Comic Book Icon Jim Shooter Dies

Above, Jim Shooter during his younger days. Photo by Alan Light.

It has been announced that former Marvel Comics Editor-In-Chief Jim Shooter has passed away from cancer. He was 73.

Shooter's stint as writer (and teaming up with artist Curt Swan) of the Legion of Super-Heroes in DC's Adventure Comics was, in my opinion, was the zenith of Legion stories. I still have those comic books today.

One of the greatest stories of the Shooter/Swan collaboration:

Image supplied by Dan Hagen at Facebook.

From Comic Book Resources:

Jim Shooter, the iconic comic book writer who broke into writing comics for DC when he was just 14 years old, and who later became one of the most influential Editors-in-Chief in Marvel history, has died at the age of 73, according to comic book writer, Mark Waid, who noted that Shooter had been suffering from esophogeal cancer for a few years now.

Famously (it was literally the first legend I did as part of Comic Book Legends Revealed), Shooter started writing for DC when he was just 14 years old. As a big comic book fan, he understood that the Marvel Comics of 1964-65 were a good deal sharper than most DC books of the era, so Shooter's idea was to pitch DC on stories that were more like Marvel ones. Really thoughtful idea, right? He also actively looked for a comic book that he felt had the biggest problems with its story, and pitched that title, which was Adventure Comics, starring the Legion of Super-Heroes.

The bewildering idea is that Shooter, who didn't really know how comics were done at the time, literally just wrote and penciled a two-part Legion of Super-Heroes story in 1965 (when he was 13 years old still) and sent it to Mort Weisinger to see if he wanted to buy it! Shooter was a heck of a young writer, but he was not what you would call a professional artist by any stretch of the imagination. However, shockingly enough, not only did Weisinger buy the two-parter in early 1966, he even decided to tell artists Sheldon Moldoff and Curt Swan (who drew the first part and second part, respectively) to use the pages by Shooter as the layouts for the issue!

 To read more, go here.

Captain America Star Steps Into Political Controversy Again

Anthony Mackie, the star in the upcoming Captain America movie, just can't seem to "stifle" himself.

He's done it again.

Personally, this time I don't have any issue with what he said, but others disagree and the publicity isn't going to do anything to help with the movie's box office. 

According to Gateway Pundit:

Captain America star Anthony Mackie was at the center of controversy last week when he commented that he didn’t think his character should represent America, despite being called Captain America.

Now he is back in the news for telling fans that they should not compare another character in the film to Donald Trump. Whether or not that’s a good or bad thing, he is just making things worse for himself and the film.

Someone at the studio needs to tell this guy to just stop talking. Put a clause in the contract for these actors, saying that they must avoid certain topics.

To read more, go here. 

Captain America Star Has A Problem

Above, the traditional Captain America.

Walt Disney and Stan Lee must be spinning in their graves.

The lastest is the new Captain America movie with its star, Anthony Mackie, badmouthing America. This is just another example of woke B.S. out of Disney.

According to the Gateway Pundit:

The star of a new ‘Captain America’ movie, based on the Marvel Comics character, recently told an audience that he doesn’t think the character should represent America.

Advanced ticket sales for this movie are not great and now they’re going to get even worse.

Why is it that so many actors ruin the films they’re starring in by saying stupid, woke things like this? It’s very much like the star of the new Disney ‘Snow White’ movie, who has done everything she can to make sure the movie will flop by merely talking in interviews.

As Fox News points out:

Disney, who owns Marvel Studios, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

To read the full article, go here. 

John Romita Sr., R.I.P.

Sad to hear of the passing of Marvel artist John Romita Sr. at age 93. His son, John Jr., made the announcement.

I was not a Marvel fan during his run on Spider-Man, but I did pick up a copy of Amazing Spider-Man #43 in 1966, featuring the third appearance of Rhino. This was my first exposure to Romita's work. Unfortunately, although I got a good price for it, I sold the issue back in the 1980s.

His cover on that issue was an eye-catcher for me, especially the texturing of the coloring work.  

NEW Spiderman Movie PUSHES TRANS Flag On CHILDREN!

I am generally a "live and let live" and "whatever floats your boat" kind of person. I really don't care what someone does in the privacy of their bedroom. But pushing agendas of deviant behavior on people, especially barrages of it on children, that's where I draw the line.

