Confessor
CCF Mod Squad
Not Bucky O'Hare!
Posts: 10,069
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Post by Confessor on Feb 13, 2017 16:45:46 GMT -5
And I've never read this either: Now that's just a flat out awesome issue...with a kick-ass John Romita cover to boot!
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Post by Cei-U! on Feb 13, 2017 18:23:49 GMT -5
And I've never read this either: This was the very first comic book I bought at what might be considered a comic book store (although it was actually a used bookstore that had a sideline in comics). I was a junior in high school and one of my best friends had run across the store while looking for something else downtown. He drove me down there the following weekend so I could spend what was left of my allowance on something special. I don't remember any more what I paid for it (we are talking about 43 years ago, after all) but I remember being so excited to finally have a copy of a book I'd craved since first seeing the ads for it six years earlier. It was a stellar day in my growth as a collector. Cei-U! Believe it or not, I still have that copy!
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Post by Hoosier X on Feb 15, 2017 1:22:52 GMT -5
I noticed that Amazing Spider-Man Annual #5 and The Spectacular Spider-Man Magazine #2 were published about the same time as the last batch of Spidey comics I was reading (#53 to #67), so I decided to read those two comics before moving on to the next run I want to read (#99 to #115). Look at the cover of ASM Annual #5. The headshot of Mary Jane uses her short and sassy hair-do we were talking about. And the subplot in the last few issues of the #53 to #67 run where Harry is worried about his father acting weirder and weirder and slowly turning back into the Green Goblin leads directly into The Spectacular Spider-Man Magazine #2 (where Norman Osborne turns into the Green Goblin again). So I read Annual #5 earlier today. And Spider-Man Annual #5. I've never read that. That seems like a key issue. It is and it isn't. I love it, but I know of at least a few folks round these parts who consider it to be the moment where Spider-Man jumped the shark. I don't want to spoil it for you, but suffice it to say, it's a "love it" or "hate it" kind of issue. I see what you mean. Mark me down in the "love it" column. It's really silly and quite stupid, but in that Silver Age comic book way that I love so much. Spidey is in the Casbah section of Algiers. You see, he found that trunk in the attic that has some clippings that reveal that Peter's father was a spy! And he betrayed his country! And so Spidey goes to Algeria to find out what happened and mixes it up with ... the Red Skull! (But the original Red Skull was actually in suspended animation when he was supposedly killing the Parkers. So this must be the 1950s Red Skull that bedeviled the fake Cap of the 1950s') It's all rather glorious, in its way, and I can imagine it was a lot of fun for kids in the 1960s. It's no great Spidey classic like the first Spidey annual. But I like it. And look at that wacky art! Larry Leiber seems to me have been Marvel's Sheldon Moldoff. And that's a compliment!
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Post by adamwarlock2099 on Feb 15, 2017 12:19:53 GMT -5
Detective Comics #687-690, 693, 694 Chuck Dixon/Graham Nolan/Staz Johnson
Some of my first Detective Comics issues. Even if I didn't remember they were, the fact that they are not direct editions, I still would know. I bought a good chunk of post #700 issues super cheap, then, at the first convention I went when I lived in St Louis. Before that I was mostly reading Batman and LOTDK, so I never got into Detective Comics much.
We have a Cap'n Fear story in 687, 688 that's a pretty simple plot of a "pirate" looting various yachts of Gotham's rich. It's not a bad plot, but it's not a really good one either. Especially how Cap'n Fear and his crew get the upper hand on Batman and Robin before the end of the first issue.
Next we have a Firefly story. In this story Lynns escapes Blackgate and immediately starts his passion; fire. However in this story he vying against another arsonist to work for Black Mask. Meanwhile Lynns finds a gal he becomes interested in that develops a side story about him out of the Firefly costume. It's a bit better story and the final confrontation between Batman and Robin is pretty good. Lynns does pretty well for himself against Batman.
And lastly in 639, 694 we have a new player in town. Someone is pathologically trying to snuff out all flora and fauna in Gotham City. But he has no criminal record. He has made no demands or asked for ransom or payoff. But one person notices. One person can feel the pain of the victims of this herbicidal killer; Poison Ivy. Now Batman and Robin try to find this "Weedwacker" while dealing with Ivy's interference.
