The Collector (comic zine)

Zine
Title:	The Collector
Publisher:	Bill G. Wilson
Editor(s):	Bill G. Wilson
Date(s):	1967-1974
Series?:
Medium:	print zine
Size:
Genre:
Fandom:	Comics
Language:	English
External Links:
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the editor in 1967, age 11 when the first issue of this zine was published

cover of "The Collector #29" (the last issue) by J. Robert Kline

The Collector is a comic fanzine published by Bill G. Wilson.

Wilson was eleven years old when the first issue was published, and nineteen when it ended.

It ran for 29 issues, starting in 1967. It started out amateurish, but became slicker and more professional with higher production values in later issues. It was full-size and in the later issues fully in color. It also had ads. It featured art by fans and by people working in the comic industry, as well as by then fans who would later go on to become pros.

Issue 10

The Collector 10 was published in May 1968.

"Beautiful wraparound cover (full cover not shown) by John G. Fantucchio with Flash Gordon dueling Ming the Merciless. This was the first issue of The Collector that featured Fantucchio artwork and was certainly not the last. Fantucchio continued to contribute to every issue of The Collector until it's very last issue, The Collector #29 in 1974. Also full page Fantucchio Ming on pg 11. Art by Fred Hembeck, Tom Christopher, Wayne Boglitsch, Paul Legrazie, Duffy Vohland, Bud Fern, Mike Robertson. Deadman article by Duffy Vohland, "On Fanzines" by Steven Carlberg, "Flash Gordon" Art/Article by Tom Christopher. Digest size, 20 pgs, offset saddle-stitched.

Issue 11

The Collector 11 was published July 1968.

"20 pages, black and white interior, greenish paper covers. Red Skull illo by John Fantucchio, Hyperman strip by Wilson, Swooperboy parody of Superb, nice Foreign comic article, lots of BLOC."

Issue 13

The Collector 13 was published in November/December 1968.

"Notes: Published/Edited by Bill G. Wilson. Beautiful wraparound cover (full cover not shown) painted by John G. Fantucchio featuring his Mysterious Character flying over the city while the vision of a beautiful lady looks on (on back cover). The original painting is in full color. Fantucchio contributed art to every issue of The Collector from issue #10 in 1968 until it's very last issue, The Collector #29 in 1974. About half of this issue is devoted to Fantucchio with illoes of Superman, "Mysterious Character," Creeper, Hyperman, plus full page illoes of Green Lama, Buster Crabbe/Flash Gordon, and Black Cat. Interview with John G. Fantucchio by Wilson (with photos of John), "Hyperman" strip by Wilson & Fantucchio; hints on how to collect comics by Dwight Decker; News and Views by Bill Wilson; A Childish Look at Comic Heroes by Wilson and Alan Hanley; Hyperman strip by Wilson; and EC Meets Censorship by Tom Christopher; Artists: Martin L. Greim, Kurt Luchs, James Shull, Dave Transue, Gary Robinson, Gordon Flagg Jr, Alan Hanley, Bob Cosgrove. 32 offset pages, digest size. 500 print run."

Issue 15

The Collector 15 was published in April/May 1969.

"Notes: Published/Edited by Bill G. Wilson. Cover by John G. Fantucchio featuring his interpretation of Wanda the Scarlet Witch with unique use of zip-a-tone and background photo. Fantucchio contributed art to every issue of The Collector from issue #10 in 1968 until it's final issue, The Collector #29 in 1974. Fantucchio full page inside front cover illo, and full page montage of his "Mysterious Character." Back cover by Ronn Foss, interior art by Ron Green, Terry C. Allen, Alan Hanley, John Weibel, Dave Transue, Bill Schelly, Kurt Luchs, Mike Alroy, James E. Warhola (nephew of Andy Warhol). Articles include: "Unsung Heroes" by Doug Fritz, "Superman on Radio, Screen and TV" by Wilson, "Another Cup of Wine" by Louis Morra. Letters from Bart Bush, Rick Hoberg, Mark Barclay and Robert Kowalsky; 28 pages offset digest size (last digest sized issue)." }}

Issue 19

The Collector 19 was published May 1970, it had 24 pages, all black and white (including the cover).

