Russ Heath's comic strip about being ripped off by pop artist Roy Lichtenstein

It's no secret among comic book fans that pop artist Roy Lichtenstein frequently copied the works of real cartoonists for his famed paintings.

One of those cartoonists was Russ Heath, who a couple years back, created an autobiographical comic strip about the experiences.

Over the past couple week, the strip has been shared widely online. Robot 6 has some background details on it:
...the comic strip (colored and lettered by Darwyn Cooke) was initially published in May 2012, in IDW’s Hero Comics 2012. (In fact, ROBOT 6 ran the comic that month.) Also, the Lichtenstein work cited in the comic, 1963’s “Whaam!,” was actually based on a panel by Irv Novick in 1962’s All-American Men of War #89, published by DC Comics — Lichtenstein lifted from Heath in 1962’s “Blam,” with a panel also from All-American Men of War #89. Same issue, different artists.
Here's the strip. The Heroes Initiative is a program that helps comics creators in need.

And here's a look at Lichtenstein's painting (bottom) and the original comic book art (top):


Will Eisner, and more, draw Superman

The Golden Age, today, shares a gallery of Superman pin-ups by famed comics artists.

Originally published in Superman #400 in 1984, the gallery includes artwork by Will Eisner, Jack Davis, Steve Ditko, Jim Steranko and many more.

Here's Eisner's contribution:



New book celebrates paperback art of Robert McGinnis

Out this week, "The Art of Robert E. McGinnis" showcases the prolific artist's many paperback covers.

Known for his sultry females, McGinnis provided cover art for numerous books, including the hard-boiled Mike Shayne series, the Perry Mason series, and numerous movie posters, including several for the James Bond series, "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and many more. Check out a few examples below.

You can see more of McGinnis work here.





New Yoe book looks at African American comics

Out in Feburary:
IDW and Yoe Books are proud to announce "The Untold History of Black Comic Books," brought to you by Professor William H. Foster III, a leading authority on the history of Black cartoonists and comics, and fellow comic book historian Craig Yoe.

This groundbreaking collection in both scope and detail, traces the changing image of African-Americans in comic books from the 1940s right up to the present day. Perfect for fans and comic scholars alike, it includes nearly 200 pages of rarely seen comic book stories never reprinted before. There has never been a book with this incredible and fascinating cultural scope and is truly not to be missed.

“This book is important to me on several levels,” said Professor Foster. “It is not just the culmination of years of research. It is the latest chapter in my efforts to illuminate the forgotten corners of comic book history. Despite the fact that I have been a fan, collector, and historian for comics for many years, I still meet people in and out of the comic industry who say they have never seen, or heard of Black comic books. Incidents like that used to depress me. Nowadays I just smile and say, ‘Well, let me tell you a story…’”

 
 The Untold History of Black Comic Books

How Marvel's Ultron upped the ante on comic book evil

Vox, today, has an interesting piece today looking at how Roy Thomas' Ultron introduced a new level of more sophisticated, more malicious evil into comic books.

The character is the big bad in the upcoming second Avengers film.

Though we're introduced to Ultron in the "Masters of Evil" arc, we don't find out his origin until four issues later in Avengers no. 58. Hank Pym, a.k.a. Ant-Man, is Ultron's creator — and he didn't even know it.
Pym was one of Marvel's most troubled superheroes. His powers — changing his size — weren't as flashy as Thor's or Iron Man's. And his intelligence wasn't as revered as Reed Richards's. He was the Ringo of the Avengers.
"His history was largely a litany of failure, always changing guises and switching back and forth from research to hero-ing because he wasn't succeeding at either," Jim Shooter, a former editor-in-chief at Marvel wrote on his site, explaining Pym's shortcomings. "He was never the Avenger who saved the day at the end and usually the first knocked out or captured."
Ultron's origin was another indication that Marvel was changing the way it thought of bad guys and the importance of where evil comes from. Marvel wanted to make it clear that villains' beginnings mattered and that it benefits storytelling and superheroes when a story's antagonist has nuance and depth.

