Original Curt Swan Art Page

Somewhere around 20 years ago, I purchased a page of original art of Action Comics no. 405. It is the October 1971 issue.

The page was pencilled by Curt Swan and inked by Murphy Anderson (with backgrounds inked by Jack Abel). At the time I bought mine, original comic book art was not too expensive. Mine was $100. I have forgotten who the dealer was that I bought it from.

The page was signed by Swan. 

Today, Swan's original artwork, highly sought after, sells in the thousands of dollars. Key issue art commands more as do covers and splash pages. No, I don't plan on selling my page.

Here is the cover of the issue (by Neal Adams and Dick Giordano):

Here's the page I bought as it appeared in the comic book:

Here's the original artwork as it appears in my home:

Superman No. 183 80-Page Giant (1966)

 

Seeing this cover posted at a Curt Swan Facebook page yesterday certainly brought back memories.

The comic book was Superman number 183, an 80-Page Giant (they used to be called Annuals) with a cover date of January 1966. The cover (with reproductions of classic covers) was by Curt Swan and George Klein. Cover price: $.25.

It probably hit the newsstands a couple of months before (around November 1965). I got this comic at a liquor store on Normandie Ave. near 105th Street in Los Angeles when my dad and I went there one night. I think he bought it for me.

This comic contained several Golden Age Superman stores circa the 1940s. It was the first time I had ever read a Golden Age Superman story. I've read many more since then.

LiveAuctioneers estimated value of this issue was $400-$600 in near-mint condition. It sold for $600.

I still have it in my collection.

Curt Swan 1958 Superman Daily Comic Strip

Here's a bit of artwork of the Superman daily comic strip by the great Curt Swan (pencils) and Stan Kaye (inks) from 1958. 

Thanks to Randy Sadewater for posting this on Facebook.

Here's the particulars: 

Jan  27 to Feb 1, 1958.

Strips 5967 to 5972, 1958

Continuing Episode 102: My Secret Romance with Superman

Strips 5877-5978 (October 14, 1957 to February 8, 1958)

Writer - Alvin Schwartz

Pencils - Curt Swan

Inks - Stan Kaye

The byline in the newspapers continued to say Wayne Boring.

Joe Giella, R.I.P.

One of the great artists of the Silver Age of comic books, Joe Giella, passed away two days ago at age 94.

Giella was very familiar to me as he inked many of the DC Comics super-hero comic books such as Batman, Green Lantern, The Flash and others. He was also the artist of the Mary Worth newspaper comic strip for many years. 

His inking embellished the pencils of Carmine Infantino, Sheldon Moldoff, Gil Kane and others.

His family posted this announcement on Facebook:

The Giella family wishes for all to celebrate the incredible life of Joe Giella. Joe passed peacefully on March 21st at the age of 94.

Joe was such a special person. His presence alone would put you at ease. Even on the most difficult days, just being with him would make everything OK again.

He was so honest and sincere, so kind and gentle and so loving and proud.

He was so proud of his service for his country in the US Navy.

He was so proud of his long prolific career in comic books and comic strips.

And he was most proud of his family. To him, family was everything. Nothing made him happier than sitting around the dinner table with family and friends. Sundays and Holidays became sacred events full of laughter and great food.

Joe’s legacy in comic books and comic strips will live on. Our family wishes to thank all of his friends and fans for their support. He truly was humbled by all the attention and love he received. Thank you all and when you think of Joe please try to smile. The world needs more superheroes like Joe.

Joe Giella 

June 27, 1928 – March 21, 2023 

The Joker Becomes Pregnant

Above, Batman and Joker of the Golden Age of comic books.

I don't know what's going on with DC Comics these past few years, but they've definitely gone bizarre. But they've gone even further, as a new graphic Batman novel featuring the Joker indicates. "Grotesque" is the operative word.

From Fox News:

The latest chapter in the Joker’s nefarious story arc may be the DC Comics arch villain's most unusual yet: He becomes pregnant.

In the latest issue of DC Comics’ series, "The Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing," Batman’s nemesis actually carries and gives birth to a child. 

