Comic Book Creator (2026)

The great Flash and “Adam Strange” artist, Carmine Infantino, gets the treatment in CBC #44 with both a comprehensive “Nuff Said” radio interview conducted by Ken Gale and Ed Menje, plus an essay by editor Jon B. Cooke on the artist’s tumultuous stint as DC editorial director and publisher, a period which brought out the absolute best at the company and some of its worst. We also feature an incredible account, R.K. in the U.K., about writer/editor legend Robert Kanigher’s late-in-life love affair with comics fandom in the British Isles… (well, at least his candid 1989 conversations with late Brit fans Steve Whitaker and Tim Bateman!) We also feature Part One of TED JALBERT’s interview with JACK KATZ, and examine the work of Dave Cockrum on those “Aurora Comics Scenes” model kit pamphlets of the 1970s. We start Glen Cadigan’s three-part interview with Joe Hill, horror comics writer and certain “Son of King”! Oh, and, of course, Fred Hembeck, natch!

"Gentleman Gene" is showcased in our Gene Colan: Without A Net headlining feature in CBC #45, featuring the participation of Tom Field as we include a wonderful 75th birthday celebration of the artist at San Diego Comic-Con back in 2001, featuring some special guests. So you think you know the craziest lunatic in comics history? Think again, as we, with the help of onetime employee Mark Wheatley, spotlight gunslinging Myron Fass and his nutty Heavy Metal rip-off, Gasm! There’s also an account of editor Jon B. Cooke's visit to the ambitious (albeit shortlived) Florida-based comics publisher, all-in-one Crossgen, then at the crossroads and facing collapse. The first portion of the Good Girls cartoonist Carol Lay's interview is included, where we discuss her jumping between underground, alternative, and mainstream comics. Plus there’s part two of our Jack Katz interview, Joe Hill part deux, as well as Shaun Clancy’s brief though absolutely fascinating look at Hillman Periodicals, publisher of Crime Does Not Pay and Airboy. (And, as always, Hembeck is in the house!)

We commemorate the 10th anniversary of the passing of Darwyn Cooke, in a special double-size issue, which features two comprehensive interviews with the brilliant artist—one from 2004 conducted by Jon B. Cooke and another from 2010 by Tucker Stone. We also feature numerous testimonials and tributes from many of Dar’s friends and fans. Behind Darwyn’s cover of Canuck Joe Shuster's co-creation Superman, our theme for the issue is “Truth, Justice, and the Canadian Way,” as we look at fascinating subjects exclusively from the Great White North. These include, courtesy of Richard Comely, a definitive look at the history of Captain Canuck; the life journey of Arn Saba, creator of Neil the Horse and today known as Katherine Collins; and feature a profile of David Boswell of Reid Fleming fame. Plus, we gaze deeply into Orb magazine with founder James Waley, behold Andromeda with editor Dean Motter, and be vexed by Vortex Comics with publisher Bill Marks; and Janet Hetherington shares her look at the Joe Shuster Awards and the Canadian Comic Book Hall Of Fame.

CBC #47 gets positively Epic with our tribute issue devoted to Archie Goodwin, editor/writer supreme, as we talk to friends and colleagues about the exceptionally talented and much beloved man, with a comprehensive focus on his helmsmanship of Epic Illustrated and the eclectic and wide-ranging Epic Comics line of the ’80s. Plus, since we’re in the Epic groove, things get in-depth and definitive with a years-in-the-making, lengthy feature talking with Michael Wm. Kaluta and Elaine Lee about their wild and enduring Starstruck projects, which started as an Off-Broadway stage production and blossomed into a comic-book series that has traversed the decades. Also, Shaun Clancy investigates the life and art of Hal Seeger, animator of Batfink and Milton the Monster and comics creator of Leave It to Binky for DC and G. I. Jane for Stanhall. Additionally, we include a conversation with Rick Altergott in the first installment of a comprehensive interview with the Doofus creator, as well as a look at the best comics parodies in National Lampoon, with art by Neal Adams, Russ Heath, Barry Windsor-Smith, and others. Oh, all this and Hembeck, too! Edited by Jon B. Cooke.