MY COMICS HISTORY
Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes - First Comics
A long time ago in a galaxy far away.... (aka, my childhood)... I had a small stack of comics. I cannot tell you how I got them. They appeared. I know I didn't get them from a comic book store. It was as if they just... were always there, oddly enough. I cannot explain anything about their appearance. I can share that I read them about 100,000 times. I used to read them and re-read them and read them and re-read them and so on.......... they were never in mint condition.... but when I last saw them.... (and they are probably long in the garbage now) they were in horrid shape. Yellowed, wrinkled, stained, mildewed, and sogged. I used to fold the cover and pages over - you know, like you might read any old magazine.
I had no real concept about them. I knew there was "more to the story," but I did not have the "more" so I re-read the parts that I had. I spent hours reading them, staring at the cover, re-reading them, etc. I remember the covers clear as day and remember the characters like they were childhood friends. The ones I had were sequential. Three comics in the series.
I think this is quite ironic - I started reading comics with the one title that has probably been revamped, rebooted, and retconned more than any other series / title. I think, maybe, this is why I have less of an issue with DC's constant state of crisis and flux than most fans. I mean, if you started out reading the Legion of Super-Heroes, continuity is just a minor detail.
I had no real concept about them. I knew there was "more to the story," but I did not have the "more" so I re-read the parts that I had. I spent hours reading them, staring at the cover, re-reading them, etc. I remember the covers clear as day and remember the characters like they were childhood friends. The ones I had were sequential. Three comics in the series.
I think this is quite ironic - I started reading comics with the one title that has probably been revamped, rebooted, and retconned more than any other series / title. I think, maybe, this is why I have less of an issue with DC's constant state of crisis and flux than most fans. I mean, if you started out reading the Legion of Super-Heroes, continuity is just a minor detail.
#246
This is the first in the sequential series that I had. Its "Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes" issue number #246. It has a cover date of December 1978. The title of the story is: Will the Last One to Leave Mercury Please Close the Door? I remember thinking that was a really interesting title. I loved the cover because it was so colorful. (I have this thing with colors....) The cover is (was?) so RED! Vibrant RED! But look at the anguish and the surprise on the faces of the heroes!!! It drew me in - the quotation by Shadow-Lass on the cover expresses the surprise and is SOOOOOooooo vintage comic book (i.e. it sounds straight out of Geek-Planet 101). Also, check out the side story there - the FATAL FIVE!!! How cool is that? And, as I recall, they were cool villains!
#247
This was the next issue, # 247. For whatever reason, I read this issue the most. I guess I liked it the best, though I couldn't explain why! I know I loved the juxtaposition of all the characters - in battle - on the front cover. And I was drawn in by the exciting blurb-arrow pointing to the alien. I thought these characters were the coolest characters in the entire universe and I didn't understand a lick about them, but I loved them! Listen to their cool names: Wildfire, Element Lad, Mon-El, Emerald Empress, etc! To a little kid, you know this was exotic, sci-fi, comic bliss. I spent a lot of time seeing this cover and though I have a deep connection with it, as soon as I look at it, I almost want to say I am utterly sick of it!
In 2010, I was able to purchase this issue again for a couple of bucks. Its not in mint condition, but it sure looks a lot better than my first copy ever looked. I carefully slid the issue from its sleeve and I let the cover fall open - enjoying the texture of the pseudo-newsprint paper. And there, the first page, Superboy with lots of dialogue boxes, flying through space - just as I remembered from decades ago!
In 2010, I was able to purchase this issue again for a couple of bucks. Its not in mint condition, but it sure looks a lot better than my first copy ever looked. I carefully slid the issue from its sleeve and I let the cover fall open - enjoying the texture of the pseudo-newsprint paper. And there, the first page, Superboy with lots of dialogue boxes, flying through space - just as I remembered from decades ago!
#248
Finally, I had this issue, #248. Who the heck is Mon-El? Who is dead? Why are friends fighting? These are the thoughts, I am sure, that as a little kid I wondered. I love this cover... I didn't even know who these characters were, but this much was clear: Mon-El was beating up Sun Boy because Shadow-Lass (presumably the chick in Superboy's arms) is dead. Who???? Who cares! It was wild and crazy interesting for little me. And I read it and read it again.
