Read for the Art - Detective Comics Walt Simonson

Going through boxes of comics is proving to be a blast! Here's an issue of Detective Comics from 1975 that I came across. Mid '70's comics can be hit or miss, this one is a definite hit.

The cover looked familiar but I couldn't remember reading the comic.

Elliot S. Maggin tells a good story but it's Walt Simonson on art that blew me away.

Walt Simonson has had an extremely impressive comic career. I enjoyed his work on books like Thor, Fantastic Four, X-Factor, and Orion as writer and artist. This particular comic showcases some of his early art style. He had started out drawing a Manhunter back-up story in previous issues of Detective Comics. What he's done in this issue looks really dynamic and completely different from his later work.

I picked a few examples I thought really stood out and that tell the story pretty well too.

Batman crouched, cape blowing, and menacing. Just the way I like him.

Poor Mr. Harcourt, he unfortunately happens to know the wrong person - Jeremy Wormwood, the shooter in an assassination attempt on a senator.

Living the life of a rich playboy must be hard, but Bruce Wayne lives it well. Surrounding himself with beautiful women, entertaining with a carefree attitude - until the Batman is needed.

Loved this panel of Bruce transforming into Batman! There is a movement and motion to it. Also hearing the young lady getting upset and storming out - too funny.

Batman arrives at Father Knickbocker's Wax Museum. This plays out slightly different than the cover shows. The wax figures in the story are pretty nondescript and featureless. Batman is of course prepared and escapes the waxy death-trap.

Wormwood meets with Harcourt to give him the cape and cowl and collect his fee. Thinking he's in the company of a friend, Jeremy Wormwood admits that mob boss Mike Carley had ordered the hit on the senator. That's all Batman needs to hear before leaping into action.

This would make an amazing poster.

Now, if I saw Batman coming at me I would stop, drop and ball. Wormwood chooses to stand and fight at first, using only a switch blade. You're toast dude, this is the Batman.

What a great page design, with the bat in the middle - "Beware this avenging creature of the night!"

I think it also shows Batman at his most badass-edness - Awesome!

With his confession to Mr. Harcourt, secretly Batman in disguise, caught on tape the comic concludes with Woodworm being arrested by Commissioner Gordon and the GCPD.

Batman's cape and cowl hanging on the chair was a great visual ending to the book too. Even without being in the room Batman's presence is felt. 

As I said at the beginning, the art on this issue was fantastic. I have always enjoyed Walt Simonson's work, but this really took it to another level. Something else that I thought was really cool about the 4 panel fight scene, it has Walt's signature and date of 2-14-75. It kind of provides a time-line into the making of the comic. The comic is cover dated August, but it was probably published 3 months earlier in May. I love things like that.

Detective Comics #450

Writer: Elliot S. Maggin

Artist: Walt Simonson

August 1975

Table for Two, Dinner for Three: starring the Fantastic Four

Sometimes all you want is a nice romantic evening with your flaming hot man. Instead you end up spending it with him and his Inhuman ex-girlfriend.

Oh Alicia Masters, what will you do?

Add some orange juice to the champagne and lets get this started.

"To friendship" indeed.

You mean Johnny never told you, his current blind girlfriend, how he met his exotic, alien ex-girlfriend? Well here's what happened...

The action! The adventure! So in love! Oh what a time that was.

Hahaha! I am so enjoying Crystal more and more. She never really did much for me, but so far since joining this new Fantastic Four she seems a different character.

Alicia on the other hand has always been so blah. Even after it was revealed she was (spoiler).

Awe, running on the beach. Him trying to experience the world the way she does.You can almost hear the standard rom-com montage music.

After Johnny, Crystal ended up marrying Pietro aka Quicksilver. The son of Magneto, and brother to Scarlett Witch of the Avengers.

Now as shown in a previous posting, Crys and Pietro didn't have the best of marriages. They divorced shortly after the birth of their daughter Luna.

Hmm, the plot thickens.

Poor Johnny. You almost feel bad for him.

Luckily the super villain of this story, Fasaud, picks that exact moment to call Johnny and Crystal out into battle.

Don't worry Alicia, I'll just be right outside. I'll be out there with Crystal, we'll protect each other.

The Human Torch and Crystal of course defeat Fasaud, some no-list villain who I'd be surprised ever showed up again. He does make the cover though. See end of post for that.

Crystal uses her elemental powers to call down rain and lighting, creating an explosive thunderstorm. The lightning strikes Fasaud and he is seemingly reduced to smoldering ash.

It's a good thing your enhanced sense of hearing helped you over hear Johnny and Crystal's conversation.

What a soap opera! Unfortunately I don't have any further installments right now. Looks like we're left with some unanswered questions. 

Does Johnny stay with Alicia or get back with Crystal? Is there a cat-fight between Crys and Alicia? Where are the Thing and Ms. Marvel, the other two members of the new Fantastic Four? 

Everyone is present on the cover, along with Fasaud. 

 

Ben and Sharon's story, trying to stop some space shuttle from taking off, wasn't as interesting as the dinner party, so I skipped it. 

The issue's cliffhanger has them captured by Fasaud, amazingly recovered from his battle with the Human Torch and Crystal. 

I'm not really sure how long this FF team was together. Reed and Sue were still around in Four Freedoms Plaza, with Franklin undertow. 

Steve Englehart - Writer 

John Buscema/Joe Sinnott - Art 

Dec. 1987

Hump Day Heroics with Hostess Cakes

"The Mummy" 
  Starring Batman and Robin 

Twinkies, still fresh and tasty after 2,000 years.

Hump Day Heroics with Hostess Cakes

Captain America and the Red Skull

Not quite as seen in Captain America: The First Avenger, now available on DVD and BluRay. 

Who knew the Cosmic Cube was sentient and enjoyed Twinkies? 
 

Capes, Wookies, and Ponchos? Oh my!

Halloween is just around the corner. If you haven't found that perfect costume here are a few ideas.

I think my favorite item has to be the Wookie playset - a hairy mask, wig and fanged teeth. Also great to wear for "bear" night at the club.

Everything makes sense but the ponchos. Don't get me wrong, I still want them and I know Halloween can sometimes be a rainy evening, but they aren't really costumes are they?