The MPAA's Defunct X Rating

I Will Tell You #12: Rated CYA

It’s been a long time since the outdated Comics Code Authority had made headlines, which, ironically, is probably the reason why its long-overdue demise did make headlines. Long powerless, at worst, and symbolic, at best, the CCA recently took its final breath after more than a generation on a respirator, when Archie Comics became the…

1st Red Sonja

Retro Review: Conan #24

Cover dated March 1973, comic book and sword and sorcery fans found Marvel Comics’ Conan the Barbarian # 24 on the stands.  The series had begun a little over two years prior.  The writer/adapter was Stan Lee’s right hand man, Roy Thomas and a new-comer to comic book illustration, one Barry Smith, now-a-days, known as Barry…

Scott McCloud's Zot! #1

Retro Review: Zot! #1

Eclipse Comics published Zot! #1, cover dated April 1984.   The cover is both penciled and inked by newcomer Scott McCloud.  Now twenty-five years later, Scott is more known for writing and illustrating the book Understanding Comics than he is for his comic book series, Zot! But at the time, this all ages series, was like a breath…

Superman on Trial!

Retro Review: Superman #247

Superman # 247, cover dated January 1972 was published by DC Comics.  This issue features a nice Curt Swan/Murphy Anderson cover of the Guardians of the Universe passing judgement against Superman for “crimes against humanity!”  Turning to the story inside, entitled; “Must There Be A Superman?”, it is written by Elliot Maggin, penciled by Curt…