Pencil Us In

In which we discuss the much-celebrated work of Walter Simonson on Thor during the 80s! It is still resonant today as even now, people anticipate an appearance from Beta Ray Bill in the MCU. Will he appear? I don't know, that's not our purview! We will, however, be gushing over a mutual favorite run of comics.
This is episode...6? Already? Norse gods, how time does fly. Anyway, if you're still with us after Saga, then hold your horses! I go a little harder on the creator bio this time since we're mostly talking about one person here. I do mention the contributions of others, but their bios can wait for other episodes. Next time, Sal! Anyway, please leave a rating and comment for us wherever you listen to the podcast. If you would be so kind as to hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, we should be ever so grateful.
Website: https://pencilusinpodcast.buzzsprout.com
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/PencilUsInPodcast
Twitter: @pencilusin
email: [email protected]
Phil here: I'm back on the research reins for this episode. And fun it was! It's one of my favorite runs from one of my favorite creators. Trust you me, there will be more work from Walt coming up! Anyway, on to references used or interesting!
Back Issue (TwoMorrows Publishing): 53, 117 (One of my favorite things to have found recently is this whole magazine dedicated to my particular area of interest in comics: the Bronze Age! These guys do good work. Yes, you'd have to pay for individual issues, but it's worth your money!)
The Comics Journal interviews Simonson for an Artist's Edition of his Thor stuff:
http://www.tcj.com/the-walter-simonson-interview/
Another interview with Simonson about Thor stuff and more (I've linked to a few interviews from this gentlemen before. Always worthwhile.)
https://www.nerdteam30.com/creator-conversations-retro/an-interview-with-walt-simonson-master-of-the-mighty-thor-friend-of-the-fourth-world
Alex Jay breaks down the timeline and process for his redesign of the Thor logo:
http://alphabettenthletter.blogspot.com/2011/09/anatomy-of-logo-mighty-thor-part-1.html
Letterer Todd Klein examines Thor logos over the years:
https://kleinletters.com/Blog/logo-study-thor-part-1/
And now the particular comics we read for this episode!
Thor (vol 1): 337-382
Balder the Brave: 1-4

It's the start of Kung Fu Month! To celebrate, we're bringing you the story of a boy who turns into a girl when he gets wet. It's Ranma 1/2! There's also like a Panda and and a cat and a pig and some other stuff. Get excited!
What do you think? Do you have something to say? Wanna tell us what you think of our current topic? Have other things to say about other topics? Wanna tell us some sweet recipes for cookies (please)? Let us know! We have social medias! If you see the deranged pencil, you're in the right place! I also check my email now! I promise! You could also give us a rating and comment on your favorite podcast aggregator! Talk to us!
Website: https://pencilusinpodcast.buzzsprout.com
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/PencilUsInPodcast
Twitter: @pencilusin
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pencilusinpodcast/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pencilusin
email: [email protected]

So, what sources did we use? Check em!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZrVrZHHvAQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCxk1gu_Ouc
https://www.otaquest.com/rumiko-takahashi-interview-angouleme/
https://www.furinkan.com/takahashi/interviews.html
https://www.furinkan.com/takahashi/takahashi5.html
https://www.furinkan.com/takahashi/bio.html
https://www.furinkan.com/takahashi/takahashi2.html
https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-11-01/ranma-1-2-inuyasha-creator-rumiko-takahashi-receives-japan-medal-with-purple-ribbon/.165840
https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-07-21/rumiko-takahashi-inducted-into-will-eisner-comic-awards-hall-of-fame/.134542
https://queeniechan.com/2014/03/19/famous-women-rumiko-takahashi/?v=322b26af01d5
https://biography.jrank.org/pages/1828/Takahashi-Rumiko-1957.html

That's about all we had on this one. Sparse links, eh? DEAL WITH IT.
See you next time when the links really will be sparse!

