Launching The Silver Age with Barry Allen! The Showcase 4 Facsimile Reprint Review!

Welcome to The Silver Age!

Barry Allen as the re-imagined The Flash - The Fastest Man Alive! Literally bursting onto the scene. Classic cover and classic story. Okay, so Turtle Man and Mazdan aren't exactly Classic villains. Not quite as Classic as Captain Cold and Abra Kadabra. What is Classic is Barry Allen's origin. Somewhat similar to Jay Garrick's - without the "hard water". (If you're familiar with Barry, you will know that years later, during the seminal Crisis on Infinite Earths, Barry became the lightning bolt that transformed him into The Flash, creating a loop.) What's cool here is that it takes some convincing for Barry to believe he has become "the fastest man alive"! And then, boom, he's got a costume miniaturized inside a ring! He's rescuing Iris from a murder attempt and facing Turtle Man! Even though he may be slow, Turtle Man is methodical and smart. And then, there's Mazdan. A Criminal sentenced to a dark and dismal future that's gone a little "ca-ca" by sending him into the past! His weapon - a gun that fires heat rings! Oh... if only the gun fired onion rings... One can dream. Barry figures out that simply by using super-speed he can break the time barrier travel through time into the future! This is brilliant science fiction!

What's enjoyable about Barry Allen is that he is THE most Peter Parker character of DC Comics. He's the Everyman. Not an orphaned millionaire-philanthropist; an adoptee from a dead planet with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men; or, even made of clay. Just a regular guy, with regular problems and issues, who just happens to be endowed with super-powers.

This is such a cool... "jumping on point".

The facsimile reprint of Showcase 4 earns five stars.   

What Evil Lurks? The Punisher Knows! The Amazing Spider-Man 129 Facsimile Reprint Review!

Definitely a Classic!

You may be cool, but you will never be running around in just your boxers cool. The Jackal is just one of those characters. Namor, Hank McCoy as The Beast. Apparently, The Jackal is a green-furred, pointy-eared creature. He definitely hates Spider-Man. He's found a kindred spirit in The Punisher. Making his first appearance in comics, The Punisher has been hired by The Jackal to hunt and kill Spider-Man as a murderer. The Punisher is looking for justice. The Jackal just wants Spider-Man dead. J. Jonah Jameson just wants pictures of the newest sensation!

Spider-Man and The Punisher tangle. It looks pretty dire for web-head, until he summons the intestinal fortitude and strength to fight back. Although The Jackal wants to remain in the shadows, he comes right out and clobbers Spider-Man, announcing his intent. Which is just bonkers crazy. 

Later, Spider-Man helps The Punisher do some deductive reasoning, and he comes to the conclusion that The Jackal was just using him to kill Spider-Man. 

This is definitely a Classic, in the traditional bonkers style.

The facsimile reprint of Amazing Spider-Man 129, featuring the debut of The Punisher earns four stars! 

Behold! Lo, Cometh The Green Goblin! The Amazing Spider-Man Facsimile 14 Reprint Review

This one has it all! Everything BUT the kitchen sink!

Stand Lee and Steve Ditko present the debut of the mysterious The Green Goblin! Who is he? His plan is just bonkers crazy and wacky. He wants to lure Spider-Man out to Hollywood, by way of the desert, with hopes and dreams of the big time of fame and fortune. The real scheme is that The Goblin and his gang, The Enforcers, will put the fatal smack-down on him! It's an incredibly contrived and complicated plot to maneuver Spider-Man into fighting The Hulk. That's the whole point of "The Grotesque Adventure of The Green Goblin"! Everything else is just minor details.

The story also seems to be a send-up and parody of Hollywood and the film industry. B. J. Kosmojian is such a simplified caricature of a movie producer. Followed around by three toady "Yes"-men. It's just hilarious. 

Even funnier... one would think that since Peter Parker couldn't cash a check made out to "Spider-Man" why is he signing a big-deal movie contract as Spider-Man?! The whole story just lacks any and all common sense.

Still, it's wacky, off-beat and FUN. It's a brainless slugfest.

The selling point comes from the splash-page blurb of giving a full twelve cents worth of story and action. The Amazing Spider-Man 14, featuring the debut of The Green Goblin, leading The Enforcers toward a bombastic battle that includes The Incredible Hulk earns three stars!   

"It's What I Would Do." Batman: Gotham Adventures 36 Review

For those keeping score, this is the third pairing of Batman and Superman. They first teamed-up in The Batman Adventures 25. At the time, it was mullet-Superman and Batman versus mullet and beard Luthor with Maxie Zeus. Next, The Joker hired himself out to Luthor to kill Superman for a million bucks. Batman followed the trail to Metropolis for the DCAU's "first" World's Finest meeting. Here, Superman is in Gotham City to "help" Batman track down an underworld hitman who has seemingly disappeared after turning mob informant.

Scott Peterson's story hinges on the phrase, "It's what I would do". Batman leads Superman around the city on the trail, telling The Man of Steel what he believes the hitman would do. Once again, Tim Levins' art is spectacular for The World's Finest. There's even a light-hearted aside with Tim Drake wondering aloud why Superman is in town. Terry Beatty is no slouch. His art is enjoyable. He compliments Levins on inking. Loughridge and Harkins are superb as usual.

