Tom Mason & Chris Ulm talk Malibu Comics 1993 for the SciFi Channel.

I know others feel differently, but I think Facebook is a wonderful thing. I get to keep up with relatives and friends that are scattered around the world. I find that service alone is blessing enough, but it also allows me to find articles and other stuff tucked away in the corners of the internet that I might not find on my own.

Case in point, this amazing footage when someone from SciFi Channel (before they changed the spelling of their name) sent a camera crew to the Malibu Comics offices. I don’t remember how we made this happen. I also don’t know why they came or what show contained this footage. But enjoy it anyway.

If anyone can fill in the blanks about the origins of this piece of video journalism, please post them in the comments.

There are a couple of things to note. First everyone will notice that I am completely silent through the whole thing. Trust me, I had things to say, but apparently the producers didn’t believe it was interesting enough. Plus an extra humiliation … they misspell my name.

“TOM MASON IS GOD” came to us from a piece of fan-mail to Tom’s DINOSAURS FOR HIRE comic he created.

Plus, there is a lot of talk about Malibu’s acquisition of the license for STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE.

Starring Chris Ulm and Tom Mason. Two better friends a guy couldn’t ask for. You gotta admit, Tom’s hair is epic!

Guest starring Albert Calleros, Tim Edred, Anne Chien Watkins, and Stacy Herring Saez

Thanks to Bruce McCorkindale for posting this on Facebook … so that I could re-post it here.

That’s my version of the story. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

-Dave

 

Touched by a man (I barely knew) on my birthday!

Yeah.  OK.  Calm down.  Yes it is my birthday. But no …

The comic title that I published
that “non-comics” people know

The suggestive headline is true … but it is also a joke and doesn’t mean what it seems to mean. I was trying to come up with a clever headline for this (mostly self-serving) post … and this amused me. So sue me. And please accept my apologies in advance Marty.

Facebook is a terrific tool to stay in touch, especially if you are part of community or family separated by geography. Such is my life, both personally and professionally. I live in Southern California. My family (and extended family) mostly live in the Midwest. Many others are scattered to the four winds.

Comics professionals are distributed all over the globe. When my birthday rolls around friends and acquaintances use the opportunity to check-in and say “howdy.” It is really great to hear from people I like and love on my birthday.

The ULTRAVERSE is how most comic
fans would know my work.

It is better yet, when someone you’ve only met a small number times uses your birthday as an opportunity to say something really thoughtful. So this is me sharing a private message I got from comic industry stalwart, writer supreme and all-around good guy Martin Pasko.

I fully admit this is self-serving. But I wanted to share. I did what I did in comics for a number of reasons. Let’s see how many I can name on the spur of the moment. (1) I love comics and have for nearly as long as I can remember (2) I have wanted a career in comics since my early teens (3) I went to college hoping to find a career path into comics (4) I needed a paycheck to feed my family (5) I wanted to provide for my employees as well as myself (6) I wanted to make a positive impact on the comic book industry and be “in the club” (7) I wanted creators who trusted me and worked with me to be glad that they did and (8) I wanted to do the right thing and be able to look at myself in the mirror.

Grade: B- (mostly successful, but with huge and noticeable shortcomings)

Getting this message from Martin Pasko was an amazing surprise and warmed my heart. It touched me. I wanted to say THANK YOU in the most public way at my disposal. And if I’ve violated your privacy by publishing your message to me, please forgive me.

That’s my version of the story.

The Ultraverse television commercials (enjoy!)

Featuring Larry Bagby Jr., Chris Ulm and the future former Mrs. Scott Rosenberg.

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.

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.