Today's best picture ever: Keith Moon and Iggy Pop


Pop artifacts: Vintage Batman buttons







Marvel Comics honors Jack Kirby on Veterans Day

A nice indication of improving relations between Marvel Comics and the family of cartoonist Jack Kirby: Marvel posted a tribute yesterday honoring Kirby's military service during World War II.

Kirby co-created most of Marvel's hallmark characters - Captain America, Thor, Fantastic Four, Hulk, S.H.I.E.L.D and many others. Recently, Marvel made a legal settlement with Kirby's estate - terms undisclosed - and has started listing Kirby as a co-creator with Stan Lee in many of its comics.

The Veterans Day tribute is a nice touch, too, and has some quotes from Kirby's son, Neal, about the Jack's eventful Army days.

In mid-1944, Kirby and others again got reassigned, this time to serve as infantry in Europe. Following training at Camp Stewart, he reported to the 11th Infantry Regiment, Company F. As part of General George S. Patton’s Third Army, Kirby and his unit quickly became part of the Lorraine Campaign in France.
Kirby took part in the crossing of the Moselle River at Dornot on September 8, 1944. Paddling themselves across the river in tiny assault boats while under fire from German troops on the other side, the battalion established a small beachhead where they were met by the 37th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment. Holding a thin line in the woods, the men of the 2nd Battalion held for days.
Neal Kirby remembers one harrowing story, when a tank was charging down on his father’s foxhole. Sure to be run over by the massive tank, “the guy next to him stood up and just fired a round right through the drivers slit and the tank stops dead. It’s one of those one in a billion shots,” that saved Jack Kirby and others.


Today's best picture ever: Marilyn Monroe


Pop artifacts: Vintage Batman booties



Video find: The Jackson Five performs "Dancing Machine"


Pop artifact: Captain America Sentinels of Liberty membership kit




Today's best picture ever: Jonathan Harris



Pop artifacts: Vintage Batman and Robin bookends



New comics Nov. 12, 2014: Batman Adventures: Avengers Epic; Haunted Horror; Art of Robert McGinnis; Big Hero 6; Wonder Woman; Mickey Mouse strips; Autobiographical Comics; more

Click the links to order discounted items from Amazon.

Batman Adventures Vol. 1
A special all-ages Batman collection, this graphic novel collects the serialized adventures from the classic Batman: The Animated Series cartoon show! From writer Kelley Puckett (BATMAN: NO MAN'S LAND, BATGIRL), these tales will connect with Dark Knight fans from 5 to 75!

Haunted Horror: Comics Your Mother Warned You About
Back from the opened grave are more masterpieces of the macabre from the horror comics of the 1950s. Genius horror artists of the known, such as Jack Cole, Bob Powell, Steve Ditko, and the unknown variety poured their tortured souls into these comics. The best and rarest stories have been chosen with the help of top horror comic collectors, all lovingly restored and presented in full-creepy color. You will be thrilled, chilled, and maybe even a little sickened by the over-the-top ghouls and gore in this latest addition to the Chilling Archives of Horror!

Rocky & Bullwinkle Classics Volume 3: Mastermind Moose
The earliest comic book adventures of America's favorite moose and squirrel are collected here in Bullwinkle Classics. Presenting remastered stories from Gold Key comics #9-12, enjoy classic moose-adventures like "Mastermind Moonse," "Hold The Mustard," and many more. Includes tales starring Peabody and Sherman, Dudley Do-Right, and the whole gang.

Gathering together to face Loki, Marvel's greatest heroes - Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Ant-Man and the Wasp - formed comics' greatest team: the Avengers! Soon after, they were joined by Captain America and there was no doubt, these were Earth's Mightiest Heroes! But Marvel heroes don't just battle villains, they live, breathe, argue...and even fall out. And in an innovati ve twist, Stan Lee eventually chose to have those original Avengers depart, leaving Captain America to carry on!

COLLECTING: AVENGERS (1963) 1-20 (AVENGERS EPIC COLLECTION VOL. 1)

Decades before Jurassic Park, Doc Dustibones brings Mickey to Cave-Man Island—a lost world where fossil monsters survive alive! From stampeding brontosaurs to saber-tooth tigers, all of Goofy’s least favorite Stone Age scares are here... and Dustibones is building a blimp to carry them to America! What could possibly go wrong? Floyd Gottfredson produced a canon of legendary, rip-roaring tales starring Mickey as a daring, two-fisted hero—in a world-famous series of legendary adventures! Lost in Lands of Long Ago also includes several other stories and more than 30 pages of prehistoric extras! You’ll enjoy rare behind-the-scenes art, vintage publicity material, and fascinating commentary by a clan of Disney cave bears. Rediscover the wild, unforgettable personality behind the icon: Floyd Gottfredson’s Mickey Mouse. Partial color

Walt Disney Animation Studios' Big Hero 6 is the story of Hiro Hamada, a brilliant robotics prodigy who must foil a criminal plot that threatens to destroy the fast-paced, high-tech city of San Fransokyo. This new title in our popular The Art of series, published to coincide with the movie's U.S. release, features concept art from the film's creation—including sketches, storyboards, maquette sculpts, colorscripts, and much more—illuminated by quotes and interviews with the film's creators. Fans will love the behind-the-scenes insights into Disney's newest action comedy adventure.

Robert E. McGinnis began his career in 1947 as a cartoonist, and produced his first cover illustrations for 1956 issues of the magazines True Detective and Master Detective. Then in 1958, he painted his first paperback book cover, and from that day forward his work was in demand.
The emergence of the “McGinnis Woman”—long-legged, intelligent, alluring, and enigmatic—established him as the go-to artist for detective novels. His work appeared on Mike Shayne titles and the Perry Mason series, and he produced 100 paintings for the Carter Brown adventures. Yet McGinnis became famous for his work in other genres as well: espionage, romance, historicals, gothics, and Westerns. 
McGinnis’s first major magazine assignments were for The Saturday Evening Post, and his work has graced the pages of Cosmopolitan, National Geographic, Good Housekeeping, Guideposts, and others. McGinnis women frequently cropped up in the men’s magazines of the ’60s and ’70s.
His first movie poster was for Breakfast at Tiffany’s, with an iconic rendering of Audrey Hepburn. Almost instantly, his poster artwork could be seen everywhere—in theaters, on billboards, in newspapers, and even on soundtrack albums. His work for Hollywood became a who’s-who, with posters for James Bond, The Odd Couple, Woody Allen, The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes, and many more.
Some of his most ambitious works have been his gallery paintings, often depicting stunning American landscapes, vast Western vistas, and of course, beautiful women. The Art of Robert E. McGinnis collection reveals the full scope and beauty of the work of a true American master—one whose legacy continues today.

A troubled childhood in Iran. Living with a disability. Grieving for a dead child. Over the last forty years the comic book has become an increasingly popular way of telling personal stories of considerable complexity and depth.

In Autobiographical Comics: Life Writing in Pictures, Elisabeth El Refaie offers a long overdue assessment of the key conventions, formal properties, and narrative patterns of this fascinating genre. The book considers eighty-five works of North American and European provenance, works that cover a broad range of subject matters and employ many different artistic styles.

Drawing on concepts from several disciplinary fields--including semiotics, literary and narrative theory, art history, and psychology--El Refaie shows that the traditions and formal features of comics provide new possibilities for autobiographical storytelling. For example, the requirement to produce multiple drawn versions of one's self necessarily involves an intense engagement with physical aspects of identity, as well as with the cultural models that underpin body image. The comics medium also offers memoirists unique ways of representing their experience of time, their memories of past events, and their hopes and dreams for the future. Furthermore, autobiographical comics creators are able to draw on the close association in contemporary Western culture between seeing and believing in order to persuade readers of the authentic nature of their stories.

Disney During World War II encompasses the full range of material created by the Disney studio during the war, including ground-breaking training and educational films for the military and defense industries, propaganda and war-themed shorts and features, home front poster art, and the stunning military unit insignia that provided those serving the in the armed forces with a morale-boosting reminder of home. The book makes it clear how deeply Walt invested himself in the cause by patriotically placing his studio at the disposal of Uncle Sam. Replete with period graphics, Disney During World War II showcases Walt Disney's largely unheralded sacrifices in the pursuit of Allied victory, showing the inner workings of a wholesome family entertainment studio transformed almost overnight into a war plant where even the studio's stable of established characters were temporarily reinvented as warriors and team-oriented, patriotic American citizens.

One of the most distinctive voices in mainstream comics since the 1970s, Howard Chaykin (b. 1950) has earned a reputation as a visionary formal innovator and a compelling storyteller whose comics offer both pulp-adventure thrills and thoughtful engagement with real-world politics and culture. His body of work is defined by the belief that comics can be a vehicle for sophisticated adult entertainment and for narratives that utilize the medium's unique properties to explore serious themes with intelligence and wit.

Beginning with early interviews in fanzines and concluding with a new interview conducted in 2010 with the volume's editor, Howard Chaykin: Conversations collects widely ranging discussions from Chaykin's earliest days as an assistant for such legends as Gil Kane and Wallace Wood to his recent work on titles including Dominic Fortune, Challengers of the Unknown, and American Century. The book includes 35 line illustrations selected from Chaykin, as well. As a writer/artist for outlets such as DC Comics, Marvel Comics, and Heavy Metal, he has participated in and influenced many of the major developments in mainstream comics over the past four decades. He was an early pioneer in the graphic novel format in the 1970s, and his groundbreaking sci-fi satire American Flagg! was an essential contribution to the maturation of the comic book as a vehicle for social commentary in the 1980s.

In 1977, Dave Sim (b. 1956) began to self-publish Cerebus, one of the earliest and most significant independent comics, which ran for 300 issues and ended, as Sim had planned from early on, in 2004. Over the run of the comic, Sim used it as a springboard to explore not only the potential of the comics medium but also many of the core assumptions of Western society. Through it he analyzed politics, the dynamics of love, religion, and, most controversially, the influence of feminism--which Sim believes has had a negative impact on society. Moreover, Sim inserted himself squarely into the comic as Cerebus's creator, thereby inviting criticism not only of the creation, but also of the creator.

What few interviews Sim gave often pushed the limits of what an interview might be in much the same way that Cerebus pushed the limits of what a comic might be. In interviews Sim is generous, expansive, provocative, and sometimes even antagonistic. Regardless of mood, he is always insightful and fascinating. His discursive style is not conducive to the sound bite or to easy summary. Many of these interviews have been out of print for years. And, while the interviews range from very general, career-spanning explorations of his complex work and ideas, to tightly focused discussions on specific details of Cerebus, all the interviews contained herein are engaging and revealing.

A riveting work of historical detection revealing that the origin of one of the world’s most iconic superheroes hides within it a fascinating family story—and a crucial history of twentieth-century feminism

Wonder Woman, created in 1941, is the most popular female superhero of all time. Aside from Superman and Batman, no superhero has lasted as long or commanded so vast and wildly passionate a following. Like every other superhero, Wonder Woman has a secret identity. Unlike every other superhero, she has also has a secret history.

Harvard historian and New Yorker staff writer Jill Lepore has uncovered an astonishing trove of documents, including the never-before-seen private papers of William Moulton Marston, Wonder Woman’s creator. Beginning in his undergraduate years at Harvard, Marston was influenced by early suffragists and feminists, starting with Emmeline Pankhurst, who was banned from speaking on campus in 1911, when Marston was a freshman. In the 1920s, Marston and his wife, Sadie Elizabeth Holloway, brought into their home Olive Byrne, the niece of Margaret Sanger, one of the most influential feminists of the twentieth century. The Marston family story is a tale of drama, intrigue, and irony. In the 1930s, Marston and Byrne wrote a regular column for Family Circle celebrating conventional family life, even as they themselves pursued lives of extraordinary nonconformity. Marston, internationally known as an expert on truth—he invented the lie detector test—lived a life of secrets, only to spill them on the pages of Wonder Woman.

The Secret History of Wonder Woman is a tour de force of intellectual and cultural history. Wonder Woman, Lepore argues, is the missing link in the history of the struggle for women’s rights—a chain of events that begins with the women’s suffrage campaigns of the early 1900s and ends with the troubled place of feminism a century later.