Comic Coverage

Spider-Man 3: The Missing Action Figure

2007 has been a big year for movies based on Marvel Comics characters.  First Ghost Rider, in June Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, and right between them both...the much-anticipated Spider-Man 3.

As with any comic-based movie, a small army of coordinating action figures will hit the toy shelves weeks or even months before the movie's actual start date, and Spider-Man 3 is no exception to that rule. 

Featuring most of the film's major characters (along with a dizzying array of variant figures), the Spidey-3 line of toys can be found in just about any major retailer's toy section.

However, in addition to new lines of action figures, Marvel Comics films invariably bring something else: A fresh batch of Stan Lee cameo appearances!

In nearly every Marvel film adaptation (as well as NBC's Heroes), Marvel's charismatic co-founder has always managed to show up...whether as a hotdog vendor (X-Men), a gallant passer-by (Spider-Man I and II), a careless pedestrian (Daredevil) or as Willie Lumpkin, the mailman of the Fantastic Four.  In fact, my teenage kids now recognize Stan the Man and can spot him instantly in his cameo roles. It's this recognition (and ubiquity) of Stan Lee (one of my personal idols, by the way) that begs the question:

 Just imagine...your Cameo Appearance Stan Lee® on the
outskirts of an action-packed Spider-Man 3 battle scene!

...or as an extra in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer...

...or as Galactus himself  ...

...or even a multi-company crossover appearance!

C'mon Toy Biz, Hasbro or McFarlane Toys...we
needs us a Cameo Appearance Stan Lee figure!

The Game of LIFE: Spider-Man Edition

Originally created in 1861 by Milton Bradley (yeah, that Milton Bradley), The Game of Life has been a hit ever since.  The secret of the board game's popularity is its fast-forward road tour through adult life, as players leave college, enter the workforce and literally drive through all of life's major milestones...all the while amassing (or losing) a fortune. 

The success of the game has spawned a number of special editions, each based upon a popular licensed property.  As you'd expect, each special edition alters the graphics and gameplay to reflect its unique world and characters...such as Spongebob Squarepants, Pirates of the Carribean, or even The Simpsons.

Ah, but wait!  How about a LIFE special edition comic book geeks like ME want to play?  How about....

Think of it:  The Game of Life...only with all the miseries, misfortunes and muted triumphs that have characterized Peter Parker's career as Spider-Man.  I've even worked up a little concept to show Milton Bradley...

Cover to Cover: Webhead's Wild Kingdom

Spider-Man's Animal-Themed Adversaries!

As the old proverb says, “you can know a man by his friends”, but I believe a man can also be defined by who his enemies are.  In the case of comic book superheroes, a compelling collection of villains (or “rogues’ gallery”) can only enhance an already solid character.  Having a memorable rogues’ gallery certainly isn’t essential to ensure superhero immortality, but it sure doesn’t hurt.  The best rogues’ galleries can be defined along simple criteria, such as Batman’s collection of dark lunatics, or the Flash’s gimmicky felons….but when it comes to an overarching theme, Spider-Man’s rogues’ gallery wins the prize.

Looking back over the past four decades of Spidey comics, it’s hard not to notice the huge number of animal-themed villains he’s encountered. Considering his powers and heroic identity are also based on a member of the animal kingdom, I guess it makes sense that so many of Spider-Man’s villains followed suit…..immediately, I might add. 

Right out of the gate, the inaugural issue of The Amazing Spider-Man #1 (1963) introduced the threat of the Chameleon, a master of disguise named for the color-changing reptile.

Along Came a Spider...

"I am The Watcher.  It is my solemn duty to observe, but never interfere with, the planet Earth and its surrounding solar system. 

As a sort of "hobby", if you will, I also monitor this planet's countless alternate realities, where events familiar to you have transpired in dramatically different ways.

Join me now, as we explore eight such divergent realities...all of which provide an intriguing answer to the question..."

Spidey 3: The Verdict

It's certainly no secret that I'm a complete drooling fanboy over Sam Raimi's first two Spider-Man films. 

Oblivious to all the griping and nitpicking from the usual suspects, I can confidently say that Raimi "gets it" in a way no other director has when it comes to translating a comic book character to film. 

As I watched both Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2, I knew for certain that Raimi read the same Spider-Man comics I did, saw the same things in Peter Parker and his classic supporting cast, and knew exactly what made the "engine" of this particular character run. 

