What Classic Comic Have You Read Lately?

[Lone Ranger]

Ok - every other board has a thread like this, so I thought it would be very suitable here.

What have you read within the last week or so?
Was it any good?
What did you like/dislike?
Is it worth tracking down?

Avengers #186

This issue explains a bit of Wanda and Pietro's 'Wundagorigins'. It is pretty good, but I am not a huge Quicksilver fan, and this book was 90% Pietro. Grade: C+

Tarzan #175

Great story in which Tarzan encouters the ant-men, and is shrunk down to their size. Lots of action, cool Russ Manning art. There is also a Leopard Girl story I haven't yet read, but I am sure it is 'entertaining but not groundbreaking'. Grade: B+

Star Spangled War Stories #183

Whoa! I just got a stack of these via eBay. This is Dave Micheline's first issue - the story is called "8,000 to 1" - serious moral dilemna for Unknown Soldier. Gerry Talaoc also put himself into the underappreciated artist pool. I don't know much of his work - but this stuff is pretty powerful. Grade: A

[solinvictus]

It a reissue of an 80 Page Giant with origins for Adam Strange, Green Lantern, the Superman/Batman team, and others. Love the Silver Age.

[InfoBroker]

Well I've been busy catching up on my Character Index for Astro City. That always goes slow, because I wind up reading the comics, analyzing the craft of the story, or just plain admiring the page layouts and panel-to-panel continuity instead of entering information in the database. I'm up to the final issue of "Tarnished Angel" which is definitely a classic comic.

I also found volume II of Alex Toth's Zorro at Book Review, here in Rochester. Amazing material. Truely stunning composition, page design and visual storytelling craft. What a great find for $5!!!

I mentioned elsewhere the Howard the Duck Essential that I also found on sale. Classic material, but very shabby production. I know its a low cost package, but even the other Essentials provide a standard size page frame that doesn't mush the artwork and make the lettering hard to read. For shame Marvel.

At my headboard are about a dozen Pogo books. They are being cycled through for the upteenth time, and I am currently reading Pogo's Peek-A-Book which contains the very classic story "Gore Blimey : The Bloody Drip Writhes Again." It stars Albert Alligator as a gum-shoe detective, and Viola [voila] as the femimum fatale.

Here's the start of Albert's first person narration:
http://webpages.charter.net/astrozoid/albert.jpg
©Walt Kelly

Still on the read stack is a bunch of Two-Fisted Tales (the Hardbacks), a Nexus trade, some Astroboys (also way too small - use a maginifying glass on those critters), and a Godzilla trade.

A fun time is guranteed for all -

- jb the ib

[Graham Vingoe]

Invisibles Volume 1 1- 12 in a long session over the weekend.This includes the infamous Arcadia storyline which apparently sorts out the men from the boys as far as the storyline goes. I genuinely have found lots of stuff in this run which I missed the first few times round. The title definitely suffered from multiple artists syndrome, but does include one of my favourite single issue stories in Dead Man Fall.

[T GUy]

Hi-Yo, Star Spangled War Stories #183

Whoa! I just got a stack of these via eBay. This is Dave Micheline's first issue - the story is called "8,000 to 1" - serious moral dilemna for Unknown Soldier. Gerry Talaoc also put himself into the underappreciated artist pool. I don't know much of his work - but this stuff is pretty powerful. Grade: A This whole run of Star-Spangled War Stories is really good, as is the preceding Archie Goodwin run, as is the preceding Joe Kubert run with the Unknown Soldier (well, okay, it's a bit ropey in places... but you get such semi-classics as #158 with Kubert art and a v. good Haney story).

The last classic comic I read was 'The Mystery of the Human Thunderbolt' from my Essential Showcase. I was supposed to be doing a spot of research on account of because the famous Infantino versus DC clash of the titans had kicked off and someone raised an issue in another forum. After doing that, I read a couple of Fireman Farrell stories, then sneaked a peak at the two Challs stories in the book. Two points: in the second story, Prof Haley is called Prof Harrison at least once; in the credits at the front of the collection, these stories are said to be written by Dave Wood. All I can say is he did a creditable job of impersonating Jack Kirby's writing.

Oh, and why was that first Flash story not called 'The Mystery of the Modern Mercury?'

[ianbrill]

Invisibles Volume 1 1- 12 in a long session over the weekend.This includes the infamous Arcadia storyline which apparently sorts out the men from the boys as far as the storyline goes. I genuinely have found lots of stuff in this run which I missed the first few times round. The title definitely suffered from multiple artists syndrome, but does include one of my favourite single issue stories in Dead Man Fall.

I read all those in a day last Sunday. It was quite a head-trip.

I've been reading Howard Chaykin's Shadow miniseries. Great stuff.

[Schmakt]

I just read the '72 Swamp Thing 1 and the '72 Man-Thing 1... do those count?

Swamp Thing was better... although the cover to Man-Thing 1 is pretty awesome. What the hell is Howard the Duck doing there? it was a pretty decent appearance, but just kind of weird... Swamp Thing is just much much better. Now I'm going to have to get the rest of the original series. :)

[Lone Ranger]

I just read the '72 Swamp Thing 1 and the '72 Man-Thing 1... do those count?

Now I'm going to have to get the rest of the original series. :)

Oh, those definitely count.

I have been trying to pick up the original series myself, they are definitely getting pricey. Great series - awesome art.

[JeffreyWKramer]

I read through my collected volumes of OMAHA over the weekend, in memory of Kate Worley. They are, of course, great - though obviously not to everyone's taste, given the very explicit sexuality. Worley had a great ear for dialogue and a real feel for relationships. There's nothing I dislike about OMAHA. Good characters, good story, good art. If you have any interest in adult comics, and particularly if you like adult comics that are not just stroke books, OMAHA is definitely worth tracking down.

[shjonescrk]

I always thought Michelinie and Talaoc's Unknown Soldier was great - I only have a couple of issues now and Lone Ranger has made me want to go and dig them out from wherever they are in my attic and re-read them.

I am reading Frank Miller's early Daredevil's - the ones written by Roger Mackenzie - a couple of issues a night. I had forgotten how good they were. Miller was making great comics from the off.



Steve

[founder81]

last Night before going to bed i read:

Amazing Spider-man #114

Octopus manages to get away from Hammerhead, their gangs have been fighting and Doc OCt seemes to be losing this gang war. Hammerhead has captured Spidey but soon finds out where Doc Ock ran to and leaves Spidey with some underlings. Spidey soon escapes and beats Hammerhead to the location. And of all people to knock Spidey out while he's snooping around, AUnt May knocks Spidey cold.

Lucifer's 10,12,18,19

(Too lazy to give a plot summary)
Small and skinny Lucifer maskes asses out of some angels, then some demons.

Today, between Lunch and waiting for my ride (I have lots of time), I will be reading:

Suicide Squad - 9,20, 21,
Justice League (Griffen) - 51, 52,
Spectacular Spider-man - 190,
Web of Spider-man - 63, 79, 82,
Flash (Wally West) - 26, 29, 36, 39,
Avengers Annuals - 11, 13,
Fantastic Four Annual - 15

I probably won't have time to read all of them, but that's what's on me to read today.

[Sir Tim Drake]

Last night I finished Madhouse #95 from Gray Morrow's Red Circle imprint. There were four stories in it, all of which were pretty silly, but three of them featured very pretty art by either Morrow or Vicente Alcazar. The fourth was by Carlos Pino, who doesn't excite me very much.

I also read Tomb of Dracula #37, which may be the first appearance of Harold H. Harold. Excellent, excellent issue. It reminded me of why ToD was one of the best comics of its time. I'm going to post a quotation from it on the classic quotes thread.

Yesterday I finished reading Gladstone's Mickey Mouse #236, my first exposure to Floyd Gottfredson's work. (I have the Smithsonian treasury that reprints some of Gottfredson's newspaper strips, but I never got around to reading them.) I quite enjoyed it. Gottfredson is (was?) a very good funny animal artist, it appears.

It may seem as though I like every old comic I read. Not true. I just read Superman #377 in which the Man of Steel battles two versions of Terra-Man at once. If you take a hideously annoying villain and multiply him by two, the results are not pretty. Curt Swan's artwork, boringly inked by Frank Chiaramonte, wasn't enough to save this one.

[Gingold]

Just re-read the Essential Howard the Duck yesterday. What a great bizarre series. Can't imagine any publisher doing anything like it again.

[T GUy]

always thought Michelinie and Talaoc's Unknown Soldier was great - I only have a couple of issues now and Lone Ranger has made me want to go and dig them out from wherever they are in my attic and re-read them. -Jones

Might I be so bold as to suggest that you look into getting hold of all the other issues? I think the team lasts just under 20 issues. Hmmm... that'd fit nicely into an Archive book or an Essentials-style one. Likelihood: rather low, I'd imagine...

Last night I finished Madhouse #95 from Gray Morrow's Red Circle imprint. There were four stories in it, all of which were pretty silly, but three of them featured very pretty art by either Morrow or Vicente Alcazar. The fourth was by Carlos Pino, who doesn't excite me very much.
- Sir Tim

A classic set of comics, though rather too few for my liking. Morrow and Pino are another of those pairs of artists where I appear to like/dislike them the other way round from everyone else. Actually, that's probably unfair to Morrow, as I do quite like his work. King of Red Circle, though, was of course Alex Toth.

[David Porta]

I found volume II of Alex Toth's Zorro at Book Review, here in Rochester. Amazing material. Truely stunning composition, page design and visual storytelling craft. What a great find for $5!!!
WoW! Those b&w reprints are beautiful. Eclipse? Or the more recent re-issue? Good price.

Rochester? The one near Hamlin Beach? Or is it some other Rochester, like Minnesota?

I mentioned elsewhere the Howard the Duck Essential that I also found on sale. Classic material, but very shabby production.
Well, the originals aren't such great production, either, ya know. Marvel in the '70s had some murky printing. Great stories, though. Check out the issue that satires Anita Bryant. A decent woman whose career was destroyed by militant gay backlash, of which Gerber's slanted humor was a part.

A dozen Pogo books. I am currently reading Pogo's Peek-A-Book which contains the very classic story "Gore Blimey : The Bloody Drip Writhes Again." Albert Alligator as a gum-shoe detective.
Lucky stiff! Those sound great. Who publishes?

Two-Fisted Tales (the Hardbacks).
Those were the first Russ Cochran stuff I ever got, way back in 1980. even before the SF.

Kurtzman's books were E.C.'s best. It was through one of them, a tattered back issue I picked up at a Seuling Con circa July, 1970 (high school sophomore), that I learned about the colonialist French defeat by nationalist Vietnamese at Dien Bien Phu.

A few years later, in college, when I mentioned that battle to a Vietnamese, he was amazed. "You know about Dien Bien Phu !?"

Why, sho' nuff ah do, bwah. I read comic books.

[JeffreyWKramer]

...Anita Bryant. A decent woman whose career was destroyed by militant gay backlash, of which Gerber's slanted humor was a part.

I seem to remember Ms. Bryant picking the fight, and I have a hard time regarding her as "a decent woman", any more than I consider the Rev. Fred Phelps a "kind, caring soul."

[Slam_Bradley]

Great minds think alike, Scott. I was going to start this very thread today.

I'm currently reading Essential Captain America, Vol. 2; Essential Silver Surfer; and Essential Spider-man, Vol. 4. I've been reading the Essential volumes roughly chronologically and am now at Jan. 1970.

Last night was Captain America # 121, "The Coming of the Man-Brute" by Lee, Colan and Sinnott. Love, love, love Colan's art, which holds up beautifully in black & white. Overall the story was entertaining, but nothing spectacular. The ending was more than a little hokey. Did we ever see the Man-Brute again? I don't recall him.

I've also been slowly going through the Millenium Edition of Detective Comics #1. I've got it at work and have mostly been perusing it during lunches or necessity breaks.

I've also been reading a set of "Pioneer Books" reprints of Jungle Jim and Mandrake from the late 80's, early 90's. The books are in 32 page comic format and in b & w. Not by any means my favorite method for reading strips, but strip reprints are hard to come by, especially Jungle Jim.

[TheHistorian]

I'm currently working my way through the first volume of Li'l Abner dailies. Generally, I'm liking it a lot, but I'm having trouble getting into the rhythm of the language - yokelspeak that is.

[yonoid]

Byrne's little run on She-Hulk. She-Hulk #1-8. I thought issue 4 was the best out of the eight.

[Lone Ranger]

Avengers #179 & #180

The two-part Bloodhawk saga is not up to normally high late 70s Avengers standards. To be blunt, Tom DeFalco’s story was pretty lame (but it was slightly saved in the last couple of pages). I generally think Jim Mooney’s work is quite solid, but it really pales in comparison with the Avengers work done by Perez and Byrne during that period. Grade: C+

Justice League of America (vol. 1) #104
Look out – here comes the Shaggy Man! With a little prompting from Hector Hammond, the Shaggy Man takes on the entire JLA up in their satellite. How did he get up there? I am not sure that was ever explained. The Shagster is not exactly my #1 villain, but he at least gives the team a run for their money. Nice Dillin pencils with Giordano inks (don’t know how often this team was together on JLA). I normally like Len Wein as a writer, but I really think he struggles with some of the dialogue between JLAers. I just don’t think Aquaman would ever refer to his teammates as ‘the gang’. Grade: B-

Western Gunfighters #5

I really think that these late 60s/early 70s 25 cent Marvels (along with Mighty Marvel Western) are still a great back-issue value. I picked up a bunch in nice shape for $4 Cdn each. There are 5 stories, some new, some 50s reprints (art by Roth, Romita and Shores). There is a neat little story with Tom Sutton art, that really shows how he was becoming a very cool western artist. Another story features Barry Smith channeling his inner Kirby – the Outcast looks like a cross between Conan and Kamandi. To be fair, there is a note stating that the story was conceived a couple of years earlier by Roy Thomas, but was only just then (1971) seeing print. I find that some of Smith's action sequences difficult to follow, but perhaps I am unsophisticated. Grade: B+

[iwarrior]

http://image.milehighcomics.com/istore/images/fullsize/30929984076.258.GIF

Great issue. Really gets into the mind of Doom. I'm sure it'll be in tpb soon.

[Lone Ranger]

I also found volume II of Alex Toth's Zorro at Book Review, here in Rochester. Amazing material. Truely stunning composition, page design and visual storytelling craft. What a great find for $5!!!


I am interested in this too, John. Is the one you are talking about different that this one (which I have & love)

[MWGallaher]

Star Spangled War Stories #183

Whoa! I just got a stack of these via eBay. This is Dave Micheline's first issue - the story is called "8,000 to 1" - serious moral dilemna for Unknown Soldier. Gerry Talaoc also put himself into the underappreciated artist pool. I don't know much of his work - but this stuff is pretty powerful. Grade: A
That title is familiar--I think that's the one that was the subject of a series in "Amazing World of DC Comics" that dissected the creation of a comic book story, from plot to finish! I always sort of liked Talaoc, but I couldn't forgive him for taking over Phantom Stranger. I realize that Aparo was moving on to better things, but I really wanted him to stay on that book!
Just Sunday I tried to snag some ebay SSW issues (and, as usual, got sniped), having had a sudden spur of interest in the series sparked by looking through some covers at milehighcomics.com. I was particularly interested in #161, an issue credited to Doug Wildey as artist, but which appeared to be ghosted by Dan Spiegle, at least going by the 3 interior pages posted at milehigh.
As for classic comics, I've been reading Essential Tomb of Dracula Volume 2. I bought it thinking it was volume 1, which contains mostly stuff I hadn't read--v.2 I have about 60% of in its original format, but I wasn't upset at realizing my mistake. The stories have aged a little, and the issues of Giant-Size Dracula definitely suffer in comparison to the classic Wolfman-Colan-Palmer work! I was today amused by the juxtaposition of issues 27 and 28. In the final panel of 27, one character is under threat of gunfire by someone. Wolfman, in the teaser for the next issue, writes: "Perhaps NOT the kindest place to leave our story this issue--for the ACTION BEGINS on our VERY NEXT PAGE." Presumably, the readers had forgotten that promise when they bought 28, which opens with...
a splash of mute Indian Tabu standing with arms crossed while his paraplegic ex-wife talks to him from a wheelchair, with a dog sleeping on the floor in the background! "Action in the Mighty Marvel Manner" indeed!

[Sir Tim Drake]

A classic set of comics, though rather too few for my liking. Morrow and Pino are another of those pairs of artists where I appear to like/dislike them the other way round from everyone else. Actually, that's probably unfair to Morrow, as I do quite like his work. King of Red Circle, though, was of course Alex Toth.

Well, those are just the ones I read today and yesterday. I still have another big stack waiting to be read. :) For example, earlier today I read Master of Kung Fu #69-- nice artwork by Mike Zeck and John Tartaglione, pretty good story, not quite as good as the Gulacy era of that series, but then hardly anything else is either. :)

Mad House is from the '70s incarnation of Archie's Red Circle imprint. They revived it again in the '80s, when it included series like The Black Hood, The Fly and Blue Ribbon Comics. I know that Alex Toth did two stories for the '80s version of Red Circle, but did he do any work for the '70s version?

[Lone Ranger]

I always sort of liked Talaoc, but I couldn't forgive him for taking over Phantom Stranger. I realize that Aparo was moving on to better things, but I really wanted him to stay on that book!

As for classic comics, I've been reading Essential Tomb of Dracula Volume 2.

Michael

I was really only familiar with Talaoc from his turn on Phantom Stranger, and I really thought they were inferior to the Aparo issues too. I think he is a much better fit on the Uknown Soldier stories.

I picked of Ess. TOD #2 this weekend (my local shop had all trades 30% off) - haven't cracked it yet though. #1 was my first experience with the Essentials format and I really enjoyed it.

[i*love*comics*247]

I just recently picked up the entire Hulk magazine series and have been enjoying those old stories. I had forgotten that the Sub-Mariner and the Avengers had appeared in some of those stories. Does anyone know if Marvel has ever reprinted those magazines?

http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/8209/hulk.jpg


I've also been picking up the Dark Horse reprints of Conan. I had missed the Red Nails stories when those came out originally so I really enjoyed them in the lasted tpb.

[Lone Ranger]

Hey Terry

Haven't see you around in ages!

I don't think the mags have ever been reprinted. I'd like to get my hands on some of those too.

I always thought that Dracula Lives should find its way into the Essential Tomb of Dracula series.

[i*love*comics*247]

Hey Terry

Haven't see you around in ages!

I don't think the mags have ever been reprinted. I'd like to get my hands on some of those too.

I always thought that Dracula Lives should find its way into the Essential Tomb of Dracula series.


Hey,

I've been doing a lot of lurking lately. I keep wanting to post on your "guess the comic cover" threads but Infobroker keeps beating me to the punch. :D

I'll be sneaking in there and getting one soon. As a matter of fact, I'm going over there now and see what ya got going on tonight.

Take care!

Terry.....

[MWGallaher]

Michael

I was really only familiar with Talaoc from his turn on Phantom Stranger, and I really thought they were inferior to the Aparo issues too. I think he is a much better fit on the Uknown Soldier stories.

I picked of Ess. TOD #2 this weekend (my local shop had all trades 30% off) - haven't cracked it yet though. #1 was my first experience with the Essentials format and I really enjoyed it.
Allow me to recommend two of the Essentials: Ant-Man and Human Torch. For a mere $30, you can two complete Silver Age runs of Marvel comics that haven't been reprinted extensively! Of those two, Ant-Man is my favorite. This is partly due to a bias in that Ant-Man's Marvel Feature run was one of my early pickups as a comic book reader, but...for crying out loud, it's so different from typical Marvel stuff, it really gets amazing! For those accustomed to Ant-Man's later appearances, let me just not this point: in his early adventures, he was in fact the size of an ant! And still a super-hero! You'll see great Kirby, you'll see Don Heck doing some of the best work of his career, you'll get variety, you'll get Oddball, you'll get ridiculous villains, The Wasp telling Stan Lee fantasy stories...it's a terrific package!

[Lone Ranger]

You and I have pretty similar tastes.

After Tomb, Essential Ant-Man is the second Essentials I picked up (I bought it a month ago and I am almost finished it).

I have a few of the original series (43, 50, 68), but they are too pricey to track down. I really like that "Wasp Tells a Tale" segment, which seemed like an excuse to burn off a Larry Lieber 'pre-hero' style story. I would never complain about that. Do you know if those were old inventory?

Don't you wish he stayed Ant-Man for a longer period?

Great recommendation - I know I picked it up because someone (likely you) recommended it on the old board.

I think I will track down the Human Torch - I only have one of the early Strange Tales, and I can't afford the originals.

Does it work well in b&w? I don't know if I'd like all comics in that format - it really depends on the artist.

Is it true that in the stories Johnny thought he was doing a good job of keep his identity a secret, when everyone in town knew he was the Torch? I seem to remember reading that in a magazine (CBM perhaps?).

[InfoBroker]

WoW! Those b&w reprints are beautiful. Eclipse? Or the more recent re-issue? Good price.

This is the recent Image issue. Only volume two, I fear.

Rochester?...
In the land of ten thousand lakes and twice as many doctors

Well, the originals aren't such great production, either, ya know. Marvel in the '70s had some murky printing.
I concur, the books themselves are piteous, but the black and white line work of Gene and the inking crew at this time was still outstanding. (Me know this for certain, since I have the a Dr. Strange splash page from this time frame. Yes it is very cool).

What makes this Howard edition mushy is the desicion to shrink everything but the covers to about 85% of the original printed size.

I read them when they came out, but all the talk here got me yearning to read them again. I figured since I didn't have a very good run of doubles for the last 15 issues or so, I could pass this on to one of my sons after re-reading. Still plan to, but the gifting isn't quite as nice I hoped it to be.

... the issue that satires Anita Bryant. A decent woman whose career was destroyed by militant gay backlash, of which Gerber's slanted humor was a part.

No concurrance here. She was asked to not be a political agitator by the "Florida Sunshine Tree" orange growers that she was being paid to be a spokesperson for. She choose to continue her attacks on a lifestyle she doesn't really understand and certainly showed she has no tolerance for. If it was skin color, she would be rightly labeled a racist. They dismised her as a spokeman for their product. She knew the ramifications and risks of her actions. She dismantled that career path. Militant gay backlash? I don't think so.

The Pogos are published by Simon and Shuster. They issued a Pogo book every Christmas season during the 50s and 60s. Frank Gorshe, my best friend in Junior High and High School struggled for over a year to get me interested in them. He eventually lured me in by showing me the page in Pogo Extra that pays tribute to Wally Wood. After that, I couldn't get enough Pogo. In 12th grade I was lucky enough to find someone in the art room who had a baker's dozen that he was willing to sell to me for cover price, except for the double of Sunday Parade. That he was willing to part with for 50¢ since it had a printers error, with an entire signature duplicated and printed backwards. Very strange read that one :)

I got the Two-Fisted Tales and the Frontline Combats at half price in the late 80s. The framing set of Civil War Tales are the highlight for me of some of the best comics (war or otherwise) ever done. All kinds of media refinement occured in these issues. Sound effects, panels that progressed the story down a visual path, with the wordy captions enhancing and even taking an adjacent story path. Not unlike texturing and layering the way a composer would do with a music score.

Tastes have changed over the years, and the pacing and structure of these 7 pagers would need two or three issues to breath properly in todays styles, but the core elements that broke ground here, are still valid and still practiced by today's master of the trade.

... "You know about Dien Bien Phu !?"

I learned to appreciate the American Civil War from many angles thanks to Kurtzman's war books. I also feel that the best way to change Korea from being the "forgotten war" would be to package several of these classic stories and distribute them to our schools.

- jb the ib

[InfoBroker]

I am interested in this too, John. Is the one you are talking about different that this one (which I have & love)

Mine is the Image version done a few years ago. I'm on the prowl for the first volume...

I would love to see a huge coffee table book loaded with character sheets, sketches, storyboards, full comic stories, animation cells and historical data on this master. Be even cooler if he did the design work. He has a termendous sense of balance and composition.

Gil Kane once mentioned Alex's skill at spotting blacks. This was back in the late sixties. At the time he said he struggled with that, and if you look at his work in 1966-67 at Marvel (Tales to Astonish 87-92, Tales of Suspense 88-91), and his Tower work contemporary with that; you can see what he is talking about.

I felt that with Blackmark he nailed that particular skill and never had to look back. I'm just noticing the irony of that, considering the name of the book :)

jb the ib - meek, but in awe and greatly admiring of two giants in this field.

