Hulk Magazine, taken over by Lynn Graem some time in late 1979, had the occasional wild diversion from regular comic features. Some of you out there might better remember her Howard The Duck Magazine.
When I say “magazine” I am referring to the “Black & White Slicks” some of you faithful might remember me mentioning a long time ago. The mags were larger than a comic, the interior was printed on utter crap paper and at a dreadful “dot screen” resolution. Finally, the cover was on slick paper (flint coated stock—and I do mean a glossy, fine stone finish) and printed in color. A lot of you out there may be more familiar with Conan The Barbarian or King Kull—both successful Black & White Slicks.
One wild diversion was 5-pages of the Marvel staffers goofing around with all manner of Hulk toys! How Lynn got hooked up to merchandising for all this loot is lost to the swirling mists of time. Similarly lost are the original film negatives that I shot. So much time has passed that I could not remember at all that I had done this. Not even the one image “in the clear” reminded me.
I tried to find them, asking around to my old comrades – those who allowed me to invade their personal darkrooms or kitchens. None had them.
What remains is this grainy horror show. But it’s all we have, save for two images. (Plus I know I saw one print I must have given away but, like I say, that didn’t register as this event!)
Another silly mystery is the name, “Lora Byrne.” Not a single memory ganglia is twitching. But from the peculiar choice of words and the fact that I could run the typesetting computer, means it was me who wrote this article. And I think I pasted up the five pages. I’m sorry I didn’t write all over the neg sheet, to “return to office!” Because there’s some very nice pictures of people.
So disappointed am I that I am just going to annotate enough to make sure everyone is identified and only a couple of the original pages are being shown. To give you an idea of just how great the disparity is between the original image and what’s printed—I will run a couple of shots that I still have.
Yes! A double exposure, caused by youthful hubris and poor habits. But these two shots feature Joe Jusko and Andy Yanchus. Joe is remarkably young here—he is such an oversized fellow, not just in muscular bulk but talent, that I was shocked to learn he was 21! You all may know Joe as a “cover painter” but that only vaguely describes the level of his work. In fact, the cover to Hulk 26 was painted by Joe (over John Buscema pencils)!
Staff Colorist Andy Yanchus did all the weird coloring corrections that needed to be done. I say ‘weird’ because there was a secret code all those colorists used to tell the separators what color to use. Andy had to know all the florid art world colors, how to mix primary colors and finally that secret code… Plus he did really neat work. When we made color guides (for the separators) from photostat paper, it was thick enough for Andy to slice off the emulsion and put another copy of the page down right in that spot! Exacting. X-Acto.
A “True Fan” of the Punisher Armory, a small run of comics that I had something to do with, might see the same turgid style of laying out the info… no matter how awkward. That’s all the text you’re getting. All these toys are priceless collectibles, worth real money now if you can find them.
Louise “Weezie” Jones-Simonson, Editrix Supreme and Assistant Editor Helen Katz standing to one side of Joe.
Mighty Marie Severin, as grabby as any kid! Free toys brings out the kid!
Super Inker, Terry Austin and Production Stalwart Joe Albelo with Weezie to the right.
I have NO idea who that kid is. Must be an intern.
Whatever you do… don’t ever give Marie a can of Mr. Bubble! Between Helen and Weezie is Head of the Art Department, Cover Man Ron Zalme.
What did I say? Then Assistant Editor, Mark Gruenwald to the right. Another person never to give Mr. Bubble to!
Then Freelance Artist Bob Budianski admiring Andy’s expert toy styling.
Young Danny Fingeroth of the British Department– I think! Long time ago.
Bringing up the rear. Two of the biggest, wettest, wet-blankets in all of comic-dom. Production Men Rick Parker and Morrie Kuramoto. So put upon because some editor decided to hold a riot in the middle of the day.
It was a wonder any comic ever got printed!