Cyberspace Comics

December 6, 2011

Comic Book Cover Swipes Exposed #88 Squadron Supreme

Filed under: Swiped: Comic Book Cover Swipes Exposed! — Doorman @ 9:47 am

After looking at hundreds of comic book covers, it becomes quickly apparent that not every cover is 100% original. Whether done intentionally or even underhandedly, there’s something about uncovering these “swipes” that adds a new element of fun to reading and collecting comics.

Mark Gruenwald wrote hundreds of comics but the story that he was most proud of was Squadron Supreme. After he died, Marvel Comics published a trade paperback collecting the twelve-issue limited series and Gruenwald’s ashes were mixed into the ink! A new cover was provided for the collection by Alex Ross and was later paid homage to by Gary Frank.

Squadron Supreme TPB
August 1997
Alex Ross

Squadron Supreme vol. II #1
May 2006
Gary Frank

On Ebay: Squadron Supreme
On AtomicAvenue: Squadron Supreme

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December 5, 2011

One-Shot At Greatness #88 Magnetic Men featuring Magneto

Filed under: One-Shot At Greatness — Doorman @ 11:05 am

Because publishers want you to buy their product every month, comics are typically serial in nature. However, occasionally (and more often nowadays than ever before) publishers launch a comic title that is only meant to last for one issue. While ongoing series often have multiple chances to hook in new readers, the comics highlighted in this ongoing investigations only had One-Shot At Greatness!

Magnetic Men Featuring Magneto #1 Publisher: Amalgam Comics
Cover Date: June 1997
Cover Price: $1.95
Writer: Tom Peyer
Artist: Barry Kitson

When the DC and Marvel Universes merged in Marvel vs DC, a new one was created: the Amalgam Universe. This one-shot combined Magneto and his Brotherhood of Mutants with the Metal Men.

*Warning! Plot Spoilers Below*

Magneto discovers that his Magnetic Men (Nickel, Iron, Cobalt, Antimony, Bismuth) have gained sentience so, he creates new identities for them and sends them out to live amongst humanity. Now, alone, he journeys to the living dinosaur island of Krakoa to continue his mission of defeating his brother Will Magnus, who wants to destroy mutantkind.

But, the Magnetic Men aren’t given much time to enjoy their newfound “humanity”. They’re quickly attacked and defeated by the Sinister Society (Soniklaw, Kultron, Vance Cosmic, Deathborg, Black Vulture) and brought back to Chemodam and Quasimodox – who intend to take over the Magnetic Men’s bodies.

Magneto’s attack on his brother’s fortress is halted when his magnetometer beacon warns him that the Magnetic Men are in danger. He follows the beacon and frees them from the Sinister Society – and during the battle, they release that they all have a common enemy in Will Magnus. United in purpose, a new team emerges!

There’s a lot of action happening in this issue that leaves very little time for character development. It’s got an enormous cast of 14 characters to juggle around but, it’s still a fun read that takes little brain power to enjoy. Not the finest example of comic story-telling but the art sure is nice and shiny.

On Ebay: Amalgam | Tom Peyer | Barry Kitson | Magneto | Metal Men
On AtomicAvenue: Amalgam Comics

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December 2, 2011

Guide to Marvel Comics Presents #38

Filed under: Guide to Marvel Comics Presents — Doorman @ 10:32 am

Marvel Comics Presents launched in 1988 as an ad-free anthology showcasing four eight-page features, stuffed inside a wrap-around cover. This guide will tell you everything you wanted to know about the series – and more!

Cover Date: Mid December 1989 | Cover Price: $1.25 | Cover Artist: Mark Badger

Excalibur in “Having A Wild Weekend” conclusion
written by Michael Higgins
art by Erik Larsen

Finally reunited, Excalibur defeats Arcade by siccing the Merry Maladies (heroic versions of the Looney Toons – based on the Avengers) against his Loonies (the villain versions). While the battle rages on, they make for a hasty retreat back home.

Wonder Man in “Stardust Miseries” part 1
written by Michael Higgins
art by Javier Saltares

While on monitor duty for the West Coast Avengers, something infects Wonder Man‘s brain and causes him to go a little crazy. After a brief battle with the rest of the team (Hawkeye, Vision, Scarlet Witch), he quits the team. Soon after, he meets a mysterious blonde woman who seems to be luring him toward her.

