The Marvel Comics Bullpen had a much smaller cast of characters back in “my” time. Small enough that all were important. Not just to the work, the comics, but to all of us who were colleagues.
When I was reviewing Shap Day in an early post, I mentioned Barry being a “fish out of water.” The reality was more that Barry didn’t seem to know comics. Of course he knew the big names and from both houses (Marvel and DC), but he didn’t know their stories. Which was not always taken as a fault by the higher ups. It may have been the ultimate reason he was hired. We knew him as a paste-up and mechanical guy (see the thrilling Shap Day entry for a really interesting account of that old-time technology) and at that, he was good.
Most importantly, he was one of us. And as such, we always joked and kidded around with him.
One day, Barry brought in some chocolate chip cookies that his wife had made…
Got to admit, if I was doing this today, I would introduce the characters a little better up front and then cut out one of the ricochet panels in the interests of pithiness. I believe Barry was amused. But we never did get any more cookies.
After the Shap Day blog went up, I was delighted to hear from Barry’s kids and then immediately saddened to learn that he had passed away. To his wife, Marylin and Jared, Ryan and Jennifer as well as his brother Leonard, I am pretty sure I can speak for myself and the old Bullpen in expressing condolences. Barry was a hard worker and tried to fit in. In the end, he did become famous if for nothing else than showing what an entirely good sport he was over the Shap Day shenanigans.
Barry was born and grew up in Brooklyn. He demonstrated so much artistic skill he went to the School of Visual Art in Manhattan. That artistic streak was genetic (although it apparently stopped with Barry; his kids can’t draw)! Meyer, his father was artistic but used it more as a family entertainment device, same as Barry. He never seemed to show that off in the Bullpen—which I can say, is an intimidating place for new artists. Barry and his dad would do sketches of TV show personalities, cartoon and newspaper strip characters and I can honestly say, I would have liked to have seen some of them. Especially the Star Trek and Twilight Zone ones!
I mentioned in the Shap Day blog that Barry came to us from one of the Detective mags of yore. As it turns out that mag had made him irresistible to crazy man editor Mort Todd who was then pumping up Cracked Magazine with humor. The Shap fit right in with Marvel’s own non-stop humor mag, Crazy. With legendary task-master Larry Hama to guide Barry, nothing could stop those gags. And nothing did.
Barry was a big-hearted family man. He would jet out of the Bullpen at quitting time and with such a growing family, who could blame him? He once did run the entire family of wife, toddlers and baby carriage into the “new” Bullpen (on 28 Street) during one of his vacations.
One part time job that Barry did on weekends was to be part of a catering crew. He would work parties and social events. The thing that he brought back with him for the rest of the week was the phrase, “Party hardy.” I’m sure he would still be spreading casual cheer around today.
Party harder, Barry!
I didn’t see a date when Barry worked at Marvel. I don’t think I was there by then. But it is wonderful to see Nora again. Such great memories.
It is really hard to get things like dates accurate. I try and usually fail– did I ever mention I have a psychological quirk about dates and time? I just realized I’d skipped over most of my 64th year– claiming I was 63 all that time. Uhhh…
To answer your question directly– no you were, sadly, gone by the time Barry showed up.