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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 Thursday, February 3, 2005
I know NATIONAL GORILLA SUIT DAY was Monday, but this column and its columnist were still on mental health leave then. Besides, that most hallowed of holidays isn't my main reason for sharing the above Murphy Anderson cover with you.
A panel from "The Gorilla Who Challenged the World" appeared in THE GOLDEN AGE OF DC COMICS: 365 DAYS entry for January 31, and, while the Les Daniels/Chip Kidd book correctly identified Sy Barry as the artist, it neglected to note that noted sci-fi writer Edmond Hamilton wrote the tale from whence the alarming image was derived. I like to correct such omissions when I can.
STRANGE ADVENTURES #55 [April, 1955] was most likely edited by the legendary Julius Schwartz, but the editor-of-record was Whitney Ellsworth. In addition to the cover story, this issue featured a second story by Hamilton as well as scripts by John Broome and Sid Gerson. Besides Barry, the issue's artists were Henry Sharp, Joe Giella, Joe Kubert (who the Grand Comics Database credits as writer of his two-page contribution), Gil Kane, Bernard Sachs, and cover artist Anderson.
What surprised me when I looked up this issue [www.comics.org] was that the gorilla story was the first part of a story concluded in STRANGE ADVENTURES #56 [May, 1955]. That was a rarity for the era. Both halves of the story were later reprinted in FROM BEYOND THE UNKNOWN #5 [June-July, 1970]. Since I've just bought a copy of the reprint on eBay, you can look forward to a review in the very near future.
Let's see what else I have for you today.
******
TONY POLLS
Our current TONY POLLS questions concern recent movies, but we were nigh-totally into comics for the balloting which ended earlier this week. Here are the results:
This week's poll questions come courtesy of my good pal JON KNUTSON, starting with...which Marvel title would you most like to see reprinted in ESSENTIAL format?
SGT. FURY & HIS HOWLING COMMANDOS.....12.93%
Captain Marvel.....11.56%
Man-Thing.....10.88%
Invaders.....9.52%
Not Brand Echh.....9.52%
Champions.....4.76%
Eternals.....4.76%
Killraven.....4.76%
Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD.....4.76%
Sub-Mariner.....4.76%
Deathlok.....3.40%
Rawhide Kid.....3.40%
Inhumans.....2.04%
Machine Man.....2.04%
Ghost Rider (modern).....1.36%
Ka-Zar.....1.36%
Marvel Miscellany (short-run series).....1.36%
Marvel Two-In-One.....1.36%
Two-Gun Kid.....1.36%
Other.....4.08%
If I had been voting with my wallet, my logical choice would have been the modern macabre motorcycle-riding version of the Ghost Rider. I could use the reprint checks.
It came down to a choice between two of the above characters or groups of characters. Of the titles listed, there are only two or three I *wouldn't* buy in the Essentials format. However, after coming *this* close for voting for Fury and the Howlers, I cast my ballot for RAWHIDE KID.
The Kid has always been one of my favorite characters. When he's drawn properly, he's my height. He's always having to prove himself to bigger men and he always bests or equals them. Getting away from my personal issues, I've always enjoyed his adventures as told by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Larry Lieber.
Of course, in a kinder world, all the above characters would already be available in ESSENTIAL volumes...and I would have enough money to buy them all.
******
Would you buy DC Comics reprints in the Marvel ESSENTIALS format?
Yes.....77.85%
No.....22.15%
I went with YES on this one. I fully understand why some fans don't like black-and-white reprints of comics originally published in color. Myself...I just want to read (or reread) the stories in a format I can afford.
******
If DC did ESSENTIAL-style reprints, which series would you most want reprinted in the format?
