More, more, more of the 1985 AMAZING HEROES Preview Special for 1985, spotlighting and teasing the comic books that will be released in the coing year. These old Preview Specials are a treasure trove of insight as to what creators and editors were thinking about their work in real time. SPECTRUM PRESENTS didn't happen, and … Continue reading AMAZING HEROES #62 1985 PREVIEW SPECIAL, S-Z
Showcasing more of the 1985 AMAZING HEROES Preview Special, which gave a rundown of what to expect in all of the comics slated to be published in the coming year. These issues in particular give an interesting look not only at what was being planned, but some insight into what the individual creators and editors … Continue reading AMAZING HEROES #62 1985 PREVIEW SPECIAL, M-S
Continuing our look back at the AMAZING HEROES PREVIEW SPECIAL for 1985. I don't believe that GALAXY COMICS ever saw the light of day, but I may be wrong about that. Along the same lines, I'm not sure that HANG ON FOR ADVENTURE was ever released. WEST COAST AVENGERS lost the HAWKEYE AND THE by … Continue reading AMAZING HEROES #62 1985 PREVIEW SPECIAL, F-M
Continuing our look at the yearly AMAZING HEROES preview Special, this one for 1985. CAPTAIN CARROT: THE OZ-WONDERLAND WAR did eventually see print, but as three double-sized issues rather than six regular-sized one. CHALLENGER never quite happened, and neither did BLOCKBUSTER, which is listed here as 'Charlton Project." COMICO BIJOU was a no-show at comic … Continue reading AMAZING HEROES #62 1985 PREVIEW SPECIAL, C-F
The AMAZING HEROES PREVIEW SPECIAL issue was clearly the most popular release of the magazine every year. And in fact, it was so popular and so labor-intensive that it was spun off into its own series after this point. But before that happened, we got this second Preview issue within the body of the run. … Continue reading AMAZING HEROES #62 1985 PREVIEW SPECIAL, A-C
After the success of the two-volume X-MEN COMPANION project proved it to be a profitable venture that helped to underwrite some of Fantagraphics other more high-minded publications, the company looked around for similar things that could be done that might likewise bring in some operating capital. By this point, the earlier amicable relationship with Marvel … Continue reading FOCUS ON JOHN BYRNE
For the final interview in THE X-MEN COMPANION, interviewer Peter Sanderson looks to the future, for what is poised to be an extremely eventful couple of months for Marvel's mutant heroes. He speaks at length with both Chris Claremont and X-MEN editor Louise Jones (better known as Louise Simonson today) concerning a variety of upcoming … Continue reading THE X-MEN COMPANION #2: Chris Claremont and Louise Jones (Simonson) Interview
Perhaps the most popular artist of the 1980s, John Byrne's star truly began to rise when he began drawing (and co-plotting) X-MEN with Chris Claremont. Eventually, irreconcilable differences in the direction to take the characters caused Byrne to leave the book for greener pastures--his long run as writer/artist of FANTASTIC FOUR. But the mark he … Continue reading THE X-MEN COMPANION #2: John Byrne Interview
More material from THE X-MEN COMPANION Volume Two, the second of two softcover books devoted to the development and the early days of what had become the most popular feature in the comics world. These two volumes were published in 1982, and so the memories of all involved about the details of their collaboration are … Continue reading THE X-MEN COMPANION #2: Terry Austin Interview
There was a bit of a delay in the publication of the second volume of THE X-MEN COMPANION. Part of the hold-up, apparently, was that Neal Adams was meant to do the cover, but he wound up not turning anything in. I can't speculate on whether this was due to some other issue between himself … Continue reading THE X-MEN COMPANION #2: Chris Claremont Interview
The Tom Brevoort Experience 