New York Comic Cons of the Past

The 1960s gave birth to the Comic Book Convention. While they began as modest ventures at middling hotels, they soon expanded into larger extravagzas at the hands of organizers who exploited the medium's burgeoning interest. The first Con was spearheaded by teenage fan Bernie Bubnis in 1964. The determined youngster made the rounds at several publishing houses and put it together at a small space in downtown Manhattan. His guests included Gold Key artist Tom Gill, Marvel reps Flo Steinberg and Dave Twedt and, astonishingly, Steve Ditko, at his one and only Convention appearance. Ditko however never followed protocol, and chose not to take the stage, instead he sat in the audience and mingled with fans. You can read more about the memorable event in Bubnis' first-hand account which I featured on my blog several years ago: https://nick-caputo.blogspot.com/2022/06/ditko-and-kid-guest-post-by-bernie.html

Steve Ditko's cover decorated the first New York Comic Con program booklet in 1964. Image taken from J. Ballman's detailed book about the gathering, which you can still purchase from Amazon and other outlets. 

Soon others would take up the mantle. Dave Kaler, a fan who also wrote for The Comic Reader fanzine, took the lead from 1965-67. To his credit he was able to attract such industry notables as Stan Lee, Bill Everett, Carmine Infantino and Otto Binder. 

The next, and longest-running Con organizer was Brooklyn-born and raised Phil Seuling, a teacher who took over the reins and ran the NY shows from 1968-1983. While his premiere was held in the month of November, all later Cons took place over the Independence Day weekend. Because of his vision and leadership Seuling rapidly emerged as a player of great influence, catching a wave of resurgent (and growing) interest. Throughout his entire fifteen year tenure he would oversee the main events and contined to be a major presence, making program announcements, interviewing guests and interacting with fans.   

One of the earliest program books I aquired (where else?) at a Con! Cover art by newspaper cartoonist Hal Foster. 

Contents page inside the 1969 program booklet which listed the participants. A few of the movers and shakers in attendence included John Benson, who wrote articles on guests Hal Foster and Harvey Kurtzman; Bill Pearson, publisher of Witzend; and Chris Steinbrunner, who ran film programming shown at the Con. Steinbrunner worked professionally at local NY station WOR-Channel 9, giving him access to the material, including many serials which were enthusiasticly welcomed. Steinbrunner was a fan of comics and movies; he wrote one of the first books on fantasy and science fiction (and one of the earliest I came across): Cinema of the Fantastic.You can read more about his interestring career here: https://thethunderchild.com/BurnsintheCity/ChrisSteinbrunner.html 

The Con booklet included professional greetings from Marvel, DC and Warren, providing an excellent opportunity to promote their titles. It also contained  comic strips by budding artists and plenty of ads for popular fanzines and back-issue stores.

Occasionally comic books themselves recognized the growing influence of Cons, as seen by this satirical piece from the pages of Charlton. "Comics Convention!", Abbott and Costello # 13, August 1970. Possible script by Denny O'Neil or Grass Green; art by Grass Green. 

In 1970 I attended my first Con with my brother John - a fellow comics afficianado. I recall being baffled when we received a flyer in the mail (drawn by humorist Sergio Aragones of Mad fame), announcing the upcoming event. Neither of us had ventued beyond the neighborhood  candy stores or bookshops; we were largely under the radar, with only a few friends and relatives aware of our interest. We're still clueless over how we were exposed as devotees of the medium - although we're glad we were! Nevertheless, John decided we would go. For my very first Con I can tell you little of what was seen. In the eyes of a young kid I was overwhelmed by the many dealers/books/fans around me. I only recall a huge room with the hustle and bustle of crowds. I don't believe we attended any panels; my brother was too busy adding to his collection! One of the more amusing and bizarre memories I can recall of that day was John asking me to carry his shopping bag full of comics into the backyard while he made his way into the kitchen to greet our parents. He figured they wouldn't take a liking to all those four-color gems he picked up! Later on I would cautiously sidle into the alley behind the house, with Bond-like efficiency, and sneak them into our third floor bedroom. There was a lot of espionage in collecting comics back then! 

