KIND OF A LOUSY DAY

Posted By: Peter DavidPosted On:

Went to Julie’s funeral today. A number of DC folks were there, including Bob Greenberger, Bob Wayne, Dan Didio, Murphy Anderson, Patty Jeres, Mike Carlin, Andy Helfer and others. Radio guy Howard Margolin was also there, as was our own webmaster, Glenn Hauman.

It was low key and somber, as is typical for a Jewish funeral service. I didn’t go to the cemetery. I didn’t know Julie’s family all that well–or at all, really–and felt I’d be intruding somehow.

In addition, I’m reasonably sure I’ve got bronchitis. I’m coughing up some charming yellow stuff. I made sure to scrub my hands upon arrival so I could shake people’s hands with a clear conscience, while sucking down Riccola as if they were going out of style to keep the cough under control.

I hate being sick. Then again, as I saw this morning, it beats the alternative.

Ðámņ. I-Con and Dragon*Con are simply not going to be the same.

PAD

36 comments on “KIND OF A LOUSY DAY”

  1. I never got to thank Julie for being a guest at Dragon*Con the last year I attended.

    Peter, I’m thanking you now.

    Feel better.

  2. PAD, ever heard of a cough drop called “Fisherman’s Friend?” They’re extremely nasty, extremely foul, and extremely effective. Their legend says they were developed for North Sea fishermen. My theory is they treat the cough like chemotherapy — they’re toxic, but they’re more toxic to the cough than they are to you. They also make a sugar-free version, which is great for diabetics like me.

    I’ve refrained from commenting on Mr. Schwartz’s passing, because I couldn’t think of a single personal example of his work touching me. But now I’m reminded of the old aphorism about “if I can see further, it is because I stand on the shoulders of giants.” Mr. Schwartz bore many footprints on his shoulders, and we’re all poorer for the loss of this giant.

  4. I was surprised at the relatively small turnout at Julie’s funeral (only a bit more than 50 people in total), but I figure that was probably because of the (traditionally Jewish) brief time between his death and the funeral. Other comics industry figures in attendance included Jack Adler, Bob Rozakis, Glenn Greenberg, Mike Uslan, Paul Levitz, and Paul Kupperberg.

    By the way, the Friday, February 13th broadcast of “Destinies-The Voice of Science Fiction,” on WUSB, 90.1 FM (www.wusb.fm) will include a full-length tribute to Julie, including excerpts from his Destinies interviews, his speech at the 1996 Jerry Siegel memorial service, and Bill Mumy’s song, “The Ballad of Julius Schwartz.”

  5. Any chance of posting the lyrics to Bill Mumy’s song? Google’s not returning anything for the title, and I’m curious.

  7. Hopefully you will feel better soon.

    “Fisherman`s Friend” are very good and, by the way, I don`t think they taste horrible at all :).

    But maybe you want to try this: Get some dried camomile from the pharmacy, put some of it into a jug with hot water and breath in the vapours after you put a towel over your head and bend over it. My mother thinks this is the best way to clear up your lungs and I agree, it certainly helps.

  8. Actually, when you are Jewish, chicken soup is the ultimate cure. It is to Jews what Vicks Vapo-Rub is to Lutherans (per Garrison Keillor). The soup has to be homemade though, or else you don’t feel the love, as it were.

  10. PAD–hope you’re on the mend soon. I’ve been through the wringer this winter with the same bronchitis beast, which failed to bow to one round of Zithro but finally seems to be cowering before some stronger antibiotic cousin or other. All the hints about steam, Fishermen’s friends (Orin?), chicken soup, and chamomille are great, but when you’re producing the yellow (or green) stuff, it’s time for the real meds.

    And does anyone else think it would be just a great idea to do away with handshakes altogether? I’m using the bow more and more these days….

  11. I only met Julie a few times, so it was more like a friend of the family passing in my case. Someone who I had met and admired, but didnt’ know too well. Many of my friends and comics-associates did, though.

    To answer the query about the funeral turn out… the funeral information wasn’t as widely broadcasted as the death information.

    I knew that Ken Gale, sick in bed, got an e-mail or phone call with information and wished he was well enough to attend.

    Meanwhile, I will say to you what I said to him, which is to expect numerous memorial dinners to pop up.

    I also spoke to Dave Cockrum on the phone from his hospital bed, and he said that Julie was one of his two father figures in comics, Murphy Anderson being the other.

