tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88902548364335045872024-03-12T23:47:45.434-04:00Silver Age GoldThe sheer, giggly joy of silver-age comic books.Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555047330587368279noreply@blogger.comBlogger200125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890254836433504587.post-11458438259959849172013-08-08T12:01:00.000-04:002013-08-08T12:01:20.176-04:00Metal Men<a href="http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hoEkOPf0mJk">http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hoEkOPf0mJk</a><br />
Thanks to my buddy Michael Anthony Carroll for the heads up! DC Nation will be debuting a new Metal Men cartoon on Cartoon Network, this Saturday 8/10/2013.<br />
It looks good, check it out!Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555047330587368279noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890254836433504587.post-30949276247326383972012-12-11T14:20:00.001-05:002012-12-11T14:20:53.913-05:00How Does Jimmy Olsen Rate this??<br />
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Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #88- October 1965:<br />
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Oh, I could have taken the easy road and reviewed the cover story from this issue "The Krypton Crawl", but your mild-mannered reporter doesn't do things the easy way!<br />
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No, I felt all of you deserved a glimpse at the middle story of this gem: "The Riddle of the Olsen Statue".<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J5IF2KQvCBA/UMd9K3FjJxI/AAAAAAAAF6U/mGTooSGA1Vo/s1600/JO%2BCrawl%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J5IF2KQvCBA/UMd9K3FjJxI/AAAAAAAAF6U/mGTooSGA1Vo/s640/JO%2BCrawl%2B1.jpg" width="446" />I know what you're thinking, but the mysterious part is not how Jimmy has a fan club. </a><br />
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Look, I know Jimmy and Superman are pals, but Superman has nothing better to do than drag Jimmy's "fan club" to the tropics in a glider?? <br />
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Not only does Jimmy have a fan club of younger boys, but these kids apparently all got their parents' permission to spend a week unattended on a tropical island. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n4OjHHJ0LyQ/UMd9LwrkHkI/AAAAAAAAF6g/1d4pnwjiD9Y/s1600/JO%2BCrawl%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n4OjHHJ0LyQ/UMd9LwrkHkI/AAAAAAAAF6g/1d4pnwjiD9Y/s640/JO%2BCrawl%2B2.jpg" width="428" /> </a><br />
So the U.S. Navy puts a destroyer at the disposal of a cub reporter? And instead of sending sailors to retrieve these endangered, young Americans, they let Jimmy put on a ludicrous looking wetsuit, hop into a bathyscaph (which he can't get to shore and abandons to the waves- how was this a rescue??) and swim ashore.<br />
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Along the way, Jimmy is attacked by a giant clam and his lower legs are injured (where's Aquaman when you need him?).<br />
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Jimmy's big rescue consists of crawling around on the island while weird stuff keeps happening. Piles of fruit appear in the night, Mysterious lights and ultimately, a statue appears:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WiPXg_tAR6s/UMd9MwEC9bI/AAAAAAAAF6s/4NUpivEm8pI/s1600/JO%2BCrawl%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="351" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WiPXg_tAR6s/UMd9MwEC9bI/AAAAAAAAF6s/4NUpivEm8pI/s400/JO%2BCrawl%2B3.jpg" width="400" />Yes, Jimmy, that's the first rule of leadership; never admit when you don't know!</a><br />
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Luckily, for all of us, Superman finally returns from his trip.<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Arj79GDWLWg/UMd9N3fR8BI/AAAAAAAAF64/VamSr5c8RSw/s1600/JO%2BCrawl%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Arj79GDWLWg/UMd9N3fR8BI/AAAAAAAAF64/VamSr5c8RSw/s400/JO%2BCrawl%2B4.jpg" width="356" /></a><br />
Superman takes Jimmy far below the island to a kingdom of giant insects made super-intelligent and very large due to radiation. But don't worry, Science, you won't get to study them:<br />
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Yes<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-55lgeM70w4Y/UMd9OoBs5KI/AAAAAAAAF7E/g9tlj_SOODk/s1600/JO%2BCrawl%2B5.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="616" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-55lgeM70w4Y/UMd9OoBs5KI/AAAAAAAAF7E/g9tlj_SOODk/s640/JO%2BCrawl%2B5.jpg" width="640" /></a>
Yep, that's right. these insects were not only sentient, they had developed a religion. But don't fret, Superman swatted them just like the dying planet Krypton! Nothing says Silver Age like casual genocide!
Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555047330587368279noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890254836433504587.post-12977418742271538172011-07-20T00:00:00.000-04:002011-07-20T00:00:08.289-04:00Sometimes We All Feel Like Punching An Elephant In The Face!! Strange Adventures #180, September, 1965<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--Eaqle-wCF4/TiTgG7ccTzI/AAAAAAAAE3I/4ZBr8gTJhtY/s1600/AM1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--Eaqle-wCF4/TiTgG7ccTzI/AAAAAAAAE3I/4ZBr8gTJhtY/s320/AM1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630871843760787250" border="0" /></a><br /><br />When Julius Schwartz, a former literary agent for Science Fiction writers, became Editor-in Chief of DC Comics, the connection between Silver Age Super Heroes and Sci-Fi was cemented once and for all.<br /><br />Starting with a revival of the Flash (in <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Showcase</span> #4) and moving quickly to more sci-fi oriented re-envisionings of Green Lantern Hawkman, and the Atom, it was clear that the DC superhero of the late 50's and early 1960 was probably going to have some "scientific" explanation for his/her powers.<br /><br />At the time, it was quite unusual for a new character (or even a new version of an established character) to debut in their own title. DC had comics devoted solely to trying out new material, such as <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Showcase</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The Brave and the Bold</span>. <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Showcase</span> debuted the new Flash, Green Lantern, B'wanna Beast, The Atom, etc. <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The Brave and the Bold</span> debuted the JLA.<br /><br />But, with the aforementioned connection between the new breed of hero and Sci-Fi, is it any wonder that one such hero would find his home in the pages of one of DC's Sci-Fi anthology books, <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Strange Adventures</span>?<br /><br />Enter "The Man with the Animal Powers" . Or, as he would be known as of issue #190, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Animal Man</span>.<br /><br />No, you won't find the familiar, orange and blue superhero duds here. A-Man's debut is very much in the vein of any other one-off Strange Adventures tale. Except he kept going. And going. Until eventually, he got his own catchy hero name and costume. <br /><br />Sadly, he was not a big seller in his own time. It was not until the 1980's that Animal Man reached wide exposure in a landmark series by writer Grant Morrison and as a team member of <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Justice League Europe</span>.<br /><br />Interestingly, the character who would later be depicted as a very adamant animal rights activist, would make his debut punching an elephant in the face.<br /><br />Check it out yourself. Enjoy "The Man With The Animal Powers" from Strange Adventures #180. September 1965 by Dave Wood and Carmine Infantino-<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CKWFAAEm8cE/TiTpk8sOM5I/AAAAAAAAE4w/4wxsKL53KII/s1600/AM01.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CKWFAAEm8cE/TiTpk8sOM5I/AAAAAAAAE4w/4wxsKL53KII/s320/AM01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630882255096132498" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nMbge7PAKpI/TiTpUQhG7UI/AAAAAAAAE4g/M1Bl2RNo4io/s1600/AM2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 210px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nMbge7PAKpI/TiTpUQhG7UI/AAAAAAAAE4g/M1Bl2RNo4io/s320/AM2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630881968360451394" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5sUPAksA7ws/TiTpT1_I1fI/AAAAAAAAE4Y/JI2RFh5Q2hU/s1600/AM3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 209px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5sUPAksA7ws/TiTpT1_I1fI/AAAAAAAAE4Y/JI2RFh5Q2hU/s320/AM3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630881961238648306" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KY2UF2vVtMY/TiTpChOjrrI/AAAAAAAAE4Q/xVS432Kpwcc/s1600/AM4.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KY2UF2vVtMY/TiTpChOjrrI/AAAAAAAAE4Q/xVS432Kpwcc/s320/AM4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630881663608401586" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w3SBPb9Z3Y8/TiTpCAeZWkI/AAAAAAAAE4I/PYdE0_tP47w/s1600/AM5.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 210px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w3SBPb9Z3Y8/TiTpCAeZWkI/AAAAAAAAE4I/PYdE0_tP47w/s320/AM5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630881654816463426" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-awD3UuoSC18/TiTpBYL_jSI/AAAAAAAAE4A/1S6XcLTe780/s1600/AM6.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 208px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-awD3UuoSC18/TiTpBYL_jSI/AAAAAAAAE4A/1S6XcLTe780/s320/AM6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630881644001856802" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JmtQXyz_a9I/TiTpBOearHI/AAAAAAAAE34/gpRovFMWBdg/s1600/AM7.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 210px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JmtQXyz_a9I/TiTpBOearHI/AAAAAAAAE34/gpRovFMWBdg/s320/AM7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630881641394777202" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Will Buddy save those kids? Will he live to pop the question to Ellen?? Will he pummel more animals for our amusement??? For the answers to these and other questions, tune in tomorrow. Same Man With The Animal Powers time, same Man With The Animal Powers channel!!