Crimebuster
CCF Podcast Guru
Making comics!
Posts: 3,947
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Post by Crimebuster on Dec 3, 2019 10:36:33 GMT -5
The story also includes the Haunted Tank team as they help "save" Black Eagle during a fire fight by taking out one of two German fighter planes which ambush him. I swear, the Haunted Tank somehow shoots down a plane with their main gun just about every issue. It's absurd. As far as I can tell, something like this happened once during WW2, so apparently that's a green light to just have them do it all wly nilly. Every time I read a story where they do that i want to toss the book across the room. The Viking Commando is more believable!
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Post by profh0011 on Dec 3, 2019 12:00:18 GMT -5
Another doctor apppointment, more reading FLASH GORDON...
When Flash won the Tournament of Death, he found out what a con-job it really was, as in order to become ruler of his own kingdom, he had to conquer it. Clearly, this was a way for Ming to get rid of trouble-makers.
The kingdom Flash was "given" was the Rock Kingdom, an underground series of caves ruled over by Azura, Queen of Magic (a more toned-down for Hollywood version of her appeared in "Flash Gordon's Trip To Mars"). Before it was over, Flash had been brainwashed, un-brainwashed, and saved Azura's life and therefore become King of the Rock Kingdom. But after all that, Ming refused to honor it, unless Flash could produce the dead body of Azura (and he hadn't killed her).
As Ming broke his own law, Flash declared war against Mongo, but this didn't work out too well, as under Ming's commands, every local Kingdom joined Ming to attack Flash's forces-- except for Vultan's and Barin's. (We never did see how Barin conquered Arboria... but maybe they greeted him eagerly, since he already had a track-record of leading men.)
By the time the war was over, it looked like nearly the entire population of the Rock Kingdom was wiped out (no clue as to the fate of Azura), as well as quite a few Tree Men of Arboria and Hawk Men of Vultan's.
Flash was captured by Ming, and Dale & Zarkov had to go into Mingo City to rescue him. They did, capturing Ming in the process. But Ming escaped, and the trio were shot down while flying to Arboria. This led to the adventure in the Undersea Kingdom, where temporarily, the three were forced to become water-breathers (which, until the end, it looked like might be a permanent condition). Ming attacked the Underwater Kingdom, but was beaten back, allowing the trio to depart as friends of their Queen (and her new husband).
But once again... Ming's ships chased after Zarkov and shot them down, this time on the outskirts of Arboria.
Witnessing the crash wasn't enough, Ming's men set fire to a huge area of the forest-jungle. They found refuge in a lake, but so did many other animals, some dangerous. Flash had to fight and kill several. Ming's men reported no one escaped the fire, and so Ming broadcast the happy news to his people that the rebel Flash and his friends had died in the fire. Hearing the broadcast, both Barin and Aura were greatly saddenned. Barin sent his men to search the area, now that the fire had died out.
Another stampede of escaping animals turned out to be because of a pack of mad "Squirrelons"-- as Zarkov put it, "One bite means madness (and death)". One of these viscious bastard flying squirrel things bit Zarkov, and although Dale tried to treat the wound, he started raving and ran off. Some of Barin's men found him, but believed his ravings that the others had died in the fire.
Flash & Dale began wandering thru the jungle, trying to follow Zarkov's path, but soon become lost. At one point something that looked like an elephant with two trunks knocked Dale out of a tree, and was about to flatten Flash underfoot... when creeping vines lifted the entire huge beast into the air and killed it. Flash was next... but Dale used his laser pistrol to get him loose. Quicksand was the next danger, first she almost went down, then she had to save him. This thing just never stops.
And then... they were captured by "Tusk-Men". They reminded me a bit of the guy Flash fought at the end of the 1st chapter of the 1936 serial... except, in this case, the pair was led back thru the jungle to another series of caves... and I suddenly realized, THIS particular sequence was the basis for the early sequence in the 1979 Flimation feature film! Didn't see that coming.
