Vol. 1, No. 13
Extra Tags
An unofficial index to The Comics newsletter (1990-present)
Volume 1, Number 13
December 1990
whole number 13
1990 pages 095-102 (8 pages)
The first year of the newsletter ended up with 13 issues, before settling down to consistently monthly (with one issue missed in Vol. 3).
Steve Ditko's "Identity, Identification" opens the issue, continuing his thoughts on comics and the definition of art. This is reprinted in AVENGING WORLD [2002].
A discussion on the creation of the Flash (the Barry Allen version), including comments from Joe Kubert and Carmine Infantino, with an Infantino sketch.
Ernie Colon has a long memorial post about Jim Miele, a long-time contributor to Harvey Comics and creator of Wendy the Good Little Witch.
A lot of letters in Under the Gun, including Mark Heike, Joe Simon, Tim Truman, Frank Doyle, Bob Haney, Nick Caputo, Bob Palin, Jerry Nagel, Pete Morisi, Rich Morrissey, Murray Boltinoff and John L. Goldwater (including corrections he sent in to an article about Archie Comics in the New York Times).
Steve Ditko's "Identity, Identification" opens the issue, continuing his thoughts on comics and the definition of art. This is reprinted in AVENGING WORLD [2002].
A discussion on the creation of the Flash (the Barry Allen version), including comments from Joe Kubert and Carmine Infantino, with an Infantino sketch.
Ernie Colon has a long memorial post about Jim Miele, a long-time contributor to Harvey Comics and creator of Wendy the Good Little Witch.
A lot of letters in Under the Gun, including Mark Heike, Joe Simon, Tim Truman, Frank Doyle, Bob Haney, Nick Caputo, Bob Palin, Jerry Nagel, Pete Morisi, Rich Morrissey, Murray Boltinoff and John L. Goldwater (including corrections he sent in to an article about Archie Comics in the New York Times).
Volume 1, Number 12
November 1990
whole number 12
1990 pages 087-094
Creig Flessel provides a Sandman drawing and a short biographical essay in "Apples and Comic Books".
Flessel also leads the letter column in Under the Gun, with additional letters from Dick Sprang, Robert Rowe, Bob Haney, Rich Morrissey and Dick Ayers.
Robin Snyder takes a page to address some on-going issues, including communications with Eclipse, the Jack Kirby Hall of Fame not notifying inductees Steve Ditko and Alex Toth.
On the topic of "Who Created The Challengers of the Unknown", writer George Kashdan shares some recollections.
Dick Ayers writes "Fun", about his work method in his first decade in comics, and includes a drawing of Jimmy Durante, who he drew for Magazine Enterprises in 1948-1949.
Sam Glanzman provides a very entertaining look at his long career in comics, with a sample of his early work in Fly-Man and discussion about Charlton, Joe Kubert, his work and Marvel and then-current work at 4Winds. There's also a brief bibliography of some of his major works and a funny comic strip in a different style than his usual.
Sam Glanzman provides a very entertaining look at his long career in comics, with a sample of his early work in Fly-Man and discussion about Charlton, Joe Kubert, his work and Marvel and then-current work at 4Winds. There's also a brief bibliography of some of his major works and a funny comic strip in a different style than his usual.
Volume 1, Number 11
October 1990
whole number 11
1990 pages 077-086
Reminisces of a Comic Book Editor by Jack Schiff and Gene Reed
(6 page essay originally published in the 1983-84 Overstreet Price Guide)
Under The Gun: Letters from Bob Haney, Shelly Moldoff, Dick Ayers, Henry Boltinoff, Pete Morisi, and Stan Goldberg.
Promo for upcoming Ditko Public Service Package
Note and art by Joe Simon on his book The Comic Book Makers
RS writes about the problem of who owns original art, lack of credit on the Flash TV series and lack of notification to Ditko and Alex Toth on their being inducted into the Comic Book Hall of Fame.
Alex Toth: A Bibliography Part 2: 1987-1990 by Robin Snyder
Back page character faces by Alex Toth.
