Alter Ego #68 by TwoMorrows Publishing

Roy T Thomas homas’ Jerry-Built Jerry-Built Roy Comics F Fanzine anzine Comics

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JERRY BAILS 6.95 $

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No. 68 May 2007

Art & Artifacts by: PÉREZ KUBERT INFANTINO KANE GIBBONS ISABELLA CARDY LEVITZ DITKO ORDWAY BUCKLER VOSBURG SWAYZE GILBERT SCHELLY HAMERLINCK AMASH THOMAS and more! BONUS!

STAR WARS TURNS 30! The Secret Origin Behind Marvel’s 1977 Comic! PLUS:

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82658 27763

Vol. 3, No. 68 / May 2007 Editor Roy Thomas

™

This issue is respectfully dedicated to the memory of

Jerry G. Bails

Associate Editors Bill Schelly Jim Amash

Design & Layout Christopher Day

Consulting Editor John Morrow

FCA Editor P.C. Hamerlinck

Comic Crypt Editor Michael T. Gilbert

Editorial Honor Roll Jerry G. Bails (founder) Ronn Foss, Biljo White

Editor Emeritus Mike Friedrich

Production Assistant

Contents

Chris Irving

Circulation Director Bob Brodsky, Cookiesoup Periodical Distribution, LLC

Writer/Editorial: Comics Fandom’s Johnny Appleseed . . . . . 2 “An Instigator With Vision” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Cover Artist

A celebration of Jerry G. Bails (1933-2006), by Bill Schelly.

George Pérez

Of Fans And Fandom: The Jerry Bails Interview. . . . . . . . . . . 8

Cover Colorist Tom Smith

With Special Thanks to: Jack Adams Heritage Comics Heidi Amash Rick Hoberg Michael Ambrose Tom Horvitz Bob Bailey Tony Isabella Jeff Bailey Glen Johnson Jean Bails Sean Kleefeld Michael Baulderstone Alan Kupperberg Daniel Best Steve Leialoha Murray Bishoff Paul Levitz Rich Buckler Ralph Macchio Dominic Bongo John & Gillian Ray Bottorff, Jr. Moores Lance “Doc” & Brian K. Morris Krista Boucher Owen O’Leary Jerry K. Boyd Jerry Ordway Mark Burbey Fred Patten Mike Burkey George Pérez Howard Chaykin Steven Rowe John Cochran Bob Rozakis Jen Contino Steve Sansweet Teresa R. Davidson Joan Schenkar Fred deBoom Howard Siegel Dwight Decker Joe Simon Craig Delich Gerry Sorek Al Dellinges Joe Staton Tony DeZuniga Dave Stevens “Don Markstein’s Cory Strode Toonpedia” Ed Summer Lance Falk Marc Swayze Michael Feldman Dann Thomas Shane Foley Mike Tiefenbacher Todd Franklin Dr. Michael J. Mike Friedrich Vassallo Carl Gafford Mike Vosburg Dave Gibbons Murray Ward Janet Gilbert Hames Ware Mike Gold Ted White David Hajdu Joseph Wise Jennifer Hamerlinck Bill Wray Irwin Hasen John Wright

A 2004 e-mail talk with the founder of comics fandom, by Sean Kleefeld.

The Future Of Fandom—Unlimited! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Even back in 1962, Jerry Bails pointed the way for future research.

Memoirs Of Jean Bails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Life with Jerry & comics fandom.

Tributes To Jerry G. Bails. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 A handful of homages to a man who deserves them all—and more!

Mr. Monster’s Comic Crypt!: Alter-Ego’s Baby Brother! . . . . 47 Michael T. Gilbert tells the story of The Comicollector—Jerry Bails’ second fanzine.

“We Were A Wonderful Match!” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Jim Amash interviews Hames Ware, Jerry's co-editor of the 1970s Who’s Who.

Star Wars: The Comic Book That Saved Marvel! . . . . . . . . . 63 Think we’re kidding? The secrets behind Roy Thomas & Howard Chaykin’s 1977 classic.

FCA (Fawcett Collectors Of America) #127 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 P.C. Hamerlinck presents Marc Swayze, C.C. Beck, & Captain Marvel’s 1940 American cities tour. About Our Cover: Let’s hear it for George Pérez, who gave us his blessing to use a previously unprinted Justice Society illustration of his as our cover tribute to Jerry Bails. “I’d be honored,” was his reply to our request. George, of course, drew some of the best-looking JLA-JSA teamups ever, back in the early 1980s. The photo of Jerry on the cover first appeared in Alter Ego [Vol. 1] #5 in 1962-63; it was digitally enhanced by Bill Schelly. [Justice Society of America TM & ©2007 DC Comics.] Above: Various JSAers from Earth-Two occasionally appeared, as well, in other Silver Age DC comics—as per this pair of panels from The Flash #170 (May 1967), with art by Carmine Infantino (pencils) & Sid Greene (inks); script by Gardner Fox. Repro’d from a photocopy of the original art, which was owned for some years by Jerry Bails. [©2007 DC Comics.] Alter EgoTM is published monthly by TwoMorrows, 10407 Bedfordtown Drive, Raleigh, NC 27614, USA. Phone: (919) 449-0344. Roy Thomas, Editor. John Morrow, Publisher. Alter Ego Editorial Offices: 32 Bluebird Trail, St. Matthews, SC 29135, USA. Fax: (803) 826-6501; e-mail: roydann@ntinet.com. Send subscription funds to TwoMorrows, NOT to the editorial offices. Single issues: $9 ($11.00 outside the US). Twelve-issue subscriptions:$72 US, $132 Canada, $144 elsewhere. All characters are © their respective companies. All material © their creators unless otherwise noted. All editorial matter © Roy Thomas. Alter Ego is a TM of Roy & Dann Thomas. FCA is a TM of P.C. Hamerlinck. Printed in Canada. ISSN: 1932-6890 FIRST PRINTING.

writer/editorial

Comics Fandom’s Johnny Appleseed W

1940s, when and where they appeared, etc.—an index with a real difference, and that filled a very real need;

hat can I say about Jerry Bails that I didn’t say back in Alter Ego #25, when I managed to surprise my old friend by devoting a cover and a couple of dozen pages of coverage to him on the occasion of his 70th birthday?

