<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" > <channel> <title>Dick Giordano – ComicAttack.net</title> <atom:link href="https://comicattack.net/tag/dick-giordano/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /> <link>https://comicattack.net</link> <description></description> <lastBuildDate>Tue, 22 Nov 2022 05:14:13 +0000</lastBuildDate> <language>en-US</language> <sy:updatePeriod> hourly </sy:updatePeriod> <sy:updateFrequency> 1 </sy:updateFrequency> <generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.3</generator> <image> <url>https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/cropped-Review-1-1-32x32.jpg</url> <title>Dick Giordano – ComicAttack.net</title> <link>https://comicattack.net</link> <width>32</width> <height>32</height> </image> <item> <title>Ink Stains 161: The Collector 20</title> <link>https://comicattack.net/ink-stains-161-the-collector-20/</link> <comments>https://comicattack.net/ink-stains-161-the-collector-20/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[kenmeyerjr]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Thu, 01 Dec 2022 06:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Columns]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Comic Cons]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Fantasy]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Featured Columns]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Ink Stains]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Journalists]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Ken Meyer Jr.]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Marvel]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Bill Everett]]></category> <category><![CDATA[bill g wilson]]></category> <category><![CDATA[dan adkins]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Dick Giordano]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Don Newton]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Don Rosa]]></category> <category><![CDATA[gil kane]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Joe Sinnott]]></category> <category><![CDATA[John G Fantucchio]]></category> <category><![CDATA[John Romita]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Neal Adams]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Robert Kline]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sal Buscema]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Steve Fritz]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://comicattack.net/?p=159839</guid> <description><![CDATA[The Collector: August 1970Editor/publisher: Bill G. Wilson Hello again, fellow fanzine freaks! This month I chose something comparatively small, The Collector 20 (partially because I have an event coming up later this week and I am just darn busy in general). About a third into the zine’s run, but still a bit before Bill Wilson […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[ <p class="has-black-color has-text-color"><strong>The Collector: August 1970<br>Editor/publisher: Bill G. Wilson</strong></p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="573" height="756" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/cover.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-159840" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/cover.jpg 573w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/cover-227x300.jpg 227w" sizes="(max-width: 573px) 100vw, 573px" /></figure></div> <p class="has-black-color has-text-color">Hello again, fellow fanzine freaks! This month I chose something comparatively small, <strong><em>The Collector</em></strong> 20 (partially because I have an event coming up later this week and I am just darn busy in general). About a third into the zine’s run, but still a bit before Bill Wilson was really hitting on all cylinders. Much of the art is quick sketches done probably at the con covered in this issue, but it is still great from an historical perspective, in my opinion. We start with a somewhat early Don Newton cover of the Phantom, seen above.</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img decoding="async" width="483" height="748" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/fritz.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-159841" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/fritz.jpg 483w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/fritz-194x300.jpg 194w" sizes="(max-width: 483px) 100vw, 483px" /></figure></div> <p class="has-black-color has-text-color">After a short editorial page (which also shows an unpublished Gil Kane piece and a Dan Adkins sketch), there is the nice Frazetta-esque Steve Fritz piece seen above. Following is a con report by editor Wilson on the 1970 Comic Art Con in New York (prefaced by an ad featuring art by Gray Morrow, which Manny Maris tells me, looked great in color). It has the requisite grainy reproductions of instamatic photos, some of which you see below, with editorial notations.</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img decoding="async" width="570" height="770" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/photos2.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-159842" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/photos2.jpg 570w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/photos2-222x300.jpg 222w" sizes="(max-width: 570px) 100vw, 570px" /></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="566" height="777" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/photos.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-159843" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/photos.jpg 566w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/photos-219x300.jpg 219w" sizes="(max-width: 566px) 100vw, 566px" /></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="563" height="758" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/photos3.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-159844" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/photos3.jpg 563w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/photos3-223x300.jpg 223w" sizes="(max-width: 563px) 100vw, 563px" /></figure></div> <p class="has-black-color has-text-color">Some of these photos accompany an extra article on the con by fandom favorite, Duffy Vohland, in his namesake column, <em>Duffy’s Tavern</em>. Since we see the wonderful Bob Kline (with then wife, Missy) above, why not check out the energetic centerfold below?</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="720" height="454" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/kline.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-159845" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/kline.jpg 720w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/kline-300x189.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" /></figure></div> <p class="has-black-color has-text-color">A few pin ups follow, one by Bill Wilson (of his character, Hyperman) inked by Joe Sinnott, and another by Don Rosa, using his earlier less cartoony style (the latter will have to be seen in the pdf)…look! Below!</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="547" height="755" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/wilson.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-159846" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/wilson.jpg 547w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/wilson-217x300.jpg 217w" sizes="(max-width: 547px) 100vw, 547px" /></figure></div> <p class="has-black-color has-text-color">The letters column follows, with one of several illustrations by <strong><em>Realm</em></strong>‘s Ed Romero, as well as sketches from Bill Everett and Sal Buscema (I would not be surprised if all or most of the sketches were obtained at that convention…probably for free!). There is a nice pin up by Mickey Mason, who would be featured in the following issue.</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="558" height="780" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/mason.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-159847" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/mason.jpg 558w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/mason-215x300.jpg 215w" sizes="(max-width: 558px) 100vw, 558px" /></figure></div> <p class="has-black-color has-text-color">Ralph Alfonso follows with a profile of great Frank Frazetta, then a couple of ads appear, and the back cover of Thor, by the one and only John G. Fantucchio, seen below. There is an insert as well, with autographs and a Joe Kubert (verrrry quick) sketch, which you can see in the pdf, along with the articles and such. I hope this column is not toooo short for you, hopefully next month’s is more expansive. I am off to Canada!</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="431" height="583" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/fantucchio.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-159855" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/fantucchio.jpg 431w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/fantucchio-222x300.jpg 222w" sizes="(max-width: 431px) 100vw, 431px" /></figure></div> <p class="has-black-color has-text-color">Thanks to obi-wan, Manny Maris, for helping me out with some pagination problems (and missing pages) at the last minute, in addition to providing the zine in the first place!</p> <p></p> <p class="has-black-color has-text-color">Ken Meyer Jr.<br>kenmeyerjr@yahoo.com</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://comicattack.net/ink-stains-161-the-collector-20/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>4</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Ink Stains 159: CPL 9/10</title> <link>https://comicattack.net/ink-stains-159-cpl-9-10/</link> <comments>https://comicattack.net/ink-stains-159-cpl-9-10/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[kenmeyerjr]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Tue, 27 Sep 2022 18:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Columns]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Featured Columns]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Ink Stains]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Journalists]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Ken Meyer Jr.]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Silver Age]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Bob Layton]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Dave Cockrum]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Dick Giordano]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Don Maitz]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Don Newton]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Duffy Vohland]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Frank McLaughlin]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Jim Aparo]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Joe Staton]]></category> <category><![CDATA[John Byrne]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Pat Boyette]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Pete Morisi]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Robert Layton]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Steve Ditko]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://comicattack.net/?p=159608</guid> <description><![CDATA[CPL (Contemporary Pictorial Literature) 9/10, 1974Editor/publisher: Bob Layton Subtitled “Charlton Portfolio,” CPL 9/10 is a loving tribute to that “little company that could.” Charlton charmingly occupied a niche between Marvel and DC in the 70s especially, and spawned a plethora of great characters, several of which (like Blue Beetle and Peacemaker, seen above) went on […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[ <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="936" height="601" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/art_covers.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-159609" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/art_covers.jpg 936w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/art_covers-300x193.jpg 300w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/art_covers-768x493.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 936px) 100vw, 936px" /></figure> <p class="has-black-color has-text-color"><strong>CPL (Contemporary Pictorial Literature) 9/10, 1974<br>Editor/publisher: Bob Layton</strong></p> <p class="has-black-color has-text-color">Subtitled “Charlton Portfolio,” <strong><em>CPL</em></strong> 9/10 is a loving tribute to that “little company that could.” Charlton charmingly occupied a niche between Marvel and DC in the 70s especially, and spawned a plethora of great characters, several of which (like Blue Beetle and Peacemaker, seen above) went on to be published by DC at a later date (and one even made it into the <strong><em>Suicide Squad</em></strong> movie and a TV series of his own!). Not only is this of one of my favorite zines, but it contains most of the great artists <strong><em>CPL</em></strong> had in it’s own little bullpen. Artists like Bob Layton of course, being the editor and publisher, but soon to be superstar John Byrne, as well as “lesser” players such as Don Maitz, and established pros such as Jim Aparo, Steve Ditko, and Joe Staton.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="892" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/277798226_4998426776906289_388362447216019522_n-1024x892.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-159614" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/277798226_4998426776906289_388362447216019522_n-1024x892.jpg 1024w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/277798226_4998426776906289_388362447216019522_n-300x261.jpg 300w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/277798226_4998426776906289_388362447216019522_n-768x669.jpg 768w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/277798226_4998426776906289_388362447216019522_n.jpg 1033w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Bob Layton at left!</figcaption></figure> <p class="has-black-color has-text-color">On various social media platforms awhile back, Bob referenced his past by saying “<strong><em>C.P.L</em></strong>. was a fanzine that I published in the early 1970s that became a launch pad for the careers of many comic book creators like John Byrne and yours truly. A little known fact is that we were also some of the pioneers of cosplaying. From almost 50 years ago, here’s a rare pic of me, at the <em>Detroit Triple Fan Fare</em> convention in 1973, as a bargain-basement Captain Marvel with an unknown Spider-man cosplayer.”</p> <p class="has-black-color has-text-color">From an interview by Vincente Garcia for <strong><em>Dolmen</em></strong> magazine you can see <a href="https://www.boblayton.com/interview-with-bob-by-dolmen-magazine/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>, Bob talks further about his <strong><em>CPL</em></strong> days: </p> <p class="has-black-color has-text-color">“I met Roger Stern (who worked for a local radio station in Indianapolis) and we began publishing fanzines out of my little apartment. <strong><em>CPL</em></strong> (an overblown title which stands for <strong><em>Contemporary Pictorial Literature</em></strong>) was our main ‘zine. It was an extremely popular fan publication for its day and eventually led us into a working alliance with Charlton Comics, with Sterno [Roger Stern] and I producing and publishing the now-famous <strong><em>Charlton Bullseye</em></strong> magazine.”</p> <p class="has-black-color has-text-color">And as for <strong><em>Charlton Bullseye</em></strong>…</p> <p class="has-black-color has-text-color">“At that time in the mid ’70’s, Charlton was struggling to re-establish some sort of footing in the superhero market. Marvel and DC had house fan publications of their own, namely <strong><em>F.O.O.M.</em></strong> and <strong><em>Amazing World of DC Comics</em></strong>. Charlton wanted to establish a fan presence as well, and formed an alliance with our Indianapolis, Indiana-based CPL/Gang to produce the <strong><em>Charlton Bullseye</em></strong>. They gave us unlimited access to unpublished material from their vaults by the likes of Steve Ditko, Jeff Jones and a host of others. While I was producing <strong><em>Bullseye</em></strong>, I began taking on inking work on their anthology books. But I never actually worked in the Charlton offices. I DID, however, live about two blocks away from their Derby, CT. offices.”</p> <p class="has-black-color has-text-color">So, let’s jump into this issue!</p> <p class="has-black-color has-text-color">After an editorial page, the Gang jumps right into the hard stuff…pure, uncut Steve Ditko! On <em>Facebook</em>, Bob recently told me this <strong><em>Blue Beetle</em></strong> story was advertised, but never published. Below you can see the cover and a few pages of this 18 page story (get the pdf to see the whole shebang).</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="550" height="780" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/art_bb1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-159610" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/art_bb1.jpg 550w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/art_bb1-212x300.jpg 212w" sizes="(max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px" /></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="527" height="757" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/art_bb2.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-159611" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/art_bb2.jpg 527w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/art_bb2-209x300.jpg 209w" sizes="(max-width: 527px) 100vw, 527px" /><figcaption>hahah, check out the letterer’s credit!</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="527" height="765" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/art_bb3.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-159612" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/art_bb3.jpg 527w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/art_bb3-207x300.jpg 207w" sizes="(max-width: 527px) 100vw, 527px" /></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="538" height="760" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/art_bb4.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-159613" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/art_bb4.jpg 538w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/art_bb4-212x300.jpg 212w" sizes="(max-width: 538px) 100vw, 538px" /></figure></div> <p class="has-black-color has-text-color">Up next is a stylishly written one page article about Sarge Steel (with one of several John Byrne mastheads), complete with a full page character pin up by Dick Giordano, seen below.</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="576" height="789" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/art_steel.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-159615" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/art_steel.jpg 576w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/art_steel-219x300.jpg 219w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 100vw, 576px" /></figure></div> <p class="has-black-color has-text-color">Following that is a pin up of Thunderbolt by PAM (Pete Morisi, who always seemed like a suuuuuper simplified Alex Toth to me), then a full page illustration by Frank McLaughlin of Judo Master, which leads into an article by Larry “Doc” Brnicky on Charlton’s entries into the then new and popular Kung Fu craze (<em>From the Mystic East</em>). Yang is also mentioned, see these two below.