Sheldon Mayer Book: Please Give Your Opinion

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Author	Topic: Sheldon Mayer Book: Please Give Your Opinion
Jim Beard Member	posted February 08, 2003 10:29 AM Could a book on Sheldon "Shelly" Mayer, ala Vanguard's great tomes on Curt Swan and Carmine Infantino (just to name two) be lucrative for a publishing house to even attempt it? What angle would they have to play to make it successful? What company should try it? Isn't a book like this past due? Jim ------------------ "...this child has become the parent." The Red Tornado IP: Logged
GDL Member	posted February 08, 2003 11:39 AM This would be something that I would love to see...and agreeably LONG overdue! ------------------ Proud member of Hal's Emerald Advancement Team Hal fans aren't going away...YOU "Get Over It"! Hal Jordan is Green Lantern, Jim Corrigan is The Spectre Also co-founder of the Golden age Sandman club/group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/goldenagesandman/ DEATH to the 90's Tinfoil Age Of Comics! Green Lantern 1940-1993 IP: Logged
daytripper Member	posted February 08, 2003 11:56 AM If you are talking about reprints of Mayer's work, I think that reprints of Sugar and Spike would be an easy sell as children's books. If you mean, should Mayer be featured in a Vanguard volume like Wood, Adams, etc., I say yes. However, I hope you didn't miss the half issue of Comic Book Artist devoted to him, the flip side was devoted to Alex Toth. I can't remember the issue number, but go to www.twomorrows.com and look around. ------------------ Allen Smith IP: Logged
Jim Beard Member	posted February 08, 2003 12:33 PM day, well, both but particularly for this thread a bio/overview of his career. I cited Vanguard because they have some books that reflect the format I had in mind. And yes, that issue of CBA was wonderful. Two of my most favorite comic creators in one shot. Don't forget to get the latest ALTER EGO for more on Mayer, too. Jim ------------------ "...this child has become the parent." The Red Tornado IP: Logged
Matthewwave Member	posted February 08, 2003 01:56 PM I would LOVE for such a book to come out. Would it be financially feasible? I don't know. Fantagraphics recently published the quite-worthy B. Krigstein, and hopefully they had success with that one. That's a project that would have a certain audience that a Mayer bio/critical overview might now have. The fan/historian with more rarified tastes, if you will. But, then, Mayer has some backers among that crowd, as well. His genius has been reconized by some of those who have recognized Krigstein's own, I'm sure. Plus, there would be an audience for a Mayer volume who weren't there for the Krigstein tome. More the hardcore, long-term DC/mainstream fan, perhaps. So it might even out. I know I'd certainly love to see this kind of thing appear -- at least as much as I was thrilled to see the Krigstein book announced. Matthew ------------------ "Its no use trying to talk to Matthew. His arrogance is never ending." IP: Logged
India Ink Member	posted February 08, 2003 05:41 PM Every book on a creative person should have its own theme. The theme for a Sheldon Mayer Book would be variety. Variety in his creative output, and variety in his career positions. Such a book would show how Mayer produced offbeat concepts that would occur to no one else (Scribbly, Sugar & Spike) and wildly different genres of story (Binky, Black Orchid, the Bible). It would also show how he rose from a printing assistant of M.C. Gaines as a teenager to an editor to a near-publisher of the AA line and then back to a freelance artist and a mentor of up and coming artists. It's those twists and turns in Mayer's career and his output that make him such a fascinating character for study. IP: Logged
roccomorocco New Member	posted February 08, 2003 05:57 PM quote: Originally posted by Jim Beard: Could a book on Sheldon "Shelly" Mayer, ala Vanguard's great tomes on Curt Swan and Carmine Infantino (just to name two) be lucrative for a publishing house to even attempt it? What angle would they have to play to make it successful? What company should try it? Isn't a book like this past due? Jim It's past due, though there was a nice Scribbly section in the Smithsonian hardback on comic book comics. Mostly, it's overdue by DC. SM was really one of the founding fathers of DC, by way of All-American, and that further reinforces the need foe this series of books, Archives, whatever. The work stands on iys own, but the personal obligation seems just as compelling. IP: Logged
DaBubba Member	posted February 08, 2003 06:00 PM I've had a few thoughts along these lines, too, but I hope for something like Art Spiegleman's ode to Jack Cole. (Having never seen the Infantino or Swan books, I don't know how similar these might be...) I think a book that combines an appreciation of Meyer's career and a retrospective of his contributions to the form would be our best chance of ever seeing any of his work in archive form. Personally, I don't think we'd have four volumes of Plastic Man without that Cole book. IP: Logged
