The KING and I

---

Jack Kirby at his drawing board, as seen in the documentary:

"With Great Power - The Stan Lee Story"

 ---

Yes, I know… no sooner do I post a 5^th Anniversary Special, than do I seemingly vanish off the face of the Earth. No new posts for over a month – missing both; Halloween and Thanksgiving.

But what if I tried to make up for it by presenting a blog entry that is part “ghost story” as well as a testament of my deepest thanks? – Both aspects given to me from Jack Kirby – 20 years apart.

This blog entry is a true life story about how I met Jack Kirby, gave him a small gift, and how, over 20 years later, his “ghost” showed up and returned the favor.

…

JACK “KING” KIRBY was not only one of the founders of the comic book medium, but perhaps its greatest talent as well.

The worlds that burst like lightning out of his mind, the fantastic imagery that exploded like a volcano from his hand, likened him to a god; a true “CREATOR”.

But this tale is not one that focuses on the myth of the man, nor on the legend that spawned such descriptors, but instead on a small personal history... and a mystery, sparked by a moment or two in time – one forever in amber within my memory – the other… captured forever on film.

Take a look at the photograph atop this post, of Jack Kirby at his drawing table.

Do you see the drawing of Captain America atop the King’s board?

The one with which he is posed, pen in hand, as if upon which he is putting some finishing touch?

That… is MY artwork.

Ah… I hope that got your attention.

Yes. That is MY drawing of Captain America, one that I gave to the King, when I had the pleasure to meet him at a comic convention back in (late) 1990  (or early 1991).

Not only that, but if you look even closer, you’ll note that the artwork is inside a black matt frame.

That is because when I frequented comic-cons during the late 1980’s and early 1990’s it was as a professional artist (having had some pro work with a few indie publishers) and I would sell my work – some; original art, drawn at request, and some; hand-colored photocopies of previously drawn illustrations, framed in those mats. It was one such piece that I gave to Jack Kirby.

I will provide PROOF of which here.

Here is a photograph of myself, taken expressly for this post, with not only a similar, colored photocopy… not only one in the exact same type of matt… but one that was taken from my flatfile archives, where it was stored away after being colored, matted, signed & dated in 1990! In my other hand is the ORIGINAL pencil artwork, drawn in 1989 (which shows what was obscured by the mat: the Shield & Eagle atop the flagpole and the rest of Cap’s left foot, as well as the remainder of the flag).

Just so you don’t think that I merely photoshopped my work into the photo (or drew it after the fact), please note that I discovered the Kirby photo while watching a documentary, on Netflix, this month: “With Great Power; The Stan Lee Story”, which was produced in 2010.

Here’s the pertinent clip from the show that shows the image shown in the photo atop this page:

Obviously, I could not have altered the image in an already-filmed documentary, which anyone can now go and verify. The Kirby photo is near the end of this clip (but around the 20 minute mark in the full video).

Now allow me to turn the clock back, for a moment of explanation as to the origins of how Jack Kirby came into possession of my work, and then I’ll turn the clock forward again, to early this month, when I discovered that the photograph of the King with my art even existed…

While I have already written of my meeting with Jack Kirby, back in an old post a few years ago [HERE], I’ll recap and continue the tale now.

As some readers of this blog may know (as detailed in several other old posts), I was a professional writer / artist for a few independent comic companies in the late 1980’s – early 1990’s (1987 – 1991 to be exact).

I had started out just as a guy with a rented table in the dealer’s room, who would either draw your custom art on the spot, or sell pre-drawn samples and even hand-colored photocopies of my work.

It was in that manner that I was “discovered” by some publishers and garnered assignments for published work. With actual published credentials, I then graduated to a free table in “artist’s alley”, the professional’s room.

Still, I was a young and inexperienced 20-something year-old “kid”, and every once in a while, a “real” pro artist would walk over to (or past) my table and we would get to talk about the industry.

At one weekend show in New York City, I met Jack Kirby. (I also met Stan Lee at the same show, but I've already told that tale [linked to HERE]). Jack was walking through the “artist’s alley” room, with his wife, Roz. I saw him, and immediately felt that I should say something… DO something… to express my gratitude for his immeasurable contribution to the field.

Suddenly, I KNEW what I could do. Like the tale of the “Little Drummer Boy”, I had a gift for the King, and while it wasn’t much, it was all that I had.

I looked at my artworks which surrounded and covered my table, and thought that, most of those characters were co-created by Stan Lee, and would not make an appropriate gift, as they might instead serve to rekindle the heated feelings that Jack Kirby may have had towards Lee and Marvel. No. Instead I would make a gift to him of the one character thereupon that was his – with no ties to Stan Lee…

Captain America.

I quickly grabbed a hand-colored copy of a drawing of Captain America that I had done, and vaulted over my table to go and meet this iconic industry giant.

I tried to gently shake his hand, but his wife, Roz said he was under strict orders by his doctor, not to do so. Understanding this, I then gave him the illustration of the comic character that HE had created - and bestowed upon the world - as a gesture of my thanks and admiration.

I embarrassingly asked for an autograph, but his wife explained that the doctor's orders to rest his hands carried over to this as well, and that if I gave my name and info, he would mail one to me at a later date.

I happily did so, saying that autograph or no, this was indeed an honor that I would never forget

While I never did receive the autograph, I took some small, humble hope that a piece of my work was in possession of the man. Although, truthfully, even that thought was fleeting, as I wondered why a giant such as he would even bother to keep such an offering. Looking at the illustration with the eyes of a more mature artist, I know that the illustration really isn’t very good. Sure, it has good qualities, but overall, it’s just not all that good. Not good enough for someone like Jack Kirby to keep it for long.

I thought that maybe he’d have tossed it in the back of a closet, out of a kind sense of thankful obligation, sort of how one might keep a received birthday card in a drawer and promptly forget about it for years. Such was the fate that I imagined for my artwork; gently forgotten in the back of a closet, until it would eventually be discarded.

