Want to hear something fantastic?
In the years before there even was a Flying Colors Comics in Concord, I was on staff at KJOY-AM Radio in Stockton CA. I worked there from 1978-1988.
In late 1985, when the 25th anniversary of Marvel Comics was just ahead, Marvel published their "official history of the Marvel Universe" in a series called MARVEL SAGA.
Reading that first issue, I was reminded Marvel placed the Fantastic Four's rocket base in a place called "Central City California" --- and a crazy thought popped in my head.
"Why is Marvel using a fake city name when they used real city names in so many other comics?" Most of the Marvel heroes were based in New York City. Peter Parker lived in the NYC borough of Queens. The West Coast Avengers were based in Palos Verdes CA, fer crying' out loud!
That's when I thought to ask Marvel to fix that continuity glitch by naming California's most central city, Stockton, as the real home of the Fantastic Four.
I had a feeling this would be a good thing for several reasons--- first, it gave the city of Stockton some much-needed positive recognition. Second, it was a boost to Marvel's 25th anniversary happenings. And third, it was a publicity boon for KJOY Radio at a time the competition among Stockton radio stations was fierce.
So on my weekly trip to Al's Comics on Pacific Avenue in Stockton, I asked Mike (aka Al Jr) if we could place a petition for fans to get behind my idea.
We gathered nearly 400 signatures and then I took the bold move to attend a Stockton City Council meeting to ask the local politicos for an official city resolution joining my campaign.
The Stockton City Council meetings were televised... and soon after my appearance there, the media started to call me. TV and radio stations, newspapers... all did stories covering this peculiar super-human interest story.
A stalwart and respected reporter for the Los Angeles Times, Charles Hillinger, interviewed me and then talked with Marvel's Stan Lee, who at that point didn't have much to do with comic books as he was trying to take Marvel into other media from his Hollywood office.
But Stan sure knew a good story especially when he could be part of one, so he got behind the Stockton campaign with enthusiasm.
Once Marvel editors and creators found a way to alter their storyline to include Stockton, an event on the steps of Stockton's City hall was planned for late February 1986.
And so, 40 years later, here we are.
* I believe the proclamation Stan delivered in 1986 is once again hanging in City Hall.
* The Fantastic Four are still included every year in Stockton's annual city plan!
* Al's Comics on Stockton's Pacific Avenue is still going strong (since 1978) with 97 year-old Al Sr behind the cash register five days a week (go see Al's!)
* Fans still talk about this story... and some even have found a way to match the cover of the original Fantastic Four #1 with the Pacific Avenue Al's location.
* More than that, outside Al's is a huge Fantastic Four mural. Super cool! Go see it!
* And this weekend (Feb 28-Mar 1)is StocktonCon, the big comic book convention run by my old KJOY friend Mike Millerick. (I'd love to be there, but life got in the way).
In a real way, this is my 40th anniversary of getting into the comics business.
After the FF campaign, Stan Lee hired me to do a bit of free-lance public relations work for his wife Joanie's first novel. That was a fun gig!
From there, I was hired to run promotions and advertising for a then-new comic book convention in Oakland which became WonderCon.
And two and a half years after that February 1986 afternoon when Stan Lee stood on the steps of Stockton's City Hall to proclaim the city as the "Official Birthplace of Marvel Comics' Fantastic Four, Flying Colors Comics & Other Cool Stuff opened in Concord CA.
So far so good?
Nah... so far, so FANTASTIC!!
In late 1985, when the 25th anniversary of Marvel Comics was just ahead, Marvel published their "official history of the Marvel Universe" in a series called MARVEL SAGA.
Reading that first issue, I was reminded Marvel placed the Fantastic Four's rocket base in a place called "Central City California" --- and a crazy thought popped in my head.
"Why is Marvel using a fake city name when they used real city names in so many other comics?" Most of the Marvel heroes were based in New York City. Peter Parker lived in the NYC borough of Queens. The West Coast Avengers were based in Palos Verdes CA, fer crying' out loud!
That's when I thought to ask Marvel to fix that continuity glitch by naming California's most central city, Stockton, as the real home of the Fantastic Four.
I had a feeling this would be a good thing for several reasons--- first, it gave the city of Stockton some much-needed positive recognition. Second, it was a boost to Marvel's 25th anniversary happenings. And third, it was a publicity boon for KJOY Radio at a time the competition among Stockton radio stations was fierce.
So on my weekly trip to Al's Comics on Pacific Avenue in Stockton, I asked Mike (aka Al Jr) if we could place a petition for fans to get behind my idea.
We gathered nearly 400 signatures and then I took the bold move to attend a Stockton City Council meeting to ask the local politicos for an official city resolution joining my campaign.
The Stockton City Council meetings were televised... and soon after my appearance there, the media started to call me. TV and radio stations, newspapers... all did stories covering this peculiar super-human interest story.
A stalwart and respected reporter for the Los Angeles Times, Charles Hillinger, interviewed me and then talked with Marvel's Stan Lee, who at that point didn't have much to do with comic books as he was trying to take Marvel into other media from his Hollywood office.
But Stan sure knew a good story especially when he could be part of one, so he got behind the Stockton campaign with enthusiasm.
Once Marvel editors and creators found a way to alter their storyline to include Stockton, an event on the steps of Stockton's City hall was planned for late February 1986.
And so, 40 years later, here we are.
* I believe the proclamation Stan delivered in 1986 is once again hanging in City Hall.
* The Fantastic Four are still included every year in Stockton's annual city plan!
* Fans still talk about this story... and some even have found a way to match the cover of the original Fantastic Four #1 with the Pacific Avenue Al's location.
* More than that, outside Al's is a huge Fantastic Four mural. Super cool! Go see it!
* And this weekend (Feb 28-Mar 1)is StocktonCon, the big comic book convention run by my old KJOY friend Mike Millerick. (I'd love to be there, but life got in the way).
In a real way, this is my 40th anniversary of getting into the comics business.
After the FF campaign, Stan Lee hired me to do a bit of free-lance public relations work for his wife Joanie's first novel. That was a fun gig!
From there, I was hired to run promotions and advertising for a then-new comic book convention in Oakland which became WonderCon.
And two and a half years after that February 1986 afternoon when Stan Lee stood on the steps of Stockton's City Hall to proclaim the city as the "Official Birthplace of Marvel Comics' Fantastic Four, Flying Colors Comics & Other Cool Stuff opened in Concord CA.
So far so good?
Nah... so far, so FANTASTIC!!
