The Quarter Bin: $1 Challenge: The Martinex-Never-Read List!

Martinex1: Good morning BitBA fans!  Today we will embark on a $1 Challenge that is like no other.  Today there is no cover recognizable theme like similar red backgrounds, or space travel adventures, or appearances of skeletons.

Today I am simply featuring comics that I have never read.  And in most cases, these are from series that I have never read (or just barely sampled). For example, I've really only read a couple Conan comics; the same goes for Master of Kung Fu but retain almost nothing.  Or I have read a few anthology horror tales but not in more than two decades, and definitely not the ones shown here.  I've read an issue or two of Infinity Inc years ago but barely remember it.  Others like Hot Wheels, Demon, and Unknown Soldier are truly untried. These are real unknowns to me, but as I get older I get more curious about the contents.  I've started to realize I swim in the same pool constantly (usually Marvel heroes) but even within those tight parameters there is much I've missed or avoided.   I find myself drifting toward DC war stories or Charlton horror or Harvey mischief.

Are they good stories? Are they best left forgotten and untouched?  I tried to spread the selection across genres - Heroes, Westerns, Romance, Sword & Sorcery, War, Horror, and Comedy and also across publishing companies; but I am really wondering what direction you will push me.

Some of you may say, "I cannot believe he never read <fill in the blank>!'  Or you may say, "Thank goodness he was spared from reading <fill in the blank>!"

In any case, let's have a little  fun.  Pick your top four selections (based on your own reasons or just love of the cover) and give me some feedback.  If there is consensus on any of the books, I will seek it out, read it, and report back with an unbiased review.  In essence, create my read pile, give me some time, and let me report back.  What perception will I have of Bronze Age comics never sampled, never tried?

So today's $1 challenge is "Make Martinex Read Something New!"  Steer me in the right direction.  Tell me what to pick up immediately and let me know what to avoid.

Cheers all!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Quarter Bin: The Legacy $1 Challenge

Martinex1: Well it is that time of year when we look back to reminisce and we look forward with hope!  For this $1 Challenge let's look at comics and characters that wouldn't have existed without the trailblazers that came before.  Below are an assortment of legacy comics and legacy characters to choose from; pick four you would like to read and share your reasoning. 

I venture outside of the Bronze Age for cover samples this go around, but I recognize that our era was one cornerstone of ongoing comic creativity. 

So whether you like title stretches like Fantastic Force or future generations like A Next -  state your opinion here.  Could the Thing have gone solo without The Fantastic Four or Marvel Two-In-One?  Was the Blue Beetle better after the Golden Age or after Charlton?  Could there be a Little Archie without Archie? (Don't even get me started on Little Sad Sack!) Could there be a Captain Pureheart without Archie or Little Archie?   Is Wonder Man really named Hollywood in Galactic Guardians?  So many questions to ponder and so little time.

Dive into today's potpourri of spinoffs, namesakes, and title-taking!  Tell us what you think about these books and let us know if you felt any of the followers were better than the leaders!  And please don't be shy about declaring the good, the bad, and the ugly (because there is a lot of ugly out there folks!)