Comics industry legend and Comic-Con Inkpot Award winner Bob Wayne spent 28 years being the friendly face of US publisher DC Comics, as their head of sales and marketing – and a new interview is available to watch now, courtesy of Forbidden Planet TV.
Bob sat down with his old pal (and one of his favourite Englishmen), Forbidden Planet TV‘s Andrew Sumner, at San Diego Comic-Con 2024 and talked through his wildly eventful career – from his secret origin in Fort Worth, Texas, to his early years attending conventions and selling comics professionally, to his almost three decades marketing some of the greatest comic books of all time.
Along the way, a gravelly-voiced Bob remembers his friendship with DC president Paul Levitz, discusses working with Will Eisner and encountering Steve Ditko, and receives some surprise guest questions (from Diamond Comics overlord William Schanes, Inkpot Award-winning art historian David Siegel and his old DC Comics staffers, Fletcher Chu-Fong and Stuart Shreck).
Forbidden Planet TV is brought to you by Forbidden Planet, the world’s largest and best-known retailer of pop culture products – including comic books, novels, apparel, giftware, games, toys and memorabilia. Forbidden Planet stores are located in many major UK cities, including London, Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Coventry, Croydon, Liverpool, Newcastle and Southampton.
Stay tuned for more panels from San Diego Comic Con 2024 from Forbidden Planet TV, coming soon
The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: Comics, Creating Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Features, US Comics