Stories You Love That Most People Never Heard Of

[Leo656]

Topic.

I have a bunch of 'em. We all know about the Watchmens, the Dark Knights, the Clone Sagas, and all'a that jazz. Let's talk about some of our favorite "pet" stories; ones that mean a lot to us personally, but aren't part of the larger conversation when people talk about comic books and the "greatest" stories ever told. They can be objectively "great", but they don't have to be, because it's all relative anyway. They can even be ones that most people may not like. As long as it impacted you personally, it counts.

Spoilers will be unavoidable and I'm not gonna bother trying very hard to avoid them anyway, just to let you know. So if you wanna use Spoiler tags, fine, but I wouldn't sweat it. Be as detailed as you want; the more the better, I say.

- Adventures of Superman Annual #1: "The Union" (1987)
https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/marvel_dc/images/1/17/Adventures_of_Superman_Annual_1.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/327?cb=20081002164006
This was one of the first comics I owned, and if you know me well you've heard me mention it before. In brief: The President sends Superman to investigate a small town in South Dakota where every living inhabitant seems to have vanished into thin air. Superman encounters a giant, blob-like mass of flesh, and after they do battle he's faced with the alien Word-Bringer, who reveals that he's in fact murdered the entire town (pets too) to "free them" from their flesh-prisons, and has turned them all into a hive-mind which he controls (physically manifesting their remains as the blob creature), giving him great mental powers. The alien flees upon witnessing Superman's rage; the hive-mind reaches out to Superman and tells him that they collectively refuse to exist in that intolerable state, and they beg him to put them out of their misery. When he refuses, they psychically overtake him and, to his horror, force him to shut down the life support systems which sustain their "brain", granting the sweet release of death.

This was my first exposure to the concept of a "Pyrrhic Victory", and frankly, I loved it. My Dad used to read it to me when I was 4-5; I eventually wore out a few copies, then couldn't find it for many years, but thankfully I eventually replaced it. I think it's actually Dan Jurgens's very first published Superman work, so if you're a fan of his, check it out.

Trivia: This story was followed up on two years later during Superman's self-imposed exile in space, following his execution of Zod and subsequent split personality/nervous breakdown event. The issue is Adventures of Superman #452: "Hell Beyond", where he encounters the Word-Bringer again, and is ultimately successful in reaching a compromise whereby, rather than resorting to kidnapping and murder, only those who volunteer would be selected for "The Union". Superman warns him not to f*ck it up and that was the end of that, forever. Kind of a mediocre ending, but the original story has a sincere and definite Creepiness Factor. It's totally unorthodox for a Superman story, right up until the "Did Superman actually just 'kill' an entire town?/"It's okay, they made him do it" ending, which is why it's so great.

[FredWolfLeonardo]

There is a story from my childhood that I learned as a part of my class during my early school years. It is a story that holds a very special place in my heart, but one that I never able to track down on the Interent, even to this day.

A rough summary of the story goes as follows:

There once lived a fisherman on a coastal village, poor but content with his life.

Life was as usual for him, until one day he spotted a beautiful woman walking out from the sea.

He was intrigued and smitten by her in an instant.

Despite many warnings from the villagers not to approach humanoids from the sea, the man defied the local traditions, by approaching the woman to talk to her about how beautiful she was.

She made him on offer, that she could take him to a place where countless other beautiful women like her lived. He would get to stay there for three days, and there, he would live like a king.

He took up the offer, and followed her into the sea, where she used her magical powers to give him the ability to breathe underwater. When he arrived in the mysterious city, it was exactly how she had described it to him.

The next three days were pure bliss for the man, for he would gorge on the most royal of feasts, sleep on the finest of beds, and meet the most beautiful looking women he had ever seen during his stay at the palace.

When it was time for him to go, the woman who brought him in the first place, also bought him to shore safely, taking away his ability to breathe underwater, and giving him a parting gift.

The man asked what was inside the box, to which the woman replied that it was a box that he must never open at any cost, returning back to the sea afterwards.

The man then returned to his village. To his surprise however, no one recognized him. When he told his name to a village elder, she proclaimed that she only remembered his name from legends told to her by her great grandmother. These were the legends of a man who walked into the sea 300 years ago after following a forbidden woman, never to return.

Realizing the situation he was in, the man walked away from the village, feeling depressed as to how he had lost his entire life in the village just for those three days of pleasure which started and finished in the blink of an eye. Having nothing else to do, the man looked at the box which was given to him by the forbidden woman in curiosity.

He opened it at last, releasing a magical spell that transformed him into an old man, who had aged by three hundred years, matching the new time period that he was now living in.

The End.

I've tried searching for the story online using key words and concepts from the story, but to no luck. That may be a blessing however, as it makes the story all the more fantastical, and nostalgic in my eyes.

This is the music I listen to when I think about the story and have come to associate with it, just to capture the magical atmosphere:

a2rmF-rViQc

[Leo656]

- "The Red Glass Trilogy": Superman #56, Adventures of Superman #479, and Action Comics #666 (1991)
https://i0.wp.com/www.fortressofsolitude.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/tumblr_nhkskxVgXl1sat64io1_500.jpghttps://i0.wp.com/www.fortressofsolitude.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/30777-3778-34255-1-adventures-of-superm.jpg?w=426&ssl=1https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/marvel_dc/images/6/61/Action_Comics_666.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20081230222716

I don't even know where to begin, because this story is just SO COOL. Keep in mind, although the DCU has been a "dark", PG-13/R-rated universe since the mid-80s, it was still rare for the flagship super-hero books like Superman or Batman to delve into straight-up horror-type stories at the time. If you were an unsuspecting kid who just happened to pick these issues up off the spinner rack, like me, this story blew your face off about five pages in and didn't let up until the very end. And it was impossible to put down, because... these things weren't actually HAPPENING, right? These bizarre, horrifying things surely weren't REAL, were they? You had to keep reading, just to see what the hell was going on!

I won't be able to explain it in an adequate fashion, but I'll try. People are suddenly terrified of Superman. Confused, he starts accidentally killing them while trying to save them. He finds himself faced with a museum full of murdered villains, all dead by his own hand, although he has no memory of it... nor of crippling Lois, who he accidentally kills next when confronted. As things escalate, Superman confusedly tries to make sense of what's happening, while accidentally lashing out and killing everyone in his way, starting with the Justice League and eventually wiping out most of the life on Earth. All the while, Superman is horrified, confused, and genuinely afraid as the bodies pile up, despite his constant insistence that he couldn't possibly have done, or be doing, any of this.

THANKFULLY, it's ultimately revealed that it was all an elaborate hallucination. The government had sent Superman to the moon to investigate a strange object that had been causing radio interference or something like that; what he found was a gigantic, red, crystalline alien being (the "Red Glass" from the title) which had become trapped deep in the soil. In telepathically reaching out to Superman for help, their minds became linked, but their lack of a common language led to confusion, and a kind of extreme sensory feedback; Superman was in this state mistakenly led to believe he was living out his greatest nightmare - a complete and total loss of control. Relieved, he finally frees the alien, but is shaken to the core by the experience.

See, we get these kinds of stories all the time nowadays - possibly Too Often - but stories like this were extremely rare in 1991, and furthermore, the execution was more on the cerebral angle of the affair moreso than being graphically violent. There are a lot of disturbing images, but they stop short of being excessive and are entirely befitting the story. But the writing is really where it shines; you completely feel Superman's confusion, fear, pain and sorrow as things just keep getting worse with each passing moment, and his overwhelming relief upon realizing that it wasn't real. And instead of being a throwaway "imaginary story" with no repercussions or actual meaning, it had the benefit of being in-continuity and presenting a rare exploration of Superman's greatest fears and insecurities. Superman's biggest fear isn't Kryptonite, it's losing control, hurting people, betraying himself... this was one of the very first times we were ever shown what the Worst-Case Scenario would look like, and it was deeply affecting. His resolve to never, ever let anything like that actually come to pass is what ultimately makes the story an uplifting one.

Dark? You bet'cha. But it's very, VERY good. Better than any of its modern "copycat" stories, I'd wager. If you're not put off by the idea of Superman starring in a psychological horror story, it's definitely worth a read.

[Utrommaniac]

A book that my mother had when she was a kid (and is in our home library)

https://cdn.psychologytoday.com/sites/default/files/styles/article-inline-half/public/blogs/624/2012/03/90415-86611.jpg?itok=SO8Ataee

It's about a pair of caterpillars trying to search for meaning in life, and has the counterculture stank of being written in 1972. And yet for that description and blast of yellow on most of the pages, it has a somber feeling to me.
This ain't no "Hungry Caterpillar" storybook...especially when it involves the leads breaking away from other caterpillars who are literally climbing over each other to "reach the top", not actually knowing why, and many dying in the effort...yeah, that sounds like 70's counterculture.


It's mildly a hippie book, that's just a little sad, but I love it. One of those books for adult understanding wrapped up as children's literature. Of course it can (and should) be read by children, but it's one of those things that when they become adults, the bolt up in bed in a cold sweat whispering "oh that's what it was about"

(And the way the caterpillars are drawn is so freakin' cute. They look like those magic worms)

[Leo656]

((Realizes that he mostly had Comic Books in mind when creating the thread, then later realizes that most people probably won't reply with anything comic-related since he forgot to specify it in the thread title)) :lol:

It's fine, I'unno how I missed that though. :trazz: Anyways, good response so far, looking forward to more.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51iPa6ghStL._SY346_.jpg

The Dortmunder series, by Donald Westlake. Really, anything by Donald Westlake.

[Candy Kappa]

Brave and the Bold #108

It starts with Batman almost dying trying to save a kidnapped child, and ends up in a crazy hunt for Evil itself.

[Leo656]

This would be a perfect opportunity to mention that I am all about details, so don't be stingy with 'em, folks. :trazz:

[Candy Kappa]

That'd spoil the story. But it does involve Bats might've sold his soul to the devil to survive.

But it also might have been Hitler, and Sgt. Rock teams up with batman to stop him

[Leo656]

Again, if you're concerned about Spoilers then just tag 'em.

I anticipate that at least some people are like me, and will generally respond to a spoiler-y thing with, "Hey, that actually sounds neat, I wasn't interested before but now I'm suuuuuper curious."

Anyways, I don't have that one. I somehow have a few DC Comics Presents, but not a lot of the original Brave and the Bold.

