An appreciation!
Dawn staggered into the office trailing in the wake of her former husband Steve Geiger. Steve was not the well-known monster talent we all know today. Rather he could have stood in for David Lee Roth at any venue, with his lean-as-a-bean build and lengthy wavy blond hair. That would soon change.
‘Staggering’ I say, because Dawn was carrying her portfolio. Dawn was not small but the portfolio was enormous. A gust of wind would have been the end of her.
Steve had sent along some art samples and everyone took notice. Art Director, John Romita Sr needed to hire someone for his own nefarious purposes (work/training program for finding the new head of Art Corrections– I know, you wouldn’t think our pages would come in from the freelance universe in any way not perfect—Oh, baby! So much art was removed, re-drawn, sliced up, hammered back and just plain worked over, that these left-overs could have made several comic books on their own…).
John Sr, was the harried person in charge of figuring out and executing all these changes and touch-ups. That department was naturally called Romita’s Raiders. And raid they did.
As history noted, when Steve ultimately did ascend to Art Director, that correction department became: Geiger’s Counters. And count they did!
But Dawn–! In truth, to get the job all Steve needed to have done was bring in Dawn. There were more busy “fly-bys” of that corner of the building—with everyone weighted down carrying folders and art board– than ever before—such was Dawn’s youthful pulchritude!
That was back in 1982-ish. That shy little kid slouched her way into the Bullpen and did several tons of paste-up and mechanical work both as a freelancer and soon, staffer.
Above, that kid turned into this magnificent and talented Art Director, only a few short years later—this pic taken in 1992. And of course her looks should not even be mentioned—I know that. But just look at her! We were shallow, introverted comic workers—we mentioned it. We got off lucky! The former Miss Dairy Milk Barn of Tioga County, c. 1980 turned out to be one hell of a designer and production expert. Who was that? Same young kid, Dawn Kumpf!
In truth, that picture above doesn’t really give a sense of the quiet competence Dawn possessed. She was also really cheerful, chipper almost. And I hate chipper. But not Dawn. And look at how neat that office was. Very different from most other Marvel desks. I bet those cows appreciated her attention to detail—like lining up the milk collection gadgets and straightening up the feed loft. You don’t get that Miss Dairy Milk Barn Sash for letting the cows get restless…
[Historical aside: Dawn was a farm girl and did win a major prize somewhere in upstate New York! Maybe not that exact title but the sentiment is still there! I never let the opportunity to skip a quick email or phone call that could clear all that up. There must be a complicated joke about the traveling freelance artist and the farm girl, but I know Dawn would Cease & Desist me for that! And it must be told, that somewhere in her tenure, Dawn and Steve went their different ways. Dawn remarried and is possibly even retired now!—Almost True Brown]
It takes every kind of person to run a comic book publisher. Reprobates, cynics, misanthropes and apparently former beauty queens.