Chew the Fat: Observing the Onset of Holiday Hullabaloo...

 

Redartz:  Well, it's Thanksgiving week here in the USofA, and it's a bit outside the usual (as everything seems to be this year). Preparations for the holiday season are underway, albeit with many adjustments for the ongoing pandemic. Anyway, it's got me thinking both backward and forward- about holiday preparations in the past, and what we're doing this year. 

 

Thanksgiving in our family was pretty much like many other families' observances. We had relatives over , or piled into Dad's car and hit the road. We kids didn't have much to do other than to watch the parades on tv all morning, while the adults worked on dinner. 

Dinner itself was traditional, Turkey, cranberry sauce, yams, green bean casserole and pumpkin pie. Of course this dinner was served on two tables, the 'Adult' table and the 'Kids' table. It was a source of personal accomplishment when I was finally able to sit at the table with the big folks...

 
 

 

 

 

 The day after Thanksgiving, known everywhere as
Black Friday, was also part of the tradition at our house. Each year we got up super early, drove to the Mall (often a big one in another town; our local mall was pretty modest). Once there we joined the throngs in shopping, lugging bags, awaiting seating space in the food court, and trying to recall where we had parked. Again, being kids, we didn't have the headache of writing the checks; we just enjoyed all the hubbub (and the window shopping, and the decorations...}.

 

 

Finally, one more Thanksgiving week tradition remained: putting up the Christmas decorations. Our family almost always did this the weekend immediately following Thanksgiving. Dad and Mom did most of it, but we youths were busily hanging ornaments on the lower branches, untangling strings of lights. and generally getting in the way.  It was chaotic, frequently messy, but always a blast.

 

Long story short, Thanksgiving at our house was a grand entry into the Holiday Season, and basically lasted from Thursday through Sunday. The excitement generated carried us through until New Year's. But what about this year? Again, like many households, ours will be doing things differently. A much smaller dinner. No plans for Black Friday shopping, although I may do some online browsing. However, I do plan to start decorating over the weekend. At least that much tradition can be retained!

 And now it's your turn. What memories do you have of Thanksgiving, and /or the Holiday Season in general (knowing that Thanksgiving is a US phenomenon, basically)? What traditions did your family have to prepare for the Season? And what are you doing this year? Personally, it's been quite a tough year, but  despite that (or perhaps because of it) I'm rather looking forward to the holidays more than usual. Like they sang in "Mame",  "we need a little Christmas, right this very minute...".  

Brave or the Bold: Comparing the 'Team-Up' Comics...

 

Redartz:  One feature of comics in our beloved Bronze Age was the popularity of "team-up" books. And yes, I know that the concept existed back in the Silver Age in the form of DC's "Brave and the Bold". Nonetheless, it wasn't until the 70's that you found multiple such titles on the spinner racks. And therefore the 'Team up' comic became as much a Bronze age touchstone as Giant Size comics, Treasury Editions and Hostess Ads.

Between Marvel and DC, there were four 'biggies' that exemplified the genre. Of course the aforementioned "Brave and the Bold" was one, and DC added later "DC Comics Presents". Marvel offered "Marvel Team-Up", and "Marvel Two-in-One". Perhaps a bit less imaginative than DC's titles, but the names certainly told you what you could expect to find between the covers. 

And speaking of covers, below you'll find four groups of covers, representing some of each title's notables. Accompanying these will be a few comments from your humble host about these series.   So buddy up and let's have a look...

 Brave and the Bold

 "B & B" debuted back in 1955, and for years presented various adventure features and rotating headliners. One noteworthy issue was number 28, in which the Justice League of America first appeared! But a few years later, in 1963's issue 50, B & B gave us the first team-up story, with Green Arrow and Martian Manhunter. Various heroes were paired, but by 1966 Batman became the 'host' of the book (no doubt due to the influence of the then-current Batman tv series). And Batman spent the remainder of the series' run teaming with almost everyone imaginable, including the House of Mystery!

