Comic Coverage

Artwork Added

You know, I'm never too comfortable with the self-promotion thing...so I'll just turn this announcement over to Swingin' 70's Stan Lee.  Take it away, Stan!

"Hey, gang!  Swingin' 70's Stan Lee here to tell you Mark just posted some nifty new sidebar buttons that you can click to see some of his tintintabulatin' artwork!  He's got new stuff to show ya' what he's up to these days, and some old stuff that even Irving Forbush would like!  Just focus those eager eyes on the sidebar and you'll see five colorful buttons under the Secret Identity ad (yet another one of my sensational self-promotional suggestions).  So, what are ya waitin' for, True Believers?  Excelsior!"

Thanks, Stan.  I couldn't have said it better myself.   

Never Forget.

Today was supposed to be another "Worst Cover Ever" column, but I just didn't feel up to "bringing the funny" today. 

Granted, a lighthearted comic book blog isn't really the ideal forum for this kind of thing, but at the same time it's the only real forum I have, and I couldn't let the day pass without acknowledging it's importance and poignancy.

I also didn't want to feature some cheesy scene of superheroes standing around wiping tears away.  No offense to those who go for that kind of thing, but I think there comes a time when we need to put aside our imaginary friends for a moment and focus on the stark realities we face...without the rather silly intrusion of capes, costumes and chest logos. The heroes I'd rather think about today wear badges, fire helmets, fatigues or (in the case of United flight #93) Dockers.

So, the silly stuff will return tomorrow....but for today, I choose to remember.

"Yes, we are at a great juncture in American history. We can go to battle, as we did in the past—hard, long, without guilt, apology, or respite, until our enemies are no more. It was our fathers who passed on to us that credo and with it all that we hold dear. And so just as they once did, we too must confront and annihilate these killers and the governments that have protected and encouraged them. Only that way can we honor and avenge our dead and keep faith that they have not died in vain. Only with evil confronted and crushed can we ensure that our children might still some day live, as we once did, in peace and safety."

—Victor Davis Hanson (National Review Magazine, October 1, 2001)

Election Day

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

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

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

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

Ouch.

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

Give Ye Thanks!

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

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

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

 

...and loyal friends.

 

A good job...

 

...and a roof over my head.

 

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

 

...and healthy children as well.

 

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

 

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

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

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

Always Read the Fine Print

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

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

Have a happy and safe....whatever! 

See you next week!

30 Second Recap: The Death of Gwen Stacy!

Chris Sims, proprietor of the hilarious Invincible Super-Blog, has thrown down the 30 Second Recap challenge, in which a noted comic book story is summarized using only a few panels and super-fast drawing.  Since I'm a professional cartoonist, I tried to go as fast as I could without putzing over the details...while still trying to make it look like a sucky drawing.  My entry for the 30 Second Recap goes back a ways to the classic early-70's shocker The Death of Gwen Stacy, one of the most dramatic comic book stories I've ever read (or ever expect to read).   Click on the thumbnail image of the recap for a full-size view.

I'll have to admit, there's something charming about knocking a story down to its barest essentials....even a dark storyline like this one.  Enjoy! 

P.S.:  Hey Chris...do I get extra credit for that kick to the face in panel seven?

Spider-Man Meets...Burgess Meredith?

Courtesy of the awesome Frederator site, someone spotted a pretty amazing cameo on an old episode of Naked City.  No, it's not what you're thinking (perverts).  Naked City was a popular police drama of the late 50's and early 60's (sort of the Hill Street Blues of its day).

Anyway, so the guy's watching the episode and something on a newsstand in the background jumps out at him.  Check out the screen-grab:

(click on the image for a larger view):

That's not only a Spider-Man comic book displayed behind the actors, but the very first appearance of Spider-Man in Amazing Fantasy #15 (1962), hanging there as casually as any other comic book on the stand.

Here's another shot of it nestled behind the reliably sweaty and overwrought Burgess Meredith:

But wait....there's more!.  Take another look at the shot of the two actors, then look just to the right of Amazing Fantasy #15.  Sharp-eyed fans of Silver Age Marvel Comics will recognize the cover to Journey Into Mystery #83, featuring the first appearance of The Mighty Thor!

I'm sure none of the cast and crew of Naked City would have ever guessed a 24¢ purchase of both titles would net them well over $100,000 in today's collector's market.  Maybe that's why Burgess Meredith was sweating so profusely.  He somehow knew he was in the presence of comic book history!

Click here for the original Frederator post.

Still Got the Blues?

