Episode #131: Al Williamson, Superman Inker!

The cover for Superman 416, drawn by Eduardo Bareto. with the interior stories written by Elloit S! Maggin, pencilled by Curt Swan and inked by Al Williamson!

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Comic book artist Al Williamson died last Saturday, June 12, 2010. He was born on March 21, 1931. His comic book career began when he was 17 years old, and he was the youngest artist in the EC Comics bullpen. He is most well known for his adventure and science fiction stories, such as the comic strip and book FLASH GORDON, as well as the comic book adaption of the movie STAR WARS: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK. Beginning in the 1980's he had a 20 year career as a comic book inker, first at DC and then Marvel.

At DC, Al first drew and inked an 8 page Superman story, THE LIVING LEGENDS OF SUPERMAN, for SUPERMAN 400, October 1984. He inked SUPERMAN issues 408 - 416, with the exception of 411, which was the Julius Schwartz birthday issue (discussed in episode 78). He also inked Superman stories for DC COMICS PRESENTS 79 and 85-87. Al inked two covers for SUPERMAN, 408 and 409.

This episode highlights the one issue of SUPERMAN that I have which Al Williamson inked, 416, February 1986, published on November 18, 1985. The first story, THE EINSTEIN CONNECTION, was written by Elliot S! Maggin, pencilled by Curt Swan, colored by Gene D'Angelo and lettered by Ed King. This story was reprinted in the trade paperback SUPERMAN VS. LEX LUTHOR. The second story, THE GHOST OF SUPERMAN-FUTURE, had the same creative team, except for letterer Dave Andrews.

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SUPERMAN FAN PODCAST is a proud member of the LEAGUE OF COMIC BOOK PODCASTERS at http://www.comicbooknoise.com/league and the COMICS PODCAST NETWORK! http://www.comicspodcasts.com/.

SUPERMAN FAN PODCAST is at http://thesupermanfanpodcast.blogspot.com/ . Send e-mail about this podcast to supermanfanpodcast@gmail.com.

MY PULL LIST is my spoiler free comic book review blog of the titles I read every week. It can be found at http://mypulllist.blogspot.com/. Send e-mail about this blog to mypulllist@gmail.com.

Superman and all related characters are trademark and copyright DC Comics.

Thanks for listening to the SUPERMAN FAN PODCAST and, as always, thanks to Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.

Episode #130: Happy Birthday, Ross Andru!

(L to R:) Superman Vs. The Amazing Spider-Man (January 1976), cover and interior art pencilled by Ross Andru,  and  Superman 204 (February 1968), story art also drawn by Ross Andru!

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Ross Andru was born on June 15, 1927 and died on November 9, 1993. He was a comic book artist and editor who worked mostly with inker Mike Esposito. Andru is most well known from his five year stint as the penciller for THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN during the 1970's. During that decade he was the penciller on the first DC/Marvel cross-over, SUPERMAN VS. THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN. Andru is also credited as the co-creator of the Punisher with writer Gerry Conway. He also had a long career working for DC Comics on a variety of titles in different genres. 

Andru also drew stories for the Superman titles. His first Man of Steel story was for SUPERMAN 204, February 1968. He drew various issues of the title through issue 216, May 1969. For ACTION COMICS he drew stories for various issues from 363, May 1968 through 393, October 1970. For WORLD'S FINEST COMICS, Andru pencilled stories for issues 180, November 1968 - 195, August 1970. And for SUPERMAN'S GIRL FRIEND LOIS LANE he drew stories for issues 105, October 1970 - 110, May 1971.

The featured Ross Andru Superman story for this episode is THE CASE OF THE LETHAL LETTERS, which was published in SUPERMAN 204. the 13 page story was written by Cary Bates and inked by Mike Esposito. The only reprint of this story I am aware of is LIMITED COLLECTORS' EDITION PRESENTS SUPERMAN C-31, November 1974, which I have and was where I first read this story. The cover for this edition was a photo of a painting of Superman, done by the artist H. J. Ward. It hung in DC Publisher Harry Donenfeld's offices for many years, and can now be found at the Lehman College library in the Bronx, New York City.

