RIP, John Romita (1930-2023)

He was a great artist, but more than that, he was a great man!

John Romita has passed away at the age of 93.

He was the definitive Spider-Man artist (with all due respect to Spidey's co-creator, Steve Ditko). When I got into comics at the age of 11 in 1967, Stan Lee and John Romita's Amazing Spider-Man issue 51 (photo here) was one of my two entry points, given to me by my life-long pal, Steve Holmes.

The other photos here are from a Spider-Man 30th Anniversary event we did at Flying Colors back in 1992. John and his wife Virginia visited the shop for a signing and it was one of my favorite events in our now 35 year history.

John had a knack for making anyone feel so much better for having met him.

I'm happy to have known him if only a little bit. I was honored by the art gifts he gave me.

More than anything, the truly good people we meet along this road of life leave indelible impressions and make us better people than we were before knowing them. 

That's one heck of a legacy for John Romita... a great artist and a great man!

https://www.nytimes.com/.../14/arts/john-romita-sr-dead.html

 

(Colorizing of photos supplied by my friend Bill Bishofberger)

 

 

 

Hit the links!

Later this year, Flying Colors will hit our 35th anniversary of Slinging Comics to Concord, Contra Costa County and the Cosmos!

It's a pretty rich history (if we're allowed to humble-brag for a moment)... and parts of that history are all over the wacky and wondrous World Wide Web.

So we'd like to share some links with you, invite you to do a deeper dive into the history of this humble little comic shop... and I hope you'll see some things you'll really enjoy!

Hit the links below, heroes!

For those viewing this blog on a desktop, there's a menu on the left side of the screen. Each of those categories will illuminate a bit more of Flying Colors Comics.

1) Maybe start with a few selections from my original art collection.

2) Here's a link to some of our classic TV ads from 2003-2007!
http://www.flyingcolorscomics.com/revision8/tvads.html

3) Free Comic Book Day photos from 2006 (and more from other years at the "FCBD" tab. 

http://flyingcolorscomics.com/.../FCBD2006pics/index.html

4) More than 100 videos, including interviews with Stan Lee, Liam Sharp, Jim Lee,  Neal Adams and lots more... at the Flying Colors YouTube page. Please subscribe!

5) Love the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles... or do you just want very cool and sweet story with TMNT related characters?  You need to read Jeff Bonivert's "Muscle & Faith"published right here on FlyingColorsComics.com.


Thanks for taking a look around our site!
(Yes, we know there are some broken links. We hope to get around to updating things.)

New Exclusive Flying Colors Mount Diablo T-Shirt!

NEW! Flying Colors "In the Shadow of Mount Diablo" t-shirts!
Youth (Medium) $12.99 Adult S-XL $14.99, XXL & XXXL $19.99
Variety of colors!
Available NOW!

FCBD Prize Winners!

More than 50 fans who attended our Free Comic Book Day celebration have won
prizes!!!

Ranging in age from under 10 to over 70, and from all over Contra Costa County
--- Antioch, Bay Point, Brentwood, Clayton, Concord, Crockett, Hercules, Lafayette, Martinez, Moraga, Oakley, Pittsburg, Pleasant Hill, Vacaville, and Walnut Creek!

Visit Flying Colors soon to find out if you are one of the lucky winners! Prizes will be available until June 30, so please come in soon!

Free Comic Book Day Guest Announcement!

We're happy to announce our Flying Colors Free Comic Book Day SPECIAL GUEST is cartoonist SARAH LEUVER!

Sarah will sign from 11AM-2PM on FCBD, Saturday May 6 at Flying Colors.

Pick up our exclusive Flying Colors FCBD 2023 Sketch Edition
w/ wraparound cover by Sarah!

Copies are limited so get here early!

Jeff Smith Event at Flying Colors 4/29

We're thrilled to be hosting award-winning cartoonist/ graphic novelist JEFF SMITH on a stop on his Route 66 “Dawn of Man” 2023 Tour!

Join us Saturday April 29 at Noon!

Jeff will begin the event with a short presentation about his fantastic work on BONE, TUKI and RASL!

Sat April 15 Special Event! SHARPY-Con!

You are invited to join us for a very special event at Flying Colors.

Sat April 15 at Noon is SHARPY-Con, our final signing event with artist LIAM SHARP before he moves back to England.

Liam is the fantastic artist/writer/visionary of the Image Comics series StarHenge! He is also the current artist for Valiant Comics X-O Manowar. Over the last several years, Liam has added his dynamic visuals to several DC Comics series, including Wonder Woman, Batman/Catwoman, Green Lantern, and Brave & the Bold. 

Also joining us, making a special trip down from Portland, is artist MATT HARDING!

This week sees the debut of Matt's art in the Scout Comics' title "All The Devils Are Here!" 

"An elderly dementia patient becomes possessed by a powerful demon. In order to save him, an unconventional and mysterious exorcist, JC Garcia, must venture into his mind. Once inside, he finds far more than he bargained for! All the Devils are Here reinvents the exorcism story with a unique, emotional tale about the power of love, loss, and memory."

