Upon recording the details of the work, Paul quickly looked at the pages and extended his hand with a smile.

"Welcome to DC", he said. "I hope it'll be a long and good relationship. Nice work."

Paul was being kind. It really wasn't nice work at all, my first professional comic book story. I had drawn it twice because back at Continuity, Neal had looked at the first version and said: "Do you really intend to submit this?"

"Thank you" I answered Paul, realizing that we both understood there was a great deal for me yet to learn about drawing comic books. "I'm just warming up and hope to give DC everything I've got."

Paul Levitz was an assistant editor at DC then, but in every encounter I'd ever had with him, he gave me the impression that he was the one who was minding the store. He had no power plays and employed no inter-departmental intrigues to do this. He simply conducted himself with the authority and concern for the company as if it was his very own - not as if he was merely employed by it.

About a year later, Paul was writing a series of Legion of Super Heroes stories and asked me to illustrate a few. We sat in his office discussing the plots he had in mind for the main stories, after which he asked me if I had any ideas for backup features. He particularly wanted to write such a story with Princess Projectra and was willing to share in the conceptual chores. Until that time I'd had no involvement at all with the writing of any of the books I'd drawn. I appreciated the confidence Paul had extended with his request and thought about it for a moment.

"I'd like to see a story where the hero's own inner conflicts and their own super powers turn on them and become the villain they need to contend with." I suggested.

"That's an interesting idea." Paul said, "Let me see what I can do with it."

A week later, Paul handed me a script for the Princess Projectra back up feature. It was very well plotted and I was duly inspired with how he brought such a rough concept to life - and by being credited with having provided the concept for it. As I began to pencil the work, it took upon a life of its own. The script was written in plot outline form, what we called "Marvel Style" in the creator's community. Out of the 7 story pages, 4 of them were layed out as splash pages. I knew Paul would not be happy with this. I attempted to change a couple of the pages but came to a decision that this would be the best way to tell this story and I resolved to try to convince him of it.

"How can I write something like this?" Paul said as he looked at the pencils. "I need more detail to tell the story."

"Look Paul," I pleaded. "I tried to break it down a little more but it just works better this way. The concept carries it through and any more detail would only weaken it."

"Let me see what I can do with it." He said.

A week later, Paul told me that the script worked out very well and that he was very happy with what I'd done with the layouts. The Final Illusion soon became a fan favorite amongst the Legion work I'd done.

Skip forward to around Christmas time of 1977. The day after the the night of the peacemaker, following the summer of 77 on 45th and 9th when I spoke on the radio in Larry Hama's room. Continuity was buzzing and it seemed that everyone in the industry had come into the studio to see if the rumors were true that Mike Nasser said he was the Second Coming of Christ on the radio. I sat in the back in my room most of the day. Someone, not from the studio, came in and said loudly: "This story in Star*Reach. It's not funny!" I wasn't laughing either, I thought to myself. By evening time, Neal came back and saw that I'd spent the day not doing anything at all. Marshall Rogers and Mike Hinge were in the room and Larry Hama was in his room next to ours. Neal hovered over me:

"Listen Mike, you might have something to say but you have to use your wheels to say it. The comics are your wheels. You have to use your wheels, Mike."

Larry burst out of his room: "Why are you encouraging him like this?"

"Because" Neal answered him. "One day Mike's trip to California will become the basis for a religion."

"I can't believe you just said that", Larry said in a huff and went back to his room.

I had no intention of making a religion, just the opposite actually. But Neal was right, I had to use my wheels. Some time later Sal Quartuccio came into the room and asked me to produce an 8 page black and white story for his Hot Stuff publication. Anything I wanted to do, he said. I spent the next two days producing the work which appeared in issue # 6. 12 Parts: A Story of the Revelation. Almost finished with the story, Neal appeared in my room again.

"Is this a paying job?" he asked.

"You know Sal doesn't have much of a budget for Hot Stuff." I answered.

"Don't you think you should be making a living, like everybody else?" Neal said. "Why don't you call Paul and see if he has a paying job for you at DC?"

I wasn't sure then if I needed to make a living like everybody else - but I trusted Neal. He understood more than anyone else what was on my mind. He even seemed to understand it more than I did. I called Paul and he invited me over to DC. As I walked into the offices with my long hair and beard and black British civil defense coat, I saw the looks of everyone in the offices and the hallways. News gets around fast in the comics. Marty Pasko cracked a forced smile and said "Hi Mike". I walked by feeling like an Alien who'd walked onto the wrong movie set.

Paul was straight as an arrow. Unshaken by my appearance, he handed me a 30 page script for a Batman Special.

"It's a giant size book" he said "Marshall's also doing a story for it, along with a very good new artist who just started working with us, Michael Golden. Look it over and let me know if you like it."

Hang the Batman became my wheels for the next two months. Julie Shwartz was editor of the book and every time I'd bring him new pages, he found something funny to say so I wouldn't look so serious. It didn't work. I found myself drawing Batman like I'd never drawn Batman before. Everybody was happy. Paul Levitz recorded the details of the pages I brought into the chronicles of DC Comics.

Skip forward about 8 months in the summer of 1978. I'd just come back from another trip to California with more wheels. An 11 page story titled Whole Parts which I produced in Santa Barbara. After stopping at Continuity, my next stop was to see Paul Levitz. I walked into DC Comics without an appointment, straight to Paul's office, pulled out the story and laid it on his desk.

"This is a title." I said.

"This is a splash page."

"This is a prologue."

"This is a three panel sequence."

"This is a caption."

"This is a sound effect."

"This is a main character."

"This is a background."

"This is an epilogue."

"Publish this.." I said, "..and you'll sell more copies of it than anything else you've ever published."

Paul was frozen in his seat and he wasn't biting. I reached for a pen on his desk and wrote a note on his memo pad telling him that he'll be joining us when we sail off to Titan, the moon of Saturn, one day in the future.

Paul remained frozen. My mission was accomplished and I walked out of DC Comics' offices.

Skip forward to January 2004. The Cassinni-Huygens probe was sending back images of its landing on Titan. The images showed Titan to have rivers, clouds, an ocean and a rich topography. Neal Adams wrote on his web site that it looked as if we were coming into a landing at a familiar coastline on Earth. I thought of Paul Levitz and the note I'd written him 26 years before. I then wrote an open letter to Paul reminding him of that note and how he was a creator at heart and distributed it all over the comics internet forums. I asked him to think well of his brethren the creators because we were finally beginning to come together to make all of our dreams come true. I didn't have to do it really. Paul already knows all this.

Paul Levitz knows he's a creator at heart.

Paul Levitz. Portraits of the Creators Sketchbook.

Permalink Posted: 9:02 AM EST 1 comments  

I had never been religious at all, but I did have some childhood contact with Christianity and Islam. Although always inexplicably bothered by the ceremonial worship in churches and mosques, as I'm uneasy by the same in synagogues today, I always reserved a special place within me for the presence of specific intent and purpose to the universe which religious worshippers defined as "the will God". To me, however, God was not an object of shallow worship, as was perceived by the religious world, rather an inspiration for the creative spirit within us which motivates what we do in our lives. This was evident to me in the scriptures, the writings of people who touched this root creative force, inspired by events which transpired around them and put it down into words for the sake of posterity. Very much in the same way that an inspired comic book writer creates a saga with a message they wish to bring across to their audience. The scriptural writings became such a prevalent force throughout the generations, however, that the essence of the creative spirit within them became lost to us, because the religious institutions distorted their intent and turned them into the focus of redundant ceremony for the manipulation of segregated faiths in pursuit of political and economic gain.

Looking at the world in the state it was in - and through my role in it as a comic book creator, I was inspired through this period of introspection to take a leap - and resolved to dedicate my life to calling upon this good intent within us all, whether be it the will of God, the Force, Karma or any other name, which was now driving me into this decision. At the peak of this tension, in mid-November of 1977, I came to an understanding as to the course my life must take. I was to become an ambassaddor for the greater goodwill of this spirit within the comic book industry.

Permalink Posted: 9:18 PM EST 0 comments  

Unlike assembly-line workers and such, most comic folks cannot simply "walk" off their jobs in unified protest. A), There is no shortage of people wanting work who would be willing and able to take their places, and B) given the economic nature of their profession (and common check-to-check existence), they can't afford to drop work, especially a steady book.(I constantly go from "Crap, I'm too busy and can't handle it all" to "Crap, I haven't worked in weeks and I think the world forgot about me!" It was much worse before I married someone with a "real" job.)

