Superman Subscription: My First Issue

by Armand Vaquer

There are some things in one's life experiences that stick to one even after 56 years have passed.

Back in the 1960s, DC Comics (known then as National Periodical Publications) offered subscriptions to their comics. If I remember correctly, a year's subscription (10 issues) to their comics was $1.00. At that time, comic books cost 12 cents on the newsstand with 80-page giants costing 25 cents (they were called annuals before). The 80-page giants weren't included in subscriptions.

I subscribed to Superman back in late 1965 and the first issue of my subscription was Superman no. 182 (January 1966 cover date). Someone posted the cover of the issue in a Curt Swan Facebook fan page.

The cover was penciled by Swan and inked by Sheldon Moldoff. It appears Superman's face was re-done by Al Plastino (for whatever reason). 

This particular comic book is now considered a "key issue" as it was the first Silver Age appearance of The Toyman (Winslow Percival Schott). A copy of it is now listed at eBay for $89.99. 

I still have my copy.

This is the cover of that issue:

Book: Curt Swan: A Life In Comics

by Armand Vaquer

Ever go to your bookcase to get a specific book to read and it's nowhere to be found?

This happened to me about a week ago when I went to get my copy of Curt Swan: A Life In Comics (2002, by Eddy Zeno) to read. It was nowhere to be found.

I hadn't read the book since I lived in California, so I didn't notice it was missing. Now I have. 

It may still be around somewhere, but since I wasn't sure, I decided to order another copy through Alibris (I already have an account with them). I ordered it last week and it arrived in the mail yesterday. The price was reasonable enough: $24.73 (hardcover). I think my original copy was the trade paperback.

Above, yours truly enjoying the book yesterday.

I started reading it as soon as I got home from the post office and the time passed quickly (about 2 hours) and, before I knew it, it was time to start dinner.

Even if my original copy turns up, I have no regrets ordering another copy. It is an excellent book with lots of examples of Swan's work. I highly recommend it.

Rare Video Interview of Superman Artists Curt Swan and Jerry Ordway

Above, a rendering of Superman that was penciled and inked by Curt Swan.

A rare video of artists (the late) Curt Swan and Jerry Ordway discussing the drawing of Superman. 

About the video:

Superman Comic Book artists Curt Swan and Jerry Ordway being interviewed in Cleveland, OH (1988). "Morning Exchange" TV interview as part of the International Superman Exposition. Interviewed by Lee Jordan and Joel Rose.

Thanks to Robert Watson for posting!

Rare Curt Swan Non-DC Comics Cover

by Armand Vaquer


Here is a rare non-DC Comics cover by longtime classic Superman artist Curt Swan (pencils) and Ken Branch (inks) from 1993.

The comic book, Dinosaurs For Hire (issue number 9), was published by Malibu Comics. As you can see from this example, Swan never lost his artistic touch before his June 1996 death and was desiring to receive more work after DC turned over the Superman line of comic books to new creative teams.

Above, Dinosaur For Hire number 9. Armand Vaquer collection.

Was Al Plastino's Superman-JFK Artwork Stolen?

by Armand Vaquer

Above, the cover of Superman issue no. 170.

It is interesting that this story should hit now, since the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President Kennedy is coming up next month.

There is a bit of a flap over some original artwork that appeared in the July 1964 issue of Superman (no. 170). The issue contained the story, "Superman's Mission For President Kennedy" that was penciled and inked by Al Plastino. In the story, Kennedy enlists Superman's help to get flabby Americans to become physically fit.

As I have this issue in my collection, I remember it well. On the very last panel of the story, it stated that the original artwork would be donated to the John F. Kennedy Library at Harvard University (at the time, that was where the library was planned to be located).

Above, the Plastino art. Note the last panel stating that the original art will be donated to the Kennedy Library.

According to a story at Bleeding Cool.com, the Plastino original artwork is now up for auction at Heritage Auctions. They are looking to get $200,000 for it.  Somehow, the artwork never made it to the Kennedy Library and they have no record of ever receiving it.

