It's so great to see Dick, and Julie, and Pat, and everyone. What a time capsule of 1984! I remember catching flack for putting my arm around Larry Mahlstedt's shoulder, sparking rumors that we were a couple. Were the eighties really that homophobic?
I meant it 100% with affection, it is a humbling experience seeing that all of the creators of the stuff I read as a kid in the 80's were younger than I am now.
Wow... Loved watching that. So many memories tied up in those books and the people behind them. A few short years later, which seemed like a lifetime, I would meet almost everyone there. Surreal.
How strange to see this! I didn't even remember this happening, although seeing myself being interviewed, I now have a vague recollection. Whoever posted it... get in touch with me. I'd love to have a hard copy of this.
Hi Gary, the hard copy is an old videotape.. But I'd be happy to send you a link to download the digitalized version. My email address is now under the "About" tab of the channel.
What impressed me, Gary, is that whenever you were shown -- outside of directly being interviewed -- you were chatting up Wonder Woman in the background.
Finding this video made me so happy! I just loved 70s-80s DC and was buying most of he stuff mentioned. How great to see the faces andhear the voices of the time. And nice to see Joe Orlando and Julius Schwarts , Dick Giordano, Len Wein, Thanks so much for posting. Wow
I too loved seeing Julius Schwartz, about to begin the final two years of his professional career, so enthusiastic about his current projects, and the (then) young talents of Giffen, Moore & Gibbons. Not nearly as crusty here as I would have expected from a few of the stories I've read about him. I loved Ambush Bug, but I always wondered if Julie appreciated that style of humor, especially the bits that were directed at him. Apparently he did! Wonder what he was drinking at this party. Also, it was so great to see so many creators whose names and work I've known about for 30-40 years, but who I've never actually seen or heard speak before. Lightle, Mahlstedt and MacGregor especially, three guys whose work I've so admired for so long. Giordano was very serious, but very on-point and, as usual, correct. Too bad those DC/First crossovers didn't materialize, though. Batman/Jon Sable would have been amazing! It could still happen, I guess (paging Mike Grell!).
I finished high school in '85. At that point I was mostly getting the Australian DC reprint comics, but knew about some of the changes and experimentation going on. Next year, working, I ordered, the Legion, Infinity Inc, All-Star Squadron, Swamp Thing, Titans, found the US Barren Earth back issues,and a few of the other series mentioned here and the SF Album series (I think that's what JS was referring to). Same year I discovered a lot of indie comics from First, Eclipse, Fantagraphics, which must have spurred DC's expansion of views. I'm so pleased to see this film clip showing so many of the people who were part of DC's re-expansion of comics, to hear people's own voices, even if it is part promo. Thanks to you all, still living and passed on, because for me this was part of my own personal 'golden age' of comics (in the same way that we say that the golden age of SF is 12).
After so many years of seeing Julie Schwartz's picture (either as a photo or caricature), this is the first time I've ever heard his voice! He sounds like a wonderful guy to talk to, very funny!
I vividly remember reading a copy of "50 Who Made DC Great" on a Greyhound bus ride up north to see my grandpa. It was the first thing I'd ever read that really schooled me on the history of DC as a company, and comics in general. Still a great tribute to the history of the company. I just got Paul Levitz's 3 volumes of DC history and really look forward to reading those too. I expect most of the folks in this video to have their "15 minutes" in the Levitz books. Hope I'm not wrong.
Todays version of this would involve a lot of mentioning of pronouns, gender identity, which character that’s been straight for decades is now “bi” (comic slang for gay) and “trans rights”
