Source: MTV Geek Speaking to audiences at NYCC, Joe Simon reflected on the moment that truly inspired him to create the “Great American Hero.” It started back when Joe was only 8-years old and his class had a visit from a former Civil War veteran. The soldier made a profound impression on Simon, closing the visit with the line “Shake the hand that shook the hand of Abraham Lincoln!”
Reflecting on his work at the offices of Timely Comics and a young Stan Lee, Simon stated, “It was like child abuse, I made him what he is today." On a more serious note, Simon reflected, “Comics in those days came out of a mold. DC Comics were made like a cake from a recipe, formulaic. We came out with something different.”
Simon went on to treat the audience to the story of how he came up with Cap's infamous villain the Red Skull. We here at CBM are familiar with the story involving the red ice cream sundae but if you've never heard it then click the link under the banner to head over to MTV.
Joseph Henry "Joe" Simon (born October 11, 1913) is an American comic book writer, artist, editor, and publisher. Simon created or co-created many important characters in the 1930s-1940s Golden Age of Comic Books and served as the first editor of Timely Comics, the company that would evolve into Marvel Comics.
With his partner, artist Jack Kirby, he co-created Captain America, one of comics' most enduring superheroes, and the team worked extensively on such features at DC Comics as the 1940s Sandman and Sandy the Golden Boy, and co-created the Newsboy Legion, the Boy Commandos, and Manhunter. Simon & Kirby creations for other comics publishers include Boys' Ranch, Fighting American and the Fly. In the late 1940s, the duo created the field of romance comics, and were among the earliest pioneers of horror comics. Simon, who went on to work in advertising and commercial art, also founded the satirical magazine Sick in 1960, remaining with it for a decade. He briefly returned to DC Comics in the 1970s.
Simon was inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 1999.
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