Vol. 14, No. 12
December 2003
whole number 168
2003 pages 000-xxx
An unofficial index to The Comics newsletter (1990-present)
Volume 14, Number 8
August 2003
whole number 164
2003 pages 057-064
Steve Ditko is on the front and back covers of this issue with a late chapter of his long series "A Mini-History" on the creation of Spider-Man, 13. "Speculation". He features a then-recent quote by Lee on national TV discussing his tired old "saw a fly on the wall" version of the creation of the character, which even Lee admits might be made up. This also leads to one of my favourite Ditko quotes on the matter:
"A leap from a fly to a spider is like from man to a cannibal." -- S. Ditko
He goes into detail on what aspects of the creation he's familiar with and some thoughts about what might have been and what "creation" and "co-creation" means.
Matt Murphy talks about working with the then-recently passed Helen Meyer, publisher of Dell back in their heydey.
Part 12 of the Robert Kanigher bibliography "Riddle Of The Sphinx" looks at part of 1976, which includes Ragman, Tarzan and some unpublished work like Savage World and Sextet.
Part 11 of Paul Newman's bibliography, "Just Imagine", is up to 1955 and has him working at Dell, Timely, Avon, ME and Trojan, and that's just the A to F titles.
Lots of discussion in "Under The Gun", Snyder on Al Capp, a handwritten note by Hy Eisman on his career, Mark McMurray and David Transue on Ditko's "Avenging Mind", Murray Ward on Helen Meyer, Nick Caputo on an earlier "Mini-History" chapter, Jim Amash on Les Zakarin, Gary Kato on Mr. Jigsaw, Mike Ambrose on Jerry Grandenetti
Volume 14, Number 6
June 2003
whole number 162
2003 pages 041-048 (8 pages)
Steve Ditko on the front and back this issue, with a chapter of his "A Mini-History" series on Spider-Man:
11. "Further Complaints and Influences of the OOs".
Ditko discusses how two of the signature artistic touches of the series, the split-face and spider-sense used in panels where Peter Parker appears out of costume, were used in part to appease Stan Lee's wish for less of the school storylines, but later opposed by Lee thanks to the influence of "others, outsiders (OOs)", in this case college students who seemed to not understand the visual language. Ditko also discusses the Comics Code as another source of OOs influence stifling creativity.
"But PP/S-m, a teenage hero, should be seen, understood, in his teenage context, environment. His normal (non-hero_ life can't just be shown in some brief transitional sequences between a number of hero/villain clashes." -- S. Ditko
The 10th chapter of the Robert Kanigher bibliography, "Riddle Of The Sphinx", covers more of his 1974 work for DC, with some Superman, Wonder Woman Rima, Supergirl and Tarzan in addition to the war comics. Two pages of Frank Thorne art from the story "Big Man, Little Man" in RK's Gallery of War series are shown.
Lively Under The Gun column, with letters from Sam Catalino, Nick Caputo, Orah Mae Miller, Mark McMurray, Robin Miller-Pallet, Marc Swayze and Arlen Schumer
Volume 14, Number 2
February 2003
whole number 158
2003 pages 009-016
Steve Ditko with two pages this issue, with a chapter of his "A Mini-History" series on Spider-Man:
8. "Others, Outsiders (OOs): Complainers and Complaints Against Betty Brant".
He discusses the negative fan-mail reaction to the character of Betty Brant, especially when prospects of a romance between her and Peter Parker were hinted at in the comics, and refers to an extreme story idea he had for her which his editor, he concedes correctly, rejected. He expands this to a general discussion of the tone of the comic and some other comics, like Iron Man's alcoholism storyline and Captain America's continuing to mourn over Bucky.
Jack Keller's passing is noted, with a short letter, an autobiographical page and a sample of his 1960s Charlton work on TEENAGE HOTRODDERS.
Part 14 of the Carl Wessler bibliography looks at some 1952 work at Timely. Under The Gun features letters from Don Mangus, Nick Caputo, Jerry DeFuccio, Richard Prosch and Mark McMurray.
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