3 Points for Sgt. Rock reference. :lol: Where's HIS f*ckin' movie, eh? EH?!

[MikeandRaph87]

Brave and the Bold #108

It starts with Batman almost dying trying to save a kidnapped child, and ends up in a crazy hunt for Evil itself.

Sgt. Rock appearance, right? B&B is one of my classic runs. There was one that stood out like that. It was DC Special Series#8 which featured Deadman, Sgt. Rock, and Sherlock Holmes versus The Devil. Bob Haney was so out there at times.

I will post again when I am off work with some Bat centric tales.

[Candy Kappa]

3 Points for Sgt. Rock reference. :lol: Where's HIS f*ckin' movie, eh? EH?!

I was going to quip Sqt. Rock gets his movie when Jonah Hex does, but then I remembered...

Sgt. Rock appearance, right? B&B is one of my classic runs. There was one that stood out like that. It was DC Special Series#8 which featured Deadman, Sgt. Rock, and Sherlock Holmes versus The Devil. Bob Haney was so out there at times.

That's the one. I first read it in a Norwegian print of Batman, or Lynvingen (lit. Lightning Wing) as he was so... cleverly named :lol:

The next story in that Norwegian comic was iirc a story about Joker breaking out of jail via pumping a helium balloon and flying away, talk about tonal whiplash. :D

[MikeandRaph87]

http://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/marvel_dc/images/e/e9/Batman_291.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20071211141214

"Where Were You The Night Batman Was Killed?" is fantastic and zany. A bizarre trial proving guilt claimed by Joker, Riddler, Catwoman, and Lex Luthor (who's purpose was to promote Superman: The Movie to Batman fans). I love the twist and turns in it and recommend it to any Batfans! What a treasure it was to find in the back issue bin.


https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Batman:_Where_Were_You_On_The_Night_Batman_Was_Kil led%3F

[Utrommaniac]

Didn't they make an episode of B:TAS like that? (or...am I thinking of that "I threw a rock at him!" poker game)

[MikeandRaph87]

Didn't they make an episode of B:TAS like that? (or...am I thinking of that "I threw a rock at him!" poker game)

You are thinking of "Trial" which was inspired by the arc,but not exactly like that.
Trial's synopsis:Gotham's new DA, Janet Van Dorn, is out to capture Batman, but both she and him end up captured by some of Batman's main enemies instead. They are soon put on a kangaroo trial by the Joker (the judge), Two-Face (the prosecutor), the Ventriloquist (the bailiff), Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, the Mad Hatter, Killer Croc, the Scarecrow, and the Riddler (the jury), in front of other criminals held at Arkham. If the defense (Batman and the D.A.) can prove that Batman is not the cause for everyone's turn to crime, they will be set free. When the jury gives the verdict of 'not guilty', the villains have little intention of following through on their deal...

The arc in the comic centers around which of the four killed Batman not if Bamtan made them into who they are with a D.A. who hates Batman as well forced to defend him. Its a great concept in itself, but I prefer the comic.

[Leo656]

More, MORE! C'mon, this is fun. I have more but I don't wanna just blow 'em all in one shot. Keep it up!

[MikeandRaph87]

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qPon2S4vHls/Rsrp5Sh84dI/AAAAAAAAAPU/ZFuQrclj7c4/s320/batman335.jpg
Another hidden gem is The Lazurus Affair. This 1981 4 parter from Batman#332 to #335 shows the Lazurus pit for the first time. It also is the only time we see Dick Grayson as Robin team up with Catwoman. Robin goes to her for help after Batman takes off with Talia under suspicious circumstances and King Faraday gets involved. A must read for any Bat fans!


How about you take a turn with a DC villain profile, Leo?

[Voltron]

This thread is AWESOME. Keep'em comin', guys!

[MikeandRaph87]

I was going to quip Sqt. Rock gets his movie when Jonah Hex does, but then I remembered...



That's the one. I first read it in a Norwegian print of Batman, or Lynvingen (lit. Lightning Wing) as he was so... cleverly named :lol:

The next story in that Norwegian comic was iirc a story about Joker breaking out of jail via pumping a helium balloon and flying away, talk about tonal whiplash. :D

Out of curiosity, do you know the title and issue where Joker escaping via hellium balloon is from?

[Candy Kappa]

Out of curiosity, do you know the title and issue where Joker escaping via hellium balloon is from?

Sadly no, and it's all I remember from that story. Two-Face might have been in it too.

[MikeandRaph87]

Sadly no, and it's all I remember from that story. Two-Face might have been in it too.

Could it be this issue?
https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Batman_Vol_1_260

Its the only Joker centric story I know of with Two Face. The two teamed up twice. Once in a 1976 Brave and Bold two parter along with Atom II and Green Arrow.
https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Brave_and_the_Bold_Vol_1_129

The other one that comes to mind was when Joker and Two Face along with the Penguin poisioning rashions, but Two Face atrong armed Penguin into giving up a cure when the clean side of his coin came up.

[Leo656]

This thread is AWESOME. Keep'em comin', guys!

Glad I could get something good rolling, and I agree. So far so good, especially the "deep cuts" and stuff.


How about you take a turn with a DC villain profile, Leo?

Perhaps. I'll think about it. I had a couple other ones I was gonna post later today, we'll see what shakes loose. :)

[MikeandRaph87]

I have two more stories in mind, a 1983 tale and a 1992 tale. Yes, both involve Batman. Maybe a 1977 tale as well from a Bat companion magazine too. I will reveal more once more post showing other stories are made.

In my other thread I wanted to do The Shade/Richard Swift, already written up on a Word document. Then Black Adam.

[MikeandRaph87]

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_NXjyZJAN4A/Uy8SZcHDOLI/AAAAAAAAmh8/oKoVoswDmnE/s1600/newteentitans37-batmanandtheoutsiders5+recoloured.jpg

New Teen Titams#37/Batman and The Outsiders#5 crossover is a hidden gem that is dirt cheap, $2 to $3 for an ungraded vefy fine. This late 1983 publication is the very last in-continuity team-up of Dick "Robin" Grayson and Bruce "Batman" Wayne. Everything else is flashback. It contrast Bruce and Dick as leaders and shows how Robin has come into his own as the Fearsome Five, old Doom Patrol villains try to dismantle both teams. Must read for any fams of either teams or the Dynamic Duo. Seriously, how is thia two parter so cheap?

[neatoman]

Not a comic sotryline but I really do love one of Lovecraft's more obscure works, the Beast in the Cave. It's about a man who gets lost in a cave and figures out he's being stalked by some creature making strange noises.
By the end he kills it but when he examines the body he realises the monster was just a malnourished man who had been lost for too long.

[Leo656]

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_NXjyZJAN4A/Uy8SZcHDOLI/AAAAAAAAmh8/oKoVoswDmnE/s1600/newteentitans37-batmanandtheoutsiders5+recoloured.jpg

New Teen Titams#37/Batman and The Outsiders#5 crossover is a hidden gem that is dirt cheap, $2 to $3 for an ungraded vefy fine. This late 1983 publication is the very last in-continuity team-up of Dick "Robin" Grayson and Bruce "Batman" Wayne. Everything else is flashback. It contrast Bruce and Dick as leaders and shows how Robin has come into his own as the Fearsome Five, old Doom Patrol villains try to dismantle both teams. Must read for any fams of either teams or the Dynamic Duo. Seriously, how is thia two parter so cheap?

Jeebus, I want that as a poster.

I don't have that book but I definitely gotta pick it up. Thanks buddy! This is part of why we're here.

[MikeandRaph87]

Jeebus, I want that as a poster.

I don't have that book but I definitely gotta pick it up. Thanks buddy! This is part of why we're here.

Its easy to find at any Toy and Hobby Show or comic event. Its seriously cheap so hold out for an ungraded VF or you can get it off of Ebay. I wonder if its the first multiple comic covers to complete an image gimmick? Perez is one of the best, no argument there. His departure from Teen Titans is one of the many reasons the book fell apart a little over a year after this two parter. If you are really interested I can link you to a scanned copy of both New Teen Titans#37 and Batman and The Outsiders#5 in your profile or you wait until you buy it or both. Let me know in reply.

[MikeandRaph87]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cbr.com/comics-you-should-own-flashback-batman-452-454/amp/

"Dark Knight, Dark City" has gotten some attention, but not near enough. It finishes off a pretty amazing 25 issue run that was between Jason Todd and Tim Drake's stints as Robin. Riddler possessed by the centuries old demon who stuffs a ball down an infants throat to get away? Brutal! Yet its not Eddie's doing and Riddler gsts respect for his intellect from a evil older than Gotham.

[Leo656]

That answers my question from the other thread! Thanks man! I thought it was "Dark Knight, Dark City" but I didn't wanna make a fool of myself. I definitely have most or all of that stuff. I have most of the Batman and 'Tec books from 1988-ish through Knightfall. That's the best era for me. There's definitely been good to Great stories since then but that's what I grew up on so that's where my heart lies.

Perez was a God among men, no question. Especially those gigantic group shots. Who's EVER been better at those? And in an era before they could just use a computer to do a composite image, no less. Jurgens comes close, but sometimes his people are a little "stiff" when he's trying to fit a ton of them on one or two pages; Perez's group shots just explode with personality, they're so dynamic.

I'm alright without the scans, I don't like reading comics on a screen. I do appreciate you, though. I'm "connected", I can find almost any comic I want so long as I remember to ask one'a my "guys". Thanks again, though. You're a good dude.

[MikeandRaph87]

That answers my question from the other thread! Thanks man! I thought it was "Dark Knight, Dark City" but I didn't wanna make a fool of myself. I definitely have most or all of that stuff. I have most of the Batman and 'Tec books from 1988-ish through Knightfall. That's the best era for me. There's definitely been good to Great stories since then but that's what I grew up on so that's where my heart lies.

Perez was a God among men, no question. Especially those gigantic group shots. Who's EVER been better at those? And in an era before they could just use a computer to do a composite image, no less. Jurgens comes close, but sometimes his people are a little "stiff" when he's trying to fit a ton of them on one or two pages; Perez's group shots just explode with personality, they're so dynamic.

I'm alright without the scans, I don't like reading comics on a screen. I do appreciate you, though. I'm "connected", I can find almost any comic I want so long as I remember to ask one'a my "guys". Thanks again, though. You're a good dude.