-- Indexed by: Nick Caputo
Volume 1, Number 10
September 10, 1990
whole number 10
1990 pages 000-xxx
In the Beginning Was the Word… A Salute to Robert Kanigher by Robin Sndyer
This would coincide with RK's appearance at the UKCAC
Features include
An Introduction by Mrs. Robert Kanigher
The Kanigher Way, Robert Loren Fleming
Best wishes and Congratulations, Bill Woggon
Robert Kanigher-Provocateur Outrageouso, Irwin Hasen, an illustrated anecdote from their days at the Kubert School
What Joe Kubert?, an appreciation of Kubert
I Have Never Met Bob Kanigher, Pat Boyette, an appreciation in comics story and art format
Bob Kanigher, Sam Glanzman
To Kanigher, Murray Boltinoff
Once upon a time RK developed a back-up feature for Vampirella. Here is the splash page for the newer published introduction of Pythia old the Land Beyond the Mist, illustrated by Vicatan
The Rock by Snyder
An Extract from Secret Origin of a Comics Editor, RK. This contains his review of a comics convention appearance at The New York Comics Convention 1, 2 and 3 June 1990
Himself n Moi, Alex Toth, who remembers the magic time of illustrating Kanigher
Best wishes to Bob Kanigher from The cast of The Brave and the Bold and Jim Aparo, a beautiful drawing of Batman and The Thorn
-- Indexer: Robin Snyder
Volume 1, Number 9
September 7, 1990
whole number 9
1990 pages xxx-xxx
Robin Snyder develops a brief history of "The Wonder Dogs"
Alex Toth follows in "The German Sheps" with a brief comment on the creation of Rex and Streak
"Rex and Streak" by RK contains a unique and original history right out of The New Journalism of Tom Wolfe and others
Snyder and Ditko offer a peek at a coming book, The Ditko Public Service Package #2.
-- Indexer: Robin Snyder
Volume 1, Number 8
September 5, 1990
whole number 8
1990 pages 000-xxx
“ART” !?
Steve Ditko analyzes the matter of Art, original art, the Art expert and more. This is reprinted in AVENGING WORLD [2002].
Bob Haney and Robert Kanigher are featured in Under the Gun
This issue concludes with an ad for Joe Kubert, the War Years by Al Dellinges
-- Indexer: Robin Snyder
Volume 1, Number 7
August 27, 1990
whole number 7
1990 pages 000-xxx
"Ethics is a Four-Letter Word in Comics" by Robert Kanigher opens up the issue.
Under the Gun: Michael Gilbert, Al Dellinges, Kanigher, Rich Morrissey
To Set the Record Straight; re credits, by-lines
Controversy: Who Wrote and Drew Batman in the First Two Years? The continuing problem of missing by-lines
Controversy: The Jack Kirby Hall of fame
Controversy: Property Rights
And, an ad for The Ditko Public Service Package #2
To Who It May Concern: An ongoing problem: Who has the right to use and publish copyrighted material?
Errata: A paragraph is missing from Ditko’s essay in the may edition of the newsletter and published here.
-- Indexer: Robin Snyder
-- Indexer: Robin Snyder
Volume 1, Number 6
August 1990
whole number 6
1990 pages 041-044 (4 pages)
Bibliography of writer Phil Evans by Robin Snyder and Steve Sibra
Promo for Ditko's upcoming Public Service Package (back page)
Under the Gun: Letters from Murray Boltinoff and Joe Gill (back page)
-- Indexed by: Nick Caputo
Volume 1, Number 5
May 1990
whole number 5
1990 pages 033-040
"An Insider’s Part of Comics History: Jack Kirby’s Spider-Man", by Steve Ditko analyzes the claim that Kirby created Spider-Man, with details about his recollections of the events around the creation of the character. He includes a pictorial guide to the costumes of three heroes: Simon and Kirby’s Captain America, Kirby’s Spider-Man (from memory) and his own Spider-Man. This was later reprinted in AVENGING WORLD [2002].
