166. Letter from Louis Black on November 2, 2002. All quotes from Black in this chapter are taken from this letter.
167. Letter from Otto Binder to Michael Uslan, undated.
CHAPTER 15—TOUGH SLEDDING
168. Steve Duin and Mike Richardson, Comics Between the Panels (Oregon: Dark Horse Comics, 1998), 464.
169. Alfred Drake, “A Memo to DC’s Publisher 1966,” Alter Ego 3, no.17 (September 2002): 22.
170. Interview with Otto Binder on October 29, 1973.
171. Letter from Otto Binder to Jerry Bails on September 27, 1965: “Mighty Samson … is seemingly going great, running over 70 percent of print-order, which is somewhat sensational. Just did script [for] #6.”
172. Letter from Otto Binder to Jerry Bails is undated, but the reference to the debut of Creepy magazine from Warren Publishing occurred in late 1964.
173. Roy Thomas, “Ghost Writers In The Sky,” Alter Ego 3, no. 20 (January 2003): 9–29. All quotes from this panel are from this published transcript.
174. Author’s interview with Jack C. Harris, June 2002.
175. Ibid.
176. “Talk of the Town—ComiCon,” The New Yorker. (August 21, 1965): 23.
177. Letter from Otto Binder to Jerry Bails on August 14, 1965.
178. Jon B. Cooke, “Thrilling Harvey Heroes” by Lou Mougin, Comic Book Artist no. 19 (June 2002): 19.
179. Email to author from Ted White, July 10, 2003.
180. Ibid.
181. Letter from Otto Binder to John Benson dated April 22, 1966.
182. Letter from Binder to Benson, undated. Per Binder’s suggestion, Wendell Crowley was invited but declined to attend in his letter to Benson on July 22, 1966.
183. Ibid.
184. According to Otto Binder’s records, he began writing assignments for NASA in 1965.
185. Jerome Clark, The UFO Book: Encyclopedia of the Extraterrestrial (Michigan: Visible Ink Press, 1997), 412.
186. Email from Louis Black on September 2, 2003.
187. Otto Binder, What We Really Know About Flying Saucers (Connecticut: Fawcett Gold Medal Books, 1967), 98.
188. Ibid, 130.
189. Interview with Otto Binder on October 29, 1973.
190. Otto Binder, What We Really Know About Flying Saucers, 82.
191. Matt Lage, “Visual Expression,” interview with Will Lieberson, Fawcett Companion, ed. P. C. Hamerlinck, 97.
192. All quotes are from the letter from Otto Binder to Will Lieberson that is undated (ca. late 1966).
193. Matt Lage, “Visual Expression,” interview with Will Lieberson, Fawcett Companion, ed. P. C. Hamerlinck, 97.
194. Bob Cosgrove, “Journey to the Rock of Eternity,” interview with Jack and Otto Binder, ed. Martin Greim, Comic Crusader no. 15 (1973): np.
CHAPTER 16—MARY
195. All quotes attributed to Patricia Turek are from an interview with the author on October 18, 2002.
196. Author’s interview with William Woolfolk on June 29, 2002.
197. Email from Michael Cassiello on May 3, 2015.
198. Otto Binder, “10,000,000 UFO Witnesses can’t be wrong!,” Mechanix Illustrated (June 1967): 61.
199. Murphy Anderson, Mike W. Barr, John Broome, Mark Evanier, Julius Schwartz, “I Think I Was A Natural-Born Comic Writer,” Alter Ego 3, no. 60 (July 2006): 39.
200. Dennis O’Neil, “The Man of Steel and Me,” Superman at Fifty, ed. Dennis Dooley and Gary Engle (New York: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1987), 47–8.
