There was really no disguising the fact that, for most of its long run, PETER PARKER, THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN was at best a secondary title, and often a series that wasn't being given A-list resources to succeed with. While there were some bright spots along the way, the series was constantly operating under the handicap … Continue reading BHOC: PETER PARKER, THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #33
SGT FURY AND HIS HOWLING COMMANOS wasn't a war comic, not in the way that i understood that term. It wasn't at all attempting to get across the true horror and cost or warfare. Instead, it was a war movie, a big, grand, fun adventure where the enemy were clowns and caricatures and nobody really … Continue reading BHOC: SGT FURY AND HIS HOWLING COMMANDOS #153
On the surface of things, KICKERS INC should have been one of the more stable and solidly-crafted of the titles launching as part of Marvel's 1986 anniversary initiative, the New Universe. It had a creative team with an established track record on AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, writer Tom DeFalco and artists Ron Frenz and Sal Buscema. But … Continue reading Brand Echh: KICKERS INC. #1
MARVEL PREMIERE was something of a mixed bag as a comic book purchase. While early on it had been dedicated to the adventures of Iron Fist, and before that Doctor Strange, it had turned over time into a SHOWCASE-style try-out series for new concepts (and occasionally a place to wrap up outstanding plotlines from a … Continue reading BHOC: MARVEL PREMIERE #49
These next two issues of IRON MAN were somewhat defining for the era, in that they separated Tony Stark from his armor and caused him to have to deal with life-threatening situations on his own without the aid of advanced ordinance and head-to-toe protection. In essence, it was a full steer into the style of … Continue reading BHOC: IRON MAN #125
The second of the New Universe titles to make its debut (at the same time as STAR BRAND #1) was ultimately one of the line's more troubled outings, right from the get-go. It only lasted a little bit over a year, a casualty of the line being contracted and re-envisioned following Editor in Chief Jim … Continue reading Brand Echh: SPITFIRE AND THE TROUBLESHOOTERS #1
Even at the time, we all knew in my circle of friends that the New Fantastic Four cartoon that was then airing on NBC on Saturday mornings wasn't very good. This despite the involvement of the comic's co-creator Jack Kirby as a designer and storyboard artist and dialogue written by Marvel figures such as Stan … Continue reading BHOC: FANTASTIC FOUR #209
Another issue of DEFENDERS came out, and this one was a bit more to my liking. It was Earthbound, for one, and it introduced me to Steve Gerber's creation the Foolkiller. I wasn't familiar with the character prior to this--I hadn't much read MAN-THING or similar monster/horror titles. But I immediately understood his shtick, and … Continue reading BHOC: DEFENDERS #74
The eight New Universe titles rolled out two-a-week across a month's worth of time, and I sampled all of them. The promotion around this initiative made it feel like a seminal event, and so I was determined not to miss the moment. Ultimately, I found myself disappointed with pretty much all of the launch titles, … Continue reading Brand Echh: STAR BRAND #1
By the time of UNCANNY X-MEN #124, I had been buying the book for about a year and a half, and I enjoyed it every month. It wasn't my favorite title, didn't differentiate itself from the rest of the pack in that manner at the time. But it was a book that could be relied … Continue reading BHOC: UNCANNY X-MEN #124
The Tom Brevoort Experience 