COMIC BOOK CREATOR (2023)

"Comic Book Creator presents a long overdue celebration of the art and life of 'The Man Called Kane,' as we feature a retrospective on Gil Kane, one of the true comic book greats whose dynamic artistry had a huge impact on the super-hero genre. Co-creator of the modern-day Green Lantern and Atom, Kane was also an early progenitor of the graphic novel, a man dedicated to sharing the history of the form, and simply one of the finest artists and visionaries to ever work in comics. We gather remembrances and insight from friends and associates, assistants and aficionados, as well as collaborators and dedicated fans."

"Comic Book Creator #9 features a sizzlin' Joe Staton and his energizin' art extravaganza! We talk with the cartoonist about his career in comics (with special emphasis on E-Man and Nova, who dominate our cover!), from his days at Charlton, through working with the Big Two (and co-creating The Huntress in the process), up to his award-winning current stint as artist on the immortal Dick Tracy comic strip. We showcase the lost treasure The Gods of Mount Olympus, drawn by Joe, and feature Part One of our interview with the late Stan Goldberg, as well as an article on why John Romita, Jr. is the best comic book artist working."

"Comic Book Creator #4 gets rambunctiously rustic with rowdy Russ Heath in a wide-ranging, comprehensive interview with the superb comic book artist. We cover Russ's expansive career, complete with an essay on his extraordinary work by S.C. Ringgenberg, and a senses-shattering gallery of art. All that behind a gorgeous Kevin Nowlan cover! Also Mort Todd on working with Steve Ditko; a profile of alt cartoonist Dan Goldman; Part Two of our Mark Waid interview; Denys Cowan on his Django Unchained series; and Vic Bloom and The Secret Origin of Archie Andrews. Oh, and Hembeck, too! Be here for the phantasmagorical fourth ish!"

"Comic Book Creator answers the question, 'What makes Jack Kirby 'the King of Comics'?' as we examine the mid-life work of the greatest super-hero creator of all time, from the explosively cosmic developments in Fantastic Four and The Mighty Thor at Marvel in the mid-60s to the artist/writer's magnum opus, the 'Fourth World' saga of New Genesis versus Apokolips! Plus we'll reveal the real-life background drama that unfolded during that tumultuous era, all behind an astonishing cover by Steve 'The Dude' Rude featuring the Gods of New Genesis! Our main co-feature is an exhaustive, career-spanning interview with underground comix pioneer Howard Cruse, the extraordinary cartoonist and graphic novelist of the award-winning Stuck Rubber Baby."

"Comic Book Creator gives you a double-dose of amazing coverage as we feature a history of the short-lived but amazing Star Wars precursor, the Broadway science fiction epic Warp! Though the 1973 show lasted a mere two weeks on the Great White Way, the work of art director Neal Adams is unforgettable and, after all, it spawned a 1980s series at First Comics! We interview Neal, director Stuart Gordon (Reanimator), playwright Lenny Kleinfeld, stage manager David Gordon (Flying Frog), as well as those participates in the First Comics series! On the flipside, CBC is proud to feature an exhaustive interview with Peter Bagge (Hate!), from his work on Comical Funnies to editor of Weirdo magazine to his solo series Neat Stuff to the chronicles of Buddy Bradley, and beyond!"

"Comic Book Creator is double the fun with two main features - Michael Allred (iZombie) and Bob Burden (Mystery Men) -who share a surf-crazy jam cover featuring their respective creations, Madman and Flaming Carrot hanging ten! Keeping with wacky comic-book characters and their creators, Reid Fleming, the World's Toughest Mailman cartoonist David Boswell tells us what's happening up there comics-wise in the Great White North. Plus we feature part two of our interview with the late, great Archie Comics artist Stan Goldberg, and the conclusion of Batton Lash's career-spanning interview which discusses his Supernatural Law series."

"Comic Book Creator presents a long overdue celebration of the art and life of 'The Man Called Kane,' as we feature a retrospective on Gil Kane, one of the true comic book greats whose dynamic artistry had a huge impact on the super-hero genre. Co-creator of the modern-day Green Lantern and Atom, Kane was also an early progenitor of the graphic novel, a man dedicated to sharing the history of the form, and simply one of the finest artists and visionaries to ever work in comics. We gather remembrances and insight from friends and associates, assistants and aficionados, as well as collaborators and dedicated fans."

