Comic Book Creator #34 Spring 2024 (magazine review).
Despite its cover, this edition of ‘Comic Book Creator’ features a diverse range of characters. Let’s pick some.
For starters, writer Roberto Barreiro looks at the Gold Key comics of Don Glut. I knew him more from his prolific novel range and wasn’t aware of his glutverse of titles here, so this was a real revelation that he was equally prolific here.
Back in the 1970s, I bought both ‘Superman: From the 30’s to the 70s’ and ‘Batman: From the 30’s to the 70s’ books. Jon B. Cooke introduces us to their editor, Linda Sunshine. Carmine Infantino asked E. Nelson Bridwell to select her stories. If both books had been in color, it would have been too expensive. Sunshine went on to make a career of fun books.
Cooke also has a third look at artist/writer Frank Borth’s career. Although much of his work was for the Catholic comic book ‘Treasure Chest’, he was very prolific, even after they closed. He worked on ‘Asimov’s Magazine’, ‘Cracked’ magazine, and book illustrations. Observing the samples of his work here, it is clear that he has a flair for comedy.
I do wish the interview with artist June Brigman by Darrick Patrick had been longer, but at least she’s had some coverage now.
The third section features an interview with Mike Deodata Jr., conducted by Greg Biga. He’s also a diabetic with glaucoma and gives a description of how it affects his life and affects his sight as it damaged some of his optic nerve in one eye. The press rarely discusses the impact of other body parts malfunctioning in diabetics, which could provoke thought. Seeing samples of his art here makes me want to see more of it.
Obviously, the biggie is an interview with artist/writer Dan Jurgens, running at some 33 pages, and how he made the transition and his work, mostly at DC Comics, before Marvel and some of the independents. His observation that there are fewer creators who are both writers and illustrators likely stems from the strong editorial control in today’s industry, which hinders the development of talent on both sides of the frame. However, this sentiment is likely still present in independents, who may be hesitant to delegate such power to a single individual. This is a long read, so spread it out.
There is a lot of interest here, and if you’re on a learning curve for comicbooks, they should be part of your reading habit.
GF Willmetts
September 2024
(pub: TwoMorrows Publishing. 82 page illustrated magazine. Price: $ 9.95 (US). ISSN: 2330-2437. Direct from them, you can get it for (US))
check out websites: www.TwoMorrows.com and www.TwoMorrows.com and https://twomorrows.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=98_132&products_id=1792
