Saturday, November 13, 2010
America's Greatest Otaku Trailer
All during thr summer Tokopop went around the U.s. to find America's Greatest Oataku. These are their stories.... [put in the Law and Order themes]
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
BBC Being Human S2E8 1/6
Hello Brit TV Fans check out this episode of BBC's Being Human the series is about a Vampire, Werewolf, amd Ghost who are trying to live a normal life. I know it sounds like a comedy, but it's not is one of the best fantasy horror show I have ever seen.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Satuday Morning Memories
Saturday Morning Memories
By Howard Lee
I have been an animation fan all my life now that I am reaching my 50’s I have started to look back on all the cartoons that gave me real joy. Here are just some of the cartoons and creators that I have watched over the years from my old B&W television to my Youtube account. I just want to say thank you all for the hours of joy you gave me “That’s All Folks”.
Hanna- Barbera
Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera are the undisputed kings of not only Saturday morning cartoons but TV cartoons of all time. They started at MGM creating one of the longest running cartoons in history Tom and Jerry.
After MGM closed the studio they had no where to go so they started Hanna-Barbera Studios. Their first cartoon Ruff and Ready became an instant hit. That was followed up by an unbroken string of hit cartoons like Yogi Bear, Huckleberry Hound, and Quickdraw MacDraw.
But that was only the beginning in the 1960’s Hanna-Barbera created pure classic cartoon gold with a take of on “The Honeymooners” called “The Flintstones” that was the first cartoon to debut on Primetime television and became one of the top rated show unheard of for a cartoon. A feat only matched by “The Simpsons”.
With the Flintstones now a hit on Primetime TV Hanna-Barbera followed them with “The Jetsons” and an action-adventure cartoon about the adventures of a young boy called “Jonny Quest”. But it is still Saturday mornings where we really see the World of Hanna Barbera shine.
Their action-adventure shows have been what Saturday mornings are made of with heroes like Mightor, Birdman, Frankenstein Jr., The Heculoids, and the one and only Space Ghost. Hanna-Barbera put the bang in Saturday mornings that made kids like me wake up at 6:00 am in the morning and stayed glued to the TV all morning long.
Even today these cartoons are still the standard that all cartoons are judged no other studio can make that claim. I have my own memories of watching Hanna-Barbera cartoons and very special memory of meeting Joe Barbera at Circle Art Galley in Chicago in the 1980’s at that meeting I got to talk him about all his characters and then I got the honor of signing along with him an animation cell featuring of all of the his creations only because I could name all of them that surprised not only Joe Barbera, but everyone at the gallery. That was a great moment of my life one I will always remember.
Loony Tunes
When the Warner Bros. opened their animation studios it was to go against the powerhouse Disney Studios and to create characters to complete with the popularity of Mickey Mouse and co. The Warner’s though they would get the happy family friendly characters like Disney, but luckily for us they got the zany and wacky characters like, Porky Pig, Daffy Duck, and that rascally rabbit Bugs Bunny.
These characters where created by animators Bob Clampett, Friz Freeling, Tex Avery, and Chuck Jones. They along with voice master Mel Blanc gave us cartoons that have delighted audiences for over 70 years. While at times the Warner Bros. where not pleased with the characters that came out of their studios at times.
Luckily they didn’t look too closely at what the guys where doing so many cartoons wasn’t what the Warner’s wanted got through. Like “Robin Daffy” a take off “The Adventures of Robin Hood” produced by the Warner Bros. and Opera takes off like “What an Opera Doc” and “Rabbit of Seville”.
Of course the Warner Bros. did take credit when “Knighty Night Bugs” won and Oscar for best animated cartoon. But all good and funny things must come to an end and the Loony Tunes studio was closed. But that did not stop the fun. When TV came along the Loony Tunes found a new home and came back to delight children with the cartoons their parents watched years earlier. The New Loony Tunes came out after that and now they are some of the most watched cartoons all over the world.
Personally I loved Lonny Tunes I find them funnier than any other cartoons. My favorite characters are not Bugs Bunny or Daffy Duck but minor characters like Marvin the Martian and The three Bears by Chuck Jones.
Speaking of Chuck Jones I got to spend time with him at a Circle Art Gallery showing of his work in Chicago in the 1980’s. He talked about his time at the Loony Tunes and how many of the Loony Tunes characters where created. Loony Tunes are still some of best and funniest characters ever and will live on as long as children young and old need to laugh.
Filmation
When it comes to animation Filmation should not exist according to owner Lou Scheimer [I just made him one of my Facebook Friends] for their first series The Adventures of Superman they had no writers, actors, and no animators. In fact they didn’t know how to do animation for TV something they did not tell DC Comics when they gave them the rights.
Of course DC was furious with them when found out what Filmation did but since the show was a hit DC let them have the rights to other DC characters including Batman, Aqua man and the member of the Justice League.
Filmation then got other comic book characters like Archie and not created a hit cartoon but a number one song called “Sugar, Sugar”. Filmation also brought back classic heroes Flash Gordon, The Lone Ranger, and Tarzan. Filmation also created their own characters like He-man, and She-Ra. Filmation did branch out into movies but the less said about that is the better. Still Filmation has created some of the best Saturday morning cartoons that should have never existed.
