All-New Collectors' Edition #C-58: Superman Vs. Shazam! (Facsimile Edition)

I'm in no way criticizing the art skills of Dick Giordano or Rich Buckler. If you are a regular reader of my blog, then you know that I am a huge fan of Giordano; having gotten to meet him at his very last con. As for Buckler, I loved his work on the earliest stories of the Marvel cyborg, Deathlok. So I believe that I have established respect for both artists. That being said, who drew the artwork for both the back half of this wraparound cover as well as many of the full sized and splash pages? They look like they were masterfully drawn by Neal Adams!

This facsimile edition is absolutely beautiful. The foil enhanced wraparound. The remastered colors of Adrienne Roy. The throwaway panel of what a brunette Supergirl would look like. This was a visual masterpiece from 1978!

An ancient wizard from a Martian civilization millennia before those of J'onn J'onzz' people, is seeking to end his singular mistake. In an attempt to become immortal, the mage got his wish. But not before first turning the rest of his kind into silent, tormenting phantoms. His hope is to place devices on two different Earths where they will vibrate in sync with the other and cause a cataclysmic explosion to should restore his people to their corporeal forms.

The two Earth's chosen are Superman's Earth-1 and Captain Marvel's home, Earth-S. To prevent the two heroes from discovering the devices, the wizard forces Black Adam and the 'Quarmmer', a duplicate of Superman made of living sand, to cloud the minds of the heroes so that they see each other as mortal enemies. Thus, fans finally get their wish: an epic battle that will definitively prove who is mightier? The Man of Steel or the Big Red Cheese?

The fight was epic. The team-up of Supergirl and Mary Marvel was awesome. The villain Karmang was pretty cool looking. But like most DC Comics of the late 1970s, the plot fell flat.

For one thing, I didn't quite understand Karmang's costume didn't really make sense. He's got these wicked looking eyeballs which adore the epaulets on his cape and apparently makes some fashionable earrings.  But he never uses them. They'd be really cool if they helped Karmang see the action occurring on the two Earths. Instead, he's got TV set-up sweeter than any wall of boob tubes at Circuit City. 

Another issue with the plot is the pacing. There are 4 acts in this issue, along with interludes and a prologue and epilogue. If writer Gerry Conway would've cut the unnecessary comic relief provided by Lois Lane and sports reporter Steve Lombard playing the role of cameraman, I think we could have gotten a much smoother ending that really hyped up the tension. Instead, we get Superman racing around the world to counter the pull of the magnetic field while Captain Marvel literally decides which color wire to clip on one of Karmang's devices. 

And as much as I enjoyed Supergirl being in this story, the ending where she and Mary Marvel fawn over each other's super hunky relative was clunky at best. At worst, it's a groaner and brother did I groan over that dumb ending...

At least we got an answer as to whether Supes or Cap are stronger than the two. At least for this clash.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Amazing Spider-Man #129 (2025 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

In the 2000 film Coyote Ugly, the lead character's potential love interest secretly buys a comic book while on a date. Viewers are first led to believe that the character played by Adam Garcia, is purchasing something nefarious as the item in question is concealed in a plain brown paper bag. His paramour becomes suspicious of the whole transaction and refuses to be further seen with Garcia's character if he's secretly buying drugs. Reluctantly, the lad reveals the contents of bag: a prestige copy of Amazing Spider-Man #129. The first appearance of the Punisher and in his own words 'The Holy Grail of Comics.'

While it's debatable that Frank Castle's first appearance in comic books is the most sought after comic of them all, it cannot be disputed that that scene in the movie introduced a new phrase in comic book collecting. Social media is filled these days with collectors sharing their grail finds in the wild. Books such as New Mutants #98, Fantastic Four #52 and The House of Secrets #92 have graced my social media feed as grail finds that fans finally found. From what I see on Facebook, The Incredible Hulk #181 is way more coveted than ASM #129. Heck, I posted a grail find post once when I found a mint copy of the first appearance of Lobo, Omega Men #3, for only a buck at a local thrift shop!

