And here's another issue that landed in my lap through swapping with my grade school comics reading buddy Donald Sims. I remember really liking this issue, possibly because it was the closest thing to a typical DC/Julie Schwartz-edited story that I experienced at Marvel at the time. It was complete in a single issue, had … Continue reading BHOC: MARVEL TEAM-UP #25
The response to last week's piece on the complicated and complex origins of Spider-Man and all of the behind-the-scenes activity that stretched back for almost a decade before the character would eventually reach comic book newsstands was incredibly well received. In the space of a week, it's become one of the most-viewed posts on this … Continue reading Lee & Kirby & Simon & Ditko & Oleck: The Spider and the Fly Extra
It's one of the big, fundamental questions that lies at the heart of the origin-myth of perhaps Marvel Comics' most popular single character, and its one that has been discussed and debated at length by those with some degree of insider information: how much did Jack Kirby have to do with the development of Spider-Man, … Continue reading Lee & Kirby & Simon & Ditko & Oleck: The Spider and the Fly
A blog post from my old Marvel blog, part of a series concerning bad comics that I had written. Another Bad Creation April 28, 2007 | 1:00 AM | By Tom_Brevoort | In General Continuing on with this week's theme of BAD COMICS I WROTE, let's take a look at the SPIDER-MAN: FUNERAL FOR AN … Continue reading Blah Blah Blog – Another Bad Creation
These days, thanks especially to the global reach of the Marvel Studios films, you can't turn around but for bumping into some piece of merchandise based on the Marvel characters. There truly is a cornucopia of stuff out there, both wonderful and less-than-wonderful. But in the early days, before the characters had exploded in popularity, … Continue reading Make Mine Marvel Memorabilia
People seemed to like (or were horrified and transfixed by) the selection I ran last week from the British MARVEL STORY BOOK ANNUAL for 1967. So what the hay, let's do another one. Above is a reproduction of the end papers from the hardcover volume, on which one of the volume's three illustrators swipes the … Continue reading Marvel Story Book Annual 1967 – The Origin of Spider-Man and The Fire Raisers
With the sheer number of stories published about some of the characters, it's a wonder that there aren't more stories that feature developments that don't work, don't stick or are simply just plain weird. Here, then, are five more forgotten Marvel story developments. THE FALCON IS REALLY "SNAP" WILSON, LOWLIFE. CAPTAIN AMERICA #186 - There's … Continue reading 5BC: Five More Forgotten Marvel Story Developments
We've been talking a lot about the unofficial crossovers between characters and the homages that were done. But beyond that, there's a whole other category of instances in which one company either appropriated or parodied or referenced the characters of another. These instances tended to take many different forms--there was one memorable instance, for example, … Continue reading 5BC: Five Times DC Referenced Marvel Characters in Interesting Ways
A post from my old Marvel blog concerning early Marvel titles that I purchased which didn't hook me as a reader. Bad Comics I Bought pt. 3 April 28, 2007 | 1:00 AM | By Tom_Brevoort | In General Continuing our week-long survey of Marvel issues I purchased as a young child which put me … Continue reading Blah Blah Blog – Bad Comics I Bought Part 3
Another Marvel reprint title that came out of a 3-Bag. I seem to recall getting this particular issue at the Two Guys discount store, where they carried 3-Bags and to which my family would regularly go when we needed household goods. On this particular day there were a few 3-Bags in the batch on that … Continue reading BHOC: MARVEL TALES #81
The Tom Brevoort Experience 