Deathlok The Demolisher

Astonishing Tales #25 (August 1974)

Pencil art by Rich Bucker, inks by Klaus Janson

Just picked up Deathlok The Demolisher Origins pocket book published by Panini.  What a find! I didn't know these things existed.  It contains Astonishing Tales #25 - #28, #30 - #35 in full colour but the size of a paperback.

Deathlok the Demolisher Origins Panini (2014)

I first became aware of Deathlok when I read Marvel Team-Up forty years ago and have always wanted to read more about this cyborg.

Marvel Team-Up #46 (June 1976)
Pencil Art by Rich Buckler, inks: Mike Esposito

I have already blogged about this issue when I was writing about Marvel Team-Up here.  Apart from this issue I have only read the first Astonishing Tales in Marvel Firsts: The 1970s so I am looking forward to reading the rest and maybe some of the money I spent will find its way to Bill Mantlo and help with his healthcare costs.

Marvel Firsts: The 1970s Volume 2

Vital reading for Bronze Agers

Rich Buckler is much maligned these days for his swipes from/homages to Jack Kirby when he was drawing the Fantastic Four in the mid seventies but at the time I knew no better and expected to see the FF drawn this way from seeing the reprints of Jack's work in Mighty World of Marvel so I have a soft spot for Buckler.  I'm sure Joe Sinnott's inks had a lot to do with it too.

Fantastic Four #156 (March 1976)

Pencil art by Rich Buckler, inks by Joe Sinnott

The FF as slaves of Doctor Doom, Medusa's long red tresses and the Silver Surfer too!  Who could resist?

Back In Bronze!

Been away so long I thought I would never be back but here I am!  I have been a little busy of late but I have not stinted on keeping up with http://stevedoescomics.blogspot.co.uk/ Sheffield's finest remains an inspiration to this lazy blogger.  How does he keep his hectic schedule?  There must be something in the Yorkshire water?  Anyway I know the question on the tip of everyone's tongue: "what has Silver and Bronze Age Subjects been reading?"  Well, one of the best reads has been George Perez and Len Wein's post-crisis re-boot of Wonder Woman, why can't DC get anywhere near this level of excellence these days?  Although I could be wrong as I'm not up to date with the latest at DC since the New 52 fiasco although I gather that Action and Detective will be returning to their original numbering which is one good thing I suppose.

George Perez and Len Wein's excellent Wonder Woman 

art by George Perez

I have also been re-reading one of my favourite runs of all time, Herb Trimpe's tenure as artist on The Incredible Hulk.  I have blogged before about my appreciation for the late, great Herb here, here and here, but as the years pass by my fondness grows for the tales delineated by this great artist.

Incredible Hulk #110 (December 1968)

Herb Trimpe (pencils) and John Severin (inks)

Incredible Hulk #123 (January 1970)

art by Herb Trimpe

I hope to be back soon with more musings, I'm a bit upset with the current revelations about Captain America and I'm building up to a post to air my views so watch this space.  I'll leave with a great cover of Captain America and The Falcon with a gorilla.  You can't beat gorilla covers!

Captain America and The Falcon #135 (March 1971)

Art by John Romita

Comic Book Resolutions 2013 Revisited

So as 2013 comes to a close, how did my resolutions work out? As usual with any resolutions I make I did very poorly. I certainly read a lot of comics but not the ones I had planned to read. Silver Age Spider-man? Nope. Black Panther? Nope. Werewolf By Night? Nope. Walt Simonson's Thor? Stan and Jack's Thor? Neither. I did read some Tintin but only the first four books. I would classify this as an almost total failure. 

Amazing Spider-man #3 (July 1963)
Art by Steve Ditko

Hawkman by Kubert

Hawkman by Joe Kubert

The world is a poorer place without Joe Kubert in it but at least we can cherish his art. Nobody could draw Hawkman as well as Kubert. Murphy Anderson was great but Joe Kubert was very special.