With a publication date of February 1974, the world was introduced to not only the Punisher , a paid assassin with a code of honor, but also to the creepy Green Goblin clone known as the Jackal. Gerry Conway, Ross Andru and John Romita Sr. were the creative team behind the scenes. Conway wrote the issue's script. Frank Goacoia and Dave Hunt assisted Andru on the interior art. Romita and Gil Kane crafted the iconic cover that would be recreated ad nauseam on the cover a plethora of other titles from numerous publishers.

The plot of 'The Punisher Strikes Twice' takes place shortly after the deaths of both Peter Parker's girlfriend, Gwen Stacy and the Green Goblin. Spider-Man has been falsely accused once again, this time for Norman Osborne's murder. Seeking a chance to fill the criminal power vacuum in the wake of the Green Goblin's demise, the Jackal hires the Punisher to terminate Spider-Man.

Originally convinced that Spidey is a villain worthy of terminal punishment, the Punisher accepts the hit. The Punisher's mission becomes personal when he finds the wall crawler standing over the body of an associate of his. However, some quick thinking on the part Spider-Man, it's revealed that the assignment the Punisher is a trap on the part of the Jackal, framing the mercenary for the death of his colleague.

Eventually it's revealed that the Jackal is Professor Miles Warren. A mentor to Peter Parker at Empire Stste University, the educator had secretly fallen in love with Gwen Stacy. Blaming Spider-Man for her death, the Jackal unleashed holy hell on the Big Apple. He'll initiate a gang war between Hammerhead and Doctor Octopus, enhance his DNA with that of a real jackal, break the Tarantula out of the slammer and attempt to bomb reporter Ned Leeds into oblivion. Bur perhaps the fiend's most unforgivable crime will come as a result of learning Spider-Man's secret identity. Stealing some of Peter Parker's DNA, the Jackal will create a near identical duplicate; ushering in the God-awful Clone Saga!

As for the Punisher, he'll go on to become one of the most popular characters in Marvel Comics history. His origin will be revealed that his one-man mission on crime was the result of his wife and children being slaughtered by mobsters during a seemingly innocent sunny day in Central Park. PTSD from a tour in Vietnam didn't help matters much. Several series would chronicle the character's war against evil to the extent of death, resurrection and becoming a cosmic hellfire powered caretaker of a baby Thanos. Actors Dolph Lundgren, Thomas Jane and the late Ray Stevenson would portray the Punisher in several live action films. The Walking Dead's Jon Bernthal currently carries the mantle in the Marvel cinematic universe.

A facsimile edition of Amazing Spider-Man #129 was released in April, 2025.

Completing this review completes Task #37 (A Facsimile Edition) of the 2025 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Weird Western Tales #46 (2024 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

Bat Lash. Gambler. Ladies man. Smuggler and swindler. He's a gentleman with a roguish streak. He claims that he abhors violence. However, he's not afraid to use a firearm or stick of dynamite when the chips are down. You could almost say that Bat Lash is an old West inspiration for Han Solo.

The character was created in 1968. He was one of the first figures developed by Carmine Infantino after he was named editorial director for DC Comics. Fellow editor Joe Orlando assisted in Bay Lash's development before Sheldon Mayer and Sergio Aragones were tasked with bringing the antihero to life 

Bat Lash first debuted in issue #76 of Showcase. He soon started in his own self-titled solo series with Aragones now joined by Denny O'Neil as scribe. Despite winning a pair of Alley Awards for Best Western series and being significantly popular in Europe, Bat Lash was cancelled after only 7 issues.

In 1972, capitalizing off of the easing of restrictions on horror comics by the Comics Code as well as the new found popularity of titles like The House of Secrets, DC commissioned a western anthology series that specialized in the strange and macabre. Weird Western Tales debuted in the summer of '72. The breakout star of the title was the Confederate bounty hunter Jonah Hex. His popularity spun off into his own solo series in 1977. 

