Comic Coverage

April Fools' Fun

On a day of sustained silliness like April Fool's Day, I thought it would be fun to highlight some of the nonsensical nincompoops populating superhero comics! All of the characters in this challenge are the goofy or darkly humorous heroes and villains that have made us laugh (or shudder) for years...so read the clues below and complete the crossword puzzle!  If you'd like to print it out, click here and you'll be taken to a page featuring only the puzzle. With that, have fun!

      

• • • • • • • • • • • • DOWN • • • • • • • • • • • •

1. GL was once her foe, then became her beau.
2. DC's comical criminal duo: Punch and ______________.
3. Siegel and Shuster's six-issue flop.
4. Oswald Hubert Loomis
5. The Police Comics pal of Woozy Winks.
6. Ledger's legacy.
7. Nuisance to the Knight.
8. Jack Napier's infomercial product

9. Hails from Zrff.

• • • • • • • • • • • • ACROSS • • • • • • • • • • • •

1. Alias of the Joker's Daughter
2. The Devil's fool
3. Native of the planet Poppup
4. Marvel's electroplasmic cartoon clown
5. Birthplace of the Joker: _________ Chemical Company.
6. The god of mischief.

7. The imperfect Man of Steel.

8. James Jesse's alter ego.

9. Ex-Arkham Asylum psychiatrist.

Preview-ing Comic Books 101

I don't often plug my own artwork and projects here, but for those of you who pick up Diamond's Previews catalog from your comic shop, turn to page 317 of the latest issue (April 2009) and check out Comics 101, the History, Methods and Madness. Co-written by Chris Ryall (IDW Comics) and Scott Tipton (comic book writer and proprietor of the Comics 101 website), I was thrilled to get the call back in 2008 to create several pieces of interior artwork...and that was before I found out who else was contributing to the book! 

Until I get the A-OK from the guys, I'm going to hold off posting some of my artwork until Comics 101 hits the shelves in June...but until then, check out the fantastic cover art and Tuesday's press release below.  

There are few people who know more about comics than Tipton and Ryall...and even fewer who can write about them in an entertaining way, so consider pre-ordering a copy!

COMIC BOOKS 101 OFFERS

VISUAL PRIMER TO THE COMICS INDUSTRY

The Book, Due in June and co-written by Chris Ryall and Scott Tipton, features Contributions from Many Entertainment Luminaries

(San Diego, March 31, 2009) – Chris Ryall, IDW Publishing’s Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, and Scott Tipton, comics101.com’s founder, are proud to announce the May release of Comic Books 101, available for pre-order in Diamond's Previews catalog being released to comics shops April 1st.

Comic Books 101, coming from IMPACT Books, is a 288-page prose-with-illustrations primer to the comic-book industry. The book serves as an overview to the industry, discussing:

- the history of comics

- the top publishers

- most popular characters

- pioneering creators

- a full rundown of Hollywood movie and TV adaptations.

The material is presented through prose chapters, personal asides, anecdotes and sidebars, and contributions from comic-book luminaries, and features over 100 full-color illustrations detailing historic moments, characters, covers and creators.

Comic Books 101 is the natural outgrowth of the long-running Comics 101 column run by Scott Tipton at the Web site of the same name. The weekly column has been running since its launch at Kevin Smith’s Movie Poop Shoot.com site in 2004. Prior to joining IDW, Ryall served as that site’s Editor-in-Chief.

Comic Books 101 features an all-new introduction from comic-book great Stan Lee, and includes all-new sidebar contributions from Clive Barker, Joe Casey, Paul Dini, Joe Hill, Brian Lynch, Gene Simmons, Mark Waid, Marv Wolfman, and many more. Harlan Ellison contributed a brand-new, 1,500-word recollection detailing the first comic book he ever read as the book’s "outroduction." The book also features many all-new chapter illustrations and cartoon images from artists like Mark Engblom, David Messina, and Nick Roche, dozens upon dozens of images of classic covers, characters, and creators, and a cover by Locke & Key artist Gabriel Rodriguez.

“It’s been a pleasure to assemble Comic Books 101 for many reasons, not least of which was the chance to get recollections and remembrances from so many creators we’ve long admired,” said 101 co-writer Chris Ryall. “The book offers plenty of entertaining stories for longtime fans as well as offering new fans or comic-curious folks an easy, illustrated intro to all facets of the industry. If you want to know who Western Publishing is, where Superman—and his creators—came from, the different types of manga, the differences between a comic and a graphic novel or which TV and movie adaptations were the best and the worst, all of that and so much more is right here in this book.”

“The motivation behind the column has always been a simple one,” asserted 101 co-writer Tipton. “Introduce new readers to the world of comics with entertaining history lessons that celebrate both the grand and the goofy, the silly and the sublime. Comic Books 101 allows us to take that philosophy to the next step, with both a more detailed historical approach and 'Guest Lectures' from some of the biggest names in comics and popular culture.”