    (Dave has physical therapy on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons, so you won’t be able to reach him between 1 and 4pm on those days. If you don’t have contact info ask or visit my Dave Cockrum thread on the newsaskew board for some of the info. Dave needs visitors and calls!)

    C. Meth has a very nice description of one of the anecdotes that Dave shared with him on his early experiences with Julie on his Silverbullet column, which I found linked through Mark Evanier’s blog.

    Also for colds, I’m recommending a product from the health food store: Umcka which assists with upper respitory convelenence (and alergies).

  13. Can’t find it again now, but in the discussions of the pat few days, did I see something about you taking over one of the X-Men titles? And if so, which one?

  15. Hey, I could have asked “Who is this Julie?” but I didn’t. I also could have asked, who is SHE? But I didn’t.

  16. Bladestar, It is because of MEN like Julie that we have the X-Men. So a little reverence would be appreciated.

  17. I’ve been down about Julie’s death the past few days, but then I remembered the Ambush Bug comics by Giffen and Fleming. My favorite has to be the one with The Head of Julius Schwartz bouncing around from page to page, giving orders and the like.

    It actually brought back a smile for a few minutes.

    “It will rub the white-out all over its body, or it will get the hose!”

    JSM

    (who hopes to high heaven that JULIE found that funny…)

  18. No ERBFan, Mike Murray got snotty because I didn’t post a tribute to someone I don’t even know or care about, yet he said nothing to the others posting about the flu adn not Julie, so i don’t really care.

    I just need to remember that its PAD’s groupies and not PAD himself acting like jerks so I can actually bring myself to buy his stuff. Because if you are a typical PAD-fan, I’m not sure I want to be like you (A PAD-fan).

  19. I understand if you didn’t like Mike’s post. However, making such comments about Julius Schwartz was in poor taste. This will be my last comment on the subject.

  20. PAD, if you have the time to catach a nap today, or before bed tonight,

    Start with a Cup of hot tea, add

    1 Tablespoon Each of

    Lemon Juice

    Honey

    Whiskey

    That before a few hours sleep will help burn it right out of you.

  21. Yeah. Dragon Con will definitely be different without getting a chance to say hello to Julie.

    Bobby

  23. I still remember the first time I saw Julius Schwartz at a con It was at the ’85 Chicago Comicon.

    The special issue of Superman in celebration of his 70th birthday had come out a couple months earlier, and when I got a chance to talk with him, I asked how he felt about the surprise. He looked at me with a slightly puzzled expression on his face, then said with gruff joviality, “How do you think I felt? Terrific!” I still smile when I think about that exchange.

    Peter, if you’re feeling well enough to make Farpoint this weekend, I’ll proudly drink a toast with you to his memory on Friday night.

  24. I just need to remember that its PAD’s groupies and not PAD himself acting like jerks so I can actually bring myself to buy his stuff. Because if you are a typical PAD-fan, I’m not sure I want to be like you (A PAD-fan).

    Is it too late to ask for a recount on that recent election we had?

  25. Peter,

    Thanks for the report. I wish I could have attended, though I only really met Julie once for any substantial amount of time. Of course, you’d see him at the cons. He was one of those old, old guys whose quick wit gave everyone hope for their own maturation. I don’t think his work in comics can be overstated. He was as influential as Stan Lee. He was Mr. Flash, Mr. Batman, Mr.Silver Age. It’s sad that he’s gone, but great that he was around long enough to have seen and met so many fans. – R.

  27. In defense of the notorious Bladestar:

    I don’t know who Julius Schwartz is. Nor was I aware, untill this thread, what type of influence he was. Personally, I don’t feel grief for the deceased. Instead I feel grief for those whose lives are all the emptier for their absence

    Having stated that I wonder what is worse- Asking an honest question or paying false homage to someone who, as far as you know, has not touched your life in any way?

    Mr. David, if you feel that absence then I am truly sorry for your loss and for Mr. Schwartz’s friends and family, even though I didn’t know him and, therefore, don’t feel the same sense of loss. I feel that to pretend such a sense of loss on my part would be rude in the extreme.

    Flipside:

    Bladestar,

    Do you suppose that waiting for a ‘lighter’ subject in which to pose your question might have been a better idea considering the emotions involved here?

    On Mr. David and his cold:

    I have found it helpfull to chop up some ginger root (while laughing maniacally) and using your coffee maker to produce ginger tea to be quite effective in helping to sweat out a cold. I hope you feel better soon.

    Salutations to ALL,

    Mitch: Who tries like Hëll to be objective.

