I never met him but I always kind of idolized Dr. Jerry Bails who died today at 73. I think its safe to say that comic book fandom as we know it would not exist if not for Jerry. So great was his influence amongst fans and pros alike that it's probably a safe bet to say that comic books themselves as we know them might not exist if it had't been for Jerry. Jerry's childhood appreciation of the Justice Society of America led him as an adult to correspond with creator Gardner Fox and Editor Julius Schwartz who were very open to his suggestions. A lot of the comics blogs will give more of the specifics but here's a link to a 2004 interview with the man himself:COMICON.com: OF FANS & FANDOM: THE JERRY BAILS INTERVIEW Rest in Peace, sir...and a belated thank you.
I was fortunate enough to meet Dr.
ReplyDeleteBails, and he was as kind and as gracious as you would hope he could
be. Some of the first fanzines I
bought as a teen were his publications, and we shared some
correspondence along the way as well.
You cannot overestimate the importance of this Golden Age comic book fan and what he brought to the New Silver Age with his
well-researched work and passion for
the medium. He gave the whole industry and its fan some
major gravitas with his singular
involvement in this crazy, wonderful
hobby.
I mourn his passing. He is a giant and
we will not see his like again.