For more information about the comic book career of Ross Andru, read the book ANDRU AND ESPOSITO: PARTNERS FOR LIFE, written by Mike Esposito and Dan Best, published in 2006.

Next Episode: AL WILLIAMSON: SUPERMAN INKER!

Join the SUPERMAN FAN PODCAST and MY PULL LIST groups on facebook, and follow the podcast and blogs on twitter @supermanpodcast.

SUPERMAN FAN PODCAST is a proud member of the LEAGUE OF COMIC BOOK PODCASTERS at http://www.comicbooknoise.com/league and the COMICS PODCAST NETWORK http://www.comicspodcasts.com/!

SUPERMAN FAN PODCAST is at http://thesupermanfanpodcast.blogspot.com/ . Send e-mail about this podcast to supermanfanpodcast@gmail.com.

MY PULL LIST is my spoiler free comic book review blog of the titles I read every week. It can be found at http://mypulllist.blogspot.com/. Send e-mail about this blog to mypulllist@gmail.com.

Superman and all related characters are trademark and copyright DC Comics.

Thanks for listening to the SUPERMAN FAN PODCAST and, as always, thanks to Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.

Episode #129: George Pèrez On ACTION COMICS!

Action Comics 643, cover drawn by George Pèrez, after Joe Shuster's cover to Superman 1!

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George Pèrez is well known for his work on THE NEW TEEN TITANS and WONDER WOMAN beginning in the 1980's. He also had a short but excellent run on Superman stories in the pages of ACTION COMICS, from issue 643 July 1989 - 652 April 1990. This episode explores these Superman stories that George was involved with as both writer and artist.

For more complete coverage of these stories, go to the podcast FROM CRISIS TO CRISIS, which can be found at the SUPERMAN HOMEPAGE http://supermanhomepage.com/news.php, or THE FORTRESS OF BAILEYTUDE http://www.fortressofbaileytude.com.

NOTE: The sound quality of this episode sounds different because I recorded it using my son's laptop.

Next Episode: HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROSS ANDRU!

Join the SUPERMAN FAN PODCAST and MY PULL LIST groups on facebook, and follow the podcast and blogs on twitter @supermanpodcast.

SUPERMAN FAN PODCAST is a proud member of the LEAGUE OF COMIC BOOK PODCASTERS at http://www.comicbooknoise.com/league and the COMICS PODCAST NETWORK! http://www.comicspodcasts.com/.

SUPERMAN FAN PODCAST is at http://thesupermanfanpodcast.blogspot.com/ . Send e-mail about this podcast to supermanfanpodcast@gmail.com.

MY PULL LIST is my spoiler free comic book review blog of the titles I read every week. It can be found at http://mypulllist.blogspot.com/. Send e-mail about this blog to mypulllist@gmail.com.

Superman and all related characters are trademark and copyright DC Comics.

Thanks for listening to the SUPERMAN FAN PODCAST and, as always, thanks to Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.

Episode #128: The World Of New Krypton: The Review!

Superman: World Of New Krypton 1!

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Since WAR OF THE SUPERMEN #4 (of 4) is published this week, this episode I will share my thoughts about the whole NEW KRYPTON storyline, which has involved the Superman family of titles for a little over a year. I give a brief review of some of the plot lines, my likes and dislikes about the whole storyline, and the collected editions available and forthcoming for this story. Check the DC Comics website or the Collected Comics Library podcast and blog at: http://collectedcomicslibrary.com.

Also, check out Kaman Stowell's Superman video podcast at his website: http://kamanspodcast.webs.com/ or on youtube at http://www.youtube.com/user/stowekam .

Next Episode: GEORGE PEREZ ON SUPERMAN COMICS!

