Recent Posts
Comic Book Easter Eggs – Gilligan in the Belly of a Space Whale!
Every week, I will be sharing with you three comic book “easter eggs.” An easter egg is a joke/visual gag/in-joke that a comic book creator (typically the artist) has hidden in the pages of the comic for readers to find (just like an easter egg). They range from the not-so-obscure to the really obscure. So come check ‘em all out and enjoy! Also, click here for an archive of all the easter eggs featured so far! If you want to suggest an easter egg for a future column, e-mail me at bcronin@comicbookresources.com (do not post your suggestion in the comments section!).
Today, all the easter eggs are from Legion of Super-Heroes comics!
The Aquatic Spirit of Vengeance!
- by Brian Cronin
- in General
- 6 Comments
Chaz Folgar missed out on this past week’s Line it is Drawn (about comic book characters getting the superpowers of another character – click here to see what the other artists came up with).
So here he is to show his take on
Kholdstare21‘s suggestion of:
Ghost Rider with the powers of Aqua Man
Random Thoughts! (May 15, 2012)
Random Thought! Today, I buy a suit. It’s Random Thoughts time! Get excited!
Frantic as a cardiograph scratching out the lines, Day 136: Moon Knight (volume 3) #1
Every day this year, I will be examining the first pages of random comics. Today’s page is from Moon Knight (volume 3) #1, which was published by Marvel and is cover dated June 1989. Enjoy!
Continue Reading »
Comic Book Six Degrees: Judge Dredd to Marco Polo
I name two comic book characters. You then have to connect the two using only shared appearances in comic books (official appearances in comics only – no cameos like Terry Austin sneaking Popeye into the background of a panel and no outside comic book appearances, like cartoons and the like). You have to do so using less than six comics total. Covers and pin-ups do not count – only actual appearances in the same comic book story (so it doesn’t count if they each appeared in separate stories inside the same anthology). Mythological characters and real people (by the way, unless a fake name is used for a real person, you can use the person even if they are not officially named in the comic) are unique to their own comic book appearances (so DC’s Thor is different than Marvel’s Thor, DC’s Ronald Reagan is different from Marvel’s Ronald Reagan, etc.). But a licensed character is the same in all of their various comic book companies (so the Marvel Red Sonja is the same as the Dynamite Red Sonja) and approved appearances by a real person can go across comic book companies, as well (so, for instance, you can use Marv Wolfman from his Teen Titans appearance to connect with Marv Wolfman in his Fantastic Four appearance). Approval tends to be the key (except for public figures, of course).
Every week, whoever connects the two characters in the least amount of turns gets to pick the next week’s match- (in the event of a tie, the winner is chosen randomly). Last week was Prez Rickard to Barack Obama. Tuomas was one of a decent-sized group of people who got the connection done in two turns, using Pre-Crisis Supergirl and Post-Crisis Supergirl as the same character. I tend to believe that they wouldn’t count as the same person, but I did not make that ruling, so I don’t feel right excluding the connection. Tuomas is the one who got picked at random. Here is how Tuomas connected the two characters:
Prez Rickard met Supergirl (Kara) in Supergirl #10 (1974)
Supergirl (Kara) appeared with Barack Obama in Action Comics #901 (2011)
Tuomas’ challenge is…
Judge Dredd to Marco Polo
E-mail me your answers at bcronin@comicbookresources.com. Do NOT post your answers in the comments section!
Whoever connects the two characters in the least amount of comics gets to pick the connection for next time around (I’ll pick a random winner in the event of a tie)!
Remember, only authorized appearances in comic books count (for instance, Wolverine in Gen13 #13 and all Marvel characters in Savage Dragon/Destroyer Duck do not count)!
Comics You Should Own – Rex Libris
Yes, it’s weird. That’s partly why you should love it!
Continue Reading »
Frantic as a cardiograph scratching out the lines, Day 135: Young Heroes in Love #4
Every day this year, I will be examining the first pages of random comics. Today’s page is from Young Heroes in Love #4, which was published by DC and is cover dated September 1997. Enjoy!
Continue Reading »
When We First Met – Marvel Comic Magical Objects!
Every week we spotlight the various characters, phrases, objects or events that eventually became notable parts of comic book lore. Not major stuff like “the first appearance of Superman,” but rather, “the first time someone said, ‘Avengers Assemble!’” or “the first appearance of Batman’s giant penny” or “the first appearance of Alfred Pennyworth” or “the first time Spider-Man’s face was shown half-Spidey/half-Peter.” Stuff like that. Here is an archive of all the When We First Met features so far! Check ‘em out!
Today we look at the first appearances of three magical objects from Marvel Comics – the Darkhold, the Serpent Crown and the Casket of Ancient Winters!
Enjoy!
Frantic as a cardiograph scratching out the lines, Day 134: Nocturnals: The Dark Forever #1
Every day this year, I will be examining the first pages of random comics. Today’s page is from Nocturnals: The Dark Forever #1, which was published by Oni and is cover dated July 2001 (although this scan is from the nice hardcover that Image published in 2009). Enjoy!
Continue Reading »
The Abandoned An’ Forsaked – What’s the Deal With Jarvis and Tony Stark?
Every week, we will be examining comic book stories and ideas that were not only abandoned, but also had the stories/plots specifically “overturned” by a later writer (as if they were a legal precedent). Click here for an archive of all the previous editions of The Abandoned An’ Forsaked. Feel free to e-mail me at bcronin@comicbookresources.com if you have any suggestions for future editions of this feature.
Today we look at the abrupt transformation of the relationship between Edwin Jarvis and Tony Stark from employee/employer to father figure/son figure.
Enjoy!
Continue Reading »
Frantic as a cardiograph scratching out the lines, Day 133: The Golden Age #2
Every day this year, I will be examining the first pages of random comics. Today’s page is from The Golden Age #2, which was published by DC and is cover dated 1993. Enjoy!
Continue Reading »
House to Astonish Episode 84
Paul and I have got a tight little episode for you this time out, with discussion of the sad passing of Tony DeZuniga, the unbelievable box office of The Avengers, Marvel’s digital exclusive deal with Comixology, Cullen Bunn taking on the writing of Venom and DC’s upcoming Phantom Lady mini, as well as an extended chat about the value of new characters, reviews of Dial H, Mind the Gap and Trio and a grave undertaking from the Official Handbook of the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe. All this plus America’s own private Easter, Marvel’s relationship status and ’90s technobabble.
Our points of discussion from last episode got some good responses, so we’re doing it again this time round. This time, we’re looking to hear what you think about these topics:
- How important do you think it is for Marvel and DC to generate new characters? Is it the lifeblood of a company in a creative industry, or is revamping existing properties enough?
- Is there a place in the market for a series like Trio that’s unashamedly old-school, or has that type of series had its day?
- What can the comics industry do to look after the generation who went before? Should a company like DC be helping out a creator like Tony DeZuniga when he struggles to pay medical bills, or should that be left to organisations like the Hero Initiative?
The podcast is here, on Mixcloud here, available through iTunes or via Stitcher Radio (via their website or their Android or iOS apps).
Or you can listen to it right here via the player below!
Let us know what you think, in the comments, on Twitter (I’m @housetoastonish and Paul’s @ifdestroyed), via email on housetoastonish@gmail.com or on our Facebook fan page.
Frantic as a cardiograph scratching out the lines, Day 132: Strikeforce: Morituri #10
Every day this year, I will be examining the first pages of random comics. Today’s page is from Strikeforce: Morituri #10, which was published by Marvel and is cover dated September 1987. Enjoy!
Continue Reading »
