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Post by beccabear67 on Oct 9, 2018 17:20:34 GMT -5
double post
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Post by beccabear67 on Oct 9, 2018 17:21:22 GMT -5
ps Bob Lubbers had a background in comic books, having started at Centaur, then a long stint at Fiction House, on such features as Captain Wings. He drew Vigilante for DC and some westerns for Ned Pines (Standard/Nedor), up until the war and after he left the army. he later did this issue and issues 16 & 17 of The Human Fly (which had featured art from fellow newspaper artist Frank Robbins). He was confused with Bob Lewis, in the 80s, as some thought that was Lubbers working under a pseudonym. Lubbers died last year, in July, at the age of 95. Almost every Wings comics I had was with a cover by Bob Lubbers (and every Fiction House Firehair story too). Very much in the Frank Robbins, Lee Elias, Milton Caniff style of comics. Another old-timer who showed up at '70s Marvel was Fred Kida. |
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Post by codystarbuck on Oct 9, 2018 17:24:21 GMT -5
Defenders #62 Tha classic (some would say "infamous") Defender For A Day! Creative Team: DAK-writer, Sal "The Pal" Buscema and Jim "Mr" Mooney-art, John Costanza-letters, Bob Sharen colors, Bob Hall-editor, Shooter-Defender for 15 minutes. Synopsis: The Defenders are tossing around a frisbee when Hulk gets a little too enthusiastic and slings it into Val's abdomen. It's only fun until someone loses a major organ! Hulk apologizes and Dollar Bill interrupts, with news that his secret documentary is premiering on TV. Kyle isn't happy, though Patsy loves the idea (which earns a remark from Kyle about ex-models and publicity. Val is the voice of reason and they go inside to watch. The result is a corny mess, showing the last few issues and ends with Dollar Bill making a recruitment pitch, without permission. Kyle goes off his nuts, Patsy is enamored of being a tv star, Hulk points out that she is no light in the sky (boy, ain't that the truth) and Val says what's done is done. Kyle keeps ranting, as he believes everyone will now want to be a Defender. We cut to the USSR and more teasing of The Presence, then back to the US for Kyle's worst fears to come true...  Kyle blows his stack, kicks out Dollar bill, tells Falcon to get off his roof and then they take it to the sky. Patsy sees hunk city and goes out to operate. Hulk asks Val if he should smash visitors and she says no and takes him to help make coffee (I'm guessing he grinds the beans). Patsy starts flirting and Torpedo regrets his wedding vows, while Paladin and Captain Ultra drool. Nova wants to go play cowboy with the academy's horses and marvel Man (the future Quasar) joins him. Black Goliath says the need a leader with a cooler head and Jack-of Hearts nominates Captain Marvel, which Ms Marvel seconds, though he declines. Instead, he nominates Hercules, which is seconded by Stingray and Herc is voted leader. Val and Hulk bring out coffee and Hulk tells Son of Satan to drink it. Paladin asks about cream & sugar and Hulk tells him to drink it black. Stingray declares the coffee Devil's Brew, then talls Damon "No offense." Damon is fine and says it is nasty and Mar-Vell says even Thanos wouldn't drink it. herc offers a toast, then drinks it and spits it out and Val is none too pleased. Torpedo gathers Havok, Black Goliath, Tagak and Iron Fist to take out the Hulk, as he is a menace. Patsy has Captain Ultra and Jack-of-Hearts competing for her and then says they are just there to have fun and ticks them off, Ultra shoves her away (dick!) and the Jack starts poking him, which devolves into a Bugs and Daffy routine...  Wild horses break up the scene (literally, as Nova, Marvel Man and White Tiger's horses have bolted. Hulk goes off for some peace and quiet and then gets jumped by the impromptu Hulkbusters. Thoughts: This is a really fun issue; best single comedic story since Gerber. The interplay is fun and everything turns into chaos; but, it could be worse...