These cave men are cannibals, and plan to eat Flash while their chief keeps Dale for himself (seems like every chieftain on this freaking planet gets the same idea). As Flash is about to be cooked alive in a gigantic fire, an underground beast attacks, and he drags it into the fire instead. With good food to eat, the chief tells Flash, if he can get them more meat, they won't eat him. He takes out a squad of men and soon proves what a great hunter he is.
But he has no desire to stick around, so he tells the cave men, if they want lots of good food, make HIM their chief! Naturally, this leads to a battle to the death, but the witch-doctor hands Flash an axe with a broken handle. Flash takes out the guy anyway, then shocks everyone by deciding not to kill his predecessor.....
And that's where things stand where I left off.....
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Post by Slam_Bradley on Dec 3, 2019 17:11:45 GMT -5
The story also includes the Haunted Tank team as they help "save" Black Eagle during a fire fight by taking out one of two German fighter planes which ambush him. I swear, the Haunted Tank somehow shoots down a plane with their main gun just about every issue. It's absurd. As far as I can tell, something like this happened once during WW2, so apparently that's a green light to just have them do it all wly nilly. Every time I read a story where they do that i want to toss the book across the room. The Viking Commando is more believable! It's a good visual. I've found that DC's war books, while generally quite well done, are best in small doses. Nobody thought they were going to be read in big chunks when they were being produced and they get even more same-y in even shorter order than the average Silver/Bronze Age books.
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Post by profholt82 on Dec 4, 2019 18:53:52 GMT -5
Batman Annual #14This is a thick issue full of depth and nuance, and it makes for one heck of a good read. It's a one shot story that tells the tale of Two Face's origin. From cases involving a deranged surgeon/serial killer to the head of a Gotham mafia family, district attorney Harvey Dent has his hands full. A recent meeting with his estranged father has stirred up some repressed memories of childhood abuse, which begin to manifest themselves in his day to day behavior. It isn't long before Batman and Gordon fear that Harvey is on the brink of a breakdown. The book delves into the relationship between physical and psychological trauma, and how they affect the man and those around him. It also dips its big toe into Freudian waters regarding the id and man's duality. I came across this issue in a bargain bin, and the cover attracted me. I wasn't expecting much going in, but I sure got a whole lot in return. Recommended.
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Post by Cei-U! on Dec 4, 2019 21:11:52 GMT -5
I swear, the Haunted Tank somehow shoots down a plane with their main gun just about every issue. It's absurd. As far as I can tell, something like this happened once during WW2, so apparently that's a green light to just have them do it all wly nilly. Every time I read a story where they do that i want to toss the book across the room. The Viking Commando is more believable! It's a good visual. I've found that DC's war books, while generally quite well done, are best in small doses. Nobody thought they were going to be read in big chunks when they were being produced and they get even more same-y in even shorter order than the average Silver/Bronze Age books. Painfully true. Robert Kanigher seems to have five or six plots worked out for each series and just cycles through them repeatedly. Individually, they're often very good, but read ten or twelve of them in a row and it's stultifyingly monotonous despite the great Kubert or Heath or Drucker art.
Cei-U! I summon the war bore!
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Post by brutalis on Dec 5, 2019 8:01:41 GMT -5
It's a good visual. I've found that DC's war books, while generally quite well done, are best in small doses. Nobody thought they were going to be read in big chunks when they were being produced and they get even more same-y in even shorter order than the average Silver/Bronze Age books. Painfully true. Robert Kanigher seems to have five or six plots worked out for each series and just cycles through them repeatedly. Individually, they're often very good, but read ten or twelve of them in a row and it's stultifyingly monotonous despite the great Kubert or Heath or Drucker art.
Cei-U! I summon the war bore!
So very true about reading individually versus issues in a row. As much as I adore my war and westerns, they are best read an issue or two at a time at most, because the sheer absurdity at times can make your head hurt. And there is a LOT of repetitive plots to be found with the tiniest of changes or a different artist.
