In honor of reaching 50,000 page views, we take a trip down memory lane.

As I write this post, this humble funny book blog (started in November 2009) has finally reached 50,000 page views. I’m not sure if that is a very small number, but I’m okay with it. Funny Book Fanatic certainly isn’t a high traffic site … and I have not been able to update it very often. I’m sure the infrequent updates has slowed traffic.

Scott & Dave setting up at American Booksellers (1991?)

Regardless, 50,000 page views in 15 months means that I’m averaging more than 110 page view per day.

Dave, Scott, Chris and Tom at American Booksellers Convention in 1990

As everyone who reads this probably knows, from 1987 to 1995, I was the publisher of Malibu Comics. Originally it was called Malibu Graphics, but we changed it. We published comics under a variety of imprints, Eternity, Aircel, Adventure, Platinum Editions, Bravura. Malibu was even the publisher of Image Comics for the first year of its existence.

Malibu started out as four guys, two working in the back porch of a trailer in Newbury Park, California and the other two working from an enormous warehouse in Commerce, California. For the record that means me, Scott Rosenberg, Chris Ulm and Tom Mason.

Scott Rosenberg and an unsung hero at Malibu Comics, Dan Danko.

By the time Marvel Comics bought Malibu Comics, we had over 100 employees … including a color department that worked three-shifts plus a division that made video games and a “movie” division.

I’ve already posted four pieces of the formation of Malibu Comics.
The secret origin of Malibu Comics (part one)
The secret origin of Malibu Comics (part two)
The secret origin of Malibu Comics (part three)
The secret origin of Malibu Comics (part four)
I plan to do more than will detail as best I can the trials, tribulations, mistakes, failures and hard work that we all put into Malibu.

Tom, Dave & Chris waiting for an elevator to go to the SHOW.

Malibu could not have been successful without the hard work of a large number of dedicated employees. Some came and went quickly. Others came and stayed and made enormous contribution. Some became like family. Our first two editorial employees were Dan Danko and Mickie Villa. Dan stayed to the very end. Mickie might have, but she found love at a comic book convention and moved to be with her new husband (who worked at Marvel).

A few months ago, one of the many former Malibu Comics employees set up a Facebook group for Malibu Alumni. It is full of all sorts of pictures from back in Malibu’s heyday, most of the pictures seem to have been taken when groups got together to either make funny faces … or to eat. If the pictures were any kind of indication, the gang at Malibu was out eating most of the time (and dressing in the bad costume styles of the day).

Then the other day, Mickie Villa from the wilds of Washington state, posted a number of the pictures featured here from her personal collection. I liked them so much that I buckled down and posted them here.

Author (and friend) Gerard Jones with the radiant Mickie Villa (at a comic convention)

Thank you Mickie. It inspired me and reminded me how sad I am that I have so few photographs of my days at Malibu Comics. These are great memories. An enormous reminder that time stands still for now one … squeeze every ounce of enjoyment out of every day.

*** AND TAKE MORE PICTURES ***
You’ll never be this young again.

For those of you who know any of us personally, I hope you find these pictures entertaining. For everyone else, just Marvel at the fashion sense of comics folks from the late 8o’s and early 90’s.

That’s my version of the story.

–Dave Olbrich (DWO) Fri. Jan. 29, 2010

Maggie’s sorta little, so here’s a little Maggie

Look … I’m a proud Dad. No apologies here.

This is my daughter, Maggie. She’s a beautiful, funny, opinionated, energetic girl and she’s just not very tall (5 foot 3 inches). Despite what Jaime Hernandez thinks, my daughter isn’t named after the character that he created for his truly AMAZING comic accomplishment LOVE & ROCKETS.

She’s also got a wonderful movie-oriented blog that she updates as often as she can, what with her full-time job, social life and bowling commitments. I highly recommend it. So after you watch the video below, go read her blog HERE.

I don’t know who those other people are in the video. Enjoy.

Alan Moore isn’t Obama’s official biographer. Don’t you wish he were.

Alan Moore at a party

A Funny Book Fanatic can dream can’t he?

And so can the humor dudes in Wisconsin.

From the “too good not to pass along file” comes the following story from America’s finest daily humor source, The Onion.

Click on the graphic below to read the whole “story.”

CLICK ME !!! • CLICK ME !!!

Consider this an official Funny Book Fanatic plug. Read my blog first (just in case I update it more often … sorry about that regular readers!) then go directly to read The Onion, which is full of great stuff every day and often makes extremely funny comic book references.

Too bad Moore would probably never let Vertigo publish this non-existent biography. But it is good for a “mass media meets geek” inside-joke giggle nonetheless.

That’s my version of the story.

— Dave Olbrich (DWO) Tue. Nov. 4, 2009

MEGAN FOX: Perhaps the best looking Funny Book Fanatic EVER!

I wasn’t a fan of Megan Fox … but I’m seriously considering changing my mind. It isn’t due to peer pressure. It didn’t have anything to do with the attractive pictures that were taken of her while she was partially clothed (not that there is anything wrong with that). It is due to the following segment on JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE!

My open letter to CNBC about Melissa Francis and Larry Kudlow

If you don’t watch cable financial news channel CNBC, the following post will mean nothing to you.

I promise you won’t see this kind of post very often. In the morning, I often turn my television to CNBC. I don’t know how much longer I will continue this practice. I like to know what is going on in the world, especially in the world of money. I like to expose myself to differing thoughts and opinions. But sadly it seems that the recent financial crisis and the election of President Obama have had a negative effect on the broadcasting at CNBC.

When Jack Kirby summons you …

As many of you probably know, when I was the publisher at Malibu Comics, I was a witness to (and a minor player in) the birth of Image Comics. It was a crazy, exciting time. Comics were selling at levels the direct market had never seen. The infamous meetings that the Image founders had at DC Comics and Marvel Comics in December 1991 is the stuff of comic industry legend.

 Jack Kirby had very strong opinions about the founding of Image Comics and the steps that the creators had taken to liberate themselves from the work-for-hire system at Marvel and DC Comics. How Jack Kirby fits into this story requires a little background.

When you research Jack Kirby . . .

Nothing long and exciting today, but as I was doing my modest amount of research for my Jack Kirby story yesterday, I found some pretty terrific stuff that it just didn’t seem right to keep to myself.

* * * * * * * *

This over-sized book is called Kirby: King of Comics and it is written by Mark Evanier. Mark was once a Kirby assistant, but he is also one of the most knowledgeable jack-of-all-trades running around the comics and entertainment business. Mark is the regular collaborator with Sergio Aragones on Groo and also the late, lamented Malibu’s Mighty Magnor. His credits are far too many to mention here (yep, DNAgents, too). This book is truly amazing and I got my autographed copy from Mr. Evanier himself at the 2008 Wizard World Los Angeles. A must-have item for any self-respecting comics bookshelf.

Let’s play “Ask the DWO”!

I am not saying, let me repeat, NOT SAYING that this is actually a good idea. I’m saying that I think it might be a good idea. I’m saying that other people that I respect (hey there T.K.) think this is a good idea. Here is the idea … take a minute out of your Fanatic Friday and ask me something. Ask me anything.

