Warlord #77 (Jan. 1984)

Title: Warlord #77
Cover Art By: Dan Jurgens (P) & Bob Smith (I), Anthony Tollin (Colorist)
Editor: Ross Andru
Genre: Sword & Sorcery/Fantasy
Publishing Date: Jan. 1984
Publisher: DC Comics
Book Type: Standard
Price: 0.75 (US)/0.95 (CAN)
Pages: 36

Title: Let My People Go!
Feature Character: The Warlord [Travis Morgan]
Writer: Cary Burkett
Penciller: Dan Jurgens
Inker: Dan Adkins
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Carl Gafford
Editor: Ross Andru
Page Count: 17

Title: Surface Tension (Episode 12)
Feature: The Barren Earth
Writer: Gary Cohn
Penciller: Ron Randall
Inker: Ron Randall
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Bob LeRose
Editor: Ross Andru
Page Count: 6

Notes:

• The letters page, "Chain Mail" features letters from,  Shami Pathak (Cumberland, Maryland); Richard Rotmistrovsky (Suffern, N.Y.);  Wesley M. Allison (Blue Diamond, NV.); Lamar Isbell (Leeds, Ala.)
• The "splash" page in this issue appears as a double page spread presented in a landscape format, meant to be viewed "sideways".
• Cary Burkett, Dan Jurgens & Ross Andru "answer" the letters page comments.
• This issue features a back-up story featuring episode 12 of "The Barren Earth".

Ads:

• Masters Of The Universe "Talon Fighter" and "Attak Trak" model kits (Monogram model kits)
• Bubble Yum unscramble the fun (Nabisco brands gum)
• Return Of The Jedi "Imperial Shuttle Tydirium", "Tie Interceptor", "Speeder Bike", "A-Wing Fighter", and "B-Wing" model kits (MPC model kits)
• Star Frontiers role playing game (TSR Hobbies, Inc role playing game)
• "NBC Saturday Morning, We Got The Jazz!" (The Flintstone Funnies, The Shirt Tales, Smurfs, Alvin And The Chipmunks, Mr. T, Amazing Spider-Man And The Incredible Hulk, Thundarr The Barbarian) (NBC Saturday morning cartoons)
• Sgt. Rock/The Lost Word Of The Warlord (Remco action figures available at K-Mart)
• War Room (Probe 2000 Series) (Colecovision video game)
• Superman Creamy Peanut Butter free Action Comics #1 (Reprint coupon mail away)
• Bump 'N' Jump (Mattel Electronics Intellivision, and Atari 2600 video game)
• Power Lords (Revell action figures)

Justice League Of America #222 (Jan. 1984)

Title: Justice League Of America #222
Cover Art By: Chuck Patton (P) & Dick Giordano (I), Anthony Tollin (Colorist)
Editor: Len Wein, Nicola Cuti (Assistant)
Genre: Superhero
Publishing Date: Jan. 1984
Publisher: DC Comics
Book Type: Standard
Price: 0.75 (US)/0.95 (CAN)
Pages: 36 (Story has 23)

Title: Death Games
Writer: Gerry Conway
Penciller: Chuck Patton
Inker: Romeo Tanghal
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Gene D' Angelo
Editor: Len Wein, Nicola Cuti (Assistant)

Notes:

• The letters page, "JLA Mail Room" features letters from, Kent A. Phenis (Indianapolis, IN); Jay Elliott (Las Vegas); David Mercury (Toledo, OH)
• This story is Part 2 of the "Beasts" story arc featuring Maximus Rex as the villain.
• Joey Cavalieri "answers" the letters page comments.

