Panel Discussion: Just Sharing a Few Favorites...

 

Redartz:  Over the years, from time to time, I've mentioned several comics that hold a high position in my status list. Today we're going to take a brief look at several of those favorites; consider each one a hearty recommendation! Each one is a potential source of  discussion' additionally  for this 'round table' everyone is encouraged to describe/ recommend / flaunt a choice book or books that you think everyone else would enjoy. 

Each mini review will also feature a page from the tale to give you a little sample, just to tantalize. So here we go, in no  particular order:

Batman / Spirit, by Jeph Loeb and Darwyn Cooke

. This teamup of two of my favorite characters would be a natural for my 'best 'list. Even more so when rendered by the wonderful Darwyn Cooke. His retro style perfectly captures the classic feel of the classic villains abounding herein. And abound they do; many of both Batman's and the Spirit's most famous foes are involved. Loeb's story is very entertaining, and winds around a fascinating crossover between Jim Gordon, Commissioner Dolan, P'Gell and Pamela Isley. Not going to spoil it for you, but it's a hoot. And, the interplay between the two main protagonists is likewise hilarious. Any fan of either Bruce Wayne or Denny Colt will love this.

Spirit Jam, by Will Eisner and just about everybody...

Will Eisner's most famous creation gets two appearances today, and he certainly deserves it. This phenomenal tale appears in Kitchen Sink Comix' "Will Eisner's The Spirit" issue 30, from 1981. Most of this series  presented reprints of Eisner's revered work, both of the Spirit and occasionally of other subjects. But this special issue brought together an unbelievable team of creators; too lengthy to go into ; but you can get an idea from the cover. Suffice it to say that the representative page here was done by Frank Miller and Terry Austin. 

As for the story, it involves an untold Spirit adventure, wrapped in a framing sequence tying in the very creation of the story itself! As in Batman/Spirit, many of the Spririt's rogues gallery are included. The story abounds in adventure, humor, and a bit of  the risque as well. It's great fun, and a big kick trying to identify the various artists' work from page to page (if you need to cheat, there's a breakdown on the letters page). 

This book can be had for a comparative pittance, but it's worth it's weight in gold (or perhaps golden age books?).

 

 

 

 Jonny Quest #2, by William Messner-Loebs, Wendy Pini and Joe Staton.

 The first two reviews were pretty light-hearted; this book is one of the most heartrending comics I've ever read. It gives us both the story of how Jonny's mother died, and also how Race Bannon came to join the Quest family. As  you would expect, Race keeps the requisite amount of excitement topped off, but the real focus here is the drama. Bill Messner-Loebs truly masters this ; with the most sensitive portrayal of Benton Quest you'll ever see anywhere. The level of characterization in this issue is off the charts, and it's impossible to read without a tear or two. But fear not, Loebs finishes the tale off with an optimistic air, and it's a most satisfying read. 

Artwise, it's nice to see Wendy Pini's take on the Quest group, and Joe Staton's inks are perfect for her pencils. 

Comico's "Jonny Quest" series was quite good in it's entirety, but this issue is the capper. A masterpiece of comics at their most human.

 

 

 

 

 Sensational Spider-Man Annual 1, by Matt Fraction and Salvador Larroca.

This book came out in  2007 as part of the ongoing "Back in Black" storyline in Spider-man, following immediately on the heels of the events of  "Civil War". I did enjoy "Civil War", not so much the soon-to-follow "One More Day" story. But regardless, this book, while being a part of that controversial arc, is actually a loving tribute to the classic Spider-Man (and Peter Parker) of the Silver and Bronze age. In "To Have and to Hold", Matt Fraction tells the story of an investigator trying to get hold of Peter through his then-wife Mary Jane. But MJ isn't about to betray her Pete, and proceeds to relate story after story of their past relationship. We are treated to some very nice moments with characters we've known and loved for years, and it's a gem. 

Artist Salvador Larroca does a phenomenal job with the visuals, giving each flashback sequence  a sense of the original artists. The page I've shown here channels John Romita Sr.,; he also does a very nice Ross Andru. 

This is one of those Annuals that can stand alone on it's own merits, as a testament to the classic Spider-Man of the past. And it's portrayal of Mary Jane shows why she's still my favorite match for Peter.