Sadly, within 4 years of our meeting, the King was dead.

I couldn’t help but wonder over the years… Did he keep it? Did he like it? Would it be thrown away with the assorted junk that accumulates on the periphery of our lives?

A gift given. A memory made. And a mystery… in my mind.

Now please indulge me as I flash-forward to the present and my viewing of the documentary.

While flipping through the selections on Netflix, I was in the mood for some comicbook goodness, and thought a documentary would be perfect.
The selection; "With Great Power - The Stan Lee Story" sounded familiar, but I knew I had never seen it. Surprising since it was released in 2010.

It would be less than a half-hour before a point in my life of 20 years prior would leap into my present-day living room.

When the scene in question came on screen, it felt like an electric jolt went through my body. My body went rigid, my eyes opened wide, and my mind… my mind reeled.

I immediately recognized my work. But more importantly than anything, I immediately knew that Jack Kirby had kept my gift.

It was as if I were seeing a long lost friend, contacting me from beyond the grave to answer a question, long thought unanswerable.

To see that the great artist not only kept the piece, but had it close enough at hand for use as a prop in some photo-shoot truly brought a shock to my mind, and a sense of peace of mind as well.

But then it also brought further questions:

WHEN was this photo taken?

WHY? For WHAT purpose?

I can only imagine that when asked to pose for some photo opportunity (a magazine shoot perhaps), the photographer may have thought that a piece of Jack's own original black-pencil artwork might not have "popped" (which is unthinkable), or simply lacked the visual impact that a full-color illustration would instead provide. So the (ignorant) photographer just had Jack place an already-colored piece on the desk.

So, looking around his studio for a suitable image, of a character that would be recognizable, not only for who it was, but that it was one of his characters, my artwork simply fit the bill. Nevermind that it wasn’t drawn by Kirby, as his hand is positioned to block the view of my signature (a ~PCK~ in a scroll with the year beneath it) which I would guess was the photographer's direction; "OK, Jack... just move your hand over a bit...there!" Authenticity may have taken a back-seat to necessity.

I knew that there would only be a few people who could shine any light on these tiny mysteries (perhaps John Morrow from TwoMorrow's Press - publishers of the Jack Kirby Collector magazine, or someone from the Jack Kirby Museum project). However, I also knew that there was one other man who would not only have the best chance of knowing, but who might like to discuss this story with me, and so I contacted Jack Kirby’s long-time assistant & friend, Mark Evanier (who you'll note was shown being interviewed at the start of the video clip I presented above).

Mr. Evanier told me that Jack Kirby kept EVERY drawing that he was ever given by fans. He would keep them nearby in his studio, some hung up on the walls, some down leaning against the walls of the room, and that he would frequently interchange what was displayed on the walls and/or the floor stacks. Everyone got time to shine, and he didn’t judge the works on artistic merit more than the fact that he was thrilled that someone actually took the TIME and ENERGY to CREATE something. He was humbled, and gladdened that he was able to inspire anyone to do so, but it was the act of creation that he most admired and by which he was delighted.

Most others sent him drawings OF him WITH his creations. My gift, however, was one of an impromptu nature, given on a chance meeting, and as such, was only of one of his creations.

THAT, it seems is what might have been the reason that my artwork was placed upon his table for the photo. It would be unlikely for a drawing OF Jack and his characters to be drawn BY Jack, wherein my piece featuring only Captain America might have been a better fit for the photographer’s direction. That and/or the fact that without any other figures on the page, the one figure is full-sized and instantly recognizable to the viewer, if not the actual style or the fact that it wasn’t a Kirby drawing.

Sure, when I first saw the documentary photo, my mind had let fly with fanciful notions that maybe Jack Kirby had liked my work... and maybe had it on his desk because he wanted to send me an overlay drawing showing me the correct way it should have been drawn (as I know that it wasn't a great piece)... Or maybe, he saw some spark of talent in the drawing and wanted to mentor me... or maybe someone, somewhere saw this one piece and maybe wanted to contact me for some project...

All fanciful dreams...

The truth is most likely what I and Mr. Evanier both concluded; Jack was a class act and kept all things that fans gave him. His hands wouldn't allow for him to draw anything for that photo session, and maybe the color drawing just fit the bill as a prop.

That I had always sort of wondered whether he kept it, whether he liked it, whether it was lost in time... all those questions were answered by one photograph, over 20 years later. For that I am grateful. For the fact that he used my drawing, my tiny gift, for the photo (even if by random chance)... I am humbly honored.

And so, I just want to say once again, for all the wonders he has given the medium, all the enjoyment that he has given to me, and for the gratitude that I feel knowing that he liked and had my work near to him… THANK YOU, JACK KIRBY.

* UPDATE*

It is my pleasure to state that John Morrow of the aforementioned TWOMORROWS PRESS, has expressed an interest in publishing this blog entry in one of his publications! Most likely The JACK KIRBY COLLECTOR magazine!

He has asked for high quality images for reproduction of all the images seen in this post, so it should look quite nice.

I'll be sure to make the official announcement when the article is published.

*UPDATE 2*

After months of trying to orchestrate an open spot in the JACK KIRBY COLLECTOR, (because, as anyone with even a smidge of publishing understanding knows, space is a premium and stories crop up and drop off constantly,) my tale was published, in a truncated form, in the letters pages of issue #64.

While not the big feature story I was hoping for, it did contain most of the information from this post as well as photos seen in this post. Not too bad.

*UPDATE 3*

(01/01/2017)

While flipping around YouTube a day ago, I found ANOTHER documentary that shows the same photo of Jack Kirby with my artwork. This time, MORE of the photo is shown.

From the 1996 documentary:

 STAN LEE: The ComiX-Man

 (that it seems was broadcast in two segments on A&E)

 https://youtu.be/7vgapiQek7I

The photo is at the 14:52 - 14:55.5 mark.

-------------------

*UPDATE 4*

(11/13/2017)

A brand NEW documentary (series) has begun to air last night on AMC (American Movie Classics) titled:

ROBERT KIRKMAN'S SECRET HISTORY OF COMICS

and on the first episode:

The Mighty Misfits Who Made Marvel

,at the 28 minute mark, that image was used, yet again, when speaking of the mistreatment of Jack Kirby, and how, ironically, he wasn't being acknowledged for his artwork.

The episode can be watched for free on either YouTube OR the Google Play app/site.

---------

HOW many documentaries used this photo?

Now, more than before I am determined to find out WHAT this photo was for and WHY Jack chose MY piece with which to pose.

I may never know the answer, but I am filled with wonder.

Thanks, Jack!

50 YEARS of DOCTOR STRANGE! STRANGE TALES #110 - JULY 1963 (Well...APRIL, really.)

---

---

And LO! - 'Twas FIFTY YEARS AGO that strode into our midst a sorcerer unlike many (or any) who had preceded him... 

No top hat or stage-magician's tuxedo.

No basic "Abra-Cadabra" spell-casting.

No earthly foemen.

No.

For he was like his heralded marquee announced...

"MEN CALL HIM DOCTOR STRANGE!

NEVER HAVE YOU KNOWN HIS LIKE!"

Cover-dated JULY 1963 (although actually released that April - April 9th to be exact) behind an unassuming cover featuring the Human Torch battling old Fantastic Four foes; the Wizard and Paste-Pot-Pete would quietly, and without fanfare, lurk the introduction of the character to whom I (and many a Mighty Marvel Mystical Maniac) would follow with eager anticipation...

So, please enjoy reading his very first chronicled adventure - and while I could have used flashier and more vibrant scans taken from a later reprint, I thought it better and more authentic to use scans taken from a vintage copy of

STRANGE TALES # 110

---

THE FIRST STORY STARRING...

DOCTOR STRANGE: MASTER OF BLACK MAGIC!

*RIGHT-CLICK into a NEW TAB or WINDOW to be better able to READ*

---

Of course, truthfully, comics back then were post-dated at least 2 or 3 months ahead, so that a month's old issue would not look as such on the newsstands, most likely STRANGE TALES # 110 would have been released in at least by MAY (though it has come to my attention that it was in-fact on stands in APRIL... April 9th, in fact - my very own date of birth! - how's THAT for cosmic coincidence?!?)... but the cover says JULY so in JULY do I post my official commemorative post.

Now, while Stan Lee may like to lay claim to creating most, if not all of the characters that he wrote, in point of fact, he did NOT create DR. STRANGE!

Certainly, in later years, Lee would repeat an oft-told tale of how when he was a youth, he would thrill to the radio-show adventures of a magician named; Chandu the Magician (replete with resounding gong sound effect), and that was what he used as inspiration in the creation of the Master of Magic.

However, while he may have used Chandu's exploits as inspiration in his scripting of the first few issues, it was well known that STEVE DITKO was the true creator of Doctor Strange!

I'll leave it to the plethora of comic historians greater than I who have already laid out the copious details of Ditko's mind-works in the storylines and visual references therein, and how these would have been far removed from LEE's usual stock-in-trade.

Better I merely let the words of Stan Lee himself  serve as proof.

Taken from a letter to a die-hard, early "professional" fan; Jerry Bails - in fact dubbed the "Father of Comic Fandom" - Stan Lee says all that need be said:

"...'TWAS STEVE'S IDEA..."

 Of course, without the Awesome Alliterative Assistance of Stan the Man, Doctor Strange may not have become the complex comicbook conjurer that he would turn out to be.

As the letter also reveals, the character was originally going to be called "MISTER STRANGE", but wishing to avoid confusion with "Mr. Fantastic" Stephen Strange was made a Doctor.
There's no telling if or how the lack of the "Doctor" title would have affected Strange's story, but it would seem likely his origin tale would be slightly altered.

Either way, there have been many writers and artists who have built upon the firm ground laid by STEVE DITKO and STAN LEE - and who knows... maybe in 50 more years, some other fan may look back and wonder at the magic and follow where it leads...

And don't forget to continue to follow my blog, dedicated to detailing many of the Master of the Mystic Arts adventures, history and swag...

Tamam Shud!

DOCTOR STRANGE faces DEATH and TAXES! (But Mostly Taxes)

---

With the exception of DEATH, (unless you're a nigh-immortal sorcerer,) TAXES are the only true constant of life here on Earth for we mere mortals.

Yet, even for one such as Doctor Stephen Strange; Master of the Mystic Arts, taxes are a dire peril that can not be avoided or defeated.

For as seen in this scene, Dr. Strange must divert his attentions away from studying grimoires to determining if he can deduct the upper level of his home; his Sanctum Sanctorum, as office space on his taxes.

click to Government-size

Stan Lee checks in on his old pal Stephen Strange

STAN LEE MEETS DOCTOR STRANGE # 1

Stan Lee (writer), Alan Davis (artist)

This post is a definite companion-piece and continuation of my last such entry (which can be found [HERE]), wherein I presented the varied times in Strange's published history where the Supreme Sorcerer had to deal with DEATH... and TAXES (but mostly Taxes).

--

A Public Service Announcement:
Don't forget U.S. residents,  Tuesday, APRIL 17th is Income Tax Day...

(Yes, normally it is the 15th, but this year with that date falling on a Sunday and then the 16th being a Federal Holiday in the District of Columbia -that's the D.C. in Washington D.C.-, it fell to the next day - the 17th)
you have until Midnight on Tuesday, April 17th to file... 

or Beware the wrath of the Terrible TAX-MAN!!!

---

MIDNIGHT IMAGES Original Comic Artwork (3rd in a series) "Doctor Strange" - 1989

---

As I have done a few times this month, today's post showcases some (really) old comic art of my very own.