The question I ask is why must the formation of the Comic Book Creators' Guild automatically entail the calling for a mass strike of the creators' community and the halting of work for most creators? Why must this be a pre-condition for forming the Guild?

I don't believe that any creator wishes such a situation and I don't believe that this needs to be our strategy. The struggle for creators' rights is first and foremost a psychological one and it seems prudent to approach our strategy from this simple yet powerful premise.

What prevents us from coming together and forming a guild which doesn't declare a contentious attitude towards the publishers by threatening to walk off the job if immediate reforms aren't institutionalized in the industry? Isn't the strength of the union, in and of itself, a powerful enough message - without having to reveal all of our cards with the first steps we take? Especially when such a strategy prevents most creators from supporting the Guild's formation?

Does anything really prevent us from forming the Guild just for the sake of the formalized union itself, while assuring most creators that we have no intention of threatening anyone's livelihood? Isn't it obvious that by employing such a strategy, the presence of the guild itself will begin to have an effect on the publisher's policy towards the creators, minimal as it may be?

Isn't it more prudent to consider such a course and allow a little time for the comics industry to become accustomed to the presence of such a union within it, before making premature declarations about a strategy we may not need to employ?

Permalink Posted: 11:37 PM EST 2 comments  

Twomorrows Publishing has indefinitely suspended their plans to publish a book commemorating the life and times of one of the more memorable creator teams in comics history, Ross Andru and Mike Esposito. Daniel Best of Adelaide Comics and Books recently made the announcement at his website and provided more news about this compelling work in progress, now at near completion.

Mike Esposito and Daniel Best are looking into other options for publishing the book and promise to publish it independently, if needed, in order to meet the March 2006 release date.

MR Publications' comic book debut, Mister Universe. 1951, Andru/Esposito.

Partners for Life, a fully authorized biography of the Andru/Esposito team is written and compiled by Mike Esposito and Daniel Best and covers six decades of teamwork - one of the longest careers of any such creator team in the industry, even more than the Simon & Kirby legacy. Andru & Esposito became the forefathers of creator self-publishing when they split from DC and Timely to found MR Publications three years before Simon & Kirby's Mainline venture. They were instrumental in the creation of characters and teams such as The Metal Men, Sgt Rock, The Punisher and others, while also adorning virtually all the major icons in the world of comics: Superman, Batman, Flash, Wonder Woman, Spider-man, Hulk, Fantastic Four, Namor, X-Men, Captain America and more.

The book also features much rarely seen and previously unpublished art and includes contributions by John Romita, Sal Buscema, Marty Thall, Marv Wolfman, Nick Cuti, Dave Hunt, Tony Isabella, Jerry Bingham, Mike Netzer, Bob McLeod, Alex Saviuk, Len Wein, Josef Rubenstein, Don Perlin, Dick Ayers, Roy Thomas, Neal Adams, Dick Giordano, Mark Evanier, Jim Mooney, Stan Goldberg, Jim Salicrup and many more - along with posthumous contributions from Ross Andru himself, Bob Kangiher, Don Heck and Gil Kane.

Partners for Life promises to be a very unique and cherished production commemorating one of the more loved teams in comics history. Here's wishing Mike Esposito and Daniel Best, the very best of good fortune in their efforts to bring this work to publication.

Permalink Posted: 10:48 PM EST 0 comments  

Flash for Superhero Poster.

Click here to view entire work in progress.

Permalink Posted: 1:24 PM EST 1 comments  

Is it horribly unfair to make this comparison of the Pope? The Catholic church has waged wars which led to the killing of hundreds of thousands of innocent people in centuries long crusades and persecution, the covering up of the rape of nuns for centuries while the skeletons of their murdered babies lie under the dust of the church grounds and the covering up of the sexual molestation of children by priests at the hands the newly elected Pope, who now rises to power to champion the legislation of sexual activity through political oppression and manipulation of his masses. Is it truly horribly unfair to make such a comparison of a Pope who leads such an institution today?

While they decry the fate of "innocent unborn children", do they really care about the people who are living in the world today? Or do they simply wish to champion the cause of those who have not yet been born, while they blatantly disregard every person's God given right to make such choices for themselves? Who does the religious front really care for today?

It is not given by God to the Catholic church, nor to the Pope, nor the Rabbis, nor the Muftis to make such judgments. God allows us to make our choices and asks us to pay the price for them individually, as all women who perform an abortion do. If the religious front chooses to support a corrupt system which takes this choice away, then it must contend with the wrath of God for its rebellion against a fundamental foundation of our existence, which is given to us by God: Our own personal freedom of choice.

When religious men decry the ending of an unborn fetus' growth, do they decry the same as they wipe away the semen which may have spilled from them, whether intentionally or inadvertently? Would they truly support a law to put to end their right to masturbate and would they like to see this law enforced by the local police? Or perhaps by the Pope himself? Do supporters of the Christian Coalition say this knowing how many menstruations and lost eggs bleed each day from millions of women across the world?

If the separate or collective morality of Christianity, Judaism, Islam and all other religious institutions possess what their religious leaders believe to be the key to improving the life of everyone in this world, let them set the example and lead the way. If they're right and the people see that they have a truly better way, the people will be inspired to join them and bring a better world through their faith. Unfortunately, however, this is not the case at all with religious hypocrites. Religious leaders of all faiths and institutions have shown themselves to be nothing more than deceivers who hide behind a pretense of sanctity, in the name of God, which they use to oppress the people. God, however, is not the property of religious hypocrites. God sees the evil done in the world in his name and is not moved by those who continually take it in vain.

The moral solution which religious institutions offer the world becomes corrupt when they attempt to legislate it through a corrupt political system. This example which the religious institutions put forth leaves so much to be desired that one wonders what it is they wish to accomplish by enforcing their deceptive morals on society. Perhaps it will allow the Christian Coalition to enforce, for example, the regulation sexual activity for common people, while allowing the priests to rape their nuns in the church basements, as the law enforcement agencies turn a blind eye to it. Perhaps it will allow the government to force everyone to attend mass on Sundays - or better yet revive the crusades and mercilessly slaughter everyone who doesn't confess that Jesus is Lord.

I ask all you supporters of the Christian Coalition: In reading the Gospels, which I'm sure most of you must do, how do you believe that God and Jesus Christ feel about the church? Please think about this a little and try to remember the scriptures as they were given to you. Consider the plight of Mary Magdalene, for example. Think about Jesus befriending criminals and the trodden while showing them love and forgiveness and inspiring a change in them through their own choice. This, while he denounced the political and religious authorities who persecuted the common people of his time. I now ask you to consider the church and the role it plays in the world today. How do you truly believe God and Jesus Christ must feel about the church today?

I know the Pope doesn't desire for you think for yourselves, all of you who support the Christian Coalition. He says so himself in his denouncing of "extremist individualism". God, however, does want you to think for yourselves. That's why he's given you a mind and free choice. So just for a moment, I ask you to consider God's will and not the Pope's. If only for one fleeting moment.

The evil in this world comes from the evil within the hearts of people. Evil does not come into the world from the essence of consentual sex between adults. It comes into the world from the evil in people's hearts, irregardless of religious creed, sexual preference or any other such things which the religious institutions persecute. Evil doesn't come from the secular world desiring a good life, just the opposite is actually true. Evil comes into the world from the oppressors who abuse the power given them in this life and unforgivingly trod the world with legislated false morals and corrupt government manipulations that enslave and oppress the people. Sexual activity, in and of itself is not an evil. Only evil thoughts and actions are evil. Pomposity and hypocrisy in the name of God are an evil and these are the calling card of the religious world. The secular world, with all of its sexual liberties, is far more kind, tolerant, humble and righteous before God, than the very best which the religious hypocrites of the Christian Coalition and religious institutions have to offer.

The pretentious sexual morality of the religious hypocrites of the world is one of the true great evils oppressing mankind today. Through it, the religious fronts of civilization point an accusing finger at the liberated sexuality of the secular world. The Bible itself, however, points to the opposite of this moral value as being the preferred and enlightened state for the collective family of mankind.

Before their fall, Adam and Eve were both naked and weren't ashamed. This is the highest state of human consciousness which mankind was in, before the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden.

As we enter into the age of sexual awareness in the world, we see a great deal of sexual innuendo, near nudity and a promiscuous indifference to sexual activity all about. The secular world has become indifferent to its sexuality through its liberalism. People are no longer ashamed to see nudity. No longer ashamed of their sexuality. We are now returning full circle, back to the highest level of human consciousness as espoused in the Bible: Naked but not ashamed.

