events, award shows, and conventions. So, when it came time to blurb A month or so later, I get a phone call in my studio in the middle of a
my book, I sent him a few sample chapters in color-copy form, along with summer day. A man with a Shakespearean English brogue bellows out
a cover letter, and kept my fingers crossed. I received this fax from him: in a stentorian manner, “Is Arlen Schumer there? This is Alan Moore...” Oh
my God, I must’ve gasped! He continued without missing a beat, “I’m
calling to give you your blurb for your book...You’ll have to write it down
as I will dictate it to you.” Again, oh my God! I stumbled around looking
for a writing instrument and a piece of paper, which of course, I couldn’t
find in an art studio! I lifted a crumpled xerox out of the garbage can, flattened it, and found a stubby pencil from the same garbage can to write
with... and took down the following from Alan Moore himself, my hand
shaking while writing:
“A lovingly crafted tribute to the superhero comic of the 1960s, The Silver
Age of Comic Book Art recaptures the four-color visionary surge of the
era, its jet-age psychedelic rush of imagination and the titanic, luminous
figures, both real and imaginary, that glittered in its firmament. For a brief
moment in the late 20th century, it seemed as if the spirit of the age wore
a vivid leotard, a chest emblem, and traveled in a strobing blur of speed
lines. For anyone with any interest in or affection for that moment, this
beautiful volume is indispensible.”
SP!: YOUR BOOK IS A MUST-READ FOR THE CURRENT GENERATION OF
COMIC BOOK FANS THAT ONLY KNOW THEIR SUPERHEROES FROM THE
MOVIES AND TV. OLD-SCHOOL COMIC FANS WILL LOVE IT, BUT WHAT
ARE YOU PLANS TO GRAB TODAY’S GENERATION OF READERS?
AS: I’m proud to be able to bring out The Silver Age of Comic Book Art
(Revised Edition) as an e-book for the new generation that’s reading on
electronic platforms! And they’re in for a treat, as the colorful images from
my book positively LEAP off the screen! I believe I’m going to reach an
entirely NEW audience via the e-book, who will be exposed to the generation of comic book artists I consider OUR renaissance masters of the
human figure. The superhero figure!
SP!: YOUR FACEBOOK GROUP “THE SILVER AGE OF COMIC BOOK ART”
BOASTS OVER 2,500 MEMBERS. THE ABILITY TO INTERACT WITH YOUR
READERS WASN’T THERE IN 2003. WHAT OTHER SOCIAL PLATFORMS
His handwriting reads: “Arlen Schumer documents an important period WILL YOU USE TO PROMOTE THIS BOOK (E.G. GOOGLE HANGOUTS,
in comic book history, told with an explosive format and stunning design. YOUR RECENT LECTURES AT ART ON A GALLERY)?
It reflects the kinetic rhythm of the era.” Thanx, Will! You live on forever in
AS: I’m on Twitter, Tumblr and Instagram, and I plan on using all three—but
my book (a couple of his classic Spirit images are in there, too)!
Facebook is my virtual“home,”since I use it as an interactive blog throughI knew that the greatest living comic book writer, Englishman Alan Moore, out the day/night, and between my own page and my two comics history
loved The Silver Age of Comics—so much of his writing was informed by groups, I’m pretty wired-in 24/7/365, in between my regular work on the
that era, its characters, and its creators (his series Supreme was his take computer and/or the drawing board.
on the Silver Age Superman mythos). I also knew he wasn’t on email; you
had to get his snail-mail address and mail him something if you wanted a
response. Luckily, I had a comic book buddy who had interviewed Moore
for his video documentary (Masters of Comic Book Art, 1987), and he gave
me Moore’s mailing address. So, off went another package of color copies
and fan-boy love letter to Northampton, England!
24
SELF PUBLISHER MAGAZINE 2015
In addition, later this fall, I will be starting a series of eight live interactive web events (formerly known as “webinars”), based on each of the
eight artists in my book, with the new media company Midnight Media
Capture (http://midnightmediacapture.com/mmc-presents/the-silverage-of-comic-book-art- live-interactive-web-series/). I’m really excited
about this new platform to reach readers and fans of comic book art history
throughout the ‘net—and the world!