Who is better? I have three answers,but remember its all opinion. 1. Jose Garcia Lopez. 2. Neal Adams 3. Alex Ross. Just go to readcomiconline.to and see if its okay for you as far as image quality. It varies honestly.

I have a Justice League of America up next.

[Leo656]

Point WELL-taken, amigo.

You literally just built Comic Book Mount Rushmore, I don't know if you realize it.

[MikeandRaph87]

Point WELL-taken, amigo.

You literally just built Comic Book Mount Rushmore, I don't know if you realize it.

True. Just going by preference really. Only Jim Lee can come close in the current generation, but these days he is too much into missing deadlines to cover Dan Didio's sorry butt. Ethan Sciver maybe. Michael Turner had he not been taken too soon and focused more on heroes and villains than cheese cake.:(

As fate would have it my next selection for overlooked masterpieces in 1981's three part epic that was partially penciled by George Perez after Dick Dillin's tragically untimely death after completing the second part, #184. It is the actual first encounter the Justice League has with Darkseid. This is immediately after the classic lineup is complete with Firestorm's initiation. A trio of Golden Age villains awaken Darkseid after the events of Jack Kirby's initial run leave Darkseid for dead. Its up to a combination of the JLA and JSA ( now with Huntress and Powergirl) to stop Apokolis from taking Earth-2's place in the universe.

http://i0.wp.com/batman-news.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica.jpg?resize=696%2C349&quality=80&strip=info&ssl=1

https://batman-news.com/2012/12/13/justice-league-to-be-based-on-justice-league-of-america-183-185-comics/

Keep 'em coming folks! I want to find something to read! Or maybe a DC Villain Profile!

[Leo656]

I like Jim Lee a lot, but he's too "flashy". Always trying to stick more seam lines and armor on everything. Whenever he designs a new costume for someone, I cringe, because even if it looks cool, I know it won't last. Why not? "The next guy to do the book just ISN'T gonna draw all of that nonsense." It doesn't add anything of substance, it's just texturing for the sake of texturing. In theory, anyone could do it, if they too didn't have to worry about deadlines or anything. I could draw every stitch and seam on Superman's outfit, too, if I only had the rest of my life to do it. :lol:

He's very good, though, I just feel like those Image guys like to masturbate a lot when they work. All of them are/were guilty of the same thing. "F*ck deadlines! More linework! I didn't draw EVERY single bit of Captain America's chainmail yet!" :lol: "Uh... can't you just, like... do a little bit to 'suggest' it?" "NO! Every line matters!"

Ethan Van Sciver and Mike Turner are/were both quite good, if, again, a little "stiff". Not gonna lie, I adored Mike's "cheesecake". :trazz: But his regular stuff was pretty good, too. The problem with his work was that everything he did was a pin-up; his characters were entirely too "posed". But they were beautiful. Even if most of them had the same generic face. He had the Male Face and the Female Face, and you'd best pray that two characters on the same page had a different hairstyle or else you were in trouble.

Not a knock, by the way. Making faces unique and capturing dynamic motion in a still drawing are two things I've never, ever been able to get good at, which is why I more or less gave up on drawing after high school. At some point you've "peaked", and I frankly wasn't that great at anything but Pin-Up type artwork, so there's other stuff I figured I could do with my time. But I know how difficult those things are, so when I point them out as limitations, I'm not doing it to insult their work. Their work is beautiful; I'm just saying I recognize the things they struggled with because I've been there.

[MikeandRaph87]

I concur about Michael Turner's "male face" and "female face". Jim Lee and Alex Ross were the first two I could identify the artwork of, this was when I was a child and not reading anything outside of TMNT Adventures or Batman/Batman & Robin Adventures. That says something about how they stood out. I would say that below the four on Mount Rushmore for me would be Turner, maybe its because Identity Crisis was the first big event during my reading and its "why". Sciver because the first book I read long-term not just a story arc here and there was Green Lantern: Rebirth and the follow up title would be "why" for him. Marshall Rogers along with them,overlooked and taken not as soon as Turner,but still too soon. Dick Dillin, because of his extensive JL of A volume one work, its simply amazing. To round out a ninth and tenth person, Ryan Brown of the Mirage Dudes depicted the TMNT the way I knew them growing up. Finally, I would say Jim Aparo. Jim in his later work like Michael Turner had generic looks for his characters as seen in the late 80s'/early 90s' Batman title run. Though in his day when DC had a legendary stable of creators in the Bronze Age he turned out gold! Just to note, there are three I hold as God tier greatness with George Perez rounding out the Theodore Roosevelt spot just below them then six others I admire for the reasons I explained.

I checked the Brave and the Bold stuff mentioned earlier,Brave and the Bold#108 had demon possessed Nazis while DC Special Series#8 had the actual devil.

[Leo656]

Not altogether wrong about Jim Aparo, but he's still the quintessential Batman artist, to me.

Dan Jurgens is my sentimental favorite artist, but I wouldn't argue that he's the objective "best". He IS the objective best at Superman... at least, to anyone under 50, in which case you'll still see Curt Swan mentioned a lot. Curt was great, but I'd argue that standards were collectively lower in that era. Which doesn't mean he was "bad", not at all, but he didn't have a ton of great competition, either. Most of the other Superman artist back then, especially, weren't great.

[MikeandRaph87]

I know I don't fit the generation category well. I am of the year in my username,but the darn Batman:TAS made the time between Adam West and Frank Miller glorious. The creators at the time were the highest number of hall of fame creators at any one time as well. To know the type of story I love the most in Batman would be showcased in this glorious single issue masterwork by Gerry Conway which has Robin and Batgirl doing Batman's legwork as he plays a Oracle type role after Scarecrow created a toxin that will kill anyone of fear of Batman. The classic three versus one of the Bat Rogues and equal.appreciation!
https://puzzledpagan.com/2017/12/02/detective-comics-503-the-6-days-of-the-scarecrow/

http://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/marvel_dc/images/c/c8/Detective_Comics_503.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20081218230740

[MikeandRaph87]

I still have a couple more,but I do not want to exhaust them until further comments on those that I have posted and to see what hidden gems you all appreciate.:)

[Leo656]

I'm lovin' it, brother! But work responsibilities have prevented me from doing quite what I wanna do. I have plenty of 'em loaded and ready but I just don't have the time right now.

In brief, let me just say that, like you, I'm alllll about Classic Batman. Good stuff so far.

[Krutch]

This right here. This hit me big time.

https://www.selfmadehero.com/attachments/552ec7713134906d17fef3e00334a58dd311208a/store/7e42c6d52a860ce9d5b6ef95308bb3fcdeab08ea66b2ee7444 0c44e5f6eb/The+Sculptor_new+blog+1.jpg

I’m always surprised to find how many people still haven’t read this yet. In short, the story is about a struggling artist who decides to make a deal with Death - 200 days to have ability to sculpt anything out of anything (he can mold marble as if it were clay, for example) but after that, times up - Death will claim him.

http://media.boingboing.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/23469-v2-600x1.jpg

Love everything about this book, even if it uses a few tropes I’m generally not a fan of (the love interest is the very definition of a Manic Pixie Dream Girl.) It’s written and illustrated by Scott McCloud, the guy who wrote the revered Understanding Comics and it’s less popular sequels. Needless to say, this guy knows how to beautifully pace the story, giving each panel a wonderful sense of time and poignancy. At it’s core the story is about how far you are willing to go in the name making art - and it was a story I absolutely needed at the time. And will always need.

https://lfla.org/wp-content/uploads/panel_hopeful_3189228b-13.jpg

Highly recommended if you want a break from the capes and cowls but still want a touch of super-powered spectacle.

[MikeandRaph87]

http://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/marvel_dc/images/8/8d/Batman_Family_v.1_17.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20090830002239

Batman Family#17 has two gems in one. First in "Scars" Helena " Huntress" Wayne seeks Batman's help and is referred to Batwoman while Batman helps Dick saves his girlfriend Lori Elton from a BMOC that snapped. The bigger gem though is the only team up as villainesses that I know of, Catwoman and Poison Ivy with two shot foe, Madam Zodiac face Batgirl and Earth-2's Huntress and Batwoman of Earth-1.

[Leo656]

Nice. I know I don't own that one. I skipped most of the "Family" books of that era, like "Superman Family" and the like. I've never been as interested in the side characters but I always liked that they had places to shine.

[MikeandRaph87]

Nice. I know I don't own that one. I skipped most of the "Family" books of that era, like "Superman Family" and the like. I've never been as interested in the side characters but I always liked that they had places to shine.

Back in 1978 Detective Comics was on the verge of cancellation with Detective Comics#480 which featured a Denny O'Neil penned pre-venom story. To save the title the company had informally taken its name from Batman Family which was a run away success, was victim. This caused the successful title to merge with Detective Comics for 14 issues. The merger helped stabilize Detective Comics only for a little while. Its a shame as I would have liked to have seen some of Rozakis's storyline play out such as Robin taking down the H.I.V.E.-like organization M.A.Z.E. that was meant to be headed by The Calculator. There is also that one Robin/Batgirl story that I just don't like during the 14 issue dollar Detective Comics run.

Superman Family ran the longest into 1981, I want to say for 7 years? I only have #171 which paired Batgirl with Supergirl for a third time in a zany out-there plot.

Also, its "the side characters" ( or the classic ones at least) and villains that draw me to Gotham not Bruce Wayne!

My next entry is from 1990.

Edit: I wonder what a creator like Bobby Curnow would have as an entry?

[MikeandRaph87]

http://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/marvel_dc/images/c/c1/Justice_League_America_34.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20081102175056
I prefer the satelitte era lineup by a mile, but I like to read a JLI atory evwry so often. "Club JLI" depicts Blue Beetle recruiting Booster Gold and Kilowag into building a casino on a sentinent island. Ice played damsel and was misused, but the concept is out there and hilarious.Blue & Gold at their finest!

[Leo656]

Haha, I have that one. Pretty memorable Fire cover, so it definitely sticks out in my memory. :tgrin:

I prefer a more serious JLA but the Giffen era definitely had some great stories. Like the General Glory saga, that was fun.

[MikeandRaph87]

Haha, I have that one. Pretty memorable Fire cover, so it definitely ticks out in my memory. :tgrin:

I prefer a more serious JLA but the Giffen era definitely had some great stories. Like the General Glory saga, that was fun.

