Just finished Men of Tomorrow

[Point Five]

That's great, Mark...I'm enjoying your "comics go to war" thread, and would love to hear your thoughts on Men of Tomorrow once you've had a chance to digest it.

 

I was reading the book again today, and came to the sections about Siegel & Shuster in the early 1930s. The book mentions two Jerry Siegel self-published zines...one called Cosmic Stories which ran for one issue, and one called Science Fiction that ran for at least two issues. This is news to me...very cool. Question to the board, do copies of either one exist today?

[PovertyRow]

Got it some time ago, read the first 16 pages, promptly forgot where I laid it last, and found it behind a chair. Yesterday I resumed my reading. So far just great!

[Scrooge]

two Jerry Siegel self-published zines...one called Cosmic Stories which ran for one issue, and one called Science Fiction that ran for at least two issues. This is news to me...very cool. Question to the board, do copies of either one exist today?

 

I am quite confident that there are (is) Science Fiction copies (copy) in existence. I will have to check tonight in Les Daniels' Superman book to see if there is a replica of it in which case I'll scan it. If not in there, it has been reproduced elsewhere. Anyone remembers off hand where?

[bobpfef]

Looks like the University of Florida has one. This link notes :"An extremely rare comic in the collection is “Reign of Superman,” published in 1933 when Superman was a villain. He later debuted as a hero in 1938’s “Action Comics.”

 

That has to be the third issue of Science Fiction click this for more info

 

 

These fanzines are cool from a comic book perspective, but also from a cultural angle. This is an extremely early example of a sub-culture using mass media to create and maintain its own "fandom"

[Point Five]

Geez, links & info for this incredibly obscure zine in half an hour. You guys are slowing down!

 

These are fantastic. Thanks!

[bobpfef]

Geez, links & info for this incredibly obscure zine in half an hour. You guys are slowing down!

[bobpfef]

two Jerry Siegel self-published zines...one called Cosmic Stories which ran for one issue, and one called Science Fiction that ran for at least two issues. This is news to me...very cool. Question to the board, do copies of either one exist today?

 

I am quite confident that there are (is) Science Fiction copies (copy) in existence. I will have to check tonight in Les Daniels' Superman book to see if there is a replica of it in which case I'll scan it. If not in there, it has been reproduced elsewhere. Anyone remembers off hand where?

 

Overstreet Price Guide #18 has some artwork from Science Fiction in it, but not a complete replica.

[adamstrange]

There are a handful of copies known. Heritage sold a partial set. Sotheby's sold Forrest Ackerman's set (restored). I have looked through them a they are very cool

[adamstrange]

Whatever became of these kids?

 

[PovertyRow]

Adam, that is SO cool!

 

Is it yours?

[adamstrange]

Yes.

 

I will give credit when I lift...uh... link to someone else's material

[bobpfef]

Whatever became of these kids?

 

OH MY GAWD!!!!!!

[Point Five]

That's really, really cool.

 

Men of Tomorrow also singles out this zine as directly influencing Jerry Siegel to create the Science Fiction zine with the "Superman" prototype (though whether that's 100% true or just an assumption, who knows).

 

Wow!

[adamstrange]

That's really, really cool.

 

Men of Tomorrow also singles out this zine as directly influencing Jerry Siegel to create the Science Fiction zine with the "Superman" prototype (though whether that's 100% true or just an assumption, who knows).

 

Wow!

 

I don't know that we that much about the early days "100% true." If you read enough interviews with creators over the years you see inconcistencies in stories over time and between different creators. Hopefully, Gerard Jones has some interview/s with Siegel and/or Shuster speaking to the influence of the Time Traveller. I do have a few more of this series and the next one that I can post.

[esquirecomics]

That's great, Mark...I'm enjoying your "comics go to war" thread, and would love to hear your thoughts on Men of Tomorrow once you've had a chance to digest it.

 

Well, it only took 3 months but the trip out to San Diego for the Comic-Con finally allowed me to finish the book. I really enjoyed it. The history was wonderful.

 

I was stunned by several things:

 

* exactly how terrible Siegel and Shuster were treated, and how sad their stories and demises were, Massive kudos to Jerry Robinson (is he still among us?) who led the charge to ensure they and their families were taken care of;

 

* how unfavorable Kane was portrayed;

 

* how connected the creation of the modern comic book empire was to organized crime and the pornography industry; and

 

* how extensive the Jewish domination was of the early years. As one who is Jewish, this was of particular interest to me. Even Dr. Wertham was Jewish!!!!

 

I found the endnotes very helpful though, as others have pointed out, they could have been more detailed given the indepth treatment of the topics.

 

One of the best books on comic history no doubt!

 

[adamstrange]

Jerry Robinson was at the con.

 

From what I've heard, my guess is that Neal Adams was as helpful as Jerry was. Both were important in helping S/S get a good deal.

 

I've read/heard a lot of comments about Bob Kane. None were really positive, most were negative.

[esquirecomics]

Jerry Robinson was at the con.