1971 program book. Cover by Jim Steranko. This event lasted four days and Seuling went all-out in his presentation. Along with guests such as Steranko, Jim Warren and Gardner Fox, there were costume contests, serials (Spy Smasher, Dick Tracy), bloopers from the Star Trek TV show, Superman cartoons, art exhibits, and, of course, a wide range of ephemera that included comics, fanzines, Big Little Books, movie posters and monster mags.    

Program booklets were filled with an array of talented illustrators, both older and of more recent vintage. A young Frank Brunner contributed this illo to the '72 Con book.   

Inside page of the 1973 Comic Art Convention Program with art by Mike Kaluta. Five days of entertainment, with the events described above, and all for $2.50 a day!

Phil Seuling wrote several articles in the '73 program book, one in concert with Joe Parente on artist Mac Raboy. Parente's ad for his Litle Nemo shop also appeared in that issue. I was not aware of his store until about a year later. My brother and I made frequent visits to his Forest Hills shop, purchasing the latest comics, along with fanzines such as The Comic Reader, Mediascene and The Comics Journal. From my conversations with him I soon discovered that Parente was knowledgable about comics and comic art, and I even saw and met artists such as Al Milgrom in his store.

   

1974 Program cover. Art by Joe Simon. The booklet continued with a spotlight on creators Frank Robbins, Will Eisner, Roy Thomas and Joe Simon, accompanied by a selection of photos, art and advertising by a plethora of comic stores and fanzines. 

My brother and I may have attended other Cons in the years between 1971-74 but our recollection of the particulars is hazy. He was a collector, mainly of Marvel Comics, although he purchased books produced by other pubishing companies as well, including select DC, Charlton, Warren and Gold Key titles. I read all the comics he bought, and occasionally, in between collecting gum cards (if you're so inclined, you can read this post for more: https://nick-caputo.blogspot.com/2024/02/card-collecting-in-1960s-memories.html ) I'd buy a comic or two of my own, such as the Adventures of Jerry Lewis. Hey, I'm seven years younger than him, so we sometimes had different tastes! 

In any event the next Con I have a specific memory of attending was engineered, not by Mr. Seuling, but Marvel comics, in 1975. It was a three-day affair and we, accompanied by John's friend Ben, had a blast every day. We found our way to many of the panels and saw practically the entire Marvel staff. Admittedly, at the time I was floored by seeing plenty of original cover art, many for issues not yet published. It was exciting to see the large pages, sans copy, in glorious black and white. In addition to those moments, there were costume contests and films to be seen. And on the last day, during a Fantastic Four discussion, Jack Kirby, who had left Marvel to work exclusively for DC in 1970, sauntered onto the stage, surprising all!  

                        Cover to the '75 Mightry Marvel Comic Convention. John Romita art. 

Two pages of autographs and a triad of art by Marvel staffers, including a Daredevil sketch by John Romita; Forbush Man by Marie Severin and the Vision by Don Heck. Back in the day a kid could go over to his favorite creators and ask for a sketch without renumeration. 

Kirby joined Stan Lee, Roy Thomas (I believe) and others on the podium to thunderous applause! It was a thrilling moment, especially since - as can be seen in my program book above  -  despite the chaotic outpouring of fans around him, I was somehow able to acquire Kirby's signature as well!

We met several of the creators on those three days, including Marie Severin, Don Heck, George Perez, Steve Gerber, Joe Sinnott and many others I'm forgetting. Practically everyone working for Marvel was there, and we all enjoyed the festivities.

Checking into the Caputo archives I discovered that I still have my ticket from attending the 3 day event. 

   

Jack Kirby did the cover honors for the '75 Seuling Comic Art Convention in his own incomparable and inimitable style.  

