Posted on 4/19/2011

What a great story! I could almost taste the brownies ;) Could this be the oldest interpretation of the Spirit by Frank Miller?

1 - Posted on 4/19/2011

It easily could be. At the time I had accumulated some 580 out of the 618 Spirit sections published. Had all the Eisners plus closing in on the part of the run done by Lou Fine, Jack Cole, etc. A lot of the comics collecting world revolved around Will Eisner at the time now closing in on 30 years ago. Carl Barks was also still "hot" then. That week end I also showed him original Japanese imports we were having transported over the Pacific of Lone Wolf & Cub which also blew his brain and became excited about. Some months later Rick Obadiah, then publisher of First Comics, announced he was doing a much anticipated English translation reprint series - sporting Frank Miller covers!

Posted on 4/20/2011

Wow, this is signing he talked about in the comics journal! It was a major turning point in his career. Discovering Lone wolf and cub, immersing himself even more so into Eisner's spirit strips. When you think about it, this could be the first drawing of the 2nd stage of his career, Ground Zero for what would become Ronin then DKR. Amazing! Welcome to CAF Robert!

Posted on 4/20/2011

Which issue of TCJ was that in? Yup, Ronin was his next project which came down the pipe line. I have always felt I had a small hand in Frank's evolutionary process in his story telling art. We were importing comics from all over the world to offer in my stores. I was even bringing in Hindu comics from India then -:)

Posted on 4/20/2011

It may not have been the CJ after all. I've read so many Miller interviews. I'll find the reference for you though because I know I read about it. I believe this is where he met Diana Schultz, editor of his Sin City work as well.

Posted on 4/20/2011

There were fliers made for this event. Mark Stichman thought to make up a four page brochure with a then-complete index to everything Frank Miller touched up to that point, even Twilight Zone #84 85 IIRC. Might be mistaken on that last note re TZ issues, most of my original archives were destroyed in the Feb 86 flooding of the Best of Two Worlds warehouse same week end Eclipse Comics was washed down the Russian River. I am actively seeking and re-collecting the artifacts of my business life in comic book stores from those days which used to be.....

Posted on 4/21/2011

Most assuredly this is where Diana met Frank. She worked half a block up at the street at Comics & Comix - up until this event I hosted along with a staff four days after the debut of Daredevil #181 along with a near perfect very dedicated staff then of "diamond in the rough" comics fans I was training who were mostly all in awe of our honored guest, Frank had pretty much been working in a vacuum. These thousands of fans who came thru Saturday waited out in a rain storm, lined up down around the block for most of the day. If you can find the reference you read, or some one else knows it, I would appreciate it greatly.

Posted on 4/21/2011

I have been coming out of a virtually enforced five year hiatus in all my fanac research whilst i sought medical repair after being canceled by HMO Aetna citing "undisclosed pre-existing condition", then a yearlong healing process still ongoing. I am glad i posted this now, as I learned a couple Miller morsels re his fascination with Eisner, rightly placed that may be -:)