Comments on: Trapped in a world he never made http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/ The News Blog of Comics Culture Sun, 8 Nov 2009 17:45:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: Vintage WMMS photos 1973 & 1974 « The Buzzard: Inside the Glory Days of WMMS and Cleveland Rock Radio — A Memoir http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-3535112 Mon, 17 Aug 2009 18:32:26 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-3535112 [...] The Cleveland Joke was an institution made nationally famous by many Johnny Carson one-liners (written, incidentally, by a former Clevelander) and Laugh-In, which awarded Cleveland its famed Fickle Finger of Fate award.  Even the comic book Howard the Duck dealt with its character, who lived in Cleveland as being “trapped in a world he never made.” [...] […] The Cleveland Joke was an institution made nationally famous by many Johnny Carson one-liners (written, incidentally, by a former Clevelander) and Laugh-In, which awarded Cleveland its famed Fickle Finger of Fate award.  Even the comic book Howard the Duck dealt with its character, who lived in Cleveland as being “trapped in a world he never made.” […]

]]> by: Brad http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-2931941 Fri, 13 Feb 2009 02:30:20 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-2931941 Nice job. I completely agree with you. Nice job. I completely agree with you.

]]> by: Blog@Newsarama » Quote Unquote: Remembering Steve Gerber http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-1604616 Wed, 21 May 2008 17:14:30 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-1604616 [...] Heidi McDonald [...] […] Heidi McDonald […]

]]> by: thinkbolt http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-1088242 Thu, 20 Mar 2008 18:33:38 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-1088242 Thank you for posting this, Heidi. It's as if I wrote it myself. It's eerie how your introduction to comics and your view of the period mirrors mine. There must be many of us. Comforting, but I wouldn't want to attend a convention of us... Thank you for posting this, Heidi. It’s as if I wrote it myself. It’s eerie how your introduction to comics and your view of the period mirrors mine. There must be many of us. Comforting, but I wouldn’t want to attend a convention of us…

]]> by: Steve Gerber, 1947-2008 « New Warriors Continuity Conundrum http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-896418 Mon, 18 Feb 2008 00:35:03 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-896418 [...] Obituaries and remembrances: Los Angeles Times, New York Times, POV Online, The Comics Reporter, The Beat, Journalista [...] […] Obituaries and remembrances: Los Angeles Times, New York Times, POV Online, The Comics Reporter, The Beat, Journalista […]

]]> by: Forrest http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-895941 Sun, 17 Feb 2008 22:29:48 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-895941 "I didn’t always go out of my way to seek it out as the years went on, and couldn’t bring myself to read his later Howard the Duck with Phil Winslade." You should get the trade paperback; it's well worth it if you're willing to read it carefully. It's far more subtle than it looks. “I didn’t always go out of my way to seek it out as the years went on, and couldn’t bring myself to read his later Howard the Duck with Phil Winslade.”

You should get the trade paperback; it’s well worth it if you’re willing to read it carefully. It’s far more subtle than it looks.

]]> by: Marcus Lusk http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-887707 Sat, 16 Feb 2008 17:05:33 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-887707 It's taking me time to process this one. I always understood that Steve was Howard, and that Howard was Steve. And it seems this is a very rare thing in this medium. (Charles Schulz' self-reflection in Charlie Brown is the only example that readily comes to mind.) So to me, it feels very much like Howard himself has died. It’s taking me time to process this one.
I always understood that Steve was Howard, and that Howard was Steve. And it seems this is a very rare thing in this medium. (Charles Schulz’ self-reflection in Charlie Brown is the only example that readily comes to mind.)
So to me, it feels very much like Howard himself has died.

]]> by: Brian Spence http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-879730 Fri, 15 Feb 2008 13:27:18 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-879730 Great words Heidi. I didn't get into Gerber's work until much later. I read his last Howard mini-series (which you really should read!!) and then Nevada. It wasn't until later that I tracked down the Essential Howard to read the original run. He had such a unique voice, yet it was a voice many could relate to. I really think he was a brave guy. He didn't back down from a giant company like Marvel, and he didn't back down from defending his sometimes unpopular opinions. That bravery made him one of my heroes. I also loved his politics, which really meshed with my own. The last few months have been sad. I read his blog every day. There will never be another like him. Great words Heidi. I didn’t get into Gerber’s work until much later. I read his last Howard mini-series (which you really should read!!) and then Nevada. It wasn’t until later that I tracked down the Essential Howard to read the original run. He had such a unique voice, yet it was a voice many could relate to. I really think he was a brave guy. He didn’t back down from a giant company like Marvel, and he didn’t back down from defending his sometimes unpopular opinions. That bravery made him one of my heroes. I also loved his politics, which really meshed with my own.

