Events:
98 - Trajan becomes Roman Emperor after the death of Nerva.
1142 - Wrongful execution of noted Song Dynasty General Yue Fei.
1186 - Henry VI, the son and heir of the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I, weds Constance of Sicily.
1416 - Republic of Dubrovnik, as a first state in Europe, outlaw slavery
1606 - Gunpowder Plot: The trial of Guy Fawkes and other conspirators begins, and ending in their execution on January 31.
1678 - The first fire engine company in the United States went into service.
1785 - The University of Georgia is founded, the first public university in the United States.
1870 - The first college sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta, is formed at DePauw University.
1880 - Thomas Edison files a patent for his electric incandescent lamp.
1888 - In Washington, D.C., the National Geographic Society is founded.
1900 - Boxer Rebellion: Foreign diplomats in Peking, China demand that the Boxer rebels be disciplined
1926 - John Logie Baird makes the first television broadcast.
1939 - First flight of the Lockheed P-38 Lightning.
1967 - Apollo program: Apollo 1 - Astronauts Gus Grissom, Edward White and Roger Chaffee are killed in a fire during a test of the spacecraft at the Kennedy Space Center.
1967 - More than sixty nations sign the Outer Space Treaty banning nuclear weapons in space.
1973 - Paris Peace Accords officially end the Vietnam War, Colonel William Nolde falls, becoming the conflict's last recorded American combat casualty.
1977 - Record company EMI sacks the controversial United Kingdom punk rock group the Sex Pistols.
1983 - Pilot shaft of World's longest subaqueous tunnel (53.85 km) between the Japanese islands of Honshū and Hokkaidō breaks through.
1983 - I was born in Seattle, Washington, USA.
1984 - Carl Lewis beats his own indoor world long jump record by 9¼ inches (23.5 centimeters) with a 28-foot, 10¼-inch (8.795-meter) jump.
1997 - It is revealed that French museums have nearly 2,000 pieces of art that were stolen by Nazis.
1998 - American First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton appears on the Today Show calling the attacks against her husband part of a vast right-wing conspiracy.
Births:
1443 - Albert, Duke of Saxony (d. 1500)
1687 - Balthasar Neumann, German architect (d. 1753)
1701 - Johann Nikolaus von Hontheim, German historian (d. 1790)
1756 - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Austrian composer (d. 1791)
1805 - Maria Anna of Bavaria, queen consort of Saxony (d. 1877)
1832 - Lewis Carroll, English author (d. 1898)
1848 - Togo Heihachiro, Japanese admiral (d. 1934)
1908 - William Randolph Hearst, Jr., American newspaper magnate (d. 1993)
1921 - Donna Reed, American actress (d. 1986)
1924 - Sabu Dastagir, Indian actor (d. 1963)
1928 - Michael Craig, British actor
1940 - James Cromwell, American actor
1944 - Nick Mason, English drummer (Pink Floyd)
1951 - Brian Downey, Irish musician (Thin Lizzy)
1952 - Billy "White Shoes" Johnson, American football player
1954 - Peter Laird, American comic-book artist
1955 - John Roberts, 17th Chief Justice of the United States
1956 - Mimi Rogers, American actress
1957 - Janick Gers, British guitarist (Iron Maiden)
1957 - Frank Miller, American comic book artist and writer and film director
1959 - Keith Olbermann, American news presenter
1961 - Margo Timmins, Canadian singer (Cowboy Junkies)
1961 - Gillian Gilbert, British musician (New Order)
1964 - Bridget Fonda, American actress
1965 - Alan Cumming, Scottish actor
1969 - Patton Oswalt, American actor and writer
1972 - Guillermo, Mexican-born American TV personality
1983 - Me!
