Comics Research Bibliography citations update, 8/13-14/22

 

'Inu-oh' Review: Dazzling Anime Meets Medieval Epic

By Manohla Dargis

A version of this article appears in print on Aug. 12, 2022, Section C, Page 5 of the New York edition with the headline: A Vibrant Story of 14th-Century Arena Gods

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/11/movies/inu-oh-review.html

 

'Secret Headquarters' Review: You Know, for Kids

A group of plucky tweens get in on some superhero action in this kid-friendly action comedy.

By Calum Marsh

A version of this article appears in print on Aug. 12, 2022, Section C, Page 6 of the New York edition with the headline: Secret Headquarters.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/11/movies/secret-headquarters-review.html

 

Valiant Comics cuts back to one title a month

Valiant staffers are staying on, but the publishing output is slowing to a a single title a month.

Heidi MacDonald

08/12/2022

https://www.comicsbeat.com/valiant-cuts-back-to-one-title-a-month/

 

Valiant Cancels Archer & Armstrong, Cuts Back to One Release Per Month Schedule

By Brandon Schreur

CBR August 11 2022

https://www.cbr.com/valiant-cancels-archer-armstrong-cuts-back-one-release-per-month-schedule/

 

Lysa Hawkins Discusses Valiant's Supernatural Book of Shadows

By Sergio Pereira

Published Jul 11, 2022

https://www.cbr.com/valiant-book-of-shadows-lysa-hawkins-interview/

 

Closing the Gap: Graphic Narratives and the Archive of Afro-Diasporic Resistance— A Conversation between Breena Nuñez, Marcelo D'Salete, and André Diniz

Conducted and arranged by Jasmin Wrobel and Dustin Breitenwischer

Amerikastudien / American Studies 67.2 (2022): 241-67

https://amst.winter-verlag.de/data/article/11095/pdf/102202001.pdf#page=135

 

Book Review: Comics and the Origins of Manga: A Revisionist History by Eike Exner

Reviewed by Sam Cowing, Denison University.

International Journal of Comic Art blog August 14, 2022

https://ijoca.blogspot.com/2022/08/book-review-comics-and-origins-of-manga.html

 

Comics and the Origins of Manga: A Revisionist History by Eike Exner. Rutgers, 2021. https://www.rutgersuniversitypress.org/comics-and-the-origins-of-manga/9781978827226

 

 Henry Barajas Now Calling Plays for Gil Thorp

 by D. D. Degg

August 14, 2022

https://www.dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2022/08/14/henry-barajas-now-calling-plays-for-gil-thorp/

 

Off Panel #361: Secret City with Tyler Crook

David Harper

Aug 8, 2022

https://sktchd.libsyn.com/off-panel-361-secret-city-with-tyler-crook

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/sktchd/Tyler_Crook.mp3

 

The Power of Convenience: Comic shops have seen big gains in recent years. An incredibly simple solution has played a part in that.

By David Harper

August 9, 2022

https://sktchd.com/longform/the-power-of-convenience/

 

Who made the GOP elephant, the Democratic donkey and Santa Claus iconic? Ask Greenwich biographer John Adler. [Thomas Nast]

Robert Marchant

Aug. 13, 2022

https://www.greenwichtime.com/news/article/Who-made-the-GOP-elephant-the-Democratic-donkey-17370642.php

 

P&P Live! & DCPL - Invisible: A Graphic Novel - Christina Diaz Gonzalez & Gabriela Epstein

Christina Diaz Gonzalez & illustrator Gabriela Epstein

 Aug 8, 2022

Politics and Prose

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgWtfTm17WE

 

Ep. 73: Witchcraft Works by Ryu Mizunagi & You're My Pet by Yayoi Ogawa

David Brothers et al.

August 10, 2022

 

https://www.mangasplaining.com/blog/ep-73-witchcraft-works-by-ryu-mizunagi-youre-my-pet-by-yayoi-ogawa/

 

Gülmüş Sırkıntı, H. (2022). The Power of Self-Translation: Insomnia Café As a Case Study . Çeviribilim ve Uygulamaları Dergisi , 2022 (32) , 105-120 . DOI: 10.37599/ceviri.1089128

https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/ceviri/issue/71589/1089128

 

'A place where everybody is a legendary hero… and a total dork': Representing the American nerd community as an antidote to loneliness in G. Willow Wilson's Ms. Marvel Comics (2014-2019)

    Alena Cicholewski

    Exchanges: The Interdisciplinary Research Journal Vol. 9 No. 3 (2022): Special Issue - The Lonely Nerd

https://doi.org/10.31273/eirj.v9i3.861

https://exchanges.warwick.ac.uk/index.php/exchanges/article/view/861

 

Running through the Who, Where, and When: A Cross-cultural Analysis of Situational Changes in Comics

Bien Klomberg, Irmak Hacımusaoğlu & Neil Cohn

Discourse Processes   05 Aug 2022

    https://doi.org/10.1080/0163853X.2022.2106402

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/0163853X.2022.2106402

 

Cartoonist Scott Hilburn pokes fun at classical music

August 10, 2022

Jeffrey Yelverton

https://www.yourclassical.org/story/2022/08/10/check-out-cartoonist-scott-hilburns-hilarious-music-comics

 

'Tales of the Walking Dead' Review: Terry Crews and Olivia Munn Lead AMC's Underwhelming Anthology Spinoff

Angie Han

August 14, 2022

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/tales-of-the-walking-dead-terry-crews-olivia-munn-parker-posey-jillian-bell-1235198520/

 

The Composer Who Turns Hayao Miyazaki's Humane Touch Into Music

Joe Hisaishi's scores have helped make Studio Ghibli films indelible. But in concert, the works stand on their own. That's because "it's about emotion," he says.

By Elisabeth Vincentelli

A version of this article appears in print on Aug. 13, 2022, Section C, Page 1 of the New York edition with the headline: Follow the Emotions For a Humane Touch

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/12/movies/studio-ghibli-composer-joe-hisaishi.html

 

Way ahead of his time [ Patrick M. Reynolds,  "Flashbacks" letter]

Richard Stone Rothblum

Washington Post August 13 2022

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/08/12/reader-critiques-nichelle-nichols-star-trek-nasa/

That darn Flashbacks

Way ahead of his time [ Patrick M. Reynolds,  "Flashbacks" letter]

Richard Stone Rothblum, Springfield

Washington Post August 13 2022

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/08/12/reader-critiques-nichelle-nichols-star-trek-nasa/

P&P Live! & DCPL - Invisible: A Graphic Novel - Christina Diaz Gonzalez & Gabriela Epstein

Christina Diaz Gonzalez & illustrator Gabriela Epstein

 Aug 8, 2022

Politics and Prose

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgWtfTm17WE

Author Christina Diaz Gonzalez & illustrator Gabriela Epstein discuss their new book - Invisible: A Graphic Novel with DCPL Teen Moderators. Click here to purchase a copy of INVISIBLE: https://www.politics-prose.com/book/9... Politics and Prose is delighted to partner with the DC Public Library and the DC Public Library Foundation to discuss the new graphic novel Invisible written by Christina Diaz Gonzalez and illustrated by Gabriela Epstein. About the Book: Invisible introduces five students at Conrad Middle School who are required to work together to complete community service hours in the school cafeteria. They immediately know they have nothing in common, each with very individual tastes, backgrounds, and personalities. But because the students are all Spanish speakers, the school administration thinks they are all the same. None of the kids wants to be there, and each has their own issues they're dealing with in their life outside of school. But when they encounter someone who truly needs their help, they might just be able to come together to work as a team. Spanish and English combine effortlessly in this unique coming of age story told in graphic format. Christina Diaz Gonzalez is the Edgar award-winning author of several books including The Red Umbrella, A Thunderous Whisper, Moving Target and Concealed, with another coming this fall—The Bluest Sky. Gabriela Epstein is a bestselling illustrator based in Austin, Texas. She illustrated two bestselling Baby-Sitters Club graphic novels. Currently, she is writing and illustrating the graphic novel continuation of the Danny Phantom television series.

