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Fawcett Collectors Of America
SC: It seemed like there was such a fun atmosphere at Fawcett. We’ve previously published photos of some of the get-togethers and parties, including editor Ginny Provisiero’s Fawcett 10-year anniversary party… JANES: Ginny and Edna Hagen were always man-crazy! Did Ginny ever marry? SC: No, she didn’t. In a big group photo from Will Lieberson’s 10-year anniversary party, those two ladies are the only ones sitting on men’s laps! JANES: They were always looking for men! [both laugh] SC: Do you remember the lawsuit between National (DC) and Fawcett? JANES: Oh boy, do I remember that! We were locked away for days ALTER EGO #167 Salute Golden & Silver Age artist SYDthat SHORES as he’s re- Marvel did trying to come upto with stuff to prove Captain membered by daughter NANCY SHORES KARLEBACH, fellow things beforeartist Superman didDR. them. WeJ. spent many hours looking ALLEN BELLMAN, MICHAEL VASSALLO, and interviewerand RICHARD ARNDT. Plus: mid-1940s “Green Turtle” artthrough comics materials. ist/creator CHU HING profiled by ALEX JAY, JOHN BROOME, MICHAEL T. GILBERT and Mr. Monster on MORT WEISINGER
SC: Did Fawcett supply you with Superman and other comics so that Part Two, and more! you could compare them withFULL-COLOR the “Captain Marvel” (84-page magazine) $9.95 stories? (Digital Edition) $4.99
JANES: Oh, yes. We were given piles of comicbooks to find things https://twomorrows.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=98_55&products_id=1553 that preceded “Superman.” SC: Were you successful in finding anything? JANES: Sure, we found a lot of examples. We found some things that came before a lot of the stuff that Superman was supposed to have originated. We thought we had a strong case and that it wasn’t plagiarism on Fawcett’s part. SC: Who else besides you were assigned to research material for the case? JANES: Edna, Ginny, Dagny [Weste], Wendell Crowley, Al Jetter, Otto Binder, and others. Will Lieberson asked us to do it. SC: Dagny later married Wendell. JANES: I remember the day in 1970 when Will told me Wendell had died. Dagny was Will’s secretary, so that’s how she and Wendell met each other. One time in the comics department we did a circus sideshow skit. Will was the ringleader. Wendell, at 6’8”, was, of course, the giant. Kay Woods was the fat lady; Edna Hagen was the skinny lady; the midget was Bruce Nichols. The strong-man was Roy Ald. Roy Ald used to do handstands during meetings. [both laugh] SC: Did you know that Wendell collected all of Fawcett’s comics while he was working there?
Annette Packer A pic of Fawcett’s comics production supervisor at Will Lieberson’s Fawcett 10-year anniversary party, held on July 11, 1952.
JANES: No, I didn’t, but I once had a collection of comics. I had a wooden chest that my father made for me when I was about 8 years old and, because of my father’s connections in the publishing world, he’d bring home all kinds of comicbooks, including early Superman issues. The chest was full of them! Shortly after I got married, my parents moved from the Bronx to Long Island and they wanted to use that chest, so they threw away all the comicbooks inside of it! [both laugh]
Super-Hero Circus To strengthen their case in the National (DC) vs. Fawcett lawsuit over whether or not Captain Marvel was infringing on Superman’s trademark and copyrights, Janes was among several people at Fawcett assigned to gather material for the defense. When it came to circus covers, at least, C.C. Beck’s for Whiz Comics #6 (July 1940) preceded Paul Cassidy’s for Action Comics #27 (Aug. 1940). [Action cover TM & © DC Comics; Shazam hero TM & © DC Comics.]
