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Post by MWGallaher on Dec 16, 2014 10:39:41 GMT -5
#12: Captain Marvel #3 (MF Enterprises, 1966) I wasn't yet in school when my mother bought this for me (no kindergarten for me!). As best as I can recall, it was a treat for having suffered through an inoculation at the Health Department, probably getting some required shots for the upcoming first grade. I remember looking through this in the back seat of our old Nash. I can't imagine why my mother would have picked this comic out for me. She must not have given it too much thought, and, I'm happy to say, she was never too concerned about protecting me from "violent" entertainment, so the punching on the front probably wouldn't have fazed her. It would be great to be able to say that I kept and treasured this first comic book forever, but it disappeared quickly from my world. Lost, destroyed, stolen, thrown away, who knows? In my short time with it, it made a small but powerful impact on my young mind. I was in awe of the concept and the images of Captain Marvel's powers in action: he could split his android body into multiple, separate flying parts, independent and autonomous (note: I didn't know any of those big words then, and I doubt any of them were used in this very juvenile comic). I remembered the name, and I remembered the flying, unattached hand, and that's all. Nowadays, you can surf and find several web pages discussing this incarnation of Captain Marvel. But in the dark ages, what little comics history was available to the average fan was usually focused on the greater lights of the medium. Jim Steranko didn't waste space on this guy in his History of Comics, Don Thompson and Dick Lupoff ignored him in All In Color For a Dime, and even the fan magazines of the 70's and 80's had better things to talk about. So for about 15 years, I half thought that my memories of this comic were the muddled confusions of a preschooler's mind. Then, in the early 80's, my favorite comics dealer, Kendall Carnes of Memphis Comics and Records, pointed out his new box of "Esoteric Comics", and there I rediscovered my old friend! I was right! There was a Captain Marvel that could split! Obviously, in this group, there's no shame in having a favorite that's one of the least popular comics of all time. Heck, this version of Cap got some other mentions (although not as a particular favorite!) in this very first thread! So I'm not ashamed...I'm really proud of being, as I like to believe, Marvel's #1 fan. And why shouldn't I be? When you really think about it, this wonderful little comic encapsulates a lot that's great about superhero comics! By cannibalizing defunct trademarks (this and other issues of Captain Marvel brazenly appropriated the names, likenesses, and/or powers of Doctor Fate, Plastic Man, Doll Man, Iron Jaw, and of course, Captain Marvel (and Billy "Baxton", and "(sha)-XAM!", and even the Bat(man)! So its DNA is rich with strands from a line of ancestral greats. And where would the superhero comic be if every imaginable superpower weren't fair game for a wide-ranging imagination? Flying, independent split-off body parts...where else but comics can a creator let loose with such a crazy idea, to imagine what could be done with such a crazy ability, to try to craft that into the basis for an ongoing series of adventures? It's proof: a comic doesn't have to be great, just like a book, song or movie doesn't have to be great. It can be your favorite by being there at the right time, taking seed in a fertile brain that's just beginning to notice the art form, without prejudice or preconceptions, to just...marvel. SPLIT!
