"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.

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.