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Reviews and commentary by Tony Isabella
"America's Most Beloved Comic-Book Writer & Columnist"
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TONY'S ONLINE TIPS
for Wednesday, February 2, 2005
When my pal Jon Knutson posted the cover of ACTION COMICS #160 [September, 1951] to Yahoo's DC HISTORY list, I guffawed at Clark Kent's Aunt Minerva admonishing Superman to "remember his rubbers" and, yes, I laughed for all the wrong reasons. Imagine the uproar if this cover were re-imagined as a sex education poster. I think that would be huge fun, but, as I've now clearly established, I'm more than a little twisted.
This Win Mortimer cover - and let me say again that Win was a good guy and I'm glad I had the opportunity to work with him a few times back in the 1970s - illustrates yet other Superman story I've never read. I love coming across these; it gives me an excuse to go exploring through my well-used copy of Michael L. Fleisher's THE GREAT SUPERMAN BOOK for the 411. Here's what Fleisher wrote about "Superman's Aunt Minerva":
KENT, MINERVA (Miss). The bespectacled, white-haired old lady - often referred to as Aunt Minerva - who is the younger sister of Jonathan Kent, Clark Kent's foster father, and therefore the aunt of Clark Kent, the man who is secretly Superman. Basically a good-hearted woman, Aunt Minerva tends to be somewhat motherly and overprotective, and to treat her nephew Clark as though he were still a small boy.
In September, 1951, Aunt Minerva arrives in Metropolis with her white cat and pet parrot and announces that she is moving in with Clark Kent "permanently." "We're the last of the Kents," says Aunt Minerva sternly, "and families must stick together, I always say!" Kent is crestfallen at this turn of events, for he realizes that the longer he is forced to share an apartment with his meddlesome aunt, the more likely she is to discover that he is secretly Superman.
Indeed, for a time, the well-meaning Aunt Minerva drives Kent to the brink of distraction, insisting that he wear an overcoat even in eighty-degree weather and that he go to bed early every night to safeguard his health. Soon after her arrival, however, Kent learns that his aunt's real reason for coming to Metropolis was to escape the attentions of a persistent suitor named Zachary Barnes, a charming fellow who is hopelessly in love with her. "You see, I'm sure she loves me," Barnes confides to Superman, "...but at her age she's afraid to admit it!"
Despite his aunt's protestations to the contrary ("The old pest's proposals are what made me leave the Coast...and he's still at it! Don't pay any attention, Clark!"), Superman suspects that Barnes is right, and ultimately, through an elaborate ruse, he succeeds in persuading his maiden aunt into acknowledging the love she feels for Barnes. Even so, however, Aunt Minerva rejects Barnes's proposal of marriage: "No - we still can't be married," she replies, "because my first duty is to look after Clark! He needs my care, and I can't leave him!"
"Wait! I think I can solve that problem for you, Miss Kent!" interjects Superman hastily. "You go ahead and marry Zachary - and let me look after Clark! He's a good friend of mine...I promise to take the best of care for him, from now on!"
"Oh, wonderful!" exclaims Aunt Minerva happily. "Now I'll be able to marry Zachary and know that Clark is in even better hands than mine!"
Sounds like an incredibly silly story, doesn't it? So what? I contend that having an occasionally silly Superman story is more realistic than the unrelenting seriousness of his current comics. I see the proof of that in my own life. Even with all the troubles in the world, internationally, nationally, and even as locally as my own household, there is still joy and laughter and, yes, indeed, outright silliness. I embrace it.
The Grand Comics Database [www.comics.org] entry on this tale lacks a writer's credit, but lists Wayne Boring (pencils) and Stan Kaye (inker) as the artists. The issue also features adventurers Tommy Tomorrow, Congo Bill, and the Vigilante, four pages of Henry Boltinoff strips (Little Pete, Jerry Jitterbug, Peg, and Professor Eureka), and a Buzzy public service page by Win Mortimer and writer Jack Schiff that, judging from its title, extols its young readers to remember that "Old Folks Are People, Too!"
Keep that in mind, you young whippersnappers!
