Date: August 1970 Publisher: DC Comics Cover Price: 15¢ 2013 Price Range: $6 – $80 Stats: 24 color pages plus ads and “Letters to the Batcave” Writer: Denny O’Neil Artists: Irv Novick and Dick Giordano Notable Notes: Batman travels to New Orleans to avenge a Jazz man’s death!
I’ve been wanting to read some classic Batman stories lately. After doing a little bit of research I decided that I could financially delve into some of the popular Denny O’Neil stories from the early 1970s. Here is my first foray into a character I really enjoy, but haven’t read a lot of – at least in pre-modern comics.
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Date: 2012 Publisher: Ape Entertainment Cover Price: $3.99 Stats: 24 color pages plus one house ad Writers: Buddy Scalera, Lennie Herman Artists: Marcelo Ferreira, Dustin Evans, Deron Bennett, Warren Kremer, Joe Rosen Notable Notes: Rich Rescue travels to Scotland and investigates the Loch Ness monster!
I remember Mayda Munny from the old, classic Richie Rich books – she was a spoiled girl who always wanted Richie to give her more attention, and was always jealous of his girlfriend Gloria. So I was delighted to see her resurrected in this issue of the modern Richie Rich series! I think the new creators did a good job staying true to her roots, while simultaneously giving her a modern make-over!
Date: February 2013 Publisher: Marvel Comics Cover Price: $3.99 Stats: 21 color pages plus ads and “Letters Without Fear” column Writer: Mark Waid Artists: Chris Samnee, Javier Rodriguez, Joe Caramagna, Paolo Rivera Notable Notes: Daredevil solves the mystery of Coyote, The Spot and Foggy’s client all at once!
I mostly quit buying new comics about a year ago. Not that I don’t like them, or think they’re bad – I just wasn’t willing to shell out so much money gambling on whether the issues would be good or not. The big exception, of course, is my favorite hero: Daredevil. Although I don’t have a pull-list at the local shop anymore, I still order the latest DD comics online every few months so that I can keep up with this awesome series. This most recent batch cost me a few extra dollars because issues #21 and #22 were more expensive and harder to find. Oh well, it was worth it and that is the price of being a collector right?
Date: July 1984 Publisher: Marvel Comics Group Cover Price: 60¢ 2013 Price Range: $1.00 – $10.00 Stats: 22 color pages plus ads, Bullpen Bulletins and “The Spider’s Web” letters page Writer: Tom DeFalco Artists: Rick Leonardi, Josef Rubinstein, Joe Rosen and Christie Scheele Notable Notes: Hobgoblin’s Battle Wagon is retrieved… then stolen!
Yep, just like the Alanis Morissette song, some pretty ironic things happen in this issue of our favorite web-crawler! To begin with Hobgoblin’s vehicle is stolen right after the authorities retrieve it. Also, Peter is trying to be the bigger person and apologize to his aunt, who is acting like him! Sheesh – will the craziness never end!
Date: November 2000 Publisher: CrossGen Comics Cover Price: $2.95 2013 NM Price: $3.00 Stats: 22 color pages plus house ads, “Delineations” letters page, “Milestones” and fan art Writer: Barbara Kesel Artists: Joshua Middleton, Dexter Vines, Paul Mounts and Dave Lanphear Notable Notes: Sephie goes to the surface!
I’ve heard that we humans are only born with 2 instinctual fears – fear of loud noises and fear of falling – and that the rest of our fears are leaned during life. I don’t know if that is true or not, but it sounds reasonable. Anyway, when I see depictions of people who are falling calmly I always smirk and question the reality of the situation. Usually that occurs in movies, but there is a scene in this issue where that very thing happens. Let me ask you: would you be calm if you were falling to your death? I know I sure wouldn’t be!
Date: October 1998 Publisher: Marvel Comics Cover Price: $1.99 2013 NM Price: $3.00 Stats: 22 color pages plus “American Graffiti” letters page, Bullpen Bulletins, fold-out gate cover and ads Writer: Mark Waid Artists: Andy Kubert, Jesse Delperdang, Chris Sotomayor and Todd Klein Notable Notes: Cap goes cuckoo!
Do you ever feel like giving in to the demons in your head? I know I sure do! Somehow, reading this issue, I found it a little bit comforting to know that even heroes like Captain America sometimes struggle with their inner battles. I guess we all have those feelings from time to time, but what really sets the heroes apart is how they handle those thoughts. Here is a great issue that exposes some of the struggles Cap has.
Date: February 1966 Publisher: Marvel Comics Group Cover Price: 12¢ 2013 Price Range: $11 – $210 Stats: 20 color pages plus ads, Marvel Bullpen Bulletins and “Let’s Level With Daredevil” letters page Writer: Stan Lee Artists: Jack Kirby, John Romita, Sam Rosen Notable Notes: In which we find out out Ka-Zar’s origin!
I bought this issue years ago purely for the cover. (Well, that and I am a big Daredevil fan too!) I remember as a little kid growing up during the Bronze Age seeing this iconic image of Daredevil on posters as well as in books and reprints. I loved it then and I love it now! I would say that along with Thor #337 the cover of Daredevil #13 is one of the greatest covers in comic book history! I just wish I could say the same for the story inside.
