Comic Coverage

Cover to Cover: Sinister Superhero Transformations!

Like those leftover fun-size candy bars at the bottom
of the Halloween candy bowl, a final installment of
October MONSTER MASH!
The Scarier Side of Superhero Comics (part four of four)

“Even a man who is pure of heart
And says his prayers by night
Can become a wolf when the wolf-bane blooms
And the moon is full and bright.”

–Gypsy fortune teller Maleva (Maria Ouspenskaya) from The Wolfman (1941)

Stories of the good and decent transformed into a monstrous evil are as ancient as humankind itself.  These potent mixtures of superstition and human psychology have long served to terrify even the most upstanding among us that somewhere, deep inside, exists a monster just waiting to claw its way out.  Even comic book superheroes, our fictional paragons of human goodness, have been twisted and warped into frightening, darker versions of themselves.

MARVELous vacation: "Lo, there shall come superheroes!"

In my final flashback of my recent visit to Marvel Super Hero Island at Universal Orlando, I'll be taking a look at the attractions everyone hopes to catch a glimpse of: the superheroes themselves!

Huge images of Marvel's most popular heroes grace the buildings of Super Hero Island, such as Captain America, dramatically marking the entrance to The Captain America Diner (left).  Who'd have thought a busy crimefighter had the time to operate a burger joint?  We chose Cap's place for lunch one day, and I was amused by the design of the interior...but not so amused by the prices (Cap's a little greedy).  Still...it's hard to get too bent out of shape over the prices when you're dining next to a cool floor mosiac of Cap's shield (click image for a larger view).

Cap apparently loves to crank the hero-themed music, which included David Bowie's "Heroes" (though inexplicably the German version) and Bonnie Tyler's "Holding Out For a Hero" (from the 1980's Footloose soundtrack). Many of Cap's fellow Avengers also adorn the walls and ceilings, such as the Scarlet Witch near our table, and Cap himself standing vigil over our dining experience.

Simply the Best: The Flash #144

Despite the Fastest Man Alive tag at the top of each issue, the cover depictions of the Flash himself seldom gave that impression.  More often than not, Barry "Flash" Allen was illustrated with rather half-hearted speed effects, just enough to technically qualify for "super speed" status, but nothing to really make you sit up and say "WOW!  THAT'S fast!"  Many other covers featured Barry either standing around fretting about something or (since we are talking about Barry Allen here) dead as a doornail.

However, there were a handful of Flash covers that really showed him pouring on the super-speed, with one of my favorites being The Flash #144 (1964):

The stakes?  Couldn't be higher.  The Flash?  Giving it his all.  The story's title?  Er...well, let's just say there's room for improvement there and move on, shall we?

But, man alive, look at him go!  Points to illustrator Carmine Infantino (and inker Murphy Anderson) for pulling out all the stops on this one...not only for drawing the dynamic multiple images of the Flash and the accompanying five billion speed lines, but for the dramatic slow-motion explosion of the "nuclear bomb" itself.  You really do get a sense that Flash is holding back a mighty atomic explosion with his speed alone. 

Amping up the drama is the downtown setting, unusual for a Flash cover of this era. One of Carmine Infantino's more endearing quirks was drawing many of Flash's adventures taking place on (what appeared to be) vast, empty plains fenced in by looming, suburbanless cities (click on the thumbnail images for a larger view).  In fact, this is one of the primary reasons Flash #144 succeeds where an earlier attempt of the same basic concept failed three years earlier on the cover of Flash #122. The same desperate stakes, the same determined heroism from the Flash, another atomic-powered explosive device...but with that cityscape so far in the distance, the implied threat level just doesn't come across as effectively as it did with #144's cover. The downtown setting also gave the scene an almost claustrophobic vibe, as the buildings give the illusion of further constricting Flash's movement.  Lowering the camera angle to street level also helped to keep the focus on the Flash without any of the unnecessary visual information of #122's version.

Barry Allen....Fastest Man Alive?  On the cover of Flash #144, you bet he was.

Election Day

I've always had a thing for clash covers.  You know, those covers with two opposing characters or teams hurtling toward each other at top speed, ready to smash the living daylights out of the opposing force barreling toward them.

In other words, the perfect imagery for Election Day in the United States.  Enjoy.

Oh, and in case you haven't gotten the memo yet, GO VOTE!*

(*only if you're of legal voting age, an American citizen and not dead)

Ouch.

Words escape me, so I'll let the cover of Captain America #230 convey the effect of last night's political shellacking on all of us hapless Republicans.

Cover to Cover: Stars & Stripes (and Capes) Forever!

On the heels of the United States elections, not to mention the November 11th commemoration of Veteran's Day, I thought it would be fitting to run a patriotic Cover to Cover column I originally wrote this past summer for Independence Day.  Enjoy....and God Bless our veterans!

Ever since the birth of the United States in 1776, its people have devised countless ways to express their patriotism.  Some of these expressions are noble and dignified…

 

…while others…not so much.

Similarly, comic book covers have a long history of patriotic sentiment, with many of them easily qualifying as “noble and dignified”...

…while other covers…..well, let’s just say they fall into an entirely different category.

As great as the more noble covers are, I wanted to dig a little deeper to find patriotic covers that stray off the beaten path.  In other words, covers that better represented the endearingly surreal world of superhero comics.

Got $23,000 laying around?

If you happen to have $23,000 burning a hole in your wallet, check out this eBay item I came across this evening:

You know, despite being a huge Captain America fan, I still couldn't imagine spending that kind of money on a single comic book....even if I had that kind of money to blow. 

Yeah, I know....the people buying and selling these things are primarily the "Investor Class", people who most likely don't have much of a personal attachment or interest in comics...but know they'll be able to unload it in six months for 10% more. Still, there's just something obscene about paying that much money for a comic book.  I guess that makes me a poor candidate for the Investor Class.

Simply the Best: Superman #187

As a life-long fan and collector of Superman comics, I've seen my share of great (and not so great) covers featuring the Man of Steel.  As memorable as so many of them are, I don't think any of them can quite surpass a special cover that, in many ways, remains my favorite.

Why is that?  Well, quite simply, Superman #187 (1966) was the very first comic book I can remember reading.

My grandparents had a modest stack of comics for us grandkids to read when we visited.  Although most of them were Gold Key Disney and Looney Tunes comics, there was one comic book that wasn't at all like the others.  There was this "Superman" guy, hefting a huge golden key to unlock the ultimate secret clubhouse.  A "Fortress of Solitude"?  What's this?  A city in a bottle?  An Interplanetary Zoo?  An undersea Fortress in addition to the ice Fortress?  Even the phrase "80-page Giant" seemed cool beyond belief!

Obviously, I was in "Kid Heaven" with concepts like these...and can you think of any better crash-course introduction to superhero comic books? 

I can't tell you how many times I read and re-read this comic book when I visited my grandparents. A few years later, I started collecting comics and eventually bought my own copy of Superman #187.  Needless to say, it's still one of the highlights of my collection. Not only for its status as "my first comic book", but also for its association with my grandparents (now long gone).  In a way, it almost feels like a "souvenier" from a happy childhood.   

So, it might not win the "Most Awesomely Mind-Blowing Cover Design of All Time" award, but to me, it's Simply the Best.

Everything AND the Kitchen Sink

How much is too much?  Well, when it comes to diehard fans and their collections, there's no such thing.  However, in the case of the upcoming Superman Ultimate Collector's Edition (left), it's walking the razor's edge....and I'm a Superman fan!

The four Christopher Reeve Superman films had previously been packaged in a variety of combinations, each with their own special bells and whistles, but with the new Richard Donner cut of Superman II and the imminent release of Superman Returns to DVD, Warner Brothers is pulling out all the stops to Hoover out my wallet with Superman-related merch.

Stuffed inside of the gorgeous brushed-metal packaging are a staggering 14 DVD discs, including:

1.  Superman: The Movie (Special Edition): Richard Donner's masterpiece, despite the annoying added sound effects. (4 discs)

2.  Superman II: The once-spectacular sequel that's surprisingly slow-moving by today's hyper-CGI-exploding head standards. (2 discs)

3.  Superman III:  Seven words: Richard Pryor Wearing Foam-Rubber Cowboy Hat.

4. Superman IV: The abomination of which I shall speak no more.

5.  Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut:  This is the item I'm probably looking forward to the most, primarily for the whole "alternate history" angle (something familiar that's suddenly radically different).  Oh, and Brando as Jor-El, of course.

6.  Superman Returns: Special Edition:  Even MORE shots of the sensitive Superman accompanied by "angel choir" background music!   Ahh...I kid Superman Returns.  I'm actually looking forward to owning it (2 discs).

7. Three Bonus Discs:Include Look Up in the Sky! The Amazing Story of Superman and You Will Believe: The Cinematic Saga of Superman, plus Bryan Singer's video journals chronicling the making of Superman Returns.

But wait!  There's MORE!

8.  ALL of the classic Fleischer Studios animated Superman cartoons of the 1940's.

9.  The 1951 movie Superman and the Mole-Men (with George Reeves)

10.  A reprint of a recent Superman comic book

11. A "Superman Overview" booklet

Don't believe me?  Here...take a look at this All-You-Can-Eat Buffet of Superman fanboy glee:

But WAIT....THAT'S NOT ALL!

