Recently I interviewed Kim Munson about her book Comic Art in Museums. Although it is not directly connected to the Major's work, I found it to be an excellent reference for discussing the art in the Major's early syndicate 1925-1927 and the art in New Fun, More Fun, Adventure and Detective Comics 1935-1938. Nicky Wheeler-Nicholson [...]
There were a number of influences that came together leading to the creation of “New Fun #1.” Like many people during the Depression, Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson suffered a loss of income and needed to take care of his family, which by now included five children. His pulp adventure writing was no longer enough so instead [...]
In every good comic book story there’s a moment when worlds collide, stars line up, and the evil doctor’s death ray machine threatens to blow everyone to hell and back. This is just such a story. The Mad Scientist. Fleischer Superman cartoons. 1941 In 1934 my grandfather, Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson began publishing comic [...]
Cuba Si! Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson was born on this day, January 7, 126 years ago. It’s fitting that tomorrow I’m leaving for Miami en route to Cuba retracing some of the steps of my grandparents on their fabled trip to Cuba in 1937. Cuba is one of the Shangrilas of travel I have wanted to [...]
It’s a bird, it’s a plane, no it’s Superman! Truth, justice and the American way and George Reeves flying across the black and white screen of an early 50’s television set is indelibly printed on my brain. Like so many other children of that era, I pinned the requisite towel to my tee shirt and [...]
We’re doing a benefit tomorrow, Saturday, August 22nd for Storefront Artist Project from 3-5 pm at the gallery space at 124 Fenn St. in Pittsfield, MA. Since this month’s comics magazine, AlterEgo features Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson on the cover Lawrence Klein curator of the current show at Storefront Artist Project featuring the art of Scott [...]