Happy 4th Of July 250

A happy 4th Of July to everyone, and a happy 250th to the United States of America.  

Here, to celebrate....Superman, from the Limited Collectors' Edition #C-47 (August-September, 1976; though the book features Tomahawk) and Captain America, from the Marvel Treasury Special Featuring Captain America's Bicentennial Battles #1 (September, 1976).

 

Remembering Artist Dave Hoover

Remembering artist Dave Hoover on his birthday (May 14, 1955 - September 4, 2011) with his covers to the Invaders mini-series, where Captain America, the Human Torch, Sub-Mariner, Whizzer and Miss America fought the Battle-Axis (Dr. Death, the Human Meteor, the Spider-Queen, Strongman and Volton), with the help of some other World War II heroes, like the Vision, the Thin Man, the Blazing Skull and more!

Invaders #1 and #2 (May and June, 1993)

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Invaders #3 and #4 (July and August, 1993)

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Celebrating Artist Ron Lim

Celebrating the birthday of artist Ron Lim (February 13, 1965) with a bit of a love story, between Captain America and Diamondback.

Captain America fought the Serpent Society, whose membership including Diamondback (Rachel Leighton), debuting in Captain America #310 (October, 1985, before Ron was on the series). 

But, Rachel soon found she had less interest in crime and more in the crime fighting Captain.  After dating Steve Rogers, she fell out of favor with the Serpent Society, and even tried to take them down. 

Captain America #371 and #373 (June, 1990 and Late July, 1990)

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Captain America #380 and #381 (December, 1990 and January, 1991)

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Celebrating Artist Bob Layton

Celebrating the birthday of editor, writer and artist, Bob Layton (September 25, 1953).

For a talent this big, time to go with some big issues...the four covers he drew for Marvel Super-Heroes Secret Wars, featuring the Hulk, the X-Men, Dr. Doom and Captain America!

Marvel Super-Heroes Secret Wars #4 and #5 (August and September, 1984)

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Marvel Super-Heroes Secret Wars #6 and #7 (October and November, 1984)

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Celebrating Artist Jim Steranko

Celebrating artist Jim Steranko on his birthday (November, 5, 1938) with his all too few Captain America covers.

While his run on that iconic hero didn't last long, like most of the work he did, it was influential, from the addition of Madame Hydra to the mythos, as well as an often homaged cover.

Strange Tales #159 and Captain America #110 (August, 1967 and, February 1969)

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Captain America #111 and #113 (March and May, 1969)

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A bonus Strange Tales cover featuring Captain America vs. Nick Fury, as Steranko's work there is also fondly thought of...and a little of it here!

 

Happy Fourth Of July With Captain America

Saluting the 4th of July with this John Romita, Sr. drawn July entry from the 1976 Marvel Bicentennial Calendar, with Captain America front and center, standing strong to uphold the United States Declaration Of Independence.

Stan Lee 100

Stan Lee was born 100 years ago on this date.  

Remembering the man and his life (December 28, 1992 to November 12, 2018), with a group of Marvel Comics that he wrote...

...that were one hundred issues!

Strange Tales #100 (September, 1962)

The first of the Stan Lee 100 issues, with a cover drawn by Jack Kirby and inked by Steve Ditko (names that would always be there to help Stan Lee reach his heights).

Though there were a few Marvel super heroes at this time, this anthology book was still odd horror tales, with stories plotted by Stan, and likely written by Larry Leiber, with art by Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko and Don Heck.

This issue was reprinted in the Marvel: June 1962 Omnibus (2021).

The next issue of Strange Tales would see half the book taken over by the Fantastic Four's Human Torch, with Doctor Strange and Nick Fury to follow in years to come.

Journey Into Mystery #100 (January, 1964)

Here begins a run of stories that Stan Lee would be better known for, this one featuring Thor, the god of thunder!

Under a cover by Jack Kirby and Sol Brodsky, with interior work by Don Heck, Thor faced off against Mr. Hyde (who debuted in the previous issue).  While successful against Mr. Hyde, Jane Foster did not impress Thor's father, Odin, and thus Odin would not allow Thor to marry the young nurse Thor was infatuated with.

This tale has been reprinted many times, including in Thor's first Marvel Masterworks, and his first Epic Collection.

Tales To Astonish #100 (February, 1968)

This issue features a battle royal between the two characters, Hulk and the Sub-Mariner, that shared the title.

