Comic Book Historians

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Understanding Superhero Comic Books with Alex Grand & N. Scott Robinson, Ph.D. Jun 26, 2023

Show notes

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 European

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Jesse Simon on Joe Simon & SHIELDMASTER interview by Alex Grand Jun 12, 2023

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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 European

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Bill Field interviews Hashman authors Alex Grand & Joshua S. Berman Jun 01, 2023

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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/0j2FALN9KbQ
Hashman 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.

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The Bud Plant biographical interview part 2 by Alex Grand or (When Berkeley Conquered COMIX) Apr 30, 2023

Show notes

A sit down chat between Alex Grand and Bud Plant discussing his early years in 1960s fandom, Rocket Blast Comic Collector, Golden Age Timely, Quality and Fiction House comics, EC Comics, Carl Barks, Julius Schwartz comics, Jules Fei¦er's Great Comic Book Heroes, business in the ﬁrst comic book shops, Sci-Fi Bay Con 1968, 1960s Fanzines, meeting Steranko at New York Comic Con 1970, starting Bud's Mail order, co-founding Comics and Comix and its various stages, ﬁnding the Tom Reilly Collection at 1973 Bay Area Comics Convention, from meeting Phil Seuling, starting the direct market, New Media/Irjax lawsuit, Seuling's death, encountering Gary Groth at Fantagraphics, business with Kirby and Eisner, getting into the comic direct distribution business from 1982-1988, publishing Alfredo Alcala and Jack Katz, encountering Steve Geppi at Diamond which decided the course of comic history, getting the inkpot award in the 1990s, and phasing out of San Diego Comic-Con.
©Comic Book Historians, LLC.

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The Bud Plant biographical interview part 1 by Alex Grand or (When Berkeley Conquered COMIX) Apr 17, 2023

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Professor William H. Foster III & African-Americans in Comics Part 2 by Alex Grand & Jim Thompson Apr 03, 2023

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As featured in Roy Thomas’ Alter Ego Magazine, Alex Grand and co-host Jim Thompson interview Professor William H. Foster III, published comic book historian, former Eisner judge and award-winning museum exhibit curator on the evolving roles of African Americans in Comics. William discusses his early forays into reading comics in the 1960s and 70s, then goes into a fascinating discussion of the portray and involvement of African American characters and creators in comics starting from the Yellow Kid, Krazy Kat, Ebony in Spirit, World's Finest, Sgt Fury, Fantastic Four's Black Panther, Luke Cage, Black Lightning, Black Vulcan, Fast Willie Jackson, Robert Crumb in Zap Comics, Storm of the X-Men, Sabre, Hypno Hustler, Milestone Comics, Trading Cards, Captain America, Thunder and ending into present day comic books. Originated, Edited & Produced by Alex Grand. Transcript available in Alter Ego 174.
Images used in artwork ©Their Respective Copyright holders, CBH Podcast ©Comic Book Historians. Thumbnail Artwork ©Comic Book Historians. Music ©Lost European

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Professor William H. Foster III & African-Americans in Comics Part 1 by Alex Grand & Jim Thompson Mar 01, 2023

Show notes

As featured in Roy Thomas’ Alter Ego Magazine, Alex Grand and co-host Jim Thompson interview Professor William H. Foster III, published comic book historian, former Eisner judge and award-winning museum exhibit curator on the evolving roles of African Americans in Comics. William discusses his early forays into reading comics in the 1960s and 70s, then goes into a fascinating discussion of the portray and involvement of African American characters and creators in comics starting from the Yellow Kid, Krazy Kat, Ebony in Spirit, World's Finest, Sgt Fury, Fantastic Four's Black Panther, Luke Cage, Black Lightning, Black Vulcan, Fast Willie Jackson, Robert Crumb in Zap Comics, Storm of the X-Men, Sabre, Hypno Hustler, Milestone Comics, Trading Cards, Captain America, Thunder and ending into present day comic books. Originated, Edited & Produced by Alex Grand. Transcript available in Alter Ego 173.
Images used in artwork ©Their Respective Copyright holders, CBH Podcast ©Comic Book Historians. Thumbnail Artwork ©Comic Book Historians. Music ©Lost European

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Julius Schwartz Interview by David Armstrong Feb 01, 2023

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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.

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Carmine Infantino Interview by David Armstrong Jan 02, 2023

Show notes

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.

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Roy "the Boy" Thomas’ Marvel Age Interview with Alex Grand & Jim Thompson Dec 01, 2022

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Alex Grand and co-host Jim Thompson join former Marvel writer and second Editor-In-Chief of the Marvel Age after Stan Lee about his origins. Roy discusses how he left his job as a history teacher to move to New York working at DC Comics with Mort Weisinger, leaving DC for Marvel's Stan Lee, applying his English degree to the Marvel Method, meeting Jack Kirby & Steve Ditko, bringing the pulps like Conan to comics, his political leanings from early 1970s Tom Wolfe to Rolling Stone Magazine, the Rutland Parade and the first cosplay parties at Tom Fagan's house, and his nude scenes in both National Lampoon magazine and Crazy in the context of the post sexual revolution. Edited & Produced by Alex Grand.
Images used in artwork ©Their Respective Copyright holders, CBH Podcast ©Comic Book Historians. Thumbnail Artwork ©Comic Book Historians.

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