Dallas Fantasy Fair

06/19/2026

Author-historian J. David Spurlock and Hall of Fame comics creator Wallace ("Wally") Wood take 2026 IPPY Award GOLD

2026 is the 30th anniversary of the IPPY, Independent Publisher Book Awards. On June 18 —one day after Hall of Fame comics creator, Wallace "Wally" Wood's 99th birthday— the IPPYs announced their 2026 winning medalists and, author-historian J. David Spurlock took the gold medal in the Pop Culture category for his recent, annotated collection Wally Wood From Witzend - Complete Collection (Vanguard). Wood's friend and collaborator, the late, Spider-Man co-creator Steve Ditko once said, "Wood may be the top comic book artist... With Witzend he expanded the borders of comic books wider and deeper than Marvel and DC."

Over the years, Spurlock has not only proven to be one of the best-researched historians of illustrators and cartoonists but, he is unique in that he has worked closely and at length, with a Who's Who list of creators including Neal Adams, Jim Steranko, Frank Frazetta, Basil Gogos, John Romita, Joe Kubert, John Buscema, Stan Lee, Carmine Infantino and many more. In 2021 Spurlock won Gold for the book, Fantastic Paintings by Frazetta which he produced in concert with The Frazetta Art Museum in East Stroudsburg, PA.

Legendary MAD magazine, Daredevil, Power Girl, Weird Science, Galaxy magazine, Mars Attacks co-creator, Wood passed away in 1981. In 2012, in recognition of Spurlock's decades of work as an educator, author and creator rights advocate, longtime Wood associates Bill Pearson and Jack Robinson of the Wallace Wood Estate appointed Spurlock, Director of the Estate. Spurlock has long worked with Wood's family, friends and associates to preserve and expand the legendary talent's legacy. Wood's brother Glenn and Spurlock founded the Wally Wood Scholarship Fund at The School of Visual Arts in New York and, joined by Steve Starger, attended the 2007 Eisner Awards at Comic-Con in San Diego in celebration of their acclaimed Wally's World biography.

This new Wood Witzend book has likewise been celebrated with an Eisner Award nomination and now, this 2026 IPPY Award Gold Medal win. Spurlock said, "We are always so pleased to present new and classic work along with revealing, novel behind-the-scenes revelations about Woody and other creators, to devotees and new generations alike." Mr. Spurlock also confirmed he has been conducting video interviews with Wood's friends and associates toward a future documentary.

While the IPPYs are traditionally presented coinciding with Book Expo America in New York, this year's Celebration will be held virtually on July 16, 2026.

06/17/2026

CELEBRATING THE BRILLIANCE, CHARM, WIT & TALENTS of artist, writer, mentor, WALLACE WOOD on the 99th anniversary of his birth (6-17-27) and EVERYDAY. If it's Wood, it is GOOD!
Jack KIRBY called Wood "The Best."
Bill GAINES, founder of EC Comics & MAD Magazine said "Wally Wood would come in with a story and three artists would crowd around him and faint, just poring over every brushstroke and every panel, and of course Wally who’s getting this adulation sits there and loves it."
Will EISNER, "Wally [Wood] was a GENIUS. 30 years ahead of his time!"
Joe ORLANDO, VP DC Comics/Assoc Publisher of MAD: "What Star Wars was for sci-fi films, Wood was for sci-fi comics."
Steve DITKO, "Wood may be the top comic book artist...[and he] expanded the borders of comic books wider and deeper than Marvel and DC."
Frank FRAZETTA: "Wally was a man's man. No bu****it in him at all. Compared to Wally, everyone else is a hypocrite."
Howard CHAYKIN: "Everybody who actually met him, liked him. He had his problems, but he was a stand-up guy."
Jerry DeFUCCIO (MAD & EC writer-editor): "Wood was so good in so many areas -- science fiction, suspense, crime, and even in MAD. He worked very hard. ...never watched the clock. He was so intent on what he was putting into the panels. He gave them more artwork for the dollar than anybody."

06/01/2026

Summer 2026 Vanguard ad includes the work-in-progress, The Steranko Effect (exact release date yet to be announced).
A lot of EC talent here: Wood, Williamson, Frazetta, Krenkel, Kubert, plus Warren/Marvel/DC & pulp-related greats including Steranko, Neal Adams, Carmine Infantino, John Romita, Gene Colan, Mark Texeira, John Buscema, Paul Gulacy, Frank Brunner, Gogos, Jeffrey Jones, J. David Spurlock, Suydam, Alex Horley, Kaluta, Simon & Kirby, J. Allen St.John, Alex Schomburg, Steve Ditko, Margaret Brundage, Michael Golden, Roger Hane, Dave McKean, Barron Storey, Marshall Arisman and Bill Sienkiewicz.

Summer 2026 Vanguard ad includes the work-in-progress, The Steranko Effect (exact release date yet to be announced).

A lot of EC talent here: Wood, Williamson, Frazetta, Krenkel, Kubert, plus Warren/Marvel/DC & pulp-related greats including Steranko, Neal Adams, Carmine Infantino, John Romita, Gene Colan, Mark Texeira, John Buscema, Paul Gulacy, Frank Brunner, Gogos, Jeffrey Jones, Suydam, J. David Spurlock, Alex Horley, Kaluta, Simon & Kirby, J. Allen St.John, Alex Schomburg, Steve Ditko, Margaret Brundage, Michael Golden, Roger Hane, Dave McKean, Barron Storey, Marshall Arisman and Bill Sienkiewicz.

05/19/2026

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RALPH REESE!

04/28/2026

Barron is one of the greatest teachers I ever had. He pulled the curtain back through hands on demonstrations and emphatic, heartfelt lectures. That booming voice!

He has influenced so many artists and now he needs our help.

I hope you’ll join me in making a donation.

04/22/2026

Great group! Over the years, Spurlock booked all of them into Dallas too!

Steranko & Spurlock rockin’ Heroes Con 2016
with a cast of super-star friends!

04/16/2026

Koops Comics in OK is KEWL!!!

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