1987 - Katy Rose, American pop singer
Deaths
98 - Nerva, Roman Emperor (b. 35)
1629 - Hieronymus Praetorius, German composer (b. 1560)
1688 - Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang, grandmother of the Kangxi Emperor in Qing Dynasty China
1731 - Bartolomeo Cristofori, Italian maker of musical instruments (b. 1655)
1740 - Louis Henri, Duc de Bourbon, Prime Minister of France (b. 1692)
1814 - Johann Gottlieb Fichte, German philosopher (b. 1762)
1851 - John James Audubon, French-American naturalist, ornithologist, and painter (b. 1789)
1901 - Giuseppe Verdi, Italian composer (b. 1813)
1910 - Thomas Crapper, English inventor (b. 1836)
1967 - Crew of Apollo 1: Roger Chaffee (b. 1935), Virgil "Gus" Grissom (b. 1926), Edward White (b. 1930)
1972 - Mahalia Jackson, American singer (b. 1911)
1973 - William Nolde, last American combat casualty of Vietnam War (b. 1929)
1993 - André the Giant, professional wrestler and actor (b. 1946)
2004 - Jack Paar, American television show host (b. 1918)
2004 - Salvador Laurel, 9th Vice President of the Philippines (b. 1928)
2006 - Johannes Rau, 8th Bundespräsident (President of Germany) (b. 1931)
2006 - Gene McFadden, American singer and songwriter (b. 1949)
2007 - Marcheline Bertrand, actress and mother of Angelina Jolie (b. 1950)
Holidays and observances
- UN: International Holocaust Remembrance Day
- United Kingdom: Holocaust Memorial Day.
- Germany: Gedenktag für die Opfer des Nationalsozialismus (Commemoration Day for the Victims of National Socialism).
- Poland: Dzień Pamięci Ofiar Nazizmu (Memorial Day for the Victims of Nazism).
- Italy: Giorno della Memoria (Memorial Day).
- Serbia: St. Sava Day.
- Denmark: Auschwitzdag (Auschwitz Day; commemoration day for the victims of the Holocaust and other genocide).
- Monaco: Day of Saint Devota, patron saint
- Catholicism: Catholic Schools Week.
- January 27 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
- My Birthday.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Saturday, January 19, 2008
This is Entry 21: Comics!
This makes, what, 3 entries this month? Man, I'm doing good! Not as good as August (9 entries in 1 month) but in general 3 entries in a month is good. This might turn into a 4 entry month but I'm not sure.
One to why I'm posting. Can you guess why? It's Comic Books! This time is mostly Marvel with 2 DC books & 2 others.
--------------
Penance: Relentless #4): The mini series is almost over (only 1 to go!), it's still a good story. We find out what the numbers means (If you haven't been reading the series, that means nothing to you. But if you have been I won't spoil it for you). I've got 2 pic's to show you:
1. Norman Osborn is a perv & Ben Grimm knows it!
2. I think I might of found a mistake. Let's see if you can spot it before I tell you what it might be:
Can't find it? It's right there. It's the Flag! Down on Entry #17 of this very Blog, I ramble on about the the first half of the Marvel Atlas & it shows you the Latverian Flag:
Now the flag shown above there is not that flag. Now this might just be the flag of the Latverian Prison of which is where is his location. But, it might be & then that's a goof on the Artist's part.
Captain America #33: 8 issues later & Steve Rogers is still dead. Next issue we see the new Captain America. Now why they didn't wait until Issue 35, which would make 10 issue between Death & the new Guy: I don't know. Maybe Ed Brubaker has a thing for odd numbers? I don't know. SIDENOTE: I'm not sure I like the new suit, but I'm willing let it be for awhile.
New Warriors: They did it with Heroes for Hire & now they've do it with NW: They start off with art I like & then they change to art I don't like. An *added* bonus with NW is now everyone looks generic! Apparently the artist can only draw 1 type of face for Men & another type for Women. *sigh* Another book I like made less cool with not so great art.
Mighty Avengers #7: With issue the new story arc start off. With it comes an new artist (Mark Bagley) & he doesn't suck! Example:
That panel definitely does not suck!
Exiles has ended with Issue #100. Before it starts up/continues on as New Exiles, a book to bridge the gap was put out, Exiles: Days of Then and Now. Here's the cover which shows every member of the main team since Issue 1:
Stuff I noticed: Psylocke (Bottom row, second from the left) looks either dead or asleep & they just propped her up somehow. We also have Rogue (First on the second row from the left) looking down on Psylocke with disapproval. The next 2 on the row (Morph & Sage) also have interesting looks on their respected faces.
But My favorite part of it is this:
Magnus, you dog! You might not know this but Namora would most likely fillet you like a fish if she saw you checking out her dirty clam shells.
I did pick up New Exiles #1 & it was pretyt good. I'm still not all that sure about Chris Claremont on the book. But I'll give them a story arc to change my mind.
After some search I found the Civil War installment of this year's What If? installment (Well, they started last year but they are still coming out so I consider it to be a "This" year thing). It's pretty good, some odd art in places but nothing all that distracting.
