Author: Ed Catto

A voracious reader, Ed has been enjoying “books on comics” ever since he’d read Jule’s Feiffer’s classic The Great Comic Book Heroes a chapter at a time at a local book store. The cover price was $14.95 and he knew that he could never afford such an enormous sum to actually buy this treasure. Things changed, and Ed could eventually afford the books he loved. His reading, and history illustration and art has guided him through a life-long love of comics, collections and graphic novels. As a branding and advertising executive, Ed’s career has evolved to include a focus on entertainment marketing in many ways: A founding partner of Bonfire Agency, Ed helped establish the world’s first marketing firm focused on connecting brands, in authentic ways, to passionate and enthusiastic fans of comics, graphic novels, games and movies. Ed has also shepherded the rebirth of the iconic 60s toy, Captain Action, in collectibles, books, comics and even a national toy line. An animated television series is currently being shopped for development. A convention enthusiast, Ed helped develop Reed Pop’s New York Comic-Con (now the nation’s largest con) and is currently doing the same for Syracuse’s Salt City Comic-Con. 
Ed speaks nationally as a panelist and moderator at conventions, leading conversations on entertainment marketing and comics history. Ed has also appeared on CNBC’s Squawkbox, BNN Business News Network , and PBS’s Superheroes documentary. Ed recently started teaching at Ithaca College, sharing his experiences and enthusiasm for business and entrepreneurship to both MBA’s and undergraduates. As an artist, Ed also leads graphic novel classes for kids of all ages. In October of 2018, The Adventures of Captain Graves will mark Ed’s debut as an illustrator for publisher Airship27. Ed and his wife Kathe currently live in New York’s State’s Finger Lakes Region, enjoying the area’s local comic book shops and wineries. Between consulting, teaching and drawing, Ed continues to work very hard to whittle down the teetering tower of books on his nightstand.
Pop Culture Squad > Articles by: Ed Catto
With Further Ado #274: The Utopian Paradise… in a Mall – Logan’s Run

With Further Ado #274: The Utopian Paradise… in a Mall – Logan’s Run

Posted on by Ed Catto

Wouldn’t it be great to live a life without worry? A life only dedicated only to pleasure?

Before you sign up there’s one non-negotiable rule… and it’s probably a dealbreaker. You would have to live your wonderful life in mall.

That wasn’t quite the ethical conundrum that MGM and the producers were shooting for back in the mid-70s when they were developing Logan’s Run. The film’s actual premise was that you could live a hedonistic life, but when you turned 30, the gig was up. In this movie, you would give up your life in a ritualistic sacrifice that “probably” led to reincarnation – they called it Renewal – but hey, you never knew for sure. There was no proof, and you had to take it on faith.
In the mid 1970s, someone at MGM had the brilliant, albeit misguided, idea that they could represent the future year of 2274 by shooting on location in the new Dallas Market Center mall.

And what a future it was. Everyone was dressed as if the hippy movement collided with ancient Roman toga makers. The world – which was really that mall – was clean, bright and vapidly optimistic. There were no parenting duties there either. Babies were born and raised in the system. In Logan’s world, the futuristic version of Tinder even comes with a delivery service. Continue reading “With Further Ado #274: The Utopian Paradise… in a Mall – Logan’s Run” →

With Further Ado #271: Holiday Gift Guide Part 1 – Voices from Krypton

With Further Ado #271: Holiday Gift Guide Part 1 – Voices from Krypton

Posted on by Ed Catto

Every year, it’s a treat to shine the spotlight on top-notch creative endeavors for the With Further Ado Holiday Gift Guide. Maybe these are suggestions that would be fantastic treasures for you to gift to your loved ones. And maybe, let’s face it, they are suggestions that you want to make to others so they will gift ‘em to you! Hey, I’m not judging.

Ed Gross is an enthusiastic fan with a polished writing talent. The books he creates are the kind that force you to bargain with yourself. You know those types of bargains: “I will just read five more pages and then turn off the light,” or “I will just read this chapter, and I can finish up that work project early in the morning.”

His latest oversized volume Voices from Krypton is exactly that type of book. It’s an oral history of Superman, as told by an impressively wide array of people who were either there at the time, or who are experts in their field.

Gross has assembled folks like Ilya Salkind, Richard Donner, and Margot Kidder to discuss the 70s Superman movies. Or actors like Tom Welling, Teri Hatcher, and Melissa Benoist analyze their Smallville, Lois & Clark and Supergirl TV shows.

Modern day super-experts like Mark Waid and Andy Mangels are also included and provide smart insights with a learned expertise. Waid, in fact, supplies a fantastic afterward and admits he even learned a thing or two from this book. Continue reading “With Further Ado #271: Holiday Gift Guide Part 1 – Voices from Krypton” →

With Further Ado #272: Boston Book Festival and A Mistake Incomplete

With Further Ado #272: Boston Book Festival and A Mistake Incomplete

Posted on by Ed Catto

One of my favorite libraries will always be the Boston Public Library. It’s an impressive building that celebrates both quiet, contemplative reading as well as a loud, enthusiastic passion for books and stories. During my visit to Boston last month, I was thrilled to attend the Boston Book Festival, a pop-up convention right out front of the Library.

Approaching the library and Copley Plaza, we saw a few long lines and soon found out they were filled with fans eager to meet Rick Riordan, author of the Percy Jackson YA series. And in front of the library, there were pop-up tents and food trucks, all promoting great books to read and treats to eat.

Sasquatch was there promoting Cambridge Publishers, and he made me feel a bit comic-con-y. As you could imagine, there are a lot of publishers, and this year there was a focus on publishing for younger readers. Local standouts like WGBH, MIT, and Emerson College were also promoting their efforts.

One of the most creative exhibitors was Pop-up Poems. You’d chat with a poet a bit and come back 10 minutes later to pick a complete poem they’d just written and typed on a vintage typewriter. There was no fee…but I sure hope everyone generously tipped the poets. I loved this idea and I think every comic convention should steal this idea! Continue reading “With Further Ado #272: Boston Book Festival and A Mistake Incomplete” →

With Further Ado #271: Odds, Ends, and a New to Me Review

With Further Ado #271: Odds, Ends, and a New to Me Review

Posted on by Ed Catto

After working at Reed Expo as a Senior VP of Marketing, I ended up consulting for the huge trade show organization and focusing on New York Comic Con. In those early days, as sort of one step over from the consulting, I would also be on the Javits exhibition floor promoting Captain Action, and I had outstanding company.

Back then we had an “incoming class” of exhibitors who were working hard to make their entrepreneurial dreams reality through the magic of the comic convention. It was an impressive group of folks. We were all full of optimism and unafraid to roll up our sleeves and work hard. I can’t help but fondly remember creative entrepreneurs like like Brenden Deneen and Richard Emms of Ardden Entertainment, Gary Schaeffer and his Outer Space Men, Vincent Ferranti ‘s Witch Hunter, and so many others.

Anthony Del Col and Conner McCreery were an integral part of that early scene with their Kill Shakespeare series. They were always upbeat and enthusiastic, tirelessly promoting that very creative series while they shared their natural energy and enthusiasm with all the other exhibitors. Two great guys, fighting the good fight, and inspiring everyone else to do the same. Continue reading “With Further Ado #271: Odds, Ends, and a New to Me Review” →

With Further Ado #270: Chaykin’s Fargo is on ZOOP

With Further Ado #270: Chaykin’s Fargo is on ZOOP

Posted on by Ed Catto

I knew some of these entrepreneurs before they started ZOOP. I liked their old start-up, and I like their “new” crowdfunding start-up ZOOP. (Although, it’s not that new anymore.) They are doing so many things right.

Added to the “doing things right” list is their current effort showcasing Howard Chaykin’s adaptation of John Benteen’s Fargo: Hell On Wheels.

This will be a 96+ page prestige format hardcover graphic novel adaptation of one of Howard Chaykin’s favorite characters from men’s adventure paperbacks of the sixties and seventies. Chaykin writes and draws the entire book, along with the extraordinary colorist Yen Nitro and of course his longtime letterer/designer, Ken Bruzenak. Continue reading “With Further Ado #270: Chaykin’s Fargo is on ZOOP” →

With Further Ado #269: Tripwire Turns 30 and Is Going to NYCC

With Further Ado #269: Tripwire Turns 30 and Is Going to NYCC

Posted on by Ed Catto

As a comics fan, I loved reading the comics and I also loved reading about comics and the whole industry. The Comics Reader and The Buyers Guide for Comic Fandom were two of my favorite publications. I also loved Comics Interview, Amazing Heroes and Comics Feature. In the 90s, I was great friends with the Wizard Magazine folks. That particular rocket ride was more like a movement, or a revolt, than just a magazine.

And today – I’m very involved with TwoMorrows publications like Back Issue Magazine and RetroFan Magazine.

So is it any wonder that I’m a big fan of Joel Meadows and Tripwire Magazine.

Tripwire was founded back in 1992 and it is the preeminent UK comics and genre publication (with a home on the web and in print) quarterly magazine. But now as comics journalism has changed over the past thirty years, how do you cover the worlds of comics and genre while playing to the strengths of the format that you cover them in- online and print? Is there still even a place for covering this sector in print?

I’m excited to be moderating the Tripwire Panel at New York Comic Con. It’s called Tripwire and Over 30 years of Comics Journalism and is scheduled for Thursday in room 406.1 in the Javits Center, at 10:45 am on Oct 12, 2023.

