RAWHIDE KID WEDNESDAY 136

RESOLVED: The Rawhide Kid is my favorite western comics character and one of my favorite comics characters period.  This is why I’ve written over a hundred columns about him. Something about his short stature, but large courage, honor and fighting skills speaks to me.  After rereading the Kid’s earliest adventures when Marvel reprinted them in a pair of Marvel Masterworks and an Essential Rawhide Kid volume, I decide to reacquire every Rawhide Kid comic, reread them and write about them. We’ve reached the title’s extended twilight.  We’ve seen the last new Rawhide Kid story that will appear in the now-bimonthly reprint series. This is the 136th installment of my “Rawhide Kid Wednesday” columns.

The Rawhide Kid #149 [January 1979] has a new cover by Gene Colan with inks by Bob McLeod. The cover kind of sort of depicts a scene from the story, save that the startled individual by the campfire is much younger inside the comic.
                                                                                     

This issue reprints “The Young Gun” (14 pages) from Rawhide Kid #97 [March 1972]. The cover to that issue was pencilled by Larry Lieber and inked by Bill Everett. The story was written and pencilled by Larry Lieber with inks by George Roussos. I wrote about this story on July 27, 2016 and you can read that column here.

The inside front cover is the ad for that Amazing Energized Spider-Man that ran in the previous issue! The thirteen-and-a-half inches tall toy came from Remco and the company also offered an energized Green Goblin. Also repeated: a full-page subscription ads offering savings on Marvel’s top titles. If you ordered five subscriptions, you got a free sub for Star Wars.
                                                                              

                  
Simon & Schuster has a full-page ad proclaiming “1979 Heralds a New Year of Marvel Greatness!” The volumes offered: Marvel’s Greatest Super-Hero Battles, The Mighty World of Marvel Pin-Up Book, Marvel Mazes, the Silver Surfer graphic novel by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, The Incredible Hulk Calendar, The Incredible Hulk and others.

There are two pages of classified advertisements. There are 25 ads from mail-order comic-book dealers, the regular ad for 3 mil comics storage bags at three bucks per hundred, and a large-ish for “The world’s biggest and best comic convention.” Given the ad was placed by Adam Malin, I’m guessing this event was the first or, at least, an early Creation con.
                                                                                    

Clark Bars has a half-page ad for “The Famous Clark Bar Superhero Posters!” Your choices are Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, the Hulk, Captain America, Shazam, Thor or Wonder Woman. These posters were  $2.75 apiece with six wrappers from any famous Clark or Holloway candy. That’s six wrappers for each poster. That’s also a whole lot of candy to consume.
                                                                                 

The Heroes World ad is a Star Wars special pitching dozens of cool action figures, stand-up posters and more. I’ve scanned and posted this ad at a large size, but I think you’ll still need a magnifying glass to see all the items and how much they cost.

There are two half-page and six full-page ads in this issue.  The half-page ads are from Fun Factory (novelty items) and Grit (sell the newspaper and make $2-$10 per week). The full-page ads are for Blammo Soft ‘n SugarFree Gum; Crossman Air Guns; Safety Wing Bike Reflector in conjunction with Whoppers malted melt candy; 100 toy soldiers for $1.75; full color posters of Shaun Cassidy and other 1970s celebrities on the inside back cover; and Lego Expert Builder toys on the back cover.
                                                                                   

There’s a half-page ad for Marvel’s full-color adaptation of Jaws 2. The magazine-size comic was written by editor Rick Marshall with art by Gene Colan and Tom Palmer. It was reproduced directly from Palmer’s hand-painted originals. Also in the magazine: an exclusive interview with Jaws 2 director Jeannot Swarc.

The full-page bare bones Pizzazz subscription ad from the previous issue is back in this issue. It offered a free six-month sub to any one of these Marvel comics: Amazing Spider-Man, Avengers, Captain America, Defenders, Fantastic Four, Incredible Hulk, Invaders, Marvel Tales, Thor or Star Wars.
                                                                            

The Outlaw Kid reprint comes from The Outlaw Kid #17 [May 1957]. John Severin was the cover artist.
                                                                              

“Fists of Steel” (4 pages) was drawn by Doug Wildey. The writer has not yet been identified. This is the second reprinting of the tale. It also appeared in Outlaw Kid #5 [April 1971]. I’m going to skip the usual spoiler warnings because, well, because there’s not much going on here that we haven’t seen before.

The Outlaw Kid is again cast as the guy who takes down bullies. In this story, its miners who come into town every Saturday and make life miserable for the citizens with their bullying and carousing. When they start shooting up a saloon, the Outlaw Kid shoots their guns out of their hands. He accepts a challenge to duke it out with the main bully. He beats him easily and then, when the others try to gun him down, again shoots the guns out of their hands. Ordered to pay for the damage they have caused, the miners mend their ways. Now the town enjoys their weekend visits.

