It had been a while since I added any new military comics so it was a nice surprise to find them on there.
Lifelong Comic Collector & Reader
Showing posts with label DC Comics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label DC Comics. Show all posts
Friday, August 25, 2017
Two new Military additions
When my COMC order came in, it also included four comics. I finally read the two military comics, and as is my usual pattern, scanned them after reading.
Our Army at War #249 dates to 1972.
Our Fighting Forces #70 is a full 10 years older, from 1962. If it wasn't for the water damage, which I knew about, it would be in pretty darn good shape.
It had been a while since I added any new military comics so it was a nice surprise to find them on there.
It had been a while since I added any new military comics so it was a nice surprise to find them on there.
Friday, May 5, 2017
The End
At 6:25 this morning, I completed a project that has been ongoing for the past 10 years...and completing it has me in a rather foul mood, to be honest. In August 2007, I began a project of reading or rereading every DC Comic from 1975 on. Originally, the plan was to stop at Crisis. Then, when I was still enjoying it, to stop at Zero Hour. When I was still enjoying it then, even though by that point there was very little I hadn't already read once (or more) before, I decided to go to the end. Of course, when I began, in 2007, I didn't know there would be an end. Who knew then that DC would throw away everything I loved about the universe with the New 52 stuff? In 2011 I found out that the project would end. Today, for all intents and purposes, it did. I still have a little bit of reading left to do, but it's outside the continuity or a bit of a throwback.. Ahead of me is DC vs Marvel and the Amalgam books, and I will conclude with the Millenium books, the reprints of important DC books issued in the year 2000. Finally, for the something like 7th time, JLA/Avengers, my all-time favorite comic book story.
But really, this is the end.
Now what do I do? This project- and DC Comics- have been a part of my life since Day 5. My brother read me my first comic at 5 days old and I've been reading DC ever since. (Well, in the early years, he read them to me). While I despise the New 52, I did stay on with the Green Lantern titles, but I bailed on them in 2016 when it was just the same 4 stories being told over and over again. For the first time in my life, there is no DC Comics to be read on my horizon, not a presence in every day.
I do have a plan. I have a bunch of comics I've never read. More than 500 Marvel, several hundred others, that I was given but never read. I have not even seen them since 2002. The last time I had them out, I was doing a survey of my collection when my dad lost his battle with cancer. I put them away and have not taken them out since. My plan, once I finish the Millenium books, is to get them out and read them. It would be nice to say I've read every book in my collection.
But it won't be the same. I won't be reading an entire history of a universe in chronological order. Don't have anything to look forward to in that regard. Many of the books are just single, random issues, possibly/probably partial stories that I may or may not even like. I've never really been a Marvel fan. I've read a few stories from time to time and to me they are just "simpler" than DC's books...not as complex, and more condescending to the reader. Granted, it's a small sample size. Also, there is nothing I hate more than spiders. Considering that one of Marvel's mainstay characters is Spider-Man, that does not bode well for me. I certainly do enjoy the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the JLA/Avengers series, though.
It's possible that I will enjoy what I read, and start to chase titles that aren't DC. I'm not sure, though, I may have a mental block against non-DC books, to be honest. Also, due to health concerns, I don't have a lot of money to spend on any hobbies anymore.
One other thing I'm going to miss....For DC's third continuity, I've been keeping track of how many cover appearances each character makes. Not just heroes, but villains and supporting cast as well. When I type in the October 2011 cover date books, I will do a post about that as well. I'm going to miss compiling that information. Since 2003 or 2004 (I can't remember exactly) I've kept track of first appearances. My brother created the chart years ago but eventually got sidetracked and trailed off. I took over and built off what he created. (The cover count was something he created as well, but was lost at some point. I recreated it as a gift to him)
There were a couple of things I'd do differently were I to do this project again. Most importantly, I'd keep track of just how many books I'd read. I didn't do that, and now, I wish I had. I suppose counting them would be possible, in retrospect, but it would be a challenge to get at the books and I may accidentally count a book with multiple covers more than once, or count one of the non-continuity books I didn't read. Of course, I can also count a stack of something multiple times and get different results each time as well! If the idea had occurred to me, I would have kept track of how many issues of each title were included. (Yes, I'm OCD!)