201. Letter from Otto Binder to Louis Black dated November 30, 1968.
202. Letter from Otto Binder to Richard Lupoff dated December 2, 1969.
203. Email from Mark Evanier dated July 25, 2003.
204. Email from Clark Dimond dated June 2, 2015.
205. Binder also wrote three horror stories that appeared in Major’s For Monsters Only. These stories, all drawn by Jerry Grandenetti, garnered little attention (and still haven’t) probably because owner/editor Robert Sproul put them in the back of a monster magazine, where one wouldn’t expect to find comics stories. They appeared in For Monsters only no. 6 (January 1969), no. 7 (April 1969) and no. 8 (July 1969), indicating that Binder had already worked for Sproul, which means he may have heard of Web of Horror directly from the publisher. Thanks to Steve Bissette for pointing the author to the For Monsters Only stories, which were modern twists on Frankenstein, Dracula, and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
206. Email from Michael T. Gilbert dated April 3, 2003.
207. Facebook message from J. Michael Kaluta on June 3, 2015.
208. Jon B. Cooke, “The Bernie Wrightson Interview,” Comic Book Creator no. 7 (May 2015): 54.
CHAPTER 17—A NEW LIFE
209. Author’s interview with Roy Thomas on July 8, 2002.
210. Jim Steranko, History of Comics, Vol. 2, 21.
211. Author’s interview with Patricia Turek on October 18, 2002.
212. Author’s interview with Michael Uslan on August 30, 2002.
213. Email from Dennis Cresswell dated April 21, 2003.
214. Letter from Otto Binder to Louis Black dated March 22, 1969.
215. “Very Good” condition comic books, which show signs of wear, are worth much less than comics in “Mint” condition, which are blemish-free.
216. Author’s interview with Bonnie Mundy on March 1, 2003.
217. Author’s interview with Roy Thomas on July 8, 2002.
218. Letter from Ione Binder to Jerry and Jean Bails dated November 1, 1971.
219. Author’s interview with Patricia Turek on October 18, 2002.
220. Otto Binder, “Secret Messages from UFOs,” Saga’s UFO Special Vol. III, 1972, 46. Another ufologist named Maurice Chatelain, an engineer who worked on installing the Apollo communications system, claimed to have inside information about the Apollo 11 mission and UFOS, in his book Our Ancestors Came from Outer Space (1980).
221. Timothy Good, Above Top Secret (Quill: 1989).
222. Jim Steranko, History of Comics, Vol. 2, 21.
223. Letter from Patrick O’Connor dated February 21, 2003.
224. Ibid.
225. Letter from Otto Binder to Larry Lattanzi dated May 12, 1968.
226. Matt Lage, “We Were More or Less Inspired,” Fawcett Companion, ed. P. C. Hamerlinck, 62.
227. Bob Cosgrove, “Journey to the Rock of Eternity,” interview with Jack and Otto Binder, ed. Martin Greim, Comic Crusader no. 15 (1973): np.
228. Ibid.
229. Ibid.
230. Ibid.
231. Letter from Louis Black on November 2, 2002.
CHAPTER 18—THE SOUNDS OF SILENCE
232. All quotes from this meeting were taken from the tape-recording made when Tom Fagan, J. Randolph Cox, and Frank Miller visited Otto Binder on October 29, 1973.
233. All quotes from Frank Miller are from an email received from Miller on July 2, 2003.
234. All quotes from Tom Fagan are from the author’s interview with Fagan on August 18, 2002.
235. All quotes from J. Randolph Cox are from the author’s interview with Cox on September 5, 2002.
236. Bertil Falk, from Internet article at www2.sbbs.se/hp/bfalk/bind.htm.
237. Ibid.
238. All quotes from Max Flindt are from the author’s interview with Flindt on July 19, 2002.
239. Since Binder passed away two weeks after the book’s October 1, 1974 publication date, he didn’t live long enough to find out how it sold, or to receive the royalty check. (Those monies went to Ione Binder. He did send out copies to friends, so we know he received a supply of Mankind: Child of the Stars in advance.)
240. Jeffrey Mishlove, PhD, The PK Man (Virginia: Hampton Roads Publishing Company, Inc., 2000), 140.
241. Otto Binder, “Ted Owens—Flying Saucer Missionary,” Saga’s UFO Special Vol. III (1972): 35.
242. From a copy of the Binder letter in Ted Owens’ files, provided to the author by Jeffrey Mishlow, PhD.
243.
