[nick caputo]

Two posts this week: the team of WErner Roth and Herb Trimpe on Kid Colt, and Trimpe's ucredited work on the FF Big Little Book from 1968:

http://nick-caputo.blogspot.com/

[jimmm kelly]

I got that Fantastic Four Big Little Book as a present (birthday? Christmas? Easter? can't remember), but I was so against Marvel that I traded it for another book--whether I traded it with my siblings (who also got BLBs, so Easter or Christmas seems more likely), I'm not sure--I don't think any of them would have wanted it, so maybe some other kind of horse trading was involved.

The three BLBs that I do retain are Batman, Dick Tracy and Woody Woodpecker all looking the worse for wear--because I enjoyed the heck out of them. The Woody Woodpecker one in particular--it was everything I've ever wanted in a story--and I think that's the one that I got to replace the FF. So if that's the case--and I'd like to believe it was--then it was worth it in the end.

However, if I had kept the FF book, it's probable that I would have barely touched it and it would still be in pristine condition now. So there you go. That seems to be the case with most of my books--the ones I loved suffered for my affection--while those I loathed are still dressed up like they're ready for Sunday school.

What bugs me is that no matter how old I get and how much I openly declare my love for certain comics over others, nobody in my family ever seems to take that in and I'm continuously getting useless Marvel gifts for Christmas and birthdays. It's like my family doesn't even know who I am.

[Not that I hate Marvel--just that I attach no sentimental value to Marvel mementos.]

[crashryan]

I wonder if the situation is less that your family don't know you than it is they simply don't know comics. Just about every non-fan I meet hears "comics" and immediately thinks "Marvel" because Marvel have been so successful in promoting their name along with their characters. I mean, people know DC heroes like Superman and Batman but they don't know "DC." Unlike DC Marvel have prominently displayed their company name on every non-comic product for the last forty years. You're the victim of mass marketing!

[jimmm kelly]

Probably. It's one of those difficult situations--family dynamics being what they are, I feel petty even grumbling about it (and just keep mum when I get these presents). On the one hand they've made the effort to get something that's close to what I would want, but on the other hand it's not really something I want. A Captain America Christmas tree ornament shows that they made an effort, but a Superman would look so much better on my tree.