</span>Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555047330587368279noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890254836433504587.post-8795279279246357372011-07-13T00:00:00.001-04:002011-07-13T00:00:03.873-04:00Who Needs The EPA When You've Got A Radioactive Giant? Doctor Solar Man of the Atom #10, January, 1965<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BnW6LdSqI68/Thz0pppi7EI/AAAAAAAAE2Y/yvs5aaTLrGU/s1600/DrSolar10.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 222px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BnW6LdSqI68/Thz0pppi7EI/AAAAAAAAE2Y/yvs5aaTLrGU/s320/DrSolar10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628642630698200130" border="0" /></a><br /><br />In Doctor Solar Man of the Atom #10 by Dick Wood and Frank Bolle, the Earth's Polar Ice cap has fractured and is beginning to fissure into thousands of giant ice floes. The culprit is not Global Warming (yet) but rather a massive earthquake.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-REblwT0Q2sQ/Thz2eSjl9DI/AAAAAAAAE2g/KyW8X3BaVNg/s1600/DS101.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 154px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-REblwT0Q2sQ/Thz2eSjl9DI/AAAAAAAAE2g/KyW8X3BaVNg/s320/DS101.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628644634543911986" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Deciding that this is "Washington stuff " (hey, the Navy doesn't even trust these guys with <span style="font-style: italic;">gloves</span>) the "Big Berg" scouts send out a red alert that immediately gets forwarded to Atom Valley.<br /><br />Luckily for those star-crossed nuclear physicists, Dr.Solar and Gail, Dr. Clarkson is on hand to explain the magnitude of the problem:<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CKrEOf9J36M/Thz4AuJPEiI/AAAAAAAAE2o/MOILugc_7NQ/s1600/DS102.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 222px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CKrEOf9J36M/Thz4AuJPEiI/AAAAAAAAE2o/MOILugc_7NQ/s320/DS102.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628646325576733218" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">not Sverdrup!!</span><br /><br />Anyway, a brain trust of scientists and military men is immediately called into action and Dr. Solar decides to attend- in his hero alter-ego of The Man of the Atom. For some reason, all the generals (and one snarky colonel who keeps calling Solar a "freak") want to use A-bombs to blow up or melt the icebergs. The Man of the Atom interjects that although he could melt the icebergs, it would flood the world. He also states that if he were to vaporize the ice, it would change our climate drastically, making Earth unlivable (like now). He does, however, propose another solution:<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kI73XrFMYAM/Thz6b2fGXtI/AAAAAAAAE2w/q_jaJI7M1XA/s1600/DS103.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 302px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kI73XrFMYAM/Thz6b2fGXtI/AAAAAAAAE2w/q_jaJI7M1XA/s320/DS103.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628648990695644882" border="0" /></a><br /><br />In order to pull this off, however, Solar is going to need more atomic energy than the Nuclear reactor at Atom valley can supply. Taking a tip from his own name, Solar heads to the biggest nuclear reactor he can find- <span style="font-weight: bold;">Earth's Sun! </span><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iMQUdVUSyFY/Thz8XcwRPMI/AAAAAAAAE24/0LjA8gEO0j8/s1600/DS103%2B001.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 154px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iMQUdVUSyFY/Thz8XcwRPMI/AAAAAAAAE24/0LjA8gEO0j8/s320/DS103%2B001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628651114092117186" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">It's like a psychedelic, Dr. Solar Dance Party!!</span><br /><br />Returning to Earth all charged up (the trip takes about 6 minutes at light speed) Solar seals the fissures in the Polar Ice Cap. He then returns to Atom Valley to make a startling discovery:<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rlUxNkvnAg0/Thz8X02kCEI/AAAAAAAAE3A/9jj8OGpeQxQ/s1600/DS104.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 315px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rlUxNkvnAg0/Thz8X02kCEI/AAAAAAAAE3A/9jj8OGpeQxQ/s320/DS104.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628651120560965698" border="0" /></a><br /><br />He's gotten big. Like Apache Chief big. Like Jimmy Olsen the Turtle Man big. BIG.<br /><br />And, to make things weirder, there's suddenly a worldwide epidemic of electromagnetic disturbances. The Man of the Atom is immediately blamed.<br /><br />I don't want to give away the rest of the story, but, as the cover implies, things get ugly before they get better. It is later discovered that the EM disturbances are caused by Sun Spots!<br /><br /> Also, I'm sure more than a few of you sharp cookies have noticed the resemblance between Doctor Solar and <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The Watchmen</span>'s Doctor Manhattan. Although Captain Atom is usually credited with being Dr. M's main inspiration, it's pretty apparent that more than a pinch of Dr. Solar has made it into that mix.Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555047330587368279noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890254836433504587.post-73732224749672686302011-05-04T22:12:00.003-04:002011-05-04T22:20:23.139-04:00Happy Cinco De Mayo!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m8LruGi1WSM/TcIHvHRwqWI/AAAAAAAAE1I/WFOXryVecgE/s1600/3253217077_edbd85852f.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 227px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m8LruGi1WSM/TcIHvHRwqWI/AAAAAAAAE1I/WFOXryVecgE/s320/3253217077_edbd85852f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603049392391104866" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Okay, okay, so <span style="font-weight: bold;">El Dorado</span> is not actually a Silver Age character! And yeah, that's a Valentine's Day card! But still, I can't keep posting the "Green Arrow of Mexico" every year.<br /><br />If anyone is still reading this more and more infrequent blog, I have plans to try and resurrect it soon as a more regular feature. So keep your fingers crossed and wish me luck!Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555047330587368279noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890254836433504587.post-44376265697883631602011-02-02T13:59:00.000-05:002011-02-02T14:00:02.254-05:00And you thought Batman was kinky!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TUmpkzcAkOI/AAAAAAAAEzI/s7ASRPUXlNs/s1600/LOL.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 247px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TUmpkzcAkOI/AAAAAAAAEzI/s7ASRPUXlNs/s320/LOL.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569168863968399586" border="0" /></a>Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555047330587368279noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890254836433504587.post-2798370588101759802010-11-08T17:02:00.000-05:002010-11-08T17:04:25.959-05:00X-ray vision. A rant.Today being the 115th anniversary of the discovery of X-Rays, I thought I'd revive a classic post:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/SpvzuKN4ngI/AAAAAAAAARg/Emj6I425Pbc/s1600-h/superman-x-ray+vision.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 190px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/SpvzuKN4ngI/AAAAAAAAARg/Emj6I425Pbc/s320/superman-x-ray+vision.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376158554538941954" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Since X-ray vision is one of Superman's most used powers in the Silver Age, and is therefore bound to come up time and time again in this blog, I just want to set a few things straight.<br /><br />X-ray vision was created as a convenient way for Superman to locate people without tearing the roofs off of houses or crashing through walls a la Kool-Aid man. However, it soon grew in scope, becoming the source of Superman's later separately named Heat vision.<br /><br />In countless issues, Superman uses his X-ray vision to fog film, irradiate things, weld things, and even recharge a dying star. I would like to say, right here and now, that X-ray vision (if it existed) DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY!!!<br /><br />Look, I'm an artist not a physicist, but even I understand how X-rays work.<br /><br />Superman was given X-ray vision, the power to see through solid objects (except lead). X-ray machines work by projecting low-level radioactivity or X-rays, through a solid object and onto a piece of photographic film. When the film is developed, the X-rays have created an image which shows more dense material like bone or metal (which are harder for the rays to penetrate) which may be encased in less dense material, such as flesh or wood. Since Superman is an extraterrestrial with a different physiology, it is conceivable that his vision would extend beyond the range of human sight and allow him to see other wavelengths of light or radiation (some animals can see heat, for instance) However, this would mean that Superman's eyes RECEIVE X-rays, not TRANSMIT them.<br /><br />If this is the case, Superman cannot just go around fogging film and boiling water, and Heat vision is moot, or completely separate.<br /><br />Now that I've got that settled, On with the blog.Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555047330587368279noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890254836433504587.post-45531093556069646872010-09-10T08:00:00.003-04:002010-09-10T08:00:10.681-04:00Not-So-Secret Origins of the JLA - AquamanHere we have it, the final entry in our Aquaman week. But the last is far from least! <br /><br />Aquaman, like Wonder Woman already had an origin story from back in 1941. However, to bring him up to speed, the good folks at DC felt he needed a little "tweak". The following origin story was drawn by the absolutely incredible Ramona Fradon. Unfortunately, the writer's name is lost to time and uncertainty. From <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Adventure Comics</span> #260, May 1959 here's "How Aquaman Got His Powers"<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S9pkpBpiKuI/AAAAAAAAC70/NUR5uMrjj5Y/s1600/AM1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S9pkpBpiKuI/AAAAAAAAC70/NUR5uMrjj5Y/s320/AM1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465791753747573474" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S9pkZyl6AcI/AAAAAAAAC7k/X1fCpl0bWTA/s1600/AM2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 227px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S9pkZyl6AcI/AAAAAAAAC7k/X1fCpl0bWTA/s320/AM2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465791492007788994" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S9pkZCzHclI/AAAAAAAAC7c/jtxi1yeR2uE/s1600/AM3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S9pkZCzHclI/AAAAAAAAC7c/jtxi1yeR2uE/s320/AM3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465791479178293842" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S9pkY7ScWgI/AAAAAAAAC7U/S3q_hxNiMe4/s1600/AM4.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 228px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S9pkY7ScWgI/AAAAAAAAC7U/S3q_hxNiMe4/s320/AM4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465791477162203650" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S9pkYe-444I/AAAAAAAAC7M/Ka6hmjfH_kY/s1600/AM5.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S9pkYe-444I/AAAAAAAAC7M/Ka6hmjfH_kY/s320/AM5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465791469563995010" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S9pkX7NA1tI/AAAAAAAAC7E/nbQjZZTGzBk/s1600/AM6.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 228px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S9pkX7NA1tI/AAAAAAAAC7E/nbQjZZTGzBk/s320/AM6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465791459959559890" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S9pkBbjscsI/AAAAAAAAC68/4fvZpyemM8A/s1600/AM6+001.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 298px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S9pkBbjscsI/AAAAAAAAC68/4fvZpyemM8A/s320/AM6+001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465791073507635906" border="0" /></a><br />But wait! Apparently the Sea King was so awesome he warranted another telling of his origin a scant two years later. This time, the Atlantean angle is expanded upon and we learn more of Arthur's mother, Atlanna. From <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Showcase</span> #30, January- Februay 1961 here's an excerpt from "The Creatures From Atlantis" by Jack Miller, with more art by the dazzling Ramona Fradon.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S9pkBImTkjI/AAAAAAAAC60/tG40PCpghEQ/s1600/AM8.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 229px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S9pkBImTkjI/AAAAAAAAC60/tG40PCpghEQ/s320/AM8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465791068418314802" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S9pkA-0I0DI/AAAAAAAAC6s/pUOJa2wlPu0/s1600/AM9.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S9pkA-0I0DI/AAAAAAAAC6s/pUOJa2wlPu0/s320/AM9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465791065791975474" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S9pkAjvhY2I/AAAAAAAAC6k/qqtgseLsi7o/s1600/AM10.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 229px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S9pkAjvhY2I/AAAAAAAAC6k/qqtgseLsi7o/s320/AM10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465791058524857186" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S9pkAD6XaVI/AAAAAAAAC6c/cRUGU-2MQ7E/s1600/AM11.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S9pkAD6XaVI/AAAAAAAAC6c/cRUGU-2MQ7E/s320/AM11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465791049980406098" border="0" /></a>Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555047330587368279noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890254836433504587.post-5036738625218993032010-09-09T08:00:00.001-04:002010-09-09T08:00:05.308-04:00Because You Demanded It! AquamanTwo Aqua-Origins!<br /><br />Not all heroes start with an origin story, but the good folks at DC felt that a guy who could breathe underwater and command sea creatures probably needed SOME explanation. Here, in an excerpt from the Dec, 1941 issue of <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">More Fun Comics</span> #73 we see Aquaman briefly explain his origin to a mystified sea captain:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/SutMXcy1kDI/AAAAAAAAAvE/6Ei8uWuro9g/s1600-h/Untitled-1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/SutMXcy1kDI/AAAAAAAAAvE/6Ei8uWuro9g/s320/Untitled-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398492544083791922" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/SutL9StRTTI/AAAAAAAAAu8/kEDP9VUCj38/s1600-h/Untitled-2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 286px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/SutL9StRTTI/AAAAAAAAAu8/kEDP9VUCj38/s320/Untitled-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398492094699490610" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It is interesting to note that Aquaman is not the first water-breathing superhero. That honor goes to Namor, The Sub-Mariner, who debuted in <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Marvel Comics</span> #1 October, 1939. Aquaman's original origin is significantly different from the Sub-Mariner's, as the Sub-Mariner is the son of a human sailor and an Atlantean princess. However, in 1959, following the makeovers received by Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Flash, Hawkman and The Atom, Aquaman was refitted with a Silver Age revision to his origin which has a few <span style="font-style: italic;">familiar</span> concepts:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/SutL8csI0fI/AAAAAAAAAus/V5gD0UrdDMQ/s1600-h/Untitled-4.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 192px; height: 262px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/SutL8csI0fI/AAAAAAAAAus/V5gD0UrdDMQ/s320/Untitled-4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398492080199225842" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/SutL88HM5vI/AAAAAAAAAu0/guB_Ed2VRrA/s1600-h/Untitled-3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 194px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/SutL88HM5vI/AAAAAAAAAu0/guB_Ed2VRrA/s320/Untitled-3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398492088634238706" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/SutL76paJbI/AAAAAAAAAuk/JeTSAqFUCts/s1600-h/Untitled-5.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 193px; height: 268px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/SutL76paJbI/AAAAAAAAAuk/JeTSAqFUCts/s320/Untitled-5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398492071060972978" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/SutL7dKUuHI/AAAAAAAAAuc/K2xxyUxpkbI/s1600-h/Untitled-6.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 192px; height: 264px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/SutL7dKUuHI/AAAAAAAAAuc/K2xxyUxpkbI/s320/Untitled-6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398492063145965682" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I particularly like how he seems to have always worn an orange shirt and green pants.<br /><br />One of the great things about Aquaman is his utter lack of a Secret Identity. He doesn't even have a name other than Aquaman until 1959. And even when he's revealed to be Arthur Curry, it's not like he's masquerading as , for instance, the bumbling second mate on a Coast Guard cutter or something equally inconvenient. He's just Aquaman. He lives in the sea. Being Aquaman is apparently a full-time job.<br /><br />By the late 1960's, Aquaman was moved from just being a very helpful guy to being the king of Atlantis. I've always felt that Aquaman , forgive the expression, "jumped the shark" at that point.<br /><br />Heavy hangs the head that wears the crown, as they say, and by the 70's Aquaman became a very heavy cat. Always worried about pollution and the good of Altlantis. He was no longer the happy-go-lucky superhero stopping pirates and delivering letters to remote islands. He had a wife and a baby son and tons of responsibility. And his villains started getting more and more aggressive.<br /><br />Honestly, when I read the Silver Age Aquaman, I become nostalgic for a simpler time (in comics, anyway) where superheroes were pure adventure and no writer would have EVER thought of killing off a superhero's infant child just to boost readership.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/Suuan4ZpLEI/AAAAAAAAAvM/rwjhCWXJ1CQ/s1600-h/672729-aquababy.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 226px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/Suuan4ZpLEI/AAAAAAAAAvM/rwjhCWXJ1CQ/s320/672729-aquababy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398578588279188546" border="0" /></a><br /><br />R.I.P Aqua-Baby.Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555047330587368279noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890254836433504587.post-88371241719631447282010-09-08T20:00:00.000-04:002010-09-08T20:15:58.768-04:00Aquagirl!!In the Silver Age, it became a popular theme to experiment with creating a female version of a popular male hero. Some of those characters are still around today, in one form or another; Batwoman, Batgirl, Supergirl...<br /><br />But how many of you remember the <span style="font-style: italic;">original</span> Aquagirl?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S5Eq74F4T_I/AAAAAAAAB74/T9E-3Y9qEYk/s1600-h/Aquagirl-1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 296px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S5Eq74F4T_I/AAAAAAAAB74/T9E-3Y9qEYk/s320/Aquagirl-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445180632625336306" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Aquaman rescues a girl from drowning, only to discover that she can't drown. Which is news to her, too.<br /><br />After a series of field tests to determine the limits of young Lisa's aquatic powers and a hasty interview with the young lady's folks, Aquaman is completely baffled as to how Lisa can perform the same sort of aquatic feats as The Sea King.<br /><br />Stopping by the next day to see how Lisa is doing. Aquaman gets an unwanted surprise<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S5EtG9W-4MI/AAAAAAAAB8I/7bbrA_JbHdc/s1600-h/Aquagirl-5.1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 276px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S5EtG9W-4MI/AAAAAAAAB8I/7bbrA_JbHdc/s320/Aquagirl-5.1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445183022041063618" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Geez, Arthur, try not to be such a dick! No wonder you live alone in a cave at the bottom of the sea. But hey, Aquaman is right. Superheroing is no business for amateurs. I mean, just look at the kinds of serious situations a seafaring superbeing runs into on a daily basis:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S5EtGkjl9GI/AAAAAAAAB8A/V8dxCIseZic/s1600-h/Aquagirl-5.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 211px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S5EtGkjl9GI/AAAAAAAAB8A/V8dxCIseZic/s320/Aquagirl-5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445183015383069794" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Thank God Aquaman was there! If he hadn't stopped by with Topo, poor Oswald may have had to wait for a passing shipload of T.G.I.Friday's servers!