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Post by Cei-U! on Dec 16, 2019 9:08:40 GMT -5
Back in my collegiate days, I had a friend named Charles Starks, a fellow art student who shared my love of comic books. Over the summer between our freshman and sophomore years, we got together and did some heavy trading. Among the goodies I acquired in the deal were a tattered copy of Avengers #3 and a 10-issue run of comics I'd heard plenty about but never seen. One of those ten is today's selection: 9. Swamp Thing and Batman Swamp Thing #7 (DC, 1973)
“Night of the Bat” is the wrap-up to the story arc begun in the first issue, as Swampi tracks down the corrupt Gotham City businessman heading The Conclave, the criminal conspiracy responsible for his wife's murder as well as the kidnapping and torture of his friends Matt Cable and Abigail Arcane. This leads, inevitably, to a confrontation between the tortured swamp monster and Batman, a battle Gotham's mysterious guardian unceremoniously loses (those were the days, eh?). Naturally, it all works out in the end: Matt and Abby are rescued, the cnsiracy is exposed, the villain dies, and Swampi and Batman come to an understanding. It's a great story Len Wein spins, but the main reason I love this book is the atmospheric art of the late, great Berni Wrightson (aided immeasurably by the dramatic coloring of Tatjana Wood). Neither Batman nor Gotham had ever looked so Gothic before, and Wrightson's interpretation would influence many later Bat-artists, notably Kelley Jones. It's a tour de force by all three creators, and one of my favorite Batman crossovers ever. Cei-U! I summon the mossy manhunter! |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Dec 16, 2019 9:31:07 GMT -5
My pick today combines elements from my twelfth and eleventh picks: like Dracula and the Frankenstein Monster it has that "what if..." feeling that inspired you as a kid playing with action figures while also tapping into that idea of two disparate creations of the same writer having an unlikely meeting like Conan and Solomon Kane and so with out further ado I give you... That Time Indiana Jones and Short Round Met Han Solo and Chewbacca
"Into the Great Unknown"
Star Wars Tales #19
Dark Horse, 2004
Written by W. Haden Blackman with art by Sean Murphy this imaginary tale(but then again they all, aren't they?) tells the story of how Han and Chewie crash landed on Earth and end up inspiring tales of Bigfoot in the Pacific Northwest. And while it's not my preffered canonical death of Han I love the inherent fan service this story provides in bringing together two of my favorite characters that Harrison Ford has brought to life on the silver screen. Although short, sweet and full of fun Easter eggs for the fan of both characters( the title itself is a play on a line from Temple of Doom) it doesn't feel like a cheap cash grab(not that those can't be fun, but more on that another day!) instead giving us a story that is actually interesting in its own right with a strong emotional core. |
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Post by Prince Hal on Dec 16, 2019 10:21:46 GMT -5
9. Green Lantern 61 (June 1968, DC Comics)
"Thoroughly Modern Mayhem.”
Mike Friedrich, Gil Kane and Sid Greene
 From its unforgettable cover to its unique story, this one is a classic. Young pro Mike Friedrich does an admirable job recapturing the grandeur of John Broome’s work on the previous two GL-GL team-ups but also includes some late-60s philosophizing, which -- unlike other attempts by Friedrich in later stories ( JLA, for instance) -- adds genuine emotion to the story. Ironically, Hal Jordan plays a role similar to the one Green Arrow would for him a few years later – minus the smug attitude, of course, as he tries to help an angry, disillusioned Alan Scott cope with the ceaseless tide of evil in the world and his apparent inability to stem it even for a moment. In today's comics, this is the kind of story that might have been the focus of a limited run or mini-series; thus, like many a Silver Age story, it could have been even stronger with a bit more room to breathe. That's just the accepted price of admission to a Silver Age comic and not a knock on Friedrich. It's also interesting that it's the older, supposedly wiser GL who'd be facing this crisis. Alan Scott, always the Golden Boy of the Earth-Two, would have seemed an unlikely candidate for the kind of angst he feels. And stolid Hal Jordan's counseling him foreshadows what he will undergo starting in GL 76 from the sanctimonious, far less sympathetic Green Arrow. Gil Kane and Sid Greene turned in their usual stunning art, (I don’t think I‘ve seen so many punches thrown -- er, propelled -- in one story, and by Alan Scott, who looks as resplendent as ever in the most colorful super-hero costume ever. And Kane and Greene are top-notch not just in the action sequences, but in the intense emotional scenes when Alan Scott is so frustrated and enraged that he wills his power ring to rid the Earth of all evil and realizes that he has unwittingly banished himself as well. Kane and Greene turn a "talking heads" page into a dynamic sequence.  This would be the final Silver Age teaming of Earth-One and Earth-Two counterparts, and a fitting one. Schwartz, Fox, Broome, Infantino, Anderson, Kane, and now Friedrich, had orchestrated a style that was perfect for the early 60s, laced with a science-fiction vibe and the innocence of traditional super-hero comics. But that style, coming smack-up against the radical changes and turmoil of the late sixties, had crested and was gradually vanishing. This final team-up story's title neatly captures the feel of that time of transition.
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Post by EdoBosnar on Dec 16, 2019 10:23:26 GMT -5
9. Batman and Green Lantern (Alan Scott)Batman: Gotham Knights #10 (DC, 2000); “Guardian” by Alan Brennert and Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez Alan Brennert didn’t do many comics stories, but like a wise prince of a man said quite recently, every one is a diamond. This brief story takes place at the time when Batman was still in his early days of crime-fighting. While trying to stop some hoods from committing arson – and ultimately failing at that task, he runs into Gotham City’s former costumed protector, the original/Golden Age Green Lantern, who has no problem putting out the fire.  Initially there’s some tension, as Batman expresses anger that GL apparently let the city go to pot, while GL is none too approving of Batman’s unorthodox methods. Eventually, though, the two protagonists work through their respective feelings of resentment and suspicion for each other, and then open up about what motivates them – and GL explains his own trepidation about using his god-like power to compel change. They also bond over their love of the city and their need to serve as its protectors. There’s a nice moment at the end, when GL basically passes the torch to Batman. In only eight pages, Brennert tells an entire novel’s worth of story.
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Post by thwhtguardian on Dec 16, 2019 10:28:39 GMT -5
9. Batman and Green Lantern (Alan Scott)Batman: Gotham Knights #10 (DC, 2000); “Guardian” by Alan Brennert and Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez Alan Brennert didn’t do many comics stories, but like a wise prince of a man said quite recently, every one is a diamond. This brief story takes place at the time when Batman was still in his early days of crime-fighting. While trying to stop some hoods from committing arson – and ultimately failing at that task, he runs into Gotham City’s former costumed protector, the original/Golden Age Green Lantern, who has no problem putting out the fire. Initially there’s some tension, as Batman expresses anger that GL apparently let the city go to pot, while GL is none too approving of Batman’s unorthodox methods. Eventually, though, the two protagonists work through their respective feelings of resentment and suspicion for each other, and then open up about what motivates them – and GL explains his own trepidation about using his god-like power to compel change. They also bond over their love of the city and their need to serve as its protectors. There’s a nice moment at the end, when GL basically passes the torch to Batman. In only eight pages, Brennert tells an entire novel’s worth of story. Whoa! I'm honestly surprised I've never heard of this one as I love Batman and Alan Scott(another meeting between the two nearly made my list!). I'm going to need to find this post haste. |
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Post by EdoBosnar on Dec 16, 2019 10:35:13 GMT -5
Whoa! I'm honestly surprised I've never heard of this one as I love Batman and Alan Scott(another meeting between the two nearly made my list!). I'm going to need to find this post haste. I would recommend picking up the book Tales of the Batman: Alan Brennert, which basically has every one of the all-too-few comics stories Brennert wrote for DC (except for the Wonder Woman story from the late '70s, since that one was scripted by Marty Pasko). |
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Dec 16, 2019 10:58:17 GMT -5
9. Godzilla vs Charles Barkley
from Godzilla vs. Barkey (December 1993), by Mike Baron, Alan Smithee, and Jeff Butler Well, thwhtguardian beat me to it and even used the same image  so all I'll add beyond the fact that the images in this comic are hilarious and make the whole thing work far better than it should, is that they brought in Mike Baron to write this thing. Not that I remember anything about the writing.
