MisterX Posted March 16, 2018 Share Posted March 16, 2018 DC comics writer Michael Fleisher has passed away. https://www.cbr.com/michael-fleisher-jonah-hex-spectre-passed-away/ His run on Jonah Hex was brilliant, until the very end when he was deperately trying to save the book from cancellation. His work on the Spectre with Jim Aparo was also a highlight of the Bronze Age. RIP, Mike. Tony S 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ComicConnoisseur Posted March 16, 2018 Share Posted March 16, 2018 I highly recommend his Jonah Hex stories. A gem of the bronze age. R.I.P. Ken Aldred, Tony S and 1950's war comics 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MisterX Posted March 16, 2018 Author Share Posted March 16, 2018 That's a hell of an issue, all right. ComicConnoisseur 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MisterX Posted March 16, 2018 Author Share Posted March 16, 2018 According to Wikipedia, he also worked on Conan, the Warlord, Shade (with Ditko), Ghost Rider, Spider-Woman, and numerous BA DC horror titles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Aldred Posted March 16, 2018 Share Posted March 16, 2018 (edited) I'd recommend getting the Showcase Jonah Hex trade paperbacks. As well as consistently good writing from him, lots of nice DeZuniga and Garcia-Lopez artwork. One of the best Spectre writers, returning the character to what suits him the most; being a very dark spirit of vengeance. Sad news. Edited March 16, 2018 by Ken Aldred ComicConnoisseur 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoMan Posted March 16, 2018 Share Posted March 16, 2018 I’m always looking Ro discover great writers in comics. Never heard of this writer, never read JOHNA HEX. Can anyone be specific with issue numbers to start with for a beginner? thanks for any help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Aldred Posted March 16, 2018 Share Posted March 16, 2018 (edited) It’s actually very consistent, right from the beginning, where Fleisher was preceded by John Albano. Great reading, collected in trade format - as I suggested. Edited March 16, 2018 by Ken Aldred Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Readcomix Posted March 16, 2018 Share Posted March 16, 2018 1 hour ago, NoMan said: I’m always looking Ro discover great writers in comics. Never heard of this writer, never read JOHNA HEX. Can anyone be specific with issue numbers to start with for a beginner? thanks for any help As to Spectre, it was the brief Adventure Comics run, #431-439 I believe; maybe 440. The Spectre was brutal and vengeful, would have fit in perfectly in a 50's pre-code title! I bet a decent shape run is findable on eBay at an affordable price. I assembled it, enjoyed the heck out of it and eventually traded it, but it's not hard to assemble, let alone find whole. Enjoy! Ken Aldred 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VintageComics Posted March 16, 2018 Share Posted March 16, 2018 (edited) Just read the Wiki entry on Fleisher. I remembered this name as the writer of the Encyclopedias of Batman, Wonder Woman and Superman and wondered if it was the same guy. Apparently it is. I read the Batman encyclopedia from cover to cover as a kid. Loved it. He never did finish the 6 volume set with the other characters (I think Green Lantern was supposed to be one of them, along with Flash and I'm not sure who else) Wiki went on to say that a few people (like Harlan Ellison) said that he was not 'all there' and it affected his career. From what I can see though, he seemed to be highly intelligent and pretty sharp all around. Edited March 16, 2018 by VintageComics ComicConnoisseur 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Aldred Posted March 16, 2018 Share Posted March 16, 2018 (edited) 4 hours ago, Readcomix said: As to Spectre, it was the brief Adventure Comics run, #431-439 I believe; maybe 440. The Spectre was brutal and vengeful, would have fit in perfectly in a 50's pre-code title! Yup. It was a reversion to the original, very dark nature of the character, as seen in the earlier GA More Fun Comics, with lots of bizarre retribution against criminals. Both Fleisher and, later, John Ostrander, understood what made his stories work best. Edited March 16, 2018 by Ken Aldred ComicConnoisseur 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ComicConnoisseur Posted March 16, 2018 Share Posted March 16, 2018 (edited) 13 hours ago, NoMan said: I’m always looking Ro discover great writers in comics. Never heard of this writer, never read JOHNA HEX. Can anyone be specific with issue numbers to start with for a beginner? thanks for any help The guy is really really good. Think of Steve Gerber. Here is what Harlan Ellison said about his writing was it is crazy", "certifiable", "twisted", "derange-o. Of course Fleisher took it the wrong away. I would have taken it as a compliment