This probably doesn’t come as a surprise to anyone, there is a lot of stuff I don’t know. In all fairness to my enormous fanatical ego, there is also a ton of stuff I do know. Useful stuff. Surprising stuff. I know some facts. I know a lot of people who can provide me with the facts that I don’t know. Plus, I have a lot of opinions. Not just any old uninformed, tavern swill, beer goggle, Fox News(?) Channel opinion. I have “been there … done that” opinions.  Despite any claims by my friends to the contrary, I’m also reasonably thoughtful and reasonably … well … reasonable.

Let’s see … what can you ask me about?

Furry Fanatics of Fame

In response to my ASK THE DWO post yesterday, there was an interesting question that will be answered here, but it also brings up another question which I’m going need some help with from the FANATICAL readers here.

PAUL asks …

“When does hair become fur? I mean, what is the dividing line? Is it just a species thing, or can you find hair and fur on the same creature?”

DWO answers …

There seems to be a lot of difference of opinion on this one, but as best as my research can uncover there is no scientific difference. The Inhuman’s Medusa has hair, the X-Men’s Beast has fur. One definition I found said:

Thanks to the annoying kid in the front of the room

Okay, the title of this post is a vicious and unnecessary potshot at someone I like. But it is my blog, so sue me.

Everyone knows the kid I’m talking about. The one that sits at the front of the classroom and is the first one to put his hand up when the teacher asks a question. Well, in the blog business, people visit but don’t want to go on the record and comment, so  THANK YOU so much for the kid in the front of the room. Thanks to Paul for posting yet another question in my little experiment called ASK THE DWO. 

Paul asks …

“What was the deal with that “Comics Code Authority” stamp on the cover of all my comics from the 1970s … the one we don’t see any more. Was there really an authority, a board of wise philosopher kings that reviewed every book and then put a stamp on it, or was it just some graphic they slapped on the cover without any actual oversite?

Miscellaneous Monday: Dec. 8, 2008

FANATIC QUIZ QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Name the eight “Gorilla” creators

In November of 2000, at Mid-Ohio Con, seven comics creators gathered to celebrate the launch of Gorilla Comics. At the panel discussion all but one “gorilla” was present. The imprint was announced to be part of Image Comics. During the panel, Image publisher-at-the-time Jim Valentino played host, holding the microphone for fans as they got their questions answered.

The high visibility imprint lasted less than a year, the victim of faulty financing from a dot.com entrepreneur. Who were the eight “gorilla” founders?

DID I MENTION THAT I LOVE ME SOME MAN-BULL

Name your favorite second-string hero / villain.

It isn’t my fault that Alan Davis retired

Alan Davis seemed like a very nice man when I talked to him in England. He was being polite, that’s the only excuse that I can up with. I had come a long way to talk to him and he didn’t want to just come right out and say it. So he lied to me. It was a reasonably small lie and who knows maybe he even meant it when he said it … or time passed and he changed his mind.

The Talented Mr. Davis

How did I put one of the best pencillers in comics and myself in this position requires a little background.

As publisher of Malibu Comics, I had just returned from Palm Springs (a truly horrible place) and an event to be known as the First Ultraverse Conference. The executives and editors at Malibu, along with the writers who had been tapped to come up with the Ultraverse bible had spent a number of days hold-up in a hotel working out the details of our new universe.

Prime-time, All-Pro Norm Breyfogle

Once you’ve seen the character PRIME drawn by artist Norm Breyfogle, it is difficult to think of anyone else doing it. If you’ve seen anyone else try, you were struck by two things (1) either the artist tried to capture the magic that Breyfogle put into the character (and usually they only came close) or (2) it just didn’t look right at all.

There was something about Breyfogle’s approach to the character that was perfect. Let me repeat, not good, not great, but perfect was the matching of Breyfogle with this character that was both new but also resonated with many classic comic characters that had come before.

If you read the post below, you know that I flew to England during the formative stages of the ULTRAVERSE launch, to ask Alan Davis to be the penciller for one of the first books we were planning to release, PRIME. To which, he announced his pending retirement to focus on being a Boy Scout leader. I flew home to California having failed in my mission.

Klaus Janson in the house … and Ask The DWO!

In response to the little bit of internet love that I gave to Man-Bull in my last (Dec. 8th) Miscellaneous Monday, the one-and-only comics master Klaus Janson found this modest, but fanatic blog and posted the following comment,

Jungle Action #13: Janson's first cover?

“Guys-DD#129 was not the first cover I inked at Marvel! I happen to be cleaning out my workspace and came across Jungle Action #13 from January 1975 which has a cover penciled by Gil Kane and inked by me. So that predates the DD cover by a good year or so. Not sure if the Jungle Action cover was the first cover I ever inked but it might be. Good times!“

I’ve always been a huge Klaus Janson fan and I’m pleased and humbled that he stumbled across my blog and posted a comment. Thanks for clearing up the erroneous information that I had taken from an unreliable source (Ebay). As they say, Ebay “buyers beware.”

Miscellaneous Monday: Dec. 15, 2008

Let’s start today’s MISCELLANEOUS MONDAY with something not associated with comic books.

FOUND ON THE INTERNET: Best Funny Wedding Viral Video

This new classic viral video is probably the best one I’ve ever seen. I cannot vouch for it, but it doesn’t look fake to  me. If you’ve already seen it, forgive me. If you haven’t, in my  opinion, you’re in for a real treat.

 

IMMORTALIZE YOUR FAVORITE  2ND STRINGERS!

Be sure to visit the 2nd STRING HALL OF FAME page and vote for this month’s nominees. Or you could just visit the voting booth on the sidebar of

The “origin” story of The Jack Kirby Comics Industry Awards

The germ of the idea wasn’t mine. But I’m here to accept my portion of the blame. I made a lot of mistakes. I was wrong. 

The Jack Kirby Comics Industry Awards was a child born of outrage. It started in early 1985 somewhere in Agoura Hills, California on a regular (or as regular as they ever got) work day at Fantagraphics Books. The Comic Buyer’s Guide Fan Awards were the subject of the discussion.

Before we can get to the outrage, the creation, the betrayal, the diplomacy or my wrong-doing, we need to set-up the scene on this little melodrama.

The end of the Jack Kirby Comics Industry Awards: a lesson in honesty

In yesterday’s post, I wrote about how the Jack Kirby Awards were established. It was a reaction to the Comics Buyer’s Guide Fan Awards. It came from a germ of an idea from either Gary Groth or Kim Thompson at Fantagrapics Books. The goal being to establish awards based on the votes of comic professionals, ones that might be respected both within the industry and in the outside world. 

I also promised a little melodrama as well as some lying and betrayal, so strap in for this reasonably long second chapter of our adventure in comic industry awards.

Should I EVER listen to Marv Wolfman?

My life and career have intersected with the wondrous Marv Wolfman at many points along the way. I am proud to call him my friend … or at least a friendly acquaintance. If you’re reading this Marv, the next lunch is on me. I plan to pay up really soon. 

TRULY GREAT: Tomb of Dracula #54 cover by Gene Colan

I first became aware of Marv Wolfman in high school when I was reading as many Marvel Comics as I could get my hands on. Sometimes that was quite difficult. Remind me to tell the story someday soon about how I almost froze to death during high school in my pursuit of new release comics.

