Alter Ego #81 October 2008 (magazine review).
This ‘Alter Ego’ from 2008 is a mix of horror and Man-Thing, and, surprisingly, has a lot more page art than usual. While the ‘Web of Horror’ magazine was short-lived, it attracted a number of up-and-coming talents such as Berni Wrightson, Mike Kaluta, Jeff Jones, and Bruce Jones, who transitioned from art to storywriting as their careers began. I’m uncertain about the accessibility of the individual issues, but my online research revealed the release of the entire book in June 2024. It looks like I’ll be investigating.
George Khoury interviews Roy Thomas about the creation of Man-Thing, named by Stan Lee, and why he didn’t like the name, which is too close to Ben Grimm’s alter-ego. From the Later, TwoMorrows book about the swamp creatures, we know that many of them considered the Heap to be the prototype, but that’s a story for another time. Thomas’ two pages of plot for the first Man-Thing story are particularly interesting. He also explains his trepidation in ringing up Ted Sturgeon to translate one of his stories into ‘It!’ in Supernatural Thrillers # 1, and finds him easygoing.
If you thought synergy was working above, it was a bigger surprise when I pulled this issue out of the pile because it has an interview with Everett Raymond Kinstler (1926-2019) about his early career in comic books. Upon reviewing the checklist, it was evident that Kinstler collaborated with numerous publishers during his transition into paperback covers and later portraiture. He also emphasized the importance of receiving credit for his original work, a point that some publishers overlooked. As he proved with his book covers, his art sold, so why shouldn’t his name be there? After reading this extensive interview, it became clear that he was a well-liked individual who got along well with many people, a trait that undoubtedly contributed to his success with the clients he painted later in his career.
I can’t recall the caveman strip ‘Alley Oop’ ever making it to British shores, despite claims to the contrary.
Michael T. Gilbert examines the Bob Powell version of ‘The Shadow’ and notes the artist’s need to improve the art, which he did.
Oddly, for the Fawcett Collector, Zonkh Lequidre has a look at Marvel’s Captain Marvel. When his nega-bands gave his three hours in our reality care of Rick Jones, he swapped with obvious similarities to another Captain Marvel but only similarities.
It’s quite strange, but, at least in the UK, obtaining back copies of ‘Alter Ego’ is significantly easier than ‘Back Issue.’
GF Willmetts
August 2024
(pub: TwoMorrows Publishing. 100 page illustrated magazine. Price: $10.95 (US). ISSN: 1932-6890. Direct from them, you can get it digitally for $ 4.99 (US))
check out websites: www.TwoMorrows.com and https://twomorrows.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=98_55&products_id=728