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Confessor
CCF Mod Squad
Not Bucky O'Hare!
Posts: 10,070
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Post by Confessor on Dec 5, 2019 8:21:46 GMT -5
Painfully true. Robert Kanigher seems to have five or six plots worked out for each series and just cycles through them repeatedly. Individually, they're often very good, but read ten or twelve of them in a row and it's stultifyingly monotonous despite the great Kubert or Heath or Drucker art. Cei-U! I summon the war bore!
So very true about reading individually versus issues in a row. As much as I adore my war and westerns, they are best read an issue or two at a time at most, because the sheer absurdity at times can make your head hurt. And there is a LOT of repetitive plots to be found with the tiniest of changes or a different artist. Even the best Silver or Bronze Age Westerns can suffer from this. God knows I love old Jonah Hex comics, but they can start to wear thin if you read too many in a row -- especially the more "fanciful" issues in the latter half of the run, in the early-to-mid 80s. As for war comics, a lot of the ones I used to enjoy as a kid, like Commando or Battle Picture Weekly are basically unreadable to me now. The exception, of course, would be the excellent "Charley's War" strip from BPW, which holds up very well to adult eyes.
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Post by brutalis on Dec 5, 2019 8:56:47 GMT -5
So very true about reading individually versus issues in a row. As much as I adore my war and westerns, they are best read an issue or two at a time at most, because the sheer absurdity at times can make your head hurt. And there is a LOT of repetitive plots to be found with the tiniest of changes or a different artist. Even the best Silver or Bronze Age Westerns can suffer from this. God knows I love old Jonah Hex comics, but they can start to wear thin if you read too many in a row -- especially the more "fanciful" issues in the latter half of the run, in the early-to-mid 80s. As for war comics, a lot of the ones I used to enjoy as a kid, like Commando or Battle Picture Weekly are basically unreadable to me now. The exception, of course, would be the excellent "Charley's War" strip from BPW, which holds up very well to adult eyes. Looking forward to reading Charley's War very soon. Bought a collected edition back in October (after so many CCF members kept on discussing it) and have it in my growing pile of TPB's to read one day. Another glorious black and white reading experience to savor and enjoy slowly over many days.
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Post by profh0011 on Dec 6, 2019 15:44:46 GMT -5
Michael Fleisher was one of those writers who had ONE plot he kept cycling thru every 30 days. After 40 issues in a row, you'd never want to read a comic-book again.
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Post by dbutler69 on Dec 9, 2019 9:47:59 GMT -5
I just read the Legion of Super-Heroes #35, concluding the four-part Universo Project story. I remember this being one of my all-time favorite Legion stories and it did not disappoint upon re-reading it! Love the story and the art. Saturn Girl really gets a chance to shine. I love the suspense in this story.
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Post by hondobrode on Dec 9, 2019 10:20:54 GMT -5
That whole run is very good.
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Post by dbutler69 on Dec 9, 2019 13:44:32 GMT -5
That whole run is very good. I agree. I'm reading through the Legion Baxter series now, and really loving it. I especially like the LaRoque issues and the Lightle issues are outstanding too. Lots of good characterization by Levitz, also. Not easy to juggle so many characters!
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Post by hondobrode on Dec 9, 2019 14:11:43 GMT -5
Definitely one of my favorite runs.
Slightly related to the LSH is the L.E.G.I.O.N. title. Also highly recommended.
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Post by dbutler69 on Dec 9, 2019 16:29:45 GMT -5
Definitely one of my favorite runs. Slightly related to the LSH is the L.E.G.I.O.N. title. Also highly recommended. I may get to that some day. So many comics, so little time!
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Post by Batflunkie on Dec 9, 2019 19:30:54 GMT -5
Fleetway's Sonic The Comic #1-#3 Re-reading it, I was really only interested in it for the backup strips, which are pretty decent action adventure tales that have quality artwork. Sonic not so much
The little review blurbs and current Sega happenings make it a pretty nice little time capsule
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