With a cover by Marie Severin and Dan Adkins (who also did the inside, with a little inking assistance from Roger Brand), the two heroes often branded villains battled (though it was the fault of neither...the Hulk was being controlled by the Fantastic Four villain, the Puppet Master).

Among other places, this story was reprinted in the third Hulk Marvel Masterwork and in the third Hulk Epic Collection (and would fit in a second Sub-Mariner Epic Collection whenever Marvel makes one).

Captain America #100 (April, 1968)

Here, Stan Lee returns to a character he had worked on since World War II (as Captain America took over the Tales To Suspense title that he had shared with Iron Man).

Jack Kirby supplied the cover (with inks by Syd Shores and Joe Sinnott), with interiors by Kirby and Shores, where Cap, Black Panther and Agent 13 (Sharon Carter) battle who they think is Baron Zemo in Wakanda, defeating the man, with Cap suggesting to Black Panther to join the Avengers as his replacement (which he would).  The issue also features a bit on Steve Rogers' origin, and his meeting with the Avengers.

This issue was reprinted in Captain America's second Marvel Masterwork as well as in his second Epic Collection (and a few other places).

Fantastic Four #100 (July, 1970)

Stan Lee's great triumphant issue 100, where he had written all the previous issues of as well, along with Jack Kirby.

Here, with Kirby inked by Joe Sinnott, the Fantastic Four, along with Inhuman Crystal (who was a part of the team), battled all the FF foes...sort of.  The Mad Thinker and Puppet Master had made android duplicates of the villains, and set them against the five heroes, in an epic tale, celebrating 100 issues with the same writer/artist.

This issue would be reprinted in the tenth Fantastic Four Marvel Masterwork, as well as in their sixth Epic Collection.

Amazing Spider-Man #100 (September, 1971)

Another Stan Lee triumph, as he had written all of the issues previously, though here, he had a few artists working with him over the decades, including Steve Ditko and John Romita.

Under a cover by John Romita and Frank Giacoia, with interiors by Gil Kane and Frank Giacoia (and backgrounds by Tony Mortellaro), Peter Parker struggled with his spider powers (nothing new), faced hallucinations of his old foes (new and old), and, by the end, ended up with six arms (totally new).  Hey, Stan could always put Peter through his paces, and an anniversary issue was no exception!

This issue was reprinted in the eleventh Amazing Spider-Man Marvel Masterwork, and in the sixth Epic Collection of that series.

Truly, a touch of the career that was Stan Lee's, and a nice look at the overall history he created, on this, what would have been his 100th birthday.

Excelsior!

 

Captain America Vs Conan

Long before the Savage Avengers, fans wondered what it would be like if Conan the Barbarian faced off against one of the Marvel heroes...

...case in point, the cover of Comic Reader #150 (November, 1977), as illustrated by Larry Houston, where Captain America tests his shield against the sword of Conan!

 

Celebrating Jack Kirby

Celebrating the King, Jack Kirby, on what would have been his 105th birthday (August 28, 1917 to February 6, 1994), with two special covers of characters he had worked on for a long time, Thor and Captain America.

First up, Journey Into Mystery #105 (June, 1964), inked by Chic Stone, where Thor faced off with two of his deadlier foes, the Cobra and Mr. Hyde!

The second of these special issues is Captain America #105 (September, 1968), with inks by Dan Adkins (and alterations by John Romita Sr.), sees Batroc form his Brigade, with the Swordsman and Power Man as members.

Not enough Kirby for you...here is more!

Perez Marvel Holiday Special

George Perez has contributed a lot of art to Marvel over the decades, but he hasn't done too many Christmas based drawings....at least until the Marvel Holiday Special of 1994.

Made that much more special, as it also has a rare drawing of Spider-Man, and even X-Men Iceman and Wolverine (though George did draw a lot of the Beast when he was an Avenger).

Sad that he didn't doing anything inside, but the stories are: Beast/Iceman by Kurt Busiek, James Fry and Neil Vokes; Captain America by John Ostrander and Tom Mandrake; the Thing by Gregory Wright and Mike Manley; Silver Surfer by J. M. DeMatteis, Mindy Newell, Rick Leonardi and Al Williamson; Spider-Man by Karl Bollers and Gray Morrow and the X-Men featuring Wolverine by Karl Bollers and Sal Buscema as the Marvel heroes get ready for Christmas.

 

Happy 4th Of July With Captain America

Celebrate the Fourth of July with Captain America and Jack Kirby, as they did in 1976, with the Marvel Treasury Special Featuring Captain America's Bicentennial Battles #1 (September, 1976).

