Ben Edlund, Stan Lee, Bill Plympton and Jerry Beck.
Sticking with this issue's theme of comics and animation, we asked a mixed bag of people for their lists of favorites.
We asked Ben Edlund, creator of The Tick, and Bill Plympton, cartoonist, animator and creator of Plymptoons, for their favorite comic books. While these two started in comics, and periodically return to comics, both are now primarily working in the field of animation. Now, since Stan Lee, is the comic industry veteran, creator of Spider-Man, The Hulk and many other classic characters, we asked him what his favorite animated films were (what do you think he'd pick if we'd asked him for his comic book faves!?!). Finally, we asked Jerry Beck, animation historian and animation industry development executive, to pick his favorite new comic book up and comers. Maybe one day we'll be watching one of their shows... If any of these folks get stranded on a desert island, we now know what to put in their care packages!
Ben Edlund's favorite comics: 1. 8-Ball by Daniel Clowes. 2. Acme Novelty Library by Chris Ware. 3. Replacement God by Zander Cannon. 4. The Watchman by Alan Moore & David Gibbons. 5. Assorted 1970's Richie Rich comic books. 6. Little Nemo in Slumberland by Winsor McCay. 
Bill Plympton's top ten comic books: 1. The work of Winsor McCay. 2. Body Bags by Jason Pearson. 3. Hard Boiled by Frank Miller and Geoff Darrow. 4. Sin City by Frank Miller. 5. The work of Saul Steinberg. 6. The work of R. Crumb. 7. The work of Gary Larsen. 8. Calvin & Hobbes by Bill Waterson. 9. Dilbert by Scott Adams. 10. The work of A.B. Frost. 
Bill Plympton.
Stan Lee's favorite animated films: "That is a tough question because I love most of the great animated films from over the years, mostly the Disney stuff. I would probably pick these Disney films as my favorites:" 1. Dumbo. 2. Snow White. 3. Pinnochio. 4. The Lion King. 5. Bambi. 6. Of course, Fantasia, which has to be one of the all-time greats. 
Stan Lee.
"Beyond that, there are other types of animation I'd want to have with me. Believe it or not, I really like Beavis and Butt-head and The Simpsons, so I wouldn't mind having episodes from those shows with me. Then, of course, I would have to have some Marvel super heroes with me, as much stuff from the Spider-Man and X-Men cartoons as possible. But if I bring all these shows with me, somebody better make sure I have a VCR!"
(Editor's Note: We knew he'd sneak Marvel in there.)
Jerry Beck's selected comic artists: "Off the top of my head, my favorite contemporary cartoonists are: 1. Mike Allread (Madman). 2. Geoff Darrow (Big Guy). 3. Chris Ware (Acme Comics Library) 4. Jeff Smith (Bone). 5. Cathy Hill (Mad Raccoons)All of them have been drawing comics for a while now though, so I don't know if they qualify as "up and coming." I'd also throw in: 6. animator Bruce Timm (who occasionally draws a Batman comic book) 7. John K., Jim Smith and the gang at Spümco who are doing a magazine called Comic Book. And I still love R. Crumb's new stuff." 
Issue # 3 of John K and Spümco's irreverent Comic Book.
What comic books would you want to have with you on a desert island? We'd like to know. Send your top ten picks to editor@awn.com. Please write "desert island" in the subject heading of your email message.