Jeffrey Mishlove, PhD, The PK Man, 141.
244. Author’s interview with Max Flindt on July 19, 2002.
CHAPTER 19—LEGACY
245. Three separate plaques are affixed to the marker, one for Otto, Ione and Mary. There is room for a fourth plaque for Robert Binder, who is still alive.
246. Author’s interview with Patricia Turek on October 18, 2002.
247. Letter from Ione Binder to C. C. and Hildur Beck dated July 24, 1978.
248. Letter from Jack Binder to C. C. Beck dated December 23, 1983.
INDEX
Page numbers in italics indicate photos.
A
Academy of Comic Book Fans and Collectors, 11
Ace Magazines, 73, 77
ACG (American Comics Group), 161
Ackerman, Forrest J., 31, 52
Action Comics, 47, 78, 147, 148, 149, 165, 166, 167, 168, 169
Adam Link Robot, 132, 195
Adam Link stories, 9, 11, 13, 57, 60–61, 62, 63–65, 68, 107, 131, 132, 140, 141, 143, 145, 181–83, 184, 185–86, 193, 195–96, 197, 210, 217, 220, 280, 284
“Adaptability,” 146
Adkins, Dan, 247
Adventure, 18
Adventure Comics, 122, 152, 154, 162, 164, 165
Adventures into the Unknown, 161
Adventures of Captain Marvel (movie serial), 6, 175, 217, 254
Adventures of Superman (TV series), 147, 149
All-American Comics, 117, 140
Allard, Al, 75, 76, 84
All in Color for a Dime, 175, 281
All-Star Comics, 177
All-Story, 18
Almuric, 55–56, 131
Alter Ego, 11, 121, 187, 190, 191–97, 199, 261
Amazing Mystery Funnies, 67
Amazing Stories, 19, 20, 21, 23, 25, 30–31, 34, 37, 54, 56, 57, 60, 61, 62, 63, 68, 88, 183, 185, 196
America’s Best Comics, 73
America’s Greatest Comics, 92, 109
“The Ancient Secret,” 183
“The Ancient Voice,” 41
Anderson, Murphy, 178, 179
Anglo-American Publishing, 98–99
Anton York stories, 11, 12, 196
Apollo 11, 249–51
Argosy, 18, 29, 30, 129
Armstrong, Neil, 249, 250
Asimov, Isaac, 131–32, 174, 196, 201, 284, 286
Atwood, Margaret, 253
The Avengers Battle the Earth-Wrecker, 220, 221
B
Bails, Jean, 247, 285
Bails, Jerry, 11, 181, 187–90, 208, 210, 214–15, 218, 229, 244, 247, 258, 263, 285
Bald, Ken, 72
Ballantine Books, 219–20
Bantam Books, 220–21, 233
Barry, Sy, 148
Batman, 76, 81, 84, 147, 162, 214, 220
Batman (TV show), 206, 225
Beardsley, John, 87, 88, 89, 97
Beatty, Ann, 253
Beck, Calvin, 201–2, 230
Beck, C. C. (Charles Clarence), 3, 74, 76, 77, 82, 83, 84–86, 87, 90, 94, 101, 103, 106, 113, 114, 117, 120, 137, 138, 139, 197, 217, 225, 226, 227, 255–57, 267, 268, 281, 282, 286
Beck, Hildur, 268
Bell-McClure, 178
Belmont Books, 196, 233, 234, 251
Benson, John, 7, 221–23, 286
Berkeley, Edmund C., 165–66
Bernstein, Robert, 161
Berry, D. Bruce, 183, 184, 185, 186
Bessemer, Henry, 15
Bessemer, Michigan, 14–15, 22, 25
Billy Batson. See Captain Marvel
Binder, Bonnie (Jack’s daughter). See Mundy, Bonnie Binder
Binder, Eando (pseudonym), 1, 3, 19, 22–23, 26–27, 30, 32, 48–50, 55, 68, 74, 78, 88, 107, 129, 130, 132, 143, 184, 186, 195, 196, 291
Binder, Earl (brother)
birth of, 14
childhood of, 16
moves to Chicago, 17
death of, 230, 261
English abilities of, 22
as half of “Eando Binder,” 1, 19, 26–27, 48–50, 291
personality of, 55
photos of, 26, 116
recreational activities of, 20
