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Queen of the Damned #12 (1993 – Innovation) Unpublished | ComicSpectrum – Bob's Blog
Innovation was a publisher founded in 1988 with a focus on licensed properties, and I always thought they had excellent adaptations and new stories on the books, movies and TV shows they licensed. They became the 4th largest fourth publisher in the US before closing in the partial collapse of the direct market comics industry in…
Kids do goofy stuff to their comics | ComicSpectrum – Bob's Blog
As a 12-year old in 1974 I had the brilliant idea that if I 3-hole punched a bunch of my Spider-Man comics I could put them in a 3-ring binder and it would be easy to read as a longer continuous story. Yes! My home brewed invention of the Trade Paperback collection! If you look…
Mickey Mouse paintings by Floyd Gottfredson | ComicSpectrum – Bob's Blog
I recently got an auction catalog from 1993 that showed 24 Mickey Mouse paintings by Floyd Gottfredson which had been commissioned by a collector named Malcolm Willits. Lots of extra background on Gottfredson (interviews, analysis) and a great quote about collecting: "If you look at your collection as an investment, it would be better if…
Ultimate Spider-Man (2024) #1 | ComicSpectrum – Bob's Blog
The new Ultimate Spider-Man was REALLY good. Nothing whatsoever like the original Ultimate SM run. (Or the Ultimate Spider-Man reboot with Miles) It doesn't even try to be. Hickman goes in a completely different direction and is a solid "What If?" type storyline. Very heavy on story this issue with no face-punching superhero action, so…
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Key Comic | ComicSpectrum – Bob's Blog
All three of the comic pictured above have been identified as "minor key" comics. To me, two are real minor keys and the other is what I call a "faux key". MINOR KEYS: Amazing Spider-Man #7 (1963) has the 2nd appearance of The Vulture. Definitely a significant character who has spawned a number of new…
Completing a Run: Fantastic Four! | ComicSpectrum – Bob's Blog
Fantastic Four #4 (1962) - 1st Silver Age appearance of the Sub-Mariner. I now have every issue of FF! Yes, it's slabbed... and buying an expensive book over the internet is my primary "that's what CGC is useful for" case. I know no pages are missing and there's no unrevealed restoration. I can't read this…
Middle Class Fantasies | ComicSpectrum – Bob's Blog
Middle Class Fantasies was a pretty decent underground comic from 1973 by Jerry Lane that he published as part of his Masters thesis at Cal State Fresno. Lots of pop culture references, including the Marx Brothers, Cool Hand Luke, and (the standout for me) a story where they bring George Reeves back in an android…
An example of CGC Grading gone wrong…. | ComicSpectrum – Bob's Blog
I've been looking for a copy of FF#4 to complete my run. One I WILL NOT be buying is shown above (seen on eBay). For the people who believe in the quality of CGC grading, I must again politely disagree. I know grading is subjective, but I would NEVER give something a 5.0 with a…
Public Service Message on “Limited” and “Hot” comics | ComicSpectrum – Bob's Blog
A higher priced limited variant cover will not necessarily be a valuable gold mine in the future. This variant cover of Lady Death from 2012 was limited to 850 and originally priced at $9.99 I just got the above comic for $2.50 Decent art and story and I felt it was worth half what a…
Uncle Scrooge’s Money Bin! | ComicSpectrum – Bob's Blog
Walt Disney's Comics and Stories #135 (1951) - The 1st appearance of Uncle Scrooge's money bin. The bin was mentioned twice before this (Four Color #282 & the previous issue of WDC&S #134) but this issue is the 1st time it's seen in all its glory, including all the various traps and the huge central…
The Origin of Red Sonja’s Chainmail Bikini | ComicSpectrum – Bob's Blog
Is anyone a fan of Red Sonja's iconic "chainmail bikini"? Have you wondered where it originated? When Sonja 1st appeared in Conan the Barbarian #23&24 in early 1973, Barry Windsor Smith portrayed her in a more practical, albeit less sexy, full chainmail shirt. In the summer of 1973, artist Esteban Maroto did a pinup of…
I love a great sale! | ComicSpectrum – Bob's Blog
My LCS had a New Years sale with all comics on the rack (except the new books from last week) @ 75% off. Caught up Star Wars, Darth Vader, Doctor Aphra, SW Bounty Hunters, Venom, Poison Ivy, Hulk, Miles Morales, Ghost Rider, DC "event" books from Dark Crisis & Lazarus Planet, plus 10 oversized DC…
Sally Forth (1977 – Wallace Wood) | ComicSpectrum – Bob's Blog
Created for a military male readership, Wood's sexy action-adventure character, who is often seen nude, began as a recruit in a commando outfit. She first appeared in June 1968, in Military News , a 16-page tabloid. Sally returned July 26, 1971, in Overseas Weekly, a tabloid targeted at U.S. military men serving outside North America.…