Secondly, I have my scanner plugged in at all times. I wish I had made a visual recognition guide of each character, especially the obscure characters. I look at the listing of the cover appearances and there are names I have no memory of, and this is stuff I typed up myself! The idea came to me too late...as in earlier this year. Why didn't I think of that sooner?
I do know this project is a once-in-a-lifetime event. I will never do it again...there are books that I really, truly hated. I never plan to read them again. Legends. New Guardians. (Not the Green Lantern series), The Wanderers, Dial H. Pretty much every Doom Patrol title post Crisis. I could go on. What may surprise some is that I include Crisis on Infinite Earths among the list of titles I don't plan to ever read again. I've read it either three or four times in my life, and with each rereading I despise it more and more. So much was lost...so much that never recovered from. Yes, there were some great things in DC's Third continuity, but the Silver Age was something special...and it was mostly lost because of the Crisis.
There were some titles, however, that I never really thought about- but I ended up loving. The 1978 Black Lightning series is one of the best ever. I am not even sure I knew the series existed before I did this project, but it turned out to be one of my favorites. Sadly, it ran only something like 11 issues. There are other great titles but that one really stood out.
My favorite series, during the project, was All-Star Squadron, at least until the Crisis killed it. Before that started, it was Legion of Super-Heroes and later, when they finally got their own series again, the JSA.
My favorite single issue was the 1978 Brave & The Bold Special. It was so bizarre that my brother and I still talk about it, even though I read it in either 2007 or 2008. In it, Batman fought historical criminals, and Guy Fawkes, the only one who didn't succeed in killing anyone, was leading all the worst people in history. Really? It was so bizarre. Hunt down a copy and read it for yourself!
My favorite line, and I don't remember which issue, is when Aquaman is going to meet some of the other heroes, and thinks to himself "I hope they aren't eating sushi!". This was in a 70s book but I don't remember which one.
My favorite in-continuity story is 1991's War of the Gods. Building out of and around Wonder Woman's title, it was incredible...and it could have been so much more. The writer/artist, George Perez (My favorite artist in DC history, mind you) had a temper tantrum because DC ran two crossovers in 1991 and quit mid-project. I constantly wonder what might have been, what we got was nothing short of incredible. Yes, I'm aware I used that word twice in regards to this storyline. It earned it.
My favorite out-of-continuity storyline is JLA/Avengers. It's beyond incredible. I have read it more times than I can remember. And I will read it again, as noted above. And I will read it again after that at some point, for sure. While I mentioned above some storylines or titles I never want to read again, this one is one I will read again and again.
My favorite character evolved over time. In the 1990s, when the books were being published, was Impulse. As time went on, they took away what made him interesting, though. Eventually, Golden Age Captain Marvel took the #1 spot, but technically that wasn't DC, but Fawcett. I'm not really sure who I would list as my favorite DC character. I like most of them, pre-2011.
My favorite team, by a wide margin, is the JSA. I will always be happy that my first letter in a DC comic appeared in a JSA book. (I also got one in Red Robin). In fact, it was when I read that not only was there no JSA title in the New 52, but that they had never existed in DC's 4th continuity...I knew then I was done.
And because of that...I'm now done with my project. I wish it wasn't ending, but I have no control over that.
Thanks for reading.
But really, this is the end.
Now what do I do? This project- and DC Comics- have been a part of my life since Day 5. My brother read me my first comic at 5 days old and I've been reading DC ever since. (Well, in the early years, he read them to me). While I despise the New 52, I did stay on with the Green Lantern titles, but I bailed on them in 2016 when it was just the same 4 stories being told over and over again. For the first time in my life, there is no DC Comics to be read on my horizon, not a presence in every day.
I do have a plan. I have a bunch of comics I've never read. More than 500 Marvel, several hundred others, that I was given but never read. I have not even seen them since 2002. The last time I had them out, I was doing a survey of my collection when my dad lost his battle with cancer. I put them away and have not taken them out since. My plan, once I finish the Millenium books, is to get them out and read them. It would be nice to say I've read every book in my collection.