Funny thing is, that particular image did not happen in any scene. I take it Beatrice lights your fire? Yes, more serious and a more iconic lineip. It amazes me the direction of this book when everything was going big and dark like Jason Todd's murder at our hands, Superman vs Doonesday, Emerald Twilight, or Artemis taking over Wonder Woman, or Aquaman going pirate and piranha
taking his hand.

The next entry is my favorite company crossover!

[Leo656]

Yes, I was a huge fan of both Bea AND Tora back then.

And Maxima. Sweet, sweet Maxima.

[MikeandRaph87]

My next entry is Batman/Captain America (1996). Its straight out of the Golden Age taking part during WWII. Dick " Robin" Grayson and Bucky Barnes are along for the ride. The Gotham Project is a substitute for the Manhattan Project and Joker's reaction to The Red Skull...

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ohSNtB_U1YI/WcQWDHeDI1I/AAAAAAAAE_E/_AiJFVr6nEQXYgED9pKsBJJq_uRcy7F_QCLcBGAs/s1600/pMyAnK3.jpg

[Leo656]

:lol: That's great, I think I missed that one, too. But I remember skimming it.

Thanks for holding things down for me while I get around to the next one. Been real busy.

[MikeandRaph87]

:lol: That's great, I think I missed that one, too. But I remember skimming it.

Thanks for holding things down for me while I get around to the next one. Been real busy.

You looked at the spoiler! You should read the comic before looking at spoilers! Or perhaps it enticed you to put it on your want list with Batman and the Outsider#5/New Teen Titans#37.


The problem is I am getting low on those I had in mind for hidden gems. My next entry is from 1979.

My favorite comic era would be 1975 to 1983 DC.

[Leo656]

I don't care about Spoilers and never have.

Most of the things I love most, were things I had zero interest in until having something "spoiled" which turned out to be extremely interesting. I likely never would have looked at them otherwise.

Comics, movies, doesn't matter. "Spoilers" don't push me away from things, they entice me to look at things I never gave any thought to before.

[MikeandRaph87]

Now for a Marvel one, and I was off by a few months. Its October 1978.
http://neotitan.com/neotitan_comics/images/large/marvel_team_up_spiderman_and_the_n_r_f_p_t_p_74.jp g
http://static.comicvine.com/uploads/scale_medium/1/16755/331386-59515-the-not-ready-for-pr.jpg


Peter and MJ get tickets to be a part of the live audience at Saturday Night Live.The OG cast have to help Spider-Man fend of The Silver Samurai who wants a jewel in posession of John Belushi. Pretty good stuff with rhe real-world/Earth 616 mashup. Highly reccommended hi-jinx! It does not get reprinted for obivious reasons, but you can track down the actual comic with little trouble if the dealer has Bronze Age books. Lorne Michaels messed up not taking inspiration amd inviting Stan Lee to host in real-life! We could have gotten a Stan Lee cameo montage or outtakes. :trazz:

[Leo656]

That's a fairly famous one! I know I don't have it, but I do have a fair bit of Marvel Team-Up from that era, mostly inherited from my Dad.

[MikeandRaph87]

That's a fairly famous one! I know I don't have it, but I do have a fair bit of Marvel Team-Up from that era, mostly inherited from my Dad.

I was not sure because the copyright issue keeps it from being in circulation beyond the original print. It does not seem to get the coverage of Avengers on Letterman either. I still love it and I felt I needed to put a Marvel in there somewhere.

[Leo656]

Well, probably "famous" among actual comic book fans. I know Wizard used to mention it a lot whenever they'd talk about various "WTF?"-worthy crossovers.

[MikeandRaph87]

Well, probably "famous" among actual comic book fans. I know Wizard used to mention it a lot whenever they'd talk about various "WTF?"-worthy crossovers.

Would my Batman/Captain America pick be categorized in the same vain?

I have a Batman tale from 1979 next.

[Leo656]

Possibly. I remember Wizard giving that some ink, too. They used to love talking about inter-company crossovers. Especially ones people may have missed.

[MikeandRaph87]

Possibly. I remember Wizard giving that some ink, too. They used to love talking about inter-company crossovers. Especially ones people may have missed.

Since Wizard is more of a thing of the past and maybe CBR as the next closest thing, especially with time passing both Marvel Team Up#74 with Spider-Man teaming with OG SNL and Batman/Captain America fit BOTH categories.

Batman#311, " Dr. Phosphorous is back" by Steve Englehart. A short-lived run both Justice League of America and Detective Comics, both get much deserved retoactive praise, but Batman#311 is an overlooked diamond in the rough in a one off by Englehart. Barbara "Batgirl" Gordon does a guest spot in pursuit of Killer Moth and runs afoul of the reemerged Dr. Phosphorous, an Englehart creation and one of my two favorite nobody villains. Great stuff from cover to cover!
https://www.google.com/amp/s/babblingsaboutdccomics4.wordpress.com/2015/09/18/batman-311-batman-and-batgirl-vs-dr-phosphorus/amp/

http://www.google.com/search?q=batman+311&client=ms-android-sprint-us&prmd=sinv&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjLyNSmna_gAhXxs1kKHUziBiwQ_AUoAnoECAwQA g&biw=360&bih=612#imgrc=DBEweZ55B6GksM&imgdii=J0iDWudqID1iRM

http://static.comicvine.com/uploads/scale_small/0/4/17412-796-19475-1-batman.jpg

[MikeandRaph87]

Batman#304, " To Hell With Batman" is a one shot issue, which features the other nobody villain that I absolutely love, The Spook!. For some reason a guy who was on death row and the greatest escape artist on the villains side is fodder for Damien in the boy's debut. The Spook deserves so much better and this fantastic issue proves the viable threat he is and is a pretty good story as well. Too bad he was only a threat between 1973 to 1983,then regulated to background in Blackgate group shots before unceremoniously being fodder for Damien. Here is a review of this hidden gem.

https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Batman_Vol_1_304

[MikeandRaph87]

Thoughts on my entries? Any entries from you guys? I have another Batman Family entry next. After that an overlooked mini-series. May not get to it tomorrow though. Look forward to comments or other entries.

[Leo656]

All good, I'm just suffering from a bunch of work stuff kicking my ass, can't give this the attention it deserves. I appreciate you though man.

[MikeandRaph87]

All good, I'm just suffering from a bunch of work stuff kicking my ass, can't give this the attention it deserves. I appreciate you though man.

Understandable,I am being loaded down by the job and grad work so I cant do it for a few days.:( I have three more entries in mind, but no time to give the attention it deserves. I also have another entry ( Mad Hatter) I want to do with DC Villain Files,but I don't know if anyone is reading them.

[Leo656]

I am. :):):)

[MikeandRaph87]

My next entry is Batman Family#10 which features Killer Moth and Cavalier teaming up to find the Batcave and Robin and Batgirl must put a stop to it. This is Cavalier's return after three Golden Age appearance. From here he becomes a loser villain that pops up on rare occasion, usually as a gang or in groups.
http://babblingsaboutdccomics.blogspot.com/2017/07/batman-family-15-killer-moth-and.html

Next I have a mini-series as an entry.Overlooked treasure!

[MikeandRaph87]

There was a 12 issue series of one-shots that showcased post-crisis version of the Silver Age of DC Comics. It featured a villain that was the grandson of the big bang named Agamemno who met with Lex Luthor. Together they formed the Injustice Gang which had the likes of Catwoman, Penguin, Black Manta, JLA foes Dr. Light and Felix Faust, Mr. Element( an odd choice), Chronos, and Sinestro. It was the post-crisis period so Black Canary was not originally from Earth-2 and Wonder Woman is no where to be seen. Wonder Woman is only seen as Wonder Tot in a short story in the final book of the twelve after Batman and Robin stop the Imposter Mad Hatter in another story. I feel it hurt the series some not having Wonder Woman. Aside from that its the Happy Harbor League. Its goofy and fun, but also updated with more adult perspective. Some of the conversations have innuendo and Blackhawk is depicted in bed for examples. Also, Golden Age group Seven Soldiers of Victory, gets a cool silver age remix with the likes of Batgirl, Metamorpho, and Adam Strange. Metal Men, Doom Patrol, Teen Titans, Elongated Man, Dial 'H' for Hero are among the expanded cast in this epic. The body swap twist inspires both Batman in Tower of Babel and the seeds to revisit the body swap in Justice League of America#166-168 a few years later in Identity Crisis. Agamemno was seen at the auction scene in Grant Morrison's The Green Lantern#3 so he may actually be used beyond this one mini-series. There was JLA Year One, but I want to see something like this crazy cool concept again. Maybe do it with the Bronze Age? Or the Silver Age again. If anyone is reading this write up and has not heard of this you should look into it. It has its own Wikipedia page, but that does not mean its well known. Please drop your thoughts on this special mini-series or any of my other entries above.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_Age_(DC_Comics)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/69/SilverAge.jpg/220px-SilverAge.jpg

[MikeandRaph87]

Batman#257, "Hail Emperor Penguin" is a bit campy for 1974 in premise. Yet Its actually pretty good. Penguin kidnaps an Arabian boy sultan who he demands ransom for while Talia in disguise attempts to loot the treasure to rebuild her father's resources.

https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Batman_Vol_1_257

Next up is yet another Bat-centric story, but its more recent and overlooked from 2007.

[MikeandRaph87]

https://lovedatjoker.livejournal.com/19347.html

Detective Comics#833 & 834, "Trust" teams Zatanna and Batman together against Loxias a notable magician across the U.S. It turns out ll things are not what they seem as the man behind Loxias reveals himselfto be none other than The Joker disguised as Loxias having taken his place after murdering him weeks before and this is pre-Oberon Sexton!. Well done characterization wise and the plot is genuinely suspenseful. World building yet self contained. I enjoyed this story more than pretty much any Joker story since the early 1980s'!

[MikeandRaph87]

There is a pretty good two part and third fallout issue from DC Comics Presents#27-29, this follows right on the heels of the New Teen Titans preview and can be overlooked. Its the debut of Mongul. Influenced from Justice League I assumed War World was a run of the mill intergalatic gladiatorial games that often appears in sci-fi or super hero media. It turns out War World is the Deathstar! I still don't get how Earth can be made into a Deathstar such as in Reign of the Superman, though. Its pretty good characterization weaved throughout as Superman plays off old ally Martian Manhunter during his days as rare guest star and his blood cousin Linda Danvers. Reading this makes me see the prefect argument as to why Supergirl never was the same after her retcon 2003 to present and how dumb The Matrix was. It also is an eerie foreshadowing of COIE that would later play a part in this title and cause it to end.
http://comicsatemybrain.blogspot.com/2006/01/dc-comics-presents-s-28-29-good.html

DCCP#27-Martian Manhunter, 1st Mongul 28- Supergirl vs Mongul 29- Spectre

Also, any and all comments are welcome. I look forward to other suggestions and I invite someone else to do a DC Villain profile. I know Leo656 is busy so how about the rest of you guys? :)

[Leo656]

I love WarWorld stories and I'm a big fan of Matrix Supergirl.

