Comic Coverage

Cover to Cover: Unmasked!

The Fine Art of Blowing a Secret Identity

Once upon a time, before TV and movies made it oh-so uncool, a superhero’s secret identity was guarded with the utmost care and vigilance!  Ostensibly, the importance of heroes hiding their identity was to protect their loved ones from an enemy’s retribution, but for those of us reading their adventures, the true appeal of the secret identity was….well…that is was a secret.

Secrets have a powerful kind of currency in the world of children, so the concept and sanctity of a hero’s secret identity was easily grasped and solemnly supported.  It naturally followed that whenever we spied a comic book cover depicting a secret identity threatened or even (gasp!) exposed, we’d snatch ‘em up, no questions asked. After all, a secret I.D. in jeopardy was some heavy drama, pal!

The fine art of blowing a secret identity often fell into three distinct categories:  (1) The “What?--Is he CRAZY?” self-reveal, (2) The betrayal of a trusted friend or family member, or (3) discovery by their enemies.

The first, and in some ways, most disturbing category is when the hero apparently loses his mind and reveals his own secret identity.

The cover of Flash #149 (1964) shows Barry Allen doing just that, earning a “jumpin’ jets” exclamation from freaked-out sidekick Wally (Kid Flash) West.

Bizarro's Toybox (part 1)

Sure, we all know what this year's "must have" gifts are. Whether it's the Playstation 3, the Nintendo Wii, exploding Elmo, or whatever else the kiddies are clamoring for, waiting in long lines, spending loads of cash and (most likely) fistfights will be the norm for hapless parents who just can't say "no".

However, imagine Christmas shopping on the topsy-turvy Bizarro World, where the abnormal is normal, bad is good, and the Playstation 3 is on exactly nobody's wish list. What popular gifts might we find there?

As the inagural entry in Bizarro's Toybox, one of the gifts every Bizarro-Tot is dreaming about is this delightfully screwy Motorcycle THOR figure:

Forget about Thor's mighty hammer Mjolnir, or his mastery over the thunder and lightning, what's really impressive is a popping a righteous wheelie in front of all the lady Asgardian gods.

According to the eBay auction I nabbed the image from, it's some sort of Brazillian toy. Foreign markets are where you find the really nonsensical licensed superhero toys, and this one's no exception. My favorite part of the photo is how Thor's cape is pulled back behind him, as if simulating rip-roaring speed. Success on eBay is all about the pimpin', my friend!

Mission Impossible: Christmas Shopping for Geeks

While jotting a few things down for a Christmas wish list, it occured to me that we comic book/sci-fi/fantasy geek types are a difficult lot to shop for.  Who among us hasn't gotten the bewildered look, the Mr. Spock eyebrow-raise, or the exasperated "Where the heck am I going to find THAT?" question from confused friends and family?

Yes, we are particular.  Yes, we like maddeningly obscure stuff.  In short, Christmas shopping for us is a major world-class drag.  I admit it. It's in this spirit of clarity and contrition that I offer this cartoon:

UPDATE: Want this cartoon on a shirt or some other cool stuff? Click here to visit my Geek Christmas Cafepress store. There's not too many days left for you to get your gifts by Christmas time, so check it out today!

Cover to Cover: "I've Fallen, and I Can't Get Up!"

Superheroes as Senior Citizens

If we’re to believe those TV commercials for sunbelt retirement communities, growing old is non-stop conga line of carefree living and frivolity....cleverly disguising the fact that getting old stinks! 

As children, the gripes and groans of aging parents and grandparents suggested that getting old was no picnic, yet it was the spectacle of Senior Citizen Superheroes that really drove home the grim reality that "all things must pass away". Witnessing perpetually young superheroes reduced to feeble oldsters got a child thinking about his or her own mortality, in a way older real-world relatives never could.  In other words, if Superman could grow old...kids could too, right?

Senior Superhero stories typically took two broad approaches.  The first approach was through "imaginary stories" that depicted an elderly version of the hero tottering around in the far future.  More often than not, the futuristic super-senior was portrayed as a feeble, marginalized figure, like Superman on the cover of Action Comics #251 (1959).

