Chew the Fat: Heroes from 'the Other Guys'...

Redartz:  Greetings, comics fans! We talk frequently and at length here at BitBA about our favorite heroes, titles, and companies. And mainly those discussions center around The Big Two, Marvel and DC. But those guys certainly don't have a total lock on heroic comics. In the Golden age, of course, there were many companies churning out comics with heroes and heroines, costumed and otherwise.  Indeed, some of those vintage characters ended up being absorbed by Marvel or (more likely) DC, such as Blackhawk and Captain Marvel. 

But we're talking Bronze age, so I'm going to narrow the focus to the Silver and Bronze (I doubt many of us were buying Doll Man or Lady Luck off the stands).  Even with that limitation,there are still many many characters whose adventures were told in beautiful newsprint over those fine eras. Charlton (Hong Kong Phooey, E-Man), Gold Key (Dr. Solar), and even Archie Comics (The Shield, Superteen and Pureheart the Powerful) offered numerous heroic titles. Some of those you will see in our cover cavalcade below. And not to ignore the 80's, when the indies started making some noise: several fine examples from those producers are represented as well (Joshua Quagmire's "Cutey Bunny" was a guilty pleasure of mine). Actually, pretty much every company making comics dipped a toe into the adventure hero pond (with the possible exception of Harvey Comics, unless you count Casper). 

So here's some familiar and not-so-familiar books from 'the other guys'. How many others can you come up with? Did you actually read / collect any of these? Which would you recommend, and which were best left for the dime bin (not even good enough for Marti's Quarter box)?  Have at it, all!

Rank and File: The Year's Best Comic Stories, 1983!

Redartz:  Hello again, and welcome to another look at the best comic tales of the year. The year 1983, that is! As you may recall, when last we featured a "year's best" post, we offered up ten titanic tales (individual issues, by the way; not arcs- although they certainly may have been part of a continuing storyline). Then it was up to you to discuss/critique/substitute/expand our list with your own thoughts and nominations. And since we all remember the routine, let's waste no more time and get right to the good stuff. 

In no particular order, here are my nominations for the ten best of calender year 1983 (cover dated Apr. 1983-Mar. 1984):

 

Amazing Spider-Man 248- "The Kid Who Collects Spider-Man" by Roger Stern, Ron Frenz and Terry Austin.  I've said it before; possibly the best single Spider-Man story ever.


 











 


Saga of the Swamp Thing 21- "The Anatomy Lesson" by Alan Moore, Stephen Bissette and John Totleben. Moore's incredible run is just getting warmed up with this creepy masterpiece.

 

Thor 337- "Doom" by Walter Simonson. Walt introduces us to Beta Ray Bill, and to a whole new era of greatness for the Thunder God.


 










 


Captain America 281- "Before the Fall" by J.M. DeMattais and Mike Zeck. Very powerful, story and art both. 

 

American Flagg! 1- "Hard Times" by Howard Chaykin. Socio-political commentary, sex, violence, and talking cats.


 










 




Legion of Superheroes 300- "The Future is Forever" by Paul Levitz, Kieth Giffen and Larry Mahlstedt (and a great group of former Legion artists). One of the best anniversary issues ever (and the pin-up is worth the 1.50 cover price alone).


 

Alpha Flight 6- "Snowblind" by John Byrne.  Several issues of this series could qualify as greats, this one is notable for Byrne's sheer chutzpah in giving us several blank pages of art (?).


 










 



Fantastic Four 262- "The Trial of Reed Richards" by John Byrne. As above, many issues of this run could be selected; this issue is a perfect example of the strength of that run."


 

E-Man 3- "Dark Albatross Must be Rendered Inoperative, Lifewise" by Martin Pasko and Joe Staton. Some of the best X-Men satire you'll ever see.


 










 


New Teen Titans 38- "Who is Donna Troy" by Marv Wolfman, George Perez and Romeo Tanghal. A masterful tale of drama and friendship as Wonder Girl discovers her past, with some help from Dick Grayson.





 








So now it's up to you. What do you think of these choices? Winners or losers? How would you rank them; and are there other books from that memorable year you would see on the list? Have at it, folks!

