The Comics That Made Me, Pt. 1

Pictured at right is Our Army at War (Sgt. Rock) #267, cover dated April 1974—story by Robert Kanigher/interior art by John Severin/cover by Joe Kubert.

When I was growing up and getting into comics in the early 1970s, comic book stores had really not taken off yet. There were certainly none near me, and though some school friends read comics, I was completely unaware of the fan community. So like most kids in that era, I got my comics simply from what was available on the spinner rack at a local drugstore.

Though I remember owning some random comics when I was younger—including a Dennis the Menace comic book that I really loved, a Tarzan comic, and a Marvel Fantastic Four, as well as a Peanuts paperback collection—this was the first comic book I recall consciously purchasing, which made me a collector. Being a war history and film nut at the time, this was right up my alley for 12-year-old me. As such, it became the first comic book series I collected, dutifully going down to that drugstore every month to pick up the next issue. 

This was before comic book stores had really taken off—there were none near me that I was aware of, so like most kids my age, I bought them off the spinner rack at my local drugstore, which was down by the train station. And it’s not like the store carried everything (I don’t recall any Marvel Comics on that display), but fortunately they carried this series pretty regularly. I also remember excitedly coming across issue 269, a 100 page special, at a news vendor at the Staten Island Ferry terminal, right before boarding a boat—which my mom kindly got me for a whopping 60¢! A little while later, I discovered a neighborhood kid had several issues that immediately preceded this one, which allowed me to add to my collection. 

Though Joe Kubert, who was most closely identified with the character, still drew the covers (as shown in the sample issues below), I was oblivious to his earlier work on the series, though I saw his work in collections. So in addition to Severin, the other artists I was exposed to on Sgt. Rock during that period included Russ Heath, George Evans and Frank Redondo for an extended run. I had no idea Redondo was Filipino, nor part of the wave of Filipino artists who entered the U.S. comics industry during the ‘70.)

This comic book started it all in another way—it inspired my own war comic, Sgt. Hanes and Hell Platoon—of which I drew 26 issues (the same milestone I’m about to hit this year with Rob Hanes Adventures!). Drawn on lined notebook paper with black pencil and colored pencils, each new issue was passed around my junior high school classroom—and, yes, I have most of those issues still! As readers of Rob Hanes Adventures know, I finally fulfilled a dream to bring that character into the series in issue 22 in a World War II flashback, and again in the last issue, #25.

Shortly after, I also began picking up Batman comics (both Batman and Detective Comics), being a fan of the character from the Adam West tv show which was in re-runs when I was a kid.

New Interview on The Heroic Voice

My interview with Dennis Mallonee on his Heroic Voice YouTube channel just dropped! It's a crisp 30-minute conversation where I talk about my series, my so-called comics career, and what's upcoming—including a way overdue third volume compilation that collects issues 9-12. Thanks to Dennis for a great conversation!

Double Secret Probation!

In Remembrance of Jules Feiffer

Mood

Bill Mauldin (1963)

Jack Kirby and Joe Simon (1941)

Pacific Palisades Fire 2

Yesterday morning, I took the photo at right, taken on the 405 North in West L.A., about 4 miles from my home, with smoke from the Palisades Fire rising from the other side of the Santa Monica mountains. By the evening, the fire had made it to the other side, forcing the evacuation of the neighborhoods on both sides of the freeway up further in the photo. That area is about 9 miles north of me up the freeway.

We never got an alert and the fire today appears to have continued northwest, away from us. Despite all this, last night was the first time I experienced some anxiety about this and actually gave some thought to what I would pack if it came to that. Fortunately, it appears we continue to be safe, but I can only imagine the stress felt by those who have been told to evacuate.

In addition to the firefighters, police and other officials, I have to also give credit to the local news people. This being L.A. with several local television news stations, all of them have been providing nearly all-day coverage, some 24/7 (about three to four stations or so). This has been from the news room, up in the air and on the ground—some reporters have covered their own neighborhoods, evacuating their own families first. 

The fact that it has been going this many days with about only 11% contained—and so far burning an area 2-1/2 times the size of Manhattan—should give people an idea of the sheer size and unprecedented scope of this disaster. With so much of it tearing through undeveloped land (like mountain terrain) where it can be only fought with water drops from aircraft, it's difficult to contain from the ground until it approaches homes and developed areas.

Pacific Palisades Fires

Today, I drove home to Los Angeles from Northern California and, shortly after entering the L.A. area, spotted the Pacific Palisades fire a few hours after it had begun. (I did not learn the details of the fire until I returned home, discovering it had become a national news story.)

The photo at right was taken on the 405 South freeway entering into West L.A. where I live, from the San Fernando Valley. The photo is around the Getty Museum that I visited just a few weeks ago (in fact, I believe that's the Getty nestled in the mountain to the left). This photo is probably 5-8 miles away from the fire.

I initially began this post to note that, on this drive, I broke my personal record for the 313 mile drive, making it in 4 hours and 10 minutes! Over the past couple years, I have made this round trip drive a few times a year now that my son attends college up there—I also have family in the area, which helps break up the drive over a few days. 

For decades, I accepted the fact that the wall for this drive was 4.5 hours, but this past year, I broke it a few times at 4 hours and 15 minutes. Over the course of today's trip, I watched GoogleMaps gradually shave my arrival time by more than 45 minutes.

Indeed, in addition to the fire, this trip was more fraught than usual. During my drive, I encountered high winds up in the mountains that jerked my car sideways a couple times—winds that likely helped fuel the fire's spread. I even saw several tumbleweeds roll across the freeway lanes in front of me! On the trip, I also had to swerve around a detached SUV bumper in the carpool lane I was in and, this afternoon, a huge piece of truck tread in the middle of the freeway. 

Oh, well, at least I made it home safe and sound. As I write this, the fires continue to spread—all my good wishes go to everyone affected by the disaster.

Remembering January 6

What a peaceful transfer of power in a democracy is supposed to look like...

...versus four years ago.. 

Never forget.

A Rockin' New Year Concert – MADJB!

In the year just past, I discovered the Middle Aged Dad Jam Band on YouTube, which mostly does covers of "dad rock" and other power pop songs. Formed during COVID, it's led by comedians Ed Marino and David Wain, members of The State comedy troupe. The band includes friends, musicians, and other actors and comedians, with guests frequently sitting in and singing in their videos and live shows. They obviously love the music and have pretty good music chops, but as the band's name suggests, and they being who they are, it's all about the fun and they don't take themselves too seriously.

So when they announced they were having a New Year's Eve concert, at a small second floor club called the Lodge Room in Highland Park, just north of downtown Los Angeles, we couldn't resist the opportunity to see them! 

They performed a diverse set list that ranged from covers of songs by Billy Joel (three!) the Doors, the Squeeze, Talking Heads, Tom Petty, Tommy Tutone, ABBA, Springsteen, the Who, Paul McCartney, the B-52s, Barry Manilow, and others—they also performed a full cover of Conjunction Junction!Among their guests were comedian/actors Kerri Kenney, Errin Hayes and Joe Truglio. There also were lots of laughs and comedy bits between songs. Their kids also took the stage at one point, performing covers of songs from Sabrina Carpenter and Olivia Rodrigo. At three hours (with a break), we certainly got our money's worth (tickets were surprisingly not expensive at all). It was a great way to ring in the new year.

At the end of the show, Marino mingled a little with the crowd, so I was able to thank him for a great show!