I was able to get this issue in 2010, as well. I still think this is one of my favorite covers ever printed. I know a number of events and such have gone on in the last decade involving Mon-El. I am sure the writers have made all sorts of changes to the character. However, this... this Mon-El... will always be THE Mon-El for me. The Mon-El about to punch Sun Boy's lights out (pun intended).
I was able to get this issue in 2010, as well. I still think this is one of my favorite covers ever printed. I know a number of events and such have gone on in the last decade involving Mon-El. I am sure the writers have made all sorts of changes to the character. However, this... this Mon-El... will always be THE Mon-El for me. The Mon-El about to punch Sun Boy's lights out (pun intended).
#290
I remember scattered other issues, that somehow were not "around" as long as the above three. One such issue was from the next volume of the Legion of Super-Heroes #290.
I remember this one (I think its date is 1980), I had no idea of its connection to the previous ones, and though I read it, it did NOT make the impression on me that the previous ones did. But I do remember the "And the Servant Shall be a Sign" was creepy as was the dude in blue/black stomping. Scary for a little one!
I found this issue "disturbing" as a little kid. I do not know why. I did not read it, or even look at it as much as the others. I did not know then, but this was the first issue in a storyarc called The Great Darkness Saga. As cool as that sounds, I guess maybe as a little kid this was too much.
I remember this one (I think its date is 1980), I had no idea of its connection to the previous ones, and though I read it, it did NOT make the impression on me that the previous ones did. But I do remember the "And the Servant Shall be a Sign" was creepy as was the dude in blue/black stomping. Scary for a little one!
I found this issue "disturbing" as a little kid. I do not know why. I did not read it, or even look at it as much as the others. I did not know then, but this was the first issue in a storyarc called The Great Darkness Saga. As cool as that sounds, I guess maybe as a little kid this was too much.
#251
In 2010, as I was hunting down other issues, I found this issue. This is #251. Its only a few issues after the few issues I loved and read so much as a child. I realized, rather stupidly, that hey! Now I can read the surrounding issues and put the storyline together. I can finally read "the next issue." Obviously, I am still on the hunt for #246, #249, and #250, but I am excited to have this issue.
This issue was written by Paul Levitz and entitled The Man Who Destroyed the Universe. I can't wait to read it.
This issue was written by Paul Levitz and entitled The Man Who Destroyed the Universe. I can't wait to read it.
#306
Batman, who was originally referred to as "the Bat-Man" and sometimes as "the Batman", was co-created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger (although only Kane receives official credit). The character first appeared in Detective Comics #27 in May 1939. My personal introduction to Batman came a few years after that original creation date.
Among a stack of comics that just seemed to always exist with me... (i.e. I certainly did not buy them or find them! They were just always there...) were three issues of Batman from 1978 and 1979. There were only the three issues, but I read them so much I think they just eventually fell apart. I read them over and over and over again. They were issues: #306, #307, and #308. (Its interesting to note that my introduction to comics was through DC Comics. I think 95% of the first comics I read / owned were DC published.) [Cp. my thoughts on the Legion of Super-Heroes] Remember, look at these covers through the eyes of a little kid.
To this day, I get chills looking at it because I have always found it to be an insanely disturbingly creepy noir cover. Now, I don't know how old I was when I was looking at this stuff, but I was quite young. Let's take a moment and really look at this cover. First of all, its a full moon night background. That alone is noir-enough for a small child (yes, I was one of those kids who was afraid of the dark). But its nighttime over water, which, for whatever reason, makes it all even creepier. And there's Batman - leaping in the air like some lunar eclipse. His fingers are spread out like claws and his cape is very bat-like. Meanwhile, he's getting shot (or something!) by this purple-black bald hairless thing that looks spidery. If you read the taglines on top of the cover, though, you understand that the villain is "Black Spider," who is a "murderous foe" who is "back from the grave." Trust me, if you are a little kid, this is about as scary as paper with pictures and words on it can get.
Among a stack of comics that just seemed to always exist with me... (i.e. I certainly did not buy them or find them! They were just always there...) were three issues of Batman from 1978 and 1979. There were only the three issues, but I read them so much I think they just eventually fell apart. I read them over and over and over again. They were issues: #306, #307, and #308. (Its interesting to note that my introduction to comics was through DC Comics. I think 95% of the first comics I read / owned were DC published.) [Cp. my thoughts on the Legion of Super-Heroes] Remember, look at these covers through the eyes of a little kid.
