Acknowledgments ... xi
Contents ... xi
"Stop!  Don't Pass Up This Page!  My Life (Story) Depends on It!" ... xv

INTRODUCTION: 1998 San Diego ComicCon  by Brian M. Thomsen ... xvii

PART ONE: At the Beginnings of Time ... 1

The Real Fantastic Four ... 5
Amazing Stories ... 8
David H. Keller, M.D. ... 11
The Big Bang Theory of the Creation of Superman ... 14
Harry Bates ... 18

PART TWO: Science Fiction: From Fandom to Business ... 21

Dr. T. O'Connor Sloane ... 22
Stanley G. Weinbaum ... 29
Leigh Brackett ... 38
Two Writers Begin their Careers ... 45
The Mañana Literary Society ...59

PART THREE: My Entrance to the Wonderful World of Comics ... 65

The Drafting of Schwartz ... 72
The Atomic Knights ... 83
Science-Fiction Fillers ... 85
A Different Sort of Team-Up ... 92
Déjà Vu All Over Again! ... 105

PART FOUR: Batman, Superman, and Comics Come of Age ... 113

A Super Blooper ... 115
Dave Vern ... 122
Unsolicited Excellence ... 127
Relevant Comics ... 129
The True Story of the Origin of Kryptonite ... 132
"B.O." ... 135
Other Early Influences on the Creation of Superman ... 141
Asimov's Superman Story ... 148

PART FIVE: Life After Batman and Superman and Other Convention-al Adventures ... 153

The Three Things I Learned at City College of New York ... 154
Julie's Hints on Working in Comics During the Silver Age, Part One ... 157
Julie's Hints on Working in Comics During the Silver Age, Part Two ... 168
Julie's Hints on Working in Comics During the Silver Age...and Beyond, Part Three ... 181

EPILOGUE: June 1999 Heroes Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina  by Brian M. Thomsen ... 185

AFTERWORD: Fer Crissakes, Schwartz, Get Outta My Face!  by Harlan Ellison ... 189

APPENDIX I: The Awards, Honors, and Accolades of Julius Schwatrz ... 193

APENDIX II: The Comic Book Cameo Appearances of Julius Schwatrz ... 195