Jay Ward
What can you say about Jay Ward if any animator could be called a political satirist it was Jay Ward. Even thought is first cartoon Crusader Rabbit was not a very political his next cartoon Rocky and Bullwinkle was. They took a poke at government agencies like the CIA, the military, and congress. In episode after episode Rocky and Bullwinkle had to work with the most inept people in the government like Capt. Peter “Wrong way” Peach fuzz the head of the CIA. Who always got it wrong but it somehow came out right.
Since this was in the height the cold war Rocky and Bullwinkle was being chased by two foreign spies Boris and Natasha who tried to stop them from completing their zany missions. Along with Rocky and Bullwinkle Jay Ward created a bunch of wild characters like Dudley Do-Right of the Mounties, Professor Peabody and Sherman, George of the Jungle, Hopptiy Hooper, and Super Chicken.
Jay Ward also took many of world’s favorite fairy tales and turned them upside down with “Fractured Fairy Tales” Jay Ward also had working with him writer Bill Scott who was the voice of Bullwinkle, Professor Peabody, and many other characters and June Foray who was the female version of Mel Blanc. June Foray was the voice of Rocky, Natasha, plus other female voices.
Last but not least Paul Freeze was the voice of Boris and actor William Conrad was the narrator of the Rocky and Bullwinkle show. Conrad at times even became part of the show. Even today the Rocky and Bullwinkle can still make fun of politics cause as we all know the only thing changes in Washington are the names.
I got the pleasure of meeting June Foray and Bill Scott in Chicago at a special showing of rocky and Bullwinkle at the Chicago Film Festival in the 80’s. June was really great, but Bill Scott was down right scary when it came to voices, not only did he do Bullwinkle, but he also did Mr. Peabody and Boris. Scott also talked about how he and Jay Ward came up with some of the ideas for the show and how sometimes they got in trouble with sponsors, censors and sometimes other actors, like the episode about the Kerwood Derby they got in trouble with actor Derwood Kirby but knowing Jay Ward I didn’t think he cared.
Saturday Morning Anime
In the 1960’s along with all of the great American animation came a new style of animation from Japan called Anime. Anime drew from early U.S. animators like Walt Disney for body styles and Max Fleisher’s Betty Boop for the big eyes that are still a part of Anime today. The first of these anime series to become not only a hit in the U.S. but around the world was Astro Boy the story of a boy who was brought back to life as a super robot by a grieving Father.
After Astro boy was a success in the U.S. other Anime characters start showing up on American television and have become Saturday morning classics like Gigantor, 8th Man, Kimba the White Lion, and Speed Racer. I watched all of these anime shows on my B&W in the 60’s and still love watching them today. It was these early anime shows that gave me my love for anime now.
Two of the shows that really became worldwide classics are Astro Boy that has been running strong on TV and in Manga and recently was a major CGI movie. Then there is Speed Racer like Astro Boy became a classic that is still popular today and was recently made into a major motion picture by the creators of “The Matrix”. Saturday Morning Anime started the anime craze that has grown over the years that has lead to anime conventions all around the U.S. Today’s popular anime series like Dragon Ball Z, Naruto, and Bleach all owe their popularity in the U.S. to these early anime shows.
The World of Gerry Anderson
5…,4…,3…2…,1… Thunderbirds are Go!! Those opening words are from one of the most action pack shows on British Television Thunderbirds, by producer Gerry Anderson. Gerry Anderson didn’t start out to produce children’s shows but when Torchy the Battery Boy using puppet became a hit in the U.K. Anderson then when on to create other puppet shows like Four Feather Falls and Supercar.
Then Gerry Anderson and his team of special effects wizards that included Derek Meddings who created special effects that paved they way for Star Wars, Star Trek and the James Bond films. Created a new style of puppets called Supermarionation with series called “Fireball XL5” this was only the beginning Anderson when on to create Sci-fi series Stingray, Capt. Scarlet and the Mysterions, Joe 90, and Secret Service.
But Gerry Anderson best and greatest series is still Thunderbirds when that series came to the U.S. it change how puppets where scene on television. Today Gerry Anderson and his Supermarionation team are still considered the masters of Special Effects. While Gerry Anderson show are not cartoons I watched on T.V. every Saturday afternoon in Chicago during the 60’s and even became a fan of British television because of Gerry Anderson show since that time I been a fan of British shows like Doctor Who, The Avengers, the Prisoner, and The Saint. I am such a fan of British television now that I help write book for all the show I have mentioned and still love British television today because of Gerry Anderson.
And the rest…….Saturday Morning Cartoons
There are some cartoons that from studios are not as well known as Hanna-Barbera, Loony Tunes, or Filmation but are still considered a Saturday Morning classic. These shows include shows like Marvel Superheroes, The Mighty Hercules, and Space Angel. These shows were a bit quirky and didn’t have the best animation and the like the Marvel Superheroes that was just bits and pieces of actual comic books and Space Angel that used human lips under the animated characters. Still we watched them and loved them so much that today they are the guilty pleasures of our Saturday Morning memories. Come on you know it true we all love them. My guilty pleasure was Tom of T.H.U.M.B. Just don’t tell anyone.
Howard Lee
Owner of Tomatovision TV the place where comic books, Anime, Old School Cartoons, Video games, British TV, and toys of all kinds meet to please fans of all kinds.