But it won't be the same. I won't be reading an entire history of a universe in chronological order. Don't have anything to look forward to in that regard. Many of the books are just single, random issues, possibly/probably partial stories that I may or may not even like. I've never really been a Marvel fan. I've read a few stories from time to time and to me they are just "simpler" than DC's books...not as complex, and more condescending to the reader. Granted, it's a small sample size. Also, there is nothing I hate more than spiders. Considering that one of Marvel's mainstay characters is Spider-Man, that does not bode well for me. I certainly do enjoy the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the JLA/Avengers series, though.
It's possible that I will enjoy what I read, and start to chase titles that aren't DC. I'm not sure, though, I may have a mental block against non-DC books, to be honest. Also, due to health concerns, I don't have a lot of money to spend on any hobbies anymore.
One other thing I'm going to miss....For DC's third continuity, I've been keeping track of how many cover appearances each character makes. Not just heroes, but villains and supporting cast as well. When I type in the October 2011 cover date books, I will do a post about that as well. I'm going to miss compiling that information. Since 2003 or 2004 (I can't remember exactly) I've kept track of first appearances. My brother created the chart years ago but eventually got sidetracked and trailed off. I took over and built off what he created. (The cover count was something he created as well, but was lost at some point. I recreated it as a gift to him)
There were a couple of things I'd do differently were I to do this project again. Most importantly, I'd keep track of just how many books I'd read. I didn't do that, and now, I wish I had. I suppose counting them would be possible, in retrospect, but it would be a challenge to get at the books and I may accidentally count a book with multiple covers more than once, or count one of the non-continuity books I didn't read. Of course, I can also count a stack of something multiple times and get different results each time as well! If the idea had occurred to me, I would have kept track of how many issues of each title were included. (Yes, I'm OCD!)
Secondly, I have my scanner plugged in at all times. I wish I had made a visual recognition guide of each character, especially the obscure characters. I look at the listing of the cover appearances and there are names I have no memory of, and this is stuff I typed up myself! The idea came to me too late...as in earlier this year. Why didn't I think of that sooner?
I do know this project is a once-in-a-lifetime event. I will never do it again...there are books that I really, truly hated. I never plan to read them again. Legends. New Guardians. (Not the Green Lantern series), The Wanderers, Dial H. Pretty much every Doom Patrol title post Crisis. I could go on. What may surprise some is that I include Crisis on Infinite Earths among the list of titles I don't plan to ever read again. I've read it either three or four times in my life, and with each rereading I despise it more and more. So much was lost...so much that never recovered from. Yes, there were some great things in DC's Third continuity, but the Silver Age was something special...and it was mostly lost because of the Crisis.
There were some titles, however, that I never really thought about- but I ended up loving. The 1978 Black Lightning series is one of the best ever. I am not even sure I knew the series existed before I did this project, but it turned out to be one of my favorites. Sadly, it ran only something like 11 issues. There are other great titles but that one really stood out.
My favorite series, during the project, was All-Star Squadron, at least until the Crisis killed it. Before that started, it was Legion of Super-Heroes and later, when they finally got their own series again, the JSA.
My favorite single issue was the 1978 Brave & The Bold Special. It was so bizarre that my brother and I still talk about it, even though I read it in either 2007 or 2008. In it, Batman fought historical criminals, and Guy Fawkes, the only one who didn't succeed in killing anyone, was leading all the worst people in history. Really? It was so bizarre. Hunt down a copy and read it for yourself!
My favorite line, and I don't remember which issue, is when Aquaman is going to meet some of the other heroes, and thinks to himself "I hope they aren't eating sushi!". This was in a 70s book but I don't remember which one.
My favorite in-continuity story is 1991's War of the Gods. Building out of and around Wonder Woman's title, it was incredible...and it could have been so much more. The writer/artist, George Perez (My favorite artist in DC history, mind you) had a temper tantrum because DC ran two crossovers in 1991 and quit mid-project. I constantly wonder what might have been, what we got was nothing short of incredible. Yes, I'm aware I used that word twice in regards to this storyline. It earned it.
