There are a couple of other original pages you did that’s on my site, I really enjoy them!! Oh, before I forget, do you know about how many sketch cards you did for the Marvel Legends Iron man Level 1 series? I appreciate your time!!

Big Fan,
Tim 

Dear Tim,

The drawing on the card you obtained is of my design for the Crimson Dynamo.

I was asked by a former Valiant associate (and current Honcho at Topps Trading Cards) to do a series of forty chase cards for that Marvel series of collectables.

Well—thirty-nine more cards to account for.  If any of you other readers have one, send me a jpeg and we’ll display ‘em right here.

I met you during those many Creation Cons back around 1983-84. I started college in1985 and not kept up with comic world much over these 20 years. Just wanna drop a note to tell you that those days were happy ones for me and I want to thank you and guys like Brent Anderson for them. I did buy a few pieces of original art including one from your Iron Man run. You were one of the nice guys and took time out to really talk with the fans! (Not like some guy named Neal....)

While surfin' the net I took a look at e-bay and was amazed by the prices original arts were going for... That was how I was pulled back into comic books again. Ha, ha... I just want you to know that the page you sold me will not be for sale. It actually means something to my life story.  (I am in the process of selling the one by Neal....)

By the way, I went to the Wizard Con in Philly last year and I hope you will be a guest this year! I've decided that I should refuse to grow up and get back into this stuff if only this time my mom will not force me to sell my collection!

Much thanks,

John Cheung  

Dear John (sounds like we’re breaking up—doesn’t it?)

Thanks for  letter. I appreciate your taking the time to write me—just to throw out some kudos.

I didn’t make it to many conventions last year, only because my duties at Future Entertainment took up so damn much of my time.

And now--I’m mostly involved in creating and producing film and television properties (with my ol’ pal David Michelinie) and I have little free time for much else.

I have been invited to attend a convention in Paris, France this fall and I'm sincerely looking forward to meeting all of my fans there. (Apparently, Hercules was a big hit over there in the 80's).  Who knows--I could become the comic industry's answer to Jerry Lewis.:) 

Anyway, keep the faith (and that I.M. page) and I hope your venture back into the wonderful world of comics is an enjoyable one.

All the best,

Bob,
Just wanted to let you know that I received your signed signature cards and comics in Saturday's mail.
What a great surprise!  I wasn't expecting the signed books.  Those are most welcome.  Thanks for being so cool! 
Another quick question... can I write to David Michelinie at your same Future Comics address?  Would my mail get to him? 

Thanks again for all your help!
Best,
Rob

Rob,

It’s always a pleasure to fulfill a wish for an autograph.

If any of you would like a signed book (or a “John Hancock’ on a napkin for that matter) all you need to do is send the request WITH a Self Addressed Stamped Envelope to my new mailing address:

BOB LAYTON

P.O. BOX 2776

VALRICO , FL 33595

In answer to your second query; Yes—you can definitely write Mr. Michelinie at the same address and I’ll guarantee that he will receive it. After all--it’s all about service here at boblayton.com.

Thanks for writing,

Dear Mr. Layton,
    I found your comic Doctor Tomorrow to have been one of the most
captivating stories told. I got the impression it did not end the way you
desired. Please, can you tell me how it was supposed to end, or is there some
signed contract or given oath that prevents your telling. I truly would
appreciate this. Also, will it ever be told in printed form?
Thank you for your time.
Paul Bhatti

Dear Paul,

You’re correct in the assumption that Dr. Tomorrow didn’t end the way it was supposed to. Unfortunately, the clowns who took over at Valiant (after I stepped down as E.I.C.) decided that they wanted to leave the series open-ended. In order to do that, they had to destroy everything I had set-up in previous eleven issues.  That was something I simply couldn’t live with. 

So, for the only time in my career, I walked off a project.

Here's the unpublished final cover for Dr. Tomorrow #12. I’ll go digging around in my files and see if I can come up with that final plot for Dr. Tomorrow #12. If I do find it, I’ll post it here. 

Fair enough?

Bob,
I had picked up a piece of art you did that looks like it was intended 
for X-Factor #1 (link below). I was wondering if you might be able to give me some background on it (I know a lot of time has passed).

http://cartgallery.jeangrey.com/artist/gpages/_covers/layton_xfactor1cvr.html

Was this originally intended to be the published cover or was it just reference for the final cover? 

Since you were the writer, I don't know how much input you had in it. I am also curious about who penciled and inked the published one.

http://www.uncannyxmen.net/covers/x-factor/x-factor1.jpg

Do you happen to know?

Thanks.
Be seeing you,
Brian  

Dear Brian,

The painful memories of that cover will haunt Jackson Guice and me until the end of time.

That cover was one of SEVEN versions that we had to do in order to appease the somewhat-arbitrary whims of then-Editor-In-Chief Jim Shooter. 

No matter what we did, he hated it.

Finally, we got fed up and told him to get someone else to draw the friggin’ thing.

He did—and the Wondrous Walt Simonson became the artist on the 

version that saw print, lo those many years ago.

HERE IS THE ACTUAL COVER ORIGINALLY DONE FOR

X-FACTOR #1 

by Jackson Guice and Bob Layton

NEXT MONTH:

 Bob unveils a never-before-seen version of the X-Factor #1 cover 

 If you wish to write Bob, please send all correspondence to: 

P.O.BOX 2776,VALRICO, FL 33595 or e-mail him at bob@boblayton.com