The Quarter Bin: The Wedding Day $1 Challenge!

Martinex1: Our friend Doug from the Bronze Age Babies' site had a momentous family event this past weekend with his son getting married.  Congrats to Doug and his family!  That got me thinking about comic book weddings; surely there would be many comic covers to research and collect for this Back in the Bronze Age post..

So today we will have our four-for-a-dollar challenge with plenty of books to choose from as even I was surprised by just how prevalent the theme is. It seems that Lois Lane and Superman explored wedded bliss rather consistently throughout their existence and Spider-Man and Mary Jane had their share of covers.  Archie had some options with Betty and Veronica.  And many other characters were also depicted on the important day. Brides and grooms are everywhere from the Golden Age to the modern era of comics.

Without further ado, because there is so much to look at, let's get started!  Pick your favorites, consider what you find most interesting, and share your thoughts.  Have fun as we explore superhero and comic book nuptials. Raise a glass...and cheers!

 

 

Follow the Leader: Episode 76: Red or Blue Beatles?

Martinex1: Follow the Leader today... pick a topic and we will jump on the bandwagon!  Cheers!

Rank and File: The Year's Best Comic Stories, 1976!

Redartz:  Welcome once again, folks, to another assessment of the finest comics offerings of the year. The year 1976, that is- and a mammoth year it was. Treasury Editions, Annuals, beginnings and endings, it had it all. Loads to choose from, and as always my picks are subjective,  based upon my own readings and memories. And in this case, the tally is heavily Marvel-tilted. Ah, but the House of Ideas was running in high gear in '76. Let's have a look...



 

Superman vs. Spider-Man- "The Battle of the Century", by Gerry Conway, Ross Andru and Dick Giordano.  How could the initial meeting between the marquee characters of the Big Two not make a best-of list? An oversize edition, fitting the big story. Oh, and Neal Adams and John Romita helped out a bit, too.










 



Howard the Duck 3- "Four Fingers of Death", by Steve Gerber, John Buscema  and Steve Leialoha. One of my favorite HTD tales. Gerber ponificates a bit, but the story is great and so is the art. Brunner and Colan may be better known as Duck artists, but Big John delivers  here, as always.










 



Tomb of Dracula 44-  "His Name is Doctor Strange", by Marv Wolfman, Gene Colan and Tom Palmer. This nomination could go to either this book or to the conclusion of the story in Dr. Strange  14. But ToD gets the nod, in consideration of the overall high quality of the book...



 





 


Avengers 148- "20,000 Leagues Under Justice", by Steve Englehart, George Perez and Sam Grainger. The Avengers was hitting another high point here, and this wild tale with the Justice League (excuse me, Squadron Supreme) is one of the best of a solid run.



 






 



Warlock 15- "Just A Series of Events", by Jim Starlin. Starlin wraps up his Warlock series with his typically talented tendencies. And he inks himself, bonus!



 








 



X-Men 101- "Like A Phoenix, From the Ashes", by Chris Claremont, Dave Cockrum and Frank Chiaramonte. Juggernaut and Black Tom Cassidy are there to help introduce us all to Phoenix. And her story was just beginning...



 






 


Amazing Adventures 39- "Mourning Prey", by Don McGregor and P. Craig Russell. The final issue in McGregor's Killraven epic, and it was a memorable sendoff. And Russell's linework is a beautful thing.



 







 




Fantastic Four 176- "Improbable as it May Seem- the Impossible Man is Back  in Town", by Roy Thomas, George Perez and Joe Sinnott. A romp of a story, generously filled with humor and many Marvelous guest stars.



 





 


Thor Annual 5- "The War of the Gods", by Steve Englehart, John Buscema and Tony DeZuniga. A Cinemascope-sized look at a younger Thor, battling with a younger Hercules. If Cecil B. DeMille did a comic, it would have looked like this.



 







 



All-Star Comics 64- "Yesterday Begins Today", by Paul Levitz and Wally Wood. Vandal Savagevs. the JLA, by Paul Levitz. And Wood art on top  of that? This book was at the apex of DC's stack in76.

Ten titanic tales, culled from the cream of comics in the Bicentennial Year of the USA. These books all reside very fondly in my memory, but the question remains: do they bring a smile to you as well? Or did you have other favorites that year, and if so, enlighten us all; and share your Best of 1976 list!

Animation Congregation: Incredibly Animated Superheroes...

Redartz: Welcome, fellow toon types!  Normally in this space we discuss television cartoons, those wonderful Saturday morning diversions we all grew up with. For today, though, we look to the big screen. Also, we venture a bit beyond our Bronze Age borders to look at a film that exhibits many of the best elements of that fabled time: Pixar's "The  Incredibles". And it's no accident that we discuss them today; the long-awaited sequel arrives in theatres within two weeks. Therefore, lets' look at the film some have called 'the best Fantastic Four movie ever made'.

Edna Mode

The nuts and bolts of it: Written and directed by Brad Bird, the film starred Craig Nelson as Robert Parr/ Mr. Incredible, and  Holly Hunter as Helen Parr/Elastigirl. Sarah Vowell as daughter Violet Parr, Spencer  Fox as older son Dash Parr, Samuel L. Jackson as Lucius Best/Frozone and Brad Bird as Edna Mode complete the cast list. 

 

The voice acting was wonderful, but then so much about this film is equally satisfying. Visually it is a feast of comic book/science fiction/spy imagery, with  a healthy dose of 1960's vintage style. I could elaborate at length about the influences and references the film brings to mind, and the elements of everything from "Watchmen" to "Civil War" to "New Frontier". Then there are the riches of visual detail: from the filled wall of mementos in Bob Parr's secret room to the devices in villain Syndrome's lab. There is bountiful humor: Bird's sparkling turn as super designer Edna Mode, the puns (love archfiend "Bomb  Voyage"), Violet's battles with Dash. The movie has drama, poignancy, and loads of action. It has a fantastic, symphonic soundtrack courtesy of Michael Giacchino. In truth, it's hard to think of anything this film doesn't have. 

Perhaps the best tribute  I can give the film is to recall the pure delight with which I first saw it. My wife and I had made it a movie date, and we both loved it. I sat there brainblasted by the incredible (of course) visuals, and the obvious love for the superhero genre from which the movie arose. With the breathless excitement of twelve year old me, I tugged on my patient wife's sleeve. "Wow, it's like the Fantastic Four meet James Bond!". "Get it, Nomanisan Island?". "Pixar did it again!". And indeed they had. 

 



 












 

An Incredible family; ready for action!

Dash and Violet battling over family dinner...

At the mercy of Syndrome...

 One of Pixar's best, and that's saying something. And now, after fourteen years, the Incredibles are back; are any of you as stoked as I am?