[MikeandRaph87]

My next entry is Spider-Man's team uo magazine from the 1970s and 1980s'. This two parter has Spider-Man team up with Ka-zar, Marvel's Tarzan and Black Panther vs Stegron in his debut and an army of dinosaurs in the Savage Land. Its fun we dont get to see much these days. The second part might be getting some coverage of late because of the Black Panther film, but the larger story is overlooked.
https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Marvel_Team-Up_Vol_1_19

https://www.google.com/amp/s/puzzledpagan.com/2018/02/24/that-time-spider-man-and-black-panther-saved-new-york-from-an-invasion-of-dinosaurs/amp/

[MsMarvelDuckie]

There is a story from my childhood that I learned as a part of my class during my early school years. It is a story that holds a very special place in my heart, but one that I never able to track down on the Interent, even to this day.

A rough summary of the story goes as follows:

There once lived a fisherman on a coastal village, poor but content with his life.

Life was as usual for him, until one day he spotted a beautiful woman walking out from the sea.

He was intrigued and smitten by her in an instant.

Despite many warnings from the villagers not to approach humanoids from the sea, the man defied the local traditions, by approaching the woman to talk to her about how beautiful she was.

She made him on offer, that she could take him to a place where countless other beautiful women like her lived. He would get to stay there for three days, and there, he would live like a king.

He took up the offer, and followed her into the sea, where she used her magical powers to give him the ability to breathe underwater. When he arrived in the mysterious city, it was exactly how she had described it to him.

The next three days were pure bliss for the man, for he would gorge on the most royal of feasts, sleep on the finest of beds, and meet the most beautiful looking women he had ever seen during his stay at the palace.

When it was time for him to go, the woman who brought him in the first place, also bought him to shore safely, taking away his ability to breathe underwater, and giving him a parting gift.

The man asked what was inside the box, to which the woman replied that it was a box that he must never open at any cost, returning back to the sea afterwards.

The man then returned to his village. To his surprise however, no one recognized him. When he told his name to a village elder, she proclaimed that she only remembered his name from legends told to her by her great grandmother. These were the legends of a man who walked into the sea 300 years ago after following a forbidden woman, never to return.

Realizing the situation he was in, the man walked away from the village, feeling depressed as to how he had lost his entire life in the village just for those three days of pleasure which started and finished in the blink of an eye. Having nothing else to do, the man looked at the box which was given to him by the forbidden woman in curiosity.

He opened it at last, releasing a magical spell that transformed him into an old man, who had aged by three hundred years, matching the new time period that he was now living in.

The End.

I've tried searching for the story online using key words and concepts from the story, but to no luck. That may be a blessing however, as it makes the story all the more fantastical, and nostalgic in my eyes.

This is the music I listen to when I think about the story and have come to associate with it, just to capture the magical atmosphere:

a2rmF-rViQc


I believe the story you were referring to is this one:

It involves Ryugu-jo, the palace of the ocean Dragon King Ryujin, and his daughter, Otohime; ‘hime’ means ‘princess’ in Japanese. Otohime appears in the Japanese folk tale “Urashima Taro,” which is accredited as being the oldest story in the world involving time travel. In the story, a man called Taro is invited to visit Ryugu-jo. He stays there for three days, and before returning to land he is given a magical box by Otohime. She tells him not to open it, but of course he does. At the surface, he discovers the real amount of time he spent beneath the sea was 300 years, so he is now in the future and his mother is gone. Grief-stricken, Taro opens the box. Instantly he transforms into an old man, because the box contained his old age.

There is a similar story in Celtic myth of Bran mac Feabhail, who is invited by a woman of the Otherworld to visit Tir na mBan, ("the Isle of Women") and sails there where he and his crew are treated as kings for a year, but warned not to set foot on land when they decide to return home. When they arrive back in Ireland, one man jumps off and runs to shore, only to turn to ash. When Bran calls out to people on the shore, they claim to only know his name from legends, and that three hundred years have passed. There is also a tale of a fisherman who encounters a woman of the seafolk (a selkie or nixie) and falls in love with her. He goes with her to the Sea God's kingdom and stays for a few days, but soon wshes to return home. She gives him a cask, but tells him never to open it, and the rest of the story goes as expected.

[MsMarvelDuckie]

Ok, now for a story of my own. Or several.

One of the most memorable books I've ever readi is The Silver Kiss, by the author of Bloid and Chocolate (which was made into a pretty cool werewolf flick!) It is a story about a girl who meets a vampire who is hunting his own brother (also a vampire) to kill him in revenge for killing their mother, and luring him to the vampire who turned them both. The girl, Zoe, is in the midst of dealing with an imminent move to another city, and a mother who is dying of cancer. They help each other to deal with their respective problems, in spite of their own fears. Its a very emotionally powerful story, and is probably one of the best stories I've ever read.

Second, since we seem to be focusing on comics, is this one:

https://www.amazon.com/Amazing-Spider-Man-Black-Cover-Special/dp/B000PB3704

This is the historic "Black Cover" issue, the tribute to 9-11 published in Dec. 2001. This is the comic that ignited my love for comics as a medium, and brought me back to the heroes I grew up with in cartoons and the occasional comic book in my high school English class.

[MikeandRaph87]

It was the bi-centennial comics were in a peak period of my interest, despite the fact I had yet to be, but there was a corny one-off published that combined my baseball fandom with my DC fandom. Its a unique set up as far as a narrative and has a pretty good Justice League plus vs Secret Society plus. DIck Grayson, Wally West, and Uncle Sam along with an assortment of villains that did not have to include their opponent as Hal Jordan was absent yet Dr. Polaris and The Tattooed Man were present. Sportsmaster wanted to prove that villains did not always lose,but this before that disgraceful snot Jason Todd, Bane and Doomsday's grand entries. What a way to do it too, and the question is do they lose in this venue too? Check it to find out!
http://www.comictreadmill.com/CTMBlogarchives/2005/2005_Individual/2005_05/000787.php

https://www.sikids.com/si-kids/2016/01/12/superhero-baseball-numbers

[Leo656]

Keep 'em coming brother. I've been busy. Real life sucks, what can I say.

[MikeandRaph87]

My next pick for overlooked greatness is JLA/JSA: Virtue & Vice is a one-shot crossover roughly a year after I picked up comics full-time and introduced me to a few characters particularly of the JSA. It features the 7 Deadly Sins attacking the two teams as they gather for a Thanksgiving meal. This is one of the last few stories with the Magnificent Seven Plus Plastic Man lineup if I am not mistaken. It is by Geoff Johns and David Goyer. Its a great character story as well as attack story. Yes, there is the cop out of possessed heroes,but its excusable and serves the plot.
https://secrethideoutblog.wordpress.com/2012/10/23/review-jlajsa-virtue-and-vice/

[MikeandRaph87]

Justice League of America#195 saw the return of the original super villain, The Ultra Humanite. He was a body swapping mad scientist. His classic form in an albino ape debuts. He wants revenge on Earth-2's Superman and to eliminate all heroes on Earth-2. He does this in odd fashion as it requires an odd combination of Earth-1 and Earth-2 heroes captured and tied to a device to do it. Signalman as the Bat Rogue of choice? Also, Percillia Rich never got the coverage Challenge of The Superfriends would make you thin.k as her niece is used here. Those two, Floronic Man, and Killer Frost will turn the tide in this crazy adventure once they are betrayed. I do love this cover though to #196.
http://bronzeagebabies.blogspot.com/2015/03/guest-review-justice-league-of-america.html
A solid mix of fun, action, and weird.

[Leo656]

Ahh, the Ultra-Humanite. The original "mad scientist" of the DCU before Luthor ascended. That man's brain gets passed around like a bong at a frat party. :lol: I always wonder if he just prefers to be a giant albino ape, because he's been transplanted into several other people and things, but he keeps resetting to Albino Ape Default. Why he'd want to do that after being in the body of actress Dolores Winters, I'll never know, because having boobs sounds pretty cool. But then I'm not an evil mad scientist with a giant ape fetish.

There's a longstanding rumor that Lex Luthor is only traditionally bald because an artist on the Superman books once upon a time got him mixed up with the original, human (and bald) version of the Ultra-Humanite. I don't know how true it is but it's a story I've heard often, and it kind of made sense. There's little to no in-story explanation as to why "Lex" suddenly went from having a loose mop of red hair to suddenly being bald sometime around 1941 or so; obviously many years later the editors added the "Earth 1" and "Earth 2" modifiers as a way of explaining those sorts of discrepancies, but that's an obvious retcon. At the time the stories were originally presented, "Lex" just had a totally different look one day and nobody knew why. So I can believe that it was a simple artist's mistake just as easily as anything else.

My favorite story featuring the Ultra-Humanite sadly isn't canon, but it is very good, good enough that it probably should be canon. That would be "The Golden Age", the Prestige format mini-series from the early 1990s. I'm a huge fan of that book.

[MikeandRaph87]

Ahh, the Ultra-Humanite. The original "mad scientist" of the DCU before Luthor ascended. That man's brain gets passed around like a bong at a frat party. :lol: I always wonder if he just prefers to be a giant albino ape, because he's been transplanted into several other people and things, but he keeps resetting to Albino Ape Default. Why he'd want to do that after being in the body of actress Dolores Winters, I'll never know, because having boobs sounds pretty cool. But then I'm not an evil mad scientist with a giant ape fetish.

There's a longstanding rumor that Lex Luthor is only traditionally bald because an artist on the Superman books once upon a time got him mixed up with the original, human (and bald) version of the Ultra-Humanite. I don't know how true it is but it's a story I've heard often, and it kind of made sense. There's little to no in-story explanation as to why "Lex" suddenly went from having a loose mop of red hair to suddenly being bald sometime around 1941 or so; obviously many years later the editors added the "Earth 1" and "Earth 2" modifiers as a way of explaining those sorts of discrepancies, but that's an obvious retcon. At the time the stories were originally presented, "Lex" just had a totally different look one day and nobody knew why. So I can believe that it was a simple artist's mistake just as easily as anything else.