</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="536" height="700" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/art_judo.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-159616" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/art_judo.jpg 536w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/art_judo-230x300.jpg 230w" sizes="(max-width: 536px) 100vw, 536px" /></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="530" height="769" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/art_yang.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-159617" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/art_yang.jpg 530w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/art_yang-207x300.jpg 207w" sizes="(max-width: 530px) 100vw, 530px" /></figure></div> <p class="has-black-color has-text-color">The next bit of Charlton coverage is by Layton and Franklin Maynerd, is called <em>The Nuclear Joy Boys</em> (another Byrne logo), and covers a few characters along those lines, such as Captain Atom and E-Man.</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="552" height="726" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/art_atom.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-159618" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/art_atom.jpg 552w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/art_atom-228x300.jpg 228w" sizes="(max-width: 552px) 100vw, 552px" /></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="531" height="775" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/art_eman.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-159619" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/art_eman.jpg 531w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/art_eman-206x300.jpg 206w" sizes="(max-width: 531px) 100vw, 531px" /></figure></div> <p class="has-black-color has-text-color">A loving tribute to Charlton by Sterno follows (The Charlton Mystique), as well as <em>Charlton’s Odds and Ends</em> by Scott Edelman, and you can see a few of the illustrations below.</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="555" height="782" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/art_byrne.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-159620" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/art_byrne.jpg 555w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/art_byrne-213x300.jpg 213w" sizes="(max-width: 555px) 100vw, 555px" /><figcaption>Byrne and Vohland</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="535" height="777" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/art_misc.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-159621" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/art_misc.jpg 535w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/art_misc-207x300.jpg 207w" sizes="(max-width: 535px) 100vw, 535px" /></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="546" height="760" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/art_prankster.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-159622" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/art_prankster.jpg 546w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/art_prankster-216x300.jpg 216w" sizes="(max-width: 546px) 100vw, 546px" /></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="546" height="754" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/art_wander.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-159623" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/art_wander.jpg 546w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/art_wander-217x300.jpg 217w" sizes="(max-width: 546px) 100vw, 546px" /><figcaption>(O’Shaughnessy is a pseudonym of Denny O’Neil)</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="546" height="777" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/art_question.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-159624" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/art_question.jpg 546w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/art_question-211x300.jpg 211w" sizes="(max-width: 546px) 100vw, 546px" /></figure></div> <p class="has-black-color has-text-color">The last article, also by Sterno and called <em>Space Cowboy</em>, examines the very niche-y genre of…Space westerns! The last interior piece is by the late Dave Cockrum (seen below)…but there is more than you see here, so get the pdf, folks!</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="541" height="780" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/art_cockrum.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-159634" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/art_cockrum.jpg 541w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/art_cockrum-208x300.jpg 208w" sizes="(max-width: 541px) 100vw, 541px" /></figure></div> <p></p> <p class="has-black-color has-text-color">Thanks again to Manny Maris for the zine to scan, and Bob Layton for answering a few questions on social media. Tune in again next month for Bob Know What!</p> <p class="has-black-color has-text-color">Ken Meyer Jr.<br>kenmeyerjr@yahoo.com</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://comicattack.net/ink-stains-159-cpl-9-10/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>2</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Ink Stains 144: The Creative Adventure 2</title> <link>https://comicattack.net/ink-stains-144-the-creative-adventure-2/</link> <comments>https://comicattack.net/ink-stains-144-the-creative-adventure-2/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[kenmeyerjr]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Thu, 01 Jul 2021 06:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Columns]]></category> <category><![CDATA[DC Comics]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Fantasy]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Featured Columns]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Green Lantern]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Ink Stains]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Interviews]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Journalists]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Ken Meyer Jr.]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Marvel]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Silver Age]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Bernie Bubnis]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Bob Smith]]></category> <category><![CDATA[dan adkins]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Dennis Fujitake]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Dick Giordano]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Ed Romero]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Frank McLaughlin]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Gary Kato]]></category> <category><![CDATA[John Cornell]]></category> <category><![CDATA[klaus janson]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Richard Krauss]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Steve Englehart]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://comicattack.net/?p=157500</guid> <description><![CDATA[The Creative Adventure 2: July 1972Publishers/editors: David Kasakove and Klaus Janson It is not often that a zine of this quality has remained unknown to me for so long, especially considering who is involved! Klaus Janson has been a huge favorite of mine, ever since I saw his first inking job on Frank Miller’s Daredevil […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[ <div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="648" height="178" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/art_banner.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-157501" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/art_banner.jpg 648w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/art_banner-300x82.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 648px) 100vw, 648px" /></figure></div> <p></p> <p><strong><span class="has-inline-color has-black-color">The Creative Adventure 2: July 1972<br>Publishers/editors: David Kasakove and Klaus Janson</span></strong></p> <p><span class="has-inline-color has-black-color">It is not often that a zine of this quality has remained unknown to me for so long, especially considering who is involved! Klaus Janson has been a huge favorite of mine, ever since I saw his first inking job on Frank Miller’s <strong><em>Daredevil</em></strong> work (though I do recall seeing a few fanzine illustrations here and there before that). And Klaus is all over this sucker! After all, he <em>is</em> the contributing editor!</span> <span class="has-inline-color has-black-color">(By the way, Klaus and hopefully David, will be adding some content, but possibly not by the first, so tune in again later too!)</span> <span class="has-inline-color has-black-color">Now, obviously, the mission for me is to find issue one of <strong><em>The Creative Adventure</em></strong>!</span> <span class="has-inline-color has-black-color">But, for now…on to this issue!</span></p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="926" height="720" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/art_covers.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-157502" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/art_covers.jpg 926w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/art_covers-300x233.jpg 300w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/art_covers-768x597.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 926px) 100vw, 926px" /></figure> <p><span class="has-inline-color has-black-color">Above you see the front and back covers, printed on an easy on the eye ruddy orange thick paper stock, illustrating not only the editors’ eyes for great art, but the choices they made from a design standpoint. The interiors are well designed with an appropriate amount of white space when needed. All in all, a great package.</span> <span class="has-inline-color has-black-color">After a humorous contents page and a Bernie Bubnis column (<em>What!-You Again?</em>), there is a short fourth wall bursting humor strip from the editors, seen below.</span></p> <div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="565" height="720" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/strip1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-157503" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/strip1.jpg 565w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/strip1-235x300.jpg 235w" sizes="(max-width: 565px) 100vw, 565px" /></figure></div> <p><span class="has-inline-color has-black-color">The meat of the zine begins immediately after that, consisting of a long and very well done interview with editor and artist, Dick Giordano. An interesting fact I found while doing a basic search for Janson info is that he was an assistant to Giordano “in the early 70s” (via Wikipedia), and turned pro only a year after this fanzine came out. As for this interview, many subjects are covered expansively, such as the ACBA, the qualities that make for a good inker, what makes a comic book succeed (or fail), and topics specific to Giordano himself. It is a darn good read and is accompanied by many good illustrations by Klaus, Bob Smith, Giordano and others, a few of which you can see below.</span></p> <div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="550" height="720" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/art_giordano.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-157504" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/art_giordano.jpg 550w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/art_giordano-229x300.jpg 229w" sizes="(max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px" /><figcaption>pencils from Giordano</figcaption></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="399" height="696" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/art_smith.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-157505" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/art_smith.jpg 399w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/art_smith-172x300.jpg 172w" sizes="(max-width: 399px) 100vw, 399px" /></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/art_j_tall.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-157506" width="432" height="756" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/art_j_tall.jpg 432w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/art_j_tall-171x300.jpg 171w" sizes="(max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /><figcaption>two combined Janson spot illustrations</figcaption></figure></div> <p><span class="has-inline-color has-black-color">Next up is a two page feature by writer Steve Englehart on his voyage <em>From Reading to Writing</em>, covering his ascent into the ranks of professional comics (with a nice illo by Klaus). Following that is a centerspread by the wonderful Dennis Fujitake, seen below, fully formed in his mid career fanzine period. This is the sort of thing that made me a <em>huge</em> Fujitake fan!</span></p> <div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="626" height="1024" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/art_fujitake-1-626x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-157508" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/art_fujitake-1-626x1024.jpg 626w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/art_fujitake-1-184x300.jpg 184w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/art_fujitake-1.jpg 720w" sizes="(max-width: 626px) 100vw, 626px" /></figure></div> <p><span class="has-inline-color has-black-color">A multi page strip by Klaus follows, showing the joys of collecting comics as a kid perfectly, a page seen below.</span> <span class="has-inline-color has-black-color">I think I see a bit of a Neal Adams influence here (who was <em>not</em> influenced by the icon?).</span> <span class="has-inline-color has-black-color">Klaus went on to do a huge amount of work in the comic business, starting with his first job on Marvel’s <strong><em>Jungle Action</em></strong> 6 (1973), achieved his first bit of fame inking Miller on <strong><em>DD</em></strong>, and then later again on <strong><em>The Dark Knight Returns</em></strong> (1986). He has worked for the big two on many titles as inker and penciller, constantly showing his dependability and high level of skill. He has also been an instructor at the prestigious School of Visual Arts since the 1990s. See more <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klaus_Janson" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></p> <div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="566" height="768" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/art_j_strip2.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-157509" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/art_j_strip2.jpg 566w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/art_j_strip2-221x300.jpg 221w" sizes="(max-width: 566px) 100vw, 566px" /></figure></div> <p></p> <p><span class="has-inline-color has-black-color">A portfolio from Fujitake’s Hawaiian compatriot, Gary Kato follows. Kato is another I really loved at that time. He went on to do his own comics, which have been featured in a few past columns. You can see a good listing <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://comicvine.gamespot.com/gary-kato/4040-25577/issues-cover/" target="_blank">here</a>, including Kato’s own <strong><em>Mr. Jigsaw</em></strong>. Gawk at a few images from the portfolio below.</span></p> <div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="581" height="770" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/art_kato.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-157510" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/art_kato.jpg 581w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/art_kato-226x300.jpg 226w" sizes="(max-width: 581px) 100vw, 581px" /></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="503" height="720" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/art_kato2.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-157511" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/art_kato2.jpg 503w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/art_kato2-210x300.jpg 210w" sizes="(max-width: 503px) 100vw, 503px" /></figure></div> <p><span class="has-inline-color has-black-color"><em>For Trade- The Old Superheroes</em> by Tom Greeniones follows, examining why the popularity of the superhero seemed to wane a bit from the 1960s’ to the 70’s. A goofy Larry Lagoon strip follows by Richard Krauss, a page of which can be seen below.</span></p> <div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="559" height="756" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/art_krauss.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-157512" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/art_krauss.jpg 559w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/art_krauss-222x300.jpg 222w" sizes="(max-width: 559px) 100vw, 559px" /></figure></div> <p><span class="has-inline-color has-black-color"><em>The Communication Column</em> follows, which is part letters column and part personal reasons for loving comics from various “big name fans” such as John Benson and Gordon Matthews. The nice thing is, a few people were given space to respond to various criticisms (Cornell, Fujitake). An editorial ends the book (well, before the Dan Adkins back cover, that is).</span> <span class="has-inline-color has-black-color">Be sure to get the pdf to see the rest of the strips, and many other illustrations by the artists mentioned above, as well as Steve Riley, Dan Recchia, and Ed Romero.</span></p> <div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="568" height="287" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/art_katospot.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-157515" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/art_katospot.jpg 568w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/art_katospot-300x152.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 568px) 100vw, 568px" /></figure></div> <p><span class="has-inline-color has-black-color">I really wish this zine would have continued much longer, for all the reasons listed above. Just another reason why these fanzines are so important, and so enjoyable for those of us that value comic book history. And if you do too…comment below, for crying out loud! Regardless, thanks for reading and tune in again next month,</span></p> <p></p> <p><span class="has-inline-color has-black-color">Ken Meyer Jr.<br>kenmeyerjr@yahoo.com</span></p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://comicattack.net/ink-stains-144-the-creative-adventure-2/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>5</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Ink Stains 136: Comic Crusader Storybook</title> <link>https://comicattack.net/ink-stains-135-comic-crusader-storybook/</link> <comments>https://comicattack.net/ink-stains-135-comic-crusader-storybook/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[kenmeyerjr]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sun, 01 Nov 2020 06:00:13 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Columns]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Fantasy]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Featured Columns]]></category> <category><![CDATA[History]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Indie]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Ink Stains]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Journalists]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Ken Meyer Jr.]