X-mas Special! My three 2013 books for $99 (incl. shipping)

Looking for the Holy Trinity of Christmas gifts? How about a special on all three of my 2013 books for only $99...which includes shipping within Canada and the U.S.!

Yes, that's The Secret History of Marvel Comics, Impossible Tales: The Steve Ditko Archives vol. 4, and Heroic Tales: The Bill Everett Archives vol. 2. That's a $145 value for less than a c-note. Each book has a cover price of $40 each, but you can have them all for about 60% of the cover price (when you factor in the shipping costs).

Just email me at ditko37@rogers.com to order via Paypal and you will receive a copy of each signed by me (plus my co-author, Dr. Michael J. Vassallo for The SHoMC), very well packed to survive the journey.

And there's more! Add the following older books of mine for 50% off each (only $5 more for shipping for each two added):

• Strange & Stranger: The World of Steve Ditko
• Unknown Worlds: The Steve Ditko Archives vol. 2
• Mysterious Traveler: The Steve Ditko Archives vol. 3
• Amazing Mysteries: The Bill Everett Archives vol. 2

Here's all you need to know about my three 2013 books...

The Secret History of Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics is home to such legendary super-heroes as Spider-Man, Hulk, Thor, Captain America, and Iron Man, all of whom have spun box office gold in the 21st century. But Marvel Comics has a secret history hidden in the shadows of these well-known franchises.

"Top 10 Bill Everett Covers" Feature for Wednesday's Heroes

As if I haven't written enough these days, here's another 2000+ words on one of my favorite artists, Bill Everett!

Craig Rogers runs the "Wednesday's Heroes" website and he commissioned me to write an installment for his "Top 10 Covers" feature, in light of the release last month of my book, Heroic Tales: The Bill Everett Archives Vol. 2.

I first caught wind of the "Top 10 Covers" feature when I saw Tom Field do the same for Gene Colan, and was interested myself in what I'd label as Everett's ten best covers, not too much how I'd ever be able to order them ten through to one.

Blessedly, Everett was great from start to finish in his career, so there's representation from 1939 up to the year of his passing in 1973.

Click here to view my crack at the "Top Ten Bill Everett Covers"!

Leave your feedback below, or at the Wednesday's Heroes site, about my 10 and how it may compare to your choices!

Steve Ditko Archives vol. 4 web launch

The official release of "Impossible Tales: The Steve Ditko Archives vol. 4" is imminent and Fantagraphics has gone "global" with its web launch for the book. Lots of different ways to get a sneak peek of the book.

If you can't wait to get the book, you can order it from me directly. I have 10 copies that I will sign for you, and include a one-of-50 signed and number, limited edition, tipped-in plate. The cost is $50, which includes shipping anywhere within Canada and the U.S. (send monies via Paypal to my ditko37@rogers.com address).

If you just want the plain jane version and can wait another 4 weeks or so, you can order it from Amazon at this link.

What's the scoop on this volume? Five years before Steve Ditko began work on his now legendary co-creations for Marvel Comics, the Amazing Spider-Man and Doctor Strange, he was producing some of his best work in near anonymity for Charlton Comics.

Like its predecessors, this volume features over 200 meticulously restored full-color pages of Ditko in his early prime - stories that have never seen a proper reprinting until now, thrilling stories of suspense, mystery, haunted houses, and unsuspecting victims all delineated in Ditko’s wildly idiosyncratic, masterful style. Here's a video preview of the book...


This fourth volume ranks as the best in the Steve Ditko Archives series to date thanks in large part to the inspiration Ditko took from comics derived from the classic host-narrated radio shows, which gave an extra oomph to his creepy yarns. Moreover, comics such as This Magazine Is Haunted and Tales of the Mysterious Traveler bore witness to a veritable explosion in Ditko’s ingenuity in terms of manipulating the traditional comic-book page layout. This new level of excellence also manifested itself in his work on other books, such as Mysteries of Unexplored Worlds, Out of This World, Strange Suspense Stories, and Unusual Tales, all of which are amply represented in this volume.

More sneak peek links:

"Secret History Of Marvel Comics" are in da (my) house!

Co-Authors Blake Bell and Dr. Michael J. Vassallo give man-birth to a weighty tome.