<br /><br />Later, on patrol, Aquagirl suddenly siezes up and is no longer able to breathe underwater. Aquaman rushes her to the surface, where he explains to her about her mysterious new powers:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S5Evici3zmI/AAAAAAAAB8Q/mJmIzQZ24uY/s1600-h/Aquagirl-7.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 232px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S5Evici3zmI/AAAAAAAAB8Q/mJmIzQZ24uY/s320/Aquagirl-7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445185693292154466" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Whew! That was a close one! Aquaman almost got saddled with having to share his realm with a beautiful young woman. Now he can go home with his octopus and cry himself to sleep. After all, the ocean is made up of the tears of lonely Aquamen.Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555047330587368279noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890254836433504587.post-63248367138857840442010-09-07T08:00:00.002-04:002010-09-07T08:00:01.125-04:00Something is Fishy in local Law Enforcement. "Aquaman and his Sea Police" Adventure Comics #264<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/StUPtxmTp7I/AAAAAAAAAgg/HbuDdO4iBW8/s1600-h/aqua+cp.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 233px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/StUPtxmTp7I/AAAAAAAAAgg/HbuDdO4iBW8/s320/aqua+cp.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392233407928575922" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This may be one of my all-time favorite Aquaman stories.<br /><br />It seems the recently flooded (and totally made up) city of New Venice is having some trouble with keeping law and order in its streets, er, canals. So, they call for good ol' Aquaman to come and keep the peace. I guess it was cheaper than buying a couple of boats for the New Venice PD.<br /><br />Aquaman knows just what to do. He brings in a posse of his finny fins from the briny deep and in no time, they're using their aquatic antics to stop speeders, litter bugs, pickpockets and even a bunch of yahoos fishing out of season.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/StUP1Ut5bbI/AAAAAAAAAgo/us4bHbnrYhs/s1600-h/aqua+cp2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 148px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/StUP1Ut5bbI/AAAAAAAAAgo/us4bHbnrYhs/s320/aqua+cp2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392233537614736818" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">This has GOT to be a violation of these men's constitutional rights!<br /></span><br />What grabs<span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> </span>me most about this story, is the wonderful setting. New Venice seems like an ideal locale for Aquaman. He can interact easily with people and still get back to water every hour. He can fight crime in the city and still patrol the seas. There was a brief (read as: ONE issue) attempt in the 70's to take him back to New Venice, but it was never picked up.<span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> </span>If I were writing a monthly Aquaman comic (and God willing, someday I will) I would totally set it in New Venice.<span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> </span>But then, like most fanboys, I have a whole agenda of things I would do "IF".<span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /></span>As always, the brilliant artwork by Ramona Fradon is some of the best of it's age.<span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /></span>Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555047330587368279noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890254836433504587.post-57765356992093262010-09-06T08:00:00.002-04:002010-09-06T08:00:03.045-04:00Black Manta- a brief, off-topic rant<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/SrJ1a6kx_AI/AAAAAAAAAYo/r1rPSuuYnlY/s1600-h/180px-Blackmantaunmasked.PNG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 228px; height: 398px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/SrJ1a6kx_AI/AAAAAAAAAYo/r1rPSuuYnlY/s320/180px-Blackmantaunmasked.PNG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382493609921739778" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Gee, I dunno. Maybe because Manta rays are black? Oh! And you're a pirate. Pirates like being called "Black" something. Like "Black Bart" Roberts. Also, I can't help but notice that your costume and manta-shaped submarine are black. I'm sensing a design motif here. Aquaman fought a high-tech pirate named Harry Black in the 60's... he was a white dude. Heck, I always thought maybe HE was Black Manta.<br /><br />I can't believe that in a market flooded with blaxploitation heroes and villains who had black in their names for no obvious reason -I'm looking at you Black Lightning and Black Goliath- someone decided Black Manta should be a black guy. I mean, I couldn't care less what BM's ethnicity is, but "Or have you never wondered why I'm called Black Manta?" . No, I never have. I just assumed it was because of the aforementioned penchant you have for your whole noir ensemble. I didn't realize that someone out there felt there weren't enough black criminals in popular fiction.Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555047330587368279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890254836433504587.post-11118160661763580262010-09-05T08:00:00.000-04:002010-09-03T21:48:59.836-04:00Why Aquaman is actually pretty cool<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/SqfssDk9e2I/AAAAAAAAAUQ/OvXHllssTmQ/s1600-h/26171DC%7EAquaman-Posters.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 234px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/SqfssDk9e2I/AAAAAAAAAUQ/OvXHllssTmQ/s320/26171DC%7EAquaman-Posters.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379528521536076642" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Yes, yes, we've all heard the jokes about how Aquaman is a useless character whose only ability is that he talks to fish. Comedians from The State to Dave Chapelle have made that observation. Even "Family Guy" spent about three minutes on Aquaman asking a fish to get him a beer. Sure, I laughed too, but where did all this Aquaman abuse stem from?<br /><br />In the 1940's and 1950's, Aquaman was a solid backup feature in comics like More Fun and Adventure and World's Finest. Every issue, there was Aquaman, using his unique superpowers to rescue ships at sea and battle modern pirates and alien invaders. He was to the Coast Guard what Batman was to the Police Department. Aquaman's powers are limited to his ability to "talk to fish". They include:<br /><br />1. The ability to breathe underwater. When Aquaman was created, reliable scuba gear was still in the future. The very idea of being able to breathe and move about underwater without cumbersome equipment was the stuff of dreams.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/Sqfsmi3fZlI/AAAAAAAAAUI/jMAZo_AENts/s1600-h/aquaman.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 220px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/Sqfsmi3fZlI/AAAAAAAAAUI/jMAZo_AENts/s320/aquaman.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379528426856080978" border="0" /></a><br /><br />2. The ability to command every living creature in the seas. Far from just talking to fish, Aquaman can telepathically tell them to do anything, and they obey without question. That's not small potatoes. When was the last time Superman commanded a pod of whales to carry a sinking ship to port?? (Okay, not that he'd have to. He could just fly the ship there himself, but you get the idea).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/SqfsYY1uWzI/AAAAAAAAAT4/y8QWMx36VS4/s1600-h/images.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 136px; height: 104px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/SqfsYY1uWzI/AAAAAAAAAT4/y8QWMx36VS4/s320/images.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379528183646149426" border="0" /></a><br /><br />3. Superhuman strength. Aquaman is far stronger than a normal man. His muscles are able to withstand the crushing pressures of the ocean depths and his legs can propel him through the water at a superhuman pace. Not even Michael Phelps could out swim a dolphin.<br /><br />So how did Aquaman become the butt of so many jokes? It all starts with the Justice League of America. In 1959, DC decided to revive the cross-title super team concept they had invented in the 1940's with their Justice Society of America. The idea of a "Society" seemed stuffy and old-fashioned by the late 50's, so the new team was called the Justice League, which sounded vaguely athletic. The roster of the new team included DC's big guns, Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman (Wonder Woman had been part of the old JSA, too- she served as the team's secretary :P )but also featured some of DC's newcomers, the new Flash and Green Lantern and stalwart backup stars Martian Manhunter and Aquaman.<br /><br />Although the newly formed JLA made Aquaman even more recognizable, it began to hurt his standing. Here's how: You have a super-hero team featuring seven superheroes. The writer has to write an adventure in which each of these heroes plays a role. One of your team's members can only live out of water for an hour. No writer could come up with a plot every single month that called for some reason why someone would need to take care of a menace in the ocean. Basically, because he's more of a specialist superhero, Aquaman was left standing around with very little to do in a lot of JLA stories.<br /><br />Still, Aquaman was a pretty cool character and readers recognized that. He got his own solo comic at last and in 1967, he got his own animated TV show.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/SqfvKno3qJI/AAAAAAAAAUg/Dz-YHgKsVU4/s1600-h/images.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 108px; height: 93px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/SqfvKno3qJI/AAAAAAAAAUg/Dz-YHgKsVU4/s320/images.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379531245635479698" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Well, technically he shared a TV show with reruns of last year's Superman cartoons, but his name was in the title. Aquaman was becoming a household name. Then, The Super-Friends happened.