If that sounds strange, that’s the way the graphic novel company intended it. On its website, DC Comics advertised the issue as containing Joker’s "most bizarre caper yet."

Readers may be tempted to think this is part of DC’s attempt to do some woke, LGBTQ-inclusive storytelling with The Joker being a transgender man undergoing a typical pregnancy, though it’s not quite that simple.

In this volume, created by Matthew Rosenberg and Carmine Di Giandomenico, the "Clown prince of Crime" becomes pregnant by some unnatural curse and gives birth in a vomit-inducing way, literally. 

Reaction on social media has been intense:

DC has already screwed up Superman, so I guess it's Batman's turn starting with this.

If you want to read more, go here. (If you dare.) 

Democrat Plans To Take Oath On Superman Comic Book

Above, Superman no. 1 from 1939.

The Democrats have been insane for years, but it has only been in recent years that their insanity is being prominently displayed for all to see.

The latest is from the Gateway Pundit:

Journalist Matt Laslo broke the news in a tweet with by sharing a photo of a vintage superman comic book with the caption “a member of the House of Representatives is taking their oath on a classic Superman comic book”

LOOK:

DEVELOPING: A member of the House of Representatives is taking their oath on a classic Superman comic book pic.twitter.com/MUJIv8VIlA

— Matt Laslo (@MattLaslo) January 3, 2023

Hours later it was revealed Democrat U.S. representative for California’s 42nd congressional district Robert Garcia was the one who is planning to be sworn in on the comic book.

At least he has picked a valuable issue: Superman no. 1 from 1939.

To read more, go here. 

"Death of Superman" 30th Anniversary

Above, Superman no. 75 newsstand edition.

30 years ago, incredible as it may seem, Superman no.75 comic book hit the stands and comic book shops. It was the issue in which Doomsday killed the Man of Steel.

I remember heading out of the office to go (2 miles away) to Golden Apple Comics on Melrose Blvd. to pick up a copy. When I arrived, there was a long line of people waiting to get a copy. They limited it to one copy of the newsstand edition and one copy of the black bagged edition that contained goodies such as a mourning armband.

My excuse for leaving the office was to "go to the bank." In fact, as it was a quiet news day, the "Death of Superman" was the biggest news of the day. I was quoted in the Los Angeles Times when a reporter talked to us customers in line. 

My dad was also caught up in the "Death of Superman" frenzy and bought about a dozen copies of the black bagged edition. I inherited them when he passed away in 1999.

DC Comics is celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Death of Superman with a special 80-page comic book featuring the original artist and writing teams for four new stories. 

They posted:

 30 years ago, the unthinkable happened. The Man of Steel died fighting Doomsday.

To celebrate the special anniversary of this genre-defining moment, DC has reunited the original creative teams of Dan Jurgens and Brett Breeding; Roger Stern and Butch Guice; Louise Simonson and Jon Bogdanove; and Jerry Ordway and Tom Grummett for The Death of Superman 30th Anniversary Special #1. Available at comic shops on November 8, The Death of Superman 30th Anniversary Special #1 features four all-new stories that explore the lasting impact that Clark’s death had on his family and friends as well as nine pinups and variant covers by some of the top names in comics.

It is indeed hard to believe that 30 years has passed. 

To read more about the anniversary special, go here.

Nothing's Sacred: Popeye Turns Woke

Above, Popeye by Segar.

In today's insane world, culture, along with a lot of other things, is being perverted by wokeness.

The latest is Popeye the Sailor.

As this morning's post in The Federalist blog reports, Popeye has been around for nearly 100 years. He began as a side character in Segar's "Thimble Theater" comic strip and ended up taking over the strip. Popeye became so popular that he has received several animated cartoon series, most notably (and the best) the Max and Dave Fleischer cartoons of the 1930s.

According to Breitbart (via The Federalist):

After nearly a hundred years in existence, the Popeye comic strip is reportedly getting a woke makeover, with the strip’s latest cartoonist promising more ethnic diversity and “more characters who aren’t heterosexual.”

