Yep, that’s correct the Great Pumpkin made his first appearance, well to be exact, got his first mention in Charles Schultz’s Peanuts strip on October 26, 1959. Exactly fifty-one (51) years ago today! The Great Pumpkin was mentioned by Schultz’s character Linus and was “featured” in a eight strip/day sequence beginning on October 26th. Linus…
DetailsThis week, I bring to your attention, D. C. Comics’ Swamp Thing # 7, cover dated December 1973. It features a moody cover of the Swamp Thing clinging to a side of a building with the Batman swinging through the air, toward him, on his bat-rope. The cover is both penciled and inked by Bernie Wrightson. …
DetailsPart 4 of 4: Competition or Cohabitation? For the past few years, the metro Detroit comic scene seemed to get by just fine without any kind of major convention in the fall. But in a fairly short period time, next weekend’s new Detroit FanFare has become a buzz-worthy event, and the return of the 2-day…
DetailsThis week I’ll be looking at Marvel Comics’ Amazing Adventures, Featuring Killraven, Warrior Of The Worlds # 34. This issue is scripted by Don McGregor and both penciled and inked by P. Craig Russell. Russell is also responsible for the cover, both pencils and inks, as well. The book is cover dated, January 1976. The series…
DetailsPart 3 of 4: The New Convention Landscape It didn’t take long after it was announced that Detroit FanFare appeared perched and ready to pounce into the four-year void left by the demise of the fall Motor City Comic Con. But recalling how the fall show often struggled to draw a crowd, it’s arguable as…
DetailsThis week, my Retro Review covers Nexus # 2 & 3 from Capitol Comics. Issue # 2 is dated June 1982 and is printed in a larger magazine size (7 & 3/4 by 10 & 3/4), as are issues # 1 & 3. Each of the original three issues, a mini-series, are printed in this larger…
DetailsPart Two: Fall Cons, Past & Present If comic book fandom didn’t originate in Detroit, the city sure helped it take root, as devoted comic book fans like Jerry Bails and Shel Dorf put together the Detroit Triple Fan Fair in 1965. This event gave area fans an official venue to congregate and actually meet various comic…
DetailsThis week I present DC Comics’ Metal Men # 36, cover dated March 1969. It’s got a terrific Mike Sekowsky/Dick Giordano cover featuring small-sized Metal Men pulling a small cart being driven by a giant Clown! Yes you heard me right, I said a Giant Clown! Enough to cause nightmares to those that find clowns just a little bit…
DetailsPart One: Fandom’s Detroit Roots OK, quick: if someone wanted to buy a comic book, where would they go? The answer to that question would be significantly different depending upon the era it was asked. In 1950 or so, near the historical peak of U.S. comic book circulation, the question might have elicited some pretty…
DetailsFor this week’s Retro Review, let’s take a look at Marvel Comics Group’s The Avengers # 57. This is the comic that introduced the Vision to the Marvel mythos! It’s got a wonderful symbolic cover of the Vision towering over the Avengers, done in a completely red hue, by the great John Buscema! The story is…
DetailsLast week, as you’ll remember, I spoke of how, as a youngster, I feared that such stellar comics-related films like Superman III(1983) and TV series like The Amazing Spider-Man (1978) would only further devolve the reputation of comic books. And this was at a time when this teen / young adult was secretly hoping for something from…
DetailsThis week I would like to offer DC Comics’s All-Star Comics #s 64 and 65, cover dated February and April 1977, for my retro review(s). Issue # 64 features a beautiful Wally Wood cover featuring three members of the legendary Justice Society of America, Superman, the Flash and Hawkman, along with two members of the Super Squad,…
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