Though the story is familiar - most of the Outlaw Kid reprints in Rawhide Kid have this same basic theme - I sort of like the notion of a masked bully-tamer. Someone should develop the idea for a new and contemporary hero. Maybe it’ll be me.
                                                                             

The issue’s “Bullpen Bulletins” page kicks off with Stan Lee using his “Stan’s Soapbox” column to talk about the Marvel philosophy on making comic books. It’s a subject Stan returned to on a number of occasions. The rest of the page, which you can read if you click on the image above this paragraph, is the usual less-than-thrilling plugs for upcoming projects. In the Jim Shooter era, these kinds of plugs just lack the sassy fun of editorial administrations before his reign.
                                                                                   

This issue’s Marvel/Hostess single-page crossover is “Captain Marvel Meets the Dreadnought.” The Dreadnought is a raider ship that has hijacked the Omega Space Station’s shipment of Hostess Fruit Pies. The moral of the extremely short “story” is that it’s not right for evil to rule men’s destiny or to deprive them of their fruit pies. I dunno. I expect a more thought-provoking moral from a cosmically aware super-hero.

There are only two more issues before The Rawhide Kid ends its long run. I’ll be back tomorrow with more stuff and back next Wednesday  with a new installment of “Rawhide Kid Wednesday.”

Happy trails to you, my bloggy friends.

© 2018 Tony Isabella

IF ALL GOES AS PLANNED...

If March is not too late to make a New Year’s resolution, I have a new one to share with you. I will never again end a bloggy with the sentence “If all goes as planned, I will have a new bloggy thing for you tomorrow.”

Things did not go as planned on Monday. Everything on my “must do” list took twice and sometimes thrice as long as planned. I started writing a column about Marvel Legacy and the publisher flying me to New York to be part of a documentary about Marvel’s legacy. The writing did not go well. Rather than rush a bloggy thing on such an important subject, I’m pushing that column to Thursday.

On the plus side, Cleveland ConCoction has released two posters for the upcoming event. If you read yesterday’s bloggy thing, you know I’ll be at the convention. Heck, I’m named as their Comics Guest of Honor, yet another honor in this most amazing and surprising third act of mine.

At the top of today’s bloggy thing is the poster showing my smiling face and the faces of the other guests of honor. Right below this paragraph is the poster showing the incredible array of fantasy and science fiction authors who will also be appearing at this event. That’s a lot of wordsmiths in one place.
                                                                                   

If you read yesterday’s bloggy thing, you also know how excited I am to be attending Cleveland ConCoction. I’m hoping I see some of my readers there as well.

Tomorrow’s “Rawhide Kid Wednesday” column is already written and ready to go. Fingers crossed.

See you tomorrow. I hope.

© 2018 Tony Isabella

CLEVELAND CONCOCTION PREVIEW

The Cleveland ConCoction is my next convention appearance. It’s a multi-fandom convention that will be taking place Friday, March 9 through Sunday, March 11, at the Bertram Inn and Conference Center in Aurora, Ohio.

The event embraces all kinds of fan activities and interests. I’m there from the world of comics. Actor Sean Owen Roberts, who you’ve seen on Painkiller Jane, Supernatural, The Flash and various other genre TV shows, will be there. A whole bunch of fantasy, horror and science fiction authors are on the guest list. Cosplay, gaming and filk singing are also part of the programming.

Roberts is someone I’m hoping to chat with at length. Besides all the TV work, he was also in Ice Road Terror (2011). That was a cool monster movie that aired on the SyFy channel. As you know, my love of giant monster movies - I define giant monsters as anything freakishly bigger than it ought to be, like the Dumpster President’s ego and sense of entitlement - is second only to my love of the comics art form. Of course, with three days of convention events taking place late into the evenings, I expect I’ll have time to chat with many interesting creators and fans.

Registration for ConCoction starts at 10 am on Friday and 9 am on Saturday and Sunday. Adult membership in the convention is $50 for all three days and half that for children ages 7-12. There are also single day rates for adults and children.

Just glancing at the extensive programming schedule, I see panels on gaming, fandom, writing, anime, cosplaying, the Teenage Mutant Ninja turtles, steampunk, Star Trek and even belly dancing. Don’t worry. I am prohibited by federal injunction from belly dancing in public...and I think the world is better for that.

I’ll be participating in two programming events. On Friday, March 9 at 6 pm in the McKinley Room A, I’ll be doing a Q&A session. Just the place to ask me questions about comics I wrote 45 years ago and me squirm as I try to remember them. Or you can ask me about Black Lightning, my six-issue Black Lightning: Cold Dead Hands series and the Tuesday night Black Lightning television series that’s pulling in the best ratings the CW has ever had in that time slot. Really, you can ask me just about anything. The worst that could happen is my pleading the Fifth.

On Sunday, March 11 at 10 am in Garfield Room C, the convention’s programming schedule will present “Coffee Hour with Tony Isabella.” While there’s always the possibility this hour will consist of me yawning while trying to recover for Saturday night’s parties, I’ll endeavor to be entertaining and informative.

When I’m not at these two programming events...or other programming events...or wandering around the convention...or checking out the art show, con suite or authors alley...I’ll be at my tables in the exhibit hall. As usual before a convention, I’m still figuring out what I’ll be bringing to sell at those tables.

I will be selling Black Lightning: Cold Dead Hands #1-5, though I  only have a few copies of the fifth issue at this time. It appears my reorders of the Black Lightning trade paperbacks - Volume 1 and 2 - will arrive in time for the convention. I’ll have copies of my script for Black Lightning: Cold Dead Hands #1 and the unique Black Lightning poster created by Ohio artist Lee Smith. I’ll also have mini-posters featuring Daredevil and Luke Cage.

I’m putting together boxes of Isabella-written items, non-Isabella-written hardcovers and trade paperbacks, and comic books priced at just one dollar each. There’s some real cool stuff in these boxes and the prices are best described as “bargain.”

I will not be charging for my signature at this convention. But I do ask that, if you bring me a tall stack of stuff to sign, you be cognizant of the line behind you. If there is a line behind you, I would sign some of your books and then ask you to either go to the back of line or return at a later time. I don’t want a fan standing in my line so long they miss out on all the wonderful stuff going on at the Cleveland ConCoction.

If you want to interview me during the convention, please contact me before the convention. E-mail is the best way to contact me on this and any other matter.

For more information on the Cleveland ConCoction, please visit the event’s website.

I’m looking forward to my first appearance at this convention. I’m hoping to see some of you there as well.

That’s all for today, my bloggy friends. If all goes as planned, I will have a new bloggy thing for you tomorrow.

© 2018 Tony Isabella

SINBAD AND ME

Let me tell you about my first face-to-face meeting with TV’s first Black Lightning. David Adkins. Better known as Sinbad.

The funniest sketch in the entire history of Saturday Night Live was the show’s November 21, 1992 sketch on the death of Superman. Set at a memorial service for the Man of Steel after his heroic passing in then-recent comic books, the sketch featured heroes from DC and Marvel comic books.
                                                                                

Sinbad’s portrayal of a somewhat shady Black Lightning, Afro-mask and all, stole the sketch. Jimmy Olsen wouldn’t let him attend the service, despite Sinbad’s claims that he and Superman were tight. (Jimmy should have known this from my 1977 Black Lightning comics in which he and Superman guest-starred.) Black Lightning gave Jimmy a couple of well-deserved electric zaps and, on leaving, purloined the shrimp Aquaman had brought to the service.

I started getting e-mails and other online messages about the show as soon as it aired. Fortunately, I had taped it to watch when my then-very-young kids and my eternally-young Sainted Wife Barb were not asleep. I watched it the next morning...

...and was literally rolling on the floor laughing out loud. Only someone who loved Black Lightning could have done such a terrific job making fun of my creation. As I would learn in later years, my friend Sinbad was one such fan.

Sinbad and I first “met” over the phone. I had seen him many times since the SNL sketch and loved his comedy. We did the usual mutual admiration thing. Then Sinbad asked me if the Black Lightning movie rights were available. He wanted to try to put together financing to make the film. He didn’t want to play Black Lightning on the big screen. He wanted to produce it. I told him that DC Comics held the rights and suggested he contact them, offering my services in any capacity should he license those rights. Alas, back then, DC wasn’t interested in making money from Black Lightning.

We spoke on the phone a few times after that. Once, he told me he was taking his son Royce to Comic-Con in search of a complete set of my Black Lightning comics. Sinbad was a comics fan. So was his son. Once, when he was appearing at a Cleveland venue, he invited me to come see his show. I had to decline, though I don’t remember why I had to decline.
                                                                           

Then, on January 26, I got an online message from Sinbad. He would be performing at the Cleveland Rocksino that night and wanted me to come to his show. This time, what with Black Lightning being such a big hit, I wasn’t about to pass up the opportunity to meet this Black Lightning fan.

Despite the less-than-adequate weather and none of my family being able to attend, I drove to the Rocksino. This was my first visit to the casino. It’s not awe-inspiring, but it’s pretty nice. I hope to return when we’re past the winter weather.

When I picked up my ticket, I got the third degree from the person at the “call” window. How did I get tickets for this sold out show? How was I a friend of Sinbad? What did Sinbad have to do with this Black Lightning? Honestly, I wanted to pop the arrogant jerk in the snoot.

The usher who seated me was a different story. When I asked about the logistics of meeting Sinbad afterwards, he thought I had bought a VIP pass. When he learned I was Sinbad’s invited guest and why, he was thrilled to talk with the creator of Black Lightning. Never doubt that we comic-book fans are everywhere!

Sinbad’s opening act was a young comedian named Chase Anthony. He was pretty good. A little rough around the edges, but I can see him becoming a headliner sooner rather than later. Anthony remained on the stage while Sinbad performed, giving Sinbad someone to play off on. They made a good team. I was impressed that Anthony could also handle that role so well.

Sinbad’s act was wonderful. He started with Cleveland material that killed. Some of it might have been existing material he could adapt for any city, but most of it was Cleveland all the way. He did his homework. He went on to perform for about two hours, switching effortlessly from material about marriage to parenthood to politics and to every day stuff. With the exception of an asshat who took loud offense to his jokes about the Dumpster President, the audience loved him. If GOP-holes don’t want to feel uncomfortable listening to such comedy, maybe they should stop drinking the cyanide-laced fruit juice.

I was impressed by Sinbad’s performance and writing. I’ll never again pass on an opportunity to see him on stage. He's great!

There seemed to be a bit of a mix-up with the back stage security. I was originally told I would be brought back stage immediately. I ended up waiting with about a dozen folks who had VIP passes. After a wait of about fifteen minutes, we were all brought back stage to meet Sinbad.

The minute Sinbad saw me, he made a beeline for me and hugged me. While the other back stage guests waited patiently, we talked about Black Lightning and the comics and the TV show. We could have gone on all night, but I feel funny about keeping the others waiting for their moment with Sinbad. We talked for about fifteen minutes and then said goodbye.

Here’s some of what I learned in those fifteen minutes:

Until the TV series was announced, Sinbad had hoped that, some day, his filmmaker son Royce would make a Black Lightning movie. I like Royce already. Who knows? The crazy way my life is going, I might get a chance to work with both of them on something.

Black Lightning executive producer Mara Brock Akil used to work for Sinbad on The Sinbad Show. That was a 1993-1994 sitcom starring the comedian as a bachelor raising two orphaned children. I will track this series down. It sounds like something I’d enjoy.

Sinbad would love to appear on Black Lightning, even if all he did was a walk by scene. Hypothetically speaking, if I were to pitch a couple of second season episodes to the show, I think there would be roles for Sinbad in both of them. I’m just saying.

If I write more Black Lightning comic books for DC and legal signs off on it, I could see Sinbad appearing in a story either “playing” himself or being the model for a character.

But I’d much rather see Sinbad on the TV series. I really want to see a publicity shot of TV’s two Black Lightnings. Cress Williams and Sinbad. Come on, you want to see that, too!
                                                                               

One last thing. I was truly moved by Sinbad’s obvious love for my creation and my writing. He had Chase snap a photo of us and then posted it online. Seeing what he wrote about me was another amazing moment in a life now filled with amazing moments. I can’t wait to see what happens next in this third act of mine.

That’s all for now. I’ll be back tomorrow with a bloggy preview of The Cleveland ConCoction, the convention I’ll be attending Friday through Sunday. It’s gonna be terrific!

© 2018 Tony Isabella

TONY’S BIG CLEVELAND ADVENTURES

The old year brought some changes in attitude for me. I made peace with New York City and found I actually enjoy hanging out in my old neighborhood. The one I could never afford to live in today without a significant lottery win.

I embraced the reality that, though things are better today for a great many creators, it’s not universal. For eighty years, comics publishers have not treated comics creators with either fairness or respect. I believe that’s changing, but it’s going to be a steep learning curve. This is new territory for publishers. The line on the chart will go up a bit, then it will level out or even drop a bit, then will go up a bit further. We should never be complacent about the slights, but we should never go nuclear on them. We need to recognize that basically decent people work at these companies and help them move that line up.

I’m certain that, when I die, I’ll return as a vengeful spirit who will make the Spectre look like Casper the Friendly Ghost. I have started making my list, but there’s still time for alt-right Nazis to repent...and to pray I don’t die before they do.

One of the biggest changes of 2017 is I’m starting to appreciate my birth city of Cleveland again. It’s still a terribly flawed city. It still serves the rich and the powerful at the expense of those who are neither. But it’s got some good stuff in it and I took the time to experience some of that over the past two months.

Here are my recent Cleveland adventures.
                                                                              

My biggest Cleveland adventure was being named one of the city’s most interesting people of 2018 by Cleveland Magazine. This is an enormous deal in the city. Apparently, I’ve been considered for the honor for a few years now and, with the news of the Black Lightning TV series, I made it to the final list.
                                                                               

On November 6, 2017, Sainted Wife Barb and I went to the Cleveland Magazine party at the Burklehagen Photography Studio. The studio is best known for photographing food for advertisements, magazines and websites. It’s located in a terrific old building on the near east side of downtown Cleveland. Barb was especially impressed by their room of dishes used in their work. I was impressed by how good the party food was.
                                                                               

Thirty people were selected for the most interesting people list. Some of them weren’t there. I really wanted to meet Savannah James (LeBron’s wife) and ask her to see if LeBron would like to appear in a Black Lightning comic in the future. I also would have liked  to meet Cleveland Indians pitcher Carlos Carrasco and Kyle Korver of the Cleveland Cavaliers. But that doesn’t mean there weren’t a lot of other cool people to talk with.
                                                                                  

Author David Giffels is someone whose work I’ve followed for many years. He used to write for the Medina Gazette. Archie Green is a rapper who raises awareness of mental health issues. Natasha and Alex Pogrebinsky are restaurateurs working to develop Cleveland’s East 55th and St. Clair area. Giovanni Santiago is a transgender advocate. Najeebah Shareff is the CEO of Inspiring Lives Forever Transportation. Shaun Yasaki is the brew master/owner of the Noble Beast Brewing Company.