Comic Books 101, ISBN: 978-1-60061-187-2, is a 288-page, 8” x 8” softcover book with a retail price of $22.99. It is available for pre-order through the April '09 Diamond Previews catalog (page 317, Diamond order code APR09 1125) or at Amazon.com.

April Fools Crossword: The Answers!

So...I'm sure you've all been losing sleep wondering what the answers were for Wednesday's April Fools Crossword puzzle. Well, quality REM time will once again be yours now that the answers lurk below.

• • •  •  • • • • • DOWN ANSWERS • • • • • • • • • •

1. "GL was once her foe, then became her beau." 

That would be the Golden Age villainess HARLEQUIN, who later reformed and, many years later, married Alan (Green Lantern) Scott.

2. "DC's comical criminal duo: Punch and _______" 

JEWELEE. A comical criminal duo who originally debuted in the Charlton line of comics, then migrated to DC with the rest of the Charlton stable of characters.

3. "Siegel and Shuster's six-issue flop." 

Siegel and Shuster's short-lived original creation was FUNNYMAN, a humor-themed hero patterned after then-popular comic actor Danny Kaye.

4. "Oswald Hubert Loomis" is none other than 

THE PRANKSTER, one of Superman's lamest, least-threatening, and worst-dressed foes.

5. "The Police Comics pal of Woozy Winks" was, of course, PLASTIC MAN...who made his debut in Quality's Police Comics.  Woozy Winks was his rotund sidekick.

6. "Ledger's legacy" refers to the JOKER...the best thing about The Dark Knight!

7. "Nuisance to the Knight" is the BAT-MITE, the magical imp who routinely tormented Batman and Robin throughout the Silver Age of comics!

8. "Jack Napier's infomercial product" is the deadly SMILEX gas the Joker in the 1989 Batman movie (Jack Napier was the Joker's real name in that particular story).

9. "Hails from Zrff" could only be the other annoying magical imp: Mr. MXYZPTLK, a 5th dimensional pain-in-the-S for Superman.

• • •  •  • • • • • ACROSS ANSWERS • • • • • • • • • •

1. "Alias of the Joker's Daughter" was actually the (one time) daughter of Two-Face,DUELLA DENT...who wanted to join the Teen Titans to atone for her father's evil deeds!

2. "The Devil's Fool" was a veiled reference to the JESTER, a member of Daredevil's rogue's gallery.

3. "Native of the Planet Poppup" was the shape-changing IMPOSSIBLE MAN, who occasionally drives the Fantastic Four crazy.

4. "Marvel's electroplasmic cartoon clown" referred to a little-known character named SLAPSTICK.

5. "Birthplace of the Joker: _________ Chemical Company." The ACE Chemical Company was the place where a villain named the Red Hood fell into a vat of chemicals...and emerged as The Joker!

6. "The god of mischief"  

Who else but Thor's evil half-brother LOKI?

7. "The imperfect Man of Steel" points to BIZARRO, the distorted creature who has all the power of Superman, and none of his brains!

8. "James Jesse's alter ego" is the TRICKSTER, whose wacky gadgets have plagued the Flash for decades!

9. "Ex-Arkham Asylum psychiatrist" was Dr. Harleen Quinzell, who fell in love with the Joker and became his equally-demented henchwoman HARLEY QUINN.

Exhibit A: Action Comics #1

One of the great things about collecting comics is that, no matter how much you think you know about a certain topic, some new bit of information always seems to come along.

The latest mini-bombshell concerns Action Comics #1, which featured the first appearance of Superman...thereby making it the most high-profile, valuable, and exhaustively-discussed comic book in existence. However, just when I thought I knew all there was to know about the "Big Bang" of superhero comics, along came an interesting article posted at The Scoop. 

Sponsored by Gemstone Publications and Diamond International Galleries, The Scoop covers the current comics scene as well as comics history, original art, and memorabilia. A recent post titled "Action Comics #1- A Legal Issue?" brought to light the existence of a very unique copy of the famous comic book. 

You see, in the wake of Superman's ultra-popular debut, a boatload of copycat characters started popping up...one of which was Wonder Man, published by the notoriously shifty Victor Fox and (reluctantly) created by Jerry Iger and Will Eisner. DC and their team of lawyers promptly began what would become the very first copyright infringement suit to protect their Superman character.

As part of their successful lawsuit, DC submitted a copy of Action Comics #1 as one of its key pieces of evidence (along with Eisner's testimony). Stamped by the Federal Court on both March 16th and April 6th of 1939, here's a look at the cover of this extremely unique and amazingly well-preserved comic book:

 (click on the image for a larger view)

Curiously, the article didn't mention where this copy is today. I sent an email to the Scoop to learn if it's still in possession of the Federal Court or with a private owner...and how much something like this might be worth on the collector's market.  Care to take any guesses?  High six figures....seven figures? I hope I hear back from them!  Click here to read the entire article at The Scoop.

UPDATE: Well, one aspect of the mystery has been solved. According to my pal Allen, the court exhibit copy of Action Comics #1 has indeed passed into the private market and is now on display at the Geppi Entertainment Museum in Baltimore, Maryland. Allen took this photo in 2007 and has graciously allowed me to post it here.  Thanks, Allen!

   

You'll note that there's also a stamped copy of Action Comics #2 displayed next to it, and is most likely another exhibit submitted by DC's lawyers back in '39.  

Now that we know where the court copy is, all I need to know now is how much that baby is worth!  I can't imagine there are many copies in better condition than this one...so it's gotta be worth a "kingly sum".  Stay tuned! 

The one where Thor tells off some hippies...

Sandwiched between the Hippie Happenings of The Summer of Love (1967) and Woodstock (1969), the counter-culture of 1968 was very busy NOT being busy. Following the exhortation of dope-king Timothy Leary to "turn on, tune in, and drop out", Hippies dropped out of school and distanced themselves (or sometimes outright abandoned) the "conformist" mainstream of society.

It's within this context that Thor #154 hit the newsstands in the spring of 1968. Although Marvel Comics had come to be known as the "hip" comic book company (having shown some degree of rapport with the youth culture) a definite backlash seemed to be brewing from Marvel toward the counter-culture. Fittingly, that "change-in-the-weather" would come from the god of thunder himself as he came face-to-face with the practiced apathy and irresponsibility of a hippie trio...

(click on the panels for a larger view)

After thoroughly establishing his "authority figure" credentials, Thor takes off the kid gloves and really drives the message home with a literal maelstrom of lofty ideals and whirling winds of wisdom... obliterating Leary's do-nothing philosophy with the heroic ideal to engage and persevere!

Read that last word balloon again,
this time with the THUNDERCLAP!

Worst Cover Ever: "Mark SMASH Lousy HULK Covers!"

For the first half of the 1970's, Marvel's Incredible Hulk title featured covers and interior artwork by a guy named Herb Trimpe (rhymes with "shrimpie"). Like many comic book artists of that era, Trimpe had a very distinct style that made his stuff easy to identify, even to an eight year-old comic book rookie like me. 

However, even to my young, untrained eyes, there always seemed to be something a bit...off...about Trimpe's Hulk work.  Much like Jack Kirby, Trimpe took great liberties with human anatomy, proportion, and facial expressions. Yet, lacking Kirby's years of experience and experimentation, Trimpe's 70's stuff had little of Kirby's frenetic energy and power, and often came across as awkward and stiff.

To be sure, Trimpe was certainly capable of turning out a great cover design. These are three of my favorites (click to enlarge):

 

Unfortunately, many more of Trimpe's covers fell flat. Although I can't narrow them down to a single Worst Cover Ever, I've selected three that come close.

HULK #160 (1973) gets points for an ambitious camera angle, but fails in its execution. Foreshortening (giving an object the illusion of receding depth) is a tricky thing to pull off convincingly, and when it's not right...it can look as goofy as Trimpe's drawing of Tiger Shark and his tiny, stunted legs. As for the Hulk, the screwy perspective makes his face look like nothing more than a gaping mouth with no eyes or nose.

Next up is the cover of HULK #170 (1973)....a good example of very bad layout planning. Jam-packed with overlapping and awkwardly-drawn figures, the spacial relationships are confusing and give no sense of space or depth. For example, look at the apparent space between the blue monster's feet, the woman's feet, and the hole in the foreground. Now, with both sets of feet appearing to be a matter of inches away from the lip of the hole...how does the falling yellow guy manage to fit in between the blue guy and the woman?  What's going on with spotted-guy in the background? With the blue guy's shadow appearing to fall on the rock wall behind him, there doesn't seem to be any space left for Spot to occupy. Add to that the stubby, poorly-designed, and dimensionally flat look of the monsters, and you've got yourself an official "back to the drawing board" design. A pity that decision was never made by an editor...or Trimpe himself.

Finally, HULK #185 (1975) repeats many of the same depth and perspective mistakes as the first two covers. Undoubtedly intended to look imposing, the HS-1000 contraption (besides having no mass or dimension) is comically unthreatening...in a Six Million Dollar Man Venus Probe kind of way.  Despite a cursory attempt at background depth (the tiny running figures), the similarity of color between the ground and sky further flatten-out the scene to the point where all elements seem to be occupying the same space.

In some cases, Marvel wasn't shy about sending in John Romita Sr. to ink and sometimes even alter Trimpe's covers, as he did here with Hulk #179.  Note the very obvious Romita Hulk face (click to enlarge) perched atop the Trimpe Hulk body (with its telltale stiff legs and swollen feet).

By late 1975, Trimpe's long run as the HULK's primary artist came to an end, as artists like Gil Kane, Rich Buckler, and Ernie Chan took over as cover artists and Sal Buscema began his amazing ten year stint as interior penciller.

This Product Must Be Made....IMMEDIATELY!

While skimming to and fro last week, I came across this incredibly clever Tauntaun Sleeping Bag at the always-entertaining ThinkGeek website. While originally intended as a joke, there was so much genuine interest in the Tauntaun Sleeping Bag that the gang at ThinkGeek is now pursuing a license to produce it from Lucasfilm!

Well, that got me thinking about unique items from the comic book realm that I would buy in a heartbeat. As a big fan of the quirky era known as the Silver Age of Comics (the late 1950's through the 60's), I simply MUST have the

Making its first appearance in Showcase #39 (1962), the towering toxic waste dump known as Chemo has returned time and time again to plague DC's Metal Men.

The 25-foot monster's clear plastic shell is the ideal "vessel" for another quintessentially 60's pop novelty: the Lava Lamp! The gloopy blobs of melted wax within glowing green liquid perfectly evokes the deadly, bubbling goo inside of the semi-sentient behemoth.

My concept mock-up on the left gives you the general idea...but my point remains: THIS PRODUCT MUST BE PRODUCED IMMEDIATELY!

Who's with me?
Chemo © DC Comics

Hippity-Hoppity, Easter's on it's way...

...and I'm outta here for the holiday weekend.  To my fellow Christians, have a blessed Easter...everyone else, have a great weekend!  See you on Monday!

Worst Cover Ever: Hugh Jackman's Replacement?

Although it hasn't even been a week since my previous Worst Cover Ever, and I hesitate to go so negative following a joyous Easter Sunday...but after looking at Marvel's most recent batch of previews for their June comic books, I spotted a cover so hideously goofy (or goofily hideous), I just had to feature it...despite the fact that it's not even published yet.

Wolverine: Revolver is a one-shot story set in Las Vegas by crime novelist Victor Gischler and Spanish illustrator Julio Das Pastoras.  While Das Pastoras' interior art looks pretty cool, his cover art certainly isn't helping the book's prospects (click on the image for a larger view)...

Sure, the painting is technically well-done....and the looming Man-Bat clone looks great (although DC Comics might have a slight problem with the similarity)...but who did Das Pastoras base Wolverine's face on?  Horse-mouthed actor/wack-job Gary Busey?

Classic Ads: Thanks For the Memories (and the Lesson in Comparative Religion)!

When it comes to the weighty matters of philosophy and theology, some of history's greatest thinkers come to mind: Socrates, Plato, Augustine, Martin Luther, and Bob Hope.

That's right, Bob Hope. Appearing in nearly every form of popular entertainment during the 20th century (including comic books), Hope was often referred to as "America's Entertainer". However, judging from this 1964 public service ad appearing in April issues of DC Comics, we should add "Philosopher" and "Comparative Religion Expert" to Hope's versatile resume (click on the ad for a larger view).

A couple of things to note:

1. Apparently, there actually was a Brotherhood Week sponsored by an organization known as The National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ) from the 1940's through the 1980's. However, I'm not sure if Bob Hope actually hosted a Brotherhood Week event...or if ten year-old kids actually attended such an event....or, if they did, actually used the word "swell" to describe it.

2. Observation: Kids who attend Bob Hope shows wear suits and ties. Kids who don't...and trip suit-wearing kids, wear jeans and windbreakers.

3. What were the odds a celebrity of Hope's magnitude could sneak up, ninja-like, behind windbreaker-lad?..and was I the only one to hear mysterious-sounding bamboo flute music when he appeared?

4. Bob Hope...always ready with a quip...and a large scroll comparing Golden Rule variations. The very quality that made him America's Entertainer!

5. Since Hope apparently believed in and promoted the Golden Rule, one can only assume that he preferred not to be helped off the ground if he was tripped by a bully, as his indifference toward the young (and obviously injured) tripping victim seems to imply.

6. "Get wise, son, and join the human race! Also, be sure to surround yourself with a harem of big-haired hotties for your early-1980's USO shows!"

"Do unto others as you would have Miss USA Judy Hyek, Cathy
Lee Crosby, Ann Jillian, and Brooke Shields do unto you!"

The Deadline of DOOM!

For the 62% of Americans who actually pay income taxes, today is the last day to submit your paperwork! Take heart...even an A-list supervillain like Doctor Doom is feeling the pressure..even with tax preparation software!  

 

Doom's in good company.  Check out my previous post chronicling the Justice League's tax problems...or even Superman's hassles with the IRS!

Top Ten: Comic Book Villains (Part One)

Like a bird without feathers, or pancakes without syrup, comic book superheroes would be nothing without their villains!

Although little more than gangsters or mad scientists in the early years of superhero comics, villains gradually became as flashy and powerful as the costumed crimefighters themselves. Ultimately, the sheer number of supervillains caused most of them to be forgotten as soon as they appeared. However, a small percentage of them have risen above obscurity and made a big impression on me. I've selected ten of my favorite supervillains, some of which most would agree with...and a few you might quibble with.  But, if that's the case, the internet is in no danger of running out of real estate, so you can post your own Top Ten Villain list if the spirit moves you. For now, here's mine:

Reverse Flash: Considering my well-documented enthusiasm for opposite numbers, it's no surprise that my list begins with The Reverse Flash. Making his first appearance in Flash #139 (1963), Eobard Thawne was a 25th century criminal who gained super-speed from an old Flash costume using that era's ultra-advanced technology. Sometimes known as "Professsor Zoom", Thawne fought Barry Allen time and time again, eventually murdering his wife Iris and, some years later, lost his own life while attempting to kill Barry's fiance Fiona Webb.  Recently, a villain named "Zoom" donned the costume of the Reverse Flash...but now that Barry Allen has returned to the land of the living, I suspect that ol' Eobard Thawne won't be far behind.

Bizarro: Let's face it: despite being the original superhero, Superman's rogue's gallery has never quite measured up to his vaunted status. Sure, Lex Luthor is usually offered up as one of his best...and from the brains vs. brawn angle, he IS a compelling villain, but his last two decades as a somewhat inert corporate & political figure has dampened his standing (at least with me). That leaves only a handful of Superman villains that could make the A-list...and chief among them is Bizarro. Taking the concept of "evil opposite" to its most literal extreme, this "imperfect duplicate" wasn't only a physical distortion of the Man of Steel, but a twisted, illogical version of his intellect and morality as well. Alternately portrayed as a figure of sympathy, humor, or terror (depending on the era or creative team), Bizarro has always embodied the frightening reality of the power of Superman untethered from wisdom and self-control.

The Kingpin: Making his debut in Amazing Spider-Man #50 (1967), New York's imposing "Kingpin of Crime" quickly developed into one of comics' most fascinating and complex characters. Part of that appeal stemmed from how much the Kingpin resembled "real world" figures of organized crime, with few trappings of the more traditional costume-wearing, gimmick-toting villain crowd. Although hints of a more complex personal life came to light during his years as a Spider-Man villain, it wasn't until a young turk named Frank Miller made him a Daredevil foe that the Kingpin (a.k.a. "Wilson Fisk") gained the compelling backstory and machiavellian personna that make him the A-list master criminal he is today.

Thanos: With his massive, craggy-faced appearance and space-god heritage, it's clear that Jim Starlin's Thanos character was at least partially inspired by Jack Kirby's Darkseid, who'd made his DC Comics debut a few years earlier. However, that's where the similarities end. Whereas Darkseid was primarily confined to Kirby's quartet of "Fourth World" titles, Thanos threatened the entire Marvel Universe right out of the gate. Originally appearing as a "cosmic villain" in Iron-Man #55 (1973), Thanos quickly rolled out a plan that spanned several Marvel titles...which became (quite possibly) comics' first mega-epic, multi-title crossover (am I forgetting anything before it?). Seeking to win the love of Death (personified as a mysterious hooded woman), Thanos had long sought to obliterate the universe through a variety of schemes and objects of power (such as the Cosmic Cube and the Infinity Gauntlet). Add to this inexhaustible ambition an origin story with fallen angel/Oedipal overtones and a sprawling supporting cast, and you've got yourself a Top Ten villain.

Two-Face: Formerly Gotham City's District Attorney and an ally of Batman, Harvey Dent lost his sanity and turned to crime when one side of his face was hideously disfigured. Like his bizarrely mismatched outfit, Dent's psyche was also split down the middle, requiring the flip of a coin to determine his good or bad actions. This constant theme of duality, beyond his chilling look and M.O., is the primary reason I enjoy Two-Face so much. He seems to embody the warring sides of human nature itself, as good and bad behavior coexist yet battle for control with the capriciousness of a coin flip.

Stay tuned for part two of my Top Ten Comic Book Villains!

Top Ten: Comic Book Villains (Part Two)

Continued from yesterday, here's the final

 half of my Top Ten Comic Book Villains...

The Green Goblin: Despite a rather underwhelming debut in Amazing Spider-Man #14 (1963), the Green Goblin was still the most mysterious and intriguing figure in Spidey's burgeoning rogues gallery. Unlike other comic book villains, the true identity of the Green Goblin was kept secret from even the reader for several years. According to comic book legend, co-creator Steve Ditko wanted the Goblin to remain completely anonymous, having grown tired of stories where the villain is unmasked as someone known by the hero. Well, thankfully (in this case) Ditko was overuled by Stan Lee, because in Spider-Man #39 (1966) the Goblin was revealed to be Norman Osborn, the father of Peter Parker's best friend. That same issue, Osborn discovered Parker was actually Spider-Man, escalating their conflict to an intensely personal level. Another fascinating (and somewhat groundbreaking) aspect of Osborn was his struggle with mental illness. Sure, insanity had been a pillar of supervillainy for quite awhile, but Osborn's psychosis gave readers a glimpse into the twilight world of mental illness that no comic book had really explored before. This cyclical struggle culminated in the death of Parker's girlfriend Gwen Stacy in Spider-Man #121 (1973), followed by the ironic death of Osborn the very next issue.