Cartoonist Randal K. Milholland described the Popeye character as being “gender fluid,” citing old episodes in which the plot required Popeye to dress in drag.

“I [want] to bring in more characters who aren’t heterosexual,” Milholland said in an interview with the San Antonio Express-News. “I don’t live in that purely straight white world, and I don’t think a lot of other people do either.”

In one of the strip’s biggest changes, Olive Oyl’s sister-in-law Cylinda Oyl is now Afro-Latina. Cylinda has traditionally been portrayed as a white woman with dark, bobbed hair.

No doubt Segar and the Fleischers are spinning in their graves.

To read more, go here.

Comics Great Neal Adams Dies At 80

Above, Neal Adams and yours truly at the 2012 Comikaze Expo in Los Angeles.

Very sad news!

It is the kind of news that forces one to shout, "Aw, f*ck!"

Comic book artist great Neal Adams has passed away at age 80. He was the man who created the definitive Bronze Age Batman for DC Comics.

Don Glut posted the following on Facebook:

I just heard the sad news that artist Neal Adams -- who  back in the 1960s changed the look of comics -- has died at 80.  Neal illustrated one of my earliest professional stories, "Goddess from the Sea," in VAMPIRELLA #1. What a thrill it was for novice me to open that magazine and find that Neal had done the art for one of  my stories - and made it so much better than it actually was. And I'm so glad that last year -- finally --  in his Crusty Bunkers comic book shop right here in Burbank, CA, he autographed my original copy of that issue.

He also posted:

FYI, I just received this email message from Jim Steranko: Yeah, I was the first that Chris Adams called with the bad news. No prolonged suffering; he died in his sleep about 2-3 in the morning. Don't believe I can accept it—just cannot imagine the Comix World without Neal. At last weekend's show, a couple fanboys mentioned stories about he and I being adversaries—completely fabricated for PR hacking. Even though we were both hard-headed, opinionated SOBs, we NEVER had a negative word between us. Never!!! And I attributed that mostly to Neal!"

I was privileged to meet Neal Adams at the 2012 Comikaze Expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center.  

I heard he was in ill health in recent months, but this was totally unexpected, at least to me. This is a big loss for comic book fans.

My sincerest condolences to his family and friends. 

First Issue of My Superman Subscription

There are some things in one's life experiences that stick to one even after 56 years have passed.

Back in the 1960s, DC Comics (known then as National Periodical Publications) offered subscriptions to their comics. If I remember correctly, a year's subscription (10 issues) to their comics was $1.00. At that time, comic books cost 12 cents on the newsstand with 80-page giants costing 25 cents (they were called annuals before). The 80-page giants weren't included in subscriptions.

I subscribed to Superman back in late 1965 and the first issue of my subscription was Superman no. 182 (January 1966 cover date). Someone posted the cover of the issue in a Curt Swan Facebook fan page.

The cover was penciled by Swan and inked by Sheldon Moldoff. It appears Superman's face was re-done by Al Plastino (for whatever reason). 

This particular comic book is now considered a "key issue" as it was the first Silver Age appearance of The Toyman (Winslow Percival Schott). A copy of it is now listed at eBay for $89.99. 

I still have my copy.

This is the cover of that issue:

Back In Jamestown

Above, Adventure Comics No. 343. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After a good night's sleep, I headed down to the post office at the Flying J to pick up my mail.

Two packages were waiting for me there. One was Adventure Comics No. 343 (cover date April 1966) and the other was a Willys Jeep sign for the guest bathroom.

Above, the Willys Jeep sign after mounting it on the bathroom wall. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When I saw the cover of the comic book, I knew immediately that I didn't have it in my collection. And I know why. Although I regularly bought Adventure Comics during that time (it would have hit the newsstands in February 1966), I missed this issue as my maternal grandfather passed away in February. My parents and I were cleaning out his apartment during that time, so I couldn't get to the local store to get it.

After checking around for it online, I bought it last week. It arrived (along with the sign) while I was in Albuquerque.

Above, The Beast in the GOCO Beast Barn. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I just finished putting The Beast into the GOCO Beast Barn. I'll head back to the post office later to get today's mail.