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Post by codystarbuck on Oct 9, 2018 17:35:51 GMT -5
ps, Captain Ultra was created by Roy Thomas, George Perez and Joe Sinnott, in Fantastic Four#177. His costume makes Wonder Man's look like Pierre Cardin, by comparison...  This was at least deliberate, as Captain Ultra was pretty much a wannabee, who tried to join the Frightful Four; but, his fear of fire caused him to faint, when one of the Four lit a cigarette (a byproduct of the hypnosis that unleashed his latent powers). He's been used here and there; but, no one has truly tapped into the potential of the character, in my estimation. You could have some real gonzo fun with a character like this. |
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Post by codystarbuck on Oct 9, 2018 18:23:04 GMT -5
ps Bob Lubbers had a background in comic books, having started at Centaur, then a long stint at Fiction House, on such features as Captain Wings. He drew Vigilante for DC and some westerns for Ned Pines (Standard/Nedor), up until the war and after he left the army. he later did this issue and issues 16 & 17 of The Human Fly (which had featured art from fellow newspaper artist Frank Robbins). He was confused with Bob Lewis, in the 80s, as some thought that was Lubbers working under a pseudonym. Lubbers died last year, in July, at the age of 95. Almost every Wings comics I had was with a cover by Bob Lubbers (and every Fiction House Firehair story too). Very much in the Frank Robbins, Lee Elias, Milton Caniff style of comics. Another old-timer who showed up at '70s Marvel was Fred Kida. Kida also contributed some pin-ups for Eclipse's Airboy. |
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Post by codystarbuck on Oct 9, 2018 18:55:48 GMT -5
Defenders #63 Creative Team: DAK-story, Buscema & Mooney-art, Costanza-letters, Roger Slifer-colors, Shooter-only credited editor. Not sure what happened to Bob Hall. Synopsis: When we left the Defenders, a bunch of dimwits were about to attack the Hulk, with Havok and Black Goliath being the most powerful. This is not going to turn out well. They sucker-punch Hulk and Hulk smashes. Iron Man shows up to forward Patsy her mail and leaves the Hulk to them (wuss).  Patsy and Val ask Herc to restore sanity (that's like throwing gasoline on a fire), 'cause they are only girls and they can't handle a bunch of manly superheroes, only one of whom has any real power (Havok). Herc rejects reason in favor of hitting people with a tree. This being comics (especially Marvel) it works. Herc relays Iron Man's message about villains declaring themselves Defenders and wreaking havoc in NYC and says they must team up. Hulk tells them to get bent and hops away. Val shows that she is the one in charge and suggests three teams, one led by Herc, one by her and one by Nighthawk. Herc gets Havok, Hellcat, Captain Ultra, Black Goliath and White Tiger. Val gets Falcon, Torpedo, Stingray, Prowler, and Jerk-of-Hearts....I mean Jack-of-Hearts. Nighthawk gets the heroes who throw like girls: Nova, Daimon Hellstrom, Polaris, Marvel Man and Tagak. Captain Marvel wouldn't be caught dead with this group and Ms Marvel just gloats about being an Avenger. Paladin wants to be paid. They leave the popsicle stand. They groups head out, with Herc's dogpiling on Hellcat's appropriated Lola...  Kyle's team arrives in the city first and answers a call to stop some Defender who stole a car. it turns out to be the owner's punk kid and the gang is miffed and threaten some bodywork on the vehicle. We then get another tease from the USSR, as The Presence runs across some nuclear monster and is swallowed by it. Back in NYC, Herc's team arrives and runs into some minor villains, pulling a heist...  Batroc, Porcupine, Sagittarius, Whirlwind, Plant Man, the Blob, the Beetle, the Eel and Electro attack the ad hoc Defenders and the fight gets broken up by New York's Finest, who arrest everyone, heroes and villains. Thoughts: Silliness abounds and DAK channels Gerber. The Presence subplot continues to be underwhelming and they really need to wrap that up and move on. He just didn't work out. Patsy continues to be constantly on the make, in a rather sexist take on the character that wasn't nearly so bad when Steve Englehart handled her, in Amazing Adventures and Avengers. She does improve, here. Val seems rather restrained, too. I think we are drawing this out a bit too long; but, we have one more issue of insanity.
