Episode 4: Why Steve Gerber Called Me the Most Violent Man on Earth
Release Date: 10/22/2024
Episode 36: Why Eva Marie Saint’s Death Has Me Distrusting My Comics Memories
Why Not Say What Happened?
This apologetic episode reveals why Eva Marie Saint's death at 102 caused me to reevaluate everything I've shared on this podcast so far, the hidden history of a $600,000 Green Lantern painting, the secret (to me anyway) life of one of my Marvel Comics coworkers, which Scarecrow letter I answered and which one I didn't, what my ancient vouchers have to say about the mid-'70s Jack Kirby letter column controversy, and more.
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Episode 35: How Jim Steranko Helped Me Have a 50th Anniversary Dinner
Why Not Say What Happened?
This episode wrangles with some recent comics-related thoughts, including how Jim Steranko helped me have a 50th anniversary dinner, the surprising way George Lucas secretly surprised us all, my delight over a newly discovered 1972 photo of me hanging out with Howard Chaykin, how Paul Levitz's new book about Marvel's explosive growth proves everything I always thought about my comics career was correct, deciding what to do with my guilt over the life and death of E. Nelson Bridwell, and more.
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Episode 34: My Most Memorable Captain Marvel Hate Mail
Why Not Say What Happened?
While shredding nearly 10,000 pages of my accumulated papers, I made several discoveries worth sharing, including memorable hate mail I received while writing <em>Captain Marvel</em>, multiple reasons I'm unqualified to write my own autobiography, a job application at Comico, why I refused to meet editors until after I'd already sold them stories, my unsuccessful score on a DC Comics proofreading test, four rejected <em>Tales from the Darkside</em> pitches which didn't end up published in <em>Elvira's House of Mystery</em>, and more.
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Episode 33: What I Was Thinking the Day Before I Started on Staff at Marvel
Why Not Say What Happened?
I don't have much to say this episode, but I've decided to say it anyway, sharing about the way Stan Lee saved me in a dream, what I was thinking (or not) 52 years ago today on the eve of starting my Marvel Comics staff job, the PTSD of older creators who lived through the creation of the Comics Code, why I won't be writing my autobiography, when I'll be shredding half a century of daily diaries, and more.
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Episode 32: The Fantastic Four’s Connection to The Scarecrow’s First Origin
Why Not Say What Happened?
This time around, I reminisce about what it meant to have met Gerry Conway in 1971 when I was only 16, the comic book comrades I should have known better but never gave myself the chance, my dreams of decluttering with Bernie Wrightson, the first two origin stories I thought up for The Scarecrow before the one fans got to read in 1975, and more.
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Episode 31: Why Sal Buscema Has Me Thinking of Vinnie Colletta
Why Not Say What Happened?
This time around, I dream of <em>Action Comics</em> #1, consider how the death of Sal Buscema has me thinking of Vinnie Colletta, decide Jim Salicrup will outlive us all, regret my near-miss with Jim Mooney during my honeymoon, remember the time Mike Friedrich threatened to punch me in the nose, and more.
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Episode 30: Why I Think of Artist John Tartaglione Every Day
Why Not Say What Happened?
This episode has me reminiscing about why I think of comics artist John Tartaglione every day, my dreams of Paul Anka's comic book collection and a visit from Gene Colan, my early attempts to get fired from Marvel Comics, a well-earned warning from Marv Wolfman, the puzzle of why covers to romance novels tend to feature aspirational art while comic book romance covers often lean into the problems, and more.
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Episode 29: What Steve Ditko's Family Wants You to Know
Why Not Say What Happened?
I grow a bit verklempt this time around while I rap about the Spider-Man rock album for which I made sure the band didn't miss a note, remember watching Dave Cockrum and Len Wein create<em> Giant-Size X-Men</em> #1 out of thin air, pass along the surprising truths Steve Ditko's family most wants you to know, critique the Metropolitan Opera's production of <em>The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay</em>, choke up while praising Marie Severin's posthumous induction into the Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame, walk the exhibit hall at Baltimore Comic-Con where...
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Episode 28: The Fantastic Four Panel That Solved a Childhood Mystery
Why Not Say What Happened?
In which I track down the <em>Fantastic Four</em> panel which caused me to first enter comics fandom, look back at a 1975 <em>Planet of the Apes</em> contents page where I was credited for no reason I can remember, remain confused about <em>Daredevil</em>'s Matt/Mike Murdock subterfuge, laugh at the way "Fabulous" Flo Steinberg gave The Thing a super headache, and more.
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Episode 27: Why I Should No Longer Feel Guilty About Omega the Unknown
Why Not Say What Happened?
Having survived my trip to the Seattle Worldcon, I share a few comic book dreams, learn why I should no longer feel guilty about one aspect of my <em>Omega the Unknown</em> fill-in issue, read up on how Marvel Comics artists felt during the mid-'70s about writers receiving original artwork, explain why the Comics Code Authority didn't seem to understand how to read comics, reveal the way a wolfman was responsible for me being credited on my DC Comics mystery stories, and more.
info_outlineIt's time for another trip back to when teen me strode through the Marvel Bullpen like, well, a big teenager, as I share what I remember (and what I've forgotten) about writing the Avengers, what Marvel's paying Assistant Editors these days vs. what I was paid in 1975, why Steve Gerber called me the most violent man on Earth, the way Conan caused me to write my first short story, the embarrassing cover letter I wrote at age 16 to accompany my first short story submission, how I unwittingly destroyed my comic book collection, what Dennis Etchison wrote in an acceptance letter which made me cry, and more.