sign in sign up
<<
Home , Alan Weiss (comics), Alex Harvey (musician), Bill Mumy, Bobby Sherman, Bob McLeod (comics), Bruce Kulick

ROCK ’N’ ROLL COMICS ISSUE EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW SAM J. JONES STAR OF THE ROCK ’N’ ROLL SCI-FI CLASSIC $8.95 No.101 December 2017 GORDON

SCHOOL’S OUT, TRUE BELIEVER!

ALICE COOPER, MARVEL HERO OFF, DOC DOOM!

KISS IN COMIC BOOKS

I THINK YOU LOVE ME!

PARTRIDGE FAMILY, THE COMIC

T.REX’S MARC BOLAN INTERVIEWS !

SIR PAUL McCARTNEY, FEARLESS FRONT-FACER! 1 82658 00115 5 MARVEL’S STEELTOWN ROCKERS & LILA CHENEY!

Flash Gordon © 1980 Universal City Studios, Inc. Other characters their respective copyright holders. All rights reserved. COMIC-CON’S HOUSE BAND, SEDUCTION OF THE INNOCENT! Volume 1, Number 101 December 2017

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF “thmics” Comics’ Bronze Age and Beyond! PUBLISHER John “Cougar” Morrow

DESIGNER Rich “Earth, Wind &” Fowlks

COVER DESIGNER Michael “MC5” Kronenberg

PROOFREADER BACK SEAT DRIVER: Editorial by Michael Eury ...... 2 Rob “” Smentek Remembering Seduction of the Innocent, the band… and

SPECIAL THANKS INTERVIEW: Sam J. Jones, ...... 4 Jack Abramowitz Richard Makinson A chat with the coolest cosmic hero from the rockin’ sci-fi classic Scott Manson Zeea Adams Bill Maus CONFESSIONS OF A YOUNG BIGLEY: Cartoon by Al Bigley ...... 10 Isabel Addie Maxwell Take the last train to fanville to replay ’ comics connections Hugh McKenna Nick Barrucci Bob McLeod FLASHBACK: Sir Paul McCartney, Fearless Front Facer! ...... 12 Arvin Bautista Robert Menzies Maybe we’re amazed by this Beatle’s mighty Marvel honor Stuart Bell Tim Moen Al Bigley John Francis Moore BACKSTAGE PASS: The Sensational Band ...... 17 Chad Bowers The story of the little-known (in the USA) musical Marvelite Jarrod Buttery Allan Murray Paul Castiglia INTERVIEW: Marc Bolan Interviews Stan Lee ...... 20 Amy Chu Luigi Novi The Man and T.Rex’s front man, plus Angie Bowie as Black Widow Kevin O’Rourke Dan Parent FLASHBACK: Saturday Morning Supergroups ...... 24 Paty Cockrum Keith Partridge Tunes from toons, with multimedia stars from your childhood Scott Pentzer Robert V. Conte Carol Rambo BEYOND CAPES: Partridge Family, , and Bobby Sherman . . . 30 Kelly Corvese John Romita, Sr. A psychedelic school bus and two teen idols, in Charlton Bronze Age comics Scott Mitchell Kelly Sue DeConnick Rosenberg FLASHBACK: Forty Years of KISS in Comics ...... 36 Dynamite From Marvel to Dynamite, KISS continues to conquer comic books Entertainment The SAHB Fans Facebook Group GREATEST STORIES NEVER TOLD: ...... 44 Fayetteville Jim Salicrup My KISS Story author Robert V. Conte reveals the KISS comics we didn’t see Comic-Con Shannon Tom Florio Steve Sherman INTERVIEW: KISSing Up to Amy Chu ...... 54 Stephan Friedt Meet the latest KISS comics writer Catherine Glen Chris Sims BRING ON THE BAD GUYS: Hypno-Hustler ...... 56 Spike Steffenhagen The disco-era do-badder Marvel just can’t forget Dito Godwin John S. Stuart Grand Comics FLASHBACK: Alice Cooper: From the Inside ...... 58 Database Steven Thompson School’s in for Professors Hannigan, Salicrup, and Austin as they revisit Marvel Mort Todd Premiere #50 Gerry Turnbull Alex Harvey, Jr. Peter Vassallo PRINCE STREET NEWS: Cartoon by Karl Heitmueller, Jr...... 63 Tyro Harvey Dennis Woloch Comic and cartoon characters’ favorite music artists Karl Heitmueller, Jr. FLASHBACK: Lila Cheney: Marvel’s (other) Mutant Musician ...... 66 Heritage Comics The story of the ’ teleporting, rock-’n’-rolling super-singer Auctions If you’re viewing a Digital James Hogg Edition of this publication, PRO2PRO: Steeltown Rockers ...... 71 Dan Johnson PLEASE READ THIS: Larry Hama, Elaine Lee, and , and their offbeat Marvel miniseries Sam J. Jones This is copyrighted material, NOT intended Ken Kelly for downloading anywhere except our BACK TALK ...... 76 Mike Kelly website or Apps. If you downloaded it from another website or torrent, go ahead and Reader reactions Rachel Kilbury read it, and if you decide to keep it, DO Reuben Kincaid THE RIGHT THING and buy a legal down- BACK ISSUE™ is published 8 times a year by TwoMorrows Publishing, 10407 Bedfordtown Drive, load, or a printed copy. Otherwise, DELETE Rob Kirby IT FROM YOUR DEVICE and DO NOT Raleigh, NC 27614. Michael Eury, Editor-in-Chief. John Morrow, Publisher. Editorial Office: Scott Kolins SHARE IT WITH FRIENDS OR POST IT BACK ISSUE, c/o Michael Eury, Editor-in-Chief, 118 Edgewood Avenue NE, Concord, NC 28025. Hans Kosenkranius ANYWHERE. If you enjoy our publications Email: [email protected]. Eight-issue subscriptions: $73 Standard US, $116 International, enough to download them, please pay for $31 Digital. Please send subscription orders and funds to TwoMorrows, NOT to the editorial office. them so we can keep producing ones like this. Our digital editions should ONLY be Flash Gordon © 1980 Universal City Studios, Inc./TM & © . Alice Cooper © Alice Cooper. KISS © Kiss Comics, Ltd. Partridge Family © Sony Pictures Television. All Rights Elaine Lee downloaded within our Apps and at www.twomorrows.com Reserved. All characters are © their respective companies. All material © their creators unless Stan Lee otherwise noted. All editorial matter © 2017 Michael Eury and TwoMorrows Publishing, except for Steve Leialoha Confessions of a Young Bigley TM & © Al Bigley and Prince Street News TM & © Karl Heitmueller, Jr. ISSN 1932-6904. Printed in China. FIRST PRINTING.

