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First Comics
First Comics was an American comic book publisher that was active from 1983 to 1991, known for titles like ''American Flagg!'', ''Grimjack'', ''Nexus'', ''Badger'', ''Dreadstar'', and ''Jon Sable''. Along with competitors like Pacific Comics and Eclipse Comics, First took early advantage of the growing direct market, attracting a number of writers and artists from DC and Marvel to produce creator-owned titles, which, as they were not subject to the Comics Code, were free to feature more mature content. History Based in Evanston, Illinois, First Comics was co-founded by Ken F. LevinPhegley, Kiel"CBR News: EXCLUSIVE: Levin On Relaunching First Comics" Comic Book Resource (July 14, 2011). and Mike Gold. It launched in 1983 with a line-up of creators including Frank Brunner, Mike Grell, Howard Chaykin, Joe Staton, Steven Grant, Timothy Truman, and Jim Starlin. In 1984, First acquired all the titles of the short-lived publisher Capital Comics, including Mike Baron's action/superhero/ ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mike Gold (comics)
Michael Gold (born August 4, 1950) Miller, John Jackson"Comics Industry Birthdays" ''Comics Buyer's Guide'', June 10, 2005WebCitation archive/ref> is an American comics writer, editor and publisher, known for his work as the former media coordinator for the defense for the Chicago Conspiracy Trial, Group Editor and Director of Editorial Development at DC Comics, co-founder of First Comics, and the co-founder and director of communication National Runaway Switchboard as well as a disk jockey in Chicago in the 1970s. Career Gold entered the comic industry as DC's first public relations manager. His job was to improve DC's interactions with the direct market and comic fans. Gold launched First Comics in 1983 with a line-up of creators including Frank Brunner, Mike Grell, Howard Chaykin, Joe Staton, Steven Grant, Timothy Truman, and John Ostrander. Among the titles Gold edited were Chaykin's satirical futuristic cop series ''American Flagg''; Ostrander and Truman's ''GrimJack''; ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Creator Ownership
In the United States, creator ownership in comics is an arrangement in which the comic book creator retains full ownership of the material, regardless of whether the work is self-published or published by a corporate publisher. In some fields of publishing, such as fiction writing, creator ownership has historically been standard. In other fields—such as comics, recorded music, or motion pictures—creator ownership has traditionally been uncommon, with either work for hire or publisher purchase of the material being standard practice. This article traces the changing standards of the comic book industry. History Early twentieth century In 1906, Richard F. Outcault took his creation '' Buster Brown'' from the ''New York Herald'' to the ''New York American''. Outcault had not applied for a copyright to Buster Brown, but asserted a "common-law title"—what comics historian Don Markstein asserted is one of the earliest claims to creators' rights. The court decided the ''Heral ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
American Flagg
''American Flagg!'' is an American comic book series created by writer-artist Howard Chaykin, published by First Comics from 1983 to 1989. A science fiction series and political satire, it was set in the U.S., particularly Chicago, Illinois, in the early 2030s. Writers besides Chaykin included Steven Grant, J.M. DeMatteis, Alan Moore and John Francis Moore. Publication history ''American Flagg'', which ran 50 issues (October 1983 – March 1988),''American Flagg'' at the was one of the first titles to be published by , an early |
Superhero
A superhero or superheroine is a stock character that typically possesses ''superpowers'', abilities beyond those of ordinary people, and fits the role of the hero, typically using his or her powers to help the world become a better place, or dedicating themselves to protecting the public and fighting crime. Superhero fiction is the genre of fiction that is centered on such characters, especially, since the 1930s, in American comic books (and later in Hollywood films, film serials, television and video games), as well as in Japanese media (including kamishibai, tokusatsu, manga, anime and video games). Superheroes come from a wide array of different backgrounds and origins. Some superheroes (for example, Batman and Iron Man) derive their status from advanced technology they create and use, while others (such as Superman and Spider-Man) possess non-human or superhuman biology or study and practice magic to achieve their abilities (such as Zatanna and Doctor Strange ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Steve Rude
Steve Rude (born December 31, 1956) is an American comics artist. He is best known as the co-creator of ''Nexus''. Early life Steve Rude was born on December 31, 1956, in Madison, Wisconsin. He attended the Milwaukee School of Art and Design, the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and the Madison Area Technical College. Career In 1981, Rude and writer Mike Baron created ''Nexus'', an independent science fiction comic book with a large supporting cast. For the series, Rude designed numerous distinctive alien races, including the Thunes, the Amphibs, the Quattros, the Giz, the Demons, and others. The series ran for eighty issues although Rude did not pencil them all, and seven short, almost-yearly mini-series after the initial series ended. His first work for DC Comics appeared in ''Tales of the Teen Titans'' #48 (Nov. 1984). Rude collaborated with writer Dave Gibbons on the '' World's Finest'' miniseries for DC in 1990. DC Comics writer and executive Paul Levitz has noted that Ru ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mike Baron
Mike Baron (born July 1, 1949) is an American comic book writer. He is the creator of ''Badger'' and the co-creator of ''Nexus'' with Steve Rude. Biography Mike Baron entered the comics industry with an illustrated text piece in ''Weird Trips Magazine'' #1 (March 1974) published by Kitchen Sink Press. In 1981, he published his first formal comics script with ''Nexus'', the science fiction title he co-created with illustrator Steve Rude; the series garnered numerous honors, including Eisner Awards for both creators. A prolific creator, Baron is responsible for ''The Badger'', ''Ginger Fox'', ''Spyke'', ''Feud'', and many other comic book titles. He and artist Jackson Guice relaunched ''The Flash'' in June 1987. Baron and Klaus Janson introduced the character Microchip as an ally of the Punisher in ''The Punisher'' #4 (November 1987). In 1988, Baron wrote the "Deadman" feature in ''Action Comics Weekly'' which led to two subsequent ''Deadman'' limited series. Baron has also written ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Capital Comics
