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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2014 16:10:32 GMT -5
Actually, Freddy's dead. That's what I said.
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Post by foxley on May 10, 2014 19:03:05 GMT -5
What I meant to say was: I saw Vartox in the Power Girl series from a few years ago and I had no idea he was a "real" character, i.e., a character who had appeared in Bronze Age Superman comics. And it appears to be one of the best Superman comics of that time period, though I wouldn't necessarily guess such from the description of the plot. I assume the 1974 Superman comics are being graded on a curve? If I remember correctly, Vartox would later come to live on Earth after his own planet was destroyed and get involved in a relationship with Lana Lang. |
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Post by the4thpip on May 11, 2014 2:41:24 GMT -5
Actually, Freddy's dead. That's what I said. Curtis Mayfield references are a great way to win my heart. |
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Post by Deleted on May 11, 2014 18:00:12 GMT -5
Actually, Freddy's dead. That's what I said. Curtis Mayfield references are a great way to win my heart. Aw, shucks, dude. Guess I shouldn't mention that that's the only Mayfield song I can name. It was indelibly burned into my brain by the Superfly soundtrack. |
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Post by Action Ace on May 12, 2014 19:40:40 GMT -5
Or, you know, kind of complete. Honestly, I don't currently feel like copying over the first part of this, so while I may eventually do so, at the moment I am just going to pick up where I left off. For those who weren't reading this at the old forums, beginning with the departure of Mort Weisinger in 1970, I am reading all the Superman titles month by month to replicate the experience of the Bronze Age Superman fan right through the end of Crisis in 1986. This includes everything expect for Superboy, as those stories do not tie in with "current" Superman continuity; so this includes Action, Superman, World's Finest, Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, Supergirl in Adventure, Supergirl, Superman Family, DC Comics Presents and The New Adventures of Supergirl as well as other stuff I'm sure I am forgetting. This is my first time reading these stories, so I have no idea what to expect, except at this point I pretty much expect mediocrity. I'm currently up to the beginning of 1974, after DC's failed 25 cent gambit crashed the market and led to half the line getting cancelled and downsized into Superman Family. From 5-6 books a month, we're now down to 3 books most months. Are we allowed to discuss earlier Bronze Age issues in this thread or do you want to keep the focus on the current month's issues as you post them? |
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Crimebuster
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Post by Crimebuster on May 12, 2014 21:44:47 GMT -5
Or, you know, kind of complete. Honestly, I don't currently feel like copying over the first part of this, so while I may eventually do so, at the moment I am just going to pick up where I left off. For those who weren't reading this at the old forums, beginning with the departure of Mort Weisinger in 1970, I am reading all the Superman titles month by month to replicate the experience of the Bronze Age Superman fan right through the end of Crisis in 1986. This includes everything expect for Superboy, as those stories do not tie in with "current" Superman continuity; so this includes Action, Superman, World's Finest, Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, Supergirl in Adventure, Supergirl, Superman Family, DC Comics Presents and The New Adventures of Supergirl as well as other stuff I'm sure I am forgetting. This is my first time reading these stories, so I have no idea what to expect, except at this point I pretty much expect mediocrity. I'm currently up to the beginning of 1974, after DC's failed 25 cent gambit crashed the market and led to half the line getting cancelled and downsized into Superman Family. From 5-6 books a month, we're now down to 3 books most months. Are we allowed to discuss earlier Bronze Age issues in this thread or do you want to keep the focus on the current month's issues as you post them? We can discuss them, it's fine. My reviews began at the point where Mort Weisinger left as editor, which I consider to the start of the Bronze Age for the Superman family. So anything from that point is fair game. The first issue of each title under the new regimes: July, 1970Adventure Comics #397 - new editor Mike Sekowsky August, 1970Action Comics #393 - new editor Murray Boltinoff Jimmy Olsen #133 - new editor Murray Boltinoff (for the interim, with Jack Kirby taking over three issues later) Lois Lane #105 - new editor E. Nelson Bridwell September, 1970World's Finest #198 - new editor Julie Schwartz November, 1970Superman #233 - new editor Julie Schwartz |
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Crimebuster
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Post by Crimebuster on May 13, 2014 0:40:04 GMT -5
September 1974
Superman #282: Lex Luthor comes up with a thing that rewinds Superman back to when he was an impetuous kid. Lex figures his edge in experience will allow him to win. Which it does. Except, it works too well - Lex manages to smash Superman into the ground using some super gravity weapon, except it sucks Lex into the ground as well, and both plummet through the Earth's crust towards certain death at the center of the planet. Lex has to reverse the aging ray and turn Superman normal again so the experienced Superman can figure out how to save them both. And this is what passes for a criminal mastermind? THE END! In the backup, Superman tells Supergirl a story about a guy who wanted to become immortal, but when he did, it sucked. Superman tells this to Kara as some kind of object lesson, to talk her out of quitting as Supergirl, but what the connection is, I don't really see. My Grade: C. Action Comics #442: Cary Bates turns in a story based on one question: Is Superman actually faster than a speeding bullet? Johnny Nevada is kidnapped and the kidnapper gives them a deadline: Turn over a million dollars ransom by the time Nevada's TV show is over, or Nevada gets it, see? Superman knows they're just going to kill Nevada even if they get the ransom, so he races against time to find Nevada. But he fails. At the last moment, he comes up with a desperate plan: If he can get them to shoot Nevada at a specific moment, he can use his super hearing to listen for a gun, then zoom to the location and stop the bullet. It's ridiculously risky, but he goes on Nevada's TV show as the final guest and unspools a bogus yarn that does indeed get the crooks to shoot the real Nevada. Superman races across town and gets there just in time, stopping the bullet and saving Nevada! This was a really well paced thriller with a cool premise. What have you done with the real Cary Bates?! Meanwhile, in the backup story, The Atom travels to the past and is mistaken for a Martian because he arrives the night of Orson Welles' famous "War of the Worlds" radio broadcast. Whatever. My Grade: A-. Does anybody enjoy The Atom at this point? Superman Family #168: Lena Thorul, Lex Luthor's secret sister with mind powers, returns. She goes to Supergirl's school to lecture on ESP, and discovers a student who has powers. Specifically, she is an empath with a mental connection to a woman who is being forced to commit suicide. Which, is it really suicide if it's forced? But... anyway, Supergirl, Lena and the ESP chick tack down the woman, who is being held in thrall by a wizard trying to drain her lifeforce to power some spell or other. They save her and defeat the wizard, who turns out to be a phony who happened to stumble on a cursed crystal ball. THE END! My Grade: C. Another WTF Supergirl story. A lot of those going around, seems like. Notes: Someone mentioned earlier reading a Superman Family issue where Jimmy Olsen was chummy with Hitler; that is in this issue, reprinted from an earlier issue of Jimmy Olsen. The big interest this month - besides a surprisingly good story in Action - is Lex Luthor getting his classic Bronze Age costume in Superman #282. You know, the one with the crossed belts over the collared shirt. Yep, this is where that outfit debuts, and there's a whole sequence devoted to him putting it on, to the point where his henchmen comment on what a big production it was just getting Luthor dressed.
