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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 Friday, July 22, 2005
I have, on several occasions here, praised THE GOLDEN AGE OF DC COMICS: 365 DAYS [Abrams; $29.95] by Les Daniels, Chip Kidd, and Geoff Spear. This collection of 365 images from comics published mostly before I was born is a daily and welcome part of my routine. However, as much as I love this volume, I've come across a number of unfortunate errors in the Daniels text. Whenever I find these, I try to correct them as best I can.
The July 2 entry comments on the Superboy story which ran in MORE FUN COMICS #104 [July-August, 1945]:
We are so accustomed today to seeing Superboy portrayed as a teenager, or even portrayed by an adult pretending to be a teenager, that it's easy to forget he was initially depicted as a small boy. So here he is in his fourth appearance, flying through the pastoral atmosphere of Smallville rather than the concrete canyons of Metropolis. The plot of the story is also a throwback to a bygone age: a grasping landlord is about to foreclose on a poor widow's mortgage, and her young son sets out to save the day. Of course it helps to have Superboy watching over you!
Daniels credits the story and art to Superman creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. However, a quick check of the GRAND COMICS DATABASE [www.comics.org] confirmed my suspicion that the story was not written by Siegel. It was by Don Cameron, who wrote hundreds of scripts for Superman, Batman, and other DC characters.
My certainty that this fourth Superboy story was not written by Siegel came from my knowledge that, though Siegel had suggested just such a series of "Superman as a boy" adventures, DC launched the series while he was serving in the armed forces and without his involvement. Indeed, the publisher's duplicity in this would play a role when the creators later sued DC in an attempt to reclaim all rights to their creation. Even today, thanks to revised copyright laws, Superboy's ownership is again in dispute. And, if you were seriously wondering where I stand on that, you'll find me cheering on the side of the Siegel and Shuster estates.
On to more pleasant matters...
The cover scene does not appear inside the book. Superboy is selling war bonds to Dover and Clover, comical twin detectives who were created by Henry Boltinoff and who continued to appear in MORE FUN COMICS right up to the title's last issue. Counting this cover with the Boy of Steel and one with Green Arrow and Speedy, the duo showed up on a dozen covers all told. For more on the characters, check out what Don Markstein has to say at:
www.toonopedia.com/doverclo.htm
Amazingly, Superboy was not the lead feature in MORE FUN #104. That honor went to Green Arrow. Indeed, of the four super-heroes appearing in the title, Superboy got the fewest pages. Green Arrow and Johnny Quick got ten each, and Aquaman got eight. Eventually, all these traditional super-heroes would move to ADVENTURE COMICS, leaving MORE FUN to Dover and Clover, Genius Jones, and Jimminy and the Magic Book.
The current OFFICIAL OVERSTREET COMIC BOOK PRICE GUIDE opines that a near-mint condition copy of this issue will sell for $1100. My eBay kung fu isn't always spot on, but I couldn't find any MORE FUN issues from this period that were currently up for auction or which had recently been sold. I'm thinking that Overstreet price isn't too far off the mark.
Anyone up for a GOLDEN AGE SUPERBOY ARCHIVES?
Let's see what else I have for you today.
******
MARVEL KNIGHTS SPIDER-MAN
MARVEL KNIGHTS SPIDER-MAN #14 and #15 [$2.99 each] presented the second and third parts of writer Reginald Hudlin's six-issue "Wild Blue Yonder," wherein the web-slinger meets a strange visitor from another state while dealing with the murderous Absorbing Man and the travails of his everyday life. I reviewed the first issue on Wednesday and liked it a lot. Let's see if I'm as pleased with these subsequent chapters.
SPOILERS AHEAD
I don't know where Hudlin's going with Daily Bugle reporter Ethan Edwards and the Superman vibe that surrounds the character, but he's definitely captured my interest. To Clark Kent's pastoral upbringing, Hudlin has added a *perhaps* twisted religious angle, which, in turn, adds a quiet dread to Edwards. Is he actually what he seems?
We get more of the Absorbing Man, always a favorite villain of mine. He got hooked on drugs in prison and is now working for the Owl as a hitman, accompanied by a mysterious, sexy, and fiendishly clever woman. During one Absorbing Man/Spider-Man battle, the lady steals Spidey's wallet and, later, travels to the destroyed house where our hero used to live.
Peter Parker and family aren't there, having moved to Avengers Mansion until they can get a new house. But the free rent doesn't come without problems, the biggest one being an overly flirtatious and reckless Wolverine who hits on Mary Jane Parker and then slices into Spidey during a training exercise. I'm not current on Marvel gossip, but is Wolverine this big a "richard" in the twenty-seven other titles in which he appears? In any case, this Avengers stuff is a drag on an otherwise terrific story.