Rock ’n’ Roll Comics Issue • BACK ISSUE • 1 by Dan Johnson

Flash! Ahhh… …Savior of the Universe! The affable, inspirational star of the 1980 film Flash Gordon, at a convention appear- ance. Photo courtesy of Sam J. Jones.

Movie © 1980 Universal City Studios, Inc. Flash Gordon TM & © King Features Syndicate.

When it comes to comics and rock ’n’ roll, there is no better fusion I can accomplish what he has in those years, but I’d like to give it a shot.” of the two than the 1980 cult movie classic, Flash Gordon. With its I got prayed up—I really wanted God’s blessing on this, and I felt if I was spot-on casting, special effects, and a killer soundtrack by Queen, going to do it, I would give myself six-month intervals. If I went to , Flash Gordon has become legendary, with new fans discovering it all the and I found myself progressing in any way, shape, or form, I would give time. At the 2016 Fayetteville Comic-Con, BACK ISSUE got the chance to myself another six months. But if I found myself backstopping, or regressing, sit down and talk to the star of the film,Sam J. Jones, to discuss how he in any six-month interval, I was just going to try something else. came to play one of the greatest space legends of all time, the making of JOHNSON: Sounds like a solid course of action. I take it you never had the movie, and the the film has had on his life and the fans. cause to second-think the decision? – Dan Johnson JONES: Actually, the first month I got connected to a really good acting class doing scene study and improvisation, and a month later, we had DAN JOHNSON: First off, how did you get your start in the movie agents auditing the class and we were doing showcases. [Then I got] industry, Sam? a commercial representative, so I was being submitted for TV commercials. SAM J. JONES: I was in the Marine Corps playing football and I had Three months later, after about 200 auditions, I ended up getting hired this brilliant idea that I would serve one hitch and then I would go play for a Schaefer Beer commercial with the legend, Jerry West of the pro football with the Seattle Seahawks. So I got out, and went to L.A. Lakers. I did the Schaefer Beer commercial, and that really built Seattle to visit my grandparents, who were living there. up my self-esteem and confidence. From there, I ended up getting a JOHNSON: When was this? theatrical agent, and then I was being submitted for movies. JONES: This was in 1976. I met with part of the coaching staff and JOHNSON: How did that process go? they said, “We don’t want you to play for [the Seahawks], we want JONES: My first 50 to 80 auditions were the same thing. There’s going you to play for our semi-pro team, the practice team.” So I played one to be a lot of rejection, for whatever reason, and you can’t take it season there and I wasn’t feeling it. You know how we have that spark personally. I reached a point, even at that young age, where I had to and that passion to do something and nobody’s gonna stop us? I was dismiss all the negative stuff. [Regarding other actors up for the same 22 and didn’t have that spark anymore. roles,] I dismissed the fact that this was not my competition. My only At the same time, I read an article about . By ’77, he had enemy is me, and I needed to walk in that room and be prepared. already been in [show] business 22 years. I said to myself, “I don’t know if Once I started doing that, and thinking, “If they want Sam Jones, they’re

4 • BACK ISSUE • Rock ’n’ Roll Comics Issue gonna get Sam Jones. If they don’t want Sam Jones, they’re gonna get somebody else.” JOHNSON: Now, when you did make it, your first role was in 10 with Bo Derek. JONES: Yeah, 10. But even before that movie, I reached a crossroads in my life. I was up for a sitcom, and it was my first job other than a commercial. This was a real acting gig. The show was called Co-Ed Fever and I was a guest-star. [The show featured] David Keith and Heather Thomas, very big names in the ’80s. We were rehearsing for a couple of days, and then we have a live audience and we’re getting ready to roll cameras. I was getting ready to go on and I’m really nervous and I’m starting to stutter and stammer, and in my mind this voice was saying, “Just tell the director you’re sick and you can’t do it.” That fear thing came in. Then this other voice said, “If you start making up excuses now, Sam Jones, you’ll be doing this the rest of your life. Just go and literally make a fool of yourself. Forget about the fear factor.” I went out there and immediately I started to stutter and stammer a little sam j. jones bit, but that was fine—it’s natural— and then I went right into it. That was my crossroads. I broke that barrier of fear and it freed me up and liberated me. Then I got the audition with Blake Edwards [for 10] and he was an in the ’70s. He directed all the Pink Panther movies and his wife was . During the audition piece I made a fool of myself, and Blake hired me. JOHNSON: 10 was one of the biggest blockbusters of the 1970s. What was it like working on that film? JONES: It was incredible. I sort of embellished the part while we were making it. I was in the movie a lot, but only had one line of dialogue, and I think it was, “I’m gonna get a surfboard,” or something like that. But that film catapulted me. And while I was making the movie, I got a call that Dino De Laurentiis wanted to see me for the part of Flash Gordon. JOHNSON: What was the process like auditioning for the part of Flash? JONES: The auditioning process for Flash Gordon went on for eight or nine months. It was in the early stages of development, and things went back and forth. Finally, in early 1979, Dino flew me to London. This was the old Hollywood screen test that actually used film, and you treated [the screen test] like you were shooting a real movie. They did hair, makeup, and costume, and we got with the same partner and rehearsed together. Now back to me!” And he is brilliant at that. A lot of other Who Can Save That [lasted] 30 days. actors would get upset and mad because they can’t talk, You Now? JOHNSON: Tell us about your costars from Flash Gordon. but we just sit back and watch the show. It’s amazing. The entire cast is just stellar and mighty impressive in JOHNSON: Tell us about your Dale Arden, Melody Anderson. We know who! regard to star power. JONES: Melody, my leading lady, we’ve travelled a JONES: Max Von Sydow [] was great. couple of times [to do conventions together] in the past The main movie He was a mentor to me and gave me some great advice few years, and we’re like this comedy team of Jerry poster for Flash and was just wonderful. Lewis and . She is hysterical. [We do shows] Brian Blessed [Prince Vultan] is incredible. He kept and we both have the tables and sit in front of my big Gordon. Painted everybody laughing on the set. banner and some of the fans will come up to her table art by Richard We went to London last November [2015] for our 35th and look [at what she has to sell], but they won’t really anniversary reunion, and Brian is such a character. We do buy anything. Then they come to my table and purchase Amsel. Courtesy of these Q&As, and it will be Melody [Anderson], myself, a poster or something. When they leave, I’ll look at Heritage Auctions and Brian. All of a sudden, in the middle of this, Brian will Melody and go, “Nah, nah, nah,” and she just flips me grab the microphone and he’ll sit downstage and that’s off. [laughter] We’ve been like brother and sister. When (www.ha.com). where he’ll remain. He’ll get into a ten- to 15-minute speech I was with my wife in London, Melody lived with us for Movie © 1980 Universal City and he is incredible. He takes authority over the room, three months. She actually denies it and says it was only Studios, Inc. Flash Gordon TM & © he’s hysterical, and he’s a bit R-rated, too. Every now and for a couple of days, and I remind her, “Believe me, dear, King Features Syndicate. then, he’ll look back at Melody and me and say, “Oh, my you were with us for three months, and I locked my God! Look at Melody! Look at Sam! Aren’t they beautiful? bedroom door. I need my privacy!” [laughter]

