The first Bill Finger panel since the credit announcement

It wasn’t billed as a Bill Finger panel, but isn’t any Batman panel simultaneously a Bill Finger panel?

On 10/3/15, at Wizard World Fort Lauderdale, I took the stage with author/maestro of ceremonies Travis Langley, writer Russell Lissau, advocate Jamie Walton, and the Finger family themselves, Bill’s granddaughter Athena and great-grandson Benjamin.

photo courtesy of J.J. Sedelmaier

For the last time slot of the day, and on a Saturday evening no less, we had a decent turnout in terms of both numbers and engagement. After the fact I found out that one of them was animator J.J. Sedelmaier (Saturday Night Live’s “Saturday TV Funhouse”), who asked me what the people I interviewed said about Bob Kane. Wish I had known at the time who was asking.

I’d done panels with Travis and Athena in San Diego in 2014, but this was the first time we were together since the historic announcement of 9/18.

Some of the people in the audience did not know that DC Entertainment announced that Bill will begin receiving credit on Batman stories. Some did not know who Bill is. (Therein lies the problem that the credit announcement will begin to solve.)

This guy, however, was not one of them; Patty Hawkins showed us in the flesh (for the second time) what Batman would’ve looked like if there were no Bill:

photo courtesy of Travis Langley

Jamie injected a sense of real-world heroism in describing her work with the Wayne Foundation (the name inspired by what you think), which works to protect children from predatory situations. After seeing the crowd response, I now feel most any comic panel could benefit by including a person like Jamie; take advantage of all of these captive audiences to spread the word about worthy causes.

While planning for Florida, I also tried to get us scheduled for New York Comic Con the following weekend so we could discuss the big news in the city where Bill built the Bat-world, but the credit announcement was only weeks earlier…in other words, too late; NYCC finalized its schedule months ago. 

However, Fort Lauderdale gave us an enthusiastic reception. And it was a peerless thrill slash honor to be with the Fingers the first time they publicly spoke about this life-changing milestone. Nine years ago, when I started researching Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman, it was, of course, just me and a dream. Now the dream is a secret the whole world knows, or soon will.

The 1970s candy store of Cheshire, CT: the Emporium

If you are a human being who grew up on Planet Earth in the 1970s or 1980s, you have a special section of your brain reserved exclusively for memories of candy. Yes, just candy.

People of other eras remember candy, too, of course, but the ‘70s-‘80s were the bubble right before it burst—in other words, the time when kids eating tons of candy with minimal parental restriction peaked. By then, adults knew candy was no health food, but apparently they did not know JUST HOW BAD it was for you.

For people my age from my hometown of Cheshire, CT, most such memories converge on a place called the Emporium, an old-fashioned general store that sold penny candy in barrels.

Recently, I went in search of photos of this fabled fantasyland of yesteryear. My family had none, and both my post on a Cheshire Facebook page and my search through archival issues of the Cheshire Herald yielded zip. I did, however, come across numerous ads for the Emporium, and was surprised to rediscover that it sold more than sweets. In fact, it seems its primary business was the opposite:

Sometimes I use the research skills I’ve acquired not for a book I’m writing but simply to satisfy my personal curiosity. I found out the names of the couple who owned the Emporium and tracked them down: Bud and Marge Gaudio. Bud left me a voice mail message which concluded “It’s nice to be acknowledged after so many years.”

Then he kindly answered a few questions and sent a candy-barrel’s worth of photos (below):

When did the Emporium open and close?

Opened May 6, 1973; closed 1988. [MTN: I could’ve sworn it was gone by 1986 because I don’t remember going there once I was in high school.]

What inspired you to open the Emporium?

We were residing in Branford, CT, and decided to sell our home in order for me to be closer to my employment (art director and ad manager for Worth’s, a women’s clothing store) in Waterbury. Noticing our art and craft, and Marge’s knowledge of nutrition, our realtor suggested we combine these talents in a business and home for our family…thus the purchasing of the Old Grange Hall on Wallingford Road in Cheshire [to turn into the Emporium].

Did you live above the store?

Yes, after much renovation!

What were your best-selling products?

It was not one particular store product but rather [the way we] introduced and maintained an atmosphere of “Old Americana,” a Vermontish country store where one could relax by our potbelly stove or browse…no one ever left without purchasing something, and as our sign at the entrance read, “Enter with a smile…or share one of ours.”

Any funny anecdotes?

Mothers coming in to purchase nutritional items and sending their children to the back room to purchase candy and ice cream.