  28. As somone who’s had bronchitis more than once Peter, I can sympathize. And again, I’m very sorry for the loss of your friend.

  30. Let’s see, a number of posts had nothing to do with funeral, so no, I didn’t really see a the point, PLUS this is the second day posted about his death, and it’s even Monday’s post, there was no post today (hopefully Peter is getting over his illness).

  31. RIP JL

    Aboot the cold, some gin and juice would help.

    Now to find a way to help you.

    I can’t find a suitable remedy your cold, as my efforts might be for naught, as Clark is currently changing destiny as he goes along his daily routines( saving lives,etc.) Just keep coughing and it might clear up. Who knows?

    Sorry, just started watching Smallville after seeing how many people like it on this board. Publicity is a good thing. Example: I already know too much aboot Lizzie McGuire, I know the order of her last three films, her latest song. Geez. Disney and their public relations, eh. See ya laterr, alligator.

  32. I was re-reading an Evan Dorkin “Dork!” collection this weekend and came across a (sad but true) cartoon that reminded me of Julius Schwartz’s death:

    First panel is labelled “The Elvis Presley Vigil” and is populated by hundreds of mourners, many of them in Elvis-impersonator costumer.

    Second panel is labelled “The Kurt Cobain Vigil” and is populated by hundreds of disaffected youth mourners.

    Third panel is labelled “The Jack Kirby Vigil” and has one guy poking his head in from the right side to ask, bemused, “Who?”

    That said, Peter, it’s sites like yours and Mark Evanier that honor and tribute Julius Schwartz. I never met the man but enjoyed his work, both his comic books and his autobio. His phrase “be original” has become my mantra as well. The four-color universe will be a little dimmer without him.

  33. Kept meaning to post, but it’s been a busy day, plus I didn’t want to add to the discussion unless I had something worthwhile to say. I never had the good fortune of meeting Julie Schwartz in person, which now feels a bit strange considering the scores of conventions I’ve been to over the years. And yet his work has been a major influence on this former comic book geek-turned journalist. The Silver Age Flash, still one of the coolest characters ever created. The ‘new look’ Batman, which probably led to the 1960s television series. Mystery in Space and Strange Adventures, still two of the best, most intelligently written SF comics ever produced. And let’s not forget Green Lantern/Green Arrow. With all the press given to O’Neill and Adams for those stories over the years, people seem to forget that it was Schwartz who was editor at the time.

    Hope you’re feeling better, Peter. I’d go with the herbal tea and chicken soup combo, not necessarily at the same time. You can also try Glogg, which is a mulled drink they sell by the bottle at Ikea. If you drink it hot a la herbal tea, it wouldn’t hurt. Speaking from experience, having caught a nasty bug in London December, it certainly helped get through a few winter nights. None of the above is meant as a cure of course, but they’ll help the nastier symptoms until the antibiotics kick in!

  34. While I probably saw him afterwards in artists alley, this will be my memory of the last time I saw Julie Schwartz:

    At last years Dragoncon, there was a panel with Julie, Judd Winick, and Geoff Johns. Whenever Julie was talking, you could see the look of awe on Judd and Geoff’s faces. Afterwards, as we all walked out and Julie walked passed as group of people dressed as the 60’s era Batgirl, Zatanna, etc.

    (you can see a picture of some of them at http://www.patcave.com/dc2k3/costume/comics/cocm0602.jpg )

    I just found that fitting.

    Rest in Peace Julie

  35. I, too, will gladly raise my glass in tribute to Julie Schwartz at Farpoint. He edited most of the comics that got me into this hobby 30 years ago, and even though I never got to properly meet him or have a conversation with him, I was very sorry to hear of his passing. When Mark Evanier set up an e-mail address for people to send get-well wishes to Mr. Schwartz (I feel funny calling him “Julie,” probably for the same reason I didn’t call Will Eisner “Will” or Harlan Ellison “Harlan” when I met them), I sent one which essentially thanked him for the Silver Age of comics along with wishes for a speedy recovery. I don’t know if he got the chance to go through the messages before he passed (there were over 100 of them), but I’m glad I sent one.

    Paul

  36. I don’t think I ever called Julie, Mr. Schwartz. He was introduced to me as Julie and Julie he was. I am glad he was able to meet Caroline at several conventions. At I-Con where he first met her, she smiled her big grin at her and he said, jokingly, Oh thank G-d, she takes after your looks! I will also miss our talks at DragonCon every year.

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