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/SqfukyBd3XI/AAAAAAAAAUY/lg8oI7nDlYA/s1600-h/superfriends-2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/SqfukyBd3XI/AAAAAAAAAUY/lg8oI7nDlYA/s320/superfriends-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379530595587972466" border="0" /></a><br /><br />On the Super-Friends, Aquaman was back to standing around doing very little. Sure,the ocean was a hot topic in the environmentally-conscious 1970's, and the A-man got some screen time in the earliest episodes (which were usually about pollution and/or misguided scientists trying to fix the world by force) but as the show went on, Aquaman was usually on monitor duty or babysitting Wendy and Marvin or the Wonder Twins.<br /><br />Maybe even more bizarre, was the Super-friends' writers' tendency to pair Aquaman up with Wonder Woman. "What's that? He can't breathe out of water for more than an hour? Well, he should be perfectly fine riding shotgun in the Invisible Jet." In at least one episode, the Super-Friends get a Troubalert that there is an alien menace under the sea. So, of course, they send Batman and Robin in the Bat-sub while Aquaman stands around twiddling his thumbs. *sigh*<br /><br />I guess my point, if I must have one is that there is nothing fundamentally uncool about Aquaman conceptually. It just takes a talented writer to see his full potential.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/SqpTqExjJ8I/AAAAAAAAAVQ/qeu6ZQMxyWg/s1600-h/superfriends24panel2.gif"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 207px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/SqpTqExjJ8I/AAAAAAAAAVQ/qeu6ZQMxyWg/s320/superfriends24panel2.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380204687148656578" border="0" /></a>Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555047330587368279noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890254836433504587.post-4101479852534882752010-09-04T08:00:00.000-04:002010-09-03T21:48:08.355-04:00Aquaman- King of the Sea and a heck of a nice guy. Adventure Comics #262<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/Sp00xoEqgmI/AAAAAAAAAR4/dvhhTi9q-tQ/s1600-h/Undersea+Hospital.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 227px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/Sp00xoEqgmI/AAAAAAAAAR4/dvhhTi9q-tQ/s320/Undersea+Hospital.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376511557325455970" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Back before Aquaman met Aqualad, or Mera (the future Mrs. Aquaman), or became the ruler of Atlantis, he had a LOT more time to dedicate to his sea creature friends. Topo the octopus, in particular, seems to have been a sort of de facto sidekick. It's only natural, then, that Aquaman should want to see to the well-being of his finny friends. He spends four out of his alloted 6 pages tending to sick and injured sea creatures.<br /><br />It's pretty obvious that the Sea King has no prior veterinary experience, as he uses a live lobster to pull a shark's bum tooth and uses a live swordfish to jimmy a turtles stuck head out of it's shell. He even shuts a feverish whale in a glass room full of icewater (the ice was chipped from an iceberg) seemingly forgetting that the whale will need to breathe at some point.<br /><br />Still, his good deeds are rewarded, as his fish friends come to his rescue when he is wounded fghting some pirates on page four. The sea creatures perform emergency surgery on Aquaman. Electric eels give him electro-shock and swordfish probe for and remove bullets while lantern fish form a light fixture. Miraculously, he recovers.<br /><br />This story, although absurd, is positively charming and unforgettable. Although the story itself remains uncredited, it is a masterpiece of the short-form comics story, cramming loads of action into five and a half pages. The surrealness of the splash panel is only foreshadowing of the child-like marvels to come. All of this is beautifully enabled by the brilliant artwork of Ramona Fradon, one of the truly great artists of the 1950's.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/Sp05lbhPkVI/AAAAAAAAASA/qtVwNldy27c/s1600-h/262-1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 219px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/Sp05lbhPkVI/AAAAAAAAASA/qtVwNldy27c/s320/262-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376516845355372882" border="0" /></a>Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555047330587368279noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890254836433504587.post-57611126070382312982010-08-19T19:56:00.003-04:002010-08-19T20:33:36.564-04:00I Consider myself SCHOOLED! By My Five-Year-Old!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TG3FDkiwLeI/AAAAAAAAEfY/qEGvqvV18qc/s1600/Space%2BGhost1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 218px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TG3FDkiwLeI/AAAAAAAAEfY/qEGvqvV18qc/s320/Space%2BGhost1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507274584483704290" border="0" /></a><br /><br />So this evening, we had the TV tuned in to Boomerang (I rightly thought my oldest boy would enjoy Atom Ant). I was in the kitchen talking with my wife, when the oh-so-familiar strains of the Space Ghost theme drifted in from the living room. Instantly, my 5-year-old appeared in the doorway- "DADDY! Space Ghost is on!". The Boy is no stranger to superheroes (imagine that) and has seen the entire run of Space Ghost -at least the original 1960's version-at least once.<br /><br />Still, I was struck by his unbridled enthusiasm and I'm a sucker for Space Ghost, so I joined him in the living room. There, on the screen, a diminutive yet macrocephalic villain was commanding<br />several sinister-looking alien beasts. "Oh, look!" I said, "It's the Creature King!".<br /><br />"That's not the Creature King;" said the Boy, "the Creature King is green."<br /><br />"Nah, " I said "that's the Creature King. You're thinking of that bad guy on the Herculoids who's kinda like the Creature King."<br /><br />Two seconds later the villain in question was referred to by name. That name was The Sorcerer.<br /><br />"Oh." , I said. "It's the Sorcerer. You're right."<br /><br />After a few moments contemplation the Boy spoke again. "Maybe the Sorcerer and The Creature King are friends..."<br /><br />You have snatched the pebble from my hand, Grasshopper. You are now ready.Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555047330587368279noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890254836433504587.post-79383505254649281822010-08-04T08:05:00.000-04:002010-08-03T23:03:16.576-04:00The Illegal Alien Problem. They're Taking Our Superhero Jobs!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/SsVK0351PII/AAAAAAAAAcg/Jenv3O50a4g/s1600-h/spacer.gif"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 1px; height: 1px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/SsVK0351PII/AAAAAAAAAcg/Jenv3O50a4g/s320/spacer.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387794801438833794" border="0" /></a><br />Since Arizona's new Immigration Law has been in the news lately, ad nauseum, I thought I'd drag out another classic post. Also, I'm just too lazy to write anything new right now. I hope you enjoy it:<br /><br /><br />Seems like every day you read about another superhero job being filled by an illegal alien. I mean, first it was that guy from Krypton, going around acting like he was better than us. Next thing you know, he's bringing cousins and pets and a whole bottled city here, all taking our jobs and soaking up our yellow sunshine like there's no tomorrow.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/SsVIwa7P6aI/AAAAAAAAAcI/wDa3VQyjJiQ/s1600-h/superman.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 251px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/SsVIwa7P6aI/AAAAAAAAAcI/wDa3VQyjJiQ/s320/superman.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387792525917415842" border="0" /></a><br />Then, due to poor screening and security practices, the police department just hands out detective jobs to any old Martian who walks in off the street.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/SsVJKAlJX1I/AAAAAAAAAcQ/Qa2WEGmi53Y/s1600-h/1950s.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 289px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/SsVJKAlJX1I/AAAAAAAAAcQ/Qa2WEGmi53Y/s320/1950s.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387792965521989458" border="0" /></a><br />But that's just the tip of the iceberg. Next, a couple of winged weirdos from some place called Thanagar (try and find THAT on a map of the galaxy) come along and *poof!* they're in the Justice League of AMERICA. And I hear they got sweet jobs as museum curators or something. What? They too good to pick fruit or park cars?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/SsVJ2cH01ZI/AAAAAAAAAcY/_AFctU1iaDs/s1600-h/Hawkman-BB34.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 241px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/SsVJ2cH01ZI/AAAAAAAAAcY/_AFctU1iaDs/s320/Hawkman-BB34.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387793728829445522" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And some Earthmen are even working for alien masters right under our noses. Did anybody ASK the Green Lantern Corps to send a guy to watch over Earth? I know I didn't. Who watches the watchmen? That's what I'd like to know!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/SsVLI8K6e1I/AAAAAAAAAco/iQDITeGy_Ks/s1600-h/show22.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 222px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/SsVLI8K6e1I/AAAAAAAAAco/iQDITeGy_Ks/s320/show22.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387795146181606226" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And that Adam Strange guy! He should be here, using his skills to defend us, not some alien planet!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/SsVZnNam81I/AAAAAAAAAcw/BT4dVKwac_o/s1600-h/adam-strange_a31.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 210px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/SsVZnNam81I/AAAAAAAAAcw/BT4dVKwac_o/s320/adam-strange_a31.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387811059369702226" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Even the Super-Friends internship went to a couple of aliens. Apparently, Wendy and Marvin (two decent, Earth teens) weren't good enough. The Super-Friends went and got a couple of aliens with "super powers" to take their slots. And they brought in a "space monkey". Did they even have to put that thing in quarantine??