Why did the Emporium close?

Our children were out of college, getting married…it was time for Marge and I to enter into a new season.

What did you do after that?

I assisted my son in his home remodeling business. Marge did home care for the Visiting Nurse Association. Presently I am one of the founders of the East Haddam (CT) Art League and exhibiting my pen-and-ink art of American lighthouses and historical sites. Marge is volunteering in community services.

What did you think when I contacted you to ask about the Emporium?

DELIGHTED to think that we would be remembered for the many pleasant memories in Cheshire. Thank you sincerely.

As for the 1920s attire in a few of the pictures, Bud explained that they dressed up for holidays including Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Independence Day.

Oh, and see the outdoor signs shaped like an ice cream cone in a couple of the pictures? The Emporium must have had several styles because my mom bought one at the sale the store had when it was closing, and hers looks slightly different.

10/7/15 addendum: This post has been greeted with such enthusiasm online that it got me thinking...movies, TV shows, and even book series can be rebooted...why not stores? And the original building is currently vacant... Any takers?

“Look to the Sky” documentary on what Superman represents

No more waiting for Superman.

Brett Culp is a filmmaker whose documentary Legends of the Knight was all kinds of good: good at raising awareness for positive stories of people influenced by Batman, good at raising money for charity, good at raising money for itself (so it could be made it the first place).

Brett is not done with caped crusading. He just launched a crowdfunding campaign for a Superman documentary called Look to the Sky. It is not about Superman’s history, psychology, or mythology but rather the hope he represents to so many. Up, up, and away (go the contributions!).

Look to the Sky (2016) - Official Trailer - #SupermanIsReal from Brett Culp Films on Vimeo.

I was proud to be interviewed for this.

I was not surprised to see that Brett’s campaign raised more than $5,000 in a mere two hours; surely much higher by the time you read this. People supporting projects like Brett’s reinforce the very message of his films: despite how cruel the world can be, kind people are in ample supply.

Look to the sky.

That is to say, look to the good.

Another way to look at author visits

I’ve written here and here on the benefits of author visits (for the students, the staff, the author, and even unrelated readers).

I came upon a perspective that hadn’t occurred to me, attributed to a school librarian: “I can spend $1,000 and get 50 books that will be read by 30 students. Or I can spend that money on an author, who will reach all 350 students.”

I contacted said librarian (Heather Cone, Orchard Park Elementary School, Kettering, OH) who said that what she said was more like this (edited slightly for clarity):

“I could buy a hundred books (about the same as [some authors’] fee) and lotsa kids would love them. But bring in an author and every one [emphasis mine] of them remembers…even decades later…”

Both versions sound good to me!

Superheroes who aren’t CALLED superheroes

With help from my network, I compiled a list of characters (from film/TV/literature) who are for all intents superheroes, but who

• weren’t called superheroes (and in most cases did not have costumes/secret identities)
• originated outside of comic books

Though there is no universal definition of “superhero,” these are the three elements on which purists tend to insist:

• enhanced power (even if it’s human, such as superior intellect or exceptional hand-to-hand combat skills)
• a costume
• a secret identity

A further distinction must be made between “hero” and “superhero.” Every traditional movie has a hero, but not every hero is a superhero. Not every action hero is a superhero. James Bond and Luke Skywalker are heroes, but (as I see it) not superheroes.

Early 20th century characters of various media whose origins are now indistinguishable from superheroes (Tarzan, Zorro, Buck Rogers, Flash Gordon, the Phantom, the Shadow, Doc Savage) are not included.

On the following lists, the entries are films unless otherwise noted and the dates are first appearances.

Superheroes who aren’t called superheroes:

The Little White Bird (book, 1902), but more commonly known from Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up (play, 1904)—Peter Pan
The Scarlet Pimpernel (book, 1905)
The Public Defender (1931)—Pike Winslow/The Reckoner (Richard Dix)
Pippi Longstocking (book, 1945)
King of the Rocket Men (movie serial, 1949)—Rocket Man (Tristram Coffin)
Escape to Witch Mountain (book, 1968; movie, 1975)—Tony and Tia Malone (Ike Eisenmann and Kim Richards)
The Six Million Dollar Man (TV, 1973)—Steve Austin (Lee Majors)
The Bionic Woman (TV, 1976)—Jaime Sommers (Lindsay Wagner)
Tron (1982)—Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges)
Manimal (TV, 1983)—Jonathan Chase (Simon MacCorkindale)
Starman (1984)—Starman/Scott Hayden (Jeff Bridges)
RoboCop (1987)—Alex Murphy/RoboCop (Peter Weller)
Edward Scissorhands (1990)—Edward Scissorhands (Johnny Depp)
Darkman (1990)—Darkman/Peyton Westlake (Liam Neeson)
Powder (1995)—Powder/Jeremy Reed (Sean Patrick Flanery)
Early Edition (TV, 1996)—Gary Hobson (Kyle Chandler)
Phenomenon (1996)—George Malley (John Travolta)
Kill Bill (2003)—The Bride (Uma Thurman)
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children—the peculiar children (book, 2011)
Frozen (2013)—Elsa (Idina Menzel)
Lucy (2014)—Lucy (Scarlett Johansson)
Stranger Things (TV, 2016)—Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown)
Upgrade (2018)—Grey Trace (Logan Marshall-Green)