---

For ALL of the installments in this series, visit these links:

1st in the Series - 4 Wizard magazine cover submissions - 2000

2nd in the Series - 11-Page "Secret Defenders" story- 1993

3rd in the Series - 6-Page "Doctor Strange" story - 1989
(with Stan Lee critique anecdote)
4th in the Series - "Doctor Strange" pin-ups - 1989 - 1980
(with John Byrne critique anecdote)

5th in the Series - web-site banner headers "Defenders" - 2002

---

Today's entry is a 6 page "Doctor Strange" submission sample that I had "written" (a plot only) and penciled waaaay back in 1989 (although, it might have been drawn in 1988... I'm not 100% certain of the date/year).

As for the content of this post, I'll only show a few teaser images here... instead linking to my other ART blog (the Midnight Images blog) to show the full pages and the story breakdown (which can be found [HERE] - or click the Midnight Images logo at the end of the post).

However, I will confess that it was even critiqued, in person, by Stan "the Man" Lee himself.
(I'll spill the beans on that little tidbit at the end of this post - and on the art blog as well, where the actual 6 page story is shown.)

It's a quick little hit-and-run story, making sure to touch upon most of the big players in the Doctor Strange mythos:

Doctor Strange, The Ancient One, Clea, Dormammu, Eternity and a brief appearance by Nightmare.

It's "Atmospheric".
It's "Pan-Dimensional".
It's "touching".
(And not just because Doc and Clea embrace, kiss and end up in bed. *)
* (although, since it's not an official "story" I couldn't rightly include it into the "Clea Loves Sex" series)


---

However, I will share for you now, the brief tale of my meeting with STAN LEE.

--- A FAMOUS CRITIC ---

I'll wrap up this entry with an anecdote about how I met STAN LEE (he who co-crated much of the Marvel comics characters, like the Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, Hulk and many others... including Doctor Strange) and how he gave me a portfolio review.

(That day, I also met JACK "KING" KIRBY - the man largely responsible for co-creating much of the same characters and worlds that Stan would write about - if not even more of the visual nature of comics themselves - but this isn't the time for the story of that meeting.)

From a period of 1988 - 1992, I would frequently travel to various comic conventions and have a table set up in either the dealer's room or, later, in the professional's "Artist's Alley".
One such convention both Stan Lee and Jack Kirby were in attendance!
(For some reason, I seem to think this was either in Chicago or Boston - except that if both Stan and Jack were present - it was more likely in New York City.)

It was announced that Stan Lee would be conducting portfolio reviews for a few hours that day, and so, many artists in attendance registered, were assigned a time-slot and then had their own private freak-outs while waiting for their time.

When it was finally my turn, Stan was as boisterously pleasant and friendly as his public persona has always been. Quick with a smile and a handshake.

I sat down and he flipped through my book - I recall it being fairly daunting that many of the images that he was seeing - mostly pin-up style drawings - were of characters that he co-created with some of the greatest comic artists ever known.

Luckily, I didn't freeze up or panic (or worse... "geek out"). Stan made it easy to just be at ease.
As Stan flipped, and had a few "Ah... good." and "This is nice." comments, we finally reached the portion with the actual comic artwork.
The only problem is that, by now, the almost surreal nature of this meeting was starting to get to me a little.


When he reached this sample, and he got to page three, he simply said; "Ahh... Doctor Strange! His legs are too thin."

All I could say was..." No. I don't think so." (because I was thinking that as a sorcerer, Strange should be leaner and less bulked up - as opposed to the traditional "superheroes" in comics).
However, I immediately realized that my own, personal thoughts on the proper handling of a magic-user character, were not appropriate for this meeting, and so I quickly added, "Really? Hmmm... Well, I guess so. YOU would know, right?"

He took my gaff in stride, but I didn't hear anything else he said during my time with him.
I was far too shaken by my own hubris and kept repeating the blurted words over and over in my head.
Finally, we reached the end of the portfolio, he smiled and told me to keep up the good work ("Marvel needs up and comic young artists like you!" - or some words to that effect, were the last thing he said to me.)
We shook hands again (and I think he gave me his business card - I mean I have one of his for his then California offices - how else did I get it?) and I walked back to my booth.


Looking at these pages now, I know that Stan was being far too easy on me.
To only pick up on the fact that his character's legs were thin was a kindness!
It could have (should have) been much worse of a critique.
But, Stan was being nice to an idiot young guy.

(I can pick a multitude of flaws from the pages - all of which glare at me now.)

To this day, that small snippet of our meeting is the only thing that I can remember with clarity.
And even though, I really DO feel that Doctor Strange should be portrayed as a more "wizardly" character (spending more time reading dusty old tomes than getting out to walk - and when he does battle it isn't usually done physically) I learned the valuable lesson that unless you are being granted artistic license to do so, it is best to write or draw trademarked characters as they are - not how you think they should be.

At least when showing them to the guy that pretty much created them anyway.

 ---

And that's it for now... don't forget to head over to my Midnight Images Art Blog to see the story and read up it all in greater detail.



Well?
Are you still here?
What are you waiting for?
Go check out the FULL 6-page story art over at my MIDNIGHT IMAGES art blog!

Tamam Shud!
~P~

Lo! The TAX-MAN Calleth! Financial Wizardry - 2010

Perhaps no arch foe in all of the world is as fierce, unrelenting and utterly evil as...

...The TAX MAN!
He who rides a steed as dark and sure as DEATH itself!
(But unlike Death, leaves you writhing in agony, never granting you a final release from his miserly grip as he picks the flesh from your bones, day after day, year after year... until his darker companion finally takes you away.)

While Doctor Strange isn't frequently seen filling out his 1040's, 1099's (those are U.S. tax forms for those wondering readers overseas), and his IT-203 (NY tax form) he has had a run in or two with those who would require payment - for bills, repairs, assessments, and even employees.

Good thing Strange is solvent and only one time is required, in order to bring his Sanctum "up-to-code", to pawn off his possessions (just how much does a "Wand of Watoomb" go for on the secondary market?)...

