David Armstrong interviewed Golden Age great, Joe Simon in 1998 on set at San Diego Comic Con about his entry into Hearst comic strips in the 1930s, comic books in Funnies Inc and becoming Timely/Marvel Comics' first editor, meeting Jack Kirby at Victor Fox comics, Wonder Comics with Will Eisner's Wonder Man, Eisner and Iger's split, creating Captain America, leaving Timely for DC Comics, his relationship with Jack Liebowitz, Sandman & Boy Commandoes, his friend Charles Nicholas, Al Harvey, creating Romance Comics with Jack Kirby, their special contrast at Prize/Crestwood, leaving comic books and his encounter with Jim Steranko at the Harvey Thrillers line. Armstrong also interviewed Platinum and Golden Age superhero comic book medium cofounder, Vincent (Vin) Sullivan in 1998 on set at Long Island, New York about his beginnings as a sports cartoonist, entry into comic books with Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson's New Fun comics, their bullpen, meeting Creig Flessel, distribution through Independent News, encouraging Bob Kane to create his superhero (Batman), working with Whitney Ellsworth, overseeing Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster's early comics, editing Action Comics 1 with the first appearance of Superman, editing the covers of Adventure comics, his failed cartoon strip with Jimmy Durante, observing Donenfeld and Liebowitz's take over of the company, leaving DC to start Magazine Enterprises, his editor Ray Krank, international distribution, and looking back at the comic book industry 50 years later. Interview conducted, recorded and copyrighted to David Armstrong. Remastered, edited, timestamped and postproduction by Alex Grand.

Support the show

In 1955, comic book companies were struggling to stay afloat after a rough five years of censorship, a changing readership, and the invention of television. During an editorial meeting at National Periodical Publications, somebody suggested bringing back the company’s superheroes. National settled on a redesign of an old character—The Flash—and the world would never be the same. This created Marvel Comics and the Marvel Age. Michael Lites, Bill Field, Alex Grand, Kevin Garcia, Flaming Carrot creator Bob Burden, and Philip Nelson (Nelco Comics) investigate how the reintroduction of this superhero became a smash hit and inspired a resurgence of imagination that saved the industry.

#dccomics #silverage #marvel #marvelcomics #stanlee #jackkirby #steveditko

Support the show

Panel description: Before Gotham had shadows, writer Bill Finger cast them. Comics scholar Alex Grand (*Understanding Superhero Comic Books*) moderates a lively conversation with Athena Finger (Bill’s granddaughter and advocate), historian Bill Field (Field of Comics), and playwright/filmmaker Leonard Schwartz (Bill Finger: Rise of the Bat), and now with Mark Evanier (Bill Finger Awards). Together we trace Finger’s career across comics, television, and film, and show why crediting Batman’s co-creator still matters to today’s storytellers and fans.

#Batman #DCComics #BillFinger #ComicBooks #ComicsHistory #Gotham
#BatmanCreator #Superheroes #ComicCon #ComicBookPanel

Support the show