Novocaine (2025)—Nathan Caine (Jack Quaid)

Characters who are intended to be superheroes (more deliberately than previous list):

Space Ghost (1966)
Fartman (National Lampoon, 1979)
Hero at Large (1980)
Super Fuzz (1980)
Condorman (1981)
The Greatest American Hero (TV, 1981)
The Powers of Matthew Star (TV, 1982)
The Beastmaster (1982)
Automan (TV, 1983)
The Toxic Avenger (1984)
My Secret Identity (TV, 1988)
Meteor Man (1993)
M.A.N.T.I.S. (TV, 1994)
Blankman (1994) 
Unbreakable (2000)
The Specials (2000) 
Danny Phantom (TV, 2004) 
The Incredibles (2004)
Sky High (2005)
Heroes (TV, 2006)
My Super Ex-Girlfriend (2006)
Hancock (2008)
Bolt (2008)
Super (2010)
No Ordinary Family (TV, 2010)
The Cape (TV, 2011)
Chronicle (2012)
Sweet/Vicious (TV, 2016)
Sleight (2016)

Characters who have some kind of power/ability (some I feel don’t qualify, the rest I am not familiar with): 

“The Grey Champion” (short story by Nathaniel Hawthorne, 1835)
A Christmas Carol (book, 1843; Ebeneezer Scrooge “could talk to ghosts and travel through time”)
Peter Pan (play, 1904)
The Saint (book, 1928)
Mary Poppins (book, 1934; film, 1964)
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
James Bond (book, 1953; film, 1962)
The Fly (short story, 1957; films, 1958 and 1986)
The Warriors (book, 1965; film, 1979)
Star Trek (TV, 1966)
Blade Runner (book, 1968; film, 1982)
The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes (1969)
Brewster McCloud (1970)
Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (book, 1971; film, 1985)
Carrie (book, 1974; film, 1976)
The Fury (book, 1976; film, 1978)
Star Wars (1977)
Mad Max (1979)
Alien (1979)
The NeverEnding Story (book, 1979; film, 1984)
C.H.O.M.P.S. (1979)
Rock ‘n’ Roll High School (1979; Riff Randall)
Thundarr the Barbarian (TV, 1980)
Jason Bourne (book, 1980)
Firestarter (book, 1980; 1984, film)
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Scanners (1981)
Time Bandits (1981)
Modern Problems (1981)
Escape from New York (1981)
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
Knight Rider (TV, 1982)
Voyagers! (TV, 1982)
The Phoenix (TV, 1982)
Krull (1983)
The Terminator (1984)
Ghostbusters (1984)
Splash (1984)
Dreamscape (1984)
Iceman (1984)
The Ice Pirates (1984)
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension! (1984)
The Brother from Another Planet (1984)
Teen Wolf (1985)
Cocoon (1985)
Legend (1985)
Ladyhawke (1985)
D.A.R.Y.L. (1985)
The Goonies (1985; Sloth)
The Last Starfighter (1985)
The Last Dragon (1985)
Misfits of Science (TV, 1985)
The Equalizer (TV, 1985)
Street Hawk (TV, 1985)
Forrest Gump (book, 1986; film, 1994)
Captain EO (1986)
Big Trouble in Little China (1986)
The Boy Who Could Fly (1986)
Short Circuit (1986)
“Crocodile” Dundee (1986)
Highlander (1986)
Memoirs of an Invisible Man (book, 1987)
Mannequin (1987)
Innerspace (1987)
The Monster Squad (1987)
Die Hard (1988)
Willow (1988)
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988)
Quantum Leap (TV, 1989)
Teen Witch (1989)
Hudson Hawk (1991)
The People Under the Stairs (1991; Roach)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (film, 1992; TV, 1997)
The Lawnmower Man (1992 film, not the largely unrelated Stephen King short story)
Jumper (book, 1992; film, 2008)
Pulp Fiction (1994; the Wolf)
The Secret World of Alex Mack (TV, 1994)
Game of Thrones (book, 1996)
Harry Potter (book, 1997)
Jack Reacher (book, 1997)
The Fifth Element (1997)
Charmed (TV, 1998)
The Matrix (1999)
The Sixth Sense (1999)
Angel (TV, 1999)
Dark Angel (TV, 2000)
Frequency (2000)
Alias (TV, 2001; “she’s pretty much Batman”)
Donnie Darko (2001)
K-PAX (2001; prot/Robert Porter)
Firefly (TV, 2002; River Tam)
Underworld (2003)
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004)
Shaun of the Dead (2004)
Night Watch (2004)
Percy Jackson (book, 2005)
The Covenant (2006)
Next (2007)
Avatar (2009)
Splice (2009; Dren)
Push (2009)
Inception (2010)
Black Swan (2010)
I Am Number Four (book, 2010; film, 2011)
The Boy Who Couldn’t Sleep and Never Had To (book, 2010)
Super 8 (2011)
Sucker Punch (2011; the “unwilling prostitutes”)
Drive (2011)
Limitless (2011)
Cross (2011)
Looper (2012)
Elysium (2013)
Pacific Rim (2013) 
John Wick (2014)
Midnight Special (2016)
Colossal (2017) 
Peppermint (2018)
Fast Color (2019)
Clint Eastwood (“everything he is in”)
Bruce Lee (“in any movie—and real life”)

