Alter Ego # 142 September 2016 (magazine review).
The September issue of ‘Alter Ego’ is a change from the usual as this issue focuses on significant American fans who have made a difference. The first of these is David Siegel, who working independently during 1987-2005 located and then met various Golden Age comicbook artists and got them to the San Diego Comicons. I wasn’t quite sure what to make of this but, unusually, I read the 30 page interview in one setting, helped along by a variety of art samples and photos making this a unique piece, with so many of these artists gone now.
The late Rich Morrissey’s article about getting comicbook writer John Broome and his wife, Peggy, to the 1998 San Diego Comicon is quite revealing in its scheduling and people. Just in case you didn’t know much of Broome’s credits, he was responsible for the Barry Allen Flash’s Rogue’s Gallery and how the first 75 issues of the Hal Jordan Green Lantern, that is he created all the things you know about him, his friends, villains and the Corps. Beyond that, there are many other characters, but you can read the article the article for yourself.
Reading these two articles together, you do have to wonder if more modern comicbook creators, who’ve dropped out but now reaching into their retirement age will have such fans as Sigel and Morrissey in the future dragging them back into the limelight.
A final look at ‘Rocket’s Blast Comicollector’ as it moved from G.L. Love’s hand s to publisher James Van Hise. Unlike UK fanzines, this was a money transaction and shows some of the inner workings of American fandom where a profit is expected.
Remembrances are given for ‘Little Archie’ artist/writer Dexter Taylor (1931-2015), comicbook artist Alan Kupperberg (1953-2015) and comicbook publisher Frederick Hiller Iger (1924-2015).
Never let it be said that ‘Alter Ego’ doesn’t do whimsy with not so much a ‘What If…?’ but a ‘Maybe’ had Marvel Comics not DC Comics had bought the Captain Marvel (that’s the Big Red Cheese version).
A more odder version of ‘Alter Ego’ this time but no less interesting in seeing what goes on behind the scenes.
GF Willmetts
August 2016
(pub: TwoMorrows Publishing. 82 page illustrated magazine. Price: $ 8.95 (US). ISSN: 1932-6890. Direct from them, you can get it for $ 7.61 (US))
check out websites: www.TwoMorrows.com and http://twomorrows.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=98_55&products_id=1241
