Hee Haw #1(2025 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

It's a common misconception that the variety TV series Hee Haw was created as a 60-minute commercial for The Grand Ole Opry based in Nashville, TN. While the series, which ran for 26 seasons from 1969-1993, did incorporate a large number of cast and crew that performed at the Opry, the series was originally developed to complete against Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In, which was dominating the ratings over at NBC. Canadian TV producers Frank Peppiatt and John Aylesworth were tasked by CBS to present a variety series that catered to rural audiences with backwoods comedy sketches and country music. 

The series debuted as a summer replacement series after CBS executives tired with feuding with the Smothers Brothers over their controversial topical humor and choice of guest stars, cancelled The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. Quickly picked up for the 1969-70 television season, Hee Haw was a top 20 hit. However, as part of CBS's rural purge of popular small-town set series such as Green Acres, the thriving country variety series was terminated in the Summer of 1971.

All was not lost for Hee Haw. Thanks to the new Prime Time Access Rule (PTAR), the FCC declared that the major networks had too much control of their affiliates programming time. This opened up more free hours in need of programming, in particularly, on the weekends. PTAR resulted in a golden opportunity for Hee Haw to go into syndication.

While still airing on CBS, a number of licensed products were produced bearing the logo for Hee Haw nailed together as wooden planks as well as the show's animated mascot, an overalls wearing donkey, including T-shirts, patches and shot glasses. Images of Hee Haw's breakout stars, hosts Roy Clark and Buck Owens soon graced products such as lunch boxes and of course country music albums. 

In 1970, Charlton Comics signed a licensing deal with CBS entertainment to produce a comic book series based on popular characters from the show. Along with Owens and Clark, performers Grandpa Jones, Lulu Roman, Gordie Tapp and Junior Samples were featured. They were joined by the show's second most popular mascot, the sad-eyed hound dog, Kingfish. 

All 7 issues of the series were written and drawn by Frank Roberge. His facial likenesses of the stars were spot on. However, their bodies as well as the full image of the supporting characters who were not based on real persons were cartoony to the likes of Mort Walker's Beetle Bailey, a comic strip Roberge assisted on in the 1950s.

With exception of a 2-page spread at the center of the comic, based on the Cornfield segment where cast members told jokes and one-liners, none of the stories followed the format of the show. Adventures in the first issue include Roy and Kingfish starting a music group together, Gordie trying to learn the secret of Grandpa's success at fishing and Junior entering Kingfish in a dog show. There's a couple of one-page gags, along with an article about the career of Buck Owens as well as a coloring page of the co-host. 

While the comic book didn't last a full year, Charlton also produced a quarterly magazine devoted to the series. It featured full color photos, interviews, a joke page and sheet music to popular songs performed on the air. The magazine ran from 1970-74 for 14 issues.

Going back to the opening statement about Hee Haw not being affiliated originally with The Grand Ole Opry. In 1981, Gaylord Entertainment, the production company of The Opry, acquired Yongestreet Productions, officially absorbing Hee Haw into The Grand Ole Opry family. Gaylord Entertainment quickly created a Hee Haw themed variety show that ran in Branson, Missouri and eventually moved taping of Hee Haw to the home of The Opry, Ryman Auditorium. In 1992, Hee Haw stopped production of new episodes. For the 25th anniversary of the show, classic clips were repackaged with segments hosted by Clark as Hee Haw Silver. Despite a slight uptick in ratings with the clip shows, popularity in variety series were at an all-time low and Hee Haw was eventually cancelled altogether in June 1993. 

Completing this review completes Task #5 (A Comic Book Based on a Live Action TV Show) of the 2025 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Get Along Gang #5 (2022 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

THIS IS IT! MY LAST ENTRY IN THE CHALLENGE!

The Get Along Gang was a group of anthropomorphic animals whose wholesome adventures would have nauseated Pat Boone and Ned Flanders. They were created in 1983 by a group of designers employed by American Greetings known as 'Those Characters From Cleveland' who also created Strawberry Shortcake, The Care Bears and Madballs. The characters which included characters named Montgomery Moose, Woolma Lamb and Bingo Beaver graced everything from greeting cards to coloring books. A popular line of ceramic figures was then introduced before American Greetings decided to take the Get Along Gang to the next level- broadcast TV.

In the spring of 1984, The Get Along Gang debuted on CBS. A total of 13 episodes made of 26 11-minute segments were produced. For a very brief time, The Get Along Gang kids were riding high as licensing darlings, gracing lunch boxes, Trapper Keeper's and a host of other school supplies just in time for the 1984-85 school year. 