Sadly, anyone familiar with the current Marvel Universe knows that Norman Osborn was retroactively resurrected some years ago, was revealed to have secretly fathered two children with Gwen Stacy (!), and is now some kind of out-of-control Homeland Security official bent on world domination.  Or something.

Well, in my mind, Norman Osborn is still dead from a bat-glider to the chest...with his evil still haunting Peter Parker from beyond the grave.

Galactus: For the first quarter century of superhero comics, villains didn't do much more than steal money from banks or priceless artifacts from museums. However, in Fantastic Four #48 (1966), Jack Kirby and Stan Lee upped the ante to the Nth degree with Galactus, an elaborately-armored space god so powerful, he could steal the life force of entire planets! Although many near-omnipotent figures have come along since Galactus, ol' bucket-head remains my favorite (despite some funky costume issues in his first few appearances). As the years went by, Galactus became a more ambiguous figure...less a straight-up villain and more a universal force of nature who occasionally assisted the planet Earth when he wasn't threatening to consume it.

Magneto: X-Men #1 (1964) not only marked the first appearance of Marvel's future cash cows, but of their number one villain as well. Starting out as a more one-note "take over the world" bad guy (complete with a dopey Magna-Car), Magneto evolved into a richer, much more complex character whose mutant power and hatred of humanity was triggered by the Holocaust. For a brief time, he worked with fellow mutant Charles Xavier to help other mutants, but their friendship ended when Magneto believed mutants should rule humanity instead of peacefully co-exist with it. Besides the compelling backstory, Magneto's immense power over Earth's magnetic fields and his unique costume design (love that helmet!) more than qualify him for Top Ten status.

Doctor Doom: Yet another utterly unique creation of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, Victor Von Doom has menaced just about every Marvel superhero since his debut in Fantastic Four #5 (1962). Like no other villain before him, Doom was the ruler of an entire country, a tiny Balkan kingdom named Latveria. Thanks to his diplomatic immunity, Doom was free to roam the world with impunity, using his mastery of both sorcery and super-science to conquer it (well, attempt to conquer it). His iron mask, armor, and flowing cape are said by some to the be the inspiration for Darth Vader's look (a claim I've yet to confirm), but whatever the case, Doom's medieval costume, skull-like mask, and towering hubris are the paragon of classic comic book evil.

The Joker: Coming as a surprise to exactly nobody, the Joker wins the number one slot on my Top Ten Villains list. This ghastly, clown faced killer made his first appearance in Batman #1 (1940) and is clearly one of the most chilling, frightening figures in all of fiction. Except for a brief period when he was portrayed as a relatively harmless, light-hearted nuisance, the Joker has always been a deadly, darkly humorous figure whose roots go far deeper than his comic book origins. Like the comedy and

tragedy masks of antiquity, as well as various jester/harlequin archetypes from across the centuries, the Joker's sardonic smile taps into the darker recesses of the human psyche. After all, at the core, most humor has an element of cruelty to it...which the Joker ruthlessly embodies and exploits. Adding to his appeal is the blank slate of his background before he became the Joker.  A bit like what Steve Ditko had wanted for the Green Goblin (see #5 above), the Joker's anonymity makes his existence all the more mysterious and...in some ways...borderline supernatural. Bottom line? The Joker is, quite simply, the perfect embodiment of uninhibited cruelty and chaos that many of us find disturbingly...liberating?  How many comic book villains can have that kind of impact?

Whew. There you have it.  Ten really evil, yet really entertaining bad guys. 

Who are some of yours?

Humble Beginnings: Make Way for Mr. McLightningpants

When comic book superheroes ushered in a modern sort of mythology, it was only fitting that one them resembled a figure from ancient mythology. As comics' first super-speedster, the most distinctive feature of the Flash's costume was the winged, wide-brimmed helmet that evoked Hermes, the fleet-footed messenger of the Greek gods, later renamed "Mercury" when the Romans co-opted the Greek deities.

However, there was one feature of Jay Garrick's original costume that definitely wasn't based on ancient images of Hermes. Appearing on the cover of Flash Comics #1 (1940), check out the snazzy yellow lightning bolts adorning Jay's blue pants!

(click on the image for a larger view)

 

The "leg lighting" only stuck around for two issues...or, to be more precise, one and a half issues. By the middle of Flash Comics #2, the leg lightning started popping in and out, until finally disappearing for good by the story's end.

From that point forward, the leg lightning was history...with only a few random exceptions over the next year or so.  Sometimes a tiny icon of a lightning-legged Flash would appear on covers that featured other characters from the anthology title (such as Hawkman), yet the interior stories stuck with the lightning-free blue pants (click on the icon art to the left for a closer look). 

When the cover icon was discontinued after issue #7, the last remnant of the leg lightning had faded away. That is, until it inexplicably returned on the covers of Flash Comics #8 and #10... as well as in an utterly random single panel in issue #13! (click to enlarge)

Were there any additional appearances of Flash's infamous lightning legs? I'm not sure...but maybe my pals over at the Flash-centric Speed Force website have more to add. 