To this day, I get chills looking at it because I have always found it to be an insanely disturbingly creepy noir cover. Now, I don't know how old I was when I was looking at this stuff, but I was quite young. Let's take a moment and really look at this cover. First of all, its a full moon night background. That alone is noir-enough for a small child (yes, I was one of those kids who was afraid of the dark). But its nighttime over water, which, for whatever reason, makes it all even creepier. And there's Batman - leaping in the air like some lunar eclipse. His fingers are spread out like claws and his cape is very bat-like. Meanwhile, he's getting shot (or something!) by this purple-black bald hairless thing that looks spidery. If you read the taglines on top of the cover, though, you understand that the villain is "Black Spider," who is a "murderous foe" who is "back from the grave." Trust me, if you are a little kid, this is about as scary as paper with pictures and words on it can get.
#307
I also had this issue, #307. Here we have another dark background. Some scarved dude in a trenchcoat is about to cane Batman while choking Batman. Meanwhile, there's this really icky creature on the bottom of the cover who has coins over his eyes. (I can promise you, at this time of my wee life, I had no idea of symbolism or meaning or history of coins and corpses.) And look at the taglines: "BEWARE! This man gives away gold coins-- but no one ever LIVES to SPEND THEM!" Really creepy stuff there. The fact that the coins are covering the eyes just adds to the mystery and fear factor.
I read this as much as I read any of the comics that I had. The cover always bothered me (in a creepy, noir way). Its taken many years to figure out any connection - but I think it was because I read (as a young child - and yes, this too is disturbing) Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. There is a scene in that book, if you'll recall, where one of the characters beats another with a cane. I dunno if the cover artist, Jim Aparo, ever associated the two, but this cover really always made me think of that scene, I believe. Batman is so noir..... its so cool.
I read this as much as I read any of the comics that I had. The cover always bothered me (in a creepy, noir way). Its taken many years to figure out any connection - but I think it was because I read (as a young child - and yes, this too is disturbing) Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. There is a scene in that book, if you'll recall, where one of the characters beats another with a cane. I dunno if the cover artist, Jim Aparo, ever associated the two, but this cover really always made me think of that scene, I believe. Batman is so noir..... its so cool.
#308
Finally, there was issue #308. This one is arguably not nearly as creepy as the other two. However, again, Batman being turned into a frozen zombie-slave isn't exactly the most reassuring for a small child. I remember that I really loved this issue, though. I thought Mr. Freeze was exceedingly intense. (Recently, I think Freeze has rejoined some of the Bat-titles, but I doubt he is as cool [pun intended] as he is here.) The storyline in this issue has got to be one of my all-time favorites!
I really liked this issue the most of the ones I owned. I think this was the "standard" by which I judged comics. What can I say - I was a little kid!
The writer of this issue was Len Wein, the cover artist was Jim Aparo, and the interior artist was John Calnan.
I really liked this issue the most of the ones I owned. I think this was the "standard" by which I judged comics. What can I say - I was a little kid!
The writer of this issue was Len Wein, the cover artist was Jim Aparo, and the interior artist was John Calnan.
Best of #9
Other than these three issues, I also had an issue of DC Best of Blue Ribbon Digest. Specifically, it was issue #9. These were "digest" comics - like the traditional smaller Archie comics that you could buy (once upon a time) in the checkout aisle at the grocery store. DC printed this particular run from 1979-1986. Basically, they were collections of "best of" issues. #9 was published in February of 1981.
At the time I had no idea about continuity, canonical issues, storylines, or even comics, really. It was all just pictures and words. I had no idea who these characters were or what their background was. But look at this cover. On the left side, Batman is shooting some chick. On the right side, an old dude is shooting Batman. Of course, all of this is outlined in a black frame. Pretty intense stuff for a small child. Apparently, this digest featured a number of back-issues of Batman and Detective Comics. Looking back, these were some really core storyarcs and it was really great that they were available in these cheap, small digests!
