Since I’ll be spending the day tomorrow over in Bethesda at SPX, the Small Press Expo, where I’ll wander a dealers’ room filled with minicomics and other alternative publications, I figured—why not show off some of my own early comics fanzines?

Below are three covers of Call It … Fate, which I published back in 1971. Well, to be honest, all I can be sure of is that I published one of them back in 1971, because the only printed issue I still own a copy of is the one on the left with the green cover, which is the second issue. I don’t seem to own a copy of the first issue any more, and as for those other two covers, all I have are the originals, each marked #3.

I have no memory whatsoever as to what that was about! Was I trying to do a split-run with two different covers? Had I intended one for the third issue and the other for the fourth? Whatever the truth of the matter, it’s lost to me now. (And if you own a copy of the first or third issue, please feel free to surprise me!)

The artwork for the first two covers is by Evan Graber, and the third is by Doron Ben-Ami. I have no idea what’s up with Evan, as I haven’t spoken to him in 30 years, but thanks to facebook, I’ve caught up with Doron, and as you can see, he kept with it and has turned into quite a talented artist.

I’m sure that everything I see tomorrow will put whatever I was involved with to shame. (What were we then? 15?) But looking ahead to the event does bring back memories of my own minicomics, so I figured I’d put up a small taste anyway. When I have the time, I’ll upload some of the interior pages so you’ll be able to see my earliest comic-book writing.

And when I do, we’ll both have to try not to wince.