<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/SsVZnb9yfOI/AAAAAAAAAc4/g9Sb9IIEkQE/s1600-h/wonder_twins1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/SsVZnb9yfOI/AAAAAAAAAc4/g9Sb9IIEkQE/s320/wonder_twins1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387811063275355362" border="0" /></a><br /><br />No, it's gettin' so that a guy spends his whole life training and uses his millions of inherited dollars to become a crime fighter, only so he can see his job go to a bunch of "<span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">J'onny -come-lately's</span>" from distant worlds. I, for one, find it sad.Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555047330587368279noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890254836433504587.post-39081624414319534472010-07-04T19:11:00.002-04:002010-07-04T19:15:23.657-04:00Happy 4th of July- Marvel Style!I thought I'd celebrate our nation's independence by celebrating the Silver-Age debut of comicdom's greatest patriot- Captain America!<br /><br />So, Happy 4th of July and SUCK IT, GEORGE III ! No Taxation without representation, BEE -YOTCH!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/SvL7CxTAgNI/AAAAAAAAAwc/9vzqjrflYFE/s1600-h/1571_4_004.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 211px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/SvL7CxTAgNI/AAAAAAAAAwc/9vzqjrflYFE/s320/1571_4_004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400654928182018258" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Right off the bat, let me apologize. I had this post in mind for some time, thinking I had a reprint of Avengers#4. Turns out, the book I have that reprints it reprints a 6-page, abridged version of it. Near as I can tell, it mostly leaves out a big, Kirby fight.<br /><br />In issue #4, The Avengers acquire a new member. A guy with all the charisma and leadership any superteam could ever ask for; Captain America.<br /><br />This issue begins by reminding us of a big fight between the Avengers and the Sub-Mariner that took place last issue. We rejoin the Sub-Mariner on yet another rampage. After brooding about how much he hates the Human race, he decides to stop and hassle some Eskimos. These Eskimos are minding their own business, worshiping their idol; a dude frozen in a block of ice. Silly Eskimos.<br /><br />Because he's just that big a jerk, Subby takes their idol and throws it into the ocean, where it just happens to drift into the Gulf Stream. The lump of ice slowly thaws out in the warm, Gulf Stream waters and reveals the floating body inside just as it happens to pass by a submarine (with the biggest interior any sub <span style="font-style: italic;">never</span> had) filled with-you guessed it- The Avengers.<br /><br />The Avengers marvel over the frozen corpse they've found and ponder his strange costume. Just then, the body springs to life and reveals himself to be Captain America.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/SvSWYgtwwNI/AAAAAAAAAyc/MRA3xyZ4eao/s1600-h/avengers_origin4.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 140px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/SvSWYgtwwNI/AAAAAAAAAyc/MRA3xyZ4eao/s320/avengers_origin4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401107200966967506" border="0" /></a><br />When the Avengers question his authenticity, Cap challenges them to a fight. It's ALWAYS a fight with these people!<br /><br />The Earth's Mightiest Heroes then get their asses handed to them by a guy who's been frozen for 20 years. You would think he'd have frostbite and muscular atrophy, at least.<br /><br />Cap then recounts the strange tale of how he came to be there:<br /><br />In 1945, while trying to defuse a flying bomb that is aimed at the U.S., Cap and his kid sidekick, Bucky are carried out over the North Atlantic Ocean. Something goes horribly wrong and the bomb explodes early, killing Bucky outright and throwing Captain America into the icy waters below. Cap is flash-frozen and slips into a state of suspended animation. He remembers nothing else, but, for some reason conjectures that he must have become frozen in a block of ice and then been found and worshiped by some Eskimos as a supernatural object...<br /><br />Sure. Why not?<br /><br />The Avengers dock their sub in New York Harbor and are greeted by a mob of reporters. Two seconds later, a bright flash occurs and the heroes are turned to stone. The ever-vigilant representatives of the Fourth Estate decide it must be some trick the Avengers used to dodge an interview.<br /><br />Captain America emerges and puzzles over the odd poses of the "statues" of the Avengers, and then goes sight-seeing. At some point he checks into a hotel. I have no idea what he used for money. Cap does what any guy who just woke up in 1964 New York would do; he watches hotel TV.<br /><br />His vegging out is interrupted by Rick Jones, who Cap mistakes for Bucky. Apparently Rick is a dead ringer for the late, lamented sidekick. I had just assumed that he looked similar because he was another Kirby drawing. To me, Rick always looked more like Snapper Car. Anyway, Rick has come to find Cap because the Avengers are missing.<br /><br />The good Captain snaps out of his Rip Van Winkle funk and becomes a decisive man of action. Looking at photos taken at the dock that morning, Cap spots a guy with a device he's absolutely sure isn't a camera. Seems to me, since in Cap's mind people should be riding in flying cars by 1964, he would defer to Rick on that.<br /><br />Cap is right, however, the "camera" is a ray gun in the possession of a stranded alien who was hired by the Sub-Mariner (Cap comments that he seems "to remember that name from the dim past"- "the dim past"? You mean the day before yesterday, when you and Subby were on the same side in WWII?) to turn the Avengers to stone. In exchange, The Sub-Mariner was to help the alien free his sunken ship from the ocean floor.<br /><br />The alien explains that he has been stranded for thousands of years and gives hints that his frightening appearance and ability to petrify may have inspired the legend of Medusa. Oh! Good, I needed someone to rationalize Medusa for me.. now, where did we leave Thor??<br /><br />Cap and Rick get the spaceman to revive the Avengers who help free his spacecraft and send him home. There are references to a big battle, but my copy skips all of that. *sigh*<br /><br />For some reason, Captain America seems to act like he's really old. I mean, if you'd been frozen in a block of ice when you were 20 for two decades and suddenly revived with no memory of time passing, wouldn't you still be, like 20? Geez! at the most he's in his early 40's.<br /><br />Sure, his slang and his world view would be different. But instead of acting all morose and grandpa-ish, wouldn't he be more likely to attack the staff at Benihana and make them pay for Pearl Harbor? Wouldn't he go to record stores looking for 78's of Glen Miller? Also, I don't remember anyone issuing you a discharge, Captain. Shouldn't you report for duty or something?Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555047330587368279noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890254836433504587.post-66468512432803783842010-06-16T11:35:00.003-04:002010-06-16T11:39:27.452-04:00Junkyard of Doom-part 3- conclusionFinally (sorry, hectic week!) the conclusion of "Junk Yard of Doom!"<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TBjv5iWoCWI/AAAAAAAADrQ/uoAvW6CBDYc/s1600/MM1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 208px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TBjv5iWoCWI/AAAAAAAADrQ/uoAvW6CBDYc/s320/MM1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483396318076864866" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TBjv5A0KHFI/AAAAAAAADrI/MQmJwZkHtY4/s1600/MM2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TBjv5A0KHFI/AAAAAAAADrI/MQmJwZkHtY4/s320/MM2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483396309073927250" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TBjvoTex2AI/AAAAAAAADrA/-59HHjsg2EU/s1600/MM3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TBjvoTex2AI/AAAAAAAADrA/-59HHjsg2EU/s320/MM3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483396022026754050" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TBjvn3bIkpI/AAAAAAAADq4/o-rIMvEuGMs/s1600/MM4.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TBjvn3bIkpI/AAAAAAAADq4/o-rIMvEuGMs/s320/MM4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483396014495273618" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TBjvnuSoRpI/AAAAAAAADqw/aV9_LzhjLGQ/s1600/MM5.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 228px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TBjvnuSoRpI/AAAAAAAADqw/aV9_LzhjLGQ/s320/MM5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483396012043683474" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TBjvnTQawvI/AAAAAAAADqo/dsUhety2gpM/s1600/MM6.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TBjvnTQawvI/AAAAAAAADqo/dsUhety2gpM/s320/MM6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483396004786651890" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TBjvm7F7TVI/AAAAAAAADqg/Ng7jXQy95qc/s1600/MM7.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 295px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TBjvm7F7TVI/AAAAAAAADqg/Ng7jXQy95qc/s320/MM7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483395998300196178" border="0" /></a>Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555047330587368279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890254836433504587.post-33775973430865653082010-06-11T11:52:00.002-04:002010-06-11T12:02:37.207-04:00Junkyard of Doom-part 2I was advised that I had been remiss in not mentioning Bob Haney. Writer Bob Haney co-created Metamorpho, along with Eclipso, and an obscure super hero team called the "Teen Titans" or something.<br /><br />Haney wrote mostly for DC and worked in nearly every genre. He is often remembered for the oft-reprinted "A Dirty Job" from <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Our Army At War</span> #241. Mr. Haney passed away in 2004 after retiring to Mexico.<br /><br />And now, Metamorpho!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TBJchl3XnBI/AAAAAAAADlQ/CCeFI9QP0eI/s1600/MM1+001.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TBJchl3XnBI/AAAAAAAADlQ/CCeFI9QP0eI/s320/MM1+001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481545428633099282" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TBJchUmupTI/AAAAAAAADlI/R5rslCG9x8A/s1600/MM2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 228px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TBJchUmupTI/AAAAAAAADlI/R5rslCG9x8A/s320/MM2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481545423999903026" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TBJchEbQTmI/AAAAAAAADlA/laVXly-BI-w/s1600/MM3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TBJchEbQTmI/AAAAAAAADlA/laVXly-BI-w/s320/MM3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481545419656810082" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TBJcgvsniGI/AAAAAAAADk4/nZHzQAkU5nQ/s1600/MM4.