Countdown to Christmas 12/25/12 - Toys for the Holiday

Merry Christmas everyone! Lets see what Santa left me under the tree.

Awesome!! I'll take the Hulk, Spidey and that carry case better be full of every figure shown and listed.

Countdown to Christmas 12/24/12 - Toys for the Holidays!

Even though I want everything is this ad, there are a couple items that jump out at me.

"The maniacal Mangler actually eats your favorite superhero and spits him out - flat!" What?! Is this from an actual comic, or just some crazy toy? 

Why does the Wonder Woman action figure look like Conan in drag? 

Countdown to Christmas 12/23/12 - Toys for the Holidays

Is there an App for that?

This is the best 1981 had to offer in handheld electronic game play. 

Countdown to Christmas 12/22/12 - Toys for the Holidays

It's a galaxy of goodies for the DC Comics fan in your life.

Those kick-ass flashlights would make perfect stocking stuffers! 

Countdown to Christmas 12/21/12 - Toys for the Holidays!

Now you too can explore the streets of New York City. Visit famous landmarks like The Baxter Building, Daily Bugle, The Avengers Mansion with the amazing Marvel World Play Set!

The stylish AM radio wrist watches, Mego Marvel Action Figures, and web-shooters would make excellent stockings stuffers.

Hump Day Heroics with Hostess Cakes

"A Glutton for Gold" 
   Starring Thor 

The golden treat of Twinkies makes us all glutton for gold.

It's the holidays. Time to sell!

Hi everyone - Happy Holidays!

I have toyed with the idea of using eBay to sell some of my personal comics collection and memorabilia, but thought I'd first try out here on my blog, see if there is any interest.

I have quite a few of the Batman Animated Collector Plates from the (sadly defunct) WB Studio Stores. Along with a large variety of single comics, trades and hardcovers.

If anyone is interested let me know and I'll post some pictures or can discuss via email.

Thanks!

Himp Day Heroics with Hostess Cakes

"An Arrow in Time" 
    Starring Green Arrow 

Hostess Fruit Pies have a proven calming effect in near death situations.

Hump day Heroics with Hostess Cakes

"the Cup Cake Caper"
    Starring Shazam (Capt Marvel) 

Don't hoard the Hostess Cupcakes. Adults love them too!

Hump Day Heroics with Hostess Cakes

"The Spy"
   Starring Superman 

 What's in your closet?

Hump Day Heroics With Hostess Cakes

"Ultimate Weapon"
    Starring the Thing

  Hostess Fruit Pies - "Better than fighting"

Flash Fact: Crack may be whack, but speed can kill

After the Earths shattering events of the Crisis, Wally West - carrying on for his fallen mentor Barry Allen - becomes the Flash.

Wally started his superhero career as Kid Flash in Flash #110. Oddly enough he was struck by lightning and the same chemicals that had changed Barry into the Flash.

No matter how old we are (Wally is only 20?), we still want our mother's love and approval.

Even when it's difficult to get.

Considering the relationship between mom and son, I'm not surprised about the one she has with Wally's girlfriend Tina. 

Not the most grown-up or adult way of handling the situation, but that's what this series seemed to be about - the maturing of Wally West, into adulthood and into the role of hero as the Flash.

Okay, enough family drama, this is a superhero comic. Where are the bad guys? Who is the villain?

How's this for a villainous bad guy - the vile Vandal Savage.

Vandal is allegedly a cro-magnon who was given immortality and immense intelligence. 

He started out fighting the Justice Society of America during World War II. Since then he has randomly popped up around the DC Universe. Usually looking for a way to rule the world while using death and destruction as amusement. 

He's resurfaced this time targeting a very specific group. 

HaHa! Wall Street and yuppies. Oh the '80s. 

Vandal has decided to use their drug-of-choice, Velocity 9, against them. The drug gives its users temporary Flash like super-speed. 

With great power does not always come great responsibility. 

There are some very serious side effects to Velocity 9. It can be highly addictive and ravage the users body. 

It can also lead to a painful and grotesque death. 

Sounds like the perfect drug for Savage to be pushing. He's able to cause limitless damage without actually getting his hands dirty. 