Okay, they are in Michael's house, here in upstate New York City, but it's not often in life when you have that opportunity to hold a book, for the first time, that you've written. Last night was one of those, to date, nine times with the arrival of advance copies of our "The Secret History Of Marvel Comics". (Today, I get to hold a copy of "Impossible Tales: The Steve Ditko Archives vol. 4".)

I'm down here in NYC for "The Secret History Of Marvel Comics" Official Book Release Event in New York City (tonight at 7pm, hosted by the Society Of Illustrators, at 128 E 63rd St., between Park and Lexington Ave). I'll also have a very limited number of copies available of the Ditko Archives vol. 4 for sale at the event. This will be your first chance to get signed copies of both books, weeks before they hit stores.

Other reasons why you should come out to the event tonight:

1) We'll be joined by artists Al Jaffee and Stan Goldberg to discuss their memories of working for Martin Goodman during the halcyon days of Marvel Comics in the 1940s and 50s!

2) Attendees will receive a signed, limited edition, tipped-in plate for the book.

3) Come and see the unveiling of the "Martin Goodman Exhibit!" Get a first hand look at all those Martin Goodman publications, from the 1930s to the 1950s, up close and personal!

4) The cost of admission also gives you access to an exclusive signing session and catered reception afterwards (with cash bar).

"The Secret History Of Marvel Comics" also has a YouTube channel featuring me and Michael J. Vassallo discussing the secrets behind the book in a 10-part video series. Plus, we'll continue to add more videos throughout the next two months.

Bill Everett Archives Contest! Pick Your Favourite Cover!

"Heroic Tales: The Bill Everett Archives vol. 2" is making its way through bookstores and through the digital stores like Comixology, but you can win a copy of both volumes in our "Pick Your Favourite Bill Everett Cover Contest!"

Our friends over at the website, Wednesday's Heroes, run a feature called "Top Ten Covers" where, you guessed it, they feature the top ten covers of a particular artist with commentary by writers like yours truly.

I'll be doing up such a feature for Bill Everett, but here's where you can help, and snag yourself a copy of both volumes in the Archives series.

Simply tell us what is your favourite Bill Everett cover, and why it's your favourite, either in the Comments Section below, or on my personal Facebook page, or like my Bill Everett Facebook Page and post it there.

If yours is the same as mine (which I won't reveal until I post my entire list on the Wednesday's Heroes site), you'll be eligible to win both volumes. If more than one person picks my favourite, all those who did will be entered in a random draw and the winner will announced here on my site.

Got it? Here's a helpful start. Click on THIS LINK at comics.org to view 345 different Bill Everett covers. Feel feel to post the title name and issue number, as well as a link to the cover (or, if on Facebook, just post the cover). The only "catch" is that the first cover you post, that's the one that gets considered for the contest. Now...GO! (Contest ends Saturday, October 5, 2013 at 11:59pm.)

Bill Everett Archives goes digital at Comixology!

September has seen the debut on "Heroic Tales: The Bill Everett Archives vol. 2" in stores, but you can now get both volumes of the series available for digital download at Comixology! Click on the titles of each volume for links right to their respective Comixology pages.

Amazing Mysteries: The Bill Everett Archives Vol. 1 - collects over 200 pages of this never-before-reprinted work from titles such as Amazing Mystery Funnies (1938), Amazing-Man Comics (1939), Target Comics (1940), Heroic Comics (1940), and Blue Bolt Comics (1940). These titles feature an endless array of great vintage Everett characters such as Amazing-Man, Hydroman, Skyrocket Steele, Sub-Zero, The Chameleon, and many more, all produced by Everett’s shop Funnies, Inc. for such clients as Centaur, Novelty Press, and Eastern Color, and all displaying Everett’s brilliant cartooning and energetic storytelling.

