Mark Hanerfeld Explained

Birth Date:1944
Birth Place:New York City, New York, U.S.
Alias:Felton Marcus
Charles Nussbaum
Edit:y
Notable Works:Co-creator of Abel
The Wonderful World of Comics column
Executive Secretary, Academy of Comic-Book Fans and Collectors (1968–1970)
Awards:1969 Alley Award for Best Comic Strip Writer (Fan Activity Section)[1]

Mark Hanerfeld (1944–January 4, 2000) was an American writer and editor in the comic book industry. Starting out in the world of comics fandom, Hanerfeld is most well known for co-creating Abel, the "host" of the DC Comics horror comics anthology House of Secrets, as well as being the model for the character's appearance.[2] [3] [4]

Biography

Early life

Hanerfeld, a New Yorker, graduated from the High School of Music & Art.[5]

Fandom

Hanerfeld started out in the world of comics fandom, first by writing to various DC comic book letter columns (with his first letter being printed in Justice League of America in 1961.[6] Forming a relationship with top editor Julius Schwartz,[7] Hanerfeld began visiting the DC offices (as well as meeting other like-minded fans). Hanerfeld became such a constant on the DC Thursday tours that eventually the company let him begin leading them.

Meanwhile, Hanerfeld was immersed in the world of comics fanzines, first compiling the news section of The Comic Reader (TCR), called "On the Drawing Board." He took over as editor of TCR[8] in 1968,[9] while also becoming Executive Secretary of the Academy of Comic-Book Fans and Collectors (ACBFC).[10] Doing double-duty was apparently too much for Hanerfeld: by mid-1969 he was having trouble maintaining a consistent publication schedule for TCR and, despite winning a 1969 Alley Award, by early 1970 the fanzine was no longer being published. The ACBFC, meanwhile, went defunct in mid-1969.[11]

Professional comics career

DC Comics

In 1968, Hanerfeld began writing columns for The Wonderful World of Comics (WWC), and Fact Files, filler text features that appeared in select DC Comics titles. During the period 1968–1970, Hanerfeld wrote most of the WWC columns, which were probably inspired by Marvel's Bullpen Bulletins;[12] the WWC columns provided insight into various elements of the comics world, from creator biographies to insider info on company sales and publishing decisions to the world of comics fanzines and the burgeoning comic convention scene. Fact File pieces were usually one-page recaps of the careers of various DC heroes.

In 1969, DC editor Joe Orlando created the design for Abel, based on Hanerfeld:

Hanerfeld and artist Bill Draut then created the first story featuring Abel, in DC Special #4 (July–Sept. 1969); Abel soon became the host of House of Secrets. During the period 1969 to 1974, Hanerfeld also wrote stories for such DC titles as The Spectre, Phantom Stranger, and Justice League of America.

In the summer of 1970, Hanerfeld — on his own dime — attended the Golden State Comic-Con, where he enthusiastically promoted DC's line of titles. Upon his return, he encouraged fellow East Coast comics industry figures to attend future editions of what became the San Diego Comic-Con.

Hanerfeld was officially at DC in the period 1971–1973, serving as an assistant editor under DC vice president Joe Orlando. In that role, he also served as the DC librarian.

Marvel Comics

From 1974 to 1987, Hanerfeld work on promotional tie-ins for Marvel Comics, producing minicomics featuring Captain America, the Hulk, Spider-Man, and Tarzan advertising Aurora models, Pez, 7-Eleven, and bubble gum.

Throughout the 1980s, he helped coordinate Marvel reprints for the company's Marvel UK line. He left comics after the 1980s.

Personal life and death

Hanerfeld died of heart failure in January 2000 after a period of ill health. He was commemorated at the 2000 Harvey Award ceremony at the Pittsburgh Comicon.[13]

Other appearances

Hanerfeld appeared as a metafictional character in Batman #237 (December 1971). Written by Dennis O'Neil and illustrated by Neal Adams, the story featured several comics creators appearing and interacting with Batman and Robin at the Rutland Halloween Parade in Rutland, Vermont.[14]

He also appeared in a photograph in Elvira's House of Mystery #4 (June 1986).[15] [16] [17]

Bibliography

Comics

DC filler pages pieces

The Wonderful World of Comics

The Wonderful World of Comics articles appeared in select DC titles with cover dates spanning the periods notated.

Fact File

The Fact File feature appeared in select DC titles with cover dates spanning the periods notated.

  1. Nov–Dec 1968 — Tarantula
  2. Feb–March 1969 — The Golden Age Green Lantern
  3. TK
  4. Feb–Apr 1969 — Vigilante
  5. Apr–May 1969 — Wildcat
  6. Apr-Jun 1969 — Sargon the Sorcerer
  7. May-Jun 1969 — Detective Comics no. 27
  8. May–Aug 1969 — The Spectre
  9. Jul-Dec 1969 — The Seven Soldiers of Victory

See also

References

Sources

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 1969 Alley Awards. Comic Book Awards Almanac. March 1, 2023. Tallied by Mark Hanerfeld. Total number of votes: at least 319..
  2. Web site: Cronin . Brian . Comic Legends: Which Comic Creators Were the Models for Cain and Abel? . CBR . 18 November 2020 . 17 September 2017.
  3. 177117295259295744. Len . Wein. LenWein. Len Wein. March 6, 2012. That would be my dear, departed friend MArk Hanerfeld, who was the model for Abel as drawn by Joe Orlando..
  4. Since people are kvelling over the SANDMAN casting, let's go back a step further. This is Mark Hanerfeld, the real-like visual inspiration for Abel. Kurt. Busiek. Kurt Busiek. KurtBusiek. 177117295259295744.
  5. Web site: Recent Passings. Alumni and Friends of LaGuardia High School. February 28, 2023.
  6. Comic Book Artist. 7. Jon B.. Cooke. Jon B. Cooke. CBA Interview: Mark Hanerfeld: Abel with Caine: The Late Assistant Editor on his DC Days in a 1998 Interview . 17–19. March 2000.
  7. Web site: Voices from the Past. January 8, 2010. Mark. Evanier. Mark Evanier. News from ME.
  8. Bill Schelly. Bill. Schelly. Jerry Bails' Ten Building Blocks of Fandom. . 3 . 25. June 2003. 5–8.
  9. Book: Jerry. Bails. Hames. Ware . Who's Who of American Comic Books. Hanerfeld, Mark. 92, 316. J. Bails. Detroit, Michigan. 1973–1976. February 1, 2023.
  10. Marvel Bullpen Bulletins page, "Fabulous Facts and Frivolous Fables from Frantic Fans, Faithful Friends, and Fiendish Foes!" in Marvel Comics cover-dated April 1969, including The Incredible Hulk vol. 2, #114.
  11. Hanerfeld. Mark. Academy Forum. The Comic Reader. 75 . 1969.
  12. Web site: The Wonderful World of Comics: Or, How I Stopped Worrying and Started Cutting Up Silver Age Comic Books. Paul. Kupperberg. Paul Kupperberg. And Then I Wrote.... July 18, 2020.
  13. Web site: In Remembrance...: A tribute to those members of the comic book world who passed on in 1999 and early 2000. April 28, 2000. March 1, 2023. HarveyAwards.Tripod.com. This memorial was originally presented by Kim Thompson of Fantagraphics and Denis Kitchen of the Harvey Award Committee .....
  14. Web site: The Rutland Halloween Parade: Where Marvel and DC First Collided . Larnick . Eric . October 30, 2010 . ComicsAlliance . https://web.archive.org/web/20120111094055/http://www.comicsalliance.com/2010/10/30/rutland-halloween-parade-marvel-dc-crossover/ . January 11, 2012 . dead . December 5, 2011 . Dick Grayson attends the parade with his friends – comic book creators Alan Weiss, Bernie Wrightson and Gerry Conway. Batman's fight spills into Tom Fagan's mansion, where Denny O'Neil, Len Wein, and Mark Hanerfeld are in attendance.. mdy-all .
  15. Book: Cowsill . Alan . Irvine . Alex . Korte . Steve . Manning . Matt . Wiacek . Win . Wilson . Sven . The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe . 2016 . DK Publishing . 978-1-4654-5357-0 . 58.
  16. Mark Waid. Mark. Waid. Millennium Edition: House of Mystery. 1. September 2000. inside back cover. Afterword.
  17. Book: Wells . John . American Comic Book Chronicles: 1965-1969 . 2014 . TwoMorrows Publishing . 978-1605490557 . 215.
  18. The Wonderful World of Comics: Test Your "Golden Age" I.Q.. Aquaman. 1. 48. November–December 1969. DC Comics.

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