Ms. Mystic Mystery

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Why is Ms. Mystic on the DC Superman/Ali cover?

This article at MajorSpoilers.com, published in 2016, was the first time, in 40 years, that Neal Adams acknowledged, publicly, the appearance of Ms. Mystic on the Superman/Ali cover. The first time in 40 years that I’d seen it mentioned by anyone other than myself.

Why did it take Neal so long to mention such a curious inclusion? Why didn’t he use it to promote Ms. Mystic’s premiere appearance in her own comic book?

About a year before this article was published, late 2014, I had told the story of Ms. Mystic’s creation in a Facebook group that Neal and his family monitor. The thread is preserved here:

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The original Ms. Mystic

A few friends have suggested I produce Ms. Mystic the way I would’ve done it had Neal Adams not taken it over.  One even suggested a name that I’d also thought of. Because the result diverted away from how I’d originally seen the character, I’ve been thinking about doing such a thing almost since the project began in late 1976.

My Penciled Pages for Ms. Mystic #1

Below are images for the entire issue of Ms. Mystic #1, Continuity Comics 1987.

It contains 16 of the 17 pages I’d drawn (the page count for a DC book in 1977), from a plot by Neal Adams.

The pencils for this issue were completed in the summer of 1977.

Neal Adams first published my work under the Pacific Comics imprint in 1982, claiming it was his creation alone and that I’d only contributed a vague “assistance”.

In this 1987 iteration under his own imprint, he changed that credit to “some layouts”.

Pencil Study

Why is Deadman in Ms. Mystic #1?

In this first-page splash of Ms. Mystic, penciled in the spring of 1977, I hid a sort of Easter Egg in the lower-right corner. Deadman.

Though it’s barely visible on the printed page, anyone who has an issue of Ms. Mystic 1, by either Pacific or Continuity, can perform this test themselves. Simply scan the image and punch up the light intensity

A Spark at the End of the Tunnel

There is a spark of light at the end of this dark tunnel in Neal’s round-two response at Bleeding Cool. But we’ll need to traverse a little more darkness in order to get to it.

https://www.bleedingcool.com/…/michael-netzer-vs-neal-adam…/

In the comics business-industry, like everywhere else in this world, we are not judged only by people taking what we say about ourselves at face value, simply because we might be good at our craft

CBR Covers Ms. Mystic Claims

A good article on the current Ms. Mystic situation at Comic Book Resources – one of the longest running comics news sites – first home of Rich Johnston’s steamy news and rumor column, Lying in the Gutters.

What Came First?

Neal Adams’ response to the Ms. Mystic post in Bleeding Cool is disappointing.

https://www.bleedingcool.com/…/mike-netzer-vs-neal-adams-m…/

No, I did not expect an admission of what he’d done. Not so soon. But I expected a more coherent and defensible statement, not the shoddy piece of work, full of transparent lies and smears, with little, if any, substance

We All Know what You’ve Done

1) In early 1977 you invited yourself into a project I was given by DC Comics. I agreed to do it with you and we became partners; co-creators of a property that was my idea. You would write it and I’d draw it.

2) You became good friends with the new DC publisher, who agreed to many of your ideas for expanding the comics market, including the publishing a Ms. Mystic series, created by Neal Adams and Mike Nasser, slated to be DC’s first creator-owned book.

Men of War #15, 1979

Two page war story for DC Comics. A thoughtful digression from battle. A towering figure lends consideration for a weary soldier, that transcends conventional military discipline.

 

Yellowed image shows the pages didn’t fare well in storage and need restoration.
Both pages: $1200. Inquire.

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Another Wonder Woman

A darker look that more resembles Gal than Lynda. Circa 2003.

Wonder Woman. Pencil on 9×12 board. $200.

Work Break

Drawn while taking a break from an advertising project, circa 2002.

Pencil on 8.5″ x 11″ bond paper. $200, Inquire.

Jeanette, Paul and Jim

Martin Pasko and I collaborated on a few issues of Kobra back in 1976, including one that co-starred Batman in 5 Star Super Hero Spectacular. We connected some years ago towards DC Comics’ reprinting of these issues. We’ve also exchanged a few comments on Facebook posts. The most recent was in relation to Jeanette Kahn, Paul Levitz and Jim Shooter – and their contribution to comics at the helm of DC and Marvel since the 1970’s. Below are snippets from that thread, posted here for posterity. 

Donovan Flint | Star Hunters

In the fall of 1977, I penciled one issue (#3) of a new sci-fi series for DC Comics, created by David Michelene, Don Newton and Bob Layton titled Star Hunters. The cover and a panel from that issue appear below.

40 years later, this recent commission of Donovan Flint, lead protagonist. 13″x 20″, India ink and Gesso.

Click/Enlarge

 

Bjorn Borg | 1977

Soon after finishing this Bjorn Borg color spread for Crawdaddy Magazine in the summer of 1977, I took a long break from comics and never saw the issue published. Just found an affordable copy on Ebay.

At about 22 years old when it was done, barely 2 years into  professional work, I remember delivering the large art to Crawdaddy, whose offices were in the same building as Marvel’s . Jim Starlin was in the lobby, leaving the building and asked if there’s new art on the board I’m carrying. I showed it to him and he thought for a second and said: “You’re too good for comics.” I didn’t think so but appreciated the compliment.