Before we knew it we were back for another Seuling Con several months later. The program book was filled with fascinating material. It featured interviews with Kirby, Barry Smith, Frank Robbins, Joe Simon, Roy Thomas and Stan Lee, accompanied by articles related to comics from the 40s through the 60s, photos of guests from previous years and related material.

It's evident that Seuling had a satirical edge, as can be observed by this whimsical house ad, illustrated by Steve Harper and Mike Kaluta, that appeared in the '75 program. Besides running the Con and being a teacher, Seuling also sold comics.  

Marvel produced its second (and final) Con the following year, with a much smaller program book. Art by Mike Nasser and Al Milgrom. I attended that one as well, but it did not resonate with the same fervor as the first.

Jack Kirby was honored with two articles in the issue, this one looking back at his career and the other to his current Marvel efforts.  

The exceptional Bernie Wrightson provided the cover for Seuling's tenth anniversary booklet. It was a thick and nicely designed rendition by Sal Quartuccio and Bob Keenan.  

Artist Mike Nasser drew the above welcome to fans which noted when and where the Con took place - in Philadelphia instead of NYC that year! 

It was the tenth year in which Seuling was a driving force behind a major comic convention, and he celebrated it admirably. His essay paid homage to Bernie Bubnis and his nascent foray into the shows, but Seuling elequently segued into his own personal feelings:   

"I believe collectors have some traits in common. We all have a sense of history, for instance, for the relevance and signifigance of our favorite titles and issues in the context of the times. Another shared feeling is intellectual curiosity. Who was responsible for such an idea, or such an innovation? Why was it published, or discontinued? When did this artist begin his career, or that one retire?  Perhaps we share an aquisitiveness, also, wanting to keep what we have and add even more to our hoard. We certainly share an affection for fantasy and adventure. But I think we share one more characteristic, too. I believe we have an instinct for grouping - an urge to gather, to be among others with the same interests." 

The program book offered articles on Bernie Wrightson and John Stanley, two very different and highly expressive creators, the former immersed in horror-themed images, the latter a writer and artist who presented children's tales such as Little Lulu, but embued with wit, wisdom, humor and charm. I had not been aware of Stanley at the time, but years later read the book collections of his work and was so amused I passed them on to other comics fans/friends. They alll loved them, and supported Stanley's assertion that he developed the stories to please himself and his peers, but in essence he produced work that had universal appeal.

Walt Simonson contributed this Iron Man illo to the program book. He was one of many, including Jack Kirby, Alex Toth, John Severin and Gray Morow, who made the publication a visual feast. 

This was followed by 53 pages of illustrations by top pros, a short piece by Frank Thorne, the recognized artist of Red Sonja and a look at the very popular costumers, during a period when fans were immeresed in competing with their peers and gaining recognition as contestent winners. All in all another well-realized production.

Seuling was a guest on the syndicated Mike Douglas afternoon program, proudly showing off a handful of golden age comics. It aired on July 28, 1977 and was likely taped when the Con was running. Douglas' show was filmed in Philadelphia.

Editor's Note: I was supposed to attend the '77 convention with four friends and fellow irascibles. Unfortunately, en route to Philly  we were rear-ended while going over the Verrazano Bridge. It was a clear and picturesque day, and we slowed down to 15 miles an hour to take a photo. The van that collided into us was speeding at around 80. We survived with minor neck pain, but the car sustained $2,000 in damages. Worst of all, it thwarted our plans for our much-anticipated comics adventure turned misadventure!.

Another outstanding cover featuring a quartet of then-young and exciting talents graced the 1978 program cover.

The 1978 Comic Art Convention was yet another solid affair, with a striking shiny cover (the white background is STILL vibrant some 42 years later!). Roy Thomas, Trina Robbins, Jeff Jones, Bernie Wrightson, Barry Windsor-Smith, Michael Kaluta and Phillipe Druillet were some of the featured guests. It included a 10-page portfolio of exquisite graphics that represented well the effort and care that was expended by Seuling and his staff. 