 

 

Sugar and Spike 25, by Sheldon Mayer.

I could have picked almost any issue of this series, but chose this one with it's charming Halloween cover as appropriate to the upcoming holiday. Anyone who has followed this blog probably knows of my fondness for Sheldon Mayer's two tempestuous tots. These stories are warmhearted, fun, amusing, cute, and an absolute pleasure to read. There were generally a couple multi-page stories in each issue, with a short or two included as well. Then there were the '"Pint-Size Pin-Ups" pages, with reader-submitted outfits for the kids. These pages were often cut out, which means of course that finding intact copies of an issue of "Sugar and Spike" can be challenging. But it's worth the effort. These are comics that children can read, but that adults can enjoy equally (if not more). It may be some testament to the book that while I've been parting with many comics in recent years, reducing the size of my collection, I still search out issues of "S & S" in hopes of someday completing the run. Partly because the only reprinted collection available had the first 10 issues, the next 90 are available only as originals. And the search continues, to which I can only add "Glx Sptzl Glaah"...

Okay, there you have five books that keep me a comics reader. Feel free to share your thoughts on them, and to spill the beans about any particular comics that will always have a special spot in your heart!

Animation Congregation: The Openings You Couldn't Resist...

Redartz:  Hello everyone! I know it's been trying times for many of us these days, what with that irritating pandemic and all. So how about a big dose of Saturday morning goodness to lift the spirits a bit? 

For this overgrown kid, the opening sequences and themes for the cartoons were almost as much fun as the shows themselves. Hearing the first notes of the music, seeing the action on the screen; you just KNEW you were in for some great animated escapism. And seeing these today still gets me excited. So for your enjoyment, here are a bunch of my favorite openings, culled from the 60's to the 90's. Of course as an older Bronze Age baby (with apologies to Doug and Karen), my choices are weighted a bit to late 60's and early 70's shows. But the 1967 Spider-man and Fantastic Four cartoons, and certainly Jonny Quest, are classics that were shown for years after their debuts. So grab a bowl of cereal and  meet me in front of the tv...

King Kong (1967)

Spider-Man (1967)

Jonny Quest (1964)

Fantastic Four (1967)

Adventures of Superman (1966)

Batman: The Animated Series (1992)

Scooby Doo (1969)

Bugs Bunny Show (1962)

Drak Pack (1980)

 Josie and the Pussycats (1970)

Valley of the Dinosaurs (1974)

 Emergency Plus 4 (1973)

Now you've had a taste of my tastes; so let's hear about your favorites. What did you think of these intros, and what ones should I have included that got skipped this time?

Adventures in Comics: Pandemic Edition, or How I Spent My Quarantine...

Redartz: Greetings to one and all. Strange and uncertain times find us 'hunkering down', rabidly following news updates, and facing challenges physical, financial and psychological. And all of us, globally, are in this boat together. My story- laid off work for the duration, and engaging in the 'treasure hunt' of finding grocery staples. Case study: it took six stores over three days, but I finally scored a package of toilet tissue. Proof that it is possible...

But seriously folks, I'm feeling fine. And that's a blessing, during such a period of upheaval. Which leads to the topic of discussion: finding some positives among the negatives. 

Many of the things we share interest in here can be considered diversions. Reading comics and books, watching films and tv; listening to music: all these are great ways to take your mind off the world for a bit. Like many of you, I'm going to have quite a bit of extra time available for awhile. Time spent at home, as travel is  currently discouraged. And while I'll be tackling some neglected  household tasks, I'll definitely be spending some time with the above-mentioned diversions.

Specifically:  there are several tpb collections collecting dust on a shelf that I'll be tackling. Avengers by Stern/Buscema; DC Showcase edition of Brave and the Bold. Might return to Y: the Last Man.

As for video: will be binging on Amazon Prime's "Hunters". "Lost in Space" on Netflix. Aaaand, probably do some Jonny Quest episodes, just for fun.

Music: you folks have put many great suggestions out there in recent posts, which I'll be investigating. That, and sorting through the rest of the cd collection I bought last month.

 
So, for those among you who also will be spending some quality time at home over the days and weeks to come- how shall you occupy yourself? Share, and maybe you'll give the rest of us some more ideas.