My favorite out-of-continuity storyline is JLA/Avengers. It's beyond incredible. I have read it more times than I can remember. And I will read it again, as noted above. And I will read it again after that at some point, for sure. While I mentioned above some storylines or titles I never want to read again, this one is one I will read again and again.
My favorite character evolved over time. In the 1990s, when the books were being published, was Impulse. As time went on, they took away what made him interesting, though. Eventually, Golden Age Captain Marvel took the #1 spot, but technically that wasn't DC, but Fawcett. I'm not really sure who I would list as my favorite DC character. I like most of them, pre-2011.
My favorite team, by a wide margin, is the JSA. I will always be happy that my first letter in a DC comic appeared in a JSA book. (I also got one in Red Robin). In fact, it was when I read that not only was there no JSA title in the New 52, but that they had never existed in DC's 4th continuity...I knew then I was done.
And because of that...I'm now done with my project. I wish it wasn't ending, but I have no control over that.
Thanks for reading.
Wednesday, April 26, 2017
Some new back issue additions
Saw a little shop and stopped in. Packed full of stuff, but mostly stuff I wasn't looking for. Still, I managed to find a few.
Fightin' Marines #105. The only military comic I found in the entire store, not counting a few GI Joe which I already had. The area by the All in All-New was folded down, I thought it was missing a chunk of the cover when I bought it. Instead, it was there. At least mostly. I didn't mind it being missing so I viewed it as a bonus that it was actually there.
Got it for the blue foil. I've always loved "special covers" and will pick them up when I see them in the cheap bins. I have not read this one yet.
Cover is embossed and has silver foil. Did not enjoy it, but didn't expect to. I don't care for John Byrne's writing or art.
All silver foil and embossed. Actually not a bad story. First Valiant comic I've ever read. Might pick up more if I see them cheap. Ran for 65 issues, this is #25. Condition is not that great due to it being loose in the dollar bin, no bag. I don't care.
I was surprised to find this one in the dollar bin. Most everything else was from roughly 1989 or later (all the way up to New 52 crap) but this book, from 1977. which is in pretty good shape was an outlier. I love the pre-Crisis Legion so I had to get it even though the story is not new to me...this is actually MY copy, instead of just one I have access to.
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Famous cover. Story's kind of simple. Later became part of the DC Universe.
Thursday, September 1, 2016
Reading List 9/1/2016
I didn't read any comics for the past two days. Sometimes that happens, where I will go days or even weeks without reading any.
All March 2011 books.
Read some today, though!
Batman Incorporated #3
Supergirl #60
Superboy #3.
Batman Streets of Gotham #19
Steel #1. Kicking off the Reign of Doomsday storyline, which was pretty decent if I remember correctly.
Action Comics #897
Superman #707
Green Arrow #8
Knight & Squire #4
I might finish March 2011 tomorrow, after which I will be taking a short break to catch up on some magazines I am backlogged on.
All March 2011 books.
Read some today, though!
Batman Incorporated #3
Supergirl #60
Superboy #3.
Batman Streets of Gotham #19
Steel #1. Kicking off the Reign of Doomsday storyline, which was pretty decent if I remember correctly.
Action Comics #897
Superman #707
Green Arrow #8
Knight & Squire #4
I might finish March 2011 tomorrow, after which I will be taking a short break to catch up on some magazines I am backlogged on.
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
Reading List 8/28/2016 part 2 and 8/29/2016
I knew something wasn't quite right when I wrote up the post for the reading list of 8/28. I couldn't remember what was wrong but I realized it when I was moving books to get the ones I had to read still. A big stack of books I had read but forgot to include! Duh! To be fair, I wrote it up the next day after a very busy day that was mostly spent outside in 90+ degree heat, when I have health problems with anything over 80...
All books are again from March 2011.
8/28 part 2
Gotham City Sirens #19
Zatanna #9
Legion of SuperHeroes #9
Adventure Comics #522
Rebels #24
Power Girl #20
Outsiders #36 Oddly, the only DC continuity title to not take part in the white cover theme of the month (although Wonder Woman did it a month too soon)
Booster Gold #40
8/29/16
Teen Titans #91
Wonder Woman #607
Superman/Batman #80
Weird Worlds #1 First appearance of Garbage Man and Tanga.
Doom Patrol #18
Titans #31
All books are again from March 2011.
8/28 part 2
Gotham City Sirens #19
Zatanna #9
Legion of SuperHeroes #9
Adventure Comics #522
Rebels #24
Power Girl #20
Outsiders #36 Oddly, the only DC continuity title to not take part in the white cover theme of the month (although Wonder Woman did it a month too soon)
Booster Gold #40
8/29/16
Teen Titans #91
Wonder Woman #607
Superman/Batman #80
Weird Worlds #1 First appearance of Garbage Man and Tanga.
Doom Patrol #18
Titans #31
Monday, August 29, 2016
Reading List 8/28/2016
I had a busy day yesterday but still managed to fit in more than a few comics. Once again, all from March 2011.
Red Robin #19. This was really an excellent series.
Birds of Prey #8.
Justice League Generation Lost #17
Justice League Generation Lost #18
Brightest Day #17
Brightest Day #18
Justice League of America #53. The storyline finally ends! It really dragged on, I had been ready for it to end for a while now.
After I read these comics, we went to a cousin's 1st birthday party...which, by that point, I had already had a large number of comics read to me...which makes me feel kind of old. More than 30 years later I have no idea how many or which comics it was, but I'm still in the hobby, so it must have "stuck".
Red Robin #19. This was really an excellent series.
Birds of Prey #8.
Justice League Generation Lost #17
Justice League Generation Lost #18
Brightest Day #17
Brightest Day #18
Justice League of America #53. The storyline finally ends! It really dragged on, I had been ready for it to end for a while now.
After I read these comics, we went to a cousin's 1st birthday party...which, by that point, I had already had a large number of comics read to me...which makes me feel kind of old. More than 30 years later I have no idea how many or which comics it was, but I'm still in the hobby, so it must have "stuck".
Sunday, August 28, 2016
Reading List 8/27/2016
Did a bit more reading today than yesterday.
Batgirl #17. OK issue. Never cared much for Stephanie Brown or Damian Wayne.
Detective Comics #873.
Batman Beyond #1. The Batman Beyond series were actually all pretty good.
Shazam #1. My favorite super hero is Captain Marvel, (and the whole Marvel family, really!) and DC really did nothing good for them from about 2005 on. At the time of this one-shot Captain Marvel Jr. is the only one with powers.
Jonah Hex #63. Another issue where they just published an issue to publish an issue- as they pretty much all were by this point. There's no real structure or continuity in the series anymore.
Freedom Fighters #5. They actually blundered Miss America's costume on the cover.
Secret Six #29. Gail Simone is one of my favorite writers, and her talent really shines with the Six. The continuation of the Action Comics crossover I read recently.
Wonder Girl #1. Another one shot. There were quite a few this month. First appearance of Solstice in costume. She was supposed to be the next major addition to the Teen Titans but that all ended when all continuity was thrown away for the New 52.
I also watched the X2 Movie on DVD. We got it new and it was still factory sealed until I opened it to watch it that day.
Batgirl #17. OK issue. Never cared much for Stephanie Brown or Damian Wayne.
Detective Comics #873.
Batman Beyond #1. The Batman Beyond series were actually all pretty good.
Shazam #1. My favorite super hero is Captain Marvel, (and the whole Marvel family, really!) and DC really did nothing good for them from about 2005 on. At the time of this one-shot Captain Marvel Jr. is the only one with powers.
Jonah Hex #63. Another issue where they just published an issue to publish an issue- as they pretty much all were by this point. There's no real structure or continuity in the series anymore.
Freedom Fighters #5. They actually blundered Miss America's costume on the cover.
Secret Six #29. Gail Simone is one of my favorite writers, and her talent really shines with the Six. The continuation of the Action Comics crossover I read recently.
Wonder Girl #1. Another one shot. There were quite a few this month. First appearance of Solstice in costume. She was supposed to be the next major addition to the Teen Titans but that all ended when all continuity was thrown away for the New 52.
I also watched the X2 Movie on DVD. We got it new and it was still factory sealed until I opened it to watch it that day.
