Date: July 1987 Publisher: Marvel Comics Cover Price: 75¢ Stats: 22 color pages plus ads and Bullpen Bulletins Writer: David Michelinie Artists: John Romita, Jr., Vince Colletta, Rick Parker and Bob Sharen Notable Notes: Peter proposes to MJ!
There are many ways to view marriage in the real world, but I’m not so convinced that it is such a good thing in the lives of comic book super heroes. It seems like the only married couple that has gone over well is the Fantastic Four’s Sue Storm and Reed Richards. Yes, I know it has been almost 30 years since Peter and MJ tied the knot, and I didn’t follow their marital events at all, but does anybody think it was a good idea for them to get married? Maybe. I decided to look at the beginning of that comic event and see how I really felt about it.
Read the rest of this entry »
Date: November 1986 Publisher: Marvel Comics Cover Price: 75¢ 2015 NM Price: $3 Stats: 23 color pages plus Universe News and ads. Creators: Tom DeFalco, Ron Frenz, Sal Buscema, Phil Felix and George Roussos
The summer of 1986 was one of those times when I was really into comics. I was 15 years old and reading everything I could get my hands on. Marvel was celebrating its 25th anniversary, and started several new comic series set in an all new universe. This universe was supposed to be less magical, less fantastic and more realistic. I never really got into the titles, but the longest one only ended up running for 3 years. I guess people didn’t really want books that were more realistic. The fun part was getting to be there at the beginning, and seeing all the new origin stories!
Date: August 1995 Publisher: Image Comics Cover Price: $2.25 2015 NM Price: $12 Stats: 24 color pages plus pullout poster, “Greetings from Astro City” and house ads Creators: Kurt Busiek, Brent Anderson, Richard Starkings, Steve Buccellato and Alex Ross
When I was a kid I had many dreams where I could fly – heck, I still have them! Wouldn’t that be something – to just take off like Superman and fly away? Those were always the dreams where I was totally upset once I woke up and realized it wasn’t real. But still, it’s fun to dream isn’t it? Apparently we normal humans aren’t the only ones who dream of flying – this issue shows us that superheroes have those dreams too… even when they really can fly!
Date: September 1984 Publisher: Marvel Comics Group Cover Price: 60¢ 2015 NM Price: $4.00 Stats: 22 color pages plus ads, Bullpen Bulletins and “The Hammer Strikes” letters page Story & Art: Walter Simonson Other Artists: John Workman, Jr., Christie Scheele
It has been several months since my last comic book review. Not that I stopped reading comics – oh no – I was just a little bit swamped with other things in life. In that intervening time, however, I was finally able to watch Thor: The Dark World. I thought it was OK, but not superb. How do I know this? Because even now, just months after watching it, I had to look up a plot summary to remember exactly what happened! That’s definitely not the sign of a great movie. Anyway, I did like the parts about the evil dark elf Malekith. Just the other day I got to thinking that I have the comics where he makes his first appearance, so I thought I’d continue my pseudo-streak of reviewing older Thor comics. Lucky you!
Date: February 1999 Publisher: Marvel Comics Cover Price: $1.99 Stats: 20 gray and color pages plus ads Storytellers: Mark Waid, Andy Kubert, Jesse Delperdang, Chris Sotomayoor, Todd Klein
This issue of Captain America has some similarities to the movie Schindler’s List . Most noticeable are the black and white (or gray tone) images, with splashes of red here and there. The red, in this case, being the Red Skull’s big, ugly head! Also, this is a story about WWII – in a round-about sort of way. Here we get to see an alternate life of one of Cap’s biggest foes – and it isn’t pretty!
Date: October 2014 Publisher: Marvel Comics Cover Price: $3.99 Stats: 21 color pages plus ads Storytellers: Dan Slott, Michael Allred, Laura Allred, Clayton Cowles
Do you ever have bad dreams? I do, and sometimes they are the really scary ones where I start awake and my heart is beating 100 miles per hour! I often find that I have the same dreams / nightmares over and over too – whatever that means. You know – the one where you can’t run, or you can’t help somebody or something like that. Sheesh – maybe I need to see somebody about that huh? Anyway, this issue of Silver Surfer involves the king of bad dreams – Nightmare himself. And a sinister plot is afoot that may allow him to rule over the Earth forever! Gasp!
Date: January 1997 Publisher: Sirius Entertainment Cover Price: $2.50 2014 NM Price: $3.00 Stats: 20 black & white pages plus “Letters to Akiko” and 2 page back-up story Story & Art: Mark Crilley Notable Notes: The gang surmounts the Great Wall of Trudd.
There is a popular hang gliding mountain near where I live in Utah. Although I have never been, every time I pass it on the freeway I see loads of gliders lazily circling their way down from the top – and I get a hankerin’ to join in! I imagine it to be fun, a little bit scary and a bit relaxing too. Maybe some day I’ll get the nerve, time and energy to do it. In this issue of Akiko the gang makes use of a giant flag to do some hang gliding of their own – and it turns out to be pretty useful too!
Date: August 1984 Publisher: Marvel Comics Group Cover Price: 60¢ 2014 NM Price: $4.00 Stats: 22 color pages plus ads, Bullpen Bulletins and “The Hammer Strikes” letters page. Story & Art: Walter Simonson Other Artists: John Workman, Jr., Christie Scheele Notable Notes: Everyone is racing to find the Casket of Ancient Winters!
I love me a good cookie – especially if it has chocolate chips in it! I’ll readily admit that I have a weakness for cookies, but do you think any of the Marvel superheroes do too? Well, apparently Thor does! The hands-down lamest part of this issue is when the Son of Odin is duped by a police-officer who offers him laced cookies! C’mon! Oh well, I guess it’s good to know that our heroes have some weaknesses just like us… right?
Date: September 2013 Publisher: Marvel Comics Cover Price: $2.99 Stats: 21 color pages plus ads Writer: Mark Waid Artists: Javier Rodriguez, Joe Caramagna and Chris Samnee Notable Notes: A bully from Matt’s past shows up!
Have you ever had someone from your childhood show up in your adult life? I have a few times, but it has never been someone that I really disliked or hated. I think that would be kind of hard to handle. In this issue we get to see Matt deal with that very thing as a bully from his childhood comes looking for his help. How would you react? Well, there is a reason Matt is a superhero – and it doesn’t always have to do with his physical abilities either!
Date: October 1972 Publisher: Marvel Comics Group Cover Price: 20¢ 2014 Price Range: $3.00 – $42.00 Stats: 20 color pages plus ads, Marvel Bullpen Bulletins and “Meet Doc Savage” page Writers Roy Thomas and Steve Englehart Artists: Ross Andru, Jim Mooney and John Costanza Notable Notes: 1st issue – based on the pulp fiction story “The Man of Bronze”
OK, I’ll admit it – this was the first Doc Savage story I have ever read! Of course I’d heard of him, and being the big SF fan that I am you’d think I would have read one of the many novels about him – but no. So after reading this cool comic book that was given to me by my sister several years ago, I looked up some information about this classic character. It turns out he started in story form back in the 1930s, and has been featured in a variety of media since: magazines, novels, comics and even movies. He has quite the interesting history and a cool gang of side-kicks. I think I’ll have to delve more into some of the Doc Savage stories . See – comics are still a great medium for introducing people to new characters and properties! Read the rest of this entry »
Date: January 1987 Publisher: Gladstone Publishing Cover Price: 75¢ 2014 Price Range: $2.00 – $16.00 Stats: 29 color pages plus house ads and “The Quacker Box” letters page Writers Volker Reiche, Geoffrey Blum, Carl Barks and Marty Greim Artists: Daan Jippes, Volker Reiche, Carl Barks and Marty Greim Notable Notes: Donald is a scientist, a goblin and a monster hunter!
I have always liked the idea of being a scientist. I used to play at it when I was a kid, and I very much enjoyed science classes in school. During the last few years I have been taking some serious social science classes at the university where I work, and have quite enjoyed them. I still like the idea of being a scientist, and am slowly moving towards that goal. In this issue we get to see Donald fantasize about the same thing – only here he actually starts mixing chemicals in a lab and disastrous results follow! C’mon – what would a Donald Duck story be without funny mayhem?
Date: January 1984 Publisher: Marvel Comics Group Cover Price: 60¢ 2014 Price Range: $2.00 – $18.00 Stats: 22 color pages plus ads, “Postbox: The Pit!” letters page and Bullpen Bulletins Writer: Larry Hama Artists: Mike Vosburg, Jon D’Agostino, Rick Parker, George Roussos Notable Notes: The Joes trick Cobra into attacking a fake base! Read the rest of this entry »
Date: April 2014 Publisher: Dark Horse Comics Cover Price: $1.00 Stats: 22 color pages plus Itty Bitty Letters and ads Writers: Art Baltazar & Franco Artist: Art Baltazar Notable Notes: The tiny red guy with the big hand playfully battles his cartoon-ish enemies!
Did you ever make a fort out of big boxes when you were little? (Do you still do it?) I did, and I loved it when my parents bought some new appliance because that meant we got a new fort for a while! The best one we ever got was a huge box from my mom’s shiny new Wurlitzer organ. It was big enough that we were able to cut kid sized doors and windows into it! Ah… what great memories. This comic book brought up all sorts of memories about the forts I used to build… and the ones I still make with my kids!
Date: July 1998 Publisher: DC Comics Cover Price: $1.95 2014 NM Value: $3.00 Stats: 22 color pages Writer: Ty Templeton Artists: Rick Burchett, Terry Beatty, Lee Loughridge, Tim Harkins Notable Notes: In which we get a glimpse of Two-Face’s dysfunctional family!
Trouble with one’s parents seems to make for good story lines. This issue shows the problems Two-Face had with his old man, but we can also look to other comics for this common theme. Daredevil had minor issues with his father, and so did Peter Parker. I guess Clark Kent got along pretty well with his dad – in fact, maybe I’ve got this all backwards! Maybe fathers played a big, important role in most heroes’ lives. You know – just like real-life dads do!
Date: August 2013 Publisher: Marvel Comics Cover Price: $2.99 Stats: 21 color pages plus ads and “Letters Without Fear”. Writer: Mark Waid Artists: Chris Samnee, Javier Rodriguez, Joe Caramagna Notable Notes: Bullseye explains it all!
Have you ever created a good plan – you know, a really great strategy – and had it work flawlessly? I have a few times – although not as often as I would have liked! It feels good though, knowing that you put your intellect to work and it paid off. In this issue we get to see the fruit of Daredevil’s labors – and they turn out pretty good, which is really cool!
