“The Narrative Wouldn’t Exist Without Him As a Foil”- Thoughts on Martin Goodman

Think about how you know him. He’s subtly omnipresent to the point of existing in our collective unconsciousness the way founding fathers or historical figures are- he’s John Wilkes Booth, existing to be the assassin in Abraham Lincoln’s story. He’s Herbert Morrison, necessary to breathlessly describe the Hindenburg Disaster, so that it better becomes a […]

“…and pulled down fistfulls of the national zeitgeist.” Reviewing the gruesome ‘Stan Lee: the Man Behind Marvel’

Start a pot of tea because this is going to be a lengthy one, covering the 2017 pre-death Stan biography “Stan Lee: The Man Behind Marvel” by one Bob Batchelor. Apparently, it comes in multiple editions, (there’s a young readers adaption of the same book, not pictured) with what I presume is the latest update […]

“What about the Darlin’ One?” How Dick Ayers was blacklisted and slandered by Marvel

“It was clobberin’ time for Stan Lee at a 1976 college lecture, a one-two punch, feint and jab. “Hey, Stan” came the question from the floor. “Do you remember Dick Ayers?” Lee beamed. “Darlin’ Dick?” he grinned, using an old credit-box endearment. “Sure, I remember Darlin’ Dick! What about the Darlin’ One?” How come Darlin’ […]