Jim Sterankos Supergraphics posters in 1973: How can you tell the originals from the

[midnightman2001]

originals? I was told the originals do not have a date stamp on them, like the marvel third eye posters. So how do you know?

I am talking about the 12 posters of various Marvel covers

[Expletive Deleted]

I'm guessing the folks over on the Classics Forum will be better able to help you with this one, so I've moved it over there.

[T GUy]

originals? I was told the originals do not have a date stamp on them, like the marvel third eye posters. So how do you know?

I am talking about the 12 posters of various Marvel covers

Never heard of 'em.

I suspect that I Need To Know, howe'er.

Posters of some of the covers the bequiffed one did in 1972-3 for Mighty Marvel?

[Red Oak Kid]

This sounds vaguely familiar. Were these sold thru FOOM or was it something sold in the back on one of Steranko's tabloid/magazines?

[rick]

As far as I know, they have never been reprinted.

However the originals were printed on heavy poster stock if that helps at all.

[InfoBroker]

While I never bought the posters, here's some background info that might prove helpful:

Sternako's Supergraphics Inc. first publication was his History of Comics Volume One first available in 1970.

In the 1972-73 timeframe Steranko "returned" to Marvel producing covers which lead to his negotiating to produce material for FOOM, along with the FOOM magazine.

The posters were advertised in FOOM and the auxiliary "bonus" Bullpen Bulletins page, which was a second page that devoted a lot of space to FOOM material and other Marvel merchandise.

The only FOOM magazine I have (sorry I never joined, nor should I ever be caller a FOOMer), is the "JACK'S BACK" issue from 1975. Not sure where I acquired it from, but it was several years after its publication, and was definitely used.

So maybe a browse of some 1973 Marvelous Marvel comical books would provide some insight as to which covers were part of the set, dimensions and other information.

As Rick also mentions, I am not aware of the posters being reprinted.

-jb the "still waiting for volumes 3,4,5 and 6" ib -

[Red Oak Kid]

sold in the back on one of Steranko's tabloid/magazines?

MediaScene. I knew i would remember the name eventually.

I'm surprised there hasn't been a Steranko thread here before.:evilsmile:

[Rob Allen]

Is it true that his name was originally James Anko, and his nickname was "Jimster"?

[rick]

True story.

Steranko has owed me $85.00 for about 20 years now.

Somehow I don't think I'm getting paid back.

[InfoBroker]

MediaScene. I knew i would remember the name eventually.

It was a mono media mag called ComicScene before branching out into film. I never bought any, just have breif memories of glances at them at the newsstands.

Here's something I forgot about until now, The follow up printings of Steranko's History of Comics #1, besides raising its price to $4, added a logo to the top for bookstore display purposes. It took me a couple of glances to figure where the extra two inches of real estate came from on the complex multi-character cover to make room for it.

-jb the "not sure I can get much more trivial" ib -

[MDG]

It was a mono media mag called ComicScene before branching out into film. I never bought any, just have breif memories of glances at them at the newsstands.

Later on it went to a more standard size with a glossy cover and was called "Prevue".

I only bought a few copies in my time. One was great--essentially a series of full page illustrations. The others I found hard to read--page on page of narrow columns with tiny text.

I remember his History of Comics was very good (I'll have to re-read it someday), but was frustrated that the illustrations were either full-page or the size of postage stamps.

[Senormac]

Not sure if these are the posters you all are talking about......but the Cap one is Steranko. I think the others are Romita, Kirby and Trimpe. This ad is from Conan #3

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v668/Senormac/IMG_2668.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v668/Senormac/IMG_2669.jpg

[Kirk G]

OK, now I was around during that time period.
And there are a few stories associated with the production of those posters.
I can summarize them in all too few words...

In the Hulk poster, Jack Kirby drew the poster, but somebody thought it needed a Steranko head. So they switched it, and legend has it that was the straw that broke the camel's back...and made Kirby walk...