I picked up some back issue on the faith because I like the story they are inspired by, those books are Wolverine: Days of Future Past. It's from the late 90's (like 1998). My response is What the Heck?!? I'm not sure when it's happening because if it runs concurrent to the classic story then they changed some story points that I just couldn't story thinking about. The only way I could reconcile those story points in my mind is this a "prequel" to the story. Now it's not a bad story, it's got one cool character (Midnight is her code name) & the art is fine, so is the writting. But, it's just not what I expected when I picked it up.
--------------
Here are the 2 DC Books:
1. Booster Gold #6, one of the most fun mainstream Super Hero book out there. 'Nuff Said.
2. The Teen Titans Lost Annual, it done in the style of the Titans of the 1960's with a story befitting the era (that or a conspiracy lovers comic book): Beatles looking Aliens (Yes, the music group) kidnap President Kennedy & to help them stop a war on their home planet. They leave a shape shifter in his place. The Titans travel to the planet to save the president. While they are gone, fake Kennedy travels to Dallas & we all know what happens next. After being rescued the real Kennedy goes back to the place as to not upset the Country & I guess not let them know Aliens really do exist.
The last 2 Books:
1. The Umbrella Academy: It still do really understand what's going on but I don't mind. I'm a little sad that the mini series is almost over. Hopefully they'll make a sequel.
2. The 2nd issue of Doctor Who Classics with one of the funniest panels I've read in awhile:
Until next we meet, I bid thy a Stay Jazzy!
-Brian.
One to why I'm posting. Can you guess why? It's Comic Books! This time is mostly Marvel with 2 DC books & 2 others.
--------------
Penance: Relentless #4): The mini series is almost over (only 1 to go!), it's still a good story. We find out what the numbers means (If you haven't been reading the series, that means nothing to you. But if you have been I won't spoil it for you). I've got 2 pic's to show you:
1. Norman Osborn is a perv & Ben Grimm knows it!
2. I think I might of found a mistake. Let's see if you can spot it before I tell you what it might be:
Can't find it? It's right there. It's the Flag! Down on Entry #17 of this very Blog, I ramble on about the the first half of the Marvel Atlas & it shows you the Latverian Flag:
Now the flag shown above there is not that flag. Now this might just be the flag of the Latverian Prison of which is where is his location. But, it might be & then that's a goof on the Artist's part.
Captain America #33: 8 issues later & Steve Rogers is still dead. Next issue we see the new Captain America. Now why they didn't wait until Issue 35, which would make 10 issue between Death & the new Guy: I don't know. Maybe Ed Brubaker has a thing for odd numbers? I don't know. SIDENOTE: I'm not sure I like the new suit, but I'm willing let it be for awhile.
New Warriors: They did it with Heroes for Hire & now they've do it with NW: They start off with art I like & then they change to art I don't like. An *added* bonus with NW is now everyone looks generic! Apparently the artist can only draw 1 type of face for Men & another type for Women. *sigh* Another book I like made less cool with not so great art.
Mighty Avengers #7: With issue the new story arc start off. With it comes an new artist (Mark Bagley) & he doesn't suck! Example:
That panel definitely does not suck!
Exiles has ended with Issue #100. Before it starts up/continues on as New Exiles, a book to bridge the gap was put out, Exiles: Days of Then and Now. Here's the cover which shows every member of the main team since Issue 1:
Stuff I noticed: Psylocke (Bottom row, second from the left) looks either dead or asleep & they just propped her up somehow. We also have Rogue (First on the second row from the left) looking down on Psylocke with disapproval. The next 2 on the row (Morph & Sage) also have interesting looks on their respected faces.
But My favorite part of it is this:
Magnus, you dog! You might not know this but Namora would most likely fillet you like a fish if she saw you checking out her dirty clam shells.
I did pick up New Exiles #1 & it was pretyt good. I'm still not all that sure about Chris Claremont on the book. But I'll give them a story arc to change my mind.
After some search I found the Civil War installment of this year's What If? installment (Well, they started last year but they are still coming out so I consider it to be a "This" year thing). It's pretty good, some odd art in places but nothing all that distracting.
I picked up some back issue on the faith because I like the story they are inspired by, those books are Wolverine: Days of Future Past. It's from the late 90's (like 1998). My response is What the Heck?!? I'm not sure when it's happening because if it runs concurrent to the classic story then they changed some story points that I just couldn't story thinking about. The only way I could reconcile those story points in my mind is this a "prequel" to the story. Now it's not a bad story, it's got one cool character (Midnight is her code name) & the art is fine, so is the writting. But, it's just not what I expected when I picked it up.