Ads:

• Masters Of The Universe "Talon Fighter" and "Attak Trak" model kits (Monogram model kits)
• Bubble Yum unscramble the fun (Nabisco brands gum)
• Return Of The Jedi "Imperial Shuttle Tydirium", "Tie Interceptor", "Speeder Bike", "A-Wing Fighter", and "B-Wing" model kits (MPC model kits)
• Star Frontiers role playing game (TSR Hobbies, Inc role playing game)
• "NBC Saturday Morning, We Got The Jazz!" (The Flintstone Funnies, The Shirt Tales, Smurfs, Alvin And The Chipmunks, Mr. T, Amazing Spider-Man And The Incredible Hulk, Thundarr The Barbarian) (NBC Saturday morning cartoons)
• Sgt. Rock/The Lost Word Of The Warlord (Remco action figures available at K-Mart)
• War Room (Probe 2000 Series) (Colecovision video game)
• Superman Creamy Peanut Butter free Action Comics #1 (Reprint coupon mail away)
• Bump 'N' Jump (Mattel Electronics Intellivision, and Atari 2600 video game)
• Power Lords (Revell action figures)

DC Comics Presents #65 (Jan. 1984)

Art by Gray Morrow

Title: DC Comics Presents #65
Cover Art By: Gray Morrow
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Genre: Superhero
Publishing Date: Jan. 1984
Publisher: DC Comics
Book Type: Standard
Price: 0.75 (US)/0.95 (CAN)
Pages: 36 (Story has 23)

Title: Slayer From The Dark Dimension
Writer: Paul Kupperberg
Penciller: Gray Morrow
Inker: Gray Morrow
Letterer: Rob Orzechowski
Colorist: Gray Morrow
Editor: Julius Schwartz

Notes:

• The letters page, "Pair Mail" features letters from, Cecil Green (London, KY); David Mercury (Toledo, OH); Mike Lanzalotti (Turnerville, NJ); T.E. Pouncey (Wichita, KS); Adam Burchess (Durham, NC)
• Bob Rozakis "answers" the letters page comments.

Ads:

• Masters Of The Universe "Talon Fighter" and "Attak Trak" model kits (Monogram model kits)
• Bubble Yum unscramble the fun (Nabisco brands gum)
• Return Of The Jedi "Imperial Shuttle Tydirium", "Tie Interceptor", "Speeder Bike", "A-Wing Fighter", and "B-Wing" model kits (MPC model kits)
• Star Frontiers role playing game (TSR Hobbies, Inc role playing game)
• "NBC Saturday Morning, We Got The Jazz!" (The Flintstone Funnies, The Shirt Tales, Smurfs, Alvin And The Chipmunks, Mr. T, Amazing Spider-Man And The Incredible Hulk, Thundarr The Barbarian) (NBC Saturday morning cartoons)
• Sgt. Rock/The Lost Word Of The Warlord (Remco action figures available at K-Mart)
• War Room (Probe 2000 Series) (Colecovision video game)
• Superman Creamy Peanut Butter free Action Comics #1 (Reprint coupon mail away)
• Bump 'N' Jump (Mattel Electronics Intellivision, and Atari 2600 video game)
• Power Lords (Revell action figures)

Comic Shop News (2009 Christmas Special)

Today's Christmas cover is the 2009 Comic Shop News By Dustin Nguyen...Merry Christmas!

Art by Dustin Nyguyen

This "Special Edition" of Comic Shop News featured gift ideas for the comic book fan in one's life, along with a one page wish list featuring all the comics mentioned in the special and more.

Superman #64 (Feb. 1992)

Christmas Comic Cover...Superman #64 (Feb. 1992)

Art by Dan Jurgens & Brett Breeding

Title: Superman #64

Cover Art By: Dan Jurgens (P), Brett Breeding (I)

Editor: Mike Carlin, Dan Thorsland (Assistant)

Genre: Superhero

Publishing Date: Feb. 1992

Publisher: DC Comics

Book Type: Standard

Price: 1.00 (US)/1.25 (Can)

Pages: 36 (Story has 22)

Title: Metropolis Mailbag

Writer: Dan Jurgens

Penciller: Jackson Guice

Inker: Jackson Guice

Letterer: John Costanza

Colorist: Glenn Whitmore

Editor: Mike Carlin, Dan Thorsland (Assistant)

Notes:

• The story title is a tribute to the long time name of the Superman letters page.
• The Fun Factory gag gift ad states it was valid until March 1988, this issue has a cover date of Feb. 1992.
• The letters page, "Metropolis Mailbag" features letters from, Simon DelMonte (Queens, NY); Kashif H. (Schwalbach, Germany); Patrick Ross (Goleta, CA); Bill Beechler (West Lafayette); Jeff Dyer (Peosta, IA); Mike Aragona (Montreal, Quebec)
• Dan Thorsland "answers" the letters page comments.

Ads:

• Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge (Konami Game Boy video game)
• Wayne's World (Movie; Mike Myers, Dana Carvey)
• Score '92 (MLB Baseball cards)
• Game Genie (Galoob video game enhancer)
• Great Eastern Conventions January 1992 schedule (Comic con dates)
• Fun Factory Super Gifts and Gimmicks (Gag mail order coupon)
• Various Mail Orders
• DC Subscription coupon various DC Heroes header (Expired January 31, 1992) (Appearing are: Hawkman, John Stewart, Blackhawk, Raven, Black Canary, Flash [Wally West], Batman, Wonder Woman, Superman, Green Arrow [Oliver Queen], Aquaman, Swamp Thing, Firestorm, Red Tornado, Martian Manhunter)
• Elongated Man: Europe '92  (DC house ad for four issue mini-series by Gerard Jones, Mike Parobeck & Ty Templeton)
• 3 Musketeers Adventures No. 3 in a series (3 Musketeers candy bar)
• Smash T.V. (Acclaim NES video game)

Justice League Of America #110 (Mar-April 1974)

Christmas Cover...Justice League Of America #110 (Mar-April 1974) by Nick Cardy.

Cover Art By Nick Cardy

The Unexpected #220 (March, 1982)

Today's Christmas Cover is this nifty Joe Kubert & Dave Manak piece from Unexpected #220, March 1982.

Art By Joe Kubert (From An Idea By Dave Manak)

Title: The Unexpected #220

Cover Art By: Dave Manak (Design), Joe Kubert

Editor: Dave Manak

Genre: Horror Anthology, Suspense

Printing: First

Publishing Date: March, 1982

Publisher: DC Comics

Book Type: Standard

Price: 0.60 (U.S.)

Pages: 36 (Stories Vary)

Notes:

• As noted in the "Unexpected Mail" letters page, this was the 26th Annual issue of The Unexpected.
• Vic Catan, artist on the story, "The Bride Was Aglow" signed his work, "Vicatanjr".
• Ernesto Magalpo, artist on the story, "The Strange Guide", signed his work, "Magalpo".

Ads:

• MPC Model Cars (Model Kits)
• Bubble Yum Sweepstakes (Mail Away Contest)
• Batman In "The K-9 Caper!" (Hostess Twinkies Cakes)
• Grit Publishing Co. (Mail Away)/Heroes World (Toys And Comic Mail Order) (Split Page)
• Various Mail Orders
• Superman/Action Comics (Bottom banner DC House Ad on Letters Page)
• Captain Carrot And His Amazing Zoo Crew! #1 (DC House Ad) 
• Moondance Comics (Back Issue Comic Mail Order)
• Monogram Model Big Rig Trucks (Model Kits)

There are several stories in this issue, the following is a listing of the Table Of Contents.

Title: Santa Claus Is A Killer!
Writer: Robin Snyder, Sarah Gregory

Penciller: Ernie Colon
Inker: Ernie Colon
Letterer: Ernie Colon
Colorist: Ernie Colon
Editor: Dave Manak

Title: The Bride Was All Aglow!

Writer: Arnold Drake

Penciller: Vic Catan (As Vicatanjr)
Inker: Vic Catan
Letterer: N/A
Colorist: N/A
Editor: Dave Manak

Title: The Strange Guide

Writer: Bill Kelley

Penciller: Ernesto Magalpo (As Magalpo)
Inker: Ernesto Magalpo
Letterer: N/A
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Editor: Dave Manak

Title: Trollbridge

Writer: Gary Cohn

Penciller: Paris Cullins
Inker: Gary Martin
Letterer: Shelly Leferman
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Editor: Dave Manak

Sgt. Rock #414 (Feb. 1987)

Todays' Christmas themed cover is by Joe Kubert for SGT. Rock #414, Feb. 1987.

