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Written by reagu
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by RL Aguirre
Happy (belated) birthday to the Man of Steel! Superman first hit the US newstands on June 1, 1938 in Action Comics #1. Created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, Superman captured the hearts and imagination of mainstream America and the rest of the world.
Almost immediately, Superman impacted various early pop culture media from radio shows in the early 40s with Bud Collyer (The Adventures of Superman), film serials with Kirk Alyn (Superman 1948), and TV series with George Reeves (The Adventures of Superman 1952-1958). He also proved to be a marketable brand through sales of various merchandise that are now collectibles. Notably, these included lunch boxes, thermos, pins, bubble gum wrappers, trading cards, and toys.
Today, Superman continues to permeate mainstream media reaching out to new fans through video games, DVDs, graphic novels, and TV shows (Smallville 2001). In fact, this year is also the 30th anniversary of the well-loved classic Superman: The Movie starring the late Christoper Reeve (RIP) debutting in the big screens on
December 15, 1978.
Superman will always be the first comic book superhero. It was he who set the trends for other popular superheroes such as Batman and Spiderman to follow. He is also perhaps the most successful comic book superhero of all times. However, in the year when adoring comic book fans are seeing many of their superheroes on screen (Iron Man, Batman, Hulk, Punisher, and Hellboy), why is it that the landmark 70th birthday of Superman is largely ignored?
Superman Resources:
Images of the first Superman comic book, Action Comics #1, is available online here.
Action Comics No 1 in the news:
"...Action Comics No. 1, which introduced Superman in 1938, is the top
catch in collectible comics, commanding more than $350,000 in mint
condition." CBS News, Big Bucks in Collectible Comics, August 2003.
Quotes referencing Superman (from Brainyquote.com)
- "Superman don't need no seat belt." -- Muhammad Ali, legendary heavy weight boxer
- "I thought I was bulletproof or Superman there for a while. I thought I'd never run out of nerve. Never." -- Evel Knievel, legendary stunt cyclist
- "A lot of people ask me when I do a stunt, 'Jackie, are you scared?' Of course I'm scared. I'm not Superman." -- Jackie Chan, action star known for performing his own stunts
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Written by reagu
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Blake Bell was my guest for this episode, and it was indeed a pleasure talking to him about a mutual, favorite artist, Steve Ditko. Blake's new book, Strange and Stranger: The World of Steve Ditko is published by Fantagraphics and he shares with us the goals of the book and talks about the art of Ditko. The book is available for pre-order on Amazon.com. His first book,"I Have to Live With This Guy!" was published by TwoMorrows in 2002. Blake has been operating his Steve Ditko website for over 10 years. Steve Ditko's 50-plus year career includes his co-creation of Spider-Man with Stan Lee, and his other Marvel signature creation, Dr. Strange. His most uniquely personal work has to be the Objectivist hero, Mr. A. While Steve has to be amongst the most private persons around, this hour-long interview provides some interesting facts about the career of Mr. Ditko. Sitting in on the interview for the hour was my nephew Christian. In part three I talk about an upcoming group art show I'll be exhibiting in, and I conduct an inpromptu interview with my nephew! Javier
PODCAST Blake Bell pt1
- Besides Amazon, the book is also available from Fantagraphics
- LA Times Book Review
- His first exposure to Steve Ditko comic art.
- on reading Spiderman as a kid
- About early Steve Ditko
- Early work with Stan Lee, pre-1962
- How The Marvel Method (Wikipedia) works as the creative comic book process in the creation of Spider-Man: Steve Ditko's contribution, Stan Lee's contribution.
- Advantage of The Marvel Method
- Disadvantage of The Marvel Method - how are credits to the work given.
- On the foreword he wrote for the book, Marvel Visionaries: Steve Ditko, regarding Dr. Strange.
- On the Dr. Strange movie scheduled for 2010.
- More on Steve Ditko and Dr. Strange.
- Dr. Strange as a favorite among hippies and the counter-culture movement.
 PODCAST Blake Bell pt2
- What happens after Steve Ditko left Marvel?
- On Ditko's work with Robin Snyder and self-publishing.
- On how Ditko selected his projects with aversion to anti-heroes.
- On Steve Ditko's return to Marvel Comics in the late 70's
- Ditko's recent books and upcoming works embodying objectivism
- On the documentary, In Search of Steve Ditko
- Javier remembers one of Blake Bell's Steve Ditko panels at San Diego Comic-Con a few years ago.
- Recent and upcoming books containing Steve Ditko works
- On the anonymous donation of the entire original artwork of Ditko-drawn issue of Amazing Fantasy #15.
- Blake Bell's agenda for 2008 San Diego Comic-Con
- Blake Bell's future books for 2009
PODCAST Cartoonistas
- Special bonus, surprise interview with Christian, Javier's nephew, himself an artist.
- On the upcoming The San Gabriel Valley Cartoonistas Group Art Show, Saturday July 5th from 7-10PM. Show runs month long until August 3, 2008.
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, is scheduled for release on July 21, 2008. It is available for pre-order on Amazon.com.
Based on the comic book by your PCBR host, Javier Hernandez.