The digest contained Detective Comics #448 from June of 1975. The story is entitled: "Bedlam Beneath the Big-Top," and it featured the conclusion of the arc which depicted Batman on the run for several issues. Accused of the murder of arch criminal Ra's Al Ghul and his daughter Talia, Batman has found an unlikely ally in The Creeper. (And just in the last year or two, the Batman titles have run the storyarc The Resurrection of Ra's Al Ghul. Cp. Batman #670: "The next chapter of Batman's life starts here! The shadow of Batman's archfoe Ra's al Ghul still looms large over the head of the Dark Knight. Is Ra's al Ghul destined to live again? Batman begins his quest for the truth in this special prelude to "The Resurrection of Ra's Al Ghul," guest-starring Talia al Ghul, Damian, the Sensei and I-Ching!") Anyway, this is a pretty disturbing cover for a little kid.
I remember reading and re-reading these digests over and over and over and over. They were especially good for car rides. (When I was a child, I read mainly in the backseat of the car for some reason.) Its important to remember, when I was looking at these comics, I was very young. Also, during that time we (as a society) were not so desensitized to violence and horror. There was no internet at the time. And I certainly didn't have any video games. This was extremely intense stuff for a little kid. Hence why it has made such indelible marks on my psyche. Scarred by Batman! Awesome!
Anyway, this was my introduction to Batman, which I suppose, is quite different from other folks. Many folks knew Batman from the goofy TV series or from cartoons on Saturday morning. I met Batman in these issues.
At the time I had no idea about continuity, canonical issues, storylines, or even comics, really. It was all just pictures and words. I had no idea who these characters were or what their background was. But look at this cover. On the left side, Batman is shooting some chick. On the right side, an old dude is shooting Batman. Of course, all of this is outlined in a black frame. Pretty intense stuff for a small child. Apparently, this digest featured a number of back-issues of Batman and Detective Comics. Looking back, these were some really core storyarcs and it was really great that they were available in these cheap, small digests!
The digest contained Detective Comics #448 from June of 1975. The story is entitled: "Bedlam Beneath the Big-Top," and it featured the conclusion of the arc which depicted Batman on the run for several issues. Accused of the murder of arch criminal Ra's Al Ghul and his daughter Talia, Batman has found an unlikely ally in The Creeper. (And just in the last year or two, the Batman titles have run the storyarc The Resurrection of Ra's Al Ghul. Cp. Batman #670: "The next chapter of Batman's life starts here! The shadow of Batman's archfoe Ra's al Ghul still looms large over the head of the Dark Knight. Is Ra's al Ghul destined to live again? Batman begins his quest for the truth in this special prelude to "The Resurrection of Ra's Al Ghul," guest-starring Talia al Ghul, Damian, the Sensei and I-Ching!") Anyway, this is a pretty disturbing cover for a little kid.
I remember reading and re-reading these digests over and over and over and over. They were especially good for car rides. (When I was a child, I read mainly in the backseat of the car for some reason.) Its important to remember, when I was looking at these comics, I was very young. Also, during that time we (as a society) were not so desensitized to violence and horror. There was no internet at the time. And I certainly didn't have any video games. This was extremely intense stuff for a little kid. Hence why it has made such indelible marks on my psyche. Scarred by Batman! Awesome!
Anyway, this was my introduction to Batman, which I suppose, is quite different from other folks. Many folks knew Batman from the goofy TV series or from cartoons on Saturday morning. I met Batman in these issues.
Other Comics in the First Stack
#262
In this small stack of comics, there were two issues of Wonder Woman. This issue was #262 from December 1979, written by Gerry Conway, with cover by Dick Giordano. Wonder Woman was not one of my favorites, though I read this issues often enough. A young kid just isn't going to be as interested in some chick with a lasso (er... well... at least back then when we were innocent!) over space-faring Legionaries!
I can recall this issue taught me the word "vermin." The three dudes on the cover looked pretty bad-ass.
I can recall this issue taught me the word "vermin." The three dudes on the cover looked pretty bad-ass.
#263
I also had this issue, #263. There's a lot that can be said here, probably, by feminists and so forth. I remember that this cover had the word "gaucho" on it. And this was a foreign word which I was unfamiliar with. I remember this cover - probably because its so very "bright." I mean, you don't see many yellow covers. And this colorful "gaucho" on the cover who is riding a flying horse? Yeah, that's pretty unique and hard to forget. Somehow I don't think I read this comic as much as looked at the art. (Again, more telling statements for an astute psychologist or something.)