As The Get Along Gang was gaining its fad-like momentum, Marvel Comics was in the process of starting up its Star Comics imprint devoted to kid friendly titles. After seeing controversial success with original titles such as Royal Roy that resulted in a lawsuit from rival Harvey Comics for copyright infringement of the likeness of Richie Rich, Marvel decided to stick to licensed characters for Star Comics. 

The Get Along Gang was among one of the first franchises to sign with Star Comics under its new direction. A total of 6 issues were published. House of Mystery's Dave Manak scripted the half dozen issues with art divided by Carlos Garzon (#1-2) and John Constanza (#3-6). Jacqueline Roettcher (Ewoks) inked the entire run.

In this issue, the gang spend the night in a house that is rumored to be haunted by two brothers. The father of the two siblings passed away without telling the pair who was to inherit the house. So, the two brothers who squabbled and fought over ownership of the property when they were alive, continue the battle as spirits. 

It's really the bickering that spooks the members of the Get Along Gang. As the brothers try to evict the other from the home, they knock over boxes and lamps that get the kids scrambling for the door. However, the old house is booby trapped with secret corridors and hidden compartments to the point that members of the gang start disappearing!

The story itself, along with the art was rather charming. I loved that innocence that oozed over every page. Though I thought it was rather odd that the kids had no problem spending the night in a haunted house with the mayor of the town. Maybe such sleepovers were normal for 1985. I dunno. The overall story, which was highly reminiscent of an episode of Scooby-Doo, wasn't bad. But I did dislike that 'it was all just a dream', was the cop out plot device used to wrap things up. 

Reading this issue, I noticed something that was rather sad. There was an ad in this issue for the upcoming line-up of CBS Saturday Morning cartoons and The Get Along Gang isn't listed as one of the shows returning! 

Remember all those school supplies bearing the character's likeness? Unfortunately, those items just didn't sell. Neither did a line of hybrid action-figure dolls dressed in cloth outfits and the series was removed from airwaves just before Christmas of that year. But since Star had already crafted 6 stories and they needed a full line-up of titles to entice merchants and subscribers, The Get Along Gang stayed in print until the winter of 1986, a full year after CBS execs pulled the plug on the cartoon. American Greetings discontinued the line the following year.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Completing this review completes Task #42 (That is a guilty pleasure) of the 2022 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

1977: A Madman Turns 40: 2017- Day 27

Cover to issue #1.

    This month marks the 40th Anniversary of one of my favorite comic books- The Rampaging Hulk. It actually is more like a magazine or tabloid. because it was printed over-sized like a copy of LIFE Magazine. The book was printed in black and white and served 2 purposes A) to be a little more edgy in order to appeal to older readers and B) be used as a promotional tool for the live-action Hulk TV series starring Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno that debuted a year later.

    This first issue of the Rampaging Hulk recaps Hulk's origin as a gamma bomb transforms Bruce Banner into a big Green Monster. But instead of being a full retelling of the Incredible Hulk comic book, this series takes Hulk and his sidekick, Teenager Rick Jones into the stratosphere. While vacationing in Rome (where all superheroes go after they get their powers for some much needed R&R), Hulk and Rick are kidnapped by alien invaders called the Krylorians. 

    Under the guise of friendship, the Krylorians actually want to use the Hulk as a weapon against those who oppose their harsh rule. Rick helps the Hulk figure this out and the duo escape. While on the run, they meet Bereet, a rebel who uses her techno-artworks as weapons against the Krylorians.
 

Bereet.
Her weapons were kept in her satchel.
It's like the TARDIS: bigger on the inside.

     For the next several months, Hulk, Rick, and Bereet's adventures are chronicled as they seek to overthrow these alien tryants. But then all of a sudden in the middle of 1978, this storyline abruptly stops. Gone is Bereet. The Hulk is back on Earth and who knows where Rick Jones went. That's because the editors lead by Stan Lee decided to shift the focus to being more like the TV show as I mentioned earlier. (Later issues of the Hulk comic would tie-up the loose ends to the Bereet storyline. Turns out it was all part of a series of very popular films that Bereet made on her home planet!)

   In the new Rampaging Hulk format, Bruce's name is changed to David as like on the show. (Rumor has it that CBS execs though the name Bruce was a homosexual name and requested Stan Lee change it on the show. Honest!) Each issue has Banner travelling the US searching to be cured from the Hulk transformations. More often than not, trouble finds Banner and he turns into a giant monster. 

    One thing about this new format that was not like the TV show were guest stars. Characters who also had their own Marvel Magazines such as Moon Knight and the Man-Thing made appearances in Rampaging Hulk. It's the closest fans the show would get to an actual superhero team-up until the Hulk TV-Movies in the 80s that featured Daredevil and Thor.

