from Captain Britain (1985 series) #14 (Marvel UK, February 1986), script and pencils by Alan Davis; inks by Mark Farmer; letters by Annie Halfacree; color version from Captain Britain trade paperback (Marvel, 1988), colors by Andy Seddon
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Today in Comics History December 31, 11:55 PM, New Year's Eve: Captain Britain saves Scotland from killer hair-ribbons
from Captain Britain (1985 series) #14 (Marvel UK, February 1986), script and pencils by Alan Davis; inks by Mark Farmer; letters by Annie Halfacree; color version from Captain Britain trade paperback (Marvel, 1988), colors by Andy Seddon
Today in Comics History, December 31, New Year's Eve: Scott Pilgrim gets a haircut; has his usual success with women
from Scott Pilgrim and the Infinite Sadness (Oni, May 2006); script, pencils, inks and letters by Bryan Lee O'Malley
I am Spartacus...the Little Stuffed Bull!
While you're all out partying and carousing, I've been here at my little stuffed iMac merrily typing away, writing a guest-post for my pal Steve over at his blog Unseen Films! If you like comics, and if you like movies, and if you like me, then why not mosey over to Unseen Films to read my spotlight on the comic book version of the big blockbuster film Spartacus! You know, the movie in which Kirk Douglas plays Spartacus. And Laurence Olivier plays Spartacus. Also starring Jean Simmons and Charles Laughton as Spartacus! With special guest-star, Peter Ustinov, as Spartacus! And introducing: Tony Curtis in the role of Spartacus!
Panels from Four Color #1139 [Spartacus] (November 1960), comic book script by Gaylord Du Bois, pencils by John Buscema, inks by John Buscema and Mike Peppe
So don't delay, admit that you're Spartacus and head on over! Tell 'em Tony Curtis, and/or Bully the Little Stuffed Bull, sent you!
Panels from Four Color #1139 [Spartacus] (November 1960), comic book script by Gaylord Du Bois, pencils by John Buscema, inks by John Buscema and Mike Peppe
So don't delay, admit that you're Spartacus and head on over! Tell 'em Tony Curtis, and/or Bully the Little Stuffed Bull, sent you!
365 Days of DC House Ads, Day 365: What we're trying to say here, basically, is just buy DC Comics
Part 1: An Introduction
So, there you go; another year down and a new one to look forward to. And tonight I wrap up "365 Days of DC House Ads." Wow, have I really been doing this for five years? That is almost as old as I am. The math says, yep, I have:
- 2009: Ben Grimm
- 2010: Hank McCoy
- 2011: The Warriors Three
- 2012: Alfred Pennyworth
- 2013: DC House Ads
In any case, how to wrap up this feature? I've shown you a bunch of fantastic and favorite DC House Ads, for which we ought to hoist a glass of champagne or Yoo-Hoo or your preferred new Year's Eve beverage to DC House Ad Honchos Ira Schnapp and Gaspar Saladino, who are responsible for a huge percentage of the ads I've spotlighted this year from the Silver Age and beyond. Here's to you, gentlemen!
Today in Comics History, December 31, 1999, New Year's Eve: In his quest for healthier eating, Jamie Oliver becomes a supervillain
from Superman Y2K one-shot (DC, February 2000); script by Joe Kelley; pencils by Butch Guice; inks by Kevin Conrad, Mark Propst, and Richard Bonk; colors by Pat Garrahy; color separations by Digital Chameleon; letters by Clem Robins
Today in Comics History, December 31, 4:30 PM, New Year's Eve: Scott Lang hits his parenting plateau
from FF (2013 series) #3 (Marvel, March 2013), script by Matt Fraction, pencils and inks by Michael Allred, colors by Laura Allred, letters by Clayton Cowles
Today in Comics History, December 31, 4:30 AM, New Year's Eve: Captain Britain's chin makes a leap for freedom
from Captain Britain (1985 series) #14 (Marvel UK, February 1986), script and pencils by Alan Davis; inks by Mark Farmer; letters by Annie Halfacree; color version from Captain Britain trade paperback (Marvel, 1988), colors by Andy Seddon
Today in Comics History, December 31, 1:45 AM, New Year's Eve: Keith Giffen sneaks in and inks this issue's faces
from Captain Britain (1985 series) #14 (Marvel UK, February 1986), script and pencils by Alan Davis; inks by Mark Farmer; letters by Annie Halfacree; color version from Captain Britain trade paperback (Marvel, 1988), colors by Andy Seddon
Today in Comics History, December 31, 12:05 AM, New Year's Eve: The exploding can of lager is invented
from Captain Britain (1985 series) #14 (Marvel UK, February 1986), script and pencils by Alan Davis; inks by Mark Farmer; letters by Annie Halfacree; color version from Captain Britain trade paperback (Marvel, 1988), colors by Andy Seddon.
