Dec 15, 2011 new york jta joe simon, the co creator of captain america and a leading figure during the golden age of comic books, has died at 98. October 11, 19 december 14, 2011 was an american comic book writer, artist, editor, and publisher. Jan 03, 2008 its written by joe simon, the creator of captain america and writerartisteditor for some true classics, along with cowriter jim simon. Americas postwar fling with romance comics the conversation. Romance comics and books page 4 of 6 comic book plus. Young romance is an archival book of material from 6050 years ago. His work with jack kirby was instrumental in establishing the written and visual language of. The comic book makers by jim simon and joe simon 2003, trade. Besides being a mustread for fans of both the genre and creators, the book also shows the growth of kirbys skill as an artist and also demonstrate the changes that the implementation of the comics code authority forced on. Joe simon obituary comics and graphic novels the guardian.
The title was favorablty received and led the pair to stike a highly lucrative deal with crestwood. A petition to add the names of creators joe simon and jack kirby to the heros statue has. Characters were sophisticated and topics covered included heartbreak, crime, and other difficult subjects. Joe simon and jack kirby are credited with creating a new comic book genre, romance comics. Joe simon has a way with an anecdote, and this a a great nostalgic hug of a book complete with some wonderful strips and illustrations. An old memento gives claire another chance with her ex jim. The comic book makers by joe simon and jim simon overview in this book, original captain america creator, joe simon tells the compelling, definitive history of the creators who gave us superman, captain america, archie, captain marvel, spiderman and more. The comic book makers by jim simon and joe simon 1990, trade.
The comic book makers by jim simon and joe simon 2003. Joe simon, first editor of marvel comics and a creator of captain america, takes you back to the birth of the comic book industry, the early backroom publishing offices, collaborations and feuds among writers, artists and publishers, the art studios, working conditions, and the creators of superheroes that generated fortunes for the publishers but often left the creators struggling to survive. Simon created or cocreated many important characters in the 1930s1940s golden age of comic books and served. Much of this history is covered by the comic book makers by joe simon and jim simon. It outlines joe s career from its start until today. He was the first editor of timely comics marvel comics and along with his partner artist jack kirby produced some of the best comic books ever printed. Actually i am sure joe s book was the source of the biography presented by sue hamilton. During the love glut, roughly 1 in 5 of all comic books were romance comics. Feb, 2020 though today they are most famous for creating captain america, the creative duo of joe simon and jack kirby launched the romance comic book genre in 1947 with the publication of a series. The comic book makers by joe simon and jim simon overview in this book, original captain america creator, joe simon tells the compelling, definitive history of the creators who gave us super man, captain america, archi e, captain marvel, spiderman and more. Joseph henry simon was an american comic book writer, artist, editor, and publisher.
Young romance is a romantic comic book series created by joe simon and jack kirby for the crestwood publications imprint prize comics in 1947. Without jack, simon created and publishedsick magazine. The famed title that spawned a decadeslong trend in romance comics, created and produced by captain america creators joe simon and jack kirby. My life in comics, parallels the comic book makers in some ways, but simon uses it to tell a warm, witty, deeper story that uses the whole of the 20th. That was a title aimed at female readers, young romance. After graduating from high school, he worked for several different.
An unused silver spider script by jack oleck simon and kirby. Meet the crime comics editor who would himself be accused of a gruesome murder. But it wasnt until 1947 that romance became the main focus of a comic book. The comic book makers is a powerful, and lively book. In the 1990s, megan marguliess upper west side neighborhood was marked by addicts shooting up in subway stations, frequent burglaries, and the wild man of 96th street, who set. Beck, the artist behind the success of captain marvel.
The romance genre rose in popularity and by the early 1950s, almost every comic book publisher was producing at least one romance title. Filled with reallife anecdotes and insights, this is a history of the talented creators who brought us superman, captain america, archie, captain marvel. Jack kirby along with joe simon created the romance comics. Aug 4, 2015 romance comics sometimes romantic love comics is a comics genre depicting strong and close romantic love and its attendant complications such as jealousy, marriage, divorce, betrayal, and heartache. Joe simon, cocreator of captain america, and batma. Joe simon was an american comic book writer, artist, editor, and publisher. If you think the stories in the comic books were wild, you should hear what the people making them got up to. Joe simon was one of the most important artists of the golden age of american comic books. See more ideas about romance comics, comics, vintage comics. Captain america co creator, joe simon, detailed a particularly rough period in his great memoir. Joe simon spent almost 20 years as half of one of comics most celebrated creative teams, the powerhouse of simon and kirby. The comic book makers is avery valuable work by amember of one of the most important teams in comic book history. Then i found out that captain america creators, joe simon and jack kirby, created them and that they became the bestselling comic books of.
Although the form, content, and provisions for making books have varied. Romance comic book stories at this time explored the domestic, with a twist of intrigue. Aspiring songwriter kay falls for pop singer buddys smooth lines. Simon created or cocreated many important characters in the 1930s1940s golden age of comic books and served as the first editor of timely comics, the company that would evolve into marvel comics with his partner, artist jack kirby, he cocreated. In 1953, a year before the devastating senate investigation into comics, i was visited by c. Once upon a time, romance comic books were more popular than superhero comics. Romance comic books, the cold war, and teaching women their. Dec 16, 2011 simon s publications included the comic book makers 1990, revised 2003 and my life in comics 2011. The book was a massive sales success, but it certainly rankled nazi sympathizers, and resulted in the captain america creative team getting into a bit of trouble. You had to be there the early days of the comic book industry was filled with drama. Simon s family announced his death thursday on facebook. The comic book makers, which he wrote with his son, jim simon.