Vandal is willing to take a more hands-on approach when it comes to the Flash though. 

If Velocity 9 gives you super-speed, what will it do if you already have super-speed?  

Hopefully that was only a small dose, I don't think Central City could have handled more. 

Add another side effect to Velocity 9.

Thanks to an enhanced metabolism, the drug may have burned quickly through Wally's body, but it also seems to have burned out his super-speed. 

Even without his powers, Wally shows what a true hero he is and that he is worthy of being called The Flash. 

Vandal Savage may be defeated, but Velocity 9 isn't so easily kicked. 

After feeling the speed and power Velocity 9 provided, some decide they can not live without it. 

Others decide differently. 

Using what Velocity 9 he has left, this addict has a message for Wally. 

He may have defeated Vandal Savage, but not without a price. It has left Wally powerless, vulnerable and now beaten by his own powers. 

That scene was depicted brilliantly on the cover. It makes you want to read this issue. 

Honestly the cover is the main reason for this posting - I had to share it. George Perez is such an amazing artist. The way he drew the Flash impostor, he looks so terrifyingly evil and you can feel the speed and power behind the punches. Wow! 

This Flash series ran for over 200 issues, not all of them great, but most of them pretty damn enjoyable. Wally West is currently MIA in the new 52 DC Universe, but his return is looked forward to by many fans, including me. 

Flash #12, 14, 15

Writer: #12 , 14 Mike Baron; #15 William Messner-Loebs

Artist: #12,14 Mike Collins; #15 Greg LaRocque 

May, July, August  1988 

Hump Day Heroics with Hostess Cakes

"The League of Assassins"
        Starring Batman

Holy Twinkies defense Batman!

Hump Day Heroics with Hostess Cakes

McBrain's Brain Drain
  Starring Daredevil

  See Mom, Twinkies are good for the brain.

Webs! Spider-Man in Action

In 1988 I wanted this book. Hell, I still do. 

 

If only had Marvel actually published a real Webs: Spider-Man in Action book.

I can picture how it could have looked - comic panels showcasing all the legendary artists who had worked on Spider-Man, designed to look like Daily Bugle pages with headlines or captions.

The Webs story-line ran through all the Spider-Man titles. It seemed to be used as a story device to have Peter in different locations. Not always beneficial to the story.

At first Peter's not happy about the book and isn't interested in promoting it. But there is a convincing argument.

$25,000 + $1,000 per appearance - maybe that Parker luck is changing.

Peter Parker finally gets some time in the spotlight. Not Spider-Man.

Or so he hopes. 

First stop, California. And while in CA there are some things you must do. 

1. Visit Disneyland

This was before the mouse owned the spider. 

2. Visit the beach

Having a supermodel around can make the beach more enjoyable. 

3. Visit Hollywood

Heeere's Johnny! 

There are also galas and cocktail parties full of celebrities.  

The story then turns and has Spider-Man encounter the Black Fox. 

Spidey and Black Fox, an elderly gentleman cat-burglar, first met in Amazing Spider-Man #255. That issue also introduces Silver Sable. I may post about that at another time. 

Now back to the party, as our hero crashes it. 

Even a room full of the rich and famous can be star stuck. Or would they be super-hero struck? 

You have to love the Todd McFarlane art! 

When Todd started on Amazing Spider-Man #298, the art style he brought to the book was fantastic. There was a pop to it. The way he drew Spider-Man's webbing and him swinging around was so different from what we had seen. He also took Mary Jane from pretty girl-next-door model to sexy supermodel actress.

Bonus!! 

The camera Peter wears on his Spider-Man costume, to help catch all the action. 

 

Amazing Spider-Man, 1988

Writer: David Michelinie

Artist Team: Todd McFarlane/Joe Rubinstein

Hump Day Heroics with Hostess Cakes

"Hotshot on the Block" 
  Starring Spider-Man

Swingers and flamers alike love cream-filled Twinkies.

Hump Day Heroics with Hostess Cakes

"A Matter of Good Taste"
    Starring Batgirl 

More valuable than real gold! Cream-filled gold bars you can eat.
  

Catfight! First Ladies Edition

Nancy Reagan 

vs

Raisa Gorbachev

Only the 1980's could have produced this delightfully campy cold war catfight.

Nancy Reagan had been an actress before marrying Ronnie. His first wife had also been an actress. A more successful actress, who was starring on a hit night soap during this time. Care to guess the actresses name?

The First Ladies were being possessed by the hero Deadman and a demon calling himself Satan. 

The two spirits had been possessing the bodies of President Ronald Reagan and Soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev, before jumping into the wives. 

The how and why of Deadman and Satan isn't really worth talking about it. It's this absurd moment that only comic books can provide. It borders on the ridiculous, but is amusing considering who possessed who. Satan in Mikhail, then Nancy. Too Funny.  

Action Comics Weekly #609/#610

Writer: Mike Baron 

Art Team: Dan Jurgens / Tony Dezuniga

1988 

Hump Day Heroics with Hostess Cakes

"Wonder of Nature"
    Starring the Fantastic Four

Screw the family - save the Fruits Pies!

Who'sWho/What'sWhat - The Amazing Spider-Man

"With great power, comes great responsibility"

Spider-Man first swung onto the streets of Manhattan in Amazing Fantasy #15 (1962).

It wasn't long before this friendly neighborhood wall-crawler was starring in a web of (1985), amazing (1963), and spectacular (1976), comics all his own.

Hump Day Heroics, err, Villainy with Hostess Cakes

"The Cuckoo Cuckoos"
    Starring the Penguin

Screw the coco-puffs, go cuckoo for Fruit Pies!

Read for the Art - Human Fly #2 Carmine Infantino

I always enjoy finding a character or comic series I'm unfamiliar with. Add art by comic book legend Carmine Infantino - sold.

The Human Fly series ran for just nineteen issues from September 1977 to March 1979. Wikipedia says the character was supposedly based on a real stuntman - Rick Rojatt. I just thought it was because Evel Knievel was popular during the '70s.

My 1999 Overstreet Price Guide lists The Human Fly #2 being "worth" $4 in near mint condition. As you can see by the cover, this copy is not near mint. Someone wrote their name on it.

Speaking of the cover, Ghost Rider may be on it, but luckily he plays a small part in the actual comic itself. The $4 listing in the price guide is because of his appearance too. I just don't get that. I never have been a Ghost Rider fan so maybe someone else can explain his appeal.

Since I know very little about the Human Fly I'm glad he has the super-hero union required female reporter following him.

The lovely Harmony Whyte provides a nice recap of his mysterious origin and first appearance.

Having only this one issue, I don't know if she becomes an unfortunate story trope or cliche by repeatedly putting her life in danger and trying to discover Human Fly's true identity.

Guess this answers my question-

She has compiled a list of five men whom she believes could be the Human Fly. 

She may be on the right path, but Alex Marks is not the Human Fly. That will have to remain a mystery.

This is supposedly a book about a daredevil stuntman. Where are the stunts?

Lets go back and check out the Human Fly's spectacular opening act, or as Harmony put it, him senselessly risking his life.

WOW! Amazing! He did it! But what's the secret behind the stunt? How did he manage to survive? 

So he has a team of three helping him pull off the stunts. They must not be that important, we don't even learn their names. 

Now how about that "Race to Destruction" promised on the cover?

And I thought driving in Baltimore was dangerous.

The moment we've all been waiting for - Enter Ghost Rider.

Again, I don't get his appeal.

He just shows up and helps Human Fly survive the race. 

The race, I almost forget, was the real story.

It was called the Doomsday Race for a reason. No one was supposed to survive to win it.

Any good reporter or detective knows to follow the money. Also stumbling onto the answer is helpful too.

The book wraps up nicely enough with the bad guy defeated.

The story itself might not have been much - not to disparage Bill Mantlo, I've read a lot of his work - but Carmine Infantino was the saving grace on this comic. There's a flow to his art. Almost like a cartoon.

Mr. Infantino is most known, I think, for helping introduce the Silver Age and Earth-2 in the pages of the Flash. He also worked on a couple of my favorite books, Spider-Woman and Supergirl.

I have a feeling his art could be showing up again.

The Human Fly #2, October 1977
Writer: Bill Mantlo
Art: Carmine Infantino / Dan Green