It was an unimaginable 41 year ago today, on Christmas day of 1976, that I finally got my hands on this much-desired beauty, a gift from Santa Claus. And actually, having asked for it specifically on the Christmas list that my mother would demand that each child write (usually sourced out of the Sears Christmas … Continue reading BHOC: SECRET ORIGINS OF THE SUPER DC HEROES
The mailman brought my latest subscription copy of FLASH that contained big news! One of the first decisions made by new incoming publisher Jenette Kahn was to do away with the 8-times-a-year release model. It’s difficult to believe today, but for thirty years, even titles such as SUPERMAN and BATMAN didn’t come out more than … Continue reading BHOC: FLASH #247
I had skipped the previous two issues of DC SUPER-STARS–#10 I passed up after being challenged by the owner of the short-lived candy store in which I found it, and #9 had contained only a single Superman story backed up by other war, western and science fiction tales focusing on firearms–not enough to make me … Continue reading BHOC: DC SUPER-STARS #11
Shortly afterwards, my mailman delivered my other subscription title, FLASH, which was also sporting a Neal Adams cover this month. It’s a pretty intense cover for this series not in keeping with the tone of the strip (or even this particular issue.) But it is extremely eye-catching and intriguing, which is the whole point. I’m … Continue reading BHOC: FLASH #246
Here’s that FLASH cover mentioned yesterday on which Adam Strange cameos. You can see why it would be so imperative to write a story that would explain this anomaly five years later…
Back at that same far-off stationary store maybe a week later to pick up whatever we had ordered for Cub Scouting, I came across this beauty, which never showed up at my regular 7-11. I’d seen the ads and so I was primed to read it. But to start with, boy, what an ugly mess … Continue reading BHOC: SUPER HEROES BATTLE SUPER-GORILLAS #1
It had been a while since I’d picked up a copy of ACTION COMICS. I can’t be sure this many years after the fact, but I’m guessing that the fact that the Flash guest-starred in this one was the tipping point needed to get me (or really my parents) to plunk down thirty cents. I … Continue reading BHOC: ACTION COMICS #465
My subscription copy of FLASH arrived next. It wasn’t an especially memorable issue. The thing I can recall the most is that somewhere–maybe the previous issue’s letters page–I had read the title of the story, “Who Put The Zing In The Flash” and intuited that perhaps we’d be getting a story that delved into mysteries and … Continue reading BHOC: FLASH #245
It was my neighbor Johnny Rantinella who got it, and boy did I want it. So much so, and so obviously, that I was in a terrible bargaining position. I don’t remember at this late date what I traded him for it, but it was considerable. But I had to do it. Because those were … Continue reading BHOC: LIMITED COLLECTORS’ EDITION #C-48
My subscription copy of FLASH turned up one day, finally revealing to me what was going to happen in the wake of the Top’s final post-demise plan last issue. But first off, boy, that’s an unattractive cover. Again, the idea is fine, but the execution is lacking. That light blue empty background is hardly dramatic. … Continue reading BHOC: FLASH #244
The Tom Brevoort Experience 