Comic Coverage

YouTube Theatre: Pistol-Packin' Cap!

It's the long 4th of July holiday weekend, and that can mean only one thing:  Lazy Blogging! 

Sure, I'll have something of substance for you on Tuesday, but for today, I think I'll put the burgers on the grill and let this trailer for Republic's Return of Captain America serial (1944) entertain you while simultaneously whipping you up into a patriotic frenzy.

That is, as patriotic a frenzy as a chubby, pistol-packing Captain America with no shield or mask-wings, who isn't Steve Rogers but "Grant Gardner, crusading District Attorney" can whip you into.

Cover to Cover: You Say You Want a Revolution

Superheroes Catch the Spirit of '76

More than two centuries gone, their names are still familiar: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Patrick Henry, James Madison and many others…all patriotic heroes of the great American Revolution.

However, there have been other patriots whose names you’ve never seen in a history book or on a Washington D.C. monument, but were just as dedicated in their fight for liberty and sweet freedom.  These, of course, were the proud ranks of costumed superheroes that either lived in, visited, or were mystically connected to the dawning years of the United States of America!

Of the heroes who called the late 1700’s their home, one of the most prominent was DC’s frontier adventurer Tom Hawk.  “Tomahawk”, as he became known, lead a fighting force nicknamed “The Rangers”, composed of volunteers from all over the nascent United States.  They spent the Revolutionary War years fighting British forces….that is, when they weren’t busy with dinosaur-riding cavemen, giant tree creatures, or alien Indian chiefs.

Surviving San Diego: Part One

It's known by many names. 

The Big Enchilada.  Geekstock.  Comic Book Mecca. Whatever it's nickname, the San Diego Comic Con is the largest confluence of pop cultural currents on the planet...and something every comic book fan should try to attend at least once.

Me?  I've been to two Comic Cons, one in 2003 and another in 2005.   Both trips had plenty of positives and a few negatives, but overall they were some of the most exciting, interesting, surprising and...yes...surreal experiences of my life.

However, as fun as those visits were, I sure would have appreciated getting some advice from experienced "Con Veterans" as I was planning them (especially the first one). Sure, I was able to nab a few tips here and there off the internet, and the Con itself does a fairly good job of explaining things, but alot of my plan was pure improvisation...exciting and invigorating in one way, yet not always the ideal situation when you're spending wads of cash to fly thousands of miles to a bewilderingly huge event in an unfamiliar city.

With that in mind, I thought I'd share some of my own tips, observations and recommendations for those of you who'll be attending your first Comic Con this summer (July 26-28), or maybe contemplating a future visit.  I'm by no means as experienced as others are, and every person goes to the Con with a different set of expectations and goals...but for people who are:

(A) essentially superhero comic book fans,

(B) on a budget and

(C) not a comic biz big-shot, reporter, networker, or acolyte/sidekick, maybe I'll have some helpful information for you.

Rather than cram everything into a single entry, I thought I'd tackle individual topics over the next several weeks, including:

1.  Getting There and Where to Stay

2.  Gearing Up

3.  Getting Around

4.  Striking a Balance: Programming vs. Exploring

5.  People Watching

Oh, by the way, I will be hitting the Con again this summer...though this time around I'll only be attending on Sunday, the final day.

Why only one day?  Well, while toying with a return trip earlier this year, I came across some great airfare deals. So great, in fact, that I suggested to my wife that we take our family vacation this summer in sunny San Diego...the same week as the Con! 

You see, during my previous two "pilgrimages", it was a little frustrating to spend virtually the entire four days inside the San Diego Convention Center without getting to see anything else in that beautiful oceanside city.  So, this time around, I'll get to soak up the San Diego experience for most of the week, then hit the Con for awhile on Sunday with the family, who have no earthly idea what's in store for them.

That is, if they haven't read my San Diego Survival Guide by then.

Profiles in Villainy: Galactus

Near-Omnipotent Cosmic Entity.

The Devourer of Worlds.

On Weekends and Holidays, The Barbequer of Worlds.

Galactus © Marvel Comics

Click here for more Profiles in Villainy!

Surviving San Diego II: Getting There and Where to Stay

(A continuing series of hints, tips, and observations based
on stuff that worked for me.  Your mileage may vary.)

Air Fare: Unless you live in California (and within reasonable driving distance to the Con), chances are you'll be flying into San Diego.  Unlike the superheroes we obsess over, cosmic surfboards, rocket-packs or cloaks of levitation aren't an option for us....so we'll just have to settle for a standard commercial airplane flight.

The fact that you're reading a blog suggests that you're web-savvy enough to find a good airfare search site, so try a bunch of them to see what kind of prices you can get.  I prefer Hotwire, but I've also had good experiences with Orbitz and Travelocity.  The great thing about all three (and many others) is that you can search for, compare, and book your flight, hotel, and rental car at the same time.

Generally, the farther out you book your flight and hotel, the more money you're going to save....which leads me my personal Comic Con motto:

Yeah, not the most elegant of sayings, but it gets right to the point.  Obviously, you'll want to pay for a reasonably convenient flight (no more than one plane transfer), a fairly decent (and safe) hotel room, and a nice sit-down meal or two...but generally, I see the trip as a money-managing challenge to keep the "overhead" down as much as possible, so more money can be spent on The Cool Stuff (i.e. comics and the galaxy of comic-related goodies).

Once you've locked into your flight, here's a few things to keep in mind:

The Highlight Reel: Krypto's Last Stand

I'm not what you'd call a "crier". 

You know, one of those people who can cry at the drop of a hat over fictional grief...like my lovely wife, for example.  I don't know what it is...I guess it just takes alot to "flip that switch" inside of me when it comes to grief that's "not real" in the sense of it being acted out or conjured up in a fictional setting.

However, once in a blue moon a story comes along that really does get close to choking me up, one of which was the evergreen classic "Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?"

As a way to smooth the transition for John Byrne's 1986 "Extreme Makeover" of the Superman titles, DC Comics allowed for an "ending" of sorts for the version of Superman most readers had grown up with.  Written by fan favorite Alan Moore and illustrated by Curt Swan (who else?), the two-part story was published in Superman #423 and Action Comics #583, featuring an "imaginary story" that served as a stirring elegy to the Silver Age era of Superman comics.

Though the tale had many extremely touching moments, I think the one that tops them all (at least for me) was Krypto's Last Stand.   Our Highlight Reel clip opens after an army of Superman's enemies had invaded the Fortress of Solitude to destroy the Man of Steel and the loved ones under his protection.  One of the members of that army was the Kryptonite Man, who clearly wasn't aware of a dog's reaction to a stranger in his master's home.   Note the masterful "camera work" (no doubt enhanced by Moore's incredibly rich stage direction) and the effective use of Krypto's thundering "thuddums" (click on the panels for a larger image)...

Without hesitation, Krypto lunges for the Kryptonite Man while already succumbing to his deadly radiation.  Despite the many years of Krypto wearing the goofy cape and using thought balloons to think very human thoughts, it's here at the very end that Krypto was never more dog-like..not only for his shocking savagery, but also for his fierce loyalty and laser-focused hatred for someone intent on doing his master harm.

I don't know what's more upsetting, imagining Krypto's "death howl" echoing through the Fortress, or the sight of Krypto's green carcass with the red cape still attached.  Heartbreaking.

So, there you have it.  Comics' very own Old Yeller moment.

Excuse me.  I-I think I've got something in my eye....

(sniff)

Surviving San Diego III: Gearing Up

(A continuing series of hints, tips, and observations based
on stuff that worked for me.  Your mileage may vary.)

Okay, now that we've got that minor little detail of airfare and finding a hotel room out of the way, it's time to talk about the Con itself.  If it's your first visit, believe everything you've heard about it.  It's huge, it's amazing, it's sprawling.  In other words, it's a place with arguably too much going on and definitely too many people walking around, which can be more than a little tiring...especially if you're not...(wait for it)..."Dressed for (Comic Con) Success!"

