CPL (Contemporary Pictorial Literature)7: 1974
Publishers/editors: Roger Stern and Roger Slifer
If there ever was a zine (other than, say Fantastic Fanzine or The Collector) that embodied what made fanzines best (for me, at least), it was CPL. Published by future double Roger pros, Stern and Slifer, it had the perfect combination of incredible art and entertaining/enlightening articles/interviews from some of the best fan artists (many verging on, if not pros already) and writers. I have profiled this magnificent zine several times, including 5 and 6, 8, 11, and 12, with more to come, thanks to the Galactus (Watcher?) of the fanzine world, Manny Maris!
As you can see above, one of the main subjects of this issue is P. Craig Russell (back then, just going by Craig Russell). It is a typically well done interview by the guys (it doesn’t specifically reference which editor was the main interviewer, but does mention two others), and is accompanied by several gorgeous pieces that showcase the lyrical beauty that Craig would become so well known for. Gaze with wonder below!
Craig’s style captivated me from day one. Early on, his love (shared by me) of Barry Smith showed, but very quickly, his affinity for organic forms, sloping and diving compositions, and fantastic imagery came forward. As I was looking through this issue, I was struck by how iconic artists can become. Between Craig, John Byrne and Paul Gulacy, you can see three very different individuals and styles, all gorgeous to look at.
The interview actually comes a bit later in the issue. First (after the editorial) we get an article by Harry Broertjes about The Five Most Original Comic Series of 1973. Spoiler! They are Swamp Thing, Prez, Dr. Strange (in Marvel Premiere), Jonah Hex (Weird Western Tales), Captain Marvel (the Starlin version), and Detective Comics (at this time, Jim Aparo was the artist).
After Russell’s interview is a Val Mayerik portfolio, consisting of a few pieces you see below, and more (that’s why you get the pdf, fool!).
Hour of Thunder is next, some Asgardian fan fiction by Tony Isabella, while Roger Slifer comes next with his Revival Survival column (this time, focusing on Steve Ditko), followed by the letters column and Sterno’s Hot Ones (detailing a high school level comic course he ran), and that ends the issue! But, there is soooo much more to take in, so, yes, fool, get that pdf! I will show some more wonderful visuals below. Like many zines, they were interspersed with articles that had nothing to do with the art, but still, beautiful to see (like the Iron Man by John Byrne at left).
There is a lot more to see, so I hope you do take the time to view the pdf from my site at kenmeyerjr.com. You will see work by Don Newton, and Dan Adkins, as well as more by Byrne, and Mayerik.
Thanks again to Manny Maris and I hope to see all of you here next month….soo much to choose from now! Also, please leave comments to satisfy my humungous ego and immense need.
Ken Meyer Jr.
kenmeyerjr@yahoo.com
