BC: SHAZAM #13

DC was facing the steadily-worsening decay of their circulation in the early 1970s, and one of the ways in which they attempted to combat this was in innovating alternate formats for comic books that would carry a higher cover price and therefore be more attractive to outlets to carry. It was these efforts that led … Continue reading BC: SHAZAM #13

BC: SHAZAM #5

I was continuing to work my way through the complete run of SHAZAM that I had borrowed from my grade school friend Donald Sims. By this fifth issue, the series had settled into something of a groove, and stresses were beginning to become apparent among the creative team. After an inaugural issue that posted big … Continue reading BC: SHAZAM #5

Lost Crossover: MASTER COMICS #41

It's one of the great mysteries of the Golden Age of Comics why, after the Justice Society of America proved to be so popular in the pages of ALL-STAR COMICS, other publishers didn't attempt to put together their own teams of costumed crime-fighters to compete with it. There was really only DC's own Seven Soldiers … Continue reading Lost Crossover: MASTER COMICS #41

BHOC: GIANT-SIZE INVADERS #1

Continuing on with more comics that I bought as back issues on my first trip to Bush's Hobbies in Ronkonkoma. I don't believe that I had any idea that INVADERS had debuted in a Giant-Size issue first, but when I came across this beauty in the bins, I had to have it. As I've said … Continue reading BHOC: GIANT-SIZE INVADERS #1

Great Covers: MASTER COMICS #29

I haven't posted one of these in a long time, but this cover is just too good not to share. It's the work of Mac Raboy, the regular artist on Captain Marvel Jr. and the subject of a recent biographical book put out by TwoMorrows. And it's a scream. The expression on Hitler's face in … Continue reading Great Covers: MASTER COMICS #29

BHOC: SHAZAM! FROM THE ’40s TO THE ’70s

Today, there are thousands of books on vintage comics, both collections of material from decades ago or literary tomes discussing those works, how they were created, what impact they had and what they meant. But in the 1970s, the landscape for such volumes was exceedingly scarce. So it was positively an event when a new … Continue reading BHOC: SHAZAM! FROM THE ’40s TO THE ’70s