent you can. <BR>
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Thanks,<BR>
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Joe Torcivia. <BR>
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