This book collects over 200 pages of this never-before-reprinted work from titles such as Amazing Mystery Funnies (1938), Amazing-Man Comics (1939), Target Comics (1940), Heroic Comics (1940), and Blue Bolt Comics (1940). These titles feature an endless array of great vintage Everett characters such as Amazing-Man, Hydroman, Skyrocket Steele, Sub-Zero, The Chameleon, and many more, all produced by Everett’s shop Funnies, Inc. for such clients as Centaur, Novelty Press, and Eastern Color, and all displaying Everett’s brilliant cartooning and energetic storytelling. - See more at: http://www.fantagraphics.com/browse-shop/amazing-mysteries-the-bill-everett-archives-vol.-1-pre-order-2.html#sthash.HsgMHgyx.dpuf

This book collects over 200 pages of this never-before-reprinted work from titles such as Amazing Mystery Funnies (1938), Amazing-Man Comics (1939), Target Comics (1940), Heroic Comics (1940), and Blue Bolt Comics (1940). These titles feature an endless array of great vintage Everett characters such as Amazing-Man, Hydroman, Skyrocket Steele, Sub-Zero, The Chameleon, and many more, all produced by Everett’s shop Funnies, Inc. for such clients as Centaur, Novelty Press, and Eastern Color, and all displaying Everett’s brilliant cartooning and energetic storytelling. - See more at: http://www.fantagraphics.com/browse-shop/amazing-mysteries-the-bill-everett-archives-vol.-1-pre-order-2.html#sthash.HsgMHgyx.dpuf

Heroic Tales: The Bill Everett Archives Vol. 2 - is almost 250 pages deep; a huge heaping of not only the remainder of his Golden Age action hero material, but his 1950s horror work, his humor and romance material, as well as his phenomenal fantasy work from the early 1970s. Most everyone knows that Bill created the Sub-Mariner (for Marvel Comics #1 in 1939) and co-created Daredevil, The Man Without Fear (along with Stan Lee) in the 1960s, but he also touched every genre in comic-book history, and you see it all in this volume.

Get into the digital age with Bill Everett and Comixology!

NYC Book Release Party w/ Al Jaffee & Stan Goldberg!

Check out the "Secret History of Marvel Comics" Book Blog for an announcement about our official book release event in New York City on the Saturday (Oct 12 at 7pm) of the NY Con at the Society Of Illustrators! 

Not only will you get a crack at the book weeks before it hits stores, but we're being joined by famed artists AL JAFFEE and STAN GOLDBERG who will discuss their memories of working for Martin Goodman during the halcyon days of Marvel Comics in the 1940s and 50s! 

Your ticket also gets you get a signed, limited edition, tipped-in plate; an exclusive book signing session; a catered reception afterwards (!) and the debut of the "Martin Goodman Exhibit!" Tickets are extremely limited, so go to the book's blog for a link to purchase tickets.

"Secret History Of Marvel Comics" 1st Look!

We're back for the third time in a week; this time with news on the release of my third book coming out this fall: "The Secret History Of Marvel Comics". The publisher, Fantagraphics, has received some promo copies, and we've got three teaser images to whet your appetite! (Click to enlarge)

If you want a crack at getting your copy first, you can click HERE to pre-order the book right from the Fantagraphics website. The book is on target for a mid-to-late October release (right after my Bill Everett Archives vol. 2 book, and my Steve Ditko Archives vol. 4 book, also out in early October).


Marvel Comics would probably prefer that their origins go unremembered, but myself and early Marvel historian, Dr. Michael J. Vassallo, trace Marvel's roots in the sordid, exploitative pulp publishing empire of Martin Goodman. You'll also be treated to a bounty of rare, never-before-reprinted artwork by such comics legends as Jack Kirby and Joe Simon, Alex Schomburg, Bill Everett, Al Jaffee, and Dan DeCarlo, plus top-tier pulp artists, including Norman Saunders, John Walter Scott, Hans Wesso, and L.F. Bjorklund.

Steve Ditko Archives Vol. 4 first look!

Well, I was going to do an update on why you should purchase "Heroic Tales: The Bill Everett Archives vol. 2" (on sale now directly from Fantagraphics; in stores in the next 2 weeks), but how about your first look at the new cover for "Impossible Tales: The Steve Ditko Archives vol. 4!" (At a book a week, maybe you'll get news on our "Secret History Of Marvel Comics" book next!)

