That enormous banner touting the fact that DC's line has shrunk back down to a 32 page package for twenty cents does this piece a little bit of damage--not only does its color scheme not integrate well into the aesthetic of this piece, but it also causes the logo to crowd the head of the … Continue reading Great Covers: PHANTOM STRANGER #20
As we've discussed multiple times in the past, Atlas Comics was Martin Goodman's short-lived publishing endeavor in which he attempted to prove that he, not editor Stan Lee, was responsible for the success of Marvel Comics after the ouster of his son Chip Goodman from the firm. Goodman wasn't so much interested in selling comic … Continue reading Brand Echh: The Scorpion #1
While we were at the Heroes World that evening after I'd spent the day doing menial tasks in my father's office, I didn't just pick up back issues but also a few new books that had arrived. Because Heroes World was being supplied by the then-nascent Direct Sales distribution network, they got their new books … Continue reading BHOC: AVENGERS #175
I remember this issue of SUPERMAN'S PAL JIMMY OLSEN as being pretty good, even though it's been likely decades since I last read it. It headlined another Imaginary Story, editor Mort Weisinger's way of allowing his writers to work outside of the confines of the tight continuity that he'd established across all of the Superman … Continue reading WC: SUPERMAN’S PAL JIMMY OLSEN #56
A post from my old Marvel blog, the first of a series where I relate how a comic book is put together. We've got an all-day editorial meeting scheduled for the middle of this week (so there'll likely be no blog posting on Wednesday), so I'm going to need something easy to talk about this … Continue reading Blah Blah Blog – Comic Tutorial Part 1
This issue of MARVEL COLLECTORS' ITEM CLASSICS was another book that I bought on that night after I'd worked all day at my father's office. It was an issue that I picked up for the most important reason possible: it was priced more cheaply than other issues that were there, thus allowing my money to … Continue reading BHOC: MARVEL COLLECTORS’ ITEM CLASSICS #17
This issue of FANTASTIC FOUR was the last one among the box of 150 Silver Age books that I bought in my Windfall Comics purchase for $50.00 in 1988. It was a story that had already read years before in its MARVEL'S GREATEST COMICS reprinting, which was one of the back issues I bought on … Continue reading WC: FANTASTIC FOUR #32
A follow-up post from my old Marvel blog concerning when a character or series diverges too far away from what made it work in the first place. Another big, busy day today--but I promised you all some content today, and I will not disappoint.So let's talk a little more about "How Far Is Too Far." … Continue reading Blah Blah Blog – More on How Far Is Too Far
MARVEL COLLECTORS' ITEM CLASSICS was an Annual sized regular title that reprinted earlier stories in the Marvel canon for the benefit of readers who came to the line later. Like me. It eventually changed its name to MARVEL'S GREATEST COMICS and ran for a good long time. And for somebody like me, who was interested … Continue reading BHOC: MARVEL COLLECTORS’ ITEM CLASICS #13
The PUSSYCAT one-shot is something of an oddity in the Marvel back catalog. As it doesn't carry any Marvel markings, it can easily be overlooked as even coming from the House of Ideas, though the indicia makes things clear. And in truth, while it originated in the same place, it got there the long way … Continue reading PUSSYCAT #1
The Tom Brevoort Experience 