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Post by Hoosier X on May 13, 2014 11:55:39 GMT -5
I think I'm the one who mentioned the story (from Jimmy Olsen #86) where Olsen goes back in time, participates in D-Day, becomes a Nazi officer, is awarded the Iron Cross, meets Hitler and Goering, and barely escapes with his life.
And if it's OK with you, Scott, I'll summarize the rest of the reprints. This issue has a very good selection of reprints, every one a winner!
In a story from Lois Lane #56, Lois pretends to be a night club psychic and is kidnapped by gangsters! Absolutely beautiful art by Kurt Schaffenberger.
From Superboy #122, "The Fugitive Krypto" finds the Kryptonian canine losing his powers on a planet inhabited by humanoids with dog heads - and a fake Krypto has taken his place!
The highlight of the issue (aside from the Schaffenberger art) is probably "Brainiac's Super-Revenge" from Action #280, where Superman, Perry White, Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen travel to the Congo to cover the native uprising. But they get entangled in Brainiac's plan as he shrinks them to a few inches in height! Fortunately, Congorilla to the rescue! A crazy, crazy story.
There's also a Mxyzptlk story and a Lana Lang story (she figures out a way to fake psychic powers) that are both pretty good, if you like Silver Age Superman silliness.
A much, much better line-up than you will find in your average 100-page World's Finest!
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Crimebuster
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Post by Crimebuster on May 13, 2014 11:57:59 GMT -5
And if it's OK with you, Scott, I'll summarize the rest of the reprints. This issue has a very good selection of reprints, every one a winner! Absolutely, please do. It's good to have some else fill in the gaps for me, because I sure as hell am never going to read them! NO REPRINTS!!  |
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Post by MDG on May 13, 2014 12:47:15 GMT -5
In a story from Lois Lane #56, Lois pretends to be a night club psychic and is kidnapped by gangsters! Absolutely beautiful art by Kurt Schaffenberger..... Schaffenberger is really one of the unsung best artists of the solver and bronze ages. His style treaded the line between realistic and cartoony, but his characters were always expressive. Worked really well on Lois where (vixen that she was) she would be saying one thing and thinking another. |
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Post by Hoosier X on May 13, 2014 13:07:34 GMT -5
Scott,
Your NO REPRINTS stance is only hurting yourself.
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Post by Hoosier X on May 13, 2014 13:13:53 GMT -5
Schaffenberger is really one of the unsung best artists of the solver and bronze ages. His style treaded the line between realistic and cartoony, but his characters were always expressive. Worked really well on Lois where (vixen that she was) she would be saying one thing and thinking another. So true, so true, MDG.
This is what you're missing, Scott, when you don't read reprints.
MDG, did you ever read that Elongated Man backup (not a reprint!) in a 1970s Detective that was drawn by Schaffenberger? It starts with Sue so angry that she tears the newspaper in half because she wasn't named as one of the World's Greatest Women (or something) along with Golda Meir and Gloria Steinem. And then Ralph fights mink-coat thieves. But he loses his powers! And then ...
I sure do miss Ralph and Sue. And Kurt Schaffenberger.
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Post by Ish Kabbible on May 13, 2014 15:03:33 GMT -5
So let me get this straight. Scott,you don't want to discuss the reprints in the comics but it's OK to discuss the reprints of you're reviews.Ironic,is it not?
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Post by The Man of Tomorrow on May 13, 2014 16:03:47 GMT -5
In a story from Lois Lane #56, Lois pretends to be a night club psychic and is kidnapped by gangsters! Absolutely beautiful art by Kurt Schaffenberger..... Schaffenberger is really one of the unsung best artists of the solver and bronze ages. His style treaded the line between realistic and cartoony, but his characters were always expressive. Worked really well on Lois where (vixen that she was) she would be saying one thing and thinking another. Double post. |
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Post by The Man of Tomorrow on May 13, 2014 16:04:35 GMT -5
In a story from Lois Lane #56, Lois pretends to be a night club psychic and is kidnapped by gangsters! Absolutely beautiful art by Kurt Schaffenberger..... Schaffenberger is really one of the unsung best artists of the solver and bronze ages. His style treaded the line between realistic and cartoony, but his characters were always expressive. Worked really well on Lois where (vixen that she was) she would be saying one thing and thinking another. I love Schaffenberger, but his art only worked for me when it came to light-hearted stories. |
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