Who is it then that continues to be ashamed - and why? Have all the religious hypocrites of the world eaten of the tree which God commanded not to eat of? Do they wish to keep all of humanity down in the pits of hell with the pretentious knowledge of good and evil which they espouse? Is it not clear how the opposite of the appearance of these matters is true? Is it not so plainly obvious that Jesus' message of love and forgiveness inspires the secular world today, while the church and the Pope wage the war of Satan and evil in their persecution of innocent people who have done no true evil?

God has never commanded anyone to be a Catholic or to pertain to any religion, of any denomination. God only asked that people love God and love their fellow man, even the worst of their enemies. If being a Catholic or being religious means becoming so judgmental about issues we don't yet fully understand, and not being able to love our fellow man, regardless of the choices they make, we then are faced with the choice between being religious or loving God. I say this for every religious denomination in the world, not only for Catholics. If one wishes to lean on a stable rock, then one must lean on God in truth and not on a church or a religion. The Catholic church and religious institutions are not a stable rock at all. They shall all fall, in time, just as the Temple in Jerusalem fell.

The time is coming for all people to make a choice as to where they stand with God. To look at our troubled world and make a choice as to how to make it better for the people who suffer in it. To understand that the church leads its flock as the blind lead the blind and to open our eyes and perceive the truth of the matters we once falsely held to be true. Jesus came into the world to set mankind free of lies and deception. The Pope, the church and religious institutions don't really wish us to be free at all. They do not like our "extreme individualism". They do not like any individualism at all, for that matter. They repress our God given freedom of thought and freedom of choice and attempt to take away these rights from the people.

The secular world must now prepare to resist this oppression with the help of the Scriptures which God gave us in order to see and show the light, the truth and the way. The time will come for everyone to choose which side they wish to stand on. In this battle for the soul of mankind, isn't it much better to make this choice through a deeper understanding of God's will, as opposed to allowing someone to abolish our right to think for ourselves? Isn't it better to understand the full truth which God has given within each and every one of us?

I make this appeal to all supporters of the Christian Coalition and to your sense of understanding. It's not the Catholic, Christian, Jewish or Moslem beliefs that raise the contempt of the secular world against the Pope, the church and the religious institutions today. It's when these beliefs are imposed upon society through corrupt government legislation that the problems begin.

The time has come for the secular world to demand from the Pope and his cohorts to remove their blood stained paws from the halls of legislature in Washington.

The Grace of God is with the secular coalition in its struggle for Truth, Justice and the well-being of the entire family of mankind.

Michael Netzer,
Jerusalem

Permalink Posted: 5:16 AM EST 4 comments  

Frankly, Michael, I never quite understood why there wasn't already a comics guild or a union or collective of some sort. My understanding was that a movement in that direction was germinated more than three decades ago but, apparently, it never received the nurturing of enough rank and file creators to amount to a hill of beans. A guild, however, would afford members the strength of collective bargaining necessary to assure safer futures for the vast majority of comics creators who, let's face it, will never receive the star power necessary to sustain lifelong careers in the field. I believe the best way to set this in motion would be with a looser - yet meticulously organized - group of creators that share a central cause and are willing to put their shoulders to the grindstone. The group should elect a smaller team of spokesmen and offer benefits to potential members, such as group-rate medical insurance and shared resources (lawyers, accountants, and so forth). It wouldn't take that many folks to get this going.

Clifford is correct on all counts. In the spring of 1978, a concerted effort was put forth by Neal Adams to organize creators and declare the formation of the guild. The image above is from a work which was produced then and can be seen here. I was one of the writers of a letter which was intended for distribution in the community and pleaded the case to the creators . It soon became evident, however, that we did not have the support of enough members in order to continue with the effort which came to a halt soon afterwards. There was apparently another such effort to form a similar union in the Latter 1980's, The Comic Book Professionals' Association, headed by Kurt Busiek, Len Wein and Heidi MacDonald, amongst others. This effort also came to an untimely halt due to lack of interest from the creators' community.

Futility and complacency paralyze our ability to improve our lot in the world. I've received some very encouraging correspondences from small press and independent creators supporting The Comic Book Creators' Guild since the launch of its web site, but we need a better show from mainstream professionals in order to bring something together. On this eve of the Passover tradition of freedom in the Jewish world, I'll refrain from harsh criticism of the phenomenon, knowing that when the time comes, comic book creators will rise to the occasion and find a way to help bring creative and economic freedom for themselves and their community.

PostScript: Comics storyteller, artist, friend and colleague, Mike Pascale of Bru-Hed fame for Schism Comics commented in this article on an earlier attempt to form the guild in the 1960's and it's perhaps fitting that we should have the comment here up front with the article:

Hi, Michael--

I think the first attempt was in the 1960s by Arnold Drake and others, which had much more severe consequences (the older writers being nearly blacklisted, which ironically paved the way for "new blood" such as Len Wein and Marv Wolfman, beginning the first wave of "fan-to-pro" that continues to this day). I read about this in CBA and various interviews with those who were there at the time. I know Neal is aware of it as well.

As for Danny's question, I think a lot has to do with the circumstances under which freelancers work. (Living as I sadly do in the Motor City, headquarters of the UAW, one can't help but be exposed to unions, pro and con.)

Unlike assembly-line workers and such, most comic folks cannot simply "walk" off their jobs in unified protest. A), There is no shortage of people wanting work who would be willing and able to take their places, and B) given the economic nature of their profession (and common check-to-check existence), they can't afford to drop work, especially a steady book.(I constantly go from "Crap, I'm too busy and can't handle it all" to "Crap, I haven't worked in weeks and I think the world forgot about me!" It was much worse before I married someone with a "real" job.)

Now if "top" folks like Alex Ross, Geoff Johns, Brian Bendis, and so on all concentrated their efforts and threatened to "walk", I'm sure the companies would take notice and negotiate something. But ironically, those with the largest impact are the ones with the least need to fight and have the most satisfaction, so they have no emprical reason to do such a thing.

On the bright side, as Earl Nightingale pointed out, there is and always will be room for the top five percent of people in any field. All we have to do as creators is be the best we can and be part of the top of the pyramid. (Easier said than done, but that's half the fun!)

BTW, a happy and joyous Passover to you and yours.

Best,

Mike

Thanks, Mike, for the good info and insight. Hope all's well in th Motor City, my hometown as well which I also hope to visit again this summer. Wishing a hearty freedom celebration for all.

Permalink Posted: 11:52 PM EST 3 comments  

The comics industry press, the web journals and news sites don't pick up these kind of informative, concerned and activist items which Steven Grant writes. The last article of his which received wide coverage was about rape in the comics because the rape of the people by their leaders isn't as sexy. Looking around at the comics industry press, it's pretty easy to see why the world is so fucked up today. The politicians and money wielders are leading the people into slavery and no one really gives a shit. Most elements in the comics industry press who can raise a call to action are just jacking off really. The world is burning all around and everybody's too busy jacking off to even talk about it.

Steven Grant asked in his column if his readers would like to see a daily political blog from him. As one of his readers, I say: Hell yeah, Steven. It's a shame that others aren't asking themselves how they can do better.

I now ask all you complacent comics industry press reporters and columnists who are having so much fun jacking off with all of the redundant bullshit you keep bringing us: When the house burns down and the fires make it to your door, whose fault will it be that the firemen will be too busy rescuing others more worthy?

Permalink Posted: 2:58 PM EST 0 comments  

Michael--

I've always admired your artwork, but looking at your website, I was stunned. Ossified. Turned to fucking stone. Jeezus Murphy, you've gotten *so* beyond terrific... Please let me know where I can order these forthcoming sketchbooks.

I'd also like to commission a piece, if you're available. It's something I've had in my head for awhile, and I suspect will be a tad complex and expensive, but I've decided you're the guy for it. It's 26 different heroes (bust) shots representing the alphabet: Antman, Batman, Capt. America, Daredevil, etc. I saw a piece like this by Jae Lee and it was wonderful (see the attached JPEG). While I would like the original, I suspect you could sell this as a color print. Maybe.

Anyway, your work is beautiful, Mike. Just outstanding.

Cliff

Clifford's reaction to seeing the work on the upcoming sketchbooks was one of the finest I'd heard from anyone about my work. Not only that, but Clifford actually took it upon himself to propose the creation of a widely desirable commission and also conspired to endow it with profit earning potential.