Just a reminder that today is the last day to submit entries for this week's Blue Monday contest (click here for all the details).  The winner receives a free Super Powers T-shirt from my Secret Identity shop.

I've gotten a surprising number of entries, but there are still plenty of names nobody's been able to figure out...so the field's wide open for someone willing to do a little internet sleuthing to figure out the tougher ones.  Hey, what did you expect....a cakewalk?

I will be announcing the winner tomorrow, January 26th at 9:00 AM (central time), but entries should be sent in no later than midnight tonight.

Good luck!

UPDATE: I think we have a winner!  Reviewing my original post for the Blue Monday contest, I said the winner would either be the contestant with the most names correct, or the first person to get all of them correct. 

Well, believe it or not, someone just nailed every single name!  Even the really hard ones!

I'll be preparing my "Awarding of the Shirt Ceremony" post later this evening, but I guess at this point I'll declare the contest over.  Thanks to everyone who submitted their guesses, and I hope you had fun playing.  Stay tuned for the winner and, of course, the correct names to our blue-themed heroes.

We Have a Winner!

As I mentioned in my previous post, we've got a winner for the Blue Monday contest.  Our pal Mike Albert (a.k.a. Siskoid) from New Brunswick, Canada got every blue-themed hero correct...winning a free Secret Identity T-shirt while simultaneously blowing my mind.  He even got the Blue Tracer, for crying out loud!

But I'm getting ahead of myself.

First of all, congratulations to Mike...and thank you to everyone who participated.  Maybe it can become an annual event (though I may have exhausted every character with "blue" in their name).

Second, it's time to clue you in on who these guys are.  Here's the original Hollywood Squares grid of the boys in blue, followed by the answer key:

Top Row (left to right):  Blue Jay (DC Comics), the original
Blue Power Ranger (Saban Entertainment, Inc.),
Blue Beetle II (DC), and Blue Tracer (Quality Comics)

Second Row: Blue Streak (Holyoke Comics), Blue Bolt (Novelty
Press), Blue Devil (DC), and Blue Diamond (Timely/Marvel)

Third Row: Bluestreak (Marvel Comics), Blue Beetle I (Fox Comics),
Blue Circle (Rural Home Publishing), and Boy Blue (DC/Vertigo Comics)

Bottom Row: Blue Blaze (Timely/Marvel Comics), Blue Shield (Marvel
Comics), Blue Bolt (Hero Comics), and Blue Beetle III (DC Comics)

Good job, Mike! The shirt's on its way!   

Fighting the Scourge of Late Comics!

As late comic books have become more and more prevalent, comic book professionals seem to have become all the more apathetic toward the depressing trend.  Rationalizations like "quality products take time to produce" or that comics "are not gum" are routintely offered up to deflect the growing irritation of retailers and fans alike. 

In short, they just don't seem to get it.

However, while looking through the vault of my classic Comic Coverage Institute instructional films, I came across an old favorite that may be able to educate some of today's resposibility-challenged comics pros.

So...dim the lights, pop on that old reel-to-reel
movie projector, sit back, and learn.

Oh, and comics professionals?  Pay attention!

Sixteen Candles

As bizarre and unbelievable as these crazy comic books can be, even more unbelievable is the fact that my daughter (our "first born") turns 16 years old today! Where's the time gone?

Well, in honor of Alyssa's "Sweet Sixteenth", I thought I'd "borrow" the classic cover of Action Comics #285 (1962) and wish her a Happy Birthday!

"Sixteen candles in my heart will glow
For ever and ever for I love you so...

from "Sixteen Candles" by The Crests (1958)

Memewhile: Eight Mindblowing Facts

So my pal Heidi at Comics Fairplay "tagged" me the other day with the latest meme sweeping the ranks of comics blogdom. 

In the spirit of fair play, who am I to refuse?

It's called "Eight Questions of Blazing Death" (we comic book people are a melodramatic lot), and here are the rules:

1.  Each player starts with eight random facts about themselves.
2.  Those who are tagged need to write in their own blog about their eight facts and post these rules.
3.  At the end of the post, choose some people to get tagged and list their names.

Got it?  Good.  Now gird yourself for my shocking revelations!...

Unreal.

Yes, my family and I are all okay.  Thanks for the concern.

As a Twin Cities resident, I've driven over the I-35 bridge thousands of times, with never a thought that anything like this could happen.  Obviously, it can and did happen...and in due time we'll find out why, though I get irritated at the TV news jackals already looking to point the finger of blame at someone. 

Let's rescue and recover everyone out of the river first, shall we?

