Cyberspace Comics market report, reviews and more

November 22, 2011

Comic Book Cover Swipes Exposed #86 Fantastic Four

Filed under: Swiped: Comic Book Cover Swipes Exposed! — Doorman @ 8:39 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.

Fantastic Four #116 was a super-sized issue that saw Doctor Doom aligned with the Fantastic Four. Decades later it was fodder for another Suydam Marvel Zombies homage.

Fantastic Four #116
Fantastic Four #116
November 1971
John Buscema 		Black Panther vol. IV #28
Black Panther vol. IV #28
July 2007
Arthur Suydam

On Ebay: Fantastic Four | Black Panther
On AtomicAvenue: Fantastic Four | Black Panther

November 21, 2011

One-Shot At Greatness #86 Ultimate Civil War: Spider-Ham

Filed under: One-Shot At Greatness — Doorman @ 8:35 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!

Ultimate Civil War: Spider-Ham #1Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Date: March 2007
Cover Price: $2.99
Writer: J. Michael Straczynski
Artist: Mike Wieringo and more

*Warning! Plot Spoilers Below*

Spider-Ham goes on a trippy quest to locate his lost thought balloons. On his adventure, he gets caught in the middle of Marvel’s Civil War and then transported into space by Doctor Strange. Afterwards, he’s dropped into the Vietnam War which leads him to a portal that reveals some parallel heroes form his anthropomorphic version of the Marvel Universe including Wolverham, Iron Ham, and more. Doctor Strange scoops him back up and drops him off back to where the story started. And, finally, Spider-Ham finds thought balloons – he steals them from Spider-Rat! No … seriously!

This story was nearly 100% unenjoyable and almost totally incoherent. Its only redeeming quality was when it poked fun at Marvel’s newer policy of never using thought bubbles (and using narrative boxes, instead). There were quite a few pin-ups that were fun to look at by great artists including Skottie Young, Clayton Crain and Ariel Olivetti but not good enough to make up for the lousy story.

On Ebay: Spider-Ham
On AtomicAvenue: Spider-Ham

November 18, 2011

Guide to Marvel Comics Presents #36

Filed under: Guide to Marvel Comics Presents — Doorman @ 8:40 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!


Marvel Comics Presents #36
Cover Date: December 1989 | Cover Price: $1.25 | Cover Artist: Bill Sienkiewicz


Excalibur in “Having A Wild Weekend” part 6
written by Michael Higgins
art by Erik Larsen

Phoenix finds herself locked in a world of nothing but fire and flames. And, after a vision of the future-version of Kitty Pryde, she then finds herself in complete darkness. Outside the prisons, Kitty Pryde has reprogrammed one of the Loonies (Sylvester) to free her friend, Phoenix. By the end, nearly all of Excalibur has been freed – all but Captain Britain!

Black Panther in “Panther’s Quest” part 24
written by Don McGregor
art by Gene Colan

With his ankle caught in a trap, the Black Panther is easy prey for Pretorius’ advancing attack dog. The Panther frees himself just as the doberman jumps him. But, the animal is no match for the Warrior King of Wakanda. Advancing on the mansion where his mother is being held, the Panther must now fight his way through Gore, the mercenary.

Hellcat in “Encounter In The Alley Of Death“
written by Jack Harris
art by June Brigman

Hellcat stumbles upon some thugs threatening a woman but, she isn’t able to prevent them from shooting her and running away. As she tends to the woman in her dying moments, Hellcat discovers that she was an undercover cop. She uses the cop’s received to lead her back to a pharmaceutical company where Dr. Bartley is developing profitable varieties of street drugs. With her athletic prowess, Hellcat is able to avenge the cop’s death and shut down the drug lab.

The Excalibur and Hellcat features were very bland, this issue I was quite disappointed by the Bill Sienkiewicz cover (and it’s not because I’m not a fan of his work, either). Black Panther’s feature was double-length this time and chock full of action!

On Ebay: Marvel Comics Presents | Black Panther | Hellcat | Excalibur
On AtomicAvenue: Marvel Comics Presents | Black Panther | Hellcat | Excalibur

November 17, 2011

Famous Fanmail #85 Don McGregor

Filed under: Famous Fanmail — Doorman @ 10:04 am

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”!