[InfoBroker]

I keep wanting to post on your "guess the comic cover" threads but Infobroker keeps beating me to the punch. :D


Me sorry, me sorry, me sorry ...

It's just that they're Marvel Silver Age comics and I love them dearly. Especially the peak work from late 64 to mid 68, about the time they changed the original page sizes from twice-up to one-and-1/2-up. Still a lot of good stuff before and after that, but that time frame is just spectacular.

I shall strive to hold out for at least the second clue, maybe the third....

maybe...

er... um...

well, I'll try anyway :D

- jb the ib

[InfoBroker]

I really like that "Wasp Tells a Tale" segment, which seemed like an excuse to burn off a Larry Lieber 'pre-hero' style story. I would never complain about that. Do you know if those were old inventory?


I don't think so Scott. He was also doing the Tales of the Watcher back-up series in Tales of Suspense.

While the stories were retreads, the execution of them seems contemporary with the times.

Is it true that in the stories Johnny thought he was doing a good job of keep his identity a secret, when everyone in town knew he was the Torch? I seem to remember reading that in a magazine (CBM perhaps?).

Odd but true, and the entire sequence, along with several of the wayout Kirby villians are all candidates for Scott Shaw's columns.

- jb the ib

[T GUy]

Me: A classic set of comics, though rather too few for my liking.

Sir Tim: Well, those are just the ones I read today and yesterday.

Crossed wires here, methinks. I was referring to the Bronze Age Red Circle when I wrote 'rather too few for my liking' rather than the set you read yesterday.

Sir Tim: I know that Alex Toth did two stories for the '80s version of Red Circle, but did he do any work for the '70s version? Yup, there's a few shorts in Sorcery and Mad House - it may be only two or three, but they're there. IIRR, one of 'em is the one about the pulp character dressed something like the Green Hornet. Marv Wolfman later extracted two issues of Daredevil (# 124 or so) from this villain and plot.

I've just looked it up (as can you - click away here (http://www.comics.org/details.lasso?id=27606) ) and it's a different story in that issue by Toth, by the looks of it. Oh, well. And has the GCBD got itself confused over Chilling Adventures in Sorcery, Red Circle Sorcery and Sorcery? Or am I imagining things when I 'recall' that No.s 6 and 7 were called Red Circle Sorcery?

[Slam_Bradley]

Read Silver Surfer #12 last night by Lee, Buscema and Adkins. Our angsty hero tries to break his Earthly bonds, is captured by modern witches, exhausts his strength saving his captor and fights the Abomination. I've decided I'm not a huge fan of the Surfer and this story didn't work for me at all. The appearance of The Abomination was very contrived to give the Surfer someone powerful to fight. The Surfer acts fittingly angsty and altruistic. And I've decided that I'm not overly fond of Dan Adkins' inks over Buscema's pencils, much prefering, Sinnott, Brother Sal, or the upcoming Chic Stone. Grade C+

[Schmakt]

Read Silver Surfer #12 last night by Lee, Buscema and Adkins. Our angsty hero tries to break his Earthly bonds, is captured by modern witches, exhausts his strength saving his captor and fights the Abomination. I've decided I'm not a huge fan of the Surfer and this story didn't work for me at all. The appearance of The Abomination was very contrived to give the Surfer someone powerful to fight. The Surfer acts fittingly angsty and altruistic. And I've decided that I'm not overly fond of Dan Adkins' inks over Buscema's pencils, much prefering, Sinnott, Brother Sal, or the upcoming Chic Stone. Grade C+

SS is a great character. :)
I just reread my copies of FF #48-50 last night. Really fun stuff. I was trying to read as if I had no idea who the Surfer was, and that made it kind of fun. The whole Alicia thing was kind of weird, but, obviously, succeeded in getting across the message. Still funny that Ben just pushes Norrin off the roof!

[Sir Tim Drake]

I moved the discussion about Anita Bryant and homosexuality to the Community board, since it was veering wildly off-topic.

And I'd like to remind you all to be civil to your fellow posters, even when they voice opinions you violently disagree with.

Now let's get back to talking about the classic comics we've read lately.

[Cei-U!]

I just finished reading a long run of '70s/'80s World's Finest Comics, from the start of the Dollar Comic format (#244) to within four issues of cancellation. I was surprised how much I enjoyed them.

WFC has an undeserved reputation for mediocrity during this era but there's some great stuff in here: Gray Morrow's Vigilante, Steve Ditko's Creeper, E. Nelson Bridwell and Don Newton's fun "Shazam!" stories, Superman/Batman art by Gene Colan, Gil Kane, Curt Swan, Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez, Steve Lightle, George Tuska, Ross Andru, Trevor Von Eeden and many other favorites, obscure but interesting villains (Amalgamax, The Network, Null and Void, The Pantheon, X'ult) and, in the later issues, well-plotted stories by Kurt Busiek, David Anthony Kraft and the underrated Joey Cavalieri, who had a good Bob Haney groove (but with better dialogue) going for him.

Anybody else familiar with these?

Cei-U!
I summon the stash!

[InfoBroker]

I also read Tomb of Dracula #37, which may be the first appearance of Harold H. Harold. Excellent, excellent issue. It reminded me of why ToD was one of the best comics of its time. I'm going to post a quotation from it on the classic quotes thread.


Is this the one with the cover of Harold at his typewriter? Or was that issue #38??

In one of those issues, Marv Wolfman addresses the slipping sales and cancellations of the majority of Marvels horror line. Hardest hit was the B&W magazine line.

I loved the infusion of additional cast members into this very classic comic book during this timeframe. If you are reading from the Essential, then you have a LOT more really cool issues ahead of you :) TOD was my favorite Marvel Horror book of the early/mid 70s. I should probably get one of these to pass on to one or the other of my sons. After I read it of course <hehe>

-jb the ib

[MWGallaher]

In one of those issues, Marv Wolfman addresses the slipping sales and cancellations of the majority of Marvels horror line. Hardest hit was the B&W magazine line.
Y'know, this still baffles me. I can't believe that comic-buyers' tastes changed overnight, but as I recall, the many "monster" comics seemed to die off almost simultaneously. Something seems to have stricken Marvel and DC with panic. Monster books were aborted prematurely (Golem in Strange Tales and Man-Bat, for examples) and revamped to be less "monstrous" (Swamp Thing and Werewolf By Night, for examples). Was it really a tidal change in reader preference, or was something else scaring them off of this type of book?

[Sir Tim Drake]

By coincidence, I recently read World's Finest Comics #241-- just before the era Kurt is discussing. The story involves a group of astronauts, including Clark Kent and Bruce Wayne of course, who are on a mission in space when Earth is apparently destroyed. The other astronauts are all stock characters (militant feminist, rock star, etc.) and the story is rather cliched, but it's still got that Bob Haney charm. Pablo Marcos's artwork is surprisingly nice, reminding me of Garcia-Lopez.

[InfoBroker]

You're right Mike. Now that you mention it, I remember some of the same baffled feelings at the time.

Maybe it was economics as much as anything else. Atlas Comics was boarding up shop at the same time. Marvel also discontinued 20 or so pages of new material in the King/Giant size comics. I got the feeling that the added reprint editions of Iron-man, Subby and whatever else came along in early 1976 was to honor paper and press-time contracts that were already in the pipeline.

Perhaps it had as much to do with continually increasing productions costs and the demise of Atlas comics. DC comics went to 30¢ in early '76, Marvel held out until the late summer months at a quarter.

But the horror line took it on the chin more so than the spandex comics. 'Tis curious.

-jb the ib

[Sir Tim Drake]

Y'know, this still baffles me. I can't believe that comic-buyers' tastes changed overnight, but as I recall, the many "monster" comics seemed to die off almost simultaneously. Something seems to have stricken Marvel and DC with panic. Monster books were aborted prematurely (Golem in Strange Tales and Man-Bat, for examples) and revamped to be less "monstrous" (Swamp Thing and Werewolf By Night, for examples). Was it really a tidal change in reader preference, or was something else scaring them off of this type of book?

Well, I can think of one possibility... (plants tongue firmly in cheek)

It was around that time that the American Union of Werewolves, Vampires and Miscellaneous Monsters lost its class-action libel suit against Marvel and DC Comics. (This was perhaps due to their inability to find attorneys who were willing to represent them, since the pioneers of supernatural law, Alanna Wolff and Jeff Byrd, were still in law school at the time.) Having failed to stop Marvel and DC's ongoing defamation via the courts, the monsters decided to accomplish their goal by other means.

This decision resulted in the week-long haunting of the Marvel and DC offices.

We will never know exactly what happened during those seven days. The haunting was so traumatic that even today, the Marvel and DC staffers who experienced it refuse to discuss it or to admit that it occurred. However, by the time the week was up, both companies' editorial boards unanimously agreed to cancel most of their horror titles.

Only Tomb of Dracula was spared, because the monsters appreciated its often sympathetic portrayal of their kind. Besides, even vampires and werewolves are capable of enjoying great art.

[Lone Ranger]

Star Spangled War Stories #187 & 188

Continuing to make my way through a stack of 40 SSWS I won on eBay. I am really, really impressed by the Micheline/Talaoc team. I think that this is some of the best stuff DC was putting out in the mid-70s. Some of these stories are very gritty and have morally ambiguous conclusions. It is still nice to ‘discover’ a series, 30 years on. Grade: A.

Adventure Comics #410

I featured this one on GTCC a couple of cover ago, and finally read it. It has two mediocre Supergirl stories bookending a Legion classic. Since I already own the original Adventure issue with the Legion story, there were no great surprises in this one. Weird story about winged men in the first Supergirl story – pretty similar to the Bloodhawk story I discussed from Avengers. It’s weird how you can come across two similar concepts so close together. Grade: C

E-Man (vol. 1) #4

I had a few copies of E-Man as a kid (I think they were pretty much giving the back issues away in 1980), and I didn’t really like it. I know why – I was too unsophistimicated. This book is freakin’ hilarious. The Nick Cuti/Joe Staton team knew how to put together an entertaining story - this one involves time travel, Egyptians and a flea ridden dog. The back-up is Killjoy, which serves to illustrate that Steve Ditko was descending into madness. Anyone else think they should collect his 70s superhero work (paging Liberty Belle) at Charlton and call it “Being Steve Ditko”? Grade: B+ (only because the Killjoy story confused the heck out of me)

Kurt: As I have mentioned to you before, I am a big fan of the Dollar Comics version of World’s Finest – there is some great stuff in there – Newton on Shazam, Morrow on Vigilante, Ditko on the Creeper. #245 has one of my favourite Wonder Woman stories – written by Conway, and penciled by Jim Sherman. There is a one-page sequence where WW is being carried into a Nazi fortress that I just love. I never read many after the Dollar format – but I seem to remember some with Colan art, am I right about that?

[MWGallaher]

I have a few of the original series (43, 50, 68), but they are too pricey to track down. I really like that "Wasp Tells a Tale" segment, which seemed like an excuse to burn off a Larry Lieber 'pre-hero' style story. I would never complain about that. Do you know if those were old inventory?

At least one of the stories was a remake of an earlier fantasy story, but I think they were all produced contemporarily. Those types of stories had been good sellers in the past, presumably, so I don't think we should be surprised that Stan allowed them to keep a presence in the books beyond the pre-hero days.

Don't you wish he stayed Ant-Man for a longer period?

I very much do! Particularly disappointing was the change from the unique Ant-Man costume--well, the helmet, at least--to the utterly generic Giant-Man outfit. But I can certainly understand how Stan and Jack and the others involved could suppose that a giant hero might have more appeal than a tiny one. I've seen it suggested that Giant-Man failed because he was, conceptually, a bully; a big guy picking on smaller people, but I never bought that line of reasoning.
[/QUOTE]

I think I will track down the Human Torch - I only have one of the early Strange Tales, and I can't afford the originals.

Does it work well in b&w? I don't know if I'd like all comics in that format - it really depends on the artist.

Except for one extremely poorly reproduced story, I think the Human Torch stories work very well in black and white. This series seems to have been written with a somewhat more juvenile audience as the target, and the art, as seems to be the practice of the time for work aimed at younger ages, was somewhat simpler, and more open. With this less complex design, you don't need the color so much to define the panels, and black & white is sufficient.
The "junior Marvelite" approach is attenuated as the book goes on, and by the time the Thing joins in (and the series becomes a duo book rather than a solo series) Strange Tales is essentially an additional Fantastic Four comic book, although admittedly created by somewhat lesser talents.

[Lone Ranger]

This series seems to have been written with a somewhat more juvenile audience as the target, and the art, as seems to be the practice of the time for work aimed at younger ages, was somewhat simpler, and more open. With this less complex design, you don't need the color so much to define the panels, and black & white is sufficient.


You are right about that.

That is why I think a collection of Marvel Westerns from the 60s would reproduce well as an Essentials. Ayers, Keller and Lieber all took the 'simpler, and more open' approach to their storytelling. Even Kirby's western work in toned down compared to this superhero work.

[InfoBroker]

We will never know exactly what happened during those seven days. The haunting was so traumatic that even today, the Marvel and DC staffers who experienced it refuse to discuss it or to admit that it occurred.

I think you are on to something here Sir Tim. Mike Ploog was already feeling the heat before the haunting. Great artwork that it was, Frankenstien and Werewolf never liked being depicted with drool drooping from theirs mouths.

So Mike went from drawing great horror titles like Man-Thing, Ghost Rider and Werewolf by Night, to Gorillas (who have always liked their nasty-sided comic book imagery) in Planet of the Apes. After the week of the office horror attacks, POOF! Ploog left the comic field for Hollywood.

Planet of Vampires they must have found extremely offensive, for the fear they planted in the Atlas offices caused a complete meltdown of the company. Maybe Kurt Busiek heard some pro-side revelations, late night con-fabs over Beer and Pretzels, that inspired his story for Astro City #22, "Where the Action Is." He knew he couldn't use the monsters, or they'd come for him too, so he took the cosmically-enpowered-alien-angle as the nemisis.

I think we'd better be very careful ourselves here :eek:

- jb the ib

[Cei-U!]

I never read many after the Dollar format – but I seem to remember some with Colan art, am I right about that?

Issues 297 and 299 are by Colan, yes.

Cei-U!
Gotsem rah cheer nexame!

[Slam_Bradley]

Amazing Spider-Man # 80 - a Slan Lee, John Buscema, Jim Mooney production of "On the Trail of...the Chameleon!" Pete and Flash work out their issues with Gwen. Peter and Gwen get back together. The Chameleon frames Capt. Stacey and later Spidey for his crimes before getting caught.

Certainly not a ground-breaking issue, but another in a solid run of Spidey issues. I first started reading Spidey through the Marvel Tales reprints of the issues that saw a lot of movement between Romita, Mooney and Buscema doing various art chores on the book, so this is a blast to my personal past.

Grade: B +

[founder81]

last nights reading...

Lucifer #36, 37
Lucifer sends a small group of his choosing to find the soul of Elaine Belloc.


Flash (Wally West) # 29
Flash goes to Casablanca for some fun and winds up in an international assissin/spy plot with Phantom Girl. They save the defecting scientist and defeat the assissins. Afterward they have dinner.


Today's "waiting for my ride" reading:

Avengers - 262, 279, 280,
Spectacular Spider-man - 190
Amazing Spider-man - 431, 432, 439,
Suicide Squad - 21
Airboy - 18, 25,
Deadpool - 7,
Flash (Wally West) - 36, 39, 41,
Fantastic Four Annual - 15,

[mckracken]

Now for some real classics !

Justice League of America - Issue 23 (1963)
"Drones of the Queen Bee!"

Fun all around. The Queen Bee (first appearance and last, I guess, heh) tries to get her hands on an immortality elixir and enslaves the Jla to get it for her. (either that or she blows up the earth - tee hee) Hidden by a mad scientist on a maze ridden planet, each of the members has to overcome their individiul weaknesses, to gather the pieces, needed for assembly.

Hawkman Issue 4 (1964)
"The Machine that Magnetized Man!"

First appearance of Zatanna, which trapped herself because one of her spells went awfullly wrong. (even splitting herself up in two) In a last magical effort she sends a creative SOS to the museum of Carter.

Green Lantern Issue 30 (1964)

First Hal is up against powerhungry pterodactyls from the far future (totally weird) in the second arc he tries to convince a GL wielder, on behalf of the Corps, that
giving up the ring isnt an option. No matter the circumstances.

[Schmakt]

that bit about the haunting was hilarious. :)


Last night...
Iron Man #'s 1 and 2... tried to get to 3, but had to do the whole sleep thing.

I really need to get IM/Sub #1 so I can see the beginning of this story, but #1 had IM pitted against AIM in their incredibly goofy costumes. The technology back then was amazing. :) Most interesting is that IM seems to actually kill all the AIM guys that were in the base when he left. He got away, and the whole thing immediately exploded b/c of some trick Tony pulled with the Generators and fooling the AIM guys into turning on AUX power. I'd forgotten about that and was kind of surprised to see that many people get blown up in a comic that old...

#2 was pretty run-of-the-mill. Crazy scientist guy thinks he's better than IM, so he builds a robot to beat Iron Man... but his daughter thinks he's crazy and tries to help IM. Naturally, the robot goes crazy and ends up almost killing his daughter. In a final effort to redeem himself, the scientist helps save Tony and his daughter but falls prey to his own machine. Luckily he's alive just long enough to deliver a short apology before he drops dead at the end of the issue. His daughter didn't seem to upset tho... maybe she was hoping for some Tony Stark action. :)

Lots of death in early IM... I've forgotten how #3 ends too, so it'll be interesting to get through the rest of these early issues tonight...

[Lone Ranger]

Amazing Spider-Man # 80

I am not 100% sure why, but this is my favourite issue of ASM.

I just think it is a great single issue story with a nice twist at the end.

I have always liked the Chameleon, but felt he has been underused.

[Schmakt]

IM #3 down during lunch... and, amazingly, no one died!
I had forgotten that Happy Hogan was "The Freak"... man, the early villian names were CAMPY...

Tony has some major problems with his heart after fighting the evil robot took its toll on his armor last issue. He momentarily regrets having offed that girl's dad, but quickly has to save some Stark workers from a rocket that was falling over. This is just too much for his heart, so he ends up plugging himself into a generator to keep himself alive. He realizes the generator will eventually die and has Happy help him build some new armor with enough power to keep his (now weaker) heart from stopping. In the process, Happy gets zapped by some crazy beam or another, which turns him into... "The Freak!" He kidnapps Pep and, after a short chase and fist fight in a building under construction, IM manages to trap the Freak in a truck... taking a page from issue #1 when AIM tried to gas IM, IM fills the truck with gas to knock out the Freak. Which, obviously, works, and that's that.

Coolest thing about this issue is that a lot of it is spent talking about Tony and his problems rather than watching Iron Man run around and kill people. I also noticed that Gene Colan didn't do pencils on this issue, but I'm pretty sure he did on the previous two. Did Gene drop Shellhead after too issues?

[Rob Allen]

Did Gene drop Shellhead after too issues?I'm not at all sure that it was his choice, but Colan didn't draw IM much after that. He took over the art on IM in Tales of Suspense #73, dated January 1966, and drew every IM story thru ToS #99 and IM & SM#1 before IM #1 and 2. So he had a good two-and-a-half year run. Johnny Craig started inking Colan in ToS #99, and took over the pencilling for a little while, but he wasn't fast enough to do a full-length monthly book. I think George Tuska starts his long run after that. I really liked the issues done by Tuska & Jim Mooney.

[Cei-U!]

The Queen Bee (first appearance and last, I guess, heh).

Nope. Queen Bee was a major recurring JLA villain throughout the run of the original title. She's popped up post-Crisis too but I'm not familiar with those appearances.

Cei-U!
I summon the drones!

[Cei-U!]

I also noticed that Gene Colan didn't do pencils on this issue, but I'm pretty sure he did on the previous two. Did Gene drop Shellhead after too issues?

#1 was Colan's last art job on the Iron Man title. #2-4 are by Johnny Craig. Tuska begins with #5.

Cei-U!
I summon the credits box!

[InfoBroker]

Johnny Craig started inking Colan in ToS #99, and took over the pencilling for a little while, but he wasn't fast enough to do a full-length monthly book. I think George Tuska starts his long run after that. I really liked the issues done by Tuska & Jim Mooney.

Just to fill in things a bit - Johnny Craig did continue inking Iron-man until at least issue 13 or 14. I'm pretty sure we was inking when the Night Phantom came along. He was also being tapped for material for the new horror comics (Tower of Shadows and Chamber of Darkness). Plus I think he inked or filled in on a Tales of the Watcher tale or two in Silver Surfer.

-jb the Watchfull ib

[founder81]

Avengers - 262,
by Roger Stern and John Buscema.
The Avengers must, due to FCC demands, find a new place to park their Quinjets. After going through much mail, they find the perfect place, a floating island. While checking out the island Hercules starts a fight with Namor to raise Namor's spirits. That night, Namor joins the Avengers and they have a place to park their jets

Spectacular Spider-man - 190
By JM Dematties and Sal Buscema. Harry hires the Rhino to screw with Peter's head. It works.

Suicide Squad - 21
by John Ostrander and Luke McDonnell. Someone is Blackmailing Waller and unknown to (can't remember his name but he's the only Non-X-Supervillian on the team) shoots and kills the blackmailer without knowing Waller had everything in hand.

Airboy - 18
2 stories in this one, both written by Chuck Dixon.
In the first story Airboy is forced to down a 42 year old, out-of-time, bomber in Russia. The Second story features Air Wolf getting downed by Migs and going to a prison camp.

Deadpool - 7
By Joe Kelly and Ed McGuiness. Deadpool has taken Typhoid Mary under his wing and a startling revalation connecting Mary's past to Daredevil. Oh, and someone'sout to get Deadpool.

Flash (Wally West) - 36, 39,
By William Messner-Loabs and ??laroque. Pts 1 and 3 of a story.
A cult run by con artists manage to lure Wally into their midst. He even does TV spots for them, but his future girlfriend, Linda ??, is possed by an irish spirit who helps break the con.

[Cei-U!]

Just to fill in things a bit - Johnny Craig did continue inking Iron-man until at least issue 13 or 14. I'm pretty sure we was inking when the Night Phantom came along. He was also being tapped for material for the new horror comics (Tower of Shadows and Chamber of Darkness). Plus I think he inked or filled in on a Tales of the Watcher tale or two in Silver Surfer.

Craig pencilled the Night Phantom story (#14) as well as #23-24.

Cei-U!
I summon a personal favorite!

[InfoBroker]

I summon a personal favorite!

Hey Kurt!

I couldn't remember if Johnny Craig did the full pencils on Night Phantom but I knew he was definitely invovled in that one.

Like you this is one of my favorite issues in this run, which says a lot, because I really liked Archie Goodwin's run on Iron-man.

I loved the design of the Night Phantom's costume, and I remember doing a lot of sketches of him at the time. It had a great cover as well.
http://www.comics.org/graphics/covers/1867/200/1867_2_014.jpg

I'll add one more art tidbit to this run of classic comics. Archie was doing the breakdowns in the early issues, indicating visual pacing and viewing angle on tissue paper. I don't know how long he did that, if it was just for Johnny Craig's initial couple of issues, or what. But I remember seeing some of Archie's layout sheets in a fanzine interview somewhere.

..er, a LONG time ago.

-jb the ib

[Cei-U!]

I'll add one more art tidbit to this run of classic comics. Archie was doing the breakdowns in the early issues, indicating visual pacing and viewing angle on tissue paper. I don't know how long he did that, if it was just for Johnny Craig's initial couple of issues, or what. But I remember seeing some of Archie's layout sheets in a fanzine interview somewhere.

..er, a LONG time ago.


From what I've read, all of Archie's scripts were done this away. Jim Shooter's too.

Cei-U!
Can't swear to it though!

[Schmakt]

Spectacular Spider-man - 190
By JM Dematties and Sal Buscema. Harry hires the Rhino to screw with Peter's head. It works.

Suicide Squad - 21
by John Ostrander and Luke McDonnell. Someone is Blackmailing Waller and unknown to (can't remember his name but he's the only Non-X-Supervillian on the team) shoots and kills the blackmailer without knowing Waller had everything in hand.


Good stuff... I'm a particularly big fan of Ostrander and DeMatteis. Spectacular Spidey and the Spectre are what did it for me. (so it's kind of nice they're in the same box, alphabetically) Tried Ostrander on Martian Manhunter and some other stuff, but found Spectre to be the best. It's just stupid that I haven't read Suicide Squard yet. :)

I would like to see him dump the Star Wars stuff and take JMS's place on Doc Strange tho... or even follow Waid on FF. (as per this interview: http://www.b-independent.com/interviews/johnostrander.htm - about half-way down)

[Lone Ranger]

Detective Comics #399

I featured this comic last week on GTCC, but I just got around to reading it. It is a decent story trying to incorporate a little late 60s/early 70s martial arts. There is also some good humour as Batman tries to deal with an anti-vigilante bureaucrat. Bob Brown’s art seems quite lackluster, especially since the likes of Neal Adams and Nick Cardy had been working on the Dark Knight around the same time. The back-up is a ‘Robin defeats Cold War spies on Campus’ tale. Gil Kane’s art lacks the earlier dynamism we saw on Atom and Green Lantern – can we completely blame this on Vince Colletta? Grade: C+

Ghostly Tales #116

I keep adding to my box of Charlton horror comics because they are cheap and usually have at least one good story in them. The first story is a pretty bad effort by Joe Gill and Sanko Kim – it involves the fallout from budgetary shortcuts at a nuclear facility – might have worked in Kim’s monster didn’t look so stupid. Kim’s artwork really doesn’t do it for me – he just seems to struggle with anatomy. The next story is much better – a Joe Gill/Charles Nicholas ‘what did you bring back from space?’ tale. It has such a silver age look to it, that I wonder if it is a reprint. The final story is the old ‘Stranger comes to town – could it be Satan?’ story – it features so pretty energetic Steve Ditko art. Grade: B-

[founder81]

Last night's Classic comics

Lucifer #'s 39,41*
Ending the quest for Ellain Belloc's soul and the Epilogue to the story were she chooses to watch over things in Lucifer's Realm. By Mike Carey and 2 artists that i can't remember.
*I'm not sure if these make the 2-year mark, if they don't I apologize, but they are some fine comics

Myth Adventures # 7 (Warp Graphics)
Storty and art by Phil Foglio.
The backgorund story of Aahz. This is the earliest issue I have of this, and well, its not no where near as funny as the later issues, but does show the beginings of how they get the Inn.

[Doesitmatter]

Just got Batman Illustrated by Neal Adams Vol. 2 this week so that will take up all my time.

Last month, I decided to reread all of Sandman but stopped after Season of Mists. That was my favorite story and for some reason I felt satisfied closing the book there.

[Slam_Bradley]

Captain America # 122, a Stan Lee, Gene Colan, Joe Sinnott production of "Sting of the Scorpion." We find Steve Rogers suitably angsty over his place in a world he didn't make and nursing his issues with Sharon Carter's unwillingness to give up her work with SHIELD for him. Meanwhile, a smuggling ring hires The Scorpion to take out Agent 13/Sharon Carter who has infiltrated them. Cap ends up defeating Scorpy and the smuggling ring, but leaves the mop up to the SHIELD agents before a bound and gagged (oo-la-la) Sharon Carter can tell him how she feels about him.

Colan is, as always fantastic, and Sinnott is a very good inker for him. The art is first rate. The story is a decent one-off story and Scorpy is a good opponent for Cap. The story is fairly sexist, but given it was published in very early 1970, what can we expect?

Grade: B +

[Schmakt]

Last month, I decided to reread all of Sandman but stopped after Season of Mists. That was my favorite story and for some reason I felt satisfied closing the book there.

That's funny... I did the same thing with Sandman not long ago. Season of Mists was a GREAT tale... God, I love Gaiman...

but today's Classic re-reading continued on with my Iron Man run... #'s 4 and 5.

Tony's getting better about not killing people... no one has died since issue 2. :) But in #4, communism was alive and well. And to show just how big and mean and nasty they could be, the ruskies managed to revive their hero... The UNICORN! I don't know what happened to him previously, but these new scientists shot him with a beam that made him stronger but also decreased his life expentancy. The newly powered-up Unicorn gets into his suit, which allows him to fly and shoot various energy beams from a single gun on the top of his head. (hence "Unicorn") He hears that a bunch of smart guys are getting together (Tony included), so he decides that the smart thing to do is crash the smart guy party and force one of them to help increase his life expentancy. Tony gets bashed up when the Unicorn makes his entrance through the ceiling, and his briefcase with the armor gets stuck behind Uni as he's making his grand supervillian speech. Tony dares the wrath of the Unicorn and eventually retrieves his armor while suffering some minor bruises along the way. Having pleaded with Unicorn to just stop and ASK for help, IM ends up having to kick his ass instead. The fight eventually rolls outside, and the Unicorn falls off a cliff into a lake to an unknown fate. That about wraps that up, and Tony heads home... to a mysterious adventure in the future... (i.e. Iron Man #5)

Tony makes it back to the lab and is doing some pondering when he is suddenly (of course) sucked into some strange whirlpool that ends up taking him to the future... without his armor. His kidnappers are from the 25th century, which is a time that is controlled by the evil computer "Cerebus." These guys decided that the only way to end the menace their society faces is to bring Tony back from the past and kill him before he creates Cerebus. Maybe they should have started writing movie scripts with James Cameron instead... anyway, while he's being held captive, Cerebus attacks, and Tony gets away during the scuffle. Luckily a beautiful young woman (obviously) finds him and attempts to help... she has what is, probably, the smartest line in the book... something along the lines of the fact that it's not Tony's fault for inventing the computer, but society's fault for becoming too reliant on it and allowing it to become so powerful. She leads him to an old museum where, surprise, surprise, there is a suit of Iron Man armor! Personally, I think it would have been way cooler had this suit been way advanced from his current suit, but Archie didn't ask me... Tony dons the armor and attempts to face Cerebus. The computer is able to create some sort of energy being to fight Iron Man, and it's doing a pretty good job... until Iron Man takes off his mask to reveal that he is, in fact, the creator of the computer... If the computer kills Tony now, Tony won't invent the computer, but if it doesn't kill him, Tony will destroy the computer... ARGH! The only option for the computer is to short circuit, which allows the girl enough time to throw a bomb at it... She then manages to help Tony get back to normal time along with the suit of armor. Oddly, when Tony's back, he doesn't really give a damn about the armor but instead pines of the girl... "No matter what happens, a part of you will always be with me." ugh...

(I only have #6 before my run jumps to 30... only ONE more IM review... promise!)

[Lone Ranger]

Captain America # 122, a Stan Lee, Gene Colan, Joe Sinnott production of "Sting of the Scorpion."

I have a bunch of Cap in the #100-135 range, but not that one. I really liked the Scorpion as a villain. I have got to get my hand on this one.

I'll keep an eye out for in at the Toronto Comicon this weekend.

Thanks, Slam

[T GUy]

The polite knight: I moved the discussion about Anita Bryant and homosexuality to the Community board, since it was veering wildly off-topic...
Ah. I recall that I was the first to pop a post in this thread with no reference to comics. My apologies. It did occur to me to ask a mod to move it, but before I could post to that effect you had sprung into action.
Now let's get back to talking about the classic comics we've read lately.
Ooh, yes please. O'er the weekend I read the remaining three Flash stories in The Essential Showcase, which I rather enjoyed. I have obviously had a long enough rest from Schwartz Silver Age Superheroes to like them again.

This book overall is interesting in that it acts as a chronicle of the transition from the Atomic Age to the Silver Age. Fireman Farrell and Lois Lane feature three 8-page stories, crammed with 6 or 7 panels on a page. By the time you get to the third Flash issue (13, IIRR), not only do you have two rather than three stories, but you also get expansive Infantino layouts with four to seven panels on a page, and slick Giella or Giacoia inking. The two Challengers issues even have only one story in 'em apiece! The first Flash issue is perhaps the most interesting in that the art has a definate Atomic look to it, which is only exagerrated by studying later Flash issues.

Odd that Cei-U should summon the World's Finest Comics No. 241. I was in a newsagent's a few days ago and summoned the latest issue of Panini's Batman Legends, No. 9. into my eager little hands, which reoptints, inter alia, the issue with the Superman-Batman Revenge Squad. I may be getting round to reading that soon, as I suspect that it may be a classic.

My favourite issues of World's Finest Comics of all, however, are the earliest Boltinoff-edited ones, say 215 to 230, with the Super-Sons running through many of these issues.

[Lone Ranger]

Captain America #122

After Slam Bradley’s recommendation I bought and read Captain America #122 this weekend. I was happy to see the Scorpion back in action. Gene Colan’s art was very fluid and dynamic. The only real weak point was following Cap’s thoughts through the first few pages as he tried to reconcile his need to defend the status quo during an age of revolution. I am sure it seemed poignant in 1970, but Stan Lee’s script has become a little ham fisted with the passage of time. Grade: B+

[Slam_Bradley]

Silver Surfer # 13 a Stan Lee, John Buscema, Dan Adkins production of "The Dawn of the Doomsday Man." Our hero once again jumps in to save the Earth from an invincible robot, built too powerfully by the U.S. Army and controlled by a mad scientist. In the end, the inherent mistrust of the Earthlings he's saved, leaves the Surfer to wonder if it was all worthwhile. Basically the same plot and resolution we've seen in a half dozen previous issues of the title. Buscems's art is great as usual, but I don't think Adkins' inks match up as well as a number of other inkers. Grade: C.

Amazing Spider-man #81 a Stan Lee, John Buscema, Jim Mooney, John Romita production of "The Coming of the Kangaroo." Frankly, the Kangaroo has little going for him as a villain, Peter lets Aunt May walk all over him and sets her up for a very dangerous shock. The art is very nice, though from the credits it's hard to say who did what. Grade: B-.

Captain America # 123 a Stan Lee, Gene Colan, Joe Sinnott production of "Suprema, The Deadliest of the Species." Fantastic Colan/Sinnott art marred by a story centering on a villain who is essentially The Ringmaster in drag. SHIELD is taken over by Suprema and only Cap can save the day by creating a gadget at Tony Stark's lab. Cap shouldn't have the scientific know-how to do this based on his appearances prior to this issue. Grade: B-

[founder81]

an invincible robot, built too powerfully by the U.S. Army and controlled by a mad scientist.

Doesn't that always seem to be the case.

Someone builds a superpowerful robot for beniegn reasons (or a military project) and some evil mad scientist always steals it.

(where's that "Comics Greatest Cliches" thread at??)

[Cei-U!]

Captain America # 123 a Stan Lee, Gene Colan, Joe Sinnott production of "Suprema, The Deadliest of the Species." Fantastic Colan/Sinnott art marred by a story centering on a villain who is essentially The Ringmaster in drag. SHIELD is taken over by Suprema and only Cap can save the day by creating a gadget at Tony Stark's lab. Cap shouldn't have the scientific know-how to do this based on his appearances prior to this issue. Grade: B-

Man, that was a dire period for Cap. Much as I love Gene Colan 'n' all that, those were some really boring, directionless comics. It wasn't until Steve Englehart came on board that it became worth reading again.

Did Colan/Sinnott seem like a poor match to anyone but me? (Colan/Wood, on the other hand, held real promise. Too bad they worked together so rarely.)

Cei-U!
I summon my two cents' worth!

[B Smith]

It wasn't until Steve Englehart came on board that it became worth reading again.

Hear hear!

[Slam_Bradley]

Man, that was a dire period for Cap. Much as I love Gene Colan 'n' all that, those were some really boring, directionless comics. It wasn't until Steve Englehart came on board that it became worth reading again.

Did Colan/Sinnott seem like a poor match to anyone but me? (Colan/Wood, on the other hand, held real promise. Too bad they worked together so rarely.)

Cei-U!


I thought Colan/Sinnott matched up fairly well. I think the thing is that Colan seems to be pretty hard to ink and I felt like his work still showed through Sinnott's inks pretty well. I'm also reading them in B&W which may make a difference. Colan's work looks really good in B&W.

I do have to say that overall, Stan's work during that period wasn't stellar. His writing on Cap and the later issues of Silver Surfer wasn't up to snuff. On the other hand, I really liked Amazing Spider-man around that time.

[SaotomeMtl]

I wanted to read Howard Chaykin again and see if my opinion of him has changed, so I read the Blackhawk comics I own. I also re-read Jim Lee's run on the Fantastic Four Vol. 2, which is amazing even though it tries to fit in so much in 12 issues. Finally, I re-read the four issue mini-series of Spider-Man: Hobgoblin Lives! which remains one of my favourite Spider-Man books. Great story and art.

[founder81]

Iron Man #150
by David Michielienie (sp?) and John Romita JR

Iron man and Dr. Doom are blasted back in time to Camelot. King Arthur is suspicious of them both but IM proves his worth. Doom strikes a deal with Morgana Le Fey and he leads an army of undead to destroy King Arthur. IM figures out that there is something fishy and confronts Le Fey, forcing her to quelch on her deal with Doom. Doom swears vengeance on IM but they must work together to get home. They get home.

Avengers #279
by Roger Stern and John Buscema
Captain Marvel is nomited for chairmen, after some self doubt she finds the courage to take the position. And she helps Cap save some kids, (sweet isn't it).

[Schmakt]

I wanted to read Howard Chaykin again and see if my opinion of him has changed, so I read the Blackhawk comics I own. I also re-read Jim Lee's run on the Fantastic Four Vol. 2, which is amazing even though it tries to fit in so much in 12 issues. Finally, I re-read the four issue mini-series of Spider-Man: Hobgoblin Lives! which remains one of my favourite Spider-Man books. Great story and art.

and what did you think of Blackhawk?
My comics guy got me to buy a Blackhawk mini- like ten years ago... I was only 17 and didn't really know what I was doing, but I do remember enjoying the series fairly well.

[Lone Ranger]

Gunhawks #1

After ROK brought this up in the short run 70s series thread, I knew I had to find a copy just to check it out. I got a good deal on a beautiful copy. The story is like this – two confederate veterans head west to track down one of their kidnapped girlfriend. Reno Jones is, of all things, a black confederate veteran. You see, he was raised by Kid Cassidy’s father – who was a good ‘master’ and even paid the slaves for their labour. The two of them were raised and educated as ‘brothers’. After I got my mind around that stuff, the story got a bit weirder. Some old guy is ‘protective’ the buffalo herds, and and takes the Gunhawks – making a splint for Kid Cassidy’s broken leg, and teaching Reno how to handle a ‘buffalo rifle’. Well, there is a lot of shooting towards the end, and clue as to the whereabouts of Reno’s girlfriend appears.

Aside from the nice Syd Shores art, I really can’t recommend this book – except as an oddball. Too weird, very disjointed and I am not sure where it is going. There are a lot better western titles available from the late 60s/ early 70s. Grade: C

Marvel Feature #6

I really enjoyed this book! Ant-Man is still stuck at ant size and Jan is trying to help him find an antidote. Wouldn’t you know that Whirlwind (formerly the Human Top) decides to pay a visit! It has a fun Mike Friedrich script, and great miniature action sequences by Herb Trimpe. Happy Herb really seemed at home with Ant-Man and the Wasp – too bad this try-out never became a series. One of the reasons I really enjoy both Ant-Man and the Atom is the mixture of science and action – and the creative ways these mini-heroes use to get out of jams. Grade: A

[Lone Ranger]

Last night’s reading:

Ghost Rider #7

I am a big fan of this character, and was happy to find that koop had a nice copy of this issue for sale. This is the last issue of the series, although the storyline is continued in Western Gunfighters. What separates Ghost Rider from other Marvel Westerns is the soap opera-ish story arcs. Whereas the Kids (Two-Gun, Rawhide and Colt) normally get in and out of a jam within one issue, Ghost Rider’s problems are ongoing. The Ayers/Trimpe team do a good job on a slightly stiff script from Gary Friedrich (the Mountain Man seemed a bit too Hulk-like), as the Ghost Rider’s ‘effects’ give the artistic team more room to maneuver. It closes out with a typical (for Marvel westerns) ‘moral tale’ back-ups from Dennis O’Neil and Trimpe. Nicely done all around, but not great. Grade: B

Sorcery #10

I try to pick up Red Circle books wherever I can, and I got a copy of this issue during a sale at my favourite Toronto comic shop (Paradise Comics). This issue features at least 6 short tales (can’t recall exactly off the top of my head). Like most horror anthologies, there is some inconsistencies in the quality of the stories (I think most were written by Marv Channing), but where else can you find Gray Morrow, Frank Thorne, Howard Chaykin, Al McWilliams and Jack Abel all within one book? Grade: B+

[founder81]

Fantastic Four Annual #15
By Doug Moench and George Perez.
This was a rather boring tale of the FF, I almost fell asleep while reading it (and this was in the middle of the day!) Plot - Reed invents an energy transmitter whcih with a littel modification can become a matter transmitter. The Skrulls want this, they fight, Capt marvel shows up, the heroes win.


Spider-man #97 (? i can't remember the #, but...)
The Final Chapter part 2 of 4
Spider-man is hopping mad at Norman Osborne for kidnapping Peter's daughter and for faking the kids death. After getting through Osborne's security and after some rather nasty mid games from teh Green Goblin, Spidey learns his daughter really is dead becaus the May that has been alluded to is Aunt May, who knocks spidey over the head reminicent of Amazing #114.

[Schmakt]

Spider-man #97 (? i can't remember the #, but...)
The Final Chapter part 2 of 4
Spider-man is hopping mad at Norman Osborne for kidnapping Peter's daughter and for faking the kids death. After getting through Osborne's security and after some rather nasty mid games from teh Green Goblin, Spidey learns his daughter really is dead becaus the May that has been alluded to is Aunt May, who knocks spidey over the head reminicent of Amazing #114.

Spider-Man's daughter?
what?
Which Spider-Man book is this?

[Bill Angus]

Me:

Sir Tim:

Crossed wires here, methinks. I was referring to the Bronze Age Red Circle when I wrote 'rather too few for my liking' rather than the set you read yesterday.

Sir Tim: Yup, there's a few shorts in Sorcery and Mad House - it may be only two or three, but they're there. IIRR, one of 'em is the one about the pulp character dressed something like the Green Hornet. Marv Wolfman later extracted two issues of Daredevil (# 124 or so) from this villain and plot.

I've just looked it up (as can you - click away here (http://www.comics.org/details.lasso?id=27606) ) and it's a different story in that issue by Toth, by the looks of it. Oh, well. And has the GCBD got itself confused over Chilling Adventures in Sorcery, Red Circle Sorcery and Sorcery? Or am I imagining things when I 'recall' that No.s 6 and 7 were called Red Circle Sorcery?

Anyone interested in looking at/reading that story (The Man Who Tried To Kill Death) by Toth, can do so here (http://www.tothfans.com/showarticles.asp?ctg=3&fldAuto=254), and read annotations by the man himself.

[Slam_Bradley]

Silver Surfer #14, a Stan Lee, John Buscema, Dan Adkins production of "The Surfer and the Spider." Through the usual comic book machinations the Surfer and the Spider spend multiple pages battling each other over a rather simple misunderstanding. Of course the Army must get involved. Inevitably the Surfer saves a young child at risk to himself and the Army and Spidey decide to leave him alone.

This was the first Surfer issue I ever read. It was a whole lot better 25 years ago than it was last night. Grade C.

[yonoid]

I read Uncanny X-Men #151 this morning and I was really surprised at that passionate kiss Collosus and Kitty Pride had. From just reading the other Uncanny issues with the whole Kitty liking Collosus, I thought the whole thing was just innocent, not intimate. I was surprised they actually showed a 14 year old girl kissing an adult man, but I guess they were already past that revolutionizing thing in 1981.

[InfoBroker]

The plot break for me on Silver Surfer #14 was the role of Spider-man. It was a tangent from him being the target of the army and police, instead of being perceived as on their side.

But I always like the kid's line "If only I could make it fly" or something to that effect.

For me, Surfer was on a downward spiral from issue 5 onward. Issue 5 was nominated for an alley award iirc.

I'll also have to confess, that I never liked Shala Bal being in the present tense. After my initial read of Silver Surfer #1, I assumed Norin Radd's life on Zenn-la was way back in the past, many many millenium. LOTS of time. None of those characters were alive anymore. Zilched. Kick the bucket before Gilgamesh murdered dragons.

Of course, while I like the first five issues or so of Surfer, like so many others, I couldn't link the Silver Surfer appearing in FF, with this origin, and this Surfer. Except for the angst, they were two different guys dressed in silver and riding a surfboard.

And I also feel that Stan lost direction on the character, and his being trapped on earth limited the range of stories that could be told. Why bill him as the "Sentinel of the Spaceways"??? All he did was moan and mop about being trapped on earth.

Pure digression:
Now my Meteor-man character, while he had hardened skin and a sleek sheen, (he looked somewhat like the Adaptoid between adaptations -see Tales of Suspense #82), and was heavily influenced by old SS here, he had free range of the Milky Way and encountered all kinds of alien critters. No mopping and groaning. He had a wander-lust and explored a lot of territory. Closest he ever came to earth was examing the remains of one the the Surveyor spacecraft that crashed landed into the moon in the early 60s. He also liked cratered planetoids, and soaring through space. Those were a lot fun to draw :)

Probably not too much of spoiler, but the ride down the Silver Surfer trail is going to get bumpier for you before it gets smoother.


- jb the cosmic ib

[T GUy]

Infobroker: Of course, while I like the first five issues or so of Surfer, like so many others, I couldn't link the Silver Surfer appearing in FF, with this origin, and this Surfer. You and Jack Kirby both.

[Slam_Bradley]

Probably not too much of spoiler, but the ride down the Silver Surfer trail is going to get bumpier for you before it gets smoother.



Yeah, I'm anticipating this. But, with only 4 issues left I'll deal. And I'm heading in to the Schemer/Kingpin saga in ASM which was the first long continued Spidey story I ever read, way back when. I'm hoping it holds up to my memories.

[founder81]

Spider-Man's daughter?
what?
Which Spider-Man book is this?

SPOILERS











The simple version is this: During the Clone Saga MJ gets pregnant. During a story called 'Revalations" the child is born and wisked away immediatley at the hospital and MJ is told she (the child) is dead. Hints are HEAVILY layed here and thru ASM that the child is alive and Norman Osborne has her. In the Final Chapter, Peter gets wind that Osborne has "May" and goes to get his daughter only to find Aunt May. At this point it may be believable that Norman told the truth, the child died.

[Slam_Bradley]

Spectacular Spider-Man # 1, a Stan Lee, John Romita, Jim Mooney production of "Lo, This Monster." This was the first of the two issue 35 cent magazine experiment published in July of 1968. The painted cover over the Romita pencils is pretty cool. The story itself, while the art is vintage Romita/Mooney is nothing spectacular. Mad politician hires mad scientist to build a monster to help him get elected, so he can "rule the world." Sure it's a little tweak on the mad scientist routine, but very little. It was nice to see Capt. Stacey and Gwen in their customary roles. One thing that struck me were the number of typos. Manual become manuel, poor grammer...I counted over 20 typos in the 52 page story.

The second story is a 10 page origin re-cap by Lee, Larry Lieber and Bill Everett. It was billed as being expanded...but it seemed the standard origin. I can understand having it in the book for those who picked up the mag, but weren't familiar with the comic.

There was a little more violence in the book than in the typical comic of 1968. Most of the antagonists end up pretty clearly dead. But there simply wasn't anything here that couldn't have been done in the regular comic.

Grade: B -

[Lone Ranger]

Doom Patrol #101

Beast Boy’s trustee in knee deep in debt and figures killing Gar is the best way out. Of course, the DP afford him no sympathy and before you know it the are off to some island to defeat an alien robot menace. Turns out it isn’t an alien, but rather a familiar villain with a Parisian accent. The back-up story is a look at Robotman/Cliff Steele’s early days in his new metal shell. I was never into Doom Patrol when I started collecting comics, and that is my loss because these are a lot of fun. Arnold Drake’s scripts may be a little ‘out there’, but at least they are entertaining. Luckily, these are some of the cheapest Silver Age books around. Grade: A

Tales of Suspense #84

Iron Man is in the midst of a prolonged battle with the Mandarin – pitting technology against technology. I really like Mandy as a villain, so this 12 pager was lots of fun for me. I am generally not a huge fan of mid-story splash pages as they tend to disrupt the pacing. , but there is a pretty nice one by Colan in here. The Captain American story isn’t quite as good. Cap is somewhere in Communist China, trying to assist a SHIELD agent sabotaging a Z-Bomb. The whole thing seems a little rushed, and a there is no ‘suspense’ leading up to the SHIELD agent’s sacrifice. Grade: B

Beware the Creeper #4

Ditko at his kookiest. I really like the Creeper character, and the whole ‘Proteus’ storyline was pretty avant-garde for the late 60s. This book is so different (dare I say ‘innovative’) that I can’t believe it doesn’t say Charlton on the cover. The plot is too difficult to explain but let’s just say that brainwashing swamis, eastern European man mountains and hot dog vendors all play a role. The only real downside is the lack of depth of the supporting characters and the ill-defined powers of the Creepy one. I am nearly finished collecting this run, and I think it will be even better to sit down and read it all the way through. Grade: B+

[Sir Tim Drake]

I just read Longshot #2, an early work by Art Adams which is only worth reading for that reason. The story (by Ann Nocenti) was pretty undistinguished and also rather confusing if you hadn't read the first issue.

