BHOC: FANTASTIC FOUR #203

This issue of FANTASTIC FOUR doesn't at first glance appear to be anything special, just another one-off story in this run. But it has an interesting story behind it. You see, writer/editor Marv Wolfman had been friends with FANTASTIC FOUR co-creator Jack Kirby since Marv was a child. He knew about Kirby's reluctance to draw … Continue reading BHOC: FANTASTIC FOUR #203

BHOC: UNCANNY X-MEN #118

There wasn't any one particular transcendent moment, but X-MEN quietly settled into being one of those series that I really liked, that always delivered. Part of that was that the creative team of Chris Claremont and John Byrne was remarkably consistent, seldom missing an issue. And partly this was due to my not quite knowing … Continue reading BHOC: UNCANNY X-MEN #118

BHOC: MARVEL TALES #100

Despite the fact that it was a reprint title, MARVEL TALES didn't miss the opportunity to go oversized for its 100th issue, a trend that had started with the centennial issues that Marvel and DC were putting out. It's kind of a mixed bag, in that one of the secondary features doesn't have any relation … Continue reading BHOC: MARVEL TALES #100

BHOC: INVADERS #37

Picked up this next issue of INVADERS when it put in an appearance at the 7-11 which was my regular Thursday destination spot for new comic books. The title was still a favorite even though it wasn't at its best any longer, a situation that would continue until its eventual demise in only a couple … Continue reading BHOC: INVADERS #37

BHOC: INCREDIBLE HULK #232

This issue of INCREDIBLE HULK was the conclusion of the two-part Corporation saga that had begun in CAPTAIN AMERICA #230 a couple of weeks earlier. Though the roots of this saga had been developing for years, all the way back to a number of Jack Kirby's final stories for Marvel, in which he introduced the … Continue reading BHOC: INCREDIBLE HULK #232

CAPTAIN AMERICA #1 – Heroes Reborn

As we did a few weeks ago, today we're going to take a look at the Heroes Reborn CAPTAIN AMERICA #1 packaged and produced by Rob Liefeld's Extreme Studios as part of the four-book deal that became known as Heroes Reborn. Liefeld's CAPTAIN AMERICA wound up produced under a bit of a cloud within fan … Continue reading CAPTAIN AMERICA #1 – Heroes Reborn

BHOC: DEFENDERS #68

My interest in DEFENDERS was rapidly waning, but that didn't stop me from dutifully picking up each issue for some reason. No doubt this was because it was a Marvel team book and seemed like required reading to keep up with the Marvel Universe. This would go on for the next year or two, a … Continue reading BHOC: DEFENDERS #68

BHOC: AVENGERS #180

This next issue of AVENGERS was the second half of a two-parter that editor in chief Jim Shooter commissioned from Tom DeFalco in order to help him get ahead on the title, which was suffering as Jim's day job was eating up all of his time. I believe that this was the first story DeFalco … Continue reading BHOC: AVENGERS #180

The First Marvel Mutants

YELLOW CLAW was one of the strangest series published by Marvel, then Atlas, in the 1950s. it feels like a throwback to an earlier time, an era when "yellow peril" adventure stories about Dr. Fu Manchu and his many knock-offs were big business in the pulp magazines of the day. Having done a little bit … Continue reading The First Marvel Mutants

AVENGERS #1 – Heroes Reborn

Rob Liefeld has been a figure of divisiveness virtually since he first burst onto the scene three decades ago. There are those who absolutely adore his kinetic, detailed, action-oriented style and boundless enthusiasm and others who decry what they see as his weaknesses in anatomy and perspective and his sometimes-aggressive persona. But whether you like … Continue reading AVENGERS #1 – Heroes Reborn