Rock ’n’ Roll Comics Issue • BACK ISSUE • 5 by Robert Menzies

As one of the most successful musicians and singer- Heather, Mary, and Stella McCartney, aged 12, 6, and Know Ye That Sir of all time, James Paul McCartney has 3, respectively. They were, to quote Sir Paul, driving him Paul McCartney many accolades to his name. Solo or with , “bonkers.” The savior of the situation was a liquor store he has won a mountain of awards including Grammys, selling . Almost inevitably, Sir Paul, who Has Faced Front! Brits, and an Oscar, as well as the most prestigious appeared in Help! (1965) with comics on his McCartney as national honors from Queen Elizabeth II and President , couldn’t resist having a look at these -color Barack Obama. adventures himself, and this led to the single “ Titanium Man, by What is less well known—in fact, almost completely and Titanium Man” being written. unknown—is that Stan Lee also presented McCartney After returning home, three of the recordings for the John Romita, Sr., with Marvel Comics’ highest accolade, a Fearless Front- Venus and Mars , Wings’ fourth LP, were laid down and a listing of Facer award! It’s a remarkable irony that Sir Paul can in London’s Abbey Road Studios in the second week of simultaneously be the most famous holder of this title, November 1974. Later, the band flew to the States and “The Hallowed Ranks and yet practically no one knows he has one. This is the completed the recordings in New Orleans. It was there of Marveldom,” story of how it all happened… and what came after. that Wings’ tribute to Marvel’s villains was recorded sometime between January 20 and February 20,1975. taken here from the “” On May 27, 1975, the Venus and Mars album was lettercol of It’s not exactly sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll, but the story released, soon becoming the number-one album in the begins with childcare. After the Beatles, Sir Paul formed US, UK, and around the world. An album consisting of #42 (Oct. 1971). Wings. The core members were Sir Paul and Linda live recordings made during the world tour that followed Images in this McCartney and ex-Moody Blue , although also sold four million copies and reached number one other band members came and went. in the US album charts. article courtesy of In the autumn of 1974, the McCartneys, taking a The “Venus and Mars/Rock Show” single, with Robert Menzies. break from recording and touring, had chosen to “Magneto and Titanium Man” as the B-side, was released vacation on an isolated Caribbean island. It was to be in October 1975 in the US and a month later in the UK. TM & © Marvel Characters, Inc. a working holiday, with Sir Paul aiming to get some Most copies of the single came in the standard plain writing done before his return to the recording studio. paper sleeve that nearly all 45s wore up to the 1980s. However, what would be paradise for an adult can, There was also a second, much rarer version with artwork somehow, be dull for a child. Such was the reaction of cut and pasted from comic books. While the title only

12 • BACK ISSUE • Rock ’n’ Roll Comics Issue names two supervillains, ’s narrative actually has three, as the sleeve artwork shows. Anatomy of a FOOM #12 (Dec. 1975) claimed that Paty Cockrum Record Cover (then Greer) in Marvel’s production department created the montage. However, when I asked her about this she “Magneto and kindly replied with a detailed email: “This particular piece Titanium Man” was definitely not done by me. It was probably done by Tony Mortellaro. We would glean art from the silverprints single cover image, we had of every book, clean up the art, take out blurbs and word balloons, and finish the art.” and the Marvel The central Magneto figure, with original art by George Comics’ sources for Tuska and , appears in the opening splash of X-Men #91 (Dec. 1974). Titanium Man is by George its figures: Magneto Tuska and (under the Joe from page 1 of X-Men Gaudioso). It is a reversed half-splash image taken from page 6 of Iron Man #22 (Feb. 1970). The / #91 (Dec. 1974, figure taken from page 11 art by of #130 (Dec. 1974) has also been flipped. It is worth pausing here to remember—and empha- and John Tartaglione); size—that Wings started recording in November 1974, Crimson Dynamo so comic release dates (not cover dates) must predate that date to coincide with the holiday. With this information from Avengers #130 in mind, the choice of characters is very informative. (Dec. 1974, art by Magneto, Titanium Man, and Crimson Dynamo all appeared in comics released in October of 1974: Avengers Sal Buscema and #130 for the Russians and X-Men #91 for the mutant Joe Staton); and leader. While it may be a coincidence that all three characters made appearances in October 1974, and that Titanium Man from this is also the same period when the McCartneys were on holiday, it is an implausibly large one. page 6 of Iron Man Knowing the date of the holiday and being able to #22 (Feb. 1970, confirm what issues the McCartneys were reading, it’s intriguing to consider what other comics came out that art by Tuska and month. In other words, what other villainous characters MARVEL’S BIGGEST-EVER MASS AWARD Mike Esposito). could Sir Paul have written songs about? We can rule out In 1964, Marvel launched the Merry Marvel Marching the mags with more adult, violent, or horror-based content Society. This fan club instituted the tradition of six ranks Also, a Wings as unlikely purchases for young girls. The villains in the core of Marveldom which could be awarded for four reasons: concert photo titles that month were fairly unimpressive—FF buying at least three titles a month, having a letter villain Mahkizmo being the nadir—so perhaps it’s no surprise printed, introducing someone to Marvel, or explaining showing the that it was classic characters that appealed most to Sir Paul. a mistake (i.e., getting a No-Prize). If you achieved the menacing There was also an interest in a certain sightless hero. first four ranks, which was tricky but not impossible, In the May 1976 Soapbox, Stan wrote: “Didja know that you gained the fifth rank. It was, however, the sixth rank metal men. Paul McCartney’s MAGNETO AND THE TITANIUM MAN [sic] that eluded nearly every fan. This was the FFF, which © MPL Music Publishing, 1975. single is a sensation wherever it’s played?,” before adding stood for Fearless Front-Facer. This was a rank given only Characters TM & © the , “And wait’ll you hear his new DAREDEVIL for devotion to Marvel above and beyond the call of Marvel Characters, Inc. disc!” Nothing else is heard about that song except for duty and in practice only very rarely awarded. a solitary appeal to Sir Paul in a 1977 edition of FOOM: Jump forward to late 1975. British Marvel attempted “[W]hen are you gonna finish that blamed Daredevil disc?” a short-lived and short-sighted experiment: landscape

