That Ron Dude

You got the inks down.

I laughed long and hard at that one.

I have had a lot of reviews in Canada and one in England. This is the first American review: https://thenerdygirlexpress.com/2016/11/17/the-tower-of-the-comic-book-freaks-calibercomics-review-from-kleffnotes/

Thanks for that comment. I look at it the same way. I wish I could write that succinctly.

Just to make sure you know, it is in no way an autobiographical comic. I was lucky enough go to the New York conventions in the early seventies put on by Phil Seuling. I also went to the Bob Brosch conventions in Detroit. I was even the co-chair of a few conventions in Toronto in the early to mid 1970s. The book reflects upon things I saw but nothing is the same as what I saw. And most of it is just plain made up. The lead character is athletic and I was athletic. He is a Jew. I am a Jew. But he looks like Justin Trudeau. I looked like Howdy Doody. He gets the girl and she looks like Farrah Fawcett. Girls wouldn't even talk to me when I was that age. He becomes the toast of the convention. I was just another short, pimply, slovenly comics fan running around sucking up for sketches. You could call the story a wish fulfillment fantasy but it is in no way autobiographical. The poster for the convention was completely made by me. I did it from a photo I took when I was down there on New Year's Eve two years ago. I aged it following instructions from "Blue Lightning" graphics on youtube. The publisher, Gary Reed, may he rest in peace, thought the poster actually was from an early New York convention and told me he wasn't familiar with "Allan Caldwell". That's because Allan Caldwell doesn't exist except as a character in the story. Kirby and Everett, may they rest in peace too, are minor characters in the story. From very early in the book I am mentioning Kirby as the greatest artist in the history of comics. Lee is mentioned as well, but never shown, as are Heck and Ditko. I wouldn't know how to write a story about comics in the early '70s without mentioning Lee and Kirby. One of the nicest complements I had on the book was someone who read it assumed it to be a collection of things that I had seen, strung together into a story. When I told him that it was not, he complemented me on my writing saying that it is hard to get that level of realism into fiction. I'll end with a joke. "How many new graphic novelists does it take to change a light bulb?" Answer: "Never mind that. Let me tell you about my new graphic novel."

WOW! That is as positive as any review I am going to have! I am humbled before you.

Bear with me. I have crossed a few hurdles. I finished a 216 page story. I found a publisher, Caliber Entertainment. It is being advertised in this month's Previews. The next hurdle is selling enough copies to the comic stores to have Diamond distribute it. So, here is a free offer. Send me a personal mailing. I will send it to you one chapter, about 25 pages at a time, without cost. If you like I will send you the entire book that way. No strings attached. If you like it enough to want a paper copy (and the cost is $18.95) then go to your comic store and order one. Here is a reproduction of the ad from Diamond, a link to Diamond and several images. It is called, "THE TOWER OF THE COMIC BOOK FREAKS". http://www.previewsworld.com/Catalog/NOV161355 Here is the story in few lines: "Fourth of July, 1971. Five awkward, young men drive to New York in search of love, sex, art, comic books and a glimpse at the city's wicked underbelly. What they encounter changes their lives forever. Visit a pivotal time as comics change from a business to an art form. Meet Allan Caldwell, comic artist, blacklisted since the 1950s for his testimony to the Senate Inquiry. Tour the greatest city in America during a period of social disintegration.” Here are some reviews from advance copies sent to well known Canadian comic book professionals and one from a Brit. “This work however is truly novelistic. It’s ambitious in terms of setting, rich characterization and it says something about life. He is in heady company. Kubert, Eisner and Miller spring to mind.” —R.G.Taylor, Co-creator Wordsmith, Artist Sandman Mystery Theater "Great reading for a Sunday afternoon". —Noel Tuazon, New York Times Best Selling Illustrator of Elk's Run "It is utterly wonderful." —Jon Atack, author of Voodoo Child, an account of the life of Jimi Hendrix; Let’s sell the people a a Piece of the Blue Sky, board of directors of the Open Minds Foundation "I like it! It's well told. I'm looking forward to seeing how it develops". —Paul Truster, long time fan who bought Showcase #4 for $3.00 and a Frazetta Johnny Comet for $35.00 "The storytelling looks sold. Ron is a very capable writer. The illustration work is fine. Layout is very good. My two cents worth so far". —Richard Comely, creator of Captain Canuck “'Still, it was nice to think that I could lose my virginity for the price of an X-Men #4,’ is one of the best lines I've read anywhere in any medium. This comic is great fun." —David Cullen, artist for 'Marvel Comics Presents,’ storyboard artist of the tv series, ‘Haven' "In one word...PHENOMENAL." —Stephen Lipson, historian, consultant to the Overstreet Price Guide. "It is a great read. Can't wait for the next.” —Gabriel Morrissette, Co-creator of Northguard and Fleur de Lys, artist of Doc Savage, Spider-man 2099 and Ragman. “Ron Kasman is an unsung genius of Canadian comics.” Mark Shainblum, Co-creator of Northguard and Fleur de Lys, writer of Angloman. "No one has a better insight into the angst, the innocence and the absurdity of young comic nerds during the embryonic days of fandom.” —James Waley, publisher Orb Magazine, Creator of Northern Light. I have no American reviews. I look forward to them. Here are some images. I hope this works. I have been having a lot of trouble with photo bucket recently.

