This weekend's Mainframe Comic Con was a success, raising money for charity and offering interviews with a great group of people from across the pop culture spectrum. You can find my interview at the two hour, nine minute mark in the video below (I was interviewed by Robert Meyer Burnett, co-writer and director of the William Shatner classic Free Enterprise); but stick around and watch 'em all.
You can see the entire Con at this link. Enjoy!
Speaking of comics shows, here is the story...
ReplyDeleteJim Starlin was at Great Lakes Comic Con February, 2020 (Good God am I glad that wasn't a month later). Naturally I got a writing sample and some comics signed.
He was a nice chatty guy, but one comic I had caught him off guard, a copy of Eagle #1. If you dont know what that is, don;'t worry few do.
This was a fanzine Starlin published, with the title character Eagle.
When he saw this, he told a story...
This comic is not the traditionally Jim Starlin-y stuff, but nor is it a standard superhero comic. This has kind of a counter culture and anti-war bend to it.
Thing is, he was in the Navy at the time of publication. They got wind of it and were not thrilled by the message.
He was brought up on several disciplinary charges, include sodomy. You are probably a little confused by that last charge... as were his handler and I.
The reason for the odd charge was that Starlin was a photographer at the time, and in his dark room. When he was confronted, he told his superior if he didn't close the dark room door he was going to shove his camera up his ass.
Well, I thought it was an interesting story.
Also, he charged $10 per autograph, but all money went to the Hero Initiative.
Jack
Great story!
DeleteJim actually lives not far from me, but I only seem to see him at conventions. Or in the airport on the way to the convention!
The real question is, doe he often have to correct people who call him "J.M."?
DeleteHe seemed like a pretty nice and friendly guy. Oddly enough, if some COVID-19 predictions come true, he may have been one of the last hands I ever shook.
His writing sample was pretty good as well.
Jack
What kind of "writing sample"?
DeleteThe same kind I got from you. Written in a beaten up old notebook.
DeleteSome people get art work from pencilers, I get writing samples from... well, writers.
Jack
Ah...right! Now I remember!
DeleteBut, what about his, Dematteis...
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_sVt-HX2vw
Or... dare I say... even this...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRIBC3LpnfI
Jack
Thanks for those, Jack!
DeleteHope you're safe and healthy!
THat radio classic has occupied room in my brains since I was a human teenager.
DeleteAs for Gene Colan, he was ahead of his time in a very strange way.
He was an artist in the Silver Age, and was great even then. He drew some of my favorite stories of the era, and even out side of that images.
His Daredevil, Captain America, and Dr. Strange all look amazing. Co-Created Falcon.
He was a regular almost as long as Romita.
Still, I think of him more as a Bronze Age artist. It just has a look more in line with the heavy look of the 70s and early 80s.
Yet, I have never known a comic artist from the 70s to cite him as an influence. A pure talent, yes... absolutely.
It just seems like he arrived to early. Just take a look at the following image. It is from 1967, but almost looks like it is from '77 0r '87.
http://www.theothermurdockpapers.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/colanDD26.jpg
Just weird. He was absolutely a great artist from the word go, but those early works seem almost out of place.
Jack
When I started at Marvel I did two black and white Hulk tales (for the RAMPAGING HULK magazine that Colan illustrated. They were both very character-centric, depending on human connection and emotion, and he did a brilliant job.
DeleteI remain in awe of his work. TOMB OF DRACULA, HOWARD THE DUCK, DAREDEVIL, CAPTAIN AMERICA and on and on. As unique in his way as Ditko was in his. A giant.
Gene Colan illustrated, in my opinion, five of the best pages in Captain America history.
DeleteThe first five issues of Captain America #122:
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/cmx-images-prod/Item/84333/Previews/688e0b73e15719cd254b03184dfeab57._SX1280_QL80_TTD_.jpg
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/cmx-images-prod/Item/84333/Previews/bfa84b1eca6c973b79bd2468a09add68._SX1280_QL80_TTD_.jpg
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/cmx-images-prod/Item/84333/Previews/d121f57efcbb26ba61830f24ce3738b6._SX1280_QL80_TTD_.jpg
Perhaps no artist in Marvel history so allowed Stan Lee to do his character monologues better, and capture... no create the mood perfect to reflect a character's innner turmoil.
And at the risk of further stoking the Dematteis/Iron Man divide...
https://bleedingcool.com/comics/recent-updates/tony-stark-hates-tolkein/
J------ack.
It took a lot of balls to open an issue of CAPTAIN AMERICA so quietly. But it totally works and they sell it 100%. Colan was great at quiet moments. A master of mood and emotion.
DeleteJ.M.,
ReplyDeleteI recently read the complete collection of Seekers into the Mystery and thought it was really good. I liked the relationship between Lucas and his cousin Diane and Lucas's eventual realization that he had always loved her. Beautiful stuff.
William
Thank you, William! SEEKERS remains near and dear to my heart, a very special project. So glad you enjoyed it!
Delete