"Comic Book Creator answers the question, 'What makes Jack Kirby 'the King of Comics'?' as we examine the mid-life work of the greatest super-hero creator of all time, from the explosively cosmic developments in Fantastic Four and The Mighty Thor at Marvel in the mid-60s to the artist/writer's magnum opus, the 'Fourth World' saga of New Genesis versus Apokolips! Plus we'll reveal the real-life background drama that unfolded during that tumultuous era, all behind an astonishing cover by Steve 'The Dude' Rude featuring the Gods of New Genesis! Our main co-feature is an exhaustive, career-spanning interview with underground comix pioneer Howard Cruse, the extraordinary cartoonist and graphic novelist of the award-winning Stuck Rubber Baby."

"The illustrative greatness of Michael W. Kaluta is captured in a comprehensive interview with the artist, covering his early fans days; mastery of his signature character, The Shadow; development of Kaluta and Elaine Lee's Starstruck, work with his fellow legends from the Studio; and Michael's work as the quintessential Vertigo cover artist! Plus we feature an in-depth (and remarkably personal) talk with the amazing Ramona Fradon about her 65+ years in the comic book business, whether as artist on Aquaman, Metamorpho, Super-Friends, or Spongebob Squarepants! "

"Comprehensive Kelley Jones interview, from early years as Marvel inker to present-day greatness at DC depicting Batman, Deadman, and Swamp Thing (chockful of rarely-seen artwork)! Plus Will Murray examines the nefarious legacy of Batman co-creator Bob Kane in an investigation into tragic ghosts and rapacious greed. We also look at Raina Telgemeier and her magnificent army of devotees, and more!"

"Celebrating 30 years of artist's artist Mark Schultz, creator of the Cadillacs and Dinosaurs franchise, with a feature-length, career-spanning interview conducted in Mark's Pennsylvanian home, examining the early years of struggle, success with Kitchen Sink Press, and hitting it big with a Saturday morning cartoon series. Includes rarely-seen art and fascinating photos from Mark's amazing and award-winning career."

"This issue visits Riverdale High, U.S.A., to celebrate America's Typical Teenager Archie and his pals 'n gals-as well as the mighty MLJ heroes of yesteryear and those of today's 'Dark Circle'-with a look at the 75-year-old comics line's wildest characters and titles. Plus we conduct career-spanning conversations with two of the imprint's hottest creators: Brooklyn's own Dean Haspiel (the Emmy-winning alternative-slash-mainstream artist who collaborated with Harvey Pekar) and Dan Parent (GLADD award-winning cartoonist and creator of the Archie universe's ground-breaking gay character, Kevin Keller), who both jam on our great exclusive cover depicting a face-off between humor and heroes."

"Comic Book Creator features a career-spanning and downright philosophical discussion with Steve 'The Dude' Rude, the Eisner Award-winning artist who got his start back in 1981 as co-creator of intergalactic executioner Nexus. The 'eternal art student' (heavily influenced by Jack Kirby, Alex Toth, Russ Manning, and legendary art instructor Andrew Loomis) shares his real-life psychological struggles, the challenges of freelance subsistence, and his creative aspirations. Also: The jungle art of Neal Adams (whose artistry has graced many a Tarzan cover)! Cartoonist Mary Fleener talks about her forthcoming graphic novel Billie the Bee and her comix career! Part Three of Michael Aushenker's enormous Rich Buckler interview!"

"Comics historian Steve Ringgenberg joins CBC as guest co-editor for our special tribute to the great fantasy artist, Frank Frazetta [1928-2010]! CBC #19 includes a comprehensive, career-spanning interview with the master unseen for 32 years, complemented with innumerable articles on his many achievements: examinations of Frank's Conan work and 'Adventures of a Brooklyn Hillbilly'; studies of his White Indian series as well as his public service advertisements; forays into his ace caricaturist material in movie posters and record album covers, and much more! Cover artist Tom Grindberg is interviewed, as weall famed fantasy painter Joe Jusko, discussing their careers and the indelible Frazetta influence on their work."