It's a joy to see these two together. It also begs the question why characters such as Green Arrow and Black Canary, along with The Creeper, Plastic Man and Black Lightning don't make similar guest appearances. Not that Gotham Adventures is a team-up book. So far, Batman has teamed up with The Demon, The Flash and The Phantom Stranger.

Batman: Gotham Adventures 36, guest-starring Superman soars to five stars.  

Blinded by the Science Fiction! Batman 156 Facsimile Reprint Review

Following the end of World War II, pop culture was all about Science Fiction. This may have coincided and collided with Frederick Wertham's Seduction of the Innocent, in which he made the claim that superhero comic books directly related to juvenile delinquency. Batman 156 is possibly evidence of a shift in tone and direction of Batman and Robin's adventures, maybe to confront both. Taking advantage of the growing popularity of Science Fiction and address Wertham's charges.

The issue opens with Batman going off on a "secret mission" and Robin encountering a new costumed individual - The Ant-Man! He is not who he seems to be! Robin solves the mystery pretty easily before catching up to The Caped Crusader. Batman has volunteered for some military project and undergoes tests to see how an individual will handle space travel.

It sounds very much like the debut episode of The Twilight Zone, featuring Earl Holliman as an astronaut undergoing mental tests for space flight. Holliman's character struggled with the isolation and loneliness. Batman suffers the same fate. He faces the illusion of an alien planet and creatures and the hallucination that Robin is killed by an alien giant. Following the conclusion of the tests, Batman still can't shake the hallucinations. Which complicates The Dynamic Duo catching the Gorilla Gang! Ace the Bat-Hound makes a strong appearance at both Robin's and Batman's side here.

Switching from fighting super-criminals to gorillas with a side of alien hallucinations Batman 156, the facsimile reprint earns four stars. 

   

Misadventures of Archie - When he was a BOY! Little Archie 1 Facsimile Reprint Review

Little Archie 1, from January 1956 is the latest facsimile reprint from Archie Comics. The further misadventures of America's favorite comic book teenager, Archie Andrews! The debut issue opens with Little Archie and Little Jughead on a hunting safari in the Andrews living room! The duo approaches their quarry from opposite sides and with dual "SPLAT!" they nail Fred Andrews with their suction cup arrows! Both he and Mary advise the boys to take their hunting expedition outside. That's where they concoct a plan to open a wild animal zoo! With Betty and Veronica, they head down to the creek to look for wild animals. Finding a turtle, they bring him home, and Jughead plops him in Mr. Andrews' tub... before an unsuspecting Mr. Andrews dives in for a relaxing bath.

Next, the boys enjoy watching racing on television and get the idea to have their own soap box derby! While everyone else builds their own racer, Archie enlists Veronica and Betty to help him with his. Unfortunately, the other boys discover what Archie's got hidden under the hood!

Later, Veronica ropes Archie into matrimony and they play "house". Mr. Andrews tells Archie to be a gentleman. Betty wants in, so she tries to marry her cat to Archie's dog. Which lands her cat up a tree and Archie in trouble with his pop. Things go from bad to worse when his friends start teasing him.

Finally, playing army, General Little Archie and Moose inspect the troops... Until Veronica gets hold of Moose bugle and turns everything around.

The issue is buttoned up with Reggie and Archie playing "office".

The stories are so much fun and light-hearted. Full of wonder and imagination. Bob Bolling captures the spirit of being a kid.

The reprint facsimile of Little Archie 1 earns five stars.  

 

Eleven Angry People! Batman: Gotham Adventures 35 Review

Henry Fonda was a classic, legendary actor of The Golden-Age of Hollywood. One of his memorable roles was part of an all-star cast of Twelve Angry Men. Fonda is "Juror 8". None of the jurors are given names, just juror numbers. The cast is made up of character actor John Fiedler, best remembered from Star Trek, The Bob Newhart Show and as the voice of Piglet from Winnie the Pooh. Jack Klugman is "Juror 5". Martin Balsam, E. G. Marshall, Lee J. Cobb, Jack Warden, Ed Begley, Sr. and Robert Webb are all part of the jury. The film is a "bottle" story. Everything happens in the jury room. The story is about a young man on trial for murdering his father with a switchblade knife. Fonda's character makes passionate pleas to exam the case from every angle before rendering a verdict. It's an incredibly gripping drama due to every juror bringing their own personal bias and prejudices into their vote.

Scott Peterson channels that with "Stepping Forward". The spin is that Bruce Wayne is assigned jury duty to a case where he caught the suspect as The Batman. The other jurors believe the defendant is innocent. Bruce tries to persuade the jury members to examine the case from every angle. He also introduces the "shadow of doubt", by pointing out the defendant lied. 

The drama is mixed with some light-hearted moments. Bruce Wayne confessing under oath that he's Batman to get out of jury duty - and that not working. Discussing the case with Tim, while capturing more criminals. 

The final courtroom showdown is worthy of another courtroom drama, Perry Mason.

The ending is very similar to Twelve Angry Men. Bruce has a somewhat similar conversation on the courthouse steps as Fonda did with another jury member.

"Stepping Forward" is something completely different from the firm Peterson, Levins, Beatty, Loughridge and Harkins, Esq. Batman: Gotham Adventures 35 earns five stars.