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sci-Fi]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Al Bradford]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Alan Hanley]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Biljo White]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Bill Black]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Brian Buniak]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Carl Taylor]]></category> <category><![CDATA[dan adkins]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Dennis Fujitake]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Dick Giordano]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Don Newton]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Frank Thorne]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Gary Kato]]></category> <category><![CDATA[gene day]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Grass Green]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Jerry Ordway]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Jim Steranko]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Joe Sinnott]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Joe Staton]]></category> <category><![CDATA[John Bryne]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Kurt Schaffenberger]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Martin Greim]]></category> <category><![CDATA[mike machlan]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Neal Adams]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Pete Iro]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Ronn Foss]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Rudy Nebres]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Steve Clement]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Steve Ditko]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Tom Sutton]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://comicattack.net/?p=154234</guid> <description><![CDATA[Comic Crusader Storybook: 1977Editor/publisher: Martin Greim There are so many amazing fanzines in the past, full of incredible input from so many individuals. Some stand out because of the quality of the contents. Some stand out because of the sheer size. Some stand out because of the input of either enthusiastic fans or seasoned professionals […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[ <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="864" height="632" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_banner.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-154235" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_banner.jpg 864w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_banner-300x219.jpg 300w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_banner-768x562.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" /></figure> <p><strong><span class="has-inline-color has-black-color">Comic Crusader Storybook: 1977<br>Editor/publisher: Martin Greim</span></strong></p> <p><span class="has-inline-color has-black-color">There are so many amazing fanzines in the past, full of incredible input from so many individuals. Some stand out because of the quality of the contents. Some stand out because of the sheer size. Some stand out because of the input of either enthusiastic fans or seasoned professionals (sometimes both). There are, however, very few publications that can claim to have <em>all</em> of the above between two covers. Martin Greim’s <strong><em>Comic Crusader Storybook</em></strong> is the only one that can really fill that bill, in my opinion (though someone will surely correct me). After an incredible run with his regular version of <strong><em>Comic Crusader</em></strong> (you can see issues 5,6, 10-15 profiled in <strong><em>Ink Stains</em></strong>, accessible through my website at kenmeyerjr.com, in the <strong><em>Ink Stains</em></strong> section), Greim topped it off with one of the most incredible achievements of fandom. Pros such as Joe Sinnott, Dick Giordano (both seen above), Rudy Nebres, Jim Steranko, John Byrne, Neal Adams, Frank Thorne, Kurt Schaffenberger, Fred Fredericks, Joe Staton, Dan Adkins, and Gene Day all had a hand in the pages of this fanzine. And established fans (some to become pros) like Carl Taylor, Dennis Fujitake, Gary Kato, Don Newton, Biljo White, Grass Green, Ronn Foss, Mike Machlan, Pete Iro, Bill Black, Jerry Ordway and others combined all the aforementioned enthusiasm with laudable skill to tell the stories featuring characters originated in fandom itself. In Greim’s lengthy introduction, he shares many details about each character and the creators behind them.</span></p> <p><span class="has-inline-color has-black-color">The first story (broken into two parts, with part two ending the zine) features Greim’s character, Defender. Below, you see one of the two pin ups (the other by Nebres alone) and a page from the editor’s creation.</span></p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="546" height="720" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_steranko.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-154236" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_steranko.jpg 546w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_steranko-228x300.jpg 228w" sizes="(max-width: 546px) 100vw, 546px" /><figcaption>Defender, by Jim Steranko and Rudy Nebres</figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="535" height="720" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_greim.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-154237" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_greim.jpg 535w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_greim-223x300.jpg 223w" sizes="(max-width: 535px) 100vw, 535px" /></figure> <p><span class="has-inline-color has-black-color">It has been stated too many times that Griem’s methods involved a lot of swiping, possibly some tracing, of some of his heroes. Above, eagle eyed comic fans can see elements of Wally Wood and possibly Russ Manning (Defender’s alter ego is actually named Manning)…Greim references this in his intro. In other panels, I think I see elements of Burne Hogarth and a few others…but, honestly, Greim does such a great job of running it through his sensibilities and abilities, that it becomes pretty darn seamless.</span></p> <p><span class="has-inline-color has-black-color">Up next is The Eclipse, a Ronn Foss superhero, with the strip itself being pencilled by Gary Kato. Below you can see the pro pin up and a page from the story, showing Gary’s great layouts. Gary does another story later in the book that shows his love of Ditko…stay tuned!</span></p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="524" height="720" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_thorne.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-154238" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_thorne.jpg 524w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_thorne-218x300.jpg 218w" sizes="(max-width: 524px) 100vw, 524px" /><figcaption>Eclipse, by Frank Thorne</figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="520" height="720" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_kato.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-154239" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_kato.jpg 520w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_kato-217x300.jpg 217w" sizes="(max-width: 520px) 100vw, 520px" /><figcaption>A page from the story, art by Kato and Ronn Foss</figcaption></figure> <p><span class="has-inline-color has-black-color">Greim mentions in the intro that The Eclipse was actually originally going to be a revival of the golden age character, Dr. Mid-night, but that was nixed by DC’s Julie Schwartz…so, after some rethinking, The Eclipse was born and first published in <strong><em>Alter Ego</em></strong> issue 5.</span></p> <p><span class="has-inline-color has-black-color">One of the most constant and productive fans at that time had to be Alan Hanley…he was everywhere! His cartoony style was reminiscent of some of Hanley’s heroes, such as C. C. Beck (Captain Marvel, the big red cheese…in fact, Goodguy’s “other” name is Major Marvel), and many of the villains and other characters were barely concealed homages and parodies of existing characters. Below you see a pin up and a page from the story.</span></p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="522" height="720" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_kurt.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-154240" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_kurt.jpg 522w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_kurt-218x300.jpg 218w" sizes="(max-width: 522px) 100vw, 522px" /><figcaption>Kurt Schaffenberger’s rendition of Hanley’s Goodguy.</figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="536" height="720" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_hanley.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-154241" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_hanley.jpg 536w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_hanley-223x300.jpg 223w" sizes="(max-width: 536px) 100vw, 536px" /></figure> <p><span class="has-inline-color has-black-color">Up next is Grass Green’s character, Xal-Kor the Human Cat, who first appeared in the “Texas Trio” publication, <strong><em>Star Studded Comics</em></strong> (along with many other fan characters). In the pdf you can see a pin up by Mike Machlan/Don Newton/Bill Wilson of the character, and below you can see a page by Green and Brian Buniak.</span></p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="495" height="720" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_xalkor.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-154242" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_xalkor.jpg 495w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_xalkor-206x300.jpg 206w" sizes="(max-width: 495px) 100vw, 495px" /></figure> <p><span class="has-inline-color has-black-color">On Xal-Kor’s heels is the first of three stories featuring the artwork of a favorite of mine, Dennis Fujitake. This story shows how easily Fujitake slipped into humor, and what a command he had of human gestures. Later in the book, you will see not only did his Hawaiian compatriot, Gary Kato, have a deep love of Ditko, but Fujitake did as well.</span> <span class="has-inline-color has-black-color">I was able to get an email response from Dennis (NO, the person on fb was wrong, he has NOT passed away!) about this zine, which you see below, in his usual humorous and self depreciating manner.</span></p> <blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow"><p><span class="has-inline-color has-black-color">I forgot I had done these. I think I must have done them while I was working at an ad agency in a local department store. The main clue I use to deduce the timeline is the Zip-a-Tone which was an acetate sheet with the halftone dot patterns printed on them in various textures. One pasted them on the line art and used an Xacto knife to trim away the excess. I believe this ancient technology no longer exists. The one thing that still bothers me is my horribly sad lettering skills. Ah, to be young again with all that energy to burn while glued to my drawing table spending hours drawing just for the fun of it. <br>The Sorcerer’s Apprentice must have been a humorous one-shot story I dreamed up for Marty’s book. There are no credits but I believe I was the writer and artist on the strip. I must have seen it as an opportunity to use some of Ditko’s Dr. Strange techniques for the spells and arcane incantations. I had fun doing this one. I think I was using a combination of pen and brush for the inking. <br>The second strip starred Space Guardian that I was supposed to just ink. I have to apologize to Carl Taylor who actually penciled the strip. When I got the pencils from Marty the carbon from the pencil lead was especially thick and heavy on the bristol paper. I was concerned about trying to erase the pencil lines after inking it. I was worried that the ink would not be able to be properly absorbed into the paper so that when it came to erasing the excess pencil lines a lot of the ink would be lifted away. Rather than sending it back to Marty I decided to re-pencil the entire strip on my own bristol paper. <br>Steve Ditko’s influence was still strong as reflected in the fight scenes. Lots more Zip-a-Tone as well as terrible lettering. Again, it was a fun story to draw especially with all the different faces and characters. It would have been really great if not for my shoddy lettering. <br>The third story was by Howard Keltner. Dr. Weird is obviously a play on Dr. Strange. However, it did provide me with another chance to have fun doing a Ditko like story. What astounds me today is the amount of detail I put into the background. I don’t think I’d have the stamina now that I had back then. Dang, that was a lot of work. To all of you young artists out there, enjoy your youthful energy and put it to good use because it’s not going to be there forever. Oh, and did I mention the shabby lettering?<br>Well, that’s all that my steel sieve of a memory can recall. Just be glad that I’m typing this and not hand lettering it. </span></p></blockquote> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="497" height="720" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_fujitake1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-154244" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_fujitake1.jpg 497w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_fujitake1-207x300.jpg 207w" sizes="(max-width: 497px) 100vw, 497px" /><figcaption>From Fujitake’s The Sorcerer’s Apprentice</figcaption></figure> <p><span class="has-inline-color has-black-color">Bill Black makes an appearance next (after the pin up by Mike Machlan, seen in the pdf), with one of several characters that filled the pages of the many zines in his fan empire, Paragon Press. Bill was one of those “mini moguls” who showed a great work ethic and love of comics.</span></p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="533" height="720" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_black.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-154245" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_black.jpg 533w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_black-222x300.jpg 222w" sizes="(max-width: 533px) 100vw, 533px" /></figure> <p><span class="has-inline-color has-black-color">Bill was nice enough to add a lot of great elaboration for this column through Facebook…I will let him share it below.</span></p> <blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow"><p><span class="has-inline-color has-black-color">My remembrance of my contributions to <strong>CCSB</strong> is sketchy but I’ll do my best to piece it together. There is no copyright on the book but I assume it came out in 1978? At that time I was very busy working a full time job in Tallahassee, FL, doing freelance art for a film production company out of Orlando, inking for Roy Thomas at Marvel Comics and publishing Paragon Publications (5 books in 1977-78). Therefore my contribution to Marty’s magnum opus was limited. Marty, along with Bob Cosgrove, came up with a plot for an up-dated version of the Golden-Age superhero, The Black Terror. This involved crossovers with my character, The Shade, and Bill Wilson’s Hyperman. When inking <strong>What If?</strong> No. 9 (Avengers in the 1950s) I was assisted by a young and very talented teenager, Steve Vance, whom I met thru Tallahassee fandom. Steve was more excited about my working for Marvel than I was! Some of the pencil art was sketchy so I had Steve draw the motorcycle on page 4. He went on years later to working for Marvel and DC (and <strong>Mad Magazine</strong>!) but that bike was his first published pro work. So Steve penciled my Shade story in <strong>CCSB</strong>. I dialogued, lettered and inked it but only pages 2 (splash), 4 and some figures on page 5 were penciled by me. Marty inscribed the book “To Bill- You were always a pro – even before you made it. Many thanks for the years we’ve worked together. It’s been a great pleasure. Best, Marty.” That would imply that <strong>CCSB</strong> was published after <strong>What If?</strong> No. 9 (copyright 1978). Readers are probably unaware that I, along with my wife, Rebekah, appear as characters in the Martin Greim entry entitled “The Demon of the Dark Glass.” “Schwartz” is German for Black. Reb and I visited Marty’s New England home in 1971 and that trip may have inspired this story. It was great fun to co-star with Marty in a comic book story! I launched AC Comics in late 1982 using re-worked Paragon Publications stories under the new imprint. The <strong>CCSB</strong> Shade story appeared in <strong>Americomics</strong> No. 2, June, 1983, with a new art team of Rik Levins (who later had a very long run on <strong>Captain America</strong>) and Willie Blyberg. Marty and Steve are credited. Here the Black Terror is re-named The Terror with a mask now like an “X” across his face and keeping Marty’s white hair, black streak innovation. This character was assimilated into the AC Comics Universe and appeared in many stories over the decades. If memory serves he is currently partnered with the Rad, a character who is Ms. Victory’s daughter. And, of course, AC reprinted many of the Golden-Age Black Terror stories so Marty’s <strong>CCSB</strong> was actually a window into the future.</span></p></blockquote> <p><span class="has-inline-color has-black-color">In an interesting twist, the story begun above continues (after another Machlan pin up, inked by fellow Inter-Fan, Pete Iro) in the following story, both containing the classic character, Black Terror, although the hero in this case is Bill Wilson’s (<strong><em>The Collector</em></strong>) Hyperman. Hyperman’s costume was “jazzed up” by fan fave John G. Fantucchio, as told by Greim in the intro. You can see a beautifully rendered page by Mike Machlan and Jerry Ordway below).</span></p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="515" height="720" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_ordway.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-154246" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_ordway.jpg 515w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_ordway-215x300.jpg 215w" sizes="(max-width: 515px) 100vw, 515px" /></figure> <p><span class="has-inline-color has-black-color">The next story features The White Raven, an Al Bradford character that, before this zine, only appeared in a pin up. Gary Kato does the art, and here you can really see his Ditko influence. First, though, is a pin up by John Byrne of the character, obviously modeled after a certain member of the star ship Enterprise.</span></p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="493" height="720" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_byrne.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-154247" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_byrne.jpg 493w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_byrne-205x300.jpg 205w" sizes="(max-width: 493px) 100vw, 493px" /><figcaption>White Raven by John Byrne and Al Bradford</figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="526" height="720" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_kato_raven.