So I ask you quite honestly. What the hell else could I be expected to do?

Superhero Poster: Elongated Man

Your excellence is true inspiration, Mr. Meth.

To view the entire work in progress, click here.

Permalink Posted: 8:16 PM EST 0 comments  

Click here to view Sofia's Fedorov Polanski's complete gallery presentation.

Permalink Posted: 12:32 AM EST 3 comments  

Credit card companies insist, despite billions of dollars in profit every year, that they're being financially crippled by bankruptcies, even though the bill does absolutely nothing to shut down the trusts and exemptions and fraud on employees and other legal scams that allow corporations and millionaires to hold onto their assets while fairly easily filing bankruptcy to dodge their debts. This is a bill aimed solely at average Americans. The credit companies cite a "skyrocketing" number of bankruptcies - but the number of bankruptcies per year is down considerably from its peak of several years ago, in the wake of the dot-com bust.

So what does the bill accomplish? It creates a single national average standard for living costs - rent or mortgage, price of food and gasoline, etc. - so that, should you hit desperate financial straits, you'd be judged by average costs in Iowa City rather than where you live. The lives of every single American will be reduced to a mean average statistic if the credit card companies get their way. Judges would no longer look at individual situations and decide what's best; all that would be predetermined.

Your kid suddenly comes down with leukemia and treatments cost more than the cheap insurance your job has whittled you down to pays out for them? Tough. Lost your job and you need every scrap of your savings to keep up your house payments so your family isn't living out of your car or an old refrigerator box? Tough. Can't afford to pay your credit cards and put food on your table? Tough.

Here's a sample of changes proposed to the bill that were shot down: closing the aforementioned loopholes that make bankruptcy a happy and profitable practice for corporations and millionaires. Protecting the homes of the elderly. Limiting the amount of interest the companies can charge. Protecting servicemen and their families. Protecting those with catastrophic medical conditions or undergoing severe economic setbacks. Prohibiting predatory lending.

This is a bill designed to let lenders run amok. As I mentioned, lenders wrote it, after funneling millions of campaign dollars into Congress.

There are two things you can do, right now. The House website now conveniently allows you to send e-mail directly to your representative through their system. Even if you don't know who they are, the site will find them for you. Click here to go to the House Of Representatives mail system. Tell them you are opposed to Bill S. 256, the bankruptcy "reform" bill, and you want them to vote against it. Be polite. Click the link and do it right now.

Then, if you like, go to Debtslavery.Org to see what else you can do.

The administration used to love to talk about the number of jobs being created until they never came anywhere near prognostications, without ever mentioning that jobs being lost are usually higher paid professional or union jobs, while jobs being gained are mostly low-pay jobs without benefits. Even in existing jobs, benefits are being constantly chipped away at even as health care and insurance costs go up and up and up, resulting in a de facto income decrease for most American working families. The administration is working hard, having turned over the treasury to the rich and decimated taxes while jacking up military spending to astronomical levels, to eliminate social programs that might help more Americans cope with growing economic disorder. One has to wonder whether credit companies are so eager to see this bill passed not strictly because of current greed but as a hedge against future widespread economic collapse.

Just contact your representative and do it quickly, okay? Like right this minute.

Permalink Posted: 10:46 PM EST 0 comments  

Photo by Kimimasa Mayama for Reuters

The travesty which the cult of witches and warlocks in the Vatican are playing out, with spectacular idolatry, came to a peak yesterday as tens of thousands of mesmerized worshippers filled St. Peter's Square to view the black smoke rising from a chimney over the Sistine Chapel. The sorcerers of the secret coven used this ancient Catholic communication method in order to signal that the cardinals electing the 265th pope arrived at an inconclusive vote after locking themselves into seclusion, under Michaelangelo's masterpieces which adorn the ceiling of their secret chambers, for two and a half hours.

Neal Adams once suggested that if Michaelangelo were to rise from the dead today, he would become a comic book artist. The Renaissance Master was reported yesterday to have been turning over in his grave, at the events which unfolded beneath his creations, as he seriously considered Neal Adams' suggestion.

The New York Times documented the following accounting of the ritual:

Several minutes after 8 p.m., a wisp of smoke wafted from a smokestack, and many thought it was white, meaning a pope had been elected with lightning speed.

A roar erupted and people surged forward, shouting, "It's white! It's white!" But as the smoke thickened, it became obvious that it was black.

"What a shame," said Erica Barocco, 26, of Rome when she finally figured out the color. "I would have preferred it to be white because I want to see a new pope."

Permalink Posted: 6:10 PM EST 4 comments  

Sofia painted this self portrait at the age of 23 in Moscow.

She later colored this promotional illustration for Netzart Fedorov Media as my partner in the company we established in Jerusalem under that name at the turn of the Millenium.

She also colored this illustration for a pilot study of a television animation series.

As well as this superhero style cover for an advertising company brochure.

Sofia produced this charming children's book illustration.

As well as this one also.

A woman of fabulous talent and impeccable integrity whose work and aesthetic influence can be seen at our company's web site, which she recently revived. Her biography resides here and we should hope to see more eye pleasers from her on this page in the times ahead.

Permalink Posted: 11:02 PM EST 7 comments  

Neal is Moses, I thought to myself as I listened to him wind down his speech and went back to my room.

A couple of hours later everyone was gone from the studio except for Joe Barny. Joe was a night owl like myself. He sat in Larry Hama's room listening to a late night radio talk show about comics. Larry always left his room unlocked so Joe could listen to the radio. The talk show focused on Steve Ditko. The host was taking phone calls from listeners. I joined Joe in Larry's room and after a long silence, he asked me what was on my mind with all this. I pulled out the Bible I'd brought back with me from California and opened it to Revelations chapter 12 and gave it to him. Joe read it and attempted to explain.

"This is talking about the Second Coming of Christ, Mike." He said."Are you saying that this Michael in here is you? That you're the Second Coming of Christ? Is that what you're saying?"

Truth to tell, I didn't know much about the Second Coming of Christ back then but I wasn't about to say no. I just knew that that name was written there for me. Realizing he wasn't going to get an answer, Joe prodded on.

"If you really believe this, then why not say it on the radio?" Joe suggested. "They're taking calls now."

Sounded good to me. Joe dialed and I took the phone and waited. Some time later I was talking to the screener and introduced myself. I was then moved to the top of line of the people waiting to get on the air and the host came on as soon as the last call had ended.

"Next caller's from Manhattan... " I was on the air and I had every intention of making it count.

"This is Mike Nasser working with Neal Adams and Dick Giordano at Continuity Associates." I said.

"Welcome, Mike." The host said cheerfully. "Your work is well known and it's a pleasure to have you join us."

"Thank you." I answered.

"What's on your mind tonight?"

"We're putting together a political party of comic book creators from Continuity and plan on running it for the 1980 presidential election."

A few seconds of silence and the host regained his composure.

"Well...uh, is that all, Mike? It sounds like you have more on your mind."

"It was written that the Second Coming of Christ would be a man named Michael." I said.

It took the radio talk show host a little longer to regain his composure this time. Realizing it best to end the call, he signed off.

"Well, if you believe it..." He said, "...then go for it."

The night was sleepless. At 9:30 the next morning, Neal came bursting into the studio. This was an early hour for Neal in the studio. I was in the hallway facing him as he stepped out of the elevator. He looked at me with a big smile.

"Did you say you were the Second Coming of Christ on the Radio?" He asked unbelievingly.

"I just answered his questions" I tried to explain.

Later in the day, I stepped out of Continuity and found myself in the elevator with Larry Hama.

"You don't really believe all that shit in the Bible, do you?" He asked.

"Neal thinks he's Moses", I answered.

"What?" Larry exploded. "Did Neal tell you he thinks he's Moses?"

"Ask him." I said. We stepped out of the elevator.

Skip forward to 1993. Things between Neal and I went sour. I just came back from a meeting with a big shot lawyer in Manhattan who wanted to serve Neal with a lawsuit for the copyright of Ms. Mystic and libel in Crazyman. I called Larry Hama to ask his advice.

"Whatever you think that Neal's done wrong, you can't forget that he's like our father." Larry said. "Neal has been like our father and you don't just sue your father. It's not right."

I didn't take Larry's advice.

Skip forward again to early October, 2004. I'm at my workstation at DPS, a 3D animation studio in the IDT Communications headquarters building. Newark, New Jersey.