According to the video below, a new Spider Man movie by Marvel is coming out that displays a trans flag. It is a cartoon and guess who mainly watches cartoons: children!  

Why can't children be left alone and let them be children? Is that too much to ask for these days?

Marvel Super-Heroes Exhibition To Open In Tokyo

Above, Spider-Man "scales" a Harajuku building. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japan has its own super-heroes in anime and manga, so it is somewhat surprising that some American comic book characters are popular in Japan. However, I did see Spider-Man "scaling" the side of a building in Harajuku a few years ago.

For Japanese fans of Marvel super-heroes, a special exhibit is opening in two days at Mori Tower in Roppongi Hills.

According to JapanTravel:

Japan’s complex anime culture may seem intimidating, but never fear: Japan is obsessed with Captain America and Spiderman, too! The first exhibition dedicated to Marvel Comics opens at the Mori Tower from April 7 to June 25. 

Building on the success of recent blockbusters like Deadpool, Captain America: Civil War, and Doctor Strange, “Marvel: Age of Heroes” will feature over 200 props, costumes, and other paraphernalia from the company’s most popular franchises. The exhibition also provides a glimpse at the storied history of Marvel Comics, which dates from 1939.

Above, Mori Tower in Roppongi Hills. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here. 

Horror Comics Great Bernie Wrightson Dies At 68

Acclaimed horror comics artist giant Bernie Wrightson passed away yesterday of brain cancer. He was 68.

He had been ill for some time and had to retire from illustrating.

According to his obituary:

After a long battle with brain cancer, legendary artist Bernie Wrightson has passed away. 

Bernie “Berni” Wrightson (born October 27, 1948, Baltimore, Maryland, USA) was an American artist known for his horror illustrations and comic books. He received training in art from reading comics, particularly those of EC, as well as through a correspondence course from the Famous Artists School. In 1966, Wrightson began working for The Baltimore Sun newspaper as an illustrator. The following year, after meeting artist Frank Frazetta at a comic-book convention in New York City, he was inspired to produce his own stories. In 1968, he showed copies of his sequential art to DC Comics editor Dick Giordano and was given a freelance assignment. Wrightson began spelling his name “Berni” in his professional work to distinguish himself from an Olympic diver named Bernie Wrightson, but later restored the final E to his name. 

His first professional comic work appeared in House of Mystery #179 in 1968. He continued to work on a variety of mystery and anthology titles for both DC and its principal rival, Marvel Comics. In 1971, with writer Len Wein, Wrightson co-created the muck creature Swamp Thing for DC.

I was always amazed at how he can create lighting in black & white ink illustrations. It was fascinating to see his line work. I enjoyed his art over the years and he will be sorely missed.

To read more, go here.

More Comikaze Expo Photos

Above, Envy Model Management's Constance Nunes promoting the movie
Muck at Comikaze Expo. She appears in the movie. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When I set out to the Los Angeles Convention Center for Stan Lee's Comikaze Expo yesterday afternoon, the plan was to hang around there after our Godzilla/Gamera panel for a couple of hours and then head directly to work in Toluca Lake.

It was a good thing that I did so as it began to rain at around 8:45 PM tonight. Had I not gone directly to work, I would have had to go back home to Tarzana, change clothes and then head to Toluca Lake in rainy driving conditions. So, it worked out pretty well and we sure can use the rain!

I have some more photographs of Comikaze from yesterday. As I mentioned previously, the convention continues through Sunday.

Here they are:

Above, a view of the main exhibition hall. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Godzilla toys for sale. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, plenty of posters for sale. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, two displays of Spider-Man at the Marvel super-heroes display. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the Incredible Hulk at the display of Marvel super-heroes. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, plenty of stuff to see. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Romita Jr. Bolts To DC To Draw Superman

If I were into comic book-buying as I was as a kid, this possibly would be exciting to me.

Unfortunately, it is not.

According to IGN.com:

Longtime Marvel artist (and we mean a LONG time) John Romita Jr. has gone over to DC Comics, as announced on the first season two episode of DC All Access. 

That's huge news in itself, given that he's worked at the House of Ideas for most his life and is the son of Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Famer John Romita Sr. (also a veteran Marvel artist), but get a load of this: he's going to take over Superman with Geoff Johns.

