The change was almost imperceivable, so incremental had it been, at least to me. But starting at around this point, it was difficult to argue that IRON MAN had become a much better title than at any earlier point in recent memory. The new creative team of co-plotter and scripter David Michelinie, penciler John Romita … Continue reading BHOC: IRON MAN #119
This issue of INCREDIBLE HULK was the conclusion of the two-part Corporation saga that had begun in CAPTAIN AMERICA #230 a couple of weeks earlier. Though the roots of this saga had been developing for years, all the way back to a number of Jack Kirby's final stories for Marvel, in which he introduced the … Continue reading BHOC: INCREDIBLE HULK #232
This new week also brought a new issue of IRON MAN, a series whose fortunes were improving by the issue. I've always really liked this cover, as it's a very simple concept with an almost visceral hook to it. And in a relatively rare move for the period, it's devoid of any cover copy explaining … Continue reading BHOC: IRON MAN #118
It was immediately apparent once the trio of writer David Micheline, penciler John Romita Jr. and inker/co-plotter Bob Layton came on board the series over the course of two months that something good was beginning to happen in IRON MAN. The series had, for a long while, been a bit out of step with the … Continue reading BHOC: IRON MAN #117
This next issue of IRON MAN represented the beginning of one of the most storied runs in the title's history, even though it was the second part to an adventure already in progress. And that's because this issue heralded the arrival of a pair of creators who would leave their mark on the armored Avengers, … Continue reading BHOC: IRON MAN #116
A further look at CANCELLED COMIC CAVALCADE #1, the home-printed volume comprised of stories that DC Comics was writing off as their line was dramatically downsized in 1978 in what became known as the DC Implosion. CLAW THE UNCONQUERED, one of DC's more successful series in capturing a percentage of the market for barbarian sword … Continue reading CANCELLED COMIC CAVALCADE #1: CLAW THE UNCONQUERED #14
Continuing to shine a light on CANCELLED COMIC CAVALCADE #1 and the reams of material left homeless and unfinished when Dc was forced to go through a sudden contraction that eliminated titles from the publishing schedule and editors from their jobs. It was a bad moment for the firm, and while some of this material … Continue reading CANCELLED COMIC CAVALCADE #1: CLAW THE UNCONQUERED #13
Back at my usual weekly trips to the local 7-11 on Thursday afternoons after school to pick up the new comics, I came across this latest issue of AVENGERS. The title was then in the midst of the well-remembered Korvac Saga, and while it had hit some speed bumps in terms of artist retention, this … Continue reading BHOC: AVENGERS #176
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
Wrapping up our coverage of the first issue of DC's in-house comic book fanzine, THE AMAZING WORLD OF DC COMICS. The series ran for 17 issues, as well as a few special releases both immediately before and during its run. It remains a treasure trove of information and artifacts about the National Periodical Publications of … Continue reading THE AMAZING WORLD OF DC COMICS #1, Part 3
The Tom Brevoort Experience 