Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Follow the Leader Episode 146: Memory Triggering Comics, and Lots More Questions!



Redartz:  Good day, Bronze agers everywhere! Are you ready for another team-up topic situation? I've got one, and you get to name one too. It's a winner all around...

Here's mine: this past weekend, we (my ever-faithful wife and I) hit another flea market. At this particular market, I was fortunate enough to find a book that's eluded me for some timeL Not Brand Ecch 13, the final issue. You may ask, what's so noteworthy about that book? Well, it's one that I specifically remember having in my childhood; and more, have a particular memory attached to reading it. My father was a doctor, and would sometimes take us kids along to wait while he did his 'rounds' in the hospital. On one such occasion I sat in the back seat of the family car reading that issue of "Brecch".It helped that this issue was a 25 cent Giant; it took longer to read it and kept this restless 8 year old occupied for the whole time...

Long story made short: while I'm generally selling off my collection, I'm concurrently acquiring such particular books that reside in my fond youth. So, the question: is there a comic or comics that hold a special memory trigger for you; not necessarily your first or most important comic, but one that is linked in your mind vividly?  I know we've touched on this topic before, but it's always a fun trail to follow. 

There it is. It's back to you again. Bet you can come up with a more original topic than I did !

13 comments:

The Prowler said...

Shotgun question time!!! Answer as many, or all, as you wish!!!


Who do you consider to be the “voice of our generation”? It could be more than one. It could be a musician, an actor, an author, a poet, a film maker. Who is it than has, or had, spoken to you in a deeply reflective way. There are no wrong answers, except maybe Adam Sandler…

We are now into the fall round of new and returning TV shows as well as on the cusp of the holiday movie season. What new shows or returning series has captured your attention? Side question: are you ready for the “last Star Wars”?

Have you decided what you want for Christmas? It’s not too early to get your list started, completed, compiled and in the mail!!! Or do you now email Santa your desires?

Which of the following has had the greatest impact on your life:

1) Billionaire Warren Buffett
2) Singer Entertainer Entrepreneur Jimmy Buffett
3) Former French Communist Party Leader Marie-George Buffet
4) The All-You-Can-Eat Buffet

Again, answer as many or any that you wish…

Posting for a friend… just kidding, posting for myself…

Humanbelly said...

Omigod, Prowl-- I'm gonna say this one fast JUST so's I can get it in first:

With your last question, there's NO competition that the answer's #4. Number 4 quite literally made me the man I am today. . .

#somescreennameshavetobeEARNED

HB

Anonymous said...

I assume "voice of our generation" means someone of around the same age as we BiTBA readers?

If so I'll nominate George Monbiot (born 1963) - British environmental activist and writer.

Humanbelly said...

Now, as to Red's original question:

The first one that always comes to mind (that I've probably cited 5 or 6 times 'round here) is Avengers #80. The summer of '70 was the year that we took what proved to be our biggest family trip- a Michigan-to-Disneyland odyssey that was so eerily similar to Nat'l Lampoon's VACATION that I wonder if the writers had been trailing us the whole time. . .

But- one of the later nights en route, we stayed at a big KOA in, I think, New Mexico. It was flippin' BLISTERING hot. Hot, dry evening wind-- but overcast with a real sense of impending storm. After we set up, I walked with my Dad over to the surprisingly large, well-appointed camp store so he could finish registering for the night. And there was a spinner rack which I reflexively started thumbing through. Although I had acquired a chunk of comics by this point (sort of shared-custody of my pal Bryan's older brothers' cast-offs), I had zero money to actually ever buy any of my own. (My Dad was of a mind, literally, that since a dime a week was how much allowance he got as a child, by god, that's all any kid today should get as well--- which sums up a big chunk of my Dad-). Still, being 9, I also reflexively asked "Can I get a comic book?"-- because you ALWAYS ask, even when the answer has been an unbroken "No, it's a waste of money", like, 150 times in a row. However, this time he stunned me by saying, "Okay, sure--". Avengers #80 has a particularly striking Neal Adams cover (w/ Red Wolf), and I had already fallen in love with the team from the #57-#65 run. . . so that issue fairly leaped into my hands.

