SUPERMAN, the Ultimate War Machine, flashes a stern statement. An early 70's, Vietnam-Era Image, by CURT SWAN & MURPHY ANDERSON. Licensed on Posters & Plastic Shopping Bags.

align="justify">

Growing up a part of Comic Book Fandom in the early-70's, was very special for me. It was like being part of a small group of brains, waiting for the dopamine to be released. Small Groups that knew the special creativity happening in the field. Possibly the last of the great original talents arrived then, like KALUTA, JONES, WRIGHTSON, & not many, hardly any, have come close to achieving the fresh uniqueness the Comics form was at. Finally being appreciated as a legitimate art form & the original artworks being sold & collected, instead of "X"ed with a blue marker & shredded.

By 1973, there may have been only 2 Comic Book specialty stores in Manhattan, SUPERSNIPE & the COMIC ART GALLERY. As a 7,...8 year old, & walking into one of those small cramped stores, was like Nirvana! It was an orgasm before puberty. Then there was a man named PHIL SEULING, who not only helped start independant distribution, but also made the field bloom & explode thanks to his concept of , the Comics Convention.

By 1971, I had connived my parents to get me a package subscription to 3-DC Comics Titles. I sent in a coupon, cut from a Nov. 1971 Title, to recieve a years worth of BATMAN, JUSTICE LEAGUE, & WORLD'S FINEST. By the time the coupon was processed, I started to get the titles starting with their Jan/Feb. 1972 Issues. My mailbox was tall & thin, making our mailman fold my books in half vertically to shove them in. Each title was wrapped in a brown craft paper sleeve, which didn't protect it at all. I was a collector, but now my Books were arriving in crappy condition. I still bought other DC "52 pg.'s for 25 cents" titles at the local newstand/candy store. But what made me even more angry, was the damage was done to some of the periods' best cover art "ever" to be produced in the 20th century! Practically every Cover was brilliantly electrified, thanks to the amazing NEAL ADAMS. Even as an 8 year old, I recognized that this artists' work was without-a-doubt, the most appealing visualist of the medium, I had ever seen. Photo realistic, & tense, coming to life in your face. Plus ADAMS being teamed with DENNY O'NEIL's writing, in my opinion, was more literate then the MARVEL titles, as far as I was concerned. DC had suddenly become very mature & adult-geared. A far departure, & nothing like the 1940's-50's stories being reprinted in the 100 page Super-Spectaculars. Because of O'NEIL & ADAMS, & DC editor, JULIUS SCHWARTZ pushing meaningful topics based on the social changes & turmoil in the country at the time, the stories became meaningful & no longer disposable, with artwork that screamed "creativity at it's finest"!

Above is part of the Nov. 1971, 2-page "DC COMICS CLUB" Subscription Advert, from where I received a years worth of 3 Titles(Group IV). Followed by Cover images of the actual Issues delivered to my home, featuring some of the most amazing covers ever produced by the phenominal NEAL ADAMS. The BATMAN 241 Cover, & following "Ras Al Ghul/Demon" Storyline, are some of the finest comics for all time.

style="color:#ccccff;">

My family ran an Artist Materials Business in Midtown Manhattan, & serviced the art departments of the Comic Publishers. By 1973-74, I was being brought up to the Offices by my Mom, to meet the Staff, & sometimes hang around for hours I was like a pig in shit, going from office to cubicle, asking for autographs, no matter who it was...These were my heroes, even if they were just Art Dept. Interns, whiting-out & making corrections to the work... The Big Talents in the industry would also usually stop into the Store to buy personal supplies, & if my Mom recognized or conversated with them, & discovered who they were, she would have them do a sketch for me. MILTON CANIFF, SERGIO ARAGONES, & many others have contributed to my 1st original collection of sketches & illustrations...

I was eventually taken to my 1st PHIL SEULING "Comic Art Convention" at the Commodore Hotel, in 1973. I was 9 years old...My mom would take me, & it became a twice, sometimes, 3-times a year event. She would always surprise me with vintage pre-70's BATMAN Merchandise & Memorabilia. My 1st few years, I did not really buy any comics, I just ran around looking, filling in the historic significance of the GOLDEN AGE on display. Maybe there would be a stack of 60's Batman comics, 5 for 50 cents. Those I may get a few of. But it was my mom who purchased most of the items , & some I still have today. I did want to be artist, but I don't remember being interested in meeting any of the talents there...I just wnated to see all that colorful-colored covers & moldy, yellowing paper...I did like the Costume Contests, & there were very well done designers. One person who stands out, was named "Animal X". i think her name was Angelique.& had a store front near West 15th St., in Manhattan.

