by John | Dec 27, 2012 | Uncategorized
The list of people who’ve influenced my work is long. Maybe endless. But somewhere in the top 10, you’d find Stan Lee.
It’s been said that Stan Lee’s greatest creation wasn’t Spider-Man, The Fantastic Four, The Hulk or any of the other Marvel characters. It was Stan Lee himself.
The things he said and wrote about the Marvel Universe (and himself) were as entertaining as any of his characters. His hype was so over the top, irreverent and good-natured that you knew he wasn’t taking himself seriously.
As a kid, I was firmly hooked on the heroics and drama of the Marvel Characters. But it was Stan’s sense of humor that—without me even realizing it—probably influenced me the most.
Apparently, with great power comes great humor…if you’re Stan Lee.
Original art from First Kiss #40 (1965) minus the Stan Lee head by John Romita, Sr. This gag first appeared in Comics Buyer’s Guide—where Last Kiss appears every month.
↓ TranscriptSCENE: Stan Lee and a young female companion enter a room where people are celebrating Stan's birthday.
STAN'S FEMALE COMPANION: It’s like this everywhere!zzit’s as if someone declared today National Stan Lee Day!
STAN: I asked for “International,” but…maybe next year!
CAPTION: Happy 90th Birthday, Stan!
Stan by John Romita, Sr. © Marvel Characters Inc
Rest by Vince Colletta Studio Color by Diego Jourdan Pereira
by John | Mar 1, 2011 | Uncategorized
This comic was supposed to run as a full-page gag in Comics Buyer’s Guide #1676. It’s one of three gags that I did for CBG’s “romance comics” issue.
But then fate–cruel, wicked fate–intervened!
Sure my cover art and another gag made it into the issue. But my third gag got cut at the last minute. The official reason? No room.
But maybe there was another reason. Maybe it was part of a vast conspiracy to…[insert any random quote from Charlie Sheen here.]
So that’s why I’m running the comic here. Because if I didn’t the [insert another random quote from Sheen] would win!
↓ TranscriptSCENE: At a party a man and a woman are dancing. In the background an angry man looks at them and says...
MAN: That does it! No more romance comics for you, young lady!
Art by Dick Giordano
by John | Feb 6, 2010 | Uncategorized
Sprechen Sie Deutsch? To read this comic in German click here.
↓ TranscriptSCENE: A surprise party. Young woman hugs a man as friends celebrate around them. There's a birthday cake on a table in front of them.
WOMAN: What a wonderful surprise! How did you keep it a secret?
MAN: Easy! I just lied to you…like usual!
SECOND WOMAN (looking on): GEE! I wish someone would lie to me!
by John | Oct 25, 2009 | Uncategorized
↓ TranscriptSCENE: A nicely dressed man and woman have stepped outside during a party. They smile at each other. This is the ultimate romantic moment:
MAN: Oh, Darling, let's share everything!
WOMAN: Believe me! I just did!
SOUND (coming from woman): F-A-A-A-R-T!