*click the pix to read the fine print *

"That flaming brazier of Faltinian flames is a fire-code violation!
And board up that bottomless pit of eternal darkness! Or at least put up a "warning" sign."

Starting first in Strange Tales v1 147 Stan Lee (taking on the writing chores full-time, once Steve Ditko left the title) with artist Bill Everett tried to insert some of Stan's time-tested; "hero has money woes" into Strange's life... to... mixed results.
It's a FAIL at Doc failing, still, it establishes that Strange has secret caches of jewels and trinkets worth a fortune.

So, perhaps Strange's next cash-withdrawal method might be brought into question. It seems at least, unconventional, and at most... illegal.

(Wong had always suspected his master of cheating at board games. He suddenly knows just how Strange always has the cash to buy Boardwalk and Park Place and afford all those hotels in Monopoly.)

Strange Tales v1 # 151 has Stan (and Bill) fly the money-woes idea up the flagpole again... but seemingly realizing that it wasn't a good fit, shows that Strange can just conjure funds from out of thin air.
(How come that little trick isn't in the "Professor Wonder's 1,001 Party Magic Tricks Set" that I ordered in the mail?)

Possible theft or mystical counterfeiting methods aside, Strange will not have to call again on the "ATM Card of Aggamon" any time soon, for the next time he is questioned about his finances, we see that Strange is all-up like Fort Knox!

"Yes, Sara. I am loaded. That's how I can afford this fine vintage bottle of Courvoisier."

Dr. Strange (v2) Master of the Mystic Arts # 42, writer Chris Claremont and artists Gene Colan and Dan Green have Strange hiring his neighbor, Sara Wolfe, as his business secretary, and despite Doc's bank account being at near zero, he shows her that he is the King of Bling.

So, while the rest of us have to do what we can to eke out a living, and have the TAX-MAN banging on our doors to collect "their share", rest assured that Doctor Strange is financially secure.

---

A Public Service Announcement:
Don't forget U.S. residents, today; APRIL 15th is Income Tax Day...
you have until Midnight tonight to file... or Beware the wrath of the Terrible TAX-MAN!!!

---

Tamam Shud!
~P~

Big Bang and Alliterative Aliases -or- I wonder why Stan Lee isn't "Lee Lieber" instead?

Image Credit: Cliff Lipson/CBS (taken from EW.com [HERE])

STAN LEE appeared last night on the The Big Bang Theory (Season 3, Episode 16 - "The Excelsior Acquisition") and while he really only put in little more than a short appearance, as anyone who has met the man will attest (yes. I have, but that's a story for another time) even a walk-on by Stan exudes a larger than life "presence".

I'm sure I don't need to tell anyone reading this blog that Stan Lee was one/half of the creative-team(s) - along with artists/writers like Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko - who created the Marvel Universe (fairly out of "nothing" - like unto a "BIG BANG" as well).

In fact, as is very important to this blog, is the simple fact that Stan was the (secondary) creative force (Steve Ditko being the true "creative spark") behind Doctor Strange.
Mr. Ditko had the initial concept and plotted most of the early "Strange Tales" appearances, with Stan adding his own over-the-top dialogue and captions to the finished artwork.

Anyway, while Stan was only an extended walk-on (with a few lines of "angry" dialogue) his "presence" was felt throughout the entire episode as the rest of the cast of characters did little else but talk about him and his creations.

One key story aspect of the episode is the fact that one of the show's characters; Raj (which is short for Rajesh Ramayan Koothrappali), an Indian-born member of the nerd/scientist friends, will not let go of the fact that nearly all of Stan Lee's creations (and/or their alter-ego's) have alliterative names.

"Peter Parker, Bruce Banner, Matt Murdoch, Happy Hogan, Pepper Potts, Reed Richards, Sue Storm..." all those and many more are listed off in rapid-fire succession during several parts of the show (along with oldies but goodies; Millie the Model and Fin Fang Foom).
But ONE name made my ears perk up:

STEPHEN STRANGE.

So, perhaps while neither as obvious an "appearance" nor as overt a "mention" as might have been received in other recent television fare (see this months-old blog post on those [HERE]), once again Doctor Strange has been introduced to the broader masses via pop culture television.
And on a hit show, to boot.

Still, while Raj's befuddlement on the reasoning for why Stan used alliterative names for his creations is obvious to those who have been reading of the behind-the-scenes early Marvel years (he did so because it was easier for him to remember the names that way), it does make one wonder, if Stan Lee (born Stanley Lieber, but chopping his first name in two to use as a pen-name) really liked alliterative names so much, he could have went by the pen-name of "Lee Lieber" instead.
I wonder how that might have changed the Marvel Universe.
"What if?" indeed.

"EXCELSIOR!"

Son of Origins! An Origins Sequel. (or addendum if you will)

There was another formative experience that would utterly hook me into the world of comic books.
One aside from (although, sort of at the same time - or a little later than) the "origin" tale that I related in my most recent entry; the Special 125th Edition post, entitled;

Sorcerers, Spacemen & Swamp Beasts; "Oh, My!"
- or -
Dorkwin; The Origin of the Geeksies.

For you see... (and this is offered forth through the foggy haze of poor memory of 30+ years or so gone by)... even before I was wading into the world of actual comic BOOKS, I was already an aficionado of those four-color comics found in the the newspaper (aka; the "FUNNIES").

However, aside from the usual gag strips I would soon become a huge fan of two in particular;

The Star Wars strip, which was based on the "first" film; A New Hope (and then adapting the various paperback spin-off's of the "Han Solo Adventures" that were hot on the shelves) to keep the kiddie's hooked, long before the sequel(s) could start running...

- and, even before that -

The Amazing Spider-Man strip.
Written by Stan Lee and drawn by John Romita Sr.



