Showing posts with label obituary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label obituary. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 13, 2018

Stan Lee 1922-2018

This is how I first saw Stan Lee in the 1960s...
...as the host/showman of Marvel's Fantasy Masterpieces reprint anthology!
But, he had already made several appearances in the comics themselves...as a character!
In this fourth-wall breaking tale where we met the creatives behind Timely's Terry-Toons Comics, we don't see Stan until the end of the story...
...since, at the time of this tale (Terry-Toons Comics #12 in 1943), he was only the office boy at Timely (though he didn't have red hair)!
Stan wrote Secrets Behind the Comics in 1947, expanding on an article he had penned for Writers' Digest!
...and had, in five years, become Managing Editor and Art Director!
We've already run most of the book...
...and the rest will follow this week!
Stan preferred to stay behind the scenes, but the early 1950s persecution of comics as being the driving force behind juvenile delinquency compelled him to script a tale...
...Raving Maniac!...where he explains how comics are no different than other forms of children's literature!
Be here tomorrow, as we continue our look at Stan Lee in the comics...
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Friday, August 31, 2018

Marie Severin (1929-2018)

We ran this never-reprinted 1970s tale only a year ago...
...but now it's in memory of the amazing lady who co-penciled (with Stu Schwartzburg) and inked it!
Written by Stu Schwartzberg, penciled by Stu and multi-talented, award-winning penciler/inker/colorist/designer Marie Severin and inked by Marie, this never-reprinted tale from Big Apple Comix #1 (1975) perfectly captures the "Noo Yawker" love-hate dichotomy!
Since one of Marie's many talents was caricature, she was also the only choice to handle movie/tv spoofs like this never-reprinted one from the appropriately-named Spoof #4 (1973)!
(BTW, the doctor on the Frank Giacoia-inked cover was Robert Young as tv sawbones Marcus Welby M.D., also the subject of a parody in this issue!)
Just a couple of samples from a talented and charming lady.
Note: the regular Friday Fun feature, Rex Dexter, will return next week.
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Tuesday, August 28, 2018

Reading Room WILD "Big Wheels" by Russ Heath

You may know the late, great Russ Heath (1926-2018) from his meticulously-detailed...
...war, Western, or super-hero stories!
But we thought we'd pay tribute to his little-known humor work!
This never-reprinted tale from Atlas' Wild #3 (1954) was one of several Heath did for Atlas' 1950s MAD clones which also included Riot, Crazy, and Snafu!
Russ would later go on to occasionally-assist Harvey Kurtzman on the R-rated Little Annie Fanny...earning himself a long-term residency at Hugh Hefner's Playboy Mansion, as recounted by Mark Evanier HERE!
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Sunday, August 26, 2018

John McCain (1936-2018)

Whats the difference between the late John McCain and Don (the Con) Trump?
Class...
...vs crass!

Sunday, July 8, 2018

RIP Steve Ditko (1927-2018)

Easily one of the most eccentric and unique personalities in a rather eccentric and unique field...
...Steve Ditko was not only the co-creator or sole creator of some of pop culture's most enduring characters, but a fascinating person to be around.
I had the privilege of working with him on a number of projects at various companies, and while he disliked interacting with fans, when dealing with fellow pros, he was honest (if not entirely diplomatic), knowledgeable about an amazing array of subjects, and far more "professional" than many young hot-shot artists!
By that, I mean he always met deadlines and had no problems modifying artwork to suit the editor's/client's needs, which rankles many "creatives" who feel it would "impugn their vision".
I'll miss him.

BTW, check out a rarely-reprinted Mr A story with no captions or dialogue (or any mention of Objectivism) at all...HERE!
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Wednesday, March 14, 2018

RIP Stephen Hawking (1942-2018)

This is one of those posts I'd hoped I'd never have to write...
(yes, I know "hurry" is misspelled, but the point is valid!)
The greatest intellect of our era has departed this mortal coil.
But do not mourn him!
Celebrate his many achievements.
Enjoy the fact that not only was he a scientist, but a sci-fi fan, as well!
(Note: Hawking was the only person to play himself on any Star Trek TV show or movie!)
Consider how he redefined our universe and our place in it!

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Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Len Wein (1948-2017)

Most remember Len Wein for co-creating Swamp Thing, Wolverine, and the All-New, All-Different X-Men...
FOOM Magazine #10 Cover Original Art by Dave Cockrum
(...particularly, Storm, Colossus, and NightCrawler.)
But I prefer to remember his earlier, quirky projects like...
Hot Wheels #6 Cover Art by Neal Adams & Dick Giordano
Hot Wheels
(based on the cartoon series based on the toy line)
Wild West Action #1 Cover Art by Syd Shores and Mike Esposito
The Bravados
(An ethnically-diverse assortment of Western heroes)
and his (believe it or not)...
Secret Hearts #148 Contents Page Art by Gray Morrow
...romance comics work!
Len was not a one-trick pony!
He had an interest in almost everything imaginable...and it showed in his work.
BTW, all the links are to material that hasn't been reprinted since publication in the early 1970s!
Check them out!
BONUS: Here's the printed version of the X-Men-themed cover for Marvel's FOOM #10...
...and that's why I wanted to run the original art!
The two-color (as compared to comics' usual four-color) printing really muddied up the art!

Sunday, June 11, 2017

Adam West (1928-2017)

This is a post I hoped I'd never write...
Batman is dead.
Actually, Adam West, the actor who personified the character for a generation of fans (and many since) has passed away.
Many will discuss his portrayal of the Caped Crusader, but, I'd like you fans to see a project that, had it sold, could've gotten him back to the level of William Shatner in terms of overcoming the heroic stereotyping and re-establishing him as a full-time working performer.
Lookwell, created and written by Robert Smigel and Conan O'Brien in 1991.
Forgive me, but my eyes are too clouded with tears to continue...

Friday, April 7, 2017

Don Rickles (1926-2017)

While my fellow comics fans remember his "star turn" in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen...
...many don't realize he did an occasional appearance in genre TV!
Rickles' good friend Don Adams put him in Get Smart as Sid Krimm, an old army pal of Maxwell Smart's who ends up being pulled into the world of spies in the two-parter "Little Black Book".
Bonus: the original art by Jack Kirby and Vince Colletta for page 16 above!
Note how much detail was muddied in the printing process!
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Jimmy Olsen: Adventures by Jack Kirby Volume 1
(which reprints the complete two-parter with Don Rickles!)

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Berni Wrightson (1948-2017)

In tribute, here's a quartet of intro pages illustrated by Berni Wrightson...
...for DC's 100-Page Super Spectacular #4 (1971)
Titled "Weird Mystery Tales", the reprint anthology featured brand-new art for the section headers with Berni himself as a "host" doing intros...
BTW, none of these headers has ever been reprinted!
So, unless you own this HTF issue, this will be the first time you've ever seen these pix!
Here's the book's text piece, a never-reprinted story with a large Wrightson illo, and a cute twist ending!

Yep, Wrightson's the protaganist!

Saturday, January 28, 2017

Sir John Hurt (1940-2017)

Somebody, after seeing Alien, said about John Hurt...
.."Never has an actor been more aptly-named!"
Hurt portrayed an amazing assortment of tormented characters over the years, especially in genre films!

And, sadly, a role that may presage the fate of all of us...
Rest Well, Sir John. And God Help the Rest of Us...
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