Add It To My Want List: Battlefield Action #84

Weaving your way through the maze of Charlton reprints from the late 70s and early 80s can be exhausting. More than once, I've picked up a cheap book with the hopes that some forgotten Ditko or Aparo drawn gem was inside, only to be disappointed by stories produced by 3rd tier creators. Battlefield Action 84 (December, 1983), however, holds a great deal of promise. The Overstreet Guide notes that this book contains three reprinted reprints with Jack Kirby artwork. The GCD notes that one is certainly Kirby, while two have a (?) following his name, as well as the comment that the stories come from Foxhole. Well, even if there's only a single Kirby story inside (and my bet that that they are all Kirby), this one is worth tracking down as I'm sure there's a copy sitting in a dollar bin somewhere just waiting for me to find it and give it a good home.

Exit Stage Left: Doctor Solar, Man of the Atom #31

This is a very strange final issue. Doctor Solar was initially cancelled back in 1969, when Gold Key decided to wrap up the series with issue #27. For one reason or another, the powers that be decided to reboot the good Doctor a dozen years later under the Whitman imprint. While I believe the first issue of this new title was unused inventory, the remaining three issue featured all-new Doctor Solar stories written by Roger McKenzie and drawn by Dan Spiegle. Also included are stylish Magnus back-ups, written by McKenzie with Frank Bolle on the art chores. The lead story in this one features a pretty 'out there' store involving a struggling actor and an electrical accident. It has a Hollywood setting, and really brought to mind Crossfire. the Magnus story is fairly uneventful, except that the reader is promised an upcoming Magnus title that never materialized. Unlike those great Silver Age covers, this one is simply made from recoloured interior artwork. Yawn. All in all, it's a strange last gasp for some great 60s characters.

Trade Marks: Black Diamond Detective Agency

I picked up a copy of this book a few months ago and really anticipated reading it. I love everything I've seen Eddie Campbell do - especially From Hell. The premise here is very intriguing - a massive explosion creates a manhunt conducted by the titular agency. The script is spare, and where it works, it really works - the opening sequence is well orchestrated chaos, When it fails, however, it fails badly. The later action sequences are tough to follow (especially the climatic scene) and too many of the detectives look like twins. This mucks up the whole conspiracy at the end, as the reader (unless he or she is much more astute than yours truly), is still trying to sort out all of the players. It might all become a bit more clear upon a second reading, but I don't feel terribly inspired to do so at present. It is a wonderful little package, and loved the look and feel of the book. Campbell is an amazing talent, but this one needed to be executed a bit better. Trade Mark: B-

Steve Ditko Cover of the Week: Many Ghosts of Doctor Graves #33

Steve Ditko certainly produced many, many weird covers for Charlton during the 70s, but this one has to rank right up there among the weirdest. I love a good voodoo doll motif, and this one is spectacular. The dolls are unbelievably creepy, and don't actually look anything like the truly Ditkoesque man doubled over in pain. Their black eyes really creep me out, and that expressionless doll in the foreground is a very nice touch. Ditko didn't draw any of the interiors for this book, and the 'Doll Makers' story iteself was drawn by Pat Boyette. Those dolls have the Boyette touch to them, so I have a feeling that Ditko drew these, trying to keep true to Boyette's designs. I don't actually own this one - so I can't confirm how much they look like the dollars in the interior. A true Charlton oddity.

Reprint This! Green Arrow : The Wonder Year

As I've likely mentioned one or twice or a dozen times, I was a huge fan of Mike Grell's Green Arrow series. In 1993, a little miniseries was released that nearly slipped below my radar. Sure, Green Arrow's origin tale had been told many, many times - but I guess that Grell wanted a shot at it. Everyone in the DCU deserved their own Year One, don't they? Now there are countless miniseries from the 90s, so why does this one deserve a reprint? Two words: Gray Morrow. This is one of the last comic books works of Morrow's that I bought off the racks. He inks his own pencils here (over Grell's layouts), and it looks exquisite. For some reason, Gray Morrow is not a name I hear people mentioned very often when the all-time greats are discussed. That's a shame as the man could draw anything. I'd love to see the late artist's talent showcased for a new generation by putting this one back into circulation. Even if this story is no longer a part of the Arrow Family canon, it still deserves to be seen. Failing that, I hope that the Grell stuff will eventually gets the Showcase Presents treatment, and it would be wise if DC puts included this one.

