Detective #622 (Oct 1990)

Another great find in the dollar bins last weekend, just in time for the Halloween season, Detective Comics #622. Golden-Age Batman artist Dick Sprang would have been seventy-four when he produced the cover for this and the subsequent two issues of Detective, in a three-issue story arc, just ten years before his death. The interior of this book isn't what I'm usually looking for, but they worked hard on the art. The styles employed are not the DC house style employed in the '70s and '80s by artists like Neal Adams and Jim Aparo- the guard was changing, and new art styles were coming onto the scene. This issue is the first of a three-issue arc, featuring a "comic within a comic", written by one of the supporting characters, comic book writer/artist Fred Lasker.

The fictious Batman Fred Lasker has been writing about/drawing in TNT Comics is a Simon Petrarch, a mercenary who sold his soul, transformed by Lucifer into a demonic creature of the night. The comic book art sequences in this book were drawn by Flint Henry, while artists Mike McKone and Jose Marzan, Jr. draw the rest of the issue interior.

Police Commissioner Gordon summons Batman to the scene of a grisly murder, attributed in blood to the Dark Knight Detective himself! When the press shows up to question Gordon and Batman, he quickly realizes the implication of his monstrous characterization in Lasker's comic book, juxtaposed with the mysterious murder scene...

Host of a local radio show "Dead of Night", Jack Hemp, takes a call from someone claiming to be the Batman of author Fred Lasker's unauthorized biographical comic. The caller shares details of a recent murder he is trying to pin on the real Batman, telling Hemp to read all about him in the current issue hitting newsstands. 

Batman catches wind on the street that Fred Lasker's comic book lore has taken root in the public eye, deciding to pay the author a visit to get to the bottom of what's going on in issue #623! Both issues #623 and #624 also feature Dick Sprang covers, and reveal who is behind the murders being pinned onto Batman! Maybe we'll catch up with those later- read more comics!

Follow the Super-DuperToyBox on Instagram!

More Later- Make It FUN!

Detective Comics #469 (May 1977)

 Jim Aparo drew the striking cover for this issue of Detective Comics, but Walt Simonson penciled the interior story written by Steve Englehart. This is the first appearance of Dr. Phosphorus, created by Simonson and Englehart, and when I saw this well-worn copy in the dollar bins, I knew this terrifying villain would be perfect for an October post! I didn't have this issue as a kid, my interest in comics not having developed quite yet, 1978 likely the year of some of my first spinner rack acquisitions. In that year The Incredible Hulk debuted on CBS, and Superman came to the silver screen, and I was hooked on superhero comics for life!

"...By Death's Eerie Light" begins with Bruce Wayne's trusted butler, Alfred Pennyworth, collapsing upon the Dark Knight's return from patrol of Gotham City. After rushing Pennyworth to the hospital, Batman discovers the reason for the mysterious delay in ambulance service- the city's water supply has been poisoned by Dr. Alexander Sartorius, aka Dr. Phosphorus! Batman confronts Dr. Phosphorus at Gotham City Reservoir, where the villain reveals his plan, attacking the Caped Crusader!

After a knockdown drag out brawl, Batman emerges from Gotham Reservoir, having barely escaped Dr. Phosphorus' deadly touch, rendered harmless by water. The villain retreats, vowing to return and savor killing Batman later. The rest of this issue sees Dr. Phosphorus assaulting his former colleague, Dr. Bell, threatening his and the lives of city council if they don't get rid of the Batman. Throughout his tirade on the frightened scientist, Dr. Phosphorus retells the origin of his cursed state... 

If you want to see what happens to the poisoned Alfred Pennyworth and Police Commissioner Jim Gordon, or the final confrontation between Dr. Phosphorus and Batman, you'd have to hunt down Detective #470! The great Jim Aparo returns to draw that cover as well, Walt Simonson confidently delivering that DC house style on the inner pages several years before his career defining work writing/drawing Thor in the mid '80s. Special mention goes out to inker Al Milgrom, whose work I like as well. As a Bronze-Age kid, I love this era of comics for the work of artists like these guys and so many more- what a great time to be a kid!

Follow the Super-DuperToyBox on Instagram!

More Later- Make It FUN!

Amazing Fantasy #1000: Spider-Man's 60th Anniversary

Amazing Spider-Man and Peter Parker: Spectacular Spider-Man were among some of the first comics I read as kid in the '70s- a halcyon era for the character in my universe, with Nicholas Hammond starring in the live-action TV show, and Mego producing 8" and 12" action figures that I loved so much. Though he debuted in Amazing Fantasy #15 in 1962, artist/writer Steve Ditko's creation had such enduring popularity that Spidey was a childhood favorite of all of us Bronze-Age kids many years later, and remains as strong a property today. Kids and adults of all ages love Spider-Man! While I'm dubious to the "#1000" claim, this 60th celebration of Marvel's top-grossing hero was an issue I couldn't pass up. There is a lot of splashy and diverse art styles throughout the issue and it's many variant covers, mine the John Romita Jr. version. Aesthetically, things got off to a good start with Michael Cho's art in "Just Some Guy", appealing to my love for the kind of retro-styled cartooning Darwyn Cooke or Tim Sale produced.