 While Seuling continued to carry the torch for his annual undertaking, it should be noted that he also produced a monthly Con, which was often overflowing with dealers and where fans trekked to search out comics and cross them off their want lists. I attended many of these smaller events over the years and filled many holes in my collection! Art by Dennis Kitchen.

  

The 1980 program was reduced to a 32 page newsprint affair, less slick than most of the previous efforts. The cover art was by Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez and Dick Giordano, and interior features were prepared for guests Harlan Ellison, Bob Kane, Boris Vallejo and Wendy and Richard Pini by Cat Yronwode. Plenty of autographs were obtained in my book, including Jim Aparo, Steve Leialoha, Jeff Jones, Charles Vess, Rudy Nebres, C,C. Beck and Bill Plympton! A few, including Plympton, added sketches gratis!   

 The last of my Seuling Program books was even smaller than the previous years' effort, clocking in at 20 pages. This was heading towards the end of the line for Phil, as the ringmaster passed away on August 11, 1984. In addition to his duties overseeing the shows, Seuling was running Sea Gate Distributors, where he convinced major publishers (DC, Marvel, Archie, Warren) to ship their titles to comic stores on a non-returnable basis. Seuling was a major businessman and made the July Cons a sucsessful venture that predated the immensly popular San Diego Comic Con, which began in 1970. Putting this piece together reminded me how animated and visible Seuling was in this period. I'm happy to be devoting space to his accomplishments.  

The '81 program included an ad from Marvel promoting its 20th Anniversary. Frank Miller pencils; Terry Austin inks; Irv Watanabe letters.   

Those days of traveling to conventions, often accompanied by friends and fellow fans, or  occasionally on my own, was almost always worthwhile. With Seuling gone others took his place, and there were many excursions in the dealers room, searching out that one issue of Strange Tales to complete my Doctor Strange collection, or discovering a rare fanzine I just had to have. The thrill of the hunt was satisfying. Don't forget, in those pre-internet, pre-ebay days, one had to either go to a store that sold old comics (read more about that in the feature post located on the right), purchased them through fanzines like the Buyer's Guide - and I bought many that way - or make it to Cons! As the years continued, into the '90s and beyond, I looked forward to meeting and chatting with a great many creative giants whose work I admired. It's a huge list: Kirby, Jim Steranko, Gene Colan, Gil Kane, Herb Trimpe, Dick Ayers, Joe Sinnott, John Romita, Larry Leiber, Roy Thomas,Stan Goldberg, Flo Steinberg - and that's just Marvel folks. There was also Sam Glanzman, Joe Gill, Steve Skeates, Irwin Hasen, Joe Staton. It was a rarefied and singular moment to have engaged in their thoughts and observations on the field they graced and it left a lasting impresion that has endured with me for decades. I'm also likely forgetting a few, but looking at those names an unfortunate reality hits home - most of them have passed. 

With the absence of so many from the comic book firmament, along with my no longer collecting back issues, the thrill is largely absent from going to another Con. They have become "events" with overwhelming crowds, Movie stars abounding, and costumed figures in abundance. It's no longer fun for me. But I do appreciate the countless times I raced through the dealers room, or stopped over Gene Colan's table to see him and his wife. I enjoyed many intriguing conversations with pros and fans over the years, where smiles were exchanged and memories were made that will last a lifetime. It was a good time to be buying and collecting comics. 

This pic, from around 2014, was taken at the Comic Con located at the Javits Center, probably one of the last I attended. The erstwhile "Yancy Street Gang", a collection of scholars and wise-guys, was there to celebrate the publication of the oversized Taschen tome on display, Marvel Comics, From the Golden Age to the Silver Screen, which we greatly contributed to. Seen from left to right are "boisterous" Barry Pearl, "meticulous" Michael Vassallo, "Jovial" John Caputo and yours truly, "nifty" Nick Caputo. If only Phil Seuling were there to preside over the event!