SGT. Rock #414, Feb. 1987 (Cover By Joe Kubert)
"The Shining Star" Written By Robert Kanigher, Art/Lettering By Andy Kubert, Edited by Murray Boltinoff

DCU Holiday Special II (1998)

Since Christmas is fast approaching, I thought I'd post the some Christmas themed covers for the next few days up until Christmas.
Today's Christmas Cover  comes the DCU Holiday Bash II from 1998, art by Scott McDaniel & Kevin Nowlan.
DC put three of these Holiday Bash Specials out from 1997 to 1999, each featuring several Christmas themed stories using top characters and quite a few lesser knowns as well.

Cover art by Scott McDaniel & Kevin Nowlan & Dre (??)

Title: DCU Holiday Bash II
Cover Art By: Scott McDaniel (Pencils) & Kevin Nowlan (Inks), Dre (?) (Colors) (?)

Editor: Darren Vincenzo

Genre: Superhero

Printing: First
Printing Date: 1998

Publisher: DC Comics

Book Type: Standard Comic (Double Sized)

Price: 3.95 U.S. * 5.50 Can.
Pages: 68

Notes:

• The Superman & Sgt. Rock stories are silent.
• The Black Lightning story is in black and white.
• Ty Templeton's hilarious Darkseid story was a one man show as he wrote, pencilled, inked, colored and lettered it.
• One of the cover credits is given to "Dre", checked everywhere for info on that individual and could not find anything.
• The stories, "The Present",  "Present Tense", and "The Gift" have been reprinted in the 2000 trade, "A DC Universe Christmas".

Ads:

• Beavis And Butt-Head Do America (VHS)
• Sonic R (Sega Saturn Video Game) (Two Pages)
• Jurassic Park:The Lost World (VHS)
• Mass Destruction (Video Game/Sony Playstation/Sega Saturn/Windows 95)
• Last Bronx (Video Game/Sega Saturn/PC CD-ROM) (Two Pages)
• Tomorrow Never Dies (Movie)
• Star Wars: Masters Of Teras Kasi  (Sony Playstation Video Game)
• Superman: Distant Fires (64 Page Elseworlds Special) (DC House Ad)
• Twix (Candy Bar)
• Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero (Video Game/Sony Playstation/Nintendo 64)

There are several stories in this issue, the following is a listing of the Table Of Contents.

Title: The Present
Main Characters: Green Lantern (Kyle Rayner), Green Arrow (Connor Hawke)

Writer: Devin K. Grayson

Penciller: William Rosado
Inker: Sal Buscema
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Lee Loughridge
Editor: Darren Vincenzo

Title: The House Of Peace
Main Character: Batman (Bruce Wayne)

Writer: Chuck Dixon

Penciller: Dave Taylor
Inker: Wayne Faucher
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Noelle Giddings
Editor: Darren Vincenzo

Title: Present Tense
Main Character: Darkseid

Writer: Ty Templeton

Penciller: Ty Templeton
Inker: Ty Templeton
Letterer: Ty Templeton
Colorist: Ty Templeton
Editor: Darren Vincenzo

Title: 'Twas The Night Before Kwanzaa
Main Character: Black Lightning

Writer: Tony Isabella

Penciller: Eddy Newell
Inker: Eddy Newell
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: N/A
Editor: Darren Vincenzo

Title: The Gift
Main Character: Superman (Clark Kent)

Writer: Dan Jurgens

Penciller: Dan Jurgens
Inker: Brett Breeding
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Jason Wright
Editor: Darren Vincenzo

Title: I Left My Heart At The Justice Society Canteen
Main Characters: Justice Society Of America

Writer: Howard Chaykin

Penciller: Rick Burchett
Inker: Rick Burchett
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Rick Taylor
Editor: Darren Vincenzo

Title: A Christmas Carol
Main Character: Sgt. Rock

Writer: Chuck Dixon

Penciller: Russ Heath
Inker: Russ Heath
Letterer: Russ Heath (?)
Colorist: Russ Heath
Editor: Darren Vincenzo

Title: The Old Lane
Main Character: Nightwing (Dick Grayson) & Oracle (Barbara Gordon)

Writer: Devin Grayson (Dialogue/Co-Plotter) & Brian Stelfreeze (Co-Plotter)

