From the Collector’s Closet
Weirdworld. Batman and the Outsiders. Rom. Not some of the best-known books, but they had some fine stories. And they’re cheap. Real cheap. That’s our goal here: To let you in on some great stories in back issues that won’t put you in the poorhouse. And we even throw in some newer books as well.
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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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DC heroes battle hunger
By James Chambers – Back in the mid-’80s, when benefit concerts began bringing together musicians from around the world to aid famine-relief efforts, Jim Starlin and Bernie Wrightson thought it would be a good idea for the comics industry to pitch in too. They spearheaded the efforts of dozens of writers and artists to produce two benefit comics. Heroes For Hope, starring the X-Men and published by Marvel Comics, and this book, published by DC. Both are remarkable for their attempt to unite comic book creators, readers, and publishers in a effort to relieve hunger in Africa by dedicating all proceeds toward that goal, but Heroes Against Hunger is also…
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Canada’s crafty Captain Canuck
By James Chambers – A friend gave me this book after finding it in the 50-cent bin at a local comic shop. This special is a great introduction to a very cool character. It’s an anthology issue which features several stories that show us the Captain in different situations, and a couple of others which are pure fun. And it all comes with some of the tightest writing and sharpest-looking artwork from the early ’80s. From the opening story, “Faith In Those Few,” it’s clear that Captain Canuck is a hero in the noblest sense of the word. What’s remarkable is that this short story succeeds in establishing that, while…
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Visit dark and twisted minds
By James Chambers – With Tales Of Ordinary Madness, Malcolm Bourne and Michael Allred take us down the dark and twisted paths of the human mind and into a world of people who dwell in their own personal realties, where even the most mundane activities can be a passage through Hell. With the experiences of several characters, they explore the nature of madness and its possible causes. Linked together by their nameless Doctor, each patient struggles to overcome illness and return to health, but even those working to help them are not immune. Each story offers an unsettling glimpse into these people’s lives and the establishment that is often helpless…
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DC’s combat legends team up
By James Chambers – It’s the height of World War II, and the Nazis have developed a weapon so devastating that nothing is safe from its deadly threat. Only the Unknown Soldier, the man of 1000 faces, can slip past the Germans’ veil of secrecy concerning the project and defuse the lethal forces set in motion. Can he stay alive long enough to succeed when his only allies are a woman who wants him dead and the wounded topkick of the legendary Easy Company? Robert Kanigher, a veteran comic book scripter and a veteran of war, crafts a fast-paced tale of intrigue and deceit as he follows the Unknown Soldier…