My favorite story featuring the Ultra-Humanite sadly isn't canon, but it is very good, good enough that it probably should be canon. That would be "The Golden Age", the Prestige format mini-series from the early 1990s. I'm a huge fan of that book.

While I know all the above it never hurts to reread it. Imagine how one artist error cost Ultra Humanite his place!

I know of The Golden Age, thanks to the Silver Age maxi-series I recommended. However, I never read it. Can you give me more information about it? I might check it out.

[Leo656]

Well sir, it's a bit complicated to explain without Spoiling too much. I'll put some things in Spoiler tags just to be safe. On a surface level, think of it as "Watchmen" by way of the Justice Society.

"The Golden Age" is set in the early 1950s and features the former JSA members adjusting to life after WWII and the McCarthy hearings. With most of the JSA forced into retirement, former super-hero "Mr. America" Tex Thompson returns from the war and becomes a Senator, then uses his newfound political power to assemble a new team of super-heroes under government control, including Robotman, The Atom, Johnny Thunder, and former sidekick Dan The Dyna-Mite, now rechristened as the Superman-analogue "Dynaman".

Meanwhile, former JSA members such as Green Lantern (Alan Scott), Hourman, Johnny Quick, Starman and others all individually struggle with their personal lives during their forced retirement; Hourman (as always) struggles with his addiction to the Miraclo pills which give him his powers, while other former heroes have gone through divorce, unemployment, and things like that. All the while, they try and cope with feelings of powerlessness as they watch their "replacements" take over.

Things are not as they seem, however, and events conspire to bring all of the JSA and All-Star Squadron heroes out of retirement for one final battle, in the heart of Washington D.C., for the fate of the entire world, as they unite to try and stop the single greatest threat the world had ever faced. The story is full of amazing twists, all of which are very well-executed and there's absolutely no "cheating" the reader. If you pay close attention, you can figure out what's going on, who's really the villain and why, but if you don't, the ultimate reveal hits like a ton of bricks, and when you go back and re-read it you see how the clues were there all along. It's a very tight story, brilliantly executed.

As for the twist, and where Ultra-Humanite fits in, that can't be revealed without Spoiling the entire surprise, but I'll include it here anyway. Proceed at your own risk:
While overseas at the end of WWII, "Mr. America" Tex Thompson was kidnapped and murdered by Nazi scientists and the Ultra-Humanite. Humanite then transplanted his own brain into Thompson's body so he could return to the U.S. as a triumphant war hero, infiltrate the government, and create a hand-picked team of super-heroes who would operate under his command.

But that was only Part I of his master plan. Part II was to take Dunbar, aka Dynaman, secretly the group's most powerful member despite being a "mere sidekick", and then murder him, before implanting in him the brain of Adolf Hitler!

Through this, Ultra-Humanite and Dynaman/Hitler, now the most powerful being on Earth, planned to take over the entire world and a new, super-powered Third Reich would emerge.

I don't think it's a Spoiler to say the Good Guys win, but it's a helluva ride. At the end, the heroes wistfully bid farewell to the so-called Golden Age, while hopefully anticipating a new heroic age... "as pure as Sterling Silver".

A lot of the story's events actually were lightly adapted into canon to varying degrees; James Robinson wrote this as well as "Starman" (which is generally considered completely canon), so his Starman run treated much of this story as if it had actually happened. Furthermore, it was one of Geoff Johns's favorite stories as a fan, so when he started writing the JSA book in the early 2000s, he also softly massaged some of the books' events into mainstream continuity as much as he was able. However, a few characters die in "The Golden Age" who are later seen very much alive in other books, so it's not a perfect fit. BUT, it is one of those stories that most of the DC writers and editors consider to be so good, that "it can be canon if you prefer that it be".

I give it one of my highest possible recommendations. It's only four issues, but has also been reprinted in trade paperback more than once. Most recently it was recollected as "JSA: The Golden Age", further blurring the line of its status between "Elseworlds" (as it's officially labelled) and "Mostly Canon" (as many readers prefer). Either way, it's easy to track down and a brisk, thrilling read. The first time I looked at it, I couldn't put it down, and the Third Act Twist blew me away. If you're a fan of the JSA at all, you should definitely, definitely check it out. Especially if you've ever wondered what a "Watchmen" kind of story with actual DC characters might look and feel like. It really feels almost like that was partly its purpose, as I believe it only came out about 6-7 years after Watchmen. It doesn't skew quite as dark, but it can be argued that the stakes are much, much bigger.

Check it out. If I had a spare copy I'd ship it over. That's how good I think it is.

[MikeandRaph87]

Oh,okay. I have known about the McCarthyism scandal forcing the JSA into retirement,but I thought it started in All-Star Squadron? Maybe it was in this. I did not read the spoiler tags,but it is probably a Jeph Loeb writing on the wall mystery that is still epic. So this would suggest that Ultra-Humanite killed the hero when he was running for office and took his place thus started the mess? Even if that is how it plays out I think I will like it. I will get to it very soon.:) Bookmark, the Silver Age maxi-series and I will do so with The Golden Age. We need The Bronze Age! Come on,DC! Is Alex Ross's Justice as close to that which we will get?

I have to think about what I will post next, it might be something outside my usual.Here is a company specific,but any era thread. It might not take off like the DC Villain Profiles did not.
http://forums.thetechnodrome.com/showthread.php?t=61152

[Leo656]

Hmm... "Justice" was pretty good, but it doesn't quite have the same feel to it as the others. I love the artwork (as always) but the story itself felt a little bit thin, even though it tried to be huge. It was a nice, "grounded" take on "Challenge of the Super-Friends", though.

Speaking of Alex Ross, I think "MARVELS" still holds up pretty well. But it's not really apt for this thread, I don't think, because I imagine most Marvel fans who read comics would have already read it, and if they haven't, they should. Still, it's a slick piece of work. I'm not really a Marvel guy but a good book's a good book.

[MikeandRaph87]

Hmm... "Justice" was pretty good, but it doesn't quite have the same feel to it as the others. I love the artwork (as always) but the story itself felt a little bit thin, even though it tried to be huge. It was a nice, "grounded" take on "Challenge of the Super-Friends", though.

Speaking of Alex Ross, I think "MARVELS" still holds up pretty well. But it's not really apt for this thread, I don't think, because I imagine most Marvel fans who read comics would have already read it, and if they haven't, they should. Still, it's a slick piece of work. I'm not really a Marvel guy but a good book's a good book.

Justice is too well known for this thread,but I still like it despite Alex's insistence at including Plastic Man and Captain Marvel and ignoring Firestorm.

You may be like me,when it comes to Marvel its Spider-Man or nothing that interest me. I am a DC guy.

Ever wonder what Christmas would be like before Christ? How about with all of your Hanna-Barbera non-superhero favorites? Wonder no more! Its an obscure treasure form 1977.
https://readcomiconline.to/Comic/The-Flintstones-Christmas-Party

[MikeandRaph87]

I have almost run out guys. I need some others to contribute. I do appreciate The Golden Age recommendation, but I need more.

[MikeandRaph87]

Brave and the Bold#191, second of two team ups and last of six Joker appearances in this title. The Joker is framed for Penguin's murder and its up to Batman to prove Joker is innocent. What a crazy idea and it works with Aparo at his peak! Gotta love this under the radar gem!http://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/marvel_dc/images/2/29/Brave_and_the_Bold_v.1_191.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20170114001011

http://babblingsaboutdccomics.blogspot.com/2016/09/brave-and-bold-191-batman-does-not.html

[Leo656]

Jim Aparo is always gonna be "my" Batman artist.

[MikeandRaph87]

Jim Aparo is always gonna be "my" Batman artist.

One thing to note is that Joker and Penguin are wearing the exact same pants. Looks they got shopping for costumes at the same retailer. Also, the dialogue is a bit silly for the 80s' too,but the concept of Joker being framed for Penguin's murder is too so there you go.

[MikeandRaph87]

There is a story that stands out in the Hobgoblin saga, the third of the six outings between ASM#238 to #289, was #259-#261. In this arc Roderick is looking to get Norman's Goblin formula, incorrectly assuming Harry knows where it is. Liz is near birth when Hobby strikes and it leads to a dramatic warehouse fire fight with MJ stepping up and a great visual of The Hobgoblin approaching Harry at Oscorp. It really sticks out for its drama, action, and character development. Its not long after this that DeFalco would be interfered with and the quality of the run decline. Recommended for any an of Hobgoblin or anyone looking for a Spider-Man story that has a little of everything.

http://www.chasingamazingblog.com/2014/12/09/reader-request-2014-amazing-spider-man-260-261/

[MikeandRaph87]

Jack Kirby and the Justice League? Well, not quite, but very close. There is a pair of interesting miniseries tied in with the Super Powers toyline. Its worth a look through. I bought the actual two mi is after I stumbled upon it at Heroes Con three year back. It has since been collected.

https://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/super-powers-1984/super-powers-by-jack-kirby

[MikeandRaph87]

I just finished reading the 1994 mini-series, The Golden Age by James Robinson. Yes, it was predictable based on what you told me,but I enjoyed it nonetheless because I like history and comics not to mention a little political intrigue.


Anyone else got any choices? Looking for reading recommendations! Also, I am almost out of selections.

[Leo656]

Glad you liked it brother. It's definitely less shocking than reading it "cold" would be, but I find that some people simply never read it because they had no enticement, and it's tough to "sell" it to someone without spoiling at least a little bit. I'm a big fan.

I have a few but I'm not feeling 100% right now, and also, I want to re-read them first to freshen my memory.

[MikeandRaph87]

Glad you liked it brother. It's definitely less shocking than reading it "cold" would be, but I find that some people simply never read it because they had no enticement, and it's tough to "sell" it to someone without spoiling at least a little bit. I'm a big fan.

I have a few but I'm not feeling 100% right now, and also, I want to re-read them first to freshen my memory.

I am on Spring Break this week as far as the job part. I am going to use it to get ahead with my course work and read for fun. I am looking to you and anyone else to help in that area. Yes, I am a fan of Ultra Humanite and his underrated potential. Its unfortunate that his 1981 return did not garner a permanent reoccurring status.