--------------
Here are the 2 DC Books:
1. Booster Gold #6, one of the most fun mainstream Super Hero book out there. 'Nuff Said.
2. The Teen Titans Lost Annual, it done in the style of the Titans of the 1960's with a story befitting the era (that or a conspiracy lovers comic book): Beatles looking Aliens (Yes, the music group) kidnap President Kennedy & to help them stop a war on their home planet. They leave a shape shifter in his place. The Titans travel to the planet to save the president. While they are gone, fake Kennedy travels to Dallas & we all know what happens next. After being rescued the real Kennedy goes back to the place as to not upset the Country & I guess not let them know Aliens really do exist.
The last 2 Books:
1. The Umbrella Academy: It still do really understand what's going on but I don't mind. I'm a little sad that the mini series is almost over. Hopefully they'll make a sequel.
2. The 2nd issue of Doctor Who Classics with one of the funniest panels I've read in awhile:
Until next we meet, I bid thy a Stay Jazzy!
-Brian.
Friday, January 11, 2008
This is Entry 20: Con Review!
It's a New Year so Let's talk about the Past! :)
Yes, Yes. This is the much talked about entry about the back issues I bought in October. It's mostly DC comics but there are some Marvel Comics in there. You've seen them from the side...
... Now let's see them from the front! And since they comprise most of the stack, let's start with:
But none of these comics bare this logo. Some of the DC comics I'll be talking about don't even call themselves DC Comics (What? More on that later..)
We start our journey to DC's past with a Subscription ad:
Wow! 16 issues for $1.60. Boy, what that must of been like.
I'll be talking about the 4th book you can buy from the top: Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen. The Issue #70. The first story (which is not the cover story) is a cavalcade of tried & true elements of Jimmy Olsen stories from the era: a jerk load of a Superman, bizarre transformations by Olsen, Olsen screws up, etc. There is one thing that I didn't understand from the story: why did Jimmy just except that there would be a group of men who would form a Jimmy Olsen fan club. Are they really they depressed that they wouldn't just idolize Superman & not one of his friends? Was Perry White to old for them? But, by the time the story is over you find out that they weren't actually fans of Jimmy, just sons of a "Super-Revenge Squad". Not just Regular-Revenge but Super-Revenge.
The second story is your typical "Bad people trick Jimmy to get to Superman" story. This time Jimmy thinks he's been turned into a robot from the neck down!
Now on to the cover story where...
Yes! There are many types of the rock, not just Green. But what does Silver do? Give Superman Lobster claws? Make Superman into a Superwoman? Make him crave Fried Chicken & Waffles? Well, I hate to break it you: it doesn't do anything. Jimmy starts asking around about this type, no one knows about it (maybe because it doesn't exist). He asks one time girlfriend to Superman & Mermaid: Lori Lemaris. She asks "her friends of the ocean depths": they don't about it. Supergirl doesn't know about it. Clark hears about it & starts to suspect something is up. Jimmy collects silver items from his fellow coworkers (He steals a silver dollar off Clark's desk). He gets some silver items from Lori & one from Lana Lang. He uses the lab of perennial guest star from the era, Professor Potter's lab to melt down the items & uses people from the bottled City of Kandor who also happen to look like Superman & his friends. Jimmy pour molten silver over them (but it's ok, they're invulnerable).
So, what does Silver Kryptonite do if it doesn't exist? Well, The story is to mark Superman's silver anniversary (He made his first story appearance 25 years earlier). What did Jimmy do with the Silver? He made busts of Superman's friend & stored them in an over size case made to look like a large, lumpy rock.
I also picked up 2 other issues of the comic. Issue #74 has Mister Mxyzptlk (can you pronounce that?) making Jimmy his puppet.
Issue #93 is:
Now this Earth isn't the one from the Marvel Mini-Series or the Earth from DC's original Multiverse where the Nazis' won but a different one. He's actually called "Steel Man" in the story is much easier to say. How did Jimmy become Steel Man? Well, He was visiting Professor Potter, he had a created a Time Machine. Jimmy checks it out & accidentally touches a button which cause Jimmy to be sent to an alternate Earth. An Earth where Perry White is a Matador. Also on this Earth Jimmy has all the powers of Superman! Jimmy finds more differences, Clark Kent is the head of tours at the World's Fair (also Benedict Arnold was the 2nd President of America). Clark is an fiction writer in his spare time & he created a character called Steel Man, so Jimmy unravels his clothes to make a new suit. One that looks to be an amalgam of Batman & Superman (hence the story's title). More differences, on Earth X Potter is the head of the World Fair (& acts like Perry White). Lucy Lane, Lois's sister, also works at the Fair. The Fair is attacked by the LUTHAR league (LUTHAR standing for League Using Terror, Havoc & Robbery. But then why tack on League on the end if it's in your name?). Jimmy ducks out of sight to change. The LUTHAR try to steal some rare gems but Steel Man stops them. He's thanked by the tux clad Mayor & is given a Parade & a day named after him. Next page we find out the leader of LUTHAR is Earth X's version of the Joker. The LUTHAR attempt to steal art (like the the painting of Actor Mickey Mantle) but Steel Man stops them (They do get away again). Jimmy is meets up with Professor Potter who had a "Dimension Computer" which he used to find Jimmy, he there to take Jimmy but he doesn't want to go back. He's Superman on Earth X! But before much else happens he is off to meet up with Clark but when he arrives the Joker is there. He find out that under the clown mask is Clark, he uses a machine & takes the Steel Man powers for himself. Clark is off to take over the world! Jimmy quickly defeats him by way a mysterious gas he & Lucy made. So, he & Potter goes home only after Jimmy & Lucy share a kiss.
BONUS: A weird ad about the going to the Land Ship... oh, sorry... going to the Library.
Also, does anyone else get some creepy undertones from the sea captain a.k.a. crazy old guy?
The next book is another Superman book, It's Giant Superman Annual #3 which features "an all-star collection of Stories featuring The Strange Lives of Superman!" You get an Old version, a big headed version (which means he's from the future), a masked version (which makes Superman look a lot like Alfred E. Neuman), a Lion Man version, a scared version, an "ugly" wrestler impostor version & a bondage version. Plus, you get the "secrets of Superman's Fortress of Solitude". I didn't know there was more then one.
We mover forward time to the 1980's & a very influential Batman story called The Untold Legend of Batman. Why is this influential? It may just be the first Batman story I ever read. Now I just bought the issues but back when a little kid I read this story in a pocket sized book. It was in black & beige (That's the color of the paper it was printed on). The cover of the third issue is an Bat-image that has been burnt into my mind (Jim Aparo is the artist):
If you find the mini series, pick it up. It's a good read.
BONUS: Here's a cool old ad! It's got my "Stamp of Approval".
The last thing that I bought from DC was the entire second series of it's Tangent Comic five week event. I got most of the 1st series in a half off Comic book bin at a local Book Store. I was only missing two books (which I also picked up with the second series). For those cool people not in the know: The idea behind the series is they take established names & make new characters for them. After reading the entire series, I can say the first attempt was better. The second just seemed to be a little lost. Plus, they tried to change a few things in the second series (Like The Joker, she was fine the way she was!).
Well, that's all I have for DC. Now on to:
Now I don't have as much to say the Marvel books but I did get some cool stuff. A few first appearances:
- Marvel Super-Heroes #12 (1st appearance of Captain Mar-Vel).
- Marvel Team-Up #65 & 66 (1st U.S. appearance of Captain Britain).
- The Avengers King-Size Annual #10 (1st appearance of Rogue). I got this book for well below what I've seen it normally for.
Other books I bought are Avengers #181 (Gyrich decided the Avengers line up), The last issue of Marvel Team-Up (Issue #150), Not Brand Echh #1 (Marvel Satire book from the '60's) & the 200th issue of Incredible Hulk.
Well, that's it for this trip to the past. Next post we will be back in the present. Well, at least books that came out in the present.
Stay Jazzy!
-Brian
Yes, Yes. This is the much talked about entry about the back issues I bought in October. It's mostly DC comics but there are some Marvel Comics in there. You've seen them from the side...
... Now let's see them from the front! And since they comprise most of the stack, let's start with:
But none of these comics bare this logo. Some of the DC comics I'll be talking about don't even call themselves DC Comics (What? More on that later..)
We start our journey to DC's past with a Subscription ad:
Wow! 16 issues for $1.60. Boy, what that must of been like.
I'll be talking about the 4th book you can buy from the top: Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen. The Issue #70. The first story (which is not the cover story) is a cavalcade of tried & true elements of Jimmy Olsen stories from the era: a jerk load of a Superman, bizarre transformations by Olsen, Olsen screws up, etc. There is one thing that I didn't understand from the story: why did Jimmy just except that there would be a group of men who would form a Jimmy Olsen fan club. Are they really they depressed that they wouldn't just idolize Superman & not one of his friends? Was Perry White to old for them? But, by the time the story is over you find out that they weren't actually fans of Jimmy, just sons of a "Super-Revenge Squad". Not just Regular-Revenge but Super-Revenge.