The 34th edition of THE OFFICIAL OVERSTREET COMIC BOOK PRICE GUIDE believes a near mint condition copy of ACTION COMICS #160 is worth $660, noting that it is the last 52-page issue of the title. THE STANDARD CATALOG OF COMIC BOOKS - second edition - opines that $450 is closer to the mark. Checking eBay, I found neither ongoing auctions or recently completed sales for the issue.
Let's see what else I have for you today.
******
BACK ISSUE
BACK ISSUE #8 [TwoMorrows; $5.95] arrived at the comics shops last week and - in keeping with TOT reader requests - I wanted to let you know that it features an "Off My Chest" guest editorial by yours truly.
The theme of the issue is "Celebrating the black super-heroes of the 1970s and 1980s" and editor Michael Eury has done his usual amazing job lining up articles, art, and interviews. I'm not sure if I'll be reviewing the issue - appearance of conflict of interest and all - but I'm looking forward to reading it.
Contributors and interview subjects include Kyle Baker, Marv Wolfman, Denny O'Neil, Phil LaMarr, Neal Adams, Darrell McNeil, original Black Lightning artist Trevor Von Eeden, Peter Sanderson, and Dwayne McDuffie. It's all I can do to resist blowing off this column and reading this issue. While I struggle with my demons, I have these quick comments:
If you have enjoyed my ongoing discussion of black characters in comics and black creators in the comics industry, you'll want to pick up this issue.
If you like my contribution - which, on rereading, I think I should have delivered from behind a pulpit; I do get carried away now and then - by all means, tell folks about it. I'm not so much hungry for the egoboo as I am wanting to get my name out there as much as I can, a basic survival tactic for freelance writers of any age, but especially one over 50.
Thanks to Michael Eury and the fine people at TwoMorrows, both for treating me right and for all they do to entertain and inform comics fans about our shared history.
******
COMICS IN THE COMICS
Speaking of Black Lightning...
This comic strip originally ran a few years ago, but BOONDOCKS creator Aaron McGruder ran it again on January 21. The first time this strip appeared, I received just under 50 e-mails and/or phone calls from friends and readers. This time, I received close to a hundred such alerts. What was even more impressive than the sheer number of e-mails I received was that almost half of them were from first-time callers, readers and even industry professionals who had never written me before.
Judging from their kind comments, it appears there are folks out there who would dearly love to see more Isabella-written Black Lightning stories and more Isabella-written comics period. I wish I could do something about the former - Do I have to tell you who to bug about that? - but the latter is certainly a goal of mine for this new year.
Thanks to all who thought of me when they saw this episode of BOONDOCKS and sent their regards. You made my day.
******
FUNKY WINKERBEAN
Tom Batiuk's Funky Winkerbean might appear an uneasy fit with the C.L. Barnhouse Co., best known for its sheet music and other music books. Still, once you flip through the several collections of the comic strip Barnhouse has published, the reasoning becomes clear.
Harry L. Dinkle, the World's Greatest Barn Director, is the *star* of MUSIC IS WORTH IT...MUSIC IS WORTH IT...MUSIC IS ($6.95) and the previous Barnhouse collections. If Funky appears at all, it's as a supporting character.
Harry has been a hit with high-school band directors, members, and parents since his 1973 debut. In this book, we see the usual funny riffs on band battles, band camp, and fund-raising, but we also see Harry hire and work with two assistant directors, prepare for the 200th anniversary of the White House in 2000 - Bill Clinton was apparently a former student of his - and the 2005 presidential inauguration, and, shockingly, even contemplate his retirement. Batiuk has made Dinkle a more rounded and sympathetic character and that comes through wonderfully here.
Of note is that several of the strips in this book ran here before their newspaper appearances. Batiuk and co-artist Chuck Ayers work nearly a year ahead and the later strips filled out the book nicely. The 2005 inauguration strips with George and Laura Bush aren't included in this volume; those were written and drawn after the election.
If you can't find these Funky Winkerbean books at your local bookstores, you can order them directly from the publisher at $6.95 per volume plus $4 postage/handling per order. I couldn't find a website, but the address is:
C.L. Barnhouse Co.