Note the long white beard, the universal indicator of advanced age, perhaps dating all the way back to Rip Van Winkle himself. 

Simply the Best: HULK King-Size Special #1

In the arena of superhero comic books, Jack Kirby owned the 1960's.  Though certainly an important artist before and after that decade, Kirby's groundbreaking work during the 60's took comic book storytelling to a sprawling, bombastic new level.  Once Kirby kicked down the door, younger artists couldn't help but be inspired to experiment with their own brand of hyper-dynamic visuals.

One such artist was Jim Steranko, whose life prior to entering comics encompassed performance magic, rock music and ad agency work.  After a brief stay at Harvey Comics, Steranko received his first Marvel assignment from Stan Lee in 1966 inking (and later penciling) the Nick Fury, Agent of Shield feature.

In the years to come, Steranko took Kirby's spirit of innovation into stunning, surreal new directions through his use of graphic design, trendy "op art" and cutting edge cinematic techniques.  Marvel also commissioned Steranko to create a number of covers, many of them achieving "instant classic" status.  Chief among those covers, in my opinion, was the HULK King-Size Special #1 (1968).

This image perfectly captured the essence of the Hulk character, demonstrating his stubborn, savage defiance under the crushing "weight" of constant persecution.  The illustration's elemental mass, raw power and tenacity will never quite be surpassed.

After a relatively short stay in comics, Jim Steranko went on to continued success in the book publishing, magazine and film industries....yet his comic book work remains one of the artform's undisputed high points.

Bizarro's Toybox (part 2)

As ill-conceived as last week's Thor motorcycle might have been, what could be more ill-conceived and uncharacteristic than the Captain America Quick-Click Spin Barrel Gun?

It's one thing to stick an Asgardian god onto a motorcycle (despite his time & space-bending magic hammer), but changing Captain America's defensive posture (shield) to a wildly offensive posture (packing heat)? Look, I'm as big of a Second Amendment guy as you're likely to find (especially in the "I'm more liberal than YOU are!" comics blogosphere), but even I have to draw the line somewhere. Is he Captain America, proudly protecting the ramparts of Freedom using only his trusty shield.... or, Dirty Harry-like, squeezing off multiple rounds into the backs of fleeing fascists? Add to that the worst-designed packaging in modern history (with "America" haphazardly positioned above the Cap-obscuring "Captain"), and you've got yourself an authentic specimen for Bizarro's Toybox!

Coincidence? YOU DECIDE!

Update! While we're on the subject of coincidence, little did I know that today, December 12th, is the actual birthday of our pal Edward Munch! I just found out! It's enough to give a guy goosebumps!

Bizarro's Toybox (Part 3): ToyBiz...Masters of the Craptacular!

For over 40 years, Spider-Man toys have enjoyed overwhelming popularity with kids of all ages...and why wouldn't they?  After all, the wall-crawler's snappy humor, cool costume and amazing powers are all an imaginative child needs for hours of adventurous play.

Ah, but legendary Masters of the Craptacular Toy Biz knew better!  Why climb walls, shoot webbing and lift cars over your head when you can put out fires, hang out at the beach or shoot breathtaking safari footage...all while still wearing your Spidey costume?!!

Originally intended for the European market in 1999, the horrific "Adventure Hero" line of Spider-Man action figures eventually found its way to the shores of the United States. 

So, who needs threats like Dr. Octopus and the Green Goblin when Spider-Man could instead face the challenge of bonking a layback slide, capped off by a tight fakie?*

*Official Snowboarding Lingo

 

YouTube Theatre: SHAZAM!

As DVD collections of old TV shows multiply like rabbits, curiously absent from the pack is a collection of the SHAZAM! series that aired on CBS in the mid-70's. Starring Michael Gray as a shaggy-haired Billy Batson and Jackson Bostwick as Captain Marvel (later by the doughy John Davey), the series was a huge disappointment to us kids, despite the lower expectations for superhero fare in that day and age. Instead of battling comic book villains like Dr. Sivana or Black Adam, TV Cap faced "threats" like bullies and juvenile delinquency....most likely due to their $1.95 special effects budget.