Monday, December 30, 2013
Today in Comics History, December 30, 10:35 PM: Meggan becomes increasingly suspicious of Walker's new Roast Wolverine Crisps
from Captain Britain (1985 series) #14 (Marvel UK, February 1986), script and pencils by Alan Davis; inks by Mark Farmer; letters by Annie Halfacree; color version from Captain Britain trade paperback (Marvel, 1988), colors by Andy Seddon.
365 Days of DC House Ads, Day 364: Put another X on the calendar
Well, folks, tomorrow's the last day of the year, so you're no doubt eyeing your rapidly-expiring 2013 Red Hood and the Outlaws wall calendar, ready to pin up your brand-spankin' new 2014 The Green Team: Teen Trillionaires calendar. Or this year for Christmas / Hanukkah / Kwanzaa / Robanuka / Hogswatch / Merlinpeen / Life Day you were gifted another fine DC Comics calendar: perhaps the new Princess KoriAnd'r swimsuit calendar, or the Riddler's Page-a-Day Conundrums for 2014, the Calendar Man wall calendar, or p'raps a fine product that might be called 365 Days of DC House Ads. Maybe even one a' these:
My point (and I do have one) is that you can buy a lot of different calendars for your wall these days to keep track of every sparklin' day of twenty-fourteen. But once upon a time, waaaaaaay back in the distant 1970s, when George Lucas still roamed the earth like some giant roaming thing and DC comics only cost two thin dimes (slightly more for 100-Page Giants), you paid yer money and you tooked your choices, which was exactly one: the single DC Comics calendar on sale each year. Like these as show in these find DC Calendar house ads! (There, finally back on subject!)
House ad for the 1977 Super DC Calendar; printed in Batman #282 (December 1976)
My point (and I do have one) is that you can buy a lot of different calendars for your wall these days to keep track of every sparklin' day of twenty-fourteen. But once upon a time, waaaaaaay back in the distant 1970s, when George Lucas still roamed the earth like some giant roaming thing and DC comics only cost two thin dimes (slightly more for 100-Page Giants), you paid yer money and you tooked your choices, which was exactly one: the single DC Comics calendar on sale each year. Like these as show in these find DC Calendar house ads! (There, finally back on subject!)
House ad for the 1977 Super DC Calendar; printed in Batman #282 (December 1976)
Today in Comics History, December 30: The Batman spends New Year's Eve Eve indulging in his oft-overlooked Peeping Tom hobby
from The Brave and the Bold (1955 series) #106 (DC, March 1973); script by Bob Haney; pencils, inks, and letters by Jim Aparo
Today in Comics History, December 30, 7:15 PM: The bottom falls out of the superheroine high-heel shoe market
from Captain Britain (1985 series) #14 (Marvel UK, February 1986), script and pencils by Alan Davis; inks by Mark Farmer; letters by Annie Halfacree; color version from Captain Britain trade paperback (Marvel, 1988), colors by Andy Seddon.
Today in Comics History, December 30, 6:30 PM: Captain Britain's consignment of heroin comes in much too late to give out as Christmas presents
from Captain Britain (1985 series) #14 (Marvel UK, February 1986), script and pencils by Alan Davis; inks by Mark Farmer; letters by Annie Halfacree; color version from Captain Britain trade paperback (Marvel, 1988), colors by Andy Seddon.
Sunday, December 29, 2013
This Little Piggy Went to War!
While I'm off on holiday vacation, please peruse this Bully Classic, originally posted November 20, 2008. Enjoy or enjoy again!
Everyone knows that The Punisher can use anything as a weapon. A gun, a knife, a carrot, a Nerf ball, a bit of string...the man can break your spine in six places with a Jell-O™ Pudding Cup.
Panels from The Punisher: War Zone Annual #1 (July 1993), written by Chuck Dixon, penciled and inked by John Buscema, colored by Ericka T. Moