Martha Thomases: Comic books make me a better person

Martha Thomases

Martha Thomases brought more comics to the attention of more people than anyone else in the industry. Her work promoting The Death of Superman made an entire nation share in the tragedy of one of our most iconic American heroes. As a freelance journalist, she has been published in the Village Voice, High Times, Spy, the National Lampoon, Metropolitan Home, and more. For Marvel comics she created the series Dakota North. Martha worked as a researcher and assistant for the author Norman Mailer on several of his books, including the Pulitzer-Prize-winning Executioner's Song, On Women and Their Elegance, Ancient Evenings, and Harlot's Ghost.

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1 Response

  1. Mindy Newell says:

    Absolutely terrific column, Martha!!!!

    Just like you, I started reading comics at 5 years old–I believe I discovered them at Camp Monroe (where my mom was the nurse, which explains what I was doing at sleepaway camp at such a young age) where comics were passed around like a joint at Woodstock.

    I never realized that reading comics helped me learn about empathy and understanding before, but you’re dead on, girlfriend! I also learned (mostly thanks to Julie Schwartz and his wonderful “Editor’s Note (s)”, that our Sun is 93,000,000 miles away from Earth, what “invulnerable” meant (which, c’mon, is pretty cool for a 5 year old!), and about geography, the United Nations, about Cleopatra, and lots of other facts!

    I think I’m going to follow up your column with my own!!!

    Thanks, Martha!