For a comic frame of reference, I essentially grew up in Smallville. I lived on farmland five miles from the nearest town, Claremont, Minnesota (pop. 620). It had one very small convenience grocery store that carried comics. Even though new comics came in only once a week or so, I visited that little rack of comics every day at lunchtime.

FINDING PEACE this weekend

While I’m in Arizona for the next few days celebrating a college graduation, you’ll have to satisfy your thirst for FANATIC entertainment with this blatant product plug for a graphic novel that I helped a little along the way. No, I didn’t write it, draw it or publish it. I just helped writer Tom Waltz make sure that this surprisingly eye-opening book actually became a published reality.

The book was released many months ago. Fanatic readers used to the slick-and-overly-polished artwork of your standard Marvel/DC/Dark Horse book might find the artwork a little off-putting at first. Trust me, it is worth your time. Give it a chance. It will grow on you and it is PERFECT for the stories being told. Go to your store and find it. Then buy it.

Miscellaneous Monday: Dec. 22, 2008 (abbreviated)

FANATIC QUIZ QUESTION OF THE WEEK

In the Summer of 1990, a title was released called  Creatures of the Id #1. 

Name the publishing company, the person serving as publisher, the creator behind the comic and the popular character (that currently has a movie optioned) that made its first appearance here?

 

 

 

ANSWER TO FANATIC QUIZ QUESTION FROM LAST WEEK

The comic executive whose, “resume includes jobs at Eclipse, Dark Horse, Wildstorm and Todd McFarlane Entertainment” is, of course, the talented Ted Adams at IDW Publishing. He along with four partners founded IDW (Idea & Design Works) to be a creative services company in 1999. Under Ted’s guidance and with the help of a smart and creative staff, IDW has grown to a company with 20 full-time employees and 150+ freelancers. In 2007, Adams negotiated the sale of a majority interest in IDW to IDT’s Internet Mobile Group. IDW has been named ‘Publisher of the Year’ in 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2008 by Diamond Comic Distributors. Fanatic comic readers probably know IDW best for either their many licensed properties (like Transformers, Star Trek or G.I. Joe) or for well-received originals (like 30 Days of Night).

Your fanatic Christmas gift: Mike Ploog monster action!

Mike Ploog and Christmas will always be connected in my mind. Keep reading to understand the three reasons why.

Classic Ploog: Werewolf by Night #14

Is there anything cooler than a Mike Ploog-drawn monster? I think not. You can probably make a case that there are many things JUST AS COOL, but for something to be MORE COOL is close to impossible. During his long-ago tenure at Marvel Comics, Mike Ploog got a chance to draw a lot of monsters: Man-thing, Werewolf by Night, Ghost Rider and Frankenstein most prominently. For me, when Dracula crossed-over with Werewolf by Night, it was HORROR COMIC HEAVEN.

My friends all find it ironic that my blog (to date)  has primarily been about things that I remember from my careeer in comics. The irony? Well … frankly … I’m infamous for having a pretty terrible, sketchy, random-access memory. So it is at this point that I have to admit I don’t remember the details of how Mike Ploog came to work on an issue of the Ultraverse title SLUDGE with writer Steve Gerber. No one is really surprised.

Dale Keown: “ASK THE DWO” Answers

Another great question for ASK THE DWO this week, this one focusing on Dale Keown and Aircel Comics.

PATRICK asks:

Aircel's SAMURAI #1 (1986)

Dave. I was going through some original artwork and I fell across some original Dragonforce Dale Keown pages, wondered what ever happened to Aircel Comics out of Canada and a wikipedia search or two later and read that Mailibu Comics were gained the Aircel titles through some financial troubles with Barry Blair. What can you tell me about the Aircel books? Dragonforce/Dale Keown (at the time) was one of the main reasons that I wanted to become a comic illustrator. Do you think Samauri or any of those titles will ever see daylight again?

DWO answers:

Mike Deodato starts with Santa Claws

I promise, this will be my last tribute to the holidays, but I didn’t want to hold this story until next year. It has been documented a few places, but most people probably don’t know that I wrote the first comic book that was illustrated by superstar artist Mike Deodato Jr.

SANTA CLAWS written by R.A. Jones & me

I’ve already mentioned that my original career choice was comic book writer, even though I’ve never written a complete comic story that was published. While my love of comics and the industry has never wavered, my time at Fantagraphics Books showed me that my talents could best be put to use on the business side instead of the creative side. 

That fact didn’t keep me from getting the itch to write occasionally. So at an editorial meeting at Malibu, I pitched my idea for a little horror story for the holidays called SANTA CLAWS. The editors liked it enough that it got a green light and I sat up nights at home coming up with a plot. Clearly a one-shot idea, it had no real hope of going to series or selling huge numbers.

Miscellaneous Monday: Dec. 29, 2008

FANATIC QUIZ QUESTION OF THE WEEK

From the following list of reasonably well-known artists, which TWO (and only two) didn’t do any work on Malibu’s ULTRAVERSE.

Norm Breyfogle, Steven Butler, John Byrne, Howard Chaykin, Joyce Chin, Dave Cockrum, Terry Dodson, Dave Dorman, Dave Gibbons, Cully Hamner, Jim Lee, Rick Leonardi, Rob Liefeld, Aaron Lopresti, Kevin Maguire, Andy Park, George Pérez, Mike Ploog, Darrick Robertson, Walter Simonson, Barry Windsor-Smith, M.C. Wyman.

ANSWER TO FANATIC QUIZ QUESTION FROM LAST WEEK

Creatures of the Id #1 was published in the summer of 1990 by Gary Reed at Caliber Press. The book was the creation of Michael Allred and featured the first appearance of Madman (as Frank Einstein). You can find a brief (?) history of Caliber Comics if you…

CLICK HERE

 

FANATIC BLOG OF THE WEEK

Year-end interview with ComicNews.info

Before I get to the meat of the post today, let me take a brief, but unavoidable digression. 

Go ahead, click on the picture and you’ll see what it is and what it has to do with being a funny book fanatic. Go ahead. Click away. I’ll wait until you see it. I’ve got no comment here, except to say a quick “thank you” to fellow fanatic and good guy John Nee (until recently a VP at DC Comics) for pointing this out through Facebook. You may as well click on it if you haven’t already, I’m not going to spoil the surprise in this text. But feel free to comment below … is this one of the signs of the apocalypse? All I can think is … WHY?

John Buscema gets some 2009 Avengers New Years love

At just a little over a month old, this fanatic blog has certainly gotten off to a great start. For those of you who enjoy the “inside baseball” stuff, we’ve had 5,971 page views since Funny Book Fanatic launched in late November. Thanks to all of you who visit and enjoy my efforts. Tell your friends. It’ll only get better from here.

John Busceman 1993

In honor of 2009, I’m going to be taking a taking a little extra time for myself. But before I go … don’t think I’ve forgotten my promise to tell the Stan Lee/John Romita Sr. story about freezing in Hawaii. I’ll get to it here in a week or so, but in the meantime there won’t be any updates on this site until the next Miscellaneous Monday (Jan. 5, 2009). So enjoy this mini-tribute to two of my favorite things about comics, John Buscema and The Mighty Avengers.

Another John Buscema gem to hold you ’til Monday

When looking for the art for the New Year’s Day post, I found this beautiful example of John Buscema’s work on the AVENGERS and I simply had to post it. TWICE AS MANY PAGES! TWICE AS MANY THRILLS.

Miscellaneous Monday: Jan. 5, 2009 Let the Fanatic New Year begin!

The holidays are officially over and most all the decorations have been taken down and stored away until next year. Time to put your New Year’s resolutions into action and find a way to work off the extra pounds from the holiday meals. Enjoy the return of Miscellaneous Monday. Hold on tight.

FANATIC QUIZ QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Chaykin's AMERICAN FLAGG! #1

Put these six series in order of first release from FIRST COMICS.

GRIMJACK    •    MARS

JON SABLE, FREELANCE

EVANGELINE

E-MAN    •    AMERICAN FLAGG!

While all of these series didn’t necessarily start their lives as part of First Comics, all of them were published by the Chicago-area publisher between 1983 and 1987. Your job this week is to put these first FIRST issues in chronological order based on the month and year they were first published by FIRST COMICS.

Stan Lee was freezing in Hawaii

There is always a disconnect that happens when you meet a famous person, especially one you hold in extremely high esteem. There is that moment when you realize that you’re not in the presence of the image/icon that you had in your head, but in the presence of the actual person. You know the old saying, “They put their pants on one leg at a time, just like everyone else.” Such was the case when I found myself in a multi-passenger van headed to a Hawaiian luau with Stan Lee, John Romita, Sr. and his wife Virginia Romita.

Does this look cold to you?

But first … a little background … 

In the late eighties and early nineties, there were a good number of comic book distributors from which comic book shops could order their products. Big, small and medium size distributors offered both competition and a little bit of choice. Often the choice of distributor a retailer used had more to do with which one had a warehouse closest to your shop. 

2nd String Character Hall of Fame – Round Two

With DC’s sorceress Zatanna winning the first round of this fanatic, unscientific and only reasonably fair competition of 2nd String Comic Book Characters, it is time to move on to the 2nd round for 2nd Stringers. The new updated voting box is in the sidebar. So now it is time to …

Blue Devil #1

MEET THE NOMINEES

BLUE DEVIL (DC hero)

Created by writers Dan Mishkin and Gary Cohn and artist Paris Cullins. First appeared in a preview story published in Fury of Firestorm #24 (June 1984). That story led directly into Blue Devil #1, also cover dated June 1984. Daniel Patrick Cassidy is a special effects wizard and stuntman hired to create and play the title character in the movie Blue Devil. To that end Cassidy creates a full-body costume with a hidden powered exoskeleton and built-in special-effects devices. When two of his co-stars accidentally free a demon named Nebiros, Cassidy uses his costume to drive the demon back, but not before being blasted with mystical energy. After the fight, Cassidy finds that the blast had permanently grafted the Blue Devil costume to his body.

Eight great JOHN ROMITA Sr. covers … plus Ask the DWO!

 

It’s that time again. Casa de Olbrich opens up its library of vast (and sometimes useless) knowledge to the masses. Sort of like “Big Block of Cheese Day” on TV’s West Wing. Here is your chance to ask me that question you’ve always wanted answered. If you’re stumped about what I might know, check out the Background page for a laundry list of my interests and experience (minus my various drinking mishaps). Just put your question in the comments section below.

And now … on with the show … pull up a bar stool for a walk down a 35-year-old memory lane.

Miscellaneous Monday: Jan. 12, 2009

No need for delay, let’s jump right into our Monday fanatical bunch o’ stuff.

Romita Sr.'s first Spidey cover (notice the Code Authority Stamp OVER the logo)

FANTATICAL QUIZ QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Okay, maybe I’ve been making these quiz questions too difficult for the average fanatic reader, so here is a slam-dunk gimme for almost all of you. From issue #39 of Amazing Spider-Man until issue #147 (a 109 issue span), John Romita Sr provided the cover art for 83% of the issues. Who was the ONLY other artist to provide Amazing Spider-Man cover art during that time? Don’t shout out the answers, put your hands down, write your answer in the comment section and maybe include a personal note about this comics legend. 

Milton Griepp, Capital City and nearly naked television

In the comics hey-day (at least for me) of the late 1980s/early 1990s there were a number of companies distributing comics. Distributing meant that these companies put out catalogs, collected orders from retailers and then shipped the new releases to the shops. As the industry grew, more and more focus was put on the “business” of the business. I’ve mentioned here before how these distributors started sponsoring get-togethers, bringing their customers and suppliers together.

Dave Scroggy, Brian Talbot, JOHN DAVIS, Bob Burden, Jeff Smith

One of the best … and always strangest … was the Capital City Trade Show in Madison, Wisconsin. Capital City Distribution was owned and operated by longtime comics professionals Milton Griepp and John Davis. They provided high quality service and had a well-deserved reputation for putting the interests of their customers first. 

Good-bye Patrick McGoohan. Good-bye SCARECROW. And thanks

 

McGoohan as Dr. Syn

It was reported today that actor Patrick McGoohan passed away. He was 80 years old. McGoohan won two Emmys for his work on the Peter Falk detective drama “Columbo,” and more recently appeared as King Edward Longshanks in the 1995 Mel Gibson film “Braveheart.”

For lovers of fantastic heroic fantasy on television, Patrick McGoohan holds a very special place. He starred in “Danger Man/Secret Agent”, he starred most famously as Number Six in the classic British series “The Prisoner,” but for me and many other funny book fanatics he’ll always be “Dr. Syn, alias the Scarecrow.”

Walt Disney thought The Scarecrow was real … plus a fact you won’t find anywhere else!

BE SURE TO READ THE WHOLE POST … I’ve saved the best for the end.

McGoohan as The Scarecrow

In my last post, I exposed myself for the Dr. Christopher Syn / Scarecrow of Romney Marsh fan that I am. Since then, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about it and talking about the subject and the star of the Disney version of the story (the best known version) starring Patrick McGoohan who passed away this past Tuesday. I even got involved in a very brief “flame” war with the guys at Appy Entertainment who defended (lamely) their fan devotion to McGoohan’s series The Prisoner. I’m actually a fan of The Prisoner, but I couldn’t admit that to them, so I’m admitting it here.

Miscellaneous Monday: Jan. 19, 2009

OUT WITH THE OLD BANNER, IN WITH THE NEW
I created this new banner as a tribute to one of my favorite comic characters, the multi-faceted and often abused Avenger, Clint “Hawkeye” Barton. Anyone visiting for the first time should know that this is not a blog about HAWKEYE. Poke around the links in this page’s sidebar and you’ll see what I mean. I’ve already created another five or six new banners to put up when I get sick of this one. 

Ultraverse: Cover Freex #2 by Ben Herrera

FANATIC QUIZ QUESTION OF THE WEEK

For all the orphaned Ultraverse fans who occasionally seek refuge with the Fanatic, here’s something you might find interesting:

What famous horror film director was almost one of the Founding Fathers of Malibu Comics’ Ultraverse?