(l) and, of course, what must rank as Jerry’s most important contribution to the field and history of comics: the 1970s Who’s Who of American Comic Books, at least as he later mutated it into:

I don’t want to repeat here the oft-told tales of how DC writer Gardner Fox put Jerry and me in touch with each other in November 1960 by sending me Jerry’s Detroit address, or of how Jerry put together the original fanzine version of this magazine after a New York visit with DC editor Julius Schwartz in February of 1961. If you want to read my account of those events, A/E #25 is still on sale through TwoMorrows.

(m) the massive online Who’s Who of American Comic Books (1928-1999). [See p. 4.]

Arguably, there are a couple of other “firsts” Jerry could have laid claim to, as well… but he was never one for selfJerry (left) and Roy in Chicago, 1997, for the Fandom Reunion Luncheon. Photo courtesy of Jean Bails. aggrandizement…or for hogging credit. Still, an unfamiliar reader should know Without consulting me, he officially named precisely why this publication is celebrating me “co-editor” of the first few issues of Alter-Ego, even though I did this man’s life and accomplishments. After all, his name is hardly as no editing whatsoever, but merely wrote and drew material he edited. well known as that of last issue’s interviewee Bob Oksner, or next He acknowledged his debt to Hames Ware, who was so important to month’s Paul Norris and Ramona Fradon. And so, leaning in part on the 1970s Who’s Who, by duly listing him as co-editor of that fourBill Schelly’s accounting of “Jerry Bails’ Ten Building Blocks of volume publication. Fandom” in A/E #25, I’ll briefly list his major achievements. Simply put, Jerry was either a primary or the sole creator of: (a) the first fanzine (Alter-Ego) wholly devoted to comic books, in March-April 1961; (b) the first comic book “adzine,” dedicated to advertisements for buying and selling old comics, later in 1961; (c) the first “newszine,” devoted to news of upcoming comics, likewise in 1961; (d) the first organization made up of fans of the field, the Academy of Comic-Book Fans and Collectors, also in 1961; (e) the first awards presented for excellence in comic book work (the Alleys, first given out by the Academy in 1962 for ’61);

Jerry was, to the extent any one person could be, the founder of modern comics fandom. He was also my great and good friend, even though the two of us met face to face on fewer than a dozen occasions during the almost precisely 46 years I knew him, from November of 1960 till he passed away—in his sleep, just as he said he’d like to do but didn’t feel he would—on Thanksgiving of 2006. The only time he’d become sharp with me, at least via cyberspace, was concerning my innate unwillingness to learn any more about PCs than I absolutely had to. “Oh, you are hopeless!” he chided me once… then gave me a digital lecture on how I could move one more evolutionary rung up the ladder and away from what he perceived as my luddite tendencies.

(f) the first orderly microfilming of 1940s comic books, begun in the mid-1960s;

Only a couple of weeks before he passed away, he sent to me—as he did, in various forms, to a number of people who he felt had been important in his life—a letter of farewell. I quote from it now, with his wife Jean’s permission:

(g) the first published super-hero comic book indexes, an All-Star Comics Index and a DC Index; (h) the “first sizable gathering of comics fans,” the “Alley Tally” held on March 21-22, 1964, to count the Alley Award ballots for 1963;

Dear Roy,

(i) the first “fandom directory,” the 1964 Who’s Who in Comic Fandom; (j) CAPA-alpha, the first comic book “apa”—a compendium of the minifanzines of a number of fans, distributed by a Central Mailer; (k) Collector’s Guide: The First Heroic Age, the first publication to list virtually all the super-heroes of the

Jerry at the University of Chicago, 1960, shortly before graduation… and less than a year before he launched Alter-Ego and comics fandom. Thanks to Jean Bails.

I suspect that any time now you’ll be hearing from Jean or Ray [Bottorff] that I have died. I am suffering 2 or more severe angina attacks a day now, and have a persistent sharp chest pain that even the nitro doesn’t totally eliminate. I take massive numbers of drugs at noon and midnight and find that 11 o’clock is becoming a terror to get through. I refuse to go into the hospital because I have other conditions that are more likely to cause even more prolonged pain, and I have no desire ever to be in a hospital again. I am just wishing to die peacefully in

Comics Fandom’s Johnny Appleseed

my sleep. (Ha! Ha! I don’t believe it. The pain would wake me up.).... I just want you to know that I have always valued our friendship. You have always been a loyal, thoughtful, considerate friend whose career has given me additional pleasure to follow. Had I come along a little later, I might have tried for a career in comics myself, but a letter from Al Feldstein in 1951 (my senior year in high school) persuaded me that, although I had some talent, freelancing wasn’t a lifestyle I would’ve excelled at. A Victor Wilson Scholarship and subsequent success in mathematics and science proved more attractive to me. I’m happy with the path I chose. It is strange to be better known for one of my hobbies Two of Jerry’s drawings—his than for the decades I spent in “winning cartoon” of the early other activities. For example, I 1940s (its “source,” as he hints in have always been politically his letter, being a patriotic drawing active. In the mid-1950s, my adapted from the “Minute-Man” Nigerian friend (Enoinabi Obi) comics-style pamphlet sent out to and I helped organize swimming members of the Junior Justice parties to help keep open the Society of America), and a 1960s public swimming pool in Kansas portrait of Jean. City’s famous Swope Park. Racists were threatening to see it closed. Also in the 1950s, I was active in amateur astronomy and in political movements to end atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons. This was a time when few people understood the dangers of Strontium-90 or the prospects of space science. I conducted weekly classes and star parties at the museum in K.C. On one occasion, Sputnik passed over twice. Between the two observations, I had my mouth going for the full ninety minutes, lecturing my captured audience on what the space age meant. I was 24 years old. Shortly after I moved to Detroit in 1960, I counseled young men wanting to take C.O. status during the Vietnam War. I met Jean in the antiwar movement of the mid-60s. At 20, she ran a weekend retreat and regular workshops for faculty and students opposed to wars in S.E. Asia. She impressed me immediately. We both participated in that million-person march around the Pentagon that helped Johnson decide not to re-run for President. We were part of the response to the Saturday Night Massacre that drove Nixon from office. We have both supported human rights and gay rights from Day One. I’ve been extremely lucky to be married to one of the most amazing women whom I have ever met…. I could go on and on about Jean. She was a cancer nurse, created a grassroots environmental group that cleaned up (literally) after State Fairs, and closed hundreds of school incinerators through Michigan that were exposing kids to fly ash and toxic fumes.... My own life has been full, too. I manage to write and edit a dozen educational TV programs on evolution (distributed by the Annenberg Foundation), edited a book on microphysics for lay people, wrote a dissertation in semiotics that I still feel has merit nearly a half century later, wrote scores of essays and a book on the history and impact of technology that I used for years. I led weekend conferences on China, the Middle East, South Africa, Human Sexuality, the Impact of Technology, the English Language, the Arts of Paris, Weimar, and New York, and many other themes. I had a ball teaching. It is something I always loved doing.

I never wanted to be famous, and was really uncomfortable with the inordinate attention I sometimes got at comics conventions. Comics Fandom would have happened without me, I’m sure. I just happened to be the right age to ride the crest of the first nostalgia wave. I’m glad I was there. I made great friends, and fanac [fan activity] saved my sanity during some hard times. It’s a pleasure to see so many of these friends have enjoyed careers in comics. I’ll close by sending along a few drawings. Two I did in the late 60s to early 70s. (I later did a few pastels of Kirk in his infancy, but they are of interest only to a proud papa.) Some young fans may be encouraged to pursue an art career if they see where I started at the age of 8.... Recognize the source of this one? Stay as young at heart as you have always been, and you’ll be bringing great joy to others for a long time to come. I love you, buddy. Bestest, Jerry I love you, too, Jerry. At this point, I’ll step aside and let others talk about their experiences with and knowledge of Jerry G. Bails. Even the truncated list in this issue of A/E includes some of his earliest fannish friends, and people he “met” via e-mail only during the last year or so of his life… several comic book professionals, and those to whom fandom itself was and is a way of life, needing no further fulfillment… those who spent days or weeks in his presence over the years, and those who never so much as saw him in the flesh but only corresponded with him through the ether. And his wife Jean. His partner over the last four decades of his life, and his anchor in only the best sense of that word. We have all been touched by Jerry Bails and what he did… as have been many who have never even heard of him, yet use the Grand Comic-Book Database or the online Who’s Who, both e-outgrowths of his early impulse to index, to organize… and, above all, to disseminate. For Jerry Bails was the Johnny Appleseed of comics fandom. He has moved on, and his like shall not pass this way again. But what he has sown will be with us for the rest of our lives. Bestest,

P.S.: The Motor City Comic Con, held at the Rock Financial Showplace in Novi, Michigan, on May 18-20, 2007, will include a “Celebration of Jerry's Life,” hosted by Jean Bails. Check out http://www.motorcityconventions.com/motor_city_comic_con P.P.S.: Our letters section will return next issue.

The WHO’S WHO of American Comic Books (1928-1999) FREE – online searchable database – FREE http://www.bailsprojects.com No password required

A quarter of a million records, covering the careers of people who have contributed to original comic books in the US. Created by Jerry G. Bails Panel from a neverpublished “Green Lantern” story drawn by Paul Reinman, circa 1945. Thanks to Dominic Bongo and Heritage Comics. [©2007 DC Comics.]

COMING IN JUNE

RAMONA FRADON, PAUL NORRIS, & AQUAMAN —NOT NECESSARILY IN THAT ORDER! • Fabulous full-color Aquaman cover by JOHN WATSON—from an illustration by RAMONA FRADON! • In-depth interviews with two of the Sea King’s greatest delineators—co-creator PAUL NORRIS (also artist of Sandman, Yank & Doodle, Brick Bradford, et al.) & Golden/Silver Age stalwart RAMONA FRADON (also artist of Metamorpho, Plastic Man, Fantastic Four, Brenda Starr, et al.)—plus rare art by SIMON & KIRBY, GROTHKOPF, KANE, GRAY, EVERETT, GLANZMAN, COLE, CANIFF, & others! • “Maritime Passages!” A lushly illustrated history of Aquaman by JOHN WELLS, featuring art by NORRIS, FRADON, DALY, CAZENEUVE, CARDY, APARO, etc.! • FCA with MARC SWAYZE & more of Captain Marvel’s city stopovers— MICHAEL T. GILBERT & the BOB POWELL Family Album, Part III—& MORE! Edited by ROY THOMAS Comics.] [Aquaman TM & ©2007 DC

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“An Instigator With Vision” A Celebration Of Jerry G. Bails (1933-2006) by Bill Schelly

he news of Jerry Bails’ passing spread like wildfire on the Internet on Thanksgiving Day 2006, coming as a shock in various degrees to everyone who heard it. Some were doubtless unaware of the health problems that had plagued Jerry’s latest years, perhaps assuming by the level of his activity in newsgroups that the 73-year-old was doing fine. Those who knew of the man’s heart problems and other physical ailments were also susceptible to surprise at the unhappy news on November 23rd, because they hoped Jerry’s illnesses weren’t as serious as he made them out to be.