Someone walks up behind me, "...let me first say Hi to Mike." I turn around. It's Larry Hama and he greets me with a big handshake and a smile. He dropped by as a guest of one of our fellow storyboard artists to pitch an idea for an animated film to DPS. Half an hour later we sat together for lunch.

"Have you fixed things with Neal yet?" He asked.

"I'm trying." I answered him. "I just don't know what more I can do."

"You have to fix things with Neal." He said. "You have to find a way."

"How long have you been here?" He asked.

"About 3 months." I answered. "I came here to give a drawing to Christopher Reeve who's directing the film we're working on."

"The production people don't want me to give it to him. They're afraid it'll disturb him and they won't allow me to meet him." I added. "It's a dead end."

"You have to fix things with Neal first." Larry insisted.

A few days later, on Friday, I resigned from DPS and went to have a conversation with Neal. It wasn't yet time to fix things. Christopher had a heart attack.

On Sunday Christopher Reeve died.

Skip forward 40 days to the Big Apple Convention in New York. Penn Plaza Hotel. I just finished The Comic Book Creator's Party website and sent out news releases to the industry press and to Neal Adams. In an article there, Blood Which Flows from the Heart, I explained everything that happened between Neal and I and was finally going to try to fix things. I walked into the lobby and saw Neal with his family at their tables to the left. Everybody was happy. I was scared shitless and not sure how I'd be received. I walked upstairs to the artist's tables and ran into Larry Hama.

"Have you fixed things with Neal yet ?" He asked.

"I don't know Larry." I answered him. "I don't know if Neal is willing to put this behind us yet."

"You have to fix things with Neal." He said. "You have to find a way."

"Look Larry, I value your advice although I didn't always listen to you. Do you really think it's realistic that I just walk up to Neal and say hello after everything that's happened?"

Larry thought about this long and hard.

"Why not?" He said.

At the end of the last day of the convention I ran into Larry Hama again.

"Have you fixed things with Neal yet?" He asked.

"You were right." I said, unable to hide the excitement. "It's fixed. We had a good exchange and shook hands to patch it up."

"I've gotta run and catch a plane back home. Got a family waiting for me in Israel that I haven't seen in 4 months."

"Shalom to you." Larry said as I walked away. "Have a safe flight"

"Shalom to you, peacemaker" I said. "Thanks for all the good advice."

Larry Hama. Peacemaker. Portraits of the Creators Sketchbook.

Permalink Posted: 11:13 PM EST 0 comments  

It would have been preferable that some of the comments to Bad Blood in the Galaxy did not turn into a personal attack on Alan David Doane, as they did. Alan is a man of good integrity who perhaps made the same mistake that some of the people who commented about him did.

The spunk which Alan David Doane exhibits at times is the same material of which all good men are made of. It takes a certain amount of courage to put together the type of good enterprise which Alan has and sometimes it's that same courage which allows us to also make mistakes. It's also that same courage which allows us to correct them.

The portrait of Alan David Doane will remain in Portraits of the Creators along side that of Clifford Meth and others. I look forward to a day of absolution between these two men, as I do between Clifford Meth and Barry Windsor-Smith.

Permalink Posted: 3:37 AM EST 13 comments  

Permalink Posted: 8:11 PM EST 0 comments  

I know I'm the type who attracts a wide circle of friendships that often find themselves in contention with each other. My biggest childhood nightmares revolved around the fact that my friends would often be at each others' throats and ask me to take sides one against the other. As a child, I rarely dealt with the issues that divided between them. I chose instead to let each one know that they'll always have my support and friendship. It never helped the situation much, however, to keep everyone as a friend as they ripped each other apart. I've grown up a bit since and am willing to put a friendship on the line in order to help fix things between the people in my life.

I've known Barry Windsor-Smith since 1975 and have never been slighted by him myself. Sadly, I can't say the same for many of my friends in the industry. Barry and I have had very good times together in the comics community of the 1970's which I greatly cherish. I have the greatest admiration for his insight, love for the craft and for his fabulous talent. On a personal note, however, it's no secret to many in the comics that Barry Windsor-Smith has bolstered his own personal presentation of himself and put forth his image of semi-royal exclusivity at the expense of a sometimes demeaning treatment of many comic book community professionals and his own colleagues alike. I don't have to get into the stories here of people in the comics who would prefer to walk into a furnace rather than have to conduct a simple conversation with Barry Windsor-Smith.

Barry has every right to conduct his career and personal image in any way he sees fit. When it insults and hurts others around him, be they his colleagues or just simple ordinary people who expect and deserve minimal courtesy from him as a fellow human being, Barry Windsor-Smith should have foreseen that a time and a place would come when the piper would come knocking to collect his due.

Clifford Meth, whom I've also known since working in the comics in the 1970's, explained why he didn't include a piece contributed by Barry Windsor-Smith to the Dave Cockrum Tribute book he produced last year, in an article at his Past Masters column at Silver Bullet Comic Books which can be seen here.

Alan David Doane of Comic Book Galaxy, who recently also came into my circle of friendships, in his criticism of Meth from March 19th, 2004, which can be seen here, distorted the facts around the issue and unjustly maligned Clifford for his actions. Clifford has chosen not to respond publicly but has brought the issue to my attention as my name and art are prominent on the page which smears his good name. I'd like to direct a few words to Alan David Doane in response.

First off Alan, your childish criticisms of Clifford's spelling and use of metaphors only reflect badly on yourself and are not worthy of the good enterprise you stand behind. Most people understand the difference between the words "sighting" and "citing", as I'm sure you do. Most people also don't need an explanation for a statement like "...And at home, I had two in diapers." Most people understand the writer is speaking about children. The schoolyard tactics in this piece makes it smell like shit, right from the start.

I believe it's fair to expect minimal human decency from a comic book artist, Alan. Being Barry Windsor-Smith does not give one a right to trample someone's career and have them expelled from a place of work because they made the mistake of not knowing that Barry Smith had added Windsor to his name. Barry's allowing for this pompous arrogance to come from his staff and to shut the door on Clifford's attempt to apologize is the type of rudeness which dwarfs any claims they have of Clifford's in asking for the interview. In light of Barry's persistent manipulations to have his piece published in a book which Clifford produced and edited, by turning to industry professionals in order to pressure Clifford, while refusing to simply call him and open a dialogue between them - Barry brought upon himself, through his choice, being excluded from the book.

You, on the other hand, Alan, went on to wage a war against the project by asking the comics community to pull support from the Cockrum tribute. In your defense of Barry's right to have his work appear in the book, you were willing to minimize the benefit which Dave Cockrum could have from this project.

The project was produced for Dave Cockrum's benefit, Alan, not for Barry Windsor-Smith's.

The bottom line here, Alan, is that Clifford Meth is a human being who expects to be treated as such, as we all do. His passion for this simple issue is what drives him to help his fellow creators in the comics. Clifford Meth has done more to make this industry better for the creators, than the collective career of of many good people in the industry, who can't seem to extend themselves with the minimal basic concern for the family they belong to.

If Barry Windsor-Smith was so fucking concerned about helping Dave, he could've produced a book himself for Dave's benefit. It takes a little bit of true concern for someone to raise such a project, however. Sadly, Barry has not shown much concern other than for his own damn ego in this case.

You have unjustly maligned a good and innocent man, Alan, and I believe you need to fix it. It's the least you should consider if my name and art continue to appear on that page.

Permalink Posted: 12:20 PM EST 35 comments  

In the first official Breakdowns in many a moon, Chris takes a look at the works of Seth, James Jean's Process Recess art book, other recent comics and graphic novels, and a long, insightful look at how DC might have made a success of their failed 2000AD/Humanoids lines. Go have a look.

Permalink Posted: 9:46 AM EST 0 comments  

Permalink Posted: 10:03 PM EST 0 comments  

"Think of composition as if it's all in the family." He said. "A big rock in the background shouldn't stand there alone. It needs little baby rocks and children rocks around it to make it feel at home. It also needs to have a softer mommy rock nearby so it can look strong." As he spoke, Craig doodled the rock family on the back of a materials requisition form he swiped from a nearby desk, pouring into it the same firm elegance he applied to every line which graced the comics he illustrated.

Skip forward to the end of the summer of 77 on 45th and 9th. Craig and his roommates were hosting a house warming party for their new apartment on the upper west side. I arrived there with a few friends from the Continuity, including Alan Weiss. What was strange about this party was that it appeared that Craig's roommates weren't all from the comics community and I suddenly found myself in close proximity to people who were not familiar with the family of comics makers. Once I adjusted to the shock, I began making my way around the hallways in an attempt to mingle or shmoozle or whatever the hell else I could find to do there. The place was jam packed and the folk I came with were nowhere in sight. At a distant room in the corner of the apartment, I gleamed Alan Weiss standing in the doorway listening to something which had apparently captured his attention. I forged my way through the crowd to find him in the midst of a discussion about Buckminster Fuller.

