Comic Book Creator (2025)

Artist/writer Rick Veitch discusses his varied career, from undergrounds at age 20, graduating “first class” at the Kubert School, his wild ride in the ’80s with 1941 to Epic Illustrated to Heavy Metal, stint as Swamp Thing man, to his own creator-owned King Hell Heroica universe, including The One, Brat Pack, and Maximortal! Plus we finally uncover the saga of Studio Zero, the short-lived ’70s California collective bringing together Jim Starlin, Frank Brunner, Alan Weiss, Steve Englehart, and others who all almost scored a regular comics feature in Rolling Stone magazine! And we shine a spotlight on hugely talented but little-recognized artist Errol McCarthy about his underground comix, CARtoons, and He-Man, Master of the Universe work! Plus a very rare interview with the late Michael Dowers of Seattle’s Starhead Comix, a vital presence in the history of alternative comics, conducted by Pat Moriarity. In addition, Ian Millsted shares a chat with wonderful British storyteller/artist Aly Fell about his graphic album, The Kissing Gate: A Ghost Story. Edited by Jon B. Cooke.

Thomas Yeates grants a career-spanning interview about attending the Kubert School's first graduating class, his start at DC on Swamp Thing, Eclipse Comics work (including the Michael Jackson/Captain EO comic!), and becoming the greatest adventure comic strip cartoonist of the last 30 years, on Zorro, Tarzan, and Prince Valiant! Greg Potter discusses his '70s Warren horror comics and '80s reboot of Wonder Woman with George Pérez, and more. Kiddie comics artist Warren Kremer is celebrated by Mark Arnold in a biographical essay, plus part one of a look at the work of Steve Willis, the amazingly prolific 'King of the Mini-Comics' and masterful cartoonist of Morty the Dog. And there's the concluding portion of our talk with Errol McCarthy on his extraordinary artistry, and as always, our regular CBC features, including Dateline: Hembeck!

From his earliest days at DC to creation of Swamp Thing and Wolverine to his subsequent successes, Len Wein is the subject of CBC #41, when we examine in detail the life of a comic book writer, plus look at his editorial stints as Marvel and DC, the latter where he worked with Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons to help facilitate Watchmen. There's also an interview with Jay Scott Pike about his creation of Dolphin (and co-creating Jann of the Jungle) and his long career as DC romance artist and subsequent gig as pin-up girl artist. Plus: "The Death Of Will Eisner's P*S", the sad demise of the Army’s Preventive Maintenance magazine! Part two of our Steve Willis profile! And Shaun Clancy reveals the saga of Adrian Lopez's Harpoon/Apple Pie humor mags! Featuring a spectacular Frank Cho cover, and edited by Jon B. Cooke!

"Big" John Buscema basks in the spotlight of CBC #43, with a one-on-one interview with the legendary artist conducted by editor Jon B. Cooke — where the Marvel stalwart reveals the moment when comics broke his heart — plus a in-depth biographical essay on the artist along with a gallery of his fabled behind-the-original-art pages amazing "warm up" artwork. We examine the tragic fate of prolific ’70s/’80s Marvel scripter Bill Mantlo, co-creator of Rocket Raccoon and Cloak and Dagger. Also, the fascinating, inside tale of Eastern Color Printing, earliest publisher of American comic books, the first collaboration in an occasional series by historian/researcher Shaun Clancy and Jon B. Cooke. There’s also part two of our lively Shary Flenniken interview, creator of Trots ’n’ Bonnie, about her charming cartooning for National Lampoon. Ted Jalbert talks with Ivan Katz about life with his dad, Jack Katz, and we include Steven Fears' interview with the great (and underrated) cartoonist Ric Estrada about his varied career, as well as a look at Bazooka Joe comics… and Hembeck, too!