October 20, 2007
Preview: Jim Steranko at Boston Comic Con
Boston Comic Con
Sunday, October 21, 10am-5pm
Back Bay Events Center (180 Berkeley Street), $8
The comics industry is known for its oddballs, and Jim Steranko is a case in point. He is best known for his late sixties work at Marvel Comics, where he brought a designer's eye to drawing Nick Fury for Strange Tales. He drew across the whole page, defying panel boundaries, to a surreal effect. But comics may have been the least colorful of his pursuits.
Born in Pennsylvania to Ukrainian immigrants during the Depression, Steranko's first vocation was magic. He was an illusionist and an escape artist (Jack Kirby would base his existential escapologist Mister Miracle on Steranko), and he published a book in the early sixties on card magic. He claims to have been in the rock band -- under an alias and packing heat -- that hired the first go-go dancers. He reportedly ran an erotica retail. He designed the film Raiders of the Lost Ark. And, in 1970, he self-published a two volume History of Comics.
A newsprint tabloid with a wraparound cover, History of Comics introduced many nerds to comics' "Golden Age." And it came complete with a cryptic forward by Federico Fellini. (An excerpt: "Not satisfied being heroes, but becoming more heroic, the characters in the group Marvel know how to laugh at themselves.") Steranko's books established the basic narrative for comics history (a straight line from the caves of Lascaux to Little Nemo in Slumberland, through the pulps, ending at The Amazing Spider-Man) and a precedent, followed by Will Eisner, Gerard Jones, Art Spiegelman, and Scott McCloud, of comics creators writing the history of comics.
Bostonians will have a chance to meet Steranko tomorrow at the Boston Comic Con, advertised as New England's largest. Bostonist will be on hand and promises to report back -- especially if Steranko starts ranting.
Artist's photo from Boston Comic Con's promotional announcement.
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Classic Batman artist to appear at Boston Comic Book Convention
Boston, MA- Longtime Batman artist Norm Breyfogle will be making his only
New England appearance at The Boston Comic Book Spectacular Sunday November
4th at The Boston Radisson Hotel's 6th floor Convention Center.
This is New England's largest one day comic book show.
As the artist on Batman's original comic book title, Detective Comics, and
the artist on BATMAN, Norm Breyfogle spent over 5 years (from 1987 - 1992)
penciling, shaping and defining the Dark Knight. With a new Batman movie
on the horizon Batman fans and collectors are once again looking for the
Dark Detective's creators to spice up the comic book convention scene with
autographs and original Batman sketches.
"We're proud to bring a talented artist like Norm Breyfogle to Boston" said
show promoter Dave Cummings. "His run as Batman artist is one of the best in
the long history of the iconic DC character and fondly looked upon by fans
of the Caped Crusader."
Norm Breyfogle has also worked on The Spectre, Prime, Metaphysique, Anarky,
Hellcat and is currently working on "Of Bitter Souls" for Markosia Press.
Tens of thousands of New England Comic Book fans have enjoyed previous
editions of the popular longtime Boston Comic Book Spectacular. Started in
1975 it is Boston's original Comic Book Convention and the longest running
Comic Book Convention in the same location in the United States!
The show features over 12,000 square feet of Comic Books, toys, promos,
Manga, Anime, DVDs and Music CDs as well as thousands of Comic Book trade
paperbacks and graphic novels. The show's Artist Alley features dozens of
local & national comic book creators with original comic book art, sketches,
prints, posters and their own local comic books.
This show will also feature a special limited edition Marvel Superhero print
from the U.S. Marine Corps, with proceeds benefiting the Toys For Tots
program.
Also appearing at the show will be writer Chuck Satterlee, Famed Fantasy
Illustrator Ken Kelly and local favorites Hannibal King, Kris Carter, Rich
Woodall, Zeke Savory Jr, Andrew LoVuolo, Mike Doherty, Shawn Corliss, Jorge
Vega, The Fatsquad, Serendipity Art Sales and over 100 tables of New
England's
finest retailers and dealers of Comics and Collectibles.
"What makes our show unique is the vast array of comic book vendors,
specializing in comics from the 1940's right through the present.", said
Cummings. "You will even find tens of thousands of comic books priced at 50
cents or less. This is the show that fans, collectors and comic dealers
love to shop at, because
the deals are so good."
The Boston Comic Book Spectacular Anniversary Comic-Con will be held Sunday
November 4 at the Boston Radisson Hotel 200 Stuart St in the 6th floor
Convention Center.
The show will be open to the public from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Parking is available in the Radisson Parking Garage or at lots in the
general area.
Visit www.primatepromtions.com to sign up for our regional mailing list.