Penciller: Brian Stelfreeze
Inker: Karl Story
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Lee Loughridge
Editor: Darren Vincenzo

Title: Ornaments Page
Main Characters: Superman (Wearing the Blue Lightning Costume), Robin (Tim Drake), Batgirl (Barbara Gordon), Batman (Bruce Wayne), Nightwing (Dick Grayson), Green Lantern (Kyle Rayner)

Writer: Rick Burchett

Penciller: Rick Burchett
Inker: Rick Burchett
Letterer: Rick Burchett
Colorist: Rick Burchett (?)
Editor: Darren Vincenzo

Batman By Mike Kaluta

Combining his mastery of horror with the Dark Knight, the great Mike Kaluta declares "Batman Has Gone To Hell" in this sweet Batman pinup from Batman #400, Oct. 1986.

Scanned from Batman No. 400, October 1986.
Art By Mike Kaluta.
The Great Art Adams counts Mike Kaluta as one of his main influences.

R.I.P. Nick Cardy (1920-2013)

Sadly, legendary comic book artist Nick Cardy passed away on Nov. 3, 2013, he had just turned 93 on Oct. 20.I'm a huge fan of the 1970's DC Horror line, many of which Cardy drew interior stories and covers for. I always loved how he drew children and women, kind of had a Jack Kamen, Johnny Craig style about them. His work is timeless and will never be forgotten. Here's a few covers of his that I scanned from my collection...

                                                       Unexpected #127 (September 1971)

                                                       Witching Hour #27 (January 1973)

Witching Hour #40 (March 1974)

 Witching Hour #43 (June 1974)

          Showcase Presents: The Witching Hour Volume One (2011)

     Cover artwork reprinted from Witching Hour #4 (Aug-Sept. 1969)

                      Showcase Presents: Secrets Of Sinister House (2010)

         Cover artwork reprinted from Secrets Of Sinister House #5 (June-July 1972)

            Wanted, The World's Most Dangerous Villains #5 (January, 1973)

Justice League Of America #113 (Sept.-Oct. 1974)

Starman #1 (Oct. 1988)

Title: Starman #1
Cover Art By: Tom Lyle

Editor: Robert Greenberger

Genre: Superhero

Printing: First
Publishing Date: Oct. 1988

Publisher: DC Comics

Book Type: Standard Comic

Price: 1.00 (US)/1.35 (CAN)

Pages: 36 (Story has 26)

Story Title: Grassroots Hero

Main Characters: Starman [Will Peyton] (First Appearance)

Writer: Roger Stern

Penciller: Tom Lyle

Inker: Bob Smith

Letterer: Bob Pinaha

Colorist: Julianna Ferriter

Editor: Robert Greenberger

Notes: 

• This is the first appearance of the Will Peyton "Starman".
• The Starman logo was designed by Steve Vance, who also did the awesome 80's Hawk And Dove Logo.
• There is a two page Robert Greenberger write up on the History Of Starman.
• It's interesting to read Bob Greenberger's two page write up on the history of the DC "Starmen", and refer to the Ist Issue Special Mikaal Tomas "Starman" to be a mere footnote. Of course this was about six or seven years before James Robinson would revitalize that character in the 90's with the Jack Knight Starman series which even lead to Mikaal Tomas joining the Justice League in the 2000's.
• There are a few preliminary costume sketches by Tom Lyle of the Will Peyton costume on the bottom of the first greenberger write up page.

Ads:

• Gauntlet/R.B.I. Baseball (Tengen) (Nintendo Video Game Ad) (Split Page)
• Candilicious (Chewy Candies) (Candy Ad)
• Various Mail Orders
• Mile High Comics (Comic book mail aways) (Two pages)
• Olympic Prizes For Cash (Mail Order)
• Forgotten Realms (Game Expansion) (TSR)

Great Comic Artists: Joe Staton (Part 2)

Continuing our look at Joe Staton, this time around looking back on his work on the late 80's title, The Green Lantern Corps, which he worked on for issues, 206-213, 217, 221 & 222 with writer, Steve Englehart, & inkers, Mark Farmer & Bruce Patterson. This run with Englehart has received much better critical acclaim from fans throughout the years than their next collaboration in 1988, the often hated weekly crossover for DC Comics, Millennium. Next to E-Man, some fans believe this was some of the more polished work Staton has done, partly due to the excellent tight inking from Mark Farmer. I agree with that but his three issue revival of the Doom Patrol, issues 94-96 of Showcase will always be my favorite Staton work.

