Digging around for pictures of Mort Weisinger and Jack Liebowitz, I happened up on this cartoon done by Superman artist Wayne Boring (who occasionally did his art under the pseudonym Jack Harmon) found on http://www.entrecomics.com/?p=43837. From left to right:
Jack Schiff, the editor responsible for Batman’s shift into bizarre science-fiction in the late fifties to capitalize on the space craze.
Jack Liebowitz,co-owner, and eventual SOLE owner, of National/DC who was known as winning arguments by yelling and cooking the books so National/DC didn’t have to pay Jerry and Joe any royalties for Superman.
Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster (being strangled by Liebowitz), creators of Superman.
Herbie Siegel, the stooge who had a job at National/DC until the day he died because he took a obscenity rap for Harry Donenfeld when he published nude photos with pubic hair in one of his “art” magazines.
And finally Mort Weisinger, the bitter and hateful bile spewing editor of all Superman titles which he controlled with cruelty. Infamous for demanding numerous rewrites and redraws from his talent, lying about his “creative genius” , and telling Jerry Siegel, in so many words, that his scripts were worth less than toilet paper. He also introduced to comics the practice of devaluing the creator by applying the philosophy that as long as readers get the character and the semblance of creative continuity, they won’t care who writes/illustrates it.
In the back is Superman, the brass ring they all will fight over forever.
I’m really glad I stumbled upon this cartoon, as I feel that it’s perfect representation of National/DC’s attitude toward creators and the entire battle of Jerry and Joe. It really shows the heartless, hateful practices that major comic companies engage in to make a profit.