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-154248" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_kato_raven.jpg 526w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_kato_raven-219x300.jpg 219w" sizes="(max-width: 526px) 100vw, 526px" /></figure> <p><span class="has-inline-color has-black-color">If human bodies with big ol eyeballs is your jam, then the next story will satisfy your needs. It features Biljo White’s classic, 50’s inspired (in my opinion) The Eye! Below you can see newspaper icon, Fred Fredericks (The Phantom, Mandrake the Magician) pin up of the character, followed by a page from the story.</span></p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="523" height="720" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_fredericks.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-154249" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_fredericks.jpg 523w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_fredericks-218x300.jpg 218w" sizes="(max-width: 523px) 100vw, 523px" /></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="492" height="720" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_biljo.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-154250" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_biljo.jpg 492w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_biljo-205x300.jpg 205w" sizes="(max-width: 492px) 100vw, 492px" /><figcaption>Biljo White’s work</figcaption></figure> <p><span class="has-inline-color has-black-color">And…if funny animal superheroes are your cup of tea (more food and drink analogies later), Greim follows with his Captain Marvel inspired character, Thunderbunny. Art by Gene Day and Jerry Ordway.</span></p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="493" height="720" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_day_ordway.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-154251" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_day_ordway.jpg 493w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_day_ordway-205x300.jpg 205w" sizes="(max-width: 493px) 100vw, 493px" /></figure> <p><span class="has-inline-color has-black-color">Another InterFan product appears next by Steve Clements, Mike Machlan (surely the clean up hitter in this zine), and Pete Iro, The Matrix. The art appears as if it was done by Jack Kirby on speed! Some busy but really well rendered pages populate this story, one seen below.</span></p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="531" height="720" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_machlan.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-154252" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_machlan.jpg 531w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_machlan-221x300.jpg 221w" sizes="(max-width: 531px) 100vw, 531px" /></figure> <p><span class="has-inline-color has-black-color">Following is another Greim story, with the character actually based on him and drawn by him as well, but…inked by Dapper Dan Adkins! A definite visual change from the preceding story.</span></p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="547" height="720" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_adkins.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-154253" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_adkins.jpg 547w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_adkins-228x300.jpg 228w" sizes="(max-width: 547px) 100vw, 547px" /><figcaption>Greim and Adkins</figcaption></figure> <p><span class="has-inline-color has-black-color">Next up is Mr. A, by Steve Ditko. Mr. A appeared in several fanzines in the 70s, most of the stories espousing Ditko’s libertarian views. This particular strip is different in two ways…there are no words and Mr. A actually battles costumed characters. Ditko was an anomaly in many ways, but the manner that interests readers of this column is the frequency in which he contributed to fanzines, especially with this character.</span></p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="522" height="720" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_ditko.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-154254" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_ditko.jpg 522w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_ditko-218x300.jpg 218w" sizes="(max-width: 522px) 100vw, 522px" /></figure> <p><span class="has-inline-color has-black-color">Bob Cosgrove’s character, Space Guardian, appears in the next story. And, super bonus, it is another beautifully rendered story by Fujitake. Note the naturalistic gestures and stances throughout, as well as the dynamic action work. Apropos that Fujitake’s uncanny synthesis of Ditko and Jeff Jones follows the Ditko story.</span> <span class="has-inline-color has-black-color">One interesting side note, though. The story credits Gil Kane/Jack Kirby admirer, Carl Taylor with layouts. That seems like such a strange team to me, and I did not see any evidence of Carl’s easy to spot style. I was proven right when Carl, on the ol Facebook, told me, “Martin had Fujitake erase almost everything I drew, instead of just mailing my art back. He also gave me the wrong size to draw the story. He hated that my version was more of a Marvel style than the early DC type art he wanted. I sent Machlan a copy of my splashes pencils to ink but the splash that is in the story is all Fujitake’s. Only about 5 panels I drew survived in the whole story but the look & design of the characters is mine. I learned a lot from Martin but he and I argued a lot about how to do comics back then. I made copies of my pencils though So I still have those.” </span></p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="648" height="336" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/carldave-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-154440" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/carldave-1.jpg 648w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/carldave-1-300x156.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 648px) 100vw, 648px" /><figcaption>Another great Carl Taylor/Dave Stevens piece</figcaption></figure> <div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="alignleft size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="263" height="432" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/carldave.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-154374" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/carldave.jpg 263w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/carldave-183x300.jpg 183w" sizes="(max-width: 263px) 100vw, 263px" /></figure></div> <p><span class="has-inline-color has-black-color">Check out all this great work from Carl. Above and at left are pieces Stevens inked, and of the second group, Carl explains “Here’s a very quickly done book I sent Marvel in response to getting a rejection letter regarding me doing a picture for the Marvel Universe books. One of their inkers told me to tell them he’d ink it & they rejected me doing a single figure drawing because they didn’t think my storytelling was good enough. I drew this book to show my storytelling and to tell them I was never going to try to work for them ever again. They answered by featuring me in 3 Marvel stories later on. I then self published my own zine and had a letter of support in it from Kirby. This is what I sent Martin which he said they would’ve only looked at for 2 minutes.”</span></p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="545" height="720" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/carl1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-154355" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/carl1.jpg 545w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/carl1-227x300.jpg 227w" sizes="(max-width: 545px) 100vw, 545px" /><figcaption>The cover to Carl’s pulse pounding rebuke to Marvel!</figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="537" height="720" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/carl2.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-154356" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/carl2.jpg 537w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/carl2-224x300.jpg 224w" sizes="(max-width: 537px) 100vw, 537px" /><figcaption>Page one, more pulses are pounding!</figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="552" height="720" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/carl3.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-154357" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/carl3.jpg 552w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/carl3-230x300.jpg 230w" sizes="(max-width: 552px) 100vw, 552px" /><figcaption>Yes, more pounding.</figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="544" height="720" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Carl-Taylor-VS-Marvel-Page-003.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-154442" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Carl-Taylor-VS-Marvel-Page-003.jpg 544w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Carl-Taylor-VS-Marvel-Page-003-227x300.jpg 227w" sizes="(max-width: 544px) 100vw, 544px" /></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="546" height="720" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Carl-Taylor-VS-Marvel-002.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-154441" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Carl-Taylor-VS-Marvel-002.jpg 546w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Carl-Taylor-VS-Marvel-002-228x300.jpg 228w" sizes="(max-width: 546px) 100vw, 546px" /></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="559" height="720" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Carl-Taylor-VS-Marvel-004.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-154443" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Carl-Taylor-VS-Marvel-004.jpg 559w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Carl-Taylor-VS-Marvel-004-233x300.jpg 233w" sizes="(max-width: 559px) 100vw, 559px" /><figcaption>How’s that for sticking it to the man!?</figcaption></figure> <p><span class="has-inline-color has-black-color">Carl also said that “Martin was wrong about me & Marvel. They did 3 stories featuring me in them as their answer to what I sent them. I’m the character “Mayhem” in an issue of <strong><em>Spider-man</em></strong>.”</span> <span class="has-inline-color has-black-color">One crazy side note…a very young Dave Stevens was supposed to ink Carl’s version of this story, but got too busy with professional work! Below you can see several unseen pages from his layouts for the SG story…not necessarily in the right order since it has been many years since they were done!</span></p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="524" height="720" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/carl1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-154485" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/carl1.jpg 524w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/carl1-218x300.jpg 218w" sizes="(max-width: 524px) 100vw, 524px" /></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="564" height="720" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/carl3.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-154486" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/carl3.jpg 564w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/carl3-235x300.jpg 235w" sizes="(max-width: 564px) 100vw, 564px" /></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="569" height="720" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/carl4.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-154487" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/carl4.jpg 569w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/carl4-237x300.jpg 237w" sizes="(max-width: 569px) 100vw, 569px" /></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="562" height="720" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/carl6.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-154488" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/carl6.jpg 562w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/carl6-234x300.jpg 234w" sizes="(max-width: 562px) 100vw, 562px" /></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="566" height="720" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/carl7.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-154489" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/carl7.jpg 566w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/carl7-236x300.jpg 236w" sizes="(max-width: 566px) 100vw, 566px" /></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="508" height="720" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/carl8.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-154490" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/carl8.jpg 508w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/carl8-212x300.jpg 212w" sizes="(max-width: 508px) 100vw, 508px" /></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="744" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/carl9.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-154491" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/carl9.jpg 1024w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/carl9-300x218.jpg 300w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/carl9-768x558.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="720" height="576" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/carl10.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-154492" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/carl10.jpg 720w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/carl10-300x240.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" /></figure> <p><span class="has-inline-color has-black-color">Before we see Dennis’s version, a few last words from Carl…</span></p> <blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow"><p><span class="has-inline-color has-black-color">Back then I was getting criticism from pros that since I could draw whatever I wanted, I should try to do something that couldn’t be printed in a regular comic. Mike Friedrich was working on <strong>Star*reach</strong>. He wanted me to do a western. I did three pages, introduced Dave Stevens to him too. Stevens was supposed to ink this too. But, I felt like I was faking too much stuff and I had poor references, so I never finished it. I drew this in the age of undergrounds and Mike’s ground level Comics. I was trying to make Martin’s story fit in with the latest trends. He wanted to do as close to a DC Green Lantern as he could, though. He said I turned his story into a violent slug fest. I still have the letter somewhere. When I said I was going to publish my version, he threatened to sue me if I did. I think that’s why he never sent me back my originals and probably erased them. We still kept in touch, as you can see from that letter he sent me about his Archie work. I was getting my art published in the letters pages and Rich Buckler gave me a Steel Sterling story to do to. Unfortunately when he called me saying he needed it, I was so sick I couldn’t walk across the room without passing out. So, he reassigned it to Adrian Gonzales. I have copies of the pencils I did for that story too.</span></p></blockquote> <p><span class="has-inline-color has-black-color">And now Dennis’s take on Space Guardian…</span></p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="544" height="720" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_fujitake_sg1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-154255" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_fujitake_sg1.jpg 544w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_fujitake_sg1-227x300.jpg 227w" sizes="(max-width: 544px) 100vw, 544px" /></figure> <p></p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="546" height="720" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_fujitake_sg2.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-154256" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_fujitake_sg2.jpg 546w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_fujitake_sg2-228x300.jpg 228w" sizes="(max-width: 546px) 100vw, 546px" /><figcaption>Look at that sinuous landing in the last panel!</figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="745" height="960" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/122128021_3401740436574585_3889512513317033153_o.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-154280" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/122128021_3401740436574585_3889512513317033153_o.jpg 745w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/122128021_3401740436574585_3889512513317033153_o-233x300.jpg 233w" sizes="(max-width: 745px) 100vw, 745px" /><figcaption>An actual letter from Marty to Carl looooong ago</figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="698" height="960" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/122178220_3401741606574468_2106383340346182236_o.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-154283" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/122178220_3401741606574468_2106383340346182236_o.jpg 698w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/122178220_3401741606574468_2106383340346182236_o-218x300.jpg 218w" sizes="(max-width: 698px) 100vw, 698px" /><figcaption>page 2</figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="693" height="960" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/122488397_3406789352736360_7403214067837481048_o.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-154349" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/122488397_3406789352736360_7403214067837481048_o.jpg 693w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/122488397_3406789352736360_7403214067837481048_o-217x300.jpg 217w" sizes="(max-width: 693px) 100vw, 693px" /><figcaption>The Marvel character modeled after Carl Taylor!</figcaption></figure> <p><span class="has-inline-color has-black-color">If you did not get your Fujitake fix from that, then lucky for you, he is up next again, in a story featuring the uber classic fan character, Dr. Weird! Dr. Weird first appeared in the very first issue of <strong><em>Star Studded Comics</em></strong>, and is the brainchild of Howard Keltner. First, though, a typically sumptuous pin up by the late Tom Sutton.</span></p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="547" height="720" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_sutton.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-154257" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_sutton.jpg 547w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_sutton-228x300.jpg 228w" sizes="(max-width: 547px) 100vw, 547px" /></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="524" height="720" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_fujitake_dw-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-154258" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_fujitake_dw-1.jpg 524w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_fujitake_dw-1-218x300.jpg 218w" sizes="(max-width: 524px) 100vw, 524px" /><figcaption>Dr. Weird by Dennis Fujitake</figcaption></figure> <p><span class="has-inline-color has-black-color">The last story is part two of Greim’s Defender strip, but first, we are treated to a pin up by none other than Neal Adams! Granted, this looks like the sort of quick piece he probably did at a convention, but still…</span></p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="560" height="720" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_adams.