Hulk in “Art For Art’s Sake“
written by Bill Mumy
art by Marshall Rogers

Mr. Fixit (aka the Hulk) has been sent, by his boss Michael Berengetti, to collect a $109,000 debt owed him by Mr. Gruska. Additionally, there’s a little matter of interest to be collected, as well. And, to settle that debt, Berengetti demands that Gruska gets one of his record talents to put on a private concert. Unfortunately, the musician that he wants (Brian Newman) is a recluse and refuses to take Gruska’s calls. So, Joe Fixit is sent to do some … negotiating.

Wolverine in “Black Shadow, White Shadow” part 1
written by Marv Wolfman
art by John Buscema

Wolverine journeys from Madripoor to Hong Kong to discover that an entire city block has been destroyed – wiped totally clean! As he investigates the area further, he gets caught between city scavengers and police. But, he’s in town for other business, so he sneaks off towards his goal.

Excalibur’s feature concludes this issue and I’m not all that upset about it. Erik Larsen’s art was a pleasure to look at, and the nods to classic TV/Movies were fun but the storyline itself wasn’t very involved or complex. In fact, there’s not even a mention of why Arcade kidnapped them – or who he was attacking them for. Y’see, Arcade is usually a hitman, and assuming he wasn’t doing this as work-for-hire, the story never reveals his purpose for picking on Excalibur. The highlight was this issue’s double-page spread of the Merry Maladies vs the Loonies. It’s got Wiley Coyote (as Thor) smiting the Road Runner with the Acme version of Mjolnir!

After giving some other X-Men the spotlight (first Colossus then Cyclops followed by Havok), Marvel decided that it was time to give Wolverine another lead feature. Hulk’s story wasn’t anything to write home about and the first part of the Wonder Man story isn’t all that engaging, either. On top of that, I wasn’t a big fan of Mark Badger’s cover, either.

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December 1, 2011

Famous Fanmail #87 Don McGregor

Filed under: Famous Fanmail — Doorman @ 3:13 pm

You may not be surprised to learn that most people in the comic business grew up reading comic books. However, you might be interested in knowing what they were reading. Here’s a look at “Famous Fanmail”!

Here’s another letter from writer, Don McGregor, to the Fantastic Four. This one was published in Fantastic Four #86 (cover date – May 1969).

Fantastic Four letters page with Don McGregor

On Ebay: Fantastic Four | Don McGregor
On AtomicAvenue: Fantastic Four

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November 30, 2011

Connecting Covers #9 Secret Invasion: Runaways/Young Avengers

Filed under: Connecting Covers — Doorman @ 1:04 pm

A fun aspect of comic books is that sometimes their covers combine to make an even larger image. Here’s a look at some connecting covers.

The Runaways and the Young Avengers were given a mini-series to explore their part in the Secret Invasion. All three covers by Michael Ryan combine to make one image.

Secret Invasion: Runaways/Young Avengers #1 2 3

On Ebay: Secret Invasion | Runaways | Young Avengers
On AtomicAvenue: Secret Invasion | Runaways | Young Avengers

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November 29, 2011

Comic Book Cover Swipes Exposed #87 Avengers

Filed under: Swiped: Comic Book Cover Swipes Exposed! — Doorman @ 11:03 am

Avengers #87 revealed the origin of the Black Panther and, years later it’s cover was paid homage by Arthur Suydam’s “zombiefied” cover to Black Panther vol. IV #29.

Avengers #87
April 1971
John Buscema

Black Panther vol. IV #29
August 2007
Arthur Suydam

On Ebay: Avengers | Black Panther
On AtomicAvenue: Avengers | Black Panther

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November 28, 2011

One-Shot At Greatness #87 Cyclops

Filed under: One-Shot At Greatness — Doorman @ 9:26 am

Cyclops vol. II #1 Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Date: May 2011
Cover Price: $2.99
Writer: Lee Black
Artist: Dean Haspiel

*Warning! Plot Spoilers Below*

Cyclops‘ latest sulkfest is interrupted by the path of destruction caused by Batroc the Leaper and the Circus of Crime as they race back to report to their new, mysterious leader. Cyclops hops on to a stolen (ok … borrowed) bicycle and tracks down the villains. He quickly dispatches them with his optic blast but can he defeat their boss (spoiler: It’s Baron Zemo XII) without the aid of his fellow X-Men?

If you’re missing the classic version of Cyclops (less cocky and more inexperienced … but still very straight-laced) or you’re just jonesing for some classic “silver-age” style fun, then this is the book for you. Black and Haspiel evoke the early days of Marvel but they execute it with modern storytelling – the best of both worlds! And hey! How about that Roger Cruz cover?