Simply unreal.  At this writing, 4 people have died, 20 are missing and 60 were injured. It certainly drives home how quickly your life can change...or end.  My thoughts and prayers go out to all of my fellow Minnesotans who were affected by this unbelievable tragedy.

Comic Coverage: One Year Later!

Has it been one year already?  To think a year ago I kicked this thing off, not knowing if I'd have anything interesting to talk about beyond two weeks (if that).  Looks like I made it past the two weeks, huh?

Anyway, thanks to everyone who's stopped by over the past year.  The growth in traffic has been very encouraging both here and at Secret Identity (my Cafepress shop).  As I enter my second year of blogging, I hope to continue some of the more popular features as well as expand into some fun new areas (maybe some video shenanigans...who knows?). 

Again, thanks for all the support. You've all helped make an incredibly fun hobby all the more rewarding.

Super Neighbors

Every summer our neighborhood families put together a block party, usually based around some kind of theme. As you'd expect, everyone has a blast as we catch up on what everyone's been up to, play some games, eat some really good food, have a beverage or two, then gab around the fire until it's way past our bedtimes. 

This year, some of the neighborhood kids took over the planning from the adults (we were only too happy to relinquish it), and went with a comic book superhero theme (I swear I didn't talk them into it). Taking place this past Saturday, we were encouraged to come in costume, but...because it was summer and not quite Halloween, the costumes were on the modest side.  In fact, my family and I showed up wearing only Superman shirts (from dad's surplus of Superman attire).  Other neighbors showed up with some really funny stuff, my favorite of which was my neighbor Jeff dressed as "The Powernap", essentially a guy wrapped in a blanket wearing a pair of eye blinders (you can see him pictured below).

The kids even planned a "superhero trivia" game, which prompted all of my neighbors to beg for me to be on their teams (since everyone knew I was the neighborhood comic book geek).  Gee...so that's what it feels like to be a ringer!  So...who won?  Why, the MY TEAM, of course!  Heh.

Anyway, here's my family and I as The Super Neighbors (I'm the one with the dorky lightning bolts embarrassing the heck out of my teenagers).

Plus a few more of our nutty neighbors:

Obviously (and once again) a fun time was had by all.

The Great Superman Beat-Down Contest...The Winner!

Thanks to everyone who participated in The Great Superman Beat-Down Contest, but as you know...only one could emerge victorious!  Doomday?  Would you please do the honors of announcing our winner?...

Thanks, big guy....and congratulations to Fernando for guessing 10 of the 12 mystery artists correctly. Your Superman: Doomsday DVD prize package is on its way!

As for the artists of the Superman Beat-Down Gallery,
here they are:

1.  Neal Adams

2.  Ross Andru

3.  John Byrne

4.  José Luis García López

5.  Gil Kane

6.  Wayne Boring

7.  Bob Oksner

8.  Curt Swan

9.  Jon Bogdanove

10. Dick Dillin

11. Rich Buckler

12. Frank Miller

Amazing Artwork

I recently received a "viral email" featuring the work of an English artist I just had to pass along.

The artist's name is Julian Beever, and he's been creating amazing chalk drawings throughout Europe since the mid-1990's.  What makes Beever's work so amazing is his astounding, large-scale use of anamorphosis, or distorting an image so that it can only be seen clearly from a certain perspective.

For example, here's Beever posing with a popular American icon.  Despite the angle of the photographer, the Coke bottle appears to be three dimensional:

To give you a little better idea of what's involved with anamorphosis, here's a shot of a chalk drawing from the planned perspective along with how it actually looks from another perspective:

Absolutely unreal.  Taking about three days to complete each drawing, Beever explains a bit about his tedious process:

"The secret is to set up a camera on a tripod and keep it in one spot and check every mark you make.  It's really just playing with perspective to make it appear different to what it really is."

Here's another drawing.  They're often so convincing, that some people actually step around them for fear they'll stumble into the "hole" Beever has created.

So what's this have to do with comics?  Ah, never fear...because here are a few comic-themed drawings of Beever's:

Keep in mind these things are done with chalk!  Unbelievable.  However, you haven't seen anything yet until you've seen his Batman and Robin drawing!

If you'd like to see more of Beever's work,
click here to visit his website for more photos!

Comic Coverage Public Service Announcement

Just a reminder to my fellow Americans: Daylight Saving Time comes to an end early tomorrow morning, so be sure to set your clocks back one hour before you go to bed (that is, unless you're one of those "we're too cool for Daylight Saving Time" states like Arizona or Hawaii).

What's the big deal? 

