Critic's Choice Files Looks at the X-Men

"Critic's Choice Files Looks at the X-Men" volumes one & two, 1987. I have a personal connection to both of these publications in that I was the interior artist for each one. If you will indulge me, I will give some background about them and how the experience relates not only me, but possibly a legal matter between "Comics Feature" magazine and Marvel Comics Group.

These magazines, and other various "Files," "Spotight On...", and "Critic's Choice" publications from the 1980s were put out by Heroes Publishing, Inc., which was a company owned by Hal Shuster, whose other company, NMP/New Media published the fanzine "Comics Feature" from 1980-1987.

In 1986, I was a high school student who wanted to work in comics. I regularly picked up "Comics Feature" each month. As many of you know, before "Wizard" magazine and the internet, it was publications such as "Comics Feature" and "Comics Scene", and others, as well as fan-published periodicals that we fans depended on for our industry news.  When I read in CF that there had been a change in the art directors, I figured I'd send in my submission and see what happened. I didn't receive an actual rejection, but a letter which informed me that they were looking for a more cartoony style than I had sent in. So, since I didn't get a direct "no", I whipped up some more samples, sent them in, and got hired to do illustrations for the magazine, mostly for the "Fun & Profit" articles by writer Mike Benton.

After most of a year sending in my art for the magazine, and a couple of other publications by Shuster, I was given the assignment to draw the interior illustrations for the first "Critic's Choice Files Looks at the X-Men". The cover for that one was by art director Jim Keegan. At this point, while the X-Men were one of my very favorite titles I bought, I hadn't yet acquired or read the earliest "new" X-Men comics. This was back when the only reprints of those comics was just being published, "Classic X-Men", and when I got this assignment, it had yet to reprint many of the stories in "Critic's Choice Files". 

So, when I was asked to draw Nightcrawler being carried away by leprechauns, or Phoenix flying through a star gate, I didn't have any reference to draw upon! Therefore, I winged it. That first volume was also drawn close to its deadline, in the middle of the night, with me a bleary-eyed teen in high school trying to desperately finish it before shipping it in the mail the next morning. So, if you have the book, or see it in the future, please keep that in mind. LOL!

After that project, I was assigned again to the second volume. I was even more excited to do this than the previous one. Not only would I make sure I didn't procrastinate and have to rush it like the first volume, but this volume would be all John Byrne stories covered in it! Since these two books featured my artwork on every interior page, unlike "Comics Feature," where I only did a few pages each month, and this one was exclusively Byrne era X-Men stories that I was basing my art on, I couldn't wait to get my comp copies. However, I never did get my comp copies of volume two from the publisher. :-(

Now, I don't know for certain the whole deal, but as I recall it, Jim Keegan, the art director, told me that the second volume was not published due to legal action taken by Marvel. As I understand, it had to do with the use of original artwork (mine??) that Marvel had taken issue with. Hal Shuster was apparently told he had to use official Marvel art for the books. I never had any more confirmation on this matter, as Hal ceased publication of "Comics Feature" and his other publications at that point. Was there a correlation between those cancellations and Marvel's legal action? I can't say for certain.

Flash forward over a decade later... I am attending a convention in Indianapolis with my friend. I look at some books on a dealer's table and see the cover to  "Critic's Choice Files" volume two, but it didn't register immediately what the publication was that I was looking at. What had caught my attention was that John Byrne art on the cover, which I recognized as being a colored version of the piece in "The Art of John Byrne." When I realized what the title read on the cover, I thought, "Omigawd!! That's MY book!!" I asked the dealer if I could pop it open, and then I checked and verified that, YES, it was the supposedly unpublished second volume!

I don't know if Keegan was simply mistaken when he told me it was not published, or if that was what he was led to believe by Shuster, but there it was in my hands. After a quick transaction, I then owned a copy at long last.

Was THIS second volume really the publication that brought down "Comics Feature"? Was the use of my artwork in place of Marvel licensed art then thing that caused the problems? Obviously, the magazine was published and distributed nationally, but Shuster's publications did fold not long afterwards. 

I never spoke with Shuster, and never had any direct communication with him about anything. My only contacts with the editorial (or anyone at "Comics Feature") was with Keegan and co-art director Ruth Kennedy by mail and phone calls. I lived in Indiana, and they were out in California. I was able to keep touch with Keegan and Kennedy for but a short period after the magazines folded, and I was not brash enough at that age to press the matter on what happened exactly.

Anyway... For you Byrne completists out there,  that second volume has that cover with his art. I hope anyone who reads this will enjoy the background behind the books. :-)

BELOW: The interior art from "Critic's Choice Files Looks at the X-Men" volume one, including editorial instructions and preliminary sketches of unused art:

BELOW: The interior art from "Critic's Choice Files Looks at the X-Men" volume two, including editorial instructions and preliminary sketches of unused art:

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--And The Art of Matthew Hawes!!

THE CASE OF THE MISSING PEP JUG: A True Story!

Over the course of the past year, I have not have not had a lot to write here that would be considered very positive about my history with my alma mater, Evansville, Indiana's Central High School. However, since the whole matter concerning the Evansville Vanderburgh School System and Central giving me public credit and acknowledgement for my drawing of the bear mascot has finally been amicably resolved, I am more in a mood to share more pleasant stories about my experience with Central.

Interestingly, like that bear tale, this story also begins with the late David Koehler, former long-time and respected CHS faculty member. Mr. Koehler was one of the biggest boosters of Central, himself having been a past student in addition to his many years as a teacher there. In fact, he was so passionate about the school that when a graduating student from the class of 1985 took the school's beloved "Pep Jug" as some sort of parting prank, Mr. Koehler was the fellow determined to find the culprit and return the jug to its rightful home.

THE PEP JUG appears in this photo taken from the CHS Yearbook for 1977. I added the color enhancements to emphasis the jug.

Now, I'll be honest and note here that to this day I am not quite sure what the overall purpose of the Pep Jug was supposed to be. Near as I could ever fathom, it was simply used at pep rallies as a symbol of school pride. And, frankly, it seemed that most of my fellow students were not quite sure what a "Pep Jug" was. However, the whole situation fascinated me, and I decided to create a series of comic strips in my position as cartoonist for the school's newspaper "The Centralian" that would playfully satirize the mystery.

So, for your amusement I present here the harrowing serial of "The Case of The Missing Pep Jug" (NOW IN COLOR!), which ran in "The Centralian" way back in October of 1986:

NOTE: The caricatures of faculty members include (From left to right): Mr. David Koehler, Mr. Jim Wootton, and Principal Joan Finch. The gag here being that even the principal is not aware of what a "Pep Jug" is.

 The rumor as to had taken the jug had made the rounds at the school, and so I decided to "cleverly" add some clues in that final strip. As noted above, the Pep Jug was recovered, and I assume it's likely still placed somewhere within Central High to this day. As likely is that most people there still ask, "What's a Pep Jug?"


-- Matt

HEY! The Facebook page I created to help get the word out about my Central bear art credit is now being used to showcase different items of interest relating to the history of Evansville's Central High School. If you have any interest in the matter, check it out, "like" and follow the page:

History of The Central Bear: Credit Where Credit Is Due

Thanks!!

Central Bear Through The Years display -- COMPLETED!

In this video I discuss the latest news, that the display of the history of Evansville Central High's bear mascot has been reportedly completed. I also discuss bullying and the tragic story of a Central student who committed suicide due to, in part, the pressure from being bullied :

Below is the display that is now at Central High School. On Friday, January 20, 2017, the day after this blog entry has been posted, I have been invited by the EVSC to come to the school and view the display in person. I will update with photos and such when that has occurred. Thanks.