Staff : Robert J. Sodaro

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Name: Robert J. Sodaro (E-Mail) Status: Married, children, pets, the works. Occupation: Writer, Editor, Computer Graphic Production Artist, Philosopher. Year of Birth: 1955 City: Norwalk, CT, US of A. Personal Website: freelanceink.blogspot.com/

Introduction: Back in 1962 Robert J. ("Bob") Sodaro was bitten by a radioactive comicbook, and has been hooked ever since. With a nearly complete collection, he is clearly a hardcore Spidey fan. Bob has actually worked as a writer for many comic book fan mags, plus, he is the author of a book on fast food collectables (Kiddie Meal Collectables), as well as on on advertising trivia (Trivia Mania: Commercials and Ads).

Bob also wrote the (admittedly short-lived) comic-book Agent Unknown, which was published by Renegade Press in the late '70s. He is currently not only the features editor for Comics Values Annual, but he is a the Communications Director for Guild Works Productions, as well as a regular contributor to the company's line of comics (Psychosis! and CAG).

Bob has just recently begun working for Marvel Comics again (after a 12 year absence). Among the writing that he is doing for Marvel is contributing to The Official Index to the Marvel Universe (beginning with issue #2 of that title).

Collects: All non-reprint Spider-titles (yes, all of them!). As well as any title that regularly features Spidey or his kith and/or kin, plus every appearance of him another title

Over the years, I have amassed literally thousands of comics from all publishers, but have remained loyal to Marvel. My Spider-Man collection begins at Amazing Fantasy #15 and runs through all first-run Spider-Titles (including guest appearances) to the present day, (with only one smallish 5 or 6-year gap between '96ish and '01ish; but I am not only swiftly filling that in), but am close to completion of that task.

For a while during the '80s and early '90s I actually worked in the comics industry, writing for nearly every fan mag that was published (Amazing Heroes, Wizard, Hero Illustrated, The Comics Buyer's Guide, Flux, The Comics Journal, Combo, Marvel Age, and others). I also did some freelance marketing writing for Marvel, DC, Image, Valiant/Acclaim, Dark Horse, and other publishers.

Why Spider-Man: Although I was reading Spidey comics on and off throughout most of the early '60s & '70s, it wasn't until I got to High School and I met another comicbook fan (with whom I quickly became best friends and sometime after college, for a brief time became roommates) did I seriously get into collecting comics. That was around issue 100 of Amazing Spider-Man.

But mostly I love Spidey because I am, (as my kids remind me) not just a Spider-Geek, but the head Spider-Geek.

[Editor's Note: Claim to position of Head Spider-Geek not independently verified.]

Favourites: I guess my favorite Spidey stuff is not only the early Lee/Ditko stuff, but the Romita, Sr. period (I especially love the 8-10 issue run about the Tablet around Amazing 60-70. I also really liked Bill Mantlo's run in Spectacular Spider-Man.

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