BHOC: NOVA #25

The next issue of NOVA that appeared at my local 7-11 was also the last, a fact that saddened me. I'd only started reading the book a few months earlier once I realized it was a super hero series, and I'd enjoyed it throughout its short run. Especially concerning was the fact that writer Marv … Continue reading BHOC: NOVA #25

BHOC: MARVEL TALES #103

Marvel had begun to phase out its line of reprint titles, with only MARVEL TALES (starring the ultra-popular Spider-Man) and MARVEL SUPER-HEROES (featuring Marvel's TV Sensation, the Incredible Hulk) making the eventual cut. I can understand why this was done--the marketplace was changing and there wasn't the same need to both establish a large beachhead … Continue reading BHOC: MARVEL TALES #103

BHOC: INVADERS #40

I was saddened to discover upon purchasing this latest issue of INVADERS that it was the final issue of the series. Which is a bit of a strange reaction given that my interest in the title had been waning for some months, pretty much coinciding with when artist Frank Robbins stepped down in favor of … Continue reading BHOC: INVADERS #40

BHOC: INCREDIBLE HULK #235

He'd been teased over the course of the previous month, but this issue of INCREDIBLE HULK firmly brought Jack Kirby's creation Machine Man into the Marvel Universe proper. The character had debuted in the last couple of issues of Kirby's 2001 and possessed ties to the mythos of that film. But after 2001 had run … Continue reading BHOC: INCREDIBLE HULK #235

BHOC: GODZILLA #22

It had been two issues since I first took a real look at Marvel's GODZILLA comic book, dedicated to the colossal creature from the Toho films. And I was still buying it. But, you see, I had little choice. As with the previous installments, the Fantastic Four guest-starred in this issue, and my attachment to … Continue reading BHOC: GODZILLA #22

BHOC: CONAN #98

My brother was at this time still continuing to buy CONAN THE BARBARIAN, who had become one of his passing fancies. And so ultimately he picked up this issue when it was released. Eventually, the book would wind up in my eventual possession. CONAN was a huge series and a huge character for Marvel throughout … Continue reading BHOC: CONAN #98

BHOC: AVENGERS #183

AVENGERS was beginning to get itself back on track after a long stretch of fill-ins and stopgapping, but the book was still running perilously behind schedule. This led to even more stopgapping in the future. But just as a reader, none of this bothered me especially, I simply accepted each issue for being what it … Continue reading BHOC: AVENGERS #183

BHOC: SUPERMAN FAMILY #195

DC's Dollar Comics program didn't wind up being the industry game-changer that new publisher Jenette Kahn had hoped it would, but it was a format that the company pursued for several years and resulted in some decently-crafted anthologies. Case in point is SUPERMAN FAMILY, which was never a great comic book but which was a … Continue reading BHOC: SUPERMAN FAMILY #195

BHOC: JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #166

As we mentioned yesterday, this issue of JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA was the first in the title's long history not to be edited and overseen by Julie Schwartz. Julie had innovated the series in 1960 and had stayed with it for 19 years. But for the first time, somebody else was at the wheel. That … Continue reading BHOC: JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #166

BHOC: THE FLASH #273

This issue of THE FLASH is where new editor Ross Andru's vision for the title really crystalized. In essence, this took the form of bring on board a new regular penciler. Longtime FLASH artist Irv Novick had departed one issue after outgoing editor Julie Schwartz, and while Ross had stopgapped for two months, here he … Continue reading BHOC: THE FLASH #273