Though we're not exactly gearing up to storm the beaches of Normandy, you are going to be in for some very long days, covering alot of ground, and on your feet for most of it.  Having attended a couple of Comic Cons, plus a number of smaller ones (not to mention being a veteran of both Disney World and Universal Studios), here's a few things to keep in mind to make those long days a lot less uncomfortable:

Cover to Cover: "YEEEEEEE-HAWWWWW!"

The Legion of (Missile-Riding) Superheroes

Of all the highlights from Stanley Kubrick’s classic Cold War satire Dr. Strangelove (1964), its surreal final scene remains its most memorable. While on a B-52 bombing run, the buffoonish Major T.J. “King” Kong (Slim Pickens) rides an atomic bomb rodeo style, whooping and hollering all the way down to nuclear obliteration (click on the screen below to watch it).

However, as memorable as Slim Pickens’ turn as an Atomic Age cowboy has proven to be, it should be noted that Major Kong wasn’t the first fictional character to fly the friendly skies while straddling a missile, bomb, or rocket.  While researching previous Cover to Cover columns, I’ve come across several comic book superheroes who also rode the High Explosive Express, some of them several decades before Kong’s famous flight.

Our first bomb-riding superhero appears to be none other than Captain Marvel himself, seen here on the cover of the first (and only) issue of Special Edition Comics (1940). 

Considering the United States wouldn’t enter World War II for at least another year, it’s not clear who the missile and its costumed rider were aimed at.  In addition to that, despite the famous line that “sometimes a cigar is just a cigar”, one can’t help but notice the rather obvious…er…"Freudian shadings" of the missile-riding phenomenon.

Friday Night Fights: A Few Ants Short of a Picnic

Despite taking a breather last week, the battle call of Bahlactus beckons for another Friday Night Fight...and I must answer!

With the height of summer (and picnic season) upon us, what better way to celebrate than with an insane Ant-Man and billions of ants attacking the Avengers? Avengers #161 (1977) finds the team's resident headcase Hank Pym having yet another nervous breakdown/identity crisis, this time reverting to his original Ant-Man identity. Pym's mind also reverted back to a previous time frame, believing that the Avengers team has only recently come into being and that the people he sees in Avengers Mansion are either villains or impostors.

In a dynamic sequence illustrated by a young buck named George Perez, the addled Ant-Man launches a full-scale attack upon his perplexed teammates, culminating in a spectacular "growth-spurt knockout" of the Black Panther and the Beast (click on the panels for Pym Particle-like expansion).

SPECIAL BONUS BUTT-KICKING:

Of course, no Crazy Hank Pym story is complete without an appearance by his malevolent android "son" Ultron, who shows up seconds after Pym is subdued by the Avengers. Witness Ultron as he unleashes a KA-BLAAMM-flavored smackdown...

Surviving San Diego IV: Getting Around

(A continuing series of hints, tips, and observations based
on stuff that worked for me.  Your mileage may vary.)

Now comes the interesting part:  Getting from your hotel to the San Diego Convention Center.  Unless you have a professional reason to stay there, or if you're easily parted with your money, the hotels within easy walking distance of the Convention Center probably won't be part of your plan.

Happily, there's a wide variety of reliable transportation options available for (the vast majority of) San Diego "pilgrims" who are staying in hotels farther away from the action...and many of those options are very "budget friendly".

Simply the Best: "Beware Our Power, Green Lanterns' Light!"

Before the paradigm shift brought on by computer-generated imagery (CGI), science fiction TV shows and movies had a tough time creating truly alien-looking aliens.  Due to obvious budget and technology limitations, most of the "aliens" would be 95% human looking with a few odd facial features here and there. Where were the really bizarre, utterly alien beings that our imaginations conjured up as we read science fiction novels or doodled in our school notebooks?

Fortunately, a few comic books featured aliens that lived up to the high standards of our imaginations...none moreso than DC's sprawling Green Lantern Corps.  Formed by the Guardians of the Universe, the Corps was a galactic "police force" spanning the entire universe, with each member assigned to one of 3600 sectors.

Beyond the impressive number, what really made the Corps special was the mind-blowing diversity of its membership which, more than anything, conveyed the staggering size of the universe they patrolled. Sure, there were plenty of humanoid aliens with the minor cosmetic alterations I was griping about earlier, but so many more deeply weird life forms...each wearing a modified Green Lantern ring and uniform to fit their peculiar physiology.