For those who aren't familiar with him, Buckminster Fuller invented the Geodesic Dome. This is a big dome which doesn't need supporting columns because it's constructed with connected triangular supports. Each triangle supports the ones above it all the way from the bottom to its top center. Bucky, as we later called him, was also a humanist philosopher who wrote many fascinating books, one of which was "Operating Manual for Spaceship Earth", which I'd coincidently read several months earlier. This book lays out an aspiration to achieve the collective survival and success of 100% of humanity in the shortest time possible and suggests that if we would all spend a little more time fishing, as an example, we'd be able to think a little more clearly and come to better conclusions as to what to do with our lives and how to use our presence in this world to our utmost all-inclusive benefit.

Sitting in the room with Alan and giving the lecture on Bucky was a stocky young man who had a presence that rivaled Marlon Brando's in Apocalypse Now. Rick Meyer was demonstrating the physics inherent in the triangles which he made from toothpicks and silly putty. He was showing how a structure made of these triangles is much stronger than its square counterpart. More interestingly, he was apparently peddling an interest in Buckminster Fuller's gathering of intellectual thinkers, scientists and philosophers in order to put forth a plan to save mankind from the destructive path it was on. It was called The World Game and was based in Philadelphia. Rick talked about how anyone can participate in the seminars and workshops by contacting the organization and contributing to putting together these plans for the salvation of mankind. As Alan and I showed some curiosity about the likely success of the design-science revolution he spoke of, Rick explained that well informed people at The World Game could answer any questions we might have. "ANY questions?" Alan asked challengingly.

"Any Questions." Rick insisted.

Skip forward again a few months to when the Martian went to Titan and found the San Francisco treat. After 6 weeks of searching for America, I found it also and returned to Continuity in New York. I walked into the front room to find everyone surprised to see me sporting a beard and long hair. Neal cracked a smile and said: "Welcome back, Mike. We all have religion now", as he held up an issue of Star*Reach 12, which had just come off of the presses from San Francisco. I didn't bite. I wasn't about to let anyone drag me into talking about it yet. This needed time and it was better for me to keep my mouth shut for now and show them what I mean by just doing what I knew I must. "You look like Jesus, Mike" Neal proclaimed again. He knew exactly what was on my mind and he was letting everyone know also. I held my ground and kept my mouth shut again. "He looks really serious" Kris said, hoping I'd break the ice and say something funny. I thanked her for arranging my return flight from San Diego and went back to my room.

A phone call to Craig Russell and another one to Rick Meyer at his work number which Craig gave me. I asked Rick to come by Continuity ASAP as I had something to tell him which he'd be very interested in. Noticing the intensity with which I asked, he said he'd stop by in the early evening. For the next few hours, I sat in the back room studio as Marshall Rogers concentrated on his Batman cover while people intermittently popped into the room from the front to see if they could get a word out of me concerning what had happened. Alan stopped by in the late afternoon and I asked him to hang around a bit for the conversation with Rick. Kris soon appeared at our door to tell me that someone was looking for me. I went to the reception area, welcomed Rick to the studio and together, we went into our back room where Marshall and Alan were, and shut the door behind us. I sat at my drawing table with my back to it, facing Rick. Alan and Rick sat on the couch across from me. Marshall was busy with his Batman cover.

"What's on your mind, Mike?" Rick asked, breaking the momentary silence.

"There are a lot of people who believe in God who could be taught the things that The World Game wants to teach." I said.

"Well, good luck with that." Rick brushed off the unlikely notion. "How do you plan to do it?"

Standing up, I pressed him slightly. " Answering any questions!"

I then leaned into him and raised the intensity.. "What's going on.." ..and volume. "..RICK?!"

Rick was beginning to understand that I had a plan.

"And what part do you play in all this?" he asked.

"And Michael and his angels fought in Heaven." I said.

The words simply rolled off of my tongue with the inflection and knowledge of holding the key which The World Game needed in order to implement their designs for the success of all of mankind in its difficult hour.

Rick's adam's apple leaped in his throat as he sat back and collected himself with a gulp. For the next twenty minutes he went on to explain how the comics creators and scientists will join forces and stand poised to change the course of history. How the same spirit of the writers of the scriptures will be applied today to educate mankind, through the comics, and implement the revolution which will fix everything in our world. Both Alan and I sat in silent awe throughout his dissertation while Marshall remained busy with his Batman cover. When he finished, Rick asked me to come with him and meet some friends who'd be interested in hearing more. I told him it would have to wait. "We don't like wasting any time, you know." He said, as he stepped out of the studio.

The next day we met again and I asked him if he'd be willing to write down his interpretation of the book of Revelations for me before I go with him to meet his friends. "Perhaps you should find someone else to do that, Mike."

That was the last time I saw Rick Meyer.

Fast forward to May, 2004. I'm networking the comics web community with The New Comic Book of Life web site from Jerusalem. I'm also looking for Rick Meyer. I don't need his interpretation of Revelations anymore. I simply wish to talk to him about The World Game. They have a new web site but he's nowhere to be found there. I find Craig Russell and post a question to him about Rick at his forum. Craig has heard about my new website and welcomes me with reserved warmth. He says he hasn't heard from Rick since the mid 1980's.

Skip forward a few months. I'm in New York with Alan Weiss who'd just returned from a comics convention where he met with Craig. We reminisce about Rick and the imposing impression he'd made on both of us back at Continuity.

"Craig thinks you're psychotic, you know." Alan says precariously.

"He'll get over it." I answer. "It's all in the family."

Craig Russell. Portraits of the Creators Sketchbook.

Permalink Posted: 6:22 PM EST 0 comments  

As the name says, the thread offered free sketches to forum members at their request. Just as we do at the conventions. Slowly, this thread became very popular and was eventually hailed as the best thread in the history of the internet by some of the members participating. It grew into something none of us expected and chronicled events which led to compiling the work there for eventual publication. Through this thread the work for Heroes and villains and Other Celebrities sktechbook, Portraits of the Creators sketchbook and The Creators project were conceived.

Mark Millar and Mike Tegler continue to administer one of the warmer and more invigorating web communities in the comics today at Millarworld. Since beginning this blog, I've been remiss in not having much time to get back to the thread, but the forum members don't want me to forget the good times we had there - and rightly so. I've now renewed the work on it and hope to integrate it into this blog and website. Below is the next request for a sketch. More to come as they're produced.

Hush for Jason Aiken. Go have a look, and perhaps submit a request for a sketch.

Permalink Posted: 8:55 PM EST 1 comments  

Permalink Posted: 10:34 PM EST 0 comments  

Permalink Posted: 8:08 PM EST 0 comments  

Alan David Doane began the thread with this:

Perfectly work safe, although in a sane world it might not be.

Seeing that several posters had replied, I chimed in:

I took your advice and scrolled at a moderate pace this time, and you're right, Alan, it's far more effective that way. Thanks.

Alan's response came shortly afterwards:

It's all about the pacing.

Realizing that I was conducting an exchange with someone well versed in creative storytelling, I began to probe the Googlenian mechanism in hopes to uncover some information about my curious keypad partner. I soon discovered that I was conversing with none other than the founder of a comics network I'd come across in the past, and have been duly impressed with the thrust and presence of its enterprise:

From this headquarters, the diversely talented Alan David Doane, socio-comics activist, conducts the above website, a daily blog, and the Talk About Comics forum - all brandishing the following introduction and mission statement:

Now in its fifth year, Comic Book Galaxy began providing reviews and commentary on comics and graphic novels September 1st, 2000. In addition to the regularly updated reviews and commentary sections, be sure to check out the blog, which is updated nearly every day, and the Galaxy message board, where you can discuss comics and whatever else is on your mind with your fellow Comic Book Galaxy readers.

We are committed to bringing you commentary on comics and graphic novels fueled by a passion for the artform, a dedication to the great diversity that exists today for readers, and a committment to inform you about what great comics and graphic novels are out there and how you can get ahold of them. Anytime you have any comments or questions about what you read here, feel free to e-mail us.

So, I returned to the forum and left Alan the following response to his comment:

You do appear to have a talent for pacing and are quite the story teller also, with a special flair of editorial craftmanship in giving titles to your works. Perhaps we should consider including a portrati of you in the sketchbook.

