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A long and hallowed list from our man Dan
By Dan Brereton – Science-fiction writer Alan Dean Foster once wrote that he blamed comic books for what had become of him. He’s a prolific and masterful sci-fi writer whose novels and short stories captivated and entertained me as a teen. His testimonial to the powerful influence of comics in his life gave me solace when classmates and adults alike ridiculed my own childhood obsession with comic books. I read as many comics as I could get my hands on, though I confess I paid more attention to the artists than the writers back then. And although I was ga-ga for comics from age 8 on, I still read more…
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What’s on Nelson’s Discover statement?
By Nelson – When Ian Feller asked me to do an article about things I’ve read that have had an effect on me, I really had to sit down and think about the things that really left a deep impression. If they say we’re a product of our environment, I guess everything must shape us in one way or another. Nowadays, with so many other forms of communicative media, like television, radio, and—God forbid—the Internet, reading seems to be almost obsolete in today’s “microwave” generation. Still, faster doesn’t mean better. I never thought of the writing profession as something that would actually be a fun thing to do. That was…
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Bride of Mordru
The story of the Legion’s greatest battle is finally told—a mere 30 years late! by Andy Lee • COMBO #30 • July 1997 Roses are red Violet’s possessed Mordru is coming You know the rest The evil sorcerer Mordru is coming to the 30th century, and the Legion is the only thing that stands between him and total galactic domination. In the extra-sized Legionnaires #50, by Roger Stern and Jeff Moy, the Legion of Super-Heroes calls upon the resources of other super-powered groups, including the Work Force and the Uncanny Amazers, in an all-out effort to stop Mordru. In the 29th century, Mordru once ruled a third of the galaxy,…
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The write stuff
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Chris’ Golden genre-spanning favorites
By Christopher Golden – It’s not an easy thing for a writer to recommend just a few other authors or books. There are so very many. And Ian specifically said I couldn’t recommend my own books…(bastard!) The question, however, is which novels and authors have had an impact on and/or influenced me. The first writer to do so was Stephen King. I wasn’t yet a teenager when I began to devour his work. King has shown recently with Desperation that he is still capable of the old magic. Then there’s Clive Barker, whose Weaveworld is one of the best, and whose generosity toward other writers is unmatched. I’m not a…
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Welcome to…Frrright Night!
By James Chambers – If you’re a fan of horror movies, chances are good you’ve seen Fright Night, one of the best of the contemporary vampire movies. If you haven’t, then this very creepy comic from Now Comics is a great way to check out the story, since the series began with an adaptation of the film before launching into all-new original stories. What made the movie so successful was the way in which it placed a very traditional vampire in a very modern setting, and the same thing makes this series worthwhile. After all, most contemporary comic book vampires are decidedly non-traditional, which makes this book a breath of…
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A classic hero crossover adventure
By James Chambers – As a short-lived Saturday morning animated series, Defenders of the Earth united Flash Gordon, Mandrake the Magician, and the Phantom to confront the evil forces of Ming the Merciless. Marvel Comics handled the comic book based on the show, publishing it under the Star Comics imprint (another short-lived venture), which specialized in comics aimed at younger readers. I’ve never seen the cartoon, but when I came across this book in the clearance box at the comic shop, the idea of bringing three of King Features’ best-known adventure heroes together really intrigued me. A story by Stan Lee and art from Alex Saviuk, a long-time favorite of…
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The write stuff
Though they work their magic far behind the scenes of the comic book business, comic book writers are often some of the most interesting and unusual people in the business of creating comic books. In addition to conceiving the adventures of our favorite heroes and heroines each month, they have some unexpected hobbies and pastimes. From slight of hand to unusual collections, here’s a look at just a few. Comic book writers share their favorite pastimes (COMBO #27) By Alex Amado • Art by Bill Jankowski Mark Waid, Prestidigitator Mark Waid, author of last summer’s smash Kingdom Come, is a truly multi-talented individual. In addition to his writing skills, which…
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Bride of Mordru
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The Hall of Fame isn’t just for sports cards
By Chuck McAnulla (COMBO #27) – HOF: Perhaps those letters mean nothing to you. Perhaps you prefer ABC or XYZ. As a card collector, you may better relate to IOU. The “HOF” designation does, however, have a magical connotation for sports card collectors, since it signifies that the players so identified in a given card set’s checklist are members of the Hall of Fame in their particular sport. Hall of Fame athletes have traditionally been of greater interest to sports collectors and their cards more highly prized, monetarily and otherwise. Prices of very rare tobacco sports cards can run to six figures—yes, all to the left of the decimal point!…
Fan site for the late, lamented Combo Magazine (1994-1997)