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Post by thwhtguardian on Dec 16, 2014 11:37:50 GMT -5
#12: Captain Marvel #3 (MF Enterprises, 1966)I wasn't yet in school when my mother bought this for me (no kindergarten for me!). As best as I can recall, it was a treat for having suffered through an inoculation at the Health Department, probably getting some required shots for the upcoming first grade. I remember looking through this in the back seat of our old Nash. I can't imagine why my mother would have picked this comic out for me. She must not have given it too much thought, and, I'm happy to say, she was never too concerned about protecting me from "violent" entertainment, so the punching on the front probably wouldn't have fazed her. It would be great to be able to say that I kept and treasured this first comic book forever, but it disappeared quickly from my world. Lost, destroyed, stolen, thrown away, who knows? In my short time with it, it made a small but powerful impact on my young mind. I was in awe of the concept and the images of Captain Marvel's powers in action: he could split his android body into multiple, separate flying parts, independent and autonomous (note: I didn't know any of those big words then, and I doubt any of them were used in this very juvenile comic). I remembered the name, and I remembered the flying, unattached hand, and that's all. Nowadays, you can surf and find several web pages discussing this incarnation of Captain Marvel. But in the dark ages, what little comics history was available to the average fan was usually focused on the greater lights of the medium. Jim Steranko didn't waste space on this guy in his History of Comics, Don Thompson and Dick Lupoff ignored him in All In Color For a Dime, and even the fan magazines of the 70's and 80's had better things to talk about. So for about 15 years, I half thought that my memories of this comic were the muddled confusions of a preschooler's mind. Then, in the early 80's, my favorite comics dealer, Kendall Carnes of Memphis Comics and Records, pointed out his new box of "Esoteric Comics", and there I rediscovered my old friend! I was right! There was a Captain Marvel that could split! Obviously, in this group, there's no shame in having a favorite that's one of the least popular comics of all time. Heck, this version of Cap got some other mentions (although not as a particular favorite!) in this very first thread! So I'm not ashamed...I'm really proud of being, as I like to believe, Marvel's #1 fan. And why shouldn't I be? When you really think about it, this wonderful little comic encapsulates a lot that's great about superhero comics! By cannibalizing defunct trademarks (this and other issues of Captain Marvel brazenly appropriated the names, likenesses, and/or powers of Doctor Fate, Plastic Man, Doll Man, Iron Jaw, and of course, Captain Marvel (and Billy "Baxton", and "(sha)-XAM!", and even the Bat(man)! So its DNA is rich with strands from a line of ancestral greats. And where would the superhero comic be if every imaginable superpower weren't fair game for a wide-ranging imagination? Flying, independent split-off body parts...where else but comics can a creator let loose with such a crazy idea, to imagine what could be done with such a crazy ability, to try to craft that into the basis for an ongoing series of adventures? It's proof: a comic doesn't have to be great, just like a book, song or movie doesn't have to be great. It can be your favorite by being there at the right time, taking seed in a fertile brain that's just beginning to notice the art form, without prejudice or preconceptions, to just...marvel. SPLIT! I have never heard of or seen this Captain Marvel before, what's the story behind him? |
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Post by The Captain on Dec 16, 2014 11:58:05 GMT -5
Star Wars #1
Why this one? Because it was the first comic book I ever owned. My grandmother, who visited every summer from Memphis, TN, picked up the polybagged three-pack of Star Wars #1-3 reprints for me on her way up here and gave it to me as part of my birthday gift. I still have all three issues, each one beat up and barely holding together, but what a great gift for a 6-year old, a gift that started me down the path I'm on today.
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Post by MWGallaher on Dec 16, 2014 13:49:04 GMT -5
I have never heard of or seen this Captain Marvel before, what's the story behind him? This character was published in 1966-1967 by M. F. Enterprises (Myron Fass, who in the 70's produced a line of very sleazy black & white horror comics magazines like Voodoo Tales that recycled pre-code horror comics of the 50's). He was created by Carl Burgos, who'd created the original Human Torch. Like the Torch, he was an android, but in this case, an android from another planet. Marvel has a young human friend named Billy Baxton, and when Marvel shouts "Split!", he can separate his body parts into separate, independent flying pieces. He reassembles himself by shouting "Xam!". The comic was notorious for ripping off defunct comics characters, or even existing ones: the first issue included a villainous "Plastic Man", and an early issue featured Marvel battling "The Bat". Apparently DC spoke up, and Plastic Man became "Elastic Man", and The Bat became "The Ray". The character also got Marvel's attention, and they negotiated with Fass in an attempt to purchase the trademark to "Captain Marvel". I've read an article from a New York newspaper describing the attempt at a deal (Fass was balking at Marvel's offer), but I haven't seen how things were resolved. Fass soon stopped publishing the character, after concluding the run with two issues of "Captain Marvel Presents the Terrible Five", and Marvel started their own version (notably not trademarking "Captain Marvel", but instead trademarking "Marvel's Space-Born Super-hero! Captain Marvel"). |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Dec 16, 2014 14:58:02 GMT -5
I have never heard of or seen this Captain Marvel before, what's the story behind him? This character was published in 1966-1967 by M. F. Enterprises (Myron Fass, who in the 70's produced a line of very sleazy black & white horror comics magazines like Voodoo Tales that recycled pre-code horror comics of the 50's). He was created by Carl Burgos, who'd created the original Human Torch. Like the Torch, he was an android, but in this case, an android from another planet. Marvel has a young human friend named Billy Baxton, and when Marvel shouts "Split!", he can separate his body parts into separate, independent flying pieces. He reassembles himself by shouting "Xam!". The comic was notorious for ripping off defunct comics characters, or even existing ones: the first issue included a villainous "Plastic Man", and an early issue featured Marvel battling "The Bat". Apparently DC spoke up, and Plastic Man became "Elastic Man", and The Bat became "The Ray". The character also got Marvel's attention, and they negotiated with Fass in an attempt to purchase the trademark to "Captain Marvel". I've read an article from a New York newspaper describing the attempt at a deal (Fass was balking at Marvel's offer), but I haven't seen how things were resolved. Fass soon stopped publishing the character, after concluding the run with two issues of "Captain Marvel Presents the Terrible Five", and Marvel started their own version (notably not trademarking "Captain Marvel", but instead trademarking "Marvel's Space-Born Super-hero! Captain Marvel"). Ah-ha! The original Human Torch, I knew this guy reminded me of something. And that is one convoluted publication history. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2014 20:32:19 GMT -5
Ok, gonna get started with no big freaking preamble cuz I've got cake to bake.