Clay Jones on his RFK award trophy

RFK Bust

"I really wanted to win the RFK because you win it with your work covering human rights, which to me are the most important issues journalists can cover."

https://claytoonz.com/2022/08/13/rfk-bust/

Comics Research Bibliography citations update, 8/12/22

Raymond Briggs, creator of children's book 'The Snowman,' dies at 88

[in print as Author-illustrator's 'Snowman' is seen as game changer]

By Jennifer Hassan

 August 12, 2022  : B6

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/08/10/raymond-briggs-death-the-snowman/

 

Tributes to Raymond Briggs from comic creators, authors, and a guide to his books

By John Freeman on August 11, 2022

https://downthetubes.net/tributes-to-raymond-briggs-from-comic-creators-authors-and-a-guide-to-his-books/

 

`Creative sociopath' Snowman creator Raymond Briggs dies age 88

By Christopher Stevens For The Daily Mail

10 August 2022 | 11 August 2022

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-11100379/Snowman-creator-Raymond-Briggs-dies-aged-88.html

 

Raymond Briggs: The Snowman illustrator dies at 88

BBC August 10 2022

https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-62490170

 

Raymond Briggs

Mark Coles

BBC Radio 4 Profiles August 2022

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b085hbcz

 

Raymond Briggs obituary: An illustrious career

BBC August 10 2022

https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-38652946

 

Raymond Briggs: Beloved illustrator who delighted millions with 'The Snowman'

Briggs' distinctive style and knack for storytelling brought generations of readers, young and old, enormous joy

Nicholas Tucker

Wednesday 10 August 2022

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/raymond-briggs-snowman-christmas-death-b2142184.html

 

'He was always desperate to avoid being schmoozed at parties': the Raymond Briggs I knew

Award-winning children's illustrator Helen Oxenbury remembers her cynical, brilliant, kind friend, who died this week

By Helen Oxenbury 11 August 2022

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/what-to-read/always-desperate-avoid-schmoozed-parties-raymond-briggs-knew/

 

At Home with Guy Delisle

  Aug 9, 2022

Drawn & Quarterly

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8KX9LncwfA

 

PW Comics World: More To Come

More To Come 529: Summer Stargazing [Kate Gavino, Kate Beaton]

Calvin Reid and Meg Lemke

on 08/05/2022

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/podcasts/index.html?channel=2&podcast=1212

 

French cartoonist Sempe, famous for whimsical New Yorker covers, dies age 89

August 11 2022

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220811-jean-jacques-semp%C3%A9-french-cartoonist-of-le-petit-nicolas-fame-dies-at-89

 

Jean-Jacques Sempé Dead at 89

Guy Badeaux

Bado's Blog  August 11, 2022

http://bado-badosblog.blogspot.com/2022/08/jean-jacques-sempe-dead-at-89.html

 

Baltimore's Ron Barlow obituary - EC fan and publisher

by Joel Pollack

August 12, 2022

http://comicsdc.blogspot.com/2022/08/baltimores-ron-barlow-obituary-ec-fan.html

 

Taos News Editorial Cartoonist Bill Baron Retires

by D. D. Degg

August 11, 2022

https://www.dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2022/08/11/taos-news-editorial-cartoonist-bill-baron-retires/

 

Adiós, Bill [Bill Baron]

Taos News Aug 3, 2022 Updated Aug 4, 2022

    https://www.taosnews.com/opinion/editorials/adi-s-bill/article_eac18394-8f84-556e-b098-02db0427d1cc.html

 

40 Clever And Witty One-Panel Comics By New Yorker Cartoonist, Sofia Warren Interview With Artist

Hidrėlėy

August 11 2022

https://www.boredpanda.com/humorous-single-panel-comics-by-new-yorker-cartoonist-sofia-warren/

 

Don't sleep on 'The Sandman'

Glen Weldon, Joelle Monique, Walter Chaw

Pop Culture Happy Hour August 9, 2022

https://www.npr.org/2022/08/08/1116276366/dont-sleep-on-the-sandman

https://play.podtrac.com/npr-510282/edge1.pod.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/pchh/2022/08/20220809_pchh_71b57ab2-b503-4b15-91dd-fa0ed6fb455b.mp3

https://www.npr.org/transcripts/1116276366

 

No song, movie or show can escape the digital age's revisionist urges

Today's creative works are never "final." Beyoncé and Lizzo are only doing what Han Solo and Greedo taught us years ago.

