Hi Paul–I LOVED The Experiments. The first two DC Through the 80s volumes are perfect, but I’m left with one burning question: Who is Vince Squeglia? I was obsessed with that Blue Ribbon digest as a kid, and it was a thrill to see some of it beautifully reprinted. But that book’s the sole credit for Vince. Did he ever work under a different name? Thanks for all you do, Kevin Gibson
19. August 2021
I met Vince when he was working on Super Jrs, but never spoke with him about his other professional experiences. Don’t recall him doing anything else in comics. As far as I know it wasn’t a pseudonym, though.
I hope you are well and don’t mind me writing this to you, but I’m a huge fan of your work and would be grateful if you could answer a question I have. My question is regarding the grey templed Earth 2 Superman, who you wrote a lot of comics for. In the early 1980s there was a comic called DC Comics Presents Annual #3, which featured the Earth 2 Superman Kal L and the younger Earth 1 Superman Kal El. In this comic, Dr Sivanna notes that Kal L is weakening with age, and Kal L is shown as weaker than the younger Kal El. In post crisis DC continuity, there’s a comic called Kingdom Come (1996) which shows an ageing Superman with grey streaks in his hair. However, this comic explains that Superman is now far more powerful than he was before due to absorbing more sunlight. When this older Superman met the younger mainline Superman, he was depicted as more powerful than his younger counterpart due to having absorbed more sunlight. My question is essentially, what do you think of this concept of Superman being stronger as he ages into his 50s/60s? Was this acknowledged in pre crisis comics or was it only an idea that was introduced later?
19. August 2021
I didn’t work with the concept of Superman progressively growing stronger, but it’s an interesting pseudo-science approach that I can understand.
My question, to continue, is how did this come about, and what were the repercussions? Robert Kaniger would have been the write and editor, but I’ve never hear much about him being a social crusader. And distrbutors and retailers were generally not open minded. And Jackie WAS on the cover, from the back. A friend was going to approach Joe Kubert at a convention to ask his memories, but he missed on that convention, and passed away shortly after. Any information would be apprectiated. Earl G.
3. July 2021
Sorry to take so long to respond, but I’ve been off the website for a while with other duties. Given the time period, I have to assume it was Bob’s impetus to do that story, which I agree is very groundbreaking. I suspect–though I have done no research on this–that there might have been an article on some then-current event that triggered Bob to do the story.
Any memory of or insight into the ‘A DC Quality Magazine’ blurb that popped up next to all credit boxes across the line in January of 1975, only appearing that one month? It always struck me as odd.
3. July 2021
Just a momentary dumb idea. Not sure whose it was.
Hi Paul — I’m wondering if it ever occurred to anyone at DC to ask Gloria Steinem, or perhaps the Ms Magazine staff as a whole, to take over the writing on Wonder Woman after Steinem publicly decried the depowering of the character. I realise it would have been a very different approach to the way things were generally handled at DC, but the character appears to have been a perennial problem after the death of William Marston, and farming her out to an outside office would essentially have been a return to the way the book was originally produced — not to mention a great promotional coup. By the way, I recently encountered your own short 1979 crack at writing the book, and appreciated your impulse to return her to the UN. I suspect the book was not regarded as a plum assignment, but of all the writers available at the time your role in the creation of Power Girl and The Huntress, and progressive vision of Earth 2 in general, make me wish you had taken personal charge of her careeer away from Bob Kanigher for a decade or so. Thanks, Jonathan Allen
3. July 2021
Thanks for the kind words about my brief run, which I regard as one of the more disappointing efforts of my writing career.
As far as I know, the idea of asking Gloria to write WW never crossed anyone’s mind. She was already so accomplished and active, it would have pretty improbable, but I agree it would have been fascinating if she was willing.
Hi Paul, just read Stalker 1-4 , really enjoyed it. Why did the series end so abruptly? Was a 5th issue ever done ?
3. July 2021
Sorry it took so long to answer (I’ve been off the website for a while) but no, there was no further work done on the series. Carmine Infantino was the company’s leader at the time and made the cancellation decision (actually originally with #3, but it was extended to #4 after a clerical error). He never explained the decision, but no sales figures were in yet, so I have to assume it was in reaction to the quality of the work we were doing or the direction of the material.
Hello! This isnt much a question, but a thank you. The first c-mics of yours I got into was in middle school. Your works have lead me on a ride of where I’m going to college to start my own comics in the future. Thank you! Sincerely, A.
27. December 2020
Hi Paul I loved your work on the Justice Society, Legion and Huntress and I was a returned DC comics fan when you, Dick and Jeanette lead the company in the 80s. Can I ask you if you actively participated in the recruitment and subsequent work that John Byrne and Geroge Perez did in their mid-80’s re-launches of Superman and Wonder Woman and (oops another question..sorry sorry) what did you enjoy and not enjoy about their drawing styles??
14. December 2020
My part in the ’80s Superman relaunch was mainly creating a memo of what couldn’t be changed…a memo I wish I kept a copy of, but didn’t. I probably worked on John’s agreement for the work, and certainly signed it, but don’t recall any role in ‘recruiting’ him. He was one of several folks ‘competing’ to do the relaunch. I think I had even less to do with George’s work on Wonder Woman.
As a reader, I enjoyed both relaunches. JOhn’s art always had immaculate storytelling and crisp clarity, and George’s had that incredible sense of detail.