One of the things this special Marvel Treasury did was celebrate the 200th Birthday of the United States, which was celebrated heavily on July 4th, 1976.

Due to events in the story, Jack Kirby had a few pin up pages, where he explored the idea of Captain America, that, Cap was an institution, supporting America from colonial days, well into space and the future!

Best of all, in line with July being Western Comics Month, Cap even was ready to be part of the drive to expand the USA, heading out west to spread our country across North America!

These Captain America redesigns a wonderful "What If?" to the Captain America legend....

 

Happy 100th Birthday Jack Kirby

Sadly, Jack Kirby (born August 28, 1917, died February 6, 1994) is no longer with us.

But, a few of his friends wanted to celebrate...

...folks like Captain America and the Fantastic Four.....

....Bombast and Captain Glory....

....Machine Man and Devil Dinosaur (Moon Boy too!).... 

...to the Eternals and Black Panther....

...Kamandi, the Last Boy On Earth! and Etrigan, the Demon....

....the Sandman (and all sorts of things on the edge of dreams) and the Manhunter....

....the Dingbats of Danger Street and Atlas....

...OMAC, the One Man Army Corps and our fighting forces of the Losers... 








....the New Gods and Mr. Miracle (finding a whole Fourth World).... 

...to whole teams of heroes like the Avengers and the X-Men....

...including Avenger members like Thor and the Hulk....

...to Green Arrow and the Challengers of the Unknown....

...to the Boy Commandos and the Guardian and the Newsboy Legion....

....to Manhunter and the Sandman again (for the first time)....

...even this rare cover for a hundredth issue of Comic Reader, covering a few of DC's characters.....


...and so much more....

....this is why Jack Kirby is and forever shall be the King!

Jack Kirby 100 Amazing Heroes

As what would be Jack Kirby's 100th birthday approaches, a quick look back at Amazing Heroes #100, from August 1, 1986, featuring a cover drawn by Jack Kirby and inked by Steve Rude.

Kirby, surrounded by the Guardian and the Newsboy Legion in the inset, and an action shot below, with Captain Victory, the Fantastic Four (Invisible Girl, Mr. Fantastic, Thing and the Human Torch), Thor, Darkseid, Mr. Miracle, Captain America and Bucky and the Silver Surfer....some of the King's best known creations at the time.

Included in the issue: A few comic creators thoughts/pictures on Jack Kirby (including Scott Shaw! and Michael T. Gilbert), Greg Potter going through Jack Kirby's comic career, Mark Evanier interviewing Jack and Roz Kirby, Richard Howell looking at 10 Jack Kirby stories, Greg Theakston looking at Kirby's art and R. A. Jones giving his overview of Jack Kirby's work.

Worth looking at, as it gives an overview of the King's work, while he was still producing more, and has the benefit of he and his wife commenting on it.

Also worth mentioning, Amazing Heroes #47 from May 15, 1984, that has Amazing Heroes' only other Kirby cover....with a focus on Jack Kirby's return to DC (and the New Gods) in the 1980s.  Ironic....that as the New Gods returned, so was Star Wars (see the upper left-hand corner)....

....and may "the Source" be with you if you know of the similarities between Star Wars and the New Gods (ultimate evil leader of the bad guys, who regularly tortures and kills his followers, secretly being the father of the most notable fighter on the good guys' side, a mystical power that surrounds us all and the most adept can use, including the old man who trains the secret son....).

Captain America as President?

Captain America as President?  That was the basis of the story of What If? #26 (April, 1981), with Captain America running for and successfully becoming the President of the United States in a story by Mike W. Barr, with Roger McKenzie, Don Perlin, Roger Stern and John Byrne all contributing, and art by Herb Trimpe and Mike Esposito....all under a cover by Marie Severin (with Captain America co-creator Jack Kirby swearing in Steve Rogers, with Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan in attendance). 
 
Of course, if Captain America takes over the United States, wouldn't that force the Red Skull to get his own country?

The issue also contained a story about an alternate reality Man-Thing, and some history on the Eternals and the Kree (the last two alien races that Jack Kirby had a hand in creating....).

This story was an alternate world version of the Captain America story from Captain America #250 (October, 1980, by Roger Stern, John Byrne and Joe Rubenstein, with plot ideas by Don Perlin and Roger McKenzie), wherein Captain America was approached about running for President as the people's choice.  Cap decided for the good of the country, that his being president would not be good for America.....which the What If? story played out. 


How can you judge a President? 


How about by what he does while he is President?