For those new to comic books, Paul Kupperberg’s work offers an incredible dive into decades of inventive storytelling and over 1000 comic book stories. Whether you ‘re into superhero tales, the Teens of Riverdale, or something in between– his diverse array of stories has something to captivate every reader. Immerse yourself in his world, and you’ll quickly see why he’s regarded as a cornerstone of the comic book industry.
Recently, I sat down with Paul Kupperberg to tape an upcoming show on Bronze Age Superman. I first had him on the podcasts last summer to talk about his time at Archie Comics on the Eisner-nominated Life With Archie. And, while we were talking, he mentioned that if you were under a certain age, not too many fans might know about him. In the 1970s and 80s, he was a prolific writer at DC Comics, and into the 90s, he went onto become an editor on such titles as Impulse, Hawkman, and The Flash.
Newer fans often don’t read outside of the latest hot titles at their comic shop. Admittedly, Bronze Age comics read differently than modern comics, but that doesn’t make themlousy reads. There are countless fantastic comics from the age (like all ages) if read in the context of the times. The DoomPatrol today has its roots in Paul Kupperberg, who brought the Silver Age team back in a run of Showcase issues. Both Arion and Checkmate!, both in today’s DC mythos, were co-created by Kupperberg.
Marvel does a fantastic job of having tons of Bronze Age comics available in trades and a digital format. DC, inexplicably, does not. From all the 19070s, there is only ONE issue of Action Comics available. There’s a market for Bronze Age comicsbecause DC released three omnibuses of the spooky anthology series House of Mystery. With the coming of the Superman movie and the Summer of Superman, there are crickets over inDC concerning Superman trades.
For Kupperberg fans, you should head over to his website. One of your first should be his blog because Paul—and I saw this personally— knew a lot about past and current creators and has a vast knowledge of comic book history. Those who remember the DC Implosion you get Paul’s take on things. You even get some of his unpublished stories, like those from Archie Comics, such as “The Origin of Pop Tate!”
Head over to his shop, and you’ll find his novels, short stories, and non-fiction books. His memoir, I Never Write for the Money… But I Always Turn in the Manuscript for a Check offers insights into his career and the comic book industry. I’m a fan of the books where he talks with creators. Direct Creativity: The Creators Who Inspired the Creators offers a captivating journey through the lineage of comic book creators, spotlighting their inspirations from the Golden Age to the Modern Era. With engaging interviews featuring icons like Mark Waid, Tom King, and Mark Millar, alongside insights from pioneers such as Julie Schwartz and Carmine Infantino, the book masterfully connects the dots of comic book evolution. Kupperberg’s narrative skill provides readers with a fresh perspective on the industry’s history and the brilliant minds that shaped it, making this a must-read for anyone passionate about comics and their artistry.
Really, this is barely the tip of the iceberg of All Things Kupperberg. He’s done so many fantastic things that I had to keep reining myself in because there’s so much more out there in his work. Next time you head out to your comic shop, ask them: “You got anything written by Paul Kupperberg?” I think you’ll be surprised what you walk away with, but I knew. From experience, they’ll be fantastic reads!
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