A gaseous cloud, a grasshopper, a giant manta ray, a snake, even a sentient planet...you name it, it was probably wearing a ring and a Green Lantern logo.

Occasionally there were issues that featured the combined power of the entire Green Lantern Corps, all of which were immediately snatched up into my comic book collection. One of my favorite All-Corps team-up covers is Green Lantern #127 (1980), illustrated by the amazing Brian Bolland and chronicling their clash with the Weaponers of Qward.

Banished from DC Comics continuity for a number of years, the Green Lantern Corps has recently returned and is stronger than ever.  In fact, their ranks have swelled from 3600 members to 7200 (since two Green Lanterns are now assigned to each sector), so I look forward to many more years of enjoying green-garbed crowd scenes like the one above.   

Surviving San Diego V: Programming vs. Exploring

(A continuing series of hints, tips, and observations based
on stuff that worked for me.  Your mileage may vary.)

With Preview Night only a week away, all of you San Diego Pilgrims are no doubt poring over the staggering amount of programming for Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.  There are tons of great panels and presentations to see, and literally not enough time in the day to see even the tiniest fraction of them.  However, there are also tons of great non-programming experiences at the Con that would be a shame to miss out on. What's a fanboy or fangirl to do?

I can't tell you exactly what to do, since (as I've said before) everyone comes to the Con with different goals and ideas of what makes for a fun time.  However, speaking as someone primarily interested in comic books, and having attended two Comic Cons using very different strategies each time, I may have some insights you'll find useful.

For my first Con in 2003, I was obviously dazzled by the virtual phone book of programming choices.  As a result, I filled up most of my days sitting in panels or waiting in lines to meet various comic pros.  While those experiences were (mostly) great, at the end of the weekend I didn't feel like I'd experienced the other aspects of the Con, namely walking around the Exhibit Hall floor and just taking in all of its surreal, sprawling lunacy.

In 2005, I wanted to remedy that situation with a more balanced approach to experiencing the Con.  Though there was plenty of intriguing programming to choose from, I decided to forego much of it to spend the time exploring the Exhibit Hall, the dealer areas and Artists' Alley....which worked out beautifully.

Taking what I've learned from both Con experiences, here are some suggestions you might want to consider...

"Live From New York, It's Friday Night Fights!"

When a modest late-night sketch comedy show named NBC Saturday Night made its debut on October 11th, 1975, nobody had the slightest idea it would become one of the longest-lived programs in television history.

Retitled Saturday Night Live in 1976, the irreverent series quickly became a pop cultural phenomenon by appealing to the uniquely twisted sense of humor of young adults. By 1978, many of its cast members (and their characters) had become household names, inspiring fellow New York institution Marvel Comics to create one of the strangest comic books ever published.

Marvel Team-Up #74 (1978) paired Marvel figureheads Spider-Man and Stan (The Man) Lee with NBC's Not Ready For Prime Time Players*, who together battled the menace of The Silver Samurai and his gang.  As Spidey and the SNL cast cleaned up the goons, the Silver Samurai pitted his sword against....who else?  John Belushi as the Samurai!

As you can see from the panels (click to enlarge), Belushi held his own against the Silver Samurai until Spider-Man took over.  A few panels later, the Silver Samurai used the magic ring to disappear from Studio 8H, escaping to fight Spider-Man another day.

With that, Stan and the crime-fighting SNL crew
gathered for the traditional end-of-the-show curtain call...

From left to right (click for a front row view):  John Belushi, producer Lorne Michaels, Laraine Newman, Stan Lee, Gilda Radner, Dan Aykroyd, Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris (in a Thor costume), and Bill Murray.

* When the '78-'79 season of SNL began just a few months later, the cast
members were no longer referred to as the "Not Ready For Prime Time Players".

Craving more Friday fisticuffs?  Bahlactus is your fix!

Surviving San Diego VI: People Watching

(A continuing series of hints, tips, and observations based
on stuff that worked for me.  Your mileage may vary.)

