BHOC: SECRET SOCIETY OF SUPER-VILLAINS #5

This next issue of SECRET SOCIETY OF SUPER VILLAINS signaled a sea change for the series. Departed editor Gerry Conway’s vision of a series that united Jack Kirby’s Fourth World concepts with the mainstream Earth-1 DC heroes as well as fan-popular characters such as Manhunter wasn’t something that incoming editor Jack C Harris was interested … Continue reading BHOC: SECRET SOCIETY OF SUPER-VILLAINS #5

BHOC: SECRET SOCIETY OF SUPER-VILLAINS #4

By now a favorite title of mine, when the next issue of SECRET SOCIETY OF SUPER-VILLAINS appeared at the 7-11, there was no hesitation on my part to make it mine. Editor Gerry Conway’s strange melange of DC villains, Manhunter and Jack Kirby’s Fourth World characters was an exciting stew, for all that it was … Continue reading BHOC: SECRET SOCIETY OF SUPER-VILLAINS #4

BHOC: ALL-STAR COMICS #62

A new issue of ALL-STAR COMICS greeted me at the 7-11, a welcome occurrence as I was completely in the tank for the Justice Society of America. The cover on this one is pretty nice, albeit cluttered with text. And the Superman figure somehow looks a bit bloated and laconic. But there’s some good drama … Continue reading BHOC: ALL-STAR COMICS #62

BHOC: JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #134

As I knew he soon would, the mailman brought me the next issue of JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA. It’s got a cover that’s a fine composition in theory but which is marred by some weak execution. Those think, sloppy ink lines, the overall stiffness and motionlessness of the characters–it’s a good image, but one that … Continue reading BHOC: JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #134

BHOC: SUPERMAN #303

Another comic that was bought for my brother Ken, during a period in which he, influenced by me I expect, would want a comic when I got one rather than some candy or a small toy or whatnot. Here, it’s another solid issue of the Julie Schwartz-edited SUPERMAN title. It’s not a bad cover, though … Continue reading BHOC: SUPERMAN #303

BHOC: SECRET SOCIETY OF SUPER-VILLAINS #3

If the first issue of SECRET SOCIETY OF SUPER-VILLAINS that I read, #2, was a comic book that I liked, then this next issue, #3, sealed the deal. I picked it up at my regular 7-11, and was glad to see it. So this cover represents my first encounter with Darkseid. It’s not an incredibly … Continue reading BHOC: SECRET SOCIETY OF SUPER-VILLAINS #3

BHOC: JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #133

And along came the month’s subscription copies! First up was JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #133, the first half of another experimental two-parter written by Gerry Conway in which the first half and the second half only vaguely related to one another. This whole sequence was really four issues long as this month’s story picks up … Continue reading BHOC: JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #133

BHOC: JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #132

It seems like a very long time since we talked about the previous issue of JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA, but really it had only been a month. So I suppose this month represents one of my busiest in terms of new comic book acquisition, at least during this period. In any event, my subscription copy … Continue reading BHOC: JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #132

BHOC: JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #131

My younger brother–youngest brother for another month or so then–Joe scribbled all over the splash page of my subscription copy of JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #131 with a black marker. Maybe he was trying to improve the inking, I don’t know. But it was one of those momentary childhood crises that come up from time to … Continue reading BHOC: JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #131

BHOC: ALL-STAR COMICS #60

Picked up the next issue of ALL-STAR COMICS at the 7-11, quite possibly at the same time that my brother got SUPERMAN #299. This was a no-brainer, as I was already a huge Justice Society fan. The whole affair is very much trying to be more like a Marvel comic, likely the influence of writer/editor Gerry Conway. … Continue reading BHOC: ALL-STAR COMICS #60