MONKEYS, MAYHEM, AND MYSTERY COME TO ONI THIS JULY!

[MattBrady]

Press Release

Oni Press is pleased to announce the July debut of BANANA SUNDAY, a fun filled four-issue comic from Root Nibot and Colleen Coover (SMALL FAVORS).

Kirby Steinberg is having a bit of trouble fitting into her new school. It’s hard enough being the new kid, but she’s also the guardian of three monkeys who have all gained the power of speech, and will be attending school with her. When her new friend Nickels, a crack reporter for the school paper, decides there’s something suspicious about the monkeys, the fun is just beginning. How do you keep track of three monkeys, make new friends and get good grades? Kirby shows us how in BANANA SUNDAY!

“Many of the ideas for Banana Sunday came about one day while I was at a zoo, watching an orangutan,” Nibot commented. “I started thinking about how monkeys and humans would interact, if only monkeys could voice their ideas in ways we could understand. Boom, I wanted talking monkeys. And I wanted THREE monkeys because I needed an orangutan, as one was the catalyst for a lot of my thoughts. But I love gorillas, so I needed a gorilla. Also, I've had a bit of a fascination for spider-monkeys ever since one stole a pair of my sunglasses when I was a child. So, Chuck the Orangutan, Go-Go the gorilla, and Knobby, the spider-monkey. All of whom are monkeys, but represent different types of humanity.”

Coover discovered the monkey’s personalities as she set out to draw them. “Root has created distinct individuals so they all have their own body language,” she commented. “Chuck conducts himself with an air of superiority, Knobby's constantly on the lookout for someone to flirt with, and Go-Go has the determined focus of a simpleton attempting to understand the world around him. Monkeys are great fun to draw because they look like us, but behave with animal disregard for consequence. In other words, they're naughty!”

But the monkeys aren’t the only ones in the book; Kirby and her human friends get their fair share of attention too. Joining Kirby and Nickels is Martin, a maybe love interest for Kirby.

“All of them are in their mid teens, which I think is a GREAT age to write about,” Nibot continued. “Even the easy things are chaotic at that age, and everything is so full of drama. The world is open and waiting, but damn scary at the same time. I pulled from my own high school days; how they were a mixture of freedom and slavery, grandeur and suck.”

Coover adds, “What I really love about Root's story is the friendship that develops between Kirby and Nickels, in spite of the fact that Kirby keeps a secret that Nickels is determined to uncover. This is the kind of friendship that only happens in school.”

BANANA SUNDAY is jam packed with fun and humor appropriate for all ages.

BANANA SUNDAY #1 will feature 24 pages of black and white story and art. With a cover price of $2.99, it will ship to comic book stores in July 2005. Future issues will ship on a monthly basis.

[BBayliss]

Originally posted by MattBrady
Press Release

So, Chuck the Orangutan, Go-Go the gorilla, and Knobby, the spider-monkey. All of whom are monkeys, but represent different types of humanity.”

DAMMIT!!!!! First Bill Willingham's Detective Chimp, now this!

Gorillas, Chimps, Bonobos and Orantutans ARE NOT MONKEYS.

REPEAT AFTER ME: APES ARE NOT MONKEYS. MONKEYS HAVE TAILS. APES DO NOT!!!!

Jeezus. Just because we love comic books doesn't mean we have to look stupid to the "outside world."

[Phil Hester]

I hereby proclaim Banana Sunday to be the smash hit of the summer!

[RandyOni]

Gorillas, Chimps, Bonobos and Orantutans ARE NOT MONKEYS.


You also realize that monkeys, or "APES" as you call them, can't really talk, right?


What will these people try to pull next in their silly funny books?

[monkey]

Cool! I love them monkeys!

[Coover]

I declare Philip Hester to be a dang genius!

...and thank you, Monkey.

[BBayliss]

Originally posted by RandyOni
Gorillas, Chimps, Bonobos and Orantutans ARE NOT MONKEYS.

You also realize that monkeys, or "APES" as you call them, can't really talk, right?

I'm not sure what your point is. Correctly identifying gorillas and the rest as Apes has....what to do with your point?

And while I know they can not "Talk" there are plenty of articles about apes that can communicate with humans

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/...in568950.shtml

http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/...ithChimps.html


All I'm saying is, educate yourselves before issuing a press release that makes you, your company, the product and the creators look stupid and uninformed. The industry already has a credibility issue with the "outside world," don't make it worse.

[J.S. Rich]

I think another thing that really hurts the comic book industry is that these things we call comic books aren't actually books. More like pamphlets. We could probably get away with calling them comic periodicals, but then people will think they are funny magazines. As it is, they look at these strangely thin combinations of paper and ink and think, "Those aren't books! Someone needs to do their research!"

We're always being shipped the wrong way up on the semantics mail truck, it seems.

[dEnny]

Originally posted by BBayliss
DAMMIT!!!!! First Bill Willingham's Detective Chimp, now this!

Gorillas, Chimps, Bonobos and Orantutans ARE NOT MONKEYS.

REPEAT AFTER ME: APES ARE NOT MONKEYS. MONKEYS HAVE TAILS. APES DO NOT!!!!

Jeezus. Just because we love comic books doesn't mean we have to look stupid to the "outside world."

Yes, the misrepresenation of monkeys and apes is why we look stupid to the "outside world."

I'm sure it has nothing to do with the anal, obsessive compulsive nature of "fanboys," which is more the stereotype the "outside world" has of comic readers. Look at our beloved Comic Book Guy.

And is this any worse then referring to non-comic readers as the "outside world?"

[BBayliss]

Originally posted by J.S. Rich
I think another thing that really hurts the comic book industry is that these things we call comic books aren't actually books. More like pamphlets. We could probably get away with calling them comic periodicals, but then people will think they are funny magazines. As it is, they look at these strangely thin combinations of paper and ink and think, "Those aren't books! Someone needs to do their research!"

We're always being shipped the wrong way up on the semantics mail truck, it seems.

It's not semantics to call comics books "Comic Books." That's what they have been called for as long as most of us can remember. The majority of society does not call them anything other than "comic books."

it's also not semantics to call gorillas, chimps, bonobos and orangutangs "apes" because that's what they are. They are not monkeys. As I've said, the rule of thumb is that monkeys have tails. If you would like a more information about specific differences, please let me know. I'll be happy to get the info to you.

Therefore your example holds no weight in the argument. Your example would be closer my point if you said "we might as well call apples, 'oranges.'"

[dEnny]

All I'm saying is, educate yourselves before issuing a press release that makes you, your company, the product and the creators look stupid and uninformed. The industry already has a credibility issue with the "outside world," don't make it worse.

I'm curious, will the "outside world" even see this press release? No offense to Oni, but I don't see this hitting any major newspapers or tv stations. And no offense to Newsarama, but I'm thinking unless you are part of the "inside world" (?) you will read it here.

[BBayliss]

Originally posted by dEnny
Yes, the misrepresenation of monkeys and apes is why we look stupid to the "outside world."

Look at the bigger picture. Most of society think comic books are for kids or, at the very least, not highly educated people.

And this mistake just affirms their opinions.

[dEnny]

Oh snap! J S Rich just got OWNED!

[dEnny]

Originally posted by BBayliss
Look at the bigger picture. Most of society think comic books are for kids or, at the very least, not highly educated people.

And this just affirms their opinion.

Is Wertham still running around spreading these lies??? Where is he?

[BBayliss]

Originally posted by dEnny
I'm curious, will the "outside world" even see this press release? No offense to Oni, but I don't see this hitting any major newspapers or tv stations. And no offense to Newsarama, but I'm thinking unless you are part of the "inside world" (?) you will read it here.

Good point, but why take the chance that the "outside world" won't see it? I know some primatologists that might be interested in picking up this book for their kids. It looks fun. I can guarantee that they'll put it right back on the shelf when they see apes referred to as monkeys.

And then yet another group of individuals' low opinion of the intellect of comic book readers is affirmed.

[RandyOni]

I know some primatologists that might be interested in picking up this book for their kids. It looks fun. I can guarantee that they'll put it right back on the shelf when they see apes referred to as monkeys.

I know some astronauts that might be interested in taking their kids to see the new Star Wars movie. It looks fun. I can gaurantee that they'll walk out of the theater when they hear all the loud noises in space.