By Travis M. Andrews

August 12, 2022

https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2022/08/12/song-tv-movie-revisions-beyonce-stranger-things/

 

The Joys of Swimming While Fat

By Phoebe Wahl

A version of this article appears in print on Aug. 13, 2022, Section A, Page 21 of the New York edition with the headline: The Joys of Swimming While Fat.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/12/opinion/swimming-weight.html 

Le décès de Sempé dessinateur du Petit Nicolas

Jean-Laurent Truc

12 août 2022

https://www.ligneclaire.info/deces-de-sempe-266197.html

 

Raymond Briggs remembered: 'He made what he did look easy. Which is, of course, what geniuses do'

Michael Rosen, Dara McAnulty, Joseph Coelho and Guardian readers

Wed 10 Aug 2022

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/aug/10/raymond-briggs-remembered-he-made-what-he-did-look-easy-which-is-of-course-what-geniuses-do

 

Frank Miller Sues Widow of Comics Magazine Editor for the Return of Artworks

By George Gene Gustines

A version of this article appears in print on Aug. 12, 2022, Section C, Page 12 of the New York edition with the headline: Frank Miller Files Suit for the Return of Two Artworks.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/11/arts/frank-miller-sues-widow-dark-knight-returns-art.html

 

No Sense Of Duty, No Sense Of Destiny – This Week's Links

Clark Burscough | August 12, 2022

https://www.tcj.com/no-sense-of-duty-no-sense-of-destiny-this-weeks-links/

 

'He Found His Voice.' How Neil Gaiman And 'Sandman' Made Each Other Into Stars [Karen Berger interview]

Rob Salkowitz

Senior Contributor

Aug 5, 2022, https://www.forbes.com/sites/robsalkowitz/2022/08/05/how-neil-gaiman-and-sandman-made-each-other-and-changed-comics/

 

In The Sandman, Neil Gaiman drew from comics history to create his own

Why is the Sandman like that? Because it's a confounding ball of references that represents creativity itself

By Susana Polo@NerdGerhl Aug 6, 2022,

https://www.polygon.com/23276573/sandman-comic-netflix-history-graphic-novel

 

Sandman's Cain and Abel were inspired by the most important book ever: Tales From the Crypt

By Susana Polo@NerdGerhl Aug 9, 2022,

https://www.polygon.com/23296886/sandman-cain-abel-dc-comics-bible-why

 

Pour one out for the first hit Sandman TV show: Lucifer

I need Tom Ellis and Gwendoline Christie to high five

By Susana Polo@NerdGerhl Aug 8, 2022,  https://www.polygon.com/23296712/sandman-lucifer-gwendoline-christie-tom-ellis

 

DC League of Super-Pets' director explains its startling post-credits scene

How Dwayne Johnson came up with the sequence mocking his own DC work

By Tasha Robinson@TashaRobinson Jul 29, 2022, https://www.polygon.com/23282604/dc-league-of-super-pets-post-credits-scene-black-adam

 

The DC super-pets that didn't make it into the movie (but should have)

Flying cats, super rabbits, and more

By Rosie Knight Aug 8, 2022

https://www.polygon.com/23291000/dc-super-pets-movie-characters-comics-list

 

Simpsons Comics Return with Treehouse of Horror Ominous Omnibus Volume 1 - Scary Tales and Scarier Tentacles

Simpsons Comics have never had more than a paperback collection, and it's fulfilling to see the comics celebrated in such a loving way.

Mike Baxter

Aug 11, 2022

https://www.fromcovertocover.com/simpsons-comics-return-with-treehouse-of-horror-ominous-omnibus-volume-1-scary-tales-and-scarier-tentacles/

 

Cavan Scott and Bryan Q. Miller shed light on 'Black Adam: The Justice Society Files – Atom Smasher'

An interview with writers Cavan Scott and Bryan Q. Miller about 'The Justice Society Files' out September 6th.