Always love looking at this thread.

That again is a matter of opinion., I think this thead is very important in terms of the future of our comic book world, myself I have been involved over 55 years..you call yourself an "old guy" so I assume you been around for a while also. Let remind you about Robert Bell and a number of big fish of years past never had 11-12 million comic books, of course they have been 30 years of new comics being made. At almost 400,000 ebay listings, that is a stagering number. Those who look far ahead ...are way ahead of the curve....looking down the road is not fun...its a reality check. Good comment. I find the speculation interesting.

Love to look.

I bought from him once. I was completing a collection of about 700 comics from the 1980s and I had 25 to go. Each issue was very close to worthless to anyone but me. I could have spent ten years locating them at conventions for a buck to $2.50 each. He had all but three. I had the half price code and with postage they came to about a hundred dollars. The price at MCS were similar but MH had more of the ones I wanted. All told, I was satisfied with my purchase.

I hope all is well, Top. Thanks for the look at the drawing. Reminds me of John Byrne.

A friend whom I hadn't seen in decades sent me this recently. I had had it printed in his fanzine, well, you can see the year. I was 17 when I did it. I remember doing the drawing while sitting on my bed. It was in vague imitation of Vaughn Bode. It was a very rare female figure that worked for me at that time and I was proud of it when I did it and hope it will be amusing even now. I was no John G. Fantucchio, that's for sure.

Your Jack Kirby could be played by Tom Hanks in a major motion picture The story will be a book. I had to have the cover in about a week ago for the Diamond Catalogue solicitation. The catalogue comes out in January. I suppose the book will come out very soon after that. The story will also be an online story in eight chapters. I submitted the last chapter a couple of hours ago. I am pretty sure none of it has been put up on line yet but it will be very soon. I am hoping for a major motion picture starring Tom Hanks but first I am hoping to break the 600 sales mark. Regardless of sales, I have done the best work I am capable of and somebody (Gary Reed) thinks that it is good enough to go to press and distribute. Wish me luck. Ron

The story has mentions of Kirby going all the way through it but he is not introduced as a character until the last chapter. At that time Kirby is explained in two pages. Here is one of the page.

Sorry about your Mom.

Thanks. Fun going through the site.

This is a page from the upcoming graphic novel, now almost ready for internet publication. Soon after that it will come out as a book. Jack Kirby is an important character in the novel though he doesn't appear until the last ten pages. This page is not yet coloured or sized. It is from a page or two before Kirby walks out on the stage.

Just beautiful.

I will be posting three images. I did these when I was about 14. They were inked (that is, transferred to ditto) and lettered by somebody else but I don't remember who. I had culled them from my stack of work but, since they had gone to ditto there were multiple copies. Lucky me. I keep them in my portfolio now. I hope someone enjoys them.

Hi, Artboy. The Creem cover is a knockout.

Full pager from Chapter Five of the story Tower of the Comic Book Freaks (there are eight chapters).

I am not going to post it right now but my earliest work showing comic book continuity was done at age 15. It was published, if you will, on ditto, and it shows a very young man with no particular talent. It was the start. I worked to improve and when I reached a certain stage I became embarrassed by my earlier work. I destroyed every copy I had. Perhaps twenty years later a friend found a copy in his accumulation. He gave it to me as a birthday gift. It is now in my portfolio.