The second story is your typical "Bad people trick Jimmy to get to Superman" story. This time Jimmy thinks he's been turned into a robot from the neck down!
Now on to the cover story where...
Yes! There are many types of the rock, not just Green. But what does Silver do? Give Superman Lobster claws? Make Superman into a Superwoman? Make him crave Fried Chicken & Waffles? Well, I hate to break it you: it doesn't do anything. Jimmy starts asking around about this type, no one knows about it (maybe because it doesn't exist). He asks one time girlfriend to Superman & Mermaid: Lori Lemaris. She asks "her friends of the ocean depths": they don't about it. Supergirl doesn't know about it. Clark hears about it & starts to suspect something is up. Jimmy collects silver items from his fellow coworkers (He steals a silver dollar off Clark's desk). He gets some silver items from Lori & one from Lana Lang. He uses the lab of perennial guest star from the era, Professor Potter's lab to melt down the items & uses people from the bottled City of Kandor who also happen to look like Superman & his friends. Jimmy pour molten silver over them (but it's ok, they're invulnerable).
So, what does Silver Kryptonite do if it doesn't exist? Well, The story is to mark Superman's silver anniversary (He made his first story appearance 25 years earlier). What did Jimmy do with the Silver? He made busts of Superman's friend & stored them in an over size case made to look like a large, lumpy rock.
I also picked up 2 other issues of the comic. Issue #74 has Mister Mxyzptlk (can you pronounce that?) making Jimmy his puppet.
Issue #93 is:
Now this Earth isn't the one from the Marvel Mini-Series or the Earth from DC's original Multiverse where the Nazis' won but a different one. He's actually called "Steel Man" in the story is much easier to say. How did Jimmy become Steel Man? Well, He was visiting Professor Potter, he had a created a Time Machine. Jimmy checks it out & accidentally touches a button which cause Jimmy to be sent to an alternate Earth. An Earth where Perry White is a Matador. Also on this Earth Jimmy has all the powers of Superman! Jimmy finds more differences, Clark Kent is the head of tours at the World's Fair (also Benedict Arnold was the 2nd President of America). Clark is an fiction writer in his spare time & he created a character called Steel Man, so Jimmy unravels his clothes to make a new suit. One that looks to be an amalgam of Batman & Superman (hence the story's title). More differences, on Earth X Potter is the head of the World Fair (& acts like Perry White). Lucy Lane, Lois's sister, also works at the Fair. The Fair is attacked by the LUTHAR league (LUTHAR standing for League Using Terror, Havoc & Robbery. But then why tack on League on the end if it's in your name?). Jimmy ducks out of sight to change. The LUTHAR try to steal some rare gems but Steel Man stops them. He's thanked by the tux clad Mayor & is given a Parade & a day named after him. Next page we find out the leader of LUTHAR is Earth X's version of the Joker. The LUTHAR attempt to steal art (like the the painting of Actor Mickey Mantle) but Steel Man stops them (They do get away again). Jimmy is meets up with Professor Potter who had a "Dimension Computer" which he used to find Jimmy, he there to take Jimmy but he doesn't want to go back. He's Superman on Earth X! But before much else happens he is off to meet up with Clark but when he arrives the Joker is there. He find out that under the clown mask is Clark, he uses a machine & takes the Steel Man powers for himself. Clark is off to take over the world! Jimmy quickly defeats him by way a mysterious gas he & Lucy made. So, he & Potter goes home only after Jimmy & Lucy share a kiss.
BONUS: A weird ad about the going to the Land Ship... oh, sorry... going to the Library.
Also, does anyone else get some creepy undertones from the sea captain a.k.a. crazy old guy?
The next book is another Superman book, It's Giant Superman Annual #3 which features "an all-star collection of Stories featuring The Strange Lives of Superman!" You get an Old version, a big headed version (which means he's from the future), a masked version (which makes Superman look a lot like Alfred E. Neuman), a Lion Man version, a scared version, an "ugly" wrestler impostor version & a bondage version. Plus, you get the "secrets of Superman's Fortress of Solitude". I didn't know there was more then one.
We mover forward time to the 1980's & a very influential Batman story called The Untold Legend of Batman. Why is this influential? It may just be the first Batman story I ever read. Now I just bought the issues but back when a little kid I read this story in a pocket sized book. It was in black & beige (That's the color of the paper it was printed on). The cover of the third issue is an Bat-image that has been burnt into my mind (Jim Aparo is the artist):
If you find the mini series, pick it up. It's a good read.
