Marc Tyler Nobleman's Blog, page 97
September 24, 2013
Childhood doesn't end with growing up (Dr. Seuss)
When I was in college, back in the analog era, campus groups would make big posters to promote their causes or announce upcoming events and plaster them on the exterior brick walls of the student union.
Sometimes we made posters for reasons beyond that:
(Gravity was—and still is—the humor magazine of Brandeis University.)
Sometimes we made posters for reasons beyond that:
(Gravity was—and still is—the humor magazine of Brandeis University.)
September 23, 2013
The three coincidences of Steve
Before I began researching Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman, it was not known among comics people that Bill Finger had married a second time (after divorcing Portia).
I found his second wife, Lyn Simmons, in June 2006. She had three children. One is named Steve. Oddly, Lyn had only one photo of Bill—and not a good one.
Steve, however, had a great one. Only he didn’t know where it was. That was July 2006. He found it…in March 2007.
But it was worth the wait.
The photo is included in the author’s note of Bill the Boy Wonder. It was probably the clearest (and certainly the quirkiest) of the eleven “new” photos I found.
Adding to this excitement, three coincidences surrounded Steve:
Lyn (who was living in California at the time) had been visiting on the East Coast (where I live) and had flown home the day I found her.I lived in Connecticut at the time…specifically, as it turned out, in the same town as Steve. In other words, the best photo of Bill Finger I uncovered during a many-month search was five minutes from me the entire time.Steve was a businessman, but he had published several children’s books…with Charlesbridge, the publisher who would go on to acquire Bill the Boy Wonder in 2010.
I found his second wife, Lyn Simmons, in June 2006. She had three children. One is named Steve. Oddly, Lyn had only one photo of Bill—and not a good one.
Steve, however, had a great one. Only he didn’t know where it was. That was July 2006. He found it…in March 2007.
But it was worth the wait.
The photo is included in the author’s note of Bill the Boy Wonder. It was probably the clearest (and certainly the quirkiest) of the eleven “new” photos I found.
Adding to this excitement, three coincidences surrounded Steve:
Lyn (who was living in California at the time) had been visiting on the East Coast (where I live) and had flown home the day I found her.I lived in Connecticut at the time…specifically, as it turned out, in the same town as Steve. In other words, the best photo of Bill Finger I uncovered during a many-month search was five minutes from me the entire time.Steve was a businessman, but he had published several children’s books…with Charlesbridge, the publisher who would go on to acquire Bill the Boy Wonder in 2010.
September 22, 2013
The Cheshire Dog
In 2011, I tracked down and interviewed Larry Marks, the singer of the original Scooby-Doo theme song. But it wasn't until recently that I learned that Larry (who grew up in New York City) went to Cheshire Academy, a prep school in my hometown, Cheshire, CT. He was graduated from there in 1962. I wasn't around yet, but still found this overlap fun.
Larry Marks, age 16, at Cheshire Academy; photo courtesy of Leah Marks
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Larry Marks, age 16, at Cheshire Academy; photo courtesy of Leah Marks
September 19, 2013
Bill Finger catch phrases
Here are phrases I find myself saying again and again when describing Bill Finger and Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman (some of which appear in the book itself):
Batman’s biggest secret is not Bruce Wayne.Bill brought out the detective in Batman, and then in me.The lone, previously unknown heir is in the unique position to go to bat for Bill.Bill died in 1974. He had no obituary. No funeral. No gravestone. No kidding.Bill created one of our greatest champions for justice. It’s time for justice for Bill himself.Justice has no expiration date.
Batman’s biggest secret is not Bruce Wayne.Bill brought out the detective in Batman, and then in me.The lone, previously unknown heir is in the unique position to go to bat for Bill.Bill died in 1974. He had no obituary. No funeral. No gravestone. No kidding.Bill created one of our greatest champions for justice. It’s time for justice for Bill himself.Justice has no expiration date.
September 16, 2013
Plaintive comic book covers of the early 1990s
The storytelling of DC Comics comics of the 1990s sometimes get a bad rap. I can't speak to that, but can say that in at least one sense, they had something special going on.
The covers.
These days, I often leave the comic shop realizing I couldn't describe what most or all of the covers of the titles I just bought look like. Part of the reason is because covers these days, generally speaking, are both too busy and too dark for my taste, so they don't make an impression on me as I take them from the shelf. (I buy by series regardless of what the cover looks like.)
Yet for much of the '90s (and late '80s), covers often took a more pensive, even plaintive, approach. Below (in order of release date) are some that stand out to me—and I don't have even one of these issues.
Lot of lightning.
Note that (aside from the title and talent) these covers have no text (with one exception I could not resist because the image is so striking)—no dumb taglines like "Trapped by the Terrible Toyman!" So even the compositions featuring action (such as the first of the two Firestorm covers, Starman, Hawkman, and Shazam) come on quiet.
The covers.