[Leo656]

I swear Ultra-Humanite showed up more recently since then, though.

I'm considering talking about some Guy Gardner stories, but again, I want to refresh my memory first.

[MikeandRaph87]

I swear Ultra-Humanite showed up more recently since then, though.

I'm considering talking about some Guy Gardner stories, but again, I want to refresh my memory first.

I meant, Ultra Humanite was poised for a run as a major villain in the DCU from his sudden return from obscurity in 1981 up to COIE which ruined it four years later. After that there were fourish storyarcs with him according to the chronlogy list.
http://dcuguide.com/w/Ultra-Humanite_Chronology

I am a Hal fan I am afraid,but is always nice to see other's choices.

[Leo656]

I like Hal, but Guy is much more of a "hero" when factoring all information, even if he is a loudmouth. And a braggart. And a narcissist.

I prefer Guy as a solo act rather than a Lantern, though. Abysmal "Warrior" run not included. Holy sh*t, that was terrible.

[MikeandRaph87]

http://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/marveldatabase/images/9/98/Amazing_Spider-Man_Annual_Vol_1_10.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20070518223951
1st of rwo underrated Spider-Man annuals I will post. He is a poor man's Scorpion in that he was James on's third and final project and was created by Dr. Stillwell's brother. The Human Fly would not take long to become a joke villain disposed of in a few pages, but its a fun story in ASM annual#10.

[MikeandRaph87]

My next entry is Amazing Spider-Man annual#18 from 1984 from right after the Alien Costume Saga. Jameson marries his long-time love and much younger second wife, Marla. However, not before the Scorpuon breaks out upon hearing the news and instead of the usual " Jameson, you will pay for making me a freak!" clique it used for characterization. John getting over a Man-Wolf episode never liked the idea of his father getting remarried. I underatand with Marla being more his age and all its odd. Yet she brungs out out the soft side in quadruple J and character depth. It just works. Peter cries happy tears in the end and doesn't have the heart to needle Jameson in the end. Solid and underrated story, reccommended.
https://youtu.be/GTPDXikQrr8

[MikeandRaph87]

http://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/marvel_dc/images/f/fa/Detective_Comics_Vol_1_500.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20160828134336

Detective Comics#500, perfect day to post with Batman's 80th anniversary today and #1000 coming out this week. Phantom Stranger gives Earth-1 Batman a chance to find out if Bruce Wayne can become Batman without his parents being murdered. Robin is brought in to aide the Earth-5 adventure.Batman inspires his alternate self and young Bruce renounces his selfish brat ways. Underrated classic. Sure a little sci-fi, a little cheese, but really good stuff.

Here is a synopsis of all of the stories in the anniversary issue.
https://comicvine.gamespot.com/detective-comics-500-to-kill-a-legend-the-too-many/4000-106613/

[Leo656]

I love that story. I might have that issue, I'd have to check, but I believe that I first encountered it in one of the early printings of "The Greatest Batman Stories Ever Told" TPB.

[MikeandRaph87]

I love that story. I might have that issue, I'd have to check, but I believe that I first encountered it in one of the early printings of "The Greatest Batman Stories Ever Told" TPB.

I will read it later today. Its the perfect day for it. I would like someone else to read it as well to bounce thoughts on the entire issue off of. I have the actual issue, but for sake not degrading my nice cindition issue, I will likely go the digital route that I have shown you.

I have a Brave and the Bold issue(s),but aside from that I am out of underrated comics to reccommend.

[Leo656]

I liked that story for how it subverted the "Batman's origins are eternally rooted in darkness and tragedy" angle. It was brilliantly done.

[MikeandRaph87]

I liked that story for how it subverted the "Batman's origins are eternally rooted in darkness and tragedy" angle. It was brilliantly done.

You don't need tragedy to be a Bat. Barbara Gordon taught us that back in 1967.


However, did we originally know anything about her mother in her 1st run as Batgirl like how we later on learned about Tony?

I have more to comment about how much Bane is held high and Harley Quinn too and I will never understand, but I will copy your last message in Gotham and bring it to the Underrated Bat Rogues thread.

Also to zero in on my last entry, its from the editorially shortened but fantastic premise, the 2008 volume of Brave and the Bold.

[MikeandRaph87]

http://d1466nnw0ex81e.cloudfront.net/n_iv/600/949695.jpg
http://d1466nnw0ex81e.cloudfront.net/n_iv/600/950921.jpg

Fanastic dynamics and a well characterized short arc. The best to come out of this unfortunately cut short title of endless potential. Not to mention the art is amazing in the battle for Nanaporbat with Green Arrow, Hawkman, Nightwing, and Deadman. Highly recommended! I am sorry about the long delay. Life has been busy. I am also close to the end of my long list.

[Leo656]

I really liked that run of Brave and the Bold. Really great showcase for all the characters in the DCU, and it worked without having to drastically retcon or ignore continuity. In fact, the homages to established canon are part of what made it so great. Great pick.

I'm gonna make mention of one of my all-time favorite mini-series, starring one of my all-time favorite characters: GUY GARDNER REBORN!

https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/marvel_dc/images/d/dc/Guy_Gardner_Reborn_1.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20090721164728
https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/marvel_dc/images/d/d3/Guy_Gardner_Reborn_2.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20090721164729
https://d1466nnw0ex81e.cloudfront.net/n_iv/600/904783.jpg

The backstory, in brief: Guy Gardner, for quite some time, was one of the only Green Lanterns assigned to Earth (sector 2814), including longstanding membership in the Justice League while Hal Jordan was generally either off in space recruiting new Lanterns or otherwise occupied. Hal and Guy could never get along, and one day, Hal more or less decided that he wanted to be Earth's only GL again. So Guy being himself, he challenged Jordan to a winner-take-all fistfight in the pages of Green Lantern #25, loser quits the Corps. "Spoilers", he lost, and gave up his ring.

If you think he took it well, you don't know much about Guy Gardner. His obsessive drive to be a hero with or without super-powers has always been one of his defining characteristics (for reasons that would be explored in much greater detail in his fantastic solo series later on). That leads us directly into this mini-series, which begins almost immediately after GL #25.

The first issue is almost a parody of early-90s "Tits N Guns" books, with Guy deciding that without powers, the best he can do is become a gun-toting vigilante. Dressed all in black, armed with a completely ridiculous amount of automatic weapons, and calling himself "The Gardner", he begins a one-man war on "scum", demolishing strip clubs and drug dens, which doesn't go very well once the "scum" start fighting back. Guy realizes that guns are for wimps and that his new "persona" doesn't fit him, so he decides that he needs a Power Ring in order to ascend to his former glory. Problem is, he had quit the GL Corps, and at that point in DC history, there had only been one non-GL to ever wield a Power Ring... Sinestro, the former "greatest GL of all time" and Jordan's former mentor. Sinestro was dealing with a crippling case of Being Dead at that moment, making things even more complicated.

Guy reasons that all he has to do is find his way to the Anti-Matter Universe of Qward, since the Qwardians had originally crafted Sinestro's yellow ring, and force them to make one for him. He decides that he needs some "muscle", so he manipulates G'Nort (look it up, I don't feel like explaining G'Nort) into taking him to fetch Lobo so the two of them can go to Qward and wreck house.

Lobo being Lobo, he refuses to team up at first and decides that he'd rather just beat Guy to a pulp, until Guy promises to give him the Yellow Ring once they get it. The two of them end up on Qward, and they tear through a bunch of the Qwardian Thunderers in search of someone who can make him a new ring; meanwhile, the Qwardians are planning an invasion of Oa, and a full-frontal assault against the entire Green Lantern Corps.

Guy eventually learns that only ONE Yellow Ring had ever been made, and it had exhausted all of their resources, thus making the creation of another ring impossible (although this was eventually retconned into a lie; eventually there would be an entire "Sinestro Corps" of Yellow Ring-bearers, but that was many, many years after this story was written). The Qwardians also tell him that Sinestro's Ring was with him when he died, so it must still be with his corpse, on Oa, in the Crypts of the Green Lantern Corps. The Qwardians trick Guy into leading them to Oa so their attack on the Corps can commence.

Issue #3 is basically Guy, Lobo, and the entire GL Corps against the entire Qwardian army in a savage bloodbath. During the fight, Guy slips away into the crypts so he can find Sinestro's body and steal his ring. He is caught by John Stewart, who realizes what Guy is planning to do and swears that they'll never let him wield such power on account of his already-abrasive nature and the possibility that it could turn him completely into a villain. As they argue, Stewart is possessed by the spirit of Sinestro himself, and they fight. A battle of wills begins, with Guy and Sinestro's "ghost" both trying to pry the ring off of Sinestro's corpse; Guy Gardner happens to possess the strongest will in the entire DCU except for maybe Superman, so SPOILERS, he wins. Sinestro's ghost is banished (until the end of "Emerald Twilight"), Guy takes the yellow ring and immediately saves the rest of the Green Lanterns from the Qwardians, beating back their army as the Lanterns look on in both relief and horror, realizing that their "savior", an abrasive pain in the ass who they had thought they were rid of forever, was now wielding the most powerful weapon in all of creation.

Hal more or less tries to warn Guy to behave himself with his new toy, and Guy tells him to get f*cked. Lobo demands that Guy give up the ring, as promised, and Guy tells him to get f*cked as well, because he's now far beyond anyone telling him what to do. The ending leads directly into the first issue of Guy's FANTASTIC solo series, which I'll talk more about another time. Everything from this mini-series ended up being hugely important later on in the solo book, especially when Lobo shows up on Earth to demand Guy hand over the damn ring... at a moment when the ring happens to be out of power, with Guy completely unaware how to recharge it, no less, leading to a bloody fistfight between "The Main Man" and a powerless Guy Gardner.

It's all kind of been lost to history, but this series and Guy's solo book was by FAR some of the best stuff to come out from DC in 1992-1993. I'll be honest, as a kid, before reading this book and only reading Guy in the Justice League book, I really didn't like him at all, but this mini and the solo book immediately elevated him into my Top Three Favorite Characters, right behind Superman and Batman. At the time, reaction to the series was so popular that Guy was literally EVERYWHERE in the DCU that year, right behind only Lobo in total number of guest-star appearances. He even got to be the one to save Superman from Eclipso during that year's "Darkness Within" cross-over (which happened parallel and in-between the "Reborn" mini-series). He went from C-Lister to Heavy Hitter almost overnight, thanks to this mini-series.

