Friday, September 21, 2012

Joe Kubert, Man of Rock

     Hi everyone.  I'm not sure if I blogged about the recent passing of Gold, Silver and Bronze Age great...Joe Kubert, but something happened the other day which made me think of him.  Not only was Joe the artist of Hawkman, Enemy Ace and many others, but he drew Sgt. Rock for almost 30 years for DC Comics.  New fans might know him as the father of Adam and Andy Kubert and founder of the Kubert School for Art.  In fact the "Before Watchman" series still coming out currently, features inks by Joe over his son's pencils.

     What made me think of him was the "In Memorium" page that DC Comics have been running in all of their books.  Then I thought back to when I met him two years ago at the Columbus, Ohio Mid-Ohio Con.  I bumped into Mr. Kubert and began chatting when a fan asked Joe to draw a picture on his t-shirt, along with an autograph.  Many of the artists had already given the fan a magic markered memento on his shirt and there was not much space left.  But Joe happily obliged when the fan recognized me from my comic book work (meager though it might be) over the years, and asked for a sketch from me as well.
    
     I have been lucky enough to have met many of my comic heroes in my lifetime, but this was one of my happier memories.  You see, Joe was not my friend and I'm not pretending that he was, but for a few minutes in time, he and I both drew characters that we were known for on a t-shirt while chatting and having a fun time together.  Now that is a memory of mine that's carved in stone...or maybe rock.

     Take care and adopt a comic today.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

My Batmobile is Dead!

     Hi everyone.  Well today my engine block cracked so my transportation is gone.  I knew because the engine was overheating but did not have half as much steam coming out of it as my collar did.

     This is surely going to put a damper on me picking up the weekly lot of comics.  Oh well, I'll figure something out.

     Take care and adopt a comic today.

Monday, September 17, 2012

Figuring Out a Collection

     Hi everyone, yesterday I spent most of the late afternoon helping a friend determine the worth of his comic collection.  He had 100 issues of the Hulk and 200 issues of Daredevil.  I went through the guide book and checked the conditions while Brian (my pal) and I chatted.  Now that he knows what the books are worth (in my estimation that is) I hope he makes out okay.

Take care and adopt a comic today.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Hero Cuts

     Hi Everyone.  Today I'm heading for the operating table to get some scar tissue removed.  And you know what?  It makes me think of Blade, the vampire hunter from the critically acclaimed "Tomb of Dracula" comic by Marvel Comics.  He used to cut vampires with his wooden knives.

     Don't worry though, I'll be tap dancing later this afternoon and reading comics.

     Take care and adopt a comic today.

Friday, September 7, 2012

Comics, Sports and a City

     Hi everyone.  I was sorting through a pile of my comics the other day and found a small series that ran its course through a title called, "The Brave abd the Bold."  This book was a tryout series along with "Showcase" and this particular series was called, "Strange Sports Stories."

     In this series there were stories entitled, The Hot-Shot Hoopsters," "The Race Through Time," The Headless Baseball Team" and my favorite..."The Gorilla Wonders of the Diamond."  Most of these tales were about the backdrop of sports being used to thwart alien invasions of our planet and the defeat of evil galactic races, bent on conquering our Earth.  These were indeed...Strange Sports Stories.

     But then as I read the paper today, I'm reminded of another strange sports story, one where Jim Brown, Leroy Kelly, Greg and Mike Pruitt as well as Kevin Mack and Ernest Byner run through an ongoing tale cover to cover.  This story also has Frank Ryan, Bill Nelson, Brian Sipe and Bernie Kosar passing through each of its pages, giving this area a rollercoaster ride of joy, emotion and even sometimes heartbreak.  Those famous years and games we remember are as vivid as any comic book written and drawn.  But these sports comics also have another hero and villain rolled into one.  His name was Art Modell and he was one of the best things to happen to football in general and the Browns in particular, in a long time.  But his fears for the financial well-being of his family drove him to leave town with the team and the memories that we so loved in this area.  Hmmm, "Strange Sports Stories" indeed.

     And as the new Browns season starts, Art is now re-united with his wife and maybe in the future there won't be any sports stories that are labelled "strange," only ones that are are filled with action, joy, happy endings...and forgiveness, just the way I like my comics.

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Comics at Lunchtime and More

     Hi everyone, been very busy the last week, so I'm a bit behind in my blogging.  So let's get busy catching up. 

     First, you just HAVE to catch the new show, "Collection Intervention."  I've never seen such a gathering of comics, movie memorabilia and action figures in all my life.  Being a serious collector myself, I feel terrible as these collectors try to get a grip on the collections that have been running and in many cases, ruining their lives.

     Next, my strip reprint books came in (I ordered them as a present for my Dad) and I can't wait to get them sent off through the mail.  The original Daredevil and Captain Easy were the strips of choice.

     Many comic history magazines all came in at the same time yesterday (4 or 5 total) which means lots of fun for me.  You see I like to read magazines while I'm out having lunch.  If planned properly, I can read and eat in exactly one hour and fifteen minutes.  That is surely a calm and relaxing lunch.  So with the bunch that I got yesterday, I'll have plenty to keep me busy at my favorite eatery's around town.

     Lastly, I've been finishing up work on my Batman book (My Batman, and maybe yours too.) and it should be ready by early October.  The formatting and bindery process is going on right now.  So keep your fingers crossed for me.

     Take care and adopt a comic today.