These days, I often leave the comic shop realizing I couldn't describe what most or all of the covers of the titles I just bought look like. Part of the reason is because covers these days, generally speaking, are both too busy and too dark for my taste, so they don't make an impression on me as I take them from the shelf. (I buy by series regardless of what the cover looks like.)
Yet for much of the '90s (and late '80s), covers often took a more pensive, even plaintive, approach. Below (in order of release date) are some that stand out to me—and I don't have even one of these issues.
Lot of lightning.
Note that (aside from the title and talent) these covers have no text (with one exception I could not resist because the image is so striking)—no dumb taglines like "Trapped by the Terrible Toyman!" So even the compositions featuring action (such as the first of the two Firestorm covers, Starman, Hawkman, and Shazam) come on quiet.
September 15, 2013
“Bill the Boy Wonder” games
Several fun games based on Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman are at the official site of the book (watch out for those many unofficial sites).
Below are two more. For the first one, you need your friends. The second one you can do solo.
Bill Finger game #1: Speed Search
Race your friends! Which of you will be the first to find every item below in Bill the Boy Wonder?
Simply print this page for every competitor to use as a checklist; as you find each item, cross it off:
a bronze scarab paperweightgrapesa fisha wooden human mannequinan umbrellaa Spider-Man mask a palettethe Scarecrow (villain)a canethe Empire State Buildinga “help wanted” signa quill (feather pen)a baseball hatthe moon BONUS: Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster (the creators of Superman)
Bill Finger game #2: Find Finger
For most of Bill Finger’s career, his fans did not know he existed. How could this be? His name was not in Batman comic books.
In this game, however, it is—sometimes.
In the jumbles below, can you find the words “Bill Finger” within the words “Batman comic book” with no missing letters?
Examples:
BLIABLIERTMANCGOMFICBONOK = Yes!
BEAITGMBANCNOMFICBROLLOK = No. There is a missing “I.”
Your turn! Is “Bill Finger” in any of these “Batman comic books”?
BBAITMLANLCFIOMGICBEOORK
BARTIMBANNICGOEMILLCBOFONK
BRATEMGANNCOIMFICLBOIOBK
BILATMANBLFRCOMIINCBOGEOK
BILFATBIMANNCEOGMICBROOLK
Scroll down for answers.
Answers:
BBAITMLANLCFIOMGICBEOORK = No. There is a missing “N.”
BARTIMBANNICGOEMILLCBOFONK = Yes!
BRATEMGANNCOIMFICLBOIOBK = No. There is a missing “L.”
BILATMANBLFRCOMIINCBOGEOK = Yes!
BILFATBIMANNCEOGMICBROOLK = Yes!
Below are two more. For the first one, you need your friends. The second one you can do solo.
Bill Finger game #1: Speed Search
Race your friends! Which of you will be the first to find every item below in Bill the Boy Wonder?
Simply print this page for every competitor to use as a checklist; as you find each item, cross it off:
a bronze scarab paperweightgrapesa fisha wooden human mannequinan umbrellaa Spider-Man mask a palettethe Scarecrow (villain)a canethe Empire State Buildinga “help wanted” signa quill (feather pen)a baseball hatthe moon BONUS: Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster (the creators of Superman)
Bill Finger game #2: Find Finger
For most of Bill Finger’s career, his fans did not know he existed. How could this be? His name was not in Batman comic books.
In this game, however, it is—sometimes.
In the jumbles below, can you find the words “Bill Finger” within the words “Batman comic book” with no missing letters?
Examples:
BLIABLIERTMANCGOMFICBONOK = Yes!
BEAITGMBANCNOMFICBROLLOK = No. There is a missing “I.”
Your turn! Is “Bill Finger” in any of these “Batman comic books”?
BBAITMLANLCFIOMGICBEOORK
BARTIMBANNICGOEMILLCBOFONK
BRATEMGANNCOIMFICLBOIOBK
BILATMANBLFRCOMIINCBOGEOK
BILFATBIMANNCEOGMICBROOLK
Scroll down for answers.
Answers:
BBAITMLANLCFIOMGICBEOORK = No. There is a missing “N.”
BARTIMBANNICGOEMILLCBOFONK = Yes!
BRATEMGANNCOIMFICLBOIOBK = No. There is a missing “L.”
BILATMANBLFRCOMIINCBOGEOK = Yes!
BILFATBIMANNCEOGMICBROOLK = Yes!
September 14, 2013
"Hey Kids, Comics!": comics people remember comics
Rob Kelly, the man who put the "aqua" in "Aquanet" (AKA The Aquaman Shrine), has birthed a stellar new project: Hey Kids, Comics!, a book of nostalgia essays contributed by a broad (hence my good fortune to be among them) range of people associated with comics.
Each of us was asked to write about a formative moment in our personal comics history. I suspect some went the more analytical, character-building route, while I took a somewhat breezy approach, simply revisiting issues whose stories (or, in come cases, just covers) are anchored firmly in my head.
