Marvel Flashback: Machine Man #10

Machine Man #10 (Marvel Comics)

Marv Wolfman (w) Steve Ditko (a)

"If we delay even another moment Machine Man will be dead"

The issue opens with Machine Man being rushed into a laboratory following a bust up with the Hulk which actually took place in the Hulks own mag (#235 to 237). Will he survive?

Silly question really as this was a re-launch of title that had been discontinued eight months earlier after the original run with Jack Kirby came to en end. This time the reigns were with two other Marvel "big guns", Marv Wolfman and the great Steve Ditko.

  

These days it would be launched with a new #1, but back then it was fairly common practise for companies to revive series with the old numbering.

This issue relates or rather reboots the origin of Aaron Stack, the "Machine Man" as robot X-51 from a military programme. Not quite the origin we all knew but then Marvel had lost the 2001 franchise so in order to integrate the character into the Marvel universe a new origin was necessary.

Of course like so many Marvel heroes he had to find his way in the world. As he muses his existence:

"But if I'm not a robot..and I'm not a human being.. what am I?"

His "father" Abel Stack a scientist appears in a hologram message (think Star Wars) and tells him that;

"Aaron, you are not merely a walking, talking computer. You are a thinking living creature of God. If you were a mere thing you would not have found a human being to help you.."

There's more but you get the gist.

Regretfully this only lasted until #19, but I've always been a fan of both the original Kirby and this Ditko run. Worth getting an issue or two if you come across them.

Aarron does appear in the MU from time to time but his last solo series didn't last too long.

Marvel Flashback: Daredevil #66

Daredevil #66 (Marvel Comics)

Roy Thomas (w) Gene Colan (a)

And one cried murder!....

And lo, the story continues from the previous issue as Daredevil wanders around Los Angeles trying to solve the murder of an actor in a TV series.

Did I tell ya Karen Page the woman he loves is in danger?

And just who is Brother Brimstone?

To be honest the story seemed a little bit Angela Lansbury with superheroes thrown in but this is early Marvel madness from 1970 when I found Daredevil much more interesting than today's take on the character.

Netflix has just launched a Daredevil TV series, don't have access myself but it's getting good reviews, but then anythings gotta be better than that film...right!

Meanwhile a reminder of Daredevils first costume:

Previews: DC's post-Convergence titles

As the cover of the latest issue of Previews, the comic shop catalogue shows the big event for June is the first wave of new (and some revamped) titles to "diversify" the DC universe and also marks the end of the "New 52".

The range of titles is varied (and at least 5 more are to come next month) so here's my pick. That is to say the ones I've ordered.

The first issue of the Justice League America (see Previews cover) is the biggest (literally) of the titles with a lot of extra pages, 56 in all and a price to match ($5.99)! But with writing and art by Bryan Hitch (a Brit for those of you who don't know) this is going to be one stunning title. Did I mention a bunch of religious aliens heading for Earth! And something from Krypton lurking with them....

Then there's Batman Beyond. Not a title I've ever bothered with before though the cartoons were fun. This time he's in the definitive future of the DC universe, following the finish of Futures End one assumes. Can't wait. There's an Atomic Knight on a giant dalmatian on the cover.....

 

And John Constantine gets a relaunch. He's becoming central to the DC line of comics and with a nod to the Vertigo line he gets Constantine: The Hellblazer as his moniker. Good man.

Earth 2 or it's survivors at least return in Earth 2: Society whilst the various Green Lantern spin offs reduce to Green Lantern: Lost Army.

 

Justice League 3001 is relaunched with a year added to it's title. I wasn't sure what to make of this title of "restored heroes" in the future when it first came out but the story is great fun. They are not clones. The heroes DNA is used to "overwrite" existing human, but the results are .. well pick up a copy and read. Did I mention that Blue Beetle (Ted Kord) and Booster Gold from pre-Infinite crisis are here as well. The real deal.

Add Fire and Ice (both now "goddesses" in the far flung future) fro Justice League International and you will hopefully rush out to pick up back issues to catch up on this very bizarre title.

Both Martian Manhunter and Midnighter appear in their own titles. Love both these characters and it's good to see the former Authority errm..hero back!



Then there's Prez. Only a 12 issue limited series. A Teenage President on an alternate Earth. Based on the seventies title revamped for the modern age!

 
Now                                                                  Then

Starfire is my final choice of the new wave. An alien warrior makes her way on Earth.

Titles that didn't interest me included Bat-Mite and Bizarro. Way past their sell by days if you ask me, but every character has their fans I suppose.

Oh and although not part of the new wave Justice League #41 has a 48 page story to launch the Darkseid war. Oh and he's fighting the Anti-Monitor. Remember him from Crisis on Infinite Earths?

Next month a few more new choices. If we survive. Earth 2 Didn't.

