Redartz: Hello fellow Bronze Age Beneficiaries! The hour and the day have again arrived, the time is ripe for another Topic of Discussion! I just know you've been cogitating all week in order to submit the perfect post, so I'll only delay things a moment.
In several past years, the occasion of the Fourth of July (Independence Day in the USA) has prompted us here at BitBA to give a nod to the alternative publishers (not Marvel, DC, Archie or Charlton). So this week, I'd like to hear your thoughts about Pacific, Dark Horse, First, Comico, Aardvark Vanaheim, and all the rest. In addition, of course, to your ever-exciting named topic!
I'll start off with a little tidbit: some months back I was thrilled to discover a collected volume of Arn Saba's "Neil the Horse" now available. This was one of my favorite indies back in the 80's, and unfortunately was fairly short-lived. Saba, now Katherine Collins, presented the strip in several formats in the late 70's and early 80's before finally putting Neil out in his own title. In her intro /closing comments in the book, Collins offers the potential for some new Neil comics in the near future. I hope she finds a venue; I await breathlessly...
22 comments:
Am I. . . am I the ONLY cowpoke 'round here who read (and loved) Ben Edlunds very first THE TICK series, 'way back when it was being irregularly produced in over-sized black & white by New England comics? The first fan-boy-ish issue where it was CLEARLY his own labor of love filled with "Ooo- wouldn't it be funny if--?" bits that appealed directly to his own sense of humor, and all? That company (NEC) really had an impressive micro-burst of output, with some engaging titles (MAN-EATING COW; CHAINSAW VIGILANTE), but I bet it tried to go "big" too quickly right when the comics-market bubble was about to burst dramatically. . .
And-- hunh-- those of us with kids, especially--- how 'bout Jeff Smith's brilliant & often-moving BONE, eh? Self-published, then sorta picked up by Image for a bit, then self-published again--- then spread EVERYWHERE in schools with lovely Scholastic Books volumes.
HB
Neil the Horse is something I've heard about many times, but have never seen - certainly not back in the 1980s. Now it's something I'd like to get around to reading.
Bone is something I'm going to *have* to read eventually, as I have sitting on my shelf the brick-sized complete collected series.
Otherwise, whenever anyone mentions independents, I always first and most fondly think of Pacific Comics. I had just discovered my first comic book shop in Salem, OR a few months before Pacific launched its line with Kirby's Captain Victory, so I was in on the ground floor for that publishing venture. Besides become a regular reader of Capt. Victory, I also started getting their other output, most notably Mike Grell's Starslayer (which included the initial Rocketeer stories by Stevens) and Groo the Wanderer, and also the first issue of Neal Adams' Ms. Mystic (which was honestly a bit disappointing). Pacific folded after only a few years, but they put out some pretty cool stuff before closing up shop.
I never read an Indy until the 1990s (Malibu and Valiant) but given their presence in the market I don't know if they qualify? Anyhow, they are not bronze age so...
That being said I did go back and grab Flagg (Chaykin) and Airboy (Dixon) from the 80s about 20 years ago. Enjoyable stuff!
HB- Great call on "The Tick". I've only read a couple, but fully intend (and have intended for some time now, admittedly) to pursue more issues. And yes, "Bone" is phenomenal. Wonderful story, appealing artwork, engaging characters, stupid stupid Rat Creatures- the series has it all...
Edo- glad you mentioned Groo. I'd never read him until very recently when a couple issues were included in a big lot I bought at auction. Decided to give them a look, and liked what I saw. One of the benefits of picking up a load of miscellaneous comics: the chance to try something you'd possibly never pick up otherwise.
Charlie- Flagg was terrific. Actually, First Comics was pretty solid back in the 80's. With Flagg, Mars, E-Man, Jon Sable, and others, they had a nice lineup. And you might enjoy Comico's truly excellent Jonny Quest series from 1986. Lasted 31 fine issues, with some real gems among them...
I haven't read much indie stuff (I was buying off the rack back in the day), but I really liked Jon Sable and Rocketeer. I've been meaning to check out Grimjack (which started in Starslayer, I think) and American Flagg. The original Ninja Turtles comics are supposed to be pretty good too ... much darker than the cartoons.
Charlie, oh my brother. I think this entry was meant to transcend the barriers of the bronze-age.
That being said, as far as obscure favorites of of the late 60's-early 70's, there was a couple characters I was interested in being a "monster kid" as well as a comics kid.
The first was a superhero named Dracula. Offhand I can't remember the publisher. His only real superpower I think was being able to turn into a bat. He wore a purple Phantom-esque jumpsuit with Batman ears.
Another I liked was Harvey's B-Man. I understand Harvey would be considered a "major", but their superhero output was very minor back in the day.
"Modern Age" Indy Favorites:
The Tick ruled! I also own first live-action tv show and cartoons. My father who hated any animation whatsoever liked the Tick
Dark Horse did a good Godzilla. 100% better than Marvel's. Their Predator comics were fantastic. Gene Colan did a mini and I'd have to say it was some of hos best work.
Other indie titles I liked and can recommend are Johnny the Homicidal Maniac, Squee, Big Blown Baby, Laughter Of The Damned, and Scud the Disposable Assassin.
I also liked Faust. "Abandon all hope, all ye who enter here..." Lol.
Laughter Of The Damned is excellent for anyone with a sick sense of humor. It features Voodoo Bob, a character I identify with so much, it's scary.