Don’t qualify because based on comic book characters:

Asterix (comic, 1959) 

Snowpiercer (graphic novel, 1982; film, 2013)
Mystery Men (comic, 1987; film, 1999)
The Mask (comic, 1989; film, 1994)

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (comic, 1999; film, 2003)

Characters where the humor, not the power, is the point:

The Beverly Hillbillies (TV, 1962; the Clampetts “have enhanced strength and vision and Granny has exhibited enhanced speed”)
Bewitched (TV, 1964)
I Dream of Jeannie (TV, 1965)
Adam Adamant Lives! (TV, 1966)
Mr. Terrific (TV, 1967; no relation to DC Comics superhero of same name)
Captain Nice (TV, 1967)
Happy Days (TV, 1974; the Fonz can control people and machines)
Mork & Mindy (TV, 1978)
The Cannonball Run (1981; Captain Chaos)
Zapped! (1982)
Zelig (1983; he “can take on other people’s appearance and abilities and uses his powers to rescue women from Nazi Germany”)
Weird Science (1985)
Small Wonder (TV, 1985)
Back to School (1986; “the Triple Lindy”)
Beetlejuice (1988)
Matilda (book, 1988; film, 1996)
Saved by the Bell (TV, 1989; Zack Morris could stop time)
Toy Story (1995; Sheriff Woody and Buzz Lightyear)
South Park (TV, 1997; Kenny is “invincible—he can’t be killed”)
Wreck-It Ralph (2012)

Contributors:

Andrew Carney
Andrew Singer
Bill Davis
Bill Schelly
Brent Frankenhoff
Carolee Davis Eubanks
Craig Byrne
Dan Trudeau
Dani Ward
Darren Sapper
David Bushman
David Seidman
David Weitzer
Debi Cohen Himelfarb
Eric Reid
Gregory Okshteyn
Howard Nobleman
Jen MacNeil Danenberg
Jill Koufman
Jim Shelton
Jody Feldman
Joe Oesterle
John Dudas
Jonathan M. Berman
Jonny Bentwood
Joshua Liebster
Justin LaRocca Hansen
Kevin Danenberg
Kevin Meister
Kristina Johnson
Leah Bee
Mark Fogelberg
Mark Friedman
Mark Hughes
Mark R. DeFrancesco
Mike Zitomer
Nick Bruel
Paul Tolksdorf
Richard Gibbs
Robert Greenberger
Ross Garmil
Samantha Berger
Scott Kittredge
Stacey Wesley Giddis
Stefan Blitz
Steven Thompson
Timothy Young
Ty Templeton

Thank you all.

Am I missing any entries? Did I miscategorize any?

New author photos

Thank you to Karen London for my new author photos, taken in July. (Hopefully not the last ones to include a hairline…)

And the customary photographer/author selfie: