Date: November 2015 Publisher: Archie Comics Cover Price: $3.99 Stats: 22 color pages Writer: Mark Waid Artists: Fiona Staples, Andre Szymanowicz, Jen Vaughn and Jack Morelli Notable Notes: Veronica makes her debut at Riverdale High School
Another long-running gag in Archie comics has been the lunch lady, Ms. Beazley, and the terrible food she produces. I was delighted to see her make an appearance in this issue – and she even looks like the classical character… in a new sort of way. Here she serves up Veronica’s first lunch at Riverdale, and that sets the stage for a great, pivotal scene to follow! I wasn’t disappointed – and I doubt you will be either! Read the rest of this entry »
Date: July 2001 Publisher: Marvel Comics Cover Price: $2.25 Stats: 22 color pages, ads and The Spider’s Web letters page Writer: J. Michael Straczynski Artists: John Romita Jr., Scott Hanna, Dan Kemp, Richard Starkings and Wes Abbot Notable Notes: Peter intervenes and saves lives during a school shooting
This issue of Amazing Spider-man tackles a social issue that is still disturbingly relevant today, 17 years after the book was published: school shootings. When I read this issue, I thought it was kind of prophetic since the only major school shooting at that time was the Columbine one… at least that is what I thought. Sadly, I was sorely mistaken. Here is an old article from U.S. News that lists school shootings (in the USA) up through 2008, and as you can clearly see there were many before this comic book came out in 2001. And just think how many more have happened in the last 10 years – it is terrible. Sigh.
But, don’t get too downhearted! This is still a great comic book, and there is plenty to cheer for as Peter Parker saves the day – on multiple accounts! Read the rest of this entry »
Date: January 1980 Publisher: WaRP Graphics Cover Price: $1.25 Stats: 33 color pages Writers: Wendy and Richard Pini Artist: Wendy Pini Notable Notes: A new story arc begins in the lives of the Elves!
This issue feels very much like the first episode of season two… if Elfquest were a TV series! Some time has passed, and we are given glimpses into the lives of the characters and what is happening now. It is fun to be back, but I still feel a little disappointed that we didn’t get to see and experience what had happened in the interim! I’m guessing it was all normal “life” stuff, and the creators wanted to plunge us back in when things had gotten interesting again. Read the rest of this entry »
Date: October 1983 Publisher: Marvel Comics Group Cover Price: 60¢ Stats: 22 color pages plus ads, Bullpen Bulletins and “Devil’s Advocate” letters page Writer: Denny O’Neil Artists: William Johnson, Danny Bulanadi, Bob Sharen and Joe Rosen Notable Notes: Daredevil battles ninjas… in Japan!
I am fascinated by Japan. Back in my first year of college I took a year of Japanese, then actually spent a few weeks in Japan with some native students. It was a truly wonderful experience! The ancient capital of Kyoto is one of the coolest places I have ever been. Now-a-days, China, and to some extent Korea, are the really big players from Asia, but when I was growing up in the 1980s the Japanese were the up-and-comers that were causing people here to worry about their jobs. But also there was a general fascination with ninjas, samurai, Japanese business practices and Godzilla movies! So it was with great pleasure that I read this issue – where my favorite superhero travels to my one of my favorite countries. And with the superb writing and art it certainly didn’t disappoint! Read the rest of this entry »
Date: October 2015 Publisher: Archie Comics Cover Price: $3.99 Stats: 22 color pages Writer: Mark Waid Artists: Fiona Staples, Andre Szymanowicz, Jen Vaughn and Jack Morelli. Notable Notes: The New Riverdale universe’s new Veronica!
One of the many classic running gags that this new series preserves is Archie’s beat up clunker of a car! I think it has been a nearly timeless way for teenage boys to identify with Archie – he has car problems just like they probably do in real life. Except… is that really true anymore? I may be way off base here, but I don’t know of any boys who have really terrible cars – well… except my oldest son! It seems that many kids nowadays have nicer cars than I do, and keep them looking pristine. Also, how is it that Betty is still so mechanically good? I don’t know any teenagers who can fix a car’s engine these days. It would be nice though, wouldn’t it, to have a cute girl next door to take care of your car problems? Ah, we can all dream I guess. Read the rest of this entry »
Date: July 1974 Publisher: Marvel Comics Group Cover Price: 75¢ Stats: 20 black and white pages (Skull River story) Writer: Roy Thomas Artists: Jim Starlin and Al Milgrom Notable Notes: Conan gets a new horse!
What is the longest you have ever gone without water? I once went about 30 hours, and it was terrible! I am a big water drinker, even now, since it is suppose to be healthy , and I do prefer it to the overly sweet sugar drinks that are so prominent these days. But I wonder if we, like Conan in this story, had gone a long time without anything to drink, would be prone to blackouts or agreeing to take on stupid jobs. Hmm, hopefully I’d die before fighting a rich prick and then giving all his gold to manipulative villagers! 😉 Read the rest of this entry »
Date: August 1979 Publisher: WaRP Graphics Cover Price: $1.00 2018 Price Range: $3 – $30 Stats: 33 color pages plus editorial and Elfquotes letters page Writers: Wendy and Richard Pini Artist: Wendy Pini Notable Notes: The end of the first Elfquest chapter.
Whenever I see a herd of stampeding horses, or other grazing beasts, in movies or read about them in books, I always recall the movie Gandhi . It is there that the title character urges people to lie down, saying that the horses won’t step on them if they are prone. For some reason I have often thought about that part of the movie. Although I am not sure if that is true or not, it does seem logical that horses wouldn’t want to step other living creatures. I guess we are kind of like that too – how many of us would run across of carpet of cats, for example? Anyway, there is a part in this comic book where I thought the characters should heed Gandhi’s words and all lie down. However, the award winning movie didn’t come out until three years after this book was published – so I guess I can’t fault them! Read the rest of this entry »
Date: October 2007 Publisher: IDW Publishing Cover Price: $3.99 Stats: 22 color pages Writers: Cory Doctorow, adapted by Dara Naraghi Artists: Esteve Polls, Robert Studio and Neil Uyetake Notable Notes: The first time a Cory Doctorow short story has been adapted to comics!
Several years ago I read and reviewed Cory Doctorow’s short story “Anda’s Game” . (You can still read that post over on my science fiction blog) I thought the story was pretty good, but definitely not his best work. He has written a ton of cool short stories and novels, so I was excited when I recently learned about the comic adaptations of some of his stories! I started with this one because it was the first story in the free (and legal!) TPB download. I kind of think there was something lost in the translation to graphic form, but it was still fun seeing a great short story in comic book form! Kind of like seeing a movie that was made from a novel you read. Anywho, here’s what I thought of it. Read the rest of this entry »
Date: June 2001 Publisher: Marvel Comics Cover Price: $2.25 2018 NM Price: $6 Stats: 22 color pages, lots of Spider-Man themed ads and The Spider’s Web letters page Writer: J. Michael Straczynski Artists: John Romita Jr., Scott Hanna, Dan Kemp, Richard Starkings, Wes Abbot, with J. Scott Campbell cover Notable Notes: A new writer and two new characters begin with this issue!
In 1999 I started reading the comic book series Rising Stars by J. Michael Straczynski and I totally loved it! There was a lot of hype, at the time, about the writer of the hit TV series Bablyon 5 writing his own comic series. Even though he had worked on a few comics in the 1980s, it seemed like it was Rising Stars that made him super popular in the comics world. Shortly after that he was tapped to write The Amazing Spider-Man , beginning with this issue. Again, lots of hype about him and the story he crafted. I figured it was high time I give his Spider-Man books a try – and this issue, at least, turned out to be really cool! Read the rest of this entry »
Date: March 1972 Publisher: Marvel Comics Group Cover Price: 20¢ 2018 Price Range: $3 – $35 Stats: 21 color pages plus ads, Marvel Bullpen Bulletins and letters page Writer: Gerry Conway Artists: Gene Colan, Syd Shores and Jon Costa Notable Notes: DD battles The Gladiator in the sky (on a 747!)
Last year, as I was flying home from San Francisco on United airlines, I heard the news that the coolest passenger jet ever was being retired from service. I was a bit sad to hear that, because I liked 747s. I only flew on one a few times, but it was always fun to see them parked in terminals, with their big double-decker bubble heads. Anyway, this comic book was a blast to read because nearly the entire issue takes place on one of those iconic jets! I think it would have been cool if the last 747s left in service would have ordered a bunch of copies of this issue and distributed them to passengers – you know, as a kind of farewell gift! Read the rest of this entry »
Date: May 1979 Publisher: WaRP Graphics Cover Price: $1.00 2018 Price Range: $3 – $30 Stats: 32 color pages plus Bearclaw and Joyleaf pin-up art, Laugh “Wolf” and Elfquotes letters page Writers: Wendy and Richard Pini Artist: Wendy Pini Notable Notes: 1st appearance of Madcoil!