Besides the Hotel Commodore on 42nd St, there were others like Hotel McAlpin, & the Statler HILTON. The annual Rock'N'Roll Conventions were held at the Roosevelt, & the Creation STAR TREK Cons were at the Sheraton & the Statler. Berman & Malins' CREATION CONS had some nice starts, but commercialized more towards the SCi-Fi/Entertainment Genre...There was nothing like a SEULING Comic Con!

Possibly my 3rd Convention in 1975
, & 1st time meeting JACK KIRBY, who sold these posters at his booth, & signed them. Also had him sign one of his JIMMY OLSEN Issues. This was also where my mom started her friendship with BOB KANE,

/>

By 1975 PHIL SEULING was at the top of his game, successful with his Monthly East Coast Fandom Event for all time, the COMIC ART CON & MarketPlace.

/>

Started to go to other Conventions in Manhattan, like this 1975 NOSTALGIA Con, to meet LARRY "BUSTER" CRABBE. The 1936 Universal FLASH GORDON Serials were being shown on PBS, Sunday nights, along with ZORRO'S FIGHTING LEGION, right before MONTY PYTHON & THE GOODIES.

/>

The Best Con of it's kind for a "DC" Geek like me. My mom & I spent the entire day there with BOB KANE, & were introduced to many Legends of the Comics Field. KANE did a large Batman & Robin Drawing for JOE SHUSTER, & had me present it to him. SHUSTER told me to wait, & sketched up a nice side view of Superman, which he handed me to give to KANE. Wish I could have gotten one too. The Superman Piece is printed in KANE's autobiography.

/> The 1976 MARVEL-Con was probably the last of the personal-touch Conventions, totally extinct today. The feeling of the early Fandom & specialness died about this time, as Comics became more Mainstream. Especially now, with the Hollywood/Disney/Warner-corporated mentality & environment. The Conventions today will never again capture the flair & spark of the early 1970's.

/>Even the early STAR TREK Cons were exciting, allowing you a quiet, personal, & up-close moment with talents like ISSAC ASIMOV & LEONARD NIMOY.

/>

In Memory of & Appreciation To PHIL SEULING; & all the Fun He Brought to the early, growing League of Fandom...

Premiums were a normal commodity of growing up in Pre-Television America. A kid could not wait until his Decoder Badge arrived so he could decipher the new code being given on some Adventure Hero's Radio Show...They felt like they belonged to something very special, & indeed they did...

Comic Books were booming as the industry discovered the Super-Hero & it's money making powers, thanks to JERRY SEIGEL & JOE SHUSTER, the Creators of "SUPERMAN". Everywhere, Publishers were popping up left & right trying to compete & come up with the next big marketing & licensing property.


By the time America entered World War II, metals were being salvaged & used for the War effort. So Brass & other metallic-made Premiums were put on a tight halt, for the time being. JOE SIMON & JACK KIRBY's "CAPTAIN AMERICA" was given his own "Sentinels Of Liberty" Club in 1941, & is one of the 1st Patriotic Heroes. Here is the gorgeous 1941 Brass Badge, which was part of the kit made available from the Comics published by "TIMELY" Publications.


Other characters jumped on the Patriotic path, though most did not last long like the ones who are now considered the "Classics". LEV GLEASON's "SILVER STREAK COMICS" featured a short run of "CAPTAIN BATTLE" adventures, & was even given it's own title for a couple years. This still did not stop the formation of a "Captain Battle Boy's Brigade" in 1942. This Pinback is very rare due to the unpopularity & poor enlistment of members for this humdrum copycat hero.

Bronx Born WILL EISNER started one of the 1st Comic Book packaging studios, using some of the best talents ever to be involved with the medium. His own work evokes theatrical design & stage direction, complimentary of the best storytelling to ever be done in the medium of Comics. His most popular creation, "THE SPIRIT", was a trend-setting body of work, & is still highly regarded as the highest level that the comics format can ever reach. "The Spirit" was featured in a supplementary insert, only available in Newspapers in certain states around America. This Pinback promotes the start of the feature in the "Minneapolis Morning Tribune", 1942.

By the 1960's, mass merchandising & Licensing was taking on it's most unique & attractive period...

"TOPPS, Inc.", of Brooklyn, NY, was & is still the leader in producing the "Gum Card & Stickers"...From Sports Teams to Television Shows to Science Facts, TOPPS has for many years created the market for collecting stickers & cards featuring any & all types of subject matter. Of course the common American knows of the "Baseball Card", one of today's most highly invested & profitable product. Even more stable than anything you can purchase on the stock market or in real estate. So-called "Baseball" fanatics will splurge an infinite amount of cash on a particular Card, which will usually always increase in value if cared for properly.