Artist Al Plastino is quite upset over this.

 He said:

Please help if you can. The art I donated and thought for all these years was being housed at the Kennedy library at Harvard is now being auctioned off on the anniversary of Kennedy’s assassination. And now I am finding out that the art may have never made it to the library. The archivists tell me there are no records of it ever being received. I asked for the art back and they will not give it to me. I asked for the consigner’s name and they will not tell me that either. They tell me I have no rights to my work and that it is too late to get it back.

I don't blame Plastino for being upset about his artwork, intended for the Kennedy Library, ending up in someone else's hands, possibly by theft.

However, the story gets more complicated.

The story was originally scheduled for Superman no. 168, but it was pulled when Kennedy was assassinated. This version was drawn by artist Curt Swan and inked by George Klein. The editor of Superman, Mort Weisinger, published an announcement in the current issue stating that the artwork would be donated to Jacqueline Kennedy.

Above, editor Mort Weisinger's announcement containing a panel of the Swan/Klein artwork.

Later, President Johnson asked National Periodical Publications (DC Comics) to publish it, and it is speculated that the Swan/Klein artwork was donated already, so it had to be re-drawn and Plastino got the assignment.

Herein lies the confusion or complication.

It appears that the Swan/Klein artwork may have been donated directly to Mrs. Kennedy and not to the Kennedy Library (I assume there was a foundation set-up to get the library built at the time). But, as it shows on the last panel of the Plastino version, his artwork was intended to be donated to the Kennedy Library. It is possible that both versions were intended to be donated (the Swan/Klein art to Mrs. Kennedy and the Plastino art to the Kennedy Library) by National.

Since it was stated on the last panel of Plastino's version that it was to be donated, how did it end up not going to the Kennedy Library, but eventually to an auction house in 2013? Could the artwork have been stolen? What happened?

Heritage Auctions should pull the artwork from their auction schedule, put it on hold (treat it as possible stolen property) and begin an investigation to see if the artwork was stolen as well as the chain of custody since 1964. That would be right thing to do.

UPDATE: Bleeding Cool reports that Heritage Auctions has withdrawn the auction for the Plastino artwork and will investigate.  For more, go here.

Canadian Superman Stamps

by Armand Vaquer

The Canada Post is issuing a run of Superman postage stamps in commemoration of the Man of Steel's 75th anniversary. The stamps depict the evolution of Superman through the years.

 The reason Canada has gotten involved is that Superman co-creator Joseph Shuster was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. His Superman artwork is represented in the stamps.

 

Other artists' work that are represented include Wayne Boring, Dick Giordano, Neal Adams, Kenneth Rocafort and Jim Lee.

I do have one gripe about these stamps. The work of definitive Silver Age Superman artist, Curt Swan is not represented in this collection. That, to me, is a major omission on the part of the Canadian post office.

At least Swan's work was represented in a stamp in the United States when the U.S. Postal Service issued some DC Comics super-hero stamps in 2006 (left).

To order Superman stamps from Canada Post, go here.

Zack Snyder To Helm New Superman Movie

by Armand Vaquer



Right, the Man of Steel in a pencil rendering by the late Curt Swan.

The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that a director of the new Superman movie has been chosen:

Zack Snyder has been chosen to direct the new Superman movie, which Christopher Nolan is producing for Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures. Negotiations began earlier today.

Snyder, who directed "300" and "Watchmen," had been on the list of helmers ensconced in meetings with Nolan and Warners execs, who in recent weeks have talked to Darren Aronofsky, Ben Affleck, Matt Reeves and Tony Scott.

While the last Superman movie, Superman Returns, had spectacular special effects and it made over $200 million, it is considered a flop as it failed to re-start the franchise.

It is rumored that the movie is to feature the Kryptonian villain, General Zod. Right now, Legendary Pictures and Warner Brothers are being tight-lipped.

But who will play the Man of Steel? Whomever it is, he has to look like Superman, not Superboy. And ditch that last costume design!

To read the full article, go here.