Cover to Marvel Essential
Rampaging Hulk Vol. 2.

    I never read these books in their original form. I found giant-sized treasury editions called Marvel Essentials that reprinted these stories plus some of the background articles on production of the Hulk series and that issue of the Hulk comic that tied-up Bereet's storyline. I enjoyed both and they are now permanent fixtures of my collection. A little silly, a lot of action and a whole lotta Hulk.

   Worth Consuming!

   Rating: 8.3 out of 10 stars.

Adventures of Supergirl #1

 

  It's been a strange week for Supergirl. First, it's announced that CBS is canceling the show. Then it's not cancelled- but only if changes to the show format is made. Then DC announces the publication of this book which dropped Wednesday. Since the show's fate was up in the air, I figured it would be extremely important to support this series in order to seen DC and CBS that I want Supergirl to be renewed I even went on social media and started a hashtag called #Savesupergirl!

   Well, imagine my surprise on Thursday that it was announced that the CW will pick up Supergirl for a second season. I honestly thought it would take a little while for an agreement to be made and that this comic would be the measuring stick for a second season. Well, DC and CBS kept their end of the deal and I kept mine.

   Based on the hit CBS series, issue #1 of the Adventures of Supergirl has the Girl of Steel assisting the DEO in capturing yet another alien escapee from Fort Rozz. Only, this takedown takes a more personal note as Kara discovers that her adoptive human sister, Alex Danvers killed the alien's sister years prior. When the alien, known as Rampage, discovers that Supergirl and Danvers are sisters, she takes Kara hostage seeking revenge. With Alex and the DEO on the hunt, can Supergirl mend fences before another sister's life is unfortunately lost?

   I don't know if DC knows how much of a big deal is it for me to buy a book new. Money is an option to me and so to maintain my collection, it's bargain bin city all the way. But Supergirl grew on me and I was so pumped for a second season. It took a little while to gain steam and by the cliffhanger of season one, I was hooked!

   The storyline was like reading a missing adventure from season one. Writer Sterling Gates captured the voice of Supergirl actress, Melissa Benoist, quite well here as she's the narrator as like on the show. The overall formula was just like the show too! Cover art by Cat Staggs was freakin' awesome and I hope her photorealistic touch will continue on here.

   The only thing I wasn't such a fan of was some of the interior art. Artist Bengal (Batgirl: Endgame) does a reasonable job on the renderings of Alex Danvers and DEO head Hank Henshaw. But Supergirl looks, well like Supergirl- just not this Supergirl. Let me explain, the Supergirl portrayed in this comic has pixie-like looks and platinum blonde hair just like the comic book version. Other that the costume, Bengal's Supergirl looks nothing like actress Benoist. I'm sorry but that oversight has got to be fixed. It's inexcusable.

   Despite my misgivings with Bengal's rendering of Supergirl, I enjoyed this comic. I liked it so much, I will make a commitment to at least buy the next issue over the rack too! That's how much I love the character, adore the show, and appreciate the efforts of DC/CBS/and the CW to give us a season 2!

   #SupergirlSaved

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

(Also available in a digital format, but hey, comics were meant to be read on paper!)

The 18 Days of a Star Wars Christmas Miracle +7: Day 1

   I start this Star Wars Advent with a tribute to the one that started it all: The Star Wars Holiday Special. After this what can only be described as a toy train wreck aired only once on CBS in 1978, the possibilities of Star Wars Christmas related stuff took off like a spaceship. There's been Star Wars Christmas wrap, music, ornaments, and much, much more. But in the beginning, the hopes of a Star Wars Christmas began with this 2-hour special which included Princess Leia singing something similar to Silver Bells, Bea Arthur as the owner of the Mos Eisley Cantina, Jefferson Starship doing LSD apparently, Diahann Carroll dancing around nearly naked like one of Jabba's slave girls, and the comedy stylings of Harvey Korman.
   
   There was one bright spot to this pile of bantha poo-doo: a 7-minute long cartoon called 'The Faithful Wookiee (sic).' It wasn't much, but it was the only time we got to see Luke, Han, Chewie, and Leia in animated form. Even better- it introduced the greatest bounty hunter of them all- BOBA FETT!

    The Holiday Special is something that George Lucas actually hates. In fact, he never renewed the trademark on this. Thus, the only way to find it is either as a bootleg or on Youtube. Why, even Disney doesn't own the rights to it! And to this day, Lucas vows that he'll smash every single copy in existence if it's the last thing he'll ever do.

 Below is a link to the special in its entirety- thus proving that no matter how many DVD copies Lucas might destroy, the legend of the Star Wars Holiday Special will forever live on...

May the Force Be With, If you Dare...