Saturday, August 27, 2016
Reading List 8/26/2016
It was a fairly light day for me to read comics- only 4 of them. I started the month of March 2011, which all (mostly) have a white cover theme with just the main characters shown.
Justice Society of America #47. JSA is always my first read of the month. I'm a huge JSA fan and in fact when I learned on the day of the New 52's announcement that there was no JSA, I knew I was done, right then and there.
JSA All-Stars #14. Never as good as the title it spun out of, it is always my second read of the month anyway.
Starman/Congorilla #1. A one shot. Ties directly into JLA.
DC Universe: Legacies #9. I love this series. Takes a look at the entire history of the DC Universe, IN continuity.
A light day of reading, but all excellent comics. JSA is always a favorite, and Legacies is one of my all-time favorite mini-series. Any day I read either of them is a highlight, and here both in one day!
Justice Society of America #47. JSA is always my first read of the month. I'm a huge JSA fan and in fact when I learned on the day of the New 52's announcement that there was no JSA, I knew I was done, right then and there.
JSA All-Stars #14. Never as good as the title it spun out of, it is always my second read of the month anyway.
Starman/Congorilla #1. A one shot. Ties directly into JLA.
DC Universe: Legacies #9. I love this series. Takes a look at the entire history of the DC Universe, IN continuity.
A light day of reading, but all excellent comics. JSA is always a favorite, and Legacies is one of my all-time favorite mini-series. Any day I read either of them is a highlight, and here both in one day!
Friday, August 26, 2016
Reading List 8/25/2016
Another day of reading comics, this time I finished the month of February 2011. I only had 4 books left, and read them all in one reading session.
Green Lantern/Plastic Man Weapons of Mass Deception. A very bizarre issue...where GL and Plas team up to fight...evil space ducks. Really. This is in the running for strangest book in the entire 1975-2011 reading project.
Batman : Orphans #1 & 2. A two issue mini-series. Forgettable, with art by one of my least favorite artists. The one good thing is the many references paid to past continuity. Introduces a lot of characters who (spoiler alert- highlight to read) don't survive the series. The artwork is so muddled that you can't tell who is who or what is going on for much of it.
Flash #8. Last book of the month. More messing with continuity, which I don't like. However, this issue at least explains it, in story, not just the writer being clueless and making mistakes as most continuity problems stem from.
After I finished them, I got some of the GI Combat out that I purchased at the show last month, and read three of them. As these comics are actually mine, they got scanned.
#136 is my second oldest issue of the title, from 1969. My oldest is #130 which I have not read yet.
#156 is from 1972
And finally #174 from 1974. These are my 2nd through 4th oldest issues of the title.
Interestingly all three carry a different DC logo, too.
I really can't stand the superhero comics from 1968-72 (generally) but it seams the preachy crap that afflicted the super heroes didn't get the military comics as much. I'm very glad of that!
Green Lantern/Plastic Man Weapons of Mass Deception. A very bizarre issue...where GL and Plas team up to fight...evil space ducks. Really. This is in the running for strangest book in the entire 1975-2011 reading project.
Batman : Orphans #1 & 2. A two issue mini-series. Forgettable, with art by one of my least favorite artists. The one good thing is the many references paid to past continuity. Introduces a lot of characters who (spoiler alert- highlight to read) don't survive the series. The artwork is so muddled that you can't tell who is who or what is going on for much of it.
Flash #8. Last book of the month. More messing with continuity, which I don't like. However, this issue at least explains it, in story, not just the writer being clueless and making mistakes as most continuity problems stem from.
After I finished them, I got some of the GI Combat out that I purchased at the show last month, and read three of them. As these comics are actually mine, they got scanned.
Interestingly all three carry a different DC logo, too.
I really can't stand the superhero comics from 1968-72 (generally) but it seams the preachy crap that afflicted the super heroes didn't get the military comics as much. I'm very glad of that!
Thursday, August 25, 2016
Reading List 8/24/2016
I had a very productive day working with cards on August 24th, but I still managed to read a handful of comics.
Batman Streets of Gotham #18
Batman Incorporated #2
Batman Confidential #51
Batman & Robin #17
Batman #705
Knight & Squire #3 so far every issue has introduced new characters, none of whom ever appear after the mini-series ends.
