Thursday, November 15, 2007



Paul Norris ~ R.I.P.
The creator of AQUAMAN,
and last Golden Age original (those wondrous artists and writers who gave us the first batch of modern-day mythic characters, now known as members of the "fabled" Justice League...) - also the long-time artist of Brick Bradford, has died in Oceanside, California at the age of 93.
(Here you can see a 1995 drawing of the character Mr. Norris co-created, as he was back in 1941. It is a drawing the venerable veteran artist had offered to Mark Evanier, veteran comic-book scribe yet much younger, who had actually requested it too...!)
It is only recently enough that DC Comics has been adding the notice "created by Paul Norris" to all AQUAMAN publications; some legal imbroglio prevents them from also crediting writer/editor Mortimer Weisinger, who died way back in 1978. But that is another story...
Paul Norris was a gentleman and a professional, whose work was never even remotely close to missing its deadline (for all 35 years+ that his Brick Bradford comic-strip lasted; and all of his comic-book work too, of course!) - heck, his work was never missing a beat either! Mr. Norris spun tales of adventure like no other; and even Stan Lee was in awe of him!
In truth, Paul Norris' work even deterred Japanese troops from fighting on, during World War II, as he was assigned to the production of propaganda leaflets - a batch of those was also prepared for the towns of Nagasaki and Hiroshima but the powers that be chose to drop the bomb instead, rather than another salvo of mere leaflets - all of which are surefire collectibles nowadays, as much as they are historical documents as well.
It is doubly sad to see a class act like Paul Norris go now - as his creation, Aquaman, is presumed dead himself but, inexplicably, is more mediatized than ever before as a plethora of new action figures made to his likeness have been released... A DVD has been released, one collecting his pilot episode (that wasn't picked up as an ongoing series by the CW network) and two appearances on Smallville that the character has made (portrayed by a different actor - or he claims to be an actor, anyway...) and the Sea King will feature prominently in the upcoming live action JLA movie too, there can be no doubt on that - 'tis a projected film, at any rate...
It must be a great feeling to see one's legacy -in this case, a character one has toiled over, once upon a time, long ago- being marketed like this (and it is still only moderate, marketing-wise...! Still, it is better than what countless other properties get, these days!) and it cannot be denied that he did leave something behind for the collective - something that endures.
Alas, Paul Norris will not enjoy any of that now.
He has moved on to bigger and greater things - in the afterlife.
His wife, who passed on in 2000, had been awaiting him there...
Two sons are now orphans - and must be feeling like the character, Aquaman, felt for the better part of his modern-day adventures... And as all Aquaman fans have been feeling since last year as well...

You will be missed in Oceanside, Paul Norris; you will be missed across this planet that is over 70% water... But we, who miss you so, can take solace in the knowledge that you have ascended into the water-bearer's age - hence, you are in a far better place now! So long, Mr. Norris!
Right: one of the many action figures
based upon Paul Norris' creation
to be made over the years - and,
IMHO, the best one too. Paul Norris'
last professional drawing to be published, ever, would be a 1987 depiction of AQUAMAN, yet again, on the tapestry of
multi-artistic renditions that was the
History of the DC Universe poster issued that year in the wake of anniversary celebrations.
Below: a video and a song that dear ol' Mr. Norris must have found quite amusing...




Now we have only one Mr. Norris...

Labels:


Online dictionary at www.Answers.com
Concise information in one click

Tell me about:
Poseidon
Poseidon

?? Which Of The Greek Gods Are You ??
brought to you by Quizilla
adopt your own virtual pet!

~My Mer-name is Glaucus Bioluminescence. Wow ~ even the Mer~folk agree that I am luminous! ~They identify me with a minor sea~deity though: Glaukos has nothing to do with glaucoma, at least ~~~ (thank God! The REAL GOD!) ~~~~ Oh... no; Glaukos gave its color to glaucoma... :( ~~ well, says they! ~~~~~~~~ Aegir, Poseidon, Triton and scores of others are more powerful than him, anyway... so there! Everything will be fine! The Aquaficionadas are on my side! :)
~ Take The Merfolk Name Generator Test anyway!
~ Created with Rum and Monkey's Name Generator.


Watch Videos:

  1. IN THE END (Linkin Park)
  2. ATLANTIS EVOLUTION (E3 2K4 TRAILER) (Game Trailers)
  3. HIGH SEAS (The Renderers)
  4. ADMIRAL OF THE SEA (Nova Mob)
  5. HANG IN LONG ENOUGH (Phil Collins)
  6. UNDER THE SEA (Sebastian C)
  7. BEYOND THE SEA (Bobby Darin)
  8. PLEASE STAND UP (British Sea Power)
  9. IT ENDED ON AN OILY STAGE (British Sea Power)
  10. TIDAL WAVE (Longwave)
  11. PRAY FOR THE FISH (Randy Travis)
  12. ROW DA BOAT (Don Yute)
  13. LOST CAUSE (Beck)
  14. TIME (Hootie And The Blowfish)
  15. THANK U (Alanis Morissette)
  16. NO MORE TEARS (Ozzy Osbourne)
  17. MAN OF A THOUSAND FACES (Marillion)
  18. IN THE CROSSFIRE (Starsailor)
  19. DRIFTING AND FALLING (The Ocean Blue)
  20. BLINDED BY THE SUN (The Seahorses)
  21. HARD ROAD (The Shore)
  22. GREAT OCEAN (Dan Dyer)
  23. OCEANIA (Bjork)
  24. OCEAN (Hanna-McEuen)
  25. OCEANS AND BLUE SKIES (Swallow)
  26. 1,000 OCEANS (Tori Amos)
  27. SAIL THOSE SAME OCEANS (Russell Crowe And 30 Odd Foot Of Grunts)
  28. OCEANO (LIVE) (Josh Groban)
  29. YOU'RE AN OCEAN (Fastball)
  30. AQUANOX 2: REVELATION (E3 2K3 TRAILER) (Game Trailers)
  31. AQUANOX: THE ANGEL'S TEARS (TRAILER) (Game Trailers)
  32. SUPER RAD (The Aquabats)
  33. BRIGHTER THAN SUNSHINE (Aqualung)
Video Codes by VideoCodeZone.Com

... An LP Anthem to the end of a childhood dream...? By LP...
... and assorted aquatic tunes for your listening pleasure... (l.p.)...!
But now, for your reading pleasure... ISSUU - brought to you by... an Aquaficionada!







Look, below, on this luminous aqua-map:
PROOF that the Earth is indeed 70% SEA WATER!
Weep, batty ones! ;)


Visitor Map
Create your own visitor map!


Daily provided by Bravenet Daily Cartoon provided by Bravenet.com


Free FAQ Database from Bravenet Free FAQ Database from Bravenet.com