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.
I was recently reading about original art of older stories being destroyed at DC during the 60’s, and your name keeps popping up in my research. Is there anything you can tell me that may help me in my quest to find some of it?
14. December 2020
That was before my time on staff. A somewhat older group of fans like Marv Wolfman, Len Wein, Steve Mitchell and others were on the tours where they gave original art away and sometimes chopped it before their eyes.
hi paul! mary alice wilson, dark star books, here. suddenly thought of you as someone i could contact who could maybe help. twice i have downloaded to my kindle gene yung’s THE TERRIFICS, 2 different issues, and there is no READ HERE link. what can i do to read them? maw
20. July 2020
Hi, Mary Alice, so good to connect again. Hope all’s well with you.
I’m not much use of tech questions, Dc-related or otherwise…too much of a luddite to have learned enough to be helpful, sorry.
Dear Paul. I am in the process of translating The Great Darkness Saga for a foreign publisher and I must admit that the ending baffles me. I have trouble understanding where Daxam is, where Apokolips is, where Darkseid and pseudo-Orion are, and who or what gets switched by the White Witch’s spell. At the end, Daxam should be back under a yellow sun, I guess. But I don’t understand how it could work if the White Witch exchanges only the individuals on both planet’s surface, instead of the worlds themselves. Or is it something that’s adressed in subsequent issues? Thank you for your help and congrats on your fabulous career! – J.
12. July 2020
It’s been a long time since I reread the book, and I do recall the world switching as something that was challenging. Sorry my memory isn’t clear enough to help. Thanks!
