While as we've seen, Marvel was relatively quick to begin to self-mythologize its creative staff and editorial Bullpen, rival publisher DC (then known as National Periodical Publications in an attempt to disguise the fact that they published evil comic books in the aftermath of the senate hearings) wasn't as quick to follow suit. Even creator … Continue reading 5BC: Five Times DC Self-Mythologized
A post from my old Marvel blog about how everything was beginning to get collected and reprinted, even the crap. Warning: Reprints! April 28, 2007 | 1:00 AM | By Tom_Brevoort | In General I was speaking to Kurt Busiek the other week—which isn't all that odd—and the conversation turned to the fact that there … Continue reading Blah Blah Blog – Warning: Reprints!
Continuing on with more comics that I bought as back issues on my first trip to Bush's Hobbies in Ronkonkoma. I don't believe that I had any idea that INVADERS had debuted in a Giant-Size issue first, but when I came across this beauty in the bins, I had to have it. As I've said … Continue reading BHOC: GIANT-SIZE INVADERS #1
Here's another quick look at some of the assorted products that were offered during the formative period of the Marvel Age depicting or representing the Marvel characters. It's a bit of a mixed bag, but if you were a Marvel fan in the 1960s or 1970s, this was all about as good as it got. … Continue reading Make Mine Marvel Memorabilia 2
A post from my old Marvel blog talking about the comics coming out at that moment.. Positivity April 28, 2007 | 1:00 AM | By Tom_Brevoort | In General For a brief change of pace, let's talk about positivity for a moment.It could be that I just have rose-colored glasses on, but it really seems … Continue reading Blah Blah Blog – Positivity
Continuing on with comics I bought during my first trip to Bush's Hobbies in Ronkonkoma. I was a huge fan of the Golden Age of Comics and the histories of the assorted characters that I was following--I wanted to know everything, to read everything. In particular, it had been the original Human Torch who provided … Continue reading BHOC: FANTASY MASTERPIECES #7
There's a long-storied tradition among comics of having the writers and artists of those stories themselves be depicted within the very pages they are producing--creating an idealized heightened version of reality. While this was common across all companies, nobody did it as often or as brazenly as the creators working for Marvel. They truly went … Continue reading 5BC: Five Times Marvel Self-Mythologized
A post from my vintage Marvel blog concerning why we are attracted to comic book merchandise. Friday, 10:16 April 28, 2007 | 1:00 AM | By Tom_Brevoort | In General I was at the comic shop last night, looking over the rows of action figures and statues and bisques and life-size comic book props, and … Continue reading Blah Blah Blog – Comic Book Merchandise
I bought this issue of DETECTIVE COMICS during that same first visit to Bush's Hobbies, and I bought it for the same reason: it was old. I believe it was likely the oldest copy of DETECTIVE in the actual boxes (though I wouldn't be surprised if some earlier issues were either on the wall or … Continue reading BHOC: DETECTIVE COMICS #287
Here's a great example of the fact that you never know what's going to become a successful property over time. This issue of Charlton's FIGHTIN' 5 comic--a series that featured the adventures of a group of Blackhawk-like non-powered adventurers--also showcased, unheralded, the first appearance of a character who remained a footnote in comic book history … Continue reading Brand Echh – Fightin’ 5 #40
