Emergency! #2

The classic TV series Emergency! is my wife's favorite show all-time. Though I really think it's Little House on the Prairie as I'll notice her watching that all the time. True, the Michael Landon production is on TV literally 12 hours a day on Hallmark and other related networks while Emergency! is in rerun maybe 1 or 2 hours daily. 

Emergency! was first a TV movie then a fill-in mid-season replacement that ran on NBC until 1977. It then ran as a series of TV movies of the week before officially being cancelled by 1979. So having Charlton Comics produce a comic book right as the show had peaked in 1976, might not have been the smartest of franchise opportunities. But then again, Charlton wasn't really known for it's brilliant business decisions, struggling to survive behind DC, Marvel and Dell/Gold Key who dominated the market at this time.

This issue sees Fireman-paramedics Roy DeSoto and Johnny Gage being sued by a neighbor of Roy's. During an off-shift cookout, the man choked on a mouthful of steak from admittedly eating too fast. Only he's filed a lawsuit claiming disability paralysis in one of his legs thanks to Johnny's lifesaving technology using the Heimlich Maneuver! 

This plot might seem a little implausible. Mind you that the Good Samaritan laws which protect citizens from being sued for well-intentioned acts during an emergency, weren't even a thing until the late 1990s. Plus the whole idea behind a paramedic rescue squad was still in its infancy in 1976. Though California led the way with the program, people were still finding ways to manipulate the system and any lawyer who chased ambulances was eager to help their clients earn a litigious payday. (Sadly, this doesn't seemed to have really abated in nearly 50 years of progress.)

This issue also has a 2-page prose story. It sees Dr. Early and nurse McCall protecting a shooting victim from the thugs who've arrived at Rampart Hospital looking to finish the job. 

Once again, Dr. Early, portrayed by jazz legend Bobby Troup, is nowhere to be found in the comic story; but he pops up in the prose backup. I suspect that Charlton didn't want to pay another licensing fee to put essentially the 5th lead actor's likeness in the book. Charlton was notoriously cheap and I'm pretty sure someone high up said that they could make an Emergency! comic book without Dr. Early, when anyone who is a fan of the show knows that in reality you can't!

I consider this book to be my wife's. And it really is. Though I have bought now 3 of the 4 comics based on the NBC classic series (there was also a 4 issue magazine that had comics stories inside), my wife has possession of these issues. Where in the heck she puts them (and whether she's actually read them or not) is beyond me. 

It was like finding a missing episode of the show! With a cover by Joe Staton and early art by John Byrne in the backup, it's a classic read that my wife and I cherish. But if I ever get the chance to craft a holiday special based on this groundbreaking series, you can be sure it's going have Bobby Troup/Dr. Early in it!

Worth Consuming!

Rating 9 out of 10 stars.

Kobra #5 (2023 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

The international terrorist known as Kobra desires to rule the world. But in order to do that, he must kill a few people first. One of those roadblocks is Kobra's very own twin brother, Jason Burr. There's only one small problem, any time Jason or brother Jeffrey, Kobra's real name, experiences any pain, the other mysteriously feels it!

Jason Burr doesn't understand why sometimes he'll be perfectly fine at home or work and then WHAM!- it reels like someone hit him upside the head for no reason. But Kobra knows of the connection between the two siblings and that's why as much as Jeffrey Burr would love to kill his twin, he just cannot. Because if Jason dies, so will Jeffrey!

The character of Kobra was co-created by Jack Kirby and Steve Sherman during Kirby's early 70s tenure at DC Comics. Sherman took elements of Vincent Price's vengeful Dr. Phibes and crafted a story in which a villain was the main character. Sherman also added the very Kirby moniker of King to the character and in his earliest incarnation, Kobra was referred to as King Kobra. 

When King Kirby took a look at the script, he was mostly unimpressed. But the comic book legend saw promise in the character and working with Sherman, Kirby tweaked the character. The psychic link between siblings was taken from Alexandre Dumas' The Corsican Brothers and brother Jason was created to be the yin to Korba's yang. 