Is it a great issue? Nah-- it's quite good, sure. Suffers from being a massive cliff-hanger. But--- I still have that very copy. And I believe it's the one memento I still have from that nearly-50-years-gone trip. . .

HB

Humanbelly said...

Ooo- and Voice of Our Generation?
Man-- I'd LOVE to say Garry Trudeau, but he's solidly a half-generation older than the older swath of us here.
And gosh Colin-- I've never heard of George Monbiot (sorry-!), so I can't second that nomination.

Honestly-- I am inclined to go with Barack Obama, as divisive as that may be in MANY camps in our country-- particularly in the middle-est chunk. I'm not 100% sure we've had many strong candidates out there for our specific Generational Voice. . .

HB

Mike Wilson said...

I remember reading the Marvel Tales reprints of the Drug Trilogy (Amazing Spider-Man 96-99) when I was five; it's the oldest story I actually remember reading, though I'm sure it wasn't the first comic I ever read. I don't have the originals, but I've replaced them a couple times since then and I never get tired of that story.

Voice of my generation? I don't know, there are plenty of people who have made some kind of an impact on me, so it's more of a chorus than a voice. John Hughes comes to mind, for one.

I've already started watching the DC shows again (Batwoman, Supergirl, Flash, Black Lightning, and Arrow, which premieres tonight) and I'm still liking them; I'm looking forward to the big Crisis crossover in (I think) December.

Edo Bosnar said...

Red's question first: one cover in particular always triggers a wave of nostalgia, and that's Marvel Team-up #38. It wasn't the first comic I ever had (that would be Marvel Tales #59), but it was my first issue of MTU, and there's just something about it that really sparks memories of those earliest days of my comics reading career. I actually went through the trouble of reacquiring a copy. There's nothing special about the story, it's a serviceable team-up featuring Spidey and the Beast, with solid art by Sal Buscema.

As for Prowler's pop quiz, well, let's see:
1. Voice of our generation? I don't know. Do Calvin & Hobbes count?

2a. I'm so out of touch with new shows and whatnot. I guess I'm most looking forward to this new Picard series, although I have no idea how I'll watch it.
2b. Ready for Star Wars? I guess so. I haven't really been excited about anything having to do with that franchise since Return of the Jedi. Don't get me wrong: I'll end up seeing this latest installment, but it's not some kind of priority.

3. What I want for Christmas: more damn time to read all of the books I have.

4. Given his wealth and the fact that he has his filthy-rich fingers in all kinds of pots throughout the world, it's possible that Warren Buffett has impacted my life in some way, but I'm blissfully unaware of it. I have been to an all-out-can-eat buffet since my mid-20s, so that's out. If it were a just and better world, perhaps Marie-George Buffet would have had a greater impact on us all. As it is, I used to like Jimmy Buffett, and still like a few of his songs, so I guess that's my answer.

Edo Bosnar said...

Gah! "...*haven't* been to an all-out-can-eat buffet..."

Charlie Horse 47 said...

Red's question: The Death of Gwen Stacey. If you had been contemporaneously reading ASM when she died, you'd have been really bothered. I pretty much began checking out of comics due to Conway and his treatment of Spidey and the FF. That's pretty memorable, for all the wrong reasons, lol.

Charlie Horse 47 said...

Prowler's questions...

I don't watch TV anymore, but for live sports and some netflix series. I would like to see another season of Father Brown and Trouble in Paradise if that counts?

I would like the Sears Catalog from 1969 for Xmas!

Born in 61... who would represent the last 58 years, the good, the bad, and the ugly. Hell if I know.

I liked to eat at buffets, but can't do industrial food and wasted food anymore. Thankfully I can afford to eat quality over quantity.

Redartz said...

Prowl- excellent; love a 'variety pack' of questions! To answer:

Voice of Our Generation: Edo, you nailed it! Bill Watterson, he who gave us "Calvin and Hobbes". A perfect answer to the question; wish I'd thought of him first! And to add another Voice; Prince might be a possibility.

