Or:
The Sweet Science
Or:
Department of Mysteries/Episode 2
A mumbling recap of Dept. of Miseries, Ep. 1—is something like this—Noted Creator Ron Wilson, a serious amateur pugilist, proposed a super-powered boxing comic title to Man Among Men and Editor in Chief of Marvel Comics, Jim Shooter. Jim possibly had a pocketful of crazy ideas for promoting Super Boxers. Among them seemed to be a bit of fisticuffs between himself and Ron. This could have been photographed and videotaped for articles and – truly innovative here – a short video of the fight to be played in every/select direct comic shops around the country. Maybe.
OHOTMU Editorial team Mark Gruenwald and Mike Carlin were also the prime movers of Cheap Laffs (The Cable-TV Comedy Show—along with Jack Morelli and myself). Mark had a mad passion to do some kind — any kind — of recorded entertainment. When the opportunity to have an entire boxing ring at his disposal presented itself—well, whatever the original reason was, he would seize this bull by the horns.
Video Cam-Corders were rare things back then (1983). Mark Gruenwald had one—a split here is who asked who for Mark to shoot the fight. Did Jim ask or did Mark get wind of the fight and ask to shoot it. Jim already had his “photographer,” Most Excellent Inker Vinnie Colletta. I simply came along to take pictures of Ralph getting punched in the head. The boxing ring was crowded with photographers and a videographer. What survives is my fraction of the two-part event.
This is Letterer Sublime Jack Morelli warming up that tricep.
[Feel free to look up the tall tales of Mike and Mark, along with Jack Morelli and myself, actually making Cheap Laffs—located in the recollections of Mark in these blogs—Eliot]
The silliest thing to do would be to send up Rocky (1976, MGM /dir: John Avildson, written/starring: Sylvester Stallone). We did have access to a comic professional who had a similar name as a real movie star as well as being a neighbor of Mr. Stallone… Ralph Macchio. That was pretty much all that was needed. The ball was rolling and bits and pieces of a story seem to have been shouted out as the camera was rolling.
As irked that I (nor Jack or Mike) can recall many of the details and whyfors of what this was all about, I had so much fun sorting through the pix and seeing Jack really slam Ralph that I am just going to run these mostly unadorned!
Here is really good sport, Assistant Editor to Ralph Macchio, Bob Harras, endlessly chomping on a cheap stogey in order to play the Mickie character. The plot just got serious– he’s taking a bribe!
And what the heck are Creator/Editor Bob Budiansky and Writer Alan Zelenetz doing here? Aside from placing bets and furthering the wager.
The ref is trying to bribe Rocky to take a dive. See? All the elements of a hard-hitting boxing drama are right there!
This must be explained. A little. Mike is playing a reporter character that was made great use of in Cheap Laffs (The Cable-TV Comedy Show).
These last two shots are even more deeply mysterious. Mike puts on his battle togs– the laugh-getter long johns! Since these are the only two shots on the roll of film I can only guess he’s been clobbered.
Boxing aficionados out there will see the all the familiar plot twists. The human condition that made Rocky the billion dollar success that it is — is not here. But watching Ralph get smacked around is. Enjoy!