A writing anniversary
Forty-three years ago this month, a friend of mine got his first writing credit. It was in a comic-book, and it was the weirdest (and possibly best) comic book ever: a sophisticated absurdist comic called “Herbie.” Herbie was a fat little boy who was viewed as worthless by his father, but who was capable of seemingly anything, including flight, magic, communicating with animals, traveling in time, serving as lady’s man to Cleopatra, and dryly solving the world’s problems while slowly sucking a lollipop. Given the theme and the audience it spoke to, I’m surprised this comic was ever canceled.
For the September, 1965 issue, the winners were announced of a contest to plot the latest adventure of Herbie. One of the prizes went to a guy named Marv Wolfman, who later created Blade the Vampire Hunter, most of the New Teen Titans, and many of Superman’s more memorable supporting characters of the past 30 years, who created the newly definitive Lex Luthor (not so much an inventor of easily smashed giant robots, but rather a supremely immoral corporate raider who later becomes president), and who at one time was editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics. Marv Wolfman is the guy who came in second. The guy who came in first was my friend Rich Roesberg.
Here is Scott! Shaw’s remembrance of Herbie, and that winning story.
September 20th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
I remember that. My first place prize was two copies of the comic, accompanied by a congratulatory letter from editor Richard E. Hughes, on American Comics Group stationary. I also received a note from ‘Marvin’ Wolfman, with nice comments, as well as news about his ‘amateur fan magazine called THE FOOB’. I ordered the zine and recall it as being well done. Wolfman also mentioned that he was still waiting for his prize, a ‘fantastic Herbie lollipop’.
The only other result was that I got a phone call from someone calling himself Gilbert Ridgeway. He claimed to be from Marvel Comics and wanted me to submit material. I sent a script about an original character called Rampage (hasn’t that name been used since then?). In response I got a kind note from Flo Steinberg, Marvel’s office gal supreme, advising me that there was no Gilbert Ridgeway on their staff. Still don’t know who that mystery caller really was.
Herbie was a fantastic character with instant cult appeal. I’m thrilled that the stories are available in reprints. Must put them on my wish list. For anyone who doesn’t like Herbie, all I have to say is what he always said. “You want I should bop you with this here lollipop?”
September 21st, 2008 at 11:26 am
Scott always says: “Make SURE there’s a gorilla on the cover.” No wonder Herbie’s a timeless hit – Rich added a kicker to him. There’s Ridgeway folks in Atlantic County, they’re all lawyers.
September 24th, 2008 at 8:52 am
I mentioned a few more items about this story to Lee and he felt they would be of interest here.
The first was that I saw Marv Wolfman at a con years ago, selling comics at his table. I mentioned the writing contest and then told him I was the guy who won first place. He growled and made a face, all in fun. I had hoped to talk further with him but he got a rush of customers so I didn’t get the chance.
The other thing was that I always thought I was older than MW. I was one of those kids who kept reading comics past the ‘acceptable’ cut-off age and somehow assumed he was of ‘normal’ comic fan age. Then, a few months ago, I got my subscription copy of The Comic Buyers Guide and spotted his photo in their birthdays column. To my surprise he was born three years before me. So, after umpteen years, it turns out that my concern about having an age advantage was wrong.
Also, I recently got to read a Herbie story, HERBIE AND THE LOCH NESS MONSTER!, in fascinating book, ART OUT OF TIME. Edited by Dan Nadel, it collects odd and eccentric stories from comic books and strips, many from lesser known creators. It’s a welcome change from collections that focus on the top names, and I recommend it.