P.O. Box 680
Oskaloose, IA 52577
Besides MUSIC IS WORTH IT, eight other Funky Winkerbean titles are currently available:
THE GRASS ALWAYS LOOKS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FOOTBALL FIELD;
ATTACK OF THE BAND MOMS;
WOULD THE USHERS PLEASE LOCK THE DOORS;
GONE WITH THE WOODWINDS;
I NEVER PROMISED YOU A ROSE PARADE;
LIVE AT CARNEGIE HALL;
SUNDAY CONCERT; and,
FOOTBALL FIELDS ARE FOR BAND PRACTICE.
On our usual scale of zero to five, MUSIC IS WORTH IT...MUSIC IS WORTH IT...MUSIC IS...picks up four Tonys.
******
TONY POLLS
If all went as planned - I'm writing this a few days before it appears - four new TONY POLLS questions were posted yesterday for your balloting amusement. This go-round, we're asking you to name your favorite comics or comics-inspired movie of 2004, as well as your favorite fantasy/horror/sci-fi film. All of the choices come from the top 100 highest-grossing films of the year.
In the case of the comics or comics-inspired flicks, I set the margins pretty wide, including TEAM AMERICA: WORLD POLICE. In case of the fantasy/horror/sci-fi offerings, I couldn't include all of the eligible movies. Both questions offer a write-in opportunity to cover anything I couldn't fit.
Additional questions ask how many movies you saw in theaters last year and if you saw more movies at home (DVD, video) or at the theater.
Working from that Top 100 list, I saw a baker's dozen films in 2004, eight of them at the theater. Here's what I saw, their rank on the list, and where I saw them:
2. SPIDER-MAN 2 (theater)
4. THE INCREDIBLES (theater)
8. THE BOURNE SUPREMACY (home)
12. I, ROBOT (home)
17. FAHRENHEIT 9/11 (theater)
18. DODGEBALL: A TRUE UNDERDOG STORY (theater)
27. ANCHORMAN: THE LEGEND OF RON BURGUNDY (theater)
28. SCOOBY-DOO 2: MONSTERS UNLEASHED (theater)
41. KILL BILL - VOL. 2 (home)
47. HELLBOY (theater)
62. WALKING TALL (home)
77. THE PUNISHER (home)
78. TEAM AMERICA: WORLD POLICE (theater)
I clearly need to get out more. Feel free to send along your suggestions of still-in-the-theaters movies I should see and now-available-on-DVD movies I should see.
These new poll questions will remain active until sometime on Tuesday, February 8. You can cast your votes at:
www.worldfamouscomics.com/tony/poll
Thanks for spending a part of your day with me. If you would like to support this site financially as well as emotionally, click on the PAYPAL link below.
I'll be back tomorrow with more stuff.
Tony Isabella
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THE "TONY" SCALE
ZERO: Burn your money before buying any comic receiving this rating. It doesn't *necessarily* mean there's absolutely nothing of value here - though it *could* - but whatever value it might possess shrinks into insignificance before its overall awfulness.
ONE: Buy something else. Maybe I found something which wasn't completely dreadful in the item, but not enough for me to recommend it when there are better comics available. I only want what's best for you, my children.
TWO: Basic judgment call. I found some value, but not enough to recommend it. My review should give you enough info to decide if you want to take a chance on it. Are you feeling lucky today, punk? Well, are you?
THREE: This denotes something I find perfectly respectable. There are better books out there, but I wouldn't regret buying this item. Based on my review, you should be able to determine if it's of interest to you. Let the Force guide you.
FOUR: I recommend anything earning this rating. Unless you don't like the genre, subject matter, or past work of the creators, I believe you'll enjoy this item. Isn't it uncanny how I can look right into your soul that way?
FIVE: Anything getting this rating is among the best comicdom has to offer. You should buy/read this, even if the genre/subject matter doesn't appeal to you. It's for your own good. Me, I live for comics and books this good...but not in a pathetic "Comic-Book Guy" sort of way.
Please send material you would like me to review to:
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Medina, OH 44256
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