Who know what other surprises may be happening at Sharpy-Con?!

Be here for the fun!

Stockton California Seeks a Fantastic Place in Marvel Cinematic Universe!

Have you heard?
The City of Stockton California is petitioning Marvel Studios to follow the lead of Marvel Comics by getting Stockton into the forthcoming Fantastic Four movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. 

The original campaign I started in October 1985 was something done to promote Stockton and give some fun publicity to to KJOY, the radio station where I worked at the time, and to promote comics, notably Marvel Comics for their 25th anniversary and Al's Comics in Stockton.

The first thing I did was ask Al at Al's Comics to put up a poster I did (pretty low-fi in those days, all hand-lettered) and take names on a petition. After getting 374 signatures on the petition, I went in front of the Stockton City Council and asked them to get behind the campaign. When they approved the resolution, the media picked up on the story in big ways. Read about it HERE!

So here we are, 37 years later (I checked: it's been 13,544 days since Stan Lee stood on the steps of Stockton's City Hall to deliver the Marvel Comics proclamation), and the City of Stockton, though its convention and visitors' bureau ---"VISIT STOCKTON"--- is once again asking Marvel to recognize the city... this time in the blockbuster Marvel Cinematic Universe.

There's a new MCU Fantastic Four movie in the planning stages and it would be great if Stockton received recognition in the movie. Maybe shoot a scene or two in Stockton... or at the very least, mention Stockton by the name bestowed by Marvel Comics and Stan Lee all those years ago--- "The Official Birthplace of the Fantastic Four!"

I hope you'll join me in signing the petition at Fantastic4Stockton.com.

Way back in 19985, when Stan Lee was asked if Marvel could make the change in the company's comics, Stan said something like "It's Marvel's business to save universes on a daily basis. This is the least we can do for good ol' Stockton!"


To see video from way back when, click the links below:

1) Stockton City Council meeting, December 1985.
City Council adopts resolution asking Marvel Comics to name Stockton as the "Official Birthplace of the Fantastic Four."

2) "Stockton Live" cable access show, shot at Al's Comics on February 27, 1986. Featuring interviews with Al "Mike" Greco of Al's Comics and Joe Field (then of KJOY 1280 AM Radio). This was shot during Stan Lee's signing at Al's Comics after the City Hall ceremony when Stan Lee presented the Marvel proclamation declaring Stockton as the Birthplace of the Fantastic Four.

 3) KCRA-TV Ch3 report from Rich Ibarra, December 1985.

From the Stockton Record, February 1986

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Upcoming Events at Flying Colors Comics!

Check out these awesome events coming soon to Flying Colors Comics!
We want you here!

https://www.facebook.com/flyingcolorscomics/events

 

 

 

Stockton Featured in new Fantastic Four Movie? You can help make it happen!

 

Feature Stockton, California - Birthplace of The Fantastic Four - in the MCU's Upcoming Film

Contact:
Amy Alpers
amy@visitstockton.org
209-403-7516

Conversation opened. 1 unread message.

STOCKTON, CA (3/16/2023) – Stockton is petitioning Marvel Studios to feature Stockton, California, the birthplace of the Fantastic Four, in the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Fantastic Four film.

Thanks to a campaign in 1986,   Stan Lee (notable American comic book writer, editor, publisher, and producer) visited the steps of Stockton’s City Hall and proclaimed Stockton, California as the birthplace of the Fantastic Four. Later that year, Stockton was featured in Volume 1 Issue 296 of The Fantastic Four as the origin story of the mighty foursome. As Marvel Studios prepares to produce an upcoming Fantastic Four movie, Visit Stockton believes it’s only right to bring the Fantastic Four back to Stockton. “Stan Lee once said that Marvel is a home for all people, regardless of their race, gender, religion, or color of their skin,” says Visit Stockton CEO Wes Rhea. “We believe Stockton, being the most diverse city in the nation (according to US News), lives up to Marvel’s stance. This is a way to honor Stan’s legacy, and we can’t wait to see the impact this could have on our community and residents.” With Stockton’s long filmmaking history, once being known as “Hollywood North,” Visit Stockton welcomes the opportunity to work with Marvel Studios to highlight our city and  assets.  Stan Lee at Stockton City Hall, February 1986 To learn more about the campaign and sign the petition, visit Fantastic4Stockton.com. Follow Visit Stockton on Facebook and Instagram for all our updates, and to hear more about the importance of this initiative, listen to the newest episode of the This is Stockton podcast. # # # # Visit Stockton is the official destination marketing organization for Stockton, California. Founded in 1979 as a 501(c)6, non-profit corporation, the organization is dedicated to enhancing the region’s quality of life by collaboratively leading the promotion of our richly diverse community and advocating for initiatives that will enhance the city’s quality of place. Visit Stockton is dedicated to positively impacting the local economy through its programming and elevating civic pride, highlighting the Stockton community as a positive place to work and live. Visit Stockton is funded in partnership with local hotel properties through the Stockton Tourism Business Improvement District. More information can be found at visitstockton.org.