Monday, February 25, 2013

Comic Book Oscars

     Hi everyone, enjoy the Oscars?  Well they were in the comics too, sort of.

     The world of comics came up with a awards ceremony years ago, just like the Oscars.  Recently there was the Eisner and Kurtzman awards.  Both were named after certified TALENTS in the industry.  But these names were only decided on because The Kirby awards (named after Jack, a true giant in the field) became tainted when different factions fought over the direction of the awards.

     But the original awards were the Shazam awards from the early to mid-70's.  They were an extension of the ACBA (Academy of Comic Book Art).  Stan Lee was the president for a short while, but I came in (as a non-professional, amateur status) during Neal Adams' tenure as Prez.  I went to a few meetings, but the organization became part attempt to unionize and soon disbanded.

     But for a while there, the voice rang out (and then appeared in comics letters pages soon after) "And the Shazam goes to..."

Take care and adopt a comic book today.

Thursday, February 21, 2013

More Comics Language

     Hi everyone, staying warm I hope?  Remember my last posting, the one about combined last names?  Well today I'd like to talk about those pesky double lettes found in most Marvel Comics.

     Fanstastic Four- (in itself using the double "F's") - Reed Richards, Sue Storm (before marriage), Mole Man, Miracle Man, Dr. Doom, Super-Skrull, Molecule Man, Paste-Pot Pete (as the Trapster) Frightful Four, Black Bolt, Silver Surfer, Sentry Sinister and Wyatt Wingfoot.  And this is just in the first 65 issues!

     Did Smilin Stan (there it is again) Lee have something against starting off names with different letters?  Well, I'll get into this some more in the near future.  Send in your comments about your favorite Marvel "double letter hero."  I'd love to hear your thoughts.

     I'd talk more, but I'm feeling a little miffed about some errands I have to run right now.  So this is Cranky Chris (whoops, there it is again) signing off.

     Take care and don't forget to adopt a comic book today.

Sunday, February 17, 2013

Combined Comic Names

     Hi everyone, hope you're doing fine.  Last week, Comic Shop News announced that 1940's female crime fighter, Miss Fury, is being brought up to date with a new series.  But here's my question

     If Miss Fury married Marvel Comics war hero, Captain Simon Savage and then kept her maiden name in a hyphen sort of deal, would she be called, Mrs. Savage-Fury?  If she married the Human Torch from the Fantastic Four under the same deal, would she be called, Mrs.Storm-Fury?

     Best of all, if she married the head of SHIELD, would she be known as Mrs. Nick Fury-Fury?  Ahhh, the things I think of on a late night alone.

     Take care and adopt a comic book today.

Saturday, February 9, 2013

Comics and Beatles

     Hi everyone, it was 49 years today, Sgt Pepper taught the band to play.  No not really, but it was  one year shy of half a century since the Beatles appeared on Ed Sullivan's show.

     And of course they showed up in the comics as well.  First there was the Dell Comics version of their life story.  Then came half of the Fantastic Four trying on Beatle wigs.  Then came Jimmy Olsen trying on a red Beatle wig.  Boy, just mentioning them seemed to make editors think they could sell comics

     My favorite was Batman #222, which featured the Paul McCartney is dead rumor storyline that ran in early 1970, even as the real group was breaking up.

     But I guess it just goes to show that the Beatles still are popular in almost any genre, yeah, yeah, yeah, even in comics.

     Take care and adopt a comic book today.

Sunday, February 3, 2013

Super Bowl Comics

     Hi everyone, I guess you're watching the big game today so let's get right to it.  Were there ever sports in comics?

     Well, Marvel had a dismal series called Contest of Champions.  I wouldn't bother recomending it.

     DC Comics featured a series called, "Strange Sports Stories."  It was sort of a Twilight Zone meets sports and well worth collecting the whole series of six or seven comics from the old "Brave and Bold" seies.

     Marvel even featured a comic called, "Kickers Inc." that featured football players as super heroes.  But enough talk...the big game is coming on and I've got to find my chips!

     Take care and don't forget to adopt a comic book today.