David Armstrong interviewed Golden and Silver Age great, Nick Cardy in 1998 on set at San Diego Comic Con about his entry into comic books in 1940, working with the Eisner & Iger shop, his influences like Gary Cooper, Noel Sickles, working at Fiction House, drafted into the Army, Tarzan and Casey Ruggles daily comic strips, entering DC Comics, interacting with Alex Toth, Jack Kirby, Neal Adams and Mike Sekowsky, working with Julius Schwartz and Carmine Infantino, working on animation, illustration and movie posters for New Line Cinema. Interview conducted, recorded and copyrighted to David Armstrong.  Remastered, edited, timestamped and postproduction by Alex Grand.Support the show

In a rare 2-hour interview, delve into the enigmatic life and mind of the late Steve Ditko, co-creator of Spider-Man and Dr. Strange, through the reminiscences of his brother Pat and nephew Patrick and never before seen photos and footage. Uncover the roots of Ditko's analytical and creative genius, beginning from his early years growing up in a hardworking immigrant family, to his intuitive yet analytical approach to art which later defined the iconic characters we love. Discover the blend of scientific curiosity, love for Batman and artistic passion in Ditko's youth, including his makeshift science lab and his early fascination with solving problems, which hinted at the iconic superhero worlds he would later create. Amidst the exploration of Ditko's youthful adventures, a nostalgic recall unveils his admiration for Johnny Weissmuller's Tarzan and Charles Bronson's rugged charisma, embodying a blend of heroism and humble tenacity that subtly mirrored in Ditko's later creations. Explore how Steve's quiet but profound philosophical outlook, including his interactions with Ayn Rand’s philosophy, shaped his work and relationships within the comic book industry, and despite being labeled as a recluse, was quite interactively funny. Gain insight into Ditko's personal and professional ethos of letting his work speak for itself, his aversion to the spotlight, and his enduring focus on the present and future over the past. Through a blend of heartwarming and insightful anecdotes, this interview not only sheds light on Ditko's complex persona and his journey through the comic book world, but also underscores the indelible legacy he left behind, as seen through the eyes of his family.#SpiderMan #Marvel #DCComics #StanLee #DrStrange #Batman #SteveDitko#ComicStrips #JackKirby #WW2©2023 Comic Book HistoriansFestive Foreign Film Fans PodcastTwo regular guys explore different countries through foreign Christmas movies.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show

David Armstrong interviewed Silver & Bronze Age great, John Romita Sr. in 2001 on set at San Diego Comic Con about his entry into comic books with Les Zakarin, first meeting Stan Lee at Timely, his suspense science fiction stories like IT!, working for Famous Funnies, his relationship with Stan Lee in the 1950s, and again in the 1960s, getting inking advice from Joe Maneely, why he joined DC Comics to work on Romance Comics with Zena Brody and Robert Kanigher, discussing Alex Toth, the editorial culture at DC compared to Marvel, Jack Kirby, Martin Goodman, terrible distribution through Independent News, and DC Comics' achilles heel.Interview conducted, recorded and copyrighted to David Armstrong.Remastered, edited, timestamped and postproduction by Alex Grand.Support the show

Everyone should know that Steve Ditko was the co-creator of Spider-Man and the creator of Dr. Strange, The Question, Mr A., and many others. But most people do not know who he was, let alone know anything about him. Who was he as a person? Did he have a family? What type of person was he? Mark Ditko (Ditkoverse; Steve's nephew), Lenny Schwartz (writer, Ditko the Play; filmmaker, The Haunted and the Hunted), Jackie Estrada (Eisner Awards administrator; correspondent with Steve), Alex Grand (Comic Book Historians; author, Understanding Superhero Comic Books), and Marci Singel (Steve's first cousin) dispel those strange rumors and provide more information about Steve Ditko than you've ever believed possible. Moderated by Tyler McPhail (The Grand Geek Gathering).Recorded and post-production by Alex GrandImages used in artwork ©Their Respective Copyright holders, CBH Podcast ©Comic Book Historians, LLC. Thumbnail Artwork ©Comic Book Historians.  Support the show

A sit down chat between Alex Grand and Jose Villarrubia, Eisner nominated Comics colorist and Professor of Art at various colleges, universities & museums on various key aspects of his life and career including renovating Richard Corben's Den for Darkhorse. His personal and working relationships with Corben and Alan Moore are discussed, as well as his childhood reading comic books in Spain, moving to the USA in 1980, working as a photographer in the 1980s, entering comics with Jae Lee in the 1990s at Image Comics, working on Neil Gaiman's Wheel of World's, coloring for Marvel, DC Comics, Vertigo on titles such as X-Men, Batman, Spider-Man, Sentry, Sweet Tooth, Promethea, Tom Strong,  Cuba, My Revolution, Django Unchained and more .  Edited & Produced by Alex Grand.Images used in artwork ©Their Respective Copyright holders, CBH Podcast ©Comic Book Historians. Thumbnail Artwork ©Comic Book Historians.  Music ©Lost EuropeanSupport the show