To which he replied:

I'll sit for you any time!

Send me a photo, I answered.

Shortly afterwards, the reference photo arrived.

Alan David Doane. Creator in spirit for Portraits of the Creators Sketchbook.

Permalink Posted: 10:55 AM EST 4 comments  

Dalia Messick, known as Dale in the newspaper strip industry and creator of the legendary Brenda Starr strip, passed away on Tuesday, March 5th, days before her 99th birthday. Dalia was the first woman to burst onto the American newspaper strip medium and inspired a generation of women creators to follow. Mark Evanier reports on the remarkable creator's career and departure at his daily journal, News From ME.

Dalia changed her signature name to Dale at the onset of her career in the mid 1920's in order to receive work as a syndicated strip creator. During these early years of social awakening to the civil rights of women in America, it wasn't commonly believed that a woman could create comics with the vigor that the male community of creators had. Dalia revealed the valuable asset she'd become to the industry in 1931, with the debut of her Brenda Starr strip, which achieved a resounding success and allowed the creator to bring together a team of colleagues to help with its production. By the time the newspaper strip world realized that Dale was indeed a woman, Dalia had proven to be of incomparable intrigue and wit as a writer and a master craftswoman as an illustrator, challenging the finest of her male counterparts in the field.

In a 1998 interview with the Sonoma County Independant newspaper, Dalia at 92, showed no sign of losing her sense of humor or her childlike love for her career in the comic strips:

I'm a half-assed celebrity.. everyone knows Brenda Starr but nobody knows me. I still get fan letters after all these years.. five or 10 a week. They all want a sketch and an autograph because people collect these things. People collect anything. That's why I never take my dental bridge out.. they might collect bridges!

I'll read strips from 20 or 30 years ago and get hooked. I wrote it, I drew it, and I forgot it. I still say that I have better stories in there than they have on television today. Probably after I'm dead and gone they will discover that and use my stories.

Dalia Messick. Woman pioneer of the comic strips.

Have peace, good lady.

Permalink Posted: 10:50 PM EST 2 comments  

Peter chimed in on a thread I opened which discussed creators coming together to form a union and improve their lot in life and in the comics.

Yeah, well, you know what, Michael? The last time I wrote an "open letter" to a publisher about creator endeavors, I was crucified for it by my fellow creators. Not a single one took a public stand in support of me, and most who made any mention of it at all either undercut me or flat out lampooned me.

So I hope you have more luck with such endeavors than I did insofar as the creative community is concerned. But I wouldn't hold my breath.

So I asked him if I could have his OK to add his name to a list of creators supporting the idea.

Well, no, not really, you don't have my okay.

Years ago I was part of an attempt to organize creators into what we called the CBPA, the Comic Book Professional's Association...the main intention of which was to find a way to get reasonable, inexpensive health care. Dropped a wad of money making giveaway hats and stuff. Interest: Nil. Results: None.

I was one of the organizing members of Pro/Con. Spent a lot of time, money and energy on that. They still do it, but I don't think anyone even recalls it was my idea. Never been invited to one.

I've fought on behalf of other people's causes, stepped in when I felt they were being hammered, over and over. Many have written me privately (always privately) saying "Thanks." But when it's been my neck on the line, who's been out there covering my back? No comics creators, that's for sure.

I don't know that I'm quite as far gone as Rick in "Casablanca," sitting there with my shotglass and saying that I don't stick my neck out for nobody. But I've been bashed, battered or ignored enough to know that my rubberband of brothers won't be extending themselves for me anytime soon, and if someone's expecting me to stick MY neck out, they had better--at the very least--look like Ingrid Bergman.

I commended Peter for all his previous efforts and explained that I saw no risk in his writing an article supporting such an endeavor.

It's not a matter of being "at risk," Michael. It's that I'm tired of fighting other people's fights and getting nothing but black eyes or ignored for it. At least with, for instance, the CBLDF, I've got the rest of the board as allies. But any other times I've had problems or could have used back-up, the rubberband of brothers has been watching its own collective interests, or even attempted to capitalize upon it. Concern over the commonwealth can only flow one way for so long before one decides "To *** with it."

There is a great deal of despair in the creator community and little hope for change, this is true. I can see this in the effort that only a few are willing to support, at the critical early stage, with the Comic Book Creators' Guild.

But it's a gradual process and it needs time. Problem is time may be running out. Creators may not even have much time left to bitch about things, let alone get off our asses and do something about it.

Me. I'm fine. I have all the time in the world. I'll keep pursuing it because it's the most worthwhile thing I can see in the world right now. Not because I need the comics. I've already shown that I don't. I simply love them.

The creators are truly heroes. They have to be in order to create heroism. When they discover this, they'll begin acting like it. They'll get off their duffs and begin networking and consolidating an effort to organize. Peter will be at the head of the pack.

Here's the link to the discussion. Peter comes in at the middle of the page.

Permalink Posted: 4:16 PM EST 2 comments  

Permalink Posted: 3:42 PM EST 2 comments  

7 days later, on Thanksgiving Day, I landed in San Francisco. Giving thanks, I was answered in kind by a Salvation Army lineup for the holiday feast which interrupted my traverse of the city in search for Steve. I needed to inform him and Mike that I will not be producing the work for Star*Reach before continuing my journey. Giving thanks again, I was back in the concrete jungles where a window pane of an unattended laundromat attracted my attention. I'd finally found the man I sought. The flyer advertised Steve Leialoha's services as an illustrator, leaving a telephone number which I dialed with the last coin in my black ankle-length British civil defense overcoat pocket. Steve, showing no signs of wonder that I was in the city, supplied me with the directions needed to find him within the pastoral Franciscan maze of streets and avenues. 15 minutes later we discussed the situation over a cup of coffee in his living room.

Steve wasted no time and contacted Mike Friedrich who joined us an hour later at his abode.

"What do you plan on doing, if not make comics?" Mike asked. His tone was careful and un-intrusive in light of the intensity I was inadvertently projecting. I thought about this long and hard for a moment. I wanted this answer to count for something and pave the way for things to come.

"I intend to venture into public speaking in order to help bring peace to the world." I said.

Mike Friedrich, one of the excellent visionaries of the comics, couldn't argue with such an aspiration. Not even if it meant he'd be left 8 pages short on his grand debut of a color comics section in his previously all black and white ground-level publication. He thought long and hard in return.

"Maybe this is for the better", he said. "The story you had in mind wasn't the most original, you know."

He was right. It was a stupid story with no point other than how aliens and Earthmen blow each other up in classic juvenile redundance. It was one of the reasons I no longer had any wish to produce it. Mike wasn't a quitter, however, as he reached for another solution.

"Why not give me the story you have on your mind now." He offered. "You could do it from here and get back on the road when you're done. If it's alright with Steve, that is."

"It's alright with me." Steve answered without hesitation.

I was caught unawares, truth to tell. No notion whatsoever of such a possibility. I was guilty of undestimating Mike's creative prowess in his reach for the stars. The chips had fallen where they did and I'd delay my journey with one last creative endeavor in the comics.

In the days that followed, Steve worked on his own projects as I produced the line art for The Old, New and Final Testaments from his living room studio. The experience remains one of the more cherished for me, made even more special by the warm hospitality of my San Franciscan host. More than a month later, back in New York, I'd see the published issue of Star*Reach #12 which Steve colored with an equally warm palette of amazing splendor.

Steve Leialoha, with fond remembrance for his San Francisco treat. Portraits of the Creators Sketchbook.

Permalink Posted: 2:24 PM EST 1 comments  

First of the commissioned work. More as it's produced.

Permalink Posted: 10:39 PM EST 5 comments  

If someone, or some group is able to show that they have the key with which to generate more wealth than the elite could ever dream of, through a pop culture phenomenon, the wealthy elite would put ALL THEIR MONEY, and even their own mothers, on the table to allow them to do this. The problem with confronting the merchant masters of the world has been that their opposition does not like to dirty their hands with money. But if an opposition group were to rise that would play their game - they could take away all the wealth of the world through the infrastructures of the free trade capitalist system and the pop culture merchandising phenomenon of the Western world.

Now, I know you're asking the big question: "What do you have up your sleeve that the whole world would want a piece of? What do you have in mind that could become such a pop culture hit that it would sweep the majority of the world? What is the common thing that the whole world could be led to believe that it wants?"

Alright. Here it is. The Damned Merchant Messiah Snake!