You click on the image above, or to see the entire wraparound cover, click on the image below. This latest volume of Ditko goodness - continuing the exhibition of his 1957 work - should be available in early October! Fantagraphics always gets their mail-order copies out first, so you can pre-order from them right now at this link on their website.

Five years before Steve Ditko began work on his co-creations for Marvel Comics, the Amazing Spider-Man and Doctor Strange, he was producing his best work in near anonymity for Charlton Comics. “Impossible Tales: The Steve Ditko Archives V4” features over 200 full-color pages of Ditko in his early prime. These are stories that have never seen a proper reprinting until now; thrilling stories of suspense, mystery, haunted houses, and unsuspecting victims all led into Ditko’s web of artistic mastery over the comic-book form.

This fourth volume ranks as the most superior in the Archives series to date because of the inspiration Ditko took from comics related to old radio shows and that had hosts who narrated the tales. This Magazine is Haunted and Tales of The Mysterious Traveler saw an explosion in Ditko’s ingenuity with manipulating the traditional comic-book page layout. This level of excellence was also present in his work on other books like Mysteries of Unexplored Worlds, Out of This World, Strange Suspense Stories, and Unusual Tales, marking this fourth volume as the best example yet of the Steve Ditko that later crafted iconic classics with Stan Lee at Marvel Comics in the 1960s.

(Click on the image below to enlarge)

Bill Everett Archives Vol. 2 on sale now!

You heard right. You can finally purchase "Heroic Tales: The Bill Everett Archives vol. 2"! Click HERE to go to the ordering page on the Fantagraphics web site where you can purchase volume two, or buy both volumes at a deep discount.  

Currently, you can only purchase the book from Fantagraphics.

It may not be available in retail stores and online places like Amazon.com for another three weeks, so if you can't wait, jump on it now! (Technically, the assigned street date is September 21, but it could be available earlier, depending upon the sales channel.)

Why should you buy the Bill Everett Archives vol. 2?

1) It features Bill Everett at his most refined. We finish off the Golden Age of Comics hero material, and then move right into his work done at the peak of his career, from the 1940s right until his passing in the 1970s.

2) Get a sampling of his pre-Code horror material published by Marvel in the early 1950s. This volume features SEVEN stories from 1950-52 of Everett at his horrific best!

3) The variety of the work. See Everett draw horror, romance, humour (on his super-rare Cracked Magazine material), adventure, war, western...and Bing Crosby! There's lots of work here by Everett that I guarantee you've never seen before!

4) Almost 7000 words detailing Everett's career, including never-before-seen quotes from Everett about working with Marvel Comics in its first days back in 1939-42!

In the meantime, want to see a video preview of what the book looks like?

Bill Everett Archives v2 ToC & 23-page preview unveiled!

The release of "Heroic Tales: The Bill Everett Archives vol.2" is almost upon us! Click here to view the book's page on the Fantagraphics Books, Inc. website , has a page on its website where you can:

1) view a 23-page (!) preview.
2) pre-order the book and get vols. 1 and 2 at a major discount!
3) view the Table of Contents for the first time ever.

I emphasize the last point because the contents of the book has never been revealed until now...and it is filled with surprises! The vast majority of the book shows Bill Everett at his absolute peak, at his most refined as an artist, covering his earliest days in 1940 until his passing in 1973.

You get a huge heaping of not only his Golden Age action hero material, but his 1950s horror work, his humor and romance material, as well as his phenomenal fantasy work from the early 1970s. Most everyone knows that Bill created the Sub-Mariner (for Marvel Comics #1 in 1939) and co-created Daredevil, The Man Without Fear (along with Stan Lee) in the 1960s, but he also touched every genre in comic-book history, and you see it all in this volume.

You also get a number of essays by yours truly that covers the beginning of his days in the industry up until his passing, with quite a number of quotes by Everett from an unpublished interview in the late 1960s.

Thanks for everyone who purchased "Amazing Mysteries: The Bill Everett Archives vol. 1" and we hope that you'll support this second (and last) volume dedicated to one of the medium's greatest artists: Bill Everett!

Half price on all my books at my NYC Event!