Joe Kubert with large print of Showcase Presents Hawkman #101 (June 1978)
Art by Joe Kubert

Super Sons: Superman Junior and Batman Junior

Do you seek an escape from an insane world? New 52 not floating your boat? Superman too grim and gritty? Legion of Super-Heroes cancelled again? Ben Affleck not your ideal Baman? Too many X comics, too many Avengers comics? Doc Ock as Spider-man confusing your inner fan boy? Never fear Bob Haney is the solution to all your problems!

World's Finest #215 (December 1972 - January 1973)
Art by Nick Cardy

Golden Age Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman is marketed by DC as one of their three top franchises but I have failed to connect with the character when I have attempted to read any of the numerous re-launches over the last twenty five years or so. However, this all changed when I read the original Wonder Woman stories from the Golden Age by William Moulton Marston and H G Peter.  I sometimes struggle with Golden Age books, hence the focus of this blog is the Silver and Bronze Ages, but there are some characters whose stories are truly excellent and I can recommend Boy Commandos from DC, Captain Marvel from Fawcett and Blackhawk from Quality Comics as being particularly good. I did not think for a moment that Wonder Woman would join this list but she has.

Sensation Comics #1 (January 1942)
Art by H G Peter and John L Blummer

Boy Commandos #5 (Winter 1943 - 1944)
Pencil Art by Jack Kirby, inks: Joe Simon

Whiz Comics #20 (August 1941)
Pencil Art by C C Beck, inks: Pete Costanza

Military Comics #13 (November 1942)
Art by Reed Crandall

Writer William Moulton Marston, who used the pen name Charles Moulton, was a very interesting and eccentric character himself.  A noted psychologist who contributed to the development of the polygraph test he was a feminist who shared his home not only with his wife Elizabeth but with his girlfriend Olive Byrne, who may also have been Elizabeth's lover.  Marston wanted to promote his feminist belief in the superiority of women and Wonder Woman was his ideal powerful beauty.

A Salute to Jack Kirby: The King's Return to Captain America

It is Jack Kirby's birthday, he would have been 96 years old today.  It is impossible to overstate Jack's contribution to comics or twentieth century culture for that matter. Here is a small salute to the King.

PFC Jacob Kurtzberg (1945)

Criticised at the time, Jack's mid seventies run on Captain America is one of my fondest Bronze Age memories.  So in honour of the King's birthday here is a trip down memory lane:

Captain America #193 (January 1976)
Pencil Art by Jack Kirby, inks: John Romita

Superman: The Silver Age Dailies 1959 - 1961

If like me you are a fan of Silver Age Superman you are in for a big treat if you are lucky enough to get your hands on Superman: The Silver Age Dailies 1959 - 1961.

Superman The Silver Age Dailies 1959 - 1961
Art by Pete Poplaski

These strips have never been reprinted and are a treasure trove of art by Curt Swan, Wayne Boring and Stan Kaye.  The line up of storytellers is packed with all time greats such as Jerry Siegel and Otto Binder, who offer up slices of Silver Age wonder as depicted in the contemporary Superman monthlies under the guidance of editor Mort Weisinger. 

John Byrne's Incredible Hulk

John Byrne was at the height of his powers when he took over the script and art on the Incredible Hulk for a short action packed run before departing Marvel to relaunch Superman at DC.  

Incredible Hulk #314 (December 1985)
Art by John Byrne

Which is the best Hulk versus Thing fight?

It is one of the all time classic confrontations, in one corner the gamma spawned goliath in green that is the incredible Hulk and in the other the everlovin' blue eyed idol o' millions Ben Grimm alias the Thing.  What we need to know is which fight was your favourite?  Here are some suggestions:

Fantastic Four #12

Fantastic Four #12 (March 1963)
Pencil Art by Jack Kirby, inks: Dick Ayers

Stan Lee and Jack Kirby bring us the very first encounter shortly after the Hulk's own title had been cancelled and before the foundation of the Avengers.  This is real primordial Marvel Age creativity here but is it the best?

