User talk:DJArneson

Lobo Dell Comics
I would like an editor to clarify the information currently on Lobo Dell Comics page. Specifically, the information citing Tony Tallarico as creator of Lobo is not only inaccurate, it is false. On the basis of a lengthy investigation into how this occurred I, DJ Arneson, have learned that Tallarico may not even have illustrated Lobo at all. I and the comic book history community have recently learned that Tallarico had an "invisible" partner, recently deceased, that is, an illustrator who worked with Tallarico but who was never credited for his collaboration and work for Tallarico. That raises the question as to who actually pencilled, inked or both, the 2 issues of Lobo which I created, wrote and as the editor of Dell Comics at the time, 1962 to + - 1970, edited for publication both issues. Tallarico's statements from an interview he did with Jamie Coville are fiction. I can substantiate these comments.

The following, then, is the information I would like an editor to address to correct the contents on the Lobo page. I'm available to talk, e-mail or otherwise communicate with the editor to help straighten this thing out...it has been extremely vexing personally as well as historically wrong, but now can be fully corrected so anyone interested in black comic books will find historically accurate information. The first section is from ECBACC citing the basis for the award.

The ECBACC Pioneer / Lifetime Achievement Award Retro-Active [2006 - 2015]

DJ Arneson – Creator of Lobo (1965)

Don DJ Arneson, born August 15, 1935, was a writer and editor for Dell Comics from 1962 to 1973. Arneson is a published adapter, author, and a designer of children's and young adult books. He is particularly well-known for creating the character of "Lobo," a western comic featuring a [B]lack gunslinger hero. The first comic book headlined by a [B]lack character (Dec. 1965 and Sept. 1966), Lobo was well ahead of its time, and was cancelled after two issues. Created by Arneson and artist Tony Tallarico (My note: false), it chronicled the Old West adventures of a wealthy, unnamed African-American gunslinger called "Lobo." On the foreheads of vanquished criminals, Lobo would leave the calling card of a gold coin imprinted with the images of a wolf and the letter "L". Arneson developed the original premise for Lobo from the book The Negro Cowboys by Philip Durham and Everett L. Jones; Dodd, Mead, 1965. In Arneson’s own words: “In February, 1965, I read a NYT book review of The Negro Cowboys. I realized I’d found a possible character for Dell Comics…which was a primary function of my position at Dell…I bought the book, read it and then created Lobo based on the historical documentation detailed in the book. The book sits in front of me on my desk.”

“On reading the book in 1965, I recognized the potential for a Black comic book hero based on historical fact: the Buffalo Soldiers, the name given to African-American Union soldiers in the American Civil War. A number of those soldiers went west and became cowboys following the war and I conceived Black Lobo as a dramatic characterization of this little-known history. Again, this was 1965, a time when African-Americans were still referred to as Negroes, for example. Sit-ins, segregation and social upheaval were still entrenched in the United States. Martin Luther King, Jr. was still very much in the future as a national figure and symbol of the revolution underway.”

“The idea of a Black comic book character, much less the title character in his own comic, was unusual to say the least. That Helen Meyer, a trailblazer in her own right as the only female president of a major publishing company, and incidentally, the highest paid female executive in the country at the time, made the decision to publish Lobo is a tribute to her intelligence, foresight and sensitivity. I added other elements to the original Black Lobo character concept, e.g.: Robin Hood, The Lone Ranger, etc. as well as the familiar adventurous spirit of the American cowboy of popular western novels and cowboy movies of that time to dramatize and expand the character and storyline to portray a Black comic book hero; there were none at the time. The intention was to create a series, but that didn't happen as comic book historians and enthusiasts now know. (My note: at my request, Tony [Tallarico] illustrated a mock-up cover (my note; not certain), titled Black Lobo, which I presented to Helen Meyer (my note: Tallarico was not there) along with the proposal I wrote based on what I described above. Helen Meyer agreed to publish the proposed comic book as Lobo. (my note: "Black” would have been too contentious, considering the civil rights turmoil at that time).

Courtesy of Google/ DJ Arneson / Y. Odom www.ecbacc.com

The second section is the new material from the 5/15/15 convention.

Here's the new material, from the ECBAAC (East Coast Black Age Comic Convention) award presentation in Philadelphia on Friday, May 15, 2015 where I was retroactively recognized as the creator of Lobo and presented with the Pioneer Award for same, finally ending the egregious claims in the original, inaccurate account:

This finally resolves the years’ long, very convoluted story of who created the Dell Comic Book character, LOBO.

It’s official! DJ Arneson created LOBO…50 years ago! The FIRST African American comic book character to star in his own comic book…a historical first…now certified by The East Coast Black Age of Comics Convention on Friday, May 15, 2015. The other awardees in photos were for other categories…best new comic…best writer…best illustrator…etc. My award was separate from those categories.

This event is a genuine milestone and life-changer for me…now more dedicated than ever to complete my graphic memoir, working title:

"How Did a White Guy Like Me Create a Black Guy Like LOBO?” Subtitled:

"NIGNORANCE: The Invisible Power of White Privilege in America."

People to contact to verify the above (all cited in the original article): Yumi Odon, the founder of ECBACC Professor William Foster, Writer and Black Comic book Historian Jamie Coville, comic book historian

There are photos, but not included here.

Thank you for bearing with me on this request. It's really important to me and the comic book community. I'm 79 and will be delighted to leave this accurate legacy for future comic book fans and historians (my note: I'm not going anywhere soon, but you never know).

Sincerely;

DJ

DJ Arneson 26 Woodbury Hill Woodbury CT 06798 tel: 203 263 4758 dj.arneson@icloud.com

Subject/headline Subject/headline preview: (→‎Lobo Dell Comics: new section)