I'm not online much these days, but I do want to come to the Ask Mr. Silver Age website long enough to wish our best pal Craig Shutt the happiest of birthdays!. Try not to collide with too many skyscrapers today.
--Your pal, Hoy Murphy
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"Ours is a fragile planet," I thought to myself last night, while washing mulch off my hands. "It's important... did I say important? I meant VITAL that each and every one of us leaves behind a legacy, a touchstone portion of our souls that will live on long after our physical bodies may have left this mortal coil." And what, pray tell, caused me to ponder the vagaries of legacy-leaving? Merely this: The annual honoring of he who, almost alone amongst us, has strode with the giants of comic bookdom. Who, other than the man whose very name headlines this hallowed section of the web, has done more to instill within us that sense of belonging, that spirit of comradery, that gut-busting pure enjoyment of the comic books of yesteryear? Who indeed, other than he whose birthday we have come here to honor: Craig "Mr. Silver Age" Shutt.
Every year I struggle to come up with what I hope to be the perfect gift to bestow upon our legendary leader. And this year, as in years past, I think I've found the answer. What could be more emblematic of the joy his writings have brought us than to present him with three more rare, classic, near-mint editions of Silver Age comic books? Only one thing could be more emblematic, I answered my own query: to serve Mr. Shutt not the actual comic books... but wait for it... to serve him with JPGs of the covers of those comics. But it gets better! Not the actual JPG files, but to instead post them here, on the website dedicated to his sadly-discontinued-but-still-alive-in-our-hearts columns. And would one cover image be enough? Not likely! Would two be enough? Heavens no! Would three be enough? EXACTLY! Three is enough!
But which three? Shouldn't there be a theme to this gift? Yes, there should, and I chose as my theme this year to find the 25th issue of three Silver Age comic books -- the Silver anniversary, if you will, of these three titles. A genius idea, you might say, but the genius of course is not my own -- it again comes from the inspiration... and yes, the very legacy -- handed down to us by Mr. Shutt.
Thanks, all, for the natal best wishes. As always, Dave, your logic takes a tortuous path to its finish line, and this year's options are truly unexpected even given the box in which you wrapped your gift. But, as always, I understand it's the thought that counts.And I appreciate the photo, Hoy. It gives me hope that I still have a few years before I reach that point, though I feel it creeping closer all the time.
I've learned the solution to finding/selecting a pair of matching socks is to just ignore this strange societal bugaboo and wear whichever two my fingers land on first. I assume people at the mega-mart are so impressed by my sandals that they pay no attention to my socks or, possibly, admire my good sense in ruling fashion rather than the other way around.
I appreciate being remembered for the legend I once was. It's been nearly an unbelievably long while since my column ended with the last issue of CBG, so it's nice to know a few fans are still out there with some vague memories of it.
If it sometimes feels like the world is rife with more troubles than ever before, if your heart is troubled by the cold and callous ways people are being treated today, if you ache with the pain of realization that things just don’t seem to be getting better, then rest assured, there is hope. There is redemption. There is a reason to rejoice, to exult in the pure majesty of another day when things, finally, are going to be all right. That’s what today is all about. It is, gloriously, once again the birthday of Craig Shutt, aka Mr. Silver Age.
We consecrate this day-of-all-days as one that honors all that is good with the world. We find that our pulse quickens, our heart beats more emphatically than ever, that the smile on our face just can’t be erased. We bask in the glow of acknowledging all the joy and pleasures that Mr. Age’s legendary celebrations of the Silver Age of Comics have brought to us—how they’ve cheered us, enlightened us, urged us to become the best-versions-of-ourselves.
How, then, can we adequately thank a man who has introduced so much pleasure and joy to the world? Frankly, I don’t know… that seems a herculean task beyond all mortal ken. All I can do, in my own humble way, is to toast Mr. Age’s birthday with the traditional honors befitting such a titan of comics punditry. And that way, etched in timeless legend, is to bestow upon him a gift reflecting in some small way the genius he has amply shared with us for oh, so many years. I refer to, of course, the gift of comic books themselves. Ah, but not merely a comic book, but the front cover – the artistic frontispiece, so to speak – of a comic book. But not merely the cover… it should be a digital version of a comic book cover, carefully curated from the Grand Comics Database.