[Rob Allen]

Slam, the story in that 1968 Spectacular Spider-Man magazine was later printed in modified form in the regular Amazing Spider-Man comic. It was in 1972, just after Gerry Conway took over as writer. He found a way to incorporate the old story into current continuity with relatively few changes. I think it ran in issues 116-118 or so of ASM. That was John Romita's swan song as Spidey's regular artist; after that Gil Kane did half-a-dozen issues and then Ross Andru started.

[T GUy]

A masked man (who was he?) wrote:
This book is so different (dare I say ‘innovative’) that I can’t believe it doesn’t say Charlton on the cover.No, it was DC who were 'the daring and the different!'

[founder81]

Gunsmith Cats Bonnie and Clyde TPB

This intro's the Gunsmith Cats, gunsmiths who are bounty hunters in Chicago. I haven't seen a fun comic in this way anywhere else. It has its serious moments but always makes you laugh at the interaction of the characters to their bounty. An due to the fact its a "mirror" image to make the manga read left to right, the cars have the wheel on the WRONG side of the car.

Amazing Spider-man #430
Carnage's symbiote tries to take over the Silver Surfer. Kletus Cassady (Carnage's human host) has stomach cancer and it appears the symbiote was keeping him alive. Spidey helps Surfer reunite the symbiote with carnage and the Surfer turns Carnage into a living statue. Not the best Spidey story by far. (Credits ommitted because these guys normally do good work and I don't want to tarnish their names)

Avengers #280
to my surprise, ish #279 ended the Stern/Buscema run
This issue explores Jarvis. He was seriously injured at the hand sof Mr. Hyde and now contemplates retiring from the avengers. Due to the fact I had to get to work while reading this, I ended with Jarvis still undecided.

[Lone Ranger]

Gunsmoke Western #74

This is one of my older Marvel Silver Age books (Jan, 1963) and you really feel as though they still have one foot in the Atlas universe. Most western characters changed quite a bit in the early 60s, but Kid Colt probably changed the least. The lead story is great, as KC temporarily become sheriff of a town. The two back-ups are typical Stan Lee morality plays. Nice art by Keller, Reinman and Ayers art throughout. Grade: B

Bat Lash #1

No fancy review here, except to say ‘Bat Lash rocks!’. I cannot say enough about this comic. I have the first Bat Lash Showcase appearance, but never had any of the original series. Thanks to koop, I now do. If you don’t own any of this series – get your hands on some. There are still pretty affordable. DC would do well to do a thin TPB (like the Jack Kirby Green Arrow book). This stuff is fun, fun, fun. I can’t wait to read the rest of them. Grade: A+

[Slam_Bradley]

I read the first 2/3 of Classic Adventure Strips # 3 published by Dragon Lady Press. This consisted of the first story-line featuring the adventures of "Dickie Dare" and Dynamite Dan Flynn as written and rendered by Milton Caniff. I believe this was the second to the last storyline done by Caniff before he left "Dickie" for "Terry and the Pirates."

This type of strip has to be read considering the time in which it was published. It's hard to imagine anybody starting a storyline nowadays with parents sending a 12 year old boy off on an around the world journey with a old friend they hadn't seen in many many years, but that's what happened to Dickie. What followed was a rousing adventure involving gun-smuggling, rebel Bedouins, the French Foreign Legion and, of course, a beautiful debutantte.

Neither Caniff's writing nor his art are nearly as polished as they would be in the later Terry episodes or in Steve Canyon, but it was clear from the start that he was a major talent. The genesis of Terry and Pat Ryan is very apparent in Dickie and Dynamite Dan. A very readable, very enjoyable and extremely important historic strip.

Grade: B +

[Sir Tim Drake]

Avengers #280
to my surprise, ish #279 ended the Stern/Buscema run
This issue explores Jarvis. He was seriously injured at the hand sof Mr. Hyde and now contemplates retiring from the avengers. Due to the fact I had to get to work while reading this, I ended with Jarvis still undecided.

This is one of my favorite issues of Avengers, and also possibly one of the last issues of volume 1 that's actually worth reading. It may not be by Stern and Buscema, but it's a beautiful and poignant story.

[i*love*comics*247]

I just picked up Volumes 1 & 2 of Xenozoic Tales TPB yesterday and I'm through the first half of number one. This is some very good reading. Mark Schultz did an excellent job with this and I'm enjoying it alot. I can't believe I missed these stories over the years. And me being a big dinosaur fan.

[founder81]

This is one of my favorite issues of Avengers, and also possibly one of the last issues of volume 1 that's actually worth reading. It may not be by Stern and Buscema, but it's a beautiful and poignant story.

At first I thought this wouldn't be to my liking lacking Stern on the writing chores, but I was pleasantly surprised. Jarvis should be given full permanent membership to the avengers. That type of loyalty is hard to find.

[solinvictus]

"Mystery in Space" 90 & 91. I also bought #95 and found, unfortunately, that it was done by Lee Elias rather than Carmine Infantino.

[matt levin]

Just finished re-reading "Ronin" for about the what, 20th time? since it was published.

Was yet again impressed with how important this comic has proven in the scheme of things: without Frank Miller's "Ronin"--

there would be
no "Teenaged Mutant Ninja Turtles"
no black and white "boom"
far far less indy press work (most likely)
no "Lone Wolf and Cub" in English
very likely no manga
few if any "high priced" comics (heh--as if they aren't ALL high-priced now)
and so on and so on.

Too bad I still am uncertain what the ending is about, though!

Matt,
who's much enjoyed most of the comics mentioned above, too--thanks!

[David Porta]

"Mystery in Space" 90 & 91. I also bought #95 and found, unfortunately, that it was done by Lee Elias rather than Carmine Infantino.
Infantino rocks, and it is always disappointing to have one's hopes/expectations dashed.
But let's don't slight Lee Elias. A delightful talent.
And isn't it amazing how many artists were influenced by Caniff?

[Lone Ranger]

Rawhide Kid #56

Picked this one up at the Toronto con. I am a big Rawhide Kid fan, and I am always pleased to find an issue that I need at a reasonable price. This RK story has the Kid trying to dethrone a corrupt local sheriff. It’s a fun story and for my money, Larry Lieber can draw an action sequence as well as anyone. Unfortunately, the story was inked by Vinny C and it shows. I think that John Tartaglione (sp?) is one of the better inkers for Lieber, or the Larrupin’ One himself. The back-up story is a nice little tale, as a revenge seeking son learns that time takes its toll on the vilest of villains. This story was drawn by Al Ulmer – who worked for plenty of companies in the Golden Age, but I don’t recall ever seeing his name of a Silver Age book. Grade: B+

Captain America #107

Captain America is seeing the worst shrink ever, as he is being fed ‘nightmare’ pills which have hallucinogenic properties. This is a neat little story, as we see Cap dealing with various issues from his past. It is a good story because it demonstrates how the best way to (nearly) defeat a superhero is through his mind, not his might. Dr. Faustus is behind all of this, and his Freudian appearance is quite intimidating. Great work by the Kirby/Shores team. I really liked this one. Grade: A

[founder81]

Avengers Annual #13
Roger Stern and Steve Ditko
A lame B level Captain America Villian unleashes an Army of Hulks on the Avengers to keep them distracted so he can steal Dr. Banner's Biological discoveries. And yes the Avengers win and yes this story is better written then my plot summary suggests.

Last night I was bored and decided to start reading my wife's Hellblazer run. She got it off ebay and HASN"T TOUCHED IT SINCE. I figured some should read it.

Hellblazer #2
Constatine uses one of his friends to trap an evil force that threatens the world.

#3
Demon Yuppies. They trade in Souls like realy yuppies trade stocks. Constatine pulls off a bluff so the head demon destroys the other demons.

Hellblazer is turning out to be some pretty good stuff.

[Cei-U!]

The New Teen Titans (1st series) #38
"Who is Donna Troy?"
Marv Wolfman (Story) and George Perez (Art)

I just recently re-collected a big chunk of the title that spearheaded DC's early '80s renaissance and I gotta say it: a little of Wolfman's weepy Titans goes a long way. Individually each issue is excellent but read in sequence, the barrage of teen angst and sentimentality gets old quickly.

That said, this issue was absolutely groundbreaking and, even more important, was beautifully executed. No super-villains, no action of any kind, just Robin and Wonder Girl in their civvies solving the mystery of the orphaned super-heroine's lost past.

Wolfman's plot is solid, satisfying and almost completely devoid of super-hero trappings, the characters are incisively and economically portrayed and only Robin's uncharacteristically florid narration mars what is otherwise Marv's finest hour in the genre. Perez demonstrates an understatement and emotional honesty that puts the lie to those who thing all he's capable of is costume-studded slugfests.

Did I mention I like this story? A lot. God, I miss the Eighties.

Cei-U!
I summon the good read!

[Sir Tim Drake]

The New Teen Titans (1st series) #38
"Who is Donna Troy?"
Marv Wolfman (Story) and George Perez (Art)

I just recently re-collected a big chunk of the title that spearheaded DC's early '80s renaissance and I gotta say it: a little of Wolfman's weepy Titans goes a long way. Individually each issue is excellent but read in sequence, the barrage of teen angst and sentimentality gets old quickly.

That said, this issue was absolutely groundbreaking and, even more important, was beautifully executed. No super-villains, no action of any kind, just Robin and Wonder Girl in their civvies solving the mystery of the orphaned super-heroine's lost past.

Wolfman's plot is solid, satisfying and almost completely devoid of super-hero trappings, the characters are incisively and economically portrayed and only Robin's uncharacteristically florid narration mars what is otherwise Marv's finest hour in the genre. Perez demonstrates an understatement and emotional honesty that puts the lie to those who thing all he's capable of is costume-studded slugfests.

Did I mention I like this story? A lot. God, I miss the Eighties.

Cei-U!
I summon the good read!

I agree with most of this except for the bit about the florid narration. :) This is my favorite comic book. Ever.

[Slam_Bradley]

Amazing Spider-man # 82, a Stan Lee, John Romita, Jim Mooney production of "And Then Came Electro!" Peter is very stressed out about the effect that his Spidey activities are having on his social life. This is compounded by his lack of money and inability to wine and dine young Gwen Stacy. In an attempt to get some money, he agrees to appear on a night-time talk show. Serendipitously, a paroled Electro is working as an electrician on the show. He makes a deal with J. Jonah Jameson to unmask Spidey on the air. Mayhem ensues.

The fight between Electro and Spidey only takes up the last 1/3 of the book. Most of the first 2/3 deals with Petes personal problems and attempts to make some money. It's good old fashioned Marvel soap opera with great art by Romita and Mooney. Grade: A -

[InfoBroker]

re: Amazing #82

Is a very interesting comic with some very interesting history, and illustrates one of the major reason that Marvel was so successful as a company in the 60s.

The time period for this comic's publication is early 1970, about four month's before I take a year long break from buying comics. The fan press is sensing an end to the silver-age of comics, super-heroes sales are down, (probably all comic sales are down - but I don't have source to prove that one), and there is a lot of talk in the Marvel based fanzines about Stan losing his touch, and that the content, the form of comics has all changed for the worse.

One of the more interesting observations is that the panels per page has shrunk considerably, not allowing enough room to pace a story with the same content that was true during the heyday of Spider-man during the Steve Ditko run.

This comic was the answer to that comment by fandom. It went back to six and even nine panels per page, which was no mean feat considering that the original art size was now only 1 and 1/2 up the printed size instead of twice up as it had been post 1968.

Stan Lee the editor truely cared about what fans wanted. He read most if not all of the letters, and he kept a pulse on the fan press of the time. He listened to his customers and kept their interests a part of his editorial decision process.

Oh and it was also a great story. Stan still understood the nature of what made for a really good Spider-man story.

But then came issue #86, and with that comic, and several other Marvel comics that came out in that month or so, I had had it with the dumb-downed editorial policies and the missing passion of this dark (to me) period. When I saw the cover to issue 87, it was the deal breaker. Marvel had become everything they ridiculed DC about and in someways worse.

I spent a year away from comics, well, on the edge anyway. Not buying much if any new material, but still drawing my own comics, and watching and waiting for something new and fresh to emerge.

- jb the ib:cool: - who gave this comic a strong A- way back then, and still enjoys the whole approach of this comic, and its sympathies for the desires of the fan base.

[founder81]

Hellblazer just keeps getting better as it goes along.

#4
Constatine's niece is missing. Gemma, his niece, doesn't like her new home, her parents have fallen in wiht a religious fanatic group. On the play ground near her home, Gemma meets 3 girls and they take her home to another "wife". Constatine hears this on the news and goes to help. the religious group refuses to help, they feel the girl deserves what she gets because she isn't religious enough. Constatine finds Gemma and the bodies of the 3 girls. The marriage is a ritual to a dark god. Gemma is safe though.

#5
For some reason Constatine is in Iowa. There is a religious group here as well. This group has promised to return the towns MIA vietnam boys. When the Boys emerge form a nearby cornfield they see the townsfolk, their own parents, as vietnamese farmers. The only survivor from this group, now 20 years older, goes nuts and relives the events he went through. he was responsible for them not coming home. Constatine doesn't participate, just watches. By the end of issue, the entire town is dead and Constatine decides to look into these religious groups.

[Slam_Bradley]

Captain America # 124, a Stan Lee, Gene Colan, Joe Sinnott production of "Mission: Stop the Cyborg." This book was very much a mixed bag for me. I love the Colan/Sinnott art. I have always liked Modok as a villain (though the AIM bee-keeper suits are goofy) and the Cyborg he created from an AIM soldier was interesting. But Cap's insistence that Sharon stop working as a SHIELD field-agent, Sharon and Fury's instant acquiesence to his demands and then his tantrum when Sharon returns to the field to try to warn him of the cyborg was wearing. Grade: C+ in a story that is saved by the art and the villain.

[Slam_Bradley]

One of the areas in which my comic knowledge is conpicuously lacking is in the area of Disney comics. Ducks, Mice, Carl Barks, Don Rosa, Floyd Gottfreidson...I know the names and I've read a little, but not much. I recently came in to access to a number of these books, so I'll be reading them in the coming days.

Four Color # 386/Uncle Scrooge # 1, "Only A Poor Old Duck" by Carl Barks. Funny story which finds the Beagle Boys spending 32 pages trying to(and almost succeeding in) getting Scrooge's money. I found the short flashbacks to how Scrooge gained his money interesting. I'm not sure if these were to older stories or to stories that would later be fleshed out. Scrooge has always struck me as penny-smart and dime-foolish; you'd think he'd own the property surrounding his money-bin to keep anyone from building next to it.

Random thoughts: Scrooge pays the boys 30 cents an hour, while a year later in F.C. 456 he pays them 22 cents an hour; the EPA would have a field day with what he and the Beagles did to that lake.
Grade: B+.

Four Color # 456/Uncle Scrooge # 2, "Back To the Klondike" by Carl Barks. This is the type of story I think of when I think of Barks' Ducks. The rousing adventure set in an "exotic" locale. Scrooge, thanks to a memory pill remembers White Agony Creek in the Yukon, the huge stash of gold he left there, and Glittering Goldie (who owes him a billion dollars). Scrooge and the boys go to the Klondike to get the gold, run in to Goldie and a trained bear, and in the end love gets the better of greed.

Random thoughts: It appears that this is the first appearance of Goldie; There's a fight scene in a flashback in Dawson that I know I've seen before.
Grade: A.

[Hoss]

Uncanny X-Men 180 - 188.

These are some of my favority X-Men stories. By this point, Claremont had already established the core of the characters and was now evolving the relationships and personalities. Storm first goes through a radical personality and cosmetic change and then in these issues has to deal with losing her powers. Claremont really doconstructs Storm and then builds something great from the ashes. Kitty on the one hand has to deal with her surrogate mom "Storm" changing and with Peter dumping her for the memory of the Alien from Secret Wars. Kitty's reaction is a perfect mix of a girl being dumped by her first love and a woman keeping her dignity. Wolverine kicks into full paternal mode when he lets Colossus get into a fight with the Juggernaunt in order to teach him a lesson about hurting Kitty. Heck, we even see a new, less evil side to the Juggernaunt that lends alot of creedence to the new good guy Juggernaunt.

We meet Forge - a really interesting character that could have been just an amalgalm of circumastances - a handicapped, mutant, American-Indian, Vietnam vet. But Claremont Forge into a flawed yet surprisingly strong and nobel character. Plus, we see Rogue deal with the effects of her absorbing Carol Danvers personality and powers and the consequences of her previous actions as a member of Mystique's Brotherhood.


John Romita Jr's art is fantastic. I'm reading these books in the new essential trade and Romita's uncolored pencils are just stunning. I remember not being crazy about his stuff back then, but I also wanted everyone to be either Byrne or Mike Zeck when these issues of X-men came out. Actually, before re-reading these books, I thought I liked Romita's newer style better. Now, I'm not so sure at all.

Oh yeah - some guy named Windsor-Smith does a fair job as a fill-in artist. ;)

[Slam_Bradley]

Silver Surfer # 15, a Stan Lee, John Buscema, Dan Adkins presentation of "The Flame and the Fury." The Surfer decides he needs to again try to fit in to Earth society so he seeks out the Fantastic Four, his only Earth friends. Lurking outside the window of the Baxter building he overhears the FF agree to "get him" for an Army general and goes berserk. Of course he spends the rest of the issue fighting the Human Torch only to find out the Army wanted help with its space program.

Another rehashed hero fights hero by mistake saved from the trash-heap only by John Buscema's pencils (though I still don't like Adkins inking him).

Grade: D+

[Lone Ranger]

Tales to Astonish #60

Well, that’s not completely true. I read the Giant Man/Wasp story in the Essential Ant-Man, but close enough. In this story, Hank has to go behind the iron curtain to rescue a fellow scientist from an army of intelligent gorillas (is there any other kind?). It's a pretty standard story, but it's fun as Giant-Man alternates between Giant and Ant-size throughout the story. This makes up for the Wasp hardly appearing in this issue. Nice, but unspectacular work by the Ayers/Reinman team.

Note: The Giant-Man fan club shows up in a lot of these stories. Did any other hero have a fan club? I remember that Thor and Hulk supporters nearly had a rumble once. If you were a kid living in the Marvel Universe, would Giant Man be your #1 hero?

[Slam_Bradley]

Tales to Astonish #60

Note: The Giant-Man fan club shows up in a lot of these stories. Did any other hero have a fan club? I remember that Thor and Hulk supporters nearly had a rumble once. If you were a kid living in the Marvel Universe, would Giant Man be your #1 hero?

I read the Essential Ant-Man about 6 months ago and I remember this. Hulk and the Avengers had Rick Jones' Radio Brigade. I don't remember seeing an actual Thor group, but I haven't read that many issues of JIM/Thor. Flash Thompson made multiple attempts at starting a Spider-man club early on. I don't think they were terribly effective. While as a reader Spidey is my favorite of the early Marvel heroes, I think if I'd have been a kid in the MU, I'd have been an FF booster.

[Lone Ranger]

. I don't remember seeing an actual Thor group, but I haven't read that many issues of JIM/Thor.


I think my reference is from JIM #114? (whichever has a Hulk crossover).

I think I read the story in one of the 25 cent Marvel reprint book from the late 60s. As I remember, two groups of boys are arguing over who is stronger - Hulk or Thor. Thor comes along and recounts the story of a battle he had with the Hulk.

Am I right about this? anyone?

My memory is really fuzzy on this one.

[JeffreyWKramer]

I never read STARMAN the first time around, and am finally getting around to reading it in trades. In the recent past I read the first 5 trades. I am just plain in awe of how much planning Robinson put into this book - this is the complete opposite of the seat-of-your-pants plotting that seems to pass for comics writing these days. It really is great to see someone who loves DC history as much as Robinson, and who knows it as well as just about anyone. Jack Knight is a really unique character in a lot of ways - not your typical superhero, for sure. He reads more like someone from a mainstream novel. Busiek nailed it in the introduction to one of the TPB volumes (5, I think), when he said that rather than creating a character around a power or motif, Robinson created a fully-developed character personality, then turned that character into a superhero.

I'm also re-reading PREACHER. I just finished the third story arc - Jesse Custer's reunion with his perverse family members. Damn good stuff all the way through.

[Slam_Bradley]

I think my reference is from JIM #114? (whichever has a Hulk crossover).

I think I read the story in one of the 25 cent Marvel reprint book from the late 60s. As I remember, two groups of boys are arguing over who is stronger - Hulk or Thor. Thor comes along and recounts the story of a battle he had with the Hulk.

Am I right about this? anyone?

My memory is really fuzzy on this one.

I've read that story. Maybe a flashback to Avengers number 2 or 3. I'll see if I can find it at home, unless someone here has a better memory than I do.

[Cei-U!]

I've read that story. Maybe a flashback to Avengers number 2 or 3. I'll see if I can find it at home, unless someone here has a better memory than I do.

Journey into Mystery #112 is the issue that elaborates on the Thor/Hulk battle from Avengers #3.

Cei-U!
Has a comics index for a brain!

[Slam_Bradley]

Journey into Mystery #112 is the issue that elaborates on the Thor/Hulk battle from Avengers #3.

Cei-U!
Has a comics index for a brain!

I'll buy that. The only JIM I've read were in the Essential Thor. But I do remember that story.

[InfoBroker]

Tales to Astonish #60
If you were a kid living in the Marvel Universe, would Giant Man be your #1 hero?

Well I would certainly fake it, because...

<confession mode on>

When I was a kid I had the biggest crush on the Wasp. Jan was perky, smart, uplifting personality, great sense-a-humor, and just plain fun to be around. The flirting and the snuggle-factor were nice bonuses.

<confession mode off>

So... to hang around and get to see the Wonderfully Winsome Wasp...

You BET! Yessiree! Giant-man is absolutely my number one favorite super-hero in the Marvel Universe.

-jb the lovesick ib :cool:

[Sir Tim Drake]

Slam, did you actually buy those original issues of Four Color? If so, I shudder to think how much you must have spent....

[T GUy]

Slam Bradley: Hulk and the Avengers had Rick Jones' Radio Brigade. Ruddy DC fans! That's Teen Brigade! Report to Corporal Dugan for spud-peeling duties on the double! :)

[founder81]

Fantastic Four Annual #16
By John Byrne
Johnny storm's friend's Roomate runs into trouble in a small town. The local people are rather nuts. She manages to get away and call the fantastic four. The cause of the problem. Skrull Milk. Way way back in the early days of the FF, they made some skrulls turn into cows and it looks like the cows got mixed up in the gerneral cow population, so the people have been drinking skrull milk. The FF take care of the problem.

Incredible Hulk #417
Rick Jone's bachelor party.
The ladies go to a strip joint and some thugs tries to rob everyone, which was a very bad idea since She-Hulk, Lyja, Crystal, & Scarlet Witch are there. And at rick's party, between a drunk guy riding Silver Surfer's board and Cap unkowningly hiring a stripper, the night is topped off with a stag film, no wait, it's an artisitc endeavor with a real plot, but starring Marlo (Rick's wife to be), what a way end the night. And the Vision, upon seeing Marlo on film, gives Rick a complement on his wife to be.

Justice League Europe #1
The JLE is just starting and someone is out to get them. While this wasn't a bad story, it can't top the main title in terms of funnynest.

[Slam_Bradley]

Slam, did you actually buy those original issues of Four Color? If so, I shudder to think how much you must have spent....

No, if I had that kind of money I have numerous creditors who would be in line for it before any of it would go to comics. I was browsing about the net and found a plethora of sites with scans of duck comics by Barks and Rosa, as well as strip reprints by Gottfredson. I feel a little bad about reading copyrighted material...but not bad enough not to do it.

[Slam_Bradley]

Amazing Spider-Man # 83, a Stan Lee, John Romita, Jim Mooney production of "The Schemer!" A new villain The Schemer is trying to muscle in on the Kingpin's territory since Kingpin has gone in to seclusion since his last defeat by Spidey. Due to one of The Schemer's attempts to on a Kingpin truck, Gwen and Peter are almost crushed and Gwen is injured. Spidey traces the thugs back to the Schemer's lair, destroying the HQ though the Schemer escapes.