David Brooke

August 11, 2022

https://aiptcomics.com/2022/08/11/black-adam-miller-scott-atom-smasher/

 

Phillip Kennedy Johnson illuminates 'Worlds Without a Justice League – Green Lantern'

Chris Coplan

August 5, 2022

https://aiptcomics.com/2022/08/05/world-without-jl-green-lantern-qa/

 

INTERVIEW: Phil Smith's Interstellar Court is in Session in Brik Jones: Attorney for Earth [webcomic]

  Wendy Browne August 8, 2022

https://womenwriteaboutcomics.com/2022/08/interview-phil-smiths-interstellar-court-is-in-session-in-brik-jones-attorney-for-earth/

 

ESSAY: Subnormality at 15: A Retrospective [Webcomic]

  Ivy Allie August 11, 2022

https://womenwriteaboutcomics.com/2022/08/essay-subnormality-at-15-a-retrospective/

 

PR: The Third Eye Throwdown Tent Sale Returns to Third Eye Annapolis Tomorrow!

THE FUN STARTS 11AM-9PM TOMORROW SATURDAY 8/13/22! The time is almost here: the return of the THIRD EYE THROWDOWN TENT SALE is TOMORROW! This one is extra special as it's our 1st time hosting the event since 2019, and we've got a TON of stuff from our warehouses that will be filling the giant tent in the rear lot of Third Eye Annapolis on SATURDAY 8/13/22! Some of the fun you can expect: HUNDREDS OF GRAPHIC NOVELS & MANGA AT 50% OFF OR HIGHER HUNDREDS OF TOYS, T-SHIRTS, STATUES & MORE AT 50% OFF OR HIGHER TONS OF TABLETOP GAMES & OTHER TABLETOP GAMING ITEMS AT 50% OFF $1.00 BACK ISSUE BINS - THOUSANDS OF BACK ISSUES -- ALL JUST $1.00! FILL A SHORT DIAMOND BOX OR COMIC SHORT BOX (both hold about 110-200 comics depending on how tight you pack!) for just $50! THE DEBUT OF THIRD EYE MYSTERY PACKS! THE DEBUT OF THIRD EYE FULL STORY SET PACKS! Iconic runs bundled up together for great prices! SHOW UP IN PRO-WRESTLING GEAR (not just a wrestling shirt, folks -we're talking tights, masks, shoulder pas, etc) OR POST-APOCALYPTIC GEAR (think MAD MAX!) -- and get a FREE Third Eye tote to take your stuff home in! NEVER BEEN TO ONE OF OUR THIRD EYE THROWDOWN TENT SALES? The THROWDOWN is pretty unique; it's a very THUNDERDOME-style event, where you'll get some incredible deals and have a blast! However, due to the nature & scale of the THROWDOWN, there's a few things we like to give first-timers a heads up on! :) Parking can get a bit crazy b/c we are taking up a good chunk of the rear lot with the giant tent -- so, please keep an eye out for the Third Eye Event Parking signs for extra parking. Can't find parking? All our lots are full? There's a ton of street parking up and down the blocks near our store! It can get HOT! We do have some pretty heavy-duty fans running in the tent to keep the airflow going, but there's no way around it: it can be hot in there! So, just be aware! It can get CROWDED! Part of the fun of the tent sale is the anything goes nature of it, so while we'll have plenty of Third Eye team members running multiple registers to get folks rung up as quickly as possible, it can still get crowded in the tent, so just be aware of that! PORTAPOTTY! - We know some of you like to line up before things kick into high gear -- and we've got a portapotty in the lot for you! LINING UP EARLY? If you do line up early, please do not go in the tent until Team Third Eye officially begins letting folks in! We start cleaning up the tent between 6-7PM EST, so if you show up after 7PM, you may see some stuff getting packed up, and usually by 8PM, while there's still a few items, a lot of items may have gotten packed up. Belly Reward Points! The scanners for our rewards cards don't work in the tent, so please make sure to hang onto your paper receipt & bring it back on your next visit to Third Eye to get your points! :) All items in the tent are sold as is - there's a ton of stuff in our warehouses, and just like there's going to be some real treasures that may surprise you, there may also be items that we may have missed a defect on. We do try our best to make sure to mark anything that may have a major issue (or weed it out before it hits the tent aka a statue that may be broken, etc), but sometimes we do miss something! Of course, you know us, Third Eye Faithful: if you have a major issue with an item, just visit us in-store anytime & our team will help you out! Be Kind To Your Fellow Third Eye Faithful! We know it's exciting to dig through the boxes & find all the fun stuff we've put in there -- but, pls make sure to be cool to one another! ROAD TRIPPING FOR THE TENT SALE? Tag us on INSTAGRAM & share your journey @ thirdeyecomics WHAT'S ON SALE? If it's in the tent -- it's on sale! Everything in the tent is on sale this day! With all that being said, this is going to be an epic tent sale! We haven't done one in 3 years, and that means we've got 3 years worth of all kinds of goodies going in the tent! We're very excited to see you all, and are thankful to have such an awesome community with you Third Eye Faithful, so doing an event like this is one of the things we look forward to most all year! If you have any other questions about the tent sale, please give us a ring at the shop MON-SAT 11AM-9PM, SUN 11AM-6PM at 410-897-0322, and our team will help you out!