Gold Nuggets: The Man of Steel! (No, the OTHER one)

The Obscure Adventures of Comics' Greatest Generation!

Before they changed their name and full-time focus to "Archie Comics", MLJ Comics published a modest selection of superhero titles during the Golden Age of Comics. One such title was Zip Comics, starring a guy named Steel Sterling, Man of Steel. Despite sharing Superman's famous sobriquet (Steel actually beat him to it), there was one aspect of Steel Sterling that made him utterly unique in the history of comics: having the only origin story to involve skinny dipping in a vat of molten steel!

After gangsters financially ruined and then killed his father, scientist John Sterling vowed to battle "gangdom" by making himself invulnerable to physical harm. Coating himself with a chemical of his own invention, Sterling then jumped into the red-hot cauldron and emerged with the "resistance, the magnetism, and strength of steel" (and rivet-encrusted swim trunks).

That's right...Steel was protected from
 ALL forms of destruction, including...

And that was just his first story!

Of course, the only thing Steel Sterling was vulnerable to were the low sales that struck down most superhero comics following World War II. Disappearing for several years, Sterling has briefly resurfaced for various revivals of the old MLJ heroes.

But let's not dwell on the decline of Steel and his fellow 4th-stringers.  Instead, let's think of the happier times...like when Steel would activate his magnetism-powers by running his fingers through his hair!

Monkey Business: Ape Me Out to the Ballgame

 

Question: What's more American than the game of baseball?  Answer: An Amazon warrior in a flag-themed costume and her trained gorilla PLAYING the game of baseball! Truly one of the most insane Wonder Woman stories of all time...and THAT'S saying something!

Name: Andy the Gorilla

First Appearance: Wonder Woman #78 (1955)

History: In an effort to save a beloved private school from closing, Wonder Woman must defeat an entire baseball team...with her only teammate a circus gorilla named Andy...who can't play baseball. So...Wonder Woman expertly pitches, bats, and fields, while simultaneously teaching Andy the same skills. Needless to say, Wonder Woman and Andy win the game and save the school from closing.

Powers and Abilities: A .300 batting average and an animal behind the plate.

Friday Quiz: Sidekicks!

Just like Fridays back in school, it's time for another pop quiz!

Beginning with Robin in Detective Comics #38 (1940), comics have had a long tradition of kid sidekicks palling around with adult superheroes. Despite the obvious "child endangerment" issues, publishers of that earlier era believed that young readers would identify with the boy (or sometimes girl) heroes who faced the same dangers as their grown-up mentors...thereby increasing sales.

Looking back over that wonderfully bizarre era of juvenile superheroes, I've put together a 10-question quiz (with an assist from the ProProfs website), which you can take by clicking on the "Start Quiz" button below. Oh, and disregard that "name" box...you don't need to enter your name in order to take the quiz.

Comic Book Sidekicks » Quiz Question Maker

Cover Price Madness: Taking the Plunge

In the past, I've joked about how comic book fans (me included) complain about rising cover prices, yet...being the addicted idiots we are...just keep shelling out the cash (click on the image to the left for a lighthearted, yet all-too-depressing summary).

However, as Marvel stomps on the gas and blasts through the $3.99 cover price barrier (with other publishers expected to follow suit throughout the year), I'm here to say: I've finally had enough...and it's time to do something about it.

My little rebellion began earlier this week as I blew off the new issue of Thor...a character and series I honestly enjoy, but I refuse to pay four bucks a pop for it. It's not for economic reasons alone, though. Frankly, I can afford the price increase without much trouble...but as a matter of principle, I'm not going to put my stamp of approval on such a crass and clueless money grab.

A few days later, I came across a fascinating thread on Blog@Newsarama that asked how comic fans were managing their pull lists in the midst of this hellish economy and the cover price increases. The thread obviously hit a nerve (at this writing it's at 120 responses and climbing), with most of the respondents saying they will be drastically cutting back their purchases, both out of economic necessity and as a form of protest.

Within that thread, a few posters recommended taking a look at various mail-order comic book retailers, most of whom offer deep discounts for new comics and reasonable shipping costs.  

Hmmmmmm.  

I'd been aware of these online services for years, but had never seriously considered them until this week. After checking a few of them out, I decided to take the plunge and order ALL of my June comics through an Indiana outfit called Heroes Corner.  The savings were amazing.  A batch of comics retailing over $37 will cost me only $20.  To further save costs, I chose the "once a month" shipping option (which costs only about $5.00), so we'll see how it goes getting all my comics at once at the end of the month instead of as a weekly "fix" (which I've been doing almost as long as I can remember). 

A bit of an experiment, to be sure, but I think the reduced frequency of getting comics will also help out in the long run by "breaking the cycle" and making comics more of a vaguely anticipated "surprise" in my mailbox than a weekly "gotta get to the store" habit. Further saving me money is the Heroes Corner policy of shipping all comics bagged and boarded, another rising expense I'm more than happy to eliminate on my end.