In "Slaves of the Witch-Queen", a continuation of a story thread from Amazing Fantasy #15 brings a witch from Egypt's past through a portal by a convict lost in time, trying to return to the present...

Spider-Man is late for his 60th birthday dinner with a resigned Mary Jane, who later finds him visited by the denizens of New York, lined up to pay respects for their critically injured hero in Dan Slott's "Sinister 60". I loved artist Jim Cheung's work on this story, very inspired by John Romita Jr. ...

 Spider-Man fan Neil Gaiman's story in this issue retells his visit to the office of Steve Ditko, where the character lives as a real person in the mind of the author, seemingly underwhelmed with his fan's admiration...

616 Spider-Man traverses the Spider-Verse in author Jonathan Hickman's "You Get It", seeking validation of his trials as a Spider-Man, only to be rebuffed by his fellow Spider-Men who have accepted the burden themselves as a part of being who they are...

There are two or three other stories in this celebratory issue as well that CBR contributor Matthew McCreadie said in a recent MSN article, lacked supporting cast. Sure, Harry Osborne, Flash Thompson, and Gwen Stacy weren't really present, nor Iron Man or any of the other Avengers- some notable misses, but there were a few other characters and Easter eggs from Spider-Man's history. There is so much from the character's past that no single issue could reference more than a small percentage of it, and his contemporary stories involving the Spider-Verse and it's characters are changing Spider-Man's mythos more rapidly than ever. Regardless of what may come, I feel confident the wall crawler will be around for a long time to come, each generation telling new stories about their own Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man! Excelsior!

Follow the Super-DuperToyBox on Instagram!

More Later- Make It FUN!

Hulk Grand Design MONSTER & MADNESS No.1 (2022)

 I was pretty excited about artist Jim Rugg's Hulk: Grand Design upon solicitation, a fan of the character since childhood. I've said before that the CBS TV show starring Bill Bixby opposite Lou Ferrigno was a defining moment in my Hulk fandom, preceded by my Mego Hulk action figures, both 8" and 12", and strengthened by the Hulk comics I read thereafter. "Marvel's TV Sensation" was stamped on new books, reprints, and the avalanche of other product solicitations. I enjoyed Rugg's 2020 independent release of Octobriana 1976. but Hulk: Grand Design was several levels beyond that, taking on the history of the character, at times deftly assuming the styles of some of the greatest artists ever to have worked on him.

  

Two of the stories noted in Hulk Grand Design: Monster link directly to the Hulk comics of my youth and are reviewed on this blog, Hulk #124 and Incredible Hulk #141, telling the sad story of Bruce Banner and Betty Ross' ill-fated wedding, and the Hulk's jealous battle versus Doc Samson!

Many stories involving Betty Ross, daughter of Hulk's arch-nemesis General Thunderbolt Ross, pepper the character's history and source of his loneliness and misunderstood state of being...

The rapid-fire assault of visual delights never let up throughout Monster, Jim Rugg personalizing the art style at times, such as the ballpoint pen homage to Incredible Hulk #181, introducing alpha Marvel character, Wolverine...

The second book, Hulk Grand Design: Monster deals with some story arcs I'm less familiar with, like the Peter David run, but I had managed to catch a few issues starring Mr. Fixit, the Hulk's smarter, gray version, at the end of the '80s.

                     

Hulk Grand Design: MADNESS ends in an epilogue covering Planet Hulk and World War Hulk, both I enjoyed tremendously. While I've enjoyed Hulk stories that came after these two, particularly Indestructible Hulk, his latest, critically acclaimed incarnation in Immortal Hulk is missing from the Grand Design story - I realize there was a conscious decision where to cut off, and though the aforementioned epilogue seems like a good spot, Immortal may have been a better epilogue due to its ongoing popularity, portraying Hulk as a monster in a horror comic.  

Regardless, I found Hulk Grand Design to be a fun romp through the Hulk's history that I'd recommend to any longtime fan, or new readers to get a broad overview of the character. There are just so many Hulk stories- it would be impossible to get it all in 88 pages. You will find yourself thumbing back through it for the visual delight it is, and for $5.99 each, they are a great value. Jim Rugg is a fantastic cartoonist with a wide range of talent this format showcases wonderfully.  

Follow the Super-DuperToyBox on Instagram!

More Later- Make It FUN!

Justice League Infinity No.1 (Sept. 2021)

 Curious about the cover of this first issue of Justice League Infinity, I opened it to find it was essentially a continuation of the Justice League Unlimited series that ran parallel with the wildly popular animated show from 2004-2006. I hadn't discovered JLU until I started this blog years later in 2010, but loved the vast and unprecedented roster of DC characters. This first book is narrated by my all-time favorite, Martian Manhunter, now separated from the League, living his life as many different individuals in search of understanding the often complex human race. Simultaneously, J'onn J'onzz reintroduces Amazo's return, also in search of his own identity and place in the universe...

