Friday, April 23, 2021

SHAMBALLING

While going through old files, I came across this layout I did for artist Dan Green when we were working on our 1980's graphic novel, Dr. Strange:  Into Shamballa.

Dan and I created the story together, then I wrote up a detailed plot and, using my outline as a guide, Dan laid out the story, adding his own twists and turns, and creating thumbnail art for me to script from.  But sometimes, as I wrote from the thumbnails, the story would change (as stories tend to do) and I'd draw these goofy doodles to let Dan know what I was thinking, how I envisioned the new sequence.

Dan then turned my goofiness into breathtaking art.  (Most folks only know Dan as an inker, but his talents are vast.)

Doc never did say "Oy, vey" in the story, though!



12 comments:

  1. I really enjoy Into Shmballa, and have since I read it as a teenager, BUT... I really think the lack of Yiddish hurts the story.



    Jack

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    1. If I could go back in time to correct that fault, Jack, I would. ;)

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  2. I'm sure you get this question all the time, but, was the creation of the Creature Commandos in any way inspired by the episode of the Munsters where it is revealed Herman served in the US> military in WWII?


    Jack

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    1. I get that question at least twice a day, Jack! But seriously...

      Creature Commandos came about because I was a newbie writer trying to sell as many stories as possible to the DC anthologies. One of the books I was selling to was WEIRD WAR TALES and I thought, "Hmmmm. Weird? War? Classic monsters fighting World War II!" Herman Munster never entered the equation.

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    2. Too bad, it would have been fitting, since Superman and the Munster are pretty much the same story. People with something unique about them, living among more typical folks, and the charm comes from the fact that they don't see themselves as different in any major way.


      Not surprising. A lot of people folks make a point about Superman's immigrant roots (though, I would argue his personality would more be a stereotypical first generation American), and sort of like Bewitched started to become coded gay, the Munsters were ALWAYS coded as immigrants. Hell, they were immigrants.

      Which is of course why they became popular, many people could identify with that, given how many first generation Americans there were at the time, so they could see a part of their parents and own upbringing.

      Where as the Addams family are more like Batman, just kind eccentric in a way that their wealth allows them to explore.

      I love the Creature Commandos, but it is a chae that you couldn't think of a family of hard working immigrants, there American born son who was not too different, and assimilated niece, and their trials and adventures.

      Was it because they had another band singing a Beatles song, and you couldn't have that?

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iFpomw5sDo (sorry I could only find the Spanish version)

      Don't let that corrupt Herman''s sound advice...

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhwW9Ek3fbk

      I think we all learned who the real monster is. Peer pressure. Its peer pressure.




      Jack

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    3. That was pretty sweet (Herman's advice, not that awful rendition of "I Want To Hold Your Hand")!

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    4. I bet you wish you hadn't run that nice werewolf family out of your neighborhood in Brooklyn as a child now, don't you?

      I don't want to freak you out here Dematteis, but did you know that you have some kind of Justice League comic book coming out in July?


      Jack

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    5. I heard rumors about that series, Jack. Are they true?

      (I should do a proper blog post about it, shouldn't I?)

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    6. Not my department Dematteis, so I could not verify. Though, it is hard to imagine a universe where DC would ever ask you to write JUstice League.

      Filthy lies I am sure. I would contact a lawyer if I were you. Pure slander.



      Jack

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    7. As you can see, I did an official announcement elsewhere on this page...so the rumors must be true!

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    8. I don't know. What is more likely Dematteis that you are writing a Justice League comic.... or that some one hacked into your account, wrote the post and then used some kind of mind ray to make you THINK you are writing the comic and made the post?

      I think we both know the answer Dematteis.

      Exactly.

      Don't worry, you don't have to a[ologize, you are teh victim here.




      Jack

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    9. Thanks for clearing that up, Jack!

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