You'd see this happen from time to time in the mid- to late-1960s on the Marvel books. There's be a cover like this one that somebody--either editor Stan Lee or publisher Martin Goodman--didn't like, feeling that it was too cluttered and difficult to read from a distance, and it would get colored in a horrific … Continue reading (Not So) Great Covers: THOR #153
As we've talked about before, MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE was a series adrift. Following the departure of writer/editor Marv Wolfman, the title limped along for close to a year, running assorted one-off and two-part stories that all had the feeling of being a fill-in about them. There wasn't any permanent creative team, and you never quite knew … Continue reading BHOC: MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE #45
The few other comic book collectors and readers in my area tended to scoff at the Marvel reprint titles, because as they were not originals, they weren't going to accrue in value like the new books would. But as i had no real desire to ever sell my collection, that wasn't a big deal to … Continue reading BHOC: MARVEL SUPER-HEROES #76
I'll mention it right up front, as a kid, I didn't like DAREDEVIL #155. Mostly I think this was down to the artwork of Frank Robbins, who filled in on this issue. I had enjoyed Robbins' idiosyncratic work on INVADERS, a title that had been his home for a few years. And he honestly wasn't … Continue reading BHOC: DAREDEVIL #155
Just as DC/National Comics and other outfits were still dabbling with super hero characters as the 1940s transitioned into teh 1950s, the same was true of Timely Comics, which would one day become Marvel. The firm has lasting success with three characters throughout the 1940s: the Human Torch, the Sub-Mariner and Captain America. But all … Continue reading The First Silver Age Marvel Super Hero
STRANGE TALES #118 was another book that I got in my Windfall Comics haul of 1988. By this point, it was a decidedly secondary title in the expanding Marvel line, not really possessing the spark of any of the other series of the era. This was really down to the lead Human Torch feature. While … Continue reading WC: STRANGE TALES #118
This next issue of IRON MAN was the preamble to what would, in time, be considered one of the very best runs that the title had to offer. His arrival had been touted on the Marvel Bullpen Bulletins page all month, and so here was John Romita Jr., the son of Marvel legend and art … Continue reading BHOC: IRON MAN #115
This issue of SGT. FURY AND HIS HOWLING COMMANDOS was the final one I got in my box of Windfall Comics, purchased for $50.00 back in 1988, and it was an interesting issue for reasons that I'll expound upon later. SGT FURY was a bit of an odd duck in the Marvel line, in that … Continue reading WC: SGT FURY #25
The excitement was building, at least for myself and my small collection of comic book reading friends, as FANTASTIC FOUR neared its big issue #200. The build-up had been going on for almost a year, and now that inker extraordinaire Joe Sinnott had returned to teh series after missing a couple of issues, everything was … Continue reading BHOC: FANTASTIC FOUR #199
This issue of DEFENDERS featured the climactic chapter to one of the dopiest and most fun stories in the entire series, and a real favorite of mine. Honestl, after this, DEFENDERS became something of a slog for a very long time, a title that I bought out of habit or obligation, but not one that … Continue reading BHOC: DEFENDERS #64
The Tom Brevoort Experience 