The article also includes a sketch of Superman by Romita Jr.

Sorry, I am not impressed. That isn't Superman, the image I posted at top is.

To read the full story, go here. 

Marvel Wins Court Decision Over Characters Jack Kirby Created

Above, Spider-Man climbs the side of a building in Harajuku, Tokyo.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The heirs of comics giant Jack Kirby lost a big court battle over the copyrights to characters published in Marvel Comics.

An article on the court's action was posted by The Japan Times:

NEW YORK – Spider-Man, Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk can continue to reside in Marvel’s offices after a federal appeals court Thursday rejected an ownership claim by the children of the artist who helped create them. 

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan agreed with a lower court judge who denied claims by the family of Jack Kirby, the legendary artist who died in 1994 and whose work spanned more than half a century. 

His heirs in California and New York wanted to terminate Marvel’s copyrights from 2014 through 2019 to comics published from 1958 to 1963. Marvel Worldwide Inc. sued in January 2010 to prevent it, leading U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon in July 2011 to conclude the work was done “for hire,” a legal term that rendered the heirs’ claims invalid. She said the 1909 copyright law that applies to the case presumed that Marvel was considered the author and owner of Kirby’s creations because the characters were made at Marvel’s expense. 

The appeals court agreed, saying that when “Kirby sat down to draw, then, it was not in the hope that Marvel or some other publisher might one day be interested enough in them to buy, but with the expectation, established through their ongoing, mutually beneficial relationship, that Marvel would pay him.”

I don't know the particulars of this case, but based upon what I read in the article, it appears to me that the court's decision was the correct one. One would have to read the full contract between Marvel and Kirby to see where the family felt they had a foot in the door.

To read the full story, go here.

UPDATE:

Some people sympathetic to the cause of comics creators already have complained over my opinion of the court's decision. Sorry, but my opinion stands. Kirby's situation is different from Siegel's and Shuster's as the materials and Superman character used in Action Comics #1 pre-existed before National Comics/Detective Comics/DC Comics/National Periodical Publications hired them. Kirby's work was under Marvel's direction, etc. as an employee of Marvel and, therefore, falls under the 1909 work-for-hire statute. The law may suck, but it is still the law.

Dan Adkins, 1937 - 2013

Above, Curt Swan's pencils embellished by Dan Adkins inks in Superman no. 230.

As we get older, the people who were our favorite musicians, singers, actors and artists during our youth pass on with more frequency.

Such is the case (again) today.  Word has been received that comic book artist Dan Adkins passed away sometime last week.  He was 76.

Adkins was a gifted artist (he worked both as a penciler and inker), having worked for Marvel, DC, Charlton, Dell/Western Publishing, Eclipse, Harvey and others.  He was once Wally Wood's assistant.

My first recollection of Adkins's work was his inks over Curt Swan't pencils on an imaginary Superman story in which Lex Luthor was Superman and Clark Kent was a crook (Superman no. 230).

Ghost Rider Creator Gary Friedrich Needs Your Help

Ghost Rider creator Gary Friedrich has been counter-sued by Marvel. He needs your help to eat and pay everyday living expenses while he pursues an appeal against the court decision.

Recently, Gary posted the following on Facebook:

A NOTE TO MY FANS AND SUPPORTERS:

Since the various news agencies and websites have reported the ruling against me on my claims against Marvel in the Ghost Rider lawsuit, and the assesment of a $17,000 judgment against me and my company instead, I have read an amazing amount of comments in my support on the internet, and have received many messages of support directly. Although the reports of my employment situation and financial difficulties as well as problems with my health are unfortunately true, I want to let everyone in the comic book world, especially my supporters and fans of the Ghost Rider character which I invented, created, and wrote, that I am going to appeal the Court's ruling and continue to fight this as long as I am able and that your support of me means more than you will ever know. I have heard your voices. I thank you with alll my heart, and I appreciate your thoughts and best wishes as I soldier on.

Feel free to keep in touch with me via e-mail: fgroovygary@aol.com.

Thanks again and God bless you.

Fellow writer Steve Niles has set up a donation page. To access it, go here.

Tony Isabella's Bloggy Thing

Noted legendary comic book writer and critic Tony Isabella (left) has started his own Blogspot blog. He's calling it Tony Isabella's Bloggy Thing.

