When I saw this picture of the Dalai Lama, my immediate thought was that he looked like he was wearing garb from a Superman comic book character: Mr. Mxyzptlk from the 5th Dimension.
Here's the photo:
Here's Mr. Mzyzptlk by Curt Swan on the cover of Action Comics #273 (From 1961. I have this issue, by the way):
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| Above, Neal Adams and yours truly at the 2012 Comikaze Expo in Los Angeles. |
Every once in a while, I will pull out an issue of Batman or one featuring Deadman to savor the artistry of Neal Adams.
I will admit that I didn't care much for his artwork back around 1968, but reading his Batman and Deadman stories, along with his run on Green Lantern/Green Arrow, his art grew on me. I thought his compositions were quite interesting.
I had the privilege of meeting Neal Adams at Comikaze Expo in 2012 after being on a Godzilla panel there. I found him easy to talk to and had a couple of photographs taken with him.
Today, marks four years since the passing of Neal Adams at age 80. (I thought he was younger.)
It would be fitting to raise a glass in a toast to his memory today.
Somewhere around 20 years ago, I purchased a page of original art of Action Comics no. 405. It is the October 1971 issue.
The page was pencilled by Curt Swan and inked by Murphy Anderson (with backgrounds inked by Jack Abel). At the time I bought mine, original comic book art was not too expensive. Mine was $100. I have forgotten who the dealer was that I bought it from.
The page was signed by Swan.
Today, Swan's original artwork, highly sought after, sells in the thousands of dollars. Key issue art commands more as do covers and splash pages. No, I don't plan on selling my page.
Here is the cover of the issue (by Neal Adams and Dick Giordano):
Here's the original artwork as it appears in my home:
It probably hit the newsstands a couple of months before (around November 1965). I got this comic at a liquor store on Normandie Ave. near 105th Street in Los Angeles when my dad and I went there one night. I think he bought it for me.
This comic contained several Golden Age Superman stores circa the 1940s. It was the first time I had ever read a Golden Age Superman story. I've read many more since then.
LiveAuctioneers estimated value of this issue was $400-$600 in near-mint condition. It sold for $600.
I still have it in my collection.
Jeepers!
This year marks 85 years since Superman first appeared in the national (and international) culture in Action Comics no. 1.
To commemorate the Man of Steel's 85th Anniversary, the New Zealand Mint is putting out anniversary silver coins for the island nation of Niue.
From the Superman Homepage:
The New Zealand Mint is now taking orders for the Superman 85th Anniversary 1oz Silver Coin.
Up, up, and away! Made from 1oz of pure silver, this stunning coin celebrates 85 years of the one and only, SUPERMAN.
Fully engraved, it shows a close-up look of the Man of Steel along with a prominent display of his emblem. Surrounding the coin are the words “Celebrating 85 years of Superman” to further commemorate the special anniversary. Some relief and a mirror finish have been added to give him a striking and dynamic appearance.
Priced at US$109, order your Superman 85th Anniversary 1oz Silver Coin today! The Superman 85th Anniversary Silver Coin is also available in a 3oz silver version (US$299) and as a special 1/4oz Gold Coin (US$800).
To read more and for ordering links, go here.
One of the great artists of the Silver Age of comic books, Joe Giella, passed away two days ago at age 94.
Giella was very familiar to me as he inked many of the DC Comics super-hero comic books such as Batman, Green Lantern, The Flash and others. He was also the artist of the Mary Worth newspaper comic strip for many years.
His inking embellished the pencils of Carmine Infantino, Sheldon Moldoff, Gil Kane and others.
His family posted this announcement on Facebook:
The Giella family wishes for all to celebrate the incredible life of Joe Giella. Joe passed peacefully on March 21st at the age of 94.
Joe was such a special person. His presence alone would put you at ease. Even on the most difficult days, just being with him would make everything OK again.
He was so honest and sincere, so kind and gentle and so loving and proud.
He was so proud of his service for his country in the US Navy.
He was so proud of his long prolific career in comic books and comic strips.
And he was most proud of his family. To him, family was everything. Nothing made him happier than sitting around the dinner table with family and friends. Sundays and Holidays became sacred events full of laughter and great food.
Joe’s legacy in comic books and comic strips will live on. Our family wishes to thank all of his friends and fans for their support. He truly was humbled by all the attention and love he received. Thank you all and when you think of Joe please try to smile. The world needs more superheroes like Joe.
Joe Giella
June 27, 1928 – March 21, 2023
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| Above, Batman and Joker of the Golden Age of comic books. |
From Fox News:
The latest chapter in the Joker’s nefarious story arc may be the DC Comics arch villain's most unusual yet: He becomes pregnant.
In the latest issue of DC Comics’ series, "The Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing," Batman’s nemesis actually carries and gives birth to a child.
If that sounds strange, that’s the way the graphic novel company intended it. On its website, DC Comics advertised the issue as containing Joker’s "most bizarre caper yet."