After Hex departed Weird Western Tales, the character of Scalphunter was made the feature. Created by Aragones and Orlando, Scalphunter was a young white child named Brian Savage. After his parents are slaughtered, Brian is raised by his family's killers, the people of the Kiowa tribe. Though despised by the Kiowa, Brian is trained to become a fierce warrior. Eventually Savage leaves the tribe in hopes of finding his baby sister who may have survived the massacre of his family.

Assuming the name of Scalphunter, Savage is a man of two cultures; both of which refuse to claim him. In his search for his sister, Scalphunter encounters a number of characters from DC's Old West lineup, including Bat Lash. No stranger to Weird Western Tales, Lash teamed with Scalphunter in the previous issues, agreeing to steal an experimental piece of artillery that very well could change the course of the Civil War.

Bat Lash and Scalphunter were supposed to sell the gun to the highest bidder. However, Lash betrayed his partner leaving him for dead. Enraged, Scalphunter has tracked Bat Lash to Saint Louis where the scoundrel is to meet with representatives from both the North and the South in a high stakes auction. While Lash plans for the Union to win the weapon, the Southern conspirators recruit Scalphunter into an ambush. Seeing a chance for revenge, Scalphunter agrees. Now with the South in possession of the automatic weapon, Bat Lash must convince his new foe that his intentions were pure and work together to save an entire Union regiment from being slaughtered.

Definitely a Western tale. But light on the weird. 

Written by Gerry Conway. Art by Dick Ayers and George Evans.

Completing this review completes Task #25 (A Western) of the 2024 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

Weird Western Tales #50 (2023 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

Weird Western Tales actually started out as the second volume of the fan favorite anthology series All-Star Western. The first issues featured some basic historical characters like Billy the Kid, Buffalo Bill, and Davy Crockett. DC creations such as Pow Wow Smith and Bat Lash made appearances as well as the demon possessed gunslinger known as El Diablo. In issue #10, readers were introduced to the mysterious bounty hunter, Jonah Hex.                                             

A former Confederate soldier turned bounty hunter, Hex's visage was disfigured by a Native American shaman for allegedly violating rules of combat. This brand was called the 'mark of the demon'. While Hex didn't have any supernatural powers, his stories tended to have an element of the strange and macabre due the nature of his facial injury. 

During this time period, the Comics Code was lessening its rules on horror tales. As a result, DC Comics created the wildly popular Weird War Tales in 1971. Seeing dollar signs, the editors at DC and publisher Carmine Infantino made the call to switch All-Star Western's format and title. The book was renamed Weird Western Tales with issue #12 (June, 1972). 

For the first half dozen issues El Diablo and Jonah Hex rotated as the star of Weird Western Tales. Assorted Western themed horror tales rounded out the issue. Issue #17 saw Jonah Hex becoming the main feature of the series and within another dozen issues, Weird Western Tales dropped the back-up features. Hex's last appearance in the series was in issue #38. Readers fell in love with the character and by April of 1977, Jonah Hex was starring in his own self-titled issue. 

Issue #39 saw the character of Scalphunter becoming the star of Weird Western Tales. In his debut we learn that the Scalphunter was a white man named Brian Savage. Abducted by the Kiowa Indians as a child, the Native Americans raised Brian under the name Ke-Wok-No-Tay, meaning 'He Who Is Less Than Human'. Skilled at combat, Brian left the tribe going by the name of Scalphunter. 

Scalphunter eventually learned that he had a little sister and that's where this issue picks up. Heading over to Atlanta, Scalphunter follows up on a tip that takes him to a Confederate Army occupied mansion. Inside, he finds numerous members of a prominent family placed under house arrest under suspicion of being a spy for the North; including a pair of criminal who tried to kill Scalphunter previous in New Orleans and his baby sister, Samantha Savage!

