Michael Anthony Carroll lives in Columbus, Ohio. His most recent works include “The Cute Ninja Tarot Deck”(a successful Kickstarter project) and “Sky Ninja,” a mini comic he created while on a vacation flight to Orlando, Florida. You can find him on Facebook at facebook.com/mackeral1964.
5). GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS COMPLETE SERIES
Doug Moench & Herb Trimpe Marvel Comics Group / 1977-1979
Briefly licensed from Toho Productions and incorporated into the continuity of the day, GKotM was my gateway to the Marvel Universe. He met pretty much everyone as he stomped his way across 24 issues, from S.H.I.E.L.D. to The Champions to The Fantastic Four to The Avengers (plus many others). Very much in the spirit of Godzilla movies of the day, and also wholly and completely a Marvel comic!
4). QUACK! #1
Various Artists / Star Reach Productions / 1976
Quack is an ‘adult underground’ style funny animal comics anthology. My stepdad bought me this one, as I wasn’t old enough to get it on my own. One of the featured stories “On the Skids” by Alan Kupperberg and Howard Chaykin, contained naturalistic, profanity laden dialogue that reminded me of actual conversations and had me laughing with tears in my eyes (they talked like my mom!). I still reference it for writing dialogue to this day, though mostly without the profanity.
3). WEIRD WAR TALES #93
J. M. DeMatteis, Pat Broderick & John Celardo DC Comics / 1980
The origin of “The Creature Commandos,” a trio of washed out soldiers are subjected to horrifying experiments. They are made to resemble classic monster archetypes and then sent out to fight in WW2! Dracula, Wolfman, and Frankenstein’s Monster fighting Hitler?!? Shut up and take my fifty cents! One of the great unmade comic book movies, with classic pulpy quotes like “…that doesn’t negate the fact that they may be the most effective secret weapon this country has ever seen!”
2). THE SUPER FRIENDS #10
E. Nelson Bridwell, Ramona Fradon & Bob Smith DC Comics / 1978
“The Monster Menace!” More monster infused fun! The ‘Friends face off against a team of creatures resembling The Universal Pictures monsters, but all is not what it seems! An entertaining twist, some clever variants on the classic characters and, of course, a moral…all in 18 pages! Also notable for being penciled by Ramona Fradon, to my knowledge one of the few women artists noticeably employed in the industry at the time.
1). THE WORKS OF MATT FEAZELL
Matt Feazell / Not Available Comics / 1980-Present
Matt Feazell is not only the creator of the first mini-comics I ever bought, but also the writer of the article that inspired me and countless others to head to the nearest photocopier to print, sell, and trade our own mini-comics. Matt has worked in the big leagues, while still remaining a feisty and scrappy independent cartoonist. I’m proud, but also humbled to call him an ongoing influence, a mentor, and a friend.