It was a very Bat-filled day. Even Knight & Squire spun out of Batman books.
I also watched most of X2: X-Men United for the first time since probably 2004.
Batman Streets of Gotham #18
Batman Incorporated #2
Batman Confidential #51
Batman & Robin #17
Batman #705
Knight & Squire #3 so far every issue has introduced new characters, none of whom ever appear after the mini-series ends.
It was a very Bat-filled day. Even Knight & Squire spun out of Batman books.
I also watched most of X2: X-Men United for the first time since probably 2004.
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
Reading List 8/23/2016
Yesterday, I read no comics. I didn't really predict that well, did I? I said now that the Olympics are over, I will read more comics...so the first day with no Olympics, I also read no comics. Go Figure!
I made up for it today, though. Did I ever!
I read so many today that I'm going to number them!
Most were actually enjoyable as well, not something that happens all that often in this period of time.
I made up for it today, though. Did I ever!
I read so many today that I'm going to number them!
- Red Robin #18
- Justice League Generation Lost #15
- Justice League Generation Lost #16
- Brightest Day #15
- Brightest Day #16
- Justice League of America #52
- Green Arrow #7
- Green Lantern Emerald Warriors #5
- Green Lantern #61
- Green Lantern Corps #55
- Larfleeze Christmas Special #1
- Batman 80 Page Giant 2010
- Action Comics Annual #13
- Detective Comics Annual #12
- Batman Annual #28
- Azrael #15
Most were actually enjoyable as well, not something that happens all that often in this period of time.
Monday, August 22, 2016
Reading List 8/21/2016
Kind of a slow day reading comics. Being the final day of the Olympics, I spent most of my time watching them.
I ended up reading only two comics, again both from February 2011.
Supergirl #59. Not a bad issue. Not the greatest series. Artwork inside is better than the cover lets on.
Action Comics #896. Guest starring and continued in Secret Six. Also features a fun Jimmy Olsen backup story.
That was it for yesterday. Now that there are no more Olympics to watch, my comic reading will probably go up.
I ended up reading only two comics, again both from February 2011.
Supergirl #59. Not a bad issue. Not the greatest series. Artwork inside is better than the cover lets on.
Action Comics #896. Guest starring and continued in Secret Six. Also features a fun Jimmy Olsen backup story.
That was it for yesterday. Now that there are no more Olympics to watch, my comic reading will probably go up.
Sunday, August 21, 2016
Reading List 8/20/16
Didn't get a chance to post what I read yesterday, it wasn't much because I spent a lot of time watching the Olympics.
Again, all books are February 2011 cover date.
Booster Gold #39. While played at this time as a humor series, this is a very serious issue, dealing with Booster's reaction to the death of his best friend.
Superboy #2. Good read. Enjoyable story.
Superman #706. A rare enjoyable issue of Superman from this time period. Mostly deals with the Daily Planet staff.
That's all for, well, not today, but yesterday.
Again, all books are February 2011 cover date.
Booster Gold #39. While played at this time as a humor series, this is a very serious issue, dealing with Booster's reaction to the death of his best friend.
Superboy #2. Good read. Enjoyable story.
Superman #706. A rare enjoyable issue of Superman from this time period. Mostly deals with the Daily Planet staff.
That's all for, well, not today, but yesterday.
Friday, August 19, 2016
Show Report: 2016 Ultimate Comic Book & Trade Expo
Less than a month ago my brother and I went to the 2016 Ultimate Comic Book & Trade Expo in Poughkeepsie, NY. It was the second one they held, and we went to last year's as well. In fact, in last year's show report on Cardboard History, I even hinted at a possible future comic blog. It only took me a year to get it started.
This year's show, held July 23rd and 24th at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center, was different from last year's in that it didn't really have much of a car contingent, but they brought in more celebrities to sign autographs. Most of them I've never heard of, but one of them I did.
They did have one car (truck) worth photographing.
A clever display by an insurance agent-
The one celebrity I had heard of was Kathy Najimy, known to us for Hocus Pocus, which is a family tradition to watch at Halloween. We got a picture and a few autographs.