Although... I have to say we here at the World Headquarters of Oni Press (WHOOPs!) have endeavoured to capture the desirable "children of primatoligists" market.

All kidding aside ... it is a great book. See for yourself!


Here is an 8 page PDF preview of BANANA SUNDAY #1

[BBayliss]

Originally posted by RandyOni
I know some astronauts that might be interested in taking their kids to see the new Star Wars movie. It looks fun. I can gaurantee that they'll walk out of the theater when they hear all the loud noises in space.

That's not really a fair comparison, now is it, Mr. RandyOni? One is based upon imagination one is based on fact. Again, a more appropriate comparison would be you saying you know some science fiction writers that might be interested in taking their kids to Star Wars.

At movie prices nowadays (1 adult and 2 kids= $18.00 for the tix plus $5.00 for the soda and $5.00 for a bucket of popcorn equals a total of $28.00) I doubt very much that they'd walk out, however. ;-)

[J.S. Rich]

Originally posted by BBayliss
If you would like a more information about specific differences, please let me know. I'll be happy to get the info to you.

Yeah, dude, I'm dying for more information on this. That way, next time an evolutionist tells me I descended from monkeys, I can say, "No apes. I have no tail." (FYI, if the preceding sentence is wrong, you can imagine how much I care. Actually, you have to imagine me caring at all.)

Please also send me any information you have on tomatoes and other fruits that people call vegetables (though, we all know that ketchup is government approved that way), and where exactly sea cucumbers fall into this whole mess. If you have time.

Seriously, why let such a thing spoil their enjoyment of a fun comic book about monkeys? Sorry, Colleen, to have even gotten into it. You know I can't wait to read this book!

Thanks for the preview, Randy!

And Denny, you'll get yours!

[J.S. Rich]

Also, when did comics become part of an inside world? Is that like an inside voice?

[dEnny]

Originally posted by BBayliss
That's not really a fair comparison, now is it, Mr. RandyOni? One is based upon imagination one is based on fact. Again, a more appropriate comparison would be you saying you know some science fiction writers that might be interested in taking
their kids to Star Wars.

So Sci-Fi writers don't realize that it's a fact there is no noise in space? Or is that just not a fact? I'm so confused!

CURSE YOU ONI PRESS!

[BBayliss]

Originally posted by J.S. Rich
Yeah, dude, I'm dying for more information on this. That way, next time an evolutionist tells me I descended from monkeys, I can say, "No apes. I have no tail." (FYI, if the preceding sentence is wrong, you can imagine how much I care. Actually, you have to imagine me caring at all.)

Actually, you, assuming you are a human, didn't descend from monkeys OR apes. Apes and humans descended from a common ancestor that lived millions of years ago.

[Stop Him]

Wait a minute. The "outside world"?

The same outside world that put Britney Spears into the top 10, watches Survivor and dreadful sitcoms, and votes 50% Republican?

To be honest, I'd be surprised if the majority of this "outside world" knows the difference, or thinks it's enough of a deal that they'd not buy a comic book over it.

[dEnny]

Originally posted by BBayliss
Actually, you, assuming you are a human, didn't descend from monkeys OR apes. Apes and humans descended from a common ancestor that lived millions of years ago.

Are we now running under the assumption that J S Rich IS human? Huh? Who knew!

[Not From Around]

The "outside world" doesn't know the half of it when talking about comics fandom, as bizarre threads like this demonstrate. If I were that worried about the outside world's image of comics fandom (which I'm not), I'd be more concerned about them seeing threads like this than about the monkey/ape confusion. The obsessive debates over trivia and semantics would probably strike many people as a little less than sane. There's a great psychology or sociology article in the whole HEAT/KELP rivalry, to name one notable example.

Sociobiologists would probably say the obsessive arguing is a holdover from an evolutionary mechanism that made male hominids (they weren't monkeys OR apes) more effective rivals for female attention. I'm a theistic evolutionist myself (evolution may have happened, but under God's direction--our bodies are animals, but we're supposed to be more than that), so I think we ought to be able to grow up and put ourselves above that primitive arguing to the bitter end stuff. It's only comic books, after all!

[ninjai]

Wow, what's with the 3 word alliteration titles now...Lions, Tigers...