Would one cover be enough, though? No, one is the loneliest number that you’ll ever do. Well then, what about two covers? Nope, two can be as bad as one. But three? Yes, now we’re onto something! Three is a magical number. Three is a trinity of inspiration and creation and awesomeness. Three… that’s enough. Three it shall be.
So herewith are three digitalized comic book covers that summon up just the merest hint of the wonderfulness of a world that has Mr. Silver Age in it. Happy Birthday, Mr. Age!
I can't match Dave's verbosity, but I can wish Mr. Silver Age a happy birthday in what used to be the traditional way. I picked this up from some website and you can believe it if you want to. Happy birthday, pal!
"Ann-Margret's connection to comic books is primarily through her influence on the character Mary Jane Watson, Spider-Man's love interest. Ann-Margret's image, particularly from her role in the 1963 movie "Bye Bye Birdie," is said to have inspired the creation of Mary Jane in Marvel Comics."
Thanks, guys! I don't think anyone can match Dave's verbosity, Hoy, and I appreciate you not trying and just bowing to the master. He may have gotten a bit caught up in his flattery and exaggerations, but I appreciate the thought. I was right with him until he took that left turn into the notion that the celebration SHOULD include digital versions of the comics covers. I guess that means I shouldn't keep an eye out for the mail, sadly. As usual, the thread that links these three comics is a thin one beyond my ken, but I never tire of seeing SA covers, including a few sometimes that I'm unfamiliar with.
Likewise, I never tire of seeing pictures of the SA's red-headed goddess AM. She no doubt played a role in my preference for Lana over Lois, although that one seems easy no matter their hair color. And I can't imagine a better inspiration for Spidey's future wife.
Meanwhile, my best birthday present in many years appeared just a few days earlier, in the form of DC's FINEST: SUPERBOY! Reprinting all the stories from ADVENTURE COMICS #199-216 and SUPERBOY #33-43 in 544 pages in glorious full color! It's a book I never expected to see, given the ill will between the Seigel/Shuster families and DC, and yet here it is! Many of the stories have never been reprinted, which means a lot of 1950s Superboy goodness I've never seen. What a birthday present!
Best of all, it's quite reasonably priced at Instock Trades, where I ordered it in time to have UPS bring it to my door yesterday, right on time. With any luck, it will be the first of many, so I urge you to check it out and bask in the enjoyment of many adventures of Lana Lang and her sometimes boyfriend from the fabulous '50s! https://www.instocktrades.com/products/jan257262/dc-finest-superboy...
May 22 is one of those days I have etched into that part of my brain that demands some vital grey matter be set aside to honor, to acknowledge, to celebrate the man, the myth, the legend that is Mr. Silver Age. The mythic figure, known more familiarly to those not in the know as Craig Shutt, but to those of us who are well aware of his celebrity status and refer to him more respectfully as Mr. Age, turns another year older on May 22. Yes, I can hear some of you say, "But doesn't everybody turn a year older on their birthday?" Perhaps that is so... but Mr. Age is not just "everybody." He is the very reason that this section of Captain Comics' website exists, and that in and of itself ought to give you pause, and cause you to reflect, "Hmmmmmm, it is indeed a monumental achievement that the world has been gifted with yet another full year of Mr. Age-ness, and we look forward to seeing what contributions to society he will again bestow upon us."
So, you might well ask, what would be a fitting way to thank Mr. Age for all he has done for us? Luckily, I long ago happened upon what I found would be the perfect gift for this great man: a set of three Silver Age comic books every year. And not just ANY three SA comic books; no, these would be carefully curated, and the significance of them would be part of the gift. And in fact, the gift isn't three comic books exactly, but even better: they're JPGs of three comic books, posted right here on this here website. But wait, there's more... they're not JPGs of the ENTIRE comic books, but rather, just the front covers of those three comic books. And why three, you ask? There was a reason for that, back when this celebratory tradition first began, but alas, it has been buried in the catacombs of forgotten lore. But no matter.
