{"id":160375,"date":"2023-08-29T21:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-08-29T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/comicattack.net\/?p=160375"},"modified":"2023-08-30T03:52:10","modified_gmt":"2023-08-30T03:52:10","slug":"ink-stains-169-infinity-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/comicattack.net\/ink-stains-169-infinity-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Ink Stains 169: Infinity 1"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"604\" height=\"792\" src=\"https:\/\/comicattack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/art_cover.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-160376\" srcset=\"https:\/\/comicattack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/art_cover.jpg 604w, https:\/\/comicattack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/art_cover-229x300.jpg 229w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 604px) 100vw, 604px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color\"><strong>Infinity 1: Summer 1970<br>Editors\/publishers: Adam Malin and Gary Berman<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color\">What is that saying? From small things big things one day shall come? That definitely applies in this case. <strong><em>Infinity<\/em><\/strong> started here, a scrappy zine from a couple of (I think) teenagers, and it went on to be, arguably, the best “art-zine” of its time. I have covered the later issues but have finally gotten around to covering the initial issue (thanks to the all knowing Manny Maris). Adam, through Facebook, answered some questions for an earlier column, and from that is drawn the quote below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color\">Gary and I grew up together on a block of duplexes in Fresh Meadows, New York (on Long Island). We were both comic book fans and I in particular was obsessed with the works of Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and Jim Steranko. Around that time in the back of a Marvel comic book I stumbled on an ad for a fanzine called <strong>RBCC <\/strong>(<strong>Rockets Blast Comic Collector<\/strong>) which I ordered. And much to my surprise I saw ads from hundreds of people selling off comic books well as for magazines I’d never seen before called fanzines; adapting that concept Gary and I began putting together a fanzine called <strong>Infinity<\/strong>. I was fortunate in that my father was a commercial artist and had experience with paste-up work, letraset, prestone and typesetting, all of which were mechanical media years before the advent of computer desktop publishing. Our first issue launched in 1970 and through my growing fan acquaintances I was able to gather artwork from some of the notable comic and fantasy artists of the era.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"247\" height=\"438\" src=\"https:\/\/comicattack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/art_berni1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-160378\" srcset=\"https:\/\/comicattack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/art_berni1.jpg 247w, https:\/\/comicattack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/art_berni1-169x300.jpg 169w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 247px) 100vw, 247px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color\">This first issue shows the first awkward steps of the two go getters…the interior design is scattershot at best, and the reproduction not so hot in some places. But, like all great fanzines, the enthusiasm and dedication is there in spades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color\">As far as contributors go, this issue definitely sets the stage for the level of work that be coming soon. In fact, in the person of Berni Wrightson, it thunders in immediately with a huge ax, dragging a wench by the hair! That is, savage barbarian action aplenty! Left and below are a few small pieces (and the cover above is by Wrightson as well).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"405\" height=\"550\" src=\"https:\/\/comicattack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/art_berni3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-160377\" srcset=\"https:\/\/comicattack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/art_berni3.jpg 405w, https:\/\/comicattack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/art_berni3-221x300.jpg 221w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 405px) 100vw, 405px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"442\" height=\"443\" src=\"https:\/\/comicattack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/art_berni4.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-160379\" srcset=\"https:\/\/comicattack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/art_berni4.jpg 442w, https:\/\/comicattack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/art_berni4-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/comicattack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/art_berni4-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 442px) 100vw, 442px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/comicattack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/art_severin.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-160380\" style=\"width:379px;height:528px\" width=\"379\" height=\"528\" srcset=\"https:\/\/comicattack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/art_severin.jpg 568w, https:\/\/comicattack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/art_severin-215x300.jpg 215w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 379px) 100vw, 379px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color\">The first text feature is an interview with EC and <strong><em>Mad<\/em><\/strong> leader, Bill Gaines. Following is a comics quiz, an article on <em>Horror: DC and Marvel<\/em>, and a review column on “fanazines” (dunno why they called them that). After those text features is an interview with…Galactus! Why he couldn’t just send Norrin Radd is beyond me…isn’t that what heralds are for? An article on fandom in general follows and then <em>The Comic History of Tarzan<\/em>, adorned by a Russ Manning sketch. At left is a sketch of the very recently departed Marie Severin of a <strong><em>Kazar<\/em><\/strong> cover. Next up is an article called <em>The Comic Speculator<\/em>, on the business of buying and selling collectible comics. Ironically, there was a line in the Gaines interview stating that EC covers were “going for upwards of 60 dollars.” Can you imagine???<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color\">An interview with Jim Warren follows, somewhat lengthy for a fanzine, which is nice. Right before that, though, you get to see the raw power of Jack Kirby personified in the Captain America pin up below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"530\" height=\"792\" src=\"https:\/\/comicattack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/art_kirby.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-160381\" srcset=\"https:\/\/comicattack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/art_kirby.jpg 530w, https:\/\/comicattack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/art_kirby-201x300.jpg 201w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 530px) 100vw, 530px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color\">A reprinted EC story by Reed Crandall follows, then we witness some fan fiction in <em>The Great Time Revolt<\/em>. A few ads, an editorial, the Berni Wrightson portfolio (most of which is seen above), and a short Hal Foster feature follows, accompanied by the illustration seen below.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"389\" height=\"666\" src=\"https:\/\/comicattack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/art_foster.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-160382\" srcset=\"https:\/\/comicattack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/art_foster.jpg 389w, https:\/\/comicattack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/art_foster-175x300.jpg 175w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 389px) 100vw, 389px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color\">I cannot end the column without showing some illustrations by the much loved Dave Cockrum below, pretty early in his fanzine “career.”<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"565\" height=\"792\" src=\"https:\/\/comicattack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/art_cockrum1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-160383\" srcset=\"https:\/\/comicattack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/art_cockrum1.jpg 565w, https:\/\/comicattack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/art_cockrum1-214x300.jpg 214w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 565px) 100vw, 565px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"604\" height=\"792\" src=\"https:\/\/comicattack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/art_cockrum2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-160384\" srcset=\"https:\/\/comicattack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/art_cockrum2.jpg 604w, https:\/\/comicattack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/art_cockrum2-229x300.jpg 229w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 604px) 100vw, 604px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color\">Infinity the measure of time might go on forever, but <strong><em>Infinity<\/em><\/strong> the fanzine ends at page 48! Thanks again to the great Manny Maris for allowing me to borrow this zine to scan and don’t worry, there are many more to follow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color\">Please feel free to leave comments, requests, diatribes, exhortations, and cries of surrender! Remember, you can access all the fanzines (and pdfs of the full zines) on my website <a href=\"http:\/\/www.kenmeyerjr.com\">here<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color\">Ken Meyer Jr.<br>kenmeyerjr@yahoo.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Infinity 1: Summer 1970Editors\/publishers: Adam Malin and Gary Berman What is that saying? From small things big things one day shall come? That definitely applies in this case. Infinity started here, a scrappy zine from a couple of (I think) teenagers, and it went on to be, arguably, the best “art-zine” of its time. I […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":18902,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[814,16,714,412,480,64,728,7,730,732,35],"tags":[2481,4334,6531,122,17746,7786,9236,11731,12192,17745],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/comicattack.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/160375"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/comicattack.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/comicattack.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/comicattack.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/comicattack.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=160375"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/comicattack.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/160375\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":160393,"href":"https:\/\/comicattack.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/160375\/revisions\/160393"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/comicattack.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18902"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/comicattack.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=160375"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/comicattack.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=160375"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/comicattack.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=160375"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}