Ink Stains 188: The Collector 1-7

(Cover spread, front cover on right by Wilson, back cover by Bill Schelly)

The Collector 1, 2, 3/4, 5/6, 7:1967
Editor/publisher: Bill G. Wilson

 From small things! This installment covers the first 7 issues (two are double issues) of The Collector, from Bill G. Wilson. This particular column is mostly for historical significance. Usually, I tend to spotlight artists (and some writers) who started in the zines and went on to much bigger things. However, being so early in this great fanzine's run, there aren't really many of those. But at least you can view the pdfs to see where it all started! The cover illustration from issue one below the photo is most likely by Bill himself when he was, oh, maybe 12 or so (crazily, ALL of the issues in this column were done in one year, 1967). In fact, see the famous photo below that also includes people like an almost equally young Gary Groth, along with a ton of young comic pros (bill is front row in glasses, second from right). I grabbed the photo from the late John G. Fantucchio's site.

The guests all named and numbered are 1. John Verpoorten, 2. Stu Schwartzberg, 3. Bill Peckmann, 4. Jerry Bails, 5. Jean Bails, 6. Jean Thomas, 7. Roy Thomas, 8. John Buscema, 9. Tom Fagan, 10. John Fantucchio, 11. Mary Fantucchio, 12. Kathy Roberts, 13. Charlie Roberts, 14. Ellie Greim, 15. Martin L. Greim ,16. Richard "Grass" Green, 17. Arvell Jones, 18. Ed Aprill, 19. Gil Kane, 20. Hal Foster, 21. Phil Seuling, 22. Carole Seuling, 23. John Benson, 24. Bill Pearson, 25. Howard G. Groth, 26. Al Milgrom, 27. Joe Sinnott, 28. Michelle "Mike" Nolan (directly to the left of the "28"), 29. Rich Buckler (directly to the left of the "29"), 30. Ron Buckler, 31. Woody Gelman (the face directly above the "1" in "31"), 32. Greg Theakston, 33. Chester Grabowski, 34. Joseph Goggin, 35. Terry Murray, 36. Edwin Murray, 37. Bob Lewis, 38. Bill Thailing, 39. Bill Devine, 40. Stan Landman, 41. Mark Hanerfeld (Directly behind Stan - just the outline of his head is visible), 42. Eliot Wagner (face partially obscured by Len Wein), 43. Len Wein, 44. Ellen Vartanoff, 45. Irene Vartanoff, 46. Marv Wolfman, 47. Pami Texler, 48. Dick Giordano, 49. Alan Weiss, 50. Mary Skrenes, 51. Mrs. Don McGregor, 52. Don McGregor, 53. Sal Trapini, 54. Gray Morrow, 55. Jerry Weist, 56. Angelo Torres, 57. Archie Goodwin, 58. Al Williamson, 59. Tom Long, 60. Jeff Jones, 61. Gary Brown, 62. Greg Potter, 63. Jeff Potter, 64. Mark Dickson, 65. Gary Dolgoff, 66. Bill G. Wilson, 67. Gary Groth, 68. Paul Webb (partially hidden by Gary Via), 69. Gary Via, 70. Al Hewetson, 71. Pauline Goldberg, 72. Stan Goldberg, 73. Lamar Blaylock (partially obscured), 74. James Moorhead, 75. Craig Dawson, 76. Neal Tillotson, 77. Tom Watkins.

I will show the covers to all the issues, and a few spots, but there isn't that much to show, to be honest. Please feel free to see the pdfs for 1, 2, 3/4, 5/6, and 7 to see the whole story.

Marshall Lanz

(Cover spread, left back cover by Wilson, right front cover by Paul Legrazie Jr.)

It's very common to see these sorts of humble beginnings with zines that lasted as long as The Collector (29 issues, really taking off around issue 20 or so, in my opinion). These early issues are mostly composed of short articles on established characters like The Spirit, Superman, The Phantom, etc, as well as a few editorials, ads, checklists, etc. Check out the pdfs for yourself! There are a few spot illustrations here and there, such as the one at left by Fred Hembeck, long before the humorous style be became known for.

Check the main Ink Stains page on my site to see all the previous installments covering all of the other issues to see the incredible progression! Thanks this time goes out to Manny Maris, for the scans for all these early gems!

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Ken Meyer Jr.
[email protected]