Under the Gun contains comments by Robert Kanigher and Joe Simon, who adds his remarks to the Spider-Man creation matter and includes a two-panel sequence by C.C. Beck from Simon’s Comic Book Makers.
I Remember Romance part 2: The DC Bibliography, Robin Snyder's early attempt to produce a bibliography of the DC love comics, with a list of the many titles and editors.
A cartoon by Creig Flessel featuring the Sandman and a self-portrait.
King of the Comics Writers, first update, by Robin Snyder, with some quick numbers for some of the most prolific writers of American comics.
Toth/FF, A look back into the 1940s by and with Alex Toth on his early years in comics, specifically Famous Funnies / Eastern Comics from 1943 to 1947, leading up to his stint at DC from 1947 to 1952.
Alex Toth—A Bibliography by Robin Snyder looks at his work from 1945-47
Volume 1, Number 4
April 1990
whole number 4
1990 pages 029-032 (4 pages)
Detour!...Danger Trail: essay by Robert Kanigher on the origins of King Faraday
Scrap by Alex Toth: a short paragraph on photo-swipes Toth used to illustrate "Appointment in Paris"
Who Created Kanigher? by Bob Haney: Haney disputes Kanigher's account of the genesis of Sgt. Rock. (back page)
In The Works: upcoming pieces for The Comics (back page)
-- Indexer: Nick Caputo
Volume 1, Number 3
March 1990
whole number 3
1990 pages 017-028 (12 pages)
“No Spinach for Socrates”, Robert Kanigher responds to Steve Ditko’s opening in the first issue: “At Some Point”
Imagine That, a brief look at Maurice Sendak working on the Mutt and Jeff feature as published by All-American Comics.
Who is the King of the Comics? The search for the most prolific writer in the comics begins in this issue.
“Why Bother?” Why waste time looking in the past? Answer: To lay the proper foundation. To set the record straight. For justice.
Peter Cannon, Thunderbolt. An illustrated memoir all about the creation and history of this original character by Pete Morisi.
In the Works. A look into the future.
Under the Gun features commentary by Jack Schiff, Joe Simon and Jim Steranko.
"Tools of the Trade", an analysis by Steve Ditko of the writer and the artist and how he works in the comics.
“Comic? Books, a reader’s survey re the name used to describe the comics.
-- Indexer: Robin Snyder
Volume 1, Number 2
February 1990
whole number 2
1990 pages 007-016 (10 pages)
Cover: Irwin Hasen Wonder Woman cover art
I Remember Romance: Article by Robin Snyder on DC's Romance titles.
The Romance Chronology by Robert Kanigher
In the Works: News on future Snyder/Ditko publications and future issues of History of Comics.
A short piece on Katy Keene's 45th anniversary includes a photo and bio of Bill Woggon
Creators Rights and Wrongs by Steve Ditko: a five page essay on creator rights.
Bill Woggon illustration on back page
-- Indexer: Nick Caputo
Volume 1, Number 1
January 1990
whole number 1
1990 pages 001-006 (6 pages)
Robin Snyder opens up the issue with "In the Matter of Honoring the Pioneers of Comics", on his intentions for his new publication:
"Going to the source for the background and origins of the titles, strips, characters, companies and trends which have shaped today's comic books." -- R. Snyder
The next feature asks "Who created Rock?", about the origin of the DC character Sgt. Rock, with some recent comments in print from Will Murray and Mike Gold (who weren't there) quoted, followed by statements from Joe Kubert and Robert Kanigher (who were).
Joe Gill writes an editorial about the working life at Charlton comics in the early days:
"For me, that meant $2 a page. I had to write 150 pages a week to pay the rent." -- J. Gill
For the first bibliography there's a look at Robert Kanigher's 1955 output for DC, ahead of the more comprehensive bibliography of Kanigher that has been a regular staple of the newsletter.
Steve Ditko looks at the nature of the terms "create, creator, creation" in his essay "At Some Point":
"What is missing or needed in comics are standards to measure any effort to see if it is a valid, true creation and at what level." -- S. Ditko
(essay later reprinted in Avenging World [2002], The Comics v26 #1 [2015])
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