Wizard: The Comics Magazine #162 (April 2005)

The Untold Legend Of The Batman (1982) (Tor Books)

Front cover (Artwork by Josè Luis Garcia-Lopez & Dick Giordano.

Back cover.

Title: The Untold Legend Of The Batman
Cover Art By: Josè Luis Garcia-Lopez (Pencils) & Dick Giordano (Inks)

Writer: Len Wein

Penciller: Jim Aparo, John Byrne
Inker: Jim Aparo
Letterer: Jim Aparo, John Costanza
Editor: Andrew Helfer, Paul Levitz (Original series)

Genre: Superhero

Printing: First
Printing Date: August, 1982

ISBN: 0-812-50353-8   Can ISBN:0-812-50352-X

Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates (Tor Books)

Book Type: Mass Market Paperback.

Price: 2.95 U.S. * 3.95 Can.
Pages: 160

Interior design and production By Bob Rozakis, Jodi Saviuk & Alex Saviuk.

There are printings of this book from July, 1989 and July, 1992.

This is a reformatted to fit paperback size, black & white reprint of the 1980, three Issue mini-series from DC comics, "The Untold Legend Of The Batman".

There is an ad on the last page for a Tor Books New Teen Titans paperback.

The cover for this book is also the cover for The Untold Legend Of The Batman #3, Sept. 1980.

This story was also reprinted in June 1989 in standard comic size with audio cassettes by MPI, in a special audio edition.

This story was also reprinted in 1989 in standard comic size in a special Batman cereal edition.

Thor: Marvel Fanfare Pinups

I know these have been seen before on other blogs, but with Thor: The Dark World released today in North American theatres, I thought I'd post a couple of the Thunder God's portfolio pages I personally scanned from the much beloved 1982-1991 anthology title Marvel Fanfare. One from "the not for everyone" style of Bill Sienkiewicz and the other, a comedic piece from Terry Austin, known primarily as an inker but has dabbled in a few pencilling duties such as covers and backup pinups from time to time.

Scanned from Marvel Fanfare Vol. 1, No. 8, May 1983.
Art by Bill Sienkiewicz.
Sienkiewicz's Neal Adams influence is clearly on display in this extremely happy rendition of Thor.
This is before BS began doing the unique abstract painted pieces which he has become famous for.

Scanned from Marvel Fanfare Vol. 1, No. 18, January 1985.
Art by Terry Austin.
This is a cute piece from Austin, who resurrected the 1940's Timely funny animal characters, Ziggy Pig and Silly Seal.
Ziggy Pig and Silly Seal were created by Al Jaffe, the legendary cartoonist responsible for the Mad Fold-In.
Terry Austin would once again draw Ziggy Pig in the April 1984 Marvel Fumetti book in a story written by Mike Carlin.

Comics That Seen Better Days #3

With the exceptions of the ripped corner and the sticker tears above the logo, this copy of Tarzan Of The Apes No. 167 from May, 1967, isn't really that bad off. Of course it's a write-off, but it still has some nice gloss on the cover and the staples are still pretty strong. Such a shame to see those rips though, but it did manage to escape the wrath of ink from some kid for all these years. 

Edgar Rice Burroughs Tarzan Of The Apes No. 167, May, 1967.
Incredible Pal-Ul-Don
Interior Art By Russ Manning.
There is a text story (Kinji's Offer) and a back up story featuring Leopard Girl (The Death Fruit).
Painted cover.
Number on cover 10012-705 May

Comics That Seen Better Days #2

This copy of Marvel Tales #45 is a complete mess, the cover is ripped off completely and split in two and it has a "Aug. 17 1974" stamp on the cover and a "Property Of Joe MacEachern" stamp on the first page. There's also five additional staples put there by someone (My money's on Joe) to hold the cover together. Dear Joe, they did not hold. Five Staples...wow. Of course I will keep this baby because I don't like throwing out comics and it has great ads, and maybe someday I will meet Joe MacEachern and help him recapture his childhood by giving him back one of his comics.

Marvel Tales No. 45, September 1973.
Cover By John Romita, Sr.
Interior Art By John Romita, Sr., Don Heck & Mike Esposito.
This is a reprint of Amazing Spider-Man No. 62, July 1968.
The original cover from Amazing Spider-Man features a plain white background.
An additional background with bystanders was added for this reprint cover.

I have another question, Joe MacEachern, what does the 62 mean?

How can I possibly throw out a comic that has an ad with a caption like that?

Great Comic Artists: Joe Staton (Part 3)

Continuing the spotlight on Joe Staton, this time showcasing a couple of his Charlton Horror covers, both cover dated October, 1975. These covers showcase Staton's women, they weren't always pretty but they certainly were buxom.

Ghostly Haunts #46, October, 1975.

The Many Ghosts Of Dr. Graves #53, October 1975.