THE X-MEN CHRONICLES: Jim Shooter Interview

Among the features in THE X-MEN CHRONICLES, the fanzine published by FantaCo, who were the publishing arm of a comic shop of the same name situated in Albany, New York, there was a relatively candid interview with Marvel's Editor in Chief, Jim Shooter. At the time, the Death of Phoenix was still a relatively new … Continue reading THE X-MEN CHRONICLES: Jim Shooter Interview

The X-MEN CHRONICLES: Smilin’ Ed and X-MEN #94

THE X-MEN CHRONICLES #1 was a fanzine published in 1981 by FantaCo, a small publisher situated in Albany, New York that was an adjunct to a notable comic shop. It was produced with the approval of Marvel, who went on to do a short-lived licensing agreement with the company, allowing them to do a number … Continue reading The X-MEN CHRONICLES: Smilin’ Ed and X-MEN #94

THE COMIC TIMES #3: George Perez Interview

Here's another lost and forgotten interview from an old fanzine from the early 1980s at the beginning of teh direct market. In this third issue of THE COMIC TIMES, David Singer interviews George Perez about his career to date with a certain emphasis on his new hit, NEW TEEN TITANS. George also provided the cover … Continue reading THE COMIC TIMES #3: George Perez Interview

THE COMIC TIMES #2: Steve Englehart Interview

As the Direct Market opened up in the late 1970s and early 1980s, in addition to a sudden surge in prospective comic book publishers there also came an increased number of comic book fanzines. These publications tended to have better production values as a whole than the cheap mimeographed publications of years past, but most … Continue reading THE COMIC TIMES #2: Steve Englehart Interview

OMNIVERSE #1, Part Three

This is the third and final part of our survey of the first issue of future Marvel Executive Editor Mark Gruenwald's classic fanzine OMNIVERSE, which dealt with the question of consistent reality in comic book stories. Or continuity, as it is more typically thought of. While it didn't quite reach the heights of a scientific … Continue reading OMNIVERSE #1, Part Three

OMNIVERSE #1, Part Two

Continuing in our look at Mark Gruenwald's pre-Marvel fanzine OMNIVERSE, dedicated to examining consistency in the depiction of fictional realities in comic books. After a write-up of several recent science fiction stories, Gruenwald takes it upon himself to review several recently-released comic books to see if they measure up to his own beliefs and standards … Continue reading OMNIVERSE #1, Part Two

OMNIVERSE #1

In the late 1970s, before he would go on to be hired by Marvel Comics as an assistant editor, Mark Gruenwald published two issues of his fanzine OMNIVERSE. Unlike most other fan publications, OMNIVERSE was dedicated to examining a single principle when it came to comic book fiction: the consistency of continuity across fictional realities, … Continue reading OMNIVERSE #1

FOOM #4, Part Two

Continuing on our survey of the fourth and final issue of FOOM, Marvel's fan club magazine, put together by Jim Steranko. As was pointed out in the comments, this cover image was done by Jack Kirby for a Marvelmania poster, not by Steranko at all. It's pretty impressive that, at a time when Kirby was … Continue reading FOOM #4, Part Two

FOOM #4

FOOM #4 was the final issue of Marvel's fan club magazine to be put together by Jim Steranko. After this, production on the irregularly-published fanzine would be brought in-house and done by the people on staff beginning with Tony Isabella This resulted in a change in the design and the aesthetics of the magazine. But … Continue reading FOOM #4

THE AMAZING WORLD OF SUPERMAN: HOW A COMIC MAGAZINE IS CREATED.

THE AMAZING WORLD OF SUPERMAN was a tabloid-sized special publication put together in 1973 by National Periodical Publications as a souvenir item intended for the second Superman day being held in Metropolis, Illinois, which had been declared the official "Home of Superman." The interiors were printed in black and white, with sturdy cardstock color covers. … Continue reading THE AMAZING WORLD OF SUPERMAN: HOW A COMIC MAGAZINE IS CREATED.