It’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.

I hope you enjoy my meandering!

I kick off Episode 3 by sharing a regret about Episode 2, which leads me to rattle off a list of regrets about my early days in comics, including being forbidden to attend what should have been my first convention, the questions I never thought to ask the giants on whose shoulders I stood, the missing paperwork which could have taught me lessons about my past, and the immaturity which got me removed from writing Captain Marvel — as well as why I’m fine if I end up being forgotten.

And here’s the photo in which I’d have appeared if only my parents had allowed it!

I posted a second episode of Why Not Say What Happened?, and this time around, my upcoming Guest of Honor appearance at next year’s StokerCon causes me ramble about the night in 2004 Joyce Carol Oates, Stephen King, George Saunders, and I were all up in the same Bram Stoker Awards category (and all lost), how I used my cousin Herb Edelman to break the ice when chatting with Hollywood stars such as John Astin and Jeff Bridges, why I dragged a fan kicking and screaming from a 1975 comic book convention (which I mistakenly refer to as 1976) while wearing face makeup painted on me by Jim Starlin, and more.

Plus I explain the meaning of these two photos from the 1976 Comic Art Convention!

The first one’s me. But you can tell that by now, even with the intervening 48 years, right?

And the second features Bernie Wrightson, Howard Chaykin, Jim Starlin, Steve Gerber, and Mary Skrenes.

If you want to know why we’re all dressed that way,. there’s only one way to find out.

Last week, I had a dream … and it led me to launch a new podcast. This one will allow me to talk more about myself, which I try my best not to do during episodes of Eating the Fantastic, since I believe on that show, the guests should come first.

If you have any questions, or it there’s anything you’d like me to chat about from my multiple careers in science fiction, comics, horror, etc., let me know!