What you really want to know is: Which three comic books this year will Mr. Age receive? I'll admit that, thematically, I've given Mr. Age so many comic book JPGs over the years, and that part of my brain that I reserve for remembering that his birthday is on May 22 quite frankly didn't have enough grey matter left to come up with something off the top of my head. So I did what all the kids are doing nowadays... now hold on, don't let your imagination run wild with speculation as to what you think I did. Simply, I used AI to come up with the theme. And AI didn't let me down. It suggested that I run the front covers of a Silver Age comic book series that only lasted three issues. Yes, you heard right: I'm giving Mr. Age an ENTIRE RUN of a Silver Age series. Pretty neat, huh?
Here they are: The only three issues of the legendary Tower Comics run of FIGHT THE ENEMY. Mike Sekowsky. Dick Giordano. Joe Orlando. Jerry Grandenetti. Chic Stone. And of course, the great Wally Wood. Those are just some of the fantastic artists responsible for this classic run. Of course, you can only see Sekowsky's pencils on these front covers, but trust me, the rest of those Hall of Famers also contributed to this series.
So there you have it, Mr. Age. All three issues, all yours. Enjoy, and Happy Birthday!
Thanks as always, Dave! You concept of "perfect" may vary somewhat from mine, but as I always say, it's the thought that counts (mostly).
You.picked a good series, as I only have #1, probably because I never saw the other two. And it's unlikely it was because they sold out (I was usually the first to the new rack of comics, sometimes helping to put them out).
Sadly then, I may never read the pulse-pounding stories inside, but the generosity of Mr. Silver Age fans goes only so far.
Replies
Craig,
Happy Birthday!!!
Dave
"Ours is a fragile planet," I thought to myself last night, while washing mulch off my hands. "It's important... did I say important? I meant VITAL that each and every one of us leaves behind a legacy, a touchstone portion of our souls that will live on long after our physical bodies may have left this mortal coil." And what, pray tell, caused me to ponder the vagaries of legacy-leaving? Merely this: The annual honoring of he who, almost alone amongst us, has strode with the giants of comic bookdom. Who, other than the man whose very name headlines this hallowed section of the web, has done more to instill within us that sense of belonging, that spirit of comradery, that gut-busting pure enjoyment of the comic books of yesteryear? Who indeed, other than he whose birthday we have come here to honor: Craig "Mr. Silver Age" Shutt.
Every year I struggle to come up with what I hope to be the perfect gift to bestow upon our legendary leader. And this year, as in years past, I think I've found the answer. What could be more emblematic of the joy his writings have brought us than to present him with three more rare, classic, near-mint editions of Silver Age comic books? Only one thing could be more emblematic, I answered my own query: to serve Mr. Shutt not the actual comic books... but wait for it... to serve him with JPGs of the covers of those comics. But it gets better! Not the actual JPG files, but to instead post them here, on the website dedicated to his sadly-discontinued-but-still-alive-in-our-hearts columns. And would one cover image be enough? Not likely! Would two be enough? Heavens no! Would three be enough? EXACTLY! Three is enough!
But which three? Shouldn't there be a theme to this gift? Yes, there should, and I chose as my theme this year to find the 25th issue of three Silver Age comic books -- the Silver anniversary, if you will, of these three titles. A genius idea, you might say, but the genius of course is not my own -- it again comes from the inspiration... and yes, the very legacy -- handed down to us by Mr. Shutt.
Happy Birthday, Craig!
I hope you had a silvery birthday today, and that you remembered to wear pants.
Your equally old pal, Hoy Murphy
Captain Comics said:
Wait, another birthday? Hoy Murphy just wished you a birthday in another thread 4 minutes ago! You're aging twice as fast everyone else!
Good lord! *choke!*
Weirdly, I can see both versions of this thread.
Wishing Craig a happy birthday, in addition to having wished him one on Facebook!
Dave Blanchard said:
These are the very thoughts that occurred to me this morning, as I was picking out a pair of socks to wear as I began another workday.
