View source for Loose Parts

{{Short description|American comic strip by Dave Blazek}}
{{italic title}}
{{Infobox Comic strip
|title = Loose Parts
| image =
| caption =
|creator = [[Dave Blazek]] & John Gilpin
|author = [[Dave Blazek]]
|illustrator = {{ubl|John Gilpin (1999–2001)|[[Dave Blazek]] (2001–present)}}
|current=
|status = ongoing, daily
|syndicate = {{Plainlist|
*[[Andrews McMeel Syndication]] (June 1, 2022–present)
*[[The Washington Post Writers Group]] (September 25, 2014–May 31, 2022)
*[[Tribune Media Services]] (December  2000–September 24, 2014)
*[[Los Angeles Times Syndicate]] (April 20, 1998–December 2000)
}}
|genre = Gag, humor
|first = April 20, 1998
|last=
| publisher= [[Dave Blazek]]
}}
'''''Loose Parts''''' is a daily [[Gag cartoon|single-panel]] [[comic strip]] by [[Dave Blazek]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Holtz |first1=Allan |title=American Newspaper Comics: An Encyclopedic Reference Guide |date=2012 |publisher=The University of Michigan Press |location=Ann Arbor |isbn=9780472117567 |page=245}}</ref> It is similar in tone, content, and style to [[Gary Larson]]'s ''[[The Far Side]]'', involving [[Theatre of the Absurd]]-style themes and characters. ''Loose Parts'' is currently syndicated by [[Andrews McMeel Syndication]]<ref name=EP>{{cite magazine| title=New syndication options for illustrators: Syndicates facilitate ongoing opportunity for creators of comics and puzzles| date=June 16, 2022| first=Rob| last=Tornoe| magazine=[[Editor & Publisher]]| url=https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/new-syndication-options-for-illustrators,231246}}</ref>  and appears in newspapers across the country and overseas.
''Loose Parts'' was nominated for Best Newspaper Panel Cartoon division award in the 2010 [[National Cartoonists Society]] Reuben Awards.<ref>{{cite web|first=Tom|last=Richmond|title=2010 NCS Reuben Divisional Nominees Announced|date=
March 18, 2010|website=TomRichmond.com|url=https://www.tomrichmond.com/2010-ncs-reuben-divisional-nominees-announced/18/03/2010/}}</ref> After being nominated an additional three more times,<ref name=Inquirer>{{cite news|title=Philly artist Dave Blazek takes top cartoon award: Blazek has been nominated for the National Cartoonists Society Reuben Award five times|first=Isabella|last=Simonetti|date=Sep 21, 2020|work=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]|url=https://www.inquirer.com/news/cartoonist-award-dave-blazek-20200921.html}}</ref> it won the award in 2019,<ref name=Inquirer /> repeating in 2020.<ref>{{cite news|title=Erie native Dave Blazek wins cartoonists' big prize for 2nd time|author=Times-News staff|date=Sep 27, 2020|work=[[Erie Times-News]]|url=https://www.goerie.com/story/entertainment/local/2020/09/27/erie-native-dave-blazek-wins-cartoonistsrsquo-big-prize-for-2nd-time/114147898/}}</ref><ref name=Inquirer />
== History ==
''Loose Parts'' began in 1998 as a collaborative effort between Dave Blazek (the writer) and John Gilpin (the illustrator). Both men worked in the marketing department at ''[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]'' and ''[[Philadelphia Daily News]]''.
The strip was originally syndicated by the [[Los Angeles Times Syndicate]]; it moved to [[Tribune Media Services]] in late December 2000 when [[Tribune Publishing]] bought the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''.<ref name=TDC-20220601>{{cite news|title=Loose Parts Changes Syndicates (Again)|first=D. D.|last=Degg|date=June 1, 2022|work=The Daily Cartoonist|url=https://www.dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2022/06/01/loose-parts-changes-syndicates-again/}}</ref>
In 2001 Gilpin stopped drawing for the single-panel cartoon and Blazek took up those duties as well; he now writes and draws ''Loose Parts''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Missed It: Loose Parts' 25th|first=D. D.|last=Degg|date=May 8, 2023|website=The Daily Cartoonist|url=https://www.dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2023/05/08/missed-it-loose-parts-25th/}}</ref>
Blazek moved ''Loose Parts'' to [[The Washington Post Writers Group]] (WPWG) starting with the September 25, 2014 cartoon.<ref name=TDC-20220601 /> In early 2022, the WPWG announced it was winding down its comic strip syndication service;<ref name=EP /> soon afterward, Blazek moved ''Loose Parts'' to [[Andrews McMeel Syndication]].<ref name=TDC-0220729>{{cite web|title=Mike Lester Moves Mike du Jour to Andrews McMeel|first=D. D.|last=Degg|date=July 29, 2022|work=The Daily Cartoonist|url=https://www.dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2022/07/29/mike-lester-moves-mike-du-jour-to-andrews-mcmeel/|quote=...joins 'Loose Parts' and 'Pickles' as stablemates since those two had moved from Washington Post Writers Group to Andrews McMeel earlier this year (June 1 and July 1 respectively).}}</ref>
== Collections ==
* ''Attack of the Chortling Stomach'' (2011)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://loosepartscomic.com/Loose%20Parts%20Books.html |title=Loose Parts Books |accessdate=2011-11-22 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111112163805/http://loosepartscomic.com/Loose%20Parts%20Books.html |archivedate=2011-11-12 }}</ref>
* ''Weird Things in Small Boxes'' (2008) – {{ISBN|1-58822-061-3}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw_0_9?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=dave+blazek&x=0&y=0&sprefix=dave+blaze |title=dave blazek |publisher=Amazon.com |date= |accessdate=2016-12-18}}</ref>
* ''Two Hundred Some Odd Cartoons'' (2006) – {{ISBN|1-58822-053-2}}
* ''Parts of My Brain'' (2003) – {{ISBN|1-58822-133-4}}
* ''Loose Upon The World'' (2001) – {{ISBN|1-58822-006-0}}
== References ==
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
* {{official|https://www.loosepartscomic.com}}
* [https://www.gocomics.com/looseparts ''Loose Parts'' on GoComics]
{{Andrews McMeel Universal}}
[[Category:American comic strips]]
[[Category:1998 comics debuts]]
[[Category:Gag-a-day comics]]
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