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Post by MDG on Mar 24, 2017 5:39:24 GMT -5
About 2/3 through this--very interesting. I've been interested in Biro since an article in the slick fanzine Fanfare a long time ago, that focused mainly on Biro's attempt to do an adult, magazine-sized comic called Tops. His work with Crimebuster (and Daredevil) seems to parallel Eisner on The Spirit, where the character became more and more a conduit to tell other stories--not necessarily a bad thing. And, more interesting, character-driven stories than, for example, what Feldstein would do at EC, where everything led to a shocking/ironic ending.
Is any of his stuff available in inexpensive formats?
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Crimebuster
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Post by Crimebuster on Mar 24, 2017 14:51:58 GMT -5
Is any of his stuff available in inexpensive formats? Hmm. Well, a lot is available online for free, though the scan quality is pretty bad in many cases. I know there have been a couple Crimebuster collections from publishers like AC and stuff, but they focus on the Iron Jaw fights, which are the least interesting to me (some of the ones in the first 13 issues are good). There are some Crime Does Not Pay archives that came out a few years ago which are supposed to be very high quality remastered versions of the comics. But again, they start with the earliest issues of the series in 1942, where I think he really reached his stride as a writer post-war, in 1947 or so. But I haven't read much Crime Does Not Pay, so they may be better than his earlier Boy Comics work. |
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Post by MDG on Mar 24, 2017 15:28:56 GMT -5
Is any of his stuff available in inexpensive formats? Hmm. Well, a lot is available online for free, though the scan quality is pretty bad in many cases. I know there have been a couple Crimebuster collections from publishers like AC and stuff, but they focus on the Iron Jaw fights, which are the least interesting to me (some of the ones in the first 13 issues are good). There are some Crime Does Not Pay archives that came out a few years ago which are supposed to be very high quality remastered versions of the comics. But again, they start with the earliest issues of the series in 1942, where I think he really reached his stride as a writer post-war, in 1947 or so. But I haven't read much Crime Does Not Pay, so they may be better than his earlier Boy Comics work. Yeah, a friend gave me the first Crime Does Not Pay archive, which was OK. Biggest surprise was Harry Lucey work in there. I'd just as soon read online, thanks--I'll look around. |
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Post by Prince Hal on Mar 29, 2017 16:03:35 GMT -5
CrimebusterCB, very much enjoyed the Boy Comics episode. Fascinating and well told. And your knowledge of the comic and the era is impressive. Can you give us a link to the sites where the comics are available to read? I can't wait to try some of these. Keep the 'casts a'comin', please!
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Crimebuster
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Post by Crimebuster on Mar 29, 2017 17:47:29 GMT -5
Can you give us a link to the sites where the comics are available to read? I can't wait to try some of these. One issue I meant to recommend was #42, the first story is the longest Crimebuster story in the run, though he's not involved very much in most of it. It's a real corker. The second page scan online is poor quality, but the rest of the story is much better scans. |
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Post by Roquefort Raider on Mar 30, 2017 11:01:12 GMT -5
Wearing a hockey uniform, that young hero seems to be a natural choice for Canadian readers! Thanks for the link, Crimebuster!
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Crimebuster
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Making comics!
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Post by Crimebuster on Mar 30, 2017 11:44:35 GMT -5
Wearing a hockey uniform, that young hero seems to be a natural choice for Canadian readers! Thanks for the link, Crimebuster! Yeah, his uniform bears an unfortunate resemblance to a Canadiens jersey, which I don't think is a coincidence. I cosplayed as Crimebuster at Boston Comic-Con and before we went, I told my girlfriend I would probably have far more people hassling me because they thought I was wearing a P.K. Subban jersey - Crimebuster's number happens to be 76 - than I would have people who recognized the costume. It was actually a tie - 1 person thought I was wearing a P.K. Subban jersey, and 1 person figured out my costume, but that was Mark Waid, and it took him a bit to figure it out. For some hockey themed stories, the second tale in #50 is about hockey, as is the story in #119. That's the last issue, and it's one of the only issues where Crimebuster kind of acts like a jerk, as I think Biro was trying too hard to rework the book into the college/teen school mold and ended up making Chuck look like a real tosser. But the plot is about a French Canadian transfer student who threatens Chuck's role as top dog on the hockey team with his Quebecois hockey prowess. |
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