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. 

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

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).

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.