On Ebay: Cyclops
On AtomicAvenue: Cyclops

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November 25, 2011

Guide to Marvel Comics Presents #37

Filed under: Guide to Marvel Comics Presents — Doorman @ 10:09 am

Cover Date: Late December 1989 | Cover Price: $1.25 | Cover Artist: Dave Cockrum

Excalibur in “Having A Wild Weekend” part 7
written by Michael Higgins
art by Erik Larsen

Lockheed and Widget wake to find themselves dressed as Sherlock Holmes and Watson, hot on the trail of a dastardly villain! Meanwhile, Kitty Pryde finds a way to free them and Captain Britain from their confinements AND put the Loonies to sleep using the poppies from one of the prisons. Next up?! Time to take down the mastermind behind all of these … Murderworlds! (Oh, c’mon! You’ve gotta know who it is by now, don’tcha?)

Black Panther in “Panther’s Quest” conclusion
written by Don McGregor
art by Gene Colan

Black Panther narrowly escapes being drowned by Elmer Gore and manages to turn the fight around, defeating the mercenary. Finally, he can make his way, unfettered, into the mansion of Anton Pretorius (South African Magistrate of Communications) who is holding the Panther’s long-lost mother, Ramonda. He breaks in through a window to find his mother chained to a bedpost, the object of affection for Pretorius. The secret object, that is. For, surely, interracial love was forbidden in South Africa, at the time. Especially amongst high-ranking officials! Ramonda reveals that the letter she wrote was meant to protect him and that it did not reveal her true feelings. Like any real mother, she longed to be reunited with her son. And, now, with Anton easily defeated, they are!

Devil-Slayer in “To Slay The Devil“
written by Dwight Zimmerman
art by Rodney Ramos

Balthazar and a horde of other demons have lured Devil-Slayer into a trap, surrounding him within a night club. As their plot is exposed, he reaches into his shadow cloak and draws … Dragonfang! It’s Valkyrie’s sword – but for him to possess the sword, it must mean that she has died! He puts the thought aside, but, as the battle against a horde of demons continues, he finds his cloak is being controlled by an outside force. It transports him and the horde to the Border of the Land of the Dead where he encounters statues of Valkyrie, the Interloper, Manslaughter and Andromeda (their remains were left behind in New Defenders #152 – the final issue). After dispatching Balthazar and the other demons, Devil-Slayer determines that Dragonfang has transported him to this land to be reunited with its master’s remains.

With this issue, the longest story in MCP history draws to its end. Although, it really only signifies the beginning … the start of the healing process for the Black Panther’s relationship with his mother. At times, this story really seemed to drag on (to be fair, it is 216 pages in total). It expanded scenes that could have been handled in one page, into an 8-page tale. To be fair, it gave McGregor a chance to delve deep into the Panther’s mental-processes and revealed the thought or instincts behind his every move. Aside from being an important part of the Panther’s history, it also served to make the reader aware of how things were in South Africa. It was given the opportunity and allowed plenty of room in the story to show the plight of the black man, worked to death – and the white mercenaries ruling over them. This story was truly a shared feature – the unjust culture of South Africa was exposed and shared the spotlight equally with the Black Panther’s quest to find his mother.

As a continuity-junkie, I was excited to see that the Devil-Slayer story tied in well with the events of the last issue of the Defenders (or, New Defenders, as it was called, then). And, as a Marvel Zombie, I’m a bit ashamed to admit that I didn’t guess the identity of the Loonies’ boss (from the Excalibur feature) until Kitty Pryde called their prisons Murderworld.

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November 24, 2011

Famous Fanmail #86 Tony Isabella

Filed under: Famous Fanmail — Doorman @ 9:11 am

Tony Isabella is a writer that had his hands on lots of titles from Marvel’s bronze age: Ghost Rider, the Champions, Power Man, Iron Man and Captain America. Here, he pokes fun at Marvel’s past storylines involving identity-swapping. This letter was published in Fantastic Four #77 (cover date – August 1968).

Fantastic Four letters page with Tony Isabella

On Ebay: Fantastic Four | Tony Isabella
On AtomicAvenue: Fantastic Four

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November 23, 2011

Connecting Covers #8 Exiles

Filed under: Connecting Covers — Doorman @ 8:48 am

A fun aspect of comic books is that sometimes their covers combine to make an even larger image. Here’s a look at some connecting covers.

The Exiles’ World Tour storyline finished up in the Heroes Reborn universe. The final two covers can be put side by side – although, I think (story-wise) they’re meant to be put face to face!

On Ebay: Exiles
On AtomicAvenue: Exiles

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