The archiestyle teen comics were largely about the adolescent take on the mating game. In 1947 their teenhumor comic named my date, was published by hillman. He was inducted into the will eisner award hall of fame in 1999. The cover artwork ranged from painted illustrations to photographs and included a wide range of comic styles. Aside from the onetime publication of mary worth comic strip reprints, romance as a comic book genre was the brainchild of joe simon and jack kirby, two comics artists known for their superheroes, such as captain america, and their kid gangs, such as. Simon created or cocreated many important characters in the 1930s1940s golden age of comic books and served as the first editor of timely comics, the company that would evolve into marvel comics. The cocreator of captain america, romance comics and one of the seminal figures is comic book history brings us his memoirs. A finely wrought comingofage memoir about the authors relationship with her beloved grandfather joe simon, cartoonist and co creator of captain america.
Without jack, simon created and publishedsick magazine,the prez,brother power,the geek and edited for fox, archie, harvey, and crestwood. With his partner, artist jack kirby, he cocreated captain america, one of comics most endur joseph henry joe simon born hymie simon was an american comic book writer, artist, editor, and publisher. It was agreed that they could receive 50% of the profits for a follow up title. Joe simon and jack kirby, their studio, and the artists who worked for. Books select your cookie preferences we use cookies and similar tools to enhance your shopping experience, to provide our services, understand how customers use our services so we can make improvements, and display ads. During the 40s and beyond, simon, with his creative dervishpartner jack kirby, succeeded in turning the industry upside down again and again. Joe simon, after creating captain america, was appointed the first editorinchief of timely comics, the company that would become marvel comics. Young romance signaled its distinction from traditional superhero and genre comics with a. So i do not think there is any historical information that adult reader would get from this book that they would not be found with a good deal more in the comic book makers. In addition to jack kirby and joe simon, many other wellknown comic artists worked on romance titles, including matt baker, whose work is featured on the cover of teenage romances no. Joe simon, who has died aged 98, was one of the architects of the golden age of. See more ideas about romance comics, comics, romance.
The comic book makers is like a school reunion, lavish with anecdotes that fill in the gap of threadbare memory. Simon and kirbys company published it in partnership with crestwood publications also known as prize comics. My life in comics by joe simon meet your next favorite book. So much of what we are today is owed to him and his amazing creativity. Sep 05, 2019 the romance comic book genre such as joe simon and jack kirbys 1940s1970s young romance series features passionate love, but also examines how it may devolve into heartbreak. Co written by one of comicdoms greatest talents, it exposes the comic book industry at its creative and. He would continue to create other icons of popular culture on his own and with collaborator jack kirby, including fighting american, the boy commandos, romance comics, and the fly. The comic book makers by jim simon and joe simon 1990. Captain america, the red skull, sandman and sandy, manhunter, the boy commandos, romance comics, crime comics, kid. Dec 15, 2011 joe simon, who along with jack kirby cocreated captain america and was one of the comicbook industrys most revered writers, artists and editors, died wednesday, dec. Even the gangsters in crime does not pay and its ilk had molls. Feb 14, 2019 todays romance comics look nothing like they did in their golden age, and thank heavens for that.
Joe is best known as the co creator of captain america, the newsboy legion, the boy commandos, the fly, and fighting american, just to name a few. In one way or another, romance has been part of the comic book scene since the comics became a mass medium. Actually i am sure joes book was the source of the biography presented by sue hamilton. Joe simon was a true legend in the comic book industry. He is better known as the first editor of timely comics later renamed to marvel comics and the cocreator of. May 29, 2009 in the comic book makers joe simon has described the creation of the silver spider. These are primarily westerns, romance, and crime stories. Simons publications included the comic book makers 1990, revised 2003. In this book, original captain america creator, joe simon tells the compelling, definitive history of the creators who gave us superman, captain america, archie, captain marvel, spiderman and more.
Fraught with danger, and drama, the publisher vs artistwriter power struggle threatened to destroy the very industry in its infancy. Simon born october 10, 19 is a comic book writer, artist and editor who created or cocreated many important characters in the 1930s1940s golden age of. In addition to one of the great writers of the golden age. Theres no question that simon is one of the most important figures in comics history. He was born joseph henry simon into a jewish family of partially british descent in rochester, new york. Aside from the onetime publication of mary worth comic strip reprints, romance as a comic book genre was the brainchild of joe simon and jack kirby, two comics artists known for their superheroes, such as captain america, and their kid gangs, such as the young allies. In addition to simon and kirby, notable crestwoodprize contributors included leonard starr. This is a thin book, 32 pages including index and glossary.
The book, which is out now from fantagraphics, offers a selection of joe simon and jack kirbys work in the romance genre. May 01, 1990 simon created or cocreated many important characters in the 1930s1940s golden age of comic books and served as the first editor of timely comics, the company that would evolve into marvel comics. Aug 07, 2020 influenced by the pulps, radio soap operas, newspaper comic strips such as mary worth, and adult confession magazines, joe simon and jack kirby created the flagship romance comic book young romance and launched it in 1947 to resounding success. September 1947 saw the launch of a new comic book produced by simon and kirby for prize, young romance. Following wwii, interest in actionadventures such as writer joe simon and artist jack kirbys nazipunching captain america was on the decline, so in 1947 they turned their attention to a new series, young. His work with jack kirby was instrumental in establishing the written and visual language of comics. Shadowlocked a true visionary, simon s book is laced with neverbeforeseen photos and illustrations, and told in his own words.
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