Weird War Tales 23

Tags

Alfredo Alcala, Day After Doomsday, DC Comics, John Albano, Len Wein, Rich Buckler, war, Weird War Tales, weird war tales 23

Today, Weird War Tales #23 rises from the savage depths of the vintage DC Comics shortbox with a fairly famous two-page story by Len Wein and Rich Buckler: Day after Doomsday. The artwork by Alfredo Alcala in the opening story is also a worthy treat for the eyes.

Credits: The Bird of Death script by John Albano, art by Alfredo Alcala. Day After Doomsday script by Len Wein, art by Rich Buckler. Corporal Kelly’s Private War script by George Kashdan, art by Alex Nino.

Here are both pages of Day After Doomsday for you!

Swamp Thing Volume One

Tags

Berni Wrightson, David Michelinie, DC Comics, Gerry Conway, horror, Len Wein, monsters, Nestor Redondo, science fiction, Swamp Thing, Volume One

Many before us have sung the praises of the Len Wein and Berni Wrightson stories that kick off the first volume of Swamp Thing stories. Have you seen the first issue of Swamp Thing? We might be in the minority, but the first chunk of issues where Swamp Thing takes on some pretty generic monsters seem like merelyt a warm-up for further greatness.

Even the Batman crossover in #7 fails to get our engines revved. But then: issue #8 comes along. Swamp Thing encounters a demon in a cave on the outskirts of a small town, giving us a dark visual feast that brings the series to life for us. The Lurker in Tunnel 13 may be the first of the early tales that hints at what Swamp Thing would later become in the 1980s –the first appearance of Arcane notwithstanding. It’s cosmic, satanic, horrific, and sports one of our favorite Wrightson covers.

Wein and Wrightson also present a great story about a stranded alien trying to repair his ship and return to the stars. Making this freakish beast sympathetic and compassionate reminds us that monsters and heroes come in many forms.

Before leaving the book, Wein & Wrightson deliver the consummately creepy Man Who Would Not Die, the first return of Arcane from the hell where he deserves to stay. The confrontation between Arcane and Swampy in a graveyard may be our favorite artistic moment of Wrightson’s legendary contributions.

Nestor Redondo steps into Wrightson’s shoes without missing a beat, working with Len Wein on three issues before David Michelinie takes the reins. We have some other images of Nestor Redondo’s Swamp Thing art if you’d like to check them out.

Michelinie and Redondo seem to lose steam towards the end of their contribution, and what happens next is a bit of a disappointment. The creative team changes, and the book loses much of its horror appeal quickly. Readers must have felt the same way at the time, as Swamp Thing would soon be cancelled. Swamp Thing’s gambit to revert to a normal Alec Holland once again just doesn’t work for us, and it’s been more or less ignored in subsequent Swampy stories.

The end of the volume is a bit of a mess, but the early stories have definite high points. We sold our collection of VG+/FN issues — almost a complete run — on eBay. But a few of them we would be happy to collect and read again. You can get many of the early Wein/Wrightson issues in Roots of the Swamp Thing reprints.

Having owned both the reprints and the originals, we prefer the originals. Though the printing and color is more crisp and clean and bright in the reprints, the vintage horror vibe feels much more authentic with a well-worn copy from the early 1970s, the smell of tanned comic book paper, and the distinctive original covers.

Marvel Treasury Edition: Defenders

Tags

Bill Everett, Defenders, Len Wein, Marvel Comics, marvel treasury edition, marvel treasury edition 16, Roy Thomas, Sal Buscema

 
Sometimes, bigger really is better. Case in point: The Defenders. While we have never been fans of this oddball collection of superheroes, we couldn’t pass up a deal on Marvel Treasury Edition #16 featuring the Defenders.

If you haven’t seen this book before, dig these photos we snapped like Peter Parker before webbing up the book and shipping it to the biggest Defenders fan we know. Gaze upon the awesome majesty of Pegasus from the inside cover! Wonder in awe at the detailed schematics for the Defenders superhero lair: the Long Island Hang-Out! Feel your eyeballs pop out of your skull when you behold the brain-bludgeoning spectacle of splash pages full of giant, hideous aliens!

Collector’s Guide:
– from Marvel Treasury Edition #16: Defenders; Marvel, 1978.

 
Back cover rocks!

 
Whoa dude – mega double splash page of disaster!

 
The legendary lair.

 
We almost dismantled the entire book to remove and frame this single splash panel. Don’t be surprised if we try painting this one someday.

 

 
You can’t go wrong with dudes bathed in cosmic energy and taking astral trips through space and time!

 
Let’s see that ugly alien face one more time!

 
And again!

 
AND AGAIN! SKREEE!

 
One… More… Time!!!

 
One of our favorite Hulk portraits. What a rage ball!

 
Glorious splash page.

 
More glorious splash pages!

 
Ah, 1978. It was a good year, was it not?

 
Aren’t they on the same team? Then why are they fighting?
Why is Dr. Strange shooting his own foot?
Don’t think too hard, just enjoy the awesome.

 
Last but not least: Pegasus!

 
Notes:
Marvel Treasury Edition #16 features “The Day of the Defenders” (Reprints Marvel Feature #1) by Roy Thomas, Ross Andru, and Bill Everett, “The New Defenders” (Reprints Defenders #4) by Steve Englehart, Sal Buscema, and Frank McLaughlin, “For Sale: One Planet, Slightly Used” (Reprints Defenders #13-14) Defenders vs. Squadron Sinister (evil Squadron Supreme) by Len Wein, Sal Buscema, Klaus Janson, and Dan Green. Guest-starring the Black Knight. Moon Knight cameo. Featuring the villainy of Nebulon, the Enchantress, Skurge the Executioner, and Squadron Sinister. 80 pages.

