Alter Ego # 201 September 2026 (magazine review)
With the latest ‘Alter Ego’, writer Reed Tucker looks into the like of Edward Nelson Bridwell, commonly referred to as E. Nelson Bridwell (1931-1987). This is the first time I learnt his first name but his reputation was well-known to my generation. He was a walking encyclopaedia of the DC Universe but he knew a lot of about other subjects as well. Bridwell was hired as an assistant editor to Mort Weisinger, who thought him an oddball but useful to ensure he didn’t rotate plots too readily. I was amazed by how much he did beyond this job as he also irregularly contributed to ‘Mad Magazine’. Bridwell thought himself made when his jokes there were used elsewhere. The classic Lone Ranger and Tonto surrounded by red Indians/Native Americans now and didn’t think much of their chances, Tonto reminded him of his background was one of his. As the cover shows, he also created the Inferior Five. With the later, I loved the first issue where the baddie instructed his underling to get him a diamond and failed but got a fake by smashing a bubble gum machine is a classic.
For a time, Stan Lee hosted a 1976 Cable TV show in the early hours in New York, interviewing comicbook creators. Not all of these survived, but Roy Thomas one did and transcribed here by S.E. Dogaru. Thomas points out that there was too much focus on Conan than his other work up to that time. Even so, it does give some interesting insights on both of them.
Michael T. Gilbert’s Mr. Monster column looks at some of the early comics he acquired and will no doubt make you think of your own early ones and, looking back, would you have chosen them.
Under the Fawcett flag, P.C. Hamerlinck looks at the 1950 film ‘The Good Humor Man’, starring Jack Carson based around a junior Captain Marvel Club. As Fawcett was involved with legal entanglements with DC Comics, the film had to be careful with how much they could show. Still puzzling why the kids had to say Captain Marvel backwards. An odd fact is actor George Reeves appeared as a reporter. The film isn’t available although you would think someone would have done something about that now purely for historical value.
Have I enticed you yet?
GF Willmetts
September 2026
(pub: TwoMorrows Publishing. 82 page illustrated magazine. Price: $10.95 (US). ISSN: 1932-6890. Direct from them, you can get it for $10.95 (US))
check out websites: www.TwoMorrows.com and https://twomorrows.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=98_55&products_id=1889&zenid=5qah6nsst2bm1vm8crjrqhmq47
