Lost Crossovers: The Epic Battle Between Captain Marvel and Spy Smasher, part four

And so, after four months, we finally come to the end of the titanic clash between the World's Mightiest Mortal and the vastly-overmatched foe of subversives as the running Captain Marvel vs Spy Smasher conflict reaches its inevitable climax. Once again, there isn't any clue given on the cover that this colossal story has been … Continue reading Lost Crossovers: The Epic Battle Between Captain Marvel and Spy Smasher, part four →

BHOC: AVENGERS #182

That week, another issue of AVENGERS appeared at my local 7-11, and I picked it up without even much looking at it, as the book was on my regular buy list. Which is perhaps a good thing, because I don't know that this generic cover would have enticed me into completing the sale on its … Continue reading BHOC: AVENGERS #182 →

Brand Echh: Mazinger graphic novel

By the late 1980s, Japanese Manga was beginning to have an influence on the American comic book marketplace. As different creators such as Frank Miller discovered the works being done overseas and the adopted their influence into the comics they were making, awareness of the riches to be had began to spread. A number of … Continue reading Brand Echh: Mazinger graphic novel →

BHOC: JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #165

I didn't know it at the time when this issue first came out, but this would be the final issue of JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA edited by its founding editor, Julius Schwartz. He remained the last connection point with the series' origination, and his aesthetic definitely influenced the direction and the flavor of the comic … Continue reading BHOC: JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #165 →

Lost Crossovers: The Epic Battle Between Captain Marvel and Spy Smasher, part three

Continued stories weren't really a big thing during the Golden Age of Comics. They got experimented with a bit, but in general the common wisdom seemed to be that the young audience for comic books couldn't be depended upon to reliably come back for the next installment, and that instead giving them a great and … Continue reading Lost Crossovers: The Epic Battle Between Captain Marvel and Spy Smasher, part three →

BHOC: THE FLASH #272

It had happened again. I had missed another issue of THE FLASH. Having never seen nor bought #269, now #271 proved elusive to me. And honestly, ever since my subscription had lapsed with issue #261, I was having the devil's own time following the book regularly. You might think this would have prompted me to … Continue reading BHOC: THE FLASH #272 →

Brand Echh: Hero Alliance graphic novel

1986 was the year in which the wider world began to become familiar with the concept that comic books could be vehicles for more serious and thoughtful ideas than merely slam-bang adventure stories for children. The twin juggernauts of Frank Miller's THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS and Moor and Gibbons' WATCHMEN along with the release of … Continue reading Brand Echh: Hero Alliance graphic novel →

Great Covers: ASTONISHING X-MEN #17

This ASTONISHING X-MEN #17 cover by John Cassaday looks simple, but there's a lot of strong thought work going on behind it, and it's an effective and memorable cover. To start off with, that white space is going to stand out on the sales racks like a beacon. And that petrified face of Wolverine peering … Continue reading Great Covers: ASTONISHING X-MEN #17 →

BHOC: DETECTIVE COMICS #483

For almost the entirety of its run, I had been a regular reader of BATMAN FAMILY. But during the famous DC Implosion, in which DC's publishing line was significantly pruned back, BATMAN FAMILY had been merged with DETECTIVE COMICS in an effort to keep the series that the company had been named after alive. Clearly, … Continue reading BHOC: DETECTIVE COMICS #483 →

Lost Crossovers: The Epic Battle Between Captain Marvel and Spy Smasher, part two

The cover to WHIZ COMICS #16 gives no indication of the titanic struggle that was played out within its pages. Inspired clearly by the battle between the Human Torch and the Sub-Mariner in MARVEL MYSTERY COMICS, a fight that made that series a best-seller, Fawcett's creative team decided to do their own super hero vs … Continue reading Lost Crossovers: The Epic Battle Between Captain Marvel and Spy Smasher, part two →