MIGHTY MARVEL COMIC CONVENTION Program Book, Part Two

Here's a look at more of the Program Book for the first Mighty Marvel Comic Convention, held on March 22-24 in 1975. This was one of two New York conventions that Marvel put on by itself--thereafter, the company was content to leave the convention organizing to others and simply make appearances as guests. Possibly the … Continue reading MIGHTY MARVEL COMIC CONVENTION Program Book, Part Two

BHOC: SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN #41

My brother Ken was still indulging in his momentary interest in Conan the Barbarian, and so he wound up buying this issue of SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN when it came out. Looking back, I find that I'm a bit surprised that my mother went along with this, given the degree of nudity on display both … Continue reading BHOC: SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN #41

The Second Starman Story

By 1941, ADVENTURE COMICS was lagging a bit behind DC's other anthology titles, in particular ACTION COMICS which held the popular feature Superman and DETECTIVE COMICS with Batman and Robin. ADVENTURE's headliner Hour-Man clearly wasn't getting the job done, nor was the gas-mask-wearing Sandman. Clearly what was needed was a new feature with popular appeal. … Continue reading The Second Starman Story

BHOC: DOCTOR STRANGE #34

If I'm remembering things correctly after all these years, I bought this issue of DOCTOR STRANGE while on a shopping trip to a supermarket, which explains why I might have randomly chosen to purchase this issue of a series that i wasn't otherwise following. I have a dim recollection that the selection of comic books … Continue reading BHOC: DOCTOR STRANGE #34

MIGHTY MARVEL COMIC CONVENTION Program Book

As comic book conventions began to grow and become a thing in the 1970s, Marvel decided to try their hand at organizing shows specifically dedicated to that one single company. The first Mighty Marvel Comic Convention was held on March 22-24 of 1975 at New York's Hotel Commodore. The event did well enough that a … Continue reading MIGHTY MARVEL COMIC CONVENTION Program Book

BHOC: CAPTAIN AMERICA #235

The ongoing CAPTAIN AMERICA storyline had turned into an epic while I wasn't looking. This was the fifth chapter of a storyline that was still going on at issue's end, one that had begun in such an understated manner that I would never have guessed it would run so long. During this time, even a … Continue reading BHOC: CAPTAIN AMERICA #235

The Second Aquaman Story

Like the Green Arrow who we talked about last week, Aquaman was another of three features created to fill the back pages of the ailing MORE FUN COMICS and hopefully reverse its fortunes by creating some additional reader interest. The Sea King was the brainchild of newly-hired editor Mort Weisinger, who collaborated with artist Paul … Continue reading The Second Aquaman Story

BHOC: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #194

The next issue of AMAZING SPIDER_MAN that came out introduced a character who would prove to possess remarkable staying power over the years, though it didn't really seem that way the first couple of years. This was the Black Cat, a sexy sneak thief who would go on to become a recurring love interest for … Continue reading BHOC: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #194

Forgotten Masterpiece: BIG APPLE COMIX #1

Flo Steinberg came to the notice of comic book fandom during the early 1960s, during the initial flowering of what became the Marvel Age of Comics. As Marvel's corresponding secretary, she was, among other things, charged with answering the volumes of fan mail that came in for editor Stan Lee, and so the various active … Continue reading Forgotten Masterpiece: BIG APPLE COMIX #1

BHOC: SHOGUN WARRIORS #6

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Marvel Comics had a thriving business licensing properties from outside of the field--movies, television shows, toy lines and the like--and turning them into comic books. Some of these titles were remarkable successful and functioned as a gateway into the wider Marvel line. Others disappeared quickly when the material they were … Continue reading BHOC: SHOGUN WARRIORS #6