relationship between Otto and, 55
as solo writer, 54, 55
Binder, Ione Turek (wife), 4–7, 68, 69, 70, 88, 100, 109, 111–13, 114, 116, 117, 133–35, 156–58, 173, 175, 179, 198–200, 229, 231, 233, 236, 241–42, 243, 245–48, 259, 268, 275, 279, 280, 282, 283
Binder, John “Jack” (brother)
birth of, 14
childhood of, 14, 16
moves to Chicago, 16–17
as milk deliveryman, 20
moves to New York, 45–47, 67
begins comic book production shop, 71–72, 76
during World War II, 112–13
after demise of production shop, 122, 169–70
on death of niece Mary, 233
later years of, 245–46
death of, 282–83
creativity of, 16, 17, 20
home of, 70, 71
personality of, 20, 259
photos of, 22, 71, 114, 115
physical appearance of, 259
Binder, Marie (mother), 13, 14, 17, 55, 91, 134, 172, 230
Binder, Marie “Mitz” (sister), 14
Binder, Mary (daughter), 5, 6, 7, 134, 135, 156, 157, 172, 199, 200, 227, 228, 229–30, 231, 232–33, 235, 241, 254, 261, 263, 279, 280
Binder, Michael, Jr. “Curley” (brother), 14, 16, 72
Binder, Michael, Sr. (father), 13, 14, 16, 17, 55
Binder, Olga (Jack’s wife), 20, 45, 47, 70, 71, 113, 114, 115, 134, 157, 245, 282
Binder, Otto. See also individual works
birth of, 15
childhood of, 15–16, 17
in high school, 20
in college, 21, 26, 30
as literary agent in New York, 36–43
becomes freelance writer, 48
begins writing for comic books, 65, 67–68, 71–74, 76–79
meets and marries Ione Frances Turek, 68, 69, 70
during World War II, 92–93, 97–99
with National Comics, 147–56, 159–69, 174, 180
as editor of Space World, 172–76, 178–80, 222–23, 275
returns to DC Comics, 204–5, 208
on death of daughter Mary, 230, 232–33, 241, 254, 263
ceases work at DC Comics, 235–37, 241
death of, 276, 279
alcohol and, 115–16, 135, 229, 233, 254
awards for, 283, 284
caricature of, 94
as Chicago Cubs fan, 50
comic book bibliography of, 297–301
comic book style of, 108–9, 206, 208
communicating with the dead, 261–63
driving ability of, 201
with fans, 31–32, 175–76, 180–83, 187–95, 197–202, 210, 213–18, 221–22, 258–66
friends and colleagues of, 285–87
grave of, 279, 280
height and weight of, 21
hobbies and recreational activities of, 16, 20, 50, 114–15, 124, 156, 248
home of, in Englewood, New Jersey, 111, 112, 113, 172–73, 241
income of, 100, 205
influences on, 18–20, 29–30, 254
legacy of, 11–12, 279–84
nonfiction science writing of, 170–71, 177, 215, 223
personality of, 20, 64–65, 88, 217, 259, 277, 284
philosophy of life of, 265
photos of, iv, vii, 4, 7, 22, 26, 35, 52, 53, 56, 91, 112, 114, 116, 135, 217, 243
physical appearance of, 21, 116–17, 229, 259
political leanings of, 63, 203
prolific writing of, 11, 54–55, 99–100, 265
pronunciation of last name of, 5, 13
pseudonyms of, 1, 2, 54–55, 268–69
radio and television appearances of, 177–78
science fiction bibliography of, 291–96
with the Science Fiction League, 32, 34
UFO interest of, 9, 1
3, 178, 223–26, 234–35, 246, 248–51, 265
working method of, 94–95, 158
Binder, Robert (son), 156–57, 172, 236
Otto Binder: The Life and Work of a Comic Book and Science Fiction Visionary Page 29