While you're viewing as many panels, presentations, movie screenings, elaborate booths, artwork, and comic book merch as you possibly can, you'll also be engaging in the unofficial pastime of the San Diego Comic Con:  People Watching!

After all, this isn't like a mass-gathering of 120,000 accountants...or scrapbookers...or stamp collectors.  This 120K crowd is a highly combustible cocktail of pop cultural geekery from the realms of superhero comics, sci-fi, fantasy, manga, animation, gaming, cartooning, and hundreds more interconnected tributaries.  Mix in a few thousand curious civilians on a Geek Safari, and you've got yourself the biggest freakin' Mos Eisley cantina scene in the Western Hemisphere.

Think about it:  You and your fellow fans have traveled hundreds or even thousands of miles to talk about, admire, photograph, argue about, buy, and sell stuff based on things that ultimately do not exist.  Now that's passion...and that's exactly what I love so much about the Con.  The passion.

The Highlight Reel: Look Who's Coming to Dinner

You're all familiar with this classic scene from The Empire Strikes Back, right? (click on the "play" arrow)

Yeah, so was I...the first time I saw it!  Let me explain.

As I've said ad nauseum, I'm a Fantastic Four fan from way back. So much so, that when my 14 year-old self watched that scene in the summer of 1980, I immediately recalled a similar sequence from Fantastic Four #142 (1974).  So similar, in fact, that I've often wondered if a certain bearded, plaid-wearing movie mogul might have read that same comic book and (either consciously or sub-consciously) incorporated that sequence into his famous sequel.

Here, I'll let you be the judge.  The set-up:  Reed Richards, recently separated from his wife Sue, shows up to attend a 10 year college reunion, accompanied by substitute F.F. member Medusa. Written by Gerry Conway and masterfully illustrated by Rich Buckler (pencils) and Joe Sinnott (sublime inks), the alumni are then escorted into the dining room...and into one of the most unforgettable "villain reveals" in my collection (click on the panels for a larger view).

So...what do you think?  A dining room trap laid by a masked, heavily armored and cape-wearing arch-villain, greeting his "guests" with sinister mock formality?  Coincidence...or influence?

Well, whatever it is, it's certainly a worthy addition to The Highlight Reel.

P.S. Of course, nothing in the world of entertainment is entirely original.  Everything has been influenced by something that came before it...even the Dr. Doom panel.  Doom's wide-eyed, frightening expression recalls Lon Chaney's terrifying facial expression from The Phantom of the Opera's classic reveal scene, nearly 50 years before F.F. #142. Again...what do you think?

Your Clip-N-Save Guide to Comic Con

Didn't catch my San Diego Survival Guide?  Never fear...I've got it all condensed (more or less) into a handy Clip-n-Save Guide to the San Diego Comic Con.  Before you close that suitcase lid, print it out.  Clip it.  Save it.  Cherish it.  Share its sage advice with a fellow newbie.  Most of all, have fun!

Cover to Cover: To All the Girls I've Loved Before

The (Caddish) Adventures of Bob Hope

It’s often said, “In springtime, a young man’s thoughts turn to love”.  Well, after reviewing the covers of DC’s Adventures of Bob Hope series, one could say an old man’s thoughts could turn to love not only in the spring, but the other three seasons as well!

By 1950, comedian Bob Hope had already enjoyed a long career, appearing in nearly every form of popular entertainment the 20^th century could dish out.  From vaudeville and radio to movies and TV, Hope pretty much occupied the entire “entertainment spectrum”, making his jump into comic books the most obvious kind of no-brainer.

As the popularity (and sales) of superhero titles sank lower and lower, comic book publishers like DC Comics turned to genres like romance, westerns and celebrity humor to pump up their cash flow.  Along with popular stars like Alan Ladd and the Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis team, Bob Hope headlined his own series of comic misadventures starting in early 1950.

What began as a series of publicity photo covers soon gave way to an impish cartoon version of Hope in a variety of exotic locales, goofy outfits, and wacky situations. However, the one consistent theme running through the vast majority of the title’s covers was, of course, Bob’s insatiable appetite for romance.

Gold Nuggets: Madam Fatal...Drag Queen of Justice!

The Obscure Adventures of Comics' Greatest Generation!

The Golden Age of comics was a time overflowing with oddities and eccentricities, but few of them equalled the all-encompassing weirdness of Madam Fatal.

You see, Madam was actually Mister Richard Stanton, a former actor who posed as an old woman to rescue his daughter from kidnappers. Believing his elderly female appearance would be underestimated by criminals, Stanton embarked upon a crime-fighting career as Madam Fatal.. .becoming comics' first transvestite superhero (though certainly not the last).

Created by writer/artist Art Pilajian, Madam Fatal made his/her debut in Crack Comics #1 (1940) and appeared in 22 issues.  Let's join the crime-busting cross-dresser in issue #11, as Madam Fatal faces the threat of a tiny gangster named Dwarf Rogan...

Dwarf Rogan's challenge:

Fatal's riposte...

Thus, a happy...yet vaguely unsettling ending.

California Dreamin'

"So, Mark...how was San Diego?"

Why, yes...this was the actual view from our hotel room.

How was my San Diego vacation, you ask? I'll give you a brief recap:

Sea World:  A nice mix of animal exhibits, entertaining shows, and "Amusement Park Lite" rides...making it a great destination for people looking to have fun while learning a thing or two in the process.

The San Diego Zoo:  After seeing a good percentage of the planet's animal life at Sea World, see the rest at the San Diego Zoo. (pictured:  my daughter, an escaped zoo animal, and my wife)

The beaches:  I highly recommend a day to do nothing at one of San Diego's beautiful beaches.  We'd heard some good things about La Jolla Shores beach, and it certainly lived up to the hype.  Very relaxing and extremely beautiful (by the way, it's pronounced "La Hoya", and not "La Jolla", as my Spanish-speaking daughter pointed out to me).

The views:  It's not hard to find some staggeringly beautiful views throughout the San Diego area.  We went to the end of Point Loma, and were blown away by the "widescreen wonder" of the sights and unusual geology.

Oh, but wait...that's not what you want to hear about, right?

Okay...I'll get to the part you really care about:  Comic Con.

Four of the dazzling Vader Busts on display in the LucasFilm booth

Unlike the three and four-day Con marathons of my '03 and '05 visits, I only attended on Sunday this year.

As an added twist, I took my wife and kids along to experience the Con in all its kooky glory.  Since Saturday completely sold out ahead of time, I had a feeling Sunday wouldn't be the rather "laid back" experience it had been known for in the past...and I was right.

Naturally, the rest of the Engblom clan was pretty overwhelmed at not only the size of the crowd, but the size of the venue itself. After a claustrophobic slog through the Exhibit Hall, the lovely ladies excused themselves for some downtown San Diego shopping (as far away from the armies of Stormtroopers and Captain Jack Sparrows as possible), leaving my son and I to tackle the crowds. 

We ended up having a great time together as we explored stuff one, the other, or both of us liked. My son (pictured here next to a mutant Bart Simpson) even gave me a hand in tracking down a couple of comics from my "want list", helping me compare prices from various dealers (who were pretty stingy on the traditional "last day discounts" I might add).

Of course, I completely missed out on all the panels and presentations I normally attend...but it really didn't matter to me this time around.  After all, a quick twenty minutes on the computer this morning pretty much brought me up to speed on all the major news (which, with few exceptions, seemed kinda boring and predictable, actually)...so cramming it all into a couple of intense hours on "The Floor" was just the right amount of Comic Con for me.

"Slave Girl Princess Mark", Jabba the Hutt, and
my daughter (bravely ignoring her idiot father).

Oh, by the way: On our flight back home, my son was reading the airline safety brochure and came across two extremely odd panels. 

One panel, while discussing the rather serious topic of emergency escapes, included a character inexplicably dressed in a purple top hat and tails running behind a woman carrying an unnecessary item.  What the?...

The second and even more bizarre panel featured what appeared to be a ballerina assuming the "brace position" during an airline crash. Because, you know, nothing communicates the seriousness of the situation quite like someone wearing a pink tutu.