by John | Mar 27, 2010 | Blog
Intro: Most fans knew Dick Giordano from his superhero work. But, back in the 1950s-’60s, Dick drew lots of romance comics. When I started up Last Kiss, Dick generously supplied me with valuable info about old Charlton romance comics–plus lots of moral support.
In 2001, he even drew a new story for the second issue of my Last Kiss comic book which also featured some of Dick’s old romance stories with new, twisted dialog. This interview originally appeared in that issue.
I’m posting it now because Dick passed away today and well…the world is a smaller and less friendly place without him. So here’s a few minutes with a good man that I can share with everyone. –John Lustig, March 27, 2010.
2001 interview transcribed by Christopher Irving. All art is by Dick Giordano. ©2010 Last Kiss Inc.
JOHN LUSTIG: I guess the obvious question is why—other than being a nice guy and helping me out—are you doing a Last Kiss story? I know it’s not for the money because I couldn’t pay you anywhere near your normal rate.
DICK GIORDANO: I’ve been accused of being a nice guy before and it just ain’t so! I’m as much of a lowlife as anybody else in this business. (Laughter) Certainly I didn’t do it just for the money. It really was the opportunity to do something other than superheroes. If you follow my career from the mid-‘60’s on, you’ll see that every opportunity that I had to do something other than superheroes, I took it. I hadn’t done a romance story in so long… I thought “I’ll have a little fun with this, and fit it in between deadline material.” Which is exactly what I’ve done, and I did have a little fun with it.
LUSTIG: We were playing this story for laughs, but what do you think makes a good romance story? Are there certain elements you’d look for as an artist and as an editor?
GIORDANO: From an artist’s standpoint, the difference is that you’re showing emotion rather than action. And you have an opportunity to design panels because the storytelling isn’t as critical as to what the people are doing. You can tell most romance stories with just head shots… As an editor and artist I’m looking for interesting settings and up-to-date clothing. I did that in “Muffet.” Even though you may not like it, the wedding gown and clothes that she wears are all researched.
LUSTIG: No, I liked it! (Laughter.)
(more…)
by John | Mar 27, 2010 | Blog
- Art from Dick Giordano’s “Widow Miss Muffet” from Last Kiss #2.
I was sad to learn that Dick Giordano passed away this morning (March 27, 2010.) In addition to being regarded as one of the best inkers and editors to ever work in comic books, Dick was also almost universally admired as being a nice guy and highly principled professional.
Dick was also my friend and mentor. (If you knew Dick you inevitably learned something valuable about life–at least I did.) In addition, Dick provided invaluable advice and assistance to me in the early years of Last Kiss. All four issues of Last Kiss featured covers by Dick. He even drew a new story for the second issue of my comic book series Last Kiss which I dubbed “The Dick Giordano Issue.”
Later tonight, I’ll post a 2001 interview that I did with Dick. In the meantime, I suggest if you want to read more about this remarkable man that you check out Mark Evanier’s tribute of Dick Giordano.
by John | Mar 19, 2010 | Blog
Last Kiss Entertainment (that’s me) will have booths at the following conventions in 2011. So come by; get some free Last (chocolate) Kisses; tell me something fascinating about yourself; and keep me from getting lonely!
Emerald City Comicon, March 4-6, 2011, Seattle, WA. Booth #412
Comic-Con International: San Diego, July 20-25, 2011. I’ll be at the Last Kiss Entertainment Booth.
by John | Mar 16, 2010 | Blog
Art by Allen Freeman. ©2010 Allen Freeman
The basic concept of Last Kiss hasn’t changed much over the years: old romance comics with funny new dialog.
But there have been changes to the look and feel of the series. The most obvious are that the color is better and the gags are shorter. (And hopefully funnier.)
Short didn’t come easily, though. My source material–old romance comics–were talkative. Verbose. Bombastic. Gabby. Garrulous. And even wordy.
I liked imitating that style. It was fun to cut loose and write long. Not that I had a choice. After all, when I removed the old text from the original comics, I had to replace it with something. Otherwise, I’d end up with a hole in the art.
If I was an artist, of course, I could’ve just drawn something to fill the holes. And if it was something easy, I did. But anything that required any real talent (faces, hair, etc.) was beyond me. So I had to pile on the text.
Eventually, though, I hired Allen Freeman. At first it was just to color–which he does brilliantly! But then it dawned on me–hey, Allen’s an artist. A good artist. Maybe he can draw in those missing bits in the art.
Eureka! I finally had the freedom to write gags–without worrying about filling the “holes.”
(Click on images below to see: 1) original romance art; 2) my first attempt in 1996 to write Last Kiss text for this image; and 3) my latest version of the image–with color and extra art by Allen Freeman.)
I’m still struggling to be brief. (Gotta wrap this up soon!) But it’s a lot easier now because of Allen. He literally fills in the blanks for me.
(Below: Left–an image before Allen worked his magic; Right–magic courtesy of Allen.)
So I wanted to take a moment to give Allen some well-deserved praise. When he’s not making me look good, Allen stays busy with a seemingly endless number of other projects: illustrator, publisher, web designer, photographer and filmmaker. I get exhausted just thinking about it!
by John | Mar 7, 2010 | Blog
While in southern Cal, I’m be doing a signing at the ever-cool Metropolis Comics (in Bellflower) from 5-7 on April 21.
I’ll have Last Kiss comics and goodies, plus Disney comics and other things that I’ve written. Please stop by if you’re in the area. I’m not a rock star so I’m unlikely to be mobbed. Come by and keep me from being lonely!
Metropolis Comics, 16509 Bellflower Blvd., Bellflower, CA 90706
Tel: 562.263.0277
by John | Mar 3, 2010 | Blog
I’ll have an Artist Alley table at the Anaheim Comic Con from April 16-18, 2010. It’s going to be somewhat of a family affair since my wife (Shelagh), daughter (Caitie), and son-in-law (Chris) are coming along. Come by the table and meet me or a member of my family posing as me!
