Chandler Street was the location of Worcester's That's Entertainment until 1992.
My initial attempts at writing scripts for comic books were unpaid efforts, and this was before the internet. Nowadays, it seems like almost everyone is expected to do creative work for free.
But I digress.
In 1985, I was working for That's Entertainment, self-described as "New England's Pop Culture Emporium." Many people would probably describe T.E. as "a comic shop," and leave it at that, but in truth, it is so much more.
The owner of That's Entertainment was (and is) Paul Howley, who'd been selling old comic books since the early 1970s. (Paul has been telling his very interesting life story on a blog called My Life With Comic Books: A History of a Comic Store since 2009.) He opened T.E. in Worcester, Massachusetts, in 1980.
It wasn't long before I discovered That's Entertainment (while on my way to Worcester's only other comic shop, as it happens), when I spotted a sign saying "We Buy Comic Books, Records, and Baseball Cards" or words to that effect. That's Entertainment was then selling mainly new and old comic books, LPs and 45s, sports and non-sports trading cards, and role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons. I wasn't at all interested in role-playing games or sports cards, but I was a big fan of both comics and music, so this new store was perfect for me. I journeyed for half an hour (each way) to and from Worcester roughly once a week to buy the new comic titles and "fill holes" in my back issue collection.
Eventually, I started working part-time for Paul. T.E. had a full-time employee named Steve, who eventually left to open a store of his own. At that point, I became a full-time employee, which placed me in charge whenever Paul himself wasn't there.
One of T.E.'s little projects at the time was a "fanzine" (an amateur comic book) called Insect Man's Weird Tales. It was an eight-page, photocopied, 5" x 8" comic book printed in black & white.
The IMWT title had actually begun (under the simpler title of Insect Man) back in 1965. Insect Man (real name Rex Mason) wore a ring that enabled him to change to whatever insect he chose. Actually, he could also change to arachnids (such as spiders), as well as other "lower life forms."
Paul created the character when he was about ten years old, and "became" the character when he and his friends played superhero. Paul also drew each issue (as well as several spin-off titles!) of an Insect Man comic book (on what we then called "math paper") for several years, until finally abandoning it in the mid-1970s.
Insect Man's Weird Tales had resumed "publication" before I began working for Paul, and its numbering began at #82, since Paul's last issue had been #81. But at first, there was no "Insect Man" in sight in the revived title. Instead there was a trilogy of stories featuring a super-team called The Defensors, followed by a three-parter featuring a character named Psyclone.
With issue #88, however, writer/artist Larry Young decided to bring Insect Man back to his old stomping grounds. Young designed a rather impressive new costume for the revived superhero. The story established that Insect Man had been retired for ten or eleven years, and I believe it was Paul Howley's idea to age Insect Man in "real time," meaning that Rex Mason was now about forty years old.
Larry only did one issue before other writers and artists, such as Chris Coleman, Dan Courtney, Holly Basiner, and others worked on the book. Their efforts brought Insect Man's Weird Tales up to issue #94.
I don't recall the exact conversation Paul and I had which established that I would write #95, and Paul himself would draw it, but that's exactly what happened.
Well... almost.
See you next week, fellow babies, and thanks for your time.
Insect Man, Insect Man's Weird Tales, and all related characters and titles are copyright © Paul B. Howley.
The owner of That's Entertainment was (and is) Paul Howley, who'd been selling old comic books since the early 1970s. (Paul has been telling his very interesting life story on a blog called My Life With Comic Books: A History of a Comic Store since 2009.) He opened T.E. in Worcester, Massachusetts, in 1980.
It wasn't long before I discovered That's Entertainment (while on my way to Worcester's only other comic shop, as it happens), when I spotted a sign saying "We Buy Comic Books, Records, and Baseball Cards" or words to that effect. That's Entertainment was then selling mainly new and old comic books, LPs and 45s, sports and non-sports trading cards, and role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons. I wasn't at all interested in role-playing games or sports cards, but I was a big fan of both comics and music, so this new store was perfect for me. I journeyed for half an hour (each way) to and from Worcester roughly once a week to buy the new comic titles and "fill holes" in my back issue collection.
Eventually, I started working part-time for Paul. T.E. had a full-time employee named Steve, who eventually left to open a store of his own. At that point, I became a full-time employee, which placed me in charge whenever Paul himself wasn't there.
One of T.E.'s little projects at the time was a "fanzine" (an amateur comic book) called Insect Man's Weird Tales. It was an eight-page, photocopied, 5" x 8" comic book printed in black & white.
The IMWT title had actually begun (under the simpler title of Insect Man) back in 1965. Insect Man (real name Rex Mason) wore a ring that enabled him to change to whatever insect he chose. Actually, he could also change to arachnids (such as spiders), as well as other "lower life forms."
