'Marvel Fanfare' #12

'Marvel Annfare'

(Above:Back cover for 'Marvel Fanfare' #12)

Since the multimillion blockbuster 'Captain America' movie was released last weekend, I thought it was a good time to look at another AEM story that (sort of) featured Cap.

A little background on this series:

'Marvel Fanfare' was launched in late 1981 (#1 was cover dated March 1982). It was an anthology series printed on glossy Baxter paper. Most issues contained more than one story.

The Editor for the series was long-time writer-artist Al Milgrom. At the beginning of every issue, the inside cover featured a comic strip called 'Editori-Al', where Milgrom(who also drew the strips) spoke directly to the reader. Here's one, from 'Marvel Fanfare' #5:

And Milgrom was usually featured in the corner on most issues of the series too:

Since the book's Editor also served as its "mascot", 'Fanfare' was more AEM-ready than any other title!

But back to #12, starting with the cover. The Black Widow is the main attraction(since the first story of this issue is part 3 of a 4-part Widow story), and it's a "normal" story.

But the corner box shows Milgrom getting pushed aside by Assistant Editor Ann Nocenti, who was featured in an earlier post.


With Editor Milgrom "away" at the Comic-con, Nocenti also takes over his strip, renaming it 'Editori-Gal'. We get appearances from several Marvel creators pitching ideas for future 'Marvel Fanfare' stories. She approves all the story proposals and acting as Editor of 'Fanfare' seems to come naturally and easily to Nocenti.
Check out the "sketch" of Longshot behind Nocenti in the 2nd panel, 2 years before the character mad his debut!

After the Black Widow story, we get to 'Marvel Annfare', written by Nocenti and Roger Stern, with Milgrom providing the art. It sort of picks up where 'Editori-Gal' left off.
Stern rushes in to Nocenti's office.

Stern's upset because no Editors are present and he has ideas he wants to pitch to them. The Assistant Editors don't have the authority to approve of future storylines beyond AEM. Stern is worried he won't be able to get ahead of schedule, which was rare in those days. Nocenti points out that he has extra time to work on an upcoming Captain America story that will be published in 'Fanfare'.
Stern is too depressed to write the story, so Nocenti decides he needs inspiration. She (literally) breaks out a Captain America costume for Stern to wear, hoping to spark his creativity.
Check out panel 3 on the above page for a horrible pun about Thor's Uru Hammer!

Stern dons the Cap suit, and Nocenti is impressed with how great it looks on him!


Until she realizes she was looking at the real Cap, who pops in for a cameo. Stern looks silly in the ill-fitting costume, but Nocenti keeps offering encouragement:

Stern used to write Cap's series and remembers that Cap's principles not his strength & agility were his defining characteristic. He waxes poetic about Cap being a symbol for the qualities that make America great. Stern then gets a little gung-ho and throws Cap's shield around the Marvel offices.
The shield bounces off walls and eventually out the window into the garbage. After debating about what sound effect the shield made when it hit the dumpster, they go outside to retrieve it, but are frightened by what they see.


They stumble on a gang of tough, scary looking vandals who are defacing Marvel's exterior walls! One of them pulls the shield out of the dumpster and Stern is reluctant to ask him to give it back. Nocenti tells him to embrace his inner-Captain America and reason with the vandals.

Much to his surprise, "Captain Ameri-Stern" is able to talk down the vandals and actually convinces them to take pride in their city. They proceed to clean their graffiti off the walls!

They return inside, Stern takes off the suit. He is ready to write the Cap story and thanks Nocenti for aiding the creative process. But suddenly a package from Al Milgrom arrives. It's a stack of Avengers stories for Stern, so the 'Captain America' story is pushed to the back burner.

Feeling a sense of accomplishment, Nocenti returns to her desk. Suddenly, another writer rushes in with a similar problem:It's Bill Mantlo! His proposal for a Rocket Raccoon/Jack Of Hearts team-up has been turned down by Marvel. Nocenti realizes that she's in for a long day, and she has learned that being a full-time Editor is hard work. The end.

Another funny story from AEM. I love the "Orphan Annie" eyes that Milgrom gives Nocenti. It was nice to flashback to the old Marvel Bullpen and the cameos of 80s creators (including the late Frank Springer).

And while we're on the subject of Stern & Captain America, I recommend all readers pick up the Captain America tpb called 'War And Remembrance', written by Stern. I contains some of the all-time best Cap stories!