And most certainly, be safe, be well, and take care of each other. 

Chew the Fat: Company-Jumping Characters!

Redartz:  Every comic company has its iconic, trademark characters. What would Marvel be without the ever-amazing Spider-man? Or DC without Batman?  Archie Comics have, well, Archie. Disney and the ducks go hand-in-wing. You get the idea; many characters are intimately identified with their parent company, and many of those companies go to great lengths to keep those characters close.

However, over the years, numerous characters have started their print careers under one company, only to make a switch to a competing company later on. Whether due to a copyright battle, a corporate buyout, or changes in licensing, many notable characters have seen publication under more than one banner. This makes it challenging for the collector, and probably a headache for Bob Overstreet; but that's the comic biz. Let's look at some of these 'company jumpers'...


Captain Marvel

 


















"The Big Red Cheese" moved from Fawcett to DC years after legal wrangling in which DC claimed the character violated their copyright on Superman. One wonders how Marvel would have liked to get their hands on the Captain; they put the name to use at any rate.


Tarzan

Edgar Rice Burroughs' "Tarzan" appeared for years under the Dell label, and then under Western's Gold Key. DC got the rights, and continued Gold Key's numbering. Marvel took over in the later 70's with a new first issue, and art by ace John Buscema.


Conan the Barbarian

 


 















 Marvel won rights to Robert E. Howard's barbarian, and presented his adventures in various formats from the 70's through the 90's. The new Millenium saw Dark Horse Comics publishing Conan, until recently Marvel regained the rights. Although a licensed character, I'll always associate Conan with Marvel...

 
Yogi Bear

 Hanna Barbera's famous picnic basket thief seems to have made the rounds of comic companies as thoroughly as he did the picnic tables. Gold Key, Charlton, Marvel, Harvey and even Archie Comics! How did DC miss out (although I could be unaware of just that eventuality: DC has access to Hanna Barbera's retinue, and have been making great use of them the last few years).


 
Jonny Quest

One lonely issue from Gold Key was all you could find of the iconic boy adventurer for many years, until in 1986 Comico began it's fine run. In the 90's Dark Horse picked up the franchise with the "New Adventures".
 
Darth Vader

 


 















 Marvel struck gold by getting the rights to "Star Wars" putting out the first issue before the film opened. The House of Ideas kept it up for years, through the mid 80's. But Dark Horse picked up the ball  (or Death Star, if you prefer) and ran with it beginning in the 90's. Yet once again, Marvel recently re-acquired the rights and is putting out numerous series once again.


Blue Beetle

 













 Blue Beetle debuted at Charlton in the 60's, by the great Steve Ditko. In the 70's Modern Comics reprinted some of  his Charlton appearances. Not long afterwards, DC bought out Charlton's stable of heroes (as they had with the Quality characters), and made the Beetle a part of the great Justice League International series.


Popeye

 


















 The immortal Sailor Man, like Tarzan, has been published for many decades under many banners. Gold Key and Charlton featured him through the 60's and 70's. In the late 80's, Harvey put out some issues (what was up with Harvey back then, anyway- not just Casper and Richie Rich anymore). Most recently IDW has been putting out some fine stories...

There you have a few examples of 'wanderers' among the various comics publishers. No doubt you can come up with more. And of these pictured here, who do you feel did the 'best job' with a given character? Which characters do you identify with which publishers? Go ahead and 'chew the fat'...

This and That: Another "Independents Day"!

Redartz:  Hello everyone, and a happy July 4th (and to those outside the USA, happy Tuesday)! Last year on this date, Martinex1 and I teamed up for the first time on the fondly-remembered Bronze Age Babies site. Our first topic was "independents" on Independence Day, and it seems quite appropriate to revisit that topic again here at BitBA. So once again, we break away from Marvel, DC, Archie, Gold Key and the other 'big boys'. Today we look at some more of those 'rugged individualists' under the flags of such companies as First!, Pacific, Renegade Press, Dark Horse, Aardvark/Vanaheim, and many others. As we did last year, Marti and I will present three titles for your edification and assessment. Okay, let's push the envelope a bit...


Martinex1:  Happy Independence Day all! Hard to believe it has been a year since we discussed The Maze Agency,  Flaming Carrot, Mister X, American Flagg and others. I'm sure we will have plenty to discuss with some new independents, although my choices may lean toward the mainstream.   What do you have for us to start with this year Red?


 


Redartz:  Well Marti, let's start with something familiar. This series featured a cast we all know and love, as Comico won the rights to produce new Jonny Quest stories from Hanna Barbera. 
 It was written by William Messner-Loebs and drawn by a variety of illustrators (among them Doug Wildey, Marc Hempel, Joe Staton, Adam Kubert and others).  Many other notable artists, such as Dave Stevens and Bill Sienkewicz, contributed covers and pin-ups

Although the book did adapt some of the TV episodes (and referenced several more), it primarily offered all-new stories with Jonny, Hadji and the crew. Messner-Loebs brought his characterization skills (evidenced in his brilliant "Journey") and added various subplots and background details. Among the most notable were the story of Jonny's mother, and the relationship between Race and Dr. Quest. Later on in the series, a new love interest for Dr. Quest was added in the person of Kathy Martin, originally a social worker sent to investigate the 'child welfare' of two boys being taken out of school and sent adventuring worldwide...



 

This book was one of the last I collected before dropping comics for years. It featured a solid blend of humor , adventure and drama. And it expanded nicely on the JQ mythos while remaining faithful to the feel of the original animated series. I loved it enough to collect all 31 issues plus the specials. A great treatment of a classic adventure series.

Martinex1:  That is a really good choice.  I've only read a couple of  Jonny Quest issues, but the book definitely had nice characterization and was a great bridge from the classic show.   My first choice this year is also television related as a late 80's comic impulse purchase was driven by my childhood passion, Speed Racer.   NOW Comics published a number of licensed books on the heels of the Bronze Age; the company based in Chicago rolled out everything from Green Hornet to Mr. T and the T Force, Married ...with Children and The Real Ghostbusters, but in 1985 it put Speed Racer on the stands. 

Growing up and around 7 years old, I raced home everyday from school to catch Speed Racer on a UHF station, adjusting the rabbit ears and tinfoil to catch the sometimes ultra-violent tale of Speed and his family as they fought off various villains in the constant pursuit of car racing victory.  Speed, Pops, Trixie, Spridle, Chim Chim (the monkey), Sparky, Racer X and all the rest were there battling the evil and the creepy like Snake Oiler and the Acrobatic Car Team, the ghostly Melange, and the Three Roses Club.   The TV conflicts and set-ups were reminiscent of comic books and Racer X with his mysterious secret identity and mask definitely fit the bill.

NOW's comic was nostalgic and reverent to the source material and included most of the original cast and crew.   It is hard to compete with the frenetic action, open brutality, fast-talking, over-the-top drama of the cartoon, but the comic did an admirable job.  The pacing was sometimes off and it pointed out the strength of the animation and music and soundtrack from the original (because of their absence) but I would still recommend it if you like the characters.

 

Redartz:  That's a sharp looking series! I've never picked up a "Speed Racer", but I'm loving those covers.

Next up we have a truly unique, wonderful, lighthearted book from creator Arn Saba, published by Aardvark/Vanaheim.  Inspired both by "Walt Disney's Comics and Stories" and by cinematic musicals, "Neil the Horse Comics and Stories" featured cartoons, comic stories, text features, songs, and more, often with a musical theme. Each issue even included paper dolls of Poupee in various costumes representing the history of female comics characters (with the assistance of artist Barb Rausch). 

 


The cast included Neil (a talking, banana-loving horse), Soapy (the curmudgeonly cat- who also spoke, naturally) and Mamselle  Poupee', who could be described as an incurably romantic marionette. The stories relied heavily on fantasy elements (one episode had the cast battling a world of stuffed toys, another sent them to Hell (and then to Heaven, and back to Earth- Neil and Soapy caused enough disruption that both environs threw them out). Another issue they met Fred Astaire. And time was malleable for the group: in an ongoing text story, they adventured to "Old New France".