#238
I had a couple Marvel comics. I did not have many, I was a DC kid for all my superhero needs. One of the comics I had was this one, and believe you me, I really wish I still had it and had taken care of it. There is this distant fuzzy memory of a comic looking a bit like this one that somehow got involved in a flood on the cement basement floor. I am sure I just dried that comic out and read its crunchy pages anyway! Still, I dunno if this one was the sponge or not.
When Spider-man foils the getaway of a group of bank robbers, he fails to capture one robber. This thief discovers the hidden headquarters of the Green Goblin! Seeking to make a profit, he leads a mysterious man to the headquarters, who promptly realizes the potential held within and apprehends Osborn's equipment. Now with the location of other warehouses and evil intentions, the man reveals himself as the Hobgoblin! How will Peter handle being indirectly responsible for this villain's creation?
This one was written by Roger L. Stern with art by the Romitas.
To be honest? I didn't like Spider-Man. Of course, this is all based on this issue. But I didn't understand him or the comic and was entirely uninterested. Silly kid!
When Spider-man foils the getaway of a group of bank robbers, he fails to capture one robber. This thief discovers the hidden headquarters of the Green Goblin! Seeking to make a profit, he leads a mysterious man to the headquarters, who promptly realizes the potential held within and apprehends Osborn's equipment. Now with the location of other warehouses and evil intentions, the man reveals himself as the Hobgoblin! How will Peter handle being indirectly responsible for this villain's creation?
This one was written by Roger L. Stern with art by the Romitas.
To be honest? I didn't like Spider-Man. Of course, this is all based on this issue. But I didn't understand him or the comic and was entirely uninterested. Silly kid!
G. I. Joe: A Real American Hero
At some point, I became a mad, crazed maniac for and about G.I. Joe. I became completely addicted to G.I. Joe. The plastic action figures were how I spent my allowance. I watched - religiously - the cartoon. But more importantly than all of that and with the highest priority a small child has, I read the comics. I didn't even start with number one. I discovered them somewhere in the low 30's, I believe. But after that I became wild with adoration. To my mind, this was the greatest story / comic / series ever in the history of the multiverse.
My mother despised comic books. She thought them not acceptable for "smart" kids. However, even she recognized my absolute need for G.I. Joe comics. And we would pick up the monthly issues when we went to the grocery store.
One time she even took me to a comic book store. It was a gigantic place.... larger than any I have been in since. And I was allowed to pick out a couple comics. I zoomed past Superman and Hulk and dove into G.I. Joe. I remember I got a couple of issues to include the uber-important issue #26. I eventually succeeded in getting all of the back issues. My #1 issue was a reprint, not the original. But I loved them all.
I even bought and read "Special Missions" and the other miniseries associated with G.I. Joe.
I truly believe that I read my entire stack of G.I. Joe comics at least once a week. I even poured over the letters page. I read each and every word. I read it all. I memorized. These are, to my stubborn mind, the greatest comics ever written on this planet. Yo Joe!
My mother despised comic books. She thought them not acceptable for "smart" kids. However, even she recognized my absolute need for G.I. Joe comics. And we would pick up the monthly issues when we went to the grocery store.
One time she even took me to a comic book store. It was a gigantic place.... larger than any I have been in since. And I was allowed to pick out a couple comics. I zoomed past Superman and Hulk and dove into G.I. Joe. I remember I got a couple of issues to include the uber-important issue #26. I eventually succeeded in getting all of the back issues. My #1 issue was a reprint, not the original. But I loved them all.
I even bought and read "Special Missions" and the other miniseries associated with G.I. Joe.
I truly believe that I read my entire stack of G.I. Joe comics at least once a week. I even poured over the letters page. I read each and every word. I read it all. I memorized. These are, to my stubborn mind, the greatest comics ever written on this planet. Yo Joe!
