1979 - Anatomy of a Cover - Crazy Magazine #50 by Bob Larkin

1982 - El Paso Comicon Programme by Kerry Gammill

Red Skull vs. Superman and Captain America

1980 - House Ads for Superman and Spider-Man

1988 - What The -- ?! #2 by John Byrne

Superbman Vs. The Fantastical Four by John Byrne. Byrne has a bit of fun with this 
cross-company mash-up and parody.

Spotlight on the Simonsons - Fan Expo 2013

Spotlight on the Simonsons
Fan Expo 2013
Friday, Aug 23 - 12:30pm

Here's the audio recording of the panel:

Unfortunately for some unknown reason, this panel was scheduled for only half an hour. The moderator wisely skipped any introduction or spotlight material and immediately opened the floor to questions.

The first question was about Beta Ray Bill (first appearance in Thor #337, Nov. 1983) which was punctuated by a cosplayer donning an impressive homemade Bill costume. Walt explained that he had carte blanche with the title and wanted to create a new hero who was worthy of the inscription on Mjolnir, Thor’s hammer,

When asked about the reaction to the Thor Frog story line (Thor #364, Feb. 1985), Walt basically said that there was no negative reaction although there were a few letters asking him if what was happening was for real. He also noted that in those days, the majority of fan letters were positive, while now most of the fan reaction online seems to be negative. The Thor Frog storyline was an homage to Carl Barks (creator of Donald Duck and Scrooge) and that he liked the fairy tale twist with the prince (Thor) being turning into the frog.

Walt talked about his upcoming IDW comic, Ragnarok, which will feature his own take on the Norse Myths. The basic premise is that Ragnarok, the Twilight of the Gods, happened without Thor and the bad guys won. Two hundred years later, Thor returns and is out for revenge.

Louise talked about the Death of Superman in the 1990s and how much fun it was working on such a collaborative group of Superman titles. She praised editor Mike Carlin for his efforts in coordinating the weekly books. She also talked about how it was the Funeral for a Friend storyline afterwards that had interested her more than the Death of Superman.

I asked them what it was like working together and they both agreed that it was a fun experience and that they fed off each other’s creative energies. When co-writing the Wolverine and Havok limited series in 1989, they would each take turns at the typewriter and write until they got tired and the other would take over.

At the top of the hour, the questions kept coming and the Simonsons kept answering. The panel ran over, delaying the Neal Adams panel. When Walt heard that it was Neal waiting, he jovially yelled out “Tell Neal to get lost!”

What came through in this intimate and interactive panel was the approachability and neighbors-next-door feeling that radiated from the Simonsons. Two individuals whose lives have been intertwined with comics for 50 years and clearly still love the medium.

Happy Birthday Bob Larkin!

1986 - What Might Have Been - Byrne and Romita Jr. on the Fantastic Four

Over at Byrne Robotics:

"First, remember that I was not originally leaving Marvel. I had already planned to scale back on the FF, doing the writing only, with the possibility of John Romita Jr taking on the art. I intended to continue working on Marvel books at the same time I handled what was expected to be a single Superman title. 

Mike Hobson, then head of Publishing, wished me luck. He said he thought this would be good for DC, "and anything that good for DC will be good for the industry, and so good for Marvel."

Shooter, meanwhile, ordered massive rewriting and redrawing of the return of Jean Grey issue of FANTASTIC FOUR -- an issue he had approved in full just a few weeks before.
And THAT was when I realized I would have no choice but to leave Marvel."

Here's just an example of some lovely JRJR FF and what might have been...

1986 - News - Byrne leaves Marvel!

From Comics Feature #43 (Apr. 1986):

1981 - Superman and Spider-Man

Marvel Treasury Edition #28

Writer: Jim Shooter with plot suggestions by Marv Wolfman

Artists: John Buscema/Joe Sinnott

62 pages

"The Heroes and the Holocaust!" is the second meeting between company flagship characters and a sequel to 1976's "Superman vs the Amazing Spider-Man". Oddly enough, their first meeting isn't even brought up.

It turns out to be an entertaining story. Doctor Doom tries to put the final pieces of his latest diabolical scheme into motion, one of which includes having a rampaging Hulk make his way into downtown Metropolis. The Hulk's rampage draws the attention of Superman who deals with the threat and figures out that Doctor Doom is behind it. He confronts Doom and vows to stop him. In their own seperate ways, Spider-Man and Superman discover Doctor Doom's base of operations in New York City and they team up to prevent the Omega Project from succeeding. Doom escapes to his Latverian Embassy where hides behind his diplomatic immunity.

Wonder Woman and the Hulk kind of just get thrown into the story as their roles aren't integral to the plot, but I can see why they've been included to hype their respective live action TV shows that were big at the time. Yet, there is no advertisement for either show in the issue.

The Parasite doesn't strike me as an upper tier villain so I was curious as to why Shooter didn't bring in Luther or Brainiac to complement Dr. Doom. I'm surprised that DC didn't ask for more of a heavy weight villain to get equal coverage. Doom is easily one of Marvel's grandest villains, but Parasite, come on!

Jim Shooter provides his usual over the top dialog, especially with Doom's soliloquies:

"Once happiness seemed so much closer ... so easily within my grasp! For a darkly handsome gypsy youth ... a dabbler in sorcery, it seemed all roads led to success ... to fulfillment ... even love! Then came the accident which runined my face and my life in one single, searing instant! The paths are less clear now, for a man, whose chief please -- is shattering mirrors!"

Really nice pencilled art by "Big" John Buscema and solid inks by "Jolting" Joe Sinnott. It also seems that the backgrounds were inked by the rest of the Marvel Bullpen with Terry Austin, Klaus Janson, Bob McLeod, Al Milgrom, Steve Leialoha, Walt Simonson, Bob Layton, Joe Rubinstein, and Bob Wiacek lending a hand.

All in all, it wasn't the crossover to end all crossovers, but it did provide some pretty neats scenes: Superman taking on the Hulk, Dr. Doom trying to persuade Superman to join him, and having both Peter Parker and Clark Kent interact in each other workplaces.

Later on in 1981, DC and Marvel would come out with another cross-over featuring the Hulk and Batman and then have the X-Men co-star with the New Teen Titans. This issue is reprinted in Crossover Classics Volume 1 trade paperback which also features "Superman versus. The Amazing Spider-Man", "Batman and The Incredible Hulk", and "The Uncanny X-Men and The New Teen Titans".