Is it: John Carpenter, Wes Craven, Dario Argento, Charles Band, Stuart Gordon, Larry Cohen, David Cronenberg or Brian Yuzna?

The answer may surprise you…

Artist Brent Anderson, Shanna, $30 and an elevator

I had breakfast with Marv Wolfman this morning (no fanatic fear of name-dropping here) and he mentioned he was working on a project with Astro City artist Brent Anderson and it reminded me that I needed to post the following story.

Alex Ross Cover to Busiek/Anderson ASTRO CITY

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It was a San Diego hotel during Comic Con International sometime in 1989 or 1990. After a long day of pressing the flesh and manning the Malibu booth, I was exhausted, standing in a small crowd, waiting to take an elevator to my room. Then I saw him, comics veteran artist Brent Anderson approaching where I stood. Immediately the “small voice” of guilt started to nag at the back of my brain. I couldn’t avoid him any longer. I was going to have to DEAL with Brent Anderson.

To understand my dilemma, dear fanatic reader, you’re going to need some background. (Sorry, I just channeled Stan Lee’s Soapbox there for a second.)

The secret origin of Malibu Comics (part one)

As many of you are aware, I was the founding publisher of Malibu Comics. I was there for Day One and had every intention and desire to work there the rest of my life. Circumstances conspired against me (and mistakes were made) and now I write this fanatic blog.

THE WORLD MALIBU WAS BORN INTO

Malibu Comics was born during the black-and-white bust, the comic market downturn that followed the black-and-white boom. The beginning of the black-and-white boom is usually measured (people measure these things?) from the release of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 in May 1984. With an original print run of only 3,000 copies, TMNT #1 grabbed the attention and imagination of comic readers and collectors. One site I read, said the appeal to a wide range of existing comic fans was intentional: Teenage (Teen Titans), Mutant (X-men) and Ninja (Daredevil). Wikipedia claims that TMNT was a parody of Miller’s Ronin.

Miscellaneous Monday: Jan. 26, 2009

Wow … is it Miscellaneous Monday already? Time flies when you’re a funny book fanatic. First I’ve got some blatant self-plugging to do. To begin with, you may have noticed a “Vote for me” button just above my lovely picture in the sidebar. Please click it. You can vote for FUNNY BOOK FANATIC once a day. They tell me it increases my “ratings” in the blogosphere … and I’m all about competition. Next, be sure to e-mail your friends and neighbors about how cool this blog is (it is…isn’t it?) and last but not least, I’m up for any proposed link exchanges, just let me know and we’ll see what we can work out.

 

FANATIC QUIZ QUESTION OF THE WEEK

What comic book stalwart has worked ON-STAFF at all the following companies: Creation Conventions, Marvel Comics, Comico, Dark Horse, Oni Press and DC Comics? Yeah, okay, another easy one … but for those that know the answer, you already understand my ulterior motive.

Comic Book Time Capsule: January 1989

***** Apparently my abilities as a Jedi-blog-master are lacking. Due to the heavy use of graphics and the erratic use of text, this particular Fanatic post is going to look wildly different from one computer to the next. Sorry. I promise to do better next time. – DWO *****

Covers from comics released by publishers other than Marvel and DC from twenty (20) years ago today. What were you doing twenty years ago, other than buying and reading these fine examples of funny book fanaticism.

In no particular order, all were released in January 1989. (if my research hasn’t failed me again) And don’t forget to click the VOTE FOR ME button right there —–>

Malibu Comics Secret Origins (part two)

In this post, I’m going to begin to go over my personal path to becoming Publisher of Malibu Comics. Maybe others will be able to relate to my personal travails, we’ll see. But first (as they say in the trade) some housekeeping.

This is a good time to remind all readers (and there seems to be a bunch more now than there were a few weeks ago) that Funny Book Fanatic has a standing offer for readers to ask me questions.  I call it “ASK THE DWO” and in the past I’ve managed to answer some interesting questions about: comic characters with fur, the Comics Code Authority and Dale Keown’s work at Aircel Comics. If you want some tips about what you might ask me, check out the Background page.

There are also a lot of activities for fanatics visiting here, especially if you page down, reading all the cool stuff in the right hand sidebar.

     • Click the VOTE FOR ME button just above my lovely picture (by artist Matt Busch).  ——–>

NFL SuperPro Super Bowl apologies

For those of you that showed up here expecting this week’s installment of Miscellaneous Monday, I beg forgiveness. I’m blaming the big game. I’m blaming being bloated on Super Bowl food. I’m blaming spending Sunday night with my family (wow, was Big Love great tonight, or what?).

Misc. Wednesday: February 4, 2009

First, the important stuff … HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAGGIE! My daughter turns 23 years young today. Click on the picture of Maggie and Roxy below to see a picture of them together in 1994.

Two things I love (10 years later) Maggie & Roxy from 2004

Yep, my obsession with the National Football League got in the way of my fanaticism for comics, causing this modest blog to be delayed by a day or two. The last two years have featured incredibly exciting and competitive Super Bowls. Definitely a cause for celebration given how often the championship has turned into a lopsided affair. But now I’m back and Miscellaneous Monday has morphed into Miscellaneous Wednesday and if you deal with change as well as I do, you’ll probably find this a little disturbing, but I encourage you to soldier on.

Blog of the Month, more 2nd String Hall of Fame Nominees

February is here and we’ve got to move along on a few of the Fanatic on-going projects. Let’s start with our Blog of the Month nominees. 

On the Blog of the Month Nomination list were:

Comic Impact  •  Dial B for Blog

Jeff Parker’s PARKERSPACE  •  Mike Sterling’s Progressive Ruin

As I’m the only judge, I’d thought I would explain my thinking here. While Jeff’s PARKERSPACE and Comic Impact might have been able to win if the list of competitors had been different, these blogs were up against two really astonishing accomplishments in communicating the joy of comics over the internet. At the risk of insulting Mike Sterling (who still needs to add FANATIC to his bloglist for those of us living in Ventura County, California), this category could have been a hand’s down slamdunk win for Dial B for Blog. Kirk Kimball working on his Dial B blog under the pseudonym Robby Reed created something truly extraordinary. 

Miscellaneous Monday: Feb. 9, 2009

OMG! IT IS THE 45th ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST AIRING OF THE SCARECROW OF ROMNEY MARSH

This three-part Disney’s Wonderful World of Color “mini-series” changed my life. Not only because of it features probably the first historically fictional character to right wrongs in a mask and alter ego, but because I can still sing the theme song 45 years later. Check out the post HERE and HERE for more details.

Cover art by Rick Leonardi

THE FIRST IN A SERIES OF NEW FANATIC HEADERS

I’ve asked several times for fans of this fanatic website to submit new headers to replace the pictures of Clint “Hawkeye” Barton that graced the top of this page yesterday. Well, take a look at this first effort. I think it is terrific. The anonymous fan that submitted it wanted me to know that the particular comics that are featured all had special meaning to him.

