Today is March 17. In addition to it being St. Patrick's Day this year, it is also the birthday of the esteemed Flo Steinberg!
Flo was Stan Lee's secretary, Marvel's receptionist, and fan liaison during the 60s and was a key participant of Marvel's expansion from a two-person staff to a pop culture conglomerate. She quit after Marvel refused to give her a $5 per hour raise and went on to publish Big Apple Comix one of many underground comics at the time. Big Apple featured work from Wally Wood, Neal Adams, Denny O’Neil, Herb Trimpe, Archie Goodwin, Mike Ploog, Al Williamson, and several others. As I recall, Flo returned to Marvel as a proofreader in the ’90’s.
A fictionalized Steinberg starred alongside Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Sol Brodsky — all transformed into a Marvel Bullpen version of the Fantastic Four — in the alternate-reality comic What If #11 (Oct. 1978). And later, in Ultimate Fantastic Four #28 (May 2006), Mark Millar included Steinberg serving as the secretary to President Thor.
Today is March 17. In addition to it being St. Patrick's Day this year, it is also the birthday of the esteemed Flo Steinberg!
Flo was Stan Lee's secretary, Marvel's receptionist, and fan liaison during the 60s and was a key participant of Marvel's expansion from a two-person staff to a pop culture conglomerate. She quit after Marvel refused to give her a $5 per hour raise and went on to publish Big Apple Comix one of many underground comics at the time. Big Apple featured work from Wally Wood, Neal Adams, Denny O’Neil, Herb Trimpe, Archie Goodwin, Mike Ploog, Al Williamson, and several others. As I recall, Flo returned to Marvel as a proofreader in the ’90’s.
A fictionalized Steinberg starred alongside Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Sol Brodsky — all transformed into a Marvel Bullpen version of the Fantastic Four — in the alternate-reality comic What If #11 (Oct. 1978). And later, in Ultimate Fantastic Four #28 (May 2006), Mark Millar included Steinberg serving as the secretary to President Thor.
Credit where credit is due: The Marie Severin-drawn image above was done for the back cover of Comic Book Artist #18, which contains a longer interview with Flo (and lots more pics of her in and out of the office) among other things.
Credit where credit is due: The Marie Severin-drawn image above was done for the back cover of Comic Book Artist #18, which contains a longer interview with Flo (and lots more pics of her in and out of the office) among other things.
I'll do you one better: if you are not lucky enough to own a copy of 2002's Comic Book Artist #18 (I got it on eBay several months ago for the Marvel cosmic content), you can actually read it online right here for free courtesy of TwoMorrow's Publishing. It's a great interview by Jon B. Cooke as well as recollection articles of Flo's influence at Marvel.
Credit where credit is due: The Marie Severin-drawn image above was done for the back cover of Comic Book Artist #18, which contains a longer interview with Flo (and lots more pics of her in and out of the office) among other things.
I'll do you one better: if you are not lucky enough to own a copy of 2002's Comic Book Artist #18 (I got it on eBay several months ago for the Marvel cosmic content), you can actually read it online right here for free courtesy of TwoMorrow's Publishing. It's a great interview by Jon B. Cooke as well as recollection articles of Flo's influence at Marvel.
Well, that's just a preview of the issue, so you don't get the whole interview, but thanks for plug.
It's March 20 so we wish a Happy Birthday to Dick Grayson, aka Robin the Boy Wonder, aka Nightwing, aka 'Grayson' celebrated on the first day of spring, according to Nightwing: Year One (and a hat-tip to @phansford ).
Note: Originally Dick was born said to have been born on November 11 (pre-Crisis continuity). Then in 1994, Dick was said to have been born in the week before Halloween, or October 24-30-ish. In Zero Hour: Crisis in Time, Grayson was said to have been born the first day of spring, or March 20.
Happy Birthday to Hawkman III aka Katar Hol, born March 30 on the planet Thanagar. The child of a wealthy family. Katar joined the Wingman police force but rebelled against his world’s ruthless conquest. He became addicted to drugs and was then manipulated into publicly killing his own father.
On this date in comics continuity, Boston Brand, former circus acrobat, was murdered during a trapeze performance by a mysterious assailant known only as "the Hook." Then he became a ghost. A walking Deadman if you will.
My god, I had no idea he was that old. I mean, it makes total sense given how long he's been in the industry. But just from seeing him walking around, he doesn't look like a 95 year old human. Kudos to his genes. And I hope he has many more years of good health!
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Flo was Stan Lee's secretary, Marvel's receptionist, and fan liaison during the 60s and was a key participant of Marvel's expansion from a two-person staff to a pop culture conglomerate. She quit after Marvel refused to give her a $5 per hour raise and went on to publish Big Apple Comix one of many underground comics at the time. Big Apple featured work from Wally Wood, Neal Adams, Denny O’Neil, Herb Trimpe, Archie Goodwin, Mike Ploog, Al Williamson, and several others. As I recall, Flo returned to Marvel as a proofreader in the ’90’s.
A fictionalized Steinberg starred alongside Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Sol Brodsky — all transformed into a Marvel Bullpen version of the Fantastic Four — in the alternate-reality comic What If #11 (Oct. 1978). And later, in Ultimate Fantastic Four #28 (May 2006), Mark Millar included Steinberg serving as the secretary to President Thor.
Great interview with Flo here.
Note: It's May 13 for Post-Crisis Barry Allen
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Note: Originally Dick was born said to have been born on November 11 (pre-Crisis continuity). Then in 1994, Dick was said to have been born in the week before Halloween, or October 24-30-ish. In Zero Hour: Crisis in Time, Grayson was said to have been born the first day of spring, or March 20.
It's March 21 and we wish a Happy Birthday to Ralph Dibny (Elongated Man: the Post-Crisis version).
Note: It's May 26 for Pre-Crisis Ralph Dibny
Listen to the Harley Quinn Patient Interview Tapes from Batman: Arkham Asylum here
On this date in DC continuity, Ma & Pa Kent adopt Kal-El
On this date in DC Comics history, we celebrate the organizing of the original Justice League of America
On this date in comics continuity, Boston Brand, former circus acrobat, was murdered during a trapeze performance by a mysterious assailant known only as "the Hook." Then he became a ghost. A walking Deadman if you will.