Within days, Steve Sherman retooled the script and Jack had the first issue written and drawn. And then Kirby went back to Marvel. In the midst of Kirby's return to the House of Ideas, the Kobra project was shelved. Finally, in late 1975, the book was given over to Martin Pasko who absolutely hated the whole thing. Most of Kirby's script was replaced. Artist Pablo Marcos was assigned to retool some of the King's pencils. And ultimately, the character was named as simply 'Kobra.'

Issue #5 sees Kobra working multiple schemes simultaneously. First of all, the terrorist is planning a gigantic earthquake that promises to destroy all of the state of California. But how this plan makes him ruler of the earth is still unclear. Next, Kobra attempts to kill off anyone who might be getting close enough to his ultimate plans. This includes San Francisco private eye Jonny Double, whom Kobra operatives try several times unsuccessfully to assassinate. Lastly, Kobra is developing a way to sever the bond between him and twin Jason. But the villain has got to act fast as brother is on his way from the Big Apple to stop Kobra once and for all.

Only 2 more issues of Kobra would be produced. Poor sales sparked by early rumors of cancellation were the main culprits. One could argue Martin Pasko's half-hearted approach to the script was another culprit. '...It was a preposterous exercise dumped on my lap,' Pasko once remarked. Fans were given some semblance of closure as elements of the scraped 8th issue were printed in the pages of DC Special Series #1.

Jeffrey Burr would eventually find a way to break free from his bond with Jason. Kobra would then kill his brethren; though the villain was never truly free from Jason as the crime-lord was forever haunted by visions of him. Kobra would late clash with characters such as Batman, Wonder Woman and the Justice Society of America before meeting his demise at the hands of Black Adam in JSA #51. In a strange twist of fate, Kobra was reborn with followers re-animating Jason Burr to become their new leader!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Completing this review completes Task #27 (Villain is the Main Character) of the 2023 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

1st Issue Special #11 (2022 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

A college science experiment for extra credit results in coed Jonathan Drew unlocking his psychic potential. A million-to-one series of events results in the device attached to Drew's noggin to encounter a power surge. At first, it seems that Drew is just a little dazed. But when he asks for a glass of water and telekinetically pours the glass with his mere thoughts, Drew learns that he's one powerful psychic.

At first Drew and research scientist, Dr. Andrew Stone aren't sure what to make with these new found abilities. But when Drew's trial attorney sister, Maria, is killed in a hail of bullets from members of the mob, Drew soon realizes his destiny. He will use his newfound powers to take down the thugs who killed his sister. 

Armed with his new mental abilities and a pistol loaded with tranquilizer darts, Jonathan dons a blue and orange body suit to obscure his identity. His vigilante moniker is Assassin. However, just about everybody knows who Assassin really is thanks to media efforts by Dr. Stone to bring Drew in peacefully before he crossed the ultimate line: murder. But since our hero never kills anyone, he just knocks them out and ships baddies off to jail, I'm not sure whether or not calling yourself Assassin is such a great idea. In Drew's defense, the name Sandman was already taken.

Codename: Assassin was created in a joint effort by issue co-writers Gerry Conway and Steve Skeates, along with Frank and Nestor Redondo. Conway had previously co-created the vigilante character of the Punisher for Marvel. So I think Assassin was supposed to be like DC's version of Frank Castle. Somewhere along the way from Carmine Infantino designing the look of the character and the Redondo Studio putting the final touches on everything, the character of the Assassin went from cold blooded murderer to a much more muscular version of The Shadow. Only they kept the bad boy name. It's like when you have a pit bull named 'Killer' but you have him neutered. The intimidation factor just isn't the same.

Assassin's super-powered foes are almost polar opposites. There's the slinky former circus freak called Snake and then there's the blustering Powerhouse with the ability to siphon off electricity. Both have been hired to protect a mob boss from the Assassin. Snake is really cool looking with his lanky form and green scales. Powerhouse looks like a guy in one of those old scuba suits without the bell helmet. Snake can't be caught; making him a tough foe to nail down. But he's not very powerful. Powerhouse is a shocker but he's about as maneuverable as a bronze statue. 

