Munden's Bar

I'll start with the very first "Munden's Bar" story, "Jeffy" from Grimjack #2. Jeffy is an eight year old Silesian Slug who becomes lost in the pan-dimensional city of Cynosure while on a shopping trip with his mother. He ends up inside a tourbot, and the tourbot ends up in Munden's Bar. Since the days when Grimjack itself was a back-up feature in Starslayer, readers had been wondering about the "No Tourbots" signs posted prominently in Mundens, and this story explains what they are. Basically, a tourbot is a robot which allows a client's mind to travel safely about the city while his body rests comfortably back at the rental agency.

#3's "Munden's" is about the D.T.s and introduces the libation Olde Mink into the Grimjack mythos. It is written by John Ostrander and Del Close, with appropriately disturbing art by Steve Bissette.
"A Quiet Night at the Bar" (#4) is by Del Close and John Ostrander again, with art by Hilary Barta. It hasn't been just too long since I reread all of of Wasteland, and these early "Munden's" by Ostrander and Close have that same kind of feel to them.
"Family and Friends" (#5) is by written Tim Truman, drawn by Joe Staton, and tells the "origin" of Bob the Watchlizard from Bob's POV. This story would later be retold, much later, from Grimjack's.
Clonezone the Hilariator visits Munden's in #6 courtesy of Mike Baron and Steve Rude.
In #7, Peter Gillis and Don Lomax cross over from the back pages of Starslayer and bring Black Flame with them (one month before he takes over the whole book).
#8 is a fourth wall-breaking tale by Ostrander and Close, art by Rich Burchett.
There was no "Munden's Bar" in #9.
#10: "Doppelgangster" by Ostrander, Close and Jerry Ordway.
Max Collins' and Terry Beatty's Ms. Tree drops by Munden's Bar in #11 after being hit on the head.
#12-13 is a two-parter by John Ostrander and Wm. Messner-Loebs featuring Jericho Noleski.
#14 is a very nice little EC/Vertigo-style story by Tim Truman and John Totleben.
Phil Foglio stops by work a shift as bartender in #15.
Valentino guests in #16.
#17 is another one by Ostrander & Close, introducing artist Barry Crain.
#18-20 tied in closely with the main feature's "Trade Wars."
#21 did not have a "Munden's Bar."
Brian Bolland illustrates a Vertigo-esque tale by Ostrander & Close in #22.
Phil Foglio drops by to tend some bar again in #23.
In #24, Paul Smith illustrates a tale a Go-Gang which stops by Munden's to watch the latest Bob Violence cartoon.
#25. Ostrander & Close illustrated by Rick Taylor.
Eastman & Laird's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles drop by Munden's in #26.
#27. A humorous look as the afterlife as Murray (from #3) drops dead at Munden's. There is a line in Heaven specifically for victims of DC's Crisis, whereas Marvel's characters whoosh through a revolving door. Many other characters are shown to be in limbo (a.k.a. "hiatus"), and Murray ends up being reincarnated as Jeffy's (from #2) baby brother.
#28. Ostrander/Close & Hilary Barta.
#29. Lou Grant and Ted Baxter by Fred Hembeck.
#30. A sequel to "Night of the Killer Bunnies" featuring Lord Pharton and Zago by John Ostrander and Stan Sakai.
#31. Blaze Barlow and the Eternity Command by Peter Gillis and Tom Artis.
#32. "Bad Sports" by John Ostrander, Beverly Feldt and Jill Thompson.
#33. "Symax's Xmas Carol" by Ostrander, Wm. Norris and Joe Staton featuring characters from across the First Comics universe.
No "Munden's Bar in #34.
#35. "Laydeez and Germs" by Ostrander, Close and Jan Duursema.
No "Munden's Bar in #36.
"Eulogies" in #37 ties in with the death of Grimjack in the main feature.
#38. "When Egos Clash," a Marvel/DC parody by John Ostrander and Barry Crain.
#39. "In Charge" by Will Shetterly and Gordon Purcell.
#40. Bill and Barry, The Heterodyne Boys, drop in from Girl Genius.
#41. "The Road to Cynosure" by Stephen Sullivan and Hilary Barta.
#42. "Closed Set!" by Ostrander. Close and Larry Marder.
#43. A "Bar Joke" with a twist by Ostrander and Sam Kieth.
#44-45. "Rough Trade" by Kim Yale and John Statema.