"Notes: Published/Edited by Bill G. Wilson, Mark Feldman Asst Editor. Full page rendering in ink and masterful rendering in zip-a-tone of a graveyard digger ("Digger") in an EC-flavored cover. Fantucchio contributed art to every issue of The Collector from issue #10 in 1968 until it's final issue, The Collector #29 in 1974. Further announcement of Fantucchio working for Warren in Vampirella 5 and Creepy 34. Back cover of Mr A by Ditko. Art by Joe Sinnott, Steranko, Dave Cockrum, Gene Colan, Robert Kline, Dennis Beaulieu, Ed Romero, Al Grinage, Don Newton (2 page centerspread), Anthony Kowalik, William Black, Tom Christopher, Max Gottfried & Jim Jones. Writers: Wilson, Tom Christopher, Anthony Kowalik, David Hanley, Dennis Beaulieu. Hyperman by Wilson. Letter from Bernie Bubnis. 24 pgs, offset, wrap-around."

Issue 21

The Collector 21 was published Nov. 1970, black and white, 24 pages. Wrap around cover by Mickey Mason. Interior art by Mason, Fantucchio, Adkins, Fritz, Kline, Sinnott, Newton, Rosa, Sutton and others.

Issue 22

The Collector 22 was published Feb. 1971, black and white, 28 pages plus insert. Dan Adkins wrap-around cover includes art by: Joe Sinnott, John Fantucchio, C. C. Beck, Don Newton, John Adkins Richardson, Skip Olsen and a 6 page strip by Don Rosa. Insert has Fantucchio full page sketch.

Issue 23

The Collector" 23 was published May 1971, black and white, 28 pages, offset, high quality paper. Front cover by Martin Greim, back cover Dan Adkins, Long "Flying Dutchman" article by Tom Fagan, Don Newton "Doc Savage" centerfold, Jim Jones illustrated interview, lots more. Interior art by: Alan Handle, Kenneth Smith, Joe Sinnott, John Fantucchio, Robert Kline, Jim Jones, Dan Adkins, Bill Black, Doug Potter and more.

Issue 24

The Collector 24 was published in August 1971. It has 32 pages with a color wraparound Superman cover by Don Newton. It also has pinups by Dave Cockrum, Dan Adkins and Dave Stevens.

Issue 27

The Collector 27 was published in winter 1973. The cover price was $1.00.

• Noman by Jim Pinkowski
• J (a political manifesto) by Steve Ditko (8 pages)
• Greenhorn story by Alan Hanley (4 pages)
• a western art portfolio by Don Newton
• article on the fictional golden age comic called Rootwild by Jim Jones
• an illustrated interview with Gray Morrow
• article on Edgar Rice Burroughs by Bill Cantey, illustrated by Ken Barr
• a critique of DC’s Burroughs comics by Duffy Vohland
• other illustrations

Issue 28

The Collector 28 was published 1973. It has 56 pages and a full color front cover by Ken Barr, and full color centerfold "Blackcat" by John Fantucchio. Art by: Bruce Patterson, Don Rosa, Alan Hanley, more John Fantucchio, Bill Black, a Don Newton portfolio, of Western illos, John Bryne, Gil Kane,Steve Fabian and lots of others. Articles: Golden Age ladies by Graham Sterling, Star Trek by Scott Miller and the Shadow by Murray Bishoff.

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  front cover, issue #28, Ken Barr

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  back cover, issue #28, Don Newton

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  inside issue #28, John Byrne

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  inside issue #28, John Byrne

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  inside issue #28, John Ellis

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  inside issue #28, John Ellis

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  inside issue #28, John Ellis

Issue 29

The Collector 29 was published in 1974. It has 100 pages. The cover is by J. Robert Kline. It has pinups by Will Eisner, John Byrne, Joe Sinnott and a story by Steve Ditko.

front cover of issue #29 (the last issue), by J. Robert Kline

back cover of issue #29, Robert Kline

This was the last issue. In the editorial, Wilson writes his farewell:

BELIEVE ME, if I had my choice I'd just as soon not do an editorial this issue, hard as it is... However, I believe I owe it to the many fine people who have supported me and aided me in the past to give at least an explanation as to why this thing must end.

