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We’ve got a special treat today here at FIRESTORM FAN – an amazing interview with Firestorm creators, Gerry Conway and Al Milgrom!
Back in 1977, Gerry Conway and Al Milgrom created the character of Firestorm the Nuclear Man. Now seemed the ideal time to sit down with Gerry and Al as the Firestorm: The Nuclear Man trade paperback is due in stores on August 3rd. For the first time, the stories that introduced Firestorm are collected from issues #1-5 of his own 1970s series, plus the Firestorm back-up stories from The Flash #289-293. As you’ll hear in this interview, perhaps some more items will find their way into the collection as well.
Gerry Conway was one of the most prolific comic book writers of the 1970s and 80s. His writing credits go on for miles! He’s probably best known for co-creating the Punisher and Firestorm, as well as scripting the death of Gwen Stacy in the Amazing Spider-Man. He also wrote for and produced such TV series as Law & Order and Diagnosis Murder. Gerry recently returned to comics after an almost 20 year absence. He wrote the insightful mini-series The Last Days of Animal Man, and has a one-shot coming this August entitled DC Retroactive: Justice League of America – The ’80s.
Allen “Al” Milgrom is a man who has worn many hats. Al has worked as a comic book penciller, inker, writer and editor since the 1970s. He’s been extraordinarily prolific, working on many books including most of the Marvel Comics’ line at one point or another. He’s well known for his ten-year run as editor of Marvel Fanfare; his long involvement as writer, penciller, and inker on Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man; his four-year tenure as West Coast Avengers penciller; and his long stint as the inker of X-Factor. More recently Al has been inking for Archie comics.
Gerry and Al were extraordinarily generous with their time sitting down with me for over two and a half hours (that’s right, 2 1/2 hours)! Surprisingly, this interview was the first time Gerry and Al had verbally chatted in about 30 years. It was a real thrill listening to them catch-up and reminisce. Topics covered include: discovering comics as a child; breaking into the business; working together on different projects; several editors, writers, and artists from the Silver and Bronze Ages; the creation of Firestorm; the DC Implosion; favorite Firestorm characters; changes in the comic industry; and much, much more! Ever wonder why Firestorm has puffy sleeves? Find out in this interview!
You may play the interview right here on the FIRESTORM FAN site with the handy-dandy player below! I apologize for not offering the interview in text format, but transcribing an interview that long would have taken months.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Alternatively, you may download the file and listen to it on an MP3 player or your computer. You may download the interview by right-clicking here, choosing “Save Target/Link As”, and selecting a location on your computer to save the file (114 MB).
My thanks to both Gerry Conway and Al Milgrom for being so generous with their time!
To keep up with Gerry, follow him on Twitter and Facebook. If you’re interested in hearing more from Gerry, I’ve interviewed him on two previous occasions. Click here for an interview with Gerry specifically about Firestorm. Click here for an interview with Gerry about his careers in comics and television.
If you’re interested in original artwork, Al does some great commissions. I’ll always treasure the sketch I commissioned from Al of Firestorm. One of the cool things Al offers are commissions inside your trade paperbacks. He can draw them either on the blank pages in the back, or on a separate sheet of paper which could be attached inside the cover. To get in touch with Al, drop him an e-mail at: allenmilgrom@gmail.com.
Don’t forget, pick up your copy of the Firestorm: The Nuclear Man trade paperback on August 3rd!
Support Firestorm! It’s not just a slogan! Seriously, SUPPORT FIRESTORM by buying this trade paperback! Fan the Flame!
Now that I know the TP includes the Flash sub-stories, I will be picking it up!
So is this mp3 2.5 hours long too? That will take me about five bus commutes two and from work to listen to, but I’m excited to hear it!
The interview is great Shag. When you’re speaking, it’s very professional – radio quality – but to sit back and let these two have a chat about comics and our favourite flamehead for a couple hours is awesome. This is like an inside eye on the comic world and the creation of Firestorm that really has me wanting to go back and refill the gaps in my current collection.
These guys are covering like what, six decades in comics? Awesome stuff and much appreciated!
[…] As we heard from Al Milgrom, this collection will include the unpublished Firestorm the Nuclear Man #6 and some other bonus artwork! […]
Why does this book only include the stories from Flash 289 to 293? The Firestorm backup in Flash ran until issue 304!
I didn’t realize until I heard the interview the Milgrom/Kirby connection but boy, does he ever draw like Kirby. Firestorm on that original cover really looks like a Kirby New Gods creation.