In which we discuss the Legion of Superheroes! We discuss their origin, their creators, their impacts, and maybe why they stuck in peoples' imaginations. This is one of our first Silver Age dives and it won't be our last!
With our 15th episode, we got some good stuff! We both really enjoyed doing this episode because this was story-telling from a different, kind of crazier, and definitely less cynical time. I hope you catch our enthusiasm! Anyway, let us know what you think! If you're listening via some podcatcher, leave us a rating and comment! If you feel like hitting us up via the social media, we gots that too! Talk to us!
Website: https://pencilusinpodcast.buzzsprout.com
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/PencilUsInPodcast
Twitter: @pencilusin
email: [email protected]
Phil here: Believe it or not, this was also one of my more daunting episodes to handle research-wise. The further back you go in time for many of these topics, the less info you have to work with. Fortunately, I did find a few resources to help me out through this. One big one being an out-of-print book that I hope goes back in to print at some point. Aside from the bios of the creators, I mostly just ended up talking about the various recurring themes of the Legion. Anyway, I'll show you what I got.
The Legion Companion (TwoMorrows Publishing): This is out of print, unfortunately, but I did manage to snag enough info from a borrowed copy to get a mini-bio on John Forte.
Some online resources include:
https://www.pulpartists.com/Forte.html
http://legionofsuperbloggers.blogspot.com/2018/05/john-forte-rip-1918-1966.html
http://sequart.org/magazine/11675/on-adventure-comics-332-by-edmond-hamilton-and-john-forte-1965/
https://web.archive.org/web/20160403121104/http://tangentonline.com/interviews-columnsmenu-166/1270-classic-leigh-brackett-a-edmond-hamilton-interview
Here's the comics that we read for the episode:
Adventure Comics: 247, 267, 282, 290, 293, 300-345
Action Comics: 267, 287, 289
Superboy: 86, 89, 98, 117, 124, 125
Superman: 147
Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen: 72, 76

It's still Love Month! Get the chocolate! Get in to a stable, loving, supportive relationship! That's right, the Elongated Man and the love of his life, Sue Dibny get the feature in this week's Love Month episode!
What do you think? Do you have something to say? Wanna tell us what you think of our current topic? Have other things to say about other topics? Wanna tell us some sweet recipes for cookies (please)? Let us know! We have social medias! If you see the deranged pencil, you're in the right place! I also check my email now! I promise! You could also give us a rating and comment on your favorite podcast aggregator! Talk to us!
Website: https://pencilusinpodcast.buzzsprout.com
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/PencilUsInPodcast
Twitter: @pencilusin
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pencilusinpodcast/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pencilusin
email: [email protected]

Phil here: I guess I got this month off? I suck. Su is awesome. Be thankful that she's here! I know I am. Let's move along.

So, what sources did we use? Check em!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDCDOP8XWxI
https://ralphdibnytheworld-famouselongatedman.blogspot.com/

We also read some cool magazines with articles and stuff! Wanna know which ones?

Back Issue (TwoMorrows Publishing): #123
Not the most well-known (despite the "World-Famous" tag Ralph often added to his name) characters. Still, the people that love them love them very much! I can see why! These issues are worth the read at least:
Flash vol 1(DC): 112, 115, 119, 124, 130, 134, 138Detective Comics (DC): 330-383 (No, I didn't read 50 issues worth of Detective just for Ralph and Sue. That's ok. I think you should check 'em all out at some point. I know I will!)

In which we discuss the first of our Boggy Boys: the Swamp Thing! He's warm moist and most definitely wild! Hear us discuss his origin! Hear us discuss his creators! Hear us make plant jokes!
In our eighth (8th!) episode, we get up to no good! Hopefully, as the format keeps evolving, you can follow the information flow well enough. Our various topics seem to always present a new way to uh...present the information. Anyway, hope you like! If you have any questions, problems, recommendations, thoughts on life in general, please send 'em our way! Links are below!
Website: https://pencilusinpodcast.buzzsprout.com
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/PencilUsInPodcast
Twitter: @pencilusin
email: [email protected]
Phil Here: For research on books from the 70s-90s, Back Issue continues to be the way to go. I could spend hours looking around the internet for stuff when I could just purchase an issue or two of Back Issue instead. Here's the issue I used:
Back Issue #6 (TwoMorrows Publishing): This particular issue has a nice Pro2Pro interview with Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson. Interview conducted by Dan Johnson.
And now the obligatory list of links that I think provide some good info too:
Len Wein interviewed by the always cool Nerd Team 30:
https://www.nerdteam30.com/creator-conversations-retro/an-interview-with-len-wein-co-creator-of-swamp-thing-and-wolverine
An interview from The Comics Journal from 1979:
http://www.tcj.com/the-len-wein-interview/
An interview conducted at WonderCon back in 2014:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bveIEopGyoQ
Marv Wolfman interviews his childhood friend:
http://www.marvwolfman.com/marv/Speaking_With_Len_Wein_Part_One.html
Len is interviewed at home:
http://www.blastoffcomics.com/2012/07/the-blastoff-video-interview-len-wein/
Here's what we read comic-wise for this topic:
House of Secrets: 92
Swamp Thing: 1-24