This is just an incredible issue. We are introduced to a new villain, but more importantly we get a lot of background information on the Kingpin, his wife and his missing, presumed dead, son. This is by far the most info we had gotten to that point on any Spidey villain, save possibly the Goblin. Romita and Mooney are at their best. There is significant interplay between Peter and Gwen, and to a lesser extent Capt. Stacy, Mary Jane, Flash and Harry.

This was the first extended Spidey story I ever read back when it was reprinted in Marvel Tales. It is just as good now as it was almost 30 years ago. Grade: A


Four Color # 178, Carl Barks' "Christmas on Bear Mountain. This is the first appearance of Uncle Scrooge. A cute story that finds Donald and the boys without money for Christmas. Scrooge decides to send them to his cabin and test their metal. Donald, though a chicken at heart, convinces Scrooge of his bravery by luck, and a fine Christmas is had by all at Scrooges mansion.

Random Thoughts: Scrooge doesn't wear his top hat. Is anyone else disturbed by the fact that the Ducks are eating turkey?

Grade: B

[founder81]

No, if I had that kind of money I have numerous creditors who would be in line for it before any of it would go to comics. I was browsing about the net and found a plethora of sites with scans of duck comics by Barks and Rosa, as well as strip reprints by Gottfredson. I feel a little bad about reading copyrighted material...but not bad enough not to do it.

Do you still have the web site? This uncle scrooge stuff is peaking my curiosity (I loved Ducktales as a kid)

[Slam_Bradley]

Do you still have the web site? This uncle scrooge stuff is peaking my curiosity (I loved Ducktales as a kid)

Yeah, I do. I'll PM it to you. I'm wrestling with the legal and ethical questions of posting it.

[founder81]

Yeah, I do. I'll PM it to you. I'm wrestling with the legal and ethical questions of posting it.

If its on the web and found through a search engine...well its pretty much a public forum then.

Thanks for the PM.

[Sir Tim Drake]

I think I found the site, just by doing a Google search. I won't say what words I searched for, because I have ethical qualms about this too, but they were pretty common-sensical.

Now I don't know if I should read these stories or not...

Anyway, the last classic comic I read was Flash #285 by Cary Bates and Don Rosa... uh, I mean Don Heck. That was so obviously a Freudian slip that I'm not even going to correct it. :) Anyway, this story features Barry moving into a new apartment, since the old house is too big for him now that Iris is gone, and battling the Trickster. The story is very predictable and Barry shows remarkably little emotion on moving out of the house he shared with Iris. Still, it was a fun, quick read, and I only paid a dollar for it.

[Sir Tim Drake]

I started reading "Back to the Klondike," got about seven pages into it, and then suddenly remembered that Gemstone had reprinted this same story just a few months ago. I thought it seemed rather familiar... I suppose I must have blinkus of the thinkus.

[Slam_Bradley]

I think I found the site, just by doing a Google search. I won't say what words I searched for, because I have ethical qualms about this too, but they were pretty common-sensical.


Considering my feelings about extended copyrights, I'm surprised I'm as qualmed as I am. Must be the prosecutor in me coming out.

[T GUy]

On reading comics on the web:

Slam Bradley: I'm wrestling with the legal and ethical questions of posting it.

Sir Tim Drake: I started reading "Back to the Klondike," got about seven pages into it, and then suddenly remembered that Gemstone had reprinted this same story just a few months ago.

I was under the impression that Carl Barks' duck work was widely available, bith in Gold Key/Whitman/Gemstone(?) reprints that are cheaper than the original printings, and in slightly more deluxe editions from Gemstone? I can understand reading, say, the golden and atomic issues of Captain America Comics on the web due to financial issues, but not something relatively inexpensive.

[founder81]

Amazing Spider-man #432
The Black Tarantula confronts Spider-man to be allowed to operate in New York. BT has the upper hand but since SM's main concern is to end the fight to save a child, BT lets SM live, but that's after beating the crap out of him.

Amazing Spider-man #439
In the distant future Spider-man is considered the main hero of the Age of heroes. In the present day SM goes into the sewers to find a lost girl.

Flash #58 (Wally West)
Wally is in legal proceedings to duke out the inheritance of Captain Cold with one of CC's heirs. The fued is over who will handle the money for charity. The Piper kidnaps them both and shows them the people who will be hurt over this pointless bickering. The legal fued ends.

Flash #60
Flash and Power girl re-unite one of Flash's friends with his Son who has become a mercenary.

Flash #61
Flash's mom is getting married, and everything can go wrong, does go wrong.

Deadenders #6
I had issues 6-10 out, read #6, part of #7 and put the rest back. I found these very boring and uninteresting.

Starman #42
The Golden age starman crosses paths with Etrigan. They stop a Nazi plot.

Starman #44
Still in the Golden age, this time co-starring Phantom lady.

Action ??
Superman vs. Etrigan. After a brief misunderstanding, Etrigan gets Supes to listen and sends him back in time to stop a spell from destroying Gotham before the spell was ever finished.

Hellblazer #7
Things are begining to tie together. The religious group and the Damnation Army. The demon in charge of the "army" calls John to give him a warning.

(I read to many comics yesterday to clearly remember plot details)

[Sir Tim Drake]

I was under the impression that Carl Barks' duck work was widely available, bith in Gold Key/Whitman/Gemstone(?) reprints that are cheaper than the original printings, and in slightly more deluxe editions from Gemstone? I can understand reading, say, the golden and atomic issues of Captain America Comics on the web due to financial issues, but not something relatively inexpensive.

Oh, I'd still be willing to buy these stories if they ever crossed my path-- just like I bought Derek Kirk Kim's Same Difference and Other Stories book, despite already having read much of its contents on DKK's website. I prefer paper comics to e-comics (the same is true of books). It's just nice to have these stories available right now, so I can read them without having to wait until I find them for real.

Does that rationale make sense? I don't know.

[T GUy]

Founder81 wrote:
Deadenders #6
I had issues 6-10 out, read #6, part of #7 and put the rest back. I found these very boring and uninteresting.and I was about to say that it's just getting interesting, because next issue you get the prologue to the Avengers-Defenders war. Then I had a second look...

[David Porta]

It's just nice to have these stories available right now, so I can read them without having to wait until I find them for real.

Does that rationale make sense? I don't know.

Yeah, "nice."

Nice and illegal, you felon!
Heh. ;)

[David Porta]

I can understand reading, say, the golden and atomic issues of Captain America Comics on the web due to financial issues.

Golden ?!

20 Jan 2002 I got
Cpt America The Classic Years Vol 1 $15.00
Cpt America The Classic Years Vol 2 $15.00

All 10 S&K issues. That should be enough for you.

Thirty bucks is a "financial issue" ?

So, how can you afford a computer, and an ISP ?

Atomic ?

Those are available. And some are in reprint. Fantasy Masterpieces, I think it was, reprinted several of those stories. Dunno where else they were reprinted, if they were, but that should be enough for you, to sample.

Cheap reading copies are available. What's a new comic cost these days? Six or seven bucks, sometimes? So? Double that, and get a giant-size reprint book in cruddy shape but perfectly readable.

If you want mOre, BUY 'em.

[T GUy]

David Porter wrote: 20 Jan 2002 I got
Cpt America The Classic Years Vol 1 $15.00
Cpt America The Classic Years Vol 2 $15.00

All 10 S&K issues. That should be enough for you. Yup, they are, and were when I procured the hardback (2 volumes, slipcased, beautiful plumage) back in the 1990s. I was merely using Cap as an example. However, as I have a moment and you go on, so shall I:

Atomic ?...some are in reprint. Fantasy Masterpieces, I think it was, reprinted several of those stories. ...that should be enough for you, to sample.It certainly was. Enough, I mean - and in Fantasy Masterpieces (and if it wasn't, it was its successor-in-numbering, Marvel Super-heroes). Having read a smattering of golden and Atomic age Caps, I felt no need to go on. However, I'm pleased that anyone with the stomach to want to slog through the whole lot won't be spending a fortune.

[Sir Tim Drake]

"The Second-Richest Duck" from Uncle Scrooge #15, featuring what I assume is the first appearance of Flintheart Glomgold. This story was both brilliant and hilarious; nearly every page contained something to make me laugh out loud. Because this story is all about saving money, I think it's appropriate that I read it for free.

(No, I didn't read it on the Internet. It was included in Gemstone's Free Comic Book Day comic. If you haven't read this story, I recommend you head over to your local comic book store ASAP and pick up your own free copy. And check out some of the other free comics too, especially the free Amelia Rules!)

[founder81]

"The Second-Richest Duck" from Uncle Scrooge #15, featuring what I assume is the first appearance of Flintheart Glomgold. This story was both brilliant and hilarious; nearly every page contained something to make me laugh out loud. Because this story is all about saving money, I think it's appropriate that I read it for free.

(No, I didn't read it on the Internet. It was included in Gemstone's Free Comic Book Day comic. If you haven't read this story, I recommend you head over to your local comic book store ASAP and pick up your own free copy. And check out some of the other free comics too, especially the free Amelia Rules!)

I got this comic for FCBD. It's the first "Duck" book I actually sat and read. I liked it. I have to go track down some more good "Duck" books.

[Lone Ranger]

Cei-U!
Has a comics index for a brain!

You certainly do Kurt.

Thanks for the reference.

I have a bunch of JIM 105-120, but not that one.

I must have read the story in a 25 cent Marvel reprint book.

[Sir Tim Drake]

I got this comic for FCBD. It's the first "Duck" book I actually sat and read. I liked it. I have to go track down some more good "Duck" books.

If you don't mind paying $6.95, Gemstone's current Uncle Scrooge series is simply wonderful. A good issue to start with is #325, which features two great stories: Don Rosa's "Beagle Boys vs. the Money Bin" and Barks's "Back to the Klondike."

[Sir Tim Drake]

I got this comic for FCBD. It's the first "Duck" book I actually sat and read. I liked it. I have to go track down some more good "Duck" books.

Wait a second... how can you be the high priest of Howard the Duck if you've never read any duck comics? :D

[Lone Ranger]

Flash #177

I recently featured this 'big head' cover on GTCC a while ago, but I hadn't had the chance to read it yet. This story features the Trickster using a ray on the Flash/Barry Allen that will cause his head to grow until it explodes. This is used to humourous results as Barry Allen develops a big ego due to his work as a police scientist. Ultimately, the Flash and the Trickster have a fight and everthing gets back to normal, much to the relief of Iris. The story is a little disjointed and we never really get the feeling that the Flash's head is going to explode.

One thing I couldn't figure out is why the Trickster didn't take off the Flash's mask when he was unconscious - or does he already know it?

Also, the Trickter has a Mynah bird called Mr. Mynhah. Is this any relation to the Atom's Major Mynah?

I know that people generally do not like the Andru/Esposito art on Flash - especially when compared to Infantino's, but I think that it is very dynamic and fun. Grade: B+

[Lone Ranger]

Detective Comics #361

This cover was also featured on GTCC, but I read the comic over the weekend. The Batman story is a little muddled, as the motives of the villains is never made completely clear. The plot involves a ‘trap’ expert, a local crime boss and attempts to escape East Berlin (huh?). For some reason, I am not a huge fan of Infantino on Batman. The Elongated Man story is much better – a typical ‘Ralph solves mystery while Sue rolls her eyes and cracks wise’. A much tighter story by Mr. Fox, and it features lovely art by Sid Greene. He may be a contender for an Underappreciated Artist Spotlight. Grade: C+

Journey into Mystery #101

I was never a huge solo Thor fan (always liked him as an Avenger, though), but I am really starting to come around to these early issues. Odin has halved Thor’s power and Loki is looking to take full advantage of it by bringing Zarko, the Tomorrow Man back into the mix. We are left with a cliffhanger, and do I own a copy of #102? Nope. The first back-up is a sci-fi morality play with cool Larry Lieber/Matt Fox inks. This story has a real pre-hero look to it. Cool. The final story is another Kirby/Roussos production – of Thor defending Asgard in his youth. Pretty good stuff, and I really liked the way the ‘attackers’ are identified. Grade: A

[founder81]

Wait a second... how can you be the high priest of Howard the Duck if you've never read any duck comics? :D

:o [face turns bright red for not thinking of that] :o

**goes to turn in his priestly robes, but realizes at last minute, "If i don't do it who will?" re dons robes.**

[Slam_Bradley]

Captain America # 125, a Stan Lee, Gene Colan, Frank Giacoia presentation of "Captured in Viet Nam." Cap, still upset about Sharon, goes to Vietnam to locate Dr. Hoskins, a missing "peacemaker." Cap eventually learns The Mandarin is behind the disappearance in his latest nefarious plot to take over the world. They battle and Cap rescues Dr. Hoskins. Great art and an adequate story. Grade: B.

Silver Surfer # 16, a Stan Lee, John Buscema, Chic Stone presentation of "In the Hands of Mephisto." Mephisto returns with designs on the Surfer's soul. They battle to a standstill when Mephisto reveals that Shalla Bal is once again on Earth (does that girl ever stay home) and in danger. To save her the Surfer agrees to do Mephisto's bidding, "Destroy SHIELD." Overall, better than the last few issues. Stone matches up with Buscema better than Adkins did. The Surfer is a tad less angsty. Mephisto makes a lot more sense than the Surfer battling Spidey and the Torch. However, why Mephisto would want SHIELD destroyed is a mystery. Grade: B -

Amazing Spider-Man # 84, a Stan Lee, John Romita, John Buscema, Jim Mooney prestentation of "The Kingpin Strikes Back." The battle between the Kingpin and the Schemer heats up in the second part of this three parter. Though a bit of a let-down from the opening chapter we get good battles between both Spidey and Kingpin and Spidey and the Schemer. More of a look at Vanessa Fisk and wonderful art. Grade: A -

Courtesy of Free Comic Book Day at Hastings

Uncle Scrooge # 15, a Carl Barks presentation of "The Second Richest Duck." We get the first appearance of rival gajillionaire Flintheart Glomgold, who claims to outrich Scrooge. In the end it comes down to the length of string they've saved and someone wins by a thread. Fun story. Grade: B +

The flipside was Mickey Mouse Four Color # 79, "Riddle of the Red Hat", the only Mouse story drawn by Barks. Mickey, Minnie and Goofy become involved with jewel thieves because of Minnies ugly new hat. Cute, but lightweight story. Grade: B -

[Lone Ranger]

Silver Surfer # 16, a Stan Lee, John Buscema, Chic Stone presentation of "In the Hands of Mephisto." Mephisto returns with designs on the Surfer's soul. They battle to a standstill when Mephisto reveals that Shalla Bal is once again on Earth (does that girl ever stay home) and in danger. To save her the Surfer agrees to do Mephisto's bidding, "Destroy SHIELD." Overall, better than the last few issues. Stone matches up with Buscema better than Adkins did. The Surfer is a tad less angsty. Mephisto makes a lot more sense than the Surfer battling Spidey and the Torch. However, why Mephisto would want SHIELD destroyed is a mystery. Grade: B -



I agree with you Slam. I really like the first Surfer series, but I agree that it lags for a bit in the early teens. The series seemed to be regaining its footing in issues 16-18. Too bad it was cancelled.

I am going to take another peek at these tonight, and try to assess the inkers. I haven't read these in a while, and my artistic tastes have been changing (maturing?), and I have been really enjoying Chic Stone's work.

Great reviews!

[Shem the Penman]

My comic book shop had a 50% off all back issues sale last month, so I stocked up on a bunch of Power Man and Iron Fists and Defenders to help fill out my runs of each. It's always good to be reminded how improbably great Mary Jo Duffy and Kerry Gammill made PM/IF. And I finally got a chance to buy the ridiculously overpriced issue #66 ($18.00, basically just because Sabretooth makes an appearance).

I've read my way through most of DeMatteis's run on Defenders and enjoyed it a lot -- I've always been a DeMatteis fan when he's not getting too High New Age (as in, say, Seekers into the Mystery). Unfortunately, the "New Defenders" issues with Peter B. Gillis writing are a lot less interesting -- mostly generic superteam stuff with boring villains and none of the quirkiness that interested me in Defenders in the first place. I'm amazed he held on for over 20 issues... these days, anyone who wrote that poorly would be receiving Chuck Austen levels of abuse online and in print.

[David O Burcham]

Just read a bunch of Josie and the Pussycats from Archie. Literally laughed out loud at Melodie's dialouge. Haven't done that with a comic book in YEARS! She is so un-PC "dumb blonde". Good stuff!

[founder81]

Hellblazer #9 and 10
The sons of Damnation story concludes. John's friend Zed is brainwashed into being the "Mary" for a religious group and with a little meddling from John she is unfit whent he Angel attempts to impregnate her. Her allong with the most of the religious order go insane and many are squished when the building collapses. John also double crossed the demon he was allied with. A demon that he know remembers from a past, very horrible, episode in his life.

Justice League Annual #1 (Giffen)
This ish wasn't as funny as a regular issue. A single cell takes over the minds of hundreds of people, then the Justice League. (I guess you can't be funny if you belong to a hive mind). Martian Manhunter manages to defeat the villian.

Amazing Spider-man #428
Doc Ock is alive and back form the dead and trying to kill spider-man. He doesn't. Peter and MJ go to a toga party. Not heavy on story but heavy on action. I normally find DO a pretty boring villian but I liked this issue.

Fantastic Four Annual #18
A Kree and Skrull are chosen to fight to end the war. During their fight, they gain the attention of the FF and Inhumans. Reed Richards comes up with a plan and with a little help from the Watcher, the Kree and Skrull and tricked into thinking the by working together they can acheive more then by war.

Flash #67
Abra Kadabra is back and this time planning to kill all of Central City. A bounty hunter from AK time comes back to capture him. Apparently in the 64th century they decided a good humane punishment for AK was to send him back to the 20th to be among his own kind. Flash isn't happy about this.

--edited for a really stupid but major error

[DDM]

Uncanny X-Men #134 (Jean Grey's dramatic transformation from Phoenix to Dark Phoenix)

http://cyberspace-market.com/chrisclaremontchecklist/X-Men-134.jpg

[Bill Angus]

Adventure Comics #419

Part 2 of Toth's fantastic Black Canary story. Only 8 pages... but what pages!

[T GUy]

The high priest of Howard the Duck: Amazing Spider-man #28
Doc Ock is alive and back form the dead and trying to kill spider-man. He doesn't. Peter and MJ go to a toga party.

:confused: :o I thought I knew my classic comics, and I would've put (quite) good money on the fact that MJ doesn't appear till after Ditko leaves. I seem to recall the first time we see her in her full glory (or... well, you know what I mean) is the classic Lee/Romita moment with 'Face it, tiger - you just hit the jackpot!'

Yesterday evening, if I may be so bold as to change the subject, I read the episode of Captain America in The Essential Captain America, i. e. the Cap story from Tales of Suspense No. 91 (non-Cap cover viewable here (http://www.comics.org/graphics/covers/1442/400/1442_4_91.jpg), if you're interested). It's the final part of the Red Skull/ Cap-the-'traitor' sequence by Lee and Gil Kane, and the last ish before Kirby returns, which I'm looking forward to.

What I found most noticable was that at the end of No. 90, Cap has to agree to serve the Skull for 24 hours in exchange for the Skull not killing a few New yorkers), but at the begining of No. 91 there are sixty slender minutes of the day left. The entire day, motre or less, in which the entirety of the U. S. seems to have become convinced that Cap is a traitor, happened in the gap between issues. Odd.

I do like Kane on Cap, inked in this ish by Sinnott. They have a peculiar way of drawing the mask, though - the bit above his nose and mouth is a curve rather than the shallow inverted 'v' to which I am used.

Overall, quite a good story but nothing too special. 4 out of 10, maybe.

[founder81]

The high priest of Howard the Duck:

:confused: :o I thought I knew my classic comics, and I would've put (quite) good money on the fact that MJ doesn't appear till after Ditko leaves. I seem to recall the first time we see her in her full glory (or... well, you know what I mean) is the classic Lee/Romita moment with 'Face it, tiger - you just hit the jackpot!'



I meant to type 428. I've fixed it. It just hasn't been my week. (been making lots and lots of little errors)

[Slam_Bradley]

Captain America # 126. a Stan Lee, Gene Colan, Frank Giacoia presentation of "The Fate of the Falcon." The Falcon returns and he is being framed for a murder in Harlem by a black shake-down group called the Diamond Heads. Cap of course believes his buddy and together our intrepid heroes expose the groups leader as a Maggia plant. Nice action and art with very little of the angst that had weighed down the previous issues. Grade B+.

I might add that Nathan (my 8 year old) just read "The Menace of the Mechanical Octopus" a Kirby Green Arrow from World's Finest #97. This was in an old DC digest I had hanging around. He's now working through the Green Arrow by Kirby trade that was published a couple of years back.

[Lone Ranger]

[I might add that Nathan (my 8 year old) just read "The Menace of the Mechanical Octopus" a Kirby Green Arrow from World's Finest #97. This was in an old DC digest I had hanging around. He's now working through the Green Arrow by Kirby trade that was published a couple of years back.

I LOVE that story Slam.

I have a copy of #97 as well as the Kirby collection (sent to me as a gift from Alex Saviuk after I bought a Green Arrow page from him).

These are fun stories - and that collection is such a bargain. I wish DC would put out more collections like that.

I'll bet DC would have success putting out some of its short lived series (Bat Lash, Beware the Creeper, Secret Six) out in that format and kept the price around $10-$12.

[Slam_Bradley]

I LOVE that story Slam.

These are fun stories - and that collection is such a bargain. I wish DC would put out more collections like that.

I'll bet DC would have success putting out some of its short lived series (Bat Lash, Beware the Creeper, Secret Six) out in that format and kept the price around $10-$12.

The great thing about the Kirby Green Arrow book, besides reprinting classic comics, is I can give it to my 8 year old and they are short fun stories that aren't objectionable. The same with most of the Marvel Essential books (he's working on Essential Uncanny X-men).

I'd love to see DC bring out trades of their short '60's books. Particularly Bat Lash. In addition to those you cited, I'd like to see Cave Carson and Rip Hunter.

[fantomex]

Well i just went to the comic shop sunday and picked up one the greats...... "Uncann X-Men - Days of Future Past" Which is an excelent read by the way if anyone is interested in picking it up............... thou, the original probly are a little pricy hehe, i lucked out and got the graphic novel for 3$ *jumps up in down like a school-Girl* :D

[Sir Tim Drake]

Welcome to CBR, Fantomex.

[Lone Ranger]

Atom #27

This is a fun little story, even though the Bug Eye Bandit is a pretty lame villain. He might have worked better with a better name a costume - because the notion of guy who uses little robot insects in pretty cool. There is some nifty action in this issue, and a great centrefold pin up by Gil Kane. I really think that Sid Greene is one of the best inkers for Kane - as he inks in a manner similar to Kane. The is is a page of dialogue between Ray, Jean and another couple and it is drawn so well that I found it as intriguing as the rest of the book. Jean Loring was become a pretty interesting character at this stage - as you got the sense that DC was trying to mimmick some of the Marvel soap opera style. Actually between Jean Loring, Carol Farris, Lois Lane and Sue Dibny - DC had some sassy supporting females. Grade: B

[Slam_Bradley]

Silver Surfer # 17, a Stan Lee, John Buscema, Chic Stone presentation of "The Surfer Must Kill." Surfer sets out reluctantly to destroy SHIELD, but decides to do it without killing anyone. Serendipitously, Nick Fury has had Tony Stark prepare a defense against the Surfer. Mephisto, being the evil critter that he is, reneges on his deal and puts Shalla Bal in harms way. This causes another battle between the Surfer and Mephisto, with the latter sending Shalla Bal away and disappearing. We're left with the Surfer plummeting to Earth after being hit by the secret weapon.

An ok story. Maybe a slight step down from the previous issue, but still better than most of the early teens. Mephisto admits there is no reason for his having the Surfer attack SHIELD (other than they needed a guest star and had already used Thor, Spidey and the Torch). Grade: B-

Oh, and Nate read "Green Arrows of the World" from Adventure # 250 and "Green Arrow's First Case" from Adventure # 256 yesterday. His comments: I'm really liking these Green Arrow stories. You can read them in about 15 minutes. It's cool to see how the net-arrow works. Jack Kirby is my favorite artist.

Even more than Steve Ditko, I asked?

Yes, because he did more cool comics. Sure Ditko did the coolest, Spidey. But Kirby did Green Arrow and Hulk and FF and lots of others.

[Lone Ranger]

I really hope that I have a little Nate some day.

[Slam_Bradley]

Amazing Spider-Man # 85, a Stan Lee, John Romita, John Buscema, Jim Mooney presentation of "The Secret of the Schemer." We have the final battle between Spidey, Kingpin and The Schemer, and the secret of The Schemer is revealed. Meanwhile, Capt. Stacy clearly hints that he suspects the connection between Peter and Spidey.

Great book. Excellent art. Nice sub-plots. Good three-way battling. The only down-point was the very end. Kingpin should be mentally tough enough not to have the end revelation effect him the way it did. Grade: A-.



Nate read "The Case of the Super Arrows" from Adventure # 251 yesterday. He didn't have any particular comments on the story. He did ask who my favorite artist was and I told him Neal Adams (though Gene Colan, Mike Grell, Tim Truman or Don Newton would have been valid). We then looked at Adams' art on Green Lantern/Green Arrow vs. the Kirby Green Arrow he's been reading. His response..."The art's a lot different." Master of understatement, my child is.

Oh, and Connor (age 3) ran around all day with a towel around his neck being Robin from "Tee Titans." "Tee Titans, Go!!!!"

[Lone Ranger]

Doom Patrol #103

This is a fun story about an ad hoc rocket trip and the after effects of flying too close to a meteor. Honestly, this is one funny book. The humour is pretty sharp, and the in-fighting amongst the DP is much sharper than other 60s team books (Fantastic Four included). I really think Arnold Drake was ahead of his time, and this book seems more like a book from the 80s. The back-up is another pre-Doom Patrol Robotman story – it’s not as good as the on from #101, but Cliff Steele is a very appealing character. Grade: B+

Bat Lash #3

I am making my way through this first series and I am just loving it. This tale throwns our hero into the middle of some mayhem south of the border. A very witty script and plenty of guns, girls and flowers to keep the reader happy. This story is actually pretty sentimental as Bat Lash grows fond a young boy who is a freedom fighter. DC should really collect these stories. Grade: A

Amazing Spider-Man #30

Sometimes Spider-Man is good when he is taking on a sneaky criminal rather than a powerful one. Personally, I would take a Chameleon story over a Carnage story any day. The Cat (or the Cat Burglar), is confounding Spidey and the police. JJJ puts out a reward for his capture after he is robbed. He starts to worry that he will have the pay the money to Spidey. Also in this ish, we learn that Ned Leeds has proposed to Betty Bryant – remember her? To me, she is the forgotten girlfriend in Spidey’s life. The only real downside to this tale is some confusion about the Cat’s posse of thieving assistants. I never really got a firm idea of how many criminals he had working for/with him. This hurt the story quite a bit in my opinion. Ditko, however, continues to sparkle. Grade: B

[Graham Vingoe]

I was off sick this week, so I had a nice long blitz session on The Invisibles Volume 2. This certainly picked up the pace from volume 1, and I'm pleased to say, I was able to pick up a lot of stuff I missed previously.
This weekend, I've got Avengers Volume 1 57 standing by- I want to read a few early Avengers issues and so far thats the ealrliest issue in my collection I can find. one day Avengers 25 will turn up again

[T GUy]

Nate ... looked at Adams' art on Green Lantern/Green Arrow vs. the Kirby Green Arrow he's been reading. His response..."The art's a lot different." Master of understatement, my child is. As you'd just told him Adams was one of your favourites, he may have been being tactful.

And I am extremely impressed that an 8-year-old can tell one comic artist's style from another. That is now my ambition if I ever have any children (certainly more so than passing any stupid tests the government comes up with) (no, we're snipping this rant now...).

[Corrina]

It's interesting that you say that about eight-year-olds and artwork because I've been cataloging my collection for the first time in probably 25 years, and I've found a fascinating pattern.

Even when I was young enough not to pay attention to the writers/artists, I gravitated to the ones that interested me. For instance, I came across a whole run of "Fantastic Four." FF has never been a favorite. I figured I must have been attracted by the stories and artwork, so I checked the creators.

Story by Marv Wolfman, art by George Perez. Their Titans was my co-favorite book as high schooler, but I never connected them with the FF issues I'd bought much earlier.

Also, my artwork preference definitely goes to the Mike Grell/Neal Adams/Dick Dillin/Jim Aparo style. Lots of stuff by Mike Grell and Aparo, particularly, which I found fascinating. Example--I've got the Adventure Comics issues that headline Aquaman, including the death of Arthur Jr. Aparo artwork. At the time, I never though "gee, this is the same artist as over in Batman" but obviously my subconscious knew what it liked.

But what I've read most recently is late 70s "World's Finest" which had Adams covers, and featured some fantastic artwork by Grell (on the GA/Black Canary stories) among others.

It's just amazing to me I gravitated to the same creators over and over again, without doing it as a conscious effort. Another example: I've got some Mark Waid "Flash" issues, all the way back to Year One (#50 of this current series). And yet it wasn't until I got hooked on RUSE that I started going back and realized Waid had written a bunch of books I'd bought years ago.

So, yeah, kids know what they like.

[founder81]

It's interesting that you say that about eight-year-olds and artwork because I've been cataloging my collection for the first time in probably 25 years, and I've found a fascinating pattern.

Even when I was young enough not to pay attention to the writers/artists, I gravitated to the ones that interested me. For instance, I came across a whole run of "Fantastic Four." FF has never been a favorite. I figured I must have been attracted by the stories and artwork, so I checked the creators.

Story by Marv Wolfman, art by George Perez. Their Titans was my co-favorite book as high schooler, but I never connected them with the FF issues I'd bought much earlier.

Also, my artwork preference definitely goes to the Mike Grell/Neal Adams/Dick Dillin/Jim Aparo style. Lots of stuff by Mike Grell and Aparo, particularly, which I found fascinating. Example--I've got the Adventure Comics issues that headline Aquaman, including the death of Arthur Jr. Aparo artwork. At the time, I never though "gee, this is the same artist as over in Batman" but obviously my subconscious knew what it liked.

But what I've read most recently is late 70s "World's Finest" which had Adams covers, and featured some fantastic artwork by Grell (on the GA/Black Canary stories) among others.

It's just amazing to me I gravitated to the same creators over and over again, without doing it as a conscious effort. Another example: I've got some Mark Waid "Flash" issues, all the way back to Year One (#50 of this current series). And yet it wasn't until I got hooked on RUSE that I started going back and realized Waid had written a bunch of books I'd bought years ago.

So, yeah, kids know what they like.

Just goes to show you. You like what you like. And insidently. Mark Waid started writing flash with #62, but I think the artist on the begining of his run started some where in the 40's of the series.

[David O Burcham]

It's interesting that you say that about eight-year-olds and artwork because I've been cataloging my collection for the first time in probably 25 years, and I've found a fascinating pattern.

Even when I was young enough not to pay attention to the writers/artists, I gravitated to the ones that interested me. For instance, I came across a whole run of "Fantastic Four." FF has never been a favorite. I figured I must have been attracted by the stories and artwork, so I checked the creators.

Story by Marv Wolfman, art by George Perez. Their Titans was my co-favorite book as high schooler, but I never connected them with the FF issues I'd bought much earlier.

Also, my artwork preference definitely goes to the Mike Grell/Neal Adams/Dick Dillin/Jim Aparo style. Lots of stuff by Mike Grell and Aparo, particularly, which I found fascinating. Example--I've got the Adventure Comics issues that headline Aquaman, including the death of Arthur Jr. Aparo artwork. At the time, I never though "gee, this is the same artist as over in Batman" but obviously my subconscious knew what it liked.

But what I've read most recently is late 70s "World's Finest" which had Adams covers, and featured some fantastic artwork by Grell (on the GA/Black Canary stories) among others.

It's just amazing to me I gravitated to the same creators over and over again, without doing it as a conscious effort. Another example: I've got some Mark Waid "Flash" issues, all the way back to Year One (#50 of this current series). And yet it wasn't until I got hooked on RUSE that I started going back and realized Waid had written a bunch of books I'd bought years ago.

So, yeah, kids know what they like.
That's just scary! I never really thought about it before, but I was drawn to George Perez books the same way you were. When I look back on what I used to buy off the spinner racks, I was a Perez fan without even knowing who Perez was!

Definitly makes a person think.

[Lone Ranger]

Amazing Spider-Man #73

We are pretty much smack dab in the middle of the ancient tablet saga here. This must have been the longest ongoing storyline in comics at that time. It is pretty uneven at times, and this issue is one of the weaker ones. Spidey has taken care of the Shocker, but tries to get his hands on the tablet – only to encounter Man Mountain Marko. Why did Spidey have so much trouble taking down MMM? It just doesn’t make sense. There is also a bit of a continuity gap – we see Spidey punch MMM, and then the next time we see them, Spidey is still on the ground and MMM is dangling a woman out a window.We get a nice teaser at the end, as Silvermane has ‘recruited’ Dr. Connors to assist him. The art also seems a little uneven – it is credited to Romita/Buscema/Mooney and I really feel that too many cooks spoiled this broth. Grade: C+

Many Ghosts of Dr. Graves #60

Like many Charlton horror titles, the quality on Dr. Graves tends to vary widely. The upside is that they are lots of fun and are dirt cheap. The first story is an interesting twist on the old ‘Girl falls in love with a Siamese twin’ story. The middle story is the weakest, but at least has some of Tom Sutton’s weird art (he also did the cover). The final story is the best - very Sword of the Atom like with tiny people living in a jungle. Steve Ditko’s art on this story is nothing short of great - worth the price of admission alone. Overall, this is a good one to keep an eye out for as an example of the interesting work being done at Charlton. Grade: B+

[InfoBroker]

Amazing Spider-man #31 - 33

I bought the set of four Barnes and Nobles Spider-man trades for my Spanish cousins. This story-arc, considered by many to be the best Spider-man story ever told, and I felt it vital to be read outloud to cousins Nickie, Danny and Elia. Anyway I wanted to share it with them.

They like the way I do all the voices, and since a lot of movie tie-in is pulled from here, I had to read this story first.

It still holds up very well. Strong plot, great supporting cast, excellent elements that made Spider-man the icon that he is today. I consider it one of Steve Ditko's finest hours, with excellent dialog and descriptive text by Stan Lee. I wish more writers would read, outloud, their writing. It's a very natural way to improve flow, pacing and character motivation.

A+ material. The best of a great run of Spider-man comics.


Amazing Spider-man #39 and 40

These were my very first Spider-man comics, so these were the next pick for reading outloud. Stan didn't miss a beat keeping Spidey and his supporting cast developing and growing. The covers are both classic, the stories are legends. Definitely a high water mark for the mythos of Spidey.

Another A+

- jb the wall-crawling ib

[InfoBroker]

Amazing Spider-Man #30

The Cat (or the Cat Burglar), is confounding Spidey and the police...The only real downside to this tale is some confusion about the Cat’s posse of thieving assistants. I never really got a firm idea of how many criminals he had working for/with him. This hurt the story quite a bit in my opinion.

With issue #31, there will be clarification of the Cat's thieving assistants. They have absolutely nothing to do with the Cat Buglar, and it is unfortunate that Stan somehow miscued from Steve's plotting. I will not say more, in case you have yet to read the next three issues of Spidey.

-jb the ib

[Slam_Bradley]

Amazing Spider-Man # 86, a Stan Lee, John Romita, Jim Mooney presentation of "Beware...The Black Widow!" Natasha goes from her old costume to Emma Peel mode and decides to fight with Spidey to learn his "tricks." They fight, but for some reason Spidey isn't up to snuff. That's essentially it. Art's fine, but the story is a big zero. There's nothing here but an attempt to cash in on Spidey's popularity to get people to care that Black Widow is joining The Champions. Grade: C -.

Amazing Spider-Man # 87, a Stan Lee, John Romita, Jim Mooney presentation of "Unmasked at Last!" After his fight with Black Widow, Pete is convinced he's losing his powers. He's also missing Gwen's birthday and hasn't the money for a present. In a fit of insanity or silliness he reveals his identity to Gwen, Capt. Stacy, Harry and M.J. Only then does he then go to the doctor only to find out he has the flu. Prowler saves the day and everyone is convinced Pete isn't really Spidey. An exceptionally silly story, saved only by nice art by Romita and Mooney and some moderately decent characterization of the secondary characters. Grade: D +

Silver Surfer # 18, a Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Herb Trimpe presentation of "Too Smash the Inhumans." The Surfer falls in to the Inhumans territory, battles Maximus' forces, then battles Black Bolt's forces, then just gets pissed. This may have been the start of a new direction for the Surfer, with Kirby working on the book, but it was the last issue. Ultimately it was just the latest in a long line of SS battling the guest heroes of the month. Grade: C.

[InfoBroker]

Amazing Spider-Man # 86, a Stan Lee, John Romita, Jim Mooney presentation of "Beware...The Black Widow!" ... There's nothing here but an attempt to cash in on Spidey's popularity to get people to care that Black Widow is joining The Champions. Grade: C -.


er, the Champions are still a few years from inception at this point. Widow was about to appear in the 1970 run of Amazing Adventure though.


Amazing Spider-Man # 87, a Stan Lee, John Romita, Jim Mooney presentation of "Unmasked at Last!" Grade: D +

You are a very generous grader. This issue, and its rotten cover was the deal-breaker that turned me off comics for about a year. Jack's Fourth World brought me back :D

-jb the (it's the end of the silver-age for me) ib

[Slam_Bradley]

er, the Champions are still a few years from inception at this point. Widow was about to appear in the 1970 run of Amazing Adventure though.

Ok, my bad.


You are a very generous grader. This issue, and its rotten cover was the deal-breaker that turned me off comics for about a year. Jack's Fourth World brought me back :D


I thought the art was worth the grade. And there were some moderately interesting interchanges between Gwen and M.J.

[InfoBroker]

I shoulda added that you nailed the reason Black Widow was guest-starring though. It was pure promotion.

... and true, there is still value to the art. It's just that this is such a rotten Spidey story. <*gnashes teeth*>

I'm assuming this is not your first time read of these Spidey comics, and that you are re-readind and sharing with your son. Would that be correct?

-jb the ib

[MWGallaher]

The Inhumans #2 (1975)
Written by Doug Moench, pencilled by George Perez, inked by Fred Kida

On the cover: "Here come the Kraptoids"...err, "Kaptroids"...whose representative on the cover is a muppet-looking giant robot with shovels for hands, who's opening up his mouth in the manner of a "South Park" Canadian and popping Medusa down his steely gullet. But, hey, the cover's pretty insistent: "You MUST read STAR-SLAVES!"

And what a chore it is: this was the apex of the era of over-written Marvels. The young Perez was already doing around 7-10 panels per page, and the usually-dependable Moench adorns each with an average of, oh, 1.5 paragraphs of caption box.

It opens with Black Bolt and Triton diving through the depths. "But why--? Why do they plumb stygian depths never before explored, not even by the amphibious Triton himself--?" Beats me...I almost got the sense that Moench was slyly commenting on getting back some pages from Perez that he didn't expect to see...

The story has Blastaar (the living bomburst, acting far cockier about his meager talent than his track record warrents) acting on behalf of mysterious masters to release some eggs that drop to the center of the earth, where they hatch the Inhuman-chomping robots...well, the five of them don't exactly chomp Inhumans, they just swallow them for imprisonment in their steel-barred bellies, historically to rot, but in this case for transport to the stars as slaves to the Kree. Why Blastaar? The guy was released after having been caged by the Hulk, presumably the Kree had made this deal with him some time before, and Blastaar doesn't seem too ticked at having been left there for however long it was. He just whomps some Inhumans, activates the Kraptoids...darn it, Kaptroids...and high-tails it outta the picture. Isn't that against the comic book code?

So the Inhumans are left to fight the Krap...the robots...Black Bolt talks one to death very effectively (but he has to violate some oath to do so, which may explain why he refuses to dispatch the others the same way)...Karnak (whose "skull is as thick as ours", Gorgon explains...gee, when Kirby drew him, his skull looked way thicker! Perez is off-model!) finds the weak spot of another, and, since we're running out of pages, the rest are just turned off at their power source.

So they never became the "Star-Slaves" the title promised, the villain got off the hook, and--I forgot to mention Iridia--one ugly Inhuman gets a makeover. Not exactly the most invigorating material available. Moench should be forgiven for this wordy script, Perez is interesting at this stage of his career, and Fred Kida did good work when faced with this youngster's elaborately-detailed splashes. And Perez got way better at drawing robots.

A generous C-.

[Lone Ranger]

The Inhumans #2 (1975)
A generous C-.

I have always wondered whether I should pick up issues from this series.

I think that I'll spend my money elsewhere for the time being.

[MWGallaher]

I have always wondered whether I should pick up issues from this series.

I think that I'll spend my money elsewhere for the time being.
I tried to read #3 tonight, but I just couldn't manage to do it...yes, your money would be better spent elsewhere...as I recall, it just got worse...and then Vince Colletta joined the art team...

[InfoBroker]

"Dinner at Eight" from Astro City Comics Vol. 1 No. 2

Everytime I read this comic I wish I had created Astro City and written this story. That is how wonderfully good this story is. I have a hard time picking my all time favorite Astro City, there are so many many excellent Astro City stories, but this one would definitely be a contenter.

What a great concept. Two all powerful and very busy super-heroes manuevered into a date. Samaritan and Winged Victory discuss their reasons for being super-heroes, their struggles at maintaining a human identity, while trying to have a night out on the town.

It's such a great idea. Handled with tenderness, strong character motivations, and wonderful, sometimes humorous, sometimes serious human dialog.

Grade: A+

And what a dramatic, yet perfect visual symbol for the cover!

http://www.comics.org/graphics/covers/5420/200/5420_2_6.jpg

- jb the sensitive and romantic ib :cool:

[Dr.J.]

Tuska suffered from health problems, so that after issue 23, one seen less and less of his art. He did issue #32,and #38,and maybe a few more.For me, the beginning of the end for IM,was the terrible latter crag issues,#24 and #25,followed by Don Heck returning, rushed Trimpe jobs.the last gasp of IM greatness, were issues #55 and #56, by Starlen.At the least, they had many great Gil Kane covers.

[T GUy]

"You MUST read STAR-SLAVES!"

And what a chore it is: this was the apex of the era of over-written Marvels. The young Perez was already doing around 7-10 panels per page, and the usually-dependable Moench adorns each with an average of, oh, 1.5 paragraphs of caption box. Have you ever read anything by a chap by the name of Don McGregor?

I tried to read #3 tonight, but I just couldn't manage to do it...yes, your money would be better spent elsewhere... I have the complete set of new-material issues (N0. 9, IIRR, reprints a couple of Kirby yarns from Amazing Adventures), which I bought because the Inhumans are among my favourite characters. However, I would not recommend these to anyone from my (admittedly dim) memories.

MW, I would suggest that in a compare-and-contrast exercise, you read one or more Bronze Age comics edited by Joe Kubert. Or whichever issue of G. I. Combat it is where the lead story has fourteen words of caption (one of the Goodwin ones - he was obviuosly attenpting to follow in the Kubert/Kanigher mold).

[Slam_Bradley]

I'm assuming this is not your first time read of these Spidey comics, and that you are re-readind and sharing with your son. Would that be correct?

-jb the ib

This is the first time for these particular stories. These books were being reprinted in Marvel Tales when I first started buying comics in the mid-70's. Hence I read the Schemer saga, but missed both of these issues. Comics were a lot more sporadic in the days of spinner racks and buying a few comics a month on my meager funds.

[Lone Ranger]

Marvel Feature #8

I have actually quite enjoyed these Ant Man tales, but this issue was a big disappointment. The cover announces that the origin of the Wasp will be included – but what we get is 90% reprint from Tales to Astonish #44. Granted, I might have enjoy this if I hadn’t just read this story in the Essential format a month ago. It just felt like a bit of a last minute change – I wonder if there were scheduling problem with P. Craig Russell. Grade: D

Captain America#116

This is a slightly overwritten but fun Freaky Friday story featuring Cap and the Red Skull doing the old switcheroo thanks to the Cosmic Cube. It is fun to see police trying to capture Cap as the Red Skull and for the Skull to be disgusted by the adoration a hero receives in the streets of New York. I don’t know how I feel about a device such as the Cosmic Cube – it might be a little too all-powerful for my liking. The Colan art is dynamic as usual – he does a fine Red Skull. Grade B+

[InfoBroker]

Captain America#116

I don’t know how I feel about a device such as the Cosmic Cube – it might be a little too all-powerful for my liking...

To me, this was the weakness of the issue. I think all-powerful devices can be used in all-powerful situations, but for simple identity swaps, especially for someone as power hunger as the Red Skull; it lacks proper character motivation.

By contrast, Tales of Suspense 80 and 81 handles this problem, and the ego of the Red Skull using all-powerful devices much better. The Kirby touch for character handling, and the great action sequences make those issues a much better read for me.

I should probably mention that Suspense #81 was my first Iron-man/Captain America stories, so I probably also have a touch of sentimental attachment mixed in there as well :rolleyes:

Now if I had a cosmic cube in my hands...

- jb the all-supreme ib :cool:

[Slam_Bradley]

Amazing Spider-Man # 88, a Stan Lee, John Romita, Jim Mooney presentation of "The Arms of Doctor Octopus!" Doc Ock has been imprisoned and his arms are on display at a museum. Through mental exertion he gains control of his arms over the miles and they begin rampaging through New York. Spidey is able to save a bunch of folk, but loses them. Ock escapes and hijacks a plane carrying what is clearly intended as a Vietnamese diplomat. Spidey intervenes and Ock is apparently killed as the plane crashes with him still aboard.

The art, as usual is very good. We see Pete meeting with Prof. Warren about his failing grades and commiserating with Gwen. John Jameson is on seen escorting the diplomat. The plot is moderately interesting. The real problem with the issue is that Ock's arms seem to do a better job of fighting when they aren't attached to him than they do when he's there to guide them. Alone they force Spidey to hold up a building while they escape to Ock. Attached they are defeated by Spidey in a few pages and he saves the hostages. Still, this was such a relief from the last two hideous issues. Grade: B

[Lone Ranger]

Amazing Spider-Man # 88

After seeing Spidey 2 this weekend, my wife asked me to dig out all my old books featuring Doc Ock. I have this and #89 lined up to read next.

When I saw the movie, I thought of this issue in particular - with the arms having a mind of their own.

[founder81]

Hellblazer 14-22 (The Fear machine)
John wakes up one day and is public enemy # one for gruesome demonic style murders. The authorities have pegged him for several people who were killed by a demon. He runs and winds up with some free roaming people, one of which is a girl that has pyshic powers. He is happy (yes, John Constatine is actually happy), but a sect of the Free Masons are working on a "fear machine" and need psychics to power it, so they kidnap the girl. John goes back into "dark and foreboading" magic mode to find her. The Mason's responsible are led by a rogue member who kills many people to bring back the God of All Gods (G.o.A.G). The mason's down fall, they only contenctrated on the Male aspects of gods and power, the Female aspect is summoned and the plot falls apart. Like usual, nearly everyone associated with this is killed, leaving John alone again.

Justice League International #24
3 stories within.
1st story - Max is in trouble and a psychic gift kicks in. Blue Beetle hears his "summons" and along with Ice go help.
2nd Story - This is a Bonus book special. Max is kidnapped. Beetle and Booster are portraid even more idotic here then usual. By the end of the story, the kidnappers are working for Max and pay Beetle and Booster to take him back.
3rd Story - Many many hero's gather at the JLI embassy. SOme alien invaders appear, storm into the gathering room and quickly run away at the sight of so many hero's. The hero's numbers work against them. The invaders defeat themselves by boom tubing into a non exsistent place. This story forms the JLE.

[Sir Tim Drake]

Now if I had a cosmic cube in my hands...

- jb the all-supreme ib :cool:

If I had a Cosmic Cube, I would command it to steal one copy of every 1960s Marvel comic and place them all on the floor in front of me. Wouldn't that be cool? :)

[Lone Ranger]

If I had a Cosmic Cube, I would command it to steal one copy of every 1960s Marvel comic and place them all on the floor in front of me. Wouldn't that be cool? :)

Is that just a roundabout way of saying you want a full run of Millie the Model? :p

[InfoBroker]

If I had a Cosmic Cube, I would command it to steal one copy of every 1960s Marvel comic and place them all on the floor in front of me. Wouldn't that be cool? :)

It would indeed be cool. Of course if you can live without Mille and Patsy, and most of the early westerns, I know someone who doesn't need a Cosmic Cube.

http://webpages.charter.net/astrozoid/Justin1981.jpg

- jb the tolerant ib :cool:

[solinvictus]

If I had a Cosmic Cube, I would command it to steal one copy of every 1960s Marvel comic and place them all on the floor in front of me. Wouldn't that be cool? :)

For me, it'd be one unread copy of every DC comic from Showcase #1 until about 1976 when the company lost it's edge. Heck, for that matter, just give me the entire run of Showcase in unread condition and some reprints to go along with them.