The Panelists include publisher Joel Meadows, Andy Coleman, Dan Berry and Forbes Magazine’s Rob Salkowitz. More details are available at www.newyorkcomiccon.com.

And Bob Harrison had a fantastic interview with Joel Meadows herehere too!

See you at New York Comic Con!

With Further Ado #268: Screams, Screens and the Planet of the Apes!

With Further Ado #268: Screams, Screens and the Planet of the Apes!

Posted on by Ed Catto

Fifty years ago this month, my brain exploded. So did the brains just about all my friends. And it was all because of what CBS did one Friday night.

In those days, when a movie was shown in the theater, there was a sense of urgency to see it. You never knew when you’d get the chance to see it again. Our ability to watch movies was at the whim of networks for when, and if, they’d re-broadcast a movie.

I’ve always thought this book, Conspiracy of the Planet of the Apes by Andrew Gaska, was spectacular, especially with its Steranko cover and a bunch of wonderful interior illustrations.

Through the mid and late 60s, 20th Century Fox worked hard to develop a movie called Planet of the Apes. Rod Serling was called to help with early drafts of the movie. Much of his work morphed into something different, but his innovative twist ending, a commentary on the then-current world, made it to the final version which debuted on movie screens in 1968.

Later, Fox packaged this movie together with the sequels for CBS. The network broadcast it on conventional TV during an autumn Friday fifty years ago. I was too young to see this one in the theaters, but I was the perfect age to see it on TV.

Apes riding horse! A spaceship! A beach that looked a lot like Lake Ontario (where we’d spend time every summer)! Linda Harrison in a dried spinach swimsuit! “What could be better?” said my ten-year-old self. Continue reading “With Further Ado #268: Screams, Screens and the Planet of the Apes!” →

With Further Ado #267: Chaykin, Waid, and Comic Book U.

With Further Ado #267: Chaykin, Waid, and Comic Book U.

Posted on by Ed Catto

Lately I feel like reading World’s Finest, or the Teen Titans has been like taking a master class in how to write fantastic comics.   They’re fun and surprising. Fresh, but respectful of longtime readers.  And that new Superman story, Last Days of Lex Luthor, in that oversized DC Black Label format, just blew me away. So much so, that I even passed along my copy to my dad. (I only pass along the really, really good stuff to him.)

Mark Waid, the writer for these series, has written a lot of stories over the years, and I’ve sure enjoyed his stories over the years. A few years ago, I assumed he hit his peak with his brilliant relaunch Marvel’s Daredevil. It was outstanding on so many levels. But like a star athlete, Mark Waid makes a habit of shattering his own personal best and creating better and better comics. Continue reading “With Further Ado #267: Chaykin, Waid, and Comic Book U.” →

With Further Ado #266: A Somber Gathering

With Further Ado #266: A Somber Gathering

Posted on by Ed Catto

We’ve been talking about comic conventions and fandoms lately. This is completely different but more similar than I ever expected.

This past weekend, my wife and I volunteered for a pop-up traveling exhibition, and I’m glad we did. I was surprised that it was – although so appropriately somber – like so many of the activities and gatherings we’ve been spotlighting in this column.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) manages The Wall That Heals and their national tour schedule for 2023. The Wall That Heals exhibit includes a three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial along with a mobile Education Center. This is the 28th season of The Wall That Heals has been on the road, and last weekend it visited our town Auburn, located in the Finger Lakes region of New York State. Continue reading “With Further Ado #266: A Somber Gathering” →

With Further Ado #265: A New Favorite – Ana Penyas

With Further Ado #265: A New Favorite – Ana Penyas

Posted on by Ed Catto

It’s a busy time of year for comic conventions. It looks like last weekend’s Baltimore Comic-Con was a roaring success; especially if your focus is on comics and comics creators. I’ve missed the last few years of this wonderful show, but I saw a lot of smiling faces on social media.

SPX, the Small Press Expo was held the same weekend in Rockville, Maryland at the Bethesda North Marriott. This show celebrates small press creators and entrepreneurs, and it looks to be a positive counterbalance to the “madness” of bigger, more traditional comic conventions.

At a show like this, I’d typically line up to meet a guy like Bill Griffith, the creator of Zippy the Pinhead. But I have a new favorite SPX guest this year: Ana Penyas.

Ana Penyas is from Spain. At Polytechnic University of Valencia she studied fine arts, Ana made headlines in 2018 when she received Spain’s National Comic Award. Her debut graphic novel was called Estamos Todas Bien,and her newest one is Todo Bajo El Sol. Her most recent project is contributing to the Fantagraphics anthology Illustrating Spain. Continue reading “With Further Ado #265: A New Favorite – Ana Penyas” →