At the very end of the 1970s, comic books began to take a cue from network television. There, the concept of a limited series of broadcasts had become popular as important destination viewing, garnering ratings that proved such programming to be attractive to potential viewers. Accordingly, first DC and them Marvel began to experiment with … Continue reading FSC: WOLVERINE Limited Series #1
I had fallen off of reading SUPERBOY AND THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES for the past couple of months, not for any particular reason, simply that it still felt weird and off-kilter to my sensibilities. But I came back for this issue, though again, I'm not sure what motivated that decision. And I'd only stick around … Continue reading BHOC: SUPERBOY AND THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #254
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
I owned at least two copies of this first volume of THE X-MEN COMPANION, possibly three. And I got them for the stupidest of reasons. At the time, having relocated to a new development in Delaware, I was forced to get my comic books monthly via mail order from Geppi's Comic World. This meant filling … Continue reading FSC: THE X-MEN COMPANION I
This next issue of UNCANNY X-MEN was a bit of a favorite of mine, possibly down to the fact that the central villain of the piece, Arcade, was a bit closer in tone and spirit to the Flash's rogues gallery members than most Marvel villains. The series had been steadily rising in my estimation, and … Continue reading BHOC: UNCANNY X-MEN #123
This particular issue had been spotlighted on the monthly Bullpen Bulletins page, so I was more excited to snap it up than usual. And in the end, it was simply all right--an issue dedicated more to character-building than heroic adventure. This was one of the elements that made this period of UNCANNY X-MEN stand out … Continue reading BHOC: UNCANNY X-MEN #122
This was the first issue of POWER MAN AND IRON FIST that I bought new off of the stands. I had sampled a random issue or two of both POWER MAN and Iron Fist's appearances in MARVEL PREMIERE, but neither of them had especially hooked me. But the big added factor here was the guest-appearance … Continue reading BHOC: POWER MAN AND IRON FIST #57
I didn't really realize just how good of a comic book UNCANNY X-MEN was during this time period. I mean, I bought it regularly and enjoyed it every single issue. But it didn't stand out for me particularly. I loved it, but i also loved FANTASTIC FOUR and AVENGERS and AMAZING SPIDER-MAN and a hold … Continue reading BHOC: UNCANNY X-MEN #121
THE MAD WORLD OF MARVELDOM was a short fanzine released in October 1967 by Greg Kishel and Fran Shusterich. It isn't especially noteworthy apart from that. But it does give us a sense as to what the fans of Marvel were talking and thinking about during the firm's heyday of the Silver Age.
It's pretty plain to see in retrospect that UNCANNY X-MEN was the best ongoing comic book series being produced during this time. It was in the middle of a run that's become legendary over time, the collaboration between Chris Claremont and John Byrne (with editor Roger Stern an important third leg of that triumvirate, and … Continue reading BHOC: UNCANNY X-MEN #120
The Tom Brevoort Experience 