BHOC THE FLASH #256

Fifth grade had just begun when the mailman delivered my subscription copy of FLASH #256. It was in fifth grade that I met my first friend who was enthusiastic about comic books as opposed to simply occasionally reading them like most kids of that era. Don Sims was his name, and we became good friends … Continue reading BHOC THE FLASH #256

5BC: Five Best Comics of 1976

It was like a little miracle, a book that couldn't and possibly shouldn't ever happen. But happen it did--and SUPERMAN VS THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN was an excellent mixing of the then-contemporary styles of Marvel and DC, very different flavors in that period. The creative team was spot on, anchored by Gerry Conway and Ross Andru, … Continue reading 5BC: Five Best Comics of 1976

BHOC: FLASH #255

The mail carrier also delivered me my subscription copy of FLASH right around this time. This was the middle chapter in a three-part story. Multiple part epics were beginning to become more frequent at DC, which was good in that, between having read the DC titles for so long and beginning to discover the Marvel … Continue reading BHOC: FLASH #255

BHOC: FLASH #254

The school year had ended, and summer loomed before me. It would end up being a significant summer for me, from the point of view of being a comic book reader. At the same time, I was a bit sad to have left fourth grade. I’d had a rough time socially in most of my … Continue reading BHOC: FLASH #254

BHOC: FLASH #252

Boy, that’s an ugly cover. The idea is sound, but the anatomy is all over the place. And the Flash’s weird expression makes the whole thing look comical, and not in a good way. (There’s also a criminal escaping with a bag of money with a dollar sign on it, but I’m going to let … Continue reading BHOC: FLASH #252

BHOC: FLASH #250

The ship week for my two subscription titles was the same this month, so they came in like a one-two punch. First to arrive was this issue of FLASH. Rich Buckler had by this time become very much the go-to artist for super hero covers in the DC stable, a step up from Ernie Chan/Chua. … Continue reading BHOC: FLASH #250

BHOC: ACTION COMICS #469

Now that is a cover. You really have to wonder what the folks in charge of some of the comic books of this era were thinking when they commissioned such a piece. It’s certainly attention-getting, but only because it’s so downright weird. I picked up this issue of ACTION COMICS having already purchased and read … Continue reading BHOC: ACTION COMICS #469

BHOC: FLASH #249

Subscription copy time! I can remember bringing this issue of FLASH and the previous one to school not too long after this–I recall it because, after talking them up and showing them around, some other kid wanted to subscribe, so, checking first that it wasn’t against a story page, I dutifully cut out the subscription … Continue reading BHOC: FLASH #249

BHOC: FLASH #248

My subscription copy of FLASH turned up right around this time, and it was a good one. How cold I not like it, given that it featured a young character who drew his own comics and super heroes, just like I did. The cover on this one is by Rich Buckler, who began being used … Continue reading BHOC: FLASH #248

BHOC: DC SUPER-STARS #12

I didn’t get it when I was a kid, but then I was only nine years old when I first bought this issue of DC SUPER-STARS. But it contains perhaps the most wrong-headed and casually offensive Superman story of the Bronze Age. Somebody–a lot of somebodies–were asleep at the switch when they approved this one. … Continue reading BHOC: DC SUPER-STARS #12