Sharita Taylor is a figure skater who competed in the 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Austria. She’s also a big fan of the CW/DC super-hero shows, which makes me think someone at the CW and DC should have her do a cameo in one of their shows. In a room full of delightful people, she was Barb’s and my favorite.

Photographer Angelo Merendino was at the party to take the photos for the article. He must have taken fifty shots of me before asking me to strike “a super-hero pose.” After I did as he asked, I told Barb that one would be the photo used in the magazine. She didn’t believe me. The other photos were so much nicer. Well, look below and you can see which of us was correct.
                                                                                     

The Most Interesting People Party was great fun. It’s the kind of thing that never used to happen to me. I am grateful to Cleveland Magazine for this honor and also to Jefferson Pierce. My pal Jeff has been changing my life since we first met.

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In mid-November, I was to meet with some business acquaintances in downtown Cleveland. The less said about that “meeting” the better. It was a major disappointment in all but three ways.
                                                                                         

The first of these positive moments was booking a room at the Hyatt Regency Cleveland at The Arcade. From 1978 through 1989, my Cosmic Comics shop was in arcades across the street from this classic and legendary location. After closing Cosmic Comics, I spent a handful of months working for the most despicable person with whom I have ever been associated in a comics shop located in The Arcade. That’s a story for my in-progress memoirs.

In the intervening years, The Arcade has been transformed into one of the most gorgeous hotels in the area. Its style has endured for decades. Its former offices and shops have been turned into stately rooms. What had once been a place that reminded me only of one of the worst periods of my life. My return there as a hotel guest did more than banish the horrors of my past experiences in The Arcade. It’s become, as a dear friend said it, a “place of power” for me as I reclaimed what I once lost.
                                                                                  
The second positive moment was dining at Lola Bistro at 2058 East 4th Street in downtown Cleveland. Owned by chef Michael Symon, this “is the crown jewel of Cleveland's vibrant culinary scene.” It has the inventive and terrific menu you would expect, coupled with an  intimate setting, a great drink menu and impeccable service. Some day soon, I want to take Barb there.

The third positive moment was taking leave of my so-called business acquaintances and joining a group of 20-something comics fans I’d met in recent years. It was a chance encounter, but great fun as I found myself playing the role the older comics fans had played for me when I was barely out of my teens. I was the wise old man, they were the eager young minds. It felt like my early days in fandom in the late 1960s when I was welcomed and guided into the mysteries of the fandom of the era. I had a ball.

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Just before my 66th birthday, I treated myself to another night at The Arcade. I checked into my room in early afternoon and then went across Superior Avenue to visit the “Superman: From Cleveland to Krypton” exhibit at the amazing main branch of the Cleveland Public Library. The exhibit opens on May 6, 2017 and, its run extended by popular demand, will close after March 31 of this year.
                                                                                 

From the library’s website:

Follow Superman’s journey from his creative birth in Cleveland to his growing international popularity, his connection to social justice issues, his influence on the current superhero craze, and the pride our community maintains for its homegrown superhero.

Three floors of exhibits in the Main Library will feature memorabilia, art and artifacts from the Mike Curtis Collection of Superman Memorabilia and other prominent collectors.

Superman was created by Clevelanders Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster in the 1930s and has been a source of pride for the community ever since. This exhibit was a reflection of that pride and, much to my surprise, I found myself represented therein. It includes:

The two-sided Superman poster I helped designed for the ill-fated Neverending Battle organization that attempted to honor Siegel and Shuster in the late 1980s.

A display of Cleveland comics creators said to have been inspired by the Man of Steel. My name was up there with Harvey Pekar, Brian Michael Bendis, Tom Batiuk and others.

A display on the social progressiveness of Superman that included Black Lightning.

If all goes as planned, my next stay at The Arcade will be with my Sainted Wife. I’ll show her the Superman exhibit and take her out for dinner at Lola’s. Am I the geeky romantic or what?

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My 2017 Cleveland adventures concluded with hockey and super-heroes at the Quicken Loans Arena, home of the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Cleveland Monsters. From Wikipedia...

The Cleveland Monsters are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League (AHL). The team began play in 2007 as the Lake Erie Monsters and, since 2015, has served as the top affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Monsters play home games at Quicken Loans Arena in downtown Cleveland and have one Calder Cup championship, after winning their first title in 2016.
                                                                              

On December 30, the Monsters held a Marvel Super-Hero Night. They wore Captain America-inspired jerseys which were auctioned off to benefit the Monsters Community Fund. By dint of my having written for Marvel Comics in the 1970s, I was invited to take part in the evening’s fun.