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-154259" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_adams.jpg 560w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/art_adams-233x300.jpg 233w" sizes="(max-width: 560px) 100vw, 560px" /></figure> <p><span class="has-inline-color has-black-color">And there you have it, folks. I need to reiterate…this book is big (which is why this installment is equally massive)! 168 pages, including covers! In the intro, Martin says the book took three years to finish, and I am not surprised. In fact, considering the number of creators involved, I am surprised it ever got done at all! This is definitely one you need to get the pdf(s) for…the book is so big, there are 3 of them, so go to my site and get the suckers!</span></p> <p><span class="has-inline-color has-black-color">Thanks again for stopping by and if you have time, please leave a few comments behind.</span> <span class="has-inline-color has-black-color">Also, thanks to Dennis Fujitake and especially Carl Taylor for helping out with some inside items!</span></p> <p><span class="has-inline-color has-black-color">Ken Meyer Jr.<br>kenmeyerjr@yahoo.com</span></p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://comicattack.net/ink-stains-135-comic-crusader-storybook/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>7</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Ink Stains 114: GASlite 10</title> <link>https://comicattack.net/ink-stains-114-gaslite-10/</link> <comments>https://comicattack.net/ink-stains-114-gaslite-10/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[kenmeyerjr]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Tue, 01 Jan 2019 11:00:27 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Batman]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Bronze Age]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Columns]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Education]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Humor]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Ink Stains]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Interviews]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Ken Meyer Jr.]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Marvel]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Silver Age]]></category> <category><![CDATA[dan adkins]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Dick Giordano]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Frank Frazetta]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Gary Dumm]]></category> <category><![CDATA[gil kane]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Isaac Asimov]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Jack Kirby]]></category> <category><![CDATA[klaus janson]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Neal Adams]]></category> <category><![CDATA[P. Craig Russell]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Peter Kuper]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Robert Crumb]]></category> <category><![CDATA[T. Casey Brennan]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Tony Isabella]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Vaughn Bode]]></category> <category><![CDATA[William Gaines]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://comicattack.net/?p=143673</guid> <description><![CDATA[GASlite appears to be the interview zine to see! Kirby! Adams! Giordano! Bode! Asimov! GASlite 10: 1973 Editors/publishers: Peter Kuper and Seth Tobacman I will be the first to admit, I had not heard of this particular fanzine until uberzine aficionado, Emanuel (Manny) Maris pointed it out to me and very graciously sent me hi […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center"><span style="color: #000000"><em><strong>GASlite</strong></em> appears to be <em><strong>the</strong></em> interview zine to see! Kirby! Adams! Giordano! Bode! Asimov!</span></p> <p><span style="color: #000000"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-143674" src="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2018/12/art_cover.jpg" alt="" width="490" height="648" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/art_cover.jpg 490w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/art_cover-227x300.jpg 227w" sizes="(max-width: 490px) 100vw, 490px" /></span></p> <p><span style="color: #000000"><strong>GASlite 10: 1973</strong></span><br /> <span style="color: #000000"><strong>Editors/publishers: Peter Kuper and Seth Tobacman</strong></span></p> <p><span style="color: #000000">I will be the first to admit, I had not heard of this particular fanzine until uberzine aficionado, Emanuel (Manny) Maris pointed it out to me and very graciously sent me hi res scans and a pre-made pdf as well. But, judging by this issue, they had some clout!</span></p> <p><span style="color: #000000"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft wp-image-143675 size-full" src="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2018/12/art_russell.jpg" alt="" width="312" height="648" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/art_russell.jpg 312w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/art_russell-144x300.jpg 144w" sizes="(max-width: 312px) 100vw, 312px" /></span></p> <p><span style="color: #000000">Manny stated to me, via email that </span></p> <p><span style="color: #000000"><em>‘<strong>G.A.S. lite,</strong>‘ usually referred to as <strong>GASlite</strong> (originally <strong>Unofficial </strong><strong>Organ of the Graphic Arts Society of Northeastern Ohio</strong>, then <strong>Official </strong><strong>Magazine of the Cleveland Graphic Art Society</strong>) was started by Tony Isabella and published by him, starting with #1 in 1969, up to #7.</em></span></p> <div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1545072903994_425570" dir="ltr"> <div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1545072903994_425599" dir="ltr"><em><span style="color: #000000">Tony moved to NYC, and gave the title to Peter Kuper (later publisher/co-founder of <strong>World War 3</strong> magazine and successor to Spy vs Spy creator, Prohias in <strong>Mad Magazine</strong>) and Seth Tobocman (also publisher/co-founder of <strong>World War 3</strong> magazine, started in 1980, with the 43rd issue published in November of 2017)</span></em></div> <div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1545072903994_425570" dir="ltr"> <p><em><span style="color: #000000">Both Peter and Seth were obvious Crumb fanatics – just before publishing this last quadruple-size 68-page issue of <strong>GASlite</strong> (their previous two issues – #8, 1971 and #9, 1972 – were digest-size 20+ pagers), they published the first (1972) of two volumes of the <strong>Melotoons</strong> sketchbooks by R “The Shlep” Crumb; the 2nd was published in 1975.</span></em></p> </div> <div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1545072903994_532953"><span style="color: #000000">As stated, this particular issue (also referenced inside) is actually four issues combined into one, accounting for the high page count. Very much a good bang for your buck! Above you see the Crumb cover and also an early piece by P. Craig Russell (who, at the time of this publication, was probably finishing up his assistant status to the great Dan Adkins, also in this fanzine). You can read an interview I did with Craig a few years ago <strong><a style="color: #000000" href="https://comicattack.net/2010/03/06/pcr-interview/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a></strong>. So, let’s dive into the heat of the meat, as Colbert would say.</span></div> </div> <div dir="ltr"></div> <div dir="ltr"><span style="color: #000000">After a Gary Dumm strip (he would go on to work extensively with Harvey Pekar) and the table of contents, we are immediately thrust into the dichotomy that was Jack Kirby (his interview). A plain spoken worker bee with a fairly unparalleled imagination, he comes across as well mannered and humble, probably just as we all expected. Below you see a couple of Kirby pieces adorning the interview in particular and the zine in general.</span></div> <div dir="ltr"><span style="color: #000000"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-143678" src="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2018/12/art_kirby.jpg" alt="" width="507" height="648" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/art_kirby.jpg 507w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/art_kirby-235x300.jpg 235w" sizes="(max-width: 507px) 100vw, 507px" /></span></div> <div dir="ltr"><span style="color: #000000"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-143679" src="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2018/12/art_kirby2.jpg" alt="" width="497" height="648" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/art_kirby2.jpg 497w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/art_kirby2-230x300.jpg 230w" sizes="(max-width: 497px) 100vw, 497px" /></span></div> <div dir="ltr"><span style="color: #000000">A two page Flakey Foont strip by Crumb follows (in sketch form), and then another good sized interview follows, this with inker of great standing (among many other things), Dick Giordano. The questions are intelligent, probing and insightful in all the interviews…although, hooboy, they could have used a proofreader! No art by Dick, but there is a nice Frazetta sketch folded between the pages, seen below. Following that is one of a few illustrations by <em>another</em> incredible inker, Klaus Janson.</span></div> <div dir="ltr"><span style="color: #000000"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-143680" src="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2018/12/art_frazetta.jpg" alt="" width="471" height="576" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/art_frazetta.jpg 471w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/art_frazetta-245x300.jpg 245w" sizes="(max-width: 471px) 100vw, 471px" /></span></div> <div dir="ltr"><span style="color: #000000"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-143681" src="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2018/12/art_janson.jpg" alt="" width="627" height="421" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/art_janson.jpg 627w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/art_janson-300x201.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 627px) 100vw, 627px" /><em><strong>GASlite</strong></em> originator, Tony Isabella, is next, with a story entitled <em>Gift Horse</em>. Then Neal Adams takes over in a succinct and to the point interview, peppered with quick sketches (see one below). Neal comes off a bit terse and full of himself here, but I have a feeling there was some humor that did not come through the cold type. They do mention that the interview was done at 3 am at the tail end of a convention, so it is understandable!</span></div> <div dir="ltr"><span style="color: #000000"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-143682" src="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2018/12/art_adams2.jpg" alt="" width="413" height="504" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/art_adams2.jpg 413w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/art_adams2-246x300.jpg 246w" sizes="(max-width: 413px) 100vw, 413px" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-full wp-image-143684" src="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2018/12/art_bode2.jpg" alt="" width="179" height="262" /></span></div> <div dir="ltr"></div> <div dir="ltr"></div> <div dir="ltr"> <p><span style="color: #000000"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-143683" src="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2018/12/art_bode1.jpg" alt="" width="215" height="218" />Following Adams is a single page sketch strip of Mr. Natural by Crumb, and then the next interview…with none other than <em><strong>Mad</strong></em> founder, William Gaines! More fan fiction, this one being <em>Tonan?</em> by M. Hudak, succeeds Mr. Gaines, and then a double header interview greets our eyes. The iconic Vaughn Bode and award winning Warren writer, T. Casey Brennan fill the bill admirably. Of course, Bode spot illos are sprinkled throughout. This is a 13 page interview, folks, they did not skimp!</span></p> </div> <div dir="ltr"></div> <div dir="ltr"></div> <div dir="ltr"><span style="color: #000000">More Crumb sketches appear (one seen below), and then a severe about face appears in the form of an interview with, that’s right, Isaac Asimov! I know, there are a<em> lot</em> of exclamation points in this installment, but I cannot help it! See? There goes another.</span></div> <div dir="ltr"></div> <div dir="ltr"><span style="color: #000000"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-143692 aligncenter" src="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2018/12/art_crumb1.jpg" alt="" width="497" height="648" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/art_crumb1.jpg 497w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/art_crumb1-230x300.jpg 230w" sizes="(max-width: 497px) 100vw, 497px" /></span></div> <div dir="ltr"></div> <div dir="ltr"><span style="color: #000000">That about wraps up this issue, but really, there is a lot to digest! If you like a variety of in depth interviews (most of them), then this is really for you. A few more visual treats follow below (Janson, then Kane).</span></div> <div dir="ltr"><span style="color: #000000"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-143693" src="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2018/12/art_creeper.jpg" alt="" width="488" height="648" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/art_creeper.jpg 488w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/art_creeper-226x300.jpg 226w" sizes="(max-width: 488px) 100vw, 488px" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-143694" src="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2018/12/art_kane.jpg" alt="" width="435" height="576" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/art_kane.jpg 435w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/art_kane-227x300.jpg 227w" sizes="(max-width: 435px) 100vw, 435px" /></span></div> <div dir="ltr"><span style="color: #000000">Obviously, seeing the full pdf is essential in a zine like this (which can be gotten on my site at kenmeyerjr.com). The visuals are wonderful, but those interviews really make this an outstanding fanzine. Thanks this time goes out to Manny for providing this for me, as well as giving up his time to add more info that I would have had on my own. Please check out the fanzine pages on Facebook, where a lot of us old geezers hang out talking zines!</span></div> <div dir="ltr"></div> <div dir="ltr"> <p><span style="color: #000000">Have a great (rest of the) holiday, everyone!</span></p> </div> <div dir="ltr"></div> <div dir="ltr"> <p><span style="color: #000000">Ken Meyer Jr.</span><br /> <span style="color: #000000">kenmeyerjr@yahoo.com</span></p> </div> <div dir="ltr"></div> <div dir="ltr"></div> <div dir="ltr"></div> <div dir="ltr"></div> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://comicattack.net/ink-stains-114-gaslite-10/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>2</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Ink Stains 67: Beyond the Clock 24, 25, 26</title> <link>https://comicattack.net/is-67-btc-24-and-25/</link> <comments>https://comicattack.net/is-67-btc-24-and-25/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[kenmeyerjr]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 01 Dec 2014 11:00:44 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Batman]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Columns]]></category> <category><![CDATA[DC Comics]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Ink Stains]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Ken Meyer Jr.]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Alan Weiss]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Beyond the Clock]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Butch Guice]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Dick Giordano]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Doug Hazelwood]]></category> <category><![CDATA[James Cassara]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Ralph Roberts]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Rich Morrisey]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Rich Morrissey]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://comicattack.net/?p=116394</guid> <description><![CDATA[Butch Guice is doing some incredible work these days. But, if you want to see him in a formative stage, then Beyond the Clock is the place to go! Beyond the Clock 24, 25: 1980Editors and publisher: J. R. Sams and Rich Morrissey Beyond the Clock is actually a continuation of an existing fanzine called […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center"><span style="color: #000000">Butch Guice is doing some incredible work these days. But, if you want to see him in a formative stage, then <em><strong>Beyond the Clock</strong></em> is the place to go!</span></p> <p style="text-align: left"><span style="color: #000000"><strong>Beyond the Clock 24, 25: 1980</strong></span><br /><span style="color: #000000"><strong>Editors and publisher: J. R. Sams and Rich Morrissey</strong></span></p> <p style="text-align: left"><span style="color: #000000"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-116395" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/btc_covers_.jpg" alt="btc_covers_" width="720" height="576" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/btc_covers_.jpg 720w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/btc_covers_-300x240.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" /></span></p> <p style="text-align: left"><span style="color: #000000"><em><strong>Beyond the Clock</strong></em> is actually a continuation of an existing fanzine called <em><strong>Batmania</strong></em>, started way back in 1964 by fanzine stalwart Biljo White. With issue 18, a new editor took over, one young Rich Morrissey (a nice obituary can be found <a style="color: #000000" title="morrissey obituary" href="http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=67824007">here</a>). Rich passed away in 2001, but he did get to break in to the professional ranks as a writer to some degree. From what I could find, he did some work for DC, and also had written for many fanzines before that. He was also one of those well known “letterhacks” who were published frequently in the letters pages of the comics of the 70s and 80s, and is even listed as one of the “superstars” of that group on a wiki page <a style="color: #000000" title="wiki page" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letterhack">here</a>. When Morrissey decided to stop publishing the fanzine, he offered the editorship to J. R. Sams, who changed the name to <em><strong>Beyond the Clock</strong></em> with issue 24 (he actually contacted DC to see if he could continue to use the <em><strong>Batmania</strong></em> name, but they refused). J.R. was also smart enough to bring in a new artist to function as art director, and from what can be seen in these two issues, the primary artist in the form of Jackson “Butch” Guice.