...which brings us up to the Munden's Bar Annual, featuring three reprints [from #6 (Rude), #10 (Ordway) & #22 (Bolland)] and three new stories.

First, the Fish Police drop by courtesy of Steve Moncuse.

Next, "The Last Vampire" by Ostrander, Close and Joe Staton is perhaps my favorite vampire comic book story ("If garlic, why not lima beans?")

Finally, Cynicalman drops by courtesy of Matt Feazell.

Both Grimjack and Scout wore Cynicalman t-shirts in-story on occasion, but the "Munden's Bar" story was my first exposure to the actual character (and led me to buy the "Sells Out!" one-shot).

#46. John Ostrander and Dave Hoover put Bob the watchlizard "In Charge" of Munden's Bar.
#47. This one introduced me to Ted McKeever and Eddie Current (later, Metropol).
#48. "Prom Nite" by Kim Yale and Tristan Schane.
#49. "Mitch Makes a Pitch" by Hilary Barta and Mitch O'Connell.
There was no "Munden's Bar" in #50.
#51. "McNoid and Floyd" by Hilary Barta, Stephen Sullivan and Doug Rice.

Replies

Jeff of Earth-J November 18, 2024 at 8:16am
I'll start with the very first "Munden's Bar" story, "Jeffy" from Grimjack #2. Jeffy is an eight year old Silesian Slug who becomes lost in the pan-dimensional city of Cynosure while on a shopping trip with his mother. He ends up inside a tourbot, and the tourbot ends up in Munden's Bar. Since the days when Grimjack itself was a back-up feature in Starslayer, readers had been wondering about the "No Tourbots" signs posted prominently in Mundens, and this story explains what they are. Basically, a tourbot is a robot which allows a client's mind to travel safely about the city while his body rests comfortably back at the rental agency.
- #3's "Munden's" is about the D.T.s and introduces the libation Olde Mink into the Grimjack mythos. It is written by John Ostrander and Del Close, with appropriately disturbing art by Steve Bissette.
- "A Quiet Night at the Bar" (#4) is by Del Close and John Ostrander again, with art by Hilary Barta. It hasn't been just too long since I reread all of of Wasteland, and these early "Munden's" by Ostrander and Close have that same kind of feel to them.
- "Family and Friends" (#5) is by written Tim Truman, drawn by Joe Staton, and tells the "origin" of Bob the Watchlizard from Bob's POV. This story would later be retold, much later, from Grimjack's.
- Clonezone the Hilariator visits Munden's in #6 courtesy of Mike Baron and Steve Rude.
- In #7, Peter Gillis and Don Lomax cross over from the back pages of Starslayer and bring Black Flame with them (one month before he takes over the whole book).
- #8 is a fourth wall-breaking tale by Ostrander and Close, art by Rich Burchett.
- There was no "Munden's Bar" in #9.
- #10: "Doppelgangster" by Ostrander, Close and Jerry Ordway.
- Max Collins' and Terry Beatty's Ms. Tree drops by Munden's Bar in #11 after being hit on the head.
- #12-13 is a two-parter by John Ostrander and Wm. Messner-Loebs featuring Jericho Noleski.
- #14 is a very nice little EC/Vertigo-style story by Tim Truman and John Totleben.
- Phil Foglio stops by work a shift as bartender in #15.
- Valentino guests in #16.
- #17 is another one by Ostrander & Close, introducing artist Barry Crain.
- #18-20 tied in closely with the main feature's "Trade Wars."
- #21 did not have a "Munden's Bar."