Featuring artwork by Dick Ayers (Rawhide Kid), the script was written by Gerry Conway (Superman). Cover artwork by Ross Andru and Marvel Fanfare's  Al Milgrom.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Completing this review completes Task #47 (A Western) of the 2023 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Superman #307 (2023 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

A hot tip leads Clark Kent as Superman to investigate a chemical plant. It appears that a large number of employees are succumbing to cancer. Alarmingly, the execs of the company don't seem to deny this medical mystery. Nor do they seem to care! As a result, Superman takes it upon himself to shut the manufacturing plant down. But before the Man of Steel can succeed, he is opposed by a brand new foe! 

Decked in a pure white costume, this villain calls himself The Protector. Only, he's not here to save the Earth but to make sure that corrupt businesses have the right to continue producing materials that will pollute the planet. The Protector's powers include flight, super strength and the ability to change form. That last power allows the Protector to escape Superman who now seems rather troubled.

Having visions of the destruction of his home planet of Krypton, Superman is now determined to save his adopted planet. Vowing to stop polluters and businesses from killing mother Earth, Superman declares war. His next target is a giant oil tanker that has a history of leaking fossil fuels into the ocean. 

As Superman begins to attack the ship, the Protector returns and leads Superman away. Once again, the foe eventually disappears. Only this time, Supergirl appears on scene with a shocking revelation: There is no Krypton! There never has been! And both Superman and Supergirl are mutant humans!

This mind-bending statement causes Superman to reflect on the past few days. He's not been acting like himself. To prove her point, Supergirl takes her cousin to the Fortress of Solitude and shows that the bottle city of Kandor is nothing more than a model kit. Has Superman's past as the Last Son of Krypton been nothing more than a delusion?

Issue #307 ends with Superman's reality crumbling down around him. Written by Gerry Conway (1st Issue Special) with art by Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez (DC Comics Presents), this issue was the first chapter of a 3-part story. The dramatic cover of the destruction of Kandor at the hands of the Maid of Might was by Neal Adams (First X-Men). 

This issue also marks the last issue of Superman to carry the DC bullet to proclaim 'DC The Line of Super-Stars' in the top left corner. 

An interesting tale that feels familiar. Superman's one-man war on pollution has similar parallels to the Man of Steel's mission to end the nuclear arms race in 1987's Superman IV: The Quest for Peace. With newcomer baddie The Protector taking the side of the polluters, his motives are reminiscent of that film's antagonist, Nuclear Man. These coincidences make one wonder if Superman #307-308 were indirect influences of Superman IV screenwriters Christopher Reeve, Lawrence Konner and Mark Rosenthal.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars. 

Completing this review completes Task #3 (Comic from the Bronze Age (1971-1985)) 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.

Marvel Comics Presents #109

This was a great issue!

A new Wolverine team-up starts. This one co-stars Typhoid Mary. Though the Daredevil enemy doesn't really appear in the opening chapter, it's got an intriguing premise with Logan on the trail of a serial killer who has a history with Mary. I can't wait to see where this one goes...

The Young Gods story comes to a close. The Gerry Conway/Eric Fein story still seems like a second rate Eternals story. But the Tom Sutton artwork is stunning. 

I'm really enjoying the Werewolf by Night/Ghost Rider adventure. It follows up from a MCP story from a couple of years back. As wild as that story was involving a bunch of in-breed werewolf cannibals that also happen to be members of a biker gang. This sequel starring that same pack is just as wild and maybe a little bit S&M.

I think all the more revealing and explicit artwork and story-lines are because Marvel (at this time) is edging away from the Comics Code. I think they're trying to figure out how far they can go before finally splitting away from the CCA. That way, the House of Ideas doesn't just go completely wild and end up in yet another comics scare level of trouble based on the content. 

Wrapping things up is the latest chapter of the Thanos story. Death has for some reason been avoiding the Mad Titan. Not one to be stood up, Thanos takes on Death's legions of followers to finally win an audience with his true love.