BONUS: Here's a cool old ad! It's got my "Stamp of Approval".
The last thing that I bought from DC was the entire second series of it's Tangent Comic five week event. I got most of the 1st series in a half off Comic book bin at a local Book Store. I was only missing two books (which I also picked up with the second series). For those cool people not in the know: The idea behind the series is they take established names & make new characters for them. After reading the entire series, I can say the first attempt was better. The second just seemed to be a little lost. Plus, they tried to change a few things in the second series (Like The Joker, she was fine the way she was!).
Well, that's all I have for DC. Now on to:
Now I don't have as much to say the Marvel books but I did get some cool stuff. A few first appearances:
- Marvel Super-Heroes #12 (1st appearance of Captain Mar-Vel).
- Marvel Team-Up #65 & 66 (1st U.S. appearance of Captain Britain).
- The Avengers King-Size Annual #10 (1st appearance of Rogue). I got this book for well below what I've seen it normally for.
Other books I bought are Avengers #181 (Gyrich decided the Avengers line up), The last issue of Marvel Team-Up (Issue #150), Not Brand Echh #1 (Marvel Satire book from the '60's) & the 200th issue of Incredible Hulk.
Well, that's it for this trip to the past. Next post we will be back in the present. Well, at least books that came out in the present.
Stay Jazzy!
-Brian
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
This is Entry 19: New Year, New Comics!
Happy New Year, Jim!
I have a nice ol' pile of Comics that I'll be talking about. But I'll be doing them in a quick hit format. So, with out further ado: Let's Go!
-------
Booster Gold #5: Cryptic comment about Issue #5: Somethings you can't change no matter hard you try. The next few issues should be interesting since they are involve The Blue Beetles: Past, Present & Future?
Captain Carrot and the Final Ark: This miniseries finishes up with a really weird end, it was totally not expecting it. It also makes me wonder what the fate of the Zoo Crew is.
Action Comics #860, this issue is the 3rd part of the Superman & the Legion of Super Heroes storyline & it is kick ass! It takes the Legion & updates them for the future, no pun intended.
The Brave and the Bold #9: Now I don't normally read this book but I'm starting to think I should. Issue 9 rocked it with the classic goodness. There were team ups between The Blackhawks & The Boy Commandos; The Metal Men & Robby Reed (Dial H for Hero) & Hawkman with the new Atom. Plus there was an appearance of the Challengers of the Unknown.
Graphic Novel: I got this book for Christmas, it's Batman: Gotham by Gaslight & it's cool. Pick it up.
I think with 2007 was a year where I started to pick up more & more DC books then I had in years past.
-------
At the end of the 6th issue of New Warriors we find out who's behind Night Trashers' mask. I won't say who it is but if you've been following the book you might have a guess.
With issue 6, The Mighty Avengers finish off there "She-Ultron" story. It's a interesting story with some cool art but the lag time between issues is what killed the excitement (Issue 1 came out in March '07 & Issue just came out in December '07. That's 6 issues in 10 months). Now, the next storyline concerns the Skrull invasion.
Now, Jim as a far as I know I'm not a Skrull, are you?
I picked up Giant-Size Avengers on a whim & most of the book has nothing to do with present day Marvel & I didn't mind. There is a nice story story about housekeeping by Jarvis (it's cooler then it sounds). An odd alien story with Henry Gyrich. Wolverine, Spider-Man & Luke Cage fight some guy named Emperor None & a story from before the Civil War where Cap & Iron Man teach Spidey some resepect with a little help from Doc Strange. There is 2 reprints: Even an Android can Cry (From Avengers 58) & Bully! (from Avengers #201). The last story is a misplaced one (I think) it features characters that have no place in an Avengers book: The Fin Fang Four (a group of Atlas era Monsters played for laughs, one being Fin Fang Foom).
The Fin Fang Four story should have been here in Hulk Vs. Fin Fang Foom, a story that takes places in an undetermined time period (the way Hulk takes & the way the way Hulk is drawn makes me think the 60's). In the back it reprints the first appearance of Foomy in which he was orange. Now how he turned from being orange to green, I don't know.
Exiles ended with Issue #100 & it was sort of lack luster because it was just setting up the relaunch of the book as New Exiles. I've started to dislike the book under the helming by Chris Clairmont, but maybe it will be better soon. I don't know. We'll see.
-------
Other Books that are non Marvel & DC:
(I need a graphic for this section).
Umbrella Academy is still cool.
