Many “comic” people know that Tom DeFalco, to the right, Author and Creator, was the Editor in Chief for 1987 to 94. One might argue that position was one of the most powerful at Marvel.

I have a counter to that idea. One Alison Gil– holding up the wall to the left (well… Tom can talk…) — and no one outside of the office ever heard of her.

Alison was the Manufacturing Liaison. Without Alison there would be no way for the books to get printed. So, you see, it’s one thing to write ’em, they gotta get printed somehow or they wouldn’t appear in your comic shop.

Anyone remember all those die-cut, glow-in-the-dark, embossed and holo-foil covers? A nightmare for collectors, a mere headache for Alison.

Alison Gill knew how to “talk’ to the printers. Which is a very specific language.

My own Guide to the X-Mansion was just such a long-winded discussion! The idea was to make it a field book one might place flat to go over. So it was her unenviable task to get it spiral bound! And with double gate-folds to boot.

Did I mention she was British? So part of that discussion was hearing her swear at the publishers in a charming English accent!