T.Rex and Marvel Comics
When writer David Anthony Kraft passed away in 2021, George Pérez remembers his friend and co-creator with this eulogy.
I am deeply saddened to learn that David Anthony Kraft just passed away. Along with Bill Mantlo, Dave was one of my earliest collaborators and a generous champion when I was just breaking into the comics business. Back in the mid-1970s, Dave and I were both just newbies in the industry and I’m so grateful that, when Dave was asked to take over the lower tier “Man-Wolf” series in CREATURES ON THE LOOSE, he (along with then writer Tony Isabella) suggested me as the replacement for the vacationing penciller George Tuska. And when Dave took over as writer with my second issue, he proved to be such a creative and energized force that he spurred me on to be just as creative in my participation as his storytelling collaborator. Dave challenged me to up my game, especially when we mutated the werewolf on the run series into a character heavily involved in some pretty wonky sci-fi fantasy.
In fact, it was Dave who coined my nickname “Pacesetter” as a compliment to my still-evolving storytelling abilities. Regrettably, we only worked on a handful of other projects after the cancellation of “Man-Wolf” including an illustrated history of the Beatles and the comics adaptation of the 70s sci-fi film LOGAN’S RUN. I did a few interviews for his seminal comics zine COMICS INTERVIEW, but with time we just lost touch. I really do regret that. Those were exciting times and with Dave’s passing I feel a grand portion of my youth has gone with him. Except, that it hasn’t. The comics still exist. Whenever I’m asked to sign an issue of CREATURES ON THE LOOSE, THE BEATLES STORY or LOGAN’S RUN, I can relive those heady times when we both were young and our imagination seemed unlimited and unbridled. Rest well, Dave, and thank you so much for inspiring me to be better. |
The other mind-blowing thing about this whole thing was that the article was written by Neil Tennant, of Pet Shop Boys fame. Apparently, Tennant was Editor-In-Chief of Marvel UK from 1975-1977! Who knew?
Anyway, much of the details behind the photo of Bolan and Man-Wolf came from 2warpstoneptune.com and archive.org. You can listen to Bolan’s interview with Stan Lee on soundcloud.com.
Marc Bolan – F.F.F. (published in MARVEL COMICS MAGAZINE (1976))
The Pop World at the moment seems to be more Marvel-conscious than ever before. Allusions to Marvel Heroes and stories are found in many songs — last year Paul McCartney and Wings released a single entitled “Magneto and Titanium Man” — and album covers are sometimes designed in the style of a Marvel Comic. Even stage performances can be influenced by Comics — Alex Harvey has described his band as “the World’s only Rock and Roll Marvel Comic!” Mighty Marvel Marches on.
I recently spoke to Marc Bolan, leader and founder of T. Rex, the enormously successful band which has had no less than 16 consecutive hits since 1971. Marc has been a fan of comics, and particularly Marvel Comics, for a long time.
“I’ve been into Marvel since 1967. The Silver Surfer in particular was one I liked, Dr. Strange was another. At that time they were very weird compared to the other comics on the market, though they got more commercial since then and Stan Lee was a great writer.”
“It was nice meeting Stan last year, he was lovely to interview. Really he’s a hustler, a solid gold easy hustler! That’s just the way Comic guys should be, he’s got such a lot of energy.”
“We talked about the possibility of me creating a super-hero for him. something along the lines of Electric Warrior, a twenty-first century Conan.”
“In fact I don’t like Conan as a character — I think he should be something less of a barbarian, more like one of Michael Moorcock’s characters. You could make a much better composite character using Moorcock’s Elric, with a bit of the Silver Surfer, a bit of Thor, and create a far more
involved character, a character more in touch with now …”
“I’m a bit bored with the primeaval breed of Hero, all that’s kinda cute, but I like my super-heroes to be able to walk into discotheques just as they are. I think Luke Cage is pretty cool, actually. I like the way he always wears a headband!”
So which comics do you read now?
“I tend to like Marvel’s composite comics, but really I just buy what’s on the bookstalls — I buy anything. How’s the Titans doing? I loved the idea of that when it first came out –sticking all those characters together in one comic. I love Son of Satan. I like the idea that downstairs in his house was Hell. He could open a trap door and go down it to try to find his dad!”
“Yes, I’d like to write some comics for Marvel. I’ve actually got a book of Science Fiction stories — coming out soon — there’s a couple of super-heroes in it. One’s a God from another planet. These super-heroes aren’t really like your’s, but they could be. Stan was very into the idea of my doing this.”
Does your interest in comics extend into your songwriting?
“Yes. There was the Silver Surfer in ‘Teenage Dream’, and Doctor Strange has been in one. My new album, “Futuristic Dragon”, has a spoken introduction which sounds very much like the intro to a Doctor Strange story — lyrically it’s very much like that. Have you seen the cover of “Futuristic Dragon”? It’s rather like one of your comic covers.”
You interviewed Stan Lee on TV. Will you be doing any more television interviewing?
“I’ve been offered a late night talk show on London Weekend — sort of a Russel Harty show for freaks. I’d like to talk to science fiction writers, film directors, any one who’d really interest the kids.”
How about films?
“Again, I’ve been offered something — in fact I’ve got the backing for a project, but I don’t think I’m ready to do it yet. I’d rather wait a couple of years. Doing a film is such a big thing — it takes a year to plan.”
“David Bowie and I have written a film script together. It’s a science fiction thing, like a futuristic Knights of the Round Table. We’ve also cut eight songs together, just for pleasure really — we’re old friends you know.”
“And of course David’s wife, Angie, is trying to set up a Black Widow TV series — Stan’s very interested in this. Angie’s a big Marvel fan.”
“I think the great thing about comics, especially for kids, is that they’re great release. that’s also probably why so many rock bands like them — the’re pure escapism, aren’t they?”
After interviewing Stan Lee on Thames TV’s “Today” programme last year, Marvel Comics made Marc an F.F.F. for services beyond and above the call of duty to Marvel. We reckon he deserved it!
A Bullpen special by Neil Tennant.