As a novice comic book writer in the early 1970’s, Steve Englehart was thrilled to work on some of Marvel’s most popular characters. In those days, creators functioned under a “work for hire” business model, creating stories for fee, which were then wholly owned by the publisher. As work for hire Englehart eventually realized he wasn’t creating anything. Since the advent of company royalties, introducing new supporting characters and ideas made him eligible to share in the profits when his creations were featured in other media. “If I created more characters, I might be making more money,” he says. “On the other hand, if I never created anything, I wouldn’t be getting screen credit and royalties.” Two examples are Killowog and Guy Gardner, whom Englehart co-created with artist Joe Staton. As a completely original creation, they both receive compensation whenever Killowog is featured in films or video games. But Guy... More
In 1983, as the independent market was taking off, Englehart brought his creator-owned property, Coyote, to Marvel, where Jim Shooter had been named editor-in-chief. “They put Shooter in charge because he could make the trains run on time. People had been missing a lot of deadlines and they needed someone who could crack the whip.” However, like many who worked for Marvel at the time, Englehart was flummoxed by some of Shooter’s editorial mandates. “For example, you couldn’t use sound effects, because you don’t actually see letters floating in the air.” Shooter also believed that all comic panels should be framed from mid-distance – that there shouldn’t be close-ups or wide-open vistas. He expected every panel to show the characters in their environment. “Also, you couldn’t use the word ‘super-villain,’” says Englehart, “because nobody actually says the word ‘super-villain.’” Despite being told not to argue with Shooter, Englehart suggested that... More
In 1976, Steve Englehart had been writing the Avengers for four years, only to be suddenly displaced by the incoming editor-in-chief. Frustrated, Englehart was tempted to walk away from writing comics completely when DC Comics publisher Jenette Kahn invited him to jump ship. “She said, ‘Come fix the Justice League for me.’ She had just been appointed editor at DC and her job was to fix DC,” he explains. In return, Englehart made two requests: for a team book with a large cast, he wanted additional pages, and he asked to write Batman. “When I did my Batman, there were two things I wanted to do,” he says. “One, was to bring back the pulp darkness of the early Batman, and the homicidal Joker.” Englehart’s other ambition was to make Bruce Wayne an adult person with adult relationships. “When I was a kid and saw Lois Lane snuggle up to... More
Like many kids in the 1950s, Steve Englehart had read Batman and other DC comics but eventually outgrew them. However, while in college in Connecticut, he was impressed by Steve Ditko’s Spider-Man, leading him make the journey into Manhattan to visit the offices of Marvel and DC. He realized comic creators were not demi-gods, and with some effort, he might also cultivate a career in comic books. As an assistant to Neal Adams, he learned the nuts and bolts of comic book storytelling, developing an eye for visual details that would serve him when he eventually turned to writing. In the early/mid-1970s, Englehart applied his degree in psychology to craft stories for Marvel that were very character driven. These included such properties as Power Man, the Defenders, the Incredible Hulk, and Captain America. Despite being one of Marvel’s A-list characters, sales of the Captain America title were failing. Various writers... More
Here’s a story. Singer and composer Janis Joplin had a knack for telling stories as she sang. They never were the same, much like comics. Each song was a work of art, chord after chord, like a series of panels on a page, telling a story step after step. When she repeated a chord, like a comic panel, it was to strengthen a story, playing with pauses, and repetitions.
The story of comics, no matter what the naysayers claim, is not over. ComicBookBin intends on continuing telling that story for years to come, with its own unique chords.
At first a comic book collection listing, ComicBookBin publishes comics reviews and news. It informs hardcore and casual comic book fans and collectors, having expanded its coverage to action figures, movies, games and more. Over two decades later, whether through words, podcasts, video, or apps, ComicBookBin has (28652)
articles created by a dedicated team of human contributors.
October 28, 2025 - 08:00
As a novice comic book writer in the early 1970’s, Steve Englehart was thrilled to work on some of Marvel’s most popular characters. In those days, creators functioned under a “work for hire” business model, creating stories for fee, which were then wholly owned by the publisher. As work for hire Englehart eventually realized he wasn’t creating anything. Since the... More
October 22, 2025 - 08:00
Part 3 of Steve Englehart's DragonCon panel
October 15, 2025 - 08:00
Steve Engelhart's DragonCon panel, part 2
October 8, 2025 - 12:27
Steve Englehart's DragonCon panel, part 1
September 19, 2025 - 16:21
Dinah Laurel Lance, the Black Canary accepts a worldwide televised fight against the deadly assassin, Lady Shiva to find a cure for her ailing mother, the first Black Canary.
August 27, 2025 - 23:59
Review of the DC Multiverse Batman Reborn 7 Inch action figure from McFarlane's.
August 9, 2025 - 15:34
The Maximum Hulk's missile reuses a Cobra Adder's missile mould.
August 7, 2025 - 21:17
The Classified Cobra CLAW (Covert Light Areal Weapon) is a powered paraglider used by Cobra. It comes with Cobra Pilot.
August 6, 2025 - 23:52
Review of the DC Multiverse Batman (Batman: Year one Part 4) (Gold Label) 7 Inch action figure from McFarlane's.
August 6, 2025 - 11:53
Review of the DC Multiverse Sandman (Wesley Dodds: The Sandman) Gold Label 7-Inch Action Figure from McFarlane's.
August 4, 2025 - 10:12
How the G.I. Joe Classified Snow Cat Haslab could be used in various research, search and rescue, intelligence, and surveillance operations to assess how good its design is while having fun!
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