Capital City Distribution was a Madison, Wisconsin-based comic book distributor which operated from 1980 to 1996 when they were acquired by rival Diamond Comic Distributors. Under the name Capital Comics, they also published comics from 1981 to 1984. During most of its years of operation, Capital City introduced many supply chain innovations and controlled much of the American Midwest's comics distribution market. More so than their rivals Diamond and Heroes World Distribution, Capital City supported independent publishers as much as big mainstream companies like DC Comics and Marvel Comics. Capital City also published over 400 pages of printed material a month, including ''Internal Correspondence'', which provided sales figures to their clients; and ''Advance Comics'', their monthly catalog showcasing upcoming comic books, toys, and other pop-culture related items it distributed to comic book specialty shops. Distributor Origins In the 1970s, Milton Griepp and John Davis we ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jim Starlin
James P. Starlin (born October 9, 1949) is an American comics artist and writer. Beginning his career in the early 1970s, he is best known for space opera stories, for revamping the Marvel Comics characters Captain Marvel and Adam Warlock, and for creating or co-creating the Marvel characters Thanos, Drax the Destroyer, Gamora, and Shang-Chi. Later, for DC Comics, he drew many of their iconic characters, including Darkseid and other characters from Jack Kirby's Fourth World, and scripted the death of Jason Todd, the second Robin, during his run on '' Batman''. For '' Epic Illustrated'', he created his own character, Dreadstar. Early life Jim Starlin was born on October 9, 1949, in Detroit, Michigan. He had a Catholic upbringing. In the 1960s, Starlin served as an aviation photographer in the US Navy in Vietnam. During his off duty time, he drew and submitted various comics. Early career After leaving the Navy, Starlin sold two stories to DC Comics. After writing and drawin ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Timothy Truman
Timothy Truman (born February 9, 1956) is an American writer, artist and musician. He is best known for his stories and Wild West-style comic book art, and in particular, for his work on ''Grimjack'' (with John Ostrander), '' Scout'', and the reinvention of Jonah Hex, with Joe R. Lansdale. Biography Truman was born in 1956 in Gauley Bridge, West Virginia. After graduating from Gauley Bridge High School in 1974, he attended the Columbus College of Art and Design while also attending West Virginia University. From 1979 to 1981 he attended The Kubert School in New Jersey. He currently lives in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and was an instructor at the Pennsylvania College of Art and Design from 2003 to 2006. Roleplaying games After graduation, he moved to New York City and worked in the fantasy role-playing game industry for a few years providing illustrations for various companies, including working for TSR, Inc. as a staff illustrator. Along with Flint Henry, Truman co-authored ' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Steven Grant
Steven Grant (born October 22, 1953) is an American comic book writer best known for his 1985–1986 Marvel Comics mini-series ''The Punisher'' with artist Mike Zeck and for his creator-owned character Whisper. Biography Comic books Grant has a long history scripting for both major publishers such as Marvel Comics and DC Comics, as well as smaller companies such as First Comics and Dark Horse Comics. Beginning in the early 1980s, Grant wrote a number of works for Marvel. In addition to bringing the Punisher back into the forefront of the Marvel Universe after a several-year lull, Grant has written '' The Avengers'', ''The Incredible Hulk'', and fill-in runs on comics such as '' What If?'', ''The Spectacular Spider-Man'', and ''Marvel Team-Up''. Grant wrote a conclusion to Steve Gerber's ''Omega the Unknown'' series in two issues of '' The Defenders'' at the end of which most of the original series' characters were killed. While Gerber seemed unhappy with Grant's conclusion, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Joe Staton
Joe Staton ( born January 19, 1948) is an American comics artist and writer. He co-created the Bronze Age Huntress (Helena Wayne), as well as the third Huntress (Helena Bertinelli), Kilowog and the Omega Men for DC Comics. He was the artist of the '' Dick Tracy'' comic strip from 2011 to October 2021. Early life Joe Staton grew up in Tennessee and graduated from Murray State University in 1970. Career Staton started his comics career at Charlton Comics in 1971 and gained notability as the artist of the super-hero series ''E-Man''. Staton produced art for various comics published by Charlton, Marvel Comics, and Warren Publishing during the 1970s. Hired initially by Roy Thomas to work for Marvel, Staton was then recruited by Paul Levitz to work on DC Comics' revival of the Justice Society of America in ''All Star Comics'' and later '' Adventure Comics''. In these titles he illustrated stories including the origin of the JSA in ''DC Special'' #29 and the death of the Earth-T ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Howard Chaykin
Howard Victor Chaykin (; born October 7, 1950) is an American comic book artist and writer. Chaykin's influences include his one-time employer and mentor, Gil Kane, and the mid-20th century illustrators Robert Fawcett and Al Parker. Early life Howard Chaykin was born in Newark, New Jersey, to Rosalind Pave and Norman Drucker, who soon separated. Chaykin was initially raised by his grandparents in Staten Island, New York City, until his mother married Leon Chaykin in 1953 and the family moved to East Flatbush and later to 370 Saratoga Avenue, Brownsville, Brooklyn. At 14, Reprinted in Chaykin moved with his now divorced mother to the Kew Gardens section of Queens. He said in 2000 he was raised on welfare after his parents separated and that his absent biological father eventually was declared dead, although Chaykin, as an adult, located him alive. Chaykin's "nutty and cruel" adoptive father, whom Chaykin until the 1990s believed was his natural father, encouraged Chaykin's inter ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