World of Fantasy #3 (1956) | ComicSpectrum – Bob's Blog
Sometimes I buy completely random comics just because I have never seen or heard of them before... This anthology Atlas mystery/suspense title fit the bill: Kind of a cool cover. Decent shape (about VG). Reasonable price (~$30... seemed not bad, maybe a good deal, maybe I overpaid). Very short, mostly 4 pages, "twist ending" stories…
Captain Atom by Jim Starlin | ComicSpectrum – Bob's Blog
I was reading the recently acquired Charlton Bullseye #2 (1975 - the magazine sized B&W fan magazine 1st volume) and in addition to some Steve Ditko Captain Atom stories, it had a double page center-spread of a VERY Jim Starlin/Captain Marvel-looking "Captain Atom" by "Gemini". A little research told me that I was right... Gemini…
Another Key: Journey Into Mystery #85 | ComicSpectrum – Bob's Blog
Journey Into Mystery #85: 1st Loki, Asgard, Heimdall, and Odin. One more issue of Thor to go (I'm still looking for JiM #83 in a condition/eye appeal/price that works for me). http://comicspectrum.com/By Fans who Love Comics For Fans who Love Comics
2nd Marvel KISS appearance | ComicSpectrum – Bob's Blog
Marvel Super Special #5 (1978) - Kiss stars in "The Land of Khyscz!" Plot by Ralph Macchio and Alan Weiss, script by Macchio, pencils by John Romita Jr., inks by Tony DeZuniga. 2nd of two KISS issues, pretty decent art! This completes my run of Super Special except for #7 which was an adaption of…
Batman-Santa Claus: Silent Knight | ComicSpectrum – Bob's Blog
Batman-Santa Claus: Silent Knight is a fun Holiday mini series where DC heroes team up with Santa to fight Krampus. Leave it to Superman to have a great page in #3. Jeff Parker "gets" Superman... young Clark asked Santa for a present not for himself but for his parents when he was 6. Also.... just…
Completing a Run: Black Angel (Verotik – 1996) | ComicSpectrum – Bob's Blog
This is a collected edition with eight stories from the Golden Age of Comics featuring "The Black Angel", an ebony clad heroine fighting Nazis in WWII. This is notable mostly because of the awesome Dave Stevens cover. I don't have all of the covers using Stevens images that have appeared on IDW Rocketeer comics as…
Filling a Gap: Love and Rockets (1st Fantagraphics print- 1982) | ComicSpectrum – Bob's Blog
An expanded version of the 1981 self-published issue by the Hernandez Brothers. Quite a bit different from the (mostly) more grounded "slice of life" stories the series would evolve into. Many characters those of us who came in later know and love in settings that are a bit more fantastical/sci-fi. I'm closing in on completing…
Filling A Gap: Ghost Rifer: Hot Pursuit (1993) | ComicSpectrum – Bob's Blog
From 1993 is this giveaway comic from KayBee toys (which has been out of business for 14 years and on life support for at least 5 years before that). In this story, some thugs decide to rob a funeral (really?) and the Danny Ketch GR shows up to stop them. GR pursues thd getaway driver…
Before Thor: Journey Into Mystery #81 & 82 (1962) | ComicSpectrum – Bob's Blog
I picked up the 2 issues of Journey Into Mystery right before Thor took over the title in issue #83. Some great pre-superhero monster/suspense stuff by Stan Lee with art by Kirby, Ditko, Colan, Heck! #81 has: "The Ruler of Earth!," pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Dick Ayers; In the near future of 1990,…
Oddball Comic: Eh! #4 (Charlton 1954) | ComicSpectrum – Bob's Blog
The cover features an unprintable visual pun of an old timey sexist phrase used to describe a well built lady. VERY racy for 1954. This comic is a long time feature from Scott Shaw's Oddball Comics Panel at SDCC/WonderCon, I have seen this comic so many times over the years, and I've wanted a copy…
Filling a Gap: Love and Rockets #3 (1983) | ComicSpectrum – Bob's Blog
I've read these in collected editions and it's one of my favorites, so I've been trying to get the original comics to add to my collection. I'm zoning in on a complete run, just a few to go now...Los Bros Hernandez have created such fantastic worlds in their respective stories/continuities:Gilbert's stories usually focus on a…
Mission Impossible #1 (Dell – 1967) | ComicSpectrum – Bob's Blog
1st of 5 issues published by Dell. This came out in early 1967, near the end of the 1st season that had Dan Briggs leading the IMF (though they call it the Mission Impossible Force in this comic... the writer may have never watched the show). Some of the actor likenesses inside are pretty decent.…
Hollywood has painted themselves into a corner…. | ComicSpectrum – Bob's Blog
I'm not 100% sure why so many people take delight in posting about the low box office of The Marvels. I share the opinion of Iman Vellani (see below).... I enjoyed the movie and that's good enough for me regardless of whether a load of other people decided to not go pay to see a…
Completing a Run: Uncle Scrooge Adventures #51 (Gladstone 1997) | ComicSpectrum – Bob's Blog