The last few months have been sad. I read his blog every day. There will never be another like him.

]]> by: Steve Gerber 1947-2008 | Comic Book Blogs http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-871718 Thu, 14 Feb 2008 09:01:21 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-871718 [...] Publishers Weekly’s Heidi MacDonald remembers: part 1, part 2 [...] […] Publishers Weekly’s Heidi MacDonald remembers: part 1, part 2 […]

]]> by: Matt Feazell http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-871321 Thu, 14 Feb 2008 06:44:04 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-871321 Yeah, Howard The Duck changed everything. It was the mid seventies... we'd just run Nixon out of office... the war was over... and if good ol' mainstream Marvel Comics could publish a comic book about Howard The Duck, then ANYTHING WAS POSSIBLE! Thanks for posting that panel from HTD 3. Steve Gerber could sure write. I'm gonna miss him. Yeah, Howard The Duck changed everything.

It was the mid seventies… we’d just run Nixon out of office… the war was over… and if good ol’ mainstream Marvel Comics could publish a comic book about Howard The Duck, then ANYTHING WAS POSSIBLE!

Thanks for posting that panel from HTD 3. Steve Gerber could sure write. I’m gonna miss him.

]]> by: Jeffrey H. Wasserman http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-870551 Thu, 14 Feb 2008 02:56:17 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-870551 Jane... stop this crazy thing! Steve Gerber was a true original. His work was unlike anyone else's in comics. I only knew him through Howard and the dark humor that pervaded the book. He will be missed. -JHW Jane… stop this crazy thing!

Steve Gerber was a true original. His work was unlike anyone else’s in comics. I only knew him through Howard and the dark humor that pervaded the book. He will be missed.

-JHW

]]> by: R Blake http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-870388 Thu, 14 Feb 2008 02:06:44 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-870388 That very last line, taken from HTD #3, put a giant lump in my throat. Thank you for posting such a heartfelt tribute. That very last line, taken from HTD #3, put a giant lump in my throat. Thank you for posting such a heartfelt tribute.

]]> by: R Blake http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-870387 Thu, 14 Feb 2008 02:05:54 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-870387 That very last line, taken from HTD #3, put a giant lump in my throat. Thank you for posting such a heartfelt tribute. That very last line, taken from HTD #3, put a giant lump in my throat. Thank you for posting such a heartfelt tribute.

]]> by: TUCK! http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-869906 Thu, 14 Feb 2008 00:12:47 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-869906 Nice work, Heidi. You said it all for me. Thanks. Nice work, Heidi. You said it all for me. Thanks.

]]> by: Adam McGovern http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-869795 Wed, 13 Feb 2008 23:40:52 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-869795 Well said. A great compendium of the works that made Steve great and the effects that made him matter. Not awkward or ill-formed at all; that’s just the self-consciousness of the careful writer and thinker you became. Your last line was my first thought upon hearing the news. So we don’t need the books by our side. They’re inside us, where they belong. (http://www.comiccritique.com/columns/gcolSt499.html) Well said. A great compendium of the works that made Steve great and the effects that made him matter. Not awkward or ill-formed at all; that’s just the self-consciousness of the careful writer and thinker you became. Your last line was my first thought upon hearing the news. So we don’t need the books by our side. They’re inside us, where they belong.

(http://www.comiccritique.com/columns/gcolSt499.html)

]]> by: Snikkkt! » Blog Archive » Steve Gerber 1947-2008 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-869457 Wed, 13 Feb 2008 22:06:15 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-869457 [...] You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your ownsite. [...] […] You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your ownsite. […]

]]> by: GR Kent http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-868605 Wed, 13 Feb 2008 18:26:10 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-868605 I actually stopped reading comics before Howard hit the scene... it was brought to my attention much later (1977) when I got into the animation industry. A friend handed me a stack of Howard's to read... but I never actually read them... It wasn't until I actually worked with Steve and got to know him that I actually read those books and many (though not all) others. What I'm sure that Steve would find astonishing, is not just the outpouring of love and grief at his passing, but the fact that it is not only continuing and growing strength. Steve was a true friend -- I know he'd want us to get past our grief (as difficult as that is to do) and move on and take up his cudgel to fight the good fight... Godcorp is still out there and incredibly, it's growing stronger. I actually stopped reading comics before Howard hit the scene… it was brought to my attention much later (1977) when I got into the animation industry. A friend handed me a stack of Howard’s to read… but I never actually read them…

It wasn’t until I actually worked with Steve and got to know him that I actually read those books and many (though not all) others.

