Category: Comic Books

Pennsylvania SICK-5000

When I was in New York this week, I stayed at the same place as the last time I was in the city — The Hotel Pennsylvania, across from Penn Station. My last visit literally left a bad taste in my mouth, because I became deathly ill with food poisoning, undoubtedly from a turkey club sandwich I’d had for dinner at Lindy’s, a restaurant in the Hotel Penn building that had been a favorite of Milton Berle, who I would have avoided had I ever seen him. I never cared for Uncle Milty.

My night in the Hotel Pennsylvania wasn’t cheap, but it’s less expensive than most of the midtown hotels. That’s because it’s pretty much a rundown dump, except for the lobby. Besides the relatively low cost, I have an attachment to the place, because it was where I stayed the very first time I visited New York, when I was sixteen years old. The occasion was the 1972 Comicart Convention, back when the hotel was called the Statler-Hilton.

My friend Morris drove us there with his (now ex-) wife and their infant daughter. They’re listed in the program book as “Human,” which is a typo, because Morris’ name is Hyman. If you enlarge the scan you’ll see my name and that of comic book art legend Joe Sinnott, his late wife Betty, and their son Mark. As I mentioned a while ago, Dennis and I were going to meet Joe and Mark in Boston next month, but Joe had hip replacement surgery on Friday. I sure do hope it went well.

The Hotel Pennsylvania is most likely not going to be standing for much longer, and having stayed there just a few days ago, I’m sorry to say that I think it’s time for it to go. The New York City Council has approved a plan to replace it with an office tower. With so much attention being given nationally to the proposed Islamic cultural center, this bit of real estate news has stayed mostly local to the Big Apple. But beware, New York, because the developer of the proposed Penn Plaza project, Vornado Realty Trust, is the same outfit that has left a huge hole in the center of Boston for years.

Bad break for Joe Sinnott

Heard some bad news on my birthday. Yesterday, Mark Sinnott posted a message on the site he runs for his dad, the legendary Marvel Comics artist Joe Sinnott:

On Thursday, Sept. 9th, my dad received some bad news from his doctor that he has a broken hip and would need hip replacement surgery, Friday Sept. 17th. For the past 6 weeks, Joe has had severe pain in his left leg. 2 x-rays taken a week apart revealed a “slight” crack in the bone. For the past week Joe has been using a walker to get around. An MRI taken on Wednesday confirmed the broken hip. They say that it appears to be from degenerative bone, as he never fell. After surgery, Joe will have a 4 day stay in the hospital, followed by 1-2 weeks in a rehab center and 2-3 weeks supervised (not left alone). That’s if all goes according to schedule. It could be longer. Joe will still need a walker or cane to get around after all is said and done. If anyone would like to send Joe a get well wish after his surgery, please send them to the address below.

Thank you,
Mark Sinnott, Sept.10,2010
send cards to:
Joe Sinnott
PO Box 406
Saugerties, NY 12477

Here’s an example of Joe’s work, scanned from the original art. In the hands of a master like Joe Sinnott, india ink on paper is a beautiful thing. As you can see, Joe never takes shortcuts, and even when he was busy working full-time to support his family, he never rushed through a job to get it done, just so he could get to the next assignment.

Some years ago, Joe broke the shoulder of his drawing arm while visiting his old pal, writer Mickey Spillane, creator of “Mike Hammer” (Spillane died in 2006), but he came back from that injury to do work that’s as great as ever. Joe was scheduled to be in Boston for a comic book show in October. Dennis and I were really looking forward to seeing Joe and Mark, and now it’s very doubtful we’ll get to do that. But that doesn’t matter, because what we want is for Joe to get through the surgery and get well. You’re the greatest, Joe!

Joe Sinnott and Mickey Spillane

“Jesus hates you” — Westboro Baptist Church

It was fanatics vs. fans at the San Diego Comic-Con!

http://www.comicsalliance.com/2010/07/22/super-heroes-vs-the-westboro-baptist-church/

John 8:7 says, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” It does not continue with Jesus saying, “So somebody get me a rock! A big, jagged one.” Which is what the members of the Westboro Baptist Church seem to believe.

The Black Widow?

My lack of worldliness and poor political acumen are leaving me perplexed. Why would the Russians consider this woman to be a good candidate for training as an alleged spy? What made them think she could possibly be able to gain access to the private quarters of influential men? Here’s another picture of her I found, training in Russia.

From sad to worst

I’ve not been writing because I’m away for a few days, but tonight I was saddened to learn that Gene Colan’s wife Adrienne has died.

My buddy Dennis and I first met Gene and Adrienne over ten years ago, when they made appearances at Paul Howley’s store, That’s Entertainment, in Worcester, MA. Those of us who know what’s been going on recently in the Colan family had been hoping it wouldn’t come to this, but it has.

The last time I spoke with Gene and Adrienne, I was calling to make sure they received a $2000 check I had sent to them. It was a straight gift. I asked for nothing in return, not even a sketch. I told Gene that it was my way of saying thanks for drawing so many great comic-books.

Adrienne was very appreciative, and she said the money would help pay for Gene’s medications. A few minutes before calling, I had told Steranko (who I first met in 1972) I would be speaking with Gene, and he said, with great intensity, “I want you to tell him that I am the world’s number one Gene Colan fan. Would you do that for me, please?” I promised I would, and when I told Gene, he said, “Jim Steranko said that? Oh my, that’s wonderful. What an honor that is.”

With the tremendous success of the first Iron Man movie, I was pleased that Marvel Comics did the right thing and kicked in with some substantial cash for Gene. It meant a lot to me to be able to help the Colan’s through one of their tougher times, and it hurts that the situation later became as bad as it did. Now is a time for peace, rest, and healing.