I was one of those people who got the toy when I when I was but a wee lad, and I never knew until years later that there was a comic book tie-in at all. Of course, once I did learn Marvel had a comic, I was one of those people who just assumed the toy came first and the comic was made to help sell it, not vice-versa.

And speaking of toy line tie-ins and Michael Golden, I also had some of the Micronauts toys that had been picked up from a yard sale (and thus, I had no idea what they were called or what their backstory was), and had a few issues of Micronauts, but I never made the connection between the two until YEARS later (like, 15-20 years later). Not surprising, I suppose, since the toys and the comic were almost nothing alike.

>>> Crystar would totally be anti-registration.

Actually, as a “Warrior of Order”, he’d probably be more in favor of registration to keep the heroes in line.

As for Writer X, I just figured it hadn’t been covered yet because the artist (or anyone in the know) still hasn’t come forward yet.

Correct-a-mundo.

As for Writer X, I just figured it hadn’t been covered yet because the artist (or anyone in the know) still hasn’t come forward yet.

…though a long-term investigation could make for one heck of a special issue of CBULR!

I can’t be the only one that wants a SHOWCASE volume (series) for HOUSE OF SECRETS? Especially with the knowledge that a lot of great talent created those books…bring ‘em on, DC! I want ‘em.

It probably depends on the sales of the House of Mystery one they did, no?

Hopefully that one sold well!

Crystar would totally be anti-registration.

I am surprised he and the Crystal Warriors didn’t show up as a big twist at the end, instead of Namor’s troops.

Hate to be a nitpicker (no, no I don’t), but that’s actually Abel, not Cain in the first story. Cain hosted House of Mystery.

It’s amazing the amount of times I’ve made that mistake.

Crazy semantics? Sauron had his whole ‘draining life essences’ thing, or whatever it was. If he did that, AND looked like a bat, he’d be too much like a vampire. Manbat was just a bat, with no vampiric overtones.

I actually bothered to do research, Manbat was created the year before before the Comics Code vampire ban was lifted. Morbius, on the other hand, was created the same year as the ban lifting, so he’s kind of hazy.

Comics Code Authority, 26 October 1954. “Scenes dealing with, or instruments associated with, walking dead, torture, vampires and vampirism, ghouls, cannibalism, and werewolfism are prohibited.”

Revised 27 October 1971. “Scenes dealing with, or instruments associated with, walking dead or torture shall not be used. Vampires, ghouls, and werewolves shall be permitted to be used when handled in the classic tradition, such as Frankenstein, Dracula, and other high-caliber literary works written by Edgar Allan Poe, Saki (H.H. Munro), Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and other respected authors whose works are read in schools throughout the world.”

Whether trademarked or not, in 1969 the word “Wolfman” would be an “instrument associated with…werewolfism” and thus banned, even though the movie would have played a big part in the association.

There’s been a little speculation that this was because DC had him sign an exclusive contract, and he can’t write for Oni at the moment. As a pretty big Maxx fan and an avid buyer of Sam Kieth’s newer works, I’m hoping you can help find out if this is why I never got to see issue 2 of a promising new series!

Oh, and I still have all my Crystar figures somewhere

I think you’ve just started a new urban legend, that being that credits in DC’s horror/mystery comics were unknown until Marv Wolfman got one. That’s not right.

Sure, there had been credits here and there. Just not the way they had post-Wolfman’s credit, where it was a matter of, “If THAT guy gets one, then we ALL get one,” when it had been a haphazard thing before then.