Probably the best of the three stories. But still nothing top notch. But no bad by any means. Though I did forget how much was going on politically in Gotham at the time of these stories. There's a new mayor being elected, a new DA and Jim isn't the commissioner of police. Otherwise they are pretty unattached stories that can be enjoyed on their own merit.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 16, 2017 3:42:03 GMT -5
Working my way through 60s comics I own in some form or other that I haven't already read or want to reread as it has been some time since I checked them out. Finished the stuff from 1962 last night, making it 1960-1962 since this year started, so have read a lot of Silver Age DC (Aquaman, Adam Strange, Flash, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, Atom, JLA) and some early Marvel (Ant Man, Hulk, Human Torch in Strange Tales, Thor, Amazing Fantasy 15). Skipping Hawkman, FF, and Tales of Suspense since I just read the first Hawkman Showcase last year, FF 1-56 over the last year and TOS from 39-99 in the last year or so. I'll skip Doc Strange for now too, as I just reread all the stuff form Strange Tales and the first series last year, and I'll skip the SHIELD stuff from ST as well, as I read that last year too.
I had Superman and Wonder Woman from the late 50s, but aside from a few stories in Superman from the 30s-70s, I don't have a lot of other Silver Age era Superman and Wonder Woman. The only Silver Bat-stuff I have is the team ups in B&B and I haven't reached those yet chronologically. I am juggling a lot of collections as I do this so I don't burn out on any 1 title. Flash still stands head and shoulders over the rest of the DC stuff, but alas I have read through all the Silver Age Flash I have (waiting on the next volume of the Silver Age Flash tpb). I am just about at the end of the JLA, GL and Adam Strange stuff I have too.
I am set to dive into 1963 here soon.
In more "recent classic" stuff, I dove into Strangers in Paradise by Terry Moore, reading the first Pocket Book edition which collected the first 3 issue mini, and the first 13 issues of the next series. Really good stuff ere.
I am still making my way through Ms. Tree (up to #22) and the Comico Jonny Quest series (half way through) too, and enjoying both quite a bit.
-M
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Post by adamwarlock2099 on Feb 16, 2017 9:38:17 GMT -5
Detective Comics #704-713 704 is a really cool stand alone issue, about the exploits of a criminal that is just really not good at crime. After having fumbled his third crime, he serves his "third strike" 25 year term and emerges, this time, determined to be a law abiding citizen. But someone how, the criminal world pulls him in. And he is faced with his determination to not commit crime again, or fall back into his old ways. Really great story, about a no-name criminal in Gotham that really show's Dixon's writing skills. A really enjoyable Batman comic, where Batman takes a back seat in the story. 705-707 is a Riddler story. A pretty good one too. At least in the complexity of the Riddler's plan. I'm usually pretty indifferent to the Riddler, but this was a good story. Since Riddler's stories are usually about surprise and hidden agendas, there isn't much to say on it other than another good Dixon story, and if you like Nolan's art, this story is just as great as the others. 708-710 is my favorite of this bunch I read. And issue 710 being the one that caught my eye and got to buy, at the time, more of the Dixon/Nolan Detective Comics issues. This issue showcases the return of Gunhawk, an assassin/mercenary introduced when Jean-Paul was Batman. Along with his lover and sidekick Gunbunny, they are one of the many mercenaries entering Gotham as a mysterious player is trying to assassinate some of the top financial players in Gotham. Gunhawk seems a bit down on his game, and by the time Bruce Wayne is the target, another mercenary is after Bruce. When the attempt on Bruce is botched due to Gunhawk, this new mercenary, who has a back story with Gunhawk decides to get even. By the time they both have moved on to another target, Batman is there. But can Batman stop his mysterious assassin on his own and at the same time protect the target? And does the cover have any relevancy to the story? 