#12. DC Special Series #16 - Jonah Hex Spectacular. Hard to pick a personal favourite from his regular series which started in 1977 or earlier appearances in Weird Western Tales, so I picked this all-in-one-bonanza which is the one I'd want to get stuck with on a desert island. Got to love The Last Bounty Hunter where Hex is Grandpa Hex and gets blown away. |
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Post by hondobrode on Dec 16, 2014 21:07:12 GMT -5
That's the issue I need !
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Post by benday-dot on Dec 16, 2014 21:09:25 GMT -5
#12: Captain Marvel #3 (MF Enterprises, 1966)I wasn't yet in school when my mother bought this for me (no kindergarten for me!). As best as I can recall, it was a treat for having suffered through an inoculation at the Health Department, probably getting some required shots for the upcoming first grade. I remember looking through this in the back seat of our old Nash. I can't imagine why my mother would have picked this comic out for me. She must not have given it too much thought, and, I'm happy to say, she was never too concerned about protecting me from "violent" entertainment, so the punching on the front probably wouldn't have fazed her. It would be great to be able to say that I kept and treasured this first comic book forever, but it disappeared quickly from my world. Lost, destroyed, stolen, thrown away, who knows? In my short time with it, it made a small but powerful impact on my young mind. I was in awe of the concept and the images of Captain Marvel's powers in action: he could split his android body into multiple, separate flying parts, independent and autonomous (note: I didn't know any of those big words then, and I doubt any of them were used in this very juvenile comic). I remembered the name, and I remembered the flying, unattached hand, and that's all. Nowadays, you can surf and find several web pages discussing this incarnation of Captain Marvel. But in the dark ages, what little comics history was available to the average fan was usually focused on the greater lights of the medium. Jim Steranko didn't waste space on this guy in his History of Comics, Don Thompson and Dick Lupoff ignored him in All In Color For a Dime, and even the fan magazines of the 70's and 80's had better things to talk about. So for about 15 years, I half thought that my memories of this comic were the muddled confusions of a preschooler's mind. Then, in the early 80's, my favorite comics dealer, Kendall Carnes of Memphis Comics and Records, pointed out his new box of "Esoteric Comics", and there I rediscovered my old friend! I was right! There was a Captain Marvel that could split! Obviously, in this group, there's no shame in having a favorite that's one of the least popular comics of all time. Heck, this version of Cap got some other mentions (although not as a particular favorite!) in this very first thread! So I'm not ashamed...I'm really proud of being, as I like to believe, Marvel's #1 fan. And why shouldn't I be? When you really think about it, this wonderful little comic encapsulates a lot that's great about superhero comics! By cannibalizing defunct trademarks (this and other issues of Captain Marvel brazenly appropriated the names, likenesses, and/or powers of Doctor Fate, Plastic Man, Doll Man, Iron Jaw, and of course, Captain Marvel (and Billy "Baxton", and "(sha)-XAM!", and even the Bat(man)! So its DNA is rich with strands from a line of ancestral greats. And where would the superhero comic be if every imaginable superpower weren't fair game for a wide-ranging imagination? Flying, independent split-off body parts...where else but comics can a creator let loose with such a crazy idea, to imagine what could be done with such a crazy ability, to try to craft that into the basis for an ongoing series of adventures? It's proof: a comic doesn't have to be great, just like a book, song or movie doesn't have to be great. It can be your favorite by being there at the right time, taking seed in a fertile brain that's just beginning to notice the art form, without prejudice or preconceptions, to just...marvel. SPLIT! I just have to say after that collection of exquisite paragraphs... nuff said. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2014 21:14:47 GMT -5
That's the issue I need ! Mine came with a bonus...an extra cover.  |
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Post by Action Ace on Dec 16, 2014 22:25:43 GMT -5
Star Wars #1
Why this one? Because it was the first comic book I ever owned. My grandmother, who visited every summer from Memphis, TN, picked up the polybagged three-pack of Star Wars #1-3 reprints for me on her way up here and gave it to me as part of my birthday gift. I still have all three issues, each one beat up and barely holding together, but what a great gift for a 6-year old, a gift that started me down the path I'm on today. I had to settle for the Treasury Edition. Star Wars Annual #1 was the first one I got to buy, because it didn't sell out first. |
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Post by hondobrode on Dec 16, 2014 22:28:13 GMT -5
That's the issue I need ! Mine came with a bonus...an extra cover. Nice ! I pick up stuff here and there but there's nothing I've been hunting for like that particular issue. Hex is a favorite. I don't feel like paying $ 100 or more either. Hopefully I can get it digitally some time. |
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Post by foxley on Dec 17, 2014 1:27:27 GMT -5
Ok, gonna get started with no big freaking preamble cuz I've got cake to bake.
#12. DC Special Series #16 - Jonah Hex Spectacular.Hard to pick a personal favourite from his regular series which started in 1977 or earlier appearances in Weird Western Tales, so I picked this all-in-one-bonanza which is the one I'd want to get stuck with on a desert island. Got to love The Last Bounty Hunter where Hex is Grandpa Hex and gets blown away. Kinda regretting not including a Hex on my own list (but who knows? My list may change as I'm posting it. It's happened before), so I'm glad to see the scarred bounty getting some representation here. If I was going to pick a single story, this would probably be the one to go for (although "The Fawn and the Star" in DC Special Series #21 would also be strong contender.) Actually, DC Special Series #21 is a damn fine comic. Hmmm... It may be time to rethink my list. Again. |
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Confessor
CCF Mod Squad
Not Bucky O'Hare!
Posts: 10,231 
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Post by Confessor on Dec 17, 2014 3:34:18 GMT -5
Nice ! I pick up stuff here and there but there's nothing I've been hunting for like that particular issue. Hex is a favorite. I don't feel like paying $ 100 or more either. Hopefully I can get it digitally some time. Is that Jonah Hex Spectacular worth that much then? I bought it and All-Star Western issues #10 and #11 (Hex's first two appearances) for a song off of an old friend 5 years or so back. I knew that the ASW comics were valuable, but I didn't realise the spectacular was also a pricy book. |
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Confessor
CCF Mod Squad
Not Bucky O'Hare!
Posts: 10,231
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Post by Confessor on Dec 17, 2014 3:42:21 GMT -5
I'm glad to see the scarred bounty getting some representation here. If I was going to pick a single story, this would probably be the one to go for (although "The Fawn and the Star" in DC Special Series #21 would also be strong contender.) Wow! I'm a big Jonah Hex fan...how the hell did I not know about this story?! I'm slowly working on getting a full run of the '70s/'80s Jonah Hex comic and I already have every appearance of the bounty hunter from All-Star Western and Weird Western Tales + full runs of the Vertigo and Palmiotti/Gray series from the '90s and 2000s. I even have the issues of Justice League of America in which Hex appeared and the Secret Origins issue, so how has this passed me by?  I'm off to eBay right now to see if I can pick up a copy of this beaut. Things like this is why I love the Classic Comics Xmas event. |
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Post by hondobrode on Dec 17, 2014 3:55:30 GMT -5
Good idea. Why didn't I think of that ?
Just nabbed one for $ 20 !
Woo Hoo !
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