New shows: my wife and I are enjoying "Bob Hearts Abishola", and "Evil".
Mike W.- yes, the CW shows are back and it's a great thing. Reeeeealllly looking forward to the "Crisis on Infinite Earths" crossover. It seems to be adding guest appearances by the hour. I might have to break out the original series for a reread.

For Christmas? Time, and rest, and quiet.

HB- it's very cool that you managed to hang on to that book through all the years. Quite the accomplishment; most of us lost our 'originals', often to parental 'clean ups'.

Charlie- a great choice; the Sears "Wish Book" from 69. With a generous selection of "red line" Hot Wheels, no doubt...

Humanbelly said...

For the rest of Prowl's quiz, there:

TV shows: OMG-- THE GOOD PLACE, Season 4. I know it's showing weekly on its network right now, but my wife and I are so spoiled that we can't stand watching anything with commercials. . . one week at a time. And TOTALLY seconding CH's mention of TROUBLE IN PARADISE and FATHER BROWN. . . except Netflix has now lost the license to nearly all of the BBC/Acorn catalog, and all of those GREAT British shows have been shifted over to Britbox. . . which we don't have. (Thank goodness we binged all of THE IT CROWD a little while back, 'cause I'm sure it will vanish before long!) We've also JUST glommed onto Amazon Prime via HBGirl's student account, and noticed that there are several offerings based on Terry Pratchett's works over there--- HIGH on our priority list!

For Christmas: Well--- the Volume 1 collection of an internet comic called "Q2Q", which is an insider-strip for us tech-theater folks. VERY tightly-targeted audience.
---Also, the last 4 Volumes of Fantagraphics Complete Peanuts series.
---Also, wow, if it even exists-- a durable, good-quality cooking apron with the Incredible Hulk printed on it. That would give me unimaginable joy. . .
---And then I run plum out of wish-list! This is kinda weird. . . not like the traditional HB at all. . .

HB

The Prowler said...

Just wanted to jump on and thank everyone for playing.

Bill Watterson!!! Who read Calvin And Hobbs and didn't relate to every new offering.

A few other artists to throw out, Mark Waid, Brian Michael Bendis and Ed Brubaker. And since HB brought up Obama, I guess I can also add some non-American born personalities. How about Grant Morrison, Neil Gaiman and Steven Moffat. Turning to the music side, I'll throw out Garth Brooks, George Michael and Melissa Etheridge. Wrapping things up, I'll turn to a few actors. John Cusack, Keanu Reeves, and, in my opinion, the Voice Of Our Generation:

Robert Downey Jr.

Who betters personifies living loud BEFORE the internet...

(Boul ma sene, boul ma guiss madi re nga fokni mane
Khamouma li neka thi sama souf ak thi guinaw
Beugouma kouma khol oaldine yaw li neka si yaw
Mo ne si man, li ne si mane moye dilene diapale

Roughneck and rudeness,
We should be using, on the ones who practice wicked charms

For the sword and the stone
Bad to the bone
Battle is not over
Even when it's won
And when a child is born into this world
It has no concept
Of the tone the skin is living in

It's not a second
But 7 seconds away
Just as long as i stay
I'll be waiting
It's not a second
7 seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I'll be waiting
I'll be waiting
I'll be waiting

J'assume les raisons qui nous poussent de changer tout,
J'aimerais qu'on oublie leur couleur pour qu'ils esperent
Beaucoup de sentiments de race qui font qu'ils desesperent
Je veux les portes grandements ouvertes,
Des amis pour parler de leur peine, de leur joie
Pour qu'ils leur filent des infos qui ne divisent pas
Changer

7 seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I'll be waiting
It's not a second
7 seconds away
Just as long as I stay

I'll be waiting
I'll be waiting
I'll be waiting

And when a child is born into this world
It has no concept
Of the tone the skin is living in
And there's a million voices
And there's a million voices
To tell you what she should be thinking
So you better sober up for just a second

7 seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I'll be waiting
It's not a second
7 seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I'll be waiting

It's not a second
7 seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I'll be waiting).

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