Friday, May 15, 2020

RIP Martin Pasko

More bad news, Groove-ophiles. As you've no doubt heard by now, Groovy Age letterhack-turned-professional writer Martin (Pesky) Pasko passed away at age 65 this past Sunday night (May 10) of natural causes. Pasko's pro career started with a short horror tale, "Package Deal" in Creepy #51 (December 1972), although most news outlets claim his first pro job to be the Private Life of Clark Kent back-up, "The Pizzeria Peril!" in Superman #277 (April 1974). Pasko had another job, "The Great Cross-Country Cloud Race," come out that same month in Strange Sports Stories #6...check it out...















No matter which comic anyone wants to claim as Pasko's "first," the fact remains that Pasko proved to be a solid, entertaining, powerhouse of a writer who provided not only thousands of comics fans but also millions of TV fans with decades of wonderful entertainment. Besides some 30 years of classic comicbooks from a wide variety of comicbook publishers, Pasko also wrote and/or story edited over two dozen live action and cartoon shows, including Groovy Age classics like Thundarr the Barbarian and Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, right on up through Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, G.I. Joe, Roseanne, his Emmy-winning work on Batman: The Animate Series, and the fan-favorite Batman: Mask of the Phantasm

Besides being a first-rate writer, by all accounts, Pasko was a first-rate friend to folks like Alan Brennert, Paul Levitz, and many others. To all of Pasko's family, friends, and fans, our most sincere condolences.
Hey, Kids! Comics from 50 Years Ago!
May 12, 14 & 15, 1970










5 comments:

  1. I remember seeing Martin Pasko's letters in comics, but wasn't familiar with his professional credits. Sad when anyone passes away too young.

    Aside from Spidey and FF, not much came out this week 50 years ago that turns my head on the spinner rack.

    Gene Poole

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  2. Looks like this was Harvey's week to roll out a fair selection of titles fifty years ago. One wonders if Harvey & Charlton alternated their release dates in an effort to secure a market share against the Big Two, instead of an every-man-for-himself strategy that could be harder on the smaller publishers in the U.S.

    Regards,

    Chris A.

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  3. In looking over the first 125 or so covers of the Amazing Spider-Man it seems the character has gone through not only costume design modifications, but also some color changes. He started out with a deep blue, but by the time of this cover, number 87, he had a baby blue, and kept that for several years. I prefer the deep blue myself. Always loved Ditko, Romita and Gil Kane's work on Spidey, along with various other inkers on them.

    - Neil

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  4. Looking at the covers this week, I am reminded that Kirby finally got a writing credit on his Inhumans story in Amazing Adventures, and Jim Aparo's Phantom Stranger was absolutely wonderful. I am amazed DC has not collected it in any form! I also have a lot of fond memories of Martin Pasko because he was a letter writer made good! I always feel the world is a slightly dimmer place when we lose those we admire.

    Best,
    John

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    Replies
    1. Good news, John: DC has collected the entire run of Phantom Stranger in two Showcase Presents volumes. The bad news is that they're hard to find a kinda expensive.

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