For Super Sleuth DC Fans: An ongoing look at 86 years of DC Comics, beginning with New Fun #1, January 11, 1935 through March 1938. Contributor mini bios: Lloyd Jacquet, Rexford L. May, D. Henry Cushing, Richard Loederer, Sheldon Stark New Fun #1 published by Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson marks the beginning of DC Comics 85 [...]
It’s a super heroic birthday for the Major—130 years ago January 7, 1890. And it’s only taken 20 plus years to get a semblance of recognition for the man. I say semblance because his name should be synonymous with comics and that hasn’t quite happened yet. MWN circa 1920 from Strahan family collection. Please [...]
That’s a title a few of us would welcome but it belongs to Daisy Bacon, the editor of Love Story Magazine. Laurie Powers (friend and colleague) has written a book about Daisy Bacon Queen of the Pulps: The Reign of Daisy Bacon and Love Story Magazine. Love Story Magazine was one of the magazines from [...]
Great news from DC Comics! They are publishing a reprint of New Fun #1, Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson's first comics magazine published under National Allied Publications. The magazine will be reprinted as a commemorative hardcover, original tabloid size with essays by Roy Thomas and me, Nicky Wheeler-Nicholson. New Fun #1 appeared on newsstands January 11, 1935. [...]
John Locke has a new book ostensibly about the origins of the pulp magazine Weird Tales, The Thing’s Incredible: The Secret Origins of Weird Tales. However, it is oh so much more. I became smitten with the pulps the first time I read one of my grandfather’s, Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson pulp adventure stories. That was [...]
DC Comics Before Superman: Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson's Pulp Comics, published by Hermes Press will be premiered at this year's San Diego Comic Con July 19-22nd. Here's a glimpse at how it all came together. In 1934, Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson had the idea to create comic books consisting of all original scripts and art as opposed [...]
“His eye roved over the bare mesa and out to where quivering heat waves distorted the outlines of the distant hills, huge, angular masses of scarified rock, the slag and clinkers of some ancient volcanic blaze uprearing tortured pinnacles and twisted turrets to the pitiless sky.” This portrayal of Fort Bliss by Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson’s [...]
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 been a busy year on the trail with the Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson Traveling Circus and Wild West Show. Beginning in January with Wizard World Comic Con New Orleans--a short drive from my Gulf Coast winter habitat. Not a bad start--beignets, Cafe du Monde, Streetcars of Desire and all the great food to be had [...]
Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson had an extraordinary military career. Just recently I spent time in the National Archives in Washington, DC once again sifting through files there. One of the treasures found was MWN's test for entry into the US Army. His test score—99 out of 100! That’s pretty impressive, I’d say. From photos, family stories [...]