This past week I was subjected to a series of questions as I'm a premium member of the Comic Art Fans site and have my own gallery there which shows off my original art collection. It's no big deal, although even a five question questionnaire is a bit odd for me as I'm usually the one asking the questions, not answering them. One of the questions went like this: How long have you been collecting comic art and what prompted you to start?

My answer was, Blame Mike Zeck. I contacted Mike in 2001 to buy some signed comic books and he threw in a Captain America convention style head sketch. I got it professionally framed and haven't looked back since. Mike is one of the genuine nice guys and one day I hope to be able to buy a Zeck splash, pin-up or cover.

That's almost the entire story, I edited it more than slightly as I didn't want to send back answers that would fill people's email inboxes. But yes, the answer is correct, it was indeed Mike Zeck who started me …

Edmund Hillary, First Atop Everest, Dies

Jan 10, 6:11 PM (ET)

By RAY LILLEY

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) - Sir Edmund Hillary, the unassuming beekeeper who conquered Mount Everest to win renown as one of the 20th century's greatest adventurers, has died, New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark announced Friday. He was 88.

The gangling New Zealander devoted much of his life to aiding the mountain people of Nepal and took his fame in stride, preferring to be called "Ed" and considering himself just an ordinary beekeeper.

"Sir Ed described himself as an average New Zealander with modest abilities. In reality, he was a colossus. He was an heroic figure who not only 'knocked off' Everest but lived a life of determination, humility, and generosity," Clark said in a statement. "The legendary mountaineer, adventurer, and philanthropist is the best-known New Zealander ever to have lived," she said.

Hillary's life was marked by grand achievements, high adv…

Growing up I always thought highly of Frank Springer's work. His was a name that I saw quite a bit on the books that I bought, especially on the Invaders where he worked with Frank Robbins, creating an All Frank Art Team in my youthful eyes. I loved reading the Invaders, it was unusual for a World War II book in that it featured superheroes that were featured in the current books and the art was just light years away from the standard Kirby influenced art and the like that was appearing in other books. At that point I'd not been exposed to artists such as Noel Sickles or Milton Caniff so it was fresh for me to see that style imposed on a character such as Captain America. Say what you will but it wasn't Sal Buscema (not that there's anything wrong with Sal).

Down the track when I really began to take notice of artists name I discovered that any book with the name 'Frank Springer' on it was an instant buy. Why? Because no matter how bad the story might have been,…

This was written for inclusion in the Andru & Esposito: Partners For Life book but I'm not sure if it made it as I've yet to read the finished product - nothing sinister, I rarely, if ever, read anything that's published under my own name. I figure that, if I wrote it, then I have more than a rough idea of what it's about and what it says and my ego isn't that large that I need to sit and read my own work. However this story has always tickled my fancy somewhat and I remember clearly when Mike told it to me. I couldn't stop giggling and the idea that one of the 20th century's finest actors would cross paths with one of the 20th century's finest comic book artists has always fascinated me. Such divergent paths, yet for a fleeting second in time they met up, squared up and went their respective ways. I'm not sure if this article made the final cut of the book, if it did and you own a copy then you've read it. If not then read on, you might jus…