Howard can be contacted at
Website: www.tomatovision.bravehost.com
Email: tomatovisiontv@yahoo.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/tomatovisiontv
MySpace: www.myspace.com/tomatovisiontv
Twitter: www.twitter.com/wire123
YouTube: www.youtube.com/tomatotv321
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Review: 1000 Comicbooks You Must Read Part 1
1000 Comic books You Must Read
By Tony Isabella
Reviewed by Howard Lee
When I first saw Tony Isabella’s 1000 Comic books You Must Read It took me a while before decided to get the book mainly because of the title. I mean 1000 Comic books You Must Read sound like an invitation to disaster. Being a long time comic book fans I have read lots of comic books over the years and many of them have become my favorites, but I would really hesitate to tell any true comic book fan that these are the comic book they must read let alone devote a whole book my choices. After all what I might thing is a great comic may be crap to another comic book fan. Still I bought the book and started to read Tony’s personal best in comics and found out that this was more than just his list of favorite comic book but his true love-affair with comics. Tony Isabella who has been a writer for both DC and Marvel since the early 80’s and creator of DC’s Black Lighting one the first African-American Superhero to have his own title. Takes us on a journey of not only the history of comic books but how comic book played an important part of his life.
After reading Tony’s book twice I realized that the best way to review Tony’s book is to do it as it relates to my own love affair with comic books since Tony and I are close in age and both grew up in the mid-west Tony in Cleveland and me in Chicago. I also found that Tony’s list is not to far from my own so let’s get started.
In chapter one of Tony’s book he talks about how comic books have influenced American culture and the one comic book that really created the superhero genre Superman. Superman who was created by Cleveland teen-ager Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster as Tony quite rightly writes about is what comics are all about Superman with that superhero with the solid moral core that came from another planet and show us how humans should treat each other. Tony then tells how Siegel and Shuster’s creation even as Clark Kent is here for all the Clark Kents in the world who are all Supermen at heart. I am one of those Clark Kents as a child grown up in Chicago I read Superman comics as well as Batman like Tony I went to my local Walgreen, Woolworth or mom and pop store and bought comic books almost every week with the quarter I earned which was a lot for me back in 1960 when I started buying a reading comics. (Yes, 1960 I have been reading comics for about 50 years I still love them) That gives me the right to really look at Tony’s book as some one who grew up at the same time and since we are both from the mid-west we are practically neighbors.
In chapter two Tony deals with the comics from the 30’s and 40’s and why this was called the Golden Age of Comics. While Tony starts with the usual suspect from the 40’s DC Universe like Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman plus other the original Justice Society of America members The Flash, Green Lantern, and Hawkman. But Tony goes a bit deeper into the Golden Age DCU with lesser known superheroes like Jonny Quick, The Boy Commandos, and the Newsboy Legion both created by Jack Kirby.
Moving through the 40’s Tony visits early Marvel Comics characters like Capt. America, Sub-Mariner and the Human Torch. He also brings in the lesser known Marvel superheroes like Miss America and the All Winners Squad which was like Marvel version of the JSA. Both groups came out in the 40’s and during WWII they fought the Nazi and the Japanese. During the 40’s many kids and soldiers read their favorite superheroes fought the Axis powers. But less you think that only DC and Marvel where the only superheroes fighting the Nazi you would be wrong comic books in the 40’s had many comic book publishers like Fawcett their character Capt. Marvel not only fought the Nazi, but gave DC’s Superman a run for his money not only was Capt. Marvel Superman’s chief rival but the competed with him on ever level from comics, toys, radio programs and movie serials. But DC finally did get the best of Capt. Marvel by suing Fawcett for copyright infringement putting an end to Superman’s chief rival. Another comic publisher who score a major hit in the 40’s was Quality Comics their Military Comics that featured The Blackhawks they were a band of pilots from European countries under Nazi control who came together to fight to free their people from the evil of the Nazi. Like Capt. Marvel the Blackhawks became to popular that they are also made into a movie serial and like Capt. Marvel the Blackhawks became part of DC in the 50’s when DC bought out Quality Comics.
Tony wisely included one of the longest running comic book heroes that still being published today Will Eisner’s Spirit. The Spirit at times was comical and sometimes overly dramatic was and is still very popular (As the recent Frank Miller movie proved) Tony has brought together some of the best Spirit covers including “The Man Who Could Fly” if you read only one Spirit story that is the one. For me the Spirit was one of my favorite I actually thought the 1980’s Spirit t.v. movie was quite good. Plus in the 80’s I did contact Will Eisner to see if I could produce a play based on the Spirit.
Now less talk about the lesser known superheroes of the 40’s Tony has brought together the best and the worst of the 40’s comics. These superheroes got really down and dirty with the villains and showed them no mercy. I must warn you if you are not a fan of Golden Age comics or just not interested then these next superheroes will not mean anything to you. Jack Cole’s Plastic Man who’s elastic body helps him fight crime was once the criminal Eel O’Brien who during a crime gone wrong is dropped into a vat of chemicals like The Joker but unlike The Joker, Plastic man turned his life around and became a force for good. Now let’s talk about some of the worst comics of the 40’s these comics are better confined to the pages of comic history. Boy Comics’s Crimebuster was an attempt to create a superhero for boys, but Crimebuster was not much of one and his costume did not strike fear in the hearts of criminals only laughter. Now I know that funny animal comics were a staple of many comics companies in the 40’s for me none of them was were really very good so I never looked for them or bought them.