Hudlin makes good use of the Marvel Universe in part three of this story. Spidey goes to Hank Pym for help in tracking down his wallet and the woman who stole it; their plan to accomplish this is very cool. Later in the issue, the Punisher tries to "punish" the Absorbing Man with extreme prejudice.
Superman had his "LL" harem of Lois Lane, Lana Lang, and Lori Lemaris. Hudlin gives us Laurie Lynton, former classmate of Peter Parker and now a science writer. Ethan had better find himself a really secure supply closet for any quick changes he needs to make. I don't think Laurie will be anywhere near as easy to fool as Lois and Lana always were in the Superman comics.
Hudlin's writing is top-notch. I like the Billy Tan (pencils) and Jon Sibal art more in these second and third issues than I did in the first. The flashback scenes are drawn by Mark Buckingham, who does his usual outstanding work on them.
The stupid Wolverine stuff grates on me and the talked-about-but-thankfully-not-shown murder of some gangsters via dog poop was sophomoric gross-out humor. Even so, MARVEL KNIGHTS SPIDER-MAN #14 and #15 earn four Tonys each. Here's hoping Hudlin does as well in the second half of his tale...because the world can always use more *good* Spider-Man comics.
******
BETTY AND VERONICA DIGEST
BETTY AND VERONICA DIGEST #158 [Archie Comics; $2.39] has 96 pages of light reading, just the ticket for when I'm sitting around trying to let go of the day's hassles. The most notable stories in this issue are "I'm History," in which Ronnie imagines herself as some of the great woman of history, and "A Midsummer's Magic" which reveals the first meeting of redheaded bombshell Cheryl Blossom and Sabrina the Not-Yet-Teenage Witch. There are other amusing stories as well, but those are the standouts.
BETTY AND VERONICA DIGEST #158 picks up a perfectly acceptable three out of five Tonys.
******
JUGHEAD & FRIENDS DIGEST
JUGHEAD & FRIENDS DIGEST #3 [Archie Comics; $2.39] has a cover featuring something I don't recall seeing before, an actual scene from one of the interior stories. Unfortunately, that scene gives away the punch line of the story. D-oh!
Not to worry. There are other amusing stories with tried-and-true themes - example: Jughead puts one over on Reggie - but the writers and artists manage to keep them relatively fresh. Also, since it's now been established Jughead and Bingo Wilkin of THAT WILKIN' BOY fame are related, Bingo gets star treatment in a trio of fun-filled stories.
JUGHEAD & FRIENDS DIGEST #3 offers the same kind of enjoyable light reading as the Betty and Veronica digest reviewed above. It also earns three out of five Tonys.
******
COMICS IN THE COMICS
Today's COMICS IN THE COMICS spotlight falls on John Deering's STRANGE BREW panel. I know the one above - from June 10 - doesn't actually fit our theme, but it reminded me of the clunky old robots I saw in so many cartoons and comics while growing up. If that's not good enough for you, just pretend the robot is a prototype for one of the many robots smashed by MAGNUS, ROBOT FIGHTER during his long and destructive comics career.
The other two panels are from July 6 and 9. If you would like to read STRANGE BREW daily, you can find it at COMICS.COM:
www.comics.com/creators/strangebrew
Lots more COMICS IN THE COMICS to come.
******
TONY POLLS
We're playing catch-up with the TONY POLLS posted during our hiatus. Here are the final results of the questions we asked you the last week of June.
We have BATMAN BEGINS questions. Grade the performance of Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne (Batman).
Near-Mint.....51.81%
Fine......36.14%
Very Good.....4.82%
Good.....4.82%
Fair.....1.20%
Poor.....1.20%
Christian Bale gave an outstanding performance as Bruce Wayne and Batman. I didn't think it was perfect, but he got a FINE vote out of me.
Grade the performance of Gary Oldman as Jim Gordon.
Near-Mint.....45.78%
Fine.....34.94%
Very Good.....14.46%
Good.....3.61%
Fair.....1.20%
Poor.....0%
Oldman's Jim Gordon looked and acted as if he had stepped out of the pages of comic books by Frank Miller and Archie Goodwin. I had to give him a NEAR-MINT.
Grade the performance of Cillian Murphy as Doctor Jonathan Crane (the Scarecrow).
Near-Mint.....32.53%
Fine.....32.53%
Very Good.....27.71%
Good.....6.02%
Fair.....1.20%
Poor.....0%
Jonathan Crane is insane so I can accept a little chewing of the scenery from any actor playing him, but Cillian Murphy took it a touch too far and so only got a VERY GOOD from me.
For the week's final two questions, we moved on to the third seasons of two of my favorite animated series.
JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED. Which third-season story is your favorite?
