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
A post from my old Marvel blog speaking about one of the hidden appeals that reading comics holds for some readers. Thursday, 6:19 April 28, 2007 | 1:00 AM | By Tom_Brevoort | In General These short weeks are murder. I wind up trying to pack five days' worth of work into three days' worth … Continue reading Blah Blah Blog – The Appeal of Reading Comics
The first time I came across it, I don't think that I was able to go in and look around. But it was enough to know that it was there, and eventually, when my family had a reason to be a few towns over again in nearby Ronkonkoma (where I myself would live years later … Continue reading BHOC: BRAVE AND THE BOLD #56
I suspect that this post is going to put some noses out of joint. How can it not, given the subject matter that we're about to get to? So I want to state right up front that I'm not looking to give any insult to anyone. As always, I'm looking to try to ferret out … Continue reading Lee & Kirby: The Enigmas and Non-Enigmas of FANTASTIC FOUR #8
A short post from my days-of-yore Marvel blog concerning one of our regular Marvel creative retreats, which was then in progress. Creative Retreat April 28, 2007 | 1:00 AM | By Tom_Brevoort | In General We're holding one of our creative retreats this week, so there'll be far less blogging than usual, if any. In … Continue reading Blah Blah Blog – Creative Retreat
At about this time, the next issue of BATMAN FAMILY came out, and I bought it at my trusty, reliable 7-11. I had been purchasing BATMAN FAMILY regularly almost since the beginning, and though I missed the vintage reprints in the transition over to the new Dollar Comics format, that didn't stop me from partaking. … Continue reading BHOC: BATMAN FAMILY #18
The fourth issue of FantaCo's short-lived CHRONCILES series carried with it a new logo for the title--things were perhaps already growing dicey between the company and Marvel, whose output they were reviewing and indexing in these publications. And interview they had run in their FANTASTIC FOUR edition, #2, had earned them the ire of Marvel's … Continue reading Brand Echh – Avengers Chronicles #4
The Tom Brevoort Experience 