Yes, I have it on good authority that there are even MORE super-extras included behind a hidden panel in the packaging:

1.  Marlon Brando's half-eaten jelly roll from the set of Superman: The Movie.

2.  A 1" x 1" square of Richard Pryor's foam cowboy hat from Superman III.

3.  Recut audio of General Zod (Terrence Stamp) threatening Jor-El in Superman:The Movie.  Instead of the word "heirs", Stamp's strong English accent made it sound as if Zod was vowing to make Jor-El and his "ass" bow down before him. The word "heirs" in a clearly enunciated American accent has now been dropped in.

4.  A written apology from the writers who came up with the "freshly squeezed orange juice" bit for Lois Lane in Superman II, as well as from the hair stylist who gave Christopher Reeve that snazzy bowl haircut.

5. Deluxe Richard Lester dart board.

6.  Deluxe self-hypnosis kit to erase any lingering memories of Superman IV.

7.  MP3 dance party remix of Margot Kidder's "Can You Read My Mind?".

8.  Kryptonian shiney-silver dog sweater

9.  An authentic signed and numbered replica of Jeff East's cheesy Young Clark Kent wig.

10.  A mini Richard Donner shrine / incense burner and lifesize poster.

Okay, just kidding on those last ten items.  But man alive, they've pretty much emptied the Superman movie vaults with all the stuff they've jammed into this thing!

Will I be getting it?  Well, that's up to the Big Man at the North Pole!

No, not Superman.  The other Big Man.

Cover to Cover: "Grandma, What a Big Head You Have!"

Comics' Colossal Craniums

Of all the freakish distortions of the human body depicted on the covers of superhero comics, none of them quite compared to the spectacle of Big Head Covers (not to be confused with Floating Head Covers).

Huge, swollen craniums have been a staple of science fiction dating back to the pulps of the 1920s and '30s, usually associated with malevolent alien masterminds or highly evolved future-men.

As pulps gradually gave way to comic books, big-headed characters found their way into the burgeoning superhero fad, usually as villains...such as Brainwave (All-Star Comics #37, 1947).

During the science-fiction craze of the late 1950s and early 60's, Big Head covers began appearing at an alarming rate. It should come as no surprise that the constantly transforming Superman Family was hit particularly hard.

Worst. Cover. Ever. (part 8)

During the fever-dream that was editor Eddie Berganza's reign on the Superman titles (1999-2006), there were a number of clueless moves on Eddie's part that are now the stuff of legend among long-suffering Superman fans.  From accepting low-wattage, sub-par writing to the introduction of wonky Manga-esque art styles, it seemed to be a never-ending parade of disappointment under Eddie's not-so-watchful eye.

One of Eddie's crowning achievements in disappointment was the cover of Adventures of Superman #600 (2002):

On the occasion of his 600-issue milestone,
Superman ponders, "Did I leave the iron on?"

What would possess someone to approve that hideous trade dress at the top of the cover? An indistinguishable blob of a Superman logo (with the "S" symbol at the end making it read as "Supermans") coupled with the decision to run a dreary poop-brown background behind it is "Classic Eddie". Of course, the worst part of this hideous cover is the dreadful image of Superman himself. 

What better way to celebrate a milestone anniversary issue than to completely mock the character you're celebrating?  Well, that seemed to be what Eddie had in mind when he hired caricature artist Dan Adel to paint this steroid-soaked doofus of a Superman.   If I'm looking for a guy to do a wacky shot of Drew Carrey holding a pen, I'll hire Dan Adel....but for Superman #600?  Not a chance!  Oh, I'm sure the sophisticated Cool Cats of the Rolling Stone Magazine set enjoyed the cover's air of delicious irony, since the patriotic sentiment looks as flat-out foolish as Superman himself.  But as for Superman fans at the time, it's fair to say most of us were pretty disappointed.  The story inside was predictably underwhelming as well, which makes Adventures of Superman #600 the poster child for Eddie Berganza's titanically disappointing stewardship of DC's flagship character.

Give Ye Thanks!

Despite the frenzy of food, family and football, Thanksgiving Day remains a time for personal reflection, as all our many blessings come to mind.  In fact, a somewhat corny (yet oddly gratifying) tradition of my family is for each person seated at the table to share whatever he or she is thankful for.

In the spirit of that tradition, and with Thanksgiving 2006 only days away, I'd like to share what I'm thankful for, using classic comic book covers to drive home the point...or, more accurately, the counterpoint.  In other words, what better way to appreciate the many blessings we enjoy than to see the absence of those blessings in the calamitous world of comic book superheroes?

For instance,  I'm thankful for the gift of a loving family....

 

...and loyal friends.

 

A good job...

 

...and a roof over my head.

 

I'm especially thankful for a healthy body...

 

...and healthy children as well.

 

Thanksgiving Day brings to mind
the blessing of abundant food...

 

....and, most of all, our freedom.

God bless you all, and have a Happy (and Safe) Thanksgiving!

...and be sure to save me a piece of pumpkin pie.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Flash, Wonder Woman and Green Lantern continue the grand tradition of whimsical Golden Age covers by joining forces against a hapless turkey. Judging from the turkey's determined look, he's not going down without a fight.

Comics Calvacade #18 (1947)

 

Despite the turkey's fighting spirit, the trio accomplished their grim task, as you can see from the Justice Society of America meeting later that day.

A slightly "enhanced" All Star Comics #3 (1940)

Have a Happy Thanksgiving...and "thanks" for stopping by!

Cover to Cover: "Does This Make Me Look Fat?"

Chubby Champions of Justice!

With Thanksgiving Day now behind us, it’s inevitable that many of us will pack on even more pounds over the coming holidays (Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanza, Super Bowl, etc). However, perhaps a look at normally ultra-fit superheroes dealing with sudden morbid obesity will shock you into avoiding Grandma’s bacon-wrapped, chocolate covered cheese balls.

First up, on the cover of Flash #115 (1960), is the “The Fattest Man Alive” himself, weighing it at an even 1,000 pounds.  After being zapped by Gorilla Grodd’s moisture absorbing ray, Barry Allen rapidly expands to the point of resembling a costumed fan at a comic book convention!

Simply the Best: Batman #194

Every long-lived comic book hero occasionally needs a "tune-up", and Batman was no exception. Following bizarre and ill-advised attempts to adapt Batman to the wacky sci-fi environment of the late 50's and early 60's, DC Comics finally realized they'd run too far afield of the character's core concepts. Their response was assigning editor Julius Schwartz to helm the "New Look" Batman, who made his debut in Detective Comics #327 (1964).

Instead of the dated, cartoony look of the Bob Kane/Dick Sprang era, designer and illustrator Carmine Infantino introduced a clean, streamlined look much more suited to the times. The stories, while still a bit on the goofy side, brought Batman and Robin back to a more recognizable environment.

The souped-up interiors naturally inspired a number of exciting experimental covers, once again the responsibilty of Carmine Infantino (DC's premiere cover artist of the 1960's). One of my favorite Batman covers of this era is Batman #194 (1967), for obvious reasons:

On crowded newstands, the last thing a comic book publisher wanted to do was to alter a title's logo beyond recognition (as it is here), but my guess is that the popularity of the Batman TV series allowed for a bit more visual experimentation on DC's part. After all, with Batman so popular and so recognized by the general public, his image on the top of this cover design was as recognizeable (perhaps moreso) than the standard logo itself.

Sure, Hulk rip-off Blockbuster didn't enjoy the same sort of marquee villain status as the Joker or Two-Face, but with that vengeful Batman pose, crumbling stone logo and blazing red background, he didn't have to. This was simply a "Must Read Comic" to anyone who saw this cover...always the first and most important criteria for comics' greatest covers.

A Blast from Christmas Past: The MEGO Superheroes!

As a lad in the mid-70's, the top of my Christmas wish list was usually reserved for the the Mego Superhero Action Figures (action figures, mind you....not dolls!).

Between my friends and I, we had just about the entire line with the exception of a few oddball (or scarce) figures. Heck, we even had The Invisible Girl, owned by the paperboy down the block (back then, paperboys were rolling in the dough). Of course, nobody had much to do with her since she was essentially a Barbie doll in a Fantastic Four costume (and perhaps an uncomfortable reminder of just how doll-like all of the Mego heroes actually were).

Despite those vague misgivings, we spent plenty of summer afternoons creating action-packed scenarios for our band of Mego superheroes (and villains), each one more elaborate and outlandish than the last.

Well, imagine how pleasantly surprised I was when I stumbled across a vintage TV commercial for the Mego Superheroes on YouTube. If you've got high speed internet service, click on the screen below to relive your own Mego memories or, if you're too young, to see what you missed out on.

Before you begin, a few things to watch for:

1. The "authentic" settings for some of the heroes, such as an Aquaman figure nestled near a lapping shore and a tiny Spider-Man figure unceremoniously stuck to a concrete wall.

2. What appears to be a phone cord strung across the frame featuring Captain Marvel, simulating what could only be...a magic lightning bolt?

3. Green Arrow is apparently "the crimefighter from the forest".

4. "The Falcon, that great black superhero!" (their words, not mine)

5. The Human Torch is revealed to be "faster than the speed of light" (coming as news to Fantastic Four fans everywhere).

6. According to Mr. Announcer Guy, Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Girl both have the power of invisibility, with no mention of Reed's stretching abilities. Oops!

7. Conan's "sword of justice"? More likely his sword of blood and gruel-caked vengeance!

8. "Thor...using his viking power against evil!" Listen, I live in Minnesota, and if there's one thing we Minnesotans are sure of, it's that Vikings really aren't all that powerful (as any glance at NFL stats should confirm).

Anyway....enjoy the video!