In the early 1960's, TOPPS started to market licensed characters on Tattoos. A large number of very popular Animated Cartoon Characters were now to be shown off on your skin, or school books, or wherever you choose. Plus a "Bazooka"-like chunk of gum was integral to the mix, to create the saliva needed to wet & applique the image.

This is a Rare Series of Licensed "DC COMICS" Character Tattoos, called appropriately, "COMIC BOOK TATTOO" from 1967...

Shown here are the 4 different Packaging wrappers used to entice the Comic Fan, featuring "WONDER WOMAN" by Murphy Anderson, "SUPERMAN" by Al Plastino, "AQUAMAN" by Ramona Fradon, & "BATMAN" by Carmine Infantino. The Tattoo images are on the reverse side of the wrapper, & most examples were images of "Superman & Family". These were re-used images from TOPPS' "Superman Tattoo" release from 1962, much to the disappointment of fans expecting the other heroes shown as marketed.

What is more desireable & far more rare for the Collector today, is the "Point of Purchase" Display Box, the packs came in. Here is the Box & side panel, with Artwork by "DC Superman" Artist, "AL PLASTINO". The Box can be fairly called an example of false advertising, as a few of the characters shown, are no where to be seen on the actual Tattoo Wrappers. "Wonder Woman" is not even shown on the Box, replaced with "The Flash" & "Green Lantern". Still, an extremely scarce disposeable Box that commands hundreds, if not thousands, if found at all. This is the 1st one I have seen since 1969, when I would buy them at my local "Five & Dime" Discount Store...

By 1967, when "Bat-Mania" was in it's decline, a few companies still marketed Superhero items, even though parents & some kids were burnt out by the merchandising overkill of BATMAN. "SPACE" Toys were the next craze, due to the "Apollo" mission to the Moon.

Companies like "HASBRO", still contracted to the licensing of certain characters, still used them to enhance their more generic merchandise. The HASBRO "Target Games" from 1967 featured a plastic Gun with 3 Darts, blistered to a Cardboard Display, centered with a Metal Target.

Here is the extremely Rare "SUPERMAN TARGET GAME" from 1967, featuring images of certain Villians used for the first time on any merchandise. "BIZARRO", " MR MXYZPTLK", "BRAINIAC", & "LUTHOR", with art by CURT SWAN & JOHN FORTE, centers a beautiful painted image of Superman breaking free, of being chained by an Iron-Masked & Caped adversary unknown. Almost like a piece of 60's "Pop Art", suitable for framing...

Something very unique for children in the 1930's-50's, was to be a member of a club associated with a favorite Radio Show, Comic Book, or Pulp Magazine Character...The offerings were fantastic & imaginative, like beautifully produced Brass Rings with secret compartments, decoder badges, colorful certificates, & many other varieties of what collectors call "Premiums"...A Comic or Radio show gave messages to their fans on how to use these premiums to interact with their favorite heroes. This is something missing from todays world & the youth are becoming more anti-social with the digital & computer age. All in all, the premiums I am posting here shows a time when kids were thanked for being true fans of this enjoyable medium.


This Collection shows what are probably the "Very" 1st Premium/Club "Pinbacks & Badges" offered by DC Comics, back when they were originally known as Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholsons, "National Allied Publishing". Nicholson produced the very first Comic Book to feature "All-New" material, when other publishers just licensed & reprinted the popular Newspaper Strips. This historic issue was titled, "NEW FUN" & premiered in February 1935. By January 1936, the title was changed to "MORE FUN" with it's 7th Issue. Sometime in 1935, the title offered it's readers a membership to the "New Fun Club", which included this laughing gnome character, "JOLLY BILL", on the pinback & certificate. Both are Rare, & the pinback has faded, making unreadable it's proud message of "Clean Comics", rounding the edges.

The second title Nicholson published in December 1935, was "NEW COMICS". To avoid confusion with "NEW FUN", "NEW COMICS" was changed to "NEW ADVENTURE COMICS" in June 1937. These Books featured the very first works of SUPERMAN Creators, JERRY SEIGEL & JOE SHUSTER. Their strip, "FEDERAL MEN" featuring "STEVE CARSON", was popular enough to warrant a Fan Club which lasted for 3 years, offering Pinbacks & Certificates. The above "Junior Federal Men Club" pinback was one of the first offered in 1937.

Another 1937 Seigel & Shuster "Junior Federal Men Club" Pinback from "NEW ADVENTURE COMICS". There was one more pinback variant offered in 1939. All 3 are extremely diffucult to find, especially the certificates & shipping envelope.