[T GUy]

solinvictus: one unread copy of every DC comic from Showcase #1 until about 1976 when the company lost it's edge. DC's edge is the new nickname for Jack Kirby, I take it?

Talking of whom, his westerns from the early '60s and the Millie and Patsy titles are required for a complete Marvel commection by my definitions. Plus Linda Carter, Student Nurse, natch.

[founder81]

JLA 48
The team is sucked up in a story book world and learn what must be done to save the earth with a little meddling form Batman. Snow White and the Evil Queen are real, horrible things happened and Snow White banished that part of history to a story book making everything unreal and nothing more then a story. The JLA know now what they are up against.

Hellblazer 23
One of John's friends is the basis of many novels. Other fictional characters are jealous he has flesh and not them. Winnie the Pooh drags this man to literary limbo. Winnie the Pooh is in an issue of Hellblazer. :eek:

FF Annual #20
Doom wants Franklin to help destroy Mephisto to get his mother's soul back. The FF refuse and Doom kidnaps Franklin. The FF release Kristoff so they can sneak in behind him to get in undected. (Kristoff is brainwashed into believing he is Doom). Doom's plan fails and he admits defeat. The Doombots hear this "weakness" and attack Doom now believing Kristoff is the real Doom. Doom flys off and the FF go home happy.

Action Comics #600
Big name creators but I found this issue rather blah.

[Lone Ranger]

Witches Tales #22

I just used this one for GTCC. As noted elsewhere, I have developed a real interest in horror comics of late. I have a few Harvey horror comics, and I must say that they do stack up well compared to EC titles. This comic has 4 stories, split up with some funny ‘Mother Mongoose Nursery Crimes’. The first is the best, a vampire tale set in the old west featuring Howard Nostrand art. The other notable story involves a man tracking a cougar. It seems a little out of place here (more suitable for a Men’s Adventures type book), but it features very attractive Bob Powell art. Unfortunately, there is no story based on the Lee Elias cover (zombies on subway) – points lost for that one. Grade: B.

Amazing Spider-Man #35

The cover states ‘The Molten Man Regrets’, and I regret not getting my hands on a copy of this issue earlier. I have only read maybe half of the Lee/Ditko books – but this has got to be one of the best. Molten Man gets a suspended sentence and gets right back into the criminal swing of things. Spidey tracks him down and focuses on getting proof of his activities. There is lots of good humour, including an Irving Forbush joke, which Spidey admits is ‘inside’. Grade: A

[Slam_Bradley]

Amazing Spider-man # 89, a Stan Lee, Gil Kane, John Romita presentation of "Doc Ock Lives!" Doc Ock survived the plane crash from last issue and he and Spidey battle across the rooftops of New York City. This issue is almost non-stop action as Spidey and Ock battle it out. Gil Kane takes over the art chores and I really like the way his pencils mesh with Romita's inks. Just a very good issue. Grade: B +

[InfoBroker]

After seeing Spidey 2 this weekend, my wife asked me to dig out all my old books featuring Doc Ock. I have this and #89 lined up to read next.

My favorite Doc Ock issues are the Steve Ditko ones, minus Annual #1. The plot for that one was trite. But the artwork is grogeous, and I loved the background information and how it was presented. Issue #90 is also a good read, and it has some nice bits of continuity that Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross use very effectively in the Marvels series of ten(!) years ago.

-jb the mutli-tentacled ib

[founder81]

in the Marvels series of ten(!) years ago.

-jb the mutli-tentacled ib

TEN years! I feel old.

anyway, last nights reading

Hellblazer 24
John's ex-friend (not ex because they had a falling out but ex because the friend is in limbo) was dealing in some nasty stuff. His frined was a master trader, would trade anything, including human lives. One "collector" wants memorablilia with an active serial killer, the serial killer wants victums. The friend made an arrangement to make both men happy. John unwittingly gives the next batch of victums to the serial killer. Upon realizing this, John burns the house down and tries to see if he can help the soon to be dead family. He's too late.

Captain America Annual #3
by Jack Kirby.
CA protects an alien from another group of aliens, however the alien under Cap's protection is an evil evergy sucking Vampire and when Cap realizes this he fights and defeats the bad alien.

Fantastic Four #246
The Doombots rescue their master. There were just Dooms everywhere in this issue. A must have for any Doom fan.

Conan #236-239
while entertaining, these issues are pretty normal Hyborean age hack and slash fun. Makes me glad to have Busiek on the character right now.
Each issue followd this plot: Conan's friend does something stupid, guards catch them, Conan frees them from the guards.

Flash Annual #6
Introducing Argus, the FBI guy who can dissapear in shadows. This sotry is part of the Bloodfued, bloodstyke, blood something that ran through all the DC annuals that year. By Waid and Hester but not a very good tale.

[Slam_Bradley]

Amazing Spider-Man Annual # 5, a Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Mike Esposito presentation from a John Romita plot, of "The Parents of Peter Parker!" Peter in helping Aunt May move some furniture finds information about his parents that Ben and May had concealed from him. Concerned about the info, Spidey goes to Algeria to check in to his parents death. There he fights a spy ring headed by a mystery villain. In the end, he makes peace with his parents death.

This is probably the best of the Spidey Annuals since the initial appearance of the Sinister Six in Annual # 1. Though I'm not a huge Larry Lieber fan, the art-work is good. And we get some nice back-story on Peter and a classic villain he's never fought before. This was also the last Annual that wasn't a reprint book until # 10 in 1976. Grade: B.

[Slam_Bradley]

Gladstone Comics Album # 16. In main this reprints the Donald Duck tale from Four Color # 238, "Voodoo Hoodoo." According to Carl Barks, the story was inspired by the Bela Lugosi movie "White Zombie." Disney never reprinted the book in the U.S. Gladstone did, but only in the album format.

Donald is mistaken for Uncle Scrooge by a zombie that has been chasing Scrooge for 70 years since Scrooge drove a voodoo tribe off its African lands. Donald, concerned about shrinking down to nothing because of the voodoo hoodoo goes to Africa to get cured. The nephews tag along dragging along a now jobless, Bombie the Zombie. Donald is captured by the witchdoctor Foola Zoola and ultimately rescued by the boys.

There is definitely racist elements in this story, but it is very funny and quite endearing. I've read some Barks ten-pagers recently and was struck by the different tone between Donald and the nephews in the short stories vs. the longer ones. In the short stories it is almost always Donald vs. the boys. In the longer works, the boys are pertetually rescuing their uncle.

A good read, and I think, one that is rare in the U.S. Grade: B.

[Ray R.]

Gladstone Comics Album # 16. In main this reprints the Donald Duck tale from Four Color # 238, "Voodoo Hoodoo." According to Carl Barks, the story was inspired by the Bela Lugosi movie "White Zombie." Disney never reprinted the book in the U.S. Gladstone did, but only in the album format.

Donald is mistaken for Uncle Scrooge by a zombie that has been chasing Scrooge for 70 years since Scrooge drove a voodoo tribe off its African lands. Donald, concerned about shrinking down to nothing because of the voodoo hoodoo goes to Africa to get cured. The nephews tag along dragging along a now jobless, Bombie the Zombie. Donald is captured by the witchdoctor Foola Zoola and ultimately rescued by the boys.

There is definitely racist elements in this story, but it is very funny and quite endearing. I've read some Barks ten-pagers recently and was struck by the different tone between Donald and the nephews in the short stories vs. the longer ones. In the short stories it is almost always Donald vs. the boys. In the longer works, the boys are pertetually rescuing their uncle.

A good read, and I think, one that is rare in the U.S. Grade: B.

Slam, I'm pretty sure that in reprinting that it's been toned down even more than the original (i.e., the most racist elements (sharp teeth and other features) have been redrawn). I have had quite a few #238s and the art is about as racist as you can get..... still, compared to a lot of imagery in other Golden Age stories at that time, Barks took the high road (relatively speaking....).

[Slam_Bradley]

Slam, I'm pretty sure that in reprinting that it's been toned down even more than the original (i.e., the most racist elements (sharp teeth and other features) have been redrawn). I have had quite a few #238s and the art is about as racist as you can get..... still, compared to a lot of imagery in other Golden Age stories at that time, Barks took the high road (relatively speaking....).

That could well be, Ray, I don't have an original to compare it too. I did note that Donald's guides and bearers were very stereotypical, "black-face" types. I can see where the witch-doctor, Foola Boola, may have had sharpened teeth and they were altered...hard to say. He was a fairly competent character, though. Racist, sure. But you have to expect that, given the time it was published.

[Lone Ranger]

Tower of Shadows #2

Marvel re-entry into the horror field is a strong series (from what I have read) and this issue is a lot of fun. Taking a page from EC (and DC’s Houses of Mystery and Secrets), the host ‘Digger’ introduces each story. The first is a Roy Thomas tale with a producer of a Dark Shadows-esque soap opera going a little overboard on research. It’s a ok story infused with energy by the artwork by the Heck/Adkins team. The next story involves a group of miners with a thing against automation – it’s the weakest of the bunch and big John Buscema’s art seems misplaced. Marvel could have used a little Ditko on this one! The final story, ‘One Hungers’ is the best – drawn by some guy by the name of - now what was it? Neil Abrahms? No, no, Adams – that’s it! It took me a little while to get into it, and to figure out what was going on – but that’s the best kind of story. Great stuff. Overall Grade: B+

Forbidden Tales of the Dark Mansion #7

I’d though I’d bring some balance by reviewing a DC horror book from the same era. DC really jumped into the horror field with more gusto than Marvel (which had mainly reprint books). The first story is drawn by Howard Chaykin and is seems like the kind of trippy story you’d see in a Charlton (that’s a compliment). The best story is uncredited, but I think the art is Win Mortimer – it’s one of those ‘be careful what you wish for’ kind of tales. Overall, the art is solid, but unspectacular and the stories are good, but lack a certain ‘creepiness’. Grade: B-.

[Graham Vingoe]

Last night I read Enemy Ace:War in Heaven - Garth Ennis's take on the classic Kanigher/Kubert character who, in this 2 issue series is in his late 40's and actively involved in World War 2.
I've always liked Enemy Ace, and really enjoy Ennis's war stories. This is an excellent example of the Genre with stunning art by Chris Weston, and one of those old fellas, Russ Heath. I have to say that imho, Heaths art is outshone by Chris Weston's , whose eye for detail is simply stunning, however overall having 2 artists in 2 issues is pushing it so the effect is to reduce the effectiveness of the whole tale. IF you are willing to accept another writer on Von Hammer, this is well worth searching for in whatever form you can find it. if Kanigher/Kubert are all you can deal with, then ignore it.

[Slam_Bradley]

Amazing Spider-Man # 90, a Stan Lee, Gil Kane, John Romita presentation of "And Death Shall Come!" The battle between Spidey and Doc Ock continues. A badly beaten Spidey escapes from Ock and changes back in to Parker mode before collapsing into the arms of Capt. Stacy. He recovers under the ministrations of Gwen and whips up a scientific miracle to help him defeat Ock. As the battle is rejoined, Ock's flailing about causes the collapse of a chimney. Capt. Stacy heroically gives his life to save a child. In the end we see Spidey cradling the dying Capt. Stacy as it is revealed that he knew Spidey and Peter were one.

This is simply an outstanding issue. The battles are fast and furious. The characterization is excellent. We feel Peter's loss for what could have been another adopted father-figure. I absolutely love the match between Kane's pencils and Romita's inks. I read this issue many moons ago in Marvel Tales. At the time, I had read maybe half a dozen previous issues with Capt. Stacy. I think the impact now, that I've read the entire Spider-Man series up to this point is more telling. Grade: A.


Four Color # 29, "Donald Duck and the Mummy's Ring." As best I can determine this is Barks' first solo long duck story. Previously he'd done 10-pagers in WDC&S and part of "Pirate's Gold" with Jack Hannah. Huey comes in to possession of a stolen ring and is kidnapped and shipped to Egypt. Donald and the other boys follow and rescue him. This book shows the evolution of the later travel and adventure stories that would be the benchmark of Barks' duck work. Grade: B.

[InfoBroker]

Hey Kimosabe!

I think DC did a much better job embracing horror/mystery comics circa 1969. They rebooted their two house books, Secrets and Mystery, and created two wonderful hosts with Cain and Able. Their likenesses were based on Marv Wolfman and Mark Hannerfeld iirc.

Lots of top notch artists, and pretty much all new material.

While Mystery seemed to get the best of the stories, with Secrets getting the grade B stuff, the books still seemed better edited and constructed than Towers and Chamber. Then DC brought out "It's Midnight! The Witching Hour" with the gorgeous Nick Cardy covers, and the three Witches as host characters (designed by Alex Toth). The first six or so issues are masterpieces.

They also put the right editors on the books, Joe Orlando and Dick Giordano.

Two books you might want to keep an eye out for, even though they are reprints:

DC Special #4 or 6(?) The stories are reprints from the 50s, but the bridging material is all new, and has all of the DC hosts coming together to rescue Egor, who has been kidnapped by a couple of kids who want to hear horror stories.

DC 100 Page Super-Spectacular #4 Again all reprints, but Bernie Wrightson is the host and does some great full page intros and of course the near all black cover. Hard too find without the black ink coming off due to fingerprints, but still a fun read. Especially if you like DC's sanitized horror.

- jb the ghastly ib :cool:

[Lone Ranger]

Thanks JB

Coincidentally, last night I read House of Mystery #182

Cool Neal Adams cover - but it gets even better inside as Alex Toth does a great job on a twist on a 'Through the Looking Glass' tale. The oher stories are also solid - but don't measure up to the first. It is very strange to see Wayne Howard on a non-Charlton book. Grade: B+

[Rob Allen]

Forbidden Tales of the Dark Mansion #7

I’d though I’d bring some balance by reviewing a DC horror book from the same era. DC really jumped into the horror field with more gusto than Marvel (which had mainly reprint books). The first story is drawn by Howard Chaykin and is seems like the kind of trippy story you’d see in a Charlton (that’s a compliment). The best story is uncredited, but I think the art is Win Mortimer – it’s one of those ‘be careful what you wish for’ kind of tales. Overall, the art is solid, but unspectacular and the stories are good, but lack a certain ‘creepiness’. Grade: B-.

The GCD says you are right - Win Mortimer. Other stories by Chaykin/deZuniga, Jack Sparling, and Bill Draut. Cover by Kaluta and an intro page by Harper/Kaluta. My thought when I bought this issue last year - "Who the heck is Steve Harper?"

[Lone Ranger]

My thought when I bought this issue last year - "Who the heck is Steve Harper?"

I thought the exact same thing the other night, Rob.

Did you find out anything?

Maybe I'll ask Kaluta, next time I see him at a con.

[InfoBroker]

re: Steve Harper

Hey! When you have an Information Broker at your finger-tips, why wait for Mike Kaluta?

Please set the way-back machine to the summer of 1969 Mr. Peabody...

You are entering the state of comics fandom, pre-web, even pre-Comic Buyer's Guide, as the silver-age of super-hero comics is winding down.

Fanzines, the stuff of enthusiam and desire to share the love of comics with fellow fans across the nation. Some were mimeograph wordy pages, full of reviews, comments, opinions and comics history. Some were photo-offset and added line artwork, and an occassional halftone photo. Some were saddle-stiched and those usually had fan comic strips. But the stuff would mix around from format to format depending on the goals of the editor and staff.

The delivery mechanism was fourth class postal rates for printed matter. In the hieght of my first year, I average about three to four a weeks. One glorious day in the heat of August, 1969; I received a envelope full of back order Champion 'zines from Bob Cosgrove. A stapled together Collector edited by Bill Wilosn and loaded with John G. Fanchuccio artwork, and a lot of rehashing of Comic Reader information. The final fanzine was in a really thick envelope and it contained the first issue of an artzine called Graphic Showcase

The publisher/editor lived out in California somewhere, but somehow he had made contact with several College age artists (I think at the SCARP-Con in 1967, but don't quote me on that), and he assembled this 50 to 60 page publications full of fan created comics. Their were fairly high calibre artzines of this nature out there at the time, perhaps the most well know was Star-Studded, put out by the Texas Trio. But this one, being an artist myself, really caught me eye.

Inside was the first work I had ever seen by Mike Kaluta. He did the cover of Captain Infinity, with Steve Harper doing the inks. However the inside strip itself was drawn by Steve Hickman. Mike also had a John Carter like comic strip called Eyes of Mars that he did for his college Newspaper, and these were collected inside along with some other comicbook formated strips by Harper and a couple of other astists, including the art director, whose name I can't remember now.

http://www.bpib.com/illustra2/kaluta1.gif

These three guys also did some spot illustrations for SPA-FON, one of the classic EC fanzines of the time. In essence, Mike and the two Steves were art buddies that shared their love for comics, especially high fantasy like EC, Flash Gordon, Howard and Burroughs.

About six months later, the second issue came out, and while the first issue was a classy work of art, this one surpassed it. Again this trio of artists was featured, and the quality of the work was at or near-pro level in many ways.

Besides the return of Captain Infinity (Hickman and Harper), and a fullsized instead of strip sized, installment of Kaluta's Mars stuff. (NOT Carson of Venus that he would do later for DC, but his own homage of John Carter), there was a fourth artist's work in this issue. His story, "Uncle Bill's Barrel" opened the book. Based on pretty much that single piece work, this fellow was approached by DC to do a three part story in Showcase called Nightmaster. I think his name was Bernie, or something like that.

Both fanzines are prized jewels. I wish I had access to them so I could scan a few pages and the covers for you guys.

Stive Hickman did a few limited press comics in the 70s, Harper did some more fan and pro work, and then sorta faded. Anyway I don't remember seeing anything more from him. Now the better question to ask Mike is "What the Heck happened to Steve Harper?" :D

- jb the ib :cool:

[Brad Curran]

American Flagg! 1-12- I'm pretty sure these count. I loved these. The art is stunning, with interesting panel layouts a plenty, but no sacrifice in the storytelling. But it's Chaykin's writing prowess that really impressed me. The characters are interesting, the plot is compelling, with enough twits to keep you on your toes, the dialogue's good, and the whole thing gels in to a believable post-apocalyptic world, talking cats and all. Even the supplemental material held my interest, from the letters and editorials from First editer Mike Gold to a column on comics history.

Complete Peanuts vol. 1- I'm really enjoying this so far, too. I'd never read Schulz's original strips, and these are a real treat. The art's not as polished as it would become, some familiar characters have yet to appear, but that doesn't matter. The strips are still charming, funny, and insightful. Fantagraphics did a great job with this collection, from the paper stock to the long interview with Schulz in the back to the introduction by Garrison Keillor. Even the cover, which I wasn't very fond of at first, grew on me.

[Rob Imes]

Fanzines, the stuff of enthusiam and desire to share the love of comics with fellow fans across the nation. Some were mimeograph wordy pages, full of reviews, comments, opinions and comics history. Some were photo-offset and added line artwork, and an occassional halftone photo. Some were saddle-stiched and those usually had fan comic strips.

Whatever happened to the fanzines? I wish they were around today.

In fact, with today's technology, one could probably do some snazzy looking stuff: fancy computer printed pages instead of having to use a typewriter, and getting the whole thing put together at Kinko's or something.

Maybe there should be a CBR fanzine...

[InfoBroker]

I miss them too Rob. There was a raw passion to them, done for the sheer pleasure of sharing comic experiences with othes. Very similar to this hangout.

But I think a lot of the raw elements of them are with us via the internet. Perhaps more bawdy in places, but still a similar desire.

eBay and other online sources have replaced the need for adzines to buy/sell/trade comics.

A lot of comic history is out there in the big 3W, some of it stunning and well-documented. So article-zines have their evolved format.

The news format zines like Newsfangle and Comic Reader are supplanted by CBR, Newsarama and about zillion others that I can't keep track of. Especially the rehashers.

Finally, forums and threads like this one probably correlate pretty well to APA groups. I never joined one, they seemed to siphon off people from the main core of fandom, tenuous though it was. But they were a major outlet for the hardcore fans.

I miss the more permanent sense of the printed format, but outside of that, fandom and the functions of the 'zines seems to prevail.

jb the historical ib :cool:

[InfoBroker]

...and I forgot to metion, there are some very professional printed publications that match spirit of Martin Griem's Comic Crusader, Robert Jennings Comic Worlds, and many others.

Tomorrow Worlds publishes The Kirby Collector, and brings back Alter Ego and The Comic Artist. So in that sense, fanzine as prozine is still with us.

- jb the ib :cool:

[Lone Ranger]

Thanks for the Harper infor JB/IB.

Here my latest read:

Justice Traps the Guilty #6

I was very excited to get my hands on this Prize publications title, as I had never read a Simon and Kirby crime comic. I don’t have too many crime comics, but there are always fun to read – if only for the ‘gansta’ dialogue. The stories in this book feature everything from phony counterfeiting machines to Mounties (Go Canada!). The art is dynamic – I wish I could track down some complete credits – as I know not everything signed ‘S & K’ was actually by Joe and Jack. My favourite story involves a gang leader who travels great distances between crimes to avoid leaving a trail. He somehow convinces his wife that he is a successful traveling salesman who just happens to have ‘gun collecting’ as a hobby. Classic! If you have never read a crime comic, I suggest tracking down a cheaper reader and just seeing what all of the fuss was about. Correct me if I am wrong, but Werthamism was targeted just as much at Crime comics as Horror books. Grade: B+

[Sir Tim Drake]

Rawhide Kid #79 featuring "Legion of the Lost," a pretty good story by Archie Goodwin and Werner Roth. Archie's fantastic writing ability is very much in evidence in this tale of a madman who tries to resurrect the army of the Confederacy. Werner Roth isn't remembered very fondly these days, it would seem, but his art in this story is very solid. There's also a reprinted backup story by Stan Lee and Al Williamson, whose art is kind of crude but still effective. Overall I enjoyed this issue.

I wouldn't have read it at all if not for the generosity of Lone Ranger, who was kind enough to send me this and several other comics. They just arrived today. Thanks, Scott! I hope I can repay the favor someday.

[Slam_Bradley]

Amazing Spider-Man # 91, a Stan Lee, Gil Kane, John Romita presentation of "To Smash a Spider." We open with Capt. Stacy's burial. Gwen blames Spidey for his death and obviously Peter is torn over this. The police are after our hero and unscrupulous politician Sam Bullit is planning to use Capt. Stacy's death, Spidey and Gwen in his quest to become D.A. There is very little action in the issue, just Spidey vs. a few of Bullit's hired thugs. But the art is great and there's some nice characterization with Pete, Gwen and Joe Robertson. Grade: B.

Amazing Spider-Man # 92, a Stan Lee, Gil Kane, John Romita presentation of "When Iceman Attacks." Bullit and the cops are still after Spidey, but this time Iceman gets in on the act. The guest star in this issue seems a little less forced than usual and given Spidey's legal position at the time, the fight makes much more sense than normal. Ultimately, Joe Robertson is saved and Bullit is discredited. Grade: B.

Amazing Spider-Man # 93, a Stan Lee, John Romita presentation of "The Lady And..The Prowler!" Hobie Brown, the Prowler, is very concerned about the reports of Spidey's involvement in Capt. Stacy's death. Previously Hobie posed as Spidey in front of Gwen and Capt. Stacy and he is concerned he may be involved. He returns to costume to bring Spidey to justice. Meanwhile, Gwen feels Peter no longer loves her because of his distance since Capt. Stacy's death and takes off to London to stay with relatives. A very good issue with nice solo Romita art. Grade: B +.

[T GUy]

The infobroker told us: DC 100 Page Super-Spectacular #4 Again all reprints, but Bernie Wrightson is the host and does some great full page intros and of course the near all black cover. Hard too find without the black ink coming off due to fingerprints Over here, it's 'hard to find' full stop. The only one I own of the original three Super-Specs is the 'World's Greatest Superheroes' one, and it's the only one I've ever seen a copy of as far as I can recall.