That was petty cool to meet her. The autographs were not for free, but when we told her how it's a family tradition, she signed one to give to mom as well, who was not at the show. That was really cool of her to do so.
This is the third show we've gone to since they started having them again locally. (Two years of this one and one other show in May of this year). The first two, I was not really looking to buy comics. For many years now I've just been getting new stuff and not really chasing back issues. That is changing now, as I'm starting to hunt back issues again. It used to be a regular thing, where we'd go to any comic shop in reasonable distance, looking for new additions or just to see what's there, but we kind of stopped doing that in the mid 2000s. Well, I'm starting to get back into it.
Although I don't see the need to chase DC books from the 1970s to current, I will still pick up random books from the 1960s, and in the past few years I've discovered I really enjoy the military comics. The collection I have access to read doesn't have many of them, so I have something to chase again.
There was a dealer at this show who had a whole bunch for under a dollar each. I ended up getting a lot of them, and I only made one error, so that's not too bad. I knew I didn't have to worry about purchasing a duplicate, as I didn't have a single issue of GI Combat before the show. I ended up buying every different issue they had, and I ended up getting two of #262 by mistake. Although technically they are different as I got both direct market and newsstand editions.
That's a pretty good run of comics! GI Combat ran from 1952-1987 so there's 287 issues to hunt for, but this is a solid start. Ironically, of all DC's military features, Haunted Tank is not my favorite, but I'll take what I can get, the majority of the books cost me less than a dollar...and most are double sized, some being 80 pages! I got 52 issues that day. (A total coincidence, even though it would become the focus of DC in later years) I have not read them all yet, but one of them I found turned out to be the first appearance of the Monitor.
I also picked up two Star Wars comics, I missed about a year's worth, and I was so out of it, I could tell the issues I was reading felt jumpy, like I was missing something, but I didn't realize I truly WAS missing something! I just thought that I was so preoccupied with other stuff that I just didn't remember the books from month to month, even though it turned out that I was missing many issues, including, in Knights of the Old Republic, over a year's worth. For a lot of the past decade I would get the monthly books but not read them until I had stacks of them scattered around. I've gotten better at keeping track of my comics, but I'm still hunting some of those missing Star Wars comics. Two less to go now!
This year's show, held July 23rd and 24th at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center, was different from last year's in that it didn't really have much of a car contingent, but they brought in more celebrities to sign autographs. Most of them I've never heard of, but one of them I did.
They did have one car (truck) worth photographing.
That was petty cool to meet her. The autographs were not for free, but when we told her how it's a family tradition, she signed one to give to mom as well, who was not at the show. That was really cool of her to do so.
This is the third show we've gone to since they started having them again locally. (Two years of this one and one other show in May of this year). The first two, I was not really looking to buy comics. For many years now I've just been getting new stuff and not really chasing back issues. That is changing now, as I'm starting to hunt back issues again. It used to be a regular thing, where we'd go to any comic shop in reasonable distance, looking for new additions or just to see what's there, but we kind of stopped doing that in the mid 2000s. Well, I'm starting to get back into it.
Although I don't see the need to chase DC books from the 1970s to current, I will still pick up random books from the 1960s, and in the past few years I've discovered I really enjoy the military comics. The collection I have access to read doesn't have many of them, so I have something to chase again.
There was a dealer at this show who had a whole bunch for under a dollar each. I ended up getting a lot of them, and I only made one error, so that's not too bad. I knew I didn't have to worry about purchasing a duplicate, as I didn't have a single issue of GI Combat before the show. I ended up buying every different issue they had, and I ended up getting two of #262 by mistake. Although technically they are different as I got both direct market and newsstand editions.
I also picked up two Star Wars comics, I missed about a year's worth, and I was so out of it, I could tell the issues I was reading felt jumpy, like I was missing something, but I didn't realize I truly WAS missing something! I just thought that I was so preoccupied with other stuff that I just didn't remember the books from month to month, even though it turned out that I was missing many issues, including, in Knights of the Old Republic, over a year's worth. For a lot of the past decade I would get the monthly books but not read them until I had stacks of them scattered around. I've gotten better at keeping track of my comics, but I'm still hunting some of those missing Star Wars comics. Two less to go now!
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