Join the SUPERMAN FAN PODCAST and MY PULL LIST groups on facebook, and follow the podcast and blogs on twitter @supermanpodcast.

SUPERMAN FAN PODCAST is a proud member of the LEAGUE OF COMIC BOOK PODCASTERS at http://www.comicbooknoise.com/league and the COMICS PODCAST NETWORK! http://www.comicspodcasts.com/.

SUPERMAN FAN PODCAST is at http://thesupermanfanpodcast.blogspot.com/ . Send e-mail about this podcast to supermanfanpodcast@gmail.com.

MY PULL LIST is my spoiler free comic book review blog of the titles I read every week. It can be found at http://mypulllist.blogspot.com/. Send e-mail about this blog to mypulllist@gmail.com.

Superman and all related characters are trademark and copyright DC Comics.

Thanks for listening to the SUPERMAN FAN PODCAST and, as always, thanks to Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.

Episode #127: Happy Birthday, Win Mortimer!

(L to R:) Action Comics 101 Oct. 1946, Superman 51 March/April 1948 & Adventure Comics 373 October 1968!

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Win Mortimer was born on May 1, 1919 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. He died on January 11, 1998. He was survived by his wife Eileen, three children, two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He was a prolific comic book artist who drew many stories and covers, mostly for DC Comics, throughout his adult life. While he is not very famous, Win Mortimer drew many Superman covers and stories, mostly in the 1940's and 1950's. This episode features three of them:

CRIME PARADISE, in ACTION COMICS 101, October 1946, published around August 15, 1946.

THE MAGNETIC MOBSTER, in SUPERMAN 51, March/April 1948, published around January 7, 1948. It was written by Alvin Schwartz and both pencilled and inked by Win Mortimer, who often inked his own work.

THE TORNADO TWINS, in ADVENTURE COMICS 373, October 1968, published around August 29, 1968. This story was written by Jim Shooter. It was reprinted in LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES ARCHIVE vol. VIII.

Next Episode: SUPERMAN: THE WORLD OF NEW KRYPTON: THE REVIEW!

Join the SUPERMAN FAN PODCAST and MY PULL LIST groups on facebook, and follow the podcast and blogs on twitter @supermanpodcast.

SUPERMAN FAN PODCAST is a proud member of the LEAGUE OF COMIC BOOK PODCASTERS at http://www.comicbooknoise.com/league and the COMICS PODCAST NETWORK! http://www.comicspodcasts.com/.

SUPERMAN FAN PODCAST is at http://thesupermanfanpodcast.blogspot.com/ . Send e-mail about this podcast to supermanfanpodcast@gmail.com.

MY PULL LIST is my spoiler free comic book review blog of the titles I read every week. It can be found at http://mypulllist.blogspot.com/. Send e-mail about this blog to mypulllist@gmail.com.

Superman and all related characters are trademark and copyright DC Comics.

Thanks for listening to the SUPERMAN FAN PODCAST and, as always, thanks to Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.

Episode #126: ACTION COMICS #125 & SUPERMAN #125!

Action Comics 125 (Oct. 1948) & Superman 125 (Nov. 1958)!

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This episode continues our quarterly look at every 25th issues of ACTION COMICS and SUPERMAN. Mort Weisinger was the editor for both issues.

ACTION COMICS 125, October 1948, was published around August 14, 1948. It contained 48 pages and sold for a dime. The cover was pencilled by Wayne Boring and inked by Stan Kaye. The four stories in this issue were:

Superman: THE MODERN NOSTRADAMUS, drawn by Al Plastino.

Congo Bill: MAN AGAINST MANHUNTER, drawn by Edwin J. Smalle, Jr.

Zatara: THE PHONY PITCHMAN, drawn by William F. White.

Vigilante: THE RELUCTANT ANNIE OAKLEY, pencilled by Jerry Robinson and inked by Mort Meskin.