The most serious and tragic reason for my complete re-evaluation of my publishing career was the sudden death of my mother one Thursday evening in November of last year, 1973. Those of you who've met me at the New York Cons already know what a great help and Inspiration she was to me in the preparation of the book, its sales, and the book-keeping duties, never thinking of herself or her own serious illness; only of helping others. Were it not for the help of both her and my father, I would not have been able to do the near-Impossible: to begin what was to be one of the longest-running fanzines ever at the ripe old age of eleven years old, and to make it a regular standard bearer at an age when most 'zine editors are beginning. (I'm nineteen now.) Naturally, when one works with a loved one, their absence is doubly felt, as in my case. Honestly, I lost two people; or at least one great lady who worked like two people. So, since it was her wish that I soon end the run of TC soon anyway, I could think of no better way to pay tribute to her than to end the magazine's run with this issue, dedicating it to her memory; wishing in vain that I'd had the chance to end the magazine's run sooner if it would've prevented her passing.

[snipped]

As the situation stands, my ambitions and aspirations for a career are in limbo; I'm unsure as to furthering my education, and in what field to specialize. At a time when my life is at a turning point, there is room for people to fill an empty void, a void not easily filled by any means, but there is no room for a magazine called THE COLLECTOR. It is time the magazine pays me back for the many years of work I put into it; and for it to pay me back, it must dissolve so that there will be time available for more important things. A labor of love is no longer a labor of love when it becomes a chore...and a chore it has become. So it is best for all concerned that it end in a moment of glory than die in a mire of mediocrity.

I honestly enjoyed putting this issue together, but I did not enjoy writing this editorial, and I hope that never again in my life will I have to put such delicate feelings into words on paper. Please don't bombard me with requests to bring TC back.

• "Star Trek" Color Front Cower Illustrated by ROBERT KLINE (1)
• Contents page (2)
• Editorial by BILL WILSON (4)
• Collector Cower Gallery (6)
• "Star Trek" Full-Page Illustration by JOHN BYRNE (7)
• Interview: WALTER KOENIG - Conducted by BILL WILSON (8)
• Full-page Science Fiction Illustration by STEVE FABIAN (10)
• "Star Trek Revisited" by SCOTT B. MILLER and JOSEPH P. FELLABAUM (11)
• "Star Trek Animation" Written and Illustrated by ROBERT KLINE (18)
• Full-page Color Illustration of Captain Marvel by CLYDE CALDWELL (22)
• "Captain Marvel And Company" by BILL CANTEY (23)
• "You Can't be STUPID If You Don't Even Try" by C.C. BECK (31)
• "SHAZAM! Is The Name of the Game" by WILLIAM REYNOLDS (32)
• SCHAFFENBERGER (34)
• "Captain Marvel's Rogues Gallery" by WILLIAM REYNOLDS (36)
• Full-page Illustration of Tom Tyler as Captain Marvel by JOHN ADKINS RICHARDSON (37)
• "The Adventures of Captain Marvel" by JAMES VAN HISE (39)
• "Zorro Hero" by R. C. HARVEY (44)
• "Libage" Graphic Story Written and Illustrated by STEVE DITKO (46)
• Color Centerspread Illustration Featuring "The Thing" by SKIP OLSON (50)
• "A Short History of Pulp Fandom" by ROBERT WEINBERG (52)
• Full-page Illustration of The Shadow by JIM PINKOSKI (54)
• "The Heroes of Nostalgic Literature: PULPS vs. COMICS" by MURRAY BISHOPF (55)
• Full-page Illustration of The Spirit by WILL EISNER (66)
• "Resurrection of a Spirit" by R. FRANK MORENO, JR (67)
• Full-page Illustration of Conan by GREG GATES (71)
• Full-page Color Illustration of Perry Rhodan by MIKE ROBERTS (72)
• "Today Germany, Tomorrow... The World:" by STEVE WRIGHT (73)
• MORE Sketches by JOHN G. PANTUCCHIO 78)
• Two-Color Full-page Illustration by JOHN G. FANTUCCHIO (79)
• "Greenhorn" Final Chapter by ALAN JAMES HANLEY (80)
• Full-page Illustration featuring Kirby Characters by JOHN BYRNE (90)
• Letters (91)
• "Farewell" Illustration by JOE SINNOTT (99)

CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS

• KEN BARR 27, 29
• C.C. BECK 28
• HOWARD BENDER 52, 59
• WILLIAM BLACK 26, 68, 94, 96
• JOHN L. BYRNE 7, 90
• CLYDE CALDWELL 22, 58, 60
• STEVE DITKO 46, 47, 48, 49
• WILL EISNER 66, 67, 70
• JOHN ELLIS 11, 14, 39, 73, 75
• STEVE FABIAN 10, 11, 25, 63, 91, 93, 95
• JOHN G. FANTUCCHIO 2, 5, 24, 32, 36, 78-9
• GREG GATES 71, 77
• MARTIN I. GREIM 32
• ALAN JAMES HANLEY 30, 80-89
• R.C. HARVEY 31, 44, 45, 55, 97
• JIM JONES 5, 33, 37, 97
• ROBERT L. KLINE 1, 2, 18, 19, 20, 21, 100
• ED LANCASTER 12, 16, 76
• CLIFFORD NEAL 92, 93, 95, 97
• DON NEWTON 4, 67, 9]
• SKIP OLSON 13, 50-51
• BRUCE D. PATTERSON ... 14, 17, 27, 36, 37
• JIM PINKOSKI 53, 54, 98
• MIKE ROBERTS 72, 74, 91
• KURT SCHAFFENBERGER 34, 35
• JOE SINNOTT 3, 15, 23, 64, 99
• BILL WILSON 4, 41

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  inside page from issue #29

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  inside page from issue #29

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  inside page from issue #29

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  inside page from issue #29

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  inside page from issue #29, Walter Koenig interview

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  inside page from issue #29

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  inside page from issue #29

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  inside page from issue #29

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  inside page from issue #29

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  inside page from issue #29

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  inside page from issue #29

Special Issue

The Collector Spectacular-Special was published 1969, has 21 pages, and contains an index to The Collector #1-16.

"Notes: Published/Edited by Bill G. Wilson. A special issue of The Collector, probably published between The Collector issues # 16 and 17, reprinting material from previous issues. Fantucchio contribs include: Cover of Captain Marvel - according to Fantucchio, this is John's interpretation of what Capt Marvel should have looked like! Plus Fantucchio illos of Hawkman, Hyperman & Creeper. Fantucchio contributed art to every issue of The Collector from issue #10 in 1968 until it's final issue, The Collector #29 in 1974."

Reactions and Reviews

One of my favorite comic fanzines was The Collector, published by Bill G. Wilson. Wilson was only 12 or 13 years old when he started The Collector in 1967, and the first issues reflected his youth and inexperience.

But Wilson persevered, honed his editing/publishing/production skills and rapidly transformed a crudzine (sorry Bill) into a spectacular pro-zine with the highest quality art and article contributions. The Collector ultimately featured some of John G. Fantucchio's best work. Starting with The Collector 10 (featuring an awesome Ming vs. Flash Gordon wrap-around Fantucchio cover), John contributed to each and every issue until the final one, The Collector 29 in mid-1974. Note that Wilson also published the one-shot Panorama 1 which featured one of the best Fantucchio covers ever, and some of the highest quality printing and art reproduction in a fanzine of its time.

My personal favorite is The Collector #13 – about half the book is devoted to John G. and it includes an exclusive interview by Wilson, the John G Fantucchio: Shop Teacher?!only published one-on-one interview I've ever found. The interview contained a bombshell for me - Fantucchio was a full grown adult! Not only was he an adult, he had a full time job as an illustrator, and even worse, he was married to someone named "Mary" (and still is ... hello Mary)! There were several well-known BNF's (Big Name Fans) who were of the older persuasion and married, like Jerry Bails and Ronn Foss, but for some reason, I had always imagined JGF as an ultra-talented teenager, maybe a few years older than myself! To be fair to John, he was only 30 years old at the time. However, looking at the 1968 photo (see left) of John in the tie at the drawing board, I thought he looked like a gruff Shop teacher at school!

As a sidebar, my single contribution to 60's fanzines was an "article" that I submitted to Bill Wilson, and he had the audacity to publish it in The Collector 12! It was entitled "Tower Comics: The End of a Beginning" and it was a one-pager with a penciled illo of Menthor by my brother Phivel.