THIS was my real - true first experience with "collecting" comic books (of a sort).
I had known of Spider-Man himself from the 1960's animated TV cartoons, the live action television show starring Nicholas Hammond - (which I seem to be alone in my professed love of that show) and Spidey's stint on the Electric Company educational, tv kiddie-show.

However, while the various television shows would fade to black after their credits rolled, the newspaper strip was mine to keep - collect and re-read as many times as I'd like.

I had a shoe box filled with clipped-out comic strips; the dailies and color Sunday editions of the Star Wars and Spider-Man comics.

For many years I kept them, archiving them in various manners over time, always being amazed by their quality.

---

Now, for the most part, the Star Wars strip only interested me because I had actually read and enjoyed the Han Solo books (Han Solo at Star's End, Han Solo's Revenge and Han Solo and the Lost Legacy, as well as the other early adaptations, like Splinter of the Mind's Eye).

I was never much of a Star Wars fan otherwise.

But the fact that I was familiar with those books, the comic was an excellent continuation of the enjoyment that I felt from the actual paperbacks, and so... I read, clipped and collected them.

---

The Spider-Man strip was something entirely different.

I was really pretty hooked on that strip.
The artwork was so crisp and perfect. I had never seen it's like.
Having never seen Ditko's Spidey at that time, I thought that surely John Romita Sr. was the ONLY guy qualified for the job.

I can only remember a few scant details of them today; the introduction of the PROWLER and the headers.

Especially the one with Spider-Man lifting the bus!
That image has been burned into my mind and will be with me all the days of my life as "THE" most awesome Spider-Man pose. It really gave him some "oomph"!

Check it out!


There were other images that would rotate in placement atop the strip, acting as header, but the bus one was tops for me.


Although, I did (and do) like the quiet, studious and mysterious nature of the "mixing web-fluid" vignette.



The only thing that seemed "wrong" to me, was that for a guy named "Spider-Man", Romita drew him as very muscular and bold. I'm sure I didn't think it consciously, because Romita's Spider-Man was truly perfect to my young mind.
I especially liked how uniform and dimensional he made the webbing on the costume, especially on the arms and boots.


Sometime shortly afterwards, I would be out grocery shopping with my mother and she would purchase "ALL" laundry detergent, and there on a promotional blurb was Spider-Man!

I had to have it.

The promo came with 3 "magic" marker pens and a comic book (although, I don't recall if the comic was somehow attached to the product or if it was a mail-away offer).

But when I received that comic (a reprinting of an early issue featuring Spidey and the Human Torch vs the Beetle - with some cool bonus material) I saw that it was drawn by someone entirely different than John Romita.
Some guy named Steve Ditko.

I wasn't sure WHAT to make of it, really... except... that I fell in love with the fluidity of his Spider-Man.

Romita's rendition was physically PERFECT, and heroic looking (as well as having Peter Parker being quite the handsome young man, and the women were very attractive).
However, Ditko's characters MOVED!
They looked flawed physically and facially... a little too weird for my young self (especially the bug-eyed Betty Brandt and other female love interests) but Spider-Man and the Torch (and even the boxy Beetle) were FLUID!

(And, when, a few years later, I would discover some of the history and back-issues of Doctor Strange, the name of Steve Ditko was one that was immediately recognized by me and he brought that same fluidity and sense of motion and urgency to the mystic master as well.)

So, I was now able to appreciate more than just Romita's style as "the" Spider-Man artist.

However, those newspaper strips would stay with me as my foundation for the print character to this very day.

So, when I read that an omnibus of sorts for the newspaper strip was being offered, I was excited!

Here's the solicit text:

SPIDER-MAN NEWSPAPER STRIPS HC
Written by STAN LEE
Penciled by JOHN ROMITA
Cover by JOHN ROMITA
ALL THE STRIPS THAT ARE FIT TO PRINT!
And since we’re talking about strips written by Stan “The Man” Lee and drawn by “Jazzy” John Romita…that means ALL of ’em! Reprinting all of Stan and John’s Spider-Man newspaper strips in chronological order, Spider-Man Newspaper Strips brings you the earliest classic panels that hit the daily and Sunday papers of the late 1970s! All the daily strips are printed in the original black and white, and all the Sundays in their original color, featuring remastered linework in a deluxe hardcover format that will spin a web of enchantment upon anyone who reads them! Collecting Stan Lee/John Romita's Spider-Man daily strips and Sunday pages, originally published from 1977-1980
352 PGS./Rated A …$39.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-3793-1
Trim size: oversized


It brings a smile to my face to think that soon I'll plunk down the cash for it (since I had long since lost my clippings) and reminisce about a better, simpler time, and a more perfect Spider-Man!

OF LOVE LOST :an examination of HULK # 10

***Wondering WHAT the deal is with Dr. Strange and the BLUE masked costume he's wearing?
READ ON... ***

I'm exhausted (oh, you have NO idea), so I'll try to make this a (relatively) quick entry...

HULK # 10 dropped to spinner racks across the comic-buying world a few days ago with a story by Jeph Loeb and artwork by Ed McGuinness.

McGuinness' visuals are things of beauty. That man was born to draw the hell out of this book.

Loeb's story, however, while big and blustery fun (and, merely setting the stage this ish), is also, shoddy - from any Dr. Strange fan's perspective.

The set-up is (and PLOT SPOILERS are here):

The Grandmaster, one of the Elders of the Universe, and his brother, The Collector are having one of their frequent "chess-game" like squabbles where they get various heroes and villains from Earth as pawns/combatants and set them up against each other in a "Contest of Champions".

Usually, some kind of wager is on the line, and whomever's team wins the battle wins the bet for their Elder.

In this foray, Grandmaster has promised Hulk that the Hulk's long-lost love, Jarella would be returned to him (from the dead) if Hulk's hand-picked team would win the contest against the Collector's team.

So, Hulk chooses the DEFENDERS to "defend" the lives of their one-true-loves.
While Hulk is allowed to chose the WHO of the team, Grandmaster, however, would select the WHEN of where the members would be selected.

