Comic Book Historians

11/09/2024

Electric Company Spidey Super Stories #5, from February 1975 is what Romita is working on in this photograph. By this time, Stan Lee was serving as publisher, and John Romita was the art director. Two years later, in 1977, they would team up to launch the Spidey newspaper strip.

11/09/2024

Keep on Foomin appeared in issue 2 of Foom (Friends of Ol' Marvel) in 1973, and is a Marvel parody of Robert Crumb’s 'Keep on Truckin’ from Zap Comix #1, 1968. The Hulk is in the same exaggerated, strutting pose, reflecting the playful spirit of Crumb's work while injecting Marvel flavored humor. The credit 'With Apologies to R. Crumb from an idea by Dave Snow' acknowledges how Marvel embraced countercultural influences to connect with a broader audience.

08/09/2024

I chatted with movie collectibles expert and former Indy publisher, Bruce Hershenson about his relationship with Marvel & Spider-Man cocreator Steve Ditko that they cultivated in the 1970s. We discuss publishing Avenging World, Mr. A, as well as Ditko's work with Stan Lee and friendship with fe**sh artist Eric Stanton.

I chatted with movie collectibles expert and former Indy publisher, Bruce Hershenson about his relationship with & cocreator t...

07/09/2024

As Stan Lee himself admitted, Doctor Strange was Steve Ditko's idea. A few issues after his 1963 premiere, Doctor Strange's origin by both Lee and Ditko, was published. Lee claims the origin was influenced by Chandu the Magician, a radio serial that became a film in 1932. In this film, Westerner Frank Chandler travels to India to train under an ancient yogi and becomes the sorcerer Chandu. He combats the evil mastermind Roxor, portrayed by Bela Lugosi. Chandu’s powers of astral projection, mentalism, and teleportation through hand gestures are especially fun to watch.

06/09/2024

Jim Starlin has written some of the most iconic cosmic stories in comics, and with his influence on the Guardians of the Galaxy films, it's only fitting to celebrate the many "deaths" he’s brought to both the Marvel and DC universes. After co-creating Mistress Death with Mike Friedrich in 1973, Starlin penned the Death of Adam Warlock in 1977, the Death of Captain Marvel in 1982, and Jason Todd’s demise in Batman: A Death in the Family (1988). Notably, Captain Marvel’s death actually stuck—a rare feat in comics. Few creators understand the concept of comic book death quite like Jim Starlin. There are quite a bit more than this!

03/09/2024

In 1938, E.C. Segar introduced a storyline where P**p Deck Pappy, an elderly and mischievous character, shaves and changes clothes to impersonate his son, Popeye, in an attempt to woo Popeye's girlfriend, Olive Oyl. The strip at the bottom shows the moment when Popeye uncovers his father's wiley ways.

02/09/2024

‘The Phantom’ comic strip first appeared in American newspapers on 17 February 1936, and soon found success in both the US and overseas markets. By the mid-1960s, it was being promoted by the King Features Syndicate as the ‘number one adventure strip’ in the world. Over a period of more than eighty years the adventures of the Phantom have been adapted into comic books, novelisations, animation, video games and live action media. Today, the masked adventurer is often considered as a precursor (or perhaps even a prototype) of the modern superhero. —- by Rosco M

    Introduction   ‘The Phantom' comic strip first appeared in American newspapers on 17 February 1936, and soon found success in both the US and overseas markets. By the mid-1960s, it was being promoted by the King Features Syndicate as the 'number one adventure strip' in the world. Over…

01/09/2024

Strange Adventures #209 (1968) is a prime example of Neal Adams pushing the boundaries of comic art with his innovative use of dynamic angles and anatomically realistic depictions. This Deadman adventure is packed with thrilling, kinetic scenes that draw the reader into the heart-pounding experience, sharing the protagonist's dread as he teeters on the edge of a perilous fall from a Ferris wheel.