Maybe I should change my name to "VoodooDumster".
On second thought, naw.
The "kill" in Killdumpster has such a brisk and crisp feeling of a sunny autumn Sunday morning. Lol.
Sorry guys. A hard day, and quite a few brews.
HI Colin! Greetings from Chicago. I don't think we actually greet each other with a special greeting on the 4th? At least nothing comes to mind.
FWIW many/most folks do attend one of the local parades complete with veterans, school marching bands, fire truck and police cars. and a few odd politicians waving hello. Of course there is more to it but I'm sure you get the idea. A nearby posh town used to have a fly over by WW2 trainer planes (AT-6s) even.
Sounds like our national parade in D.C. is going to take vie with France's Bastille Day or Russia's May Day parades and roll out the military hardware. Do you guys have a national parade like that?
Actually, do you guys celebrate something like our Independence Day? It just occurred to me you were always independent so... ? I mean, you never really threw out the King like France and Russia? (Do pardon my general unawareness of your nation's history!)
This abomination of a Personal Aggrandization Campaign Event has just cast a pall over the long-beloved traditional shebang here in DC. They've been unable to even give adequate tickets away to the ticketed festivities that the president is doing at that end of the mall. Consequently, there's now been an influx (no kidding) of extreme right-wing/racist groups coming in to fill the perceived void in order to show their support. (The Proud Boys, for instance--) And of course, there's the expensive, wasteful, unnecessary, and unprecedented military parade to go along with all that.
This is the saddest, darkest, most disappointing 4th of July I can ever, ever recall. . .
HB
Well, HB, as a former Army Officer I can tell you that there was nothing we hated more than stoopd parades on holidays. The Army is a 24 x 7 job. To get lassoed into parades was always a bummer b/c there are days in advance practicing that all-important skill of marching in formation, lol. Then you arrive several (!) hours ahead of time, so as not to be late. Then of course you get hungry, have to pee, la da da da da... lol.
Dell was a major comic book publisher in the 1950s, but they seemed to become sort of B-list after the split with Western in 1962.
In 1966, Dell published superhero comics based on Dracula and Frankenstein, and some issues of those were reprinted in 1972-73.
First inherited some titles from Pacific and Capital when those companies went out of business: Starslayer, Badger, and Nexus. And I also liked Jon Sable, although Mike Grell seemed to lose interest in it toward the end of its run.
Never cared much for Captain Victory or Silver Star. By then, Kirby's style had become almost a caricature of itself.
The Ninja Turtles began as a parody of Frank Miller's Daredevil, and somehow grew into a major franchise in its own right. The later versions (a TV cartoon series, the Archie comic), were considerably bowdlerized.
CH47-- I kinda always wondered if the case was something like that. . . not exactly the same amount of enjoyment that spectators are having. And not even the benefit of performing (like in a marching band). Or involvement with the crowd (like with floats, etc). Just. . . marching.
I will confess that I idly turned on STRANGER THINGS 3 late in the morning, and ended up finishing the entire season by 11:15 p.m. (Intermittent breaks for homework, meals, kitchen clean-up, making brownies, etc--)
HB
Charlie, the UK doesn't have a special "National Day" but we do have the Saints days - St. David's Day in Wales (March 1st), St. George's Day in England (April 23rd) and St. Andrew's Day in Scotland (November 30th). But we did get rid of a king - Charles I was executed in 1649 followed by 11 years as a republic (The Commonwealth) ruled by Oliver Cromwell and his son Richard who were called Lord Protector of England (but they ruled Scotland too even though Scotland was still an independent country at that time - politics was complicated in those days). Unfortunately the monarchy was restored in 1660 - a tragedy in my opinion but the monarchs had hugely reduced powers.
As you know, we are currently "leaving" the European Union, a process known as BREXIT which is just insane nationalism. The Brexit supporters treat the EU as if it was the old USSR and we are getting our freedom. Some even want an annual Independence Day from the EU.
Colin-- Hoo, even CITING Oliver Cromwell's name is a delicate matter, I daresay. . . ! (I have a notable swath of the Emerald Isle in my background, y'see---) But yeah, British history for several centuries seems to have been just this popcorn-popper of constant war, turmoil, power-struggle, and violent intrigue. And this undercurrent of "This Sceptre'd Isle" identity or nationalism kinda seems to always run through it. . . And I swear that the whole Brexit fiasco comes across as a regrettable embrace of that sort of thinking. . .
HB (having trouble avoiding politics these days--)
HB, living in London to renew my passport I have to go to the Irish embassy... which the Brits have thoughtfully put on Cromwell Road! Unbelievable, eh?
Unlike most countries the British don't have an independence day - mainly because most countries celebrate their independence FROM the British, ho ho.
Anyway, I was never that keen on Neil the Horse. But Cerebus the Aardvark was brilliant, my fave ongoing comic ever, independent or otherwise.
-sean
Humanbelly & Charlie, even I was disgusted about the waste involved in the 4th's parade. Crap, I hated being in small town parades when I was in Scouts!
I don't know, there's a couple ways to look at it. Some, like yourselves, may think it's Trump's "Look at me!" momement. Some folks I talked to thought it was a "Look at US!" moment.
All I know is, it was a bit too Stalin-esque for my tastes. Like seeing huge portraits of Sam Walton when you enter Wal-Mart.
KD -
Yesterday we had a handful of vets marching and everyone dutifully stood and applauded. It was necessary and sufficient and to the point. Beautiful!
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