The first entry in Marvel's line of European-style albums, released under the sobriquet "Marvel Graphic Novels", THE DEATH OF CAPTAIN MARVEL remains as effective and affecting today as it was when it was first published. A good deal of that is down to the subject matter, which sees the titular Mar-Vell dying not in battle … Continue reading 5BC: Five Best Comics of 1982
I was still maintaining my subscriptions to FLASH and JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA throughout this time, although now that I could regularly get to outlets that sold comics, this was beginning to become an aggravation. because the latest issues inevitably showed up on the spinner racks before they reached my mailbox, meaning I'd have to … Continue reading BHOC: THE FLASH #257
This is another book that I think was purchased by my grandmother, in this instance for my younger brother Ken. I can see her feeling as though if she was buying a comic book for me, she would have to bring one for him as well. At this moment, SHAZAM was an occasional read for … Continue reading BHOC: SHAZAM #33
This issue of BLACK LIGHTNING was bought for me by my grandparents. It was a tough title to find in my area--during this time period, most of the new DC launches were difficult to locate in my area (I never, ever saw a copy of SHADE, THE CHANGING MAN, for example.) But as i related … Continue reading BHOC: BLACK LIGHTNING #6
I was regularly haunting the section of the Sachem Public Library that contained books on or about comics, not just for that elusive copy of ORIGINS OF MARVEL COMICS (which I never did find there) but also for anything else of interest. I took out and read a bunch of books from that section, many … Continue reading BHOC: ALL IN COLOR FOR A DIME
The fourth and final chapter of this seemingly-epic storyline turned up next. I remember being quite into it--even though, looking back at it after all of these years, it's a bit of an ill-plotted mess. I liked the fact that, on this cover, the vignettes of Hal and Ollie were ready to throw down just … Continue reading BHOC: GREEN LANTERN #99
1981 was a year of many anniversaries, and many anniversary issues as a result. This 25th anniversary issue of FLASH was built around a premise that was even then a bit old: Barry Allen wakes up in a hospital room, his body paralyzed and horribly scarred from the accident when lightning struck his police laboratory. … Continue reading 5BC: Five Best Comics of 1981
I bought this issue of BATMAN FAMILY on my regular travels to my local 7-11, as I was following the series regularly at this point, for whatever reason. I can't say that it was a particular favorite, and now that it was all-new, the appeal of those classic reprints was gone. I chalk it up … Continue reading BHOC: BATMAN FAMILY #15
Another month had gone by, and so another issue of ACTION COMICS had shown up at my local spinner rack in the 7-11 I frequented. ACTION was, by this point, a regular buy for me, despite the fact that most of the individual stories in this particular stretch were pretty forgettable--and indeed, I don't know … Continue reading BHOC: ACTION COMICS #478
I can recall buying this issue of SUPERBOY & THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES at my usual 7-11. No idea why I went for this issue in particular--the Legion was a very hit-or-miss proposition with me, most often coming down on the miss side. But for whatever reason, maybe it was the oversized page count, I … Continue reading BHOC: SUPERBOY & THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #234
The Tom Brevoort Experience 