711-712 are about a seemingly new superpowered criminal in Gotham. At least by the initial reports of security at the first break-in in Gotham. But Batman finds clues to lead him to believe that this may not even be a human criminal. It's a good story with some espionage elements in it. It's very heavy on tech talk and has a lot to do with computers and programming. So for a tech illiterate like me, I have no idea how much of it is science and how much of it is fiction. This is the first appearance of a new player in Gotham. He also appeared in The Batman show, for a two part episode if I remember correctly. Edit: Detective Comics #714-718 In 714, 715 Firefly returns for a second chance at Batman and Robin. But this time someone has teamed up with him. A mysterious person, that has alluded GCPD as well as the Feds. Plus another mysterious player enters the fold; a detective from Denver, who has been looking for Firefly's mysterious partner. And what it all comes down to in the end game, you will be surprised at just who are all the players in this drama that goes beyond the boundaries of science. 716 is a stand alone story of another no name criminal. Dusty as he is called is under pressure from his debtors to pay up. Fresh out of Blackgate and trying to keep his nose clean with a stand up job, will Dusty make the right choices as his debtors put the pressure on him; invading his home life and family? Unfortunatly Aparo's art is really not as lustrous as his older stuff. I don't know if it's just Aparo or the inker Stan Woch, but this is not the best of Aparo in the final product. 717, 718 has Gearhead returning for another crack at Batman. This time he is determined to take him down, blaming him for his botched kidnapping scheme (Detective 711, 712) where he was left for dead by Batman so he could rescue the kidnapping victim. Pretty standard revenge story for a criminal blaming a hero for their plight. Not bad, but nothing really memorable. As it appears since I really didn't remember much about this or his previous appearance upon reading these again.
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Polar Bear
Full Member
Married, father of six
Posts: 107
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Post by Polar Bear on Feb 16, 2017 18:23:25 GMT -5
Superman: The Krypton Chronicles #1-3 (1981).
This was apparently one of the first "mini-series" ever made. Fancy that.
Number one was dead boring. Two was somewhat better; I only skimmed it sometimes. Three, though, was flat-out excellent, to the point where I got something in my eye a few pages from the end.
Hard to nail the ending, but nail it they did. Worth the hunt.
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Post by pinkfloydsound17 on Feb 17, 2017 19:47:34 GMT -5
And I've never read this either: This was the very first comic book I bought at what might be considered a comic book store (although it was actually a used bookstore that had a sideline in comics). I was a junior in high school and one of my best friends had run across the store while looking for something else downtown. He drove me down there the following weekend so I could spend what was left of my allowance on something special. I don't remember any more what I paid for it (we are talking about 43 years ago, after all) but I remember being so excited to finally have a copy of a book I'd craved since first seeing the ads for it six years earlier. It was a stellar day in my growth as a collector. Cei-U! Believe it or not, I still have that copy!
I've read the synopsis on this online and it does not ring a bell...is it an original story? If so I have to have it!
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Post by Hoosier X on Feb 17, 2017 20:49:34 GMT -5
This was the very first comic book I bought at what might be considered a comic book store (although it was actually a used bookstore that had a sideline in comics). I was a junior in high school and one of my best friends had run across the store while looking for something else downtown. He drove me down there the following weekend so I could spend what was left of my allowance on something special. I don't remember any more what I paid for it (we are talking about 43 years ago, after all) but I remember being so excited to finally have a copy of a book I'd craved since first seeing the ads for it six years earlier. It was a stellar day in my growth as a collector. Cei-U! Believe it or not, I still have that copy!
I've read the synopsis on this online and it does not ring a bell...is it an original story? If so I have to have it!
It's an original story. It builds off the subplot in the regular Spider-Man title (circa issue #65 or so) where Norman Osborne is having weird fits where he gets all sweaty and says things like "Spider-Man! Why does that name make me have fits and sweat a lot!" Beautiful art! Great big panels! Several recaps of earlier run-ins with the Green Goblin. It's a bit of a repeat of Spidey #39 and #40 because of all the material in the vein of "I can't hurt him! He's my best friend's father!" and "Even if I defeat him, he'll reveal my identity to the world!" and "Pshew!! What a relief! He has amnesia and doesn't remember he's the Goblin." The next time Norman Osborne shows up, they give Harry a drug problem for a little variety.