Now let’s get real down and dirty these following superheroes where some on my favorites and I am surprised that Tony featured them in the book, but I am glad he did. When I became a serious comic book collector in the 70’s I started to collect these comics mainly because of the stories and the artwork even though early 40’s comic book art was some times crude and rough there is an honesty to that early work that can not be duplicated today. The first was Daredevil not the Marvel Comics of the 69’s but the Daredevil from Silver Streak Comics of the 40’s Daredevil was created by Jack Cole who was also the writer and artist of Plastic man. This Daredevil in his red and blue costume really gave it to villains in the 40’s including Hitler and got the job done. Unfortunately in the 50’s Daredevil brand of justice was not in line with the rules of comics he became a part of Boy’s Comics where he was teamed with The Little Wise Guys similar to the DC Newsboy Legion of Star Spangled Comics and when Lev Gleason boy comics was canceled that was the end of Daredevil. The next superhero is The Green Lama he was a mystic from Tibet who use magic to not only solve crime but to change the world by ending the social evils that cause the real troubles of the world. The Green Lama by Spark Productions stay around just a bit after the 50’s but went the way of many companies in the 50’s.
Now two more superheroes of the 40’s that was not mentioned by Tony that should have been part of this list that is the Black Terror another one of these not by the book comic book superheroes who took the fight to the villains and followed his own rules of justice. Even his costume showed he means business an all black costume with skull and crossbones on the front if you are a villain you know you’re in trouble. Now here the good part these three superheroes are back thanks to Dynamite Comics they have brought them back in all their glory to fight today’s evil with good old fashion 40’s style. I am glad their back. (I am not getting paid to plug Dynamite Comics I just love those characters) Just one more of my favorites from the 40’s that should have made the list is The Crimson Avenger who like The Shadow struck fear into the hearts of criminals which was not easy since he was as short is the Golden Age Atom. Not if you didn’t know that the Golden Age Atom was short but very strong trying explain the Crimson Avenger is going to be hard let just say this don’t let size fool you.
Getting back to the 40’s Tony starts to show how that after the war many changes are happening in the U.S. soldiers are coming back and comic book heroes don’t have the Nazi to fight tries to fight regular villains but after fighting Nazi local criminals pales to world wars, but that’s not all that is changing returning soldiers are not reading comic books any more they are more concern with getting their life back and kids where now being entertain by a new thing called television. But the real problem was comic book where now under attack from all sides, poor distribution, weak sales, and most of all comic books were blamed for the growing juvenile delinquency. This perfect storm set up the near downfall of comic book industry in the 50’s.
The dreaded 50’s for me the 50’s was not only the decade I was born but the worst time for the comic book industry not because there where no great artist or writers, but the restrains that where put on them by the self-imposed comic book authority code. There where few bright spots during this time. The only superhero comic books that seem to survive the 50’s where the big three from DC Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman but even they had to become family-friendly to stay ahead of the comic book code. The stories were not the best but they did keep the fans buy. I should know I was one of those fans. This was not the case at Marvel by the beginning of the 50’s all of their stable of stars were gone no Sub-Mariner, Human Torch or Capt. America. Other comic book companies like Fawcett the publisher’s of Capt Marvel and Quality the publisher’s of The Blackhawks did even worst eventually the where both bought by DC Comics.
So what did comic book fans read in the 50’s well most comic book read like the B-movies of the time. In the 50’s cheap B-movies from producers like William Castle and Roger Corman was everywhere. That seems to be in comics too the comic book publishers like Dell/Gold Key Comics, Marvel and DC came out with westerns, funny animals, TV and movie ties, and romance comics. But Tony bless his comic collector’s heart did profile the bright stop of the comics in the 50’s EC Comics line of comics that included the classic Mad Magazine, Weird Science, Shock Suspense Stories, and Tales from the Crypt. Even though EC comics read like some of those B- horror movies the art work was so good the stories so scary at least they were to me they were great comics and considered some of the best comics ever published. But the downside of comics in the 50’s was the comic book were blamed for the rise of teenage violence and the whole industry was almost banned by educators and the government until the comic book publishers came up with the self-imposed Comic book Authority Code that is still enforced today.
My 50’s collection didn’t have many comics from EC, Marvel, or Dell. I was still a Batman and Superman fan with few exceptions. But as the 50’s was coming to the end several things started to happen at DC Comics. They started to revamp and bring back their superheroes from the 40’s to a new generation of comic book readers like me. In 1956 I was just a year old when DC Showcase #4 came out with the revamp “The Flash”, but that was not the comic that I collected sorry Barry. My favorite comic that I collected every issue until 1988 came out in 1958 Adventure Comics #247 the first appearance of the Legion of Superheroes. Thanks Tony for including it in this book it’s definitely one of the “1000 Comic Books You Should Read” As the 50’s moved closer to the 60’s DC revamped another 40’s superhero “The Green Lantern” this time making him part of an intergalactic police force. (another un paid plug you have to watch Green Lantern: First Flight) So even as the 50’s was closing not only was DC reinventing itself with the return of the golden age superheroes another long thought rival will turn comic book industry on its head.
But before we talk about the 60’s there is one comic book from the 50’s that Tony included that deserves recognition that’s “The Adventures of Tin-Tin” if you haven’t heard of Tin-Tin that not unusual. Its not a U.S. comics book is comes from Belgium about a young adventurer like Jonny Quest who travels around the world with his uncle and dog helping people. Tin-Tin was an animated series in the 60’s that I used to watch as a child.