Don McGregor has written a lot of comics. He’s also written a lot of good comics (an important distinction). Two of his most well-regarded runs were the Killraven features from Amazing Adventures (loosely based on H.G. Wells’ the War of the Worlds) and the Black Panther: Panther’s Rage storyline from Jungle Action. His graphic novel, Sabre: Slow Fade of an Endangered Species was actually published months before Will Eisner’s A Contract With God (which is widely considered “the first graphic novel”) and went on to later become an ongoing series. McGregor also went on to write non-super-hero comics, which was a bold move, at the time. He got a letter published in Fantastic Four #74 (cover date – May 1968).

Fantastic Four letters page with Don McGregor

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

November 16, 2011

Connecting Covers #7 Exiles

Filed under: Connecting Covers — Doorman @ 9:39 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 reality-hopping Exiles finally ventured into the Marvel 2099 Universe after six years of publishing. To celebrate the story, the covers of issues #75 & 76 join together to create one image.

Exiles #75 76

On Ebay: Exiles
On AtomicAvenue: Exiles

November 15, 2011

Comic Book Cover Swipes Exposed #85 Fantastic Four

Filed under: Swiped: Comic Book Cover Swipes Exposed! — Doorman @ 11:40 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.

Fantastic Four #3 debuted the Baxter Building, the Fantastic-Car (and other inventions) along with a lesser-known villain named, Miracle Man (no! not that Miracleman!). 45 years later, a Black Panther cover paid homage to that issue.

Fantastic Four #3
Fantastic Four #3
March 1962
Jack Kirby 		Black Panther vol. IV #27
Black Panther vol. IV #27
June 2007
Niko Henrichon

On Ebay: Fantastic Four | Black Panther
On AtomicAvenue: Fantastic Four | Black Panther

November 14, 2011

One-Shot At Greatness #85 Black Panther 2099

Filed under: One-Shot At Greatness — Doorman @ 8:15 pm

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!

Black Panther 2099 #1Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Date: November 2004
Cover Price: $2.99
Writer: Robert Kirkman
Artist: Kyle Hotz

This is one of several one-shots that envisions what the Marvel Knights relaunches would have been like if they were published in 2099. In this future version of the Marvel Universe, the government re-enacted the Mutant Registration Act. The super-heroes joined together to defy the government but were eventually overpowered and went underground.

*Warning! Plot Spoilers Below*

The Black Panther bloodline has been disrupted ever since the death of T’Challa’s son. A council was formed to keep order and prevent every citizen from attempting to usurp the kingdom of Wakanda. However, it appears that the council has grown corrupt over the years and newly appointed councilman, K’Shamba, doesn’t like it. At their latest meeting, they were attacked by a horde of Doombots and within a mere six weeks, Wakanda was completely conquered by Doctor Doom. However, a resistance force has grown over this time, one which K’Shamba has joined and been quickly promoted to leader.

In the bid to inspire more Wakandans to join the movement, K’Shamba dons the sacred uniform of the Black Panther. And, inspire, it does! Within mere weeks, the Wakandans have driven Doom from their homeland and K’Shamba has been fortified in his new position as the Warrior King of Wakanda. But, Doom always has another plan for conquest…

Kirkman & Hotz have put together a future that doesn’t look all that different than today’s world. Their tale of a leaderless nation, banding together to find a new leader and to oust their newly-enforced dictator was well done and could have easily been decompressed into a six-issue storyline with a lot more characterization. But, one-shot’s all we’ve got so, once you get over the disappointment that it’s not set within the original 2099 universe, you can begin to enjoy this tale of freedom.

On Ebay: Black Panther | Robert Kirkman | Kyle Hotz
On AtomicAvenue: Black Panther

November 11, 2011

Guide to Marvel Comics Presents #35

Filed under: Guide to Marvel Comics Presents — Doorman @ 7:54 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!


