5BC: The Five Best Comic Books of 1990

While Grant Morrison and Richard Case's reinvention of the DOOM PATROL had begun in the manner of a more traditional super hero title, it swiftly morphed into something a lot more strange and wonderful, while never entirely throwing off its super hero roots. This issue is another step in that direction, as Robotman's new more … Continue reading 5BC: The Five Best Comic Books of 1990

BHOC: BRAVE AND THE BOLD #148

I can very clearly remember buying this issue of BRAVE AND THE BOLD on a regular trip to the 7-11, for no particular reason. B & B wasn't a title that I was all that in tune with, and so my readership of the series would ebb and flow, often based on who the guest-star … Continue reading BHOC: BRAVE AND THE BOLD #148

GH: ACTION COMICS #543

I really liked Marv Wolfman's run writing ACTION COMICS. He was able to find a way to operate within the strictures of editor Julie Schwartz's likes while still bringing the sort of serialized storytelling and characterization that he'd learned over at Marvel to the stories. It probably didn't hurt that Marv and George Perez's NEW … Continue reading GH: ACTION COMICS #543

BHOC: ACTION COMICS #493

I had gotten back into the habit of buying ACTION COMICS after a break of three or four months. I don't remember making any specific determination that I wasn't going to follow the Superman titles any longer, it was just a thing that happened--possibly because my financial resources were being strained by all of the … Continue reading BHOC: ACTION COMICS #493

5BC: The Five Best Comic Books of 1972

When I did the initial wave of these 5 Best write-ups concerning the best comic books of each year, I confined myself to just the years when I was a fan and a reader, 1973-1989. I didn't think that it was proper for me to go beyond that, as I was a participant in the … Continue reading 5BC: The Five Best Comic Books of 1972

BHOC: CAPTAIN AMERICA #213

This issue of CAPTAIN AMERICA was the last book that was in the SUPERHERO GIFT PACK that I was given for Christmas in 1978. It was another issue from right at the end of writer/artist Jack Kirby's individualistic run, one that read and played unlike anything else in the Marvel line. As always, Jack's work … Continue reading BHOC: CAPTAIN AMERICA #213

GH: NEW MUTANTS #3

NEW MUTANTS was very much an anticipated comic book in 1982. It was going to be a long-in-development spin-off/expansion of X-MEN, which was at that moment and throughout the decade the most popular comic book in the land. NEW MUTANTS started as a way of pushing back at Marvel EIC Jim Shooter, who had been … Continue reading GH: NEW MUTANTS #3

BHOC: CAPTAIN AMERICA #212

The last things that came in the SUPERHERO GIFT PACK that I was given for Christmas in 1978 was two consecutive issues of CAPTAIN AMERICAN AND THE FALCON, of which this was the first. While the series had returned to its middle-of-the-road Marvel house style approach in recent months, these earlier issues written and drawn … Continue reading BHOC: CAPTAIN AMERICA #212

5BC: Five More Best Forgotten DC Super Heroes

You can't always hit a home run, and so there have been numerous characters all throughout the history of comics that were created with noble intent, but who failed to find a connection with an audience and swiftly were seen no more. Characters that are peculiar, ill-considered or just plain goofy. Here then are Five … Continue reading 5BC: Five More Best Forgotten DC Super Heroes

BHOC: AVENGERS #163

This issue of AVENGERS was another book that fell into my hands from within the SUPERHERO GIFT PACK that I had been given for Christmas in 1978. And the story in this issue is interesting. It's clearly a fill-in, designed to buy the series back some time on the schedule. But the story had been … Continue reading BHOC: AVENGERS #163