The Complete Film Sequence!
I’ve threatened to better explain what’s behind the images of yesteryear and here is a first stab. That is a strip of film negative. This piece of film was sliding through my Nikon FM camera. It’s cut this way so that it can be stored and viewed in a “negative preserver” plastic sheet. The entire roll of film is held that way so it can be filed in a 3-ring binder.
This piece of film shows a sequence of time. It shows what happened in what order. When I returned to this film sheet I realized it could show a lot more, in order, than what a few edited shots would.
Not too long ago, when I blogged about the floor plan for the Marvel offices at 575 Madison, I seemed to have left off the photographic evidence of young Editrix Louise Jones’ office. I’m here to remedy that.
Weezie, which is a (most likely a childhood) corruption of the name Louise and has nothing to do with her very loud breathing, had burst on the Marvel scene at the beginning of 1980. Which was just over a year after I was hired. I’m always nervous around girls and didn’t really get to know her. But Herb, I knew. I believe I’d heard that Herb was in the office—so I grabbed up my camera and went off to find him.
I had met Herb in my career-before-my-career which was a strange time back in 1974. I’d worked at Marvel in the Satisfaction Department for about a year. (Insert raucous humor here.) Those offices were up on the 9th Floor (still at 575 Madison Ave) but I had various trips down to the mailroom on 6—and the editorial offices. And there was Herb! I am connecting faint memories of anecdotes from him—back then, I believe he lived exactly across the street from where Marvel moved to–! I know; he lamented having moved upstate. (He lived on 27th Street, east of Park Ave—which was opposite the side entrance of Marvel’s offices at 387 Park—and right over a restaurant we all would lunch in many times, Oliver’s.)
The photostatic copies of the Shogun Warriors #18 pencils by Herb Trimpe, tell us this must be three months before the publication date. That being the amount of time between the finishing touches are put on a book and it shows up at the newsstand or comic shop. So take away a little time, counting backwards here, for inking and lettering and coloring—thus the July, 1980 cover date says these pix were taken around April of 1980! (The whole Shogun Warrior thing was lost on me back then, but the books looked good. All based off of a Hasbro toy line of “giant” robots – well, the toys themselves started off life over in Japan and their premiere line was 2-feet tall! (In fact, the line of toys is newly started up again today!) Fabu Inker Dan Green over Herb– at the time of these pics, Legend-Making Mike Esposito over Herb—Carl Gafford coloring and The Other Ancient One Irv Watanabe, lettering.
Jo Duffy, Legendary Writer here casting doubt on my photographic bona fides. Not sure, but I think Jo was Weezie’s Assistant at this point. Soon she would move on to work with Editor and Universe-Wide Artist Al Milgrom. Danny Fingeroth was Weezie’s Assistant for a good while—I may have all this thoroughly mixed up and Danny was out that day. Jo had moved over to Epic at some point and she may have just come over with Archie.
Issue #18 of anything is a nice year-and-a-half mile marker on which to hang your plot conference. Image left is Creator/Writer Extraordinaire Doug Moench who was the writer of the Shogun Warrior line from ish 1. If you have not read his work on Master of Kung Fu—consider doing so. Preferably before end of day.
I may have interrupted the flow of ideas and decisions. If Weezie’s face is any gauge. Well, she didn’t know me very well either. I did kind of hulk in front of her with all my camera rig. In only a few short years though, she would tap me to be her Assistant Editor– one of my most enjoyable times.
Yes, this is Jo stretching out on the floor. Jo was an accomplished belly dancer who studied with The One, The Only Paty Cockrum (our Marketing Ad Art Doyenne). And seeing as how she didn’t leap up to seize my lapel and threaten consequences should this image ever see the light of day—I present it here with the full warmth of Comic History urging me on!
What these two jamokes where doing here is hard to fathom at this great remove. Gifted Creator Archie Goodwin is (I think) telling me of the importance of infinity within the letter “O.” To his image right is Creator and Writer Mike Barr—at that time, better known for his work at DC Comics. Perhaps this was around the time that Mike did some work for Epic Magazine, Editor Archie’s own mag. My best guess is that this was the pre-assembly for the whole pack to go to lunch.
My favorite picture of Weezie! I know she has grandkids (great-grandkids–? Not sure) and I’m sure blow-ups of the face can be fashioned into Halloween masks in no time.
Don’t give that man a prop! Here Archie is making giant nose boogers with some kneaded eraser.
What did I say about props!? I can’t recall if that was my Japanese model replica of a broom-handle Mauser or just-across-the-hall, Editor Sublime, Larry Hama’s. Archie and (still remarkable Creator AND husband of Weezie(!)), Walter Simonson’s celebrated creation Manhunter used such a distinctive pistol.
Now we see the deadline-enforcing stone killer that is … Editor Archie
Mike Barr, man at leisure. Looking good, cooling those size 13s before beating those feet over to Tatani’s with the whole gang, for a creative and productive sushi deluxe lunch!
Editor’s Note:
This website was upgraded in September 2019. To my horror I lost about ten comments with the upgrade. I do, though, have the following screen capture(s) of the lost comments . I’m sorry Readers! — Arlene Puentes
