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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 Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Today's ALPHA/OMEGA covers are the bookends of one of the most pivotal titles in comics history. FAMOUS FUNNIES was not, as many have pointed out, the first comic book. But, as Don Markstein has said in his TOONOPEDIA entry [www.toonopedia.com/famous-f.htm], it was "the first that a modern reader would instantly recognize as a comic book."
FAMOUS FUNNIES: CARNIVAL OF COMICS was the "creation" of Max Gaines. Tabloid-sized promotional comics had been published prior to the release of this non-numbered 1933 issue, but Gaines was the guy who came up with a new and more convenient format and who, in addition to publishing the comic for said promotions, stuck a ten-cent price on copies as a test of the title's newsstand potential. The test results were encouraging.
We're way out of my area of personal expertise or experience when we talk about FAMOUS FUNNIES, so the best I can do for you is to list some of the comics which ran in its 36-page premiere issue. Here we go: Hairbreadth Harry, High-Gear Homer, Good Deed Dotty, Dixie Dugan, Reg'lar Funnies, Joe Palooka, Mutt and Jeff, Nipper, Holly of Hollywood, Keeping Up with the Jones, Somebody's Stenog, The Back-Seat Driver, Strange As It Seems, Little Brother, Simp O'Dell, The Bungle Family, The Nebbs, S'Matter Pop?, Honeybunch's Hubby, Connie, and the Wet Blanket.
I recognized the names of just eight of those comics features. At some later date, when I have the time, it could be fun to search the web for more information on them.
FAMOUS FUNNIES #1 [July, 1934], the first issue of the ongoing series, increased its page count to 68. Half of those pages were reprints from an earlier promotional comic book called FUNNIES ON PARADE, 16 were reprinted from FAMOUS FUNNIES: CARNIVAL OF COMICS, and 16 were "new" reprints.
The new arrivals included: Toonerville Folks, Little Stanley, Amaze A Minute Scientifacts, Tailspin Tommy, Donald Dare the Demon Reporter, Jolly Geography, High Lights of History, Screen Oddities, and Ben Webster's Page.
FAMOUS FUNNIES #218 [July, 1955] was the last issue of a very healthy run for a comic book title. Sci-fi hero Buck Rogers would become a mainstay, making his first appearance in the third issue and, save for #191-208, appearing in every issue thereafter. Frank Frazetta drew Buck Rogers covers for issues #209-216.
Other notable FAMOUS FUNNIES features included "War on Crime," the first true crime strip in comic books; "Adventures of Patsy," which featured the costumed Phantom Magician; "Speed Spaulding; "Invisible Scarlet O'Neil;" and "Lightning and the Lone Rider" by a young Jack Kirby.
Has anyone written/published a FAMOUS FUNNIES history/sampler? Given the title's importance to the early comics industry, I would love to see such a volume. I recognize this tome would be a tough sell in today's market - not as commercial as, say, TODD McFARLANE: MAN OR MYTH? - but I'd still like to see it.
For that matter, the TODD book might be fun, too.
With a tip of the tipster's cap to FAMOUS FUNNIES and all the characters and creators who graced its pages, let's see what else I have for you today.
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COMICS IN THE COMICS
Today's installment of what has become an increasingly popular section of TOT spotlights Pat Brady's ROSE IS ROSE strip. Comic books are super-heroes are frequently mentioned in the strip and we have three examples of this.
Super-hero laundry was the subject of these strips from July 5 and 6:
Jimbo - Rose's husband - may be a tiny bit embarrassed about reading comic books, as seen in this August 18 strip, but there's no doubt he enjoys them:
Rose and her family are among the many comics guests who have been invited to Blondie and Dagwood's huge 75th anniversary party. Because so many other online blogs and columns have been linking to or running the many crossover strips, we're not running them here. However, since ROSE IS ROSE is in our spotlight today, we'll make an exception and bring you this from August 20:
Look for more COMICS IN THE COMICS in future editions of this column. Because I love 'em even more than you do.