Marvel Comics Presents #35
Cover Date: Mid November 1989 | Cover Price: $1.25 | Cover Artist: Tom Grindberg


Excalibur in “Having A Wild Weekend” part 5
written by Michael Higgins
art by Erik Larsen

This segment of the story focuses on Nightcrawler‘s prison – trapped in a freakshow and attacked by rip offs of the characters from Rocky & Bullwinkle. Meanwhile, Meggan meets up with Kitty Pryde, who seems to have an idea as to who’s behind everything. At the end, Kitty uses her phasing powers to rescue Nightcrawler, too.

Black Panther in “Panther’s Quest” part 23
written by Don McGregor
art by Gene Colan

The Black Panther begins his invasion of the estate of Anton Pretorius. He fights his way past an armed watchman and an attack dog only to be stopped by a hidden metal, sharp-toothed, ankle trap.

Coldblood in “Rise and Shine” conclusion
written by Doug Moench
art by Paul Gulacy

Coldblood-7 comes face-to-face with his creator, Mako – encased within his Weapon-Walker (essentially a mech warrior suit). And, with the help of Gina Dyson, our hero is able to destroy the evil weaponeer. Afterwards, they ride off into the sunset in his slick computer-controlled car.

Her in “Gods R’ Us“
written by Fabian Nicieza
art by Erik Larsen

While soaring through outer space, Her comes across a flotilla of free-floating debris. A sentient computer, an ID-Mark IV, reaches out to communicate with the cosmic heroine. It informs her that the debris comes from the industrious inhabitants of the planet U’Sr’Pr. The planet is named after its ruler, who lives on the only patch of vegetation left on the planet. He believes it serves as a reminder of their society’s unproductive past. But, when Her expresses her disappointment in their treatment of their planet’s ecological system, she siphons all of his power and begins working to reclaim that world’s natural beauty.

Well, this is kind of strange. Last issue’s indicia read “Late December 1989” and this one says “Mid November 1989”. The Coldblood story seemed a bit anti-climactic and didn’t address any of the more interesting aspects of the story: man vs machine within the same body. Initially, the Coldblood feature seemed like it could function independent of the mainstream Marvel Universe but, later stories (in Deathlok as well as Civil War tie-ins) have planted him firmly with the Marvel U. The Black Panther story seemed like a lot of filler and the Her story was very preachy. But, it was nice to get two features with old-school Erik Larsen art. And, it’s worth noting that in her story, Her gets yet another name: Starduster (or J’Ridia in the U’S’Prian language). You can add that to her already long list that includes: Paragon, Kismet and Ayesha. The consequences of this story were later followed up on in Alpha Flight #97-100.

On Ebay: Marvel Comics Presents | Black Panther | Coldblood | Excalibur
On AtomicAvenue: Marvel Comics Presents | Black Panther | Excalibur

November 10, 2011

Famous Fanmail #84 Pete Von Sholly

Filed under: Famous Fanmail — Doorman @ 8:37 am

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”!

Pete Von Sholly has written and illustrated a few comics through the years. His credits range from Zero (an underground comix series from the 1970s) to some stories in Dark Horse Presents in 2000. The bulk of his professional work is storyboard/design for movies. His IMDB profile lists over 50 works including Nightmare on Elm Street 4, the Mask, Mars Attacks, and the Cat in the Hat. Prior to all that, he got a letters printed in silver age Marvel comics. Here’s another one from Fantastic Four #62 (cover date – May 1967). In this letter, he analyzes the clues given about Crystal’s powers (which were then unrevealed). This issue is more famously known for debuting Blastaar!

Fantastic Four letters page with Pete Von Sholly

On Ebay: Fantastic Four | Pete Von Sholly
On AtomicAvenue: Fantastic Four

November 9, 2011

Celebrity Cameos #24 Henry Kissinger

Filed under: Celebrity Cameos — Doorman @ 10:11 am

Some of the best parts of movies like Old School and Zombieland are their unexpected celebrity cameos. The same thing happens in comics, every once in a while. Here’s a look at another Celebrity Cameo!

In Super-Villain Team-Up #6 (cover date: June 1976), the Fantastic Four’s assault on Doctor Doom is halted by an interesting twist: Henry Kissinger, the U.S. Secretary of State!

On Ebay: Super-Villain Team-Up
On AtomicAvenue: Super-Villain Team-Up

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