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
I’ve owned three different copies of THE STERANKO HISTORY OF COMICS Volume 1 over the years. It’s an important milestone book in the development of the hobby, but it’s also more oversized magazine than book, with saddle-stitched binding and a cover that tended to crack down the spine and separate. It fell apart easily. For … Continue reading BHOC: THE STERANKO HISTORY OF COMICS
The now all-new DC SUPER-STARS returned to the clearly-successful theme of SECRET ORIGINS, this time once again focusing on the bad guys. It’s a somewhat odd collection of tales, and I wonder if one or more of them might not have been commissioned for use in other places, then burned off here. Either way, it … Continue reading BHOC: DC SUPER-STARS #14
This was the first all-new issue of BATMAN FAMILY, eschewing reprints in favor of completely original content. I’m pretty sure that this was another comic book that my family had two copies of when my younger brother Ken subsequently bought a copy as well, something he would do from time to time for no earthly … Continue reading BHOC: BATMAN FAMILY #11
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
A bunch of changes were evident in this next issue of ALL-STAR COMICS. First off, the Super-Squad banner was gone, replaced by a gigantic logo declaring that, once and for all, this series was about the Justice Society of America. Similarly missing was Wally Wood, the artist who had visually identified at least the previous … Continue reading BHOC: ALL-STAR COMICS #66
I bought this issue of BRAVE AND THE BOLD while my Mother was out doing household errands one day with the family. I know I got it in an unfamiliar candy store and that its selection was due as much to the limited offerings at hand as anything else. But I can recall flipping through … Continue reading BHOC: BRAVE AND THE BOLD #134
I picked up this issue of ADVENTURE COMICS primarily for the Manhunter from Mars back-up story, although the fact that Aquaman was battling the Justice League’s first foe, Starro was also a draw. But while the Sea King’s adventures were typically well-drawn, they usually struck me as being dry–it was difficult to connect with his … Continue reading BHOC: ADVENTURE COMICS #451
Apropos of nothing except giving a sense of the timeframe, but shortly before I bought this issue of SUPERMAN, I saw the film ROCKY in theaters for the first time. It was the birthday party for my next door neighbor Johnny Rantinella, and among other festivities, a gaggle of kids were taken out to the … Continue reading BHOC: SUPERMAN #311
Another subscription copy of the giant JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA run that Steve Englehart was producing with artist Dick Dillin. This issue in particular wasn’t really to my taste as a kid. Partly that’s because it’s a story that focuses on the Atom, Aquaman and the Elongated Man almost exclusively, and while I liked all … Continue reading BHOC: JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #142
The Tom Brevoort Experience 