SUGAR AND SPIKE.....21.23%
Justice League of America.....17.12%
Batman.....8.22%
Challengers of the Unknown.....7.53%
Jimmy Olsen.....6.16%
Sgt. Rock.....6.16%
Flash.....4.79%
Adventures of Bob Hope.....4.11%
Atom.....4.11%
Lois Lane.....2.74%
Superman.....2.74%
Supergirl.....2.05%
Tomahawk.....2.05%
Aquaman.....1.37%
Atomic Knights.....1.37%
Hawkman.....1.37%
Wonder Woman.....1.37%
Plop!.....0.68%
Space Ranger.....0.68%
Other.....4.11%
This was another tough call for me. I almost went with Sugar and Spike - it's a mystery to me while DC hasn't returned and kept those great comics in print - but I had to go with CHALLENGERS OF THE UNKNOWN, a favorite title from my youth.
******
Which DC character would you most like to see available as a DC DIRECT action figure offering?
CAPTAIN CARROT AND THE ZOO CREW.....15.44%
Black Lightning two-pack w/both costumes.....13.97%
Shazam Family boxed set.....13.24%
Inferior Five.....7.35%
Adam Strange and Alanna two-pack.....6.62%
Jimmy Olsen Strange Transformations boxed Set.....5.88%
Hawk and Dove boxed set.....5.15%
Kamandi.....4.41%
Challengers of the Unknown.....3.68%
Metamorpho.....3.68%
Static.....3.68%
Captain Atom.....2.94%
Space Ranger.....2.21%
Atomic Knights boxed set w/giant dalmatian.....1.47%
Boy Commandoes.....1.47%
Icon.....1.47%
Newsboy Legion with the Guardian.....1.47%
Qwisp and Mopee two-pack.....0.74%
Snapper Carr.....0%
Other.....5.15%
I did vote my wallet this time out: the BLACK LIGHTNING two-pack. Theoretically, when my creation appears or is used outside an actual DC comic book, I get paid.
That said, I'd love to be able to buy most of the above-listed action figures. My second and third votes would have gone to the Challengers of the Unknown and Jimmy Olsen Strange Transformations boxed sets.
******
Which Marvel character would you most like to see available as an action figure?
STAN LEE.....28.12%
Shanna the She-Devil.....10.94%
Howling Commandoes boxed set.....8.59%
It! The Living Colossus.....7.81%
Power Pack boxed set.....7.03%
Forbush-Man.....7.03%
Ghost Rider (western hero).....4.69%
Jarvis the Butler.....3.91%
Blonde Phantom.....3.12%
Bucky Barnes.....2.34%
Millie the Model.....2.34%
Two-Gun-Kid.....2.34%
Willie Lumpkin.....2.34%
Blazing Skull.....1.56%
Patsy Walker/Hedy Wolfe two-pack.....1.56%
Rawhide Kid.....1.56%
Paste-Pot Pete.....0.78%
Angel (Golden Age Version).....0%
Kid Colt.....0%
Other.....3.91%
So much temptation! It was very hard to resist voting for the Colossus, Forbush-Man, the western Ghost Rider, the Blonde Phantom, Rawhide Kid or, especially, Paste-Pot Pete with that goofy bucket of paste. But what kind of keeper of the flame and true believer would I be if I didn't vote for STAN (the Man) LEE?
******
TONY'S MAILBOX
These questions brought more e-mails and write-in votes than usual, so let's get right to them.
First up is JONATHAN ANDREW SHEEN:
I'm an "All-OTHER" guy this time around...
Which Marvel title would you most like to see reprinted in ESSENTIAL format?
POWER MAN AND IRON FIST
Would you buy DC reprints in the ESSENTIAL format?
Yes. OK, this wasn't an "Other."
If DC did ESSENTIAL-style reprints, which series would you most want reprinted in the format?
GREEN LANTERN. Either I missed it, or this was a shocking omission from the list.
Which DC character would you most like to see available as a DC DIRECT action figure offering?
I went with "Other" here because...
I don't want any as DC DIRECT figures. They're terribly under- articulated. I'd like to see the whole Justice League - and Black Lightning - as DC LEGENDS action figures, that is, designed after the manner of MARVEL LEGENDS with their amazing articulation.