NPR on the Sandman

Don't sleep on 'The Sandman'

Glen Weldon, Joelle Monique, Walter Chaw

Pop Culture Happy Hour August 9, 2022

https://www.npr.org/2022/08/08/1116276366/dont-sleep-on-the-sandman

https://play.podtrac.com/npr-510282/edge1.pod.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/pchh/2022/08/20220809_pchh_71b57ab2-b503-4b15-91dd-fa0ed6fb455b.mp3

https://www.npr.org/transcripts/1116276366

Baltimore's Ron Barlow obituary - EC fan and publisher (updated)

Photo: Ron Barlow & Bernie Wrightson c. 1974

by Joel Pollack

R.I.P. Ron Barlow (1949-2022).

Ron commissioned and published Bernie Wrightson's Badtime Stories, the first deluxe comic fanzine devoted to a single artist.

Ron worked as an editor at Woody Gelman's Nostalgia Press, where he edited hardcover reprints of classic comic strips including the finest Alex Raymond Flash Gordon strips. It was at Nostalgia Press that Ron edited EC: Horror Comics of the 1950s.

Ron and his partner, Bruce Hershenson, published the earliest full-color EC reprints, under the East Coast Comix imprint.

In 1972 , Ron and Bruce staged the first and only EC Comics convention, attended by most of the EC staff. For that convention, they published EC Lives, a collection of articles about EC Comics written by EC creators.

Ron was active in Star Trek fandom, and owned and operated the Federation Trading Post in Manhattan c. 1973.

Joel's contacted other friends of Barlow's on Facebook for their reminiscences. Here's Bruce Hershenson's:

RIP Ron Barlow January 1, 1949 - August 9, 2022

When I was 15 I spent four days over the 1968 July 4th weekend buying and selling comic books. Not so strange nowadays, but beyond bizarre back then. I left my home with 6 boxes of comic books and $20, and after 4 frantic days of wheeling and dealing I went home with 20 boxes of comics and $100, and I knew I had found my life's calling!

 

I also met two 18 year olds who would have a massive impact on my life. One was a Californian named Barry Bauman (a story for another day), and the other was from Baltimore, named Ron Barlow, and both were very good looking guys with very long hair (well before that was mainstream) and for the life of me I could not see what either of them saw in me, but their friendships sure helped this pathetically nerdy and shy 15 year old immeasurably!

 

Flash forward to the end of 1971. I was in college and hating it, and spending most of my time buying and selling comics, completely supporting myself doing so. It was at this point Ron Barlow re-entered my life in a big way. He had gone to work for Woody Gelman, the visionary who first saw a market for deluxe hardcover reprints of classic comic books.

 

One of those books was devoted to EC Comics, and through editing it, Ron caught the eye of Bill Gaines, and they became great friends, despite being decades apart in age. Ron had grown up with Berni Wrightson and Jeff Jones, and he had the idea of a new publication that would be a tribute to EC Comics, but with all new stories by modern artists, and instead of a lowly comic book, a "graphic novel," printed on the finest paper.

 

Ron was able to persuade Berni to draw one entire book called "Badtime Stories", and he gave him an astronomical page rate, AND returned the art, something never done in those days! I came into the picture in early 1972, because Ron and I were both living in Great Neck, New York, and thanks to my successful mail-order business in comics, I had put together some savings from it, even though I was now only 18.

 

Ron had run out of money, and he proposed that I put up the printing bill, and that I handle the distribution of the book, and that once we each got our investment back, we would split whatever profits that were made 50/50.

 

I agreed, because I felt then that Berni was the young artist who most could have been an EC artist had he been 20 years older, and I thought his work on Badtime Stories was especially wonderful. So that's how I became the 18 year old "publisher" of Badtime Stories, and what started my longtime partnership with Ron Barlow.

 

It took a lot of blood, sweat, and tears, but I got us all the money back on Badtime Stories, and Ron told me he admired my business acumen and wanted us to together organize a convention solely for fans of EC Comics, a "theme" convention no one had done before.

 

I had zero knowledge about running a convention (although I had attended many), but it sounded like "fun", so I agreed. I was now 19, and Ron was 23, and somehow we were able to rent the giant McAlpin Hotel in New York City for four days (with no money!).

 

What made the convention a major success (except we made no money, but that was not important to us) was that Bill Gaines was able to convince just about every EC artist and writer to attend, and there has never been another convention like it. Ron next suggested we approach Bill with the "crazy" idea of reprinting the original EC comics as full-color comic books (the very first time fans ever did that for ANY comic book company), and to our amazement Bill agreed!

 

That led to my dropping out of college, and Ron and I co-publishing 12 issues of full-color reprints of EC comics over the next two years, under our "East Coast Comix" label (we were given the catchy name by longtime Ron friend, Joel Pollack!). Sadly, there just weren't enough comic book collectors back them to fully support the project, and we folded it after 12 glorious issues! 

 

After that I was partners with Ron in a vintage clothing business in Baltimore. He discovered the Internet in the late 1980s and wanted us to move our business online, but it sounded "sketchy" to me, and I talked him out of it, to my eternal regret, because WE might have become early Internet moguls, bringing collectibles to the Net, as eBay did years later!

 

Ron had also discovered vintage movie posters, and he wanted to do a mail order business of those as well as the vintage clothing. But as so often happened with Ron, he grew tired of the posters, and offered to trade me his half of that poster business for my half of his vintage clothing store and I reluctantly agreed.

 

But I took that tiny poster business and it evolved into my current business, eMoviePoster.com, with $107 million in total sales, so in a way I owe that success to Ron Barlow as well!

 

In the late 1980s Ron moved to Santa Fe and started selling antiquities, with a very successful gallery there. He later moved back to Baltimore (where he started out) and pursued a career as a painter, something I wish he had more vigorously pursued far earlier.

 

Ron was the most gifted, talented, and "ahead of his time" person I have ever met! I have just barely scratched the surface of the many business ideas he had over the years. He launched a free "adzine" for comic book collectors, years before The Buyer's Guide copied his idea. He owned a store entirely devoted to Star Trek memorabilia, in the days when it was a cult favorite, but long before it became a beloved franchise.

 

Ron was incredible at "spotting talent" and upcoming "trends". It was he who told me in 1976 about the forthcoming Star Wars movie, and he told me it was sure to be a giant hit, and that he had been able to buy the rights to some merchandising, with the little money he had, and he had a real "score" from that.

There was so much more to Ron's incredible life! If only he had been able to stay focused longer on each individual project, he likely would be a household name today, but that was just not his way. Once a project took fruit, his mind was on to his next idea!

 

So rest in peace my old friend. You surely have earned some time off. But knowing Ron, I bet he is at St. Peter's shoulder, giving him endless ideas on how Heaven could be run better!