Dec. 7, 1990
So I’m at the offices of DC Comics the other day, and coming toward me down the hallway, on their way to lunch, are Ðìçk Giordano, Pat Bast
Dec. 7, 1990
So I’m at the offices of DC Comics the other day, and coming toward me down the hallway, on their way to lunch, are Ðìçk Giordano, Pat Bast
• 
Julie is DA MAN… About 10 years ago I was at Dragon*Con and I was dragged into the presence of Julie and Jeanette Khan by a friend who was bragging to Julie that I was a HUGE Green Lantern Fan.
Julie shook my hand and asked me to do Hal Jordan’s oath. I did so and then he asked me to do Alan Scott’s Oath. When I had finished with Alan’s Oath, Julie asked me to do Tomar Re’s oath.
I said: “It’s the same as Alan’s oath, Mr. Shwartz.”
Julie smilled and turned to Jeanette and said: “Gimme the ring.”
He handed me a plastic GL ring autographed by Martin Nodell, the GL creator…
It sits on my trophy shelf to this day.
Julie Shwartz is my hero.
I love comics.
With a passion, yet.
But as much as I look up to Julie Schwartz for his work in comics, the comics work isn’t important.
“ISN’T IMPORTANT?!?”
Nope.
Because Julie Schwartz is the man responsible for getting Ray Bradbury published. As the first science fiction agent, Julie was responsible for furthering the careers of some of the most seminal writers of the Golden Age of Science Fiction.
‘Nuff flippin’ said.
(Okay, okay … he did important work in comics. Where would we be without the yellow circle he put around Batman’s emblem?)
(I kid; I kid. Julie is one of the pillars upon which today’s world of comics has been built.)
For those of you interested in Julie’s comic and non-comic work, read his autobiography “Man of Two Worlds.”
David
I knew I was starting to make a name for myself in the field when I no longer had to remind Julie who I was every time I saw him (and I see him at conventions about four or five times a year).
I remember one I-Con where he and I were sitting in the autograph area on the upper level over the gym. I have no earthly clue what we were doing up there, but it was just the two of us shooting the breeze, talking about folks in the industry we both knew (the only name I remember now is Diane Duane). I don’t know how I managed to be able to monopolize Julie for so long, but it was a privilege to just sit and chat with that kind of history.
—KRAD
Julie ? Who’s she ?
Nothing should excuse anyone from knowing who Julius Schwartz is. If someone’s a real comic fan it should just come up as part of their studies.
That no one would show up at a convention to see/hear Julie is simply shameful to me.
In my comics APA, a member gave a report on the San Diego con a few years ago, where he spent time talking with legends in the Artist Alley who were getting no visitors.
I don’t care if a writer/editor/artist isn’t current “hot talent”. Here was a chance to see Nick Cardy, (I think) Martin Nodell, and others who helped as pioneers on some of the comics we enjoy now. They shouldn’t be ignored – they should be cherished!
>They didn’t need limited series, >or fan favorites, or red skies, or mando paper, high-profile deaths, trade paperbacks, posters, fliers, store displays, inflatable figures, sponges, or bagged editions. All they needed was talent, imagination, and a sense of wonder, dammit.
Gee, i miss those days. I mean I wasn
This Julius Schwartz career mini-retrospective appeared in the editorial column of the current issue of Dr. Dobbs Journal ( a software developers magazine…)
http://www.ddj.com/documents/s=7758/ddj0301j/0301j.htm
For a period in the late 60s and early 70s (or thereabouts), Schwartz was a fiction editor at ESQUIRE magazine (back when it was the size of LIFE and enjoyed a certain prestige). He worked on short stories and condensations by some of the period’s most promient writers.
This, while still editing a carload of comics for DC.
.. and if you are interested in going even further back, Julie Schwartz was involved in early fan efforts, showign that when the going gets weird, the weird go pro!
Ken Gale will be touching on this subject in an upcoming WBAI slot on fanzines.
Ken writes: “‘Nuff Said!, the comic book interview/talk show,(at http://www.comicbookradioshow.com) is still off the air as a regular show, but I’m talking about comics on the air twice more.
Friday night/Saturday morning, Dec. 21st at 3 AM – Music fanzine special Sean Rhodes is doing a special on music fanzines and I’ll be supplying a segment on fanzine history from Julie Schwartz and Mort Weisinger’s fanzine in the ’30s to the comic book fanzines of the ’60s and ’70s to apas to internet chat rooms and e-lists.”
WBAI also broadcasts on the internet, and programs often take viewer calls. Meanwhile, Ken has been looking for more letters of comment on the shows and the web page. Follow the link above and check it out. Lots of comic book history in the guest archieves.
who’s julie?
I met Julius Scwartz only once: at a Philcon (Philadephia Science Fiction Convention) about ten years ago. For a time reference, it was after a writer friend of mine showed me several pictures taken of him posing with Caroline Munro! I knew that Peter was right on the money when I first read this column in the “Best of But I Digress” collection, especially after I talked to Mr. Schwartz about Caroline. His eyes grew to at least three times as large as normal when he said, “Oh yes! I know Caroline!”
What kind of magic formula did guys like him and Dr. Isaac Asimov possess, do you think? Mature wisdom? Paternal charm? A veneer of wizzened harmlessness (that had to be a smokescreen for YOU KNOW WHAT)? As you said, Peter, at least you’ll have something to look forward to in YOUR autumn years, especially since you won’t have to deal with competition from THEM, sad to say.