After the shock and sadness, Jerry’s passing is an occasion that causes us to consider how different our fannish world today would be if he hadn’t had the vision and desire to instigate so many projects in the early 1960s. What, we ask ourselves, would our collective history have been like without the efforts of this brilliant Midwesterner? America’s breadbasket was the birthplace of many of the early movers and shakers in comic fandom (or comics fandom, if you prefer), including Bill Thailing, Ronn Foss, Mike Vosburg, Grass Green, Don Glut, Larry Raybourne, Don & Maggie Thompson, Roy Thomas, and Biljo White. Of all those in the Midwest, probably the most active from 1960 to 1965 was Jerry G. Bails, Ph.D., a young college professor living in Detroit, Michigan. For Indianapolis-based Ed Lahmann, getting a letter published in one of his favorite Schwartz-edited DC Comics was a thrill, but nothing compared to the excitement and exultation he felt when he received his first issue of Alter-Ego (then hyphenated), a magazine

A Trace Of The Past (Left:) In 1961’s Alter-Ego #1, Jerry Bails traced off an Irwin Hasen illo of The Wizard from All-Star Comics #34 (1947) to head his article on that malevolent mage; it was Jerry’s first art for his new fanzine, not counting his tracing/rearranging of Roy Thomas’ cover. In 1988, Al Dellinges traced Jerry’s spirit-duplicator-purple image in ink, and that’s what is reproduced here. [Wizard TM & ©2007 DC Comics.] (Above:) Bill Schelly (on left) and Jerry in 1997, at the Comic Fandom Reunion Luncheon, held at the same time as the Chicago Comics Convention. (Photographer uncertain… but we’ll send him a free copy of this issue if he gives us a holler.) At that time, Bill and Roy’s trade paperback Alter Ego: The Best of the Legendary Comics Fanzine, reprinting the best of the first (1961-78) volume of A/E, was about to be published. A 10th-anniversary reissue of that out-of-print volume is planned for autumn of this year.

devoted exclusively to the appreciation of comic books… and mostly to super-hero ones, at that. The “fanzine” came unsolicited, because Jerry sent out “sample issues” of A-E to dozens of addressees that he found in DC letter columns in 1961. His mission was to round up as many comic book fans as possible. In its earliest stages, Jerry Bails’ “outreach” was partly a way for him to canvas for people with old comic books for sale or trade. His early letters were sent in pursuit of data about those Golden Age classics: the publishers, the writers, the artists, the editors, and the comic book production shops. Thus, from its inception in March 1961, Alter-Ego (a title that reflected Jerry’s interest in psychology, besides echoing a common aspect of the comic book super-hero) carried articles about comics of the past, alongside requests for more data, as well as want lists of the fanzine’s editor(s).

Nobody’d Dare Rain On This Parade! It’s well known that Alter-Ego—and thus Jerry’s involvement with other comics fans—grew out of his enthusiasm for the Justice League of America as a quasi-revival of the 1940s Justice Society of America. So it was a real turning point when Jerry received from DC, in the summer of 1960, a postcard sporting the above Mike Sekowsky/Bernard Sachs art…no doubt sent because of his letters to editor Julius Schwartz. From the Jerry Bails Archives, courtesy of Jean Bails. [©2007 DC Comics.]

OF FANS & FANDOM The JERRY BAILS Interview by Sean Kleefeld

OTE: The following is a relatively rare thing—an actual interview with Jerry G. Bails conducted in the past few years. It appeared on the website The Pulse (www.comicon.com/pulse) and was conducted by Sean Kleefeld, at the suggestion of Jen Contino, via several e-mail sessions in late July and early August 2004. The text is ©2007 Sean Kleefeld. His introduction to the piece has been omitted here, as it consists mostly of a brief overview of early fandom such as is covered elsewhere in this issue. We’re profoundly appreciative of Sean for giving us his blessing to reprint the piece, as it represents one of the last interviews Jerry gave. Sean also remarked on the enthusiasm with which Jerry spoke, despite his ill health at the time. —Roy. KLEEFELD: Between Roy [Thomas] and Bill [Schelly], I think they have indeed covered much of what you did and how you fit in the history of fandom, but I’d like to take a look at why you fit in the history of fandom. When you first discovered the Justice Society, what was your reaction? Most of the characters hadn’t been around very long prior to All-Star #3; were you already familiar with the Flash, Green Lantern, et al.?

JERRY BAILS: Yes, I was familiar with all the cover features of DC’s monthlies. I was wearing a Superman sweatshirt in 1940 in a family photo. At that time, I was hooked on afternoon radio series. The first ones that I recall were Jimmie Allen (a young aviator) and Little Orphan Annie. As the war progressed, I could instantly identify just about every airplane widely used by Allied and Axis forces. Despite living in the city called the Heart of America (Kansas City, Missouri), I was keenly aware of every plane that flew overhead, and took pride in identifying them. During a practice blackout in 1943, I was quarantined for three weeks with polio, and my two brothers and older sister were staying with relatives. My mom and I took the blackout very seriously, and I covered even the small light coming from our old Admiral radio, which served as my entertainment center throughout my entire childhood. (Well, at least until I put together my own crystal set to receive radio programs in my bedroom.) Annie offered the first radio premium I recall

What’s Past Is Prologue (Top left:) Jerry Bails was always intrigued by technology and the future— and used a bit of digital magic to enhance one of his own photos, a couple of years back. He titled the one at top left “Gramps.” He was equally interested in the past, of course, and reveled in the completion of the hardcover color reprinting of all 12 volumes of the All Star Comics Archives by DC. Above is the great retro illo by Peter Poplaski used as the cover of Vol. 5, repro’d from a scan of the original art, retrieved from the Heritage Comics Archives by the ever-watchful Dominic Bongo. [Art ©2007 DC Comics.]

ordering. It was a big map-like fold-out with magic tricks and cryptograms. This began my fascination with cyphers. My mother taught me how to break simple substitution codes, and I corresponded during the war with my older sister’s boyfriend, who was in the Signal Crop, asking him all sorts of questions. I came up with a scheme to destroy letter frequency in English messages (similar to that which I offered in Alter-Ego #1), only to discover that it had been invented before. But that only encouraged me. Radio adventures and the adventurous Sunday funnies set me up for enjoying comic books. I own the entire year 1940-41 of Jack

You Don’t Know Jack! Photos of the cast of the radio adventure series Jack Armstrong, the All-American Boy are hard to come by… but at least the unidentified artist who drew the cover of issue #1 of his Parents’ Institute-published comic book (dated Nov. 1947) knew what he should look like! [©2007 the respective copyright holders.]

