Comic Coverage

Recommended Reading: "Men of Tomorrow"

I don't intend to do many reviews or product plugs, but I have to make an exception for this one.

The book is Men of Tomorrow: Geeks, Gangsters and the Birth of the Comic Book, by Gerard Jones.

The gritty history hinted at by Michael Chabon's fictional Adventures of Cavalier and Clay is fully realized and expanded upon by Jones, as he explores the beginnings of the industry we only think we know so well.

What I found most fascinating was the historical prelude we normally don't get in the more sugar-coated histories of the comics biz, namely its strange pairing of shady pornographers with the nascent sci-fi geek culture of the 1930's.  The lives and fortunes of a handful of key individuals are traced through the ensuing decades, such as the dimunative publishing "giant" Harry Donnenfeld and his right-hand man Jack Liebowitz, counterbalanced by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, the creators of Superman.  Many other recognizeable names are touched upon as well (scrappy Jack Kirby's offer to beat up a mob goon is a classic), going all the way through to the modern corporate culture of the 1970's.

When I bought the book last year, I couldn't put it down.  It had information and anecdotes I'd never heard before....amazing considering the number of histories I've read.  It's at once exhilarating, illuminating, hilarious, and heartbreaking. If you're a fan of comics and their creators, this book is a "must" for your collection.  Click on the Amazon link below to get yourself a copy!  Do it....before Jack Kirby punches you out!

Men of Tomorrow: Geeks, Gangsters and the Birth of the Comic Book

What If?....

Action Comics #1. The "Big Bang" of superhero comics, right? The cover image that singlehandedly kicked off the fascination with superheroes, rippling out over six decades (and counting).

However, despite Superman landing the cover slot on the debut issue of Action, it's no secret that the character wasn't universally liked at DC Comics in the spring of 1938. The Superman character was almost reluctantly purchased from Siegel and Shuster, with no clear sense that DC knew what they wanted to do with him. As the story goes, publisher M.C. ("Max") Gaines was desperate to keep his new printing presses running with more comic book jobs, but filling the comics with a steady stream of new material was a constant challenge for his editors. Editor Sheldon Mayor suggested the Superman strip, to which Gaines (no fan of Superman) replied "Well, it's better than nothing."

So, Superman made it into Action Comics #1 and the rest, as they say, is history.

But wait a minute.

What if Max Gaines' dislike of the character had prevented Superman from appearing on the cover, and, instead, only appeared in an inside story? On top of that, what if one of the other half-dozen characters appearing in the anthology title had won the cover slot instead...such as Zatara, DC's knock-off of Mandrake the Magician?

Since adventuring magicians were hardly a novelty (Mandrake had been around since 1934), chances are an Action Comics #1 cover starring Zatara would not have grabbed the public by the lapels like the audacious Superman cover did. Likewise, would the superhero craze ever have been sparked without the "Big Bang" of Superman's presence on the cover? Would the comic book fad of the 30's have simply died out without the novelty of superheroes to fuel it?

My guess is that the comics field would have either been radically different, or even non-existant if Superman had not appeared on the cover of Action Comics #1. What do you think?

Comicland

One of my favorite old photos has to be Comicland, picturing a little guy dwarfed by hundreds of future collector's items, lost in an adventure.

Part of what I love so much about the photo is how it reminds me of my own "Comicland Moment" when I was a kid back in Duluth.  See, before comic book specialty shops and the "Hey Kids! Comics!" wire racks at 7-11, there were the old-fashioned newsstands.  I still remember visiting Downtown Book for the first time and being struck speechless by row upon row upon row of brand new comic books (easily five times the amount pictured above).  Like the lad in the photo, my friends and I basked in the glory of all those comics, unsure of whether to actually buy something or just drop to our knees and worship at the foot of the towering, cathedral-like shelves.

Of course, time rolls on and the traditional newsstands have largely become a thing of the past, replaced by comic specialty shops, mega-chain bookstores and online bookselling empires.  Don't get me wrong, these new venues have their advantages, but part of me feels just a little bit sorry for younger fans who never really had that "Comicland" newsstand experience.

Drippy nostalgia?  Maybe.  But equal parts gratitude.