Hey...the Daylight Saving thing is the closest thing us comic book/sci-fi fans are ever going to get to real time travel, so why not savor it?

A Salute to Our Veterans

To help show your appreciation for our veterans and all they've done for our country, please consider a donation to Soldiers' Angels, a wonderful charity serving deployed soldiers, those in hospitals here at home, and military families in need.  Click on the banner below to find out more about Soldiers' Angels and to make a donation.

Word of the Day

The Word of the Day is:  "SHWAPHAOOM", as in...

Say it with me now: Shwah-fah-oom.  Good.

Bonus Word:  "CHUBWOK".

From Iron-Man #132 (1980)

Don't Be a Robot! (Shameless Plug)

Though I typically don't hype my Secret Identity shop here on Comic Coverage (other than the conspicuous sidebar ad), what's one more sales pitch on National Shopping Frenzy Day (a.k.a. The Day After Thanksgiving)?

Here's the pitch:  Forget the robotic trudge through your local mall.  If you're looking for some fun comic book or sci-fi themed gifts, give Secret Identity a shot.  With over forty designs on a cornucopia of products (clothing, mugs, computer accessories, magnets, stickers, etc.), you're bound to find something for the geek in your life.

So, fight past your post-turkey tryptophanic haze, park your bloated belly in front of your computer, and start shoppin'!

As if you needed any more incentive, here's an e-coupon:

King Boreas vs. Vulcanis Rex

"St. Paul...is another Siberia, unfit for human habitation in the winter.”

So wrote a snotty New York Times reporter in 1885 regarding the fast-growing railroad town of St. Paul, Minnesota.  Determined to prove him wrong, city business leaders organized the first St. Paul Winter Carnival in 1886 (complete with its own Ice Palace, left), and it's remained an annual winter tradition here in St. Paul ever since! Tying the outdoor activities, contests, and parades together is a whimsical legend replete with royalty, villainy, and mythic elemental power.  In fact, it sounds a bit like something you might read about in a superhero comic book!

Here's the story: Boreas, King of the Winds, made St. Paul his earthly winter playground, but Vulcanis Rex, the fire god, who hated Boreas and his winter activities, vowed to get rid of the wind king. In commemoration of their meeting, each year King Boreas reigns supreme for ten days until Vulcan and his "krewe" come along to send Boreas and the king's Royal Guard back to Mt. Olympus.

Each year, eager local citizens are chosen to play the warring forces of Boreas and Vulcan, who then make appearances at various events and parades....clearly relishing the drama of their roles and costumes. Yes, I said "costumes"...just like in the comics.

...and the Fortress of Solitude doesn't have anything on the Ice Palace:

Today marks the opening of the 122nd St. Paul Winter Carnival.  We're still crazy to live here...but at least we're still having fun. 

Take that snotty 1885 New York Times reporter!

Stay Tuned for a Super-June!

With Superman's 70^th anniversary coming up in June, you can bet there'll be gobs of tributes celebrating the Man of Steel's long run. Adding to the chorus will be my own modest voice here at Comic Coverage, as I devote the entire month of June to All Things Superman. Having been a Superman fan for most of my life, I think I've got a perspective on the character that goes beyond the usual "scan-N-slam" comic blogs out there...so be sure to watch for

June 2008

A Quick Survey

It's been gratifying to see a steady increase in visitor traffic here at Comic Coverage over the past several months. Wanting to go beyond the raw "hits per day" information, I've put together a short survey to discover a bit more about who my visitors are and what you like about the blog. So, if you've got a few minutes, I'd appreciate if you took my quick ten question survey...which you can get to  by clicking here. Thanks...and I look forward to getting your feedback!

500th Post: The Wavy-Screen Flashback Episode

So, how does a guy kick off Superman@70 month and celebrate his 500th post at the same time?

Easy!  Do what everyone else does when they hit their 500th post: Compile a Greatest Hits Retrospective...only I'll be adding a Superman twist! Just like on those cheesy flashback episodes of TV sit-coms, I'll stroke my chin and look thoughtful while the wavy screen effect transports us back to Superman-themed posts from the previous 22 months of Comic Coverage ("Why, I remember it like it was yesterday....")

Tomorrow...new stuff, but for today?  A backward glance.  Enjoy!

Some of the Worst Covers Ever.

But also some of the best.

Cover to Cover: Superboy or Super-Reject?

Beware the Killer Kents!

Poll: Who Should be Bizarro Superman?

Cover to Cover: World's Laziest

Cover to Cover: The Mythadventures of Superman!

YouTube Theatre: Kidder-Free Flying

Coincidence? You Decide!

Silver Age Outtakes: The Destruction of Krypton

Classic Ads: Be a Good Citizen!

YouTube Theatre: S for Superman!

Brag Books: 51 (and a Half) Years of Superman

Superman vs. The Taxman

Dear Editor: Down With Supergirl!

True Tales of (comic book) Horror

Friday Night Fights: Grundy Smash!

The Highlight Reel: Krypto's Last Stand

Friday Night Fights: Supes vs. Spidey...The Movie!

The Great Superman Beat-Down Contest

Metropolis Mailbag....After Dark!

Those Who Lay in Glass Coffins Shouldn't Throw Stones

Unhappy Bizarro Thanksgiving

Superman's New Year's Resolutions

The Highlight Reel: "Twenty Million Die By Fire If I'm Weak."

Dear Editor: Your Friendly Neighborhood Superman

The Highlight Reel: A Friend in Need

Great Moments in Exposition

Leap (Year) Tall Buildings in a Single Bound

Friday Night Fights: The Overlooked Battle of the Century

To All the Girls I've Loved Before

Dear Editor: The Kryptonian Hillbillies

Dear Editor: "Many Thanks for Remembering Him"

The Fortress at 50 (a seven part series)

Superman on Line Three

As much as I enjoy blathering on about comics, the real highlight of my Comic Coverage experience has been all the great people I've come into contact with. Your comments and emails really make it a joy, even when things get a little hectic.

Yesterday, however, marked my first phone call from a fan of Comic Coverage...a fan who turned out to be Frank Kasy, a Chicago illustrator and actor who also happens to be the Superman photo-reference model for Alex Ross! It's no secret I'm a die-hard fan of Ross' work, and of his version of Superman in particular...so it was a real kick (and a little surreal) to learn that Frank enjoyed my lil' ol' blog.

Left to right: Frank Kasy; Kasy at a reference photo shoot for the
Mythology book cover (far right). Click on photos for a larger view.

Frank: Thanks for the kind words, your interest in Comic Coverage,
and for helping Alex conjure up my ideal version of Superman!

Playing Catch-Up

So, have I mentioned Superman turned 70 in June?

KIDDING!  (sorry, I couldn't resist).  After last month's wall-to-wall Superman@70 marathon, we now return to regular Comic Coverage programming...which translates to "anything but Superman" (to the collective cheers of comicdom).

During that month of super-centric posting, there were a number of things that I'd normally talk about, but had to take a back seat to You-Know-Who.  So, l think I'll get back into the swing of things by catching up on some of those belated blatherings. First up:

The Incredible Hulk movie: I'm sure you've all spent many a sleepless night wondering what I thought of the new Hulk movie since it hit theatres back on June 13^th. The verdict?

"HULK SMASH EXPECTATIONS!" 

Really, nobody was more pleasantly surprised at how good this movie was than me.  Or maybe it's because my expectations were steadily lowered leading up to opening day...but whatever the reason, this thing rocked.

The highlight of the film? The HULK himself, of course!

I was concerned about the somewhat plastic-looking CGI from the previews, but as I'd hoped, they did a great job of working out the kinks during the intervening months.  The man-monster was a great amalgamation of several comic book looks from over the years, though the versions of both classic Marvel artists John Romita Sr. and Sal Buscema seemed to dominate. Unlike the green "gumby" from the previous Hulk film, this Hulk had a convincing range of motion and well-played facial emotion (though I was more partial to the "rage" end of the emotional spectrum).  

Sure, the comic book proportions of his body still fight my mind's resistance to such exaggeration in a realistic context, but the CGI wizards managed to pull it off, especially when aided by techniques that subtly masked CGI's vulnerabilities (such as using creative shadowing for quieter scenes or shaky-camera effects during battle scenes). Of course, my giddy laughter during the pure chaos of Hulk's rampages is testament that these guys did a fantastic job of bringing the Jolly Green Giant to life.

The other performances were generally pretty good. Ed Norton did a great job of playing Bruce Banner...giving him enough pathos to feel for him, but not wallowing in it to the point of boredom (like the Ang Lee snoozer). Tim Roth did well as Emil Blonski, though I have to say I've about had my fill of psycho special-ops characters. I wasn't as impressed with both General and Betty Ross, though.  William Hurt and (especially) Liv Tyler seemed ill-suited for their roles, and not terribly convincing (Tyler a biology professor? Really?) But who cares.  Their non-entity status was easily overlooked with the movie's great pacing and generous amounts of Hulk action.  Add the nifty cameo appearances of Stan Lee, Lou Ferrigno, and a certain Mr. Stark, and you've got yourself a smashing addition to Marvel's growing roster of comic-to-film successes. Not quite as good as Iron-Man (the new Gold Standard for superhero films), but definitely worthy of

4 out of 5 Ferrignos!

