RKMBs Forums .::Robegories::. Comic Books Dave Cockrum interview

from COMIC BOOK ARTIST # 6

I really like Cockrum's work from his early and mid-70's period. He began with a scattered-issue run on SUPERBOY/LEGION, from 1972-1974.
Cockrum went from being a fan to a professional comic book artist, beginning with a "Legion of Superheroes" backup series in SUPERBOY, in issues 183, 184, 188, 190, 191, 193, and 195. The early ones were inked by Murphy Anderson
And with issue 191, Cockrum threw away the training wheels and began doing both pencils and inks.

With issue 197, the series became SUPERBOY STARRING THE LEGION OF SUPERHEROES, and Legion took over the book.
Cockrum continued doing the art from 197-202.




I always wondered why Cockrum left a series he clearly loved. And that was pretty clearly answered in the interview:

• DAVE COCKRUM: I didn't start working for Marvel full-time until I had my little go-around with [SUPERBOY editor] Murray [Boltinoff] and [DC editor-in-chief] Carmine Infantino. DC wasn't returning artwork at that point, and Marvel was, but I asked for the double-page spread of the wedding of Bouncing Boy and Duo Damsel to be returned [from SUPERBOY issue 200]. I just wanted it for a souvenir, and Murray had said, "I don't see why not," and he apparently had it set aside to give to me.
  But Carmine came in the day I came by to pick it up and he said, "What's this?" Murray told him, and Carmine said, "You can't give this back to him. We don't do that." It was the only artwork that I had asked for back and I said, "Gee, guys, can't you bend the rules? It's all I'm asking for." He said, "Nope, can't do it." I said, "All right. See ya." (Just prior to this incident, I had gotten the Captain Marvel Jr. job from Julie Schwartz.) I then went over to Marvel and got some work, and asked Julie and Roy Thomas, "Do you guys mind if I keep doing Captain Marvel Jr.? Because I really tried hard to get that." Both of them said fine, but Carmine said, "No, he can't." So I made a clean cut with DC

I'm one of those rare people who never cared much at all about Cockrum's X-MEN run from 1975 to 1977 (GIANT-SIZE X-MEN 1, and issues 94-107), and later back on the series with issues 145-164 (from 1981-1983).

Probably I was less into Cockrum's work because I started reading in the Claremont/Byrne/Austin run (issues 108-143).

Cockrum also had a flair for designing costumes, one of the more noticeable attributes of his LEGION and X-MEN runs.
Some others I recall him designing were "El Aguila", a swashbuckling character in POWERMAN/IRON FIST 58, and re-appeared in several later issues.

And designing Ms. Marvel's most memorable costume, introduced toward the end of her 70's comic series.

I actually like Cockrum better as an inker than as a penciller.
Two assignments that stood out for me were his inks over Jim Starlin in CAPTAIN MARVEL 26 (1973).
And inking Gil Kane in JOHN CARTER WARLORD OF MARS # 1 (1977).

Dave Cockrum passed away recently, but his work still lives on, and his work still has the excitement of a fan artist who made the big time, and did some enjoyable and memorable series.

Here's MS MARVEL 20, introducing Ms Marvel's new costume, with cover signed by Cockrum.



I think it's one of the nicest he designed.

Dave Cockrum was a great artist; I got into the X Men again ( I read the book from 1964 till it became just a re- run of the old X Men stories ) during his tenure on the book.

He created Wildfire, who I like very much.

His work on Ms. Marvel was awesome.

Sad that DC treated him so badly.

I have heard nothing bad about Dave. His interviews always read quite pleasantly.

I miss him.

I've never heard too much good about Carmine Infantino's days as the DC publisher. Its especially ironic that he, one of the best artists of the sixties, would treat his fellow artists so poorly.

Yeah, I first began reading X-MEN in 1972, when they were reprinting Werner Roth stories, until the series was cancelled. I didn't see that X-MEN was resurrected until 1980, when a friend who was a major marvel junkie recommended it to me, toward the end of the Byrne issues.

Wildfire first appeared in issue 195. And then came back in 201. There was such a sense of fun and optimism in the 70s Legion stories. I started reading with 197, and got the other Cockrum stories as back issues.
The Grell issues (202-224) that followed Cockrum's were a good run too.

Beardguy, did Cockrum design the Legion "fortress" after their clubhouse was destroyed in ADVENTURE 366? It was under construction for a long time, but I don't recall seeing it until the Cockrum SUPERBOY issues. It was "under construction" for a long time, but I think it was Cockrum who unveiled it.

Dave Cockrum.........still dead!

That Ms. Marvel design is really good. When I saw that cover I just automatically bought the issue. Marvel was smart to go back & use that costume.

I do not know if Dave Cockrum did or did not design the new LSH Fortress. It kinda looks like his work, but cannot say for certain.

That actually appeared earlier when the Legion was still in Adventure Comics. Brainy created it with the miracle machine (a gift from the Controllers) in the issue where the Dark Circle tried invading Earth.

Actually, what happened, MEM, is that Brainy finshed the clubhouse with the miracle machine.. and sent all the Circle Of Death baddies who'd invaded Earth back to their homeworld... Adventure Comics # 367.

Years later, Matter Eater Lad ated the miracle machine. It made him crazy, until an insane Brainiac 5 cured him.

No, what actually happened is the Legion sucked!

Don't be so emo...

THE MAN HAD NICE PAJAMAS!

and PJ's make the RKMB's go 'round!

I have no idea what any of that means!

The pretend "quote" is a play on an 80's US anti-drug campaign... Didn't expect you to be familiar with it in the UK, actually.

The father catches his kid with a cigar box full of weed or somesuch, and yells at the kid "Where'd you get started on this stuff?", and the kid yells back, "YOU, Dad! I learned from watching you!" Almost emo performance by today's standards...

I actually answered my own question, Beardguy, when I recently completed my run of Shooter ADVENTURE issues I was missing.


Like I said, the old Legion clubhouse was destroyed in ADVENTURE 365-366, and later salvaged from a junkyard by the Legion of Substitutes, who then made it their headquarters.


But the "Legion fortress" appeared the very next issue, in ADVENTURE 367.



This link HERE has the splash page from issue 367, that first showed the exterior of the new fortress.
And several other panels showing parts of its interior rooms.

There have been some minor changes since then, such as the Legion flag outside, but it's largely the same since 1968.

I remember reading Adventure issues 365 - 366 when they were first available in 1968!

It was sad seeing the Fatal Five destroy the old " Upside down rocket ship clubhouse ", as it was what the Legion first had when I started reading them,
but I loved the new "Fortress " clubhouse when it was finished by Brainiac 5, using the miracle machine.

Which Matter Eater Lad would later eat.

( The miracle Machine, not the clubhouse. Wildfire destroyed that clubhouse during a fight with Omega. )

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Thread: Dave Cockrum interview

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