This time around, I dream of Action Comics #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.

You can eavesdrop on all those memories via the embed below or download them at the site of your choice.

Here are a few images related to a couple of the topics I mention this episode —

What I looked like the honeymoon weekend
I failed to meet Jim Mooney

Jim Mooney’s splash page for Omega the Unknown #7 (March 1997)

Gerry Conway’s thoughts on our first meeting
with art by Alan Weiss

Don Heck draws my Supergirl
from Superman Family #194 (April 1979)

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.

You can eavesdrop on all those memories via the embed below or download them at the site of your choice.

Here are a couple of images related to a couple of the topics I touched on during the episode —

Charlton Comics Lettering
a credit for A. Machine from Blue Beetle #2, Aug 1967

John Tartaglione art
from Love Tales #73, May 1957

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 Giant-Size X-Men #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 The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, 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 only a single item of comics memorabilia tempted me, and more.

You can eavesdrop on all those memories via the embed below or download them at the site of your choice.

Here are some images related to some of the topics you’ll hear me touching on during the episode —

Stan Lee sells Spider-Man: Rock Reflections of a Super-Hero

My autographed copy of that album

Praising Marie Severin at the Society of Illustrators

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In which I track down the Fantastic Four panel which caused me to first enter comics fandom, look back at a 1975 Planet of the Apes contents page where I was credited for no reason I can remember, remain confused about Daredevil‘s Matt/Mike Murdock subterfuge, laugh at the way “Fabulous” Flo Steinberg gave The Thing a super headache, and more.

You can eavesdrop on all those memories via the embed below or download them at the site of your choice.

Here are several images related to some of the topics you’ll hear me touching on during the episode —

Bob Larkin’s cover to Planet of the Apes #4

Planet of the Apes #4 Table of Contents

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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 Omega the Unknown 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 mystery stories, and more.

You can eavesdrop on all those memories via the embed below or download them at the site of your choice.

Here are several images related to some of the topics I touched on during the episode —

My guilt-inducing Omega the Unknown panels
from issue #7 (March 1977)

The Omega the Unknown panel which assuaged that guilt
from issue #4 (September 1976)

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Rereading my mid-’70s run of Captain Marvel teaches me why I should never have been writing comics in the first place — but it also causes me to reminisce about how I rescued Rick Jones from the Negative Zone, the way the success of Crazy Rich Asians caused Captain Marvel reshoots, the travesty of the Teen Brigade’s return, George Tuska’s unseen Wonder Man, why I believe in back-shadowing, not foreshadowing, and more.

You can eavesdrop on all those memories via the embed below or download them at the site of your choice.

Here are several images which illustrate some of the topics I touched on during the episode —

What AI got wrong about me and Stan Lee

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Tragic events and happy anniversaries cause me to reminisce about the convention where I last saw Jim Shooter, how my immaturity cost me my Captain Marvel gig, my sudden realization DC Editor Mort Weisinger could have had a connection to my quitting comics, the time I almost ate Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel’s hair, how the Dreaded Deadline Doom discolored original artwork, my continuing regrets over accepting an assignment to write an issue of Omega the Unknown, and more.

You can eavesdrop on all those memories via the embed below or download them at the site of your choice.

Here are several images to illuminate the topics I touched on during the episode —

The day I went skydiving with Jim Shooter in 1976

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After three conventions in four weekends, I finally catch my breath to celebrate several important personal comic book anniversaries, sort through Marie Severin’s classic covers, realize my discovery of horror comics was topsy-turvy, fail to answer a question about how to break into comics, remember Stan Lee’s fear of the word “horror,” appreciate the increased respect professional writing organizations are now paying comics, look back at the day Jim Shooter stopped sharing original art with writers, wrestle with the morality of my original art collection, and more.

You can eavesdrop on all those memories via the embed below or download them at the site of your choice.

Here are several images to illuminate the topics I touched on during the episode —

Chatting with Joyce Carol Oates at Stokercon

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Join me and Neil Ottenstein for a rambling panel about Howard the Duck in which I share the Marvel Comics chaos which caused me to be hired there in 1974, my regrets over having written an issue of Omega the Unknown, my ethical queasiness about owning original art, what it means when I say I knew Stan Lee before he had hair, my terrifying Bullpen encounters with “Jumbo” John Verpoorten, why Howard the Duck was the Silver Surfer of the ’70s, my Times Square street theater with Steve Gerber, the time Howard the Duck had to be hatched instead of laid, how immaturity cost me Captain Marvel, the only time I ever saw Stan Lee get flustered, and more.

You can eavesdrop on all those memories via the embed below or download them at the site of your choice.

Here are several images relating to some of the topics I touched on during the episode —

The Omega the Unknown panels I regret writing

How the Comics Code Authority censored my Omega the Unknown panel
with more info here

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This time around, I grow anxious over a dream discovery of long-lost original comic book artwork, realize I was wrong about a certain Alan Moore/Frank Miller memory, contemplate the difficulty of condensing the life of Marie Severin into a mere 1,200 words, share the meager remains of what was once a massive comic book collection, remember there’s an issue of Fantastic Four I need to track down to solve an early fannish mystery, rededicate myself to Marie Kondo-ing my creative life, and more.

You can eavesdrop on all those memories via the embed below or download them at the site of your choice.

Here are several images to enrich your listening experience —

My recent Tales from the Darkside residuals

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