Two Years? ALREADY?

 Two-Face

Two-Fisted Tales

Two-Gun Kid

Marvel Two-In-One #2

Two Year Blogoversary

of Comic Coverage

The two year anniversary of Comic Coverage came up so quickly, even I wasn't aware of it (it was Wednesday, Aug. 20th). Maybe it's because my upcoming 20 Year Wedding Anniversary (August 27th) pushed it out of my tiny brain, but whatever the reason, I nearly forgot it's been two years since I started my almost-daily blathering about comic books.  Well, I guess if I'm going to forget an anniversary this week, I'd rather it was this one and not the 20th wedding anniversary!  To all of my regular readers, thanks so much for your continued patronage. For those new to Comic Coverage, stick around....I've only begun to blather!  

The Rocketeer! (well, not really...but he's still pretty cool)

It's an invigorating feeling when science fiction becomes science fact, especially when it involves flight! Lots of people in my generation vividly remember...well, not "promises", but being told there was a strong possibility we'd be flying around the skies with our own personal jet-packs.

Obviously, that didn't happen. Sure, those clunky, slow-moving jet packs have been around for several decades, but seeing them in "action" (and that's a stretch) only seemed to suggest that high-in-the-sky solo flights by humans would remain in the science fiction realm forever.

Ah, but not so fast. Yesterday I came across an astonishing story that really did turn science fiction into science fact. According to the news account, Swiss pilot Yves Rossy flew over the English Channel using jet-powered turbines and wings attached to his back! Clothed in what at first glance appeared to be a Star Wars Stormtrooper outfit, Rossy began his flight by starting his kerosene-powered engines inside of an airplane...then jumping out! Much like the fictional Rocketeer, Rossy would steer his course by angling his head and back.

But hey...forget my words and a measly still photo...check out the video below for a look at Rossy's flight.

Well?....What do you think? Sure, it's still a long ways from the Rocketeer (much less a character like Iron-Man), but it's still pretty cool.

Off to FallCon

Celebrating its 20th year, the Minnesota Comic Book Association's FallCon has come a long way from its humble beginnings in local VFW halls and the spectacularly kitschy, un-PC Thunderbird Hotel to become one of the premiere comic book conventions of the upper midwest. Having been staged at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds for the past several years, the 20th anniversary sees the FallCon moving over to the Grandstand, the sprawling site's largest building.

I'm told it will be a much roomier experience with tons of new cool stuff...but that remains to be seen.  I'll be heading over there later today with camera in hand, so I plan to post a brief report on my impressions tomorrow. As with most FallCon visits, I'll be there primarily to scoop up great deals on back issues (the deals are there, you just have to look around), since the FallCon's programming has traditionally been...well, let's just say "lacking".  Maybe that'll change this year.

Anyway, stay tuned.

UPDATE: It looks like my skepticism was well-founded. After paying a ridiculous $11 to get into this thing, it was pretty much the exact same experience as last year's FallCon. Yeah, I found some great back issue deals (really the only reason I bother going), but if you really want a report, read my 2007 post. I'm not writing another one. I may still blab a bit on the tottering comic book stack, but as for the rest...meh. 

Happily, I was only there for a couple of hours.  I mean, when it comes right down to it, I'd much rather enjoy a wonderful fall afternoon reading comics on my deck than...well...this:

Washington DC: So Far, So Good!

A few days back I expressed some mock-concern over Washington D.C.'s superhuman crime rate (as reflected on select covers), but really...our trip to our nation's capital has been a wonderful experience so far. As I write this, it's Friday evening and we're all winding down after another busy day of sightseeing. Here's a few photos of our adventures so far (click on each to enlarge).

Left: The spectacular view from atop of the Washington Monument. The Lincoln Memorial is in the background, with the new World War II Memorial in the foreground.

Middle: The gang and I at the Lincoln Memorial. A truly profound experience (something I've been looking forward to for many, many years).

Right: Our visit to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Yet another profound experience, with intermingled sadness and gratitude.

Left: Loitering in front of the White House.

Right: About to dig into a "Dinosaur Donut" (a Washington D.C original) at Union Station.

Left: Dwarfed by a massive jet engine at the National Air and Space Museum.

Middle: My kids with a good natured U.S. astronaut.

Right: At the U.S. Capitol building. We also went on a fascinating tour of the interior, which included one of the highlights of the entire trip: the spectacular rotunda.  Unbelievably cool.

As the title said, so far, so good.  What an amazing place to visit...with so much history and lofty idealism packed into a relatively small area.

To Beg or Not to Beg?

At different points over my (almost) three-year run of doing the Comic Coverage blog, I've toyed with the idea of adding a tip jar for readers to toss a couple of coins into. Some of my blogging pals have added one, while others have chosen not to...but I've been on the fence about it for quite awhile. Well, as you can see from a scroll down my sidebar, I've come down from the fence and decided to add a donation option to my blog.

I think I've resisted a tip jar for so long because I feared it would look like I'm either full of myself or begging...both of which are anathema to us stoic midwesterners! However, at the same time, I've worked hard to make Comic Coverage a cut above the average comic book blog, both in look and substance...so if those things have made a positive impact on my readers, then maybe its not such a bad thing to offer them the option (but never the compulsion) to make a donation.

So, to my readers: Your regular visits and comments are what make blogging fun and worthwhile...but if you'd like to go a step further in your support, just click on the tip jar in the sidebar, which will then take you to a safe and secure PayPal site. There will be no tacky "minimum" or "recommended" dollar amounts you'll have to click on...it's all totally up to you. Anything you decide to give will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

-Mark Engblom 

25 Years? There Must Be Some Mistake!

Off to my 25-Year High School Class Reunion!  See you Monday!

3rd Anniversary Link-O-Palooza: Day One

 

As my wife and I begin a physically and emotional draining week of getting our daughter off to college (sniff), I realized that the 3rd Anniversary of the Comic Coverage Blog takes place this week as well!  Obviously, something had to give and it certainly wasn't my daughter, so in place of actual content, I thought I'd post links to some of my favorite posts from the past three years.  Long-time readers are sure to recognize several of them, but new readers will hopefully get an even better feel for what makes Comic Coverage tick.

Captain America: Cross-Dressing for Freedom!

Who's Who in Your Local Comic Shop

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

Fighting the Scourge of Late Comics!

Worst Cover Ever: Captain America #2

3rd Anniversary Link-O-Palooza: Day Two

Continuing my 3rd Anniversary "clip show" week 

(kinda like the late night talk shows do):

Cover to Cover: Way Out West!

Spider-Man's Guide to Romance

Comic Book Life Lessons

An Alternate Origin of Batman!

Classic Ads: Buy a Monkey!

Portrait of an Addict

Odin: All Knowing. All Powerful. All Fabulous

Superman vs. The Taxman!

The Velveteen Comic Book

Gold Nuggests: All You Need Is a Great Catch Phrase

Along Came a Spider

The Game of LIFE: Spider-Man Edition

3rd Anniversary Link-O-Palooza: Day Three

A word to my readers:  Thanks so much for your continued interest and readership...and most of all for bearing with me during a difficult, challenging week. As I mentioned a few days ago, my wife and I have spent this week seeing our daughter off to college (>sniff<)...so I've had to fall back on a sort of "greatest hits" reel, linking to some of my favorite posts from the past three years. Here's a dozen more...I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed writing, researching, or drawing them!

Opposites Attract

Profiles in Villany

Cover to Cover: Extreme Makeovers!

30 Second Recap: The Death of Gwen Stacy!

Point/Counterpoint: Smoking Superheroes

Madame Fatal...Drag Queen of Justice!

Your Clip-N-Save Guide to the San Diego Comic Con

Cover to Cover: YEEEEE-HAWWWWWW!

The Highlight Reel: Krypto's Last Stand

Classic Ads: Count Dante...Deadliest Hairdresser Alive!

The Legion of "O"

Dear Editor: A Thunder God's Work is Never Done

3rd Anniversary Link-O-Palooza: Day Four

Despite devoting an entire week to "greatest hits" posts, TODAY is the exact 3-year anniversary of Comic Coverage.  And to think I wasn't sure I could keep it going for a month.  Anyway, here are a dozen more of personal (and reader) favorites:

The Halloween Bizarro Teams...featuring the Bizarro Justice League, 

Bizarro Avengers, and Bizarro Bad Guys!

Cover to Cover: Sidekicks Roasting on an Open Fire

Superhero Christmas Cookies: A Self-Critique

The Highlight Reel: MARVELS Behind the Scenes

Worst Cover Ever: Fantastic Four #375

And Now, A Word from our Sponsor

Hulk vs. Thing: A Lesson in Conflict Resolution

To All the Girls I've Loved Before

The Fortress at 50

The (Slightly Modified) Origin of Batman

Which Came First? The Swamp Thing or the Man-Thing? 