My birthday present to Craig (and all of you) is a way to:
Answer: Have a drawer full of identical socks, like me! You’re all very welcome.
Thanks, all, for the natal best wishes. As always, Dave, your logic takes a tortuous path to its finish line, and this year's options are truly unexpected even given the box in which you wrapped your gift. But, as always, I understand it's the thought that counts.And I appreciate the photo, Hoy. It gives me hope that I still have a few years before I reach that point, though I feel it creeping closer all the time.
I've learned the solution to finding/selecting a pair of matching socks is to just ignore this strange societal bugaboo and wear whichever two my fingers land on first. I assume people at the mega-mart are so impressed by my sandals that they pay no attention to my socks or, possibly, admire my good sense in ruling fashion rather than the other way around.
I appreciate being remembered for the legend I once was. It's been nearly an unbelievably long while since my column ended with the last issue of CBG, so it's nice to know a few fans are still out there with some vague memories of it.
-- MSA
If it sometimes feels like the world is rife with more troubles than ever before, if your heart is troubled by the cold and callous ways people are being treated today, if you ache with the pain of realization that things just don’t seem to be getting better, then rest assured, there is hope. There is redemption. There is a reason to rejoice, to exult in the pure majesty of another day when things, finally, are going to be all right. That’s what today is all about. It is, gloriously, once again the birthday of Craig Shutt, aka Mr. Silver Age.
We consecrate this day-of-all-days as one that honors all that is good with the world. We find that our pulse quickens, our heart beats more emphatically than ever, that the smile on our face just can’t be erased. We bask in the glow of acknowledging all the joy and pleasures that Mr. Age’s legendary celebrations of the Silver Age of Comics have brought to us—how they’ve cheered us, enlightened us, urged us to become the best-versions-of-ourselves.
How, then, can we adequately thank a man who has introduced so much pleasure and joy to the world? Frankly, I don’t know… that seems a herculean task beyond all mortal ken. All I can do, in my own humble way, is to toast Mr. Age’s birthday with the traditional honors befitting such a titan of comics punditry. And that way, etched in timeless legend, is to bestow upon him a gift reflecting in some small way the genius he has amply shared with us for oh, so many years. I refer to, of course, the gift of comic books themselves. Ah, but not merely a comic book, but the front cover – the artistic frontispiece, so to speak – of a comic book. But not merely the cover… it should be a digital version of a comic book cover, carefully curated from the Grand Comics Database.
Would one cover be enough, though? No, one is the loneliest number that you’ll ever do. Well then, what about two covers? Nope, two can be as bad as one. But three? Yes, now we’re onto something! Three is a magical number. Three is a trinity of inspiration and creation and awesomeness. Three… that’s enough. Three it shall be.
So herewith are three digitalized comic book covers that summon up just the merest hint of the wonderfulness of a world that has Mr. Silver Age in it. Happy Birthday, Mr. Age!
I can't match Dave's verbosity, but I can wish Mr. Silver Age a happy birthday in what used to be the traditional way. I picked this up from some website and you can believe it if you want to. Happy birthday, pal!
"Ann-Margret's connection to comic books is primarily through her influence on the character Mary Jane Watson, Spider-Man's love interest. Ann-Margret's image, particularly from her role in the 1963 movie "Bye Bye Birdie," is said to have inspired the creation of Mary Jane in Marvel Comics."
Thanks, guys! I don't think anyone can match Dave's verbosity, Hoy, and I appreciate you not trying and just bowing to the master. He may have gotten a bit caught up in his flattery and exaggerations, but I appreciate the thought. I was right with him until he took that left turn into the notion that the celebration SHOULD include digital versions of the comics covers. I guess that means I shouldn't keep an eye out for the mail, sadly. As usual, the thread that links these three comics is a thin one beyond my ken, but I never tire of seeing SA covers, including a few sometimes that I'm unfamiliar with.
Likewise, I never tire of seeing pictures of the SA's red-headed goddess AM. She no doubt played a role in my preference for Lana over Lois, although that one seems easy no matter their hair color. And I can't imagine a better inspiration for Spidey's future wife.