THE ONCE AND FUTURE THING: WEIRD WESTERN TALES....25%
For the Man Who Has Everything.....20%
The Once and Future Thing: Time, Warped.....13.33%
The Greatest Story Never Told.....10%
This Little Piggy.....6.67%
Kid Stuff.....5%
The Return.....5%
Fearful Symmetry.....3.33%
Hawk and Dove.....3.33%
Initiation.....3.33%
Wake the Dead.....3.33%
Dark Heart.....1.67%
Ultimatum.....0%
This was tough. I considered eight of the above episodes and took forever getting it down to just one: THE GREATEST STORY NEVER TOLD by writer Andrew Kreisberg. I've liked Booster Gold since Dan Jurgens created the character and this episode really gave him the chance to shine.
Which story from the third series of STATIC SHOCK is your favorite?
A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN.....44.44%
Blast from the Past.....25%
Flashback.....11.11%
The Parent Trap.....5.56%
Trouble Squared.....5.56%
Gear.....2.78%
Shebang.....2.78%
Static in Africa.....2.78%
Consequences.....0%
Hard as Nails.....0%
Romeo in the Mix.....0%
Showtime.....0%
The Usual Suspect.....0%
Toys in the Hood.....0%
The best STATIC SHOW episode of the third season was "Static in Africa" by Dwayne McDuffie, but we were asked to vote on which episode was our *favorite* and, for me, that was most definitely "BLAST FROM THE PAST" by Adam Beechen. Originally conceived as an episode guest-starring Black Lightning, the character I created in 1976, it had to be reworked when DC Comics refused to allow my guy to be used. I'm pretty sure I know why DC refused permission, but, just for kicks, you should ask them.
Even without Black Lightning, the episode was an entertaining and respectful look at an African-American super-hero from a couple generations before Static. When I included "Blast From the Past" on a recent list of 100 things I loved about comics, I received an e-mail from Beechen:
You're awfully kind to mention me in your list. I'm flattered and touched.
In the "credit where credit's due" department, however, I'd be remiss not to mention that John Semper, Jr., the story editor I worked with on that episode of STATIC SHOCK and one of my mentors in the business, was at LEAST as responsible for that script as I was, and almost certainly more. The basic plot came from John and Alan Burnett, I believe, and John sanded off all the many rough edges of my draft to make the episode what it was. It was a treat to work with John and Alan, work with the characters of STATIC, and to nod to your creation, Black Lightning. I'll always be grateful for having those opportunities.
My thanks to Adam and John and Alan and the rest of the STATIC SHOCK for doing such a great job on this particular episode and on all the other great episodes which aired during the terrific show's run. That DC didn't do more to promote the series and merchandise its characters is as baffling as it is sad.
We still have a few more weeks of TONY POLLS results to bring you, but, in the meantime, check out this week's MIGHTY CRUSADERS questions at:
www.worldfamouscomics.com/tony/poll
******
WHO THE HECK IS STEVEN MANDRAGORA?
This seems to be a good place to answer two questions that I have been asked about a hundred times since the initial reports of "Double Date" - an episode of JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED - first hit the Internet.
QUESTION: Why didn't Tobias Whale, arch-foe of Black Lightning and another Isabella creation, appear in the episode as originally announced?
ANSWER: Ask DC. Tobias Whale was clearly meant to be in that episode. Look at "Steven Mandragora" and it's pretty obvious that he is Tobias with hair. Whether the decision to make changes came early on in the making of the episode or much later, whether this change was made because DC demanded or requested it, you just can't escape the evidence. I could give you my take on why Tobias Whale didn't appear, but I suppose the only person who knows for sure is whoever made the call for DC.
QUESTION: What did you think of the episode?
I loved it. The interplay between the double daters - Green Arrow, Black Canary, the Question, and the Huntress - was spiffy. Writer Gail Simone didn't sanitize any of their rough edges and it made for an entertaining and exciting episode.
After seeing the episode, I was even happy Tobias Whale hadn't appeared in it. It would have been completely out of character for him to act as Mandragora acted.
Tobias Whale isn't capable of love...of anything. He doesn't even love himself. I could never show the full extent of his evil in the comic books, but I can tell you here that, if he fathered a son, it would have been the result of a violent rape, and that, if he had that child brought to him, it would be because he considered the boy his property and just one more creature he could violently abuse with impunity.
Don't look for good in Tobias Whale.
There isn't any.
Okay...that's not the cheeriest note on which to end today's column, but I go where my muse drags me.
Thanks for spending a part of your day with me. I'll be back on Monday with more stuff.
Tony Isabella
<< 07/21/2005 | 07/22/2005 | 07/25/2005 >>
Discuss this column with me at my Message Board. Also, read Heroes and Villains: Real and Imagined.
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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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