Why Not Say What Happened?

Episode 32: The Fantastic Four's Connection to The Scarecrow's First Origin

This time around, I reminisce about what it meant to have met Gerry Conway in 1971 when I was only 16, the comic book comrades I should have known better but never gave myself the chance, my dreams of decluttering with Bernie Wrightson, the first two origin stories I thought up for The Scarecrow before the one fans got to read in 1975, and more.

Episode 31: Why Sal Buscema Has Me Thinking of Vinnie Colletta

This time around, I dream of Action Comics #1, consider how the death of Sal Buscema has me thinking of Vinnie Colletta, decide Jim Salicrup will outlive us all, regret my near-miss with Jim Mooney during my honeymoon, remember the time Mike Friedrich threatened to punch me in the nose, and more.

Episode 30: Why I Think of Artist John Tartaglione Every Day

This episode has me reminiscing about why I think of comics artist John Tartaglione every day, my dreams of Paul Anka's comic book collection and a visit from Gene Colan, my early attempts to get fired from Marvel Comics, a well-earned warning from Marv Wolfman, the puzzle of why covers to romance novels tend to feature aspirational art while comic book romance covers often lean into the problems, and more.

Episode 29: What Steve Ditko's Family Wants You to Know

I grow a bit verklempt this time around while I rap about the Spider-Man rock album for which I made sure the band didn't miss a note, remember watching Dave Cockrum and Len Wein create Giant-Size X-Men #1 out of thin air, pass along the surprising truths Steve Ditko's family most wants you to know, critique the Metropolitan Opera's production of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, choke up while praising Marie Severin's posthumous induction into the Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame, walk the exhibit hall at Baltimore Comic-Con where only a single item of comics memorabilia tempts me, and more.

Episode 28: The Fantastic Four Panel That Solved a Childhood Mystery

In which I track down the Fantastic Four panel which caused me to first enter comics fandom, look back at a 1975 Planet of the Apes contents page where I was credited for no reason I can remember, remain confused about Daredevil's Matt/Mike Murdock subterfuge, laugh at the way "Fabulous" Flo Steinberg gave The Thing a super headache, and more.