Bgztl Member	posted February 08, 2003 09:03 PM If Alex Toth thinks Shelly Mayer is worth seven pages of text in the newest Alter Ego, he is surely worth a detailed academic study, a retrospecitve or any other exposure IMO. I think it's very interesting that SOOOOOO many of the first rank of Golden Age and Sivler Age artists learned their stuff from Mayer. I also think it's interesting that Mayer single-handedly kept Marston's Wonder Woman readable and the earliest Justice Society stories on track. Didn't he also realize that Sheldon Moldoff was just about the greatest cover artist ever?? The whole look of our favorite Golden Age books is from him in a real way. Add to that Mayer's own comics work -- all of which IMO have something to recommend it -- and I feel the guy is incredibly under-rated. Krigstein's art from Greg Sadowski's recent retrospective (featuring fine art and illustrations) was an eye-opening experience. Where is Mayer's proponent?? I think it needs to be done and soon. IP: Logged
Wayne1776 Member	posted February 08, 2003 09:55 PM Jim, I would absolutely buy a book or two, biographical in nature with plenty of illustrations concerning Sheldon Mayer. (I would also advance order any ARCHIVE of his works!) I have the tpbs of Nick Cardy and Curt Swan and the nonlimited Carmine Infantino books, of course I would love to see another book on the bookcase in the too small nonfiction section. Jim- and all - just in case y'all didn't know about it there is a really neat sounding book coming out in April from TwoMorrows. It is on page 354 of the Feb. 2003 PREVIEWS: "BECK AND SCHAFFENBERGER: SONS OF THUNDER TRADE PAPERBACK Beck and Schaffenberger: Sons of Thunder is a split-biography book (with a foreword by Ken Bald) on the careers and lives of two of comics' greatest and most endearing artists, C.C. Beck and Kurt Schaffenberger! Both men are known for their seminal work on the character Captain Marvel and this up-close and personal retrospective journey takes us from their childhood years to the Golden Age of comic books and beyond! Co-written by FCA (Fawcett Collectors of America) editor, P.C. Hamerlinck and Mark Voger, this book is profusely illustrated with previously unpublished artwork by both artists, inclding pre-comic book work, art from Captain Marvel, Lois Lane, and more, plus hundreds of rare photographs! "Boom!" echoes the far-reaching thunder from the works of Beck and Schaffenberger -- their artwork's impact forever clamoring attention with resouding tones! If you're a fan of either of these Golden and Silver Age greats, this is a book you can't miss! (TwoMorrows Publishing) SC, 9X11, 160pg.,b&w............$15.95" -------------------------------------------- I am pre-ordering that one for sure! It definitely needs the Sheldon Mayer book next to it! IP: Logged
NickDanger Member	posted February 09, 2003 04:32 PM I would buy a Mayer book in an instant. As a kid, I was first introduced to him via the Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer tabloids that DC put out in the mid �70s and have been a fan ever since. I own the Cardy and Infantino retrospectives which I think are terrific and, eventually, I�ll get the Swan book. A Mayer volume would look nice between those books on my self. I still would like DC to reprint the Rudolph material (including the non-Mayer stuff which is the majority of it) and Sugar & Spike. Diehard collectors� like us, should be a secondary market for this material. The stuff should be aimed at kids. I can easily see a collection of his stuff in the �Children�s Section� at my local Barnes and Noble. I�m not overly familiar with �Scribbly�, but if it�s Mr. Mayer�s work I�m there. ------------------ "I thought 'Kid Rock' was a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes..." IP: Logged
James Friel Member	posted February 09, 2003 05:03 PM I would love to see this, but my feeling is that the market for it would be so limited that it might fail. The reason is that Mayer essentially had two careers: When wearing his cartoonist's hat, he was a brilliant humor strip creator--and there's (sadly) limited interest in fan circles in that kind of material (though what interest there is is strong). And when working on superhero and adventure material, he exerted his influence primarily as an editor. There is, again, limited interest in the work of editors. If Mayer were still living and able to contribute interviews, anecdotes or essays to the book, things might be easier in this respect, but unfortunately he's gone. None of this means that the book shouldn't be done, but it might prove to be a tough sell. It would probably have to be a low print run and carry a high price. I'd buy one anyway. IP: Logged
Jim Beard Member	posted February 10, 2003 08:17 AM James, I think you've got the most balanced view here of such a project. I still think that it could be done in a way to make even his editing work seem "interesting"...seeing how he mentored so many top creative types AND was most likely responsible for Superman being at DC. I think it could be done. Jim ------------------ "...this child has become the parent." The Red Tornado IP: Logged
James Friel Member	posted February 10, 2003 12:32 PM I think it could, too. But it wouldn't be easy. It would be necessary to involve everyone who worked with him who's still around, and ideally it should be written (or at least co-written) by someone with a highly saleable name. And of course there should be copious amounts of Mayer art, including, again ideally, several complete stories. IP: Logged
Jim Beard Member	posted February 13, 2003 12:44 PM BUMP IP: Logged
Desk-Boy! Member	posted February 14, 2003 11:37 AM I don't see it happening. IP: Logged