As I've said before, I am not really a Jim Starlin fan. He's too cosmic for my tastes. But this second volley wasn't that bad. And I am actually looking forward to see what happens next. Plus, it doesn't hurt to have amazing artwork from Spider-Man's Shawn McManus!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #101

After an epic centennial issue, a quartet of new stories and segments appear in between the Sam Kieth illustrated flip covers.

The X-Man Nightcrawler is summoned back to the circus he called home in Old World Germany. Seems that some strange things have been happening. As a back-up, Kurt Wagner calls upon Wolverine to assist in the investigation. 

Ghost Rider begins a team-up with the Sorcerer Supreme, Doctor Strange, to take on a demon called Gorn. And we're not talking about the reptilian alien race from Star Trek!

In the lone single issue segment, The Punisher takes on a gang of gun runners. This story had a very powerful message that involves a youth torn between following the straight and narrow or the luxurious life of a thug. Fantastic Ron Marz (DC Vs. Marvel Comics) scripted tale!

Then we've got a multi-parter starring characters called the Young Gods. This diverse team of heroes is kinda like a third rate version of the Eternals. Since the Celestials are involved, I think I'm kinda right about my summation. Maybe they're second rate. Dunno.  

Otherwise, an ancient evil has awakened on Earth and the Young Gods have asked the Celestials for the chance to save their former home planet. The ancient ones allow them to intervene. But should they fail, they will die and die really brutally. 

I normally am a fan of Gerry Conway (Superman). But I felt like the story was a little contrived. Really riding on the coat tails of the great Jack Kirby here. But the artwork of Tom Sutton (Amazing Adventures) was fantastic. The men each looked like an Adonis. The women are drawn like super models. Definite early 90s eye candy.

An uneven mix of stories. A pair are really good. One, pretty forgettable. And another only superior in terms of art appeal.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Essential Thor Volume 5

I'm not really as big of a fan of the cosmic Thor stories. The ones I adore are those that delve into Norse myth or are the run-of-the-mill tussles with super powered baddies. I'm not sure why that is. But I really hated Thor: The Dark World and if it wasn't for the humor and use of the Asgardian goddess, Hela, I probably would've hated Thor: Ragnarok too!

Speaking of Ragnarok. The end of Asgard occurs at least twice in this book. One sees the fall of Odin. The other occurrence is a reprinting of a classic Stan Lee/Jack Kirby foretelling of the end of all things. 

Gerry Conway, one of my all-time favorite Superman creators, pens all of the original stories. Some instances were very good. But Conway sends Thor and company into space quite a bit in this huge 500 page plus volume. So, it was difficult to enjoy this collection thoroughly. 

I really got a kick out of the Marvel/DC crossover. Yes, 4 actual characters from the DC universe crossover into Marvel territory in a two-parter some 5 years before the Man of Steel will meet The Amazing Spider-Man. For some, this crossover might seem that much of a big deal. But if you were an avid reader of Justice League of America and The Brave and the Bold around 1968-1972, you'll get a kick out of the appearance of several minor but oh so import figures in DC history. 

Oh, wait, now that I think of it, there were 5 characters who crossed over!

The art by Sal Buscema, his brother John , Len Wein and others was amazing stuff. It's interesting how much the characters change when crafted by other artists and yet they still manage to look iconic too! 

An enjoyable read of Thor stories. However, it's just not my favorite collection of them either. With only 1 Marvel Essential collection of Thor stories, I am thinking that I am not going to ever get to the Walt Simonson era. I guess I am going to have to start looking for color collections or possibly start collecting Thor single issues in order to get to that and close out the Odinson's original series of tales.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Justice League of America #134

After a shocking defeat at the hands of Despero, Superman and the phony Justice Leaguers are placed in stasis aboard the baddie's ship. I thought Despero wanted to conquer that planet in which Superman was whisked away to. But plans change, I guess. 

Meanwhile, aboard Hawkman's space cruise, Supergirl has managed to get some members of the League to finally go on a rescue mission from her cousin. Literally, flying blind, the team finds Superman and his captor thanks to a pair of omniscient beings fascinated by the concept of anger and revenge. 