For those who have been following the new Secret History Of Marvel Comics Book Blog, you'll know that I am going to be in New York City this coming Wednesday at 7pm for a pre-release event at the Society Of Illustrators. We've given people lots of reasons to attend: 1) a special, limited edition, tipped-in plate only available in NYC; 2) discount tickets if you pre-order the book from Fantagraphics; 3) author Danny Fingeroth interviewing me and co-author, Dr. Michael J. Vassallo about the making of the book; 4) a first-look preview slide show of the book's contents, including works by Jack Kirby, Stan Lee, Alex Schomburg, Bill Everett and many more; 5) an audience Q&A; 6) a special book signing event after the show. And now we give you one more reason to attend!

50% of all my books
For the book signing event after the show, I'll be making the special offer of selling my books at half off the cover price. That's right; all my $40 books will be available (to also be signed by me) at only $20 per copy. The books included are:

• Strange & Stranger: The World of Steve Ditko
• Unexplored Worlds: The Steve Ditko Archives vol. 2
• Mysterious Traveler: The Steve Ditko Archives vol. 3
• Fire & Water: Bill Everett...
• Amazing Mysteries: The Bill Everett Archives vol. 1

I only have a certain number of each books left, so if you'd like to reserve copies, you can send the $20 via Paypal to ditko37@rogers.com, and I'll make sure you have a copy waiting for you.

* If you can't make the event, but still want to take advantage of the offer, contact me at the above email address, we can work out the cost of shipping, and I'll send off whatever is available after the event. (Remember, I will be in the U.S. during this time, so shipping will be much cheaper than sending from my hometown of Toronto, Canada.)

We're hoping to see everyone at the event as we unveil a first peek at the contents of the Secret History of Marvel Comics, available in stores by November of 2013 from Fantagraphics Books, Inc.!

Video of Kim Thompson on 2001 SD Con Fantagraphics Panel

Remember in my previous post, on my memories of Fantagraphics co-publisher, Kim Thompson, who passed away last week, where I mentioned my first meeting with Kim?

Well, here's a segment of the "Origins Of Fantagraphics" video - featuring Mike Catron on your left, Gary Groth in the centre, and Kim Thompson on your right - from the 2001 San Diego Comic-Con.

The man manning the camera? A much younger version of me. It was right after this panel that Mike Catron (for whose camera I was manning) introduced me to both Kim and Gary.

Nice stuff. Haven't seen this since it was shot.

A Life Well Lived: Memories of Kim Thompson

I think that you’ve lived a life worth living if you:

• Lived and died doing what you loved for a living;
• Left the world a better place because of your contributions;
• Made a tangible impact on at least one person who is better off for knowing you;
• Have people praise you when you are alive, as well as when you are no longer with us.

There are plenty of other people who knew Kim Thompson better and for longer, who worked closer with and lived closer to him, but I think I knew well enough and worked with him long enough to say with good certainty that Kim nailed it on all four of the above points.

For those unaware, Kim Thompson is the co-publisher of Fantagraphics Books Inc., alongside his friend and business partner of 35+ years, Gary Groth. Kim passed away Wednesday, after a short battle with cancer, and I count myself blessed to have worked with both men, almost exclusively with Kim for the past two-and-a-half years on what will total nine books by the end of 2013 with their company.

The first thought that comes to mind when I think, “Kim Thompson!” is that the man was blessed to have spent his entire professional life doing what he loved – working in the comic-book field, producing a ton of quality comic books and graphic novels (including a number of translations, and “foreign” artists that may never have seen North American shores without Kim’s efforts).

Like, he got to do it full-time. For a living. That’s frickin’ cool.

I met Kim for the first time at the San Diego Comic-Con in 2001. More on that a little later, but I remember sitting there at the Eisner Awards that year, just dreaming about one day being able to be a working part of the industry, enthralled by the love of the medium that was present in that room.

Steve Ditko Archives goes Digital: More on "Strange Suspense"

Last Saturday, we posted the news that you can now order a digital version of my book, Strange Suspense: The Steve Ditko Archives vol. 1 via Comixology. This has jump-started us to take a deeper look at some stats from the original art that differ quite a bit from the published version of the story found in the volume. First, we looked at "Range War", and now we take a look at the stats of Ditko's 3rd professional solo job, "A Hole In His Head." The 6-page story is from 1953's Black Magic #27, done when Ditko briefly worked at the Joe Simon & Jack Kirby studio.

