A Simple Sunday Question!

Martinex1: In the latter days of  the Bronze Age, many iconic heroes got a new look. Fashion changes were all the rage for the spandex clad heroes.

Nobody seemed immune to the wardrobe revolution... Spider-Man, Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Superman, Batman, Daredevil and countless others had a new look.

What did you think of the changes? Were they hits or misses?  How did you respond to these changes then and now?

Have a great Sunday all!  And be sure to share your thoughts and any Sunday recommendations.  Cheers!

Sunday Recommendations: Enjoying the Simple Things!

Martinex1: Sundays we take it a little easier around here, but these are a few things that I find enjoyable so I thought I would share.  They may not be typical BitBA fare (and others may be right in our wheelhouse).  I hope you may like these offerings also.  Share your thoughts and recommendations.

1) The Thunderbolts: Arriving after the Bronze Age, this team book's early years written by Kurt Busiek and penciled by Mark Bagley were excellent.  If you haven't explored this series, I believe most here would enjoy it.  Lots of twists, turns, character developments, and a nostalgic feel in the mighty Marvel manner.

1A) Citizen V:  Coming out of the Thunderbolts is a character that I think is intriguing.  And I find his elaborate costume design rather interesting as well.

2) The Pretenders: This band really had something going on, particularly in the early days before the deaths of James Honeyman-Scott and Pete Farndon.  Chrissie Hynde carried on, but the first couple of albums were classics.

3) Egg Foo Young:  This classic dish, if done right, is delicious.  Add some spice and pepper for an update to the traditional.

4) John Byrne's version of the Doom Patrol: Not always considered a popular run for the team, Byrne stripped away some of the group's strange modern history and went back to basics.  I liked it. And his art was the strongest it had been for a while.

4A) Negative Man: Coming out of the Doom Patrol, I would like to see more of the Negative Man.  Here is a long running character that should get more of the spotlight.

5) Extreme Pumpkin Carving:  It is that time of year, and I am amazed by the creativity of these jack-o-lanterns.  They are a far cry from the triangle eyes and noses of past Halloween gourds.  So much fun, yet so fleeting.  Cheers all!

All New, All Different Sunday: Coming Attractions!

Martinex1:  Sunday is the day for BitBA recommendations, so let us hear your opinions about upcoming cinematic features.   Trailers have been around for Thor: Ragnarok and Justice League for a while with the movies hitting in November.  More recently Star Wars: The Last Jedi and The New Mutants' clips have arrived.

**SPOILERS**

Thor, Hulk, Valkyrie and Loki seem to team up against Hela!  Can the third Thor be the best in the run; or is the Grandmaster and Planet Hulk bereft of fun?

Batman, Wonder Woman, Cyborg, the Flash, and Aquaman partner for the first time on the silver screen.  Superfriends or more bleak DC trends?

Luke, Rey, Kylo Ren, and Finn play Jedi mind games!  Who's on the dark side; who is not?

And Illyana,  Rahne, Cannonball, and Sunspot seem to have landed in a horror movie.  Will a thematic twist bring a lift to Fox's version of mutant events?

Does any of this excite you?  Are you planning a trip to the theater to see the latest from the Marvel, DC, and Lucas' universes?  What do you like and what don't you?  It is usually our day off but how about we chew the fat?

Share your short peek critiques and any other observations or recommendations you have this fine Sunday!

All New, All Different Sunday! Halloween Part 2: Marvel Monsters!

Martinex1:  Today we are bringing you a little treat, rather than a repeat trick, with a new Halloween topic to mull over.  Since we are upsetting the normal Sunday vibe, we will keep it simple - did you read and follow any of the Marvel monster mags of the Bronze Age?  When Frankenstein's Monster, Dracula, and the Werewolf started appearing on the spinner rack were you there?

Artists like Mike Ploog and Gene Colan brought us some wonderfully creepy stories of the classic monsters meshed with an eerie Marvel feel.

 I did not delve into these four color tomes until much later in life, but I have come to appreciate the intricacy and storytelling.  Particularly The Monster of Frankenstein and The Tomb of Dracula were of interest as they generated rather complex tales and emotion, while the art was overall quite good.   Werewolf By Night was a bit more campy and seemed to trip into the superhero realm more than the others; or maybe because the book introduced Moon Knight I am just more sensitive to that theme.

Believe it or not, my initial introduction to these characters was through youthful glimpses at Universal  monster movies.   As a child, my father watched the Abbott and Costello comedies that featured the characters with me.  That may have colored my early perception, but as I said more recently I've begun to enjoy these missed gems.

 Along the way, I also stumbled upon Marvel's Supernatural Thrillers and I was surprised that I enjoyed the Living Mummy issues.

 That title also carried some adaptations of classic horror tales that I found to be well-crafted considering the truncated length and any limits of the medium.  I found that the covers really caught my eye; there was some interesting art throughout.

 So if you were a collector of these classics from the 70s, speak up and share your thoughts!  Comments are welcome this fine October Sunday!   Cheers (and fears) as we celebrate Halloween throughout the month!