Now to the 60’s the 1960’s was the year everything changed in comics its now called “The Silver Age”.
By Tony Isabella
Reviewed by Howard Lee
When I first saw Tony Isabella’s 1000 Comic books You Must Read It took me a while before decided to get the book mainly because of the title. I mean 1000 Comic books You Must Read sound like an invitation to disaster. Being a long time comic book fans I have read lots of comic books over the years and many of them have become my favorites, but I would really hesitate to tell any true comic book fan that these are the comic book they must read let alone devote a whole book my choices. After all what I might thing is a great comic may be crap to another comic book fan. Still I bought the book and started to read Tony’s personal best in comics and found out that this was more than just his list of favorite comic book but his true love-affair with comics. Tony Isabella who has been a writer for both DC and Marvel since the early 80’s and creator of DC’s Black Lighting one the first African-American Superhero to have his own title. Takes us on a journey of not only the history of comic books but how comic book played an important part of his life.
After reading Tony’s book twice I realized that the best way to review Tony’s book is to do it as it relates to my own love affair with comic books since Tony and I are close in age and both grew up in the mid-west Tony in Cleveland and me in Chicago. I also found that Tony’s list is not to far from my own so let’s get started.
In chapter one of Tony’s book he talks about how comic books have influenced American culture and the one comic book that really created the superhero genre Superman. Superman who was created by Cleveland teen-ager Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster as Tony quite rightly writes about is what comics are all about Superman with that superhero with the solid moral core that came from another planet and show us how humans should treat each other. Tony then tells how Siegel and Shuster’s creation even as Clark Kent is here for all the Clark Kents in the world who are all Supermen at heart. I am one of those Clark Kents as a child grown up in Chicago I read Superman comics as well as Batman like Tony I went to my local Walgreen, Woolworth or mom and pop store and bought comic books almost every week with the quarter I earned which was a lot for me back in 1960 when I started buying a reading comics. (Yes, 1960 I have been reading comics for about 50 years I still love them) That gives me the right to really look at Tony’s book as some one who grew up at the same time and since we are both from the mid-west we are practically neighbors.
In chapter two Tony deals with the comics from the 30’s and 40’s and why this was called the Golden Age of Comics. While Tony starts with the usual suspect from the 40’s DC Universe like Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman plus other the original Justice Society of America members The Flash, Green Lantern, and Hawkman. But Tony goes a bit deeper into the Golden Age DCU with lesser known superheroes like Jonny Quick, The Boy Commandos, and the Newsboy Legion both created by Jack Kirby.
Moving through the 40’s Tony visits early Marvel Comics characters like Capt. America, Sub-Mariner and the Human Torch. He also brings in the lesser known Marvel superheroes like Miss America and the All Winners Squad which was like Marvel version of the JSA. Both groups came out in the 40’s and during WWII they fought the Nazi and the Japanese. During the 40’s many kids and soldiers read their favorite superheroes fought the Axis powers. But less you think that only DC and Marvel where the only superheroes fighting the Nazi you would be wrong comic books in the 40’s had many comic book publishers like Fawcett their character Capt. Marvel not only fought the Nazi, but gave DC’s Superman a run for his money not only was Capt. Marvel Superman’s chief rival but the competed with him on ever level from comics, toys, radio programs and movie serials. But DC finally did get the best of Capt. Marvel by suing Fawcett for copyright infringement putting an end to Superman’s chief rival. Another comic publisher who score a major hit in the 40’s was Quality Comics their Military Comics that featured The Blackhawks they were a band of pilots from European countries under Nazi control who came together to fight to free their people from the evil of the Nazi. Like Capt. Marvel the Blackhawks became to popular that they are also made into a movie serial and like Capt. Marvel the Blackhawks became part of DC in the 50’s when DC bought out Quality Comics.
Tony wisely included one of the longest running comic book heroes that still being published today Will Eisner’s Spirit. The Spirit at times was comical and sometimes overly dramatic was and is still very popular (As the recent Frank Miller movie proved) Tony has brought together some of the best Spirit covers including “The Man Who Could Fly” if you read only one Spirit story that is the one. For me the Spirit was one of my favorite I actually thought the 1980’s Spirit t.v. movie was quite good. Plus in the 80’s I did contact Will Eisner to see if I could produce a play based on the Spirit.
Now less talk about the lesser known superheroes of the 40’s Tony has brought together the best and the worst of the 40’s comics. These superheroes got really down and dirty with the villains and showed them no mercy. I must warn you if you are not a fan of Golden Age comics or just not interested then these next superheroes will not mean anything to you. Jack Cole’s Plastic Man who’s elastic body helps him fight crime was once the criminal Eel O’Brien who during a crime gone wrong is dropped into a vat of chemicals like The Joker but unlike The Joker, Plastic man turned his life around and became a force for good. Now let’s talk about some of the worst comics of the 40’s these comics are better confined to the pages of comic history. Boy Comics’s Crimebuster was an attempt to create a superhero for boys, but Crimebuster was not much of one and his costume did not strike fear in the hearts of criminals only laughter. Now I know that funny animal comics were a staple of many comics companies in the 40’s for me none of them was were really very good so I never looked for them or bought them.
Now let’s get real down and dirty these following superheroes where some on my favorites and I am surprised that Tony featured them in the book, but I am glad he did. When I became a serious comic book collector in the 70’s I started to collect these comics mainly because of the stories and the artwork even though early 40’s comic book art was some times crude and rough there is an honesty to that early work that can not be duplicated today. The first was Daredevil not the Marvel Comics of the 69’s but the Daredevil from Silver Streak Comics of the 40’s Daredevil was created by Jack Cole who was also the writer and artist of Plastic man. This Daredevil in his red and blue costume really gave it to villains in the 40’s including Hitler and got the job done. Unfortunately in the 50’s Daredevil brand of justice was not in line with the rules of comics he became a part of Boy’s Comics where he was teamed with The Little Wise Guys similar to the DC Newsboy Legion of Star Spangled Comics and when Lev Gleason boy comics was canceled that was the end of Daredevil. The next superhero is The Green Lama he was a mystic from Tibet who use magic to not only solve crime but to change the world by ending the social evils that cause the real troubles of the world. The Green Lama by Spark Productions stay around just a bit after the 50’s but went the way of many companies in the 50’s.
Now two more superheroes of the 40’s that was not mentioned by Tony that should have been part of this list that is the Black Terror another one of these not by the book comic book superheroes who took the fight to the villains and followed his own rules of justice. Even his costume showed he means business an all black costume with skull and crossbones on the front if you are a villain you know you’re in trouble. Now here the good part these three superheroes are back thanks to Dynamite Comics they have brought them back in all their glory to fight today’s evil with good old fashion 40’s style. I am glad their back. (I am not getting paid to plug Dynamite Comics I just love those characters) Just one more of my favorites from the 40’s that should have made the list is The Crimson Avenger who like The Shadow struck fear into the hearts of criminals which was not easy since he was as short is the Golden Age Atom. Not if you didn’t know that the Golden Age Atom was short but very strong trying explain the Crimson Avenger is going to be hard let just say this don’t let size fool you.
Getting back to the 40’s Tony starts to show how that after the war many changes are happening in the U.S. soldiers are coming back and comic book heroes don’t have the Nazi to fight tries to fight regular villains but after fighting Nazi local criminals pales to world wars, but that’s not all that is changing returning soldiers are not reading comic books any more they are more concern with getting their life back and kids where now being entertain by a new thing called television. But the real problem was comic book where now under attack from all sides, poor distribution, weak sales, and most of all comic books were blamed for the growing juvenile delinquency. This perfect storm set up the near downfall of comic book industry in the 50’s.
The dreaded 50’s for me the 50’s was not only the decade I was born but the worst time for the comic book industry not because there where no great artist or writers, but the restrains that where put on them by the self-imposed comic book authority code. There where few bright spots during this time. The only superhero comic books that seem to survive the 50’s where the big three from DC Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman but even they had to become family-friendly to stay ahead of the comic book code. The stories were not the best but they did keep the fans buy. I should know I was one of those fans. This was not the case at Marvel by the beginning of the 50’s all of their stable of stars were gone no Sub-Mariner, Human Torch or Capt. America. Other comic book companies like Fawcett the publisher’s of Capt Marvel and Quality the publisher’s of The Blackhawks did even worst eventually the where both bought by DC Comics.
So what did comic book fans read in the 50’s well most comic book read like the B-movies of the time. In the 50’s cheap B-movies from producers like William Castle and Roger Corman was everywhere. That seems to be in comics too the comic book publishers like Dell/Gold Key Comics, Marvel and DC came out with westerns, funny animals, TV and movie ties, and romance comics. But Tony bless his comic collector’s heart did profile the bright stop of the comics in the 50’s EC Comics line of comics that included the classic Mad Magazine, Weird Science, Shock Suspense Stories, and Tales from the Crypt. Even though EC comics read like some of those B- horror movies the art work was so good the stories so scary at least they were to me they were great comics and considered some of the best comics ever published. But the downside of comics in the 50’s was the comic book were blamed for the rise of teenage violence and the whole industry was almost banned by educators and the government until the comic book publishers came up with the self-imposed Comic book Authority Code that is still enforced today.
My 50’s collection didn’t have many comics from EC, Marvel, or Dell. I was still a Batman and Superman fan with few exceptions. But as the 50’s was coming to the end several things started to happen at DC Comics. They started to revamp and bring back their superheroes from the 40’s to a new generation of comic book readers like me. In 1956 I was just a year old when DC Showcase #4 came out with the revamp “The Flash”, but that was not the comic that I collected sorry Barry. My favorite comic that I collected every issue until 1988 came out in 1958 Adventure Comics #247 the first appearance of the Legion of Superheroes. Thanks Tony for including it in this book it’s definitely one of the “1000 Comic Books You Should Read” As the 50’s moved closer to the 60’s DC revamped another 40’s superhero “The Green Lantern” this time making him part of an intergalactic police force. (another un paid plug you have to watch Green Lantern: First Flight) So even as the 50’s was closing not only was DC reinventing itself with the return of the golden age superheroes another long thought rival will turn comic book industry on its head.
But before we talk about the 60’s there is one comic book from the 50’s that Tony included that deserves recognition that’s “The Adventures of Tin-Tin” if you haven’t heard of Tin-Tin that not unusual. Its not a U.S. comics book is comes from Belgium about a young adventurer like Jonny Quest who travels around the world with his uncle and dog helping people. Tin-Tin was an animated series in the 60’s that I used to watch as a child.