Readers may be tempted to think this is part of DC’s attempt to do some woke, LGBTQ-inclusive storytelling with The Joker being a transgender man undergoing a typical pregnancy, though it’s not quite that simple.
In this volume, created by Matthew Rosenberg and Carmine Di Giandomenico, the "Clown prince of Crime" becomes pregnant by some unnatural curse and gives birth in a vomit-inducing way, literally.
Reaction on social media has been intense:
DC has already screwed up Superman, so I guess it's Batman's turn starting with this.
If you want to read more, go here. (If you dare.)
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| Above, Superman no. 75 newsstand edition. |
30 years ago, incredible as it may seem, Superman no.75 comic book hit the stands and comic book shops. It was the issue in which Doomsday killed the Man of Steel.
I remember heading out of the office to go (2 miles away) to Golden Apple Comics on Melrose Blvd. to pick up a copy. When I arrived, there was a long line of people waiting to get a copy. They limited it to one copy of the newsstand edition and one copy of the black bagged edition that contained goodies such as a mourning armband.
My excuse for leaving the office was to "go to the bank." In fact, as it was a quiet news day, the "Death of Superman" was the biggest news of the day. I was quoted in the Los Angeles Times when a reporter talked to us customers in line.
My dad was also caught up in the "Death of Superman" frenzy and bought about a dozen copies of the black bagged edition. I inherited them when he passed away in 1999.
DC Comics is celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Death of Superman with a special 80-page comic book featuring the original artist and writing teams for four new stories.
They posted:
30 years ago, the unthinkable happened. The Man of Steel died fighting Doomsday.
To celebrate the special anniversary of this genre-defining moment, DC has reunited the original creative teams of Dan Jurgens and Brett Breeding; Roger Stern and Butch Guice; Louise Simonson and Jon Bogdanove; and Jerry Ordway and Tom Grummett for The Death of Superman 30th Anniversary Special #1. Available at comic shops on November 8, The Death of Superman 30th Anniversary Special #1 features four all-new stories that explore the lasting impact that Clark’s death had on his family and friends as well as nine pinups and variant covers by some of the top names in comics.
It is indeed hard to believe that 30 years has passed.
To read more about the anniversary special, go here.
The topic on the current state of comic books in comparison to ones of the Silver Age is one I have thought about on occasion over the years.
I haven't purchased any current comic books in ages. I have bought some Silver Age issues that I didn't have to fill in some gaps. I have to credit comic books in fueling my joy of reading.
Kirk Hastings, the administrator of the Facebook page, Silver Age Mythology of Superman, posted the following last night. I've noticed the same differences which mainly boils down to writers and publishers taking the fun out of comic books. I also wonder if the artists of today's comic books ever took a life drawing/anatomy art class in their lives.
He wrote:
Recently I’ve been reading through my old Silver Age superhero comics (mostly Superman/DC), and I’ve noticed a few things about them:
1. The older stories almost always focused on straightforward action, adventure, mystery, and non-stop thrills. Newer comics focus on disturbing violence, sexual situations, shock value, and constantly pushing the moral envelope. (And it seems each issue has to somehow “top” the previous one in these four categories too!)
2. In almost all older superhero comics, the conflict in the stories was between the hero and the villains. In today’s stories the conflict is almost always within the hero himself -- or between him and his friends (who often betray him or turn on him).
3. Older comics strove to be apolitical, and thus appeal to a mass audience of all persuasions. Modern comics always seem to want to push some radical new politically-based idea (usually leftist in nature).
4. Older comics almost always depicted women in a realistic fashion (both in character and appearance-wise). Today’s comics almost always depict women as sex objects with exaggerated sexual characteristics, and wearing ludicrously revealing outfits that no self-respecting woman in her right mind would wear in public!
5. The older superheroes were always sure of themselves, and were confident in their knowledge of right vs. wrong. Today’s (so-called) heroes almost always have feet of clay, don’t know what they believe, and have no personal moral code whatsoever. (And they are often little different than the villains they oppose!)
6. Older comics were almost always inspiring. Good always triumphed over evil, and most endings were (at least partly) happy ones. Modern comics are almost always downbeat, dark, and often show the bad guys (and evil) getting the upper hand.
7. Older comics were full of boundless imagination, and would not let much of anything stand in the way of an interesting, compelling story that couldn’t help but draw you into it. Today’s comics are mostly mired in “relevancy”, “realism”, so-called “mature themes”, and “political correctness”.
8. Older comics were almost always rated G or PG. Modern comics should almost always be rated R (or worse!). Older comics were deliberately produced for a mass audience consisting of ALL ages (good business practice!); most of today’s comics are NOT (most of them are directed toward some small minority audience).
9. Older comics taught respect for authority (particularly law enforcement officials). Today’s comics teach rebellion against any and ALL authority.
10. Older comics respected the high moral ideals of sexual decency, integrity, and moral self-control. Modern comics constantly push radical, explicit, deviant behavior into the face of its readers (and portray it as “normal”).
… Can YOU think of any OTHER ways in which older comics differed from modern ones?