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Post by brutalis on Dec 16, 2019 11:00:06 GMT -5
Day 4: REH X2: Conan and Solomon Kane
Savage Sword of Conan #219/220 1994
Came upon this story late (as in MANY years later) with finding issue 220 1st in a Dollar bin box and then seeking for a few years until finding an affordably priced issue 219. Splendid mix and match of 2 very different characters with their own voice and tones. Of course with REH characters it is only fitting magic being the one justifiable common between the 2 stalwart heroes meeting and whose main connection would be their very broodiness (Bro' Brooders? Brother Brooders? Brudders in Brood?). Typical in the ways of crossovers: they argue, they fight, and end up becoming fast and true BFF's before slaying the bad guy. Great swords and funnery!!!
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Crimebuster
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Post by Crimebuster on Dec 16, 2019 11:01:45 GMT -5
9. Lois Lane and Batman
Lois Lane #99-100 (DC, 1970)I mean...  Yes, in this two-part epic, Lois is accused of murdering Lana Lang after their car goes off a bridge. Lois survives, Lana doesn't. Luckily, Lois has a pretty good defense attorney: Batman! On the down side, the prosecuting attorney is Superman. So that's bad. On the plus side, neither of them are actually lawyers, so who the hell knows how this mockery of a sham is supposed to work out. Either way, Batman - the world's greatest detective - goes on a mission to uncover proof that Lois wasn't responsible for Lana's death. Superman, on the other hand, is also trying to uncover proof that she's guilty! Neither of them think to actually look at Lana's corpse until the jury is about to return a verdict. In fact, nobody at all has bothered to look at Lana's corpse at any point during the investigation and trial, because as soon as Batman checks it out, he discovers it's actually an android. Yes, as you no doubt guessed, Lana had been kidnapped by aliens, who left a robot double in her place. SUperman quickly rescues the real Lana and Lois is saved from the gas chamber. All thanks to Batman: Attorney at Law!  "Look at her right hand! It's THUMBLESS!" World's. Greatest. Detective.
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Dec 16, 2019 11:05:23 GMT -5
"Look at her right hand! It's THUMBLESS!" World's. Greatest. Detective. I REALLY need to read this now. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2019 11:08:34 GMT -5
9. DC Comics Presents #35 (DC Comics, 1981):  Superman is my favourite superhero. Man-Bat is one of my favourite Batman villains. What's not to like? But it isn't just about that. Sure, it's a solid tale, and one I've re-read more than once, but it's about the reasoning behind such a crossover. There can be predictable crossovers in the sense that similar characters face the same old foes again and again. I've come across many who want to see Green Arrow and Hawkeye team up or Aquaman and Namor. And while there is a place for such crossovers, I prefer the "strange bedfellows" scenario! DC Comics Presents could obviously experiment at times. I think Superman and Man-Bat is an odd but fun pairing. And rather than predictably going with a supervillain like Lex Luthor, they chose Atomic Skull. Sometimes one enters McDonalds and has a cheeseburger, fries and milkshake. Predictability can be a good thing, but sometimes you might want something completely different to eat and drink. Or you may head to another outlet entirely. As much as seeing Supes and Bats take on Luthor and Joker is a lot of fun, it's nice to go down a different path at times. And that's what they did here. Also, the Man-Bat tales I read in my youth featured a character who was pretty powerful relatively speaking. Whenever he took on Batman, Bats seemed to come off worse or barely survive. Here, Man-Bat is the "small fish in the big pond". His powers are eclipsed, to put it mildly, by the Man of Steel. And Atomic Skull is quite an opponent for him. So here, while Man-Bat serves a purpose, he's definitely playing with the heavy hitters.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2019 11:08:57 GMT -5
On the fourth day of Christmas JMS brought to me a Geek brother...Brother Power, the Geek that is! Brave and the Bold #29 (DC; 2009-this one just squeaks in, it is cover dated Jan 2010 and went on sale in Nov 2009) by J. Michael Straczynski & Jesus Saiz  So take a DC team up book and put Batman in the lead this time, add in Bother Power the Geek reawakening in the world of 2009 after being dormant since Brother Power the Geek #2 (okay, so it retcons the CCF favorite Brother Power #3 that only members of the super secret CCF Power Brotherhood have read, nothing is perfect in this world), add in a thematic exploration of James Whale's Frankenstein and the other Universal Frankenstein movies juxtaposing those themes with both Batman's and The Geek's stories, and another exploration/juxtaposition of youth culture in 1968 vs. 2009, add some flashbacks to show the Geek's fate in '68 after the assassination of Bobby Kennedy, and tell an otherwise straightforward Batman detective story and you get a sense of what this issue offers. It's not a perfect issue, and it's no Brother Power the Geek #3, but it is a wonderful take on the Brother Power mythos and an enjoyable Batman team up story. Our first look at the Geek in 2009...  -M |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Dec 16, 2019 11:15:30 GMT -5