Now to the 60’s the 1960’s was the year everything changed in comics its now called “The Silver Age”.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Monsters,Maniacs, and a little bit Moore
“Monsters, Maniacs, and a little bit Moore”
By Howard Lee
More than Just Comics
Alan Moore’s Watchmen graphic novel is now a major motion picture sans Alan Moore’s name on the credits. But that is typical Alan Moore when it comes to turning his stories into movies. But I remember a time when Alan was more that happy to lend his name to the media. In the late 80’s Alan Moore hosted a special about himself called “Monsters, Maniacs, and Moore” on British TV Channel Four where Alan interviewed a special guest namely Alan Moore. This is not a review of that program but my own memories of meeting Alan Moore in London in 1984 and working with him on a special project to benefit AIDS research. That’s why I called this “Monsters, Maniacs, and a little bit Moore”.
As I mentioned I first met Alan Moore at a comic book convention in London in 1984 at the time Alan was not the “comic god” he is now, but he was definitely on his way. I was at the convention when three people walked up to my table. Now normally I don’t give people a second look unless at the time they are buying from me. (Back then I was a money grubber I mellowed a bit) Two of the people seemed like ordinary comic collectors a man and a woman. But the second man was dressed to attract attention with an all white suit top hat, cane, long hair and beard, he was hard to miss.
I don’t know why he came over to my table, maybe because I was just as unusual as he was being an African-American comic dealer from Chicago at a London comic con. So Alan walks over to my table and starts to look over my books. “Do you have American Flagg” he asked. “Yes, I do under my table I was saving them to put out later today”. “I know how hard they are to get here”. I said “Yes they are, can you get more” He said. “Yes, I can let me have your name, I can send you issues from the States”. I looked at the card and saw the name Alan Moore Comic Writer. “Alan Moore, you write ‘Swamp Thing’ right?”. “Yes that’s me” He said. “You know ‘Swamp Thing’ is a big seller in my shop in Chicago” “So what are you working on now?” I asked. “Well, I am writing some new Swamp Thing stories, a couple D.R. and Quench for 2000 AD and new stories Miracle Man, and V for Vendetta”. “But mostly I am working with other artist and writers on a book to help AIDS awareness”. “If there is anyway I can help let me know, I would be glad to” I said. “Ok let’s talk later”. Then Allan and crew moved to the next table.
After I got back to my shop I called Alan at home. “Alan I have an idea for you, I was thinking about what you said about your AIDS awareness book”. “What is it going to be called” I said. “Strip AIDS the book is artwork done by top comic and writers, all the profits are going to AIDS research and prevention” “So what’s your idea?” he said. “Well, I am having an Underground Comic Book Party at my store this week. With underground comic artist Jay Lynch, Kim Deitch, Skip Williamson, Dan Clouse, and Monty Beaucamp the publisher of “Blab”. I said “That’s great, I would love to meet those guys I have a lot of their work” “You know I used to draw underground comics, “I did a version of Fat Freddy’s Cat” he continued “I have to send you some, Did you contact Robert Crumb about this?”. “Yes I did but, he did not want to come, but he does support what we are doing”. I said. “What about you Alan do you want to come? I asked. “I can’t, I am working on two new stories for “Swamp Thing” and “Miracle man”. “But do you think the guys would send me some artwork from the party for the Strip AIDS book? He said. “I am sure they will, I will make it part of the party”. “What about you are you going to do some artwork? I asked. “I am thinking about it”. He said. “Ok Alan, I will call you after the party to let you know who came”. Then I ended the call.
On the day of the Underground party we had artists Jay Lynch, Dan Clouse, Kim Dietch, Fred Williamson, Monty Beaupcamp, and surprise guest Del Close all at my store for a night of celebration of Underground comics. During the party I told them about my conversation with Alan and he was a fan of their work. Some of them like Jay Lynch did not know much about Alan or his work so I show them copies of Swamp Thing written by Alan Moore. But Dan Clouse of artist and writer of Lloyd Llewellyn did read Alan work and was surprise that Alan read his work. [Hey, it was the 1984 Alan wasn’t that well known then] I along with Monty Beaupcamp of Blab magazine got the entire artist together and we did a montage of all of their most famous characters, but left the middle spot open for Alan’s contribution. Then we all took a photo for Alan to send him with the artwork.
The next day I called Alan and told him what happened at the party and about the artwork that was done by the underground artist. “Well, Alan it’s up to you now you are my last guest of the Underground comics’ party”. “I am sending you the montage” I said. “So can we use the artwork in the Strip AIDS book?” Alan asked. “Yes, you can just send me some copies of the book when it is done so I can give them to the artist at the party.
About a month later I got a package from Alan inside was copies of the completed artwork with Alan’s cat meekly standing in the center of the with an autograph book raised up toward the other underground characters with the caption “”I you guys older stuff”. So I got into touch with the other artist and let them know that Alan completed the artwork and sent them all signed copies to keep. Here is where is where they surprised me they told me to keep all the copies as souvenirs of the Underground comics party. Then several months later the Strip AIDS book came out with artwork from the Underground party as part of the book. Even though I don’t have the artwork any more I am still proud of my meeting and working with Alan Moore, the underground artist, and the project we worked on to help bring awareness about the problem of AIDS all over the world.