Were the first two movies perfect?  Of course not...and I would turn that around to my purist pals and ask: Were the comic books themselves perfect?  Again, of course not...so once we let go of perfection as our goal, the experience becomes that much more enjoyable.  Organic web-shooters vs. mechanical web-shooters?  You guys fight it out...I couldn't care less.

However, as much as I love the first two movies, when details of the third movie began to emerge, I have to admit I got a little concerned.  Like one of those chainsaw jugglers asking for more even more chainsaws, Raimi seemed to be taking a huge risk with the number of villains and subplots he was taking on in Spidey 3.  It seemed an audacious, even reckless challenge he set up for himself...part of me a little alarmed, yet another part intrigued by the P.T. Barnum-like audacity of it all.

Well, I'm happy to report the Dapper One pulled it off again...spectacularly (or amazingly), I might add.

Sure, there were a few bumps in the road (where did Raimi get those awful TV news reporters?), but...somehow...against all odds, it worked.

Rather than do a tedious scene-by-scene analysis, I think I'll tackle the major characters and give a few impressions of each.  Still...expect some SPOILERS (consider yourself Spoiler-Warned).

Peter Parker (Toby Maguire):  Another great performance from Maguire as Peter Parker, effortlessly evoking both the pathos and the humor that have long-defined the character....along with a new perception that he's matured since the last film, as thoughts of marriage (i.e. "becoming a grown-up") come to the forefront while his roles as student, nephew and employee (heavily emphasized in the first two movies) recede.

Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst):  Of all the returning cast members, probably the most disappointing performance and screen presense.  Dunst hasn't seemed particularly thrilled with being in the Spider-Man movies, and it really shows here.  Her somewhat haggard appearance didn't have any of the zing you'd expect from someone playing a sparkplug like  M.J.  Yeah, the material was pretty serious stuff, but at the same time, Dunst just seemed flat-out bored in many of her scenes.  Happily, the strength of the other actors overshadowed Dunst's auto-pilot performance.

Harry Osborn (James Franco):  Franco's come a long way since his turn as Harry in the first film, and his flip-flops between sanity and madness have been fascinating to watch.  Like the haunted figure of the comics, Franco's Harry is completely eclipsed by the shadow of his father, making his (pleasantly) surprising redemption all the more uplifting.  I feared Harry's story would get short shrift when I heard about both Venom and Sandman appearing in Spidey-3, but Raimi managed to finish Harry's story with style, clarity and humanity.

Aunt May (Rosemary Harris): Like so many great actors who've appeared in so-called "popcorn movies" (such as Alec Guinness in Star Wars or Brando in Superman), Rosemary Harris brings a real legitimacy and respectability to all of the Spider-Man films.  Her character's warmth and wisdom help ground the movies in some form of recognizeable reality.  Though she didn't have as large a role as in the previous two films, her contribution to the movie's emotional heft was much appreciated.

Eddie Brock (Topher Grace): Grace did an adequate job as the greasy Brock. It was a small, sort of two-dimensional role, but Grace did a good job with what he was given.  As I recall, the comic book version of the character wasn't that complex either, so in that respect, a successful jump to the screen for the Brockster.

Flint Marko/Sandman (Thomas Haden Church):  Every superhero movie has that magical "aha" moment when a fictional character suddenly comes to life before your eyes, and Marko's emergence from the sand pit as The Sandman was definitely the "aha" moment for Spider-Man 3...much moreso than even Venom.  Maybe it's because I've enjoyed Marvel's Sandman charcter ever since I first encountered him way back in Fantastic Four #148 (1974).  His shifting to sand form was exactly what I used to picture in my mind's eye with panels like this (from FF #148):

I thought the addition of a sick daughter to Marko's backstory, while calculated, brought some dimension to a character who's been little more than a blunt instrument for most of his history.  Further pushing the envelope on the Sandman character was the decision to weave him into Spider-Man's origin.  Though I'm not jumping with joy over the ret-con, it doesn't bother me as much as I feared it would.  Uncle Ben still dies as a result of Peter's apathy, so that aspect of his origin remains intact.  That said, Peter's forgiveness of Marko at the end of the film felt forced, as was Marko's sudden return to rationality (after smashing up downtown as a mountain-sized sand creature).  But, I guess the Sandman "aha" moment was so strong for me, and Church's haunted performance so strong, I could ultimately overlook the odd wrap-up.

"Bad Pete" (Tobey Maguire):  I thought this version of Peter was so entertaining, I'm considering it a separate role. I'd read that Maguire was pretty excited about getting to play a darker version of Pete, and his scenery-chewing performance confirmed it.  What I enjoyed the most about the role was that Bad Pete wasn't actually cool...but rather a caricatured version of cool only a nerd like Peter Parker would think is authentic.  I also appreciated how his turn as Bad Pete was a real struggle for him, seemingly overcoming his initial dip into the dark side, only to run back to it in a moment of weakness.  For some, the emo hair was undoubtedly too much, but as with most aspects of this movie, it worked for me.

Gwen Stacy (Bryce Dallas Howard):  Though she certainly looked the part, Gwen Stacy really could have been any female character.  Yeah, I liked how Raimi managed to plug her in somewhere, but being aware of the enormous dramatic history behind the character becomes a mild distraction.  Happily, her role was pretty small, so no damage done. Nice, sweet performance by Bryce.

Now for the non-human, but no less important roles of our CGI guys:

Venom:  Though a smaller role than I originally assumed, the screen version of Venom made for some fantastic visuals and, most likely, some pretty hellacious nightmares for the kiddies in the audience (Hello, parents...PG-13?).  I was curious as to how they'd handle Venom's extraterrestrial origins, and was amused to see they settled for something straight out of The Blob. 

Spider-Man: Still the undisputed star of the show, the CGI Spider-Man sequences are more breathtaking than ever.  They've come a long way from the rubbery, weightless Spidey of the first movie, creating aerial battles that burst with momentum, mass, impact and topsy-turvy vertigo.  It also helped to increase the amount of maskless face time for the actors, making the combatants a bit more realistic when glimpsing human faces (even though they were most likely CGI) while simultaneously stoking the actors' egos.  The black Spider-Man costume was striking, joining the traditional Spidey costume on the top shelf of superhero movie costumes.

Of course, I adored the inevitable Stan Lee and Bruce Campbell cameo appearances, and J.K. Simmons as Jonah Jameson was spot-on, as usual.  Even the "little moments" were memorable, like the boy pleading with Spider-Man not to accept a girl's kiss, or the gentle friendship of Ursula, the landlord's daughter (Mageina Tovah).

Was there too much "soap opera"?  Short answer: No.  Read the comics....the drama has always been a big part of Spider-Man. Did you want unrelenting, wall-to-wall action? Visit the Spider-Man ride at Universal Studios.  If you're disappointed in the movie, please...don't let me talk you out of it.  As for me? I'm rating it a solid four out of five Spidey Heads!

And so ends an extremely busy Spider-Man Week.  I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed putting it together. Seven consecutive days of original material (some more complex than others) isn't something I'm pining to repeat anytime soon, but if something else comes along that I love as much as Spider-Man, who knows what'll show up here on Comic Coverage?

The Letters Page = Fanboy Valhalla

Here in the glamorous Internet Age, anyone with a computer and a keyboard can instantly tell a waiting world why the comic book they just read rox/sux.

However, there was a time when the only place fans could publicly express their like (or dislike) of a story was on a comic book's letter page.  Chosen by the title's editor (or, in some cases, the writer), a few lucky fans would get the opportunity to share their opinion with not only the creators, but a captive audience of fellow fans as well.  In fact, some of the most prolific fans had letters printed almost every month in a variety of titles, becoming minor celebrities in their own right. 

The rest of us could never hope to be a Dale L. Coe, Kent A. Phenis or the late, great T.M. Maple (a.k.a. Jim Burke) because...well...I guess we just didn't have much to say.  Of course, that's never stopped us here in the 21st century blogosphere, but back when the lag time between writing the letter and its (highly unlikely) publication was at least four months, that pretty much let all the air out of our tires.  That, and the fact that most of us didn't have the slightest idea of how to write a literate, entertaining letter.

Ah, but despite being only 13 years old, a story in Iron Man #132 (1980) inspired me to buck the odds and write my first letter to a comic book letters page. At the time, the Hulk was my favorite comic book character, and I was expecting my guy to turn Tony Stark into Scrap Iron Man.  As it turned out, Iron Man turned the tables and defeated the Hulk by focusing all of his armor's power into a single punch, then promptly collapsing afterward.

Well, as you can imagine, I wasn't too happy about that...and sent a letter off to Printed Circuits, the official Iron Man letters page.  As I mentioned before, the lag time between the issue number and its letter page commentary was at least four or five months, so, being a mercurial 13 year old boy, I most likely forgot all about my letter.

Flash forward a whopping six months later when, on a whim, I picked up Iron Man #138, cuz hey...a Dreadnought was on the cover! When I got to the letters page, you can imagine my utter flabbergastery when I saw my own name and address staring back at me.  There it was! They published it!  I was "in"!  Like Ralphie in awe of his Red Ryder theme paper in A Christmas Story, I re-read my letter as if it were a blistering Wall Street Journal editorial, or the watertight closing argument of Perry Mason. 

Here it is:

Obviously, my razor-sharp logic...backed up by devastating citations from other comics...must have silenced the Marvel Bullpen, right?  Wrong!  Iron Man writer David Michelinie himself jumped to the defense of his story...

Ouch!  Even twenty-seven years later, that slap-down still hurts!

Seriously, it was a blast getting a letter printed...and it would happen one more time in a Superman letters page a few years later (I'll get to that another day).  I have to admit, it does feel kinda cool having made it into a pre-internet letters page, back when it actually felt like an accomplishment having your opinion out there for all to see.  For that matter, it'll be there for all time, printed in the back of an actual comic book...still floating around in collections around the world.  It's only a molecule of "immortality", to be sure, but "Fanboy Valhalla" nonetheless.

Now, before I break out into the theme song from Fame, it sould be noted that my letters page debut was overshadowed somewhat by the appearance of a letters page Golden Boy, the aforementioned Dale L. Coe!

"For letters like yours, Dale?  Definitely!"

See what I mean? Golden Boy.

Gold Nuggets: Blondes vs. Brunettes!

The Obscure Adventures of Comics' Greatest Generation!

The universe is on the cusp of a bloody war, as
two intergalactic rulers battle over....hair color?

Who can stop this follicle-based conflagration?

Enter...Rock Braddon
of The Space Legion!

Created by Vernon Henkel for Quality Comics, The Space Legion regularly appeared in Crack Comics (yes, Crack Comics), and starred the dashing Rock Braddon and Commander Crosby.  Now, let's rejoin Rock as he practices the delicate art of diplomacy!

Memewhile: Mapping the Multiverse

With last week's final issue of 52, DC Comics officially resurrected The Multiverse, which they had banished some 20 years ago with Crisis on Infinite Earths. As it stands now, an infinite number of Earths has been paired down a much more manageable 52 (hence the name of the series), with only a handful of them revealed so far.

Inspired by Devon's masterful
Multi-versed post, I thought the rest of us out here in the Comics Blogosphere could map out some other Earths that didn't quite make the cut.

So, consider this an official Blog Meme and get to work (feel free to borrow the logo if you'd like).

I'll get us started:

Earth Scooter (Earth 16): Populated entirely
by Beatniks, Hepcats and Archie rip-offs.

Earth WWII (Earth 41): The Earth where World War II never ends, with the Allied and Axis Powers locked in eternal battle. Home of Sgt. Rock, Sgt. Fury, G.I. Robot, the History Channel and anything written by Roy Thomas.

Earth Radio Shack (Earth TRS-80): In this reality, superheroes save the world while simultaneously shilling Radio Shack TRS-80 Computers.

Okay...which Earths have you identified out there in the big, wide
Multiverse? Be creative! (graphics aren't required...but welcome!)

Updates:

Kalinara claims Earth-25, the world of the all-female JSA!

Steve Flannagan identifies the unexplored world of Earth-21!

Shameless Plug Department:
While you're at it, check out the Alternate Earth Exploratory Team merch in my Secret Identity shop.

Gone Fishin'

Tomorrow, May 12th, marks the fishing season opener here in Minnesota. 

Traditionally (and curiously) slated for the same weekend as Mother's Day, Minnesotans load up their boats, campers, fishing equipment and coolers and hit one of our 10,000-plus lakes.  As you can see from the cover of Comic Cavalcade #21 (1947), even A-list superheroes love fishing in the great Northland...

How would I know they're fishing in Minnesota?   
Well, imagine my surprise when reading a story in
Flash Comics #7 (1940) and coming across this panel...

But that wasn't all!  Later in the story, Flash
even refers to my good ol' hometown of Duluth!

Superheroes in New York or Los Angeles? 
No big deal...but Duluth?  Not likely....making
Jay's brief Golden Age visit to the Upper Midwest
all the more surprising.

So, with Jay's earlier Minnesota visit established, it's no surprise that he'd want to return with his closest friends for some well-deserved rest and relaxation.

Comic Book Life Lessons: Mother's Day Edition

Happy Mother's Day!

"Click here for more Comic Book Life Lessons!"

Excuses, excuses...

In an interview posted today at Comic Book Resources, writer Mark Waid discussed his work on a variety of DC Comics titles.

When the recently relaunched Brave and the Bold team-up title came up, Waid had this to say about the second issue's steep decline in sales (from the interview):

Mark Waid:The moment all the reviews started coming in they all said, "It's fun." "It's fun." "It's fun." I started to sweat, because "fun" is a death word in comics these days.

Robert Taylor: If you kill off Hawkeye, people are going to hate it, but at least they are going to buy twenty of it.

MW: That's just it. "Fun, fun, fun" being our rap makes me worried. Sales were strong on the first issue, but the second issue drop-off was a little steeper than we'd predicted. And I honestly think that was because every reviewer said it was "fun."

"Fun" automatically kills off a lot of your sales. Don't get me wrong; the book's still a success in the current market, and no one at DC has expressed anything but enthusiasm. We certainly seem to have a hit on our hands, George and I. I just hope that the "fun" label doesn't hit us too hard. If so, it's just another sign that current readers don't want "fun" comics.

RT: You should have Blue Beetle raped by his armor or something.

Time out: Okay, does CBR have an editor? That line was wrong for all the obvious reasons, and never should have seen the light of day. Back to the interview.

MW: To my mind, "Brave and Bold" isn't "fun." It can be funny, but so could "Firefly" or "Buffy." Interweaving your drama and shock with humor doesn't lessen the drama and shock - it heightens it because it keeps the readers off-balance.

________________

I'm not buying Mark Waid's "fun doesn't sell" explanation.

Sure, the darker-skewing stuff is as depressingly popular as ever, but to pin the sales drop on that is simply a cop-out. There are a number of titles that have been classified as "fun" that have also enjoyed huge success, such as Superman/Batman, Ultimate Spider-Man, She-Hulk and All-Star Superman. In fact, some of the biggest summer blockbuster films could also be considered "fun", in that they have that same balance of adventure, humor, drama and visual flash.

I maintain that there will always be a robust market for so-called "fun" comics, and it's disappointing that Mark Waid would be so embarrassed over the label. I would have thought Waid would be proud of Brave and the Bold's unique status as the rollicking "summer blockbuster" of comics, rather than bristling at it.

Ironically, later in the interview Waid complained that the message of Marvel's Civil War series seemed to be "give up your civil liberties and stop fighting for the things you believe in and everything will be fine." Well, Mark....looks like you stopped fighting for something I thought you believed in, since you've chosen to parrot the dreary mantra that "fun comics" don't sell.

My unsolicited advice?

Waid and Perez should continue doing exactly what they're doing and stop second-guessing themselves. Guys, forget about trying to measure out the optimum levels of grit and angst and do what you do best to the best of your ability: tell great stories.

That's what fans really want.

Update: Rick at Bent Corner offers his own take on Waid's comments, reminding me that the first issue of Brave and Bold included a 1:10 variant cover, which will typically (and artificially) inflate an issue's sales. Yet another factor Waid overlooked in his knee-jerk "nobody likes fun books" assessment.

Worst. Cover. Ever. (part 12)

At the height of it's popularity, the Batman TV show made its title character a household name, not only spawning a tsunami of licensed merchandise, but also guaranteeing huge sales for any comic book cover he appeared on.

Batman's new star status was never more obvious than on covers of Justice League of America, where the Caped Crusader went from virtually zero cover appearances to the absolute center of attention on more than a year's worth of covers. 

That is, until the Earth-2 Robin showed up on the
cover of Justice League of America #55 (1967).

With the Batman of Earth-2 now "semi-retired", his grown-up ward Dick Grayson carried on his legacy as Robin...wearing an insane amalgamation of his boyhood togs and the Batman's costume.

Curiously, Robin's costume in the story itself dumped the cover's blue trunks for a gray tunic, somewhat like the one he wore as a kid (click on the image for a larger view).

So, besides Robin's horrific blue, yellow and grey monstrosity (complete with a bat-winged "R" chest symbol), what else makes this Worst Cover Ever material?

Ah...let me count the ways:

1.  Penciller Mike Sekowsky's stiff, awkwardly-posed characters.  Never a favorite of mine, Sekowsky's figures had all the grace and dynamism of department store mannequins.

2.  The campy, low-wattage villains that seemed to walk right out of a Batman TV episode. The ground-level bad guys are (from left to right) How Chu, the Money Master, and Gem Girl. Not exactly "must buy" material here. 

3.  Robin's incredibly cheap groin smash to the remaining villain, the unfortunately-named Sports Smasher. You can practically feel Batman's shame from here!

Following this disaster of a cover, Batman lost his star-billing status, becoming just another JLA member jockeying for face time.

No thanks to the lame, fashion-challenged Earth-2 Robin!

Cover to Cover: That's GOTTA Hurt!

Bruises, Burns & Beat-Downs from the Pain Hall of Fame.

In the knock-down, drag-out world of comic book combat, superheroes routinely experience boatloads of pain and physical punishment. So much so, veteran readers (such as myself) seldom bat an eye when confronted by the sheer amount of punching, kicking, gouging, smashing, and pummeling experienced (and dished out) by superheroes.  Like a Looney Tunes anvil to the head or a Three Stooges slap fest, it’s just part of the gig.

However, every now and then, a comic book cover comes along that depicts injuries so intense or disturbing, even the most jaded, battle-hardened reader will wince in sympathetic pain.

Kicking things off is the cover of Amazing Spider-Man #133 (1974), featuring a nice, comfy third degree burn to the neck…courtesy of the Molten Man. Mmmm…smells like bacon!

True Tales of (comic book) Horror!

Like anyone who's been at this comic book collecting thing for a significant period of time (in my case over thirty years), I've had my share of both good and...well...not so good experiences.

Oh sure, there's the run-of-the-mill negative experiences like an eBay "sniper" snatching away a coveted comic book at the last possible second, or the constant hassle of making room for your collection.  However, there are a handful of moments from my long collecting "career" that go beyond mundane frustrations and into the starkly HORRIFIC!

One such moment happened back in the early 90's at Fall-Con, the year's biggest comic book convention here in the Twin Cities area.  I was busy locating and pricing various issues of Superman I needed, eventually coming across a copy of Superman #121 (1958).

The dealer priced it a bit on the high side, so before buying it I wanted to make sure it was graded accurately. Being a good little collector well-schooled in comic convention etiquette, I made sure to ask the dealer if I could remove the comic book from its bag.  He reluctantly said "sure", and I carefully started removing it.

As I slowly slid the comic book from the bag, it stopped.

Not good.  I flipped it over and EEEEYYYAAAAAHHHHHHHH!

The tape of the comic book bag flap had stuck firmly to the top edge of the cover...in full view of the dealer, no less!

Here...check out my boneheaded move with a Magni-View of the damage:

Needless to say, I immediately bought the issue from the equally-horrified dealer and skittered off red-faced and cursing myself profusely.

Yeah, in hindsight the damage wasn't all that bad.  I've never been too wrapped up in buying top-condition books, but man....snagging the cover in front of that dealer still makes me cringe.

So, what's your comic book horror story?  If you've got a good one, shoot me an email and I'll include it in a future installment of True Tales of (comic book) Horror!

The Highlight Reel: Lady in Red

How many comic books have I read? 

Good Lord, I couldn't tell you...though I'd estimate the total would easily top the "mega-thousand" category.  More to the point, how many of those mega-thousand comics made an impression...or do I even remember reading?  Ballpark estimate:  Not as many.

However, there remains a respectable percentage of them that not only made an impression but are absolutely unforgettable....at least to me.

That's why I thought I'd try to "catalog" some of those great moments from my own comic book reading experience, a "highlight reel" if you will.  Not that I'm the ultimate arbiter of determining what qualifies as an official "great moment", but at the same time, maybe something I like will make an impression on another fan who may, in turn, add that "great moment" to their own memory banks (or comic book collection).

The moment I've chosen for the Reel's maiden
voyage is taken from JLA #33 (1999).

Set-up: Batman dispatches four members of the Justice League to the French Riviera to bring in...Bruce Wayne?  Well, without getting into the obvious secret identity issues there, Green Lantern (Kyle Rayner), Steel, and Plastic Man, along with new members (and New Gods) Orion and Big Barda arrive in France to play the part of swanky jetetters.

We now join the undercover JLA members as they admire the normally fully-armored Big Barda modeling a form-fitting red dress (click on the panels for a larger view)...

Though the art's a bit on the shakey side, writer Mark Waid's wonderfully paced, absolutely hilarious Plastic Man gag more than overcomes it. Plastic Man had long been known to assume the shape of anything while still retaining his costume colors and design, and Waid's gag cleverly (and a bit naughtily) updated that great tradition for a modern audience.

Gold Nuggets: All You Need is a Great Catch Phrase

The Obscure Adventures of Comics' Greatest Generation!

Who can forget the great superhero catch phrases?  Echoing down through the ages, these timeless "war cries" are almost as renowned as the heroes themselves...

At this point I know you're thinking, "Hold the phone, Mark! The 'Yah Yah Yah' guy...what gives?"

Why, he's none other than The Fox, who made his debut in MLJ's Blue Ribbon Comics #4 (1940).  The epic tale begins as newspaper photographer Paul Patton "larns" a lesson from the evil Night Riders!

(click on the panels for a larger view)

Things went from bad to worse when Paul's editor demoted him to Inquiring Photographer, the paper's "most loathsome job".  The reason for his rash of bad luck?  According to Paul himself: Not foxy enough!

As the only superhero to be inspired by a song
on the radio, Paul gets down to business....

Was Paul's incorporation of the  "synchro-flash automatic camera" into his costume the first example of high-tech superheroics?  Sure, stuffing a camera (and bulb-flash) into a costume looks pretty silly by 21st century standards of miniaturized tech...but in 1940? Uber-Snazzy!

With his costume complete, Paul Patton stands before his mirror as The Fox!

Later: Behold!  The sheer terror of a guy in a baggy outfit
with bunny ears yelling "Yah Yah Yah Yaahhhhh!"

So, the next time you hear that legendary cry of "Yah, Yah, Yah, Yaaahhh!", you'll know you're under the watchful eye (and hidden camera) of The Fox!

That, or you're about to be attacked by a crazy bag lady.

   

The Velveteen Comic Book

"Weeks passed, and the little Rabbit grew very old and shabby, but the Boy loved him just as much. He loved him so hard that he loved all his whiskers off, and the pink lining to his ears turned grey, and his brown spots faded. He even began to lose his shape, and he scarcely looked like a rabbit any more, except to the Boy. To him he was always beautiful, and that was all that the little Rabbit cared about. He didn't mind how he looked to other people, because the nursery magic had made him Real, and when you are Real shabbiness doesn't matter."

–an excerpt from The Velveteen Rabbit, by Margery Williams (1922)

As comic book collectors, we've been conditioned to seek out the perfect, the flawless, the Near Mint (since, as we're told, "Mint" is simply an impossible ideal). 

However, when it comes to condition grading, I guess I've always been a bit more tolerant toward comics from "the bad side of town".  The way I see it, a well-worn comic book shows how much it's been enjoyed and treasured over the years. Yeah, they're shunned by the hardcore collectors who encase flawless comics in plastic slabs and brag up their "unread" status (how nuts is that?), but to me?  Roughed-up comics have character, a sense of history, and signs that human hands actually touched it (gasp).  In other words (using Velveteen Rabbit vernacular), they seem real.

I've got plenty of well-worn comics in my collection, but I think the one that comes closest to the "Velveteen Comic" ideal is my spectacularly dilapidated copy of Amazing Spider-Man #145 (1975).  It was my first Spider-Man comic book, joining the scant five or six other comics in my tiny (but growing) collection.  Here it is in all its Poor-minus glory:

It was read dozens of times, the cover traced a couple dozen more, the Marvel Value Stamp on the inside cut out, incompetently re-stapled, with my name crudely scrawled with orange marker on the splash page.

Is this book likely to spark a heated bidding war on eBay?  Nope.

Will it be displayed on a dealer's wall at the San Diego Con, right next to slabbed copies of priceless key issues?  Never.

Will it remain a fondly-regarded part of my collection?  Of course!

A Long Time Ago...

How could it possibly be thirty years since Star Wars made its theatrical debut?

It's hard to explain to kids who've grown up with the clockwork regularity of summer blockbusters what it was like back in the spring of 1977 when Star Wars burst onto the scene.

Sure, Steven Spielberg's Jaws was a sort of "blockbuster prototype", in that it was a movie that had much of the older youth culture all abuzz. However, since it was rated R, those of us under 17 weren't part of the equation (this was back when more parents banned their kids from R movies).

No, it wasn't until Star Wars that a movie truly became a tsunami-like "pop cultural event"...made even more remarkable in that Star Wars had nothing close to the marketing juggernaut behind it that modern blockbusters enjoy. It just kind of... showed up.

In fact, the first time I recall Star Wars popping up on my own radar was when I caught a glimpse of the first Star Wars comic book at the local newsstand (above). I still recall being intrigued by the cover (and the title), but I'd already busted my modest comics budget, so I passed it by. A few weeks later, the Star Wars buzz had trickled down to the "ten year-old boy" level and, one parental escort to the movie theatre later, my friends and I were ready for...well...we had no idea.

Needless to say, Star Wars completely blew my mind, starting with the (literally) jaw-dropping opening scene. I still remember that massive, unending Star Destroyer flying overhead and a guy in the theatre blurting out "Holy S#@%!"....which was pretty much what everyone was thinking. I think that's when it dawned on me that...somehow...everything had changed.

Happy 30th, Star Wars! Although creator George Lucas went on to make some pretty bizarre decisions in the years since , he absolutely nailed it with Star Wars (and its sequel The Empire Strikes Back).

Yo Ho. A Pirate's Life Ain't for Me.

I don't know what it is. 

Maybe I wasn't born with the Pirate Gene...but for whatever reason, pirates have never fired my imagination as they obviously do for others. 

But hey, I tried. 

I really did try to enjoy the first two Pirates of the Caribbean movies, but I just wasn't feeling it.  Other factors probably contributed to my dislike of the movies, such as their meandering plots, frenetic pacing and Johnny Depp's relentless scenery chewing, but at the end of the day, I guess the pirate backdrop isn't enough to keep me awake (yes, I did drift off during Pirates 2).

However, despite my aversion to All Things Pirate, I'm always willing to make an exception.  I mean, why subject myself to a mascaraed, drunken fop like Captain Jack Sparrow when I can get the Thing as Captain Blackbeard?

Fantastic Four #5 (1962)

Always Remember

With as much time and pixel space as I devote to goofy pretend heroes, my true and abiding heroes will always be United States soldiers.  Without them, I wouldn't be free...simple as that. 

My eternal gratitude to those who've served and continue to serve our great country and the cause of Freedom.

In honor of Memorial Day, consider a donation to the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund, which does a fantastic job of providing financial assistance to injured Marines and their families.

The Highlight Reel: I Shall Shed My Light Over Dark Evil

Last week's Reel focused on the funny, while this week's is All About the Awesome. 

Occasionally, comic book storytelling is done so well it feels exactly like you're watching a movie, in this case the pyrotechnic climax of a blockbuster adventure movie (i.e. the Holy Judgement climax of Raiders of the Lost Ark).

JSA #9 (2000) is one of those rare cinematic experiences.  From the writing team of David S. Goyer and Geoff Johns, along with amazing illustrator Stephen Sadowski, this sequence is taken from the dramatic resolution of the "Darkness Falls" story arc.

Set-Up: Obsidian, son of the original Green Lantern, succumbs to his personal demons and uses his immense power to plunge the world into darkness...and it's up to a recently re-constituted Justice Society of America to stop him and his cadre of villains. However, a number of JSA members fall under Obsidian's shadow and become his dark puppets.  As one of the few remaining JSA'ers, Alan Scott has a face-to-face confrontation with Todd within a giant version of Obsidian's body, where things go from bad to worse (be sure to click on the panels for larger images)....

GL is then expelled from the giant Obsidian construct, as his son (in full god-complex mode) asserts his superior will.  Big mistake....because when it comes to a Green Lantern and willpower....well, I'll let Alan take it from here.

Note:  Be sure to click on the double-page spread below....your melted frontal lobe will thank you.  Oh, and I dare you not to get goosebumps when you read the purple narration boxes...

See what I mean?  Very cinematic in its look and feel...and just a dynamite example of how great superhero comics can still be with a creative team that obviously loves the characters and knows exactly what it's doing. 

Do yourself a favor and pick up the JSA: Darkness Falls trade to enjoy the whole story!

Meme Alert! Dimestore Merlin

Chris Sims, fellow connoisseur of All Things Awesome once again throws down the meme gauntlet, this time asking us to supply dialogue for the Golden Age bit player he's dubbed "The Dimestore Merlin".  Who am I to refuse the Puppetmaster of the Comics Blogosphere?

Actually, beyond my meager contribution, I really wanted to direct your attention to his drop-dead hilarious look at Rock Man, Underground Secret Agent...written by some kid named "Stan Lee".   This is the story that spawned Dimestore Merlin (along with Communist Elves and Golden Bras).

If you've enjoyed the Gold Nuggets feature here on Comic Coverage, this one's for you. 

Profiles in Villainy: Captain Cold & The Mole Man

Captain Cold © DC Comics                    The Mole Man © Marvel Comics

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