As Despero and the heroes are pitted against each other in a series of conflicts, I am reminded of two things. One is Marvel's Contest of Champions in which the Grandmaster and the Collector pit heroes and villains against one another in a fight for the universe. Secondly is a number of Star Trek episodes, especially the 'Gamesters of Triskelion', in which god-like beings test the mortal crew members of the Enterprise.

Since Star Trek came first, I wonder if the crew behind this book (Gerry Conway, Dick Dillin and Ernie Chan), had Star Trek as an inspiration and Marvel later taking notes from these 3-issues storyline.

As with quite a few DC books at this time, the ending is quite abrupt with nothing very satisfying. The last panel or two get philosophical as you'd expect an episode of classic Trek. But there's so many loose ends left dangling without any adequate conclusion.

One thing that I was quite happy with was the additional presence of Supergirl. In issue #133, her presence was in my opinion a dirty trick bait-and-switch. Here, Kara Zor-El is a major player in saving her beloved cuz, Kal-El from the villain.

Lots of great Supergirl action but things don't add up from the end of the previous issue to the conclusion here. That really doesn't make a lot of sense as Conway wrote all 3 issues!

 It's very typical of mid-70s DC sadly...

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars. 

Justice League of America #133

When we last left the Justice League of America in the pages of Showcase Presents: Justice League of America, Volume 6, Superman had gone missing. His cousin, Supergirl, called on the League to investigate the disappearance. And then we had a big ole' 'To Be Continued...'

As fate, or DC's publishers, would have it, Volume 7 never materialized. Both DC and Marvel decided to stop publication of the very popular black and white reprints for a more expensive (and profitable?) line of color collections. 

This now meant that I was on the hunt for individual issues of Justice League of America #133-261. Recently, I found the two issues that completed the storyline left hanging in Showcase Presents and I must say, I was blown away by issue #133!

Superman awakes on an alien planet with the rest of his Justice League teammates. Only, his pals are actually actors equipt with high tech gadgets to mimic the powers of the other Leaguers. Together, Superman is put through a ruse to defeat the 3-eyed menace of Despero who has claimed this alien world as his new base of operations. 

As these phony superheroes are no match for Despero's might, they start dropping like flies. Instead of being inspired to save the day, the Man of Steel becomes despondent at the fall of his comrades. Can Superman overcome the one weakness that is even mightier than Kryptonite?- His love and devotion for his friends!!!

Issue #133 was a near flawless masterpiece from Gerry Conway, Dick Dillin and Frank McLaughlin. The only thing I wanted was more Supergirl! We're promised a lot more of her on the cover. But except for a brief- VERY BRIEF- cameo, there's really no Maid of Might here. That's a big disappointment for a huge fan of Supergirl such as myself!

The fate of Superman and a beleaguered planet hang in the balance. It's a good thing I've got issue #134 for the epic conclusion to look forward to next!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 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.

What If? Flash Thompson Became Spider-Man #1

One of the things I wanted to see during the new What If one-shots was to have the Nick Fury Watcher host the stories. Having read most of them, I had been disappointed. Finally with this one, request granted! 

One thing with this new version of Nick Fury I did not expect was for this Watcher to wax poetic. It doesn't quite fit. But I would imagine being forced to become the Watcher, it's going to result in some changes. I'm just not used to having Nick Fury talk less like a New York grunt and more like Christopher Marlowe...

As for the story itself, this What If? has Peter Parker bully, Flash Thompson getting bit by that radioactive spider and becoming Spider-Man. The Flash Thompson Spider-Man doesn't have the guilt of a dead relative on his hands. That makes this Spidey reckless, unencumbered and down right dangerous. 

This was very, very good. Gerry Conway is one of my favorite Superman writers. He's also one of my favorite Spider-Man scribes. Conway does an amazing job on this with tons of twists and shocking turns. 