These were titles that fired his imagination and drove him not just to read more about these particular characters, but to plunk down more and more money for other comic books as well. I think we all have titles like that. Someday I’ll blog about mine (some more), but for today, I’m just going to bask in the glow of this new Fanatic header and encourage others to send me their fanatic headers for use here (exactly 770 X 200 pixels).

Cover art by George Freeman

Cover art by Mike Mignola

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FANATIC QUIZ QUESTION OF THE WEEK

What do these three comic titles have in common: Jack of Hearts #1, Rocket Raccoon #1, Cloak and Dagger #1? I’d like to give a tip of my hat to old friend Steven Grant, but this particular Fanatic “what is the connection” isn’t nearly as hard as the powerful brain-teasers that he provides on his regular posts called Permanent Damage over at Comic Book Resources. I don’t read Steven’s column there as regularly as I should, but I almost always enjoy them. Grant’s one of the most interesting guys in comics, IMHO.

All three are Marvel Comics, all three are first issues in a mini-series, neither of those facts are the answer I’m looking for. What else do they have in common? Yes, they are all printed in color … try harder than that.

Malibu Comics Secret Origins (part 3)

Before we get started with this Fanatic installment of the earliest days of Malibu Comics, let me remind everyone reading this that I encourage blog reader participation. Post a comment, start a dialog, ask a question. We even have a special feature to get your questions answered called “Ask The DWO.”  My name is David W. Olbrich and so, DWO is both my initials and a nickname that I’ve used since the it was given to me by Tom Heintjes during the time we worked together at Fantagraphics Books. I’ve grown to like it. So ask me any question that you might have. I can’t guarantee the quality of the answer, but I can promise an answer.  Just label it “Ask The DWO” in some way and I’ll turn my attention to it … now on with the show.

THE FIRST TENTATIVE STEPS IN THE MALIBU SAND

Artist Gene Day, a MASTER lost much too early

Every year I go to Lake Havasu City, Arizona with my wife to visit her parents. Contrary to the stereotype, I really like and enjoy this trip. As you’re reading this, I’m driving back to my hacienda in Southern California, listening to Howard Stern on my Sirius Satellite Radio. If you’ve come expecting Miscellaneous Monday, unfortunately (for the 2nd time in three weeks) I have to apologize. My big silly fanatic Miscellaneous post won’t be ready until Wednesday. 

This page and post may take some serious time to “load” today because I’ve decided to remind everyone one of the reasons to REALLY love Marvel’s MASTER OF KUNG FU title. It had good times and it had weaker times, but one of the highlights was the emergence of inker Gene Day as a penciller of extraordinary talent and storytelling ability. Just oogle these pages … see the power … the innovation … the attention to detail … the superb panel-to-panel continuity. Gene Day died in his sleep in September 1982, he never reached his 32nd birthday. What a colossal lose.

Peter David and the picture he gave Maggie, my daughter

I don’t think that I’ve ever worked with comic writer Peter David. We know each other. We exchange greetings at conventions.  Regrettably, I’ve never had a chance to work with Peter David, which is one of the reasons that make this next story so extraordinary.

Peter David

It had to have been San Diego during Comic Con 1996 when I was having breakfast at a hotel near the convention. It was the first time that I brought my daughter Maggie to the show. She was 10 years old at the time. While Maggie has grown into a comics and “genre” fiction enthusiast and loves to go to San Diego Con, she didn’t really enjoy her first one that much. I’d always bragged how much fun I had at the show. This particular year, my wife and daughter decided to come with me … and frankly it was a little overwhelming.

Miscellaneous Thursday: Feb. 19, 2009

• CHECK OUT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST FOR A DISCUSSION ABOUT CASTING THE IRON MAN II MOVIE

• Don’t forget to click the VOTE FOR ME button just above my smiling face in the sidebar.

• Don’t forget to vote in the 2nd String Character Hall of Fame Balloting, also in the sidebar.

• And if you want to send me a new graphic to replace my header, feel free … the size is exactly 770 pixels by 200 pixels.

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BLOGGIN’ AIN’T A WALK IN THE PARK

How could I forget this ? ? ?

It was bound to happen. I’m surprised that it didn’t happen sooner. I made a whopper of a mistake. Not the kind of mistake that would make anyone mad, just the kind of mistake that makes me look stupid. In my post a few days ago, regarding Peter David, I said something about the fact that he and I had never worked together. This was not the truth, as both Mark and Kara pointed out in the comments section.

George Tuska draws the IRON MAN image I see in my head

Don’t forget that this blog features an open invitation to “ASK THE DWO.” Me, Dave, I’m the DWO. Don’t know what you might want to ask me, check out the Background page. It has been a long spell since I’ve had a really good question, so sharpen your virtual pencil and ask me something cool. I can always guarantee an answer, I just can’t guarantee an answer you’ll like.

Check out the fancy new header. A Marvel/DC mash-up from George Pérez. Looks like promo art for something, but I don’t know what. 

I’ve decided to put it up to try to usher in a new era here at Funny Book Fanatic. The new idea. Shorter posts, but put up on the blog more often. Frankly, I have no idea if it will work or not, but I’m going to try. The format of the template I’m using isn’t the greatest for what I’m trying to do, but what the heck. It is my blog and I’ll do what I wanna.

MARTIN POWELL: Robert Bloch and bloody roses

FANATIC R.S.V.P. from writer MARTIN POWELL

This is a red-letter day at Funny Book Fanatic. One of the goals I’ve had for a while is to get others in the comic business to share their “behind the scenes” stories. I’ve had a lot of nibbles, but the first comic book professional to answer my invitation is the multi-talented Martin Powell.

Scarlet in Gaslight #3 from Eternity

I’ve frankly been struggling with this introduction because if you go to Wikipedia (my usual crutch in situations like this) you’ll only find a British musician and a 19th Century baseball player from the Detroit Wolverines.

Martin Powell is very familiar to me (because as you’ll read below), he was one of our g0-to writers at Malibu Comics. He wrote at least eight different comic titles/series for Malibu. Scarlet in Gaslight (a story where Sherlock Holmes met Dracula) was nominated for a 1989 Will Eisner  Comics Industry Award (it lost to the Stan Lee/Mobius Silver Surfer mini-series). 

Blog of the Week: Feb. 24, 2009

FANATIC BLOG OF THE WEEK

Rokk’s Comic Book Revolution

In my fanatic pursuit of new blogs to qualify for Fanatic Blog of the Week, I’ve seen a lot of comic book review blogs. Generally I’m not impressed, but this is the blog exception to the rule. Rokk’s Comic Book Revolution alternates between long, involved detailed reviews and shorter shotgun reviews they call “Bunker Bulletins.” Thoughtfully illustrated and written with entertaining verve, Rokk Krinn and the other folks who post here (Shawn, Jim and Nagacore) provide qualitative evaluations along with historical perspectives and other commentary important to their readers. Books are given separate grades for story and art … both on a ten point Night Girls scale.

DR. FATE is the 2nd String (third round) winner

THE 2ND STRING CHARACTER HALL OF FAME NOMINATIONS CONTINUE

We’re close to the end of the month, so it is time to turn our attention to the not-nearly-equitable and only vaguely fair contest I’m calling the 2nd String Character Hall of Fame. I take the nominations that I get in the various comments section or sent to me via e-mail, especially on the page set aside for the contest. Then I take the names, write the names on little slips of paper and throw them into an old bright orange Tampa Bay Buccaneers stocking cap.