Rock ’n’ Roll Comics Issue • BACK ISSUE • 13 cover (artist unknown), and Marvel Comicsswipesfrom cover (artistunknown),and Marvel The Sensational Allan Harvey Band’sThe SensationalAllanHarvey True program Story which theband’s poseswerebased.Allimagesinthis Something Borrowed, SomethingNew article arecourtesyofRobert Menzies. © SAHB. Spider-Man art TM & © Marvel Characters, Inc. © SAHB.Spider-Manart TM&©Marvel

by

Robert Menzies Rock ’n’ RollComics Issue •BACK ISSUE• 17 Hefti’s Dan Dare, of the future; the Who, the Jam, and others sang Neal David Bowie,PinkFloyd,andEltonJohntippedacapto1950slegend even PlasticManandJohnnyThunder;QueensangaboutSuperman; andhabits withhitsaboutSuperman,CaptainAmerica,Marvelman, about IronManvillains;theKinks proudly announced their reading andSirPaulMcCartney’sname-checked CaptainMarvel Wings sang ’70s wasfarmoreimpressiveinBritainthananywhereelse.TheBeatles Bon Jovi,andtheRamonesreclaimedheroesastheirown. 1990s when the likes ofBlondie, Bruce Springsteen, R.E.M., Prince, not bemadeabouttheAmericanmusicsceneuntil1980sand the mostinfluentialandrespectedrecordingartists,aclaimthatcould novelty actsreleasingsongswithsuperheroreferences.Itwassomeof his waythroughabizarrelovelettertoCaptainAmerica. that “NobodyLikestheHulk,”andayearlaterJimmyBuffetttwanged in theStates.Forexample,1969,mail-orderbandTraits complained British. Whichisnottosay, ofcourse,thatthereweren’t superherosongs comic-book characterswere, surprisingly, notusuallyAmerican,theywere In the Silver and Bronze Ages, the prominent musicians about band togohunting fortheLochNessMonster! the stage!Unpredictableasever, eventooktimeofffrom the Harvey “Framed” dressedasJesus,draggingalargecrossaround performed a persona,likePhillipMarlowe-type privateeye.Ononeoccasionhe and sometimesoutrageousappearances oftenfeaturedAlexadopting and hunting crocodiles (“Amos Moses”). The band’s theatrical, literary, UK chartsovertheBicentennial summer),awitch(“IsabelGoudie”), included theAmericanRevolution (“TheBostonTea Party”wasinthe more stops in between, with hugely diverse song subject matter that upstaging—the likesofFrankZappa,theWho,Yes, andChuckBerry. countless gigs across Europe and the US, touring with—and regularly (SAHB), Britain’s mostpopularlivebandinthemid-1970s.Theyplayed “SERGEANT FURY TAUGHT ME from issue#110(Feb.1969)oftheAvengers’ owntitle. EVERYTHING IKNOW”:ALEXHARVEY The lineup of talent singing about comic characters in the 1960s and The lineupoftalentsingingaboutcomiccharactersinthe1960sand The difference was that in Britain, it wasn’t almost exclusively obscure His most famous period came leading the Sensational Alex Harvey Band Band His mostfamousperiodcameleadingtheSensationalAlexHarvey SAHB’s musicshiftedfromrocktoblueshall,andmany that displayedaJimSteranko-drawnCaptainAmericafigurelifted To mygreatdelight,theBritishmusicianwhowasbiggest (#44, dated Oct. 18, 1969), an edition UK editionofRollingStone(#44,datedOct.18,1969),an with theFabFourinHamburg. comic fan, hands down, was my fellow Scotsman and Glaswegian comic fan,handsdown,wasmyfellowScotsmanandGlaswegian two yearsearlier, insidethe therehadbeenafeatureonMarvel theme, and Genesis mentioned the Caped Crusader as theme,andGenesismentionedtheCapedCrusaderas the bearerofthattitleisactuallysomeoneelse. Comics.However,an earlyanddetailedanalysisofMarvel almost reference, butwillinsteadlookatBritain’s mostnotablecomic-fan fitting the Kinks or Marc Bolan (more on him in a companion article), fitting theKinksorMarc Bolan(moreonhiminacompanionarticle), Behind aboldcoverdominatedbyHerbTrimpe drawnHulkis musician. While a strong case can be made for that crown best musician. Whileastrongcasecanbemadeforthatcrownbest Alex Harvey. While relatively unknown outside Britain, Harvey Thisarticlewon’t, however, recountingofeachsong beadreary was a hugely charismatic live performer who defieseasywas ahugelycharismaticliveperformer on their very firstScottishgiginMay1960,and sharedbilling on theirvery aware oftheRollingStoneeditionfromSeptember16,1971. he openedfortheBeatles,orthree-quartersofthemanyway, categorization or description. Active since the 1950s, the pagesofmusicbibleRollingStone.Manyfansare four-color heroeswasnomoreclearlysignaledthanin Band dedicatedatracktoNickFury. well; T.Rex’s Marc BolanwasfascinatedwiththeSilver Surfer andDr.Surfer Strange;DonovanreferencedSuperman and ; and the Sensational Alex Harvey and GreenLantern;theSensationalAlexHarvey That British culture was ahead of in celebrating That BritishculturewasaheadofAmericaincelebrating

