BHOC: BATMAN #262

This issue of BATMAN marked the end of an era, and the beginning of another, shorter one. It was the first DC GIANT issue that I purchased, the smaller replacement for the 100-PAGE SPECTACULARS that I loved. Time and inflation had made that format untenable for DC, so they retrenched and reduced, coming up with … Continue reading BHOC: BATMAN #262

BHOC: LIMITED COLLECTORS’ EDITION #C-35

This SHAZAM Treasury Edition featured Saturday morning’s Captain Marvel, Jackson Bostwick, on its front cover, a transparent though appropriate attempt to appeal to fans of the show, then-airing. I can’t say that I was especially a fan of the show–I watched it, but primarily because it was there. In those days of limited television channels, … Continue reading BHOC: LIMITED COLLECTORS’ EDITION #C-35

BHOC: FAMOUS 1st EDITIONS #F-6

By this point, I was a big fan of the FAMOUS 1ST EDITION series of DC Treasuries, which is likely why I bought this facsimile edition of WONDER WOMAN #1 despite the potential for mockery from my peers for reading a “girl’s comic.” Either way, I genuinely like the early Wonder Woman stories, in a way … Continue reading BHOC: FAMOUS 1st EDITIONS #F-6

BHOC: FLASH #232

I owned two copies of this issue of THE FLASH, because I am an idiot. I came across the first one at the 7-11 as usual. At this point, I had a subscription to FLASH and I knew it worked–I had received two issues previous to this. But still I was worried–maybe I wouldn’t get … Continue reading BHOC: FLASH #232

BHOC: JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #116

Once again, I had missed an issue of JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA, another one I had seen in the house ads but never ran across. But I was there for the subsequent issue, #116. Bought it at the 7-11, of course, and the fact that the series continued to be n the 100-Page Spectacular format … Continue reading BHOC: JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #116

BHOC: SUPERMAN #284

We’re getting near to the end of the era of the 100-Page Spectaculars, not that I knew that at the time. This issue of SUPERMAN represents one of the last I’d ever purchase, bought as usual from my local 7-11. I’ve had two or three copies of this book over the years–not quite sure what … Continue reading BHOC: SUPERMAN #284

BHOC: LIMITED COLLECTORS’ EDITION #C-34

Another Treasury Edition brought home by my father, and proof positive that we were in the closing months of 1974. I would have been reading comics for a year and a half at this point. These Christmas Specials used to be a regular thing, attractive even to more casual purchasers as something that could be … Continue reading BHOC: LIMITED COLLECTORS’ EDITION #C-34

BHOC: ACTION COMICS #443

Pretty sure that I traded my next door neighbor Johnny Rantinella something for this comic, as it guest-starred the Flash, and was one of those great 100-Page Spectaculars that I loved. It’s got a fun Nick Cardy cover as well. The story opens as, inexplicably, Superman is in Clark Kent’s usual place, reading the news … Continue reading BHOC: ACTION COMICS #443

BHOC: FLASH #231

The mailman brought me another subscription copy of THE FLASH, folded in half as was the style of the era. This was always an exciting moment, because it was unexpected. I suppose I could have worked out approximately when a new issue would be showing up, but I somehow never bothered. This is the story … Continue reading BHOC: FLASH #231

BHOC: SUPERBOY AND THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #206

Oh, perfidy! Here is that horrible moment when I was first faced with that recurring bane of a comic book collector’s existence: a periodic price increase. Throughout the 1970s when I was first collecting, this seemed to happen with frightening regularity. You could always tell when one was in the offing because the price would … Continue reading BHOC: SUPERBOY AND THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #206