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The graphic gurus over at Bronze Age Babies (which you should be reading daily, of course) were pondering a bit of Marvel Comics arcana today—who wrote those intro blurbs that started appearing atop splash pages during the mid-’70s?
Who do you think?
Yes, that’s right. Me, when I was an assistant editor back in the Bullpen.
I didn’t originate the idea—that would have been Stan Lee, who felt that new readers needed an easy entry way into the convoluted Marvel Universe—or start writing them—I’m pretty sure that would have been Roy Thomas—but I wrote enough of them that I included seven examples in a portfolio I put together after I quit my staff job and started looking for a new publishing position elsewhere. Which means that, luckily, I don’t have to rely solely on memory.
The seven I thought worthy enough to show off were those for the Black Panther, Captain Marvel, The Champions, The Inhumans, Killraven, Skull the Slayer, and the X-Men.
I guess I figured that these were enough to demonstrate my ability to digest and regurgitate Stan. I believe I did others, though after this length of time I can’t say for sure which ones they would have been.
Does that answer your question, you Bronze Age Babies, you?
I don’t think it was Roy OR the writers of the books. If I search my memory — which could be off — I’m willing to bet it was LEN who asked me to write them. And though I started on staff on June 24, 1974, I spent my first months at Marvel working on the British books, and so it would have been awhile before I touched any of the U.S. color books.
One way to figure out the answer would be to go back to the books themselves and check the exact months the blurbs first appeared. That would indicate which editor assigned me to do this, and verify whether my memory is correct. I’d go back and research the above titles, but I no longer have any comics from that period other than the ones I wrote myself.
Scott, thanks for resolving yet another Marvel mystery! Great to hear from a real live bullpenner!
Karen
I loved these. Buddy and I were talking about these just a couple days ago. Though my personal favorite was Power Man & Iron Fist. They were the original They Fight Crime.
“Luke Cage: a child of the streets… Daniel Rand: a son of the mystic city K’un-L’un. Two men from different worlds — both reborn with strength and power beyond belief! And together, no one can stop them!
Stan Lee Presents: Power Man and Iron Fist”
Doug
Scott –
That’s great information! So who edited your copy? Was it Roy, or the editors of the books themselves? I just think this was a great idea, and certainly we see it’s influence to some extent down to the present (although you can have most of what’s on the stands now).
Thanks very much for helping us out over at the Bronze Age Babies!
Best,
Doug