Paraman Vs. The Rocketeer didn't see print until 1978, several years after its creation and after Al Milgrom became a notable writer/artist/editor for Marvel, DC and Warren. (and probably others, too)
Of course, we're more used to The Rocketeer being a hero, not a villain, but this comic appeared 4 years before Dave Stevens gifted us with his amazing creation. (BTW - have you heard that Disney has both a sequel and an animated series for The Rocketeer in the works?)
Since Al was off in the deep end of his professional career, he never returned to Paraman to my knowledge, nor did Bill Whitcomb team with anyone else to continue the character. At least, not to my knowledge.
So here's Steve Vance inking Al's layouts for the only appearance of...
Paraman written by Bill Whitcomb, page art by Al Milgrom & Steve Vance for Visual Wonders #1 (1978)
Not something I was expecting to encounter while browsing around. To be fair, Al Milgrom probably did this strip at around age 13. We bought it sight unseen and realized it needed to be rewritten and re-inked before we could do pretty much anything with it. Steve Vance, 17 at the time, moved on to greater things such as illustrations for Mystery Science Theater 3000.
ReplyDeleteThank you. "Not something I was expecting to encounter" is a fine compliment for The Voice Of ODD!
DeleteI think Al was probably a bit older than 13. He was 28 when it saw print, so even if the art was a decade old (and they referred to it as being "several years old") he still would have been 18 by that point.
But, that's irrelevant in many respects. It's a sample of their work on the road to later glories, and even at this early stage the art already shows consistency and great potential. It may be lacking in things that are considered basic today, but back then there were no classes or easy ways to learn those skills. A mentor was great, but for most of us the best option was simply doing. The fanzines and the APAs provided not only a forum to display those works, but vital feedback from others interested in the form.
So this was basically an example of their education, and i don't really think we need to "be fair" about it - it's quite good for what it is.
Steve Vance - I'd tend to point to his work on The Simpsons comics and maybe his Shadow & Doc Savage he did for Dark Horse. Though his old AC work will always be the first place i find him in my head.
Pretty much anything but MST3K since i kind of despise that show. (People talking in theatres was bad enough before it aired; after it got so bad i just stopped going)