Back Issue #13 December 2005 (magazine review).
I recently had the good fortune to obtain the 13th issue of ‘Back Issue’. Although its cover, which is dedicated to romance comics, may not immediately spark your interest, the feature on kung fu comics and E-Man should capture your attention. The issue includes an interview by Spencer Beck with artist Nick Cardy, discussing his transition from continuity art to becoming DC Comics’ cover artist, crafting approximately 500 covers in the process.
Interestingly, Cardy expressed a preference for non-superhero covers as they offered greater scope for experimentation. He frequently created covers for romance titles, a testament to his well-deserved reputation for drawing beautiful women. The insight into Cardy’s subsequent move to Hollywood to design cinema posters is particularly enlightening, revealing disparities in compensation and offering anecdotes about his work, which oscillated between parody and realism.
This issue features two articles on romance comics, with John Lustig focusing on DC Comics and Jerry Boyd on Marvel Comics. There was a time when romance titles, catering primarily to a female readership, outsold superhero titles. This trend faded as women sought romantic content elsewhere, with the sustainability and loss of this audience being a point of contention due to repetitive plotlines.
Dan Johnson offers an analysis of Will Eisner’s graphic novel ‘A Contract With God’, providing selected samples. Though I’ve intentionally avoided this particular work of Eisner’s due to its significant Jewish content, which I wasn’t sure I would fully appreciate, seeing three panels depicting a man’s reaction to finding his deceased dog was moving, prompting me to reconsider my stance.
An interview with writer Nick Cuti and artist Joe Staton sheds light on their 2005 creation, E-Man, a character unseen by the new generation of comic book readers for 30 years. Interestingly, I was unaware that E-Man’s appearance was modeled after actor Roger Moore—a revelation evident through the character’s signature raised eyebrow. Years ago, during my active comic book days, I had the opportunity to meet Joe and his wife at a comic convention, and I invited them to a quiet café where they could relax and enjoy a snack. While there, Joe completed some sketches, including one of Phoenix for me, which I requested out of curiosity regarding his interpretation of the X-Men. At that time, Charlton comics were scarce, so I only possessed one ‘E-Man’ issue, later acquiring others.
The featured interview is illuminating, particularly concerning the supporting cast; however, I must admit, I have never heard of Arnold Stang.
The ‘Rough Stuff’ section, significantly extended in this issue, encompasses 11 pages of artwork from renowned artists like Neal Adams, Gene Colan, and Frank Miller, showcasing pencil drafts for covers and interior pages.
Dewey Cassell’s article on comic book letters pages provides insight into how these pages fostered fan interaction with beloved comics. An analysis of Marvel’s 1974 letters reveals not mere fan adoration, but often intellectual discussions. Although the selection process for these letters might perpetuate certain types of correspondence, the importance of this fan interaction should not be underestimated, even today.
Daniel Best conducts an interview with artist/writers Ross Andru and Mike Esposito regarding their independent 1972 magazine ‘Up Your Nose And Out Your Ear’. The duo recalls an unfortunate oversight that led to the return of their first issue: they had unwittingly included a character named Joe Snow, unintentionally invoking drug connotations. In retrospect, it is surprising they didn’t attempt to recuperate their losses through the underground magazine market of the time.
Interestingly, editor Michael Eury’s ‘Aurora Comic Strips’ piece, which examines the contents of model boxes, is rich in illustrations but sparse in text. I owned the Spider-Man model kit as a child but struggle to recall if it included a small comic book, particularly in the UK.
Tom Stewart’s examination of kung fu comic books is more of an overview of various titles rather than an in-depth analysis of specific comics, although more detailed examinations followed later.
In contrast to later releases, the early ‘Back Issues’ are somewhat raw, as noted in the letters column. The editors had an abundance of material to consider, making the selection process challenging. Despite this, these early issues still possess an undeniable appeal for fans.
October 2023
(pub: TwoMorrows Publishing. 82 page illustrated magazine. Price: $10.95 (US). ISSN: 1932-6904. Direct from them, you can get it for digitally for $ 4.99 (US))
check out websites: www.TwoMorrows.com and https://twomorrows.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=98_54&products_id=339