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Post by codystarbuck on Oct 9, 2018 19:15:48 GMT -5
Defenders #64 Creative Team: DAK-story, Buscema & Don Perlin-art, Costanza-letters, Sharen-colors, Bob Hall is back as editor, Shooter is there for the credit. Synopsis: The NYPD is arresting Herc's group of ad hoc Defenders and the villains, when Herc produces his Avengers ID. The villains use the distraction to flee to Grand Central Station, where they grab a subway train. The heroes follow the train across the city. meanwhile, Kyle's group stops what turns out to be more kids and the gang starts complaining. Kyle demonstrates the Henry Ford School of Labor Relations technique and his entire team quits. Nighthawk then answers a summons, alone, near the NYSE, where Shocker, Toad, Melter, Leap Frog, Boomerang and Libra are running amok. Shocker forces a broker to buy him shares of Richmond Enterprises, to make him a millionaire. Kind of doing it the hard way. Kyle shows up for a share buyback, of sorts. Kyle gets taken out, easily. Herc's group heads off the train, which Herc punches, stopping it cold. A melee begins and Blob slaps a sleeper choke on hellcat, who is going out and panicking and unleashes her latent psychic ability, which levels everyone, to the sounds of "Cheese & Crackers!" Val's group catches up with Kyle and heads after his attackers, cornering them on the Staten Island Ferry. In the middle of battle, Val loses it, seeing everyone as trolls and monsters and starts swinging Dragonfang, sending friend and foe flying. the good guys quit and Kyle finally gets through to her. Val breaks down, because she is an emotional girl and the rest of the heroes quit. Crybabies! We end with an alert from the Commies, about huge nuclear amoebas. Thoughts: This would probably work better as an annual or Giant Size issue, rather than stretched across 3 issues, though it is pointless fun. Hellcat displays more power, because who needs another hand-to-hand fighter and a girl one at that? Val continues to be badly written (not that Patsy is any better) and Hulk comes out the smart one in this gig. Even if it isn't earthshattering, it is fun, which most comics ceased to be by the 1980s (with notable exceptions). I'd be happier with modern comics if they could manage this just a third of the time. The movies could use some of it, too. Finally getting Sergei an d his nuke monsters done away with, in the next issue (s). Now if we can just put Lunatik to bed!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2018 10:47:26 GMT -5
ps, Captain Ultra was created by Roy Thomas, George Perez and Joe Sinnott, in Fantastic Four#177. His costume makes Wonder Man's look like Pierre Cardin, by comparison... This was at least deliberate, as Captain Ultra was pretty much a wannabee, who tried to join the Frightful Four; but, his fear of fire caused him to faint, when one of the Four lit a cigarette (a byproduct of the hypnosis that unleashed his latent powers). He's been used here and there; but, no one has truly tapped into the potential of the character, in my estimation. You could have some real gonzo fun with a character like this.The part that I bold in your post -- I agree with you and I wished that Marvel Comics should start using him again with its long absence -- he could had fans today that might like him for a change! |
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Post by zaku on Oct 12, 2018 3:12:26 GMT -5
I like how nonchalant is everyone around Hulk in this comics. Now he is ready to level a city if you look at him wrong...
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Post by rberman on Oct 12, 2018 10:42:45 GMT -5
ps, Captain Ultra was created by Roy Thomas, George Perez and Joe Sinnott, in Fantastic Four#177. His costume makes Wonder Man's look like Pierre Cardin, by comparison... This was at least deliberate, as Captain Ultra was pretty much a wannabee, who tried to join the Frightful Four; but, his fear of fire caused him to faint, when one of the Four lit a cigarette (a byproduct of the hypnosis that unleashed his latent powers). He's been used here and there; but, no one has truly tapped into the potential of the character, in my estimation. You could have some real gonzo fun with a character like this. That looks terrible, but if a costume is supposed to look terrible as a statement about the character, that's a good thing.  |
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Post by codystarbuck on Oct 17, 2018 15:05:29 GMT -5