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TONY POLLS
It's Tuesday and that means new TONY POLLS questions will be posted sometime today. From the weird world that is Hollywood, we will be asking you to "grade" recent comics-related movies ELEKTRA, CONSTANTINE, and the fearsome MAN-THING on a scale of "near-mint" to "poor" and, in the case of the last/least of the three movies, "extra-stinky." We will also offer the "didn't see it" option for those of you with extraordinary good luck or sense.
We're also semi-repeating last week's question asking you to pick your favorite comics company not named DC or Marvel. We took out last week's winner and replaced it with another company. Just because we can.
Finally, we have a "Battle of the Big Three" as we ask you to choose your favorite from DC, Marvel, and last week's winners. You can cast your votes by going to:
www.worldfamouscomics.com/tony/poll
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TONY'S MAILBOX
AQUAMAN has been a topic of discussion here of late. Here's a response to some of those comments from KEVIN KANE:
I long have held Aquaman as one of my favorite characters and would love to read your perspective on his series and incarnations. I'd also be very interested in what your take would have been for the character, especially since I hold your run on Hawkman as one of my favorites (along with the original series and Geoff John's more recent work).
My personal favorites for Aquaman are his original series, the Neal Pozner mini-series (blue and white costume), the Peter David run, the writer after Erik Larsen (the name escapes me), and the current writer.
Gail Simone's superb treatment of Catman in VILLAINS UNITED should be the only proof that anyone needs that there are no bad characters, only badly-written characters. My only caveat to the Aquaman's poster about Arthur Curry needing his own Chris Nolan or Bryan Singer is that Aquaman is waiting for his Geoff Johns.
I was unable to find my AQUAMAN notes, but, fear not, thanks to the search, I was able to jar my memory enough to recall when I was asked to write him, what Arthur was up to at the time, and what I had in mind for him and at least some members of his supporting cast. However, tease that I am, you're going to have to wait a few more columns until I write about all that.
I also heard from PAUL ZUCKERMAN:
Sure, let's talk Aquaman. I was always partial to the Aquaman stories of the late 1950s and early 1960s, though they were by and large not great shakes. The Ramona Fradon art was always good and there were some stories that were good - the early Aqualad stories, such as when he went to school or overcame his fear of fish. There was also a story where Aquaman was without water in the desert and has to somehow find a way to survive.
Some of Aquaman's best appearances were in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA. Being one of the charter members certainly elevated his status. And write Gardner Fox could take advantage of his fish out of water status; look at JLA #13 - I think - where he is a one-man cheering squad for the team.
I didn't care much for the Aquaman stories in his own book, though the Nick Cardy art was fine. As a young teen, I especially enjoyed Aquagirl's first appearance. But the stories didn't do much for me. Things happened too quickly, such as Aquaman becoming king and getting married all in one issue.
I thought he really hit his stride in the Skeates/Aparo run. All too soon it was over, but that was when he really stood out as a character. After that, it was mostly downhill, especially when they killed off Aquababy. Or has he come back since? And Art did ramrod the JLA in its last days before the crisis.
Less said the better about the more recent incarnations of the character, particularly the ugly fish-hooked bearded version, which was really stupid. I haven't read his solo comics for years. When I pick them up, I generally put them right down again.
The renovations and repairs at Casa Isabella have resulted in my unread comics being spread over several rooms here and a storage unit a couple of miles away. That bodes ill for any big overview of recent Aquaman, but, as I find runs and specials and the like, I'll try to comment on them.
But do watch for my "flashback" report on what might have been if I had, indeed, written Aquaman when the assignment was offered to me by DC Comics.
Thanks to all for spending a part of your day with me. I'll be back tomorrow with more stuff.
Tony Isabella
<< 08/29/2005 | 08/30/2005 | 08/31/2005 >>
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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.
Please send material you would like me to review to:
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