Well, here we are...five years on, more or less. Actually, it was May of 1994 when this publication first made its’ appearance with a run of 200 copies, but since this IS issue #60, I guess we can consider this our Fifth Anniversary.
Welcome to the party, one that features not just one but TWO great interviews. One is with SHEBA creator Walter S. Crane IV and the second with Aaron Lopresti, who is known for his work on Malibu's SLUDGE, DC's JSA revamp and his forthcoming ATOMIC TOYBOX.
The first issue cost twenty-five cents, was a whopping 4 pages in size 10 type. The big new stories, in the comics world, was that DC was planning its’ big crossover event, ZERO HOUR, KNIGHTSEND was going into full swing, Marvel and Archie were working on their PUNISHER/ARCHIE team-up, and Valiant was ripping into CHAOS EFFECT. There was a lengthy review of the Malibu Ultraverse(yes, Malibu did exist as its’ own company back then) and a mini-review of Busiek and Ross’ MARVELS.
Over the next five years, we stirred up controversy (hell, we pissed a whole lot of people off), covered the industry as best we could, reviewed some really cool books and did a bunch of interviews with some of the nicest creators out there. Along the way we grew from four pages at a quarter to 12 pages at sixty cents. And our fan base fluctuated along the way; starting with distribution in two comic shops, mushrooming to five and then finally shrinking back to the one lone supporter; a shop who has been w ith us since day one. What began as 200 copies off the bat has now dwindled down to a mere 50.
We ran some subscriptions for a time to one or two folks, provided lots of mailed out copies to professionals and long distance friends, set up an internet site, went to Vermont to hang out with the Indy crowd, sponsored our OWN Indy comic show, had our name splashed in several comic publications and ads in Diamond Previews (the neatest one was the one which ran for Jimmy Gownley’s SHADES OF GREY...right under a quote by DAVE SIM. As Mike Keane would say if he were writing this: “How cool is that?”< P> So here we are, five years later. Jay Carreiro is at law school, Mike Keane and Mark Lopes are getting married(no, not to each other) in 2000, John Turn is working for Blockbuster, and Chris Serpa...well, we last saw Chris almost 4 plus years ago as he was heading for Cape Cod.
And me?
A lot has happened in five years. Friends have been made and lost. Other friendships have been renewed. I lost my mom, but got family back in the process. I have the honor of being involved in the Video Excellence experience with two of the coolest, craziest and most supportive guys I know. I still have the most supportive wife in the world, who has put up with me during some of my worst bouts of depression and rage. And a cat who can’t WAIT for me to work on an issue, as it means she’s good to go to slee p on my lap for a few hours.
And in five years, I never missed a self-imposed deadline.
I work a full time job, work several nights a week at the studio, have varying shoots on weekends(especially during the spring and summer months), hang out with friends and family, write, paint, help maintain the household chores, etc. And, after spending a very long day shooting the return of Battleship Massachusetts followed by a trip to work to do a weekend ad change(with the help of my lovely and abled assistant/wife) and then a trip into Providence to dump over my video footage for use at a local news station, I discovered something I knew all along but just wouldn’t admit: I don’t have time for me for this publication anymore.
Yeah, you heard right-this is the LAST monthly issue of the PODIUM. For now, at least.
I won’t say it has become a hassle, but it sure has started to feel like a bit of an albatross as of late. I find myself rushing to make my deadlines and to get this "rag" out "on time". It usually happens on the last weekend of the month and it goes together in three days or so. Three days where I lock myself away from friends and family and just do what I have to do. And I’ve found I just can’t do it anymore.
The internet has grown by leaps and bounds since this whole thing started and, as a recent conversation with Dan Chichester confirmed (thanks Dan. In your own way, whether you know it or not, you helped me come to this decision) one could hit the web and get all the news we print a lot sooner than we actually print it. This wasn’t a knock on his part. In actuality, it was very complimentary, as Dan admitted that he read every issue I ever sent him from cover to cover.