Blog of the Week is also the answer to last week’s quiz question

We have a lot of stuff to get to in today’s post, but before we can start our discussion of our BLOG OF THE WEEK, I need to make mention of the header for this week … and what it means.

When writing this blog, I do not assume that my fanatic readers are “plugged-in” to every nook and cranny of the comic blogosphere. So often I’ll post and/or talk about stuff that I find on the internet. Yep, you might have seen it already, but I’m betting that busy fanatics from here to Hereford, Texas may not have seen it.

Like Will Eisner Week. Did you see this one? Or did it get past you in the blasting noise that passes for information in the 21st Century? Quoting from the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund website: “The first week of March will mark the inaugural Will Eisner Week, a celebration of Will Eisner’s legacy in graphic novel literacy and free expression. A collaborative project of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, The Will & Ann Eisner Family Foundation, and a variety of comics institutions, Will Eisner Week is chaired by the Minneapolis College of Art and Design’s Assistant Professor Barbara Schulz. Will Eisner Week will be celebrated this year from March 1 to March 7, commemorating the 92nd anniversary of Eisner’s birth.

Malibu Comics Secret Origin (part 4)

In the first part of this “series” I talked about the state of the comic industry that Malibu was born into. In the second part I talked about my personal path prior to the birth of Malibu. In the third part, I talked about 1986, the year that Malibu was born and some of the things that came together at Sunrise Distribution that would be instrumental in Malibu’s success.

Kevin Nowlan's cover to one of the first AH issues that Tom and I worked on together. (issue #35: featuring The Inferior Five)

In part four, I’m going to talk mostly about Tom Mason. I’d met Tom the first day I worked at Fantagraphics Books. I had been hired to be the managing editor of Amazing Heroes magazine. That first day on the job in Connecticut, I was introduced to Tom, who was the art director for Amazing Heroes. We worked together closely. We became friends in Connecticut and when Fantagraphics Books move to Sourthern  California, both Tom and I were along for the ride (and keeping our jobs).

STARTIN’ FROM SCRATCH WITHOUT ANY SCRATCH

Robotech, Grendel featured in this week’s FANATIC Quiz Question

The other day in my fourth installment of my Secret Origins of Malibu Comics series, I posted a cover of Jonny Quest published by Comico in 1986. This is the second time that I’ve let me fanatic dedication to this great animated show of my youth hang out in random ways. There is also a Jonny Quest illustration hiding in a post about comic creator jack-of-all-trades Jeff Parker.

Posting that Dave Stevens cover got me to thinking more about Comico. So I’ve decided to make it the subject of this weeks quiz question.

 

FANATIC QUIZ QUESTION OF THE WEEK 

A few weeks ago we played this game with First Comics, now it is time to turn our attention to Comico. Look at the five covers below and then put them in the chronological order in which they were published. And just to make it easier, each one of them was published in a different year.

Elementals #1  •  Grendel #1  •  Maze Agency #1

Night and the Enemy GN  •  Robotech: The Macross Saga #2

Brevoort, Anderson, Marder and other FANATIC name dropping

Since launching FUNNY BOOK FANATIC at the end of November 2008, this blog has seen its fair share of comic book fans and comic book professionals stop by and give it a read. I work hard to make sure that readers feel like bookmarking my humble efforts here have something interesting to entertain themselves with for a few minutes.

Malibu's first release, DARK WOLF #1

I’ve always been a little bit surprised by the distance my work and efforts can travel and who can be effected. I remember during the early days of Malibu, we had a post office box instead of regular postal delivery. When I get around to part five or part six (or part seven) of the Secret Origins of Malibu Comics I’ll get around to explaining that. I remember (future Malibu Comics editor-in-chief) Chris Ulm and I were sitting at the kitchen table when (future Malibu marketing chief) Tom Mason walked in the door after a run to pick up the mail. 

The Scarlett Johansson/Black Widow School of Casting

Scarlett Johansson as Marvel Comics’ tough-as-nails, world-weary Avenger and former Russian spy The Black Widow in the Iron Man 2 movie? I don’t think so ! ! ! 

 

The guys at Marvel Studios haven’t made many mistakes in their history as movie makers. A misstep here … an Elektra there, but overall you have to admit that they have done a pretty good job.

 

S. Johansson: As dangerous as a dishrag!

Now the internet is teeming with recent news coming out of Marvel Studios. One story talks about how Marvel has adjusted their original release schedule for their upcoming slate of movies. Good move. One huge round of fanatic APPLAUSE. We’ll get to that important news after we dispatch with the more entertaining and more trivial news of the recent casting announcements for Iron Man 2.

Macross, She-Dragon and The Gene Colan Project!

If you are a regular visitor here, I’m sorry it has been so long since new material appeared. Oddly, when I quit smoking recently, it lead to me changing a lot of my routine. A changed routine meant finding a new one that included writing blog entries. This has proven to be more difficult than I anticipated. I’ll continue to post as often and thoughtfully as I can … now on with the show.

 

FANATIC QUIZ QUESTION ANSWER FROM MARCH 5

The question on the table was a challenge to put five different Comico titles in the order in which they were released. I even made it easier by choosing titles that were all released in different years. Plus I included a bonus question regarding Robotech: The Macross Saga #2. So without further ado, here are the answers.

Despite good sales, there wasn't a Macross #2.

1. Grendel #1 – released May 1983

2. Elementals #1 – released November 1984

3. Robotech: The Macross Saga #2 – released April 1985

4. Night & The Enemy GN – released November 1987

5. The Maze Agency #1 – released December 1988

The interesting piece of trivia is this: there was NO Robotech: The Macross Saga #1. The first issue of the long running series from Comico was either called Super Dimension Fortress Macross or just Macross, depending on which source material you believe. I would have used the indicia from the issue to settle the argument, but I don’t own a copy. It is interesting that a licensed title would change its name between issue #1 and issue #2.

Seth Rogen, Green Hornet, Lorna Dane & The Herculoids …yeek!

Is Seth Rogen the GREEN HORNET?

Before we get into the meat of today’s post, I’ve got a couple of things that I want to share.

First, am I the only one whose teeth begin to itch when imagining a Green Hornet movie featuring Seth Rogen as both screenwriter and lead actor? I’m not going off all “scorched earth/Scarlett Johansson” here. When I imagine the screenplay Rogen and his buddies might write, my teeth itch. When I picture Rogen in the mask and hat, standing next to Kato, my teeth itch.

I’m holding my breath a little bit on this one. The action scenes in Pineapple Express showed a great deal of promise, but can they fit into a Green Hornet context? Are there any other fanatics feeling the same way? 

Jack Kirby vs Gene Colan … really?

Really … JACK KIRBY vs GENE COLAN in some kind of legendary “silver agey” comic book artist smackdown … really … well not really. But it is an interesting thought, you have to admit. If you want to get directly to the controversy (or non-controversy if you actually apply any critical thought to it), you’ll just have to scroll down a little bit.