Today we are joined by  special guest-host and resident CBH book Editor and Globo Comico social media founder, N. Scott Robinson, Ph.D., who interviews Alex Grand,  author of the new book, Understanding Superhero Comic Books A History of Key Elements, Creators, Events and Controversies , delving into its in-depth exploration of the origin, growth, and major influences of superhero comic books. The discussion illuminates how iconic characters such as Batman, Wonder Woman, and Captain America are more than just fictional characters, but reflections of their societal contexts. Further, they delve into the contributions of pivotal creators like Julius Schwartz, Jack Kirby, Stan Lee, Steve Ditko, Jim Starlin, John Byrne, and Alan Moore, highlighting their unique takes on superhero realism, design, revitalization, and deconstruction.Understanding Superhero Comic Books can be found at:click: Amazon, the book's publisher, McFarland & Co, Barnes & Noble, Wal-Mart,Target and more...Images used in artwork ©Their Respective Copyright holders, CBH Podcast ©Comic Book Historians, LLC. Thumbnail Artwork ©Comic Book Historians.  Music ©Lost EuropeanSupport the show

Alex Grand interviews Jesse Simon, the grandson of Captain America creator, Joe Simon on his creative and influential grandfather and his family's new comic series, SHIELDMASTER found on Kickstarter. Jesse discusses his grandfather's career at Timely Comics with figures like Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and Martin Goodman, DC Comics, Harvey Comics with Al Harvey, Crestwood, SICK magazine and more. You can get SHIELDMASTER at this link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/simonstudios/shieldmaster-3. Photo © Jesse Simon. Images used in artwork ©Their Respective Copyright holders, CBH Podcast ©Comic Book Historians, LLC. Thumbnail Artwork ©Comic Book Historians.  Music ©Lost EuropeanSupport the show

Bill Field returns from the exciting life of television production to host and interview comics historian Alex Grand & medical marijuana pioneer Joshua S. Berman about their award-winning graphic novel, Hashman about real-life raconteur 'Joey Berkowitz' and his life in the vice world of the illegal and legalized cannabis trade.  Hashman available on Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble and other online retailers.Hashman Trailer here: https://youtu.be/0j2FALN9KbQHashman synopsis: Award-winning graphic novel about Criminal-turned-psychologist Joey Berkowitz whose complicated past, extends through East Coast mobs, the psychedelic 60s, the New York celebrity drug culture, Berkeley Peace movement, the Paris riots, Altamont, Woodstock, laundering money in Southeast Asia, and sitting meditation courses in Tibet. Join Joey as he manages to escape prosecution time and time again by the seat of his pants, ultimately becoming a noteworthy shrink in Seattle where he manages to find himself as a central figure in the worldwide cannabis legalization scene as its most notorious authorizing doc, dispensary financier, and industry stalwart. Will he make it thru? Or will the law finally catch up with him?Hashman is important because it offers a true snapshot of life as a hustler in the late 20th century American pop culture landscape, and how he enters the modern era, offering a view of the underground world of cannabis, and how it evolved for the last 5 decades from its seedy roots to a sterile and legalized corporate venture. Get a front row seat in how the massive need for security, rooted in a childhood trauma, can mix with greed and an obsession for vice to eventually lead to one's personal destruction.Based on a series of interviews with eye witnesses, court reports, and newspaper articles carefully used to construct an authentic and visually visceral ride through the life of a well connected cannabis pioneer.Edited & Produced by Alex Grand.  Images used in artwork ©Their Respective Copyright holders, CBH Podcast ©Comic Book Historians. Thumbnail Artwork ©Comic Book Historians.Support the show

David Armstrong interviewed Golden, Silver and Bronze Age great, Julius Schwartz in 1999 on set at San Diego Comic Con about his work as a Science Fiction pulp writer agent in the 1930s, his friendship with Mort Weisinger, working with Alfred Bester & Shelley Mayer at All American Comics, M.C. Gaines, Harry Donenfeld, Science Fiction comic books of the 1950s, Strange Adventures, Gorilla covers, jumpstarting the Silver Age with the Flash, Green Lantern's oath, the JLA, Adam Strange, contributing to the Batman TV show, the Superman film, meeting and influencing Marvel's Editor, Stan Lee, Gardner Fox, and comics of the late 1990s.Interview conducted, recorded and copyrighted to David Armstrong.Remastered, edited, timestamped and postproduction by Alex Grand.Support the show

David Armstrong interviewed Golden & Silver Age great, Carmine Infantino in 1999 about his entry into comic books with Fox Comics and Timely, meeting Harry Chesler, working at DC Comics with Sheldon Mayer, meeting Alex Toth and Joe Kubert, his favorite inkers & movies, his DC covers, the business side of DC, corporate shakeups, Sol Harrison, Irwin Donenfeld, Jack Liebowitz, the buyout from Kinney, Mike Sekowsky, All-American Comics, Mario Puzo, Robert Kanigher, merchandising and why he left DC Comics.Interview conducted, recorded and copyrighted to David Armstrong.Remastered, edited, timestamped and postproduction by Alex Grand.Support the show