Or – “Six Degrees Of Walter Kovacs…” With all the recent talk about a Watchmen prequel, I started thinking about the days before Watchmen was an untouchable institution, before it was a movie, even before it was a million-selling trade paperback. I started thinking about the days when Watchmen had an official DC Role-Playing Game supplement, when talk of action figures had us all in a rage, when DC actually DID an in-continuity sequel to Watchmen and– Oh, wait. You hadn’t heard about that last one? Well, looks like we have something to talk about, don’t we?
Browsing: Retro Review
Remember when the Avengers came together to deal with the menace of the Hulk? Did you know that somebody else did the same thing almost 20 years earlier?
Or – “In Honor Of That Whose Name Must Not Be Spoken. (No, Not Voldemort.)” TIME FOR THE HALFTIME SHOOOOW! For those who didn’t know, there’s a copyrighted sports event happening in the states this evening, involving teams of guys with helmets engaging in ritual combat to control 300 yards of territory a little bit at a time. Whatever else happens during the game, at least we know it will be more entertaining than today’s Retro Review. The numbers prove it.
Or – “The Lacuna Between Golden And Silver Ages…” In my mind, the beginning of the Silver Age of Comics is marked by Showcase #4, the first appearance of Barry Allen, in late 1956. (Some people mark it with the first appearance of J’onn J’onzz in 1955 or Captain Comet in 1951.) But as with any of the nebulous ages of comics, true Silver Age story-telling didn’t kick in all at once, allowing certain characters to keep up their late-Golden Age antics for many years. This is one of the most fondly-remembered issues of that weird negative zone of comics…
Or – “Sex & Violence And All That Other Fun Stuff…” My recent review of Bomb Queen got me thinking about adult themes in comics. When handled well, they can mean the difference between Captain Atom and Doctor Manhattan. When utilized poorly, we can be faced with ‘Sultry Teenage Super-Foxes.’ (I wouldn’t necessarily google that one.) In the early days of Vertigo, Grant Morrison took advantage of the Mature Readers tag, channeled the spirit of the (then-recent) ‘Natural Born Killers,’ and went for broke with a story that I remember fondly to this day… **This Retro Review is Grant Morrison…
Or – “Lost Classics Of Days Gone By…” One of my duties at the comic shop (Gatekeeper Hobbies, Huntoon & Gage, Topeka! Ask us about our Warhammer Tournament!) is to keep the back issue bins fully stocked with, as bossman Deon puts it, “comics that somebody will actually ever BUY.” This often proves difficult for me, as I remember the awesomeness about most all the books in our bins (with the possible exception of Team Youngblood) and my natural instinct is to keep awesome cult titles like Howard The Duck readily available to the reading public. Today, Deon and I…
Or – “I Suppose Their Hearts Were In The Right Place…” In one of our Major Spoilers Podcasts, Stephen, Rodrigo and I talked about when the various ages of comics began. I believed (still do, actually) that the Bronze Age began when Neal Adams & Denny O’Neil crafted Green Lantern #76 back in 1970, with it’s echoing query for the Emerald Gladiator about working for blue skins and saving orange skins, but having no concern for the plight of skin-colors right here on Earth. That book came out in the early months of 1970, and ushered in a period of…
Or – “…And A New Beginning.” And Welcome to the New Year! (Sorry, I’m not going to kiss you. I’m a happily married man, after all. But, that doesn’t mean there isn’t some kissing to be had, Faithful Spoilerite.) Often, when I consider what comics I want to Retro Review, I find myself gravitating towards the years wherein I really discovered comics as an art form, circa my early teens in the mid-Reagan-era. When I started thinking about what book would make the perfect start for a new year full of promise and high hopes, one thing was certain: Alan…
Or – “To All Things, An Ending…” As with any year, 2011 has it’s detractors and it’s proponents, but for me, it was kind of a wash. Not as venomous as 2006, nor as wonderful as 2004, the year before the Mayan end-times but after we make contact is like a 70’s George Carlin guest-host episode of the ‘Tonight Show.’ Sure, it’s two things you like, but neither is quite at its best. Still, the end of ’11 has gotten me thinking how most comics don’t actually GET one, and how a really well-crafted ending is an ever rarer beast…
Or -“In Which Life Is, Indeed, Somewhat Like A Hurricane…” Y’know, I’m breaking my carefully planned and meticulously balanced Retro Review schedule to do today’s review, but what the heck? It’s the holidays! (And besides, pretty much all the Faithful Spoilerites are all too aware that I am far from meticulous nor all that much of a planner…)
Or – “From Out Of The Hidden Longbox…” Several years ago, the previous manager at Gatekeeper Hobbies (Huntoon & Gage, Topeka, ask me about our copy of Showcase #8!) bought several longboxes of comics on Saturday buying day. One longbox contained 90’s overflow books for the 3 for a dollar bin, one contained some Bronze Age Batman, Spider-Man and such, but one box contained a stack of random Archie, Uncle Scrooge and various cartoon titles, what my late grandma would call funny books. We get a lot of these type of books brought in to the store, but they seldom…
Or – “More Evidence That Revamps Are Hardly A New Development…” I find it interesting that, of all the heroes of the 1940s-era, Plastic Man seems to be the one destined to have children. Fans of the 1970’s Plastic Man cartoon will recall his adventures with Baby Plas, while Kingdom Come featured his son as the hero called Offspring. A memorable JLA story featured his illegitimate son from a youthful indiscretion (who later became a Teen Titan, also calling himself Offspring, because Alex Ross apparently needs royalties.) But, have you ever wondered where all this Plastic Dad business kicked off?
Or – “Truth In Advertising Dept.” NOT A HOAX! NOT A WHAT IF!! NOT AN IMAGINARY STORY!!! The staggering tale that could change Spidey’s life FOREVER!!!! EXCLAMATION POINTS!!!!!
Or – “The True Test Of My High-School Spanish!” Before the Major Spoilers Podcast, I had never met co-host Rodrigo (though, in truth, I have never “met” the man in person) but I often find it remarkable the things that we have in common. During break in recording sessions, the Major Spoilers team engages in bull sessions on all topics and once in a while, the topic turns our mutual appreciation of the wild and wacky worlds of professional wrestling. (The “our” here doesn’t usually include Stephen, who is perfectly content not knowing the difference between a wrist lock and…