IDW is going to be putting out a series based off of the super cool BBC show Doctor Who & to prepare us it's re-releasing the Doctor story from the '70's (It was put out by Marvel & features the Tom Baker version of the Doctor).
The mini series Hero by Night is now an ongoing series. So let's see if it can sustain a series.
Graphic Novel: I've heard some good stuff about The Escapists & picked it up for that reason. Now, I'd like to recommend it to you all. It's not even really about Comics, it's just a good story. Pick it up!
Looking back on 2007 I picked up more non Marvel or DC books then I had in other years.
-------
Well, that's all I have for now.
NEXT TIME: Entry 20 will be the Big Ol' pile of back issues I've been promising to review since November.
Until then, Stay jazzy!
-Brian
I have a nice ol' pile of Comics that I'll be talking about. But I'll be doing them in a quick hit format. So, with out further ado: Let's Go!
-------
Booster Gold #5: Cryptic comment about Issue #5: Somethings you can't change no matter hard you try. The next few issues should be interesting since they are involve The Blue Beetles: Past, Present & Future?
Captain Carrot and the Final Ark: This miniseries finishes up with a really weird end, it was totally not expecting it. It also makes me wonder what the fate of the Zoo Crew is.
Action Comics #860, this issue is the 3rd part of the Superman & the Legion of Super Heroes storyline & it is kick ass! It takes the Legion & updates them for the future, no pun intended.
The Brave and the Bold #9: Now I don't normally read this book but I'm starting to think I should. Issue 9 rocked it with the classic goodness. There were team ups between The Blackhawks & The Boy Commandos; The Metal Men & Robby Reed (Dial H for Hero) & Hawkman with the new Atom. Plus there was an appearance of the Challengers of the Unknown.
Graphic Novel: I got this book for Christmas, it's Batman: Gotham by Gaslight & it's cool. Pick it up.
I think with 2007 was a year where I started to pick up more & more DC books then I had in years past.
-------
At the end of the 6th issue of New Warriors we find out who's behind Night Trashers' mask. I won't say who it is but if you've been following the book you might have a guess.
With issue 6, The Mighty Avengers finish off there "She-Ultron" story. It's a interesting story with some cool art but the lag time between issues is what killed the excitement (Issue 1 came out in March '07 & Issue just came out in December '07. That's 6 issues in 10 months). Now, the next storyline concerns the Skrull invasion.
Now, Jim as a far as I know I'm not a Skrull, are you?
I picked up Giant-Size Avengers on a whim & most of the book has nothing to do with present day Marvel & I didn't mind. There is a nice story story about housekeeping by Jarvis (it's cooler then it sounds). An odd alien story with Henry Gyrich. Wolverine, Spider-Man & Luke Cage fight some guy named Emperor None & a story from before the Civil War where Cap & Iron Man teach Spidey some resepect with a little help from Doc Strange. There is 2 reprints: Even an Android can Cry (From Avengers 58) & Bully! (from Avengers #201). The last story is a misplaced one (I think) it features characters that have no place in an Avengers book: The Fin Fang Four (a group of Atlas era Monsters played for laughs, one being Fin Fang Foom).
The Fin Fang Four story should have been here in Hulk Vs. Fin Fang Foom, a story that takes places in an undetermined time period (the way Hulk takes & the way the way Hulk is drawn makes me think the 60's). In the back it reprints the first appearance of Foomy in which he was orange. Now how he turned from being orange to green, I don't know.
Exiles ended with Issue #100 & it was sort of lack luster because it was just setting up the relaunch of the book as New Exiles. I've started to dislike the book under the helming by Chris Clairmont, but maybe it will be better soon. I don't know. We'll see.
-------
Other Books that are non Marvel & DC:
(I need a graphic for this section).
Umbrella Academy is still cool.
IDW is going to be putting out a series based off of the super cool BBC show Doctor Who & to prepare us it's re-releasing the Doctor story from the '70's (It was put out by Marvel & features the Tom Baker version of the Doctor).
The mini series Hero by Night is now an ongoing series. So let's see if it can sustain a series.
Graphic Novel: I've heard some good stuff about The Escapists & picked it up for that reason. Now, I'd like to recommend it to you all. It's not even really about Comics, it's just a good story. Pick it up!
Looking back on 2007 I picked up more non Marvel or DC books then I had in other years.
-------
Well, that's all I have for now.
NEXT TIME: Entry 20 will be the Big Ol' pile of back issues I've been promising to review since November.
Until then, Stay jazzy!
-Brian
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