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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, September 30, 2005
I'm putting a spin on my ALPHA/OMEGA bit. Usually, I show you the first and last issues of some long-running comics title. But, today, we look at two notable entertainment events which occurred 45 years ago.
On September 30, 1960, THE FLINTSTONES made its debut on ABC. The modern Stone Age family captured the hearts of viewers then and now. I'm talking a healthy run of the original series, a couple of feature-length movies, several Saturday morning revivals, a pair of live-action films, toys, books, vitamins, clothing, and, of course, comic books. The cover above is THE FLINTSTONES #4, published by Dell Comics and dated May, 1962.
Meanwhile, on the same day in history, on NBC, viewers watched the last episode of the long-running HOWDY DOODY series. America's kids had taken the boy puppet to their hearts and bought all sorts of Howdy Doody items, including his comic books...
HOWDY DOODY #1 [January, 1950] was also published by Dell and the title ran for a total of 40 issues. His final two issues were part of Dell's second FOUR COLOR series.
Reaching back through the centuries to my childhood memories, I was never a fan of HOWDY DOODY. Puppets just didn't do it for me until Jim Henson and SESAME STREET introduced me to Kermit, Piggy, and the rest of the Muppets. They were the first puppet characters who could make me forget that they were being manipulated by human beings. They had the personality Howdy lacked.
By contrast, I took to THE FLINTSTONES right away. I wouldn't say it was a favorite of mine - it was a reliably funny sitcom and little more - but it had dinosaurs. I like dinosaurs. I would've watched THE FARM REPORT if it had dinosaurs.
Look for more ALPHA/OMEGA covers in future TOTs.
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COMICS IN THE COMICS
John Deering's STRANGE BREW can be counted on for at least one "comics in the comics" panel every month. The one above appeared on August 25. The one below...
...appeared yesterday, September 29. If you'd like to enjoy STRANGE BREW online, head over to:
www.comics.com/creators/strangebrew
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TONY POLLS
Most every Tuesday, we post new TONY POLLS questions for your voting entertainment. Two weeks ago, you were asked about Marvel's plans to self-produce movies and how much television you watched on a typical day. Here are those results...
Marvel Studios will reportedly be self-producing ten films based on Marvel Comics properties. Which of these ten movies would you be most likely to see?
DR. STRANGE.....24.84%
Avengers.....20.50%
Captain America.....18.01%
Black Panther.....9.94%
Ant-Man.....7.45%
Nick Fury.....4.97%
Shang-Chi.....4.97%
Power Pack.....4.35%
Hawkeye.....3.11%
Cloak & Dagger.....1.86%
The perfect Captain America movie - like the perfect Captain America comic book - would have the Star-Spangled Avenger battling to save our country from George Bush and his cronies. Since that's not likely to happen - more the pity - my choice was between ANT-MAN and Black Panther. I went with Henry Pym because I could see his movie being very much concerned with people without sacrificing action, danger, or intrigue.
The new TV season is upon us and we're already concerned you're watching too much TV. Just how much TV do you watch in a typical day? And, yes, watching shows you've taped to watch later counts towards your total.
More than four hours.....15.92%
Four hours.....17.20%
Three hours.....21.66%
Two hours.....18.47%
One hour.....12.10%
Less than one hour.....1.91%
I don't watch TV regularly.....12.74%
During the summer, I got my TV viewing down to between one and two hours a day. With the coming of the new season and my checking out some new series, it's more like between two and three hours a day...albeit split up between meal and work breaks. Once I start dropping shows - already said bye-bye to SURFACE - I should be able to get it back down to under two hours.
Our current TONY POLLS questions recall the days when comics based on live-action TV shows were a large part of the comic-book industry by asking you to pick the shows you would most like to see as comics. You'll find those questions at:
www.worldfamouscomics.com/tony/poll
The questions will remain active until sometime after midnight on Monday night. Then new questions will be posted sometime during the following day. It's the circle of curiosity.
World Famous Comics web-wizard JUSTIN is going out of town on some personal business, so, to make his life easier, today's column is short and I won't be writing a new one for Monday. Thanks for your understanding and thanks for spending a part of your day with us. I'll be back on Tuesday with more stuff.
Tony Isabella
<< 09/29/2005 | 09/30/2005 | 10/04/2005 >>
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:
Tony's Online Tips
840 Damon Drive
Medina, OH 44256
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