[Lone Ranger]

Star Spangled War Stories #197

This is another solid out for the Micheline/Talaoc team on Unknown Solidier. This time out, our hero is trying to speed up the end of fighting in North Africa by locating and dismantling some top secret Nazi bombers. Along the way, he encounters a US Senator’s daughters who is pulling some sort of Laura of Arabia. Of course, moral dilemmas abound and the Soldier once again tastes bitter victory. The back up is a nice little ‘war is hell, no matter how small the battle’ drawn by (coincidentally) the Harper/Kaluta team. Honestly, the more I read this series, the more I feel like it is one of the best runs of the 70s. Grade: A

[Slam_Bradley]

Amazing Spider-Man # 94, a Stan Lee, John Romita, Sal Buscema presentation of "On the Wings of Death." This story is essentially split in to two parts. The first half finds Peter wandering the city upset over Gwens departure for England. This leads to a nicely done flashback of his origin and a look at his supporting cast and villains. The second half finds Peter having wandered to Forest Hills at Aunt May's house. The Beetle has been breaking in to stores in the vicinity. Aunt May goes to the grocer, is taken hostage by the Beetle and ultimately saved by Spidey.

I bought this issue when it was first reprinted in Marvel Tales. I believe it was my first exposure to Spidey's origin and it was a good place to start, as it sets the origin out very nicely in about 10 pages. The art by Romita and Oour Pal Sal is very nice. The Beetle isn't a great villain, but he does his job. Grade: A -.

As a side-note there is a one-page shot that has Spidey surrounded by a number of his foes. Off the top of my head it is The Lizard, Rhino, Vulture, Kingpin, Doc Ock, Green Goblin, Electro, Shocker and a couple of others. Nate knew all of them. Connor, my three year old, knew all except Vulture and Electro.

[Sir Tim Drake]

Daredevil #78: Not a whole lot happens plotwise in this Conway/Colan/Palmer collaboration, but it's still a surprisingly well-written story, especially by Conway's standards, and in terms of the art it's as brilliant as in any issue of Tomb of Dracula. The story revolves around a hippie couple named George Alec and Dia, who are tuckerizations (see the thread I started yesterday) of George Alec Effinger and his wife. [EDIT: Or was she? Wikipedia states that Effinger was married twice, to Beverly Effinger and Barbara Hambly, and I think both marriages took place after this issue was published. Maybe Dia was his girlfriend or something.] It features a lot of action and much introspection on Matt's part. Matt seemed to be suffering from chronic depression or something, back in the early '70s.

By the way, I only found two Google hits for Dia Effinger, and one was a reference to this very issue of Daredevil. Does anyone know anything about her?

[Lone Ranger]

Marvel Feature #7

Blechh! Man did this series of Ant Man stories take a sudden turn for the worse. These issues have not of the inventiveness of the first couple of issues penciled by Happy Herb. This story involved a lame robot named Para-Man who has come to master his creator. Too much Para-Man and too little of Hank and Jan (they were unconscious for half the issue). When they are ‘on screen’, it’s great. They make a pretty good team and I am a big fan of ‘little man in a big man’s world’ stories. Must come from watching Land of the Giants reruns as a kid in the 70s. Grade: C

Adventure Comics #311

Bring on the Substitutes! This is a great issue focusing on the Subbies, as the Legion strat to treat them like dirt. We learn about Night Girl’s love for Cosmic Boy – an element that will flow through much of Legion history. In the end, the Substitutes prove their worth by using the brains as much as their brawn. You cannot beat these Legion stories for Silver Age fun. I am ashamed to admit that I am a relative latecomer on the Legion bandwagon. Grade: A

[Slam_Bradley]

Amazing Spider-Man # 95, a Stan Lee, John Romita, Sal Buscema presentation of "Trap For a Terrorist." Peter finagles a trip to London from Robbie Robinson to see Gwen and "snap news photos." When the plane he's on is threatened by terrorists and a friendly diplomat and his son are kidnapped Spidey springs in to action saving the day in the nick of time. Pete, of course, decides he can't see Gwen because she'd realize he's that he and Spidey are in London at the same time and learn his secret. As if the pics he took of Spidey vs. the terrorists for the Bugle aren't going to do the same thing. Nice art, but kind of a nothing story. Grade: C+.

Secret Agent Corrigan strips from 1/6/69 through 3/15/69 by Al Williamson and Archie Goodwin. This was a short 10 week story fairly early in the run of these two titans of the comic book world on this venerable strip. Secret Agent Corrigan finds that a contract is out on him. Behind it is Madame Lei, who hopes to take over the U.S. spy operations of an Asian power, and her hired gun "Joe Ice." Corrigan comes through in the end, putting Joe on ice and leaving Lei to the tender mercies of her masters. Gorgeous noirish art by Williamson and a nice, if short and predictable, story by Goodwin. Grade: B.

[founder81]

Legends of the Dark knight #44 and 45
Steve Grant and Shawn McManus
The cheif of police is a militatn racist. He gives speaches about "savages over running decent people". A faction of the police department forms a death squad to take care of those "savages" Batman naturally doesn't like any of this when he catches on. The death squad chose the wrong "savage" to terminate, Batman saved the man's life just minutes before. A reporter has a video tape of this murder. THe chief of police said on TV that the man was a drug dealer and fired on the officers, the tape showed otherwise. Batman spends his time dismantling the death squad and making sure those responsible now that breaking the law will not be tolerated.

Hellblazer #25 and 26
Grant Morrison and David Lloyd
John stops by a small town for some festivities. Festivites that date back a long time. During the festivities the people go mad, they no longer have any inhibitions. Some horrible stuff happens, just to give you an idea, a dad raping his daughter and a man williningly being castrated is the least disturbing events to happen. THe people eventually take over a nearby missle base and end up blowing themselves up. THe press tries to put the blame else where. This issue contains some horrible stuff, but the story is quite solid.

Justice League Europe #14
A guy has the power to "jump into" any on screen character and walk out of the picture. He ends up bumping heads with the JLE. They fight, the fight ends. The JLE has no idea what happened, other then they distrupted teh Cannes film festival.

[InfoBroker]

Secret Agent Corrigan strips from 1/6/69 through 3/15/69 by Al Williamson and Archie Goodwin.

Is that in a collected form? If so, is it of recent vintage and who published please? I would love to see as much work of Al and Archie as I can.

- jb the ib :cool:

[Slam_Bradley]

Is that in a collected form? If so, is it of recent vintage and who published please? I would love to see as much work of Al and Archie as I can.

- jb the ib :cool:

In the early 90's a company called Pioneer Press put out 32 page saddle stitched reprints of a number of Kings Features properties. I've picked up a number of them on E-bay recently. I wasn't super impressed with the issues of Jungle Jim or Mandrake I got because they were formatted to fit the comic page. However I just got issues 1-4 and 6 of "Secret Agent" and the first 4 issues look really good. They are reprinted 5 daily strips to a page and there is about 6 months worth of strips per book.

What I wrote about above was the first arc in issue #1 and was a little less than half the book. Most of the rest of the book is the 16 week storyline that followed. For some reason issue 6 looks like they went to the formatting that they had in Jungle Jim and Mandrake which is a more normal comic book page. I really don't like that for reading strips. But the first four issues, I'm very pleased with.

[Lone Ranger]

Journey Into Mystery #109

In this issue Thor takes on Magneto – and has his hands fuller than usual. The X-Men make shadowy cameo appearance in battling the Brotherhood. I really liked how they tease the reader by showing a shadow of Angel, and a blast from Cyclops. Another good aspect of this story is Thor being separated from his hammer and being stuck as Don Blake for a stretch – that brought some key vulnerability into the story. The back-up story features Arkin the weak (a nice change from Loki) attempting to betray Asgard. I am going on the record and state that (*gulps*), “Vince Colletta did a very nice job inking Kirby on this back-up story”. I almost don’t believe it myself, but it’s true. Grade: A

[Slam_Bradley]

Amazing Spider-Man # 96, a Stan Lee, Gil Kane, John Romita presentation of "...And Now, The Goblin!" The first of the infamous drug-issues finds Peter back from London and giving Joe Robertson all the evidence he needs that Pete is Spidey. Harry convinces Pete to take a job with Norman Osbourne and Pete interviews with Norman. On the way to M.J.'s debut in a performance piece, Pete saves a stoned kid who thinks he can fly. At M.J.'s performance Norman gets increasingly agitated and Pete determines to follow him and make sure he's ok. Meanwhile Harry is agitated about M.J.'s attention to Pete. In the end, Spidey follows Norman in to a secret room, and confronts The Goblin returned.

This is a historically important book. Obviously the drug storyline was ground-breaking at the time. Also we get the return of The Goblin and the first inkling that Harry has some serious psychological problems. Beyond that, the story is entertaining and sets up the coming battle. And I can't get enough of Kane inked by Romita. Grade: A-.

Secret Agent Corrigan strips from 3/15/69 through 6/14/69 by Al Williamson and Archie Goodwin. This was a 13 week story dealing with Ma Mularky's attempt to escape prison and get out of the country. Based on the way it reads I have to assume that Ma and her sons appeared before in the strip and were jailed through the machinations of Corrigan. Not a fabulous arc, but entertaining. And Williamson's art is first rate. Grade: B -.

[InfoBroker]

Hey Slam;

I just want to chime in to tell you how much I am enjoying your review of these 1970-71 Amazing Spideys. Its nice to hear other viewpoints and compare them to my feelings then and now.

I've mentioned many times before, that after 1969, I considered Marvel had done some serious quality slippage from the ground breaking material they were producing circa 1965 to 1969.

But it is also important to remember that there are still a lot of jewels in their flagship books, and a lot of really cool other-genre material that they were exploring in this timeframe.

With these Spideys, like you, I love the art-mix of Gil Kane and John Romita. There is a tremendous anatomical fluidity to Gil's Spider-man. With John's brushwork and finishes, the supporting cast is suitable dramatic and stay in character, and on page.

These anti-drug stories also broke some serious ground, simplistic in nature though they may be.They brought about an overhaul of the Comic Code Guidelines, and this in turn set the stage for wonderful horror comics of the early 70s.

Thanks for sharing your reading experiences with us.

- jb the ib

[rick]

I got issues 1-3 of the Warren run of the Spirit yesterday so right now, I'm up to my neck in beautifully printed, Eisner goodness.

And last night I reread the first 5 issues of Krby's classic, Kamandi.

So good classics reading all week.

[T GUy]

Slam and Infobroker are so right, as the young people say, about Spidey, '70s Marvels and Kane/Romita. Oh, the infobroker bit on the '70s which is right is 'it is also important to remember that there are still a lot of jewels in their flagship books, and a lot of really cool other-genre material that they were exploring in this timeframe,' because 'Man-Thing,' Omega the Unknown, maybe Tomb of Dracula , all broke ground.

And Rick is in for a treat as he progresses through the Kamandi run.

T Guy, child of the Bronze Age... currently reading through The Essential Captain America Volume One.

[Lone Ranger]

I got issues 1-3 of the Warren run of the Spirit yesterday so right now, I'm up to my neck in beautifully printed, Eisner goodness.



Rick

I have been picking these up over the past few years and they are great and pretty darned affordable.

I am about half way through #9 right now - just great stuff.

[founder81]

Justice League International (or was it america by then??) Annual # 4

The Injustice League bump into each other at the unemployment line. They bothch another crime and decide to become heroes. Max takes them in and forms JL Antartica. Along with G'nort the JL Ant's first mission, stop killer penguins.
This is the best non Beetle/Booster issue i've read from the run. Its 52 pages of pure goodness.

[Slam_Bradley]

Hey Slam;

I just want to chime in to tell you how much I am enjoying your review of these 1970-71 Amazing Spideys. Its nice to hear other viewpoints and compare them to my feelings then and now.

I've mentioned many times before, that after 1969, I considered Marvel had done some serious quality slippage from the ground breaking material they were producing circa 1965 to 1969.

But it is also important to remember that there are still a lot of jewels in their flagship books, and a lot of really cool other-genre material that they were exploring in this timeframe.

With these Spideys, like you, I love the art-mix of Gil Kane and John Romita. There is a tremendous anatomical fluidity to Gil's Spider-man. With John's brushwork and finishes, the supporting cast is suitable dramatic and stay in character, and on page.

These anti-drug stories also broke some serious ground, simplistic in nature though they may be.They brought about an overhaul of the Comic Code Guidelines, and this in turn set the stage for wonderful horror comics of the early 70s.

Thanks for sharing your reading experiences with us.

- jb the ib

Glad you're liking it JB. The funny thing is that a lot of these issues are among the very first Spidey books I read when they were reprinted in Marvel Tales. At the same time I was reading the Wein/Andru run on Amazing. I'm always concerned that my reading of them is colored by my memories of these early readings.

I'm also amazed at how much I like the Kane/Romita pairing. I've looked ahead a bit with Giacoia starting to ink Kane's Spidey and while I still like it, it isn't as good. I'm not really sure why...I'm not really an art connoisseur. I just know what I like.

On with the show...

Amazing Spider-Man # 97, a Stan Lee, Gil Kane, Frank Giacoia presentation of "In the Grip of the Goblin!" We start of with a battle between Spidey and Gobby (as Nate calls him). Gobby opens up a hallucinagen gas pumpkin that take the wind out of Spidey and procedes to put the smack-dab on him. Thinking Spidey has plummeted to his death, he heads out to start his new nefarious schemes. Peter heads to his apartment where he and Harry get in to a fight over M.J.'s advances toward Pete in the previous issue. Later at school, M.J. gives Harry the brush-off. This causes Harry to fall prey to a "pill-pusher." Pete tries to track down Norman, to no avail. And following another fight with Harry, Harry takes a number of the the aforementioned pills. Pete comes back to find Harry in the middle of a bad trip and is calling the doc when Gobby shows up outside the window to get Parker.

As I said before, I liked Romita's inking better than Giacoia's, though the art is still very very good. I think the fight scenes were more fluid with Romita's inks. The story, while simplistic today, was ground-breaking at the time. I was 9 years old when I read this book in Marvel Tales. And I'm sure that the anti-drug message would have come through loud and clear...Harry was not in good shape. There was also a lot of foreshadowing in the issue of things to come. Harry's mental instability, M.J.'s clear attraction to Pete, the friendship/animosity/rivalry between Harry and Peter. These books, besides their importance in weakening the comics code, also were a springboard for a lot of future developments in Spidey's life. Grade: A.

Secret Agent Corrigan strips from 6/14/69-8/30/69. This time around a pirate sub is hijacking ships and taking materials and hostages. When two is added to two it is apparent that they are building an ICBM. Corrigan goes undercover as an engineer on a cruise and is kidnapped by the sub. Recognized by one of the perps, he eventually saves the day. Generally more of the same. Grade: B-.

[spoon_jenkins]

Metal Men 45
I just re-read the first non-reprint issue of the 1970s Metal Men revival. This is one example of an artist and a series concept matching brilliantly. Walt Simonson fits the whimsical nature of the Metal Men so well, but he can't pull off the serious moments too. And Simonson's lettering is excellent too. In a later issue he's credited as a calligrapher, and I think that's apt. Doc Magnus has been brainwashed and employs some Hulk-like dialogue (with a somewhat more advanced vocabulary). And in true Metal Men fashion, the robots are destroyed in the end.

I haven't read any of the Silver Age Metal Men comics, but I really enjoyed what I've read from the 1970s run.

[rick]

Rick

I have been picking these up over the past few years and they are great and pretty darned affordable.

I am about half way through #9 right now - just great stuff.


Of all the diffent reprints of the Spirit out there, the Warren's have always been my favorites.

[Lone Ranger]

Amazing Spider-Man #20

I finally got my hands on a nice copy of this book at a very reasonable price. In this issue, we are introduce to the Scorpion. His origin is another one of those ‘science runs amok’ tales, and he really gives Spidey a run for his money in the fisticuffs department. We get to see Jameson’s hatred of Spider-man backfire, as je jas om fact created a monster. One of my favourite aspects of this issue is the growing jealousy Peter feels towards Ned Leeds. Needless to say – Ditko’s art is superb, and his fluidity really comes through in the action scenes. Grade: A

Hawkman #15

Hawkman has too save the world from Rodan… sorry, I mean Makkar (at least I think that was his name). He is some sort of evolutionary anomaly, seeking revenge on humanity as it wiped out the rest of his species. It is a very choppy plot – and a good example of why sci-fi and superhero don’t always mix well. The entire premise was too far fetched, and that hurt the entire story. I normally find Mr. Fox’s stories to be fun and frivolous, but it just doesn’t work in this case. The entire Hawkman series seems to suffer from inconsistency – making its letter column very interesting to read as there are often sharp criticisms. Murphy Anderson’s art is attractive as usual, but nothing sufficiently spectacular to save this mess. Grade: D

[InfoBroker]

This issue, like almost all the Spidey's in the 20s and 30s, perhaps the entire DItko run, are best seen in the raw from the original comics. All the reprints loose a lot of the fine line quality of Steve's inking, and the coloring of these issues are horrid. Especially in the current Masterworks, where entire pages have missed coloring Spidey for crying outloud.

Also, Stan G's coloring in this time frame is so much better as well. Sad to say, but the finer qualities of these comics, despite the better paper, are lost in the Masterworks.

I'm glad you get to see these in the flesh.

- jb the ib :cool:

[Slam_Bradley]

Amazing Spider-Man # 98, a Stan Lee, Gil Kane, Frank Giacoia presentation of "The Goblin's Last Gasp!" The last of the drug issues finds Harry in the hospital, Peter thumping on the pusher and his thugs, and a battle between Spidey and Gobby that ends with Gobby recognizing Harry and reverting to Norman. Just a great issue, important, but still entertaining, with very nice art by Kane and Giacoia. Grade: A.

[Slam_Bradley]

Amazing Spider-Man # 99, a Stan Lee, Gil Kane, Frank Giacoia presentation of "A Day in the Life Of--". With Gwen back from England, Peter decides it's time to prepare to "pop the question." Toward that end he forces JJJ in to a staff position and gets an assignment to cover an emerging prison riot. Spidey gets the picks and saves the day. He also gets a paid appearance on a late-night talk show hosted by a Johnny Carson lookalike. Unfortunately pay-day isn't until Friday and the police break up his TV appearance before he can get paid. But Gwendy doesn't care if he has money. She spent the day cooking and preparing for a night in. Things are looking up for Mr. Parker.

A fairly quiet story with decent Kane/Giacoia art. Grade: B.

[Lone Ranger]

Daredevil #33

This is a fun little tale from smack dab in the middle of the Mike Murdock era. Daredevil was one of the few Marvel titles still trying to find its identity at this stage, so Stan Lee and Co. decided to go kooky rather than dark. Daredevil has his hands full with the Beetle – who is kind enough to point out that DD is the weakest hero he’s faced yet. There is a great moment in this book, where Karen, Foggy and ‘Mike’ are taking the train from NYC up to Montreal for Expo ’67, and the landscape looks like monument valley. Granted, the train would pass some mountains, but these are not the Rockies. All around, the book is loads of fun with great Colan art. Grade: B+

Tales from the Crypt #45

I am delving into my 50s horror books with renewed gusto. This is a great issue –the first story features a man and a rat shipwrecked on a desert island. Horror ensues. Another great story with Jack Kamen art involves a prisoner trying to escape via a coffin – it doesn’t work! Another story worth mentioning is a really trippy axe murderer story with Krigstein art. This is a consistently solid comic – it is hard to believe how much storytelling EC used to pack into its comics. Grade: A

[T GUy]

Lone Ranger on DD: Daredevil was one of the few Marvel titles still trying to find its identity at this stage, so Stan Lee and Co. decided to go kooky rather than dark. I recall someone somewhere once making the observation that unlike Marvel's other heroes, Matt/DD actually liked being a super-hero. Spidey had great responsibility dropped on his shoulders along with his great power, to cite the most obvious example. Matt Murdock was (semi-?) forced by his father to hit the books every night when he really wanted to be out in the fresh air jumping around. Once he gained his powers, he had a route to satisfy both his own wishes and those of his father. In a way, he had it made. It has just occurred to me to wonder why he was so reticent to make a move on Karen Page. Hmmm. Surely not Stan Lee in a rut with his heroes-with-problems ideas?

LR on EC: it is hard to believe how much storytelling EC used to pack into its comics. I find it hard to believe that Bill Gaines heard the old saw 'one picture is worth a thosand words' and interpreted it to mean that he ought to give his readers the picture and the thousand words.

[founder81]

Hellblazer #'s 28-30
The serial killer, Family man from a few issues ago, targets John. John is the only witness to ever survive. They play a game of cat and mouse until an encounter is forced. John kills the Family man and goes on his way.

Hellblazer # 31
John's dad is haunting his niece, Gemma. Gemma is freaked out and John agrees to take care of it. It's John fault. When john was in college his dad burnt all his magic books and an irrational John put a spell on his dad, a spell linking a dead and rotting cat to his dad's life. The more the cat rotted the more his dad died. John didn't want his dad dead so without a counterspell he put the cat in formeldahide(sp?). The preserved cat was keeping his dad on the earthly plain. After burning the cat, his dad could pass on.

Hellblazer # 32
John's just passing through a small town but its a town where people keep disappearing. The cause, a man has instated his soul on a dog and is trying to take over the world through the dogs. He's big, mean, powerful, and eats people. John confronts the dog and uses its own instincts against it.

Hellblazer # 33
It's Sunday, John is having a good day until a spell is put on him and he can no longer understand language of anykind. But a trip to the pub and a Gin and Tonic fixes that right up.

Justice League International # 20
Lord Manga Kahn sells Mister Miracle to Apokalips. Big Barda Boom Tubes the JL members from earth to Apokalips.

Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #'s 46-49
A killer who hates women is killing women in a very bloody fashion, cutting them to ribbons with a wolverine style claw. Batman and Cat woman agree to team up to stop the killer. To make matters worst, a vicous heat wave has gripped the city and the mayor is stiring up racial tensions. The killer is stopped and a sudden cold snap helps prevent a race war.

This is the second LotDK story in a row where race tension was very strong and a key element to the story. these stories are set pre-Robin. Does anyone know if this was a theme in actual Golden Age Batman books?

And...
I'm finally getting back to my Spider-man project so...

Amazing Spider-man #31
Spider-man attempts to stop some of the Master Planner's goons form stealing atomic devices but after a gas attack they get away. Aunt May falls very ill and Peter is concerned about her during his first days at college he doesn't even notice Harry Osborne and Gwen Stacy. While trying to get photos to make money for medical bills, Spider-man comes across the same goons and this time stops their theft.

[Lone Ranger]

Hmmm. Surely not Stan Lee in a rut with his heroes-with-problems ideas?



I really dig the Mike Murdock saga, as it is a lot of fun and has quite a different tone than many of the more earnest Marvel books 1966-68. I can, however, see how it would not appeal to all Marvel zombies back then - it was just too goofy. In addition, Stan must have known that it was only a short term solution to adding some zip to DD. Does anyone know whether Stan had always planned to 'kill' Mike, or whether it was in reaction to complaints/comments by readers?

[InfoBroker]

Since Marvel had a limited pallette of comics, Stan expressed a desire for each strip to have its own unique identity. He talked about in a very well done interview in Castle of Frankenstien Magazine done in that timeframe. Of the super-hero books, He felt that DD and Spidey were the most difficult to distinquish.

The Mike Murdock identity, and the cornball humor were the most predominant move to seperate the books in style and feel. Obviously the brashness, the ham-bone extension of Mike/DD was a natural part of Stan's dramatic makeup. I found it to be a very interesting and fun direction for DD to go. I don't know if was fully pre-planned to kill Mike, and to me when it happened it seemed to be unfolding at a rather abrupt pace. I.E. there weren't a lot of foreshadowing clues in the early issues.

My fan perspective at the time:

Stan did stayed very tuned to fans desires and he used the fan mail to gauge the creative directions for the characters. So maybe...

Roy Thomas took over the comic somewhere in the early 40s for a few issue, then Stan came back to it, then Roy got it for a long haul IIRC. Maybe Roy wanted it...

Or a really rather thin observation on my part:

The cornball humor was allowed to run totally free in Not Brand Echh!, which was selling quite well with the early issues. Prior to issue #4, I remember talking with a few fellow neighborhood comic fans about how difficult it would be to ham-bone a ham-bone. Where do you go from up as it were. However, Scaredevil showed me that the bullpen could notch it up even more. I hadn't seen "up" yet.

But it's still possible that Stan felt the need to ratchet it down in the DD book now that NBE was an outlet for all that corny zaniness.

- jb the (pulling up summer memories again) ib :cool: