
Free Daily Podcast Summary
by Scott Edelman
I've lived my life in science fiction, fantasy, horror, and comic books, attending my first convention in 1970, hired by Marvel Comics in 1974, publishing my first short story in 1981, editing my first magazine in 1983, launching my first podcast in 2016, and more. Along the way, I've been witness to the history of multiple genres, which has caused many of my friends, followers, and fans to suggest I write my autobiography. But since I don't plan to take time away from everything else going on in my life to do so, I've decided to periodically share nostalgic stories from my many creative journeys here. Join me!
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This apologetic episode reveals why Eva Marie Saint's death at 102 caused me to reevaluate everything I've shared on this podcast so far, the hidden history of a $600,000 Green Lantern painting, the secret (to me anyway) life of one of my Marvel Comics coworkers, which Scarecrow letter I answered and which one I didn't, what my ancient vouchers have to say about the mid-'70s Jack Kirby letter column controversy, and more.
This episode wrangles with some recent comics-related thoughts, including how Jim Steranko helped me have a 50th anniversary dinner, the surprising way George Lucas secretly surprised us all, my delight over a newly discovered 1972 photo of me hanging out with Howard Chaykin, how Paul Levitz's new book about Marvel's explosive growth proves everything I always thought about my comics career was correct, deciding what to do with my guilt over the life and death of E. Nelson Bridwell, and more.
While shredding nearly 10,000 pages of my accumulated papers, I made several discoveries worth sharing, including memorable hate mail I received while writing Captain Marvel, multiple reasons I'm unqualified to write my own autobiography, a job application at Comico, why I refused to meet editors until after I'd already sold them stories, my unsuccessful score on a DC Comics proofreading test, four rejected Tales from the Darkside pitches which didn't end up published in Elvira's House of Mystery, and more.
I don't have much to say this episode, but I've decided to say it anyway, sharing about the way Stan Lee saved me in a dream, what I was thinking (or not) 52 years ago today on the eve of starting my Marvel Comics staff job, the PTSD of older creators who lived through the creation of the Comics Code, why I won't be writing my autobiography, when I'll be shredding half a century of daily diaries, and more.
This time around, I reminisce about what it meant to have met Gerry Conway in 1971 when I was only 16, the comic book comrades I should have known better but never gave myself the chance, my dreams of decluttering with Bernie Wrightson, the first two origin stories I thought up for The Scarecrow before the one fans got to read in 1975, and more.
This time around, I dream of Action Comics #1, consider how the death of Sal Buscema has me thinking of Vinnie Colletta, decide Jim Salicrup will outlive us all, regret my near-miss with Jim Mooney during my honeymoon, remember the time Mike Friedrich threatened to punch me in the nose, and more.
This episode has me reminiscing about why I think of comics artist John Tartaglione every day, my dreams of Paul Anka's comic book collection and a visit from Gene Colan, my early attempts to get fired from Marvel Comics, a well-earned warning from Marv Wolfman, the puzzle of why covers to romance novels tend to feature aspirational art while comic book romance covers often lean into the problems, and more.
I grow a bit verklempt this time around while I rap about the Spider-Man rock album for which I made sure the band didn't miss a note, remember watching Dave Cockrum and Len Wein create Giant-Size X-Men #1 out of thin air, pass along the surprising truths Steve Ditko's family most wants you to know, critique the Metropolitan Opera's production of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, choke up while praising Marie Severin's posthumous induction into the Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame, walk the exhibit hall at Baltimore Comic-Con where only a single item of comics memorabilia tempts me, and more.
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I've lived my life in science fiction, fantasy, horror, and comic books, attending my first convention in 1970, hired by Marvel Comics in 1974, publishing my first short story in 1981, editing my first magazine in 1983, launching my first podcast in 2016, and more. Along the way, I've been witness to the history of multiple genres, which has caused many of my friends, followers, and fans to suggest I write my autobiography. But since I don't plan to take time away from everything else going on in my life to do so, I've decided to periodically share nostalgic stories from my many creative journeys here. Join me!
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