Riding the Retro Metro: Wednesday Apr.12, 1978!

Redartz: Excellent; you're just in time for our latest retro road trip ! Grab a seat and hang on, we're headed back to the Spring of 1978; a heady time indeed.   The US Senate is debating returning the Panama Canal (to Panama, of course), Volkswagen has just started manufacturing cars in the US, and Woody Allen's "Annie Hall" has won big at the Academy Awards. Also, a certain trio of singing brothers are on top of the world. and they're on top of the  US Billboard Hot 100:  The Bee Gees, with  "Night Fever"

Rounding out the top five: 
2. The Bee Gees, "Stayin' Alive"
3. Eric Clapton, "Lay Down Sally"
4. Barry Manilow, "Can't Smile Without You"
5. Yvonne Elliman, "If I Can't Have You"


The brothers Gibb are responsible for three of the top five songs this week (writing and producing Yvonne Elliman's song); they seem to be giving the 1964 Beatles some competition in the area of chart domination. However, some other residents of the top 40  hold more interest for me. Among them:   Jackson Browne, "Running on Empty"- a great song proving that the singer/songwriter is alive and well in the disco era. Andy Gibb, "Love is Thicker Than Water"- yes, another Gibb brother. But this song is really sharp, a bit more soulful than some other Gibb compositions, in my opinion. John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, "You're the One That I Want"- a dynamic duet from the two stars of that other popular film out now: "Grease".  Sweet, "Love is Like Oxygen"- yet another cool offering from the British glam gang; and one of the more unusual metaphors you'll hear for love...

Tops in the UK:  Brian and Michael, "Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs" (love that title)

Yes, there are plenty of riches on the music charts today. But this high schooler wants to know about tonight's tv; what say you? And since we have the schedule right here, let's have a look...

US Television Schedule:
 ABC:  Eight is Enough, Charlie's Angels, Starsky and Hutch

 

Being a red-blooded American teenager, I never miss "Charlie's Angels". Farrah Fawcett, Jaclyn Smith and Kate Jackson star, and of course everyone has their favorite Angel- mine is Kate. No contest. And lots of folks follow up with Paul Michael Glaser and David Soul as "Starsky and Hutch". Also featuring the two cops' favorite informant, the inimitable "Huggy Bear", and a bright red Ford Gran Torino.

Cast of "Good Times"

CBS:  Good Times, Syzsnyk, The CBS Wednesday Night Movies
Just what exactly is "Syzsnyk", anyway?

 













 


NBC:  The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams, Black Sheep Squadron, Police Woman
My parents liked to catch "Grizzly Adams", and sometimes Black Sheep Squadron. When I occasionally declined to watch the Angels, I'd watch the Squadron. Robert Conrad stars as the leader of a group of WWII fighter pilots. I have a good friend who is absolutely nuts for this show...












BBC1:  The Wednesday Film: Track of Thunder, Miss Scotland 1978, The Budget, The Hong Kong Beat, Sportsnight

BBC2:  Mr. Smith Propagates Plants, Newsday, Brass Tacks, Call My Bluff, Midweek Cinema: Broadway Melody of 1940


Oh, by the way, it's Wednesday: new comic day! And since we have plenty of change (unfortunately thirty five cent comics prohibit the purchase of more than two books for a dollar, but so it  goes), lets check out the Spinner Racks:

Oh, I have to pick up a bunch of these. Starting with the two Treasury editions (that Batman collection is a gem, a couple of great Neal Adams tales just as a start). In Avengers we're continuing to see the members disappearing; that book is incredible lately. Then I'll take the first issue of DC Comics Presents: Superman teamups, starting with a race against the Flash-  a good start, and Garcia-Lopez art too. Red Sonja has a great cover, but so does that Showcase with Hawkman by Kubert. Showcase was a cool 'tryout' book in the Silver age, and I'm enjoying the 70's incarnation as well. Defenders has Spider-man; that has to be good reading. Finally, "Doorway to Nightmare" is a treat for the eyes, and those Kaluta covers grab me every time. It's nice to pick up something a little different now and then.

Well, my funds are now shot, and time is about up for today. Anyway, I need to get home and finish up some homework; don't want to mess up graduation next month with unfinished projects. So it's back on the retro and forward to our future present once again. Hope we roused a few memories, and a few smiles. Until next trip, adios!

Rank and File: The Year's Best Comic Stories, 1978

Redartz: To all, greetings! In this edition of "Rank and File", we shall start something a bit different. It was inspired by the recent column on digests, wherein mention was made of a particular DC digest. "The Year's Best Comic Stories" was a digest collection that DC put out for several years, gathering some of what they considered that year's most noteworthy tales. But of course here at BitBA, we have to push things a bit further. So we shall pick a year (for today, 1978) and 'nominate' ten comic stories released between January and December. This means cover dates Apr. 1978 (on the stands in January) to Mar. 1979 (on sale in December). Your job is to assess and comment upon our choices, and to inform us of any other tales we you feel should be considered. Then name the top three (Gold, Silver and Bronze). And one final detail: the nominees shall be single issues, even if part of an extended story arc. So, for example, if you are considering the "Korvac Saga" in Avengers, you might go with the finale, issue 177.

All clear? Then let's look at our nominees, in no particular order:

"Superman vs. Muhammad Ali ", by Dennis O'Neal, Neal Adams, Dick Giordano and Terry Austin. Aliens, boxing, oversized Adams art, and much much more.









 





 Avengers 181- "On the Matter of Heroes" by David Michelinie, John Byrne and Gene Day. There were many issues of Avengers that could have made this list, but I chose this one. Excellent characterization, humor, drama, great art, and Henry Peter Gyrich.

Marvel Team-Up 79- "Sword of the She-Devil" by Chris Claremont, John Byrne and Terry Austin. Spidey and Red Sonja? Mary Jane in a pretty far-out role. Staggeringly beautiful artwork. Perhaps my favorite issue of this title's entire run.









 




Showcase 100- "There Shall Come a Gathering" by Paul Kupperberg, Paul Levitz and Joe Staton. An immensely enjoyable, fun mashup of every character that appeared in Showcase. And it works. One of the best anniversary issues ever.

Uncanny X-Men 114- "Desolation", by Chris Claremont, John Byrne and Terry Austin. As with Avengers, many issues here could have been nominated. But this one is a beaut, story and art. And what a cover..








 






Fantastic Four 200- "When Titans Clash" by Marv Wolfman, Keith Pollard and Joe Sinnott. One of the best showdowns with Dr. Doom.

Micronauts 1- "Homeworld" by Bill Mantlo, Michael Golden and Josef Rubinstein. A fine start to a terrific series, by a stellar team of creators. I recall being amazed how good it was for a 'toy book'.

What If? 13-"What if Conan the Barbarian Walked the Earth Today" by Roy Thomas, John Buscema and Ernie Chan. A fascinating, and touching, story with many nice touches. Perhaps the best "What If" ever.

Adventure Comics 462 - "Only Legends Live Forever", by Paul Levitz and Joe Staton. Death of the Earth Two Batman, and he goes down fighting.







 





Iron Man 120- "The Old Man and the Sea Prince" by David Michelinie, John Romita Jr. and Bob Layton. Shellhead's premiere team takes him to new heights, and with Namor to boot.











Man, that wasn't easy. Way too many good choices , and loads left unmentioned. So, what do you think? Do these choices make sense, or did we miss some obvious alternatives? And which would you choose as the top three? Have at it, crew...