---

Silver Surfer is chosen immediately after his sacrifice to become herald of Galactus, as he gives up his life on Zenn-La and his love of Shalla-Bal.

He is promised a way to be united with her.

---

Sub-Mariner is selected mere moments after the death of Lady Dorma, which was upon the day of their wedding.

He is promised her return from the dead.

---

Doctor Strange is taken from the very brief time that he was first wearing his blue-masked "superhero" costume.

Clea is by his side, fighting against Mindless Ones, when she is sucked away into some mystical vortex ( ...at least that's what it looks like. It's a rushed scene and it isn't really clear WHAT happened) before he is beset upon by hoards of Mindless Ones.

The ersatz-Defenders rally to his aid and Strange is promised her safe return should he join the team.

See the scanned pages below.

*click to make Supreme-Sized*

There are several problems immediately evident in this scene.
A few minor quibbles are:

• It's supposed to be the Hoary Hosts of HOGGOTH - not HOGGARTH.

• Hulk has always called Dr. Strange; "Magician" or "Stupid Magician", not "cape-man".

• Mindless Ones are (at least USED TO BE) indestructible!
  

Only recently (the past 3 years or so - first starting, I believe, in the comic; NextWave) that Mindless Ones have been shown to be vulnerable.
Before that, they were impossible to bust apart like this.

But those three points are neither here nor there.

The IMPORTANT things are:

First of all, when Strange was wearing that version of his costume, he was immediately involved in a series of events that led to his being engulfed in several cosmic battles that took him away from Clea - whom he had only recently rescued from exile and whom he left safely behind in the Sanctum.

These battles (with the Black Knight against Tiboro, with the Avengers against Ymir and Surtur, and then the near-final battle against the Undying Ones (wherein he first meets and teams up with Namor and then Hulk)- a battle where he, for all intents and purposes, sacrificed his life, choosing the be a willing prisoner within another dimension, to halt the advance of the demonic Undying Ones) were all in rapid succession, with little or no time in between for this scene to take place.

Also, of note, is that at this point in her life, Clea's mystic powers were at their nadir.
Frankly, Strange wouldn't have involved her in any battle, since she was practically useless, magically.

Certainly, she could just have been caught up with him in the battle and is reliant upon his spells to safeguard her (as it seems here), but since she and Strange had only very recently returned from the Dark Dimension, (after she was rescued from her long imprisonment in a lost dimension,) there seems little reason for them to return there so soon.

If Loeb wanted to find a point where Clea was taken from him, and where he would be hell-bent to fight to rescue her, there were two prior points wherein this could be taken;

Back in Strange Tales # 127, after Strange "defeats" Dormammu the first time, with the aid of Clea, Dormammu wishes to punish her, but promises not to do so, as payment for his debt to Strange.

Soon afterward, however, (in Strange Tales # 141) Strange defeats Dormammu in hand-to-hand combat, and the furious Lord of the Dark Dimension takes his revenge upon Clea, casting her into a dimensional abyss...

(handily recapped in this splash page)

Emo Strange is very emo.
Strange Tales # 144 - Stan Lee, Roy Thomas & Steve Ditko

Should The Grandmaster have selected Strange from this point in his life, it would have made sense.

---

Another (better) instance, was (in Strange Tales # 155,) where Strange now battled against the sister of Dormammu (and unbeknownst to all - Clea's mother), the Unspeakable UMAR.

Clea had just been released from her imprisonment because, due to Dormammu's "death" during a battle with Eternity, the power of his spell was negated, and Clea tried to make her way to Strange's side.
However, Umar stood between them and caused the pair to battle for their lives in an epic gauntlet of dangerous perils.

Some of which are seen below...

Realizing that Clea is in dire peril (again), this time from Umar, Strange calls to his mentor; The Ancient One for aid.
The Ancient One does the only thing possible to safeguard the mystic maiden...
cast her from this plane of existence to a realm of unknown origin - and no method of return.

By the Blue Balls of Belathouzer!
All pages from Strange Tales # 155 - Stan Lee & Marie Severin.

Strange is absolutely furious at the loss of Clea (so soon after being reunited with her) that he will do anything to win her safe return!
ANYTHING!

He's ready to move Heaven and Earth for the sake of his love!

THIS is the point from which Strange should have been plucked from the time-stream.

After this spell, Clea would be lost to him for YEARS.
He would eventually rescue her with the aid of Victoria Bentley in his first spin-off series; Dr. Strange # 171 - 172. Just prior to his donning the blue-masked costume.

---

One other point that might have worked would have been in the events of Doctor Strange; Master of the Mystic Arts # 1 - 5.

The villainous SILVER DAGGER, having effectively infiltrated the Sanctum and very nearly slaying Strange, absconds away with the Eye of Agamotto and Clea!

Strange, while trying to save his own life must also do all that he can in order to also save CLEA.
He risks all in a dire battle within the realm of unreality for this goal.

Would that Loeb had pulled Strange from this point in the time-stream, Strange would have been a near-fatally wounded (possibly adrift in the realm of unreality) man with mere hours to live. In this weakened state, he would have to succeed in his battle alongside these Grandmaster-gathered "Defenders" in order to continue his plight against Silver Dagger, winning his own life as well as Clea's freedom!

---

The only other point where Clea is taken from him would be MUCH later (in the classic Doctor Strange; Master of the Mystic Arts # 55). However, there, she leaves of her own free will - and Strange is so overwrought that he was an absolute wreck of a man.

That would ALSO have been an interesting point to make the selection.
Strange would have wanted to do ANYTHING to be reunited with her, but he was functionally useless. A great bit for storytelling purposes.

---

However, Loeb does not select any of these actual, in canon, time-periods for his out-of-the-time-stream version of Stephen Strange, instead choosing to make one up - and thus screw up any sense of chronology or consistency (you can see I'm trying not to use the other "C-word"..."Continuity").