Date: April 1984 Publisher: Marvel Comics Group Cover Price: 60¢ 2013 NM Price: $4.00 Stats: 21 color pages plus ads, Bullpen Bulletins and “The Hammer Strikes” letters page Story & Pencils: Walter Simonson Other Artists: Terry Austin, John Workman, Jr., Christie Scheele Notable Notes: Thor goes to Antarctica.
I am a big fan of science programs on TV, especially the ones on PBS – like Nature and Nova. Every time they show scientists and animals in Antarctica I always think it would be fun to go there… but only for a little while. Seeing the penguins and the harsh environment, or studying sea ice would be totally interesting! Anyway, here is an issue where Thor goes to that very continent – but it’s not for scientific research!
Date: October 2003 Publisher: Image Comics Cover Price: $2.95 2013 Price Range: $7.00 – $250.00 Stats: 24 black & white pages Writer: Robert Kirkman Artist: Tony Moore Notable Notes: 1st issue of the insanely popular zombie series!
I resisted reading this issue for a long time. Why? Well, because I’m not a huge fan of zombies that’s why. I mean I don’t hate them, it’s just that I kind of rejected them on the grounds that “everybody is doing it.” Anyway, on a long bus ride I finally jumped in and read this issue on my Android tablet and was quite surprised and how much I enjoyed it! Here’s what I thought of this landmark first issue:
Date: September 1983 Publisher: Marvel Comics Group Cover Price: 60¢ 2013 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, Andy Yanchus and Denny O’Neil Notable Notes: 1st appearance of Major Bludd!
I remember growing up during the 1980s and all the stereotypes surrounding Central and South America: full of drug lords, guerrilla warriors and corrupt leaders. There seemed to be a bunch of movies, books and comics that played off those stereotypes too – some to great acclaim. Here is an issue that, regardless of the stereotypes, is still a great read!
Date: January 1998 Publisher: Cartoon Books Cover Price: $2.95 2013 NM Price: $5.00 Stats: 20 black & white pages plus ads, “Tales from the Bog” preview, PogoFest notes and “Bone-A-Fides” letters page. Written & Drawn by: Jeff Smith Cover Colors by: Elizabeth Lewis Notable Notes: 2 Bone cousins are chased by big, evil creatures!
Wow, these Bone fellows sure seem to be on the run a lot! In fact, that is about all that takes place in this sub-par issue. Perhaps if I had done some running myself it would have been a better use of my time! Chalk this reading experience up as the worst issue since the horrible Spawn #21!
Date: August 1988 Publisher: Marvel Comics Cover Price: 75¢ 2013 Price Range: $1.00 – $10.00 Stats: 22 color pages plus ads, Bullpen Bulletins and “Devil’s Advocate” letters page. Writer: Ann Nocenti Artists: John Romita Jr, Al Williamson, Joe Rosen, Max Scheele Notable Notes: Daredevil battles The Punisher!
Lucy once told Charlie Brown to quit being so wishy-washy – and the same line could be used here as well. Matt can’t seem to make up his mind over whether he likes Karen or Mary more. Daredevil can’t decide if the courts should serve up justice or if he should dish it out vigilante style. Mary can’t decide if she should sway the Kingpin or Matt Murdock. And The Punisher… aw, whom I kiddin’ – he just kills all the bad guys!
Date: August 1977 Publisher: Archie Enterprises, Inc. Cover Price: 35¢ 2013 Price Range: $1.00 – $10.00 Stats: 23 color pages plus ads Writer: ? Artists: ? Notable Notes: A smorgasbord of gags!
After reading this issue I looked up the series on Wikipedia and was surprised to find that it had a long and varied history! Yes, it seems like it was trying to capitalize on Mad Magazine’s success, but it also produced some famous characters and searched relentlessly for its own unique personality. I’m not so sure this issue succeeded, but maybe the series as a whole did. Here’s what I thought of it…
Date: June 1984 Publisher: Marvel Comics Group Cover Price: 60¢ 2013 Price Range: $2.00 – $15.00 Stats: 23 color pages plus ads and Bullpen Bulletins Writer: Tom DeFalco Artists: Rick Leonardi, Bill Anderson, Joe Rosen and Glynis Wein Notable Notes: 1st appearance of The Rose!
I am a fan of major league football – especially the Oakland Raiders! This issue of Spider-Man has a story about a quarterback with a (fake) major league team – and I think that is the first time I’ve seen such a story in a comic book! It turned out to be a pretty good story, and served nicely to get me in the football mood for this fall. If you’re a fan of football and comics then this is an issue you won’t want to miss!
Date: October 2012 Publisher: DC Comics Cover Price: $2.99 Stats: 20 color pages plus ads and 2 pages of #0 covers Writer: China Miéville Artists: Mateus Santolouco, Tanya & Richard Horie, Steve Wands, Brian Bolland Notable Notes: Nelse teams up with Squid to save Manteau!
This issue of Dial H really says a lot about friendship and loyalty. We get to see how when one person is a self-centered jerk it usually ruins friendships, and we also see how a loyal friend can help out someone in need – even if a super hero identity isn’t available!