Defenders #65 Somewhat Freudian cover here, from Keith Pollard and Terry Austin. Creative Team: DAK-still writing, Don Perlin & Bruce Patterson-art, Jean Simek-letters, Petra Goldberg-colors, Bob Hall-edits, Shooter-Stilt-Man (or it just seems like it; the dude is tall!) Synopsis: The cops are there harassing the various pseudo-Defenders after their romp through NYC.  Everyone is recovering from Hellcat's brain-blast, while Det. Keating is giving her a blast of his own. Dialogue gets pretty silly, with Patsy sounding like her old comic. The Defenders are gonna get the bill for damages. Kyle better dust off the checkbook. We then head back to the US.....back to the USS..... back to the USSR, where Red Guardian is in a containment cell, with eyes all a-glow. The Commies need Tania to fight the amoeba that swallowed up the Presence, which his radioactivity awoke, in the first place. being a good Collective Girl, Tania agrees and goes off to get swallowed up by the gooey monster.  We then cut to a reunion between Patsy Walker and Millie the Model.  They play catch-up, as Patsy avoids questions about her failed marriage and Millie tries to recruit her back to the world of modelling. Then, we jump back to the US...back (SCREECH) Sorry about that; my record got stuck. Tani is out cold and the Presence comes back to life, joins hands with Tania and generates enough power to escape the goo. They then attack and Sergei goes back inside, they unite again and nuke the amoeba away. They then whine about ruined land and decide to set up housekeeping in the Forbidden Zone. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Kyle makes a sign to tell would-be Defenders to F-off and Val undergoes PMS tantrums (Pre-Mythological Syndrome) and flies into bezerker rages. She is resting things when someone shows up and she takes off, leaving a note, pinned under a dagger, for Kyle.  Thoughts: DAK has been pretty uneven, on the series and this isn't a highpoint. The previous stuff was silly; but fun. it wasn't Gerber-level satire; but, it was entertaining. This just kind of sits there. Not sure what the point of Patsy & Millie's reunion was, other than to give her a cameo and establish that Patsy loves being a hero. Val's rages are pretty much PMS stereotypes (hence the joke), though it sets up our next arc, as we head to Asgard for some Myth-Busting. The Presence is ended, thankfully, for now, though Lunatik is still lurking out there. This thing needs a shot in the arm, right now.
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Post by codystarbuck on Oct 17, 2018 16:19:02 GMT -5
Defenders #66 Music.... (that does sort of describe this series: a bit of supernatural/mythological stuff and weird silver machines, flying sideways though time and space). Creative Team: DAK-story, Ed Hannigan & Bruce Patterson-art, Elaine Heinl-letters (with an assist from Gaspar Saladino), Bob Sharen-colors, Bob Hall-edits, Jim Shooter-Frost Giant Synopsis: Heimdall welcomes Val back to Asgard, yet he looks nothing like Idris Elba...  Val comes charging into Asgard, as Hannigan does his best Kirby-meets-Perez rendition of the gleaming Valhalla. We get a bit of a tour and Val meets up with the Three Fates (aka the Norns: Uror, Verandi or Veroandi, and Skuld) who show her the future, which consists of a lot of hacking and dying, with Hela showing up and getting all of the best lines (oh, wait, that was Thor: Ragnarok). The Norns tell her that she can't escape the future, so she goes off to accept it and check in with Hela, her boss (theoretically, as a Chooser of the Slain). WE get a brief interlude to check in with Patsy (who is sleeping in costume, with her mask on!) and the local office of the Justice Department, where Ron is presenting his boss, Hal, his case for bringing charges against Kyle Richmond, for income tax evasion and fraud. Uh-oh! Just as an aside, I wonder if the other guys in the office are named Chano, Phil, Nick, Stan and Arthur? (see below....) Back to Valhalla. Val runs into old friends, including Harokin, leader of Valhalla's legions (a hall for warriors would have their own VFW) and waits to get crapped on by Hela, who, instead, sends her to take charge of the Valkyrie and lead them against Ollerus the Unmerciful!. Val and the Gang (like Kool and the Gang, though more conservatively dressed) head on out to do battle. All of this is watched by Poppo the Cunning (through the Crystal of Eternal View, from Thor #149), who alerts Queen Cassiolena (from Defenders #4) and Ollerus (from, um, this issue.) Ollerus seriously needs to consult a good tailor...  