01/09/2024

Beautiful set of dailies from Alex Raymond's Rip Kirby 1949 showcasing his use of shadow, tension and the human form. These panels highlight Raymond's skill in creating suspenseful and emotionally charged scenes. His work qualified him to become president of the National Cartoonist Society in 1950 for which he served 2 one-year terms.

31/08/2024

Countercultural outlaw biker gangs had a notable pop culture presence in the 1960s. An example is the 1966 film The Wild Angels, starring Peter Fonda and written by Charles B. Griffith, which helped establish the genre's rebellious image. This was mirrored by Neal Adams’ art in Strange Adventures #206 (1967).

30/08/2024

In 1990, Classics Illustrated presented Herman Melville's Moby Dick in a unique adaptation by Bill Sienkiewicz, published by Berkley/First Publishing. This hauntingly intense artwork captures the moment Captain Ahab is violently dragged by the White Whale.

29/08/2024

Strange Adventures #216 (1969) marks a watershed moment in comics, akin to the end of the Silver Age, much like Steranko's Nick Fury series. This issue represents a metaphysical peak, with Deadman's journey to embrace his bargain with Rama Kushna. As a reader, acknowledging this moment is to recognize Neal Adams at the top of his game. For me, it evokes the same feeling as when Pink Floyd reached the heights of The Dark Side of the Moon.

28/08/2024

FOOM 15, 1976 has scattered pics of the Bullpen. I gathered them together into this collection of photos of Archie Goodwin, , Chris Claremont, Dave Cockrum, Gene Colan, Gerry Conway, George Perez, George Tuska, Steve Ge**er, Jack Kirby, and more

28/08/2024

Prince Valiant, the so-called "honored" guest, suffers through slow, excruciating hours as time seems to crawl by. Through the haze of pain, he remains faintly aware of the relentless torment. Harold R. Foster's vivid imagination brings this 1944 scene to life, showcasing some brutal aspects of his storytelling.

25/08/2024

Lee Falk's writing in The Phantom strip was undeniably brilliant, but it's important to recognize that Ray Moore was the perfect penciler during the early days of the strip. This panel from 1939, where the hero's girlfriend is abandoned in the desert by Arab slave traders, exemplifies Moore's ability to convey powerful emotions and tension without a single word.

24/08/2024

The Japanese Spider-Man series from 1978 came about when Marvel was trying to make a name for itself in international markets. It all started with a meeting in 1977 between Stan Lee, Osamu Tezuka, and Gene Pelc, who was really driving Marvel's efforts in Japan. They teamed up with Toei Company and gave Spider-Man a fresh spin that matched Japan's love for tokusatsu shows. Pelc played a big role in bringing this version of Spidey to Japanese audiences. This collaboration didn't just make Spider-Man popular in Japan—it also set the stage for what would later turn into the Power Rangers.

23/08/2024

Gerry Conway co-created Frank Castle, the Punisher, who first appeared in 1974. Castle's origin story involves his wife and child being killed by the mafia, prompting him to wage a one-man war on crime. This concept has been linked to Don Pendleton's 'The Executioner' series in 1969 and featured a similar backstory. However, the roots of this archetype can be traced even further back to Alex Raymond's 'Secret Agent X-9,' by Dashiell Hammett in 1935.

22/08/2024

In Tarzan #11 (1978), there's a great fight scene between Tarzan and a lion, with pencils by John Buscema. Many talented artists have depicted similar battles, but it's exciting to see Marvel's take with Buscema's dynamic style. What makes this series particularly intriguing is the variety of inkers who worked over his pencils, from Alcala to Messina to Jansen, each bringing their own unique touch to the artwork.

21/08/2024

Alex Raymond died in a car crash on September 6, 1956, while driving with fellow cartoonist Stan Drake. Drake, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was thrown from the car and suffered severe injuries, including the surgical reattachment of his severed ears. Raymond, on the other hand, was wearing a seatbelt and sustained fatal chest and head trauma. In a later interview, Drake mentioned that Raymond had been having an affair and suggested that he might have been suicidal. However, Ray Burns, another associate, dismissed the idea of su***de as absurd, asserting that while Raymond was indeed involved in an affair, he lived life to the fullest. Burns emphasized that the notion of Raymond being suicidal was a fabrication for dramatic effect and had no basis in truth.

20/08/2024

Shortly before his death in 1938, EC Segar created a brief Sunday continuity about a Martian invasion of Earth, which was thwarted by the first person the Martians encountered: the superpowered Popeye, representing superior human strength. Aided by a telepath who prepares him for his fateful encounter with the extraterrestrials, Popeye ultimately foils the Martian threat. A similar concept appears in Journey into Mystery #83 (1962), where Thor prevents an invasion of Earth by aliens from Saturn.

18/08/2024

1935 Jungle Jim newspaper strip by Alex Raymond featured a continuity involving a villainess called "The Bat Woman." She exerts a powerful, almost mystical influence over local natives, mesmerizing them into committing acts of violence on her behalf. Jungle Jim was Alex Raymond's response to the popularity of Tarzan, running alongside his Flash Gordon, which itself was created as a counter to Buck Rogers. The introduction of "The Bat Woman" predates the creation of the pulp hero Black Bat and Batman, both of whom first appeared in 1939. This strip, with its early use of bat imagery and hypnotic control, foreshadowed the enduring cultural fascination with bat-associated characters in American pop culture.

18/08/2024

The top image isn't Bruce Banner transforming into the Hulk in 1962. It's actually Juan undergoing his transformation into a 4-dimensional being as the Eternaut, traveling through space and time in the 1959 comic Eternaut by Oesterheld and López. While there are similarities between the scenes (with the Hulk on the bottom), it's more likely an example of parallel thinking, where both artists independently arrived at a similar depiction of a dramatic transformation from one state to another while breaking the fourth wall.

17/08/2024

The Phantom encounters an unexpected surprise in these two 1938 dailies. As he crawls through his lover Diana's window for a midnight kiss, he instead stumbles upon... her mother. Lee Falk and Ray Moore showcase the Phantom's charm in this amusing twist.

17/08/2024

Al Williamson's depictions of Secret Agent Corrigan began with Alex Raymond's original model in early 1967 then using a Sean Connery-like facial structure, before eventually using his own face in 1971. This progression highlights Williamson's adaptability and personal touch, his meticulous work, and the likely need for photo reference to achieve his ongoing storytelling.

16/08/2024

1969, Harvey Kurtzman and Will Elder. Their partnership spanned several decades, marked by a deep friendship and a shared creative vision that transformed the landscape of satire and parody.

15/08/2024

Before Elektra captivated readers in 1980/81, the world was introduced to Lady Vengeance in 1974. Like Elektra, she was driven by the tragic murder of her father, a figure entangled in the criminal underworld. This loss propelled her into becoming a relentless vigilante, hell-bent on eradicating mobsters. Unlike Elektra's ninja-inspired persona, Lady Vengeance was given a gimp with a gun look. Both characters, however, shared a commitment to intense training, honing their lethal skills to take down organized crime. This strip is from Secret Agent Corrigan, crafted by Al Williamson and Archie Goodwin.

13/08/2024

Great acceptance speech of Steve Ditko as a Disney Legend by Mark Ditko at D23 2024!

12/08/2024

Congratulations to Steve Ditko on his induction as a Disney Legend this year 2024, a well-deserved honor for the co-creator of Spider-Man and creator of Doctor Strange. Special thanks to the Ditko family, including Mark and Patrick Ditko, for their efforts in ensuring that his legacy is never forgotten!

12/08/2024

Congrats to Steve Ditko and the Ditko family for this Disney Legend honor from Disney.

Mark Ditko is here to accept the award on behalf of Steve Ditko!

12/08/2024

John Buscema passed away in 2002 after being diagnosed with stomach cancer. His artistic skills remained undiminished even up until his death at the age of 74, a rarity in comics. His final published work, Superman: Blood of My Ancestors (originally started by Gil Kane, who also passed away), showcased his continued excellence in artistry. Buscema also completed some pages for the first issue of a series titled JLA Barbarians, which was halted due to his untimely death.