Have you ever been spurned by a rival? I’m talking about when you finally decide to play nice, and so you make a reconciling gesture only to be scoffed at, turned down or ridiculed? This can lead to even higher tension between rivals. I remember one case, in particular, when I was in high school where “my nemesis” and I elevated proverbial blows until we were ready to kill each other. Ah, the good old days of teenage testosterone! Nowadays I usually (emphasis on usually) laugh and let things blow over, because I am older and wiser… or is it older and weaker? One of those. Anyway, in this issue we see some male-rival-spurning going on, and I’m sure it will lead to more aggression in later issues. I can’t wait! Read the rest of this entry »
Date: September 2013 Publisher: DC Comics Cover Price: $3.99 Stats: 30 color pages Writer: Jeff Parker Artists: Jonathan Case and Wes Abbot Notable Notes: The Dynamic Duo returns – to comic books!
I was born just after the original Batman TV show ran its course – but I saw plenty of re-runs when I was a kid and later in life. Honestly, I was never a fan of the show – it just seemed too silly for me, although I realize now that the campiness was part of the allure. I had no plans to pick up this comic book series when it debuted several years ago, but all the rave reviews made me change my mind and grab the first trade paperback. I’m glad I reconsidered because this series has turned out to be loads of fun to read! Read the rest of this entry »
Date: June – July 1997 Publisher: Marvel Comics Cover Price: $1.95 each 2017 NM Price: $3 each Stats: Each: 22 color pages, Bullpen Bulletins, letter column and ads Writers: Dan Abnett and Ian Edginton Artists: Patrick Zircher, Greg Adams, Marie Javins and Janice Chiang Notable Notes: Non-logical Vulcans!
In the late 1990s Marvel briefly held the Star Trek license and published a few short-lived series, of which Early Voyages was arguably the most popular. The unique aspect of this series was that it featured Captain Pike – who, if you don’t know, was the original series captain in the un-aired pilot episode. (You can watch that episode on Netflix if you are interested.) He was replaced by Captain Kirk in the second episode and never seen again… until this series! Since I am a big Star Trek fan, and I only owned these 2 comic books from the series (which contain one story arc) I figured I’d give them a try and see if they satisfied both my comic and Star Trek geekiness! So, let’s see how they did. Read the rest of this entry »
Date: February 1986 Publisher: Marvel Comics Group Cover Price: 75¢ 2017 Price Range: $2 – $15 Stats: 23 color pages, Bullpen Bulletins and ads Writer: Bill Mantlo Artists: Steve Ditko, P. Craig Russell, Petra Scotese and Kevin Nowlan Notable Notes: The last issue of the series!
Do you remember the Rom action figure from the late 1970s? I do. Although I didn’t own one I had a couple friends that did. I always thought the toy was super popular, but I guess it wasn’t. Parker Brothers licensed the character to Marvel in an effort to build interest in the toy. It appears they did a pretty good job, because the comic series outlasted the toy!
This was the only Rom comic I ever read, and then only because it came in a bundle of comics I purchased in the mid 1980s. I figure I’ve reviewed a lot of #1 issues recently, so I’d see how the last issue of a series stacked up! It is difficult coming into a series at the end, but thanks to Wikipedia I was able to get a sense of what the series had accomplished so far. So does this issue stand on its own as a good comic book? Let’s find out, shall we. Read the rest of this entry »
Date: September 2015 Publisher: Archie Comics Cover Price: $3.99 Stats: 22 color pages Writer: Mark Waid Artists: Fiona Staples, Andre Szymanowicz, Jen Vaughn and Jack Morelli. Notable Notes: The first comic book in the New Riverdale universe!
It has been a few years since the All New Archie series re-launched the Riverdale Universe. Even then I was late to the game, and only picked up a few issues after it had been going for a while. Knowing that Mark Waid was the writer helped, because I like most of his stuff. Anyway, I had been wanting to get some more issues of this series, but they were turning out to be expensive and hard to find. So I was excited when Humble Bundle offered a bunch of the electronic TPBs recently, and I jumped on that bandwagon while I could! Anyway, here are my thoughts on the first issue of this re-launched series. Read the rest of this entry »
