San Diego Comic-Con
August 18th, 1973
Interview for the Rutgers Targum October Issue
I placed the tape recorder on the table and test the microphone twice before he arrives. Guy Fitzpatrick, Jr. is the son of the original Assistant editor and if negotiations workout with Corman's people he will be one of the producers of the film adaptation of the Fearless Five.
Mr. Fitzpatrick is tall with his hair and beard close cut. He is wearing a green turtleneck, white pants, black jacket and leather boots. the small square spectacles complete the picture. His smile is worn but friendly.
The table at his booth is one of those portable ones that seems heavier than it needs to be. You know the type, the kind when you have to carry it anywhere it feels like you are going to cut your fingers off. on top of the table is what looks like a brand new white bed sheet. On top of the sheet are the heroes of yesteryear. The Eagle is of course there as well as the Conjuress, Chaser, and the Metal Mage but also there are a few issues of the Bug Golem and Newmark Mysteries and others. Behind the table is a large sign painted on a large piece of whiteboard and it reads "FEARLESS COMICS".
I am here at the Harbor Island Sheraton at the San Diego Comic-Con across from the airport reporting for Rutger's school paper the Targum. The fact that I had to go a cross the continent for a story about comic books printed right down the street from our Newark Campus is a whole other story for another time.
Mr. Fitzpatrick shakes my hand, ask me how things are going at the school and he also asks about some of the professors he knows there. Finally he asks if he can smoke during the interview which I acquiesce to.
TARGUM: Please introduce yourself
FITZPATRICK: Can you believe they have over a thousand people at this event? . . . oh . . . um . . . Guy Fitzpatrick, Jr. son of Fearless Comics assistant editor Guy Fitzpatrick. I also wrote a few episodes of the Fearless Five back up stories as well as doing a lot of inking early on.
TARGUM: Now when we talked on the phone earlier you told me you were actually there when the idea for Fearless Comics originated.
FITZPATRICK: (He laughs) Yeah I was getting coffee for my Dad, Mr. Durham and Ernie Curtis at what used to be Ruppert Stadium. Miss the old Rupe. Black, three sugars, funny what you remember.
TARGUM: Mr. Durham is Alan Durham the original editor, correct?
FITZPATRICK: (He nods) yeah but back then Mr. Durham and my Dad were the only employees. They worked for Mr. and Mrs. Manley printing out all the programs, scorecards, and other promotional items for their team the Newark Eagles.
TARGUM: So what happened?
FITZPATRICK: Well I come back with their coffee and Pop and Mr. Durham are going over the design for an upcoming NAACP night when Mrs. Manley herself walks into the office likes she owns the place. (He then laughs) cause she sorta does. I mean she owns the team but is only renting the office space.
TARGUM: (I laugh politely) Mrs. Effa Louise Manley was a hands on owner.
FITZPATRICK: (He smiles) She sure was and you know what there ain't nothing that any of us would not do if Ms. Effie asked us to do it either. (Mr. Fitzpatrick clears his throat before resuming) She then throws a bunch of comic books down on Mr. Durham's desk. There was Captain America, Green Lantern, Sheena of the Jungle, Bullet man, Daredevil, Wonder Woman and of course Superman. "Gentlemen" (Fitzpatrick's voice changes to mimic Mrs. Manley's) Mrs. Manley said with hands on her hips "What is wrong with these publications?"
TARGUM: What was wrong with them?
FITZPATRICK: Well neither my father or Mr. Durham could find anything wrong with them. Mr. Curtis, being the artist, who along with Mr. Lott, they would contract for most of their promotional work, did give a critique on some of the artworks pros and cons.
TARGUM: Was that what Mrs. Manley was looking for?
FITZPATRICK: Oh no, not at all. Once she had gotten our responses Mrs. Manley told us what was wrong with the comic books in front of us. "Are any of them black?" she asked and I have to admit I had not thought of that. It was embarrassing that none of us had thought of that. She had over twenty different issues in front of us and not a single African American Superhero among them. She then looked at each of us
"Gentlemen what are we going to do about this?"