music behind the scenes In a two-page article by UK editor Neil Tennant, The latter is worth looking at closely because himself a future pop star, Harvey is described as “one it contains a story starring the group. (top inset) Sleeve of the of Stan’s greatest fans” and a “Marvel fan since he The cover was drawn by an unknown and, to be Sensational Alex Harvey Band’s was a kid” (Spider-Man Comics Weekly #102, Jan. 25, frank, unskilled artist who was clearly swiping John 1975). What it does not say (probably due to it Romita, Sr. Spider-Man poses from the Marvel single “Sergeant Fury” happening after this issue went to print) is that in sample art in The Penguin Book of Comics (1971). (full title, “Give My Regards to November–December 1974, Harvey fulfilled one of The cover figures, left to right, are Alex Harvey his lifelong ambitions when he met Marvel Comics (singer) as the Teacher, a swipe that originally saw Sergeant Fury”). (top right) boss Stan Lee during a special luncheon given in print as the page 1 splash from Amazing Spider-Man Ad for the single from New honor of the band at the swanky Plaza Hotel. A (ASM) #48 from May 1967. Then behind Harvey breathless [Harvey] told the NME [New Musical Express]: is Hugh McKenna (keyboards), a.k.a. the Professor, Musical Express (July 20, 1974). “Can you imagine? … Any man like that who would inspired by the leaping Web-Slinger from page 13, just come to my party, well, it’s fantastic. Charles Shaar panel 4 of Amazing Spider-Man Annual #3 (1966). The Fury figure is a redrawn Murray [famous English music journalist and comic The middle-rear image of Ted McKenna (drummer) image swiped fan] met him in London and told him how much I as the Buffer is only a head image and not copied. idolized him. … I’ve got so many of his comics.” (The Second from right is Zal Cleminson (lead guitarist) from (top center) Sgt. Fury and Sensational Alex Harvey by John Neil Munro, p.141.) as the Actor (ASM #48’s page 11, panel 4). Far right His Howling Commandos #74 Harvey especially admired the humanistic point is Chris Glen (bass guitarist) as the Punk, lifted from of view in Lee’s tales and also saw him as a modern- ASM #48, page 11, panel 3. The art would also (Jan. 1970). This may have day storyteller in the tradition of Robert Louis feature a set of five character badges sold at been one of the issues stolen Stevenson. That love of comic books had a tangible concerts. Three decades later, Max Maxwell, influence on Harvey’s performances. In MWOM comic fan, artist, and replacement SAHB lead when the band was on tour. #199, Harvey is quoted as describing their shows singer, would update—and greatly improve—this (bottom left) Alex Harvey as “The World’s Only Marvel Comic!,” art with his own witty homage. a quote originating with Murray. In fact, the band One of Harvey’s recurring on-stage personas wearing a WMMS members, all from , were sometimes was the heroic Vambo, who the singer described T-shirt, with their famous depicted in comic-book form, most notably on as being a cross between and Spider- The Impossible Dream (1974) album cover and the Man, Harvey’s younger brother’s favorite character. Buzzard logo. WMMS was/is “One True Story” tour booklet from 1976. (Harvey alternated Spidey with Captain Marvel.) an influential radio station that promoted SAHB. At a concert at the Cleveland Agora in 1974, Harvey said to the audience, “This feels like home to us.” (bottom right) Harvey and two glowering police officers. Alex had just suggested, innocently but unwisely, that he was considering going on stage in blackface like Al Jolson! Image taken by Janet Macoska, probably in Louisville, Kentucky, 1974.

© SAHB. Sgt. Fury TM & © Marvel Characters, Inc.

18 • BACK ISSUE • Rock ’n’ Roll Comics Issue Saturday Morning Synergy is something that is sorely lacking in comic THE FIRST CARTOON SUPERGROUP Jam Session books today. We see a plethora of big-budget feature Though cartoon characters had theme songs from virtually films starring our favorite Marvel and DC characters, the very beginnings of the talkies, expanding the song From Heritage’s but the huge box-office returns do not guarantee into an album collection sung by the starring characters archives (www.ha.com), increased comic-book sales. In fact, many times one didn’t occur until 1961 with . does not mention the other, where in the past, comic Alvin, Simon, and Theodore were sped-up “Chipmunk” cels from , books would bear legends such as “Look for me on voices created by , a.k.a. . TV” and TV shows would say, “Based on the copyright In early 1958, Bagdasarian had a hit with a single sped-up Groovie Goolies, feature appearing in and Superman voice on a record called “Witch Doctor.” Later in the Fat Albert and the Magazines.” Today is different. year, Bagdasarian figured that if one sped-up voice sold The synergy of media seems to be a lost art today millions, imagine how three sped-up voices would sell. Cosby Kids, and and appears to be a strong reason why you don’t see a It turned out to be a lucrative gamble as “The Chipmunk The Jackson 5ive. proliferation of Saturday morning supergroups today, Song,” a.k.a. “Christmas, Don’t Be Late,” became a coupled with the fact that there isn’t a Saturday morning massive hit at Christmas 1958, and soon, a Christmas Archies © Archie Comic cartoon TV schedule anymore. perennial. Bagdasarian expanded this one Chipmunk Publications, Inc. Groovie Goolies The peak period for this phenomenon was song to two, and then eventually an album. © Filmation Associates. Fat Albert roughly from 1968–1973, where supergroups would By 1961, the Chipmunks had three under © Filmation Associates/. star in a TV series, a record album, and, of course, their belt. The next step was to break into television. Jackson 5ive © Rankin-Bass Productions/Motown. a comic-book series. Sometimes the music came Although Bagdasarian had appeared with puppet first, sometimes the show, and sometimes the Chipmunks on The Show, the decision was . made to opt for a cel-animated series from Format

