BHOC: FANTASTIC FOUR #172

The big bin of slightly-older comics at my local drug store chain continued to toss up additional treasures as the summer went on, often ones older and older than the ones that had preceded it. So the next issue of FANTASTIC FOUR I found therein was this one, the oldest I'd yet encountered. That's a … Continue reading BHOC: FANTASTIC FOUR #172

BHOC: FANTASTIC FOUR #188

A new issue of what was rapidly becoming my favorite comic book turned up at my local 7-11, and at this point I was clearly an avowed FANTASTIC FOUR reader, if not truly a full-on Marvel convert quite yet. (That event would take place in a few weeks.) A lot of that had to do … Continue reading BHOC: FANTASTIC FOUR #188

BHOC: FANTASTIC FOUR #176

Back at the Drug Store, I was astonished and elated to find this issue of FANTASTIC FOUR in my latest dive through its big bin of somewhat-older comics. And the reason is that this issue pre-dated all four of the FANTASTIC FOUR issues that I’d previously found there. It was evidence that it was possible … Continue reading BHOC: FANTASTIC FOUR #176

BHOC: FANTASTIC FOUR #187

So, having enjoyed the three issues of FANTASTIC FOUR and the three issues of MARVEL’S GREATEST COMICS that I had sampled, I then took the next obvious step: I bought the latest issue of FANTASTIC FOUR to see what was going on with the group now. I purchased this issue in Valley Stream while on … Continue reading BHOC: FANTASTIC FOUR #187

BHOC: MARVEL’S GREATEST COMICS #59

This was the second of the three issues of MARVEL’S GREATEST COMICS that I bought out of the big bin of comics at my local drug store, having enjoyed the first trio of FANTASTIC FOUR issues that I had read. During this period, Marvel maintained a full line of reprint books, serving up the stories … Continue reading BHOC: MARVEL’S GREATEST COMICS #59

BHOC: FANTASTIC FOUR #179

This was the third of the three issues of FANTASTIC FOUR that I pulled out of the big bin of after-market comics at my local drug store on my first intentional foray into the world of the Marvel Universe. And in truth, it was the issue that I liked the least, though in aggregate I … Continue reading BHOC: FANTASTIC FOUR #179

BHOC: FANTASTIC FOUR #178

Picking up where things left off yesterday, this was the second of the three consecutive issues of FANTASTIC FOUR that I bought out of the huge bin of affidavit-returns on sale at my local drug store, my very first legitimate Marvel purchases. I hadn’t stopped to think about or analyze my feelings towards what I … Continue reading BHOC: FANTASTIC FOUR #178

BHOC: FANTASTIC FOUR #177

We have reached a momentous moment in my personal comic book history at long last: the point at which I started to buy a Marvel comic. It was a dull day in the summer, I had nothing going on, and so, desperate for some attention, I finally broke down and decided to read the Marvel-related … Continue reading BHOC: FANTASTIC FOUR #177

Great Covers – AVENGERS #22

A striking George Perez AVENGERS cover that I edited. The thing that makes it the most striking, however, is the limited color palate of red, which was the idea of fellow editor Ruben Diaz. It was a great thought, focusing the eye on the triumphant Ultron and setting a mood of intensity. I also liked … Continue reading Great Covers – AVENGERS #22