 

Recommended Reading: "The Krypton Companion"

As an amateur "historian" of the comics biz, I've been a big fan of TwoMorrows Publishing for many years.  Their devotion to honoring the creative people who invented and sustained the artform is second to none, and can be seen in every one of their in-depth and superbly produced publications.  Whether it's an overview of an influential artist's career, a magazine devoted to examining specific aspects of the artform (such as drawing or writing techniques) or the hobby of comic book collecting, TwoMorrows can't be beat.

With that said, TwoMorrows has surpassed their own (already high) standards with The Krypton Companion, a 240-page overview of the Silver and Bronze Age Superman (a period stretching from the late 1950's through the mid-80's).

Broken into four broad categories, the chronology covers not only the important milestones in the comics themselves, but the creators as well.  All of the writers, artists and editors from that period are vividly brought to life through biographies and interviews...and when I say "all", I mean ALL of them.  Editor Michael Eury has compiled an exhaustive number of articles and interviews covering virtually everyone who helped guide the Superman character for an entire generation.  Obviously, some of those folks merited more coverage than others (such as legendary editor Mort Weisinger, his successor Julius Schwartz, and long-time penciller Curt Swan), but everyone else gets at least a little time in the spotlight.

The icing on the cake is the generous amount artwork, photos and rare artifacts spread throughout the book, many of them seeing publication for the first time.  This rich imagery makes the already interesting interviews and articles all the more fascinating to read. 

True, the book is aimed squarely at rabid Superman fans (like me), but even the more casual fan...or people who too easily dismiss this particular era of Superman comics, would find it an informative and enlightening experience.  Even if you don't warm up to this unique chapter in Superman's long history, you'll definitely gain an appreciation of the many craftsmen, personalities, and market forces that shaped the character for so many years.

Yeah, I know....Christmas has left your wallet a little thin, but trust me...it's worth every penny and every minute of your time.

Click here to order The Krypton Companion from Amazon.com!

Spider-Man Meets...Burgess Meredith?

Courtesy of the awesome Frederator site, someone spotted a pretty amazing cameo on an old episode of Naked City.  No, it's not what you're thinking (perverts).  Naked City was a popular police drama of the late 50's and early 60's (sort of the Hill Street Blues of its day).

Anyway, so the guy's watching the episode and something on a newsstand in the background jumps out at him.  Check out the screen-grab:

(click on the image for a larger view):

That's not only a Spider-Man comic book displayed behind the actors, but the very first appearance of Spider-Man in Amazing Fantasy #15 (1962), hanging there as casually as any other comic book on the stand.

Here's another shot of it nestled behind the reliably sweaty and overwrought Burgess Meredith:

But wait....there's more!.  Take another look at the shot of the two actors, then look just to the right of Amazing Fantasy #15.  Sharp-eyed fans of Silver Age Marvel Comics will recognize the cover to Journey Into Mystery #83, featuring the first appearance of The Mighty Thor!

I'm sure none of the cast and crew of Naked City would have ever guessed a 24¢ purchase of both titles would net them well over $100,000 in today's collector's market.  Maybe that's why Burgess Meredith was sweating so profusely.  He somehow knew he was in the presence of comic book history!

Click here for the original Frederator post.

Spider-Man's Guide to Romance

Part of the appeal of Spider-Man has always been his status as an "everyman" character, a lovable loser we can all identify with at times. Unlike the superheroes who preceded him, he didn't have to pretend to be a nerd.....he was a nerd!  As such, Peter Parker's awkward social skills got him into a number of embarrassing situations early in his career, but few were as embarrassing as his ham-handed approach to impressing the ladies.

So, if you're still searching for that Special Someone to spend Valentine's Day with, be sure to completely ignore the advice of:

As part of the special "Tribute to Teen-Agers" issue of The Amazing Spider-Man #8 (1964), Spider-Man and his rival The Human Torch (a.k.a. Johnny Storm) are busy making the local New York "teen scene" (click on the cover for a larger view).  It should be noted that this particular story featured a rare collaboration of Marvel "Founding Fathers" Jack Kirby (pencils) and Steve Ditko (inks), bringing an interesting "blended authenticity" to the artwork that neither man would have been able to bring on his own (since Ditko's Fantastic Four and Kirby's solo Spider-Man interpretation had much to be desired).

But I digress.

As the story opens, we see Johnny Storm pulling up and turning heads in his fancy 1964 Corvette Sting Ray, as a nearby Spider-Man marinades in jealousy.  As Johnny steps inside to impress the girls with some flame tricks and bathe them in infra-red energy (woah!), Spider-Man decides to join in the fun by weaving a "little" web-bat with his webbing. 

I know it, you know it...we all know it.  This can't end well.

(click on the panels for a larger view)

As anyone with even a molecule of social aptitude could have predicted, the grotesque web bat didn't go over especially well with the teeny bopper crowd.

Naturally, the hot-headed Human Torch was busting for a fight with Spider-Man, so he chased him to a nearby beach for a duel of flame and web-based tricks.  A few pages later, the rest of the Fantastic Four suddenly appeared to convince the tempestuous teenagers to call a truce...which only seemed to make Spider-Man even more ornery.

What's this?  Sue Storm making an undeniable pass at Spider-Man?  Yes, Sue and Reed Richards were not yet married at this point, but still...Sue's very forward behavior introduced some unexpected controversy (not to mention hotness) to the Silver Age of Marvel Comics.

Sue's slinky moves obviously had a calming effect on Spider-Man, as webhead made a hasty exit...but not before insulting three quarters of the world famous quartet.

However, for the fair Sue Storm, Spider-Man left the ultimate awkward expression of geek-superhero affection:  a sticky web valentine in the sand!

Happily, Peter Parker went on to develop a set of reasonably competent social skills, ultimately marrying super-model Mary Jane Watson.  Not too bad for a guy who used to think bats and hearts made of webbing were a one-way ticket to Girlsville.

...'Cuz I'm the TAXMAN!

As most of my gainfully-employed fellow Americans already know, tomorrow (April 17th) is the deadline to file our income taxes with the hated Internal Revenue Service.

Those of us who aren't frantically trying to complete the byzantine paperwork (having filed weeks or even months ago) still have to endure the insipid coverage of TV news stations interviewing sheepish procrastinators at local post offices.  In short, it's just not a fun day for anyone.

Take heart, fellow citizens.  You're not the only ones who've been bullied and hassled by your bloated, tax-happy government.  When it comes to shaking down productive citizens, the IRS is willing to go after just about anyone...even a certain Man of Steel!

Yes, in anticipation of a dreary Tax Day, let's revisit Superman #148 (1961) for the staggering injustice of

Superman vs. The Taxman: Epilogue

Those of you who stopped by yesterday will recall my summary of Superman's epic clash with The Taxman, a.k.a. IRS agent Rupert Brand.  Superman worked hard to pay off a billion dollar tax bill Brand insisted he owed to the U.S. government, searching high and low for sources of fast income.

One of the sources of easy money I'd mentioned was "a collection of priceless ivory", to which a reader named Jeffrey responded:

"Please tell me that Superman massacred an
entire herd of elephants to get all that ivory."

Well, to assure Jeffrey that Superman did no such thing, I thought I'd offer a brief "epilogue" to yesterday's entry and clear up some of the mystery behind the ivory stash.

You see, using an abandoned Foreign Legion outpost(?) as a receptacle, Superman scoops up the valuable ivory tusks from an elephant graveyard he'd "once spotted" during his travels...

(click on the panels for a larger view)

Unfortunately, as I touched on yesterday, Bizarro randomly appears to "help" Superman in his characteristically backward way, using a duplicator ray to transform the priceless ivory into bars of Ivory Soap!

Sharp-eyed (and slighty older) readers might recognize the subtle in-joke of Bizarro's "It Floats" remark, since that was Ivory Soap's famous tag line dating all the way back to its 19th century origins, as you can see here in this 1894 ad.

So, rest easy Superman fans.  Absolutely no elephants were harmed in the making of this Silver Age comic book story!

All This, and Bubble Gum, Too!

In the bedroom my brother and I shared as kids, there was a closet door covered with stickers.

"Covered" as in "every square inch covered", and not just with any stickers, mind you, but all the stickers 70's kids loved. 

Zany Rat Fink hot rods, hippy-trippy slogans like "Stop the World, I Wanna Get Off!" or "Keep on Truckin", the infamous, eternally-hilarious and vaguely naughty Wacky Package stickers and, of course, Marvel Superheroes.

Oh, sure...they featured the same kind of frozen stock poses you'd expect from superhero stickers, but it was the humorous commentary of the characters that made the stickers such a hit with the kid crowd.

Sure...not too funny by today's advanced standards of irony-soaked snarkery, but at the time, they were enough to get a chuckle out of a grade school kid. In other words..."mission accomplished".

As a "perfect marriage", of sorts, between bubblegum card kings Topps (the guys behind the Wacky Package stickers) and the "Crazy Uncle Hipster" vibe of Marvel Comics, the superhero stickers mirrored Marvel's flare for self-depreciating humor...never afraid to show their heroes acting a little silly or out of character (unlike DC Comics, their stodgy crosstown rivals).

I mean, come on....seeing the Incredible Hulk making a deodorant joke?  Comedy gold to a nine year old, pal!

To keep their legions of sticker collectors on track (and buying more bubblegum cards), Topps included a handy checklist card with every pack of stickers (showing all 40 characters in the set).

Better yet, the reverse side of each checklist card had a full-color section of a famous Marvel comic book cover. 

Collect all nine unique cover sections, and you had yourself a complete cover. The one I still remember collecting (and completing) was a puzzle of Fantastic Four #100, still one of the all-time great "crowd scene aniversary issue" covers (click image to enlarge).

Of course, that closet door of stickers has long since been cleaned up (not at easy job, as I recall), but man...that thing had more zany hilarity per square inch than an entire season of Laugh-In.

Simply The Best: A Society of Their Own (Starman #69)

The Justice Society of America has always been one of my favorite comic book teams, for a variety of reasons.  One...they were the first.  Two, I'm a nut for World War II superheroes (which extends to Marvel's WWII heroes).  Three, the multiple-earths angle they later became associated with (another favorite theme of mine).  Naturally, I've snatched up just about any appearance of the JSA I can get my hands on, whether it's the ongoing modern series, their many cameo appearances, or their Golden Age adventures from All Star Comics (reprinted in the DC Archives hardcover series).

However, not every Golden Age JSA story holds up well from a modern reader's perspective.  Sure, I always try to keep in mind the historical context, their intended audience and the vast gulf in production values between then and now...but even with those factors in mind, some of those old tales are simply off-the-scale goofy....such as the debut of the "All-Girlfriend JSA" back in All Star Comics #15 (1943).

With the male members mysteriously absent from a JSA meeting, Wonder Woman...for no discernable reason....decides to gather up all of their girlfriends for "the opportunity of a lifetime".

Once they arrive at the JSA headquarters, not only does Wonder Woman casually blow the secret identities of the male JSA'ers, but she also arranges for the girls to take on their boyfriends' costumed identities, including Clarice Winston (right panel, seated) impersonating The Spectre, the near-omnipotent ghost of her fiance'!

(click on the panels for a larger view)

To their credit, the girls end up saving the guys from Brainwave, a classic JSA villain making his debut in this very story.

Flash forward some fifty-seven years later to DC's superb Starman series, specifically issue #69.  As writer James Robinson periodically liked to do, the story delved back into the JSA's past...this time revisiting (you guessed it) the infamous Girlfriend Society story.  Robinson wisely spun the story in a way that made Wonder Woman's plan seem at least a bit more plausible (and sane)....but on the whole it was great to see such an endearingly loopy bit of history acknowledged as an "official" case of the JSA.

However, as fun as the story was, what knocked it out of the ballpark for me was the outstanding cover by Andrew Robinson.

Robinson (no relation to James, as far as I know) infused a glorious, nostalgic dignity into Wonder Woman and her ersatz Justice Society...amplified by the beautiful Maxfield Parrish-like lighting and cloudscapes.  Unlike the silly girls of the original Golden Age story, you really get a sense that the women shown here on the cover can and will defeat Brainwave and rescue their "he-damsels in distress".

In fact, that cover almost makes me forget
just how goofy that original tale really was.

Almost.