Just before Assassin is about to tussle with Snake and Powerhouse, the story ends with a cliffhanger. Readers are encouraged to write in for more adventures of Codename: Assassin. Apparently the fan response was rather lacking because it wouldn't be until 2008-09 (roughly 31 years later) until Jonathan Drew would return to print in the pages of a few Superman Family titles. 

In his modern day appearances, the Assassin finally lives up to his name! Working in conjunction with Project CADMUS, Drew killed off several Guardian clones along with project overseer, Dubbilex. Afterwards, Drew would be recruited by General Sam Lane to develop a plan of defense in the light of a potential Kryptonian Invasion. That appears to be the last we've heard of the Assassin... for now.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Completing this review completes Task #43 (Written by 2 Authors) of the 2022 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Justice League of America #135 (2022 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

It's the 14th annual meeting of Earth One's Justice League of America and the Justice Society of America from Earth Two. This time around, a third Earth is in danger: Earth-S!

A prehistoric ruler named King Kull has declared war on humanity. The last of his race of protohumans, Kull has vowed to hunt mankind to extinction just as the human race did to his people. In order to do this, Kull attacks the Rock of Eternity and has trapped Captain Marvel's elders and Mary Marvel's patron goddesses, along with the epic wizard, Shazam! 

Just prior to his enslavement, Shazam mentally ordered the super-speedy Mercury to recruit a number of heroes from Earths One, Two and S to stop Kull's plans. After gathering a grand total of 18 heroes, Mercury sends them off to various locations throughout the multiverse. First stop- the Atlantis of Earth Two where women are the dominant gender. Exiled Queen Clea has recruited IBAC, the Penguin and Blockbuster to assemble a device that when attuned to similar technology on Earth's One and S, will result in the end of humankind. 

The 'Crisis on Earth-S' storyline would continue through issue #137 which culminates in one of the very first meetings between Captain Marvel and Superman. This 3-parter is very heavy in Shazam family lore. IBAC is the anthesis of Captain Marvel. He's a milksop delivery man who turns into a fascist brute when he says 'I Back.' King Kull is another villain from Shazam's past. However, if you don't know of the character's background then you will find much of this opening chapter to be rather silly. 

Our story begins with King Kull flying a spaceship to the Rock of Eternity. Now if you're like me, you are wondering what is a prehistoric sovereign doing with a UFO? Turns out that Kull somehow entered a state of suspended animation only to wake up millions of years in the future; our present. With his genius level intellect and membership in the Monster Society of Evil, King Kull has been able to develop a number of gadgets and devices of mass destruction in his quest to eliminate mankind. 

If I had prior knowledge of King Kull, I probably would have been able to suspend my disbelief. Thankfully, the DC Wiki filled in my gaps. Since I don't own issues #136 and 137 yet, it might be a little while before my collection gaps are lessened. 

With rosters of the JLA/JSA and Shazam's Squadron of Justice on both the cover and front page of this issue, I more than meet the challenge of reading a book 'With a Map, Family Tree or Roster in the front/front page'.

Completing this review completes Task #32 (With a Map, Roster or Family Tree in the front/front page) of the 2022 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Emergency! #4

Issue #4 was the final issue of this series. While poor sales of the series wouldn't surprise me considering how much Charlton Comics was floundering by the mid-70s, I think the fact that Emergency! was in it's last season had more to do with it.

Based on the first issue, which I reviewed earlier this week, the story here followed the show's formula a lot more closely. Gage rescues a movie star from a car crash during a rescue call. When photographers capture the actress planting a smooch on Johnny as they exit the ambulance, it sets up a whirlwind romance. Sure, the staff of Rampart Emergency and the crew at Station 51 give the paramedic his fair share of ribbing. That he can deal with. But when the actress starts showing up at all of Squad 51's calls, Johnny finds that he may have to call things off.

At least 2 episodes of the live action version of Emergency! actually involved the paramedics and their rescues being impacted by 'fans.' A third episode had Roy dealing with a former patient who develops a crush on him after he rescues her from an action. But that paramour is never seen on screen. 

A big scene of this issue takes place at the mansion of the starlet. While it wasn't common to have the action take place during Roy and John's free time; it did happen occasionally. One episode that comes to mind is when the guys get invited to a Hollywood actor's house party after they rescued him from an angry bear. 

What was unusual for that scene is that it features in only the second time in franchise history Roy's often mentioned wife Joanne. Until this issue, her only appearance was in the pilot 2 hour TV-movie, 'The Wentworth-Townsend Act.' For a limited one-time brief role with maybe only 2 lines in her only scene, the artist of this issue actually did a reasonable job of capturing the likeness of the actress who played Joanne DeSoto, Kathryn Kelly Wiget. As for who is the illustrator of this issue, once again it's a young John Byrne (Sensational She-Hulk).

As for the likenesses of actors Kevin Tighe and Randolph Mantooth, once more they are spot on. My favorite character, Dr. Early, played by jazz legend Bobby Troup, pops up in the story this time. And Dr. Brackett is in the background in one or two panels. Both good likenesses. But no nurse Dixie! Also missing are the regular crew of Engine 51. No Chet, Mike or Marco. We see someone named Capt. But it's not Captain Stanley nor the actor who portrayed him on TV, Michael Norell. I know that because the character didn't have a thick mustache!

I wonder why none of the minor characters are used in either issue I read. Was it all because of the licensing of likenesses? Seems like such a minor thing. But with Charlton known for being a notoriously penny-pinching publisher, it wouldn't surprise me one bit. 

Again as with issue #1, there's a short prose story. It involved Squad 51 getting called to a domestic disturbance and being held hostage by a gunman. It was a clever story. But like the main illustrated feature, it had an abrupt ending. Let me tell you, that feature ending actually had me scared. The word 'end 'was so tiny that I overlooked it completely. Thus when I turned a page and saw ads, I was afraid that my wife's issue was missing pages. Coming across such a print error has happened to me before. It's infuriating. But thankfully that wasn't the case here.

A much better issue than felt more like an Emergency! comic than just a random story about first responders. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Emergency! #1

Inspired by having just finished an old issue of Dr. Kildare and a back issue surprise that I'll be getting to tomorrow, I raided my wife's tiny comic book collection. My bride is a huge fan of the TV show Emergency! Running on NBC for most of the 1970s, the show followed the crew of station house 51. With the newly formed paramedic program, fire fighters John Gage and Roy DeSoto were tasked with saving the people of Los Angeles County while educating Californians about emergency services. 

At the time of the show, there were roughly 2 dozen paramedic crews operating in a county the size of Connecticut with a population of Chicago occupying it. The landscape varies from densely packed urban sprawl to sparse wilderness areas filled with cliffs, coastline and lush forests. Thus, Roy and Johnny were expected to save lives hanging from the sides of buildings as well as in the middle of a raging wild fire while being coached via a primitive form of cellular phone by the doctors at Rampart Emergency!

This premiere issue based on the TV show doesn't really follow the format of the series. The story has Roy and John responding to a warehouse fire. Then about 10 pages are devoted to a pair of police officers that have never once appeared on the show, trying to find the owner of the building. On about page 12, we return to the paramedics who learn that the fire was a case of arson and radioactive material stored inside has been stolen. With their shift over, Roy goes home for his wife's birthday. Johnny decides to play detective and with the help of the LAPD, finds the culprit and the stolen material. 

I don't understand why a third of the story focused on characters not even on the show. Sure, cops appear on the series from time to time. But, they're secondary characters at best and not once has the action ever shifted away from Roy and John over to the other boys in blue. Yes, occasionally, Roy and Johnny play detective to help solve a crime or some sort of injustice. But they've never done it off the books in the kind of Dirty Harry without guns sort of way like in this issue.

The artwork for this issue was by comics legend X-Men's John Byrne. Equally legendary is the cover artist, Joe Staton (Dick Tracy). So, I was kinda puzzled by a goof made by him at the beginning of the story. Roy tells John that they need to put on air masks before entering the warehouse fire. Yet, that never happens. Plus, I thought that the ending in which the doctors of Rampart callously watch a patient die alone from radiation sickness was just so very unlike the characters. But that sort of blame is on the writer of which whose name escapes me.

I've learned over the past couple of years that some TV/Movie comic adaptations were rush jobs. The purpose of these books was advanced advertising, mostly to kids. In some cases, the characters had yet to be cast and nor were the sets built. There weren't even established scripts to cull from! So the authors and illustrators had to use a lot of creative license. The earliest Dell Star Trek comics were guilty of this. But Emergency! #1 debuted in 1976; several years after the show had already been on air. So, I really don't understand why the departure from the established tropes of the live action original.

The prose short story, included in order for the publication to maintain its first class postage status, captures the show's format almost perfectly. It's about an elderly man who lives alone and how the paramedics rallied around the guy to keep him active and social. Not the most perfectly written story as at one point Johnny tells Dr. Early over the bio-phone to give the patient an IV. That should be the other way around.

Issue #1 wasn't the worst TV adaptation I've ever come across. (A 1980s version of Lost in Space has that current distinction). It's just that a majority of the flaws that occur in this book are things you'd expect in early run books. Not something to find in stuff based on properties already established on TV. Nice renderings of the actors who play Roy and Johnny. And a very youthful but amazing capture of songstress Julie London who played head nurse Dixie McCall. 

It's a good overall interpretation of Emergency! Only it doesn't quite feel like an episode of the 70s medical adventure drama.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Life With Archie #172 (2022 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

To complete this task for the 2022 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge, 'bought from your favorite LCS', I could have gone hog wild. My favorite comic shop is a hybrid comic book store/used book shop called Books Do Furnish a Room in Durham, NC. I subscribe new releases from them. But I didn't want to review something brand new. As a result, I gave myself a budget of $2, with the parameter of finding something neat that I had never seen before. And this was what I found. 

It's the Summer of 1976 and it seems like everyone has bicentennial fever. The American government sponsored a pair of freedom trains that toured the county with over 500 artifacts as a traveling museum of Americana. The US mail sponsored a patriotic set of stamps. The Treasury Dept. produced commemorative quarters. In entertainment, Elvis put on a series of shows with songs devoted to the founding of America. The NFL had players wear patches on their jerseys. Companies like 7-Up, Kleenex, Duncan Yo-Yo,Snoopy, even a publisher of the King James Bible were among the countless brands that produced special bicentennial products that year. Yes, even the comic book industry got involved. 

Marvel's 1976 calendar was bicentennial themed. Jack Kirby's heralded return to Marvel kicked off with a Captain America treasury devoted to the founding of our country. DC produced a tabloid sized salute to America hosted by the Man of Steel along with a release of specially tagged covers. And Archie Comics released Life With Archie #172.

Titled 'Birth of A Nation', the story involves Archie and the gang travelling to Washington, D.C. on a school field trip. The friends travel to the Lincoln Memorial, the White House and other patriotic places of interest before heading to the National Archives. At that museum, the gang view the Declaration of Independence.

While reading the words of Thomas Jefferson, Archie finds himself transported back in time to 1773. No longer in D.C., Archie is now situated in Boston Harbor, dressed as an Indian and tossing tea into the drink. After taking part of the Boston Tea Party, Archie is chased by British soldiers throughout Beantown only to be saved by Paul Revere. Only Paul looks an awful lot like Jughead!

Soon Archie takes part in Paul Revere's midnight ride. After he completes his run, Archie continues to jump through time witnessing the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the winter at Valley Forge and other key moments during the Revolutionary War, all the while encountering important figures in history; only they're portrayed by members of the Archie gang.

This Archie story is a rare one in that it comprises the entire issue with one exception. There is a L'il Jinx one-pager that greatly satirizes the fervor of bicentennial commercialism. L'il Jinx's observation that all that collectibles and knickknacks being sold in honor of America's 200th birthday should be referred to as 'buy-cenetennial!' I think when it comes to the creators of this book, they definitely practiced what they preached.