Dan-Thing Archives: Mighty Thor 200; Ragnarok!

Tags

beware if this be ragnarok, end of the world, essential thor, Gerry Conway, John Buscema, Len Wein, Marvel Comics, Mighty Thor, ragnarok, Thor

Up from the primordial muck slithers… the Dan-Thing! In his oozing fist he clutches a time capsule: Marvel comic books from 1972! Our muck-stomping friend the Dan-Thing asked that we share these bronze-age beauties with you for education and inspiration.

Today we have the most awesome issue of Thor ever produced: #200, from 1972. Beware! If this Be… Ragnarok! John Buscema unleashes the full destructive power of his Jack Kirby influence to render the total end of everything. Is it madness – or prophetic vision?!

Sometimes we lack enough superlatives to describe books like this one. We had never read this story before Dan-Thing mailed it to us earlier this year. We expected another ho-hum issue of Thor: the usual confounding of science and mysticism and really big headgear. But LO! I say thee NAY, mortal! This issue doth kickest the mightiest ass there be!

Collector’s Guide: From Thor #200; Marvel, 1972. Reprinted in Essential Thor #5 in black-and-white; Marvel, 2011.

Mike Kaluta’s Carson of Venus!

Tags

Carson of Venus, Korak, Len Wein, Mike Kaluta, Pirates of Venus

Adapted from the novel The Pirates of Venus by Edgar Rice Burroughs; Chapter Five: The Girl in the Garden. Starring John Carter, with a script by Len Wein and art by Mike Kaluta.

Collector’s Guide: From Korak #48; DC Comics, 1972. When DC Comics had the rights to various Edgar Rice Burroughs properties, they adapted Pirates of Venus in Korak, Son of Tarzan #46-50 and #52-53. These were partially reprinted in Tarzan Family #60-65.

DC also started an adaptation of Lost on Venus in Korak #54-56 and Tarzan #230.

Man-Thing’s Second Appearance!

Tags

Astonishing Tales, John Buscema, John Romita, Ka-zar, Len Wein, Man-Thing, Neal Adams, Roy Thomas, Zabu

As Zabu fans, our favorite part of this comic is Zabu kicking major alligator ass. He needs no help from any human brother! But listen, this comic is also important for being the second appearance of Man-Thing.

Manny first appeared in Savage Tales #1 in 1971. Len Wein and Neal Adams created a second Man-Thing story that didn’t make it into Savage Tales. That story is integrated in its entirety right into the middle of this two-part Ka-zar story by Roy Thomas and John Buscema. It’s fitting, because Thomas wrote that very first Man-Thing story.

Len Wein went on to write the first issues of Swamp Thing for DC Comics with Berni Wrightson. The star-studded “Terror Stalks the Everglades!” also features inker Dan Adkins and John Romita, Sr., who provided retouches to the original black-and-white Neal Adams artwork.

Collector’s Guide: From Astonishing Tales #12 Featuring Ka-Zar; Marvel, 1972. Story continues in Astonishing Tales #13.

Spider-man and Dr. Strange Go Cosmic!

Tags

Doctor Strange, Dr. Strange, Len Wein, Marvel Team-Up, Marvel Treasury, marvel treasury edition, Sal Buscema, Spider-man

If we had to pick our favorite panel by Sal Buscema, it’s got to be this amazing double splash from the Spider-man and Dr. Strange team up: The Spider and the Sorcerer! One of the reasons we love it so much is that we first laid eyes on it in Marvel Treasury Edition #22. It was huger than huge! The cosmic effect blasted our senses, an impact that has lingering effects to this day.

We didn’t have time today to get this whole adventure posted, but don’t despair. Our archives house two more stories from this Marvel Treasury Edition: the complete two-part adventure where Spidey battles raging dinosaurs. First, with Ka-Zar in the Savage Land, and then continuing to New York with the Black Panther. These links will transport you there: Part One, Spider-man + Ka-Zar team up. Part Two, Spider-man + Black Panther team up.

Collector’s Guide: Marvel Treasury #22: The Sensational Spider-man. Reprints Marvel Team-Up #21. Reprinted in Essential Marvel Team-Up #1

Spider-man and Ka-zar Team Up Against Dinosaurs!

Tags

dinosaur, Gil Kane, Ka-zar, Len Wein, lizard, Marvel Team-Up, Marvel Treasury, marvel treasury edition, Savage Land, Spider-man, Stegron, Zabu

Spider-man jumps without a parachute into the Savage Land, where he and Ka-zar take on the evil Stegron and a herd of stampeding dinos! Later, the dinosaurs fly to New York to bring chaos to the streets. And who should drop in but the Black Panther?! With art by Gil Kane and a guest appearance by Dr. Curtis “The Lizard” Connors, this two-part dino extrvaganza has been one of our very favorites for as long as we can remember! Do you want Part Two of the story?

Collector’s Guide:
– From Marvel Treasury #22
– Reprints Marvel Team-Up #19
– Reprinted in Essential Marvel Team-Up #1

Muck-Encrusted First Issue of Swamp Thing!

Tags

Alec Holland, Berni Wrightson, first issue, Len Wein, origin, Roots of the Swamp Thing, Swamp Thing, swamp thing origin

No spandex. No referring to yourself in the third person. Just a shambling muck-encrusted mockery of the man that once was Alec Holland… Swamp Thing! Here are his origin and very first issue for you to enjoy. And it only gets better from there!

Collector’s Guide:
– From Swamp Thing Vol. 1, #1
– Reprinted in Roots of the Swamp Thing #1.
– Reprinted in Roots of the Swamp Thing Hard Cover.

Story and Art by Len Wein & Berni Wrightson.