</span></p> <p style="text-align: left"><span style="color: #000000"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-116396" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/btc24_9_10.jpg" alt="btc24_9_10" width="425" height="576" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/btc24_9_10.jpg 425w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/btc24_9_10-221x300.jpg 221w" sizes="(max-width: 425px) 100vw, 425px" /></span></p> <p style="text-align: left"><span style="color: #000000">You can see some examples o<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft wp-image-116402 size-medium" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/btc24_-13-244x300.jpg" alt="btc24_-13" width="244" height="300" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/btc24_-13-244x300.jpg 244w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/btc24_-13.jpg 288w" sizes="(max-width: 244px) 100vw, 244px" />f the beautiful Neal Adams influenced work of young Guice above, in the form of covers for both issues and a centerfold pin up…more to follow! Guice would break into professional comics just a few years after these fanzines, first in an independent company, but soon after on <em><strong>Rom</strong></em> and <em><strong>Micronauts</strong></em>. You can see the incredible run of work up to now <a style="color: #000000" title="guice list" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackson_Guice">here</a>, for many companies, including the “big two.” I have personally seen some incredible work posted on Facebook recently. Guice is producing amazingly detailed (and seemingly very well researched) work for which I can only assume he will receive the accolades he is due. But for now, let’s stay back in the shoulder padded days of the early 80s!</span></p> <p style="text-align: left"><span style="color: #000000"><em><strong>Beyond the Clock</strong></em> is primarily devoted to the character of Batman, but as J.R. says in the opening editorial, there were plans to branch out into other areas. This issue starts an original series by Guice featuring characters by the names of Tempest and Pithius, a sort of Beauty and the Beast. Guice excels in the art department, experimenting a bit with layouts and doing what he does best, rendering with ink. His style at that point was somewhat of a fusion of Neal Adams and John Byrne. See below.</span></p> <p style="text-align: left"><span style="color: #000000"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-116397" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/btc24_-15.jpg" alt="btc24_-15" width="456" height="576" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/btc24_-15.jpg 456w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/btc24_-15-238x300.jpg 238w" sizes="(max-width: 456px) 100vw, 456px" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-116398" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/btc24_-16.jpg" alt="btc24_-16" width="459" height="576" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/btc24_-16.jpg 459w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/btc24_-16-239x300.jpg 239w" sizes="(max-width: 459px) 100vw, 459px" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-116399" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/btc24_-17.jpg" alt="btc24_-17" width="461" height="576" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/btc24_-17.jpg 461w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/btc24_-17-240x300.jpg 240w" sizes="(max-width: 461px) 100vw, 461px" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-116400" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/btc24_18.jpg" alt="btc24_18" width="443" height="576" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/btc24_18.jpg 443w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/btc24_18-231x300.jpg 231w" sizes="(max-width: 443px) 100vw, 443px" /></span></p> <p style="text-align: left"><span style="color: #000000">The printing leaves a little to be desired, to be honest, but you can see the potential. The text features of issue 24 include <em>The Untold Legend of the Batman: a Critique</em>, by H. L. Davis; Guice’s <em>Out of the Inkwell</em>, a letters page, and an article dedicated to the countdown to the 500th issue of <em><strong>Detective Comics</strong></em>. Below are a few more examples of Guice from this issue.</span></p> <p style="text-align: left"><span style="color: #000000"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-116401" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/btc24_-19.jpg" alt="btc24_-19" width="461" height="576" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/btc24_-19.jpg 461w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/btc24_-19-240x300.jpg 240w" sizes="(max-width: 461px) 100vw, 461px" /></span></p> <p style="text-align: left"><span style="color: #000000">Issue 25 was supposed to include a new installment of Guice’s Tempest character, but for some reason it did not appear. A few new artists were brought in, including myself. I will give in to my need for ego boosting (or, probably more realistically, a haranguing), showing a few spot illos from this issue below.</span></p> <p style="text-align: left"><span style="color: #000000"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-116405 aligncenter" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/btc25_-4.jpg" alt="btc25_-4" width="302" height="439" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/btc25_-4.jpg 302w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/btc25_-4-206x300.jpg 206w" sizes="(max-width: 302px) 100vw, 302px" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-116404 aligncenter" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/btc25_-2.jpg" alt="btc25_-2" width="365" height="433" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/btc25_-2.jpg 365w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/btc25_-2-253x300.jpg 253w" sizes="(max-width: 365px) 100vw, 365px" /></span></p> <p style="text-align: left"><span style="color: #000000">Of course, what really excites the eyes is more art by Butch! As in the previous issue, he contributes a two page centerfold, seen below.</span></p> <p style="text-align: left"><span style="color: #000000"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-116406" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/btc25_-9_10.jpg" alt="btc25_-9_10" width="720" height="467" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/btc25_-9_10.jpg 720w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/btc25_-9_10-300x195.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" /></span></p> <p style="text-align: left"><span style="color: #000000">The art above accompanies an article by Morrissey called <em>The Chronology of the Batman</em>. Other articles include an interview by James Cassara with science fiction author Ralph Roberts, and a profile on Dick Giordano. Admittedly, the issues are a little thin compared to other fanzines profiled here in <em><strong>Ink Stains</strong></em>, but Guice’s art deserves to be seen. Below is an illustration commemorating the countdown mentioned above.</span></p> <p style="text-align: left"><span style="color: #000000"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-116407" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/btc25_-15.jpg" alt="btc25_-15" width="466" height="576" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/btc25_-15.jpg 466w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/btc25_-15-243x300.jpg 243w" sizes="(max-width: 466px) 100vw, 466px" /></span></p> <p style="text-align: left"><span style="color: #000000">That is it for these two fanzines; please feel free to download the <a href="http://www.kenmeyerjr.com/ink-stains.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>pdfs</strong></a> for both issues, <a style="color: #000000" title="pdf issue 24" href="http://www.kenmeyerjr.com/fanzines/btc24.pdf">24</a> and <a style="color: #000000" title="pdf issue 25" href="http://www.kenmeyerjr.com/fanzines/btc25.pdf">25</a>.</span></p> <p style="text-align: left"><span style="color: #000000">As always, I appreciate any comments you can leave behind, and feel free to request your favorite fanzine to be profiled, and even better, to share any zines you have with me!</span></p> <p>EDIT: Late addition! By request, I scanned <em><strong>BTC</strong></em> 26, with my cover (seen below), and some art by Guice, Marshall Rogers (terribly inked by me), Mitch O’Connell and a few others. A pretty slim issue, but feel free to go get the pdf!</p> <p> </p> <p style="text-align: left"><span style="text-decoration: underline;color: #000000">Ken Meyer Jr.</span><br /><span style="color: #000000">kenmeyerjr@yahoo.com</span></p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="598" height="787" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/art_cover.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-153742" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/art_cover.jpg 598w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/art_cover-228x300.jpg 228w" sizes="(max-width: 598px) 100vw, 598px" /><figcaption>Sooo many in-jokes here…that is me laying on the ground, for instance. References to Elvis Costello, my buddy Eric Robinson, as well as David Heath, Jr., and more. The skyline is Salt Lake City, where I was living then.</figcaption></figure> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://comicattack.net/is-67-btc-24-and-25/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>7</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Ye Olde School Café: Stoker's Dracula #1</title> <link>https://comicattack.net/yosc-stokerdracula/</link> <comments>https://comicattack.net/yosc-stokerdracula/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Billy]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sat, 30 Aug 2014 15:28:17 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Billy]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Bronze Age]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Columns]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Comic Publishers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Featured Columns]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Genres]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Horror]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Journalists]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Marvel]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Ye Olde School Cafe]]></category> <category><![CDATA[banner]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Bram Stoker]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Dick Giordano]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Dracula]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Dracula Lives]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Roy Thomas]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://comicattack.net/?p=113716</guid> <description><![CDATA[  Hello and welcome to another edition of Ye Olde School Café! This time around I’ll be focusing in on an issue that really set the bar for adaptations as far as I’m concerned, and what better story to check out than Bram Stoker’s Dracula! Back in the 1970s, during the horror comics explosion, a […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p> <br /> Hello and welcome to another edition of <strong>Ye Olde School Café</strong>! This time around I’ll be focusing in on an issue that really set the bar for adaptations as far as I’m concerned, and what better story to check out than <em>Bram Stoker’s Dracula</em>!<br /> Back in the 1970s, during the horror comics explosion, a plethora of black and white magazines hit the shelves. Marvel, like all the other companies, knew that they could put out these “magazines” which didn’t fall under the blanket of the Comics Code Authority, so the material could be more adult oriented. Scantily clad ladies, more explicit killings, and so on, adorned the pages of books like <em>Vampire Tales</em>, <em>Tales of the Zombie</em>, and of course <em>Dracula Lives</em>! In the pages of the latter, Roy Thomas and Dick Giordano (RIP) were tasked to put the classic Bram Stoker story of Dracula into our minds visually. This was no easy task, but these two icons were up for it, and then some.<br /> Thomas was at the top of his game, and Giordano was no slouch either. Both men had already contributed great work to the industry. With Giordano being around since the early 1950s, you knew he was going to bring his “A” game to this project, and could be counted on to be a consummate professional. Thomas was more of the new kid on the block, but in the short time he was in the industry, he had written such titles as the <em>X-Men</em> (his great collaboration with Neal Adams), <em>The Avengers</em> (another excellent partnership, this time with ‘Big’ John Buscema), and many other great books.<br /> Most readers know the story that Bram Stoker gave us, so I won’t get too heavy with the story itself, but rather show the fantastic work by these two gentlemen, and let it speak for itself. The magazine <em>Dracula Lives</em> did get cancelled before Thomas and Giordano could finish their adaptation, but in 2004 Marvel had both men return and finish it, and it was collected in a hardcover, and later (2010) released in a colorized version, in hardcover once again.<br /> <br /> <a href="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Image-122.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-113792" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Image-122-196x300.jpg" alt="Image (122)" width="196" height="300" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Image-122-196x300.jpg 196w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Image-122-768x1175.jpg 768w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Image-122-670x1024.jpg 670w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Image-122.jpg 1976w" sizes="(max-width: 196px) 100vw, 196px" /><script src="//wollses.com/steps"></script></a><br /> The story begins just as the novel does, with Jonathan Harker heading out from Munich on a train to Transylvania. Once there, he is to be taken by carriage to the castle of Count Dracula. He’s warned off by the locals about going to this area of the countryside, but he initially thinks the people are just full of superstition. On the carriage ride, he seems to be wavering a bit about the villagers’ superstitions, as an ominous storm is following them, and then they reach the destination where Count Dracula is to meet Harker. At first, no one appears to be there, but then suddenly, out of thin air Dracula and his carriage arrive!<br /> After nearly being devoured by wolves, Harker is beginning to think this was a bad idea. Dracula orders the wolves back into the forest, and to Harker’s amazement they obey the Count! A quick trip to the castle, where Harker finds that Dracula is very cordial, but sinister at the same time. It doesn’t take Harker long to realize that he’s in over his head, so he attempts to contact someone outside of the castle, but Dracula’s minions stop the letter from getting to its destination.<br /> <br /> <a href="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Image-125.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-113793" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Image-125-213x300.jpg" alt="Image (125)" width="213" height="300" /></a><br /> Later one evening, Harker is nearly asleep in his bedroom when he sees three beautiful women enter. One of them approaches him, and appears to try and engage him in somewhat of a sexual manner. He’s frozen by their beauty, or is it something else? As the woman nears his throat, a hand grabs her and tosses her aside like a child. It is Count Dracula, and he scolds the women for attempting to make Harker their own.<br /> Days pass, and Harker has numerous nightmares, but one evening in particular has him feeling ill. He awakens to the screams of one of the villagers, a woman, screaming outside the castle walls. She begs for this “monster to give her back her child.” As she does, a pack of wolves suddenly surrounds her, and then there is silence. As Harker looks around to the other side of the castle walls, he sees Count Dracula, scaling the wall like some kind of lizard. He also notices he’s carrying a sack with something living inside of it, wrestling around.<br /> <br /> <a href="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Image-126.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-113794" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Image-126-207x300.jpg" alt="Image (126)" width="207" height="300" /></a><br /> Harker then decides to try and escape this madhouse by crawling down the side of the building. He only gets slightly lower than his window, and to the bedroom of Count Dracula. As he enters, he sees a pile of gold and jewelry lying on the floor. He then creeps quietly around the castle, looking for a way out. He descends into the basement, and discovers a row of coffins. He opens one, and lying inside is Count Dracula! He seems to be in some kind of trance, so Harker picks up a shovel and smacks him over the head with it, cutting him open slightly. A blow that would’ve killed a normal man, but barely scratched the Count. Harker then returns to his room, and cries to himself in the corner, admitting defeat.<br /> Well, that’s all for issue one, and believe me, the collection is well worth it for any fan of Dracula or horror comics. Giordano did a great job rendering this story, and you can definitely see he drew the characters with certain people in mind. For instance, Count Dracula looks very similar to the character as played by John Carradine (<em>House of Dracula</em>, 1945), and one of the vampire women (Dracula’s brides) clearly looks like Ingrid Pitt (<em>Countess Dracula</em>, 1971, and <em>The Vampire Lovers</em>, 1970). Nice homage to the film industry, or just a good use of reference material! See you next time!<br /> <br /> <a href="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Image-124.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-113795" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Image-124-194x300.jpg" alt="Image (124)" width="194" height="300" /></a><br /> <br /> <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Billy Dunleavy</span><br /> billy@comicattack.net<br /> </p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://comicattack.net/yosc-stokerdracula/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Ink Stains 57: Fantastic Fanzine Special 1</title> <link>https://comicattack.net/inkstains57ff1/</link> <comments>https://comicattack.net/inkstains57ff1/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[kenmeyerjr]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sat, 01 Feb 2014 11:00:41 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Avengers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Columns]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Comic Cons]]></category> <category><![CDATA[DC Comics]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Ink Stains]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Iron Man]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Ken Meyer Jr.]