if a renowned award winning sci-fi author like Ellison said my stories were deranged and twisted. That's like gold for publicity that someone like an Ellison thought they were that good. Like Ken Aldred said I would start with his Jonah Hex work than I would check out his cutting edge Spectre trade paperback with Jim Aparo. Edited March 16, 2018 by ComicConnoisseur 1950's war comics 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoMan Posted March 16, 2018 Share Posted March 16, 2018 20 minutes ago, ComicConnoisseur said: The guy is really really good. Think of Steve Gerber. Here is what Harlan Ellison said about his writing was it is crazy", "certifiable", "twisted", "derange-o. Of course Fleisher took it the wrong away. I would have taken it as a compliment if a renowned award winning sci-fi author like Ellison said my stories were deranged and twisted. That's like gold for publicity that someone like an Ellison thought they were that good. Like Ken Aldred said I would start with his Jonah Hex work than I would check out his cutting edge Spectre trade paperback with Jim Aparo. Thanks o believer I have Adventure Comics #440 that I got in a package with other books in a trade. I’ll check it out! Senormac and ComicConnoisseur 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senormac Posted March 17, 2018 Share Posted March 17, 2018 (edited) 9 hours ago, ComicConnoisseur said: The guy is really really good. Think of Steve Gerber. Here is what Harlan Ellison said about his writing was it is crazy", "certifiable", "twisted", "derange-o. Of course Fleisher took it the wrong away. I would have taken it as a compliment if a renowned award winning sci-fi author like Ellison said my stories were deranged and twisted. That's like gold for publicity that someone like an Ellison thought they were that good. Like Ken Aldred said I would start with his Jonah Hex work than I would check out his cutting edge Spectre trade paperback with Jim Aparo. You are a kind person. I just thought H.E. was being a jerk I've never read any of the Hex books either, but that Spectre work from Adventure was EXCELLENT !! Edited March 17, 2018 by Senormac Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brother J Posted March 17, 2018 Share Posted March 17, 2018 Just finished Showcase: Jonah Hex Vol. 2 and was thinking of reading the rest of the Jonah Hex run as I have all the later issues. The early stuff was fantastic. ComicConnoisseur 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadroch Posted March 17, 2018 Share Posted March 17, 2018 Fleisher was a great writer for his era, and engaged in some very entertaining public feuds. Well worth tracking down,imo. ComicConnoisseur 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senormac Posted March 17, 2018 Share Posted March 17, 2018 I had this. Bought it at B. Dalton book sellers when it was new. So much info. Every character in every story. Wow. I thought there was going to be a Plastic Man book.......but it never happened. ComicConnoisseur 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Aldred Posted March 17, 2018 Share Posted March 17, 2018 (edited) 13 hours ago, ComicConnoisseur said: Here is what Harlan Ellison said about his writing was it is crazy", "certifiable", "twisted", "derange-o. Of course Fleisher took it the wrong away. I would have taken it as a compliment if a renowned award winning sci-fi author like Ellison said my stories were deranged and twisted. That's like gold for publicity that someone like an Ellison thought they were that good. I'd interpret it as inventive , different, and more interesting than most comparatively mundane books being churned out during his time. A great reason to have a preference for the work of creators like Gerber and Fleisher. Edited March 17, 2018 by Ken Aldred Senormac and ComicConnoisseur 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian48 Posted March 17, 2018 Share Posted March 17, 2018 RIP. Absolutely loved his Spectre run as a kid and later collected the slabbed run. Under appreciated to this day. At least with the younger generation anyway. Good journey, Michael. May Jim Corrigan escort you to paradise. ComicConnoisseur 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadroch Posted March 17, 2018 Share Posted March 17, 2018 I had no idea Mr Fleisher ended up getting his Doctorate and spent his adult life helping non profits, mostly in Africa. Bug fck crazy, indeed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VintageComics Posted March 21, 2018 Share Posted March 21, 2018 On 3/16/2018 at 11:37 PM, Senormac said: I had this. Bought it at B. Dalton book sellers when it was new. So much info. Every character in every story. Wow. I thought there was going to be a Plastic Man book.......but it never happened. That's the one. I read that from cover to cover. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