Though there aren't any credits attributed to this issue, an online search credits Frank Doyle as the writer with Stan Goldberg and John D'Agostino on art. I'm pretty sure that Up With People and the Bicentennial Feel Good Committee (or whatever it was my mom always referred to) had some input with the script because this story paints an incredibly rosy picture of America. 

Currently, there is great debate in our over the teaching of critical race theory; especially in regards to how our country was formed. So I am not sure how this issue would be presented if it was released new today. Nor am I sure how well this book would be received.  But in 1976, Americans were trying to feel good again what with the aftermath of Watergate, the energy crisis and Vietnam. Thus, the pomp and circumstance surrounding the 200th birthday of the United State of America was promoted as a feel good party for its citizens. 

Life With Archie #172 definitely reflects a lot of that national pride. As a result of the ultra-positivism, some of this story reads kinda corny. Especially the closing part when Archie returns to the present day and is thanked by a National Archives security guard for being a fine teenaged patriot.

If you were looking for a Bicentennial time capsule to add to your comic book collection, this would be the issue to get. It's beauty is surely found in the eye of it's beholder. But there is no doubt that this comic is patriotic.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Completing this review completes Task #34 (Bought From Your Favorite LCS) of the 2022 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Welcome Back, Kotter #1

This was an amazing find! 

I've been wanting this 1976 comic book for so long. I've been wanting any of the 10 issues printed by DC Comics from 1976-1978. The series actually sat at the #1 spot of the top 10 comics based on a TV series that I wanted to add to my collection. No matter how often I tried, I never could find a copy for sale. Well, just this past weekend, I finally marked issue #1 off my wish list!

As a child, I was in love the quirky TV sitcom about a former student who returns to his alma mater to become a high school teacher. Welcome Back, Kotter launched the career of John Travolta. It had an extremely catchy theme song! And the series has been a syndication staple for nearly 40 years because of those connections.

Kotter isn't exactly your most high-brow of comedy shows. If you've seen one episode, you've seen them all as Welcome Back, Kotter was highly formulaic. In every episode, the following is going to happen:

1. Mr. Kotter will start off an episode with a anecdote about a family member that ends in a punchline.
2. Theme song plays and episode starts in Kotter's remedial social studies class.
3. Epstein will be late to class and produce a forged excuse from his mother.
4. Travolta's character of Barbarino is going to play dumb and say 'What?', 'Who?', 'Me?'
5. Boom Boom will try to charm someone by saying 'Hi There...'
6. The principal will enter and insult Kotter and his Sweat Hogs.
7. Horshack will either scream 'Oo-oo-oooh!' when wanting Mr. Kotter's attention or break something and ask 'Did I do that?'
8. Mr. Kotter then ends an episode with a anecdote about a family member that ends in a punchline.
ROLL CREDITS

Based on these 'cliches', I only had one thing on my mind as I read this issue: I truly hope it doesn't suck!

In this opening issue, Kotter is made aware that he's being transferred to another, better, school district. His students become aware of this and do everything they can to keep him at James Buchanan High. 

Superman's Elliot S! Maggin crafted a very good opening issue. Amazingly enough, Maggin didn't fall into those traps that prevented Kotter from being a highly evolving sitcom. In fact, with the exception of a brief chorus from the theme song, this issue didn't follow any of the show's ubiquitous antics. I actually found myself longing for one of Kotter's anecdotes!

The artwork was superior. Jack Sparling, who was known for his life-like recreations of live-action properties such as Mission: Impossible and Friday Foster for Dell Comics, does a fantastic job making all the characters look humorous but like the actors who played them at the same time. Okay- Mrs. Kotter looked nothing like the actress Marcia Straussman who played her on ABC. Still, Sparling does an amazing job on the art. 

This adaptation was worth the long-time search. Sadly, the cover was detached from the spine. I didn't learn of this until after purchase. Otherwise, the book's in really nice shape and I got it for a good price. I'd be open to getting the other 9 issues of the comic. But it's not a necessity. 

