Category: Comic Books

STANd and deLEEver

A long time ago, my world would have been rocked by the news that Disney is buying Marvel. Today the news interests me greatly, but I can’t think of any way that the purchase will have an effect on me personally.

The picture above of Stan Lee is noteworthy, because he’s standing next to Steve Ditko’s unpublished cover for “Amazing Fantasy” #15, the 1962 comic book that introduced Spider-Man. A similar drawing by Jack Kirby was used instead. In my opinion, Jack’s style didn’t suit the character, and I assume Stan felt the same way, because after that first cover he rarely had Jack draw Spidey. Jack included Spider-Man in his 1969 Marvelmania self-portrait, and even at the time that seemed wrong to me.

One of the most reliable hit-getters for this site is the BBC documentary, “In Search of Steve Ditko.” At this link you will find Stan talking about Ditko’s insistence that he is the co-creator of Spider-Man.

Stan is always lavish in his praise of the artists who worked for him in the Marvel Bullpen, and that’s great. Stan absolutely deserves everything he has received in money and recognition, and he has received a lot of both:

Lee sued Marvel, claiming he was owed profits from the Marvel films that had started to take Hollywood by storm. The suit was eventually settled with Lee reportedly getting a settlement of more than $10 million.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32645353/ns/business-media_biz/

But if Stan deserves the money and credit he has received, Steve Ditko deserves some of the same. With the BILLIONS of dollars now on the table, Ditko should get a million bucks and co-creator status for Spider-Man. Without the latter, it seems he won’t accept the former.

Denro comes through for Joltin’ Joe

Joe Sinnott is the best ink man the comic book business has ever had. Most of Joe’s work, even the earliest of it, is instantly recognizable to fans, but there are exceptions, including hundreds of pages of Archie comics that Joe inked anonymously in the 70’s. Good, ol’ Denro has been painstakingly finding these issues and forwarding them to Joe’s son Mark.

http://www.joesinnott.com/home/othercomics.html

Confessions of a Superhero

Jennifer Wenger in \

Morgan Spurlock presents Confessions of a Superhero is a 2007 indie documentary that’s popped up on Netflix Watch Instantly. It’s very different from Spurlock’s excellent and influential Supersize Me, and only vaguely similar to the outstanding character study The King of Kong, but Confessions of a Superhero is just as fascinating to watch. Why? Because as unreal as it is, it’s real.

The Superman impersonator is way too into his character, the guy in the Hulk costume is sympathetic and equally pathetic, and the George Clooney lookalike Batman has an anger management problem. Jennifer Gehrt, who plays Wonder Woman, may have made too many impulsive decisions in her life — like quitting college — but if there’s a star in the making here, it’s Jennifer.

Comic Con Fun

Here’s a scene from last weekend’s comic book show in Albany. D.F. Rogers is with legendary artist extraordinaire Joe Sinnott, Joe’s son Mark, Mark’s wife Belinda, and their son Trevor. It’s a lot of fun being able to hang out with the Sinnotts. Dennis is showing a story to Joe that Joe drew 35 years ago, but had never before had a chance to see in print. Dennis, Mark and I got a laugh from realizing that we can recognize Joe’s work from as little as four small dabs of ink.

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