Today in Comics History, May 5: Happy birthday, Stan Goldberg!

Born this day in 1932: comic book artist and colorist Stan Goldberg! Among his many accompaishments, he was the uncredited colorist for a huge number of the 1960s Marvel books!


from (left) Marvel Tales Annual #1 (Marvel, September 1964);
(right) Fantastic Four Annual #7 (Marvel, November 1969), photograph by Al Hewetson

Fun with Comics: Where's my money, honey?

Paper Doll Month, Day 1: We'll miss you, Stan Goldberg

It's September 1! (Did you remember to say "rabbit, rabbit" first thing this morning?) That means it's time for another month-long feature to amuse and edumacate you while I try to untangle all the files that make up the long-on-hiatus 365 Days of KirbyTech feature. This month, all month, you'll need a printer, cardboard, a glue-stick, and sharp scissors (or, a parent or guardian with sharp scissors). That's right, it's a month during which you can create your very own personal papyrus platoon based on this feature — it's Paper Doll Month! And I absolutely promise you: no Katy Keene!

That said, it's a bittersweet beginning to the feature as we salute one of the greatest artists of comics in all genres (but especially teen and comedy books), Stan Goldberg, who passed away yesterday. Stan was an extraordinary artist who, altho' he frequently drew within a publisher or line's house style, gave his own distinctive and energetic feel to his work. Even if he was uncredited (or, in the case of Marvel's teen/comedy/romance titles, frequently credited as Sol Brodsky), you could identify his art. Just as Carl Barks was commonly known as "The Good Duck Artist" in Disney comics before creator credits were printed, I've always considered Stan Goldberg as "The Good Archie Artist." (I really like Dan DeCarlo too, but so many fo my favorite stories are by Goldberg.)

He was an accomplished colorist responsible for the vast majority of the covers of the Atlas and early Marvel Age, and he was fluent in several styles. Here's examples of his paper doll work for Marvel's Patsy Walker and supporting characters:




Paper doll pages from Patsy and Hedy #107 (August 1966), art by Stan Goldberg, letters by Sam Rosen
Okay, okay, maybe these aren't "technically" paper dolls and they don't have tabs, but it's my blog and I say it's paper dolls and to heck with it.

The Seven Deadly Sins of Chili Storm

And let us not forget:

Pop Will Eat Itself

In its ever-insatiable hunger to publish the most lucrative comic book franchises to sink our teeth into, Marvel Comics has brought us Marvel Zombies...



...Squadron Supreme Zombies...



...Christmas Carol Zombies...



...Disco Marvel Zombies...



... and even Spider-Ham Zombies!



But I believe that I've come up with a fresh new line for Marvel to move into, something that has never been done before, something that'll attract boys and girls and comics buyers of all ages (that is, 32-45)...

Zombie Millie the Model!

Panel from A Date with Millie v.2 #6 (August 1960), script by Stan Lee, pencils and inks by Stan Goldberg
Millie's outfit by Andre Cohen, Brooklyn NY; Chili's dress by Carlton Grubbs, Leakville, NC.

Yep, that's an actual unretouched panel from a Millie the Model comic book. (Trust me, context wouldn't help one bit.) And yeah, I know, that's actually Chili the Model getting all bitey in that panel. But then again, in an all-out post-apocalyptic catfight kick-ass brawl, don't you think conniving and treacherous Chili would come out on top? That is, if Veronica Lodge didn't eat her brains first.

So don't buy Abercrombie, buy Zombie...Marvel Comics' Millie the Zombie Model, that is! (Call me, Axel Alonso—I gotta lot more great pitches like this for you!)

24 Hours with Jack Kirby: Hour 10

Here's a weird and wacky early Jack Kirby appearance...in, of all places, Millie the Model!

All panels are from Millie the Model #107 (March 1962), by Stan Goldberg

Say, I can't find that cover of Strange Tales anywhere in the pre-Human Torch early 1960s issues!

The modeling assignment for our glamour girl is simple: comics artist Jack Kirby is looking for a life model to pose for a story. (Overhearing this outside on the landing, a light bulb of inspiration appears over the head of young Nelson Alexander Ross.)


Millie's not too certain she wants to take the job. Aw, c'mon Mil...you ain't afraid of no ghost! Or, Atlas Monster.


Later at the spacious offices of KirbyConGlomerateCom, Millie's frightened of a larger-than life monster model in Jack's studio. I'm not certain whether she's scared of it, or that she's frightened that a grown man collects and displays monster models.


Meanwhile, Millie's conniving and still-in-the-closet rival, the spicy and heart-burning Chili, has Wile E. Coyotesque plans to frighten and steal the modeling assignment away from Millie! Yes, true to life model tales. This is actually how Cindy Crawford got the Revlon contract away from Paulina Poriskova.


But Chili herself is scared off because Jack's wearing a rubber monster mask. Haw haw! Comedy doors crack me up every time!


Later, Millie and Chili finally find common ground and one thing to agree upon: girls don't read comics.


(Well, at least until Sandman, Strangers in Paradise, and Gail Simone come along.)