Meanwhile, my best birthday present in many years appeared just a few days earlier, in the form of DC's FINEST: SUPERBOY! Reprinting all the stories from ADVENTURE COMICS #199-216 and SUPERBOY #33-43 in 544 pages in glorious full color! It's a book I never expected to see, given the ill will between the Seigel/Shuster families and DC, and yet here it is! Many of the stories have never been reprinted, which means a lot of 1950s Superboy goodness I've never seen. What a birthday present!
Best of all, it's quite reasonably priced at Instock Trades, where I ordered it in time to have UPS bring it to my door yesterday, right on time. With any luck, it will be the first of many, so I urge you to check it out and bask in the enjoyment of many adventures of Lana Lang and her sometimes boyfriend from the fabulous '50s!
https://www.instocktrades.com/products/jan257262/dc-finest-superboy...
-- MSA
May 22 is one of those days I have etched into that part of my brain that demands some vital grey matter be set aside to honor, to acknowledge, to celebrate the man, the myth, the legend that is Mr. Silver Age. The mythic figure, known more familiarly to those not in the know as Craig Shutt, but to those of us who are well aware of his celebrity status and refer to him more respectfully as Mr. Age, turns another year older on May 22. Yes, I can hear some of you say, "But doesn't everybody turn a year older on their birthday?" Perhaps that is so... but Mr. Age is not just "everybody." He is the very reason that this section of Captain Comics' website exists, and that in and of itself ought to give you pause, and cause you to reflect, "Hmmmmmm, it is indeed a monumental achievement that the world has been gifted with yet another full year of Mr. Age-ness, and we look forward to seeing what contributions to society he will again bestow upon us."
So, you might well ask, what would be a fitting way to thank Mr. Age for all he has done for us? Luckily, I long ago happened upon what I found would be the perfect gift for this great man: a set of three Silver Age comic books every year. And not just ANY three SA comic books; no, these would be carefully curated, and the significance of them would be part of the gift. And in fact, the gift isn't three comic books exactly, but even better: they're JPGs of three comic books, posted right here on this here website. But wait, there's more... they're not JPGs of the ENTIRE comic books, but rather, just the front covers of those three comic books. And why three, you ask? There was a reason for that, back when this celebratory tradition first began, but alas, it has been buried in the catacombs of forgotten lore. But no matter.
What you really want to know is: Which three comic books this year will Mr. Age receive? I'll admit that, thematically, I've given Mr. Age so many comic book JPGs over the years, and that part of my brain that I reserve for remembering that his birthday is on May 22 quite frankly didn't have enough grey matter left to come up with something off the top of my head. So I did what all the kids are doing nowadays... now hold on, don't let your imagination run wild with speculation as to what you think I did. Simply, I used AI to come up with the theme. And AI didn't let me down. It suggested that I run the front covers of a Silver Age comic book series that only lasted three issues. Yes, you heard right: I'm giving Mr. Age an ENTIRE RUN of a Silver Age series. Pretty neat, huh?
Here they are: The only three issues of the legendary Tower Comics run of FIGHT THE ENEMY. Mike Sekowsky. Dick Giordano. Joe Orlando. Jerry Grandenetti. Chic Stone. And of course, the great Wally Wood. Those are just some of the fantastic artists responsible for this classic run. Of course, you can only see Sekowsky's pencils on these front covers, but trust me, the rest of those Hall of Famers also contributed to this series.
So there you have it, Mr. Age. All three issues, all yours. Enjoy, and Happy Birthday!
Thanks as always, Dave! You concept of "perfect" may vary somewhat from mine, but as I always say, it's the thought that counts (mostly).
You.picked a good series, as I only have #1, probably because I never saw the other two. And it's unlikely it was because they sold out (I was usually the first to the new rack of comics, sometimes helping to put them out).
Sadly then, I may never read the pulse-pounding stories inside, but the generosity of Mr. Silver Age fans goes only so far.
Thanks for remembering!
-- MSA
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