I love Uncle Scrooge.... not from the DuckTales cartoon (sorry) but in comics by Carl Barks & Dona Rosa in particular. They really capture his "high adventure" spirit so well. I missed this issue back when it came out and it has an original Don Rosa story "The Treasure of the Ten Avatars". Just like…
Completing a Run: Nemesis the Warlock #17 (Fleetway, 1989) | ComicSpectrum – Bob's Blog
I got most of these Fleetway (and Eagle) reprints of British comics (mostly from 2000AD) when they first came out in the USA back in the 80s and they opened up a whole new cool world of comics to me, but I did miss some issues here and there and they're sometimes a bit hard…
Paul Pope’s One Trick Rip Off | ComicSpectrum – Bob's Blog
Latest addition to my Paul Pope collection: One Trick Rip-Off TP (1997) - Great crime story collecting stories originally published in Dark Horse Presents #101-112. Vim & Tubby decide to rip-off the "One Trick" gang (thus the name ). Really great story & art. http://comicspectrum.com/By Fans who Love Comics For Fans who Love Comics
All-Star Western, Vol. 1 #117 | ComicSpectrum – Bob's Blog
#FirstAppearancesAll-Star Western, Vol. 1 #117 (1961) - DC Westerns! My very 1st issue from volume 1 of this series. This issue is near the end of the run and has the 1st appearances of both Madame .44 and Super-Chief. Definitely "of it's time", but a fun read if you go in with that in mind.…
Marvel Westerns are fun! | ComicSpectrum – Bob's Blog
#fillingagap Mighty Marvel Western #1 & 2 (1968) - I now need 4 more issues to finish off this 37 issue series that brought together stories with Marvel's biggest western heroes. I wasn't that meticulous about getting the Westerns when I was a kid, but I had a smattering of them. I remember particularly liking…
V For Vendetta | ComicSpectrum – Bob's Blog
Remember, remember, the fifth of November.... V For Vendetta: I've bought, and read, this story several times: Warrior Magazine (1982) DC comic series (1988) Vertigo "deluxe" HC (2005) ......but I must say, this is a case where I enjoy the movie more than the book due to the brilliant performances by Hugo Weaving and Natalie…
Deadworld, Vol. 1 #23 (1991) | ComicSpectrum – Bob's Blog
#CompletingARunBefore "The Walking Dead" there was Deadworld.Earth suffered a supernatural holocaust. Isolated pockets of humanity struggle to survive against a seemingly endless and mindless horde of zombies that have effectively taken over the world. BUT Intelligent zombies appear, led by a Harley-riding, chain smoking, sarcastic and sadistic leader dubbed KING ZOMBIE (seen on the cover…
Countdown to Complete: Night Nurse #1 | ComicSpectrum – Bob's Blog
#fillingagapNight Nurse #1 (1972) - Getting this issue finished off this 4 issue romance series that re-introduced the nurse character who would later be integrated into the Marvel superhero universe and retconned into a nurse/caregiver for Marvel's street-level heroes. Note: CGC has this incorrectly identified as the 1st appearance of Linda Carter, whose 1st appearance…
Paul Pope: The Corruptor | ComicSpectrum – Bob's Blog
Another early piece of Paul Pope's comics work. The Corruptor was done as a digest sized booklet, limited to 1000 copies and is probably the 3rd item from Pope's Horse Press, after Sin Titulo and The Ballad of Doctor Richardson. This copy (that I got on ebay) came with 2 additional postcard prints, both signed…
Old Timey “spicy” detective comics | ComicSpectrum – Bob's Blog
I recently bought Spicy Tales #1 (1989 - Eternity Comics) which features reprints of 2 to 8 page comic strips from the pulp magazines Spicy Detective and Spicy Western from the 1930s and 1940s (which I'd never seen or heard of before). This issue includes the 1st 2-page "Sally the Sleuth" strip from November 1934…
Countdown to Complete! FF #5 | ComicSpectrum – Bob's Blog
Another big one! FF #5, the 1st Dr. Doom. I've been working on knocking off the few remaining Marvel books that would get me all of the superhero stuff from the beginning up through the early 2000s (I know, not really "work").... Just issue #4 left to complete this run! http://comicspectrum.com/By Fans who Love Comics…
ComicCon@Home: Bob’s Sunday 7/26 Panels reviewed | ComicSpectrum – Bob's Blog
The inaugural ComicCon@Home 2020 is complete! 8 panels today for a total of 41 panels pretty much all focused on comic books, comic book history, and the craft of making comics. Pretty darned good for a convention that according to some “isn’t about comics any more”. Most of the comic book panels I reviewed had…
ComicCon@Home: Bob’s Saturday 7/25 Panels reviewed | ComicSpectrum – Bob's Blog
Saturday of ComicCon@Home is complete. Another 11 panels today to bring my 3-day total to 33! I have blown away my previous 4-day total of “panels viewed” and I have another day to go PLUS extra Hollywood panels! As I mentioned in past blogs, during the day I’ve been focusing my panels on comic books,…