January 2008
THE RUMOR MILL
Hints and rumors out of DC suggest that there will be one, and possibly, 2 additional volumes of The Spirit Archives once the last of the 24 volumes reprinting the weekly Sunday sections is released in April.
The proposed Vol. 25, tentatively set for August release, will be a complete reprinting of the Spirit daily comic strip, which ran from October 1941-March 1944 with art by Jack Cole and Lou Fine. No word as to whether the strips will be in their original black and white or in color.
A possible Vol. 26 would include all the Spirit material Eisner produced after the regular series concluded in 1952. As a guess, this would probably include the covers done for both Warren and Kitchen Sink, the Harvey origin story and the other odds and ends that Eisner produced over the years. Stay tuned!
AC COMICS
Men Of Mystery #70
Amongst all their DVD releases, AC is managing to produce a trickle of comics and this is their lone release for January. Cat-man, Dollman, Crimebuster, Star Pirate, Major Midnight, Dr. Drew star in stories written and drawn by Max Elkan, Al Bryant, Leonard Frank, Maurice Whitman, Jerry Grandenetti, Otto Binder and Bill Woolfolk. Another dose of Golden Age heroics that are beautifully reproduced. Of greatest interest is the Dr. Drew story: part of a series that Grandenetti drew in a style that just reeks of Eisner. Worth a squint for that story alone!SRP $9.95
DARK HORSE
Nothing of interest this month.
DC
DC is making some creative team changes with The Spirit starting with #14. In an odd move, Sergio Aragones and Mark Evanier are listed as writers, something I can't quite figure out. The art, however, is slated to be by Mike Ploog, who just happened to have sharpened his artistic pencils working as an assistant to...Will Eisner! May be worth a squint (at least for the art) and cover for the first "new team" issue is by European artist Jordi Bernet, who made his name doing detective strips drawn in a style reminiscent of Alex Toth. Let's all squint together and then compare notes. SRP $2.99
Teen Titans: The Lost Annual
Not much information on this one, except that it is written by Bob Haney, drawn by Jay Stephens & Mike Allred and has a cover by Nick Cardy. Plot concerns a trip to space to rescue President Kennedy?...might be worth a squint. SRP $4.99
Showcase Presents: Aquaman Vol. 2
Stories by Jack Miller, Bob Haney and others. Art by Ramona Fradon, Nick Cardy, Howard Purcell and others. Continues the semi-chronological reprinting of Aquaman, this time from Aquaman #7-23, World's Finest #130-133, 135, 137 and 139 and The Brave and the Bold #51. More aquatic fun from the King of the 7 Seas, as he fights undersea evil with his power to make sea creatures do his bidding (telepathically, that is). The problem with Aquaman was that he didn't have a real personality, unlike Namor over at Marvel. Not the best material, but worth a squint. SRP $16.99
Showcase Presents: Robin, The Boy Wonder Vol. 1
Reprints stories from Batman #184, 192, 202, 227, 229-231, 234-236, 239-242, 244-246, 248-250, 252, 254, Detective Comics #386, 390, 394-395, 398-403, 445, 447, 450-451, Jimmy Olsen #91, 111 and 130, Justice League of America #50 and 91-92, Teen Titans #14, and World's Finest #195 and #200 by various writers and various artists. I dunno about this one. I would guess that it is Robin solos stories, but the inclusion of the JLA and Teen Titans would suggest differently. Over the years, DC has tried many times to feature Robin a solo character in an attempt to draw in younger readers. The problem, however, is that Robin is a part of Batman's world and, except for the Marv Wolfman scripted stories in New Teen Titans, has never really had a separate personality. Most times, he comes off as trying to be "hip" or, dreadfully, rebellious, but never as a separate person whose adventures one would want to read. Personally, I would seek out the Robin Archives and read the solo stories from the 40s. Not even sure if this one warrants a squint. SRP $16.99
Showcase Presents: Enemy Ace Vol. 1
Reprints Our Army At War #151, 153, 155, Showcase #57-58, Star-spangled War Stories #138-152 , 158, 181-183, and 200, Detective Comics #404, Men At War #1-3, 8-10, 12-14, 19-20, The Unknown Soldier #252-253, 260-261, 265-267 and DC Special #26 by Kanigher, Kubert and a huge cast of artists and inkers. Not quite sure why this is listed as Volume 1, as it seems to be a nearly complete collection of all the Enemy Ace stories (I'm also a bit confused, since Previews lists this one for February, but the DC website lists it as January, so I'm listing it here). Of particular interest here is the Kubert stories, which are all excellently drawn. Enemy Ace, like many of the DC war books, was not just a series about war (in this case WWI), but also questioned war as a solution. The Enemy Ace, Hans Von Hammer, was a German pilot who was unbeatable in aerial combat, yet was also tired and weary of the constant conflict. There's lots of action in the series and a great deal of chivalry: as Von Hammer salutes his foes as they head to certain death. The anti-war tone of the series is also interesting and harkens back to the EC series Aces High. Worth a squint and probably belongs up on your sagging bookshelf. SRP $16.99
FANTAGRAPHICS
Krazy & Ignatz 1941-42: Ragout of Raspberries
The third volume of color Sundays by George Herriman, this one reprinting all the Sundays from 1941-1942. Not my cup of tea, but maybe yours. SRP $19.95
The Kat Who Walked In Beauty: The Panoramic Dailies of 1920
Reprints nine months of Krazy Kat dailies by George Herriman from the 1920s: a period in which Herriman was taking advantage of the large printed size to produce some incredibly detailed strips, some of which are made up of a single panel that rivals the best of his Sunday work. An oblong hardcover. Worth a squint. SRP $29.95
GEMSTONE
Only thing I can find this month is the second part of a Gottfredson Mickey series, "The Gleam," which appears over in Comics & Stories #689. Won't even mention the ridiculous leather-bound EC book (Oops!).
MARVEL
The Invincible Iron Man Omnibus Vol. 1
Reprints Tales of Suspense #39-83 and Tales to Astonish #82 by a ton of folks. Here's yet another Omnibus and while good, falls a bit short. What you get here is pretty much the entire run of Iron Man from the days of Tales of Suspense with the crossover with Tales to Astonish (with the Sub-Mariner) thrown in for good measure. Back in the early days, Marvel was limited in the number of titles it could produce, due to contracts with the newsstand distributors. As a result, some of the their books, like Tales of Suspense, were double books that featured two characters for the price of one (Tales to Astonish and Strange Tales being the other books done in this style). TOA, with the Hulk and Sub-Mariner was always kind of an also ran, but TOS was a very strong title: especially when Captain America became the second half of the book (we'll talk about Strange Tales some other time). Iron Man was one of the Marvel hits from the beginning and one of the titles that showed more of the Stan Lee influence than that of Jack Kirby. Soap opera elements abound with Tony Stark's unrequited love for his secretary and the the continual problem of how to fit a tuxedo over a life-sustaining chest plate, but it is good stuff and miles above any recent run on the title. Artwise, you are in for a number of surprises with some great work by the often maligned Don Heck, Kirby and the early Marvel work of Gene Colan (aided and abetted by unnamed inkers): all of which are just downright excellent. From what I've seen so far, the Omnibus editions are quite well done, although there is an oddity in that they have not digitally cleaned up the letter pages. This is another one that belongs up on your sagging bookshelf, providing you don't have the material in some other form (and, hey, Marvel! How come we don't get the Bullpen Bulletins pages with these early volumes?). SRP $99.99
Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Daring Mystery Vol. 1
Reprints Daring Mystery Comics #1-4 from way back in 1940 by a whole bunch of folks. Daring Mystery was kind of a "B" title for the early days of Timely, bringing together a bunch of characters who are barely remembered by a group of artists and writers who are also barely remembered. Daring Mystery ran only a mere 8 issues, with 6 issues appearing in 1940 and one issue each in 1941 and 1942. Later issues of the title, not included here, featured some Simon and Kirby work. Joe Simon is the best known creator out of this bunch, although astute collectors will also take note that the covers are by Alex Schomburg, but not up to his best. I can't really come up with anything to recommend here, unless you are a real hard-core Golden Age fan. For the completist only! SRP $59.99
Marvel Masterworks: The Uncanny X-Men Vol. 8
Reprints Uncanny X-Men #142-150 by Claremont, Byrne, Cockrum and Anderson. Back in the days when these stories were printed, the X-Men were Marvel's best-selling title and also, the best-selling title in the comics market. The stories reprinted here are from the end of Byrne's run on the title, including the wonderfully conceived and rendered "Days of Future Past" sequence, which kept cropping up for years in the various X-titles. Cockrum's return is also worth a squint, but, by the last issue here, I always felt that Claremont, especially without Byrne, was running out of ideas on the title, so this might be a good place for you to call it quits. After this, the continuity starts to get in the way of the stories. Definitely belongs up on the bookshelf if you don't have the stories in some other format. SRP $59.99
Essential Captain America Vol. 4
Reprints Captain America #157-186 by a large group of people. This one is quite a mixed bag, but is still worth a squint. Most all the stores are by Steve Englehart and concern Steve Roger's decision to quit being Captain America: a plot device that has been repeated ad nausem over the years, but Englehart pulls it off. Englehart was winding down on the title and his last stories are nearly fill-ins, since Kirby was slated to return to the title with #193. Most of the art is by Sal Buscema, but you also have a number of issues by Frank Robbins, which I'm still not sure whether I like or loathe. Overall, a good batch of stories and, at the Essentials price, worth adding to your sagging bookshelf. SRP $16.99
PURE IMAGINATION PUBLISHING
Sex, Drugs and Violence in the Comics
A 160 page dose of pre-Code stories with titles like "Satan's Cigarettes," "Hopped-up Killer" and "I Was a Come-On Girl for Broken Bones Inc"". Although, these titles are some of the more sensationalistic, keep in mind that until the early 60s, comic publishers produced books that covered a wide range of subjects. Of greatest fascination are the stories such as these that were done purely for their prurient interest: sort of a comic book version of the National Enquirer. No listing of artists, but, with titles like these, it's at least worth a squint. SRP $25.00
SANCTUM PRODUCTIONS
The Shadow Double Novel Vol. 15
In "The Shadow Unmasks," the Shadow must revert to his long-buried identity of Kent Allard when the real Lamont Cranston's whereabouts are revealed. Then, in "The Yellow Band," The Shadow has to use his Lamont Cranston identity to clear the name of Kent Allard. Sound confusing? Well, pick up this issue and find out how it all comes together in these stories written by Walter Gibson! SRP $12.95
TWOMORROWS
Alter Ego #75
An Alex Ross cover leads off a double-size FCA issue which focuses on Captain Marvel, an interview with Mark Levy, rantings by C. C. Back and art by Bernard Bailey, Carmine Infantino, Mac Raboy and others. SRP $6.95
Back Issue #26
Focus on "Spies and Tough Guys" with an interview featuring Paul Gulacy and Doug Moench. Also, Suicide Squad, Max Allen Collins and Terry Beatty on Ms. Tree, Airboy, James Bond in comics, Nathaniel Dusk and more!SRP $6.95
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