SUPERMAN #125, November 1958, published around September 18, 1958 (two years before I was born). It contained 32 pages and also sold for a dime. It contained three stories, all of which were reprinted in SUPERMAN: THE MAN OF STEEL ARCHIVES vol. I & SHOWCASE PRESENTS: SUPERMAN vol. I.

LOIS LANE'S SUPER DREAM was written by Jerry Coleman and drawn by Kurt Schaffenberger. This story was also part of EPISODE #83: LOIS LANE'S SUPER DREAMS! 

CLARK KENT'S COLLEGE DREAM was written by Jerry Coleman and Al Plastino. Along with the reprint editions mentioned earlier, this story was also reprinted in THE GREATEST SUPERMAN STORIES EVER TOLD (1987).

SUPERMAN'S NEW POWER was also written by Jerry Coleman, pencilled by Wayne Boring and inked by Stan Kaye.

Next Episode: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, WIN MORTIMER!

Join the SUPERMAN FAN PODCAST and MY PULL LIST groups on facebook, and follow the podcast and blogs on twitter @supermanpodcast.

SUPERMAN FAN PODCAST is a proud member of the LEAGUE OF COMIC BOOK PODCASTERS at http://www.comicbooknoise.com/league and the COMICS PODCAST NETWORK! http://www.comicspodcasts.com/.

SUPERMAN FAN PODCAST is at http://thesupermanfanpodcast.blogspot.com/ . Send e-mail about this podcast to supermanfanpodcast@gmail.com.

MY PULL LIST is my spoiler free comic book review blog of the titles I read every week. It can be found at http://mypulllist.blogspot.com/. Send e-mail about this blog to mypulllist@gmail.com.

Superman and all related characters are trademark and copyright DC Comics.

Thanks for listening to the SUPERMAN FAN PODCAST and, as always, thanks to Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.

Episode #125: Happy Birthday, Dennis O'Neil & Free Comic Book Day 2010!

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Dennis O'Neil was born on May 3, 1939 in St. Louis, Missouri. He had a long career and prolific career as a comic book writer and editor. His most famous work was with artist Neal Adams on GREEN LANTERN / GREEN ARROW and the Batman titles, and Denys Cowan on THE QUESTION. He also had a short but famous run on Superman in the early 1970's under editor Julius Schwartz. Dennis wrote stories for SUPERMAN issues 233 - 254, cover dated January 1971 - July 1972.
You can read this storyline in the hardcover SUPERMAN: KRYPTONITE NEVERMORE.

At the end of the episode I talk about what I got for Free Comic Book Day, on Saturday, May 1, 2010/ To read more about my time on FCBD, go to:
http://mypulllist.blogspot.com/2010/05/issue-85-free-comc-book-day-2010-grab.html,
http://mypulllist.blogspot.com/2010/05/issue-86-free-comic-book-day-2010.html,
http://mypulllist.blogspot.com/2010/05/issue-86-free-comic-book-day-2010-part.html.

NEXT EPISODE: ACTION COMICS 125 & SUPERMAN 125!

Join the SUPERMAN FAN PODCAST and MY PULL LIST groups on facebook, and follow the podcast and blogs on twitter @supermanpodcast.

SUPERMAN FAN PODCAST is a proud member of the LEAGUE OF COMIC BOOK PODCASTERS at http://www.comicbooknoise.com/league and the COMICS PODCAST NETWORK! http://www.comicspodcasts.com/.

SUPERMAN FAN PODCAST is at http://thesupermanfanpodcast.blogspot.com/ . Send e-mail about this podcast to supermanfanpodcast@gmail.com.

MY PULL LIST is my spoiler free comic book review blog of the titles I read every week. It can be found at http://mypulllist.blogspot.com/. Send e-mail about this blog to mypulllist@gmail.com.

Superman and all related characters are trademark and copyright DC Comics.

Thanks for listening to the SUPERMAN FAN PODCAST and, as always, thanks to Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.