Second, and better story...
Years later (about ten years ago now) The Jack Kirby Collector did a fabous article about this cover... how great the story was inside...how rare the issue, how collectors were killed over possession of this extreme rarity, etc.... all appearing in the April issue of TJKC. Only a few caught on that it was all an April fools joke, pasting a title and usual comic book cover trappings over the classic poster. The next issue, they immediately explained it was a joke, after receiving several ernest letters from dupped fans who wanted to know why they had never heard of this rarity before...and why it wasn't listed in Overstreet, etc.
They gave proper credit to everyone involved...Kirby, John Morrow, and whoever had done the pastup of the "cover". Wish I could remember what issue this was in, cause it'd be worth reprinting... and possibly re-introducing via the internet this next April 1st... or sending to the Onion... or Snopes.com for an article!

[InfoBroker]

Not sure if these are the posters you all are talking about......but the Cap one is Steranko. I think the others are Romita, Kirby and Trimpe. This ad is from Conan #3


The Steranko set has (as mentioned above ) 12 posters in all. This one has only four.

None of these four ever appeared as a cover (classic or otherwise) on a Marvel comical book. Nada! Zilch!

A quick google netted some interesting background information (http://reviews.ebay.com/How-To-Buy-Sell-FOOM-Marvelmania-amp-MMMS-Fan-Club-Items_W0QQugidZ10000000000916242)from eBay on Marvel Fan Club merchandise. Buried in there is this tibit "FOOM only had a set of eight, 12 X 19 inch posters depicting famous Marvel Comics covers" Too bad they don't list the particualr comical book issues.

I will check some of my 1973-74 comical books for FOOM ads. I do recall seeing them. Perhaps I can determine if 8 or 12 is the correct number.


The four that you show here, were published (and sometimes actually mailed to people that ordered them) from Marvelmania International. Pre-FOOM! pre Steranko's involvement in producing merchandise of this nature for Marvel by about 3 years.

-jb the ib-

[InfoBroker]

In the Hulk poster, Jack Kirby drew the poster, but somebody thought it needed a Steranko head. So they switched it, and legend has it that was the straw that broke the camel's back...and made Kirby walk...


Which Hulk poster you talking about? The one shown here is all Herb Trimpe.

Jack left marvel in 1970 for all kinds of reasons, mainly creative control, and pay. I have no recollection of a Hulk poster head controversy. Seems to me, if head swapping was a problem, he would have left Marvel a lot sooner. Nor would he have stayed at DC long enough for the first issues of New Gods to be published.

-jb the ib-

[Kan-Man]

Not sure if this will clarify anything or add to the confusion, but I found this passage in Steranko's wikipedia page...

"In 1973, Steranko became founding editor of Marvel's official fan magazine, FOOM, which superceded previous fan clubs (including the Merry Marvel Marching Society). Steranko served as editor and also produced the covers for the magazine's inaugural four issues before being succeeded editorially by Tony Isabella.[22] (He had previously been associated with similar Marvel endeavours, producing two (of twelve) posters for the company's earlier in-house fanzine Marvelmania.)"

[Kirk G]

Not sure if this will clarify anything or add to the confusion, but I found this passage in Steranko's wikipedia page...

"In 1973, Steranko became founding editor of Marvel's official fan magazine, FOOM, which superceded previous fan clubs (including the Merry Marvel Marching Society). Steranko served as editor and also produced the covers for the magazine's inaugural four issues before being succeeded editorially by Tony Isabella.[22] (He had previously been associated with similar Marvel endeavours, producing two (of twelve) posters for the company's earlier in-house fanzine Marvelmania.)"

Steranko was a nut for puzzles, magic, mazes, etc. That was one of the appeals of his production.
I'm sure Tony Isabella is around and willing to discuss his experiences taking over the endevor from Steranko for Marvel...:wink:

[dan bailey]

I'm sure Tony Isabella is around

Very much so -- http://www.worldfamouscomics.com/tony/

[Kirk G]

Oh shucks, I thought you were linking to his column in CBG that would give the background on taking over FOOM from Steranko, instead of his current reviews.
(Oh well, a man's gotta live....)