Marvel Black & White: The Savage Sword of Conan #17

The Savage Sword of Conan #17 (Marvel Comics)

Various (w) & (a)

Back in the seventies Marvel Comics produced a number of black & white magazine titles aimed at older readers in an attempt to compete with Warren Comics who dominated that particular market with Creepy, Eerie and Vampirella. Most of Marvels attempts did not last long with one exception.

The Savage Sword  of Conan.

Conan's magazine lasted for 254 issues, published from 1974 to 1995. A very good run for an iconic character who also had his own monthly full colour  title published in the normal format by Marvel.



Conan the Barbarian first appeared in the US "pulp" magazine Weird Tales in December 1932 in a short story by Robert E Howard and became almost an instant classic. Most of his stories have been adapted by Marvel (and nowadays by Dark Horse) in comic strip form. There have even been a couple of films of which Arnold Schwarzenegger's version is probably the better known.

This particular issue reproduces part of the story The People of the Black Circle. This contains all the elements you would expect from a Conan tale; kidnapped woman, brigands, wizards and lots of action. The artwork is of a high standard and of course is black & white.

However what really caught my attention in this issue was the supporting feature Curse of the Black Stone with the Pictish King  Bran Mak Morn.

This tale written by Roy Thomas with highly detailed artwork from Tom Conrad was the highlight of the issue despite being a pretty grim tale as our hero searches for a "lost" race and has to pay for help by sleeping with a were-woman.



Bran Mak Morn is also a Robert E Howard creation, first appearing in Weird Tales way back in 1930. Certainly worth tracking down the issues of Savage Sword he appears in.

A title well worth collecting.

Lion Summer Special 1970

Lion Summer Special 1970 (IPC)

The summer special like their parent comics are a thing of the past. Long gone are the days when you could walk into a newsagents and pick up copies of boys (or girls) adventure comics. A shame really.

However it isn't too difficult to pick up copies of old British titles like Lion at reasonable prices, though the summer specials tend to be a lot scarcer and are little more expensive. The Lion Summer Special from 1970 is the first one I've picked up during the time I've turned my own attention to the long gone British comics scene. Grades as "Good" it set me back £15, which was more than some of the Annuals that were on sale, but well worth the price of admission.



Robot Archie opened the 96 page special with a complete story set during his time travelling days in a giant "castle" chess piece time machine with his pals Ted Ritchie and Ken Dale. The story was historically inaccurate but not out of place for the time. Take one dinosaur and a group of volcano worshipping cave men and you have a story.

Lion had the inevitable football story Carsons Cubs,  more light hearted fare such as Stringbean and Hambone who travelled on a barge with a magic lantern (that they didn't know granted wishes) Mowser (a cat who lived with an aristocrat), war stories, there was also Zip Nolan, surprisingly an American policeman where the reader was invited to look for the clue.



Of course Lion lasted a long time and became one of the iconic British comics until it's demise. I'll be returning to this title in due course. If you come across a copy they are worth picking up!

Convergence #0 : Every DC story matters

Convergence #0 (DC Comics)

Dan Jurgens & Jeff King (w) Ethan Van Sciver (a)

And so it has already begun. 

This story takes place towards the end of the recent Doomsday saga which ran across the Superman titles, except it didn't because it takes place outside of time and space. Not that Superman remembers.

Inside a black hole exists a world. A world of collected cities from across the multiverse as we discover placed there for study by Braniac and cared for by a new villain that has only known existence through Braniac.

His "master".

And his "master is missing".

The God Machine launches the weekly Convergence series with no less than forty 2 part tie in mini series.

Everything DC has published will matter.

Probably said too much already but with a "straight forward" story line and excellent scripting & artwork the adventure begins.

Only the strongest will survive we are told.

Superman is the key. He was the first and greatest of the heroes.

Now a selection from the past to point you to the future:

 

Atomic Knights (1960)                       Worlds End (2015)

 

Crisis on Infinite earths (1985)      Shazam (1940)

 

Blue Beetle (1967)                           Freedom Fighters (1976)

 

Flashpoint (2011)                           Kamandi (1975)

DC Spotlight: Sgt Rock #326

Sgt Rock #326 (DC Comics)

Robert Kanigher (w) Frank Redondo (a)

Sgt Rock was one of the more popular American war comics, originally appearing in Our Army At War #83 in 1959, but didn't "take over" the title until the seventies when the comic was renamed simply Sgt Rock.

Like his Marvel rival, Rock and Easy Company seemed to appear of every theatre of war possible. From North Africa, to Italy, France, the Pacific and even the eastern Front, Rock and his men were there fighting Nazi's or Japs.

 

I was prompted to pick up a copy of this series when my local comic shop announced they had obtained a long run of this title and it's predecessor. However the issue that caught my eye was a rather odd story, not normally associated with the character.

Sgt Rock goes to the future.

Or did he?

Collapsing in a cave he finds himself awoken by robots a thousand years later.  And guess what? He's smack, bang in the middle of another war, this time involving robots and flying saucers.

Of course Frank wins the day, but comes round back in the cave when picked up by his squad. Did the story really happen?

Who cares. These are comic books after all!