Bob Haney wrote most of them, but other writers jumped in later in the book's run. Artists included Ramona Fradon, Carmine Infantino, Neal Adams and Jim Aparo, among others.

Marvel Team-Up

Marvel entered the team up niche in 1972, giving Spider-Man a second book. For the most part Spidey hogged the limelight, but a few issues teamed other characters, primarily the Human Torch and the Hulk. Efforts were made, with varying levels of success, to mesh "Team-Up" storylines with the current ones in "Amazing Spider-Man". I personally enjoyed MTU, but seldom found it as readable as Amazing. One exception to that was the phenomenal Chris Claremont run, with frequent great art by John Byrne. 

Other writers included Gerry Conway, Len Wein, J.M. DeMatties and Bill Mantlo. Among the illustrators were Jim Mooney, Sal Buscema (who did a BUNCH),  and Kerry Gammill.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marvel Two-in-One

Starting in 1973, everyone's favorite rocky orange Thing appeared in this title, giving bashful Benjy a spotlight outside of the Fantastic Four. Unlike Spider-Man, Ben Grimm never departed from the book (until it's cancellation and replacement with the Thing's solo title). He got to join forces with most everyone in the Marvel universe, including some appearances by his FF teammates. And the occasional crossover with Spider-Man was a big treat, especially the truly classic MTIO Annual 2.

Writers included Steve Gerber, Len Wein, Marv Wolfman, Bill Mantlo and Mark Gruenwald. Artists appearing were Ron Wilson, Sal Buscema, John Byrne and George Perez, among others.

 

 

 

 

 

DC Comics Presents

It seems odd that it took so long, but DC finally gave the Man of Steel a Team-Up venue in 1978, in the form of DC Comics Presents. Superman got to join up with a vast array of guest stars, right up until the book's cancellation (kind of like the Thing in MTIO; except in the case of Superman his team-ups just shifted over into the John Byrne reboot of Action Comics). One short run of this book had Jim Starlin scripts and artwork, and was a definite high point. Among the writers were Martin Pasko, Len Wein and Denny O'Neil and Gerry Conway. You found art by the likes of Jose Luiz-Garcia Lopez, Joe Staton, and Rich Buckler. Interestingly there were numerous issues in which the guest star's reknowned creators were featured on this book, such as Alan Moore writing a Swamp Thing shot, and Keith Giffen doing Ambush Bug...

 

 

 

 

 

Sooooo, now it's time for your input. What series did you follow? Which do you consider more successful, which had the best stories and art? Which particular stories did you enjoy, which guest stars did you most anticipate? Any that didn't make the cut but should have? We're teaming up; I got things started and you get to take it from here!

 

Follow the Leader Episode 161: Cyborgs, Fictional and Otherwise...

 

Redartz:   It's been awhile, so the time has come once again to give you all the opportunity to set the agenda for the week! Perhaps you've been anxiously awaiting this chance, nurturing a provocative poser or inspiring inquiry. The field is wide open, the stage is set, the audience is seated. The rest is up  to you!

 But before I turn the mike over to you, here's a quick preview of coming attractions. For next week, you might start gathering some thoughts about........Team-up Comics.................

Short Cuts: Quick (non-medicinal) Mood Lifters...

 

Redartz:  Hi gang! Today, here in the US, there's something going on that will occupy most folks' attention. Can't quite recall it but I'm sure it'll come to me. Anyway, it seems appropriate to keep things quick and light here this go-round. Therefore, it's just a single question, one whose answers may be helpful to us all from time to time. 

 When you are looking for a brief diversion, mood improvement, or just something to make you smile, what comic title / music/ anything do you turn to?

My remedy for a pick-me-up is an issue of DC's Sheldon Mayer classic, "Sugar and Spike". Those two torrid tots never fail to evoke a smile and a chuckle. Just wonderful light-hearted, charming fun. If no comics are within reach, I'll fire up the tablet and play anything by the B-52's. There's simply no way you can hear that group and not perk up noticeably. Perk up, and probably break out in embarrasing Dad Dancing movements...

 Ok, like I said, quick and light.  So what lifts your spirits in a  pinch?