Currently, he is taking a look back at Marvel's Godzilla comics of the 1970s.

To see Tony Isabella's Bloggy Thing, go here.

Peter Parker Dies

CBS-New York is reporting that Marvel Comics is killing off Peter Parker:

New Yorkers take their fictional heroes seriously, so it may come as a shock to some that Peter Parker, the Queens native whose destiny was forever altered by a radioactive/genetically altered spider, has been killed off in the “Ultimates” imprint of Marvel Comics. The Ultimate series is different from Marvel’s standard line, in which Peter Parker is still happily toiling away as everybody’s favorite hard-luck hero.

No, in the Ultimates series, Peter Parker gets killed at the hands of his nemesis the Green Goblin.

A new Spider-Man will take his place.

To read the full story, go here.

Godzilla Returns To Comics

The "King of the Monsters" is returning to comic books, according to publisher IDW Publishing:

San Diego, CA (October 8, 2010) - The biggest star in motion pictures prepares to wreak havoc once again! IDW Publishing is thrilled to announce a partnership with Toho Co., Ltd. to create all-new GODZILLA comics. Starting in 2011, Godzilla will smash his way back onto the scene with a cast of characters from his films never before seen in comics.

"This new series will be monsters and mayhem, but most importantly, it's going to be a lot of fun," said Yukio Kotaki of Toho. "Godzilla has been gone from comics for too long and we feel that IDW is the perfect company to welcome him back in 2011."

Additionally, the new comics "will feature many of Godzilla's friends and foes, including MOTHRA, KING GHIDORAH, RODAN."

Previously, Godzilla was featured in comic books published by Marvel Comics and Dark Horse Comics.

For more information, go to IDW's website.

Al Williamson

Above, an example of the artistic genius of Al Williamson.

EC Comics art great Al Williamson has died.

He was 79 and was in ill health for the past several years. Williamson worked at EC in the 1950s and then moved to Warren Comics in the 1960s. He drew such characters as Flash Gordon, Secret Agent Corrigan, Star Wars and was an inker for Superman artist Curt Swan in the early 1980s at DC Comics before moving on to Marvel as an inker.

On inking Swan's pencils, Williamson said in 1999, "I had no idea he [Swan] was so good till I saw the pencils. His proportions were right, his action was correct."

On Williamson's inks, Swan said, "[Al] was the best. A fine draftsman in his own right, an extremely talented artist, he could render even the little mechanical parts of vehicles. He had a special flair the others didn't have." (Quote from "Superman At Fifty.")

Kirby Kin Seeking To Regain Copyrights

The New York Times reported Sunday that the kin of the late comic book artist Jack Kirby has filed notices to regain copyrights following the announcement of the sale of Marvel Comics to the Walt Disney Co.

The article stated:

Heirs to the comic book artist Jack Kirby, a creator of characters and stories behind Marvel mainstays like “X-Men” and “Fantastic Four,” last week sent 45 notices of copyright termination to Marvel and Disney, as well as Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures, 20th Century Fox, Universal Pictures, and other companies that have been using the characters.

The notices expressed an intent to regain copyrights to some of Mr. Kirby’s creations as early as 2014, according to a statement disclosed on Sunday by Toberoff & Associates, a law firm in Los Angeles that helped win a court ruling last year returning a share of the copyright in Superman to heirs of one of the character’s creators, Jerome Siegel.

The sale of Marvel to Disney isn't final until it comes to an approval vote by Marvel's shareholders.

To read the full article, go here.

Disney Bids To Acquire Marvel Entertainment

The Walt Disney Co. has made a bid to acquire Marvel Entertainment, the owners of Spiderman, Captain Marvel, X-Men and others.

FT.com reports:

Walt Disney made the first move in what is expected to be a wave of consolidation in Hollywood on Monday with a surprise $4bn (£2.4bn) bid for Marvel Entertainment in a deal that will unite Iron Man and Spider-Man with Mickey Mouse and Hannah Montana.

The deal, which will earn more than $1.4bn for Ike Perlmutter, Marvel’s chief executive and largest shareholder, raised the prospect of other transactions at a time when the entertainment industry is in flux.

To read the full article, go here.