24 • BACK ISSUE • Rock ’n’ Roll Comics Issue by Mark Arnold

Films. It was also decided to make the Chipmunks more cuddly KIRSHNER’S SUPERGROUPS looking and less realistic. The original Chipmunks drawings looked The next successful synergistic music group that did have a comic book like they could bite! and a TV series (but not on Saturday mornings) was The Monkees. In the meantime, the Chipmunks started appearing Unlike the Chipmunks, The Beatles, and The Beagles, in comic books, initially as part of Dell’s Four Color series The Monkees debuted on TV and then released an album with #1042 (Oct.–Dec. 1959), where they were billed as and had a Dell comic-book series that ran for 17 issues, The Three Chipmunks. Later, the series began proper with from March 1967 to October 1969 (cover dates). Alvin #1 (Oct. 1962), also published by Dell. The series The TV series aired in primetime from 1966–1968, ran 28 issues, through October 1973 (cover date). and then began a new life in reruns on Saturday Strangely, at the time, The Alvin Show concept didn’t mornings from 1969–1973. any imitators. Even when real-life rock band the The Monkees caught on like wildfire and actually Beatles became a Saturday morning cartoon series in started touring in 1967. Their ongoing popularity 1965, The Beatles didn’t beget a comic-book series. has led to numerous reunion tours as recently, at this The next cartoon show to record a music album— writing, as 2016. but without an accompanying comic-book series— The main impetus behind the Monkees’ success was The Beagles, starring Stringer and Tubby, two dogs initially was Don Kirshner. As The Monkees’ actor/ who played a guitar and a standup bass. The series was singers fought for their independence in 1967, Kirshner created by Total TeleVision productions (TTV), best known moved on and eventually worked with animation for their previous series such as King Leonardo, Tennessee studio Filmation and to create The Tuxedo, and Underdog. Unfortunately, The Beagles and Archie Show, which included music by the supergroup, the associated album were both flops. the Archies. Singer Ron Dante was recruited to sing © Bagdasarian Productions.

Rock ’n’ Roll Comics Issue • BACK ISSUE • 25 Partridge manager played by, and drawn here as, Dave Madden. Ironically, Andriola, like Don Sherwood, had not actually created So while Don Sherwood was peppering the parent book with real people, his biggest strip. That was . Nor had he likely ever this title, about a real person, was not just purely and completely drawn it at all, according to various sources! There were always unreal but also downright surreal! . Toward the end of the run in the 1970s, Gumen was finally From covers to stories to almost every single page of ads, pretty much given co-credit, at least. the whole package was about the adventures and misadventures of Along with being better drawn overall, Charlton’s David Cassidy the real-life David Cassidy himself! Said adventures were, however, comic was generally more entertaining, too, in spite of—or perhaps sanitized greatly for your protection. because of—its surreal qualities. You’d see him occasionally on the According to his autobiography, C’Mon, Get Happy: Fear and Loathing Partridge set—with cameos from his pre-teen co-stars—but mainly he on Bus (revised and re-released as Could It Be Forever?), was out surfing, scuba diving, playing tennis, dating cute girls, or helping the oh-so-human David spent much of his time during this period making friends and strangers alike. There’s also a surprising amount of guns and out with groupies and fans after his weekend concerts, stumbling through fights and implied—and sometimes explicit—violence as David protects the TV production schedule due to lack of sleep and some highly friends from kidnappers, motorcycle gangs, and potential rapists. questionable pharmaceuticals, and fighting off-stage with his famous father, The script does a fairly good job with hip lingo of the period with Broadway, TV, and film actor Jack Cassidy. In these comics, however, David words like “groovy,” “dig,” “pad,” “threads,” and such, but the uncredited spends his time helping people and trying to get dates with nice girls. writer dates himself with words like “beatniks” when he means “hippies.” In that 1993 interview, in regard to the image the fan mags created, , who would have been in his 50s at that time, is presumed to Cassidy said, “It was very frustrating. I would sit down and have an have written most, if not all, of the David Cassidy solo series. interview with them and say, ‘Really and truly, my favorite music is Hendrix or Clapton.’ They’d write, ‘David loves the Monkees.’ I could CHARLTON, DO YA LOVE ME? tell them that I was into bondage and they would have written, Debuting in the exact same month as David Cassidy was Bobby Sherman. ‘David loves to go to sleep with his puppy at night.’ ” Charlton’s Bobby Sherman comic was in no way a spin-off of its Partridge Most of the David Cassidy stories were signed by Su Gumen. At a Family book, but Bobby Sherman’s TV sitcom, on which its early issues time when there was a heavy influx of cheap labor into the US comics were based, began as a pilot at the end of the first season of the TV market from the Philippines, it would have been easy for fans to presume Partridge Family. Got it? Sururi “Su” Gumen was yet another talented Filipino, but he was actually As noted earlier, Bobby Sherman had been in David Cassidy’s shoes. from Turkey. In fact, he’d been in the US since the mid-1950s, ghosting Twice. Once on Shindig in 1965, and more recently as the co-star of mainly for Kerry Drake’s ostensible creator Alfred Andriola on various the TV series , which helped sell Bobby’s albums projects as well as cranking out the occasional romance or supernatural and singles and posters and love beads and...! But then Brides was story for Charlton beginning in the 1960s. Eventually, Gumen would canceled. Bobby filled the gap with hipper fashions and more music, become a mainstay for Cracked, but in the meantime, he became the but he was no longer hitting the top of the charts. David Cassidy had main artist on the David Cassidy comic book. replaced Bobby in the all-important and ever-fickle hearts and minds of the American public. Almost ironically, it was on The Partridge Family where Bobby was given one last shot at reviving his quickly sagging career. In spite of the teen mag rumors of a feud between he and David, Bobby appeared on a first- season episode as a singer/ who needed a lyricist. That role was filled by Wes Stern, a quirky young actor with an improbable name who had made a small impact in a few countercultural movies on the big screen in the years just prior. The backdoor pilot was enough to get Bobby another series. Getting Together debuted in the fall of 1971 and was quickly followed by an LP highlighting some of the not-bad pop songs from the series. The new show expanded on the pilot’s premise with the two struggling songwriters, Bobby Conway and Lionel Poindexter, now living in an antique store with Bobby’s kid sister, Jennifer. The latter was played by Susan Neher, formerly The Other Partridges of the TV series To Rome, With Love, (right) A Danny pinup from and rumored in Tiger Beat at the time to be an item with Danny Charlton’s romance title, Bonaduce! Our heroes’ transportation Sweethearts #130. (inset) was a hearse, and the show’s only other regulars were Pat Carroll as Don’t look for this one in their landlady and Jack Burns as her your Price Guide! It’s Steven police officer beau. Presumably on the strength of its Thompson’s fantasy cover for Partridge success, Charlton licensed Reuben Kincaid’s own comic! Bobby Sherman and the new Getting Together series. Apparently the comic © Sony Pictures Television. originally was originally to be named

