Archie Comics Celebrates America's 250th

My favorite comic book store came through once again. No- they went above and beyond! In the chaos that is finals week (which is actually almost 3 weeks in length) at the high school I teach, I somehow overlooked this new release. But the guys at Books Do Furnish a Room looked out for me and ordered a copy of this America250 special, knowing that I collect holiday themed books. 

Now if you're someone who feels that America is going in the wrong direction, based on the leadership, you might be thinking that yet another company has sold out to the semiquincentennial fervor. However I don't think that's the case with Archie Comics. For one thing, I own a copy of a 1976 bicentennial special edition of Life With Archie. (That issue's cover by Stan Goldberg, was used as the foundation for the variant cover the guys at BDFR ordered for me.) Archie Comics has never been one to avoid supporting a cause or festivity. And there have been decades full of patriotic stories published starring the citizens of Riverdale all the way since Archie Andrews' first appearance in 1941! So, no, this will not be an issue that could cause you to feel conflicted about your moral stance on the state of affairs of the United States of America. In fact, it might actually make you feel just a little bit more patriotic inside.

My biggest complaint about this special is that there is not an all-new story to start things out like with the Archie Halloween or Christmas spectaculars of the past decade. It's 100% reprints. However they're all reprints that I don't seem to own. So that's a plus.

The first story shows what happens when Betty plans a school wide social studies project in which all of the Riverdale High School students and staff dress up as their favorite figures from American history. Then Veronica travels to Vermont and Connecticut to research the lives of patriots Ethan Allen and Nathan Hale and ends up running into a literal blast from the past. Readers then see what it might be like if Jughead was the POTUS before then exploring the Reggie Mantle administration.

I take that back! There is one thing in this issue that is a part of my holidays collection of comics and graphic novels. From that 1976 Life With Archie is a one-pager quiz about Presidents and the states. Despite having taken this quiz 4 years ago previously, I scored a 6 out of 10. Though in my defense, I accidentally skipped question #6 getting confused because it was too similar to question 5, which asked which state was the birthplace of the most US presidents. I think I somehow thought that they were the same question. Though to be honest, I probably wouldn't have guessed that Ohio was the state of origin of the 2nd most number of Presidents.

Worth Consuming!

Rating;9 out of 10 stars.

Classics Illustrated #108 (2026 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

Cover to 1953 First Edition.

Classics Illustrated examined the many Arthurian legends in this issue. While some of the collected works of Howard Pyle were used in an uncredited basis, the original authors of these 13th century, or earlier, tales have been lost over time. Many historians believe that there was a king, named Arthur. If that's true, he obviously was very successful on the battlefield and in jousting tournaments, hence the lasting appeal of Arthur's name over the past 800 or so years. The more victorious King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table were, the more fantastic their legends grew.

The story of the sword in the stone (and apparently also in an anvil) and how Arthur removed the sword unawares that such action made him the true monarch of England begins this issue. Arthur's reception of a better sword, Excalibur, from the Lady in the Lake, along with a magical scabbard that made him invincible when worn. His marriage to Guinevere and the reception of a massive round table that could seat 250 men. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, ...and the Red Knight, ...and the Yellow Knight, ...and finally the Black Knight. Those stories are all detailed in the first half of the issue. It's the establishment of Camelot, but I don't recall anybody calling it that in this book. 

The second half sees the eventual downfall of Arthur's Kingdom. But it's pretty PG.  Nowhere does Guinevere and Sir Lancelot hook up behind Arthur's back. Arthur's own incestuous liaison with Morgan La Fey producing an heir destined to destroy Camelot is absent too. Mordred does play his part in the death of King Arthur. But he's viewed more of an opportunist seeking the throne during a lengthy absence by Arthur. Nowhere is he revealed to be the bastard son of King Arthur.

Sir Lancelot does play his part in the downfall of Arthur's Kingdom. One of the lesser known legends tells of Lancelot coming to the defense of some men being attacked by robbers. Two of the men Lancelot kills are Knights of the Round Table! Their brother wants revenge. Lancelot refuses to apologize. Arthur is unable to take a side. Yet nobody points out that the supposedly noble knights were participating in activities that were less than chivalrous!

This issue was originally published in 1953; right in the middle of the Comic Book Scare. No way was Gilberton going to put all the adultery surrounding the legend of King Arthur. I'm surprised that they included Merlin the Magician. Though by the halfway point, he's a distant memory. 

My copy has a publication date of 1969; right as new owner Twin Circle was seeing the writing on the wall that the popular educational comic series' could no longer compete against DC and Marvel. Usually, older copies have an article in the back about the author. Perhaps because the story of King Arthur was more the product of centuries of folklore and epic poets there wasn't even a prose column about who wrote what and when. If ever an issue of Classics Illustrated needed such a piece, this was the one! Instead, you get a one-pager about the Lost Colony, another on the history of the Liberty Bell and an feature on  how baseball bounced back from the 1919 Black Sox Scandal.

