Philatelists (also known as stamp collectors) and comic book fans are invited to join together in a league of crusaders for truth, justice and really cool postage stamps from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 19, when the Phoenix Post Office and Atomic Comics team up to celebrate the release of the U.S. Postal Service’s new Super Heroes stamps.
Phoenix Postmaster Alvaro A. Alvarez and Atomic Comics owner Mike Malve will unveil the stamps at 10 a.m. and also offer a special collectible postmark to those who purchase the new stamps during the special Saturday event at Atomic Comics’ Paradise Valley store, 4537 East Cactus Rd. in Phoenix (south of Paradise Valley Mall).
JUST IN TIME for Superman's return to the cineplex, the U.S. Postal Service has released a set of 39-cent stamps honoring the Man of Steel and nine other super heroes from DC Comics.
The heroes each will be the subject of two stamps, one a portrait and the other a cover from a classic issue of the hero's comic book. In addition to Superman, the other subjects are Aquaman, Batman, the Flash, Green Arrow, Green Lantern, Hawkman, Plastic Man, Supergirl and Wonder Woman
After some touching speeches, the blue banner was dropped, revealing a huge banner of all 20 stamps, causing a thunderous applause from fans. Levitz was then honored by the USPS, which resulted in even more cheers from the audience. "The first day of the Comic-Con is generally the best day of the year in the business," said Levitz. "And it is for me." He then proceeded to honor the artists in attendance, who art appears on the stamps: Neal Adams, Jerry Robinson, Carmine Infantino, Elizabeth Kane (wife of Bob Kane), Lisa Kirby (on behalf of Jack Kirby), Adam Kubert (on behalf of Joe Kubert), Jim Lee, Edgar May (on behalf of the family of William Moultan Marston), Sheldom Moldoff, George Perez, Mike Royer, Scott Williams and more.
"It beats the hell out of real work," laughed Levitz who thanked fans for making it possible to work in this industry, telling stories and creating art as a means of making a living. He also joked with Jim Lee, asking him "what else do you have left to do?" as the young artist has seemingly achieved every honor in the industry. Perez also joked that it was foruitous that the USPS chose his one cover without a background, poking fun at his reputation, and added that if another of his covers would have been chosen, "it would have looked like a smudge."
What: Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are among 10 Super Heroes
created by DC Comics who will be immortalized on postage as part
of the "DC Super Heroes" commemorative postage stamps.
Who: Jim Lee, Batman co-creator and artist
Paul Levitz, DC Comics Publisher and President
William Campbell, U.S. Postal Service Judicial Officer
David Failor, U.S. Postal Service Executive Director, Stamp
Services
Special Guests scheduled to attend include:
Bestselling contemporary comic book artists Jim Lee and Scott
Williams, who worked together on Batman;
Legendary Green Lantern/Green Arrow artist Neal Adams;
Historic Flash artists Carmine Infantino, Murphy Anderson and Joe
Giella;
Award-winning Wonder Woman artist George Perez;
Classic Green Arrow artist Mike Royer; and,
Classic Superman artist Sheldon Moldoff.
When: 10:30 a.m. PT (media should arrive at 9 a.m., see note)
Thurs., July 20, 2006
Where: Comic-Con International 2006, the world's largest comic book and
pop culture show
San Diego Convention Center, Room 5AB
111 West Harbor Drive
San Diego, CA 92101
Superheroes from DC Comics are getting a new stage, albeit a tiny one: the postal stamp.
Last year, the U.S. Postal Service announced its 2006 lineup of commemorative stamps, including a salute to DC heroes. Now the wait for comic-book fans is nearly over: The DC stamps will be issued at the San Diego Comic-Con on July 20 and will be available the following day at post offices across the country.
DC's Superman was honored with a U.S. stamp in 1998. This time, he's joined by Aquaman, Batman, Flash, Green Arrow, Green Lantern, Hawkman, Plastic Man, Supergirl and Wonder Woman. Ten of the stamps on the 20-stamp sheet are portraits; the other 10 show comic-book covers featuring the heroes.
The Postal Service receives 40,000 to 50,000 suggestions each year for commemorative stamps. The DC stamps came about after Carl Herrman, an art director with the Postal Service, pitched the idea of stamps devoted to superheroes.
"I'm not sure if in their big book of potential subjects this had already been in there," he said. But it was a subject he was eager to tackle.
10:30-11:30 DC Comics Legacy: U.S. Postal Service First Day Stamp Issue DC Comics president and publisher Paul Levitz and some of the greatest comic book artists of all time will participate in a ceremony dedicated to the official unveiling of the DC Comics Superheroes commemorative postage stamps, followed by a panel on the historical and cultural legacy of DC Comics superheroes. Room 5AB
DC Comics Super Heroes Stamps The U.S. Postal Service immortalizes 10 comic book heroes Thursday, July 20 at the San Diego Convention Center when it dedicates the DC Comics Super Heroes commemorative stamps and stamped postal cards. The 10:30 a.m. PT ceremony will take place in Room 5AB to launch the world's largest comic book and pop culture show—Comic-Con International 2006. DC Comics President and Publisher Paul Levitz and some of the greatest comic book artists of all time will participate in the ceremony and a panel discussion on the historical and cultural legacy of DC Comics superheroes. San Diego holds the unique distinction of being the only city in the nation where the stamps will be available that day. The DC Comics Super Heroes commemorative stamps will be available nationwide, Friday, July 21.
This is the first stamp pane honoring comic book super heroes to be issued by the Postal Service. Half of the pane of 20 stamps are portraits of: Aquaman, Batman,The Flash, Green Arrow, Green Lantern, Hawkman, Plastic Man, Supergirl, Superman and Wonder Woman. The other 10 stamps depict covers of individual comic books devoted to each super hero. Art director Carl T. Herrman worked with the creative staff at DC Comics on the stamp designs. For information on the DC Comics Super Heroes stamps, go to: The 2006 Commemorative Stamp Program. For information on DC Comics, go to: www.dccomics.com
Paid admission to Comic-Con International 2006 is required to attend the ceremony. Admission to Thursday's show for visitors ages 12 to 17, active military with ID, and senior citizens at least 60 years of age is $12. Adult admission is $25. Children ages 11 and under are free. Visit www.comic-con.org for more information as admission prices are subject to change. The San Diego Convention Center is located at 111 West Harbor Drive
Official announcement came today that the comic book publisher that put “Truth, Justice, and the American Way” on the map will get a nod from the US Post Office next year, when DC Comics characters get their own postage stamps, this according to a USPS release listing the various stamp designs coming in 2006.
“Our 2006 program commemorates a wide range of diverse American icons with something that will appeal to everyone,'' Postmaster General John E. Potter said in announcing the planned designs. One touch of reality though – the new stamps of 2006 will cost 39 cents, as the postal rate increases on January 8th.
This is the first stamp pane (20 stamps) honoring comic book super heroes to be issued by the Postal Service.
Half of the stamps on the DC Comics Super Heroes pane show portraits of characters; the others show covers of individual comic books devoted to their exploits. Beginning with the classic covers, a separate paragraph below briefly comments on each stamp.
Wonder Woman #22 (2nd series)
Nov. 1988
Art by George Pérez
As a worldwide ambassador of peace, Wonder Woman soared to new heights in the late 1980s. The character returned to her roots as an Amazon warrior from Paradise Island, land of heroic women. Her special powers were gifts from the Olympians.
DC COMICS STAMPS
(Jun 2006)