Only 8 more titles till my first TV show as a comic wish list is complete!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Superman Vs. The Amazing Spider-Man in The Battle of the Century

This 1995 joint publication reprints the very first DC/Marvel crossover ever! In 1976, worlds literally collided as the Man of Steel and your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man fought against each other and then joined forces against the combined might of Lex Luthor and Doctor Octopus!

You might also note that I did not refer to this book as having reprinted the first DC/Marvel collaboration. In 1975, DC and Marvel were approached by MGM Studios to craft a joint adaptation of The Wizard of Oz. Having great success with this venture, the two publishers finally decided it was time for their most famous characters to meet!

I wasn't born when this team-up occurred. But as a kid, I saw ads for it in back issues and I salivated over it. But for some reason or another, I never could find a copy of this. Then last year at a con, my search was finally complete as I found this banged up copy for only a buck!

Gerry Conway, a veteran at writing both Spider-Man and Superman, wrote the script. Ross Andru was on pencils and Dick Giordano did inks. 

Carmine Infantino and Stan Lee were the editors on this. It was during this time, Infantino expressed frustration at not getting a chance to be DC's head editor due to the lengthy tenure of Julius Schwartz. Lee made all sorts of promises to Carmine and eventually poached the DC man when his contract came up later in the year. This is why Infantino worked on the Marvel Star Wars series in 1977-78. But Stan Lee was known to make promises that he never intended to keep and made Jim Shooter EIC instead in 1978. 

Superman Vs. Spider-Man follows the tried but true (but not always the best) rules of first time ever crossovers. The first act has both Superman/Clark Kent and Spidey/Peter Parker acting independently of the other. And of course, the lives of both run socking parallel. 

The second act has the real villains pulling off their master scheme. Some misunderstanding makes our heroes believe that the other is behind the attack. Epic battling ensues.

Then in our final act, our heroes discover that neither is a baddie. So Superman and Spider-Man team up to put the true foes behind bars. Then you get a hinted promise of a rematch/continued rivalry to conclude the yarn.

A couple of years after this book, the two heroes would met again. This time against Doctor Doom and the Parasite. I've actually read that one previously. A few years ago, I found a pocket paperback reprinting of that story. 

While the story was chopped all to hell to fit a paperback's format limitations, I enjoyed that team-up just a little bit better. Maybe that's because with the two already knowing each other, Superman and Spidey don't spend half the book fighting each other. Plus there is a great twist as Kent goes to work by J. Jonah Jameson at the Daily Bugle and Parker becomes the new Daily Planet photographer.

A good read that doesn't disappoint but really doesn't do much on surprises either. An important milestone in comic book history on so many levels, any copy of this story is a must for collectors!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Grimm's Ghost Stories #34

This Gold Key issue from 1976 features a story in which a newly married couple head to the bride's ancestral plantation home. There, the couple notice that the girl looks strangely like a lot like the painting of a family member who died in the pre-antebellum era. According to legend, the ancestor died mysterious overseas and nobody knows where she was buried. So the ghost of her paramour haunts the plantation, desperate to be reunited with his eternal love. When a series of near tragedies before the new groom, could he be targeted by the ghost of the spurned lover hoping to be reunited with this look-a-like bride?

If this sounds pretty complicated- it is. But the plot isn't the worst thing about this story. It's the cover. Now, I love the painted cover by Gold Key icon George Wilson. It alone is quite eye catching. However, it gives away a very important plot point. In this day and age, such a spoiler wouldn't fly. 

In this day and age, another thing that wouldn't fly would be the story itself. The overall setting of a former slave plantation and the devoted black servant that still serves in the abandoned home is rather racist. 

Will this cause me to burn the book? If you know me and my blog at all, I am a champion of free speech. Plus, I am married to a Jewish princess. So the answer is NO. If anything, as I consider myself an semi-professional comic book historian, I plan on holding on to this for the next time I might want to site something on an article on race in comics or something.

Overall, I wasn't too impressed. There was a back-up feature. But I can't for the life of me remember what it was about. And the one-page prose story about a legendary find of gold treasure in England was so poorly written. I am surprised the United State Post Office approved it for Gold Key's First Class mail requirements.

