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.

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).

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.

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.

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.