Paul created the character when he was about ten years old, and "became" the character when he and his friends played superhero. Paul also drew each issue (as well as several spin-off titles!) of an Insect Man comic book (on what we then called "math paper") for several years, until finally abandoning it in the mid-1970s.
Yep, this is the cover to Paul Howley's Insect Man #1, from 1965! The
"Blue Lock" credited as publisher was young Paul's variation of the Gold Key
comic company of that era. And that chin has kind of a Jay Leno look, dunnit?
"Blue Lock" credited as publisher was young Paul's variation of the Gold Key
comic company of that era. And that chin has kind of a Jay Leno look, dunnit?
Insect Man's Weird Tales had resumed "publication" before I began working for Paul, and its numbering began at #82, since Paul's last issue had been #81. But at first, there was no "Insect Man" in sight in the revived title. Instead there was a trilogy of stories featuring a super-team called The Defensors, followed by a three-parter featuring a character named Psyclone.
With issue #88, however, writer/artist Larry Young decided to bring Insect Man back to his old stomping grounds. Young designed a rather impressive new costume for the revived superhero. The story established that Insect Man had been retired for ten or eleven years, and I believe it was Paul Howley's idea to age Insect Man in "real time," meaning that Rex Mason was now about forty years old.
Check out the upper left-hand corner of this issue. I have no idea what the expression "White Knight" refers to.
I can only assume it was a Larry Young "thing." And please note that the price tag, issue number, and date
are contained in an "H" (for Howley), spoofing the "M" that Marvel Comics was using during that period.
I can only assume it was a Larry Young "thing." And please note that the price tag, issue number, and date
are contained in an "H" (for Howley), spoofing the "M" that Marvel Comics was using during that period.
You may notice that Insect Man's outfit resembles Green Lantern Guy Gardner's costume (shown below). Well, Insect Man's came first!
Larry only did one issue before other writers and artists, such as Chris Coleman, Dan Courtney, Holly Basiner, and others worked on the book. Their efforts brought Insect Man's Weird Tales up to issue #94.
I don't recall the exact conversation Paul and I had which established that I would write #95, and Paul himself would draw it, but that's exactly what happened.
Well... almost.
See you next week, fellow babies, and thanks for your time.
Insect Man, Insect Man's Weird Tales, and all related characters and titles are copyright © Paul B. Howley.
Love that first front cover! I like the idea of being able to change into the insect of choice.
ReplyDeleteSusan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
If I recall my own artistic ability at the age of ten, Paul's 1965 rendition of Insect Man is better than anything I could have drawn at the same age.
DeleteThe Insect Man character gave writers and artists plenty of fun opportunities, especially when they'd have IM turn into giant-sized insects.
That is a neat idea for a hero indeed. The Defensors is an interesting name too. So I take it you didn't get to write the next issue? Had issues of your own? And yeah, so many expect work to be done for free or pennies. Pffft.
ReplyDeleteWell, you'll see what I mean by "almost" in the next chapter!
DeleteAnd next time, I'll also expound on the "work for free" aspect of Insect Man's Weird Tales.. No one, Paul included, was making any money on IMWT in that photocopied format. It was a "labor of love" kinda thing. When I wrote several comic scripts for Paul's later "real" comic company, he paid everyone involved, of course.
Yeah, get the not making any "real" money thing lol
DeleteI see you decided on Comical Wednesday. I really did enjoy the pome segment.
ReplyDeleteThat was interesting, when I read Insect Man my mind automatically was thinking Ant Man.
Comics have played an important part of your life. Really sparking creativity.
Yeah, I have too many comic-related ideas to neglect the subject for long. For example, TerrifiCon is coming up in a couple of months...!
DeleteSome of my earliest attempts at "writing" was cutting panels out of comics now worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars, then rearranging them in a new order to make my own stories.
Hey, I may go over to that and check it out. Would they buy comic books?
DeleteThat sounds rather cool making your own comic. I remember in art class we had to make a comic..haha I created this girl, she was always pondering strange things.. haha.. sort of like myself.. I wasn’t much of an artist though. I have been thinking of trying to paint.
There are plenty of dealers there selling comics and all sorts of related merchandise. Many of them would probably make an offer on whatever you have to sell. Their offers would vary widely. I'd shop around to get the best price.
DeleteWorking on amateur comics like Insect Man was a great way to hone your talents before being professionally published.
Silver, I am not sure I would know what a good price would be? I will have to go through them and then look on line to get a ballpark figure.
DeleteIt's hard to price them if you don't know the field. Condition is so important. The first appearance of Marvel's Black Panther (Fantastic Four #52) lists for $2000-4000 in really nice shape, but I recently had one that had moisture damage on a small part of the back cover, and it sold for only $60.
DeleteI was the kid that created those three Defensors issues of Insect Man's Weird Tales, when I was a sophomore in high school. I remember your follow-up Insect Man issues from the 80s—what a blast from the past!
ReplyDeleteI had a lot of fun doing them!
Delete