Single Issue Hall of Fame: Action Comics #719

I'm as surprised as your are that I've nominated a 'mullet-era' Superman story for the Hall of Fame, but trust me on this one. I wasn't reading many Superman books in the mid-90s as the multiples titles with those little triangles were a bit too taxing for both my brain and wallet. It was a real treat to find a 'one and done' issue reuniting the 'World's Finest' team as they take on the Joker. The cover sold me on this one, but the story is why I love it. Lois has been poisoned by the Joker, and Superman and Batman learn that the only way to save Lois is to take the Joker's life. Superman is frustrated by the fact that his powers are of no use. I'm sure there are a million plot holes in this story, and that a true fanboy would point out that he should have gone back in time or something - but that misses the whole point. I loved this one when I read it back in the 90s, and was not surprised to see that it was written by David Michelinie, as he loves to play around with moral and/or ethical dilemmas. It's quite refreshing to see Superman trying to retain his Silver Age morals in the world of the Punisher and Spawn. Spoiler Alert: Everyone lives, but Lois is pissed.

Hidden Gems: Sea Devils #13

This one may have slipped below your radar, but it's time to rectify that. I'm a bit surprised that it hasn't become more notorious amongst collectors as it is both an artistic triumph and a Fourth Wall breaking hidden gem. The premise is terrific; different artists are auditioning to become the new chronicler of the Sea Devils' adventures. Are you with we? Are you having an Earth-Prime moment or are these the Earth-One versions of the artists? It starts of with none other than Joe Kubert, who pencils the first chapter, followed by Gene Colan with the Andru/Esposito team concluding things. It's a pretty neat gimmick, with the artists getting involved in the story, and was certainly something quite novel for the time. Readers were asked to vote on their favourite. I'm not sure what accounting firm DC used to tally the votes, but something might have gone awry, as none of these folks landed the gig. Irv Novick did the next issue, and Howard Purcell would eventually come aboard for a long run. It's worth tracking this one down, as it's a wonderful curio and features an all-star lineup of artists.

You've Been Warned: Star Wars #22

I love Archie Goodwin, I really do. He's one of the greatest writers ever to work in funnybooks, but everyone has a bad day. I know that half the problem with the Star Wars series is that Marvel was so hamstrung by Lucasfilm's controls and restrictions that story arc options were limited. That being said, there's really no excuse for something this bad. Han and Chewie are stuck in some sort of virtual space royal rumble, while all of the other character engage in extremely dull and overly wordy dialogue. I'll also point an accusing finger at Carmine Infantino. This is pretty close to the nadir of his career, and his work is extremely ill-suite to this series. The action sequences are poorly designed. I think I could draw a better Wookie. There's a cliffhanger ending, but it did not resonate with me, as I was simply happy to be done with this one.

Back to eBay

Well, it looks like we need to get our chimney repaired. The problem with 100 year old houses is that the brick starts to show its age, putting the people, cars and pets below in peril. I'm heading back to eBay to try to raise some funds. I'm not normally the type to shill for my own stuff, but I will be selling off some stuff that may be of interest to readers of this blog. Things have been selling for a fraction of Guide, so it will likely all be quite affordable.

It will be a wide variety of stuff from the 50s through the 80s (I've already sold many of my true jewels, so this is more the 'quirky' stuff). There will be some Marvel and DC stuff, but also some Dell, Gold Key, Charlton and Tower for those folks with an eye for the unusual. My seller ID is sma12e - and I'll be throwing 10-20 books per week up there until mid-November or so. I haven't quite decided just what to sell, so I'll be spending some quality time re-reading some old favourites before setting them free.

http://myworld.ebay.ca/sma12e/

Wolf Pack Covers

Here's another fun cover theme that has been used much more often than you might think. The earliest example I could find is Creig Flessel cover New Adventure Comics #23 from 1938. Here are a few more that followed its lead.

Fight Comics is a wonderful source for awesome covers, and the cover to Fight Comics #10 (October, 1940)is no exception. Here, the dreaded "Wolves of the Yukon" attack a young couple out for a romantic snowshoe. Luckily, they brought along some firearms. This cover is by Dan Zolnerowich, a name which is new to me but he seems quite capable of delivering an exciting Golden Age cover. I'm sure that this couple wished they'd trust their gut instincts and gone to Niagara Falls for their honeymoon.

Next up is the impeccable cover to House of Secrets #146 (June-July 1977) by the impeccable Gray Morrow. Now, I've probably said it a thousand times, but I loooooove Gray Morrow. He didn't do too many covers for DC in the 70s, and that's a real shame as he was at his artistic peak and they had many titles that would have been a great fit for his style. There are some really interesting color choices on this cover as well. This poor sap is having a rough day, as he is dealing not just with five hungry wolves but a bear trap and the ghost of a crazy recluse. Oh yeah, he's also dropped his shotgun.

LB Cole produced some amazing covers during his comic book career, but not many are as gorgeous (and as highly coveted) as the cover to Cat-Man Comics #31 (June, 1946). It is simply gorgeous, with a circle of wolves set against a the wonderful backdrop of falling snow and sheer blackness. This is a truly singular cover and has earned its place among the truly great covers of the 40s. I love how the wolves, as well as their trainer, are emerging from the darkness. I love the use of black, which was pretty rare back then. We feel as though we've just dropped into a truly perilous situation. How could anyone have passed it up back then? It's also got a Pieta vibe, so that an nice bonus.