"'Not Your Average Joes' is the theme of Comic Book Creator, headlined by an exhaustive interview with Joseph Michael Linsner on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of his signature creation Cry For Dawn, discussing his many years as a comics professional and current work on Vampirella. (We also talk with Joe's significant other, Kristina Deak-Linsner, about the distinction of being Vampi's first female artist!) Then CBC spends Sunday Brunch with the great Joe Sinnott, catching up with the legendary artist to discuss his years at Marvel, inking Jack Kirby's work, and his nearly forgotten masterworks produced for Treasure Chest."

"CBC travels to the studio of P. Craig Russell, whose career stretches from Killraven and Elric, to his Oscar Wilde adaptations and The Sandman, to the present day with American Gods, for a career-spanning, intimate interview (complete with photos and a gallery of PCR's finest artwork). Also, we look at an almost completely unknown work of Frank Quitely, renowned artist on All-Star Superman and The Authority: his awesome artwork decorating the walls of a Radisson hotel in Scotland! We also talk with Derf Backderf about his forthcoming graphic novel commemorating the 50th anniversary of the tragic killing of college students, Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio. "

"Comic Book Creator showcases comics pioneer and artist extraordinaire of ElfQuest, Wendy Pini, in a candid Q+A about her difficult early years and her escape to a creative life, her days as the quintessential Red Sonja cosplayer, and 40+ years of ElfQuest! We also chat with Richard Pini, co-creator of ElfQuest, about his nearly 48-year marriage to Wendy and their even-older creative partnership. Plus: Part one of our career-stretching interview with Scott Shaw! about the early years of San Diego Comic-Con, friendship with Jack Kirby, co-creating Captain Carrot and the Amazing Zoo Crew, and his unforgettable Hanna-Barbera stint as the finest Flintstones artist of them all!"

"Comic Book Creator joins up with comic book veteran Timothy Truman to talk about his varied life in the field, from his start at the Joe Kubert School, breakout success on Grimjack with writer John Ostrander, and current collaborations with son Benjamin. Also, there's part one of a career-spanning chat with Scott Shaw! about the early years of San Diego Comic-Con, friendship with Jack Kirby, co-creating Captain Carrot and the Amazing Zoo Crew, and unforgettable Hanna-Barbera stint as the best Flintstones artist of all! Patrick McDonnell selects and comments upon favorite comic book pastiches from his award-winning MUTTS comic strip in a special gallery! "

Comic Book Creator features "The Return of the Storyteller," as we conduct an in-depth discussion with the legendary comic book artist and illustrator Barry Windsor-Smith about his mammoth new graphic novel, Monsters, a tour de force decades in the making! We delve into the epic's origin as an Incredible Hulk one-shot back in the mid-1980s and its subsequent evolution into perhaps BWS's magnum opus, a 300-plus page saga about rage, revenge, and forgiveness. Also included is a gallery of rare out-takes from Monsters.

Comic Book Creator presents our career-spanning, in-depth interview with comics phenom Terry Dodson, from breaking into comics at Malibu with Mantra, growth as the quintessential Harley Quinn artist, avoiding a multitude of trouble with Trouble, bouncing between DC (Wonder Woman), Marvel (X-Men), and independents (Red One) and his current Adventureman series with Matt Fraction. Then his go-to inker and wife Rachel Dodson shares a few words about working with hubby! Plus we chat with '70s/'80s portfolio and pro-zine king Sal Quartuccio about his achievements with Phase, Hot Stuf', and exceptional art prints. And, of course, there's our usual cast of regulars: Rich Arndt, Kendall Whitehouse, Darrick Patrick, and the latest from Hembeck!

Paul Gulacy is celebrated in CBC with an extensive retrospective by Greg Biga that includes memories from the artist himself and a vast array of peers, including Val Mayerik, P. Craig Russell, Tim Truman, Roy Thomas, and others. From Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu, Sabre, and James Bond 007 to Batman: Prey and Catwoman, we examine this superb cinematic comic book artist's influences and his influence on an entire generation of creators. Plus we feature an extensive Joe Sinnott Memorial (also compiled by Greg Biga!) that includes heartfelt testimonials from an army of the masterful artist's peers and admirers.