Yearbook #2
I clearly remember mom putting G.I. Joe: Yearbook #2 in my Christmas stocking in December of 1985. I remember reading it on the sofa next to her. I would finish it and I would open it up again and re-read it. And repeat. She was reading a magazine or watching TV or knitting or something. I have no idea because I was entirely absorbed in Yearbook #2. This went on for hours that night. I know that I read it so much after I got it, that the cover eventually separated and mom had to help me one day staple the thing back on (in a not too graceful process; I remember the end result with a bit of horror now.)
The Modern Era
#62
Eventually G.I. Joe ended and I turned into a Marvel Comics fan. I started collecting and reading some titles of a darker sort. I became very enamored of Punisher and Ghost Rider. By this time, mother was not accepting of comic books at all, so all of my comic purchases had to be secretive and ninja-style. I made deals with people at school, I walked and rode my bike places, I snuck comics in the house any way I could.
The Punisher volume that I was collecting started in 1987. I cannot recall which issues I had, but I know I had #62 because the cover really sticks in my memory. I also owned a number of the Punisher: War Journal issues.
The Punisher volume that I was collecting started in 1987. I cannot recall which issues I had, but I know I had #62 because the cover really sticks in my memory. I also owned a number of the Punisher: War Journal issues.
#29
If mom was not too keen on comic books and would have disliked The Punisher, she would have ended my world if she knew much about Ghost Rider. This volume of Ghost Rider started in 1990. I collected a whole lot of these issues as well as the Spirits of Vengeance title. I fell in love with Ghost Rider and Punisher. Maybe it was my getting older, but I thought Punisher and Ghost Rider were the baddest, coolest, meanest characters ever.
I remember seeing this cover in my collection and it making a mark on my memory. I think maybe because it had Wolverine on it, too?
It was such a hassle getting to collect these! I can even recall asking mom to "drop me off" at the convenience store so I could "just run in" for candy or school supplies. Once I made my cover purchases, I would get the comics and take it all up to the counter. Then I'd tuck the comics, well in vision of the cashier, in my shirt or jacket and leave before mom decided to come inside.
I remember seeing this cover in my collection and it making a mark on my memory. I think maybe because it had Wolverine on it, too?
It was such a hassle getting to collect these! I can even recall asking mom to "drop me off" at the convenience store so I could "just run in" for candy or school supplies. Once I made my cover purchases, I would get the comics and take it all up to the counter. Then I'd tuck the comics, well in vision of the cashier, in my shirt or jacket and leave before mom decided to come inside.
Ghost Rider #6 (2006)
After having given most of my comic books away in 2000 (after having not bought any since 1996 or so), I lived a life without comics. I seemed to forget comics. I don't know if it was a "forget" thing. I purchased a few on Ebay for the heck of it in 2001. I sold a bunch in 2003. There was something missing in my life, though. I was too dumb to know what it was.
And then for a Christmas gift I got #6 of Ghost Rider. It was written by Daniel Way. I felt the stirrings of my great love for comics. I went to a comic book store and picked up the next issue. And then I went to Books-a-Million and got the trade paperback for the first five issues of this volume. This blossomed into a comics subscription from a comic book store. And now I spend way too much money on comics, but I love them so much I cannot believe I ever attempted to live without them.
I feel like 2006 was the perfect time to get back into comics. It was Providence. I was able to read Civil War and World War Hulk and 52. And now, a few years later, DC is about to reboot their universe! From 2006 - 2009, I was heavily buying Marvel titles. I only subscribed to one DC title. In 2011, with the new reboot, I am buying far more DC titles than Marvel.
Ghost Rider is on my subscription list. As is Batman.
And then for a Christmas gift I got #6 of Ghost Rider. It was written by Daniel Way. I felt the stirrings of my great love for comics. I went to a comic book store and picked up the next issue. And then I went to Books-a-Million and got the trade paperback for the first five issues of this volume. This blossomed into a comics subscription from a comic book store. And now I spend way too much money on comics, but I love them so much I cannot believe I ever attempted to live without them.
I feel like 2006 was the perfect time to get back into comics. It was Providence. I was able to read Civil War and World War Hulk and 52. And now, a few years later, DC is about to reboot their universe! From 2006 - 2009, I was heavily buying Marvel titles. I only subscribed to one DC title. In 2011, with the new reboot, I am buying far more DC titles than Marvel.
Ghost Rider is on my subscription list. As is Batman.