34 • BACK ISSUE • Rock ’n’ Roll Comics Issue Over the past four decades, only one rock ’n’ roll band has consistently transcended to and from music to the four-color world of comic books—KISS! Although they have endured multiple incarnations, the group remains stronger than ever with the support of its of devout fans—the ! The band’s eternal declaration “You Want the Best, You Got the Best” applies to their illustrated adventures dating back to 1977 when , , , and Peter Criss first appeared in Marvel Comics Group’s , created and written by the late . Howard had already become a sleeper hit, but KISS’s appearance in issues #12 and 13 (May and June 1977), penciled by the late and inked by Steve Leialoha, sparked unusual interest. “My then-partner David and I were having lunch with Steve [Gerber] at the recently closed Carnegie Deli in Manhattan, ,” recalls then-Mad Genius by Robert V. Conte Associates co-founder and now editor- in-chief Jim Salicrup. “We had helped him package the Howard the Duck for President buttons and campaign package and he mentioned how Stan [Lee] wanted him to write a KISS comic.” “This was exciting, and I flew up to Toronto, Canada, to see KISS in concert,” recalls comic-book writer, editor, and music journalist David Anthony Kraft. “As fate would have it, I wound up escorting Gene to a comic-book shop in the area. He knew all the great stories, writers, and artists—including me! I was astonished and soon realized no one knew who he was because, back then, KISS was never photographed without their makeup!” Teaming KISS with Marvel seemed like a natural fit. After all, two of the band’s founding members, Simmons and Stanley, grew up reading comics and knew people that would eventually become industry pros including and . “When we were teenagers, Marv and I wrote and published our own ,” said Gene Simmons in a 1994 interview. “I would write Marvel all the time about how much I loved their characters. One day I received a postcard from Stan Lee himself with a handwritten note that I ‘will do great things.’ Life changed for me at that moment. Marv wanted to become a comics writer, so that’s what he did. I wanted to be different and went into another direction.” “Gene has an incredible photographic memory,” remarked Stan Lee from a 1995 interview. “He also has one of the most bright marketing minds I’ve ever encountered. He was the one who suggested making the KISS comic magazine-sized with bonus features so it could be racked next to People and Time. I wasn’t so sure about that at first, but we went along with it.”

Bloody Good Comic Front cover to 1977’s legendary Marvel Comics Super Special #1, the magazine-sized first KISS comic! Cover art by and .

TM Kiss Catalog, Ltd. © Kiss Comics, Ltd.

36 • BACK ISSUE • Rock ’n’ Roll Comics Issue MARVEL COMICS SUPER SPECIAL #1: Reportedly, Marvel was initially involved in the film, First KISS KISS (1977) but its participation was not to be. The movie had been (right) KISS is trapped A magical case containing an enchanted talisman a disaster on multiple levels. transforms four teenagers into KISS who, with help This, however, did not prevent a second KISS in a world they never from Marvel heroes including the , the comic-book story from being published, in Marvel made on the cliff- Avengers, and Dr. Strange, combat Dr. Doom to Super Special #5 (Sept. 1978). [Editor’s note: This thwart his evil intentions! full-color Marvel comic magazine’s first four issues hanger last page of To meet a quick publication date, each chapter of were titled Marvel Comics Super Special, but with issue #5 writer Steve Gerber’s story was assigned to different artists the “Comics” was dropped from the title.] Written by Howard the Duck including Alan Weiss, Allen Milgrom, , and Alan Weiss, the script pits the #12 (May 1977). Sal Buscema, and Rich Buckler. band against the evil sorcerer Khalis-Wu in the land With the headline “The Sight of Blood,” Marvel Comics of Khyscz. It was illustrated by John Romita, Jr. and By Steve Gerber, Super Special #1 was offered as a mail-order item Tony DeZuniga. Gene Colan, and inside KISS’s Platinum-selling album. Another As the Superheroes of Rock ’n’ Roll seem immortal, unprecedented gimmick propelled sales: each band the same could not be said of their comic-book counter- Steve Leialoha. member added drops of their own blood into the red parts. Sales of the second special were good but (left) The first Marvel ink of the first printing! paled in comparison to the previous effort. Readers Original KISS drummer Peter Criss (www.petercriss.net) expressed disappointment that KISS was taken out Special’s title page. has interesting recollections about the first official KISS of the Marvel Universe and wanted them to return. Howard the Duck comic, which he shares with BACK ISSUE readers: By several accounts, initial negotiations began for TM & © Marvel Characters, Inc. “Even though I wasn’t into Marvel Comics as a boy— KISS to return for a third Marvel comic book, but KISS TM Kiss Catalog, Ltd. I was more into [Warren Magazines’] Creepy and —it was an honor to meet Stan Lee. Such a great talent. “I thought putting my blood in a magazine was crazy,” Criss recalls. “The guy who put the needle in me screwed up and my blood was all over the place!” Jim Salicrup adds, “In those days, it was unheard of to sell magazines direct to customers for full cover price and not risk having unsold copies returned. Marvel was unprepared for this and quickly reprinted it without the band’s DNA in the ink. This was before later printings were identified in the indicia, so you can’t tell which is which.”

MARVEL SUPER SPECIAL #5: KISS (1978) By the end of 1977, KISS was not only the biggest band in the world, they became the biggest comic-book stars around. The concept of “real-life superheroes” was relatively new and the idea to make a KISS made-for- television film, KISS Meets of the Park, had already been green lit by Hanna-Barbera Productions.

Rock ’n’ Roll Comics Issue • BACK ISSUE • 37 ® (Visit the Neal (Visit

Art © 2017 Neal Adams. : New York might’ve been. KISS TM Kiss Catalog, Ltd. Adams! Here’s a Adams! Here’s glimpse at what third Marvel KISS Adams Gallery in