However, despite the cheesy special effects and low-wattage adventures, the series had its heart in the right place as it tried to teach young viewers Valuable Lessons, ham-handed as they were. Because of that, I'm hoping SHAZAM! finds its way to DVD one of these days. I've heard TV Captain Marvel will sort of make it to video this summer, as his guest-star episodes will be included in the DVD collection of ISIS, a SHAZAM spin-off series scheduled for a 2007 release. Strange that a spin-off series makes it to video, but SHAZAM is stuck in limbo. I don't get it.

So, until Cap (both of them), long-hair Billy, Mentor and the traveling Winnebago finally make it to DVD, we'll just have to get by with this YouTube video of the show's introduction (ironically the coolest part of each episode):

Profiles in Villainy: Doctor Octopus

Spider-Man villain.

Criminal Mastermind.

Snowball Warrior.

Doc Ock © Marvel

Click here for more Profiles in Villainy!

World's Coolest Government Logo

Courtesy of the Riding Sun blog, I present the official logo of Russia's Glavnoye Razvedyvatelnoye Upravlenie (GRU), or Main Intelligence Directorate. Despite the treachery of oily Vladimir Putin in recent years, the Russian President has good taste in logos. I'm sure the legal department of DC Comics/Warner Bros. disagrees...but what do they do? Sue Russia?

On second thought, if these creepy radiation-poisoning spooks wanted to steal a DC Comics logo, why did it have to be Batman's? Why not something more appropriate....like this one?

Cover to Cover: Have Yourself a SUPERHERO Christmas...

The power of American pop culture has worked its delightfully skewed magic upon a whole host of traditions and institutions. Transforming the transcendent to tacky and the solemn to silly, holidays like Christmas have become the venue of Norelco-driving Santas, caroling Star Wars characters and prancing Victoria’s Secret models.  It’s within this surreal alternate universe that even comic book superheroes gather to celebrate Christmas (or its generic equivalent “the holidays”) in their own inimitable style.

One of the earliest examples appeared on Comic Cavalcade #9 (1944), where Flash, Wonder Woman and Green Lantern are either leaving presents for a deserving child….or stealing them!

Profiles in Villainy: Solomon Grundy

Giant Nemesis of Green Lantern.

Supernatural Swamp Zombie.

Proud Poodle Owner.

Solomon Grundy © DC Comics

Click here for more Profiles in Villainy!

Bizarro's Toybox (Part 4): Sumo Battle of the Century!

Who can forget the epic crossovers between comic book giants DC Comics and Marvel Comics?  After testing the waters with an amicable Wizard of Oz collaboration in 1975, the crosstown rivals soon took off the gloves and set their two flagship characters against each other in the mind-blowing Superman vs. Spider-Man treasury edition (1976).  Comic book tradition dictates that two champions meeting for the first time have to battle each other due to a misunderstanding or a villainous set-up.  In this case it's the latter, as Lex Luthor and Doctor Octopus manipulate their respective arch-enemies into duking it out.

Now the thrills of that classic clash can be passed on to a new generation, as tiny tots can reenact that sacred meeting with the Superman vs. Spider-Man SUMO SUITS!

"But mom!...I wanna reenact a classic superhero crossover battle, too!"  Ahhh, what parent hasn't heard that impassioned cry?...which is why the new Batman vs. Hulk sumo suits are available to ensure homes everywhere are filled with the inflated vinyl mayhem of fierce, intercompany rivalry!

Simply the Best: Wonder Woman #72

I became an instant fan of illustrator Brian Bolland when I saw the cover of (and immediately purchased) Tales of the Green Lantern Corps #1 back in 1981.  As I found out many years later, this was the British illustrator's first professional work for an American comic book company, having broken into comics drawing Nigerian hero Powerman and later the British cult-favorite Judge Dredd.

Bolland went on to illustrate many high profile projects for DC Comics, such as Camelot 3000 (comics' first "maxi-series") and Batman: The Killing Joke with Alan Moore.  As great as those stories were, Bolland has made an even greater contribution through his outstanding cover illustrations.  In fact, Bolland's gift for subtle facial expressions, imaginative layouts and clean linework makes him one of the premiere cover artists of his (or any) generation.

Nearly every cover he's created for DC's Animal Man, The Flash, Wonder Woman, and assorted others became a bonafide "Instant Classic".   Within that huge body of work, a few covers stand out as something extra special...such as Wonder Woman #72 (1993).

The Wonder Woman character has always walked a narrow line between enlightenment and exploitation, most often leaning toward the latter.  Countless covers portray the title character in silly or downright demeaning positions and situations, which is why this cover stands out as something different.  Bolland retains the beauty and, yes, sexiness of Wonder Woman, but at the same time imbues her with an undeniable power, grace, determination and dignity.

In other words, all of the best qualities of womanhood.

Update: To see more of Bolland's work, click here for a modest cover gallery.

YouTube Theatre: Kidder-Free Flying!

Back at the dawn of the VHS videotape era, I received Superman: The Movie as a Christmas gift.  At that time, VHS movies were quite expensive and came in the clunky vinyl cases seen in early video rental stores.  Needless to say I've watched it dozens of times since then, though I was more than happy to "retire" it when the DVD "special edition" was released a number of years ago.

Unfortunately, I quickly realized the "special edition" was alot more that just restored footage.  Forgetting Pa Kent's sage advice to Clark not to show off, the Special Edition's sound effects crew did just that by throwing in every distracting new sound effect they could get their hands on.  From the completely different "S-shield" blast in the opening credits to the added racket of smashing crystal during Krypton's destruction (a logical idea, but lousy execution), the added sounds diminished some of the fun of the DVD release.

About the same time, I'd just upgraded to a Mac that was able to edit and burn digital movies...so I thought it would be fun to make my own version of the original theatrical release of Superman: The Movie, using my trusty old VHS tape as the source.  I wasn't planning on selling it to an international digital movie cabal or mass-producing them for eBay sales...just my own copy...and just for the heck of it.

A few years later, Warner Bros. released the 14-disc Superman: The Ultimate Collection, which included...you guessed it....the original theatrical release of Superman: The Movie.  My private DVD copy of the original was now redundant....or was it?

Well, not completely. You see, there was an extra chapter I added to my version that I'm pretty sure the Ultimate DVD set doesn't have.  For years, I'd wondered what the famous flying sequence would be like without Margot Kidder's cheesy "Can You Read My Mind?" voiceover, so I worked some iMovie magic and POW!  No more cheesy voiceover!  I was happy to see how much better the sequence plays with only John Williams' beautiful score accompanying the graceful movements of Christopher Reeve and Kidder, without the distracting, insipid vocals.

So, to all of my readers, an early Kidder-Free Christmas present!

Profiles in Villainy: Dr. Doom

Master of super-science and dark sorcery.

An insatiable thirst to rule the world.

Excellent singing voice.

Dr. Doom © Marvel

Click here for more Profiles in Villainy!

Cover to Cover: Here Comes Santa Claus!

“When, what to my wondering
eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.”

–The Night Before Christmas, by Clement Clarke Moore

Conspicuously missing from my recent survey of Christmas covers was Santa Claus, the beloved harbinger of Christmas whose mythic stature easily outranks the relative “rookie” folklore status of the superhero.  Yet, despite Santa’s towering legend, his appearances with superheroes have always felt natural, as if he lived only a few blocks away in the public’s collective imagination. 

This is especially true of his appearances in simpler, less cynical times…such as the cover of Comic Cavalcade #5 (1943), where a Jabba The Hutt-sized Santa laughs it up with Green Lantern, the Flash and Wonder Woman (the permanent stars of the title).  Though they couldn’t come from more disparate backgrounds, Santa and the colorfully costumed threesome just seem right together, don’t they?

Always Read the Fine Print

* Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of other cultures that have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere. Also, this wish is made without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishee.

By accepting this greeting, you are accepting the aforementioned terms as stated. This greeting is not subject to clarification or withdrawal. It is freely transferable with no alteration to the original greeting. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for herself/himself/others, and is void where prohibited by law and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wisher. This wish is warranted to perform as expected within the usual application of good tidings for a period of one year or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first, and warranty is limited to replacement of this wish or issuance of a new wish at the sole discretion of the wisher.

Have a happy and safe....whatever! 

See you next week!

It's Official: I'm Strange.

After three days of Family, Food & Fun, it's good to be back home.  Now that we've unloaded the Deluxe Family Transport, it's time to "play with the toys"...but first, a realization that (no doubt) many of you have also experienced.

I'm strange.

You see, in the northern Minnesota town where I was raised, men do basically three things:

1.  Hunt

2.  Build/fix stuff.

3.  Watch football.

I do none of these things.  I'm not the least bit interested in these things.  I'm fine with that, as is my family.  But I've gotta say, there are times when the gulf between me and the rest of my family's more traditional "menfolk" is more keenly felt....like Christmas day...which I will reenact for you now:

"Okay, Dad,  it's your turn."

"Wow!  A new hunting vest...and a box of ammo....thanks!"

"Hey, Mike (my brother), your turn."

"Yeah!  A new compound miter saw!  Just what I wanted!"

"Next?  You're turn, Mark....what did you get?"

"A Marvel Masterworks 'Doctor Strange' collection!  Excellent!"

(cue sound of crickets chirping).

"Er...Doctor what?"

Compound that reaction with my opening of my Looney Tunes Golden Collection DVDs (vol. 4) and the Krypton Companion, and it occurs to me (for the 4,687th time) that I'm not what you'd consider your "Traditional Northern Minnesota Male".  In fact, I'm just a little...Strange!

Cover to Cover: The Mythadventures of Superman!

Ancient Strongmen Meet the Man of Steel!

The inaugural storyline of DC’s All-Star Superman (by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely) has proven to be a dazzling fusion of Morrison’s trippy big ideas and the delightfully wonky world of the Silver Age Superman (fittingly one of Morrison’s early influences).  One of the highlights of the tale has been the boisterous appearance of Superman’s godly pals Samson and Atlas in issue #3, harkening back to a time when Superman routinely encountered ancient strongmen of Scripture and myth.

Superman’s first brush with these heroes of old was in Superman #28 (1944).  Though only a statue on its cover, Superman encounters the “real” Hercules in one of the issue’s stories, albeit a weakling Hercules Superman has to cover for.  No sign of an actual Atlas, though.

Recommended Reading: "The Krypton Companion"

As an amateur "historian" of the comics biz, I've been a big fan of TwoMorrows Publishing for many years.  Their devotion to honoring the creative people who invented and sustained the artform is second to none, and can be seen in every one of their in-depth and superbly produced publications.  Whether it's an overview of an influential artist's career, a magazine devoted to examining specific aspects of the artform (such as drawing or writing techniques) or the hobby of comic book collecting, TwoMorrows can't be beat.

With that said, TwoMorrows has surpassed their own (already high) standards with The Krypton Companion, a 240-page overview of the Silver and Bronze Age Superman (a period stretching from the late 1950's through the mid-80's).

Broken into four broad categories, the chronology covers not only the important milestones in the comics themselves, but the creators as well.  All of the writers, artists and editors from that period are vividly brought to life through biographies and interviews...and when I say "all", I mean ALL of them.  Editor Michael Eury has compiled an exhaustive number of articles and interviews covering virtually everyone who helped guide the Superman character for an entire generation.  Obviously, some of those folks merited more coverage than others (such as legendary editor Mort Weisinger, his successor Julius Schwartz, and long-time penciller Curt Swan), but everyone else gets at least a little time in the spotlight.

The icing on the cake is the generous amount artwork, photos and rare artifacts spread throughout the book, many of them seeing publication for the first time.  This rich imagery makes the already interesting interviews and articles all the more fascinating to read. 

True, the book is aimed squarely at rabid Superman fans (like me), but even the more casual fan...or people who too easily dismiss this particular era of Superman comics, would find it an informative and enlightening experience.  Even if you don't warm up to this unique chapter in Superman's long history, you'll definitely gain an appreciation of the many craftsmen, personalities, and market forces that shaped the character for so many years.

Yeah, I know....Christmas has left your wallet a little thin, but trust me...it's worth every penny and every minute of your time.

Click here to order The Krypton Companion from Amazon.com!