jock123:
You've actually been ahead of the game here, george, as the deal was only just struck this week: Amazon jumped the gun by putting up word about it, but Cinébook Ltd. were only able to make the official announcement on signing off on the agreement with the rights-holders.
It is almost as if I've nothing to do with my time than check Amazon for the next set of European translations! ('OK, Cinebook next, then Fantagraphics, Selfmadehero, IDW...')
Wow, Facebook, who knew that was still a thing, and so feisty too!
Interesting to see how strong a reaction the choice of name is getting. I also mentioned the Amazon 'fish' over on the Spirou Reporter forum and drew attention to the 80s publications in Fantagraphics' Centrifugal Bumble-Puppy (I think) and the heavy 'localisation', as one post on Facebook describes it, of the content. Gomer Goof worked for 'Funnygraphics' and played football (aka American Football) in the office, rather working at Spirou and playing rugby.
I've never been a huge fan of the approach where you all but disguise the origins of the original work - miles for kilometres, dollars for francs/euros, etc. - and the occasional propensity for Hollywood Americanisms (if I read IDW's Corto Maltese refer to someone as 'two-bit' again..!) as it temporarily pulls me out of the story ('Why is Corto taking like Bogart? Am I missing something?'). I don't mind reading a footnote or being made to work a bit.
Hypocrisy alert - except for Tintin where *of course* he lives London and pals around with British sailors and members of Scotland yard! Don't make me think about Belgium!
jock123:
"Gomer Pyle" in that instance is a nickname, taken from a character in a military sitcom, Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C (although the character originated in another programme, The Andy Griffiths Show).
Which is probably why the name was thought to make sense in the context of an 80s anthology aimed at the US market. Odd to think we are now further from that mid-80s publication than it was from the Andy Griffith show.
Ultimately though the publisher is taking the risk, not me, so why wouldn't they try to blunt the edges of consumer resistance? Who am I to complain? My input is limited to £7-99; if the changes they make sell them another 100 copies that may be enough to make the risk a profitable one and have them look deeper into the back catalogue of golden age Franco-Belgian comics. Gil Jordan next please Cinebook!
Coincidentally Fantagraphics, in the shape of
The Comic Journal, has just published a loving paean to Andre Franquin and his creation... Gaston La Gaffe! Not a goof in site!
george