Mike Curtis

MIKE CURTIS is a writer, publisher, and collector of Superman.  In addition, he has been a reporter for a great Metropolitan newspaper, theater manager, deputy sheriff, prison guard, and Santa Claus for over 30 years.

Mike was lucky enough to have a mother, Maggie, who was raised on WONDER WOMAN, GREEN LANTERN and the FLASH.  When she had her two sons, she knew just what comic books to buy them:  SGT ROCK for the oldest, and SUPERMAN for the youngest.  Mike was also lucky enough to be born into the age when THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN was still in production.  Maggie bought him the Kellogg's Corn Flakes belt, and his course was set at the tender age of 4.  He joined the SUPERMEN OF AMERICA in 1959 and the first picture he chose for his room was was a portrait of the hero from SUPERMAN ANNUAL 3. (Now on display in the guest bedroom.)

When Mike reached maturity, he left Smallville (oops, home) and went to work for a great Metropolitan newspaper in ad services.  He soon began doing artwork and news for them.  When the Amazing World of Superman closed in Metropolis, Mike covered the story for his paper and bought several items to add to the few he had saved from his childhood.  A friend who ran the local library asked him to do an exhibit for the summer reading program, so Mike  took his 30 items and filled a display case.  Many people asked him questions about the history of the character, several of which he was unable to answer, so he began researching Superman's history and adding to his collection.

Through the years, he kept busy doing yearly displays and talks on Superman at local colleges and schools.  He also took his collection to the first Atlanta Fantasy Con in 1974.  While there, he was asked to don his suit and play Superman in a stage sketch with Stan Lee to publicize SUPERMAN VS SPIDER-MAN.  He kept in touch with Metropolis, and in 1979, he began bringing his collection for display at the annual weekend festivals. 

During his newspaper days, he also did promotions for a theater company playing characters for movie openings.  For SUPERMAN THE MOVIE, he flew 120 feet on a cable, in costume, for the premiere.  This led to a career running theaters, which he did for eleven years.  Eventually, the job became too dangerous, and Mike left to pursue a career in comics.

In the 1980's he had been the main writer for Harvey Comics (RICHIE RICH, CASPER) and now used his theater experiences to create SHANDA THE PANDA, the comic series about a panda theater manager.  His wife Carole created an adventure series entitled KATMANDU based on Native American legends, and the couple began a comic publishing imprint, SHANDA FANTASY ARTS. http://www.shandafantasyarts.net/

During radiation treatment for cancer, Mike decided to write a prose story from an idea he had on George Reeves.  What if the world shown in THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN actually existed and George Reeves managed to visit it before his death?  This story became BY GEORGE and was self-published by Mike and Carole three years ago, with art by Joe Staton (SUPERMAN ADVENTURES) and Ed Garcia (SFA comics.)

Mike has continued to collect Superman memorabilia.  He also met and became friends with original Superman Kirk Alyn, even acting as agent for several convention appearances.  Mike's collection currently stands at around 16,000 items.  It was last displayed in 2004 at the Museum of Discovery in Little Rock, Ark for 7 months and will be on exhibit again during 2006. 

A novella sequel to BY GEORGE is currently at press, entitled STRANGE VISITOR FROM ANOTHER PLANET.  It features the returning artists from BY GEORGE along with Superman newcomer - SFA comics Shawntae Howard.

Mike keeps busy writing three comic titles and publishing 9 more.  He also does comic research and articles for several publications.  His most prized Superman possession is a George Reeves cape symbol from 1957.  High points in his Superman life include meeting and interviewing Noel Neill and Kirk Alyn.

For this, it is our honor to include Mike Curtis into the George Reeves Hall of Fame.