Star-Studded Comics (1963 Texas Trio) comic books 1963

Star-Studded Comics 1 - September 1963 (Following content information for this issue, see a "Brief History of Star-Studded Comics" written by Rick Kelsey) Format: Four-color photo offset for cover and ditto interior Staple bound on side of pages. Original price was 35 cents Color cover by Howard Keltner features the Changling, the Defender, Doctor Weird, and the Astral Man. This was the first color cover EVER for a fandom-produced publication. "Let's Talk It Over!" column with notes and discussion by the Texas Trio. Stories:"The Defender in Slaves of the Brain Ray" A text story by Larry Herndon and illustrations by Richard "Grass" Green "Introducing Dr. Weird" Comic story with script and art by Howard Keltner "The Astral Man" A text story by Tommy Fisher "The Changling In Fearfull [sic] Weapon!" Comic story with script and art by Buddy Saunders A BRIEF HISTORY OF STAR-STUDDED COMICS by Rick Kelsey THE BEGINNING: On February 15, 1963, three young men who loved comic books met at a Carrollton, Texas home to talk about the hobby and the possibility of starting their own comic book. They did just that. The comic was called Star-Studded Comics and those three young men, Larry Herndon, Howard Keltner, and Buddy Saunders, became the "Texas Trio." When the "Texas Trio" started Star-Studded Comics in the early 1960s, it was an exciting time in comic books. New heroes and new teams were premiering like Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, Magnus Robot Fighter, the Justice League of America. And old heroes were being revived like the Flash, Green Lantern, and Captain America. This was a time before VCRs, DVDs, CD-Roms, personal computers, and cellular phones and when checking your mail meant looking in the mailbox in front of your home not turning on the computer and logging onto the internet. Even comic books stores didn't exist. You got the latest issues of Batman, Superman, the Hulk, or Donald Duck from wire racks in convenience stores, drug stores, grocery stores, and the "five-and-10" shops such as Winn's, Ben Franklin's, and TG&Y. And comic book conventions weren't happening yet. All of that helped to make the entertainment value of comic books all the greater and all the more precious. Fans wanted to meet one another and one way to do that was to publish your own comic book or magazine. Many tried but few succeeded as well as "Star-Studded Comics." The problem? A fan-published comic or magazine didn't usually last or appear with the regularity and dependability of a professional comic. Many fan publications ended or went AWOL after one issue. If you think self-publishing today is a tough job, imagine doing that in the 1960s without computers, desktop publishing software, word processing programs, Fax machines, photo-copiers, a home printer, the internet, or even an electric typewriter. Then toss in the fact that there was little, if any, profit to be made publishing your own comic or magazine. So you couldn't make a living from that. Most of these fan publications were done out of the love of the hobby. And when all of your spare time from your job or school is spent working on a comic or mag, your enthusiasm and dedication can quickly fade. Yet, the "Texas Trio" published 18 issues of Star-Studded Comics and in its time became well-known among fans and professionals alike, gave many future comic writers and artists a start in the industry, and entertained many, many people. And today the comic is a collectors' item and a reminder of a wonderful time when comic books were one of the best entertainment sources and a great escape for youngsters. If you want to know more about the history of Star-Studded Comics and the super-heroes, villains, stories, and artwork that appeared in this publication, check out the book "The Best of Star-Studded Comics" by Bill Schelly which is available at the author's website www.billschelly.com Cover price $0.35.

Star-Studded Comics 2 - December 1963 Format: Four-color photo offset for cover and ditto interior Staple bound on side of pages. Original price was 35 cents Color cover by Buddy Saunders features the Defender, the Changling, Powerman, and Mercury "Let's Talk It Over!" column notes that circulation of this issue was 275 copies and has letters from Harold Julian, Edward Gee, Jim Brown, Edward Simpson, John McGeehan, Paul Gambaccini, and Bob Schneiber. Issue has advertisements for other fan-published comics. Stories:"The Defender" Comic story with script by Larry Herndon and art by Richard "Grass" Green and Howard Keltner. "The Changling in the Case of the Untouchable Spy!" Comic story by Buddy Saunders "Powerman" A text story by Howard Keltner "Introducing Mercury, Messenger of the Gods in Return to Earth!" A comic story by with script and art by Buddy Saunders Cover price $0.35.