The Green Lantern Corps #209, Feb. 1987.
Inks by Bruce Patterson & Colors by Anthony Tollin. Interiors inked by Mark Farmer.

The Green Lantern Corps #210, March. 1987.
Pencilling assist from Ed Hannigan, Inks by Bruce Patterson & Colors by Anthony Tollin.
Interiors inked by Mark Farmer.

The Green Lantern Corps #211, April 1987.
Inks by Bruce Patterson & Colors by Anthony Tollin.
Interiors inked by Mark Farmer.

The Green Lantern Corps #212, May 1987.
Inks by Bruce Patterson & Colors by Anthony Tollin.
Interiors inked by Mark Farmer.

The Green Lantern Corps #213 June 1987.

Inks by Bruce Patterson & Colors by Anthony Tollin.

Interiors inked by Mark Farmer.

This cover is an homage to a previous Staton cover for Green Lantern #190, July 1985

Great Comic Artists: Joe Staton (Part 1)

Here's a few covers spotlighting the somewhat cartoony, loose work of the underrated Joe Staton.

Staton broke into the biz in the early 70's for Charlton Comics working on many of their horror titles and is possibly most known for co-creating E-Man with Nicola Cuti. When he jumped to DC in the mid 70's, he co-created The Earth-2 Huntress and helped revive The Doom Patrol for Showcase and the Justice Society Of America in All-Star Comics. During the 80's, along with (One of my all time faves) Steve Englehart, they did a beloved run on Green Lantern Corps and the somewhat hated 8 issue weekly mini series, Millennium. In 1989, along with Joey Cavalieri, brought The Huntress into the Post-Crisis DC universe with a well received mini-series. In the 2000's, Staton was part of Archie's "new look" concept when he and Al Milgrom with writer, Melanie J. Morgan took on Jughead in a series in which Jughead falls in love. Today, Staton works on the Dick Tracy comic strip with Mike Curtis. I managed to meet him in Oct. of 2013 at the New York Comic Con. He signed my copy of Space 1999 #1.

Haunted Love #4, October 1973.
Staton also did the art for the second story in this issue, "Reunion".
As seen here, John Byrne's females are somewhat influenced by Joe Staton.

Space 1999 #1, November 1975.
This issue is signed by Joe Staton (New York Comic Con, 2013).

All-Star Comics #73, August 1978.
Inked by Joe Giella.
Giella's inks really ruin this cover, He was not the right fit for Staton at all.
The crammed panelling and the awkward positioning of some of the characters, also doesn't help it.

Showcase #97, Feb. 1978.
Inked by Joe Orlando

Jughead's Double Digest Magazine #141, August, 2008.
Inked by Al Milgrom.
Staton took on the "New Look" Archie concept which was designed to give the Archie world a more realistic look but his herky-jerky outlandish goofy style and 90's outdated hair & clothing made them seem more cartoony, not to mention more uglier than ever before. 

Comics That Seen Better Days #1

I've got hundreds of poor comics that I kept stacked in my room, and for some reason, I just don't want to throw them out. They aren't part of my main collection, but I feel like I'm rescuing them from the trash heap and I keep them for reference, house ads, and scanning but some of them are beat to hell. I figured I'd get some use out of them on here.
Here's a wonderful Neal Adams cover for Superman's Girlfriend Lois Lane No. 79, November, 1967 that has seen better days. I guess if you're gonna rip a cover, do it right, I guess. There's way too many great DC house ads in this baby to turf it just yet, and the Letters To Lois And Lana page is a keeper for sure. The bottom line is...This is how you distress a comic.

Superman's Girlfriend, Lois Lane, No. 79, November 1967.
Cover By Neal Adams.
Interior art by Kurt Schaffenberger.
Wow, How many times has Lois been "married" in this title? and Superman really is a jealous asshole.