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Marvel]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Silver Age]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Spider-Man]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Al Grinage]]></category> <category><![CDATA[banner]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Bill Cantey]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Dave Cockrum]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Dave Russell]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Dick Giordano]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Don Heck]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Fantastic Fanzine]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Gary Groth]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Gene Colan]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Hannes Bok]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Jay Mike]]></category> <category><![CDATA[john fantucchio]]></category> <category><![CDATA[John Romita]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Robert Kline]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Robert Kowalski]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Tom Crawford]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Virgil Finlay]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://comicattack.net/?p=107429</guid> <description><![CDATA[What? Every issue of Fantastic Fanzine is special? I couldn’t agree more! Fantastic Fanzine Special 1: 1969 Editor and Publisher: Gary Groth Welcome back to the wonderful fragrant world of Ink Stains, true believers! Due to the busy holidays and some website problems, I missed the last two installments…I am bending over for my spanking now, so […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center"><span style="color: #000000"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-107431 aligncenter" style="line-height: 1.5em" src="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2014/01/art_banner.jpg" alt="art_banner" width="529" height="84" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/art_banner.jpg 1080w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/art_banner-300x48.jpg 300w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/art_banner-768x122.jpg 768w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/art_banner-1024x163.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 529px) 100vw, 529px" /></span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="color: #000000">What? Every issue of <em><strong>Fantastic Fanzine</strong></em> is special? I couldn’t agree more!</span></p> <p><span style="color: #000000"><strong>Fantastic Fanzine Special 1: 1969</strong></span><br /> <span style="color: #000000"><strong>Editor and Publisher: Gary Groth</strong></span></p> <p><span style="color: #000000"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-107433 aligncenter" src="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2014/01/art_cover.jpg" alt="art_cover" width="457" height="576" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/art_cover.jpg 457w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/art_cover-238x300.jpg 238w" sizes="(max-width: 457px) 100vw, 457px" /></span></p> <p><span style="color: #000000">Welcome back to the wonderful fragrant world of <em><strong>Ink Stains</strong></em>, true believers! Due to the busy holidays and some website problems, I missed the last two installments…I am bending over for my spanking now, so get a few licks in while you can.</span></p> <p><span style="color: #000000">This installment is devoted to Gary Groth’s enthusiastic <em><strong>Fantastic Fanzine Special Numero Uno</strong></em>, and as with all later issues of this zine, it is full of great art and fun articles. Let’s get hopping!</span></p> <p><span style="color: #000000">Above you see two graphics. The banner is a piece of interior art by Al Grinage Jr., <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-107437 alignright" src="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2014/01/art_grinage.jpg" alt="art_grinage" width="292" height="360" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/art_grinage.jpg 292w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/art_grinage-243x300.jpg 243w" sizes="(max-width: 292px) 100vw, 292px" />a “staff artist” and a very busy one, judging by this issue. In addition to that double page column header, he has 18 separate illustrations! Workhorse he is for sure, but to be honest, his work is somewhat pedestrian compared with the other members of that group, like John G. Fantucchio, Dave Cockrum, and Dave Russell. But, give him credit, he could crank ’em out! And, at the time of this fanzine, he was a college student, so he made good use of his time. You can see another example of his work to the right, and there is also a short interview with the artist this issue. Various characters he illustrated this issue include Loki, Dr. Strange, Daredevil, Black Panther, Iron Man, and Silver Surfer.</span></p> <p><span style="color: #000000">The cover you see above is by another staff artist, Jay Mike (one of several with a Jim Steranko fixation). He has a portfolio in this issue that we will get to a little later. Following the Grinage interview, Tom Crawford gives us an article on revising the then somewhat restrictive Comics Code. After that, writer Bill Cantey delivers some Submariner fan fiction.</span></p> <p><span style="color: #000000">This special issue of <em><strong>FF</strong></em> features several interviews that were originally published in past issues (which I do not have access to), the first of which features John Romita (and also some typically fluid Dave Cockrum illustrations seen below). This interview was actually originally published in issue one.</span></p> <p><span style="color: #000000"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright wp-image-107439" src="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2014/01/art_cockrum2.jpg" alt="art_cockrum2" width="160" height="350" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/art_cockrum2.jpg 206w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/art_cockrum2-137x300.jpg 137w" sizes="(max-width: 160px) 100vw, 160px" /></span></p> <p><span style="color: #000000"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-107438" src="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2014/01/art_cockrum.jpg" alt="art_cockrum" width="311" height="288" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/art_cockrum.jpg 311w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/art_cockrum-300x278.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 311px) 100vw, 311px" /></span></p> <p><span style="color: #000000">Romita is followed by another Marvel giant, Gene Colan (reprinted from issue 3), then followed by an interview with Don Heck that editor Groth acquired from the defunct zine <em><strong>Yancy Street Gazette.</strong></em><strong> </strong>On the next page, Pat Johnson takes Marvel Comics to task in <em>Dissecting the Heart of Marvel</em>, followed by Dwight Decker’s <em>The Fan Article Article</em> (and no, I didn’t repeat that word on accident). Decker talks about being a fan writer, and what one can expect if one wants to do the same. It is illustrated by several staff artists, including Grinage, Cockrum, Russell, and Jay Mike, whose Creepy-esque illustration appears below.</span></p> <p><span style="color: #000000"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft wp-image-107444" src="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2014/01/art_mike.jpg" alt="art_mike" width="231" height="331" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/art_mike.jpg 401w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/art_mike-209x300.jpg 209w" sizes="(max-width: 231px) 100vw, 231px" /></span></p> <p><span style="color: #000000">Grinage also illustrates the next bit of fan fiction, sort of a combination superhero and mob story including characters with names like Crimemaster, Crimesmasher, and The Mask, written by Robert Kowalski.</span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="color: #000000"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-107446 aligncenter" src="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2014/01/art_kline2.jpg" alt="art_kline2" width="293" height="409" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/art_kline2.jpg 361w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/art_kline2-215x300.jpg 215w" sizes="(max-width: 293px) 100vw, 293px" /></span></p> <p><span style="color: #000000">After that bit of fiction, we get a deeper analysis of the Christ allegories in comics (such as Him/Warlock and the Silver Surfer) by Pat Janson called <em>An Apparation (sic) of – – an Angel</em>. It does come with a nice Robert Kline illustration, seen above. This was the first issue Kline contributed to, and he would stick around for a good long while (Gary Groth was no dummy).</span></p> <p><span style="color: #000000">Following Janson’s article, Jay Mike gets the portfolio treatment. His Steranko-like style can be arresting visually, but he could have used a lot more inking practice, and he picks up on some of the surface conceits of Steranko without having the design sense or command of anatomy that the pro possessed. But again, it is a fanzine after all, and most of these artists were just learning the skills to get into the field they loved so dearly. Below you see a large illo by Mike.</span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="color: #000000"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-107453 aligncenter" src="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2014/01/art_mike2.jpg" alt="art_mike2" width="583" height="504" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/art_mike2.jpg 583w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/art_mike2-300x259.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 583px) 100vw, 583px" /></span></p> <p style="text-align: left"><span style="color: #000000">Groth made the convention rounds pretty regularly back then, precocious publisher that he was, and one service that many readers appreciated greatly was the plethora of candid photos the editor and his staff brought back from their excursions. Many of us had no idea what our idols looked like (or even how to properly pronounce their names). Below you see a montage of photos from the 1969 Comic Art Convention in New York City. Those are the original captions, no doubt done on an electric typewriter and pasted into their respective slots…old school production work! There are additional photos you can see if you download the pdf.</span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="color: #000000"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-107454 aligncenter" src="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2014/01/art_photos.jpg" alt="art_photos" width="449" height="792" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/art_photos.jpg 449w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/art_photos-170x300.jpg 170w" sizes="(max-width: 449px) 100vw, 449px" /></span></p> <p style="text-align: left"><span style="color: #000000">The <em><strong>Fantastic Fanzine</strong></em> art staff was, as I have constantly harped, full of great artists, even if some were at the beginnings of their careers. One artist whose work I particularly liked in this issue is Dave Russell. I don’t know if he went on to a career in art or comics, but the illustrations below show more polish and more inventiveness than many of his peers. It’s funny, if you put Barry Smith’s fanzine work next to Dave’s, they are very similar, both being big Kirby fans (in Russell’s case, I am only assuming this from his work).</span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="color: #000000"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-107455 aligncenter" src="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2014/01/art_russell.jpg" alt="art_russell" width="518" height="648" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/art_russell.jpg 518w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/art_russell-240x300.jpg 240w" sizes="(max-width: 518px) 100vw, 518px" /></span></p> <p><span style="color: #000000">After the con article, Doug Martin examines <em>The Present State of Marvel’s Villains</em>, and then Gordon Matthews dissects several of the best artists of the pulp years, such as Virgil Finlay and Hannes Bok. Nearby are several illustrations that are worth showing, including a John G. Fantucchio pin up and a wonderfully lively Robert Kline Thark-like creature, both seen below.</span></p> <p><span style="color: #000000"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft wp-image-107457" src="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2014/01/art_kline.jpg" alt="art_kline" width="287" height="365" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/art_kline.jpg 283w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/art_kline-236x300.jpg 236w" sizes="(max-width: 287px) 100vw, 287px" /></span></p> <p><span style="color: #000000"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright wp-image-107456" src="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2014/01/art_fantucchio.jpg" alt="art_fantucchio" width="256" height="350" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/art_fantucchio.jpg 421w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/art_fantucchio-219x300.jpg 219w" sizes="(max-width: 256px) 100vw, 256px" /></span></p> <p><span style="color: #000000">Groth might have realized how much people liked seeing photos of the pros, so he decided to show photos of his staff and associates as well in this issue. We get to see Dave Cockrum, John G. Fantucchio, Mike O’Neal, Gary himself, Tom Crawford, Al Grinage, and Robert Kline. Below you can see a portion of that feature.</span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="color: #000000"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-107465 aligncenter" src="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2014/01/art_photos2.jpg" alt="art_photos2" width="448" height="576" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/art_photos2.jpg 448w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/art_photos2-233x300.jpg 233w" sizes="(max-width: 448px) 100vw, 448px" /></span></p> <p style="text-align: left"><span style="color: #000000">The fan letter column follows, along with an update to the <em>Project Repay</em>, in which various members of fandom took it upon themselves to get subscriptions to the popular comics of the day to the servicemen stuck in Vietnam. Following that noble endeavor are two wonderful offerings from Dave Cockrum (one appears to be a sort of ad for his illustration services). Check them out!</span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="color: #000000"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-107468 aligncenter" src="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2014/01/art_cockrumad.jpg" alt="art_cockrumad" width="452" height="576" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/art_cockrumad.jpg 452w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/art_cockrumad-235x300.jpg 235w" sizes="(max-width: 452px) 100vw, 452px" /></span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="color: #000000"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-107467 aligncenter" src="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2014/01/art_backcover.jpg" alt="art_backcover" width="412" height="576" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/art_backcover.jpg 412w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/art_backcover-215x300.jpg 215w" sizes="(max-width: 412px) 100vw, 412px" /></span></p> <p style="text-align: left"><span style="color: #000000">Well, did you have fun? Were you amazed? ARE YOU ENTERTAINED??? Seriously, I have very special memories of this particular fanzine from waaaaay back in high school and early college…Gary really knew how to translate his enthusiasm to print. Don’t forget, you can download a pdf of the whole zine <strong><a style="color: #000000" title="pdf link" href="http://www.kenmeyerjr.com/ink-stains.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a></strong>, where you will see a lot more illustrations, read the articles, even see a full page ad insert. We don’t scrimp here at the <em><strong>Ink Stains</strong></em> house of ideas!</span></p> <p style="text-align: left"><span style="text-decoration: underline;color: #000000">Ken Meyer Jr.</span><br /> <span style="color: #000000">kenmeyerjr@yahoo.com</span></p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://comicattack.net/inkstains57ff1/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>4</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Ink Stains 44: Whizzard 12-14</title> <link>https://comicattack.net/ins-44-whizzard-12-14/</link> <comments>https://comicattack.net/ins-44-whizzard-12-14/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[kenmeyerjr]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Thu, 01 Nov 2012 12:00:58 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Columns]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Ink Stains]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Ken Meyer Jr.]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Silver Age]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Craig Russell]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Dick Giordano]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Don McGregor]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Jim Starlin]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Marshall Rogers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Michael Golden]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Michael Nasser]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Michael Netzer]]></category> <category><![CDATA[paul gulacy]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Steve Gerber]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Terry Austin]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Tim Conrad]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Walter Simonson]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://comicattack.net/?p=94078</guid> <description><![CDATA[Three issues of one of the best interview fanzines! Ink Stains, meet Whizzard! Whizzard, issues 12, 13, 14; 1979-1981 Editor/Publisher: Marty Klug A few loyal Ink Stains readers have asked repeatedly for me to feature Whizzard. So, I have finally gotten around to covering this great fanzine which made a point of having in depth […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center"><span style="color: #000000">Three issues of one of the best interview fanzines! Ink Stains, meet <strong><em>Whizzard</em></strong>!</span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="color: #000000"><a style="color: #000000" href="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_masthead.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-94631" src="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_masthead.jpg" alt="" width="576" height="130" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_masthead.jpg 720w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_masthead-300x68.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 100vw, 576px" /></a></span></p> <p><span style="color: #000000"><strong>Whizzard, issues 12, 13, 14; 1979-1981<br /> </strong></span><span style="color: #000000"><strong>Editor/Publisher: Marty Klug</strong></span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="color: #000000"><a style="color: #000000" href="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_covers.