Hulk versus Thing from Fantastic Four #12 (March 1963)
Pencil Art by Jack Kirby, inks: Dick Ayers
script by Stan Lee

Herb Trimpe Hulk Covers

Herb Trimpe is my favourite Hulk artist, Incredible Hulk is one of my favourite Bronze Age titles so here are some Herb Trimpe covers for Incredible Hulk!

Incredible Hulk #109 (November 1968)
Pencil Art by Herb Trimpe, inks: John Severin

Incredible Hulk #110 (December 1968)
Pencil art by Herb Trimpe, inks: John Severin 

The House of Secrets

DC produced some great horror/mystery titles in the Silver and Bronze Ages and The House of Secrets was one of the best. Veteran editor Joe Orlando who had worked for EC Comics in the fifties and Warren in the sixties assembled a great set of artists for all of the anthology series he edited.  The stories were not all classics but every issue had its charms.

House of Secrets #81 (August/September 1969)
Art by Neal Adams

Guardians of the Galaxy

Marvel are making a movie about the Guardians of the Galaxy, unfortunately not the Silver and Bronze Age version but an update from 2008.  Whilst never stars, the Guardians did appear in some excellent Bronze Age comics.  Re-reading the stories what struck me was the contrast between the Silver Age trappings of the debut tale from 1969 and the Bronze Age stylings of their next appearance in Marvel Two-in-One in 1974.  Arnold Drake and Gene Colan brought us the origin tale in Marvel Super-Heroes #18 (January 1969).

Marvel Super-Heroes #18 (January 1969)
Pencil Art by Gene Colan, inks: Mike Esposito

Hawkman leaves the Justice League

It seems to be a lost art in the modern era of decompressed storytelling, I'm referring to the single issue "done in one" tale that ensured that you received value for money from your comic book.  Back in the Bronze Age distribution was patchy and tracking down consecutive issues was a tricky business so reading a well crafted single issue was a welcome treat.  One example that sticks in the mind is Justice League of America #109 (January/February 1974).

Justice League of America #109 (January/February 1974)
Art by Nick Cardy

Cigars of the Pharaoh

Published between 1932 and 1934 the fourth Tintin adventure, Cigars of the Pharoah, is in my view where Tintin begins to show the promise that will be amply fulfilled in later albums.

Cigars of the Pharaoh
Art by Herge

Tintin in America

The third Tintin album, Tintin in America, was published between 1931 and 1932 and is the most widely available early adventure.  The preceding albums being highly controversial.

Tintin in America
Art by Herge

Tintin in the Congo

The second Tintin album sees our hero in Africa, specifically the then Belgian colony of the Congo.  Published between 1930 and 1931 this story is the most controversial of all Tintin's adventures.

Tintin in the Congo
Art by Herge

Tintin in The Land of The Soviets

I have just completed reading the first Tintin adventure and thus I am one step closer to reaching my goal of reading all of the albums during 2013.  Published between 1929 and 1930 this album is very crude compared to later adventures.  Herge did not agree to a colour version during his lifetime and so this is the only Tintin adventure which has never been reworked or colourised.

Tintin in The Land of The Soviets
Art by Herge

Joe Kubert Presents

This series is bittersweet. On the one hand it is what I have been praying for, an anthology containing excellent stories illustrated by master artists, but on the other hand once we reach #6 we will be appreciating the last work of the late, great Joe Kubert.

Hawkman and Hawkgirl
Art by Joe Kubert
Joe Kubert Presents #1

Batman Odyssey Finale

I finally did it, I read Batman Odyssey Volume 2, #7, The finale of Neal Adams' mini-series!  The following contains spoilers so avoid reading if you feel the urge to read it for yourself.  Forget that, just avoid reading the series!

Batman Odyssey  volume 2, #7
Art by  Neal Adams