T H E
L I F E
A N D
NUMBER 21
L E G E N D
CELEBRATING
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THE
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LIVES & WORK
OF THE
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T
“ B I G ”
J O H N
B U S C E M A
GREAT CARTOONISTS, WRITERS & EDITORS
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AUGUST 2002
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REMEMBERING JOHN BUSCEMA: A CBA TRIBUTE FRED HEMBECK’S DATELINE@!!?* Sir Fred memorializes those great “scowling” characters drawn by Big John Buscema..........................................3 CBA RETROSPECTIVE: THE LIFE OF LEGENDARY “BIG JOHN” BUSCEMA Chris Irving talks to the friends of the renowned Marvel artist about the man behind the art ..............................4 CBA TESTIMONIALS: REMEMBERING BUSCEMA Over 25 of the artists’ peers recall the life and work of the Marvel legend ........................................................14 CBA INTERVIEW: A TALK WITH JOHN BUSCEMA Alan Woollcombe shares a 1994 conversation with the artist, conducted at the UK Comic Art Convention ......26 SAL BUSCEMA INTERVIEW: MEMORIES OF BROTHER JOHN Tom DeFalco talks with John’s brother and the “other” Buscema, a legendary Marvel artist in his own right ....34 ARTIST SHOWCASE: JOHN BUSCEMA SKETCHBOOK Some of the best Buscema art ever done was his warm-up sketches on the back of his comic book pages ........36 Cover: A lovely portrait painting of John Buscema by his friend—and one of Big John’s best inkers—Tom Palmer. Our profound appreciation goes out to Mr. Palmer for all of his support and contributions to this issue. Characters ©2002 Marvel Characters, Inc. Art ©2002 Tom Palmer. Above: John Buscema commission piece featuring the Cimmerian, Conan. Courtesy of Mike Arnold. Conan ©2002 Conan Properties, Inc. Art ©2002 the Estate of John Buscema. Please send all letters of comment, articles and artwork to: Jon B. Cooke, Editor, Comic Book Artist, P.O. Box 204, West Kingston, RI 02892-0204 Phone: (401) 783-1669 • Fax: (401) 783-1287 • E-mail: jonbcooke@aol.com
Editor/Designer JON B. COOKE Publisher
TWOMORROWS JOHN & PAM MORROW Cover Painting TOM PALMER Transcribers LONGBOX.COM JON B. KNUTSON BRIAN K. MORRIS SAM GAFFORD STEVEN TICE Logo Designer/Title Originator ARLEN SCHUMER Editorial credits on flip side
COMIC BOOK ARTIST™ is published 10 times a year by TwoMorrows, 1812 Park Drive, Raleigh, NC 27605, USA. 919-833-8092. Jon B. Cooke, Editor. John Morrow, Publisher. Editorial Office: P.O. Box 204, West Kingston, RI 02892-0204 USA • 401-783-1669 • Fax: 401-783-1287. Send subscription funds to TwoMorrows, NOT the editorial office. Single issues: $9 postpaid ($11 Canada, $12 elsewhere). Six-issue subscriptions: $36 US, $66 Canada, $72 elsewhere. All characters © their respective owners. All material © their creators unless otherwise noted. All editorial matter © their respective authors. ©2002 Jon B. Cooke/TwoMorrows. Cover acknowledgements: Art ©2002 Tom Palmer. All characters ©2002 Marvel Characters, Inc. First Printing. PRINTED IN CANADA.