So...we will see. If the service of Heroes Corner is as good as I think it will be, this may be the way to go from here on out.  I have some regrets about abandoning my local comic book shop, but this dysfunctional status quo is unsustainable...and I will no longer be a part of it.

Of course, this big change shouldn't have much (if any) impact on Comic Coverage, since commentary on the weekly comics zeitgeist has never been my focus, and never will be. Nevertheless, I'd still love to hear what readers have to say about their own purchasing habits in light of the economy and the boneheaded $3.99 cover price looming before us.  What are you guys doing?  Cutting back? Joining a mail-order service like me?  Quitting altogether?  Post your thoughts!

Which Came First? Brainiac or BRAINIAC?

Although Superman's villains don't enjoy as high a profile as, say, Batman's, most comic book fans are aware of Brainiac, an inhuman computer mind bent on destroying civilizations and stealing their knowledge. 

However, modern fans may not be aware that Brainiac's earliest appearances portrayed him not as an malevolent computer, but as a living, green-skinned humanoid with an advanced intellect. Sort of an intergalactic version of Lex Luthor. In fact, his original design in Action Comics #242 (1958) didn't even include the telltale diodes that have criss-crossed the top of his head for decades (and, strangely, that same issue's cover).

Then, six years later in Superman #167, Brainiac was suddenly revealed to be the evil computer we're familiar with today. Why the sudden switch?  For the answer, look no further than the Special Announcement printed on this issue's letters page:

Considering Otto Binder's affinity for actual science (which I infer from his work on Space World magazine), I'm guessing that his selection of the name "Brainiac" may not have been the "remarkable coincidence" the editor claimed it to be (perhaps under advisement from DC's legal department), but setting that aside, it IS pretty amazing to find out how DC Comics intersected with a guy like Berkeley (above inset photo), very much a "brainiac" himself in the nascent field of computer science & robotics.

So...how did DC respond to Mr. Berkeley's earlier claim to the term "Brainiac"?

 

Now, as much as I love the straight-forward innocence of these old letter pages, the 21st century cynic in me wants to peek a little further behind the scenes. In other words, was this public acknowledgment of the name duplication, and DC's decision to make Brainaic a "computer personality" enough for Edmund C. Berkeley and/or those representing his interests (i.e. "lawyers")?  My answer seems to materialize in the very next paragraph, as DC hypes the living daylights out of Mr. Berkeley's "Brainiac" home computer kit...a little quid quo pro, perhaps?

Far be it from me to just end it here, right?  After reading about this mysterious Brainiac Computer Kit, I just had to see a visual.  After a bit of searching, I finally found a shot of an original kit in all of its "less than $20" glory.  What do you think...does that look "simple" enough to construct at home?

The Real-Life Superhero Universe: Bananaman!

It's a special edition of Real-Life Superheroes, as we take a look at British sensation (and recent World Record setter) Bananaman!  From the BBC (interspersed with my own commentary):

A man who took part in the London marathon dressed as Bananaman has set a new record for the fastest runner dressed as a cartoon character.

ME: Bananaman is a long-running superhero parody published in Great Britain. Poking fun at characters like Superman and Marvelman (a Captain Marvel knock-off) Bananaman gains (and augments) his powers by...you guessed it...eating bananas.

Darren Stone, 22, from Taunton, Somerset, took three hours, 36 minutes and seven seconds to complete the race.

ME: "Taunton"?  As in "smelly Hothian beast of burden"?  Oh, wait...that's "tauntaun". Carry on.

"You go through moments when you slow up and other runners tap you on the back and say 'come on Bananaman you can do it' - it's unreal," he said.

Mr Stone's achievement has been confirmed by Guinness World Records.

ME: Is it safe to say that the Guinness Book has now officially run out of ideas for world record categories?

"I checked on the internet because I wasn't sure how the other cartoon characters had done," he said.

"I scouted out before that Danger Mouse would be my main competitor but I have heard that I've got the record," he added.

ME: Danger Mouse--yet another British cartoon character.

Darren Stone completed the marathon in three hours, 36 minutes and seven seconds.

ME: So there you go: the time for all of you challengers to beat!

Mr. Stone, who runs a cafe in Taunton town centre, said he chose to run as a cartoon character because his business is next door to a fancy dress hire shop.

ME: My guess is that a "fancy dress hire shop" translates to a "costume shop" here in the States.

"They wanted me to run as Buzz Lightyear but the costume was too heavy," said Mr Stone.

"It was so hot that once I started sweating the suit just doubled in weight anyway," he said.

ME: Bananas and intense body odor.  Not a good combo.

"I'm in a world of pain now but finishing was the best feeling I've ever had.

ME: Yeah....kinda like that time I stopped pounding my head with a hammer.  Best feeling I've ever had. 

Mr Stone, a semi-professional footballer, has raised £1,400 for the St. Margaret's Hospice in Taunton but hopes to reach his goal of £2,000.

ME: In all seriousness, THAT'S some truly heroic work!  Great work, Mr. Stone!