What I’m sure that Steve would find astonishing, is not just the outpouring of love and grief at his passing, but the fact that it is not only continuing and growing strength.

Steve was a true friend — I know he’d want us to get past our grief (as difficult as that is to do) and move on and take up his cudgel to fight the good fight… Godcorp is still out there and incredibly, it’s growing stronger.

]]> by: Marc Bryant http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-868166 Wed, 13 Feb 2008 16:34:39 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-868166 Thank you Heidi. You and I are close to the same age. You took the words right out of my mouth. I love the fact that when I was a kid, my well meaning but misguided mother didn't allow me to read super hero comics (long story) but she had no problem buying me Howard, the most subversive thing on the spinner racks. I told Steve that story once, and he seemed to get a kick out of it. Thank you Heidi. You and I are close to the same age. You took the words right out of my mouth. I love the fact that when I was a kid, my well meaning but misguided mother didn’t allow me to read super hero comics (long story) but she had no problem buying me Howard, the most subversive thing on the spinner racks. I told Steve that story once, and he seemed to get a kick out of it.

]]> by: Roger Green http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-868132 Wed, 13 Feb 2008 16:18:47 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-868132 That damn Pretenders' song Precious (first album, first song) still stuck in my head. My feeble recollection: http://rogerowengreen.blogspot.com/2008/02/steve-gerber.html That damn Pretenders’ song Precious (first album, first song) still stuck in my head. My feeble recollection: http://rogerowengreen.blogspot.com/2008/02/steve-gerber.html

]]> by: Rockin' Rich http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-867998 Wed, 13 Feb 2008 15:33:37 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-867998 Jeff is caught in a time loop, apparently. This never used to happen in K-a. Or did it? Jeff is caught in a time loop, apparently.

This never used to happen in K-a.

Or did it?

]]> by: Jeffrey H. Wasserman http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-867648 Wed, 13 Feb 2008 14:01:35 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-867648 I recall that Gerber's "Howard the Duck" was so sought after here on Wall Street that the local newsdealer kept his delivered copies behind the counter so as to limit purchases to one per customer. I recall that Gerber’s “Howard the Duck” was so sought after here on Wall Street that the local newsdealer kept his delivered copies behind the counter so as to limit purchases to one per customer.

]]> by: Journalista - the news weblog of The Comics Journal » Blog Archive » Feb. 13, 2008: Diamond keeps its fig leaf http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-866773 Wed, 13 Feb 2008 09:31:39 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-866773 [...] Looking for more on Gerber? There’s certainly more to be found. Here are remembrances and tributes from Heidi MacDonald, Len Wein, Dave Sim, Rantz Hoseley, Jeff Lester, Neil Gaiman, Lea Hernandez, Evan Dorkin, Robert Boyd, Brendan Wright, Mark Millar, Mike Sterling, Don MacPherson, Alan David Doane, Sean Kleefeld and Mark Evanier. Elsewhere, Tim O’Neil presents a pair of extended excerpts from Gerber’s magnum opus, Howard the Duck: part one, part two. [...] […] Looking for more on Gerber? There’s certainly more to be found. Here are remembrances and tributes from Heidi MacDonald, Len Wein, Dave Sim, Rantz Hoseley, Jeff Lester, Neil Gaiman, Lea Hernandez, Evan Dorkin, Robert Boyd, Brendan Wright, Mark Millar, Mike Sterling, Don MacPherson, Alan David Doane, Sean Kleefeld and Mark Evanier. Elsewhere, Tim O’Neil presents a pair of extended excerpts from Gerber’s magnum opus, Howard the Duck: part one, part two. […]

]]> by: STWALLSKULL » Interesting Links: February 13th, 2008 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-865094 Wed, 13 Feb 2008 04:02:00 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-865094 [...] Trapped in a world he never made from THE BEAT [...] […] Trapped in a world he never made from THE BEAT […]

]]> by: Doug http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-863928 Wed, 13 Feb 2008 00:31:03 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-863928 Thanks for the perspective, Heidi. I hit Gerber about the same age and was similarly skewed by him. It's a cheap line, but "The Black Hole sucks!" makes me laugh every time. By the way, I'm betting your Nighthawk memory is of <i>The Defenders</i> #32. Thanks for the perspective, Heidi. I hit Gerber about the same age and was similarly skewed by him. It’s a cheap line, but “The Black Hole sucks!” makes me laugh every time. By the way, I’m betting your Nighthawk memory is of The Defenders #32.