But first, a tiny bit of unnecessary and probably unwanted non-comics stuff…

I’M NOT TAKING MY GLOVES OR MUZZLE OFF … BUT …

If you know me in any small way, you can probably guess where I come down politically. This is not a political blog. This is also not a personal blog, a music blog or a journalistic blog. That said, don’t be surprised if I talk briefly about my life, my daughter, Jim Croce, The Kentucky Headhunters, The Dan Band, or my degree in Mass Communications from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

I don’t really see this as a left/right, blue/red issue, but an issue regarding journalistic integrity, but you be the judge.

That said, I thought that this was a piece of information worth passing along … doing my small piece of the effort. I don’t have any plans to bore you with this kind of polarizing material very often. So if you want to pitch in and help, click the picture at the right (it is a link) … and if you’ve come for a funny book fix instead … just scroll down and away you go.

MARVEL’s Black Widow, Thundra, Deathlok and more Gene Colan Project

SEND THE BLOODHOUNDS HOME … OR OUT FOR STEAK

Strap in. I’m back. If you need an explanation, that’s fine. But be careful what you ask for. I’m going to do this is the dreaded ask yourself a question and answer it format that is so annoying when you see someone do it live. It may even be more annoying when you see it in print.

Dave Olbrich (me) San Diego 2009

Am I glad that I quit smoking? Yes, of course I am.

Was it easy? No, it wasn’t easy. I used comfort food to make up the lack of nicotine, but I did it cold turkey. And I gained about 18 pounds. 

Am I glad that I started Weight Watchers about three weeks ago? Yes, I’ve lost 12 of the 18 pounds that I gained, but it completely wrecked me in ways that I didn’t expect. My mood has been really REALLY crappy. It is now very difficult to work in my office where I enjoyed my cigarettes and chocolate. 

What am I doing to turn things around? Exercise seems to help a little, releasing much needed endorphins. Time used for exercise also leaves less time for this fanatical blog.

Vixen, Quiz Question Answers and Black Widow in the shower

BACK TO BASICS … OR UPSETING MR. HEINTJES AGAIN.

What with the trifecta of nicotine withdrawal, calorie counting and excess exercise, I’ve been ignoring my responsibilities to my fanatic fan base. I’ve not made myself available as the stunning font of knowledge through the regular program we (how many of me are there?) like to call “Ask The Dwo.” Okay … okay … everyone stop laughing.

The reason that this upsets my longtime friend Tom Heintjes is two-fold. First he’s responsible for my DWO nickname (yeah, you pronounce it like it was a word … you say du-woh … it doesn’t rhyme with “two”) so he thinks he retains some control over its use. Second he disapproves of “the Dwo,” it is his opinion that my nickname should be “dwo” without the “the.”

Now that I’ve completely bored everyone who stopped by to read about funny books, let me say this to Mr. Heintjes. Get Over It.

None of this changes the goal of this humble program. Ask me a question. Any question. I’ll attempt to answer it. I can’t guarantee that you’ll like the answer. So put on your thinking caps. And if you’re stumped for ideas, you can always check out the BACKGROUND page for ideas. I’ve got an answering “Ask The DWO” post coming up next week.

Thank you Wolverine … or Hugh Jackman is the holy grail of comics

OKAY … HE’S PROMOTING A MOVIE … BUT STILL …

I’m assuming that at this point, with the X-Men Origins: Wolverine movie opening just days away, that most comic book fans have already seen the Public Service Announcement that was recorded by MOVIE STAR Hugh Jackman. If you haven’t, I’m including it here and now because there are many longtime comic book professionals that wondered (mostly in the past) if it would ever happen.  

JOE FIELD HAD TO WAIT 25 YEARS FOR THIS 

When the news broke many days ago about this video combo promoting the Wolverine movie that included a PSA for Free Comic Book Day, I got on the phone and called one of my favorite retailers, Joe Field. Joe’s store, Flyer Colors is, regrettably, one of those great comic book retail outlets that I’ve never had the good sense or good luck to actually visit.

Jackman/Wolverine Free Comic Book Day PSA: The story behind the story

In yesterday’s post, I wrote about how Concord California retailer Joe Field came up with the idea for Free Comic Book Day, a great promotional tool for the industry since 2002. I also wrote about the watershed event (IMHO) of Wolverine Hugh Jackman standing in front of a camera in Malibu California and talking about Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) and how great comic books are. 

This SATURDAY is FREE COMIC BOOK DAY! Don't forget!

Yesterday’s post also included a brief discussion about the huge amount of wasted time and wasted discussion that went into the pursuit of getting a high visibility celebrity to endorse comic books. More than one organization was formed, meetings held and organizations ultimately abandoned, all in the pursuit of an endorsement from a popular movie or music star.

When Joe Field said of the Wolverine PSA that he had waited 25 years for it to happen, he also revealed another secret that I had not heard before. Joe said, “We had three of the four actors from the Fantastic Four movie a couple of years ago, they recorded a Free Comic Book Day PSA, but something happened with the studio and the deal fell apart.”

Zac Efron and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in JONNY QUEST … or not?

Before we get to the news story (well comics/movies/animation news anyway) that has been jerking me around so bad that I’ve got whiplash, we need to cover a few housekeeping chores here first.

1. Don’t forget … if you’re reading this blog and you want me to answer a question that you might have about comic books, especially behind the scenes stories that may have occured since I went professional in 1982 … ASK! We’ve even given this special fanatic feature a name and its own logo. This is your chance to ASK THE DWO. If you’re curious about me and what I might have some intimate knowledge of … check out the BACKGROUND page.

2. Vote for me. Immediately below the “Calendar” and the “Contact the DWO” headers in the right-hand, there is a little blue box that says “Vote for me.” While I admit that I don’t know exactly what this does, apparently the slaves rowing in the galley of the internet get an extra bowl of gruel if you vote regularly.

Let the FOURTH ROUND voting for the 2nd String Character contest BEGIN!

Now that all FIVE of the 2nd String Character Hall of Fame Nominees have been introduced one-by-one, I’ve set up the voting box and you can vote for your favorite. Just check it out in the right hand side bar (you will have to scroll down past the “Saloon” and “Fanatical Hosting“). To see a lot more detail into this and all the previous nominees, check out the 2ND STRING HALL OF FAME PAGE linked above. To recap, the nominees are (alphabetically):

IRON MAN 2 update including Johansson in a Black Widow suit

SUDDENLY I’M A MUCH MORE POPULAR FANATIC
In a recent post, I discussed the amazing work done by Diamond Comic Distributors Elissa Lynch (and Leslie Jackson) as she successfully got Hugh Jackman to record a PSA promoting Free Comic Book Day and comics in general. (CLICK HERE) Thanks to links from many of the comic blogosphere’s best read sites, more people came to Funny Book Fanatic to check out the “story behind the story,” nearly four times more than on any usual day. I want to take this opportunity to thank …

1) Heidi MacDonald @ The Beat

2) Tom Spurgeon @ Comics Reporter

3) J.C. Vaughn @ Diamond’s SCOOP

4) The cool Robot 6 folks @ Comic Resources

Plus an honorable mention to the website home of Joe Field’s Flying Colors store. (Free Comic Book Day was Joe’s idea.)