the amazing Neal comic—drawn by Man, to think that 44 • BACK ISSUE • Rock ’n’ Roll Comics Issue we missed out on a nealadams.com/the- neal-adams-gallery/.) unpublishedAdams Unplugged comics Alice Cooper is a comic-book character with a long pedigree. She came to prominence in the Silver Age as the only adult who would allow the rock band the Archies to practice in her home. Even today, she appears as a major character on the primetime television drama Riverdale. Of course, we are speaking of Alice Cooper, mother of Betty Cooper, in Archie comics. But readers are probably more interested in rock star Alice Cooper, born Vincent Damon Furnier, whose music career stretches back to the late 1960s and is still going strong today. Cooper has also enjoyed a sporadic life as a comic-book hero. He was first graced with a one-off story published by Marvel in 1979. This was followed in 1994 by a deluxe, three-issue miniseries, penned by and published by Marvel’s short-lived Marvel Music imprint (since reprinted by other publishers). In recent years, Cooper’s adventures have been told by , including a with such Chaos! characters as Evil Ernie, by Jack Abramowitz Chastity, and Purgatori. Here, we shall address Cooper’s groundbreaking initial foray into a four-color universe. ORIGINS Ed Hannigan, who provided the comic’s script, gives some insight into the project’s origin: “Some of us around the office, particularly Dave [David Anthony] Kraft (DAK), Jim Salicrup, and I, were the other alice cooper very interested in doing some kind of rock comics. We were all Alice fans. © Archie Comic I had a Time magazine cover on my Publications, Inc. wall with President Gerald Ford’s picture on it that I had drawn Alice Cooper makeup on. It got lots of remarks. This led to talk about doing some kind of Alice project. “At some point Paul McCartney had gotten in touch with Marvel asking about doing a project. I remember some of the powers-that-be were cold about the idea, thinking Paul and the Beatles were passé. This was just before [Wings’] Venus and Mars came out, which became a monster hit, with references to Magneto and the Titanium Man, so obviously Paul was not passé. “DAK, Jim, and I were not happy that the thing went nowhere. David Bowie was also interested in Marvel. I remember his wife at the time, Angela, came into the office with their son, Zowie. “My recollections might not be totally accurate, but I think Dave and Jim somehow got Stan to do an adaptation of the Sgt. Pepper movie that was coming out then, and I think that got the idea of doing rock comics going. “The KISS comic came out of that, and so did the Alice Cooper comic. Jim asked me to write it and I jumped at the chance.” Jim Salicrup, credited as one of the tale’s three plotters (alongside and Cooper himself), reiterates

Welcome to His Nightmare Alice Cooper’s comic debut, #50 (Oct. 1979). Cover by Tom Sutton and Terry Austin.

© Alice Cooper. Comic © 1979 Marvel Comics.

58 • BACK ISSUE • Rock ’n’ Roll Comics Issue Real-life in comic books… you wouldn’t think the two things went together… but theyy havee for decades. lC acissal ldn cgninnur-gno scimo rt lspir i ke Reexx M ,organ M.D. (created in 1948) and Judgee Parker r (creatreated in n 1952) still attract readers today withoutt the use of capes, spandex, or superpowers. Withinn the pages g of comiccomic books reality is less common,on, but ut singgle is ssues s depicting the of a famousous personp n or event wwereere once staples. DC’s Real Fact Commics raan fo or 21 1 issuesissues from 1946–1949, presenting “Trueue stories from the drama of life!” There have also been decades of stories of kidsk and young adults putting together bands,ands, mostly in the h movies, including the Busby Berkeley-directed rkele eyey-directed d ected Strike Up by thethe Band (1940) with Mickey RoRooneyoone and d Judy Garland, Stephan Friedt the John Landis-directed The Bluesues Brotherrss (1980) with John Belushi and Dan Aykrooydoyd, the Alan Park- re detcerid-r The Commitments 1( ,)199 a tdn eh TToom Hanks-directed That Thing YYouou Do! (19966)… and many more in between. Put “real life” comic-book storytellingtelling andd “kids in a band”band” together and you Marhave vel Comics’ Steeltownwn Rockers, a six-issue miniseries from 1990. The idea for the series came fromm LLarry Hama. Larry has worked in comics sincece thee mid-1960s, wwithith his first publishedIF YOUwork ENJOYEDin The Castle THIS of Frankenstein PREVIEW, mmagazine.agazine. He’s workedCLICK in theTHE undergrounds LINKergrounds TO u ORDER and asTHIS an assistantassistant to WallyISSUE Wood IN onPRINT Sallyy OR Forth DIGITAL h andd CCannon FORMAT!. Larry was part of Neal Adams’ ContinuityContinnuity Studios,St tudios, where he co-created Bucky O’Hare. He’s beeneen an editorr,, a writerr,, and an artist for Marvel ComicComicscs on a variety of series, but is most well known for his work on the licensedlicensed series G.I. Joe, where hee garnerednered a strong following including an abundance of female readers thanks to his strong female characters.ers. Hama also spent time as an editor at DC Comics andnd workeded for Atlas/ Seaboard and several other independentpendentnt companies. His work with longtime friend Ralphh ReesReesese wasas featured inin many issues of National Lampoon. Lar rry also spent ent a couple of years as an actor on stagege andnd screen, with ppa iescanarepp t hn T seVe ier s A*M H*S*A and Saturday NightNight Live. Beginning in 2012, he releasedased his first novel, the three-part vampire series The StrangerSt . At this writing, Hama is workingBACK with ISSUE filmmaker #101 MMark k Cheng on the originalROCK ’N’ filmROLL COMICS!Ghost FlashSourS Gordon rcecee ZZerostar SAM. J. JONES inter- ee Elaine Lee is aview,n award-winning KISS in comics, Marvel’s ALICE writ COOPERter, ann, T. actress,Rex’s MARC BOLAN interviews STAN LEE, PAUL McCARTNEY, Charlton’s Par- a playwright, andtridge a producer Family, David .Cassidy, Shehe andreceived Bobby Sherman a Daytimecomics, Marvel’s Emmy nominationSteeltown for her Rockers, per formanceMonkeesmance comics, as & Comic-ConMildred band Trum Seduction- bleble in NBC’s Theof Doctors the Innocent.. WithHer MAX well-known ALLAN COLLINS, work , with BILL MUMY, ALAN WEISS, and others! MichaelMichael Wm. Kaluta, Starstruck, was ann off-Broadway (84 FULL-COLOR pages) $8.95 lp tahtya she wrote and acted(Digital in before Edition)re $3.95 it becameb a oc koob-cimo serieshttp://twomorrows.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=98_54&products_id=1342 and series of graphic novels.s. Elaine was a writer and co-producer for thee AudioComicsoComics Com- panyanyy,, which specializes in audio-book adaptationsa of comic books and other original works.orks. She’s workedorked in

Rock This TownTown The band’s first gig on the comic-bookcom ic-book stage, Steeltown Rockers #1 (Apr r.. 1990)1990). Cover art by Steve Leialoha. oha a.a

TM & © Marvel Characters, Inc.

Rock ’n’ Roll Comics Issue • BACK ISSUE • 71