For more information about or how to join Tomatovision TV visit our website at Tomatovision TV or email us at tomatovisontv@yahoo.com
To buy any of Alan Moore’s graphic novels visit Things From Another World at TFAW.com
By Howard Lee
More than Just Comics
Alan Moore’s Watchmen graphic novel is now a major motion picture sans Alan Moore’s name on the credits. But that is typical Alan Moore when it comes to turning his stories into movies. But I remember a time when Alan was more that happy to lend his name to the media. In the late 80’s Alan Moore hosted a special about himself called “Monsters, Maniacs, and Moore” on British TV Channel Four where Alan interviewed a special guest namely Alan Moore. This is not a review of that program but my own memories of meeting Alan Moore in London in 1984 and working with him on a special project to benefit AIDS research. That’s why I called this “Monsters, Maniacs, and a little bit Moore”.
As I mentioned I first met Alan Moore at a comic book convention in London in 1984 at the time Alan was not the “comic god” he is now, but he was definitely on his way. I was at the convention when three people walked up to my table. Now normally I don’t give people a second look unless at the time they are buying from me. (Back then I was a money grubber I mellowed a bit) Two of the people seemed like ordinary comic collectors a man and a woman. But the second man was dressed to attract attention with an all white suit top hat, cane, long hair and beard, he was hard to miss.
I don’t know why he came over to my table, maybe because I was just as unusual as he was being an African-American comic dealer from Chicago at a London comic con. So Alan walks over to my table and starts to look over my books. “Do you have American Flagg” he asked. “Yes, I do under my table I was saving them to put out later today”. “I know how hard they are to get here”. I said “Yes they are, can you get more” He said. “Yes, I can let me have your name, I can send you issues from the States”. I looked at the card and saw the name Alan Moore Comic Writer. “Alan Moore, you write ‘Swamp Thing’ right?”. “Yes that’s me” He said. “You know ‘Swamp Thing’ is a big seller in my shop in Chicago” “So what are you working on now?” I asked. “Well, I am writing some new Swamp Thing stories, a couple D.R. and Quench for 2000 AD and new stories Miracle Man, and V for Vendetta”. “But mostly I am working with other artist and writers on a book to help AIDS awareness”. “If there is anyway I can help let me know, I would be glad to” I said. “Ok let’s talk later”. Then Allan and crew moved to the next table.
After I got back to my shop I called Alan at home. “Alan I have an idea for you, I was thinking about what you said about your AIDS awareness book”. “What is it going to be called” I said. “Strip AIDS the book is artwork done by top comic and writers, all the profits are going to AIDS research and prevention” “So what’s your idea?” he said. “Well, I am having an Underground Comic Book Party at my store this week. With underground comic artist Jay Lynch, Kim Deitch, Skip Williamson, Dan Clouse, and Monty Beaucamp the publisher of “Blab”. I said “That’s great, I would love to meet those guys I have a lot of their work” “You know I used to draw underground comics, “I did a version of Fat Freddy’s Cat” he continued “I have to send you some, Did you contact Robert Crumb about this?”. “Yes I did but, he did not want to come, but he does support what we are doing”. I said. “What about you Alan do you want to come? I asked. “I can’t, I am working on two new stories for “Swamp Thing” and “Miracle man”. “But do you think the guys would send me some artwork from the party for the Strip AIDS book? He said. “I am sure they will, I will make it part of the party”. “What about you are you going to do some artwork? I asked. “I am thinking about it”. He said. “Ok Alan, I will call you after the party to let you know who came”. Then I ended the call.
On the day of the Underground party we had artists Jay Lynch, Dan Clouse, Kim Dietch, Fred Williamson, Monty Beaupcamp, and surprise guest Del Close all at my store for a night of celebration of Underground comics. During the party I told them about my conversation with Alan and he was a fan of their work. Some of them like Jay Lynch did not know much about Alan or his work so I show them copies of Swamp Thing written by Alan Moore. But Dan Clouse of artist and writer of Lloyd Llewellyn did read Alan work and was surprise that Alan read his work. [Hey, it was the 1984 Alan wasn’t that well known then] I along with Monty Beaupcamp of Blab magazine got the entire artist together and we did a montage of all of their most famous characters, but left the middle spot open for Alan’s contribution. Then we all took a photo for Alan to send him with the artwork.
The next day I called Alan and told him what happened at the party and about the artwork that was done by the underground artist. “Well, Alan it’s up to you now you are my last guest of the Underground comics’ party”. “I am sending you the montage” I said. “So can we use the artwork in the Strip AIDS book?” Alan asked. “Yes, you can just send me some copies of the book when it is done so I can give them to the artist at the party.
About a month later I got a package from Alan inside was copies of the completed artwork with Alan’s cat meekly standing in the center of the with an autograph book raised up toward the other underground characters with the caption “”I you guys older stuff”. So I got into touch with the other artist and let them know that Alan completed the artwork and sent them all signed copies to keep. Here is where is where they surprised me they told me to keep all the copies as souvenirs of the Underground comics party. Then several months later the Strip AIDS book came out with artwork from the Underground party as part of the book. Even though I don’t have the artwork any more I am still proud of my meeting and working with Alan Moore, the underground artist, and the project we worked on to help bring awareness about the problem of AIDS all over the world.
For more information about or how to join Tomatovision TV visit our website at Tomatovision TV or email us at tomatovisontv@yahoo.com
To buy any of Alan Moore’s graphic novels visit Things From Another World at TFAW.com
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