You might think that those 3 articles were rather random. However, I learned that the original Roanoke colony was established on July 4th, 1585! The Liberty Bell has been an symbol of American independence from England, which we Americans celebrate every 4th of July. Lastly, baseball is America's past time. So, that all seems like a plausible game of 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon. Add to the fact that England was behind the settling of the Roanoke Colony and King Arthur is a figure of British myth and legend, you actually have an issue of Classics Illustrated that seems to at least make some connections throughout the book for once. You just have to really squint hard to see them!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars. 

Completing this review completes Task #27 (An issue of Classics Illustrated) of the 2026 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

1977: A Madman Turns 40: 2017- Day 184

  It's Independence Day! The day we celebrate our forefather's declaring independence from England. 

   Normally with the A Madman Turns 40 project, I show you what celebrations were like the year I was born. But I can't find any photos of bbqs or fireworks from that day. So, did we just skip celebrating the Fourth that year?
  
   What I could find was a lot of photos of magazines. Apparently, it was the day to change out the magazine bins that Independence Day. I found covers from a variety of magazines such as the ones below:

America's First Family of 1977:
Lee Majors and Farrah Fawcett-Majors.

In 1977 Ted Turner was winning America's Cup trophies.
40 years later he's losing to President Donald Trump in a viral Wrestlemania vid.

There seemed to be quite a bit of sports that day. Wimbledon in London was taking place. There were also at least 2 races held during the Fourth. I wonder why they don't do races anymore on weekdays?

Actually, I think I have a pretty good idea why the celebrations for Fourth of July, 1977 were so low-key. We overdid it for our bi-centennial a year prior. 

Well, that's my look at 1977 for the day. Sorry it wasn't much more patriotic. When it comes to researching the past, you win some and you lose some. I just really expected to win with this Independence Day post.

Scene from July 4, 1976 celebrations.
We partied so hard that year, we kicked 1876's ass!
But the Independence hangover lasted until well in late 1977.

Until next time...

Happy Independence Day, 2017!

Happy 4th, Everybody!

Vacation mix-ups

Well, I'm back from my vacation. While I did manage to write up some reviews, in my haste (or was it my ease?) I forgot to type up a Family Comic Friday review. I did read a comic for FCF. I just forgot to type up an article. 

So, to make amends, next Friday I'll post 2 reviews for Family Comic Friday. 

Until then, I hope you'll enjoy my postings for the rest of the week. Hope everyone had a great 4th!

- The Madman with a Book.

Walt Disney’s Goofy Adventures #8

I like Disney, but I’m not an active collector of Disney comics. I actually find that statement kinda weird because I think the comic books of Disney are American classics and I’ve never really read a bad one. I got this book because of its patriotic theme. Since I collect holiday comics, I thought that this might be an enjoyable read for the July 4^th holiday.

Though I read this book on Independence Day, the actions of this book take place in the very patriotic time of Christmas, 1776. Goofy portrays General Washington, who is facing losing his troops at the end of their enlistment on New Year’s Day. The cold and ice of winter has made morale and supplies scarce in the encampment of Valley Forge. Washington and the nation itself very well could lose their bid for Independence if a victory of some sort isn’t soon forthcoming.

With Donald and Mickey portraying real-life aides to Goofy’s Washington, the majority of action in this story is pretty historically accurate. Not bad, Disney, not bad at all!

Including in the comic is a slightly bizarre sci-fi tale about Commander Goofy and his space ship crew in search of food. The jokes for this story are pretty corny and I knew most of what was going to happened pages before- it was that predictable. Saving the book from being an utter failure is Goofy’s history lesson on the film industry. It was a very funny story that reminded me of some of the old Goofy Sports shorts from the 40s and 50s that had a documentary quality to them. Those tales are mostly factual with the exception of the punchline. I loved it!

Would I add Goofy Adventures to my wish list? Probably not. But if I found a bunch of them in a bargain bin, you can believe I would snatch them up in a minute. Heck, who I am kidding, I’d pick up just about any Disney comic if the price is right. The stories are well thought out for the most part and the art is of the clean, classic Disney style. Would expect anything less from the House of Mouse?

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales: One Dead Spy

 This is the first book in the series, but it’s not the first book I’ve read from it. NHHT, as the author commonly refers to this series, stars Nathan Hale as the narrator. Just before he is to be hung during the Revolutionary War, Hale was given the ability to see all of American History (as his last words have earned him a place in the history books.) His execution by hangman and a British officer is stayed as long as he regales them with stories.

Up ‘first’ is the story of how Nathan Hale joined the revolution up to his capture as a spy. NHHT’s are my kind of comics. As a former educator and a history major, I am a big supporter of medias that make learning fun. I think it’s because I was such a fan of Schoolhouse Rock as a child. But let’s be honest- what’s more fun to learn: the memorization of the periodic table or to have a band like the Ramones belt out a turn helping you to remember the atomic weight of boron?

Sure, this series is geared for ages 10-14. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t learn anything from this book. For example, I didn’t know that Hale has a mole on his neck and it was considered such a bad luck charm that fellow school children teased him that he’d be hung by the neck by a noose. That’s a very interesting fact- but not something a 6-year old should probably be learning. Also just about every book in the bibliography used for research are geared for adults. Thus, I think I’ve proven that Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales offers something for everyone!

A fantastic series that I just can’t wait until I get my hands on the next one.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.