Which Marvel character would you most like to see available as an action figure?
MARVEL LEGENDS Power Man & Iron Fist two-pack.
From SAM TOMAINO:
While I don't care for B&W reprints, I'd make an exception for a B&W reprinting of the Martian Manhunter from his first appearance in DETECTIVE. Only a few of these stories have been reprinted at all. I'd even spring for an Archive edition. Since the stories are all pretty short and don't have covers, can you imagine how many they could get in an Essentials or an Archives?
On the action figures, I cast my ballot for the Inferior Five and Howling Commandoes sets.
Even though I would not need it or get it, I opted for the NOT BRAND ECCH reprint because I think those spoofs are brilliant and should be reprinted.
MICHAEL McCLELLAND wrote:
Which DC character would I most like to see available as a DC DIRECT action figure offering?
A Metal Men Boxed Set.
DAVID RANGEL sent me this note:
Which Marvel title would I most like to see reprinted in the ESSENTIAL format? After jumping from the Champions to Man-Thing to Killraven, I had to go with the one I was looking for in your list and couldn't find: MASTER OF KUNG FU.
I don't think it would suffer from the loss of color.
If DC did ESSENTIAL-style reprints, which series would I most want reprinted? I voted for the JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA, but Joe Kubert's TARZAN would look awesome.
On the DC Direct figures, I had to go with Hawk and the Dove (Steve Ditko and Gil Kane versions), But the Jimmy Transformations and Inferior Five sets were great ideas, too.
Thanks for the forum.
From TONY HOWSON:
Which DC character would I most like to see available as a DC DIRECT offering? I'd love to have a two-pack of Blackhawk and Lady Blackhawk, the Silver Age versions.
Next up is MARZ RICHARDS:
I would most like to see Fin Fang Foom or another of the Jack Kirby giant monsters as action figures above the choices presented in the poll...though Forbush-Man was tempting.
I heard from DAN LORENZEN:
In answer to your poll question, two Marvel Essential titles I'd like to see reprinted would be...
THE DEFENDERS. It started good, but, in my opinion, it really hit its stride when Steve Gerber took over the writing. At the time I thought he wrote the funniest (and most touching) Hulk. This was back when The Hulk was childlike. An angry Hulk throwing a landlord off the building when he tried to "evict" Valkyrie's injured horse. In another issue, Hulk avenging "Bambi's" mother from heartless hunters...either way PETA would have loved him!
Gerber was also able to mix in social issues of the day along with the nuttiness. The Sons of the Serpent storyline - DEFENDERS #19-23, I believe - that he did deserves to reprinted in a separate volume by itself because it remains relevant today. I don't know if the first Essential Defenders collection would cover all the Gerber issues, but those are the ones which interest me most.
KISS. I never read these, but didn't Steve Gerber write these issues as well? I would be interested in reading them just for the 1970s cultural references and observations.
And then I heard from DAN LORENZEN again:
Scratch that Marvel Essentials of KISS. I thought that, at one time, there was a Kiss comic in the 1970s. I guess I was wrong on that one. Kiss was only featured in a couple special Marvel mags back then. Not nearly enough to fill an Essential release.
So, in the words of Emily Litella...
"Never mind."
Finally, this came in from JIM SOOS:
I just had to send in a write-in clarification vote in the DC DIRECT question. I would want the HAWK AND THE DOVE set, but as a four-pack. It would have both Doves, the Hank Hall figure, and him as the villain Extant.
I hope you enjoyed these TONY POLLS questions. Feel free to send me suggestions for future ballots. In the meantime, if you'd like to vote on the current questions, go to:
www.worldfamouscomics.com/tony/poll
Thanks for spending a part of your day with me. I'll be back tomorrow with more stuff.
Tony Isabella
<< 02/02/2005 | 02/03/2005 | 02/04/2005 >>
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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.
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