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TBJcgvsniGI/AAAAAAAADk4/nZHzQAkU5nQ/s320/MM4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481545414092490850" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TBJcgeWPOaI/AAAAAAAADkw/aYuM_as5A2Q/s1600/MM5.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 223px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TBJcgeWPOaI/AAAAAAAADkw/aYuM_as5A2Q/s320/MM5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481545409435220386" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TBJcFX3VT5I/AAAAAAAADko/2h__7bGrVBE/s1600/MM6.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 221px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TBJcFX3VT5I/AAAAAAAADko/2h__7bGrVBE/s320/MM6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481544943838515090" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TBJcFGh6wlI/AAAAAAAADkg/uJBCMG2RwSg/s1600/MM7.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TBJcFGh6wlI/AAAAAAAADkg/uJBCMG2RwSg/s320/MM7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481544939185291858" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TBJcEkgDm1I/AAAAAAAADkY/DFAVC_rWKKI/s1600/MM8.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 233px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TBJcEkgDm1I/AAAAAAAADkY/DFAVC_rWKKI/s320/MM8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481544930050677586" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TBJcEWls6tI/AAAAAAAADkQ/9Rp8IgoMWBU/s1600/MM9.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TBJcEWls6tI/AAAAAAAADkQ/9Rp8IgoMWBU/s320/MM9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481544926316260050" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TBJcENppfCI/AAAAAAAADkI/WQQIvjCDNBQ/s1600/MM10.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 293px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TBJcENppfCI/AAAAAAAADkI/WQQIvjCDNBQ/s320/MM10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481544923916893218" border="0" /></a>Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555047330587368279noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890254836433504587.post-12016025855411663632010-06-10T10:31:00.006-04:002010-06-10T10:56:56.306-04:00The Element of Romance... Metamorpho!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TBD5DWHB5YI/AAAAAAAADiY/bWK1VPhYRDc/s1600/3912.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 222px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TBD5DWHB5YI/AAAAAAAADiY/bWK1VPhYRDc/s320/3912.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481154582379881858" border="0" /></a><br /><br />As most of you know, I'm a sucker for the art of Ramona Fradon. So, it's no surprise I'm a fan of her work on Metamorpho. Metamorpho is a rarity in DC's Silver Age, a hero with unwanted powers. Originally a dashing soldier of fortune, Rex Mason, Metamorpho gained his powers after finding a bizarre artifact "The Orb of Ra". Unfortunately, along with almost limitless power, Rex gained a shocking and hideous appearance.<br /><br />Apart from the shape-changing fun, and the marginally educational inclusion of the names of various elements and chemical compounds as plot elements (no pun intended) this series delivered something unexpected- ROMANCE.<br /><br />The main thrust of the series' plot is a bizarre love quadrangle- Rex Mason loves Sapphire Stagg. Sapphire loves Rex. Rex works for Sapphire's father, Simon Stagg. Simon Stagg's henchman- a surgically enhanced caveman named Java- loves Sapphire and hates Rex. Simon Stagg loves power and hates Rex for interfering with his hold over Sapphire... Basically it's a recipe for tension and tragedy that opens the door to lots of good story.<br /><br />I hope you all enjoy part one of "The Junk Yard of Doom". I know I did.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TBD5DD2nKmI/AAAAAAAADiQ/B6eRBmUxDUQ/s1600/M1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 237px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TBD5DD2nKmI/AAAAAAAADiQ/B6eRBmUxDUQ/s320/M1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481154577479182946" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TBD5C5PHHaI/AAAAAAAADiI/AhPO3JQEUBQ/s1600/M2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 222px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TBD5C5PHHaI/AAAAAAAADiI/AhPO3JQEUBQ/s320/M2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481154574629150114" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TBD5CQC_nfI/AAAAAAAADiA/kZgttL4MwW4/s1600/M3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TBD5CQC_nfI/AAAAAAAADiA/kZgttL4MwW4/s320/M3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481154563572473330" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TBD3lORSJvI/AAAAAAAADh4/-hlXRJ0LRlk/s1600/M4.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TBD3lORSJvI/AAAAAAAADh4/-hlXRJ0LRlk/s320/M4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481152965367703282" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TBD3kh6JjiI/AAAAAAAADhw/_2SaaPqtEWc/s1600/M5.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 228px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TBD3kh6JjiI/AAAAAAAADhw/_2SaaPqtEWc/s320/M5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481152953459510818" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TBD3kMoY9lI/AAAAAAAADho/5MU_4x_VHMs/s1600/M6.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 229px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TBD3kMoY9lI/AAAAAAAADho/5MU_4x_VHMs/s320/M6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481152947747878482" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TBD3joZEcqI/AAAAAAAADhg/nbbRYSPes7o/s1600/M7.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 222px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TBD3joZEcqI/AAAAAAAADhg/nbbRYSPes7o/s320/M7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481152938019943074" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TBD3jEG1VrI/AAAAAAAADhY/9rBYV2xdnI4/s1600/M8.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 296px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TBD3jEG1VrI/AAAAAAAADhY/9rBYV2xdnI4/s320/M8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481152928279778994" border="0" /></a>Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555047330587368279noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890254836433504587.post-19242821769007254202010-05-31T00:00:00.000-04:002010-05-31T00:00:03.510-04:00Memorial Day- Lest We ForgetToday being Memorial Day, I'd like to take a few moments to honor the memory of those brave Marines who gave their lives in three successive landing operations on Mystery Island. Recently, the Federal Government has declassified the details of this operation and the true story of those events can now be told. So, lest we forget, here is the full account of our third failed attempt to take "The Island of Armored Giants!":<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TAMJxg8L5UI/AAAAAAAADXA/qffcTMW7qhQ/s1600/13728.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 218px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TAMJxg8L5UI/AAAAAAAADXA/qffcTMW7qhQ/s320/13728.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477232318073267522" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TAMJgrrPCLI/AAAAAAAADWw/Xks_VeTFzJA/s1600/4SB1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TAMJgrrPCLI/AAAAAAAADWw/Xks_VeTFzJA/s320/4SB1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477232028897183922" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TAMJUQyRurI/AAAAAAAADWo/AYESLfVOg5U/s1600/4SB2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 216px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TAMJUQyRurI/AAAAAAAADWo/AYESLfVOg5U/s320/4SB2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477231815520533170" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TAMJTy4GQkI/AAAAAAAADWg/UZj5VoGJ16A/s1600/4SB3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 217px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TAMJTy4GQkI/AAAAAAAADWg/UZj5VoGJ16A/s320/4SB3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477231807491883586" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TAMJTfuaB-I/AAAAAAAADWY/ju8bNQ5I5rI/s1600/4SB4.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 218px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TAMJTfuaB-I/AAAAAAAADWY/ju8bNQ5I5rI/s320/4SB4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477231802350962658" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TAMJTEIZW5I/AAAAAAAADWQ/gCRo5hwhqA8/s1600/4SB5.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 216px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TAMJTEIZW5I/AAAAAAAADWQ/gCRo5hwhqA8/s320/4SB5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477231794943777682" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TAMJSsxHUUI/AAAAAAAADWI/n8OS4p6TByE/s1600/4SB6.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TAMJSsxHUUI/AAAAAAAADWI/n8OS4p6TByE/s320/4SB6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477231788672110914" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TAMI7TsF1gI/AAAAAAAADWA/07UPGF93gSw/s1600/4SB7.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TAMI7TsF1gI/AAAAAAAADWA/07UPGF93gSw/s320/4SB7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477231386803164674" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TAMI67i0mrI/AAAAAAAADV4/xtT8gZ_sUL0/s1600/4SB8.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TAMI67i0mrI/AAAAAAAADV4/xtT8gZ_sUL0/s320/4SB8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477231380321835698" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TAMI6hBWYJI/AAAAAAAADVw/NSXoAuU-qYc/s1600/4SB9.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 216px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TAMI6hBWYJI/AAAAAAAADVw/NSXoAuU-qYc/s320/4SB9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477231373202120850" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TAMI6DTbbdI/AAAAAAAADVo/icAqLnI2aZU/s1600/4SB10.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 216px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TAMI6DTbbdI/AAAAAAAADVo/icAqLnI2aZU/s320/4SB10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477231365224885714" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TAMI534k5uI/AAAAAAAADVg/_kfCWaIAMOQ/s1600/4SB11.