You just had to know that Berni Wrightson would produce a wolfpack cover (although, these guys are leaning more towards the werewolf category), and he did a great one with the cover to Weird Mystery Tales #21 (August, 1975). I like this one because we're dealing with the anticipation of the attack, as our hero is steadying himself against the tree wondering how many hacks he'll get in before he's taken down. It is signed 'Wrightson '73), so I don't know if it was originally intended for a different book or series. I've seen that elsewhere with covers and splashes pages during this era at DC. My guess is that they were commissioning as much as possible from Wrightson, Kaluta et al. and using it when they could. Weird Mystery Tales is one of those nearly forgotten horror titles that was really quite strong.

Reprint This! Señorita Rio

Fiction House produced some amazing comic books back in the 40s and 50s, with several great ongoing strips. One of my favourites (from the little that I've seen) is Señorita Rio, which ran in Fight Comics. Our heroine is actress Rita Farrar, who worked as an agent for the U.S. government. I love a good spy book, and this one is full of intrigue and exotic locales. The scripts are pretty standard stuff, but the artwork is to die for. The page to the left was drawn by the great Bob Lubbers, but much of the run was drawn by the forgotten grand dame of the Golden Age: Lily Renee. AC Comics has reprinted some of the stories in recent years, but it would be wonderful to see them all collected in a single volume.

Trade Marks: Dropsie Avenue

Long time fans of Will Eisner know what to expect here, as this 1995 graphic novel showcases Eisner at his 'slice of life' best. I think it's as good a place as any for new readers to dip their toes into the Eisner pool. He is very skillful in his ability to portray sprawling history and societal change through the examination of the intimate conversations and interactions of a single street. So much is conveyed so much through these characters, but it is done so subtlety that it may take a while for the reader to realize that Dropsie Avenue represents the world as a whole. From era to era, from culture to culture, Eisner examines the human experience at the street level. We've seen him do this before - but this is up there with his very best work. The art is very strong, as Eisner knows how to keep the eye movie, which is especially challenging in this kind of action-free story. I've got the 2006 W.W. Norton paperback, and I much prefer this format to the larger books produced in the mid to late 90s. It does retain the introduction by Eisner to the 1995 edition. Trade Mark: A

Cheap Grapes: Grandes Serres Les Portes du Castelas Cotes du Rhone Blanc 2007

Yes, that name is a mouthful, but so is the wine. This is definitely the white wine of the year in my household. You certainly don't see whites from Cotes du Rhone every day, and certainly not such a great wine at such an affordable price ($14.95 CDN here in Ontario). This a a blend of five grapes, including including Roussanne and Mausanne, two local grapes. This leads to a variety of flavours, including two layers of fruitiness, beginning with a sweet nectarine and moving into a slightly citrusy pink grapefruit. There's also just a hint of that mineral taste that I admire in good whites . We bought a half dozen bottles of this one and have been enjoying it with all types of food, and even on its own. It has been selling briskly here, and I urge everyone to get their hands on some before its bone. Put some aside for next summer, as you won't likely find a comparable white at this price.

Single Issue Hall of Fame: Batman #185

This was the first 80-Page Giant that I ever bought. It would have been in 1980 or so, and I'll bet it didn't cost me more than a buck, as that's usually where I drew the line as a 8-year old. It was very early exposure to DC Silver Age stories. They were certainly unlike any I'd ever read, and this grouping of Robin-centric stories is particularly dramatic. The "Robin Dies at Dawn" story is truly one of the best Silver Age Batman stories and, although it has been collected elsewhere, it's great to see it in this format. All of the stories in this collection are wonderfully entertaining, and serve as a great example of the charm of the 50s and early 60s. "The Boy Wonder Confesses" and "Batman Jr." are two standouts that further explore the relationship between Batman and Robin. I don't think I've ever seen the phrase 'Personal Adventures' used on a superhero book. The other reason for tracking down a copy of this book is that it showcases Shelly Moldoff's talent as a storyteller, as he could make just about any premise work. A definite Hall of Famer.

4 Years of Seduction of the Indifferent

I realized that at some point over the weekend, this blog passed its 4th Anniversary. I can hardly believe it, as it seems like yesterday I registered with Blogger to get things rolling. What's changed over the 4 years? Nothing. You've probably noticed that this is the least visually dynamic blog out there. Why? Well I certainly don't have the time to do a big overhaul. Even if I did, I don't have any idea how to create one of those exciting blogsm, loaded with graphics and vidoes etc.... Anyhow, I just like to thank you all for frequenting this low tech corner of the Internet. Hopefully you still find my ramblings entertaining enough to forgive the relatively spartan surroundings.