datalore Member	posted February 14, 2003 12:50 PM Throw in a little about his creating the Black Orchid for DC in the 1970s (if this leans towards a "children's entertainment book", we can leave out references to DC's Vertigo Black Orchid...) ...I say it is an idea who's time has come. At one point, kids actually read comics...so now we have to make a book that will show them how cool comics were????? ------------------ "A nineteenth-century scientist, Thomas Huxley, once asked, 'If a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, then how much knowledge does a person need before they're safe?' ... The answer is, they'll never be safe again." � Darien Fawkes of the Invisible Man, "The Value of Secrets" IP: Logged
Bgztl Member	posted February 14, 2003 02:48 PM quote: Originally posted by datalore: Throw in a little about his creating the Black Orchid for DC in the 1970s (if this leans towards a "children's entertainment book", we can leave out references to DC's Vertigo Black Orchid...) Boy I forgot this. I loved the old Adventure Comics run of the Black Orchid. Like the Phantom Stranger in that far off, pre-Alan Moore, pre-Neil Gaiman era, the Black Orchid was a complete and total mystery. Part of the fun of each story was guessing WHO the Black Orchid had taken the place of in the story!! Boy I liked that gimmick. May I rant a moment (but just a moment)? The rant begins, the sane may stop reading now! Origins and detailed explanations of characters and situations are for sissies!! Comics is a medium uniquely suited for showing and telling a story -- for leaving the reader to piece together the clues and reach his/her own conclusions about the people and events protrayed therein. It's some wretched allegory or exegesis on comic book continuity where eveything has to be connected and linked up to something else. And it's also not Moby Dick or Pilgrim's Progress where a single author creates a message for the reader, for Pete's sake!! It's a collaborative effort (usually) that suggests and inspires other ideas. (Sometimes humorous, sometimes serious, sometimes bittersweet). I could use a little more ambiguity and SPRINGBOARDS for ideas like the Gentleman Ghost, Black Orchid and Phantom Stranger myself. Where are strips and ideas like that today? The only one I can immediately think of today is the new Crimson Avenger. [But I'm sure we'll soon be bludgeoned to death with her origin and connection to all things DC soon. ] Spoon-feeding us micro-elements of continuity is one of comics problems today IMO. The other is detailed "Coming attractions". Of course, some good stories can be told that way, but where's the suspense?? *Here endeth the rant.* Whew. Sorry again. Love that Shelly Mayer stuff! IP: Logged
Bgztl Member	posted February 14, 2003 02:50 PM quote: Originally posted by Bgztl: It's some wretched allegory or exegesis on comic book continuity where eveything has to be connected and linked up to something else. Duhhhhrrrr. I meant "It's NOT. . . ." of course. Dummy me. IP: Logged
Old Dude Member	posted February 14, 2003 11:28 PM quote: Originally posted by Bgztl: Spoon-feeding us micro-elements of continuity is one of comics problems today IMO. The other is detailed "Coming attractions". Of course, some good stories can be told that way, but where's the suspense?? Just the other day I was relating to another comic fan how well I remember this: As a kid going into the drugstore, finding the latest Flash comic on the rack and stopping dead in my tracks. There on the cover of Flash #123 was the Golden Age Flash! My total knowlege of the character came from the few scraps I could get from the letters pages from comments by older fans who read his adventures years ago. And, hey!...Didn't Barry Allen read Flash comics when he was a kid? How could this "fictional character" be running along side Barry? And... About a year later going to the mailbox, ripping off the brown paper around my subscription copy of JLA #21 to find the entire JSA on the cover! In both these cases (and many many others, these two being the most memorable) I had no forwarning about what I would find in the new comics. The thrill of surprise was so great that I still remember it after 40 years. It's good to know what's coming up in comics both for the anticipation and just so we know what to look out for. But that surprise you get from the unexpected is truly delectable! IP: Logged
James Friel Member	posted February 15, 2003 01:03 AM In those days, all we had for upcoming comics was house ads. I was repeatedly amazed and delighted--by the first Showcase issues with Green Lantern and The Atom, by the first B&B Hawkman, the beginning of Adam Strange's run in Mystery in Space, by Flash of Two Worlds, and by the first JSA/JLA teamup. No advance warning at all for any of those. There was a bit of advance warning for Flash #105, Green Lantern #1, B&B #28 with the Justice League, Showcase #30 with Aquaman, and for JLA #1, but only a couple of weeks' worth of house ads in each case. Nevertheless, those waits seemed eternal. IP: Logged
Jim Beard Member	posted February 15, 2003 10:06 AM Heard from J. David Spurlock, head of Vanguard (told him to take a look at this thread). He said a Mayer book has been considered but they're concerned that he may not have enough recognition factor to sell. Let's keep this up and show Vanguard it can be done. Jim ------------------ "...this child has become the parent." The Red Tornado IP: Logged

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