9. Godzilla vs Charles Barkley
from Godzilla vs. Barkey (December 1993), by Mike Baron, Alan Smithee, and Jeff Butler Well, thwhtguardian beat me to it and even used the same image so all I'll add beyond the fact that the images in this comic are hilarious and make the whole thing work far better than it should, is that they brought in Mike Baron to write this thing. Not that I remember anything about the writing. One thing I forgot to add, does anyone know who is Alan Smithee here? And better yet why would one not want to use their own name in association with this amazing book? |
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Confessor
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Post by Confessor on Dec 16, 2019 11:19:01 GMT -5
9. Spider-Man, Black Widow, Nick Fury, and Shang-Chi - Marvel Team-Up #82-85 (Marvel, 1979)  I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with Marvel Team-Up. On the one hand, I'm a huge Spider-Man fan and always was, so getting to see the Web-Slinger joining forces with a myriad of different Marvel heroes is an appealing prospect. But the reality is that an awful lot of Marvel Team-Up featured fairly sub-standard stories that were, as best, inconsequential, and, at worst, ridiculous to the point where it hurt your brain (Hercules towing the island of Manhattan, anyone?). Certainly, as a kid I always considered the title to be a poor cousin to the likes of Amazing Spider-Man, Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man, and Marvel Tales. But every now and then, Marvel Team-Up would feature an absolute gem of a story, and this Chris Claremont penned and Sal Buscema drawn arc (and Buscema's art is greatly improved here by Steve Leialoha's inking) is one such occasion. In all honesty, it's been quite a while since I last read this four-parter, so my memory is a little hazy on the precise plot. But the gist of it is that Madame Hydra and her hired muscle (Silver Samurai and Boomerang) hijack the S.H.E.I.L.D. Hellicarrier, as part of a plan to assassinate the U.S. President (Jimmy Carter). Meanwhile, Spider-Man encounters Natasha Romanoff, who has forgotten that she is the Black Widow, due to some trauma or other (the details escape me right now). Anyway, Spidey manages to help Natasha remember who she is and she reassumes the mantle of the Black Widow. Meanwhile, Nick Fury teams-up with Shang-Chi in an attempt to thwart Madame Hydra's plan, and the pair then team-up with Spidey and the Widow. My over-riding memory of this four-parter is that it has a pretty dense and complex plot, with some really good scenes between Spider-Man and Natasha Romanoff (there are hints of a burgeoning romance between the two of them, if memory serves). There are also lots of great fight scenes and I recall the artwork being very nice too. codystarbuck has already picked this arc in this year's Classic Comics Christmas, and it's little wonder. For me, this was a stand-out arc in what was sometimes quite a lacklustre series. This is the second best story arc that Marvel Team-Up ever produced IMO. The very best one will be appearing in a few days time.  
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Post by beccabear67 on Dec 16, 2019 12:23:20 GMT -5
 9. The Fly & Fly Girl Adventures Of The Fly #14 (September 1961, Archie) Art by John Rosenberger I don't know who wrote this comic, possibly Robert Bernstein, or R. Berns when he worked at Marvel. In #13 The Fly saves an actress named Kim Brand, in this issue that followed dated two months later a villain thinks he has outwitted The Fly by perpetrating two crimes at once in different locations, but the powerful Turad of the Fly people who bestowed the Fly Ring on The Fly offers Kim Brand the same thing so she can become Fly Girl and assist him, and she does when ever she rubs the Fly Ring and says "Fly Girl". In the story The Fly reacts much like Superman seeing Supergirl appear, and she unmasks for him. It's the old Adam's rib story with costumes and powers really... Bulletman & Bulletgirl, Hawkman & Hawkwoman, The Fly & Fly Girl. I first saw The Fly on the big screen in the '70s movie Car Wash, so a few years later when digging through boxes of old comics in a used bookshop when I saw an issue of The Fly (later Fly Man) I was happy to pay the dollar or two to see if it was any good. It really wasn't, but the ones with John Rosenberger art had some of the best figure drawing I'd seen. Plus the green and yellow costumes with gossamer fly wings and buzz guns just look really cool to me!  |
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