 






 



This book was a real departure from anything else I'd read, and I greatly enjoyed it. Sadly it was pretty short-lived. But the art is charming, the characters engaging. Neil is absolutely wonderful, his enthusiasm for life is contagious (and he LOVES comic books almost as much as bananas, so he obviously has good taste and good sense). These comics can be challenging to locate, but are a real treat.











Martinex1:  I have never had the opportunity to read Neil the Horse; in fact I have to say that I had never even heard of it until today.  But I must say I like the retro early animation inspired styling of the horse.  You are correct in that it calls to mind early Disney like Oswald the Rabbit.

My second choice is Captain Victory and the Galactic Rangers.  It of course, is Jack Kirby's influential foray into independent comics and part of the Pacific Comics' revolution at the time.   People may forget, but a significant headliner like Kirby was a huge coup for an independent publisher like PC to hire.   He may have been considered past his artistic prime but I still recall the first issue of Captain Victory proudly displayed on the checkout counter of the local comic shop in 1981.

Was the book any good - you ask?   I reread the first six issues recently and I have to say that I enjoyed them.  Were they on par with Kirby's early Marvel work on the likes of the Fantastic Four?  Of course not... don't be silly.   But in my opinion it was much better that Kirby's work on Captain America and was much more on par with his weird DC work like Kamandi, OMAC, and the New Gods.  I actually thought the art was exceptionally strong; it was very kinetic and had a lot of life in it.  I think Michael Thibodeaux' inks were particularly sharp and really complimented Kirby's work.  Take a look.

The book lasted thirteen issues and contained some nice easter eggs that may or may not have linked the spacefaring lawman Captain Victory to some DC characters like Darkseid and Orion.  It was actually a pretty cool book, and one that really shines in PC's legacy.

Redartz:  That's another book I never sampled, Marti. Great point about the inks: they seem tighter, more detailed and confident. Nothing against the man, but I found Mike Royer's inks on Kirby rather sparse.

My third selection is Normalman, from Renegade Press. Normalman was the creation of a pre-Image Comics Jim Valentino. It told the story of "Norm", the only non-powered person on a planet (called "Levram", get it?) occupied by super characters. Poor Norm was troubled by the incessant penchant for violence on Levram (as you know, superheroes and villains are constantly battling), and wished to return to his home planet "Arnold".

Characters included Norm's best friend: "Captain Everything", an incredibly powerful fellow who could basically do anything, his weakness being his amazing lack of wits. "Sophisticated Lady" was Norm's object of affection.There were loads of parody characters: the "Legion of Superfluous Heroes", "Sgt. Fluffy", the "Fanatical Four".  Satire abounded, and the covers paid homage to numerous other titles and comic genres. On the covers we've shown here, Archie , Superman and Richie Rich comics are the targets.

 

Normalman was a lot of fun to read, and filled with enough in-jokes to rival the best of "Not Brand Echh". If you're looking for some 'just plain fun' reading, this is a fine choice.

Martinex1:  Ha ha... that is great! Another title that I had never heard of before today.   I really like the Archie homage and the panel cover. 

My last choice is a little more serious although it contained a healthy dose of sarcasm and dark humor mixed in with its philosophical and sociological undertones.   I speak of Mike Baron's and Steve Rude's Nexus for First Comics.  Originating and running six issues over at Capital Comics, the series jumped to First in 1985 and really took off.

The story follows the adventures of Horatio Hellpop, who receives powers from a strange alien called the Merc and subsequently deals with his own mental and physical anguish as he takes on various serial killers.  Merc seems to torture Horatio with nightmares, physical pain, and mental breakdowns unless the hero meets out the alien justice.   It makes for some very interesting stories, and Steve Rude's art helps tremendously. The series ran for quite a while and continued through some other publishers including Dark Horse.  Along the way Nexus teamed up with other Baron characters like the Badger (who may deserve his own spotlight). Overall this series is recommended and I think stands the test of time due to Baron's sharp wit and dialogue.

Martinex1:  That is all I have for this go around and tribute to Independents.   Cheers Redartz for introducing me to some new possibilities.  Now have a hot dog and enjoy the fireworks!

Redartz:  Thanks for some fine recommendations, Marti. Three books well worth further investigation. And now, I'd 'relish' a hot dog', so have a great day, everyone, and remember not to point those bottle rockets at anyone- you'll put an eye out!