Meanwhile, the League has surprised the Flash with a birthday party!

The festivities are soon rudely interrupted by Granny Goodness and her Parademons from Apokolips, the situation made even more dire by Kalibak's arrival, challenging Granny for the honor of conquering the Justice League!

Martian Manhunter's mentally tethered instinct to race to his teammates and join the fight is tempered by his commitment to leave that endless battle in continuance of his pursuit in a more universal understanding...

Amazo's similar effort to understand his own existence grows more fierce, while Mr. Miracle reverses the trace polarities of Granny and Kalibak's boom tubes, sending them back to Apokolips with a great explosion ….!

Finally, while retelling the spectacular victory to Lois Lane over a candlelit dinner, Superman disappears, an else-worlds Superman left in his place, demanding what Lois did to him. The chest insignia reminds me of the Multiverse German Superman that appeared in Final Crisis, so I'm curious about the second issue of Justice League Infinity. While I'd hoped for a self-contained issue of this book, I must say it caught the mood of JLU, including the humorous banter surrounding Flash's birthday party, the love triangle between Jon Stewart, Shayera, and Vixen, and the use of Amazo's return to kick off the series. I love seeing the Bruce Timm-inspired art again as well, in all it's cartoony splash- colorful and fun, like comics should be.

More Later- Make It FUN!

Incredible Hulk No.141 (1971)

I love these one dollar Marvel True Believers reprints, and pulled this Incredible Hulk No.141 from 1971, introducing Doc Samson! Psychiatrist Leonard Samson helps General Ross and Major Talbot capture the Hulk, intent on using his inherent gamma force to reverse Betsy Ross' bizarre condition, turned to glass from an unfortunate blood transfusion with villain Sandman in issue No.138. Doctor Samson's calculations are inexplicably correct, and Betsy is miraculously returned to her corporeal form!

Later that night, Doctor Samson investigates a suspicion that remaining gamma energy from the transfer might enhance a person's physicality, and returns to the laboratory to test that theory on himself ...!

Doctor Leonard Samson then lives out his life-long dream to become the hero Doc Samson, and sets out to win the love of Betsy Ross. Filled with jealously, Bruce Banner resolves to do whatever necessary to win Betsy back ...!

In desperation, Banner returns to the laboratory, reviving his monstrous alter-ego in a horrific explosion! Doc Samson arrives on the seen, challenging the Green Goliath, resulting in a thundering brawl in the city streets...

Defeated, Doc Samson is spared further humiliation when Betsy breaks free of her father's restraint, rushing to the Hulk's fallen challenger. To Hulk's visible disappointment, Betsy's expression of concern for Doc Samson leaves the the behemoth again misunderstood and alone....

Follow the Super-DuperToyBox on Instagram!

More Later- Make It FUN!

Wolverine Black White & Blood No.1 (NOV 2020)

I rarely pick up any single issue comics lately, but I was intrigued by this new title, Wolverine: Black White and Blood. I loved the Batman: Black and White title that was revived a few years ago, so I had to try an issue out. This book is meant to be a never-before-told tales sort of publication, and while some may ponder the necessity of another Wolverine series, the power of only black, white, and red is graphic and fitting of the character. It is predictably graphic in it's depiction of the sort of eviscerations administered by Wolverine on his unfortunate combatants. I love seeing all the drawing/inking  in a comic laid bare without color in black and white comics, and artists Adam Kubert, Joshua Cassara, and Declan Shalvey all bring their A game to these three short stories I sincerely enjoyed.

In "Beast Within Them", writer Gerry Duggan and artist Adam Kubert tell a tale of Logan's Weapon X days, Canadian Government Dept. K agents pitting a feral Wolverine against sequentially more and more powerful opponents, only to find he is virtually undefeatable. I love how they retrieve a spent Wolverine using a giant magnet at the end, as he catches his human reflection in a pool of blood he is lifted from.
 

Writer Matthew Rosenberg and artist Joshua Cassara pit a Hydra Grand Inquisitor against a captive Wolverine in the spy-versus-spy "I Shall Be a Wolf", in which Nick Fury takes part. But Inquisitor Hersh has unwittingly fallen into Wolverine's trap in reality, ending this short story with a bang! The fight scenes are fantastic!

Declan Shalvey does double duty on the last tale, "Cabin Fever", adopting Frank Quitely's 2001 New X-Men look. There are no survivors in the end, save an orphaned child and the cop that arrived too late to save his partner, avenged by Wolverine only minutes before. Wolverine is one of my favorite characters, and this issue made me want to pick up the next! Recommended!

Follow the Super-DuperToyBox on Instagram!

More Later- Make It FUN!