The issue ends with 'Robbie's Page'. 'Fanfare' normally ended with 'Shooter's Page', a column written by Editor In Chief Jim Shooter. He would talk about the industry, offer commentary on comics, storytelling techniques, stuff like that. But since it's AEM, this month's edition was written by Marvel Colorist Robbie Carosella. He talks about his work in the Marvel Stat room and the Marvel Softball team, which he managed at the time.

Coming up next:
Indiana Jones And The Raiders Of The Late Book!

'Captain America' #289

'Bernie America, Sentinel Of Liberty'

Hi again, today’s post focuses on Bernadette “Bernie” Rosenthal, Captain America’s longtime girlfriend.

The Assistant Editor for this issue was Mike Carlin.  For those unfamiliar with his work, Carlin has worked as a writer and editor in comics for most of the past four decades.  In the 1990s, he worked for DC and served as editor on their Superman books. During his time at DC, Carlin oversaw  the famous "The Death Of Superman"  saga.  But let’s get back to Bernie!

Bernie Rosenthal was created by Roger Stern & John Byrne and first appeared in Captain America #248 back in 1980.  She was a glass blowing artist, described in her official Marvel bio as "one of the most talented glass blowers in the New York metroplex".

Bernie was more than an intellectual match for Steve Rogers and often teased him about his interest in 40s films & music.  Eventually, she discovered that Steve was secretly Cap, and the two were engaged to be married for a while.  Their relationship ended when Bernie left New York to attend law school.  Nothing against Diamondback and the Carter sisters, but for my money, Bernie was the best love interest Cap ever had.  The “Mary Jane” to his “Spider-Man”, if you will.  I was sorry to see her get written out of the book.  I don’t follow current comics, but I hear Bernie recently returned for a spell as Bucky’s lawyer and still enjoys a friendship with Cap.

As for this issue, let’s start with the cover at the top of this post. In the corner box, Cap has his back turned.  He's being menaced by Mo-Skull (an amalgam of Red Skull and MODOK), while Bernie America rushes in to save him!

The guys in the window are the creative team for the issue.  I didn’t know who was who, so I asked writer J.M. DeMatteis about it, he was kind enough to answer my question on his blog:

“(T)hat's me in the dark glasses, Mike Carlin right in front of me in the green shirt. Mike Zeck is the guy with the beard and glasses and our inker, John Beatty, is right behind him.”

A little background: In issue #286, Steve & Bernie are on their way to visit her parents. Steve spies Deathlok and leaves Bernie to tail him, saying he'll be at her parents' house by the next morning, which upsets Bernie.  The main story in #289 is straightforward, finishing up a multi-part time travel epic.  But on the last page, Cap runs off:

Which leads to the back-up feature.  It's introduced by Mike Carlin, dressed as the Watcher!  We see Bernie at her parents' house, daydreaming about Steve’s life as Captain America, wondering how Steve would feel if their roles were reversed.   She falls asleep and we get to see Bernie's dream!

“Bernie America” attends a meeting with her fellow Avengers at their mansion, when suddenly they're  attacked by Mo-Skull!  Yep, Bernie's subconscious has combined Cap's foes MODOK and the Red Skull into an amalgam villain.

Bernie easily defeats Mo-Skull (I love the way he simply walks away!), and Steve Rogers shows up. He wants to have a “State of the Relationship” talk with Bernie.

In the middle of their conversation, Bernie hears a call for help and runs off to save the day.  Steve weeps over playing second fiddle to Bernie's crime fighting career.  That's when Bernie's sister Nancy wakes her up and announces that she has a visitor!  It's Steve!  They embrace and Bernie is thankful that her "Bernie America" adventure was just a dream.

I'd say Bernie is also telling the readers, not just Steve, that being a superhero isn't easy, and being in a relationship with one is no picnic either.

Here's one last quote from DeMatteis about this issue:

"I still have a ridiculous fondness for that "Bernie America" story."

And so do I, 28 years later!  I've had many dreams where something is just not quite right, people or places sometimes get combined (like Mo-Skull).

A big "thank you" goes out to J.M. DeMatteis for answering my "fanboy" questions about this issue and I also want to thank him, Mike Zeck, John Beatty and Mike Carlin for giving us such a fun & memorable little story.

Next:

What does Rom do when he's not fighting the Dire Wraiths? Check back here in a few days to find out!

J.A.