Please support Rob by checking out the book, which is available in both print and digital editions. It is a unique compilation, well done.
Congrats, Rob, and thanks again for including me. Okay, I'll say it: "Outrageous!"
Each of us was asked to write about a formative moment in our personal comics history. I suspect some went the more analytical, character-building route, while I took a somewhat breezy approach, simply revisiting issues whose stories (or, in come cases, just covers) are anchored firmly in my head.
Please support Rob by checking out the book, which is available in both print and digital editions. It is a unique compilation, well done.
Congrats, Rob, and thanks again for including me. Okay, I'll say it: "Outrageous!"
September 12, 2013
Bill Finger’s sole official credit in his lifetime...on Superman?
Only once in his lifetime, Bill Finger received a “written by” credit on a first-run Batman story, and it wasn’t a comic book.
And though he wrote Superman stories, too (he created Lana Lang!), same deal—one credit, in TV:
This is from The New Adventures of Superman, a Filmation series of animated shorts that debuted in 1966.
Though there is currently almost no trace online that Bill wrote for this series, in 2006, I did follow a path to determine that this was the case. But I didn’t look for the visual proof until now.
Thank you to Bill Davis of Toronto for prompting me to revisit this.
Adios, Señor Superhombre.
Bonus:
Excerpts from emails with Bill’s second wife Lyn Simmons, and one other, in figuring this out:
And though he wrote Superman stories, too (he created Lana Lang!), same deal—one credit, in TV:
This is from The New Adventures of Superman, a Filmation series of animated shorts that debuted in 1966.
Though there is currently almost no trace online that Bill wrote for this series, in 2006, I did follow a path to determine that this was the case. But I didn’t look for the visual proof until now.
Thank you to Bill Davis of Toronto for prompting me to revisit this.
Adios, Señor Superhombre.
Bonus:
Excerpts from emails with Bill’s second wife Lyn Simmons, and one other, in figuring this out:
From: Marc Tyler Nobleman
To: Lyn Simmons
Sent: Saturday, October 14, 2006 9:02 AM
Subject: Hi Lyn - Superman movie
You said they called Bill to ask him to come to California to write a script for the Superman movie. I've talked with a few people who were involved with the film and they don't remember that. Are you sure?
There was another writer named Alfred Bester who was friends with Bill who was definitely asked—there are written accounts online. Did you know Alfred? Is it possible you're confusing the two? Can you remember any more details?
From: Lyn Simmons
Sent: Saturday, October 14, 2006 4:25 PM
good to hear from you marc. bester's name rings a bell but don't think i ever met him. i'm pretty sure that bill received invitation to ca to write superman films. it's so long ago and i could be mistaken but I don't think so. in any event he never went. he had anxiety about flying and about leaving nyc.
bill may never have told his fellow writers about ca because he didn't want to explain why he wasn't going.
From: Pierre Spengler
Sent: Wednesday, December 13, 2006 1:05 PM
We purchased the rights in november 1974 and therefore started hunting for writer in the beginning of 1975. Very soon thereafter we engaged Mario Puzo. Therefore we never approached Bill Finger.
From: Lyn Simmons
Date: Tuesday, December 19, 2006 10:18 AM
i believe he was asked to come out to ca in the late 60s. i'm pretty sure it was superman. maybe they wanted him out there for ideas or stories a year or so before he died which i think was in '74. but perhaps it was for cartoons.
September 11, 2013
Ryan Adams, singer of "New York, New York," likes Batman
September 10, 2013
Guess the picture book: answers
Yesterday I challenged you to identity some of my childhood favorite fiction (and one nonfiction) picture books by a single page.
From Harry the Dirty Dog to Leo the Late Bloomer, here are the answers:
A Hole Is to Dig
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Are You My Mother?
Harry the Dirty Dog
Leo the Late Bloomer
Little Gorilla
Humbug Witch
Hubknuckles
Oliver
Dear Mr. Blueberry
I'll Teach My Dog a Lot of Words
Ten Apples Up on Top!
Stanley
Harry and the Terrible Whatzit
Duck, Death and the Tulip
Why the Sun and the Moon Live in the Sky
The Pilgrims' First Thanksgiving
The Story of Ferdinand
From Harry the Dirty Dog to Leo the Late Bloomer, here are the answers:
A Hole Is to Dig
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Are You My Mother?
Harry the Dirty Dog
Leo the Late Bloomer
Little Gorilla
Humbug Witch
Hubknuckles
Oliver
Dear Mr. Blueberry
I'll Teach My Dog a Lot of Words
Ten Apples Up on Top!
Stanley
Harry and the Terrible Whatzit
Duck, Death and the Tulip
Why the Sun and the Moon Live in the Sky
The Pilgrims' First Thanksgiving
The Story of Ferdinand