High compliments from someone I deeply respect. High compliments indeed.
And Dan’s not alone. I know, through conversations I’ve had with Mario Miranda, Holden and Shelley Morris, Barry Blair, Joe Zabel and others, that our collective work DOES get read. And the fact that so many, including a lot of fans, read our work is extremely encouraging.
But my lack of free time, the expense (something which, no matter how small, my household has had to absorb since the beginning) and my recent lack of focus have all helped to bring this monthly run to an end. In fact, I had planned to pull the plug on this venture shortly after issue #50. But my mom’s death shortly after that issue appeared changed all of that. I was renewed to keep this thing going as long as possible. It was something she was proud I had begun and was proud that I continued to pursue. I wanted to continue it to keep her spirit and memory alive.
I have since discovered that, when all is said and done, her spirit and memory will always live in me. And I don’t need to keep publishing this venture to do that.
I need to walk away from this whole thing for a while. Maybe a month. Maybe six months. Maybe a year. Maybe I’ll never come back to it. All I know is that it’s taking far too much of far to little free time for it to go on this way. Think of it a closure-one less thing to have to collect in a collection which probably already has far too much in it.
As I said earlier, this is the last MONTHLY issue. If time and contributions allow, we may come bouncing back from time to time. Maybe do an issue with nothing but interviews and reviews. Maybe we’ll do a special ‘end of the century’ edition on the eve of the millennium that will feature commentary and observations. Maybe something completely different. Maybe even a COLOR cover on the newsstand edition(hey Eric-knew that would get your attention). I couldn’t make this good-bye speech without thanking a bunch of people. Starting with the creators (in no particular order): Barry Blair, Colin Chan, Jerry Ordway, Oscar Stern, Joe Zabel, Rob Walton, Evan Dorkin, Michael Cohen, Holden and Shelley Morris, Dan Chichester, Terry Moore, Mario Miranda, and of course, Dave Sim. All have been great inspirations and wonderful friends who, without this publication, I probably would NEVER have had the chance to meet or strike up a friendship with any of them.
Thanks to Steve Souza II, who came up with the idea to do what became known as F.E.M.A.L.E. and constantly pushed me to take to the next level.
Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this including the previously mentioned creators and such folks as Craig Shepard, Len Mihalovich, Eric Lebow, Gabe Crate, Dave Smith, Craig Taillefer, Phil Miller, and Bryan Talbot.
To Wayne Q., who has been with this thing since the beginning and has managed to get this into the hands of a whole lot of comic fans who would never have had the pleasure.
To Tony who I have been lucky enough to engage in discussions and debates about comics, wrestling and fandom.
To Zoo Man, who has, to my knowledge, the only COMPLETE PODIUM collection other than yours' truly. He has every issue, every variant...everything.
Thanks to Russ Dougherty and Dave Johnston for kicking me in the ass when needed and being there as both influences and friends.
Thanks to Lobo and Wanker: two good friends who, among other things, are equally bummed that Fudruckers has left New England!
Thanks to Eric Anctil for being my cousin, a friend, a brother, and a bad influence. Just kidding!
To my dad for supporting me and for my wife for dealing with me-I love you both.
And to everyone I may have forgotten: thanks a million! Without all of you, none of this would mean a thing.
I always HOPED to pull a Lee/Kirby FANTASTIC FOUR and take it to 100. But I don’t feel so bad. SO many creators have tried to reach that mark and haven’t. Kudos to Dave Sim for almost tripling it!
So where do I go from here? Well, I will continue writing. I’m currently at work on writing DLM2 and am also looking at turning ELECTRIC FAME, long ago set into a file drawer with my collection of rejection letters, into a screenplay. I figure that’ll keep me out of trouble for awhile.
Well that’s all for now. I’ve finally run out of things to say. No more rants from the bridge. No more shots from the hip. And, until we hook up again, keep reading, keep dreaming and keep yourself safe and sane. We’ll meet again somewhere..