Sunday, October 17, 1999
Comic 'Zits' a Nordic hit
BY JIM KNIPPENBERG
The Cincinnati Enquirer
So why, you were wondering, is Cincinnati cartoonist Jim Borgman suddenly a hit in Sweden? And Finland?
Our question exactly.
It's “Zits,” his and Jerry Scott's (“Baby Blues”) comic strip published in 800 newspapers, including 22 in Sweden and 12 in Finland.
“Scandinavia is crazy about comic strips,” Borgman says. “When Mort Walker (“Beetle Bailey”) visits, they have to close the streets.”
They didn't close the streets for Borgman, Scott and their families when they spent a week in Gothenburg, Sweden, and Helsinki, Finland, meeting locals and signing Swedish and Finnish language Zits books.
“It was funny. Their reactions (to the strip) were the same as we get here: You must have a camera in my son's bedroom. I guess it means that after the culture shock, this teen-age thing is pretty universal.
“They asked Dylan (his 16-year-old son) at a press conference if he was Jeremy (“Zits”' lead character). He lapped it up. Me, I'm the first to deny it, so it doesn't look like I'm invading his life.
“In Finland, they were more interested in my life as a political cartoonist. Sweden, with its history of neutrality, didn't seem to care.
“It's shameful, though. They all know English, we know nothing. I managed to learn "thank you' in Swedish, but that's all.”
That language thing. It means he has two books out he can't read.
“They're translated in Europe by Bulls Press. They decide what will fly. If the translator sees some cultural reference he thinks readers won't get, he changes it.
“The books are probably loaded with surprises, but I'll never know.”
IN THE NEWS: Two Cincinnati women are featured in the October issue of Good Housekeeping. Both are nuns — and mothers.
“A Change of Habit” is about women who raised families, lost husbands to death or divorce, searched souls and entered the convent.
Both are Sisters of Charity, headquartered in Delhi Township.
• Sister Margarita, an architectural designer formerly known as Margarita Brewer, shocked her two sons when she entered in the mid-'80s. They got over it when a bunch of nuns took them to a Reds game and even shared a beer with them. Her job now is counseling immigrants.
• Sister Louise, former manufacturing exec Louise Zaplitny, entered the convent in 1993, a year after her husband died. She uses the grief she experienced at his death in her work as hospital a chaplain. Her two kids are delighted. As son, Mark Zaplitny, says, “My mom is a nun. How many people can say that?”
LAST DAY: On an anxious note: Eddie Lane won't be at today's Bengals-Pittsburgh Steelers game. Lane is the EDB Diamond Showroom owner who has lots of Bengal friends and clients, many of whom give him sideline passes for home games.
Because? Because they win when he's there . . . at least used to. He was 19-0 last year until the Bengals lost to Denver, breaking their wining streak. Coach Bruce Coslet remarked that day, “Well, you got that monkey off your back.”
He's ready to start courting the monkey again, but not today: “It's killing me. We have a one-game win streak and I want it extended. I just can't be there.”
Goodness knows, they could use the help against Pittsburgh. Maybe a change of plans? “I would if I could, but they're on their own.”
Knip's Eye View appears Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Have an item to report? Call Jim Knippenberg at 768-8513; fax: 768-8330.