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Post by hondobrode on Feb 17, 2017 22:08:44 GMT -5
Working my way through 60s comics I own in some form or other that I haven't already read or want to reread as it has been some time since I checked them out. Finished the stuff from 1962 last night, making it 1960-1962 since this year started, so have read a lot of Silver Age DC (Aquaman, Adam Strange, Flash, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, Atom, JLA) and some early Marvel (Ant Man, Hulk, Human Torch in Strange Tales, Thor, Amazing Fantasy 15). Skipping Hawkman, FF, and Tales of Suspense since I just read the first Hawkman Showcase last year, FF 1-56 over the last year and TOS from 39-99 in the last year or so. I'll skip Doc Strange for now too, as I just reread all the stuff form Strange Tales and the first series last year, and I'll skip the SHIELD stuff from ST as well, as I read that last year too. I had Superman and Wonder Woman from the late 50s, but aside from a few stories in Superman from the 30s-70s, I don't have a lot of other Silver Age era Superman and Wonder Woman. The only Silver Bat-stuff I have is the team ups in B&B and I haven't reached those yet chronologically. I am juggling a lot of collections as I do this so I don't burn out on any 1 title. Flash still stands head and shoulders over the rest of the DC stuff, but alas I have read through all the Silver Age Flash I have (waiting on the next volume of the Silver Age Flash tpb). I am just about at the end of the JLA, GL and Adam Strange stuff I have too. I am set to dive into 1963 here soon. In more "recent classic" stuff, I dove into Strangers in Paradise by Terry Moore, reading the first Pocket Book edition which collected the first 3 issue mini, and the first 13 issues of the next series. Really good stuff ere. I am still making my way through Ms. Tree (up to #22) and the Comico Jonny Quest series (half way through) too, and enjoying both quite a bit. -M Ms Tree and Jonny Quest were both excellent.
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Post by hondobrode on Feb 17, 2017 22:10:04 GMT -5
Superman: The Krypton Chronicles #1-3 (1981). This was apparently one of the first "mini-series" ever made. Fancy that. Number one was dead boring. Two was somewhat better; I only skimmed it sometimes. Three, though, was flat-out excellent, to the point where I got something in my eye a few pages from the end. Hard to nail the ending, but nail it they did. Worth the hunt. Not one of, but indeed the very first mini-series.
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Post by spoon on Feb 18, 2017 12:31:04 GMT -5
I'm reading The Golden Age Starman Archives vol. 1. I'm a few issues in (Adventure Comics #65). Jack Burnley's art is very nice. The are some formulaic elements to the stories. Of course, Ted Knight is Starman. It's odd that Ted Knight's girlfriend, Doris Lee, stays with him when she can't stay his pose of constant laziness and fear of action. The third main characters is a major FBI leader with the retrospectively amusing name Woodley Allen. Allen is Starman's liaison who notifies him about trouble. He's also Doris's uncle. I don't know if that's been explored in any of the modern day treatments of the character, but it seems ripe for it. Ted pretends to be someone he's not around his girlfriend, who happens to be related to Starman's main contact. If she found out, would she be concerned that somehow Ted's using her?
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Post by Cei-U! on Feb 18, 2017 13:26:58 GMT -5
My question is how stupid does she have to be to not recognize the maskless Starman as her own boyfriend when she's been face to face with both of them?
Cei-U! I summon the conundrum, chum!
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Polar Bear
Full Member
Married, father of six
Posts: 107
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Post by Polar Bear on Feb 18, 2017 15:23:46 GMT -5
Superman: The Krypton Chronicles #1-3 (1981). This was apparently one of the first "mini-series" ever made. Fancy that. Number one was dead boring. Two was somewhat better; I only skimmed it sometimes. Three, though, was flat-out excellent, to the point where I got something in my eye a few pages from the end. Hard to nail the ending, but nail it they did. Worth the hunt. Not one of, but indeed the very first mini-series. Wow! I stand educated!
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Post by spoon on Feb 18, 2017 23:26:42 GMT -5
My question is how stupid does she have to be to not recognize the maskless Starman as her own boyfriend when she's been face to face with both of them? Cei-U! I summon the conundrum, chum! Maybe she's an undiagnosed sufferer of prosopagnosia. Or she really likes Ted for his hair and never noticed the rest of him.
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