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/TAMI534k5uI/AAAAAAAADVg/_kfCWaIAMOQ/s320/4SB11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477231362159470306" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I do want to take a moment here to sincerely thank our fighting men and women past, present and future for the sacrifices they have made for the country they loved.<br /><br />I salute you!Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555047330587368279noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890254836433504587.post-35407931840242482912010-05-26T00:00:00.001-04:002010-05-26T00:00:01.392-04:00Well, If You're Going to "Ape" Sherlock Holmes...What happens when you pair the Silver Age Green Lantern's writer with the Silver Age Flash's Artist? You get a back-up feature about a chimp who solves crime, that's what!<br /><br />These days, it's not enough to have a chimp who's clever and observant, so the current incarnation of Detective Chimp is a superhumanly smart, talking chimp...but it was not always thus. Enjoy Bobo's humble beginnings as a back-up from <i style="font-weight: bold;">The Adventures of Rex the Wonder Dog</i> #4- "Meet Detective Chimp"<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S_yG_aVgwQI/AAAAAAAADUY/bLC6fA-j5QY/s1600/DC1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 206px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S_yG_aVgwQI/AAAAAAAADUY/bLC6fA-j5QY/s320/DC1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475399670935109890" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S_yG-5_xCdI/AAAAAAAADUQ/AedAt3x-qks/s1600/DC2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S_yG-5_xCdI/AAAAAAAADUQ/AedAt3x-qks/s320/DC2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475399662253967826" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S_yG-l5fM1I/AAAAAAAADUI/RT5pMRAZWHI/s1600/DC3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S_yG-l5fM1I/AAAAAAAADUI/RT5pMRAZWHI/s320/DC3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475399656858923858" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S_yGhuZd-II/AAAAAAAADUA/FUDLldVAAzs/s1600/DC4.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 210px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S_yGhuZd-II/AAAAAAAADUA/FUDLldVAAzs/s320/DC4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475399160924338306" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S_yGhMZjtsI/AAAAAAAADT4/sUpka2r-noI/s1600/DC5.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S_yGhMZjtsI/AAAAAAAADT4/sUpka2r-noI/s320/DC5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475399151797909186" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S_yGg4X7ECI/AAAAAAAADTw/OL1QuFc8YmA/s1600/DC6.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S_yGg4X7ECI/AAAAAAAADTw/OL1QuFc8YmA/s320/DC6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475399146422341666" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S_yGgogGIRI/AAAAAAAADTo/DmAGIqq8Zws/s1600/DC7.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S_yGgogGIRI/AAAAAAAADTo/DmAGIqq8Zws/s320/DC7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475399142161654034" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S_yGgPybelI/AAAAAAAADTg/xAcDsWR0gjY/s1600/DC8.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 313px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S_yGgPybelI/AAAAAAAADTg/xAcDsWR0gjY/s320/DC8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475399135527664210" border="0" /></a>Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555047330587368279noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890254836433504587.post-19837797457313181822010-05-25T22:35:00.001-04:002010-05-25T22:37:58.184-04:00Spectergirl has a new blog!Yes, neither one of us can stop creating new blogs. This one, though is a true <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">L</span></span>abor of<span style="font-size:130%;"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">L</span></span>ove<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_w-SKKd4lZYw/S_x8f1Dx5fI/AAAAAAAAB9U/qr43svxnnaA/s1600/LL+Promo+Header+Small.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 177px; height: 141px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_w-SKKd4lZYw/S_x8f1Dx5fI/AAAAAAAAB9U/qr43svxnnaA/s320/LL+Promo+Header+Small.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475388133236401650" border="0" /></a>"Need yet another blog in your life? Well I do! Please stop by and check out my new tribute to Lois Lane.<br /><br /><a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://gayforloislane.blogspot.com/">Gay for Lois Lane</a><br /><br />Here I'll be sharing some of my favorite stories featuring the First Lady of Comics." -<span style="font-style: italic;">Spectergirl</span>Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555047330587368279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890254836433504587.post-70580142268997015482010-05-23T22:46:00.002-04:002010-05-23T22:49:32.373-04:00I Have Yet Another Comics Blog!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S_npEmUU1ZI/AAAAAAAADQg/NbxHhFrkJJo/s1600/Avatar%2B001.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 314px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S_npEmUU1ZI/AAAAAAAADQg/NbxHhFrkJJo/s320/Avatar%2B001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474663087260095890" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Today marks the debut of my newest comics blog,<a href="http://westerncomix.blogspot.com/"> "Once Upon A Time In The West- In Comics"</a>.<br /><br />If you like Westerns and/or Western comics, I think you'll enjoy it.<br /><br />Happy Trails, Y'all!Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555047330587368279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890254836433504587.post-62254014314006259272010-05-21T14:17:00.007-04:002010-05-21T14:53:08.892-04:00Two Words for Jimmy Olsen: "DON'T TOUCH!"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S_bSvL7XhCI/AAAAAAAADJk/GYZBQ5KiuKM/s1600/14868.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 218px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S_bSvL7XhCI/AAAAAAAADJk/GYZBQ5KiuKM/s320/14868.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473794105212896290" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It's time again for more adventure with that loveable doofus, Jimmy Olsen!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S_bSFfWMCYI/AAAAAAAADJc/4FxIiNnmE20/s1600/jo+1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S_bSFfWMCYI/AAAAAAAADJc/4FxIiNnmE20/s320/jo+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473793388871158146" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Only Jimmy could #@$% up a free vacation! Once Jimmy gets bored watching the crane load all that fascinating scrap iron into the ship (Is the Daily Planet so cheap it sent these guys on a cruise on a <span style="font-style: italic;">cargo</span> ship?) he goes for a stroll along the beach. Which is something else only Jimmy could screw up-<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S_bR7xvptaI/AAAAAAAADJE/J0iGOcs3vxw/s1600/jo+2.3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 287px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S_bR7xvptaI/AAAAAAAADJE/J0iGOcs3vxw/s320/jo+2.3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473793222011106722" border="0" /></a><br />Jimmy finds a mysterious ray gun inside which, of course, he needs to start shooting at living things:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S_bR8Jc1jgI/AAAAAAAADJM/Aq_yU_dwyv8/s1600/jo+2.2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 262px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S_bR8Jc1jgI/AAAAAAAADJM/Aq_yU_dwyv8/s320/jo+2.2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473793228374642178" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Not satisfied with the ecological chaos sure to be caused by an enormous pseudopod, Jimmy experiments further-<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S_bSFLxBG4I/AAAAAAAADJU/XN44WoQ-xyY/s1600/jo+2.1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 290px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S_bSFLxBG4I/AAAAAAAADJU/XN44WoQ-xyY/s320/jo+2.1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473793383614978946" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Well, Jimmy, if it's so @#$%-ing obvious, why did you need to try it again?<br /><br />Jimmy heads back to the ship, where he learns Clark has missed the boat (he was needed in space as Superman). Lois shows Jimmy the souvenirs she purchased, including a small turtle. Clearly, Lois plans to unleash some ecological havoc of her own, introducing alien species to Metropolis' fragile ecosystem. You know she's just going to flush that little turtle like 2 weeks after she gets back.<br /><br />Anyway, Jimmy drops the raygun and it irradiates him <span style="font-weight: bold;">and</span> the turtle, with unlikely consequences. Jimmy is turned into a giant turtle man. Which apparently means you become covered with green, hexagonal scales (but no shell) your eyes look like they're made from ping-pong ball halves, you sprout pointy ears (even though turtles have <span style="font-weight: bold;">no</span> external ears.) and you also manifest a snazzy pair of large, black breifs.<br /><br />Oh! and you go on a mindlessly destructive rampage.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S_bR7gLEAaI/AAAAAAAADI8/U1jUwjpHT1M/s1600/jo+3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 149px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S_bR7gLEAaI/AAAAAAAADI8/U1jUwjpHT1M/s320/jo+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473793217294238114" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Superman returns from space just in time to intervene and learns more about this mysterious growth ray from an old girlfriend:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S_bR7G-6imI/AAAAAAAADI0/dbdFbTEUtXw/s1600/jo+4.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 156px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S_bR7G-6imI/AAAAAAAADI0/dbdFbTEUtXw/s320/jo+4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473793210532399714" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Superman then uses his own mad science to fix the problem:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S_bR69_8I0I/AAAAAAAADIs/DwU9-zySPNY/s1600/jo+5.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 153px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aLzwvFGTR20/S_bR69_8I0I/AAAAAAAADIs/DwU9-zySPNY/s320/jo+5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473793208120779586" border="0" /></a><br />Wouldn't shrinking a giant turtle man just get you a smaller turtle man? I'm so confused.Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555047330587368279noreply@blogger.com7