Guy Gardner F*cking Rules, end of story.

Highest possible recommendation. Non-stop action and completely hilarious from start to finish. It's easy to find, so track it down, ya fraggin' bastich! :tgrin:

[MsMarvelDuckie]

What the heck, I'll add one. Spider-Man: Blue. Nice recap of his entire life, through the lens of a recording he made as a memorial to Gwen. All while going through the attic as he and M-J were moving Aunt May into a new home. It has a lot of very poingant moments, deep character insights for all of the main cast (Peter, M-J, Harry, Gwen, Flash, even Jameson) and makes for a great jumping-in story for those who only know his basic origin and little else. I loved it, and it still stands as one of my favorite Spidey books.

[MikeandRaph87]

What the heck, I'll add one. Spider-Man: Blue. Nice recap of his entire life, through the lens of a recording he made as a memorial to Gwen. All while going through the attic as he and M-J were moving Aunt May into a new home. It has a lot of very poingant moments, deep character insights for all of the main cast (Peter, M-J, Harry, Gwen, Flash, even Jameson) and makes for a great jumping-in story for those who only know his basic origin and little else. I loved it, and it still stands as one of my favorite Spidey books.

I read that one a little over a year ago, I do not believe it was followed up either which is a shame. I love the Jeph Loeb Batman stories even if they are formulaic. It was a solid call back to classic stories, but also great character development for Mary Jane Watson, one of the most successfully developed supporting characters in comic history.

[MikeandRaph87]

Detective Comics#526,"All My Enemies Against Me" from June 1983 is a huge turning point for Batman and the end of an era. It closes out the six part arc weaving between Batman and Detective Comics that introduces both Killer Croc and Jason Todd. Its the last time that Dick Grayson appears as Robin in regular continuity in a Batman title and the same goes for Barbara Gordon,well at least until the New 52 more than 28 years later. Dick Grayson and Barbara Gordon team up while Catwoman and Talia both assist Batman after being invited to a villain gathering which Joker sets up in an attempt at a triple cross to get over Killer Croc who seized the underworld from his boss The Squid that he had been using. Classic villain like the Tweeds, The Spook, and Cavalier appear as well as Gentleman Ghost getting an invite. An oddity is how Dick offers to adopt Jason despite only being 19. Beautiful art, beautiful cover. I believe it inspired many holofoils of the 1990s'. It is the anniversary issue to beat all anniversary issues. It is also the end of an era, its the classic Batman transitioning into modern era Batman as the next issue being Doug Moench's first run and would serve as a bridge to modern Batman and COIE hitting soon. Its the end of a comic era and run that I love.

http://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/marvel_dc/images/5/55/Detective_Comics_526.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20170118215029

http://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/cmx-images-prod/Item/147151/Previews/165b261f014d7cb9036d3f1347ee213a._SX1280_QL80_TTD_ .jpg

[MikeandRaph87]

Spectacular Spider-Man#102, "A Life for A Life". I read it for the first time recently. It was definitely made of a coincidence, but it was a human story. Luck had it that talitive Donna Gardner talks to Peter on a 20 minute bus ride only for her to get hit by a car when leaving the bus station. Peter takes the information the talkative girl gave her to track down her suicidal twin brother to save both of their lives and teach the value of life. It was a touching human story. I don't believe we ever see the twins again and see if they made it in the big city, but despite the plot convinces it was a nice human story.
https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Peter_Parker,_The_Spectacular_Spider-Man_Vol_1_102

[MsMarvelDuckie]

Saturday in the Park With May. Speaking of nice human stories. It takes place on a park bench, told by Aunt May through flashbacks to what happened after she discovered Peter's secret. It deals with her fear, confusion, and eventual acceptance and understanding of what he does, as told to a "friend" in the park. Very heartfelt and hopeful, as well as a wonderful depiction of how others see Peter, especially those closest to him.

[MikeandRaph87]

Saturday in the Park With May. Speaking of nice human stories. It takes place on a park bench, told by Aunt May through flashbacks to what happened after she discovered Peter's secret. It deals with her fear, confusion, and eventual acceptance and understanding of what he does, as told to a "friend" in the park. Very heartfelt and hopeful, as well as a wonderful depiction of how others see Peter, especially those closest to him.

What title and issue is that story?

[MikeandRaph87]

This is the rare Bruce Wayne focused story especially for the Golden Age. I recently came across Detective Comics#154, " The Park Avenue Kid". A scheme reminiscent of The Riddler in Batman (1966) fixing boxing matches and the perfect chance for common sense to kick in and people realize that Bruce Wayne is Batman.Bruce saves a woman from being mugged and to cover his newly realized fight ability by doing a celebrity boxing match for charity only to run into the fixer he had been looking for, The Dagger. Not to be confused with either Marvel's character or the twice used character from 30 years later . Interesting read if you want to look at a Golden Age Batman story.
https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Detective_Comics_Vol_1_174

[MsMarvelDuckie]

What title and issue is that story?

Amazing Spider-Man, I don't recall the exact number, but it was in volume 3 of the JMS run TPB's. It was the very last issue in the book, iirc, and was directly tied to the earlier plot of her discovery of his secret and subsequent confrontation in the volume 2 TPB, "Revelations" That entire arc was actually what really got me hooked on comics in the first place- up to that point, I'd only ever read a few random issues of X-Men/New Mutants and a couple of very old Spidey and Hulk issues my mom gave me. The Revelations volume in particular, also contained one of my favorite issues ever- the 9-11 tribute issue.

[Whatswiththeheadbands?]

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51wbsNwd5pL._SX331_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg
Read this last night. Very rarely do i ever sit and read anything front to back in one sitting. This was an exception.

This is basically the Shadow's equivalent of Batman's Dark Knight Returns. From front to back it's pretty much full on Noir mystery goodness. Even though the weakest apart for me was the art, I still preferred it over Watchmen visually (which always seemed to have every character having pretty much the same facial expression in almost every panel)

If anyone hasn't read any Shadow story, I think this is a great one to start with

[MikeandRaph87]

My younger brother has that very Guy Gardner mini-series, in fact he gave it to me to read through today. Its alright,but I prefer reading Hal Jordan. I was told "it is highlight that the character ever got" to standout .

I never read The Shadow beyond the recent Batman team up mini-series and the two appearances he made in Batman in 1974 (Batman#253 and #259) usurping Zorro's role in Batman's origin in DC's brief attempt to bring The Shadow into DC under O'Neil's pen.

[MikeandRaph87]

I have issues with One Year Later and the core that made up the Secret Society of Super Villains (two were neutral characters which make the threat weak). However, one of the highlights of the long weaving tie-ins was a character issue with Dick Grayson and the Superboy clone as Dick sends out an all call from Sna Franscscio for anyone to help him face Alexander Luthor Jr. and only the Superboy clone arrives to Dick's plea.
https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Teen_Titans_Vol_3_33

[MikeandRaph87]

I have a 2019 entry and yes it is another Batman story. I really liked the recent Detective Comics #1009- 1011 storyarc featuring Deadshot hunting for Wayne Foundation employees on a mostly deserted island with help from an American and Japanese WWII veterans who were stranded there decades before. A well paced and character driven character driven story.
https://tldrcomics.com/2019/09/22/detective-comics-1009-1011/

[Voltron]

https://d1466nnw0ex81e.cloudfront.net/n_iv/600/904783.jpg


A little companion piece for the cover. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seduction_of_the_Innocent) :lol:

[Leo656]

I've talked about that mini-series at length before. One of my all-time favorites.

That mini-series through the first 18 or so issues of Guy Gardner's solo series (right up until whenever he got flipped to "Warrior") are low-key one of the greatest runs of any mainstream comic book in history. "Yesterday's Sins", especially. Jesus, that sh*t was good.

[MikeandRaph87]

https://batman-news.com/2019/08/14/detective-comics-1009-review/

'The Brave and the Old' was published in 2019 in Detective Comics # 1009-1011. I just read it again and love it. It's not often a fun character driven story sees print these days that really strikes me. This story which Deadshot hijacks a plane of Wayne Enterprises executives for ransom under a contract. He takes the airplane down stranding everyone on an island in the Pacific where Bruce is forced to improvise to apprehend Deadshot and get back to civilization. It also has a cool side story of an American and Japanese soldiers stranded there all the way back in World War II. If you are looking for a recent fun Batman story then this is it!

[Coola Yagami]

There was a Halloween annual a few years back for Batman, I think during the era of Gordon being Robo-Bats or whatever, though he wasn't in it.

Basically Penguin, Scarecrow and Two-Face were tricked into going into some creepy abandoned building. They realize it was a trap from Batman but are too scared to do anything because they assume he's about to jump in from anywhere. The comic leads to them being paranoid about Batman leaping out from any corner, to them picking fights with each other, to them getting lost in the creepy abandoned building and trying to find a way out.

In the end it's revealed it was all a set up by Batman and he is never coming. He's watching them from the BatCave as Bruce Wayne, just chilling and taking the night off by making sure the main bad guys at the time are busy bumping into each other than actually committing crimes.

My favorite part was when Penguin makes fun of the Batarangs and the others chime in on how stupid it sounds that he adds 'bat' to everything.

[Allio]

“Tomboy” it’s a comic from the same company as Zombie Tramp.

Despite it’s title it really is a “magical girl” series but instead everything goes Creepypasta.

[Cowabung-Gal]

There’s a story in Amazing Spider-Man Family: Brand New Day #1 called “48 Hours”, which is about Peter coming to grips with his uncle’s death and his first night as Spider-Man.

I love it because it shows just how human Spider-Man really is. The very first time he saves people, he doesn’t pat himself on the back. He reacts like this:

https://2.bp.blogspot.com/ttwAO0t1rkHGo0wytBQ3x85oil7xbhKIupHDobHKDVXSPpeSVW gC4xTcaFoh0GG1FPW9qV0i-6NL=s1600?rhlupa=NzQuMjIxLjIuMTMx&rnvuka=TW96aWxsYS81LjAgKE1hY2ludG9zaDsgSW50ZWwgTWF jIE9TIFggMTBfMTVfNikgQXBwbGVXZWJLaXQvNjA1LjEuMTUgK EtIVE1MLCBsaWtlIEdlY2tvKSBWZXJzaW9uLzE0LjEuMSBTYWZ hcmkvNjA1LjEuMTU=