They plot an ambush and Val and her group head for it. Val finds out that Hela is in charge, with Odin away, and the Valkyrie don't like it. Val goes on to scout and spots the horde coming at them and signals Harokin, who spouts BS about glory and battle and then the carnage begins. Val proceeds to open a can of flying whoop-ass of Ollerus' goons. The trap is sprung and the Asgardians are buried under rocks, with only Val, on Aragon, escaping. She spots an opening and cautiously enters it and finds her old body there, sleeping. She goes to touch it, when KRAKABOOM, she is unconscious on the floor and the body is standing there, saying that Val is kaput and Barbara Norriss lives again. Oh, snap! Thoughts: Well, off to the races. Lots pf Asgardian stuff, lots of references to old issues, lots of Norns (without Karnilla, their supposed Queen) and one dude with a fish head... The art is kind of all over the place, with some good and some not so good. A few panels look a bit like Carmine Infantino, some look a little on newton-ish, some Ditko-y, and some generic. Hannigan hasn't really developed the chops to do Asgard and battle sequences justice. Looks like the main thrust is reconciling the past of Valkyrie, with the return of Barbara Norriss, Cassiolena and her old job, picking up dead bodies of heroes. The Kyle Richmond subplot is out of the blue; but, is left to the future. I'm not 100% sure; but, I suspect the names Hal and Ron are an homage to the tv comedy Barney Miller. The boss is named Hal, and Hal Linden played boss Capt. Barney Miller, and the other guy is a black man, named Ron. Ron Glass played Det. Harris, the would-be writer. Hence my musing about the rest of the office (Abe Vigoda is Det. Phil Fish, Gregory Sierra as det. Chano Aminguale, Jack Soo as Det. Nick Yamana, Max Gail as Stan "Wojo" Wojciehowicz, and Steve Landesberg as Det. Arthur Dietrich). The show was one of the top rated shows of the period, part of ABC's dominant Thursday line-up. Hard to make much of things, yet, as this is all set-up. It's war in Asgard and Val's past catching up. Intriguing premise, mixed with some past Thor plots. We'll see how well the rest integrate themselves into things. The cover teases the Hulk; but, he is nowhere to be seen. More Marvel bait-and-switch. Damn Shooter!  (They all did it, right back to Stan.  )
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Post by codystarbuck on Oct 17, 2018 16:44:23 GMT -5
Defenders#67 Got this one in a Whitman 3-pack, back in the day. Creative Team: pretty much the same, except Hannigan co-plotted and scripted, as well as pencilled and Al Milgrom is the editor. Synopsis: Cover didn't lie, this time, as we open with the Hulk and a bunch of soon-to-be-smashed soldiers. Do you get the Purple Heart for getting your butt kicked by the Hulk?  Hulk smash, puny humans leave Hulk alone, yadda-yadda-yadda. Hulk is jumping through the air, to smoosh soldiers, when he gets ht by a wave of pain, passes out, and crash lands, out of sight. Cut to Valhalla and the aftermath of the ambush. Val is in a cell and Ollerus lords it over her, when Val (in her old duds) attacks and swats him away, only to get magicked by Poppo. Cut to Patsy and her lousy driving, of a $50,000 car. She has been hit by a vision of Val, then gets hit by a truck, and she and Kyle go off a cliff. They seem fine; but, paramedics are removing bodies, which seem to be theirs and ignore Kyle and Patsy, in costume. Val shows up to collect the dead Defenders, which Kyle has problems accepting. Unbeknownst to them, Val is actually Barbara Norriss in Val's duds, minus Aragon. Ollerus watches through the Crystal and cackles. He then randomly kills a blond guy, whose spirit will be collected for his army. See, military recruiters are a sneaky, underhanded bunch! Val figures out her mind is still in Barbara Norriss' body and vice versa and they switched her clothes, to pull a ruse. She swipes a guards spear, smashes the wall and escapes, running into flying dragons (pterodactyls), only to be saved by Harokin, riding Aragon. Val/Barbara turns up with Kyle and Patsy, and is followed by the hordes of newly dead, to feed Ollerus' army, including the Hulk. Thoughts: This is all a bit convoluted. Everyone seems to suddenly die, then gets swept up to be arrow fodder, for Ollerus. Val is kept in check by magic, yet figures a way past, only to be in need of rescue. If this is supposed to restore her badass self, it's doing it the hard way. Interesting to see Ed Hannigan scripting, instead of DAK. Probably has something to do with DAK leaving the book, as 68 is his last credited issue, until #89.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 17, 2018 17:59:55 GMT -5
Got this one in a Whitman 3-pack, so did I and it's pretty much exactly what you've written here.
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Post by codystarbuck on Oct 17, 2018 19:44:02 GMT -5
ps, in a line of dialogue, Kyle says it's a $25,000 car. previously, it was $50,000.
Depreciation's is a b@#$5!
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(They all did it, right back to Stan. 
)