"From out of the swamp comes a look at the amazingly eclectic and diverse life of the multi-talented Stephen R. Bissette, best known for his collaboration with Alan Moore on Swamp Thing. The career-spanning chat discusses his early love of dinosaurs and his development from graduate of the Joe Kubert School to breakout as a pro (Heavy Metal, Scholastic, DC), independent efforts with his Spiderbaby Grafix (Taboo, Tyrant, etc.), and his long-running stint as instructor at the Center for Cartoon Studies. Then, experience a detailed-and highly entertaining-look at 1972's infamous Marvel-Ous Evening With Stan Lee at Carnegie Hall event! Plus part two of our conversation with comics retail and mail order pioneer Bud Plant, plus CBC's usual crew of contributors shares their latest insights!"

Don McGregor's life and talent is spotlighted in a comprehensive retrospective in CBC #29, the first issue we've devoted predominately to a writer! From his Hopalong Cassidy obsessed Rhode Island childhood to obsequious presence on Marvel Comics letters pages in the 1960s and early '70s debut as Warren Publications scripter, to his breakout and blossoming at the House of Ideas, the superb scribe discusses his triumphs on Black Panther, Killraven, Sabre, Detectives Inc., Ragamuffins, and so much more. Plus Robert Menzies offers a detailed look at Herb Trimpe's fascinating mid '70s visit to the United Kingdom, when he worked on Marvel's British comics weeklies.

CBC #30 features the life and brilliant work of Michael Cho, Canadian comic book artist, illustrator, and graphic novelist, in a career-spanning interview and art gallery. His story “Trinity” was selected by editor Neil Gaiman for The Best American Comics anthology and Cho’s poignant graphic novel, Shoplifter, received rave reviews. Also, we present a profile of Pyramid publisher Norman Goldfind on his hybrid comics/paperback line Weird Heroes, and publishing A Contract with God, the breakthrough graphic novel by Will Eisner. Plus, this issue showcases a reprinting of a 1974 trade magazine look at Jack Adler and the DC Comics production department’s process of reprinting Golden Age material. Then Fred Hembeck shares his latest Dateline installment, and more! Edited by Jon B. Cooke.

The artistry of Graham Nolan! A career-spanning interview with the co-creator of Batman's back-breaking nemesis Bane, from Graham's D&D start to recent Compass Comics titles, including The Chenoo and Alien Alamo! There's also an art gallery of his Monster Island projects, The Phantom newspaper strip, and his Darknight Detective collaborations with writer Chuck Dixon! Plus, we spotlight "The Night Marvel Comics Invaded Carnegie Hall," where Stan Lee and the whole blamed Bullpen put on a notorious and near-catastrophic stage production in 1972. Then it's Part One of a look at cartoonist Frank Borth, from producing Phantom Lady at Quality Comics and his friendship with Reed Crandall, to work for Treasure Chest and Cracked magazine, and more. And Greg Biga talks with Dan Didio, former DC Comics co-publisher, on his fannish beginnings, being a DC comics executive and writer, and publisher of Frank Miller's current comics line!

William Stout discusses his diverse career, including bootleg album art beginnings, underground comix, movie poster masterworks (including Wizards and Rock 'n' Roll High School), film production (Raider of the Lost Ark, etc.), passionate environmental advocacy, and, of course, his landmark work with the late, great Byron Preiss, The Dinosaurs, and so much more! Our "flip-side" features a massive tribute to Preiss, the visionary packager/publisher who helped bring comics to a whole new level and collaborated with many greats, including Harvey Kurtzman, Jim Steranko, Harlan Ellison, Ray Bradbury, Joe Kubert, Howard Chaykin, Gray Morrow, and many others. It includes Byron's only comprehensive career-spanning interview and an exhaustive historical retrospective with insight from dozens who knew him, including Paul Levitz, Danny Fingeroth, Alex Jay, Marv Wolfman, and many more.