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.
2nd STRING HALL OF FAME NOMINEE
It has been far, far too long since we had a round of voting in the 2nd String Character Hall of Fame voting. To make it easier on me … and easier on you dear fanatic reader … I’ll be rolling out the nominees in ROUND FOUR one by one. And this new round of nominees is going to be all-women.
Savage She-Dragon (Image hero)
First nominee in ALL WOMEN ROUND FOUR of 2nd String Character balloting
Even though she started her “life” as a villain named Sensation, Amy Belcher eventually became known as The Savage She-Dragon. She has been a regular player in Erik Larsen’s long running Image title, The Savage Dragon. After her long blonde tresses were burned off by the Dragon-Slayer, she grew a mohawk which she sports to this day. Originally a parody of She-Hulk inside a larger parody of the work of John Byrne, she proved to be popular enough that when Savage Dragon was thought to have died in issue #50, the title was retitled The Savage She-Dragon for issues #51 through #54.
I’ll keep providing new nominees in ROUND FOUR until all five have been featured. Then we’ll create a new voting box and let the fanatic balloting begin.
THE FANATIC GENE COLAN PROJECT STARTS HERE !!!
Every time I do a new blog entry from now until I stop, I’m going to feature a piece of Gene Colan artwork in an effort I’m calilng THE GENE COLAN PROJECT. I was thinking the other day. I’m a complete “mark” for the artwork of Gene Colan. I think that someone (I’m probably not the best candidate) could make a case that if you include the factors of volume of work, length of career, quality of work, versatility of work, impact on the industry, copies sold over a career and respect of peers and fans, that Gene Colan may be the comic industry’s greatest artist.
I encourage debate on this subject. Over the coming weeks and months as the Gene Colan Project moves along, I’ll try to bring his career into clearer focus both from an industry perspective and a personal perspective. In the meantime, enjoy the first piece of artwork in this fanatic tribute to the legendary Mr. Colan.
Gene Colan genius at work: TALES OF SUSPENSE #95
Iron Man looks so hot here he’s molten, Gene Colan has him both powerful and nearly melting off the page … and then you get the truly terrific Grey Gargoyle to boot.
— Dave Olbrich (DWO) Tues. March 24, 2009
Funny Book Fanatic 
Hi DWO!
My “real life” buddy Jay Leisten is inking the Captain Britain series right now, which just co-starred Dracula. I mentioned to him just the other day that Marvel has no business using the Dracula character unless Mr. Colan is drawing it.
I agree with you on this. I just reread the Ragamuffins stories, and geez. Nobody draws like that anymore, if ever. He somehow merged the power of Kirby with a kind of photo-realism. Colan is most definitely one of the all-time greats.
Thanks Richard. Glad you’re still stopping by Fanatic. I’m really looking forward to this on-going tribute to Gene Colan. Should be fun.
If memory serves correctly (which it might not), the reason for the name change on Macross was to coincide with the American cartoon name rather than the more complicated Japanese name.
I love Gene Colan — you can’t give us too much. I think my favorite non-Tomb of Dracula stuff from Mr. Colan is his Daredevil vs. Captain America fight from back in the day.
Oh, and I want to nominate the Ulm for the second-string Hall of Fame.
If you can find a picture of the Ulm in anything spandex or wearing a mask or cape, I would be happy to consider the ULM for the 2nd String Hall of Fame.
Come on, DWO–you can’t POSSIBLY be saying that Colan surpasses Kirby for output/versatility of genres/influence/sales/what have you got?
I don’t know Tom … I think the competition is a lot closer than you think. We should do something together with this. Some kind of Kirby vs Colan Smackdown. Before the world gets into an uproar, I’m long standing on my record for respect and love for Jack Kirby. It would be an interesting comparison in my opinion … although very much of the apple vs oranges variety. What do other fanatic readers have to say?
Kirby’s the King, Gene’s the Dean. Apples and Oranges. Kirby is the in your face, dynamic, cosmic storyteller. Colon is the grim, moody, down to earth storyteller.
Both are awesome.
I don’t disagree that their styles are dissimilar, but by the any of the metrics DWO himself suggested–quantity of output, professional longevity, quality, versatility, creative innovation, enduring impact on the industry and the medium, sales, and esteem within the industry–Kirby gives Colan a royal swirley (and I say this as someone who respects Colan’s work).