(plus the follow-up)

The Obscured Peripheral Vision League

Cover to Cover: Attack of the Taxman!

Superman @ 70 (an entire month of Superman posts)

3rd Anniversary Link-O-Palooza: Day Five

It's the FINAL DAY of my week-long anniversary celebration. Enjoy some of my favorite posts from the past three years!

Wishing You a Thanksgiving Feast of Justice!

Dear Editor: Love on the Letters Page

Bethlehem or Bust!

Dr. Doom's Scary Santa Gallery: The Sequel

Dear Editor: Asgard Needs Women!

The Superpowers that Time Forgot

Now YOU Can Write Like Grant Morrison!

Worst Cover Ever: When Reboots Go Horribly Awry!

With One Magic Word (or Twenty)

Top Ten Lamest Comic Book Vehicles Part One and Two

How to Stop an Alien Invasion

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

This Product Must Be Made...IMMEDIATELY!

Humble Beginnings: Hawkman...Cool or Comical?

The Many Faces of Namor

"Lo, There Shall Be an Ending!"

 

Well....the day I was hoping wouldn't come has arrived. 

As you've probably figured out from the post title and the cover of Fantastic Four #43 (1965), I've decided to bring the Comic Coverage Blog to an end. Odd timing, since I just spent five days celebrating my three year run...but considering cataclysmic comic book events usually take place in anniversary issues, maybe it's the right time after all.

A variety of factors lead to my decision:

1. I'm incredibly proud of the work I've done on Comic Coverage, and rather than risk an even further dip in quality and frequency, I thought it best to end it before that body of work was compromised.

2. As much as I hate to bring this up, I've been dealing with a repetitive stress shoulder injury for a little over a year (my drawing arm, of course).  Moving from a more or less daily blogging schedule to an every-other-day schedule has helped with the healing process, but eliminating this extra-curricular (and non-paying) demand on my shoulder should help even more.

3. Having just sent my daughter off to college and with Fall just around the corner, the feeling of "change" is heavy in the air...a feeling that naturally leads me to reassess where I'm at and how I want to spend my days.  As much genuine joy as I've had doing the Comic Coverage blog over the years, there are other things I'd like to do that blogging has curtailed or prevented me from doing...and it's time to change that. 

4. Like Ben Grimm on the cover above, I'm beat. My energy level and enthusiasm for blogging seems to have taken a nosedive.  I still have plenty of good ideas for blog posts, but I just don't have the excitement or ambition to do them properly. So, rather than just half-heartedly "slog-blogging" (blogging just to blog), I think it's best to step away before it becomes the inert, irrelevant non-entity so many other blogs degrade into.

So, with all that said, it's still pretty tough to let go of something I've had so much fun with.  A Galactus-sized THANK YOU to all of my readers, especially the "regulars" whose comments and encouragement made blogging such a great "interactive" experience for me.  I'll miss all of your interesting, funny, and thought-provoking perspectives. 

Most of all, THANK YOU to all of the comic book creators who brought me countless hours of joy and excitement over the years.  In fact, I consider Comic Coverage essentially one big "thank you letter" to the talented storytellers of years gone by.

Will I be back?  I don't know.  I personally get tired of bloggers who make grand "farewells", yet keep slinking back onto the stage a few weeks or months later...and that's not my style. It's certainly possible I could resume blogging someday or somewhere...but at this point, not likely.

Thanks again for making Comic Coverage part of your day. I hope it was as fun for you as it was for me.  God bless!

Epilogue

Hello again! For those of you who may still be connected to my blog feed, I wanted to let you know that:

1.  Even though I'm no longer creating new posts, I've decided to keep the blog and all of its content going for the foreseeable future. If you'd like to contribute something to that expense, click on the "Tip Jar" icon in the blue sidebar to make an online donation. Any amount will be greatly appreciated.

2.  To make future visits to Comic Coverage as easy and convenient as possible, I've created a new front page with large index buttons to take you to your favorite features and categories. This way, visitors old and new will have a more welcoming, positive experience than the sight of a downbeat final post.

3. I've also created a separate index of every "Cover to Cover" post, which includes the title and a brief summary for all 67 of 'em (something I wish I'd done earlier), which you can access from the main page (it's the very first button on the page).

I hope you continue to read, enjoy, and (those of you with your own blogs) promote Comic Coverage. It's three years of work I'm very proud of, due in no small part to your readership, input, and encouragement.  Thank you!