When we created this new video blog, it was our intention to run the various clips from my career in chronological order.

Oops!

Unfortunately, we only discovered that we had this unique, never-before-seen video in the last month.

The year was 1984. The place was the Atlanta Comics Festival. The event: The Celebrity Roast of Marvel's Editor-In-Chief--Jim Shooter.

If you can get past my cheesy mustache and some very bizarre attire, what follows is an amusing private video of many comic celebrities who gathered together to poke fun at their boss. Included in the panel are: John Byrne, Mark Gruenwald, Mike Carlin, Butch Guice, Dave Simons, Tom DeFalco and professional stuntman Scott Leva as the Amazing Spider-Man.

I was asked to be the Master of Ceremonies for this event--being one of Jim's closest friends at that period of our history. 

Keep in mind, this was a happier time--during one of the golden eras of Marvel Comics-- where everybody still liked each other and most of the books that Marvel produced were awesome!

But, alas--none of this comradierie was destined to last.

Two years later, Shooter wrongly fires Mike Carlin, but Mike has the last laugh--eventually rising to become Executive Editor of DC Comics.

Tom DeFalco succeeds Jim Shooter as Marvel's Editor-In-Chief after his ouster by upper management in 1987.

Jim and I stay friends for a few more years, move on to form Valiant Comics in 1989--but have a falling out over his mismanagement of that company.  Jim is eventually dismissed by the majority stockholders in 1992 and I, like DeFalco at Marvel,  replace him as Editor-In-Chief of Valiant Comics. 

And sadly, our beloved friend--Mark Gruenwald--tragically dies from a congenital heart defect in 1996.

John Byrne , Dave Simons and Butch Guice continue to work as freelance artists in comics and other venues. 

Little did any of us suspect what the future had in store for us...!

Ah--those were the good ol' days indeed!

Because of the length of this video, we'll break it up into several parts over the next month or so.

Enjoy!

PART ONE

PART TWO

PART THREE