It will become the best show in town. Imagine this. He's a a real bastard who wants to take over the world, but not for himself. For who then? For the comics and for the creators. Through him they rise on the world stage and sweep the world with the most unassuming revolution that anyone could have imagined! The bastard can talk like a prophet. Just like prophets did, he gets on the case of religious hypocrites. The Damned Snake knows all the books, all the rules. The secular world raises him in order to fend off the oppression of the Christian coalition and religious institutions. The religious world is now under attack with it's own weapons for the first time in history! This will make a lot of money. It will also open up reservoirs of knowledge and understanding long buried within a lot of people. Issues will be put on the table which a lot of people have kept suppressed. Mayhem of the human spirit set free.

I know you're now asking the Million Dollar question. Why would the world allow some nut to do this? I'll tell you why. Because the humble and humane secular world wants relief from religious oppression. And this Damned Snake brings the wrath of entire religious world against him. They want to kill him and that's the key. He promises a death and a resurrection. The Bastard! He plans on showing the world that he's the one by coming back to life to the eyes of the whole world! The Damned Snake is going to steal the show. At least for a couple of years until the world can't take it anymore and finally kills him! These couple of years are a window which the comics creators and the comics industry capitalize on in a major way! Within a couple of years of merchandising the damned bastard, they overthrow the wealth of the entire world. They sell advance tickets to his execution to the whole world - which is dying to see if he comes back to life - and take all its wealth in the damn process.

That's how the power will be taken away from the wealthy elite who divide and corrupt the world.

Now the big question remains, does he really come back to life? Well, I know you won't take my word for it. So, you can't really know until it happens. But it's a win win situation for the creators and their comics. Order your tickets now.

Permalink Posted: 8:24 PM EST 0 comments  

It was towards the end of the summer of 77 on 45th and 9th. The party was winding down and Autumn was falling upon the City. I was in the midst of finishing the first book of Ms. Mystic with Neal Adams and a Princess Projectra back-up story for the Legion with Paul Levitz. Mike Friedrich stopped by Continuity and networked the studio in preparation for the publishing of the 12th issue of Star*Reach. He came into the back room and invited me to participate by contributing the first color story in his above-ground comic book. Marv Wolfman called to ask If I'd like to pencil the John Carter Warlord of Mars series he was launching as an editor at Marvel. "We have a little time," he said, "so maybe, in the meantime, you'd like to come up with the character designs for the book". "Sounds great", I said.

The fall of the summer of 77 on 45th and 9th fell upon me like a boulder falls upon a gnat. I was 21 years old and beginning to awaken to the reality that the party of the summer was an exception and that a far more serious affair now awaited me in the road ahead. It was a time of solemn pondering and hard work. The project with Neal, the work with Paul and the invitations by Mike and Marv were indications that a certain measure of success had been achieved as a comic book artist, yet it all felt rather shallow considering that I'd lost the woman I loved and the daughter she gave me in pursuit of a career in the comics. The socio-political-economic conditions all about had driven me into a corner and were mocking me with the futility of the visions of grandeur I'd sported during the early times in New York, in pursuit of the comics creatorship. The sparks and glamour of life in the comics were beginning to fade and give way to a dark loneliness in a world which gave little hope for change.

As the month of November rolled around I knew I'd arrived at the end of this segment of my life and career. The only question was where to go from here. My friends and colleagues all noticed a change in my demeanor. Howard Chaykin commented several times on how quiet I'd become. I kept it all within and sought to find the answer there. The artwork continued to flow with progressing tenacity, elevating to new heights and eliciting reserved wonderment from my colleagues. Jim Starlin said I was too good for the comics. Neal appeared very happy with the pencils for the first issue of Ms Mystic and Paul was very enthused with the work for the Legion. Marv Wolfman expressed a reserved delight with the character designs I'd showed him for the Edgar Rice Burroughs' John Carter: Warlord of Mars comics adaptation for Marvel.

But my mind wasn't really on Mars at all any more, no it was far far beyond. The sirens of Titan were beginning to ring within me and beckon me to leave it all behind and to seek their soothing serenade. The sirens of Titan were raising me from the ashes of futility and despair and beginning to fill me with the wonderment of the grand and glorious events they conspired to bring to the world stage of events on the late great planet Earths' all but doomed prognosis for the future. The sirens of Titan were beckoning me to stand tall at childhood's end as the stranger in a strange land who'd dare reach for the proverbial sceptre of leadership for a new age - and with it, help raise my fellow comic book creators - and the comics - to their hopeful and rightful place as the bringers of a bright new world.

It would mean the end of the party of the summer of 77 on 45th and 9th. I could live with it all. Neal would understand and yes, he'd even encourage, support and in his own way, lend a hand to bringing it all about. Many of my friends would remain in dismay for a long time to come, but it was a small price to pay for such a hope. Alan would remain the one friend who'd not desert. Paul would appear to disassociate himself slowly, he was heading for the corporate jungles, after all - no place for such vision. I perhaps garnered some remorse at not producing the art for the Warlord of Mars series. Marv appeared to have rather great expectations of our working together. Telling him that I shall not be doing it was a precarious notion, to say the least.

On the morning of November 19th, 1977, I made the rounds to everyone I was committed to produce work for and informed them that I will not be doing it. I saved Marv Wolfman for last. With heaviness of heart, I told him that it cannot be, at this time. I hoped for best but was prepared to be pressured to explain or to reverse my decision.

"Its alright, Mike." He said. "Thanks for letting me know in time."

Marv Wolfman. A new addition to Portraits of the Creators Sketchbook.

Permalink Posted: 8:43 PM EST 2 comments  

Jesus taught his followers to beware of outward expression of ceremonial worship conducted by those who sought honor as lofty servers of the almighty Creator, while inwardly were as the ravening wolves who laid in wait for to devour their prey. He rebuked the religious institutions of his own people and gave his life in order to reveal the oppressive and deceptive manner such institutions persecute a far more humble and humane secular community.

Pope John Paul II could have served his Lord and savior far better had he refused the Papal honor and stepped into the streets to rebuke the corrupt church which oppressed the world in the name of Jesus Christ. He could have enriched the legacy of his savior by suffering the persecution of the church in order to bring the teachings of Jesus to a world thirsty for the water of life he gives.

Instead, Pope John Paul II elected not to honor his Lord, but rather to receive the honors and exaltations of a corrupt and pretentious church drunken with the wine of its own self-esteem. The children are left thirsty at his hands.

Pope John Paul II now receives the honor he sought in this world. The shame he helped bring in the name of his Lord will be returned in like in the world to come.

Permalink Posted: 12:25 PM EST 0 comments  

Meet Cristina Urdiales of Malaga, Spain. Seen here with her niece Clara, posing at the great wall of China and also at a monument in Mexico. She hails originally from Granada, a facscinating city in the southern region of Spain, where I had the pleasure of visiting last year as a guest of its annual comic book festival. Cristina is more than simply a well traveled young lady, however, as the photographs testify. It is also not enough for her to be an assistant professor in Telecommunication Engineering, instructing university students in Microprocessor based systems and Microbotics, it would appear. No, such appetizers are rarely enough for a breed of Cristina's nature. Cristina operates an extensive network of blogs and web sites with which to explore and wax poetic of the medium she loves more than all, the comics.

And so, Cristina operates the Comic Characters' Data Base blog, the Up Close and Personal blog, a Microbiotics instruction university web site and a Comic Characters Data Base web site. All presented in English, containing well written reviews and critiques of the goings on in the world of comics and its vicinity. If you happen to be proficient in the Spanish tongue, her personal blog will allow you to get to know her even a little better.

All this would have been enough for to have walked away, satisfied from such a pleasant encounter. Cristina wouldn't allow me to do so, however as she teased on with several links to yet one more comics related hobby which she nourishes. Cristina is also apparently quite the gifted artist, in her own right, and presents an array of work on her blogs and sites for her viewer's perusal.

Cristina Urdiales of Malaga, Spain. Sojourner, professor and instructor, comics aficionado, author and artist. Pay her a visit and enjoy her creative Spanish hospitality.

Permalink Posted: 7:39 AM EST 2 comments  

An incident recounted in the Gospels tells of one of Jesus' friends, who asked to excuse himself from the events he participated in as a member of the movement in Zero Century Roman occuppied Israel. He said a relative had passed away and that he wished to participate in the burial.

"Let the dead bury their dead", replied Jesus, "God is a God of the living. Follow me."

Permalink Posted: 4:37 AM EST 0 comments  

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