She-Hulk's Diego Olortegui does an amazing job on the art. His take is full of respects given to Steve Ditko, John Romita, Sr and others. Awesome work and I hope to see more of it in the future. 

One thing about this story- it gave me an idea for a What If? The events at the end of this story would have meant down the road Spidey would not become one with the Symbiote. I know that they've done stories about what if some other superhero became Venom. But I now want to see a What If about if there never was a Venom. How would that impact the Marvel Universe. With no Venom, there be no Carnage, no Anti-Venom and no Lady Venom. (Is that one a thing or did I dream that one?) Clearly, that absence would result in void in several storylines, right? Worth exploring..., oh and Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

The Secret Society of Super-Villains, Volume 1 (1977: A Madman Turns 40: 2017- Day 44)

    
For today's A Madman Turns 40, I'm reviewing a collection of comics from my favorite year.

   The series in question is DC Comics' The Secret Society of Super-Villains. The series ran from 1976-78 and the volume I read contained a majority of it's issues published in 1977.

    So just what is the Secret Society of Super-Villains?

    A mysterious benefactor summons a group of villains to San Francisco in order to finally rid the world of the Justice League. Soon the bonds of teamwork begin to crumble as power struggles and egos arise as the group is directed to steal a myriad of mystical devices and items. Added to the mix is that one of the teammates is secretly a good guy- but who is the traitor?

Series Creator, Gerry Conway. 

    Then around about issue 5, the focus of the comic shifts dramatically. Writer, Gerry Conway suddenly left the title. Replacement writers added Jack Kirby creation Funky Flashman to the mix having him attempt trying to market the team to high bidders. But there is a major fly in his ointment. Earlier, the Secret Society manipulated a time-displaced mutant hero called Captain Atom. When the Society restructures, Atom vows to bring in the villains whom he once called friends to justice. While a host of awesome superheroes assist Captain Comet in his quest, none of them could ever save this series from an imminent demise.

     I knew from the get-go reading issue #1 that this series was doomed. When the SSOSV is first introduced, Catwoman is listed as a member. NOT ONCE DOES SHE MAKE AN APPEARANCE IN THIS BOOK!  Obviously, you can tell with flaws such as that, this series was rushed out. A special feature at the end of this volume shows writer and creator Gerry Conway's original vision for the series. But then-publisher Carmine Infantino had a different idea and ordered his revision expedited to print. 

Then DC Comics publisher, Carmine Infantino.

   A quick rush through publishing caused massive story problems and sloppy artwork. Along with continuity errors, this series also lacks vision. That's in very large part to the revolving door of writers and artists desperately attached to and dropped from the series. With so many different cooks placed in the DC Kitchen, there were so many different versions of this team changing ranks quicker that the Justice League during a recruitment drive. It's nearly impossible for the reader to form any sort of lasting bond with the characters. 

    Oddly enough, despite my displeasure with this series, I actually want to read volume 2 to see how things unfold. Yet, I doubt I'll ever get my hands on the complete story as it was spread out over several other unrelated series and the current editors of DC didn't think to include those stories in this volume! That made me so mad that I was almost willing to forgive the other oversights I found in throughout the editing of these late 70s stories. ALMOST...

     A few weeks ago, I discussed the great blizzard of New England. I mentioned how blizzards in both 77 and 78 caused massive production delays in publications such as comic books. This was one such series that suffered from the crippling snow storms. Rushed stories, a lack of being able to keep a definite creative staff attached to the project, mixed with oft delayed distribution lead to the Secret Society becoming a victim of 1978's DC Implosion. 

Cover to SSOSV Volume 2.

    Again, I doubt that if I get my hands on volume 2, I'll never get the full story. Issues #16 and 17 never saw mass print. But facsimiles of those issues are included in the second volume of SSOSV. However, the planned final issue that was supposed to wrap everything up (issue #18) never saw print in any form. 
   
     Man, was the winter of my favorite year brutal to DC Comics...

     Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.