Dimension X

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.

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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.

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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.