- Brian Bolland illustrates a Vertigo-esque tale by Ostrander & Close in #22.
- Phil Foglio drops by to tend some bar again in #23.
- In #24, Paul Smith illustrates a tale a Go-Gang which stops by Munden's to watch the latest Bob Violence cartoon.
- #25. Ostrander & Close illustrated by Rick Taylor.
- Eastman & Laird's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles drop by Munden's in #26.
- #27. A humorous look as the afterlife as Murray (from #3) drops dead at Munden's. There is a line in Heaven specifically for victims of DC's Crisis, whereas Marvel's characters whoosh through a revolving door. Many other characters are shown to be in limbo (a.k.a. "hiatus"), and Murray ends up being reincarnated as Jeffy's (from #2) baby brother.
- #28. Ostrander/Close & Hilary Barta.
- #29. Lou Grant and Ted Baxter by Fred Hembeck.
- #30. A sequel to "Night of the Killer Bunnies" featuring Lord Pharton and Zago by John Ostrander and Stan Sakai.
- #31. Blaze Barlow and the Eternity Command by Peter Gillis and Tom Artis.
- #32. "Bad Sports" by John Ostrander, Beverly Feldt and Jill Thompson.
- #33. "Symax's Xmas Carol" by Ostrander, Wm. Norris and Joe Staton featuring characters from across the First Comics universe.
- No "Munden's Bar in #34.
- #35. "Laydeez and Germs" by Ostrander, Close and Jan Duursema.
- No "Munden's Bar in #36.
- "Eulogies" in #37 ties in with the death of Grimjack in the main feature.
- #38. "When Egos Clash," a Marvel/DC parody by John Ostrander and Barry Crain.
- #39. "In Charge" by Will Shetterly and Gordon Purcell.
- #40. Bill and Barry, The Heterodyne Boys, drop in from Girl Genius.
- #41. "The Road to Cynosure" by Stephen Sullivan and Hilary Barta.
- #42. "Closed Set!" by Ostrander. Close and Larry Marder.
- #43. A "Bar Joke" with a twist by Ostrander and Sam Kieth.
- #44-45. "Rough Trade" by Kim Yale and John Statema.
...which brings us up to the Munden's Bar Annual, featuring three reprints [from #6 (Rude), #10 (Ordway) & #22 (Bolland)] and three new stories.
- First, the Fish Police drop by courtesy of Steve Moncuse.
  
  Next, "The Last Vampire" by Ostrander, Close and Joe Staton is perhaps my favorite vampire comic book story ("If garlic, why not lima beans?")
  
  Finally, Cynicalman drops by courtesy of Matt Feazell.
  
  Both Grimjack and Scout wore Cynicalman t-shirts in-story on occasion, but the "Munden's Bar" story was my first exposure to the actual character (and led me to buy the "Sells Out!" one-shot).
- #46. John Ostrander and Dave Hoover put Bob the watchlizard "In Charge" of Munden's Bar.
- #47. This one introduced me to Ted McKeever and Eddie Current (later, Metropol).
- #48. "Prom Nite" by Kim Yale and Tristan Schane.
- #49. "Mitch Makes a Pitch" by Hilary Barta and Mitch O'Connell.
- There was no "Munden's Bar" in #50.
- #51. "McNoid and Floyd" by Hilary Barta, Stephen Sullivan and Doug Rice.
Jeff of Earth-J December 5, 2024 at 6:26am
- #52. Sam & Max (Freelance Police) visit Munden's courtesy of Steve Purcell.
- #53. "Shadows in the Rain" by Kim Yale and John K. Snyder.
There was no "Munden's Bar" in #54. In #55, the timeline jumps 200 years into the future, but Munden's continues, set in the same timeframe as always. Unfortunately, Earth-J is slipping out of phase with Cynosure for the time being...

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