Comments on: Sample Pages from Was Superman a Spy?

By: The Stuff Of Comicbook Urban Legends | Notes From A Naiveson

The Stuff Of Comicbook Urban Legends | Notes From A Naiveson — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 03:23:28 +0000

[...] Was Superman a Spy? demystifies all of the interesting stories, unbelievable anecdotes, wacky rumors, and persistent myths that have piled up like priceless back issues in the seventy-plus years of the comic book industry… barnesandnoble.com [...]

By: Comics Should Be Good! @ Comic Book Resources » Comic Book Legends Revealed #206

Fri, 08 May 2009 14:22:16 +0000

[...] I just recently discussed here, in sample pages from my book, Was Superman a Spy? and Other Comic Book Legends Revealed, in the [...]

By: Robot 6 @ Comic Book Resources - Covering Comic Book News and Entertainment » Comics A.M. | The comics Internet in two minutes

Wed, 06 May 2009 15:17:45 +0000

[...] Books | Brian Cronin excerpts his new book Was Superman A Spy?, based on his “Comic Book Legends … Revealed” feature at sibling blog Comics Should Be Good. [CSBG] [...]

By: Daniel B est

Daniel B est — Mon, 04 May 2009 09:49:52 +0000

Ahhhh I just found out the book - can't wait to track a copy down and have a good ole read. Well done Brian!!

By: MacQuarrie

MacQuarrie — Mon, 04 May 2009 07:16:57 +0000

Also, the changes to Firestorm's fire head no doubt could be traced to budget issues. Animating fire takes time, and time is money.

By: MacQuarrie

MacQuarrie — Mon, 04 May 2009 07:16:00 +0000

Everybody who watched the mid-70s/80s’ cartoons know that the Superfriends writers (as well as other cartoons of the time, like Flash Gordon, He-Man, G.I. Joe, Spider-Man and Friends, Thundercats…) were very obssessed with non-violence (none of the cited cartoons ever featured a single punch on anyone’s face) and politically correct issues.

Not so. The writers had no such concerns. The network's Standards & Practices department imposed those restrictions. At the time, violence on TV was a big concern, with parent groups and educators getting their knickers twisted over it and network suits running for the hills.

By: Ivan Linares

Ivan Linares — Mon, 04 May 2009 03:40:36 +0000

Well, reading about the Human Torch exclusion issue left me with a doubt (which could be a suggestion for a fture column): what about the other fire-headed character who came from comic to cartoon, Firestorm?

His permanently set-on-fire head is his most known physical trait. However, when he whas written in the Superfriends cartoon (I believe about 1985), the flames were replaced by a fire-shaped ornament. One year later, the ornament was changed into a waving fire-like haircut.

Everybody who watched the mid-70s/80s' cartoons know that the Superfriends writers (as well as other cartoons of the time, like Flash Gordon, He-Man, G.I. Joe, Spider-Man and Friends, Thundercats...) were very obssessed with non-violence (none of the cited cartoons ever featured a single punch on anyone's face) and politically correct issues.

So, my doubt is: was Firestorm's new hairstyle on the show designed because the producers feared the kids could set their heads on fire?

Thanks for the attention!

By: MacQuarrie

MacQuarrie — Sat, 02 May 2009 09:28:14 +0000

The planned Human Torch movie was eventually rejiggered into a 1979 TV-movie about a guy who generates electricity in his body. On first run, it was called "Power Man", but when next rerun, it was retitled "The Power Within." http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081365/

By: ZEITGEIST / Bundled, Tossed, Untied and Stacked

ZEITGEIST / Bundled, Tossed, Untied and Stacked — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 00:05:46 +0000