Of Fans And Fandom

Armstrong, still my all-time favorite adventure show. It highlighted photoluminescence (green ring that glowed in the dark), a pedometer, an autogyro, walkie-talkies, and lots of good stuff about sailing vessels, the Philippines, and the South China Sea. It is unsurpassed: a brilliant show for kids, and I love it as an adult. I also loved the technological innovations in the Dick Tracy syndicated strip. The first such innovation that I recall was a submarine-tank. I wish I knew how early that strip appeared. I devoured every word. All-Star Comics [soon became] as a bimonthly, and despite the intention that it remain on the stands for two months, it seldom lasted that long. The glut of monthlies coming in each week prompted many retailers to drop unsold copies after a week or so into a box for return credit. They just didn’t have enough room for all the titles coming out. Because of the short shelf time, I missed the “Justice Society” until I spied All-Star #6, with Johnny Thunder’s initiation. All those heroes together in one story was really a new wonder to me. I held on to that issue for years, re-reading it (along with my brother) until the cover and the outer fold was gone, alone with the centerfold. I finally passed that particular All-Star along to Roy Thomas in 1960, since by then I had acquired the two bound volumes from author Gardner Fox. These contained issues #1-24. These volumes cost me the princely sum in 1959 of $75. I felt a little guilty spending that much, but I had been looking for those issues since 1945. Until I was 12, it never dawned on me to buy two copies of anything. The Depression and World War II had taught thrift. Kids wore hand-me-down clothes, and the

Crime On His Hands It was August of 1945 when Jerry’s mother (shown above in this 1930s photo) brought him home a copy of the Lev Gleason comic Crime Does Not Pay while he was bedridden; so it might have been the Nov. 1945 issue (#42) with cover art probably by coeditor Charles Biro. [©2007 the respective copyright holders.]

Jerry Gets—Well, Not Quite A Hotfoot Jerry (seen with his father in 1942) always said that the first issue of AllStar Comics he ever saw was #6 (1941). So, for the heading of this month’s “re:” section, Australian artist Shane Foley drew a pic with JGB replacing Johnny Thunder in that issue’s cover situation, being watched over by our “maskots” Alter Ego (left) and Captain Ego. Only thing is—there’s no LP this ish, so we figured we’d print Shane’s clever illo here! [All-Star art ©2007 DC Comics; “re:” art ©2007 Shane Foley; Alter Ego TM & ©2007 Roy & Dann Thomas; Captain Ego TM & ©2007 Roy Thomas & Bill Schelly.]

knees in our corduroys were frequently patched. It was no shame. Everyone in working-class America did it. As I have related elsewhere, my initial effort to preserve my favorite adventures was to cut and paste them into scrapbooks. I still have a couple of my favorite shots enlarged as color photostats adorning my office wall. Only about 1945 did I realize the desire to preserve the issues intact, and I began a hunt for back issues. There were no backissues comics stores, to my knowledge. In those days, the regular paper drives had pretty well sucked up all the scrap paper. Schoolyards were piled high with newspapers and magazines for the war drive. By 1945, a lot depended upon finding people who hoarded old magazines and comics, or saved them to trade. Comics were traded freely all during the 1940s. In that way, I got to read just about all the comics that interested me and then some. SK: One of the classic fan stories I’ve heard repeatedly was that a child, bed-ridden with some ailment, found much of their solace in comic books. You mention radio as a significant pastime, but I’m curious if you became more engrossed in your comics during that period, as well. BAILS: I was already hooked on comics, but I took every advantage of the attention my mother gave me to get two of my favorite things: chocolate revel ice cream every afternoon when the ice cream truck came by (it was late August), and comics in the evening when my Mom would go to the drug store. Of course, I asked her to get any AllStar she could find. No issue came out during that interminable 3-week

The Jerry Bails Interview

…When Good Friends Get Together Maybe this page of original art from Jerry’s longtime collection is the reason he’s sporting what wife Jean describes as a “nice smile” in this 2003 photo she sent. The page—script by Gardner Fox, art by Dick Dillin & Sid Greene—is from Justice League of America #64 (Aug. 1968), but spotlights heroes of the Justice Society. It seemed a fitting cap to this interview with Jerry, to whom both groups were of supreme importance. [JLA page ©2007 DC Comics.]

newspaper and layout editor of the yearbook, but I was not putting as much time in drawing as I know was needed by someone wanting an art career. Besides, I loved science and university life and spent the next 45 years totally nestled in academia. Comics became one of three legs on which my life was built. My profession, my family, and my hobby. Comics remained a good supporting hobby, saving my sanity when other areas of my life weren’t doing so well, but I have never regretted not pursuing a career as a freelancer. I wasn’t cut out for it. I still dig out my old drawings from time to time, and occasionally did pastels of my youngest son the first several years of his life. I think all fans have some streak in them to write or draw. Comics are a very involving medium. SEAN KLEEFELD’s lifelong interest in comics broadened to include an active interest in comics fandom several years ago. He keeps threatening to write a book on the subject, but until then, he can be found writing “Incidental Iconography” for The Jack Kirby Collector and updating his daily blog at http://kleefeldoncomics.blogspot.com

The Future of Fandom — UNLIMITED! by Dr. Jerry G. Bails, Ph.D. Originator of the comic hero fanzine, former editor of Alter Ego, Publishing Editor of The Comic Reader… [NOTE: The following piece, including subtitle, appeared in A/E [“Vol. 1”] #5, cover-dated “Winter 1962-63,” the first of the two issues edited and published by Ronn Foss, after inheriting the fanzine from Jerry. The article amply demonstrates Jerry’s prescience in pointing out directions comics fandom might take, only two years after it had been launched with the appearance of Alter-Ego, Comic Art, and a burgeoning number of zines. By the way, it was probably Ronn’s idea, not Jerry’s, to add that “Ph.D.” after his byline. —Roy.]

hen Alter Ego first appeared, a skeptical reviewer in one of those “established” science-fiction fanzines offered his opinion that a fanzine devoted to costumed heroes would soon run out of material, fans would lose interest, and the zine would die an early death. Well, that was two years ago. Today, Alter Ego is probably the most widely circulated fanzine on six continents, and its distribution is still growing. And as for material, we have only just scratched the surface of the great wealth of material on costumed heroes. Just let me suggest to you some of the many possible topics for articles. Hopefully, maybe I can persuade you to research one of these topics and come up with an article. In this matter, I would be more than happy to help in any way I can to locate material or assist in preparing an article for publication. Of course, there is the article dealing with the history of a strip, comic magazine, publishing group, or an individual pro. However, there are many unique ways to approach these subjects. For example, an article could compare similar strips. Roy Thomas once suggested “The Cult of Mercury” as the title for a study of The Flash and all his imitators. Then, an article could easily be written which focuses on a villain or villains of a popular strip. (I’ve promised myself that one day soon I’ll write the second part of my Green Lantern article, which would tell the story of the original GL’s greatest enemies as seen through the eyes of his sidekick, Doiby Dickles—and by golly I will.)

A third theme for an article might be a study of the problems of identifying and distinguishing pencil artists and inkers. I intend to use these pages myself to comment on my 18-year study of art styles, and I’d enjoy hearing from other fen on the subject. [CURRENT A/E EDITOR’S NOTE: “Fen” was a word used in comics fandom at that time as the plural of “fan.” Comics fandom had appropriated it from the older science-fiction fandom.] But let’s not forget that the comic book is not the only medium in which the costumed hero has appeared. Remember the great radio serials of the ’40s? There were Superman, Captain Midnight, The Shadow, Green Hornet, The Lone Ranger, and a variety of noncostumed adventure heroes deserving of attention. I remember in particular exciting adventures of Jack Armstrong, Hop Harrigan (from the pages of All-American Comics), Terry and the Pirates, Tom Mix, and Buck Rogers. Surely, somewhere the original scripts for these famous radio shows exist.

The Way Of All-Flash (Top left:) Dr. Jerry G. Bails circa 1961—perhaps an official photo taken at Wayne State University, where he then taught—and the only image that accompanied his article when it appeared in Ronn Foss’ premier issue of Alter Ego. Fortunately, we can do a bit better this time around. Thanks to Bill Schelly for the touch-up. (Above:) Jerry speaks, at left, of Roy Thomas’ idea for a fanzine article on “The Flash and all his imitators.” Boy, they’d both have been happy to have this copy of the original art for a splash page from the climactic chapter of the full-length story in All-Flash Quarterly #4 (Spring 1942)—but it was probably sent by artist E.E. Hibbard during an exchange of letters Jerry had with Hibbard in the mid-1970s. From the Jerry Bails Archives, courtesy of Jean Bails. [©2007 DC Comics.]

Perhaps someone even has access to transcriptions or tape recordings of the more exciting episodes. I’m sure many older fans remember when Batman and Robin guest-starred on the Superman radio show. They may even recall the famous mystery thriller, “The [Continued on p. 22]

Tributes To JERRY G. BAILS B

A Handful Of Homages To A Man Who Deserves Them All—And More

ecause of limited space, Alter Ego did not widely solicit tributes to Jerry for this issue. Crom knows, we could certainly have filled an entire issue with instances of fans and pros who were influenced by and/or benefited from his many comics-related projects over the years… to say nothing of his more academic or personal accomplishments. But we did want to present this less-than-random sampling of comments by his friends, admirers, and adherents… some of whom responded to our request for photographs of themselves. We begin with that of one who represents the twin worlds of fandom and pro-dom….

Tony Isabella Writer and editor for Marvel in the 1970s, creator of Black Lightning, and contributing editor of Comics Buyer’s Guide. He can be found online at www.worldfamouscomics.com/tony. The following is reprinted with permission, with slight editing, from Tony’s Online Tips for Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2006. Jerry Bails. June 26, 1933 – November 23, 2006. I was writing yesterday’s column when I received the sad news that Jerry Bails had suffered a heart attack in his sleep and died. That was last Thursday, Thanksgiving, and it was probably good that all I was doing was editing alreadywritten reviews for the column.

postal mail, or online, if it weren’t for Jerry. He was at the forefront of just about every important event in the early days of comics fandom. It’s not an exaggeration to call him the father of comics fandom and, by extension, to proclaim that he also had a profound effect on the comics industry. I consider all the activities, magazines, and ventures Jerry started or of which he was a participant. Was not Alter-Ego something of a stepping-stone for the long career of editor and writer Roy Thomas, who, in turn, brought so many others into the field? Didn’t Jerry’s On the Drawing Board beget The Comic Reader, which was something of a stepping-stone for a young Paul Levitz, also a fine editor and writer, and currently President and Publisher of DC Comics? How about CAPA-alpha, the first comics apa, which has been running for four decades and which currently reached its 500th issue? The ever-changing roster of that organization includes most of our finest comics historians and literally dozens of comics pros, myself included. He was involved in the earliest comics adzines [founding The Comicollector in 1961], leading to Alan Light’s The Buyer’s Guide to Comics Fandom, a publication now better known as Comics Buyer’s Guide… and who do we know who writes for that? There’s the Alley Awards, the first recognition of excellence in the American comic book field. There’s The Who’s Who of American Comic Books, the first of Jerry’s unending efforts to identify the men and women who made the comics, to give credit in an industry where credit was so often denied and so greatly due. I bought the first (of four) volumes in 1973, and ever since, it has been within close range of, originally, my typewriter, and, today, my keyboard. Few weeks go by without my using it, even though Jerry eventually put

I don’t think I could have finished an all-new column. Later that evening and into the wee small hours of the morning, I was getting ready for Mid-Ohio-Con, and it suddenly hit me that I wouldn’t be going there if it weren’t for Jerry Bails. I wouldn’t be communicating with fans in person, or via

Fate Is The Hunter Jerry Bails (left) and Tony Isabella (right) were both at the 1997 Fandom Reunion Luncheon held in Chicago—just not in the same photo, that’s all! They’re looking admiringly at a Dr. Fate commission drawing by Jerry Ordway, who was likewise present (and provided this art). [Dr. Fate TM & ©2007 DC Comics.]

Tributes To Jerry G. Bails

the data—updated, of course—online. Jerry was changing my life even before I met him in person. I don’t think I would ever have considered a career in comics without having been part of comics fandom as a teenager. When I did meet him, he was every bit as generous, kind, and just plain smart as I could have hoped. The first time I met Jerry was at a Detroit Triple Fan Fair. He had a dealer’s table. I bought an issue of Fantastic, a weekly comic from England, and also an issue of Gift Comics. Fantastic was a forerunner of The Mighty World of Marvel, a reprint done for a British audience, while Gift Comics was a giant comic from Fawcett in the 1940s. Jerry and I chatted about these alternate formats for a spell. He encouraged my fascination with and interest in them. I thought the weekly had possibilities for American publishers and was even more ebullient about that big fat issue of Gift Comics. Ironically, I would end up working on Marvel’s weeklies less than a year later, and, in recent years, would see a great many of my 1970s Marvel stories reprinted in Marvel Essentials volumes even thicker than that issue of Gift Comics. My correspondence with Jerry was always sporadic, but he was always ready to answer my questions and share his vast knowledge of comics and comics creators. In the past year or so, it has been my great joy to be a member of some of the same online groups as Jerry and to exchange e-mails. In those groups, I learned he was as brilliant and generous and progressive and thoughtful about the issues of the world outside comics as he was about the issues of comic books he loved. I was learning from him right to the end of his life, and I suspect I’ll continue to learn from him to the end of mine. Jerry Bails. The father of comics fandom. June 26, 1933 – November 23, 2006. God bless you, Jerry… and thank you.

Dave Gibbons Artist of The Watchmen, et al.—and “supporting member” of 1960s comics fandom. Can it really be so long ago? But here I am, in Jerry Bails’ Who’s Who in Comics Fandom for 1963, listed at my parents’ house, a supporting member, no less. On the same page, I recognize Don Glut, Steve Gerber and Paul Gambaccini, whom I was to meet in England and befriend some 25 years later, and several others whose names hover still on the borders of recognition. And behind it all, Doctor Jerry G. Bails, a name almost as potent to me in those days as that of Doctor Fate or Hawkman, the custodian of the memories of an earlier age of wonder and promoter of the next era of comic books. Amazingly, he was not a kid or some kind of backward adult—he was a Professor, a man of undoubted learning and presumed sophistication, who loved comics as another might fine wines or the paintings of the Great Masters. I pictured him in an Ivy League library, puffing on a fragrant pipe and nodding sagely, a cultured eyebrow arched in appreciation, as he leafed through a yellowing leatherbound volume of All-Star Comics. His mere presence in the hobby helped me believe that comics were an art form the equal of any other. Just as importantly, in a time when we comics fans were thinly and distantly spread across the globe, he made me feel part of an invisible nation, a hidden society of fellow souls. There was a generosity of spirit in early comics fandom that he

took a leading part in establishing and that he exemplified, a selfless sharing of information, images, and even comic books themselves. Jerry published, at cost, sets of photographs of Golden Age comics covers, tantalizing glimpses of past glories, even more exciting than the comics then being published by DC or Marvel. It was through them that I first encountered Simon and Kirby’s DC work, for example. It hit me on such a primal level that I find it almost impossible to describe the effect that, say, the cover of Adventure Comics #73 has on me. It’s an icon of almost spiritual significance, an inspiration beyond value. And Jerry let me have it at cost price, at the age where such things lodge in the psyche for life. To stand in the heaving belly of the comics industry today, the huge Leviathan that the San Diego Comic-Con has become, is to witness the nation that Jerry played such a pivotal role in creating. To see the excited lines waiting to see Superman or Batman or The X-Men at the local multiplex is to know that the country he helped to found is recognized and befriended by the world. An academic to the last, Jerry took a leading part in establishing and maintaining the natural successor to his Who’s Who in Comics Fandom, in the form of a grand database of comics writers and artists. The cultural historians of future ages, the Professors of Comicology in some far-flung cyberuniversity, will, in turn, owe him their own debt of gratitude. And the writers and artists, many uncredited and forgotten, that he took such great trouble to track down and give due mention will live on through it. As will he. Back on a personal level, I feel that in no small part I owe my career to his efforts, and many of my longest friendships to the networks he fostered. I couldn’t be more grateful or more blessed. Thank you, Jerry.

Homages To A Man Who Deserves Them All—And More

It’s Not Easy Being Green (Lantern) One of Jerry’s great passions was identifying those who had drawn Golden Age artwork—and here’s one case where he could’ve been of considerable help! This never-published “Green Lantern” splash, found on the web by Dominic Bongo, was apparently slated at one time for the never-published Green Lantern #39 (the 1940s mag was discontinued with #38)—and it was ID’d on the site as being by Alex Toth! Although the inker can’t be 100% identified, there’s no doubt that the actual penciler was Carmine Infantino! 1991 photo of Jerry courtesy of Jean Bails. [Green Lantern TM & ©2007 DC Comics.]

“As one of my earliest correspondents in fandom, I just wanted to say ‘so long,’ and I enjoyed your ‘right-on’ critique of Alter-Ego #1. It was the first genuinely honest reply I got, and I always remembered it.” Subsequently, in a later post to me, Jerry said, “I’ll probably drop from the Atlas-Marvel list. I was just on it at the urging of Doc V. I’m really not a collector, and the discussions are too restrictive for my taste.” He knew his death was near. That shocked me, but it shouldn’t have. I hope I can face my own end as unflinchingly and as clearheadedly. And I wish I’d had more time to reacquaint myself with Jerry. Good-bye, Jerry. You will be missed.

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“We Were A Wonderful Match!”

conventions. I thought I was very fortunate to talk to the different people, and liked the friendships with professionals and fans over the years, and I did contribute to the Steranko History of Comics. And Jim Vadeboncoeur has continued, over the years, to send me boxes of comic books that he would do art IDs on. Roy Thomas asked if we’d like to do a semi-regular feature, so Jim and I have happily been able to continue to focus on unknown or forgotten great comic book artists for Alter Ego. You know, that’s how we met you. There’ve been a lot of nice things still happening in the comics area, and one of the things that has kept me semiinvolved is that column. And the “Bing” story is still unfolding. I thought it was really neat that Jerry and I got to work on that before he passed away. Sometime in the near future, Jim and I will write an article for Alter Ego describing the entire process. [NOTE: It’s now finished, and will appear in a nearfuture issue. —Roy.]

The Who’s Who Was A Heap Of Work! Another of Hames’ talents, apparently, is playing the piano. Since Hames is justifiably proud of his detective work at identifying the artwork of Ernie Schroeder (who was interviewed in depth in A/E #42), we thought it fitting to close with another fine page by the late great Ernie. This “Heap” page is from Airboy Comics, Vol. 9, #10 (Nov. 1952). Thanks to Hames and his partner-in-detection Jim Vadeboncoeur, Jr.,and to Golden Age Hillman Publications editor Herb Rogoff (who put Jim Amash and Roy Thomas in touch with Ernie), the artist got a kick out of being appreciated by comics aficionados during the last few years of his long and eventful life. Jerry Bails, too, relished bringing recognition to the “great unknowns” of the Golden Age. [“Heap” art ©2007 the respective copyright holders.]

Henry Steele, Jim, and I, with Lee Boyett—another Arkansan—have been updating Henry’s checklist, and we know so much more now. Henry gave his own “pseudonyms” to the artists who didn’t sign: for example, “Jewel” was a name he used for George Carl Wilhelms, whose name he’d never seen. But now, we’re able to replace those pseudonyms with real names. I’m excited that Henry’s checklist is being updated with all that new information, so there are still some things that I’m involved with. And the voice work: I do some animated regional and national spots. I did some things for PBS’s American Experience, one being The Priceless Memories. I narrated that, and it won an Emmy. JA: How many times did you do The American Experience? WARE: At least two or three. The childhood interests that I had in voices and drawing have continued to play a big part in my life.

I really believe one of the great rewards of being the founding coeditor was that I have seen the work of virtually every comic book artist who ever worked in comics. The Who’s Who work stretches back to the early ’60s. That’s been a long haul. And to think that I am now on the phone with someone who’s become my friend in just the last couple of years. Just look at the dividends. From Wendell Crowley to Jim Amash, I feel really privileged. JA: What cartoons would some of our readers most likely—

WARE: No, no, no. I didn’t mean to imply that I did any Hollywood cartoons. What I did when I was in North Hollywood was to record some voices for Mark Kausler and Mike Sanger. Mike and Mark were doing an old-style cartoon called Ding-A-Ling Dog and the Last Cartoon. They worked on it when they weren’t working for Disney. I got to do two voices for that one. It was beautifully done, old-style animation, in the early Mickey Mouse/Bosko style. And, thanks to Mike, who later became the chief animator for Bandolier Films in New Mexico, I got to do a lot of animated projects like Pinocchio’s Pizza, and a lot of audio-visual narrations for educational use. I’ve been blessed to do a whole lot of things with my voices, and to also contribute especially articles about cartoon voices to animation magazines. I would hope also, Jim, that maybe somebody out there would republish the four original volumes of Who’s Who. I don’t know why that hasn’t occurred to anybody… but maybe now, somebody would think to do that, because it would be really neat to have them all republished in one volume. That would be a handy reference. I’m really grateful to know that at least those four volumes still reside in libraries all over the world. And I hope the Who’s Who will be carried on by somebody, online. JA: I’m sure it will. Since we’re at the end now, do you want to do a “That’s all, folks”? [laughs] WARE: No, I’d rather you do that. JA: Bdee-bdee-bdee-bdee — that’s all, folks! WARE: Perfect.

Star Wars: The Comic Book That Saved Marvel! Think We're Kidding? Read On!

A/E

EDITOR’S INTRODUCTION: After the cover theme of this issue—the life and achievements of Jerry G. Bails—had been chosen, I learned, as I should have expected, that the 30th anniversary of the world premiere of George Lucas’ blockbuster film Star Wars in May 1977 was going to be the occasion of a certain amount of ballyhoo, just as several previous anniversaries had. It had long been my intention, one day in Alter Ego, to try to pen a more or less definitive account of my involvement with Marvel’s Star Wars comic book, from early 1976 through late 1977. So I decided that our May 2007 issue would be the occasion for that recounting—even though the first issue of the comic was released in March 1977. Previous, shorter accounts from my hand had appeared in Starlog magazine #120 (July 1987—the tenth anniversary) and Comics Buyer’s Guide for April 16, 1993 (the 26th anniversary??). Thanks to both for their blessings to incorporate some of those pieces in what follows.

I also invited each of the artists who worked with me on the first ten issues of Star Wars to participate, and we received sidebar-style responses of various lengths and kinds from Howard Chaykin, Steve Leialoha, Rick Hoberg, Bill Wray, Dave Stevens, and Alan Kupperberg—and even colorist Carl Gafford. In addition, I e-mailed my old friend Ed Summer, who was instrumental in the Star Wars comic existing in the first place; he hoped to write something for this issue, but we hadn’t received anything by deadline; we plan to run his commentary at a future date. Perhaps we’ll have some remarks at that time, as well, by a fellow named Charlie Lippincott, whose name, if it’s unfamiliar, will become known to you in what follows.

Everybody’s A Critic! (Above:) Howard Chaykin’s right-on-the-money cover for Star Wars #1 (cover-dated July 1977, but actually on sale in March, by contractual fiat). All art in this issue of A/E from Star Wars #1-6 is repro’d from the black-&white reprint paperback The Marvel Comics Illustrated Version of Star Wars, published later that year by Ballantine Books. We didn’t include any scenes from the movie itself, suspecting you might’ve already seen it. [©2007 Lucasfilm, Ltd.] But no, Roy Thomas isn’t really giving “thumbs down” to Star Wars—either the movie or the comic—in the grainy photo. It was probably taken as a gag shot for Crazy magazine, Marvel’s Mad wannabe, in the mid-’70s. It appeared in Marvel’s own FOOM #21, in the “1978 FOOM Awards” section, wherein Roy took first place as “Favorite Marvel Writer.” His assignments were listed as “Conan, Star Wars, etc.”

There follows my own account—sidebarred by the welcome contributions of each of the seven artists, in the chronological order in which they became involved with Star Wars the Comic Book. So, first:

How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love STAR WARS—With Reservations A Personal Retrospective by Roy Thomas