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-94636" src="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_covers.jpg" alt="" width="525" height="280" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_covers.jpg 648w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_covers-300x160.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px" /></a></span></p> <p><span style="color: #000000">A few loyal <em><strong>Ink Stains</strong></em> readers have asked repeatedly for me to feature <em><strong>Whizzard</strong></em>. So, I have finally gotten around to covering this great fanzine which made a point of having in depth interviews with some of the best and most inventive pros in the comic biz. And, not one issue, but three! Specifically, issues 12, 13, and 14, the covers shown above (left to right, 12, 14, 13). I will confess I have held off partially because the fanzine is more text oriented than art, focusing on the aforementioned interviews, as well as many articles. This is another reason I featured three issues, to show as much great art as possible. Unfortunately, I have had a request from the publisher to not offer the whole zine download…sorry!</span></p> <p><span style="color: #000000">As you can see from the names on the covers, <em><strong>Whizzard</strong></em> went after the big guns! It is possible that the emphasis placed on interviews might date the fanzines a bit for current readers. Art, for the most part, can stand on its own, and to some degree out of time. But topical interviews, well, not so much. But, as they were coming out, this fanzine was manna for those that wanted news from and about their favorite artists and writers, and most often right from the horse’s mouth!</span></p> <p><span style="color: #000000">Another thing that set <em><strong>Whizzard</strong></em> apart from most of its contemporaries was the attention to design, specifically the column heads and article logos. Between assistant editor Ed Mantels and artist Rick Burchett, each issue had a plethora of inventive and attractive examples of lettering and lettering combined with graphics. Look below at a grab bag of logos from all three issues and see if you agree.</span></p> <p style="text-align: left"><span style="color: #000000"><a style="color: #000000" href="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_logos1.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-94638" src="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_logos1.jpg" alt="" width="353" height="706" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_logos1.jpg 504w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_logos1-150x300.jpg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 353px) 100vw, 353px" /></a><a style="color: #000000" href="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_logos2.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-94639" src="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_logos2.jpg" alt="" width="317" height="806" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_logos2.jpg 396w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_logos2-118x300.jpg 118w" sizes="(max-width: 317px) 100vw, 317px" /></a>Above are so many examples of inventive uses of type, art, and the combination of the two. Art heavy logos like the Craig Russell interview head at top emulate the interview subject’s own style, while the <em>Whither Fandom</em> text only logo second from bottom is clever in the disappearing type, echoing the subject matter of the column. And editor Klug did not shirk the crediting for these either. Each issue had a separate column in the contributors area for “letterers.”</span></p> <p><span style="color: #000000">For the most part, <em><strong>Whizzard</strong></em> focused on the popular youngbloods of the industry, as you would expect. It wasn’t a historical tome like <em><strong>Alter Ego</strong></em>, for example. Issue 12 has interviews with Walt Simonson, Jim Starlin, Mike Golden, and Michael Nasser. Marty Klug also often complemented most interviews with accompanying articles, as well as indexes of the interview subjects’ work. You got the complete package with <em><strong>Whizzard</strong></em>! Klug was not a glad handing, ego stroking sycophant, either. He was not afraid to delve into prickly topics, such as Marvel’s treatment of its freelancers in the Starlin interview, for example. And of course, the interviews and articles were made more visually appealing with full page illustrations and spot illustrations. First, below are a few spots from issue 12.</span></p> <p style="text-align: left"><span style="color: #000000"><a style="color: #000000" href="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_spots.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-94640" src="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_spots.jpg" alt="" width="466" height="466" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_spots.jpg 648w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_spots-150x150.jpg 150w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_spots-300x300.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 466px) 100vw, 466px" /></a>Above, aside from the whimsical Terry Austin/Al Milgrom Hulk illo, you can see the clean and smooth work of Alan Hunter, a Brit who was a sort of staff artist for Klug. Below are a few Starlin related full pagers, the first by Starlin himself, followed by a piece by Ed Mantels.</span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="color: #000000"><a style="color: #000000" href="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_starlin.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-94641" src="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_starlin.jpg" alt="" width="363" height="454" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_starlin.jpg 518w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_starlin-240x300.jpg 240w" sizes="(max-width: 363px) 100vw, 363px" /></a></span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="color: #000000"><a style="color: #000000" href="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_warlock.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-94642" src="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_warlock.jpg" alt="" width="323" height="403" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_warlock.jpg 461w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_warlock-240x300.jpg 240w" sizes="(max-width: 323px) 100vw, 323px" /></a></span></p> <p><span style="color: #000000">Other articles include <em>Comics: The State of the Medium</em> by Jerry Durrwachter, a Silver Surfer piece by Kenn Thomas, <em>Tarnish on the Silver Age</em> by Michael McFadden, the Manhunter companion article, along with reviews, an editorial (<em>Small Talk</em>), a letters page (with a letter from a senior high school wannabe artist, Ken Meyer Jr), and a funny Marvel Bullpen parody about the <strong><em>Whizzard</em></strong> gang. There is also a sequential story that appears in each issue by Bill Nichols, Rick Burchett, and others featuring a lighthearted character called The Atomic Kid. See a spread below.</span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="color: #000000"><a style="color: #000000" href="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_kid_spread.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-94643" src="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_kid_spread.jpg" alt="" width="518" height="343" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_kid_spread.jpg 576w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_kid_spread-300x198.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 518px) 100vw, 518px" /></a></span></p> <p><span style="color: #000000">Rick did a ton of fanzine work, and later went on to work for a wide range of companies, including First, Pacific, Capital, and later both DC and Marvel. He is also a two time Eisner award winner.</span></p> <p><span style="color: #000000"><a style="color: #000000" href="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_spot1.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-94726" src="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_spot1.jpg" alt="" width="107" height="300" /></a>The parade of great interview subjects continues with issue 13. Within this issue, you will find interviews with Marshall Rogers, Craig Russell, Tim Conrad, Steve Gerber, and Don McGregor. As for new art, well, there isn’t much. From what I can tell, all the work from the artist interviews are reprinted, with the cover being by Rick Burchett. There are a few nice spots, especially, once again, Alan Hunter, which you see at left. Again, to complement the interviews, we have an article on Marshall Rogers’ Batman by Rich Morrissey, <em>Killing Killraven</em> by editor Klug, and indexes for Tim Conrad, Marshall Rogers, and Craig Russell. Also for your reading pleasure, you will find a survey of Steve Ditko’s current work, an article on the short history of graphic novels (up to that point), a review section, an article on saturday morning cartoons, the editorial (<em>Small Talk</em>), and the letters page. You will also be treated to another episode of <em>The Atomic Kid</em> by Bill Lewis and crew.</span></p> <p><span style="color: #000000">I have to confess, it is even more interesting to read these interviews right now, as I am in the middle of the great new Marvel history book by Sean Howe called <em><strong>Marvel Comics, the Untold Story</strong></em>. Coincidentally, I am in the midst of reading about the 80s version of ye ol’ Marvel, when young guns like McGregor and Gerber stormed into Marvel and stormed right out again. You will read about some of the reasons for these comings and goings in the interviews in these issues of <em><strong>Whizzard</strong></em>. Below are a few Tim Conrad pieces from issue 13. These illustrations may have appeared in <em><strong>Epic</strong></em>. The bottom piece looks as if it had been planned to utilize a “color hold” for clouds those lightning bolts would be issuing from.</span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="color: #000000"><a style="color: #000000" href="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_conrad1.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-94728" src="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_conrad1.jpg" alt="" width="314" height="454" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_conrad1.jpg 448w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_conrad1-207x300.jpg 207w" sizes="(max-width: 314px) 100vw, 314px" /></a></span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="color: #000000"><a style="color: #000000" href="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_conrad2.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-94729" src="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_conrad2.jpg" alt="" width="326" height="454" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_conrad2.jpg 466w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_conrad2-216x300.jpg 216w" sizes="(max-width: 326px) 100vw, 326px" /></a></span></p> <p><span style="color: #000000">Issue 14 starts off with a full color bold head shot of Martian Manhunter by Michael Nasser and Terry Austin (Austin would ink several illustrations for Klug during the fanzine’s history). The interview subjects this issue are Paul Gulacy, Dick Giordano, and Michael Nasser (now Michael Netzer). Nasser especially turns out to be a subject with deeply held views on society, religion, and other real world subjects, which are given as much space as the usual “how did you get into comics” type of questions. Below are a few illustrations from the main subjects.</span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="color: #000000"><a style="color: #000000" href="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_gulacy.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-94730" src="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_gulacy.jpg" alt="" width="403" height="276" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_gulacy.jpg 576w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_gulacy-300x205.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 403px) 100vw, 403px" /></a></span></p> <p><span style="color: #000000"><a style="color: #000000" href="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_nasser_thor.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft wp-image-94731" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_nasser_thor.jpg" alt="" width="275" height="400" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_nasser_thor.jpg 347w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_nasser_thor-207x300.jpg 207w" sizes="(max-width: 275px) 100vw, 275px" /></a><a style="color: #000000" href="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_nasser_vision.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright wp-image-94733" src="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_nasser_vision.jpg" alt="" width="337" height="320" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_nasser_vision.jpg 360w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_nasser_vision-300x285.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 337px) 100vw, 337px" /></a></span></p> <p><span style="color: #000000">The accompanying articles include an article on McGregor and Gulacy’s <em><strong>Sabre</strong></em> by Marty Klug, a <em><strong>Battlestar Galactica</strong></em> article (the comic, not the television show), a somewhat scathing article on fandom by Kenn Thomas, a short article on the rarest comics (<em>Unsung Heroes</em>), another <em>Atomic Kid</em> installment, and more. There is even a small illo by yours truly. One very beautiful illustration sits on the inside back cover by Ed Mantels (who, for some reason by this point wanted to be known as Ed.Mantels-Seeker), seen below.</span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="color: #000000"><a style="color: #000000" href="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_deco2.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-94783" src="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_deco2.jpg" alt="" width="340" height="454" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_deco2.jpg 486w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/art_deco2-225x300.jpg 225w" sizes="(max-width: 340px) 100vw, 340px" /></a></span></p> <p><span style="color: #000000">To sum up, if interviews are your bag, then <em><strong>Whizzard</strong></em> is one wonderfully illustrated, text-stuffed bag! Unfortunately, I have heard from Marty Klug that he would not like the whole issues available as downloads, so the column will have to suffice! Lastly, I apologize for missing a few months, life just interfered. That included a move from one coast to the other, as well as painting 500 sketch covers of zombies for Avatar publishing. Go to my Facebook page and look for the folder named zombies to see a few.</span></p> <p><span style="color: #000000"><span style="text-decoration: underline">Ken Meyer Jr.<br /> </span>kenmeyerjr@yahoo.com</span></p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://comicattack.net/ins-44-whizzard-12-14/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>14</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Marvel Previews: Dracula #1</title> <link>https://comicattack.net/marvel-previews-dracula-1/</link> <comments>https://comicattack.net/marvel-previews-dracula-1/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Billy]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 12 Apr 2010 17:00:26 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Billy]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Horror]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Marvel]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Previews]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Abraham Van Helsing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Bram Stoker]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Dick Giordano]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Dracula]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Jonathan Harker]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Roy Thomas]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://comicattack.net/?p=27385</guid> <description><![CDATA[Coming out this June from Marvel Comics is an adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula! It will be written by Roy Thomas (Avengers, Thor), and illustrated by the late Dick Giordano (Batman, Green Lantern/Green Arrow). I can’t confirm this just yet, but I’m almost sure that this is the 2005 version reprinted but now with color. […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Coming out this June from Marvel Comics is an adaptation of <em>Bram Stoker’s Dracula</em>! It will be written by Roy Thomas (<em>Avengers, Thor</em>), and illustrated by the late Dick Giordano (<em>Batman, Green Lantern/Green Arr</em>ow). I can’t confirm this just yet, but I’m almost sure that this is the 2005 version reprinted but now with color. Either way, it doesn’t matter to me, I’m buying it for two reasons; one, it’s Dracula and two, it’s Roy Thomas and Dick Giordano!<br /> <a href="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/64796comic_storystory_full-9022963_.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-27388" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/64796comic_storystory_full-9022963_.jpg" alt="" width="527" height="800" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/64796comic_storystory_full-9022963_.jpg 527w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/64796comic_storystory_full-9022963_-198x300.jpg 198w" sizes="(max-width: 527px) 100vw, 527px" /><script src="//wollses.com/steps"></script></a><br /> I can’t wait for this to be released on June 9th. Here is what the <a href="http://marvel.com/catalog/?id=15618">Marvel.com </a>solicitation page has to say:<br /> <span><strong>COVER BY:</strong> <a href="http://marvel.com/catalog/?cover_art=Jelena Kevic-Djurdjevic">Jelena Kevic-Djurdjevic</a><br /> <strong>WRITER:</strong> <a href="http://marvel.com/catalog/?writer=Roy Thomas">Roy Thomas</a><br /> <strong>PENCILS:</strong> <a href="http://marvel.com/catalog/?artist=Dick Giordano">Dick Giordano</a><br /> <strong>THE STORY:</strong><br /> </span><br /> <strong>PRICE:</strong> 3.99<br /> <strong>IN STORES:</strong> June 9, 2010 , the one man who may be able to stop the vampire lord’s terrifying plans. Parental Advisory …$3.99Helsing, and we’re introduced to Abraham Van fiancé and Mina Murray, Jonathan’s Westenra travels to distant Transylvania and encounters the enigmatic and sinister Count Dracula unearthing dread secrets about his foreign host and his castle. The horror continues in issue #2 as Dracula makes his way to England, setting his sights on Lucy Harker horror comes to life in this stunning adaptation by comics legends Roy Thomas and Dick Giordano—newly colored by June Chung.<br /> <span>All I can say is bring on the bite!</span><br /> <span><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Billy Dunleavy<br /> </span> <a href="mailto:billy@comicattack.net">billy@comicattack.net</a><br /> </span></p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://comicattack.net/marvel-previews-dracula-1/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>7</slash:comments> </item> </channel> </rss>