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

1977: A Madman Turns 40: 2017- Day 88

    Yesterday, I decided to talk about the Final Four. I had the choice to talk about them winning or the Oscars. But I went NCAA. 

    I think it's quite interesting that the networks pitted the Oscars and the Final Four against each other. It's a major statement as to how unimportant basketball, especially college basketball was considered back in 1977. Nowadays, it would be considered unthinkable to pit the Final Four against the Oscars. Why, it's considered bad form to have the President do a public address against the Final Four because he'd lose in the ratings. Not 40 years ago however...

Rocky Meets the Great One.

    The winners of the Oscars were all from films released in 1976.

      Best Picture was Rocky and it's director won too. But Rocky himself, Sylvester Stallone lost out to the late Peter Finch for his role in Network in the Best Actor category. (Many film experts agree that had Finch not passed right after Network's release, Sly would have gotten the award.) Stallone also missed on on Best Original Screenplay.

Finch's widow Eltha Finch accepting the Best Actor Osca.r

      Faye Dunaway won Best Actress for Network. 

      Best Supporting Actor was Jason Robards for All the President's Men.

    
  Best Supporting Actress was Network's Beatrice Straight. Her less than 6 minutes of screen time made her the winner with smallest film role in Oscar history.

      Rounding out some of the more memorable award winners, composer Jerry Goldsmith won for his haunting work in the Omen while Barbra Streisand won Best Original Song for the Love Theme to A Star Is Born.

       Well, that's my daily look at 1977. Tune in tomorrow for another look at my favorite year.

The Mighty ISIS #1

  Today's review is of one of the most controversial comics being debated today- the Mighty ISIS #1! When this book first hit store shelves back in 1976, it was meet with very little fanfare. Which for DC was terrible because they invested millions in a live action Shazam/ ISIS kids show. Though the show was a ratings failure, it became a cult classic. So much that by 1980, reruns were still being aired years after both heroes fought their last battles. And I looked forward to their antics every Saturday morning!

   So jump forward to today in which on social media sites I see the cover to this issue being hotly debated. It shows up at least once a week! The question often asked about it is ‘I saw this for a sweet deal, but  am I wrong to buy it?’ Or ‘ should this comic be banned, burned or destroyed?’

   By the way, if you think this book sharing the same moniker as a certain militant Islamic terrorist group is the reason for this consternation, then you would be right? Case in point, about a month ago when I found this book, I happily showed it to my wife and mother-in-law. While my bride understood my delight in finding ISIS #1, my in-law asked: “ Why would anyone want that?”

  See my mother-in-law thought like a lot of folks do on Facebook and thought that this was a comic that glorified the Islamic state. (or that by owning it would me that they were pro-ISIS.) After a couple of seconds of thought, I think I gave the perfect response that I encourage anyone who is a fan of the Egyptian goddess superhero. “I've been a fan of Isis for almost 40- years,’ I exclaimed,’ I haven't given up on her yet and if I give up on her now, the terrorists win. I'm buying it!’ And I did just that. A couple of nights later, I popped the tape on my mylar bag and gave ISIS #1 a read. 

This series involved a meek science teacher who does what all science teachers do on summer break, went on an archeological dig in Egypt (I guess all the history teachers go to work at a wildlife preserve in the DC Universe.) Anyways, the teacher finds an amulet which bestows her with the powers of the Egyptian goddess, the Mighty ISIS!

   ISIS conducts all sorts of mythical spells that involves clever rhymes. Assisting her is a magical black named Tut, that she shares a mental link with. And she's a fairly decent fighter.

   In this first issue, ISIS must battle an ancient Egyptian priest was was freed from his slumber in a miniature pyramid that has been moved to a museum in the US. He too speaks in rhymes and by the time the dust settles, I will have felt like I just attended a poetry slam.

   I enjoyed this little time capsule from my childhood. It still holds up pretty well for a 40-year old comic based on a kid's TV show. It just amazing how time has changed it from beloved cult hit to being viewed as propaganda for the evilest force facing the free world today. But I assure you, the hype is all guilt by association.

  Worth Consuming

  Rating : 8 out of 10 stars.