]]> by: Paul McEnery http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-863641 Tue, 12 Feb 2008 23:30:43 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-863641 You've said so much of what I've been thinking, Heidi. Thank you. One small cavil, though. The Defenders cover you've got up there is from the Bill Mantlo fill in. Any chance of switching that out? You’ve said so much of what I’ve been thinking, Heidi. Thank you.

One small cavil, though. The Defenders cover you’ve got up there is from the Bill Mantlo fill in. Any chance of switching that out?

]]> by: ken http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-863467 Tue, 12 Feb 2008 22:58:01 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-863467 Gerber as I recall never wrote Hellcat in DEFENDERS. The Headmen/Nebulon story featured Red Guardian and I am pretty sure Hellcat joined that title maybe the issue after Gerber left. Gerber did write a great Defenders story with Luke Cage, Daimon Hellstrom, Daredevil and Yellowjacket fighting discrimination I remember. I think his greatest contribution to that title was Jack Norris, the unofficial Defender who was just an ex-husband but frequently managed to pitch in in a pivotal way. Gerber as I recall never wrote Hellcat in DEFENDERS. The Headmen/Nebulon story featured Red Guardian and I am pretty sure Hellcat joined that title maybe the issue after Gerber left. Gerber did write a great Defenders story with Luke Cage, Daimon Hellstrom, Daredevil and Yellowjacket fighting discrimination I remember. I think his greatest contribution to that title was Jack Norris, the unofficial Defender who was just an ex-husband but frequently managed to pitch in in a pivotal way.

]]> by: Cary Coatney http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-863205 Tue, 12 Feb 2008 21:46:09 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-863205 To me, Gerber represented the epitome of epic comic book sagas to me in the mid-seventies with a David Lynch twist. How odd, right now I'm right in the middle of reading the Essential Man-Thing that I picked up a long time ago at the last San Diego con. I just want to go and seek the Defenders ones for tribute. Geez, I'm going to have to break the news to one of my Australian buddies who's the biggest Howard fan that I've ever known. ~ Coat To me, Gerber represented the epitome of epic comic book sagas to me in the mid-seventies with a David Lynch twist. How odd, right now I’m right in the middle of reading the Essential Man-Thing that I picked up a long time ago at the last San Diego con. I just want to go and seek the Defenders ones for tribute.

Geez, I’m going to have to break the news to one of my Australian buddies who’s the biggest Howard fan that I’ve ever known.

~

Coat

]]> by: McDonald http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-863126 Tue, 12 Feb 2008 21:25:40 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-863126 Beautiful piece, Heidi. Does anybody else think this new Howard project that Steve was hinting about was somehow gonna involve the election? Beautiful piece, Heidi.

Does anybody else think this new Howard project that Steve was hinting about was somehow gonna involve the election?

]]> by: David Bird http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-863025 Tue, 12 Feb 2008 20:55:03 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-863025 As a fellow "tweener" this was sad, sad news. As a kid I wasn't savvy enough to appreciate the big picture and see just how many of my favourite titles were coming from the mind of a single creator. Its great that his last high profile creation was Hard Time, proof positive that he still very much had it. As a fellow “tweener” this was sad, sad news. As a kid I wasn’t savvy enough to appreciate the big picture and see just how many of my favourite titles were coming from the mind of a single creator. Its great that his last high profile creation was Hard Time, proof positive that he still very much had it.

]]> by: Richard J. Marcej http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-862670 Tue, 12 Feb 2008 19:50:40 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/02/12/trapped-in-a-world-he-never-made/#comment-862670 I too was a young comic reader from that era. While I did enjoy the mainstream title it was the out of the ordinary (Moench &#38; Gulacy's Master of Kung Fu) and of course Steve Gerber's Defenders and Howard the Duck that probably kept me reading comics long after others had left. Those HTD's stayed with me along with the other humor influences of that time (Python, original SNL, Mad, etc...). Let me join in with my feeble rememberence of Steve's work here: http://www.thebaboonbellows.com/?p=1325 I too was a young comic reader from that era. While I did enjoy the mainstream title it was the out of the ordinary (Moench & Gulacy’s Master of Kung Fu) and of course Steve Gerber’s Defenders and Howard the Duck that probably kept me reading comics long after others had left.

Those HTD’s stayed with me along with the other humor influences of that time (Python, original SNL, Mad, etc…).

Let me join in with my feeble rememberence of Steve’s work here: http://www.thebaboonbellows.com/?p=1325

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