Comments are welcome!
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| Above, a Godzilla panel at the 2013 Comikaze Expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center headed by Jessica Tseang, the second I participated in. |
A dozen years ago, I was contacted by Jessica Tseang with an invitation to participate in a panel discussion on Godzilla at Comikaze Expo in Los Angeles.
I accepted and met with her beforehand at a Starbucks in Studio City to talk about the panel. I found her to be very knowledgeable on Godzilla and, best of all, very easy to talk to and work with.
Since then, I have noticed her involvement in many different conventions and her vast knowledge on comic books and pop culture in general. Her knowledge is quite impressive, to say the least.
Forbes has also taken notice of Jessica's pop culture knowledge and how she turned her interests into a career. Recently, they posted a question & answer article with Jessica.
They begin it with:
Jessica Tseang is an international comics historian and public speaker on pop culture. Tseang is currently an Eisner judge (one of the top peer-based awards in the comic book industry) for 2022 and has appeared on AMC’s Robert Kirkman’s Secret History of Comics, and Nerdist’s award-winning documentary The Impact of Black Panther. She is a moderator, panel discussion producer and PR representative for over 500 panels at pop culture and comic conventions around the world. Tseang’s work has been built on many partnerships and projects with preeminent figures in the pop culture community including launching The Haruo Nakajima Scholarship based on the original Godzilla actor and moderating panels such as the 25th anniversary of Twin Peaks and the 10th anniversary of Parks and Recreation.
Tseang’s notable pop culture convention panels include The Forgotten Trio: Colorists, Inkers, and Letterers, The 75th Anniversary of Moomin, and Native American Representation in Comics and Pop Culture with Taboo (Marvel Comics writer and member of the multi-Grammy award-winning Black Eyed Peas). Her panels have been covered by CNN, Newsweek, Los Angeles Times, New York Times and other international outlets. Tseang’s career journey has been deeply varied and she breaks down how she has build a very memorable speaking, producing and PR-based brand.
It is an interesting read, one that many can learn from.
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| Above, Jessica Tseang and yours truly at G-FEST XXVI in Chicago three years ago. Photo by Steve Ryfle. |
To read the full article, go here.
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| Above, Paul Levitz and Mrs. Jerome Siegel at the Superman week luncheon in Los Angeles, July 2001. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
When his "big burst" upon the comics scene came around 1967-68, my first reaction was neither liking his work nor hating it. It was just so different. Later, when he started drawing Batman and Deadman stories, his work really grew on me.
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| Above, Superman #204 cover by Neal Adams. |
Neal Adams was a giant in the comic book industry. His passing two days ago caused a huge outpouring of appreciation of his artistic talent and leadership in artists' rights that revolutionized the comic book industry.
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| Above, Neal Adams and yours truly at the 2012 Comikaze Expo in Los Angeles. |
One such outpouring of appreciation came from former DC Comics President Paul Levitz that was posted at 13th Dimension. It is an excellent read.
It begins with:
Comics has lost a force of nature. Neal Adams was a magnificent artist, but that might have been the least of his talents. It would have been enough if he had just been an artist, of course: being one of the two newcomers to comics in the 1960s (with Jim Steranko) that rekindled the aspirations of a generation to reshape the pages of comics; drawing the definitive Batman that Neal would argue with his customary modesty would make possible billions of dollars of revenue for the company; moving the world of American comic art back from design (exemplified by Carmine Infantino) and exaggerated cartooning (as leaped from the pencil of Jack Kirby) to a new balance of dynamism and illustration; and entertaining so many millions of us.
To read the rest of Levitz's appreciation of Neal Adams, go here.
Ever go to your bookcase to get a specific book to read and it's nowhere to be found?
This happened to me about a week ago when I went to get my copy of Curt Swan: A Life In Comics (2002, by Eddy Zeno) to read. It was nowhere to be found.
I hadn't read the book since I lived in California, so I didn't notice it was missing. Now I have.
It may still be around somewhere, but since I wasn't sure, I decided to order another copy through Alibris (I already have an account with them). I ordered it last week and it arrived in the mail yesterday. The price was reasonable enough: $24.73 (hardcover). I think my original copy was the trade paperback.
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| Above, yours truly enjoying the book yesterday. |
I started reading it as soon as I got home from the post office and the time passed quickly (about 2 hours) and, before I knew it, it was time to start dinner.
Even if my original copy turns up, I have no regrets ordering another copy. It is an excellent book with lots of examples of Swan's work. I highly recommend it.
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| Above, the cover of Action Comics No. 1 (not the specific issue that set a new record). |
Action Comics No 1, the comic book that featured Superman's first appearance sold for a new record amount.
CBR.com reported:
A private seller acquired a high-grade copy of Action Comics #1 for $3.25 million, beating the previous record of $3.2 million.
Collectibles auction firm ComicConnect.com handled the transaction, reported USA Today. The rare copy sold for about $1 million above the seller's purchase price.
To read more, go here.