There was special Marvel & Monsters co-branded merchandise at the Team Shop. Iron Man was on the concourse before the game. Monsters cheerleaders wore Captain America-inspired outfits. You could be a super-hero at a virtual reality zone. Encouraged to wear costumes, you could be photographed in front of a green screen. There were a number of gaming consoles with Marvel games throughout the arena.  There was a super-hero costume parade.

My participation?

Local comic book writer Tony Isabella will be signing copies of his Daredevil and Luke Cage covers from Section 121 on the concourse during the 1st intermission and the 2nd intermission.

There was no charge for my signature on the mini-posters created by the Monsters promotions department. I signed hundreds of them and was thrilled to see the happy faces of the Monsters fans, young and old, who got these posters. I even took advantage of the signing to promote the Black Lightning TV series and my Black Lightning: Cold Dead Hands comic-book series.

It was a terrific evening all around. Well, almost all around. The Monsters provided myself and my kids - Eddie and Kelly - with some choice seats. That was great.

The Monsters lost to the Grand Rapids Griffins. That was not great. I can only assume the Monsters came back to beat their opponents in the next issue.

That’s all for today’s bloggy thing. I’ll be back tomorrow to tell you about my first 2018 Cleveland adventure and much more. See you then, my friends.

© 2018 Tony Isabella

THINGS THAT MADE ME HAPPY IN FEBRUARY

February was a great month for me. The Black Lightning television series continued to garner excellent ratings and critical acclaim. I finished writing the six-issue Black Lightning: Cold Dead Hands series. I attended terrific conventions in Windsor and Pensacola.You’ll see the above and more included in this month’s listing of things that made me happy in February.

Yet the horror of my country under the boot heels of President Bone Spurs and squeezed by the bloody hands of the gun manufactures who fund the National Rifle Association tears at my soul each and every days. The unconscionable rants of the fake news proponents of Fox News and their kindred monsters sickens me. It’s why, even when I have a month like the one gone by, I still need to remind myself of that which brings me delight and hope for the future.

Here are the things that made me happy in February...

February 1: When a journalist asks me a Black Lightning question I have never been asked before. It happened yesterday. It’s going to happen again tomorrow because a different journalist sent me their questions in advance.

February 2: Leonard writing a mystery novel in The Big Bang Theory. This shouldn’t be a done-in-one plot device. Keep writing, Leonard!

February 3: The first three episodes of NBC’s A.P. Bio were exactly what I needed to unwind last night. Crazy premise, terrific cast (including Patton Oswalt) and teachers. For some reason, I’m drawn to shows about teachers.
                                                                               

February 4: Caltiki the Immortal Monster. A Christmas present from a friend, I watched the 1959 Italian movie for the first time since I was a kid. It was a fun 76 minutes.

February 5: The sense of accomplishment as I finished my script for Black Lightning: Cold Dead Hands #6. This series was challenging, but such a joy to write.

February 6: Taking Giselle to dinner and the Little Dokebi Korean restaurant for dinner. Great food and, of course, it was a joy to see my recently-relocated-to-NYC “other daughter.”

February 7: Being interviews on camera for a Marvel documentary. It is heartening to see Marvel’s honoring its legacy and including the creators in that.

February 8: That moment when I can sit back and take a deep breath, having finished the most pressing items on my schedule. I can take some “me time” without feeling guilty about it.

February 9: The Cleveland Cavaliers got a lot more interesting with yesterday’s trades. I’m not a huge sports fan, but I have enjoyed watching them even when they struggled. Now I can’t see what will happen next.
                                                                                

                                                                          
February 10: China Anne McClain and Nafessa Williams on Late Night with Seth Myers. I love them madly. And what a thrill to hear them introduced as “from Black Lightning.” My dreams for my creation are all coming true.

February 11: Seeing Sharita Taylor, fellow Cleveland Magazine “most interesting people of 2018" honoree, on the front page of The Plain Dealer. She and her twin sister Shaye were competing in the Special Olympics Ohio State Winter Games. Sharita is a delightful young woman and a big fan of the CW/DC super-hero shows. In other words, our kind of people. Props to Sharita and Shaye.

February 12: On Black Lightning, Skye P. Marshall’s performance as Vice-Principal Fowdy is wonderful. I haven’t figured out Fowdy yet, but I wish I’d created her.
                                                                            

February 13: The USA Winter Olympics ski and snowboard athletes in outfits inspired by Captain Marvel and Captain America. It’s a cool moment for this fan who grew up at a time when comics were looked down upon. We rule!

February 14: The official portraits of President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. I love the modern look of them and see them as a reminder the current administration will not be allowed to permanently stall the forward progress of our nation.

February 15: Elise Freezer. The 11-year-old figure skater stars in a SunTrust Bank commercial airing during the Winter Olympics. She’s utterly adorable and incredibly talented.

February 16: Swoosie Kurtz in the “An Inconvenient Ruth” episode of Lethal Weapon. The interactions between her character and Clayne Crawford’s Martin Riggs were funny and touching.
                                                                              

February 17: Marvel’s Black Panther. An incredible spectacle and a thoughtful thriller driven by incredible performances. Especially wonderful to see Don McGregor, Rich Buckler and other dear friends listed in the end credits.

February 18: Vindication. The original toilet paper roll patent has the toilet roll paper going over and not under.

Though a couple of my Facebook friends have disputed this, I stand by the above item. You can flush your alternative facts.

February 19: Action! Windsor 2018. It was a terrific convention in a gorgeous room with delightful fans and a hard-working crew that made it work. My thanks to Jolie, Mike, Becca, Sarah and everyone else for inviting me and treating me so swell.

February 20: Sirius XM’s Billy Joel channel. So wonderful to share my drive with one of my all-time favorite writers and performers.
                                                                             

February 21: Perish, the third book in Lisa Black’s series about a forensic scientist and a police detective who kills killers. Forced to keep each other’s secrets, their uneasy relationship makes for edge-of-your-seat reading.
                                                                            

February 22: Meeting the delightful Wai Ching Ho (Madame Gao on the Marvel Netflix series) and having dinner with her, Larry Hama, Dan Mishkin, Gary Cohn, Mike Baron and Paris and Denise Cullins at the great Five Sisters Blues Café in Pensacola, Florida.

February 23: Pensacon. One of the best and best-run conventions in the country. I love Pensacola with its great restaurants and bars. I love the event with its great guests, promoters and volunteers.I love the fans. I’ll return whenever they invite me.
                                                                                   

February 24: Maria Landy. Pensacon’s transportation goddess and a talented artist whose art adorns the guest gift bags. She painted me a special Godzilla rock this year.

February 25: My son Eddie is buying a house here in Medina, Ohio.  I’m simultaneously feeling very old and very proud.
                                                                               

February 26: Dinner at McGuire’s Irish Pub in Pensacola with Mark Maddox, Jeff Shanks and Jose and Mabel Delbo. Landmark restaurant, great food and wonderful company.

February 27: Watching the terrific Nen paint at her Pensacon table. Like the fans who gathered around her, I was utterly captivated by her certainty, confidence and talent.
                                                                                

February 28: Hanging with Trevor Von Eeden at Pensacon. We talked about our lives, comics and philosophies. He gave great advice to a young artist. Most fun of all, his mom and aunt drove from Fort Lauderdale to surprise him.
   
That’s all for today. I’ll have another new bloggy thing for you on the morrow. See you then.

© 2018 Tony Isabella

THINGS THAT MADE ME HAPPY IN JANUARY

I live in a country where a racist holds the highest office in the land and surrounds himself with fellow bigots and a collection of undisputably evil alt.right Nazis. I live in a country where mass shootings have become so commonplace that scum politicians rattle off the words “thoughts and prayers” so often that those two words have become meaningless. Like my fellow citizens, I live with these kinds of horror every day of my life. And yet...

There are good people in my country and my world. There are things that give me hope and things that bring me happiness. My counter to the bad stuff is to remind myself - every day - of the good things in my life, my country and my world. I post these on Facebook and Twitter to share them with others who look for the light at the end of the Trump Tunnel.

Here are the things that made me happy in January...

January 1: Cleveland Magazine naming me one of its most interesting people of 2018. Add another one to the lengthening list of “things I never expected to happen to me.”

When Sainted Wife Barb and I attended the Cleveland Magazine party for the above, the magazine’s photographer took around 50 photos of me holding copies of my work or looking far more distinguished than is normal for me. Then he asked me to strike a super-hero pose. I told Barb that was the one that would be used. She didn’t think so. The other photos were so much nicer. The photo that leads off this bloggy thing reveals which of us was right.
                                                                             

                                                                              

January 2: Attending the Cleveland Monsters hockey team’s special Marvel Night and signing hundreds of Daredevil and Luke Cage prints for the fans.

January 3: Getting a congratulatory e-mail from a comics reader who hired me for some non-comics freelance writing several years back when I desperately needed the work.

January 4: The LEGO episode of the Guardians of the Galaxy cartoon - “The Thanos Threat” - was hilariously good. I laughed out loud several times while watching it.

January 5: Lucifer’s “City of Angels?” flashback episode revealing our favorite devil’s earliest days in Los Angeles. Kudos to writers Jason Ning and Jenn Kao and, of course, the always wonderful cast of this series.
                                                                               

January 6: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. It didn’t kick into high gear until the last 15 or so minutes of the pilot, but now I can’t wait to find the time to watch the whole season.

I’ve since watched the entire season and now I can’t wait for the second season.

January 7: Picked up the first new suit I’ve bought in more than an decade. It looks good and a second made-to-order suit should look even better. Plus it’ll have a Black Lightning label.

My second suit is ready. I hope to pick it up this week.

January 8: Marvel’s Runaways on Hulu. I’ve only watched the first episode, but it certainly feels like the classic series by Brian K. Vaughan and Adrian Alphona. I liked it.

January 9: Getting a phone call from Salim Akil. Never doubt that all of us who work on Black Lightning in comics or TV are anything but united in our commitment to quality, thoughtful entertainment.

January 10: Galco’s Soda Pop Shop/Galco’s Old World Grocery in Los Angeles. Though I’ve never been there, it makes me happy to know it exists. I will visit there someday soon.
                                                                           

                                                                         

January 11: My Christmas issue of Beano came with a box of pranks.I’m having way too much fun with them for a man of my age.

January 12: For the first time since the 1980s, I have a passport. Waiting for convention invites from around the world. I promise not to cause international incidents.
                                                                            

                                                                      
January 13: The DC Comics in D.C. event. The kindness and respect shown to me by everyone from DC, from the wonderful Black Lightning cast and creators, from the fans. Most of all, being able to share it with my son Ed. I’m going to be paying this day forward for the rest of my life.
                                                                                
January 14: Diet Coke is coming out with new flavors. I’m not a fan of diet sodas, but I’m looking forward to trying the Twisted Mango and Feisty Cherry.

I’ve tried them and, while they were better than regular Diet Coke, they weren’t much better. My new goal is wean myself off Pepsi by switching to various teas. We’ll see how that goes.

January 15: My daughter Kelly getting to work from home from time to time. It’s nice having her around.

Alas, my joy was short-lived. Kelly has moved from our house and to a house she’s renting with a friend. Thankfully, she still visits two or three times a week.

January 16: Orlando Jones. On account of he’s such a genuinely nice and smart and talented guy. The way my career is taking such cool twists, I’m hoping I get to work with him someday.
                                                                                                                      
January 17: The Black Lightning watch party at Casa Isabella. Kelly and Ed put together a great evening, made all the better because we shared it with Nora, Terry, Lauren, Kiera and Justin.
                                                                              

January 18: My 91-year-old mother, who hates violent movies and TV shows and describes herself as a "Hallmark girl" watched the entire first episode of Black Lightning. I never thought she'd make it past my credit line. She couldn't say she liked or understood it all, but thought the acting was amazing and that Christine Adams  was incredibly beautiful. I told her she's off the hook for the rest of the series unless I actually write an episode for a later season.

January 19: Getting to chat with David Harewood (J'onn J'onzz on Supergirl) at the “DC in D.C.” event. I love his performance as a surrogate father to Kara and Alex on that show. I’m the father of a young woman and his J’onn speaks to me. Plus: David was rocking a cool Black Lightning t-shirt.

January 20: Meeting the amazing cast of Black Lightning, feeling mutual love and respect and having that great photo to remember the moment. Maybe the best day of my career.

January 21: Seeing the Legion of Super-Heroes on Supergirl. Okay, we only saw three of them and Brainiac 5's makeup was sketchy, but I’m seeing big-screen potential in the concept.

January 22: On The Flash, Ralph Dibny’s conversation with Joe West about the consequences of “crossing the line” was a great moment. Kudos to Hartley Sawyer and Jesse L. Martin.
                                                                            

January 23: The remarkable Pete Von Sholly’s Ugh! and Son of Ugh! anthologies. It’s vintage Creepy and Eerie if every story in those magazines had been written and drawn by the same amazing creator.

January 24: The second episode of Black Lightning was every bit as good as the first episode. Special kudos to Tracey Bonner for her riveting performance as Lawanda White.
                                                                                 

January 25: Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History by author and artist Vashti Harrison. A great book for readers of all ages, but especially kids.

January 26: Jim Thome, greatest power hitter in Cleveland baseball history, was voted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He was a favorite around here because, besides being a terrific player, he and his family did a lot for charitable causes in the area. It is wonderful to see this great human being so justly honored.
                                                                             

January 27: Meeting Sinbad. We’ve talked on the phone, but this was my first face-to-face meeting with TV’s first Black Lightning. His show was hilarious and he’s a very cool dude. It was a great night.

January 28: Visiting my daughter Kelly’s new house. It’s both cute and functional. She’s a smart young woman.
                                                                                  

January 29: I Am Harriet Tubman by Brad Meltzer with illustrations by Christopher Eliopoulos. A powerful addition to their “Ordinary People Change the World” series of children’s books.

January 30: Godholly’s “Black Lightning Theme” from the TV series. The series has lots of great music, but this song has now become my new morning clarion call.

January 31: The family dinner scene in the third episode of Black Lightning. Wonderfully written by Jan Nash and performed by Cress Williams, China Anne McClain and Christine Adams.

With this bloggy thing of mine back from hiatus, I’ve got a lot of catching up to do. Come back tomorrow for the compilation of those things that made me happy in February.

© 2018 Tony Isabella