By 1937 Wheeler-Nicholson was so deep in debt, he partnered with his business associates, JACK LIEBOWITZ & HARRY DONENFELD. They premiered a new title, "DETECTIVE COMICS" in March 1937, & by the following year, NICHOLSON was bankrupt & gone from the company. Harry & Jack stuck with it & prospered, especially when they published a new title, "ACTION COMICS", in June 1938. It featured a unique & untried original concept by Jerry Seigel & Joe Shuster,...SUPERMAN! The Super-Hero was born & was an immediate and overnight success for it's publishers, selling out & going into multiple printings.

The above 1939 Pinback is the very 1st to feature the new character of SUPERMAN by Co-Creator/Artist, Joe Shuster. There is no current information of how this pinback was offered & made available to the public...though it's possible it was sent to readers who mailed in "reader survey" clippings from the early "ACTION COMICS" issues...

By 1939, "ACTION COMICS" was such a phenominal success, the SUPERMAN character recieved it's own title. In the 1st issue was a centerspread ad for the "SUPERMEN OF AMERICA CLUB". For 10 cents, readers would recieve the above Pinback, Certificate & Code Book. The Club was so popular it lasted until 1961.

By 1940, SUPERMAN was a household name, being featured everywhere from Animated Theatrical Shorts, Syndicated Newspaper Strips, a Radio Show, & mass merchandising on a par with then monster successes, "MICKEY MOUSE" & "POPEYE". Liebowitz & Donenfeld had also changed the company name to "Detective Comics, Inc.", & then shortened to the initials, "DC".

By 1942, the Logo was changed again to read, "DC-A Superman Publication", referring to the company mascot & million dollar seller...

The above 1940 Cap for "Roberts' Milk" was collected & in return for the 12 variations, the neighborhood grocery store owner would present a beautiful figural brass badge of Superman holding a flag that reads, "SUPERMAN/AMERICAN"...

Besides Superman, there were other characters finding their way into the hearts of the youth. HOP HARRIGAN was a Teenage Pilot who flew missions to battle terrorists & saboteurs. This beautiful 1940 brass badge was part of the "ALL-AMERICAN FLYING CLUB".

MC GAINES, the father & publisher of the very 1st Comic Book ever, had passed on publishing "Superman", & gave it to Liebowitz & Donenfeld, who made millions. He cursed himself for that mistake til the day he died. So he went into a sister partnership with "DC". He started his own imprint, "ALL-AMERICAN PUBLICATIONS" in 1939. The titles were distributed & even crossed over with DC & it's characters. Among the titles he published with Artist/Editor, SHELDON MAYER, were,..."FLASH COMICS"(with Flash, Hawkman, Johnny Thunder), "SENSATION COMICS"( with Wonder Woman, Mr Terrific, Wildcat), "WONDER WOMAN", "GREEN LANTERN", "ALL STAR", & "ALL-AMERICAN" (with Hop Harrigan, Green Lantern, Red Tornado, The Atom)...

HOP HARRIGAN was so popular, he recieved his own Radio Series(1942-48), & even a 1946 Columbia Pictures Serial.

MC GAINES eventually sold out to "DC", & formed a new company, "E.C. Publications". But it was his son, WILLIAM M. GAINES, that turned "EC COMICS" into an empire, with their "TALES FROM THE CRYPT" & "MAD".

This Pinback was attached to the cover of copies of SUPERMAN #18, 1942. They were supplied overseas to soldiers fighting in the second World War, & possibly sent to readers who took part in "reader surveys".

This 1942 SUPERMAN "Junior Defense League" Brass Badge was acquired when a child collected "Saylors Bread" Superman Defense Stamps. He then would trade the stamps in at the local grocery store for this beautiful figural badge.

The 1942 "JUNIOR JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA CLUB" was most likely the most exciting club for a comic fan to be part of. From the pages of "ALL STAR COMICS", which featured adventures of "DC" & "ALL-AMERICAN" characters teaming up to battle the worlds villiany. Even SUPERMAN & BATMAN were honorary members who sometimes joined their fellow heroes, like, Starman, Hawkman, The Atom, Hourman, Wonder Woman, Johnny Thunder, Black Canary, Mr Terrific, Flash, Wildcat, & others. A great kit was offered with a beautiful certificate featuring the heroes, & a decoder to decipher comic book messages. The Club lasted til 1948 with variations of the merchandise offered. Here above, is the 1942 first year Silvered Brass Badge.

In the May 1942 issue of "SENSATION COMICS", readers were offered this beautiful full color Pinback of the Amazon Princess, "WONDER WOMAN". Only 1000 were said to have been made. A Rare gem.

This "FLASH" Pinback was sent to the first 1000 readers who filled out & sent in a survey coupon, found in the Sept./Oct. 1942 Issue of "ALL-FLASH COMICS". Equally as beautiful as the WONDER WOMAN, & even twice as scarce.

Here is the final version of the "SUPERMEN OF AMERICA CLUB" Pinback, from 1961.