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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, August 8, 2008
Doc Savage #16: "The Secret in the Sky" and "The Giggling Ghosts" [Nostalgia Ventures; $12.95] offers two more adventures of the Man of Bronze from the Thundering Thirties. While neither novel ranks among the best of the Lester Dent-penned (as Kenneth Robeson) pulp magazine thrillers, they are entertaining yarns filled with dashing heroes, evil masterminds, damsels in distress, and, alas, sidekicks who keep getting themselves captured.
Both adventures, from 1935 and 1938, revolve around elaborate criminal schemes. In "Secret," a fantastic invention allows the villains to travel incredible distances at incredible speeds...and to baffle policemen from coast to coast. In "The Giggling Ghosts," the scheme is more mundane, but the means by which its perpetrators carry it out - "an outbreak of toxic hilarity which causes victims to laugh themselves to death" - strikes terror throughout a city. It's a murderous modus operandi that the Joker would copy as early as his first clash with the Batman in 1940.
All of Doc Savage's aides - Monk, Ham, Renny, Long Tom, and Johnny - get captured in both adventures, sometimes more than once. Talk about being off your game. But there's also a "brings a lump to your throat" moment near the end of one novel when one of Doc's crew inadvertently causes the death of some villains in defending himself and the others. Dent conveys convincingly the sorrow the man feels on taking the lives of even bad men.
The cover art shown above is the Emery Clarke painting from the cover of the May, 1935 edition of Doc Savage Magazine. Inside, the stories are accompanied by the Paul Orban illustrations that graced their original magazine publication. Series editor Anthony Tollin also includes two terrific historical essays by Will Murray that delve into the real-life inspirations for Monk, Ham, and the rest of Doc's friends.
Tollin, Murray, and Nostalgia Ventures are producing these wondrous double-novels - of Doc Savage and of the Shadow - faster than I can read them, but that in no way diminishes my tremendous admiration for what they're doing.
Doc Savage #16: "The Secret in the Sky" and "The Giggling Ghosts" earns an impressive four out of five Tonys.
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COMICS IN THE COMICS
Editorial cartoonists often use beloved comics characters as a kind of visual shorthand for their messages. To comment on the Bush Administration's illegal litmus test for government attorneys, Rob Rogers turned to the Justice League of America for this July 31 cartoon:
Mike Luckovich used the Hulk and Speed Racer in these cartoons from June 15 and May 13:
I'm guessing this editorial cartoon by Jim Borgman is his reaction to a local issue. It ran on April 25:
Traveling back to September 4, 2007, here's Bob Gorrell expressing his displeasure with the Iraqi government:
Keep watching TOT for more Comics in the Comics.
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TONY POLLS
Most every Tuesday, I post new Tony Polls questions for your balloting entertainment. This week, from a list of choices, the question is:
What news from Comic-Con International in San Diego was the most exciting for you?
You can cast your votes at:
www.worldfamouscomics.com/tony/poll
Thanks for spending a part of your day with me. Have a happy and safe weekend.
I'll be back tomorrow with more stuff.
Tony Isabella
<< 08/07/2008 | 08/08/2008 | 08/11/2008 >>
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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