The SHAZAM Award given out by the Academy of Comic Book Arts for Best Dramatic Story in 1972 went to a memorable short piece that ran in HOUSE OF MYSTERY #201. It was written by John Albano, drawn by the great Jim Aparo and edited by Joe Orlando. It was titled "The Demon Within", and … Continue reading Making “The Demon Within”
The fortunes of DC Comics were not looking all that encouraging at the start of the 1970s. Comic book sales in general were continuing to erode, as both the number of outlets carrying comic books declined as the traditional Mom & Pop candy stores gave way to larger chains and the affidavit reporting system for … Continue reading Let’s Rap! The 1971 DC Reader Survey
Among the many comics that I acquired in my Windfall Comics purchase of 1988, there was a string of six or so issues of JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA from right in its earliest period. This one was the oldest of the bunch, #15, and it featured a story that I had read previously as a … Continue reading WC: JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #15
It's somewhat difficult to believe today, but comedian and movie star Jerry Lewis headlined his own DC comic book for about twenty years, the first half-dozen in conjunction with his then-partner, Dean Martin. Amazingly, more copies of Jerry Lewis were being sold and consumed than of the Atom or Hawkman or the Doom Patrol, all … Continue reading Lost Crossovers: Jerry Lewis Meets Batman and Robin
This was perhaps the first truly excellent comic book that I put out, a single issue that accomplished its mandate exceptionally well and delivered on teh promise-of-the-premise in fine fashion. It's always going to be a little bit awkward talking about books I worked on in such glowing terms, so please understand that when I … Continue reading Personal Best: SPIDER-BOY #1
This issue of SUPERMAN'S PAL JIMMY OLSEN was I believe the oldest book that I got in my Windfall Comics purchase of about 150 prime Silver Age comic books for $50.00 in 1988. It's really a pre-Silver Age 1950s issue in tone and spirit, and a good example of the kinds of stories the Superman … Continue reading WC: SUPERMAN’S PAL JIMMY OLSEN #23
A post from my Marvel blog of years gone by, in which I shared a video and a story about how Steve Wacker and I inadvertently brought an end to the Wizard Awards Ceremonies at the yearly Wizard World convention. Unfortunately, I no longer have the video that we shot, so I can't embed it … Continue reading Blah Blah Blog – Wizard Awards Ceremony No More!
When I was a kid, Green Lantern was my second favorite super hero, right behind the Flash (just as he was right behind the Scarlet Speedster in those days, when his strip was a back-up in FLASH.) This despite the fact that somehow, the character conception is nonsense. Green lantern--it's such a weird name for … Continue reading WC: GREEN LANTERN #7
Another book that I picked up brand new was the next issue of SUPERMAN FAMILY. I followed this series right up until its demise, though I really couldn't tell you quite why. I wasn't especially enamored of any of teh characters who had solo strips within its pages, so it must simply be the allure … Continue reading BHOC: SUPERMAN FAMILY #190
Here's another comic from the Silver Age that I acquired in my Windfall Comic haul in 1988, paying a three-for-a-dollar price for them. The Flash had been my favorite super hero as a kid, and while his luster had dimmed somewhat for me by 1988, it was still a joy to find issues of his … Continue reading WC: THE FLASH #132