Really, this post and my last were inspired by Nick Caputo's examination of the two stories in question. Here's a link to his "Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko and that old Black Magic" post that looks at the latter story for alterations to Ditko's artwork by Kirby.

The B&W stats show some different alterations to the production work on the first page but, most importantly, to the last panel of the story that was wiped out and replaced with an pimple ointment ad! Before that, though...

Still want a print copy?

I still have a few copies of the $39.99 hardcover of Strange Suspense: The Steve Ditko Archives vol. 1. If you'd still like a paper version, send me an email at ditko37@rogers.com. I am only asking for the cover price plus any shipping and handling costs to your location. (Correct, I'll charge you just exactly what it costs to bring it to your door, and no more.)

"A Hole In My Head"

Okay, Black Magic #27. Below is the published splash panel of the first page.

Steve Ditko Archives goes Digital via Comixology

It's been a long time since we've posted here, and that's because I've been working: A) through the final stages of production on my three books that will come out in the second half of this year; B) planning the next two (yep, more on this soon); C) watching translations come to life for a couple of my older books; and D) seeing my back catalogue venture into the digital realm.

The first of two on the e-docket now (more on number two coming soon) is the most appropriate. Volume one of my Steve Ditko Archives, Strange Suspense, has been sold out from Fantagraphics and Amazon, etc. (plus I never see it pop up on e-Bay) for quite a while now.

But Fantagraphics and Comixology (the leader in comics on the digital platform) have delivered on a digital version! 238 pages of pre-Comics Code Authority Steve Ditko horror comics (plus a Western and Romance story!)

• Download Strange Suspense: The Steve Ditko Archives Vol. 1 here from Comixology.

Still want a print copy? 

Yes, I still have a "stash" of about 10 copies of the $39.99 hardcover. If you'd still like a paper version, send me an email at ditko37@rogers.com. I am only asking for the cover price plus any shipping and handling costs to your location. (Correct, I'll charge you just exactly what it costs to bring it to your door, and no more.)

I'll spend the next 9 days updating everyone on each of my current projects, which include Heroic Tales: The Bill Everett Archives vol. 2, The Secret History Of Marvel Comics, and Impossible Tales: The Steve Ditko Archives vol. 4, and we'll see what I can reveal about the yet-to-be-revealed ones! Now, let's take a deeper look at some of the quirks of Ditko's earliest work that is included in Strange Suspense: The Steve Ditko Archives vol. 1...

Steve Ditko Minutiae

One of the great authorities today on Steve Ditko and the Silver Age of Marvel Comics is Nick Caputo. Nick was actually "in the house" when the very first copies of my Strange And Stranger: The World of Steve Ditko were unboxed into our hands (delivered to the MoCCA museum for the same-named festival back in June of 2008).

Finder's Fee for Bill Everett Archives Help!

That's right - if you can help us find someone with a copy (someone who possesses the original comic book) of Target Comics v1 #8 and Silver Streak Comics #1, we will give you a copy of Heroic Comics: The Bill Everett Archives v2 (pictured left) and Amazing Mysteries: The Bill Everett Archives v1. (Click HERE to email me.)

These are the last two items we need to complete the Bill Everett Archives v2. Target #8 contains a 6-page "Chameleon" story by Bill. Silver Streak #1 contains a text story with its first page having two illustrations by Bill. If we get these two, we'll have documented all of Bill's Golden Age work (quite an achievement, given the rarity of this 1938-42 material).

Target #8 is a challenge because it contains a Basil Wolverton Spacehawk story. Silver Streak #1 is also tough because of its 1939 date (and the Alan Cross and subsequent reprints left out the text story). I fear that the practice of "slabbing" books has likely led to a number of these key Golden Age books being encased in plastic for all time, hence the challenges we're having in locating them.

That's why we're offering a finder's fee. Of course, the person who owns the comics will get comp. copies of the Archives series, but if you find that person, we'll comp you, and put your name in the latest book too.

Volume two is going to be the last in the Bill Everett Archives series, so it would be a real shame to not have that work of his documented. Please pass a link to this message amongst your peers and retailers.