In this story, modern-day Hulk asks why Doc is wearing a mask and Doctor Strange KNOWS who the rest of the Defenders are, even though, he would only first meet Namor and Hulk while IN this guise.

Hulk should know that Doc has worn a mask twice before while they had dealings together (ie: during their first meeting and many years later during "The Order"). It shouldn't be anything "new" to him.

The rub truly comes into play when Doc first met Namor and Hulk, it was at the very end of his time wearing this outfit. When he was at the end of his "last" adventure (where he first met Namor and Hulk) he was rescued from that alternate dimension and GAVE UP sorcery (for a time), removing this costume and not wearing it again until only a few years ago (during the Busiek-penned "ORDER series). Simply put, the fact that he KNOWS and has MET Namor and Hulk means that this would have to take place after his own rescue and forsaking of Sorcery!

The course of events is as thus:

• Doctor Strange vol. 1 - # 183:

Strange addresses the mystery of the Undying Ones...
His series is canceled and the story continues next in:

• Sub-Mariner # 22:

Strange inlists Namor's aid in retrieving a mystical idol so that Strange can journey forth to the dimension of the Undying Ones. (Strange sacrifices his freedom, becoming a prisoner in that dimension to stop the Undying Ones from gaining access to Earth. Namor is sent back to Earth).
The story continues in:

• Incredible Hulk # 126:

Bruce Banner is cast into that Dimension by cultists who seek to aid the Undying Ones by having the Hulk defeat their foe; the Dark Crawler. Hulk and Barbara Norriss (who would, years later, become the Valkyrie) aid Strange and free him (Norriss sacrificing her freedom to take his place in atonement of her sins).
Hulk and Strange return to Earth and Strange gives up sorcery, content to live life as a Medical consultant.

The next person to wear this outfit (after Strange gives up sorcery) would surprise you - and I'll add that tidbit to the very end of this post. *

Suffice it to say, that tale can be found along with Strange's return.
It shows the events, a year or so after the Hulk issue, Strange would once again wear the mantle of sorcerer, due to events that occur in a back-up tale within the Defenders first appearance.

• Marvel Feature # 1.

While Strange knows that the Surfer had been trapped on Earth for years, he only met the Surfer AFTER this stage of his life, at the original formation of the DEFENDERS.
Although, it isn't out of the question that knowledge of the Silver Surfer (or his plight) would be known to him. One discussion with any member of the Fantastic Four would reveal as much.

It all just seems like a bad (and sloppy) continuity-implant.

While he does select actual, canonical points in the lives of the other Defenders, for Strange, Loeb either doesn't do the research (unknowingly making something happen that, frankly "couldn't") - OR - he did something far more sly.

The ONLY way that Strange could LOOK like this AND have Clea by his side in a battle with the Mindless Ones (aside from cramming this event into Strange's time-line in a haphazard retcon)
would for it NOT to be the Stephen Strange of the "616" mainstream Marvel Universe.

The COUNTER-EARTH version of Doctor Strange wore this costume the majority of his career, and eventually went rogue, calling himself the Necromancer.

This version of Doctor Strange met the cosmic being known as Eternity many years before our own version of Strange did. The meeting was one of hostility, however, as the Necromancer attempted to attack Eternity, and was imprisoned within the vastness of the entity until MANY years later (during the Infinity War).
It was this meeting that Eternity had subconsciously passed along to the "616" Strange, so that is where the idea for the blue-mask costume would originate.
OUR Strange, unknowingly adopted HIS costume for a while.

However, before the Necromancer would take up battle against (and be imprisoned by) Eternity, he would have had similar adventures as did our own Strange.
Possibly, even having battles with Dormammu and a love for Clea.

She might not even have known that this version of Stephen Strange was NOT the one she had fallen in love with originally - especially as since each time "her" Strange had been united with her, he was wearing a different costume variation! - first in his Blue cloak, then the "classic" cloak.

So it could be THIS "counter-Earth" version of Stephen Strange who has been selected to be a part of this impromptu assemblage of "DEFENDERS".

However, if it IS... then the Collector's opposing team; The OFFENDERS (consisting of Red Hulk, Terrax, Tiger Shark and BARON MORDO) had best watch out... for the Necromancer version of Doctor Strange was eventually out to gain power... and to RULE!

Whether he was ready to do so at this juncture of his career, or if he was still the well-meaning pupil of the Ancient One remains to be seen.

The ENDING of this story-line really CAN'T go the way of the HULK and his team, since we know that lady Dorma stays dead, Surfer never really ever gets back together with Shalla-Bal, and Jarella, sadly, remained dead as well.

CLEA, however, lives to see another day.
So... either the Defenders WIN, but then have to forsake their wishes for the "greater good" or the "OFFENDERS" win - OR - some kind of plot-twisteroo occurs.
Maybe dealing with the fact that this isn't really Dr. Strange.

OR... and probably more probable... it isn't really CLEA.

---

* I should also toss out there (purely for the sake of completeness) that Baron Mordo ALSO dressed in that blue-masked costume, while he was masquerading as Dr. Strange!
This was shown in Marvel Feature # 1 (the Back-Up story wherein Dr. Strange returns to his role as mystic master) - after having given up the mantle following his adventure against the Undying Ones (with Namor and Hulk, upon their first meeting) after the end of Strange's canceled first title and guest spots in the other's titles (wherein his saga was, ostensibly, to have come to a close).

However, THAT would be too arcane for ANYONE (with the exception of Roy Thomas or Kurt Busiek) to delve into.

Sadly, I'm probably alone in this way of thinking, and Jeph Loeb may only have proven that Clea WAS indeed taken away by a Mindless One...

Himself.

---

(OK. That was harsh. But it DID make for a catchy end-line, right?)

I DID enjoy the big, chunky fun of it, and if I have to, I can squeeze this event in at just before or after the last issue (# 183) of his first series.

But, if I wasn't this thorough... who would be?

---

(Oh. And I'm so glad I kept this as a "quickie" - *sigh*)