& other talents have all done exceptionally creative work too. The list of creative talent (Author's, Artist's) is tremendous in the comics industry which other industries take advantage of. (Again an article unto itself).
Stan Lee's arrival in a Limosine exemplified the style and pizzazz in which he lived his life. He was the spokesperson, promoter and Publisher of Marvel Comics at the time.
Stan has more energy than many men half his age. Did you catch the Hitchcock-like cameo in the awesome recent excellent X-men film where he was a Hot Dog vendor (on the beach). I think he is currently involved mainly with Marvel Animation in Van Nuys, California. His stanlee.net enterprise is having trouble with backers and former employees allegedly but won several prestigious awards and is a far out site for fun -- I hope everyone will check it out. Free games and much more.
Ninth Nebula was a context for many things but few know it was my 2nd book shop. My first store was opened in 1978 in the Santa Monica area and was called Beyond Illusion: New Age Book and Comic Shop. But comic books paid the rent.
From 1985 through most of 1986 I threw over 19 successful mini Comic book Conventions (the San Fernando Valley Comic Book Convention). This show allowed me to open Ninth Nebula--the Complete Comic Book Store. Small in size, yet packed with all the best stuff.
Jack Kirby appeared at one of my autograph events too. Kirby was Lee's partner on all the important Marvel titles in the early 1960's when they were formed such as Fantastic Four, (Strange Tales) Nick Fury Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., Hulk, X-men, Daredevil, Avengers, Journey Into Mystery) Thor, (Tales to Astonish) Ant-Man, (Tales of Suspense) Iron-man, Capt. America, etc.
Around 1961 Amazing Fantasy #15 was issued which is the first appearance of Amazing Spider-man and if in perfect shape could fetch $20,000. or more--check your price guides.
I promoted the San Fernando Valley Comic Book Convention furiously. After about 19 or so mini shows which pulled up to 500 Comic Collectors I was then able to open Ninth Nebula--the Comic Book Store and I retired the Convention. I put a lot of people & friends and family to work (usually paid $50. for people helping at my Con). I knew what I liked and I knew what people wanted and ordered accordingly. Getting the books before my competitors for years helped.
Here is Stan Lee
signing my Fantastic Four #1 comic book on the splash
These shows allowed my 17 boxes of comics and mere $1700. to flourish into a my small store and thousands of boxes of choice back issues--the shop lasted 10 years.
Comics were serious business untilthe Death of Superman (and then it exploded further) which created new problems and opportunities as the comic industry began new birth pangs in 1993. The quake of 1994, the riots preceding that, the first time ever taxation of comics (no re-Pete ((finally got a new Governor where I use to live in California))), many of my customers, suffering from the economy, moved back home--out of State, paper prices, customers died from Aids (my shop lost two wonderful people I know about), baseball shops got in the act, too many new Comic Stores opening all took its toll on my shop and others (along with other factors that are articles unto themselves) and a big piece of the pie that was my income--but mostly it was the monopolistic practices of DC Comics--aka Time Warner and other factions of the "industry."
Now there is only one comics distributor. He is in charge of the sales of ALL new comics. And owns the Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide that covers old comics which DC has an option to take over (buy) some day. So the powers that be have all the power and wealth. Exterior power anyway.
(photo was here)
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