August 18th, 1973
Interview for the Rutgers Targum October Issue
I placed the tape recorder on the table and test the microphone twice before he arrives. Guy Fitzpatrick, Jr. is the son of the original Assistant editor and if negotiations workout with Corman's people he will be one of the producers of the film adaptation of the Fearless Five.
Mr. Fitzpatrick is tall with his hair and beard close cut. He is wearing a green turtleneck, white pants, black jacket and leather boots. the small square spectacles complete the picture. His smile is worn but friendly.
The table at his booth is one of those portable ones that seems heavier than it needs to be. You know the type, the kind when you have to carry it anywhere it feels like you are going to cut your fingers off. on top of the table is what looks like a brand new white bed sheet. On top of the sheet are the heroes of yesteryear. The Eagle is of course there as well as the Conjuress, Chaser, and the Metal Mage but also there are a few issues of the Bug Golem and Newmark Mysteries and others. Behind the table is a large sign painted on a large piece of whiteboard and it reads "FEARLESS COMICS".
I am here at the Harbor Island Sheraton at the San Diego Comic-Con across from the airport reporting for Rutger's school paper the Targum. The fact that I had to go a cross the continent for a story about comic books printed right down the street from our Newark Campus is a whole other story for another time.
Mr. Fitzpatrick shakes my hand, ask me how things are going at the school and he also asks about some of the professors he knows there. Finally he asks if he can smoke during the interview which I acquiesce to.
TARGUM: Please introduce yourself
FITZPATRICK: Can you believe they have over a thousand people at this event? . . . oh . . . um . . . Guy Fitzpatrick, Jr. son of Fearless Comics assistant editor Guy Fitzpatrick. I also wrote a few episodes of the Fearless Five back up stories as well as doing a lot of inking early on.
TARGUM: Now when we talked on the phone earlier you told me you were actually there when the idea for Fearless Comics originated.
FITZPATRICK: (He laughs) Yeah I was getting coffee for my Dad, Mr. Durham and Ernie Curtis at what used to be Ruppert Stadium. Miss the old Rupe. Black, three sugars, funny what you remember.
TARGUM: Mr. Durham is Alan Durham the original editor, correct?
FITZPATRICK: (He nods) yeah but back then Mr. Durham and my Dad were the only employees. They worked for Mr. and Mrs. Manley printing out all the programs, scorecards, and other promotional items for their team the Newark Eagles.
TARGUM: So what happened?
FITZPATRICK: Well I come back with their coffee and Pop and Mr. Durham are going over the design for an upcoming NAACP night when Mrs. Manley herself walks into the office likes she owns the place. (He then laughs) cause she sorta does. I mean she owns the team but is only renting the office space.
TARGUM: (I laugh politely) Mrs. Effa Louise Manley was a hands on owner.
FITZPATRICK: (He smiles) She sure was and you know what there ain't nothing that any of us would not do if Ms. Effie asked us to do it either. (Mr. Fitzpatrick clears his throat before resuming) She then throws a bunch of comic books down on Mr. Durham's desk. There was Captain America, Green Lantern, Sheena of the Jungle, Bullet man, Daredevil, Wonder Woman and of course Superman. "Gentlemen" (Fitzpatrick's voice changes to mimic Mrs. Manley's) Mrs. Manley said with hands on her hips "What is wrong with these publications?"
TARGUM: What was wrong with them?
FITZPATRICK: Well neither my father or Mr. Durham could find anything wrong with them. Mr. Curtis, being the artist, who along with Mr. Lott, they would contract for most of their promotional work, did give a critique on some of the artworks pros and cons.
TARGUM: Was that what Mrs. Manley was looking for?
FITZPATRICK: Oh no, not at all. Once she had gotten our responses Mrs. Manley told us what was wrong with the comic books in front of us. "Are any of them black?" she asked and I have to admit I had not thought of that. It was embarrassing that none of us had thought of that. She had over twenty different issues in front of us and not a single African American Superhero among them. She then looked at each of us
"Gentlemen what are we going to do about this?"