[...] Bundled, Tossed, Untied and Stacked * Tom Devlin at Drawn and Quarterly talked a bit about their planned childrens' book line on their blog. It's to be called D+Q Enfant, and given their art direction standards and general, displayed line-wide quality in the realm of comics, should be something to keep an eye on. That's going to be one of their offerings above. * everybody gets excited about new book lines, but Devlin dropped another bomb yesterday afternoon, at least one I wasn't aware of. D&Q is doing a book with Imiri Sakabashira called The Box Man. Holy crap. I'll put one of the images at the bottom of this post so you can go "Holy Crap," too. I don't follow manga closely enough to declare with authority this is the first Sakabashira comic published in North America since a short story popped up in Sake Jock, but that would be my hunch. * the comics business news and analysis site ICv2.com had a bunch of single-project publishing announcements on their site in the lat few days. The Del Rey and Cartoon Network alliance will result in comics featuring The Secret Saturdays. Last Gasp will be releasing a Junko Mizuno book with the awesome title of Little Fluffy Gigolo Pelu Vol. 1. IDW will be taking another stab at re-launching Fallen Angel. * the emerging webcomics cartoonist Kate Beaton has a book now; there's a photo of it and everything. I thought it interesting that she may not have been keeping files when she first started. Anyway, you should buy one. * the writer Katherine Dacey has launched a manga-focused review and criticism site, with one of those names that makes you wonder why no one's used it yet. * I received a press release earlier today that said BrokenFrontier.com has relaunched with a new design and a focus on Web 2.0 capabilities. It didn't give the URL, but it wasn't tough to figure that out. The site looks nice. I don't really understand what the web 2.0 stuff means, but I never do. I didn't know that site was headquartered in Brussels, or I did know and forgot. * finally, Brian Cronin's book from Penguin on various comics industry legends and rumors has reached the preview stage. [...]

By: Alex

Alex — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 01:49:39 +0000

I hope there's some Liefeld stuff in there. It wouldn't be a comic urban legend book with Rob Liefeld.

By: Novaya Havoc

Novaya Havoc — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 01:13:20 +0000

Aw, bummer! I went to Border's today -- said they had them likely in store. None came in. Boo.

Hope to get it soon! Kudos, BC!

By: OM

OM — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 01:01:28 +0000

"And in the 1980s, in an issue of The Fantastic Four, writer John Byrne had a child do just that, as an homage to the rumors (it also made for a powerful issue, starring Johnny, as he deals with his guilt over the incident)."

...Of course, he should have had three other neighborhood kids dying from similar stunts. One kid smothering to death in orange plaster, another dying by jumping into a taffty pulling machine, while the third manages to actually figure out how to make himself vanish into thin air...only to get run over by a bus because the driver couldn't see him and at least attempt to miss him

By: Freakshow

Freakshow — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 23:04:41 +0000

Mine copy should be here by the end of the week. I can't wait.

By: LaughlinNVhotels

LaughlinNVhotels — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 21:53:12 +0000

I wasn't sure this was already in amazon, going there right away!

By: Brendan T

Brendan T — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 21:52:29 +0000

My copy shipped today, meaning I should have it tomorrow. Can't wait.

This has actually been one of the new releases I've been most hyped about.

By: Neal K

Neal K — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 20:53:06 +0000

My copy just came in from Amazon. I obviously haven't read it yet, but it has a very attractive and attention-getting front and back cover. Congrats on the book, I'm very much looking forward to digging in.

By: Adam P Knave

Adam P Knave — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 20:11:42 +0000

Waiting to get mine from Amazon. Congratz again on it!

By: chad

chad — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 20:08:00 +0000

being a fan of the colume of the same name for so long looking forward to having the book as soon as i can get to the shop and pick up a copy

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 20:07:13 +0000

Just realized the book was supposed to come out today. I don't know why or how, but I was able to find a used copy at my local bookstore last Sunday. I planned to buy it new, but I couldn't turn down the $8 price tag. So please everyone buy a second new copy to make up for me. Mr. Brian Cronin made one entertaining book, and now I feel kind of douchey for having picked up a used copy.

By: Ricardo

Ricardo — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 20:04:58 +0000

Got it from Amazon! I love Trivia filled books and Almanacs...