Riding the Retro Metro: Destination Thursday June 2, 1983

Redartz:  Quick, jump on board! You're just in time for another trip baaaaaack.......aboard the Retro Metro! Today we return to those fabulous 80's, specifically the year 1983. The US and the USSR  (and President Ronald Reagan and Premier Yuri Andropov) remain at odds, but many folks are talking  about the recent premiere of "Return of the Jedi". Your humble host has just completed another year at college, and is driving a delivery route. Working Sundays, I always tune in "American Top 40"; and this week they are playing:

Tops on the  Billboard Hot 100:  Irene Cara, "Flashdance...What a Feeling"

And rounding out the top five: 
2. David Bowie, "Let's Dance"
3. Men at Work, "Overkill"
4. Culture Club, "Time (Clock of the Heart)"
5. Thomas  Dolby, "She Blinded Me With Science"

The phenomenally popular Michael Jackson still has two songs in the top 40, "Beat It" and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'".  Listening to AT40 lately is most rewarding,with so many cool tunes popping up. One of the coolest, currently rising the chart: Eddy Grant with "Electric Avenue":

And I am nuts for that Thomas Dolby song at number 5. "Hit me with technology", indeed.

Tops in the UK: The Police, "Every Breath You Take"

Of course, no matter how fascinating the pop music world is currently, there is much more out there to explore. Tonight's tv offerings, for example...

American television schedule:

ABC:  Benson, Condo, Too Close for Comfort, It Takes Two, 20/20

CBS:  Magnum, P.I., Simon and Simon, Tucker's Witch

NBC:  Fame, Gimme a Break!, Cheers, Hill Street Blues

 

BBC1:  Tomorrow's World, Top of the Pops, Fame, Nine O Clock News, Jury
BBC2:  Party Election Broadcast, Norman Mailer at Sixty, Behind the Scenes With..., Food and Drink, The Young Ones, Nobody Minded the Rain, Newsnight featuring Campaign 83











Robert Guillaume is great on Benson. I've been following him since his appearances on Soap. Every now and then I'll catch Fame , and Hill Street Blues is never to be missed. But Condo and Tucker's Witch? Not a clue. Not on my radar, apparently. 

What is on the radar, every week, is whatever is to be found on the spinner racks. Or more frequently, found on the shelves at the local comic book shop. The selection there is extensive, and you can pick up some of the new Independent comics sprouting up all over. First's "E-Man" is terrific; Joe Staton is having all kinds of fun with the book. Additionally, I'll grab Amazing Spider-Man (rather enjoying the current Hobgoblin storyline). Of course, John Byrne's FF Annual is on my list. On yours? Oh, and Marvel Fanfare- interesting book. Not all great, but many nice stories and some unusual art choices (Barry Windsor-Smith on the Thing!).

Ah well, time to tuck our comic purchases into the backpack, climb on and make the return trip back to the future (say, that sounds like a good title). Be sure to keep your ticket stub for free admission next time when we take the Retro Metro!

The Quarter Bin: Hey, I'm Standing Here!

Martinex1:  Let's take a look at some comic covers today! Pick the four that you like the most and would like to own for whatever reason.  It's called the "$1 Challenge" and this time around we have a whopping 42 issues from which to choose.

Frankly, I think I could have found a hundred more covers of this ilk because today at BITBA we are exploring a pose that is quite ubiquitous.   Let's call it the "Face Front, Stand Proud, Middle of a Jumping Jack, Comic Cover Pose $1 Challenge."  You will see what I mean when you scroll through the images.  

Through no scientific or confirmed method at all, I suspect Marvel has used this type of pose the most.   I say that because the examples were very easy to find and seemed to appear in almost every Marvel mag.  The Avengers' artists loved this pose as it appeared very regularly in that title.   For DC on the other hand I had to do more searching; and other than in Justice League of America I was surprised at the relative paucity.  I scoured Charlton covers and I could only locate the pose in E-Man (and that was borderline); I suspect it is out there in Charlton comics so bonus points if anybody sites another example.  Atlas-Seaboard had a couple examples that I found, but I admit I am taking a bit of liberty with those.   In general, forgive my stretch in finding the scarce issues in the Harvey and Archie comics, as this is more of a Super-Hero pose.   The short legs of Harvey's headliners make it less likely I suppose.  And I know Jughead is seated, but it still fits the theme in my opinion.  

What I enjoy most about the position depicted is that it is truly a comic cover trope.   Nobody in real life stands like that.   In fact, I am tempted to make it my New Year's Resolution to break into this pose on a daily basis.  Wouldn't it be fun to go to a corporate meeting and present an annual Power Point financial statement while standing so dynamically?    To stand with legs spread so wide has to be uncomfortable, but our comic heroes seem to enjoy the position.  I am sure artists use it because it fills the frame nicely and is inherently bombastic.

My choices this time around would include all DC issues simply because I don't explore that publisher as much as I should.   I have to say though that the Wonder Woman cover is weird.  Is she facing forward or backwards?   Take a close look as Diana is exhibiting her rarely used "owl" power!

So face forward BITBA fans and assume the position!  What do you think?  Which comics would you like?  What have I missed?   What are your favorite four?  And tell us something about the issue if you already own it and recommend it.   Cheers!