BHOC: MARVEL’S GREATEST COMICS #65

Also in the big big of somewhat-old comics on this particular trip was a pair of issues of MARVEL’S GREATEST COMICS featuring the Fantastic Four. This was the earlier of the two, a reprint of a classic Stan Lee and Jack Kirby issue (albeit one that had pages edited out of it in order to … Continue reading BHOC: MARVEL’S GREATEST COMICS #65

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: MARVEL’S GREATEST COMICS #62

This is another book that showed up in the big bin of somewhat-old comics at my local drugstore, and being on the hunt for Fantastic Four stories, I picked it up. It must be said, this really isn’t a great cover–all of the heroes have their backs to us and are oriented around the edges. … Continue reading BHOC: MARVEL’S GREATEST COMICS #62

BHOC: MARVEL’S GREATEST COMICS #60

This is the third of the three issues of MARVEL’S GREATEST COMICS I pulled up out of the big bin of affidavit-return comic books in my local drug store after I’d gone back for a second helping of the Fantastic Four. And of the three, it’s the slightest–a pattern that very much mirrored the first … Continue reading BHOC: MARVEL’S GREATEST COMICS #60

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: MARVEL’S GREATEST COMICS #58

So, having read and enjoyed my first three issues of FANTASTIC FOUR, I did what any self-respecting comic book reader would do in that situation: I went back to the drug store just as soon as I could and got more. I had seen that the Fantastic Four were also featured in MARVEL’S GREATEST COMICS, … Continue reading BHOC: MARVEL’S GREATEST COMICS #58

BHOC: THE GREAT COMIC BOOK HEROES

In January of 1977, I turned ten-years-old. And around that time, I would up getting my second book collection of vintage comic book stories–a book that, up until that point I didn’t even know existed. We found it in the remaindered section at Two Guys, a regional low-rent department store chain, kind of like the … Continue reading BHOC: THE GREAT COMIC BOOK HEROES

BHOC: JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #140

Here’s another good one, my subscription copy of JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #140–so good that my brother Ken bought a second copy for himself, as he did from time to time. This was the first issue of JLA to completely fill the oversized format with a single story, an approach that would last for the … Continue reading BHOC: JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #140

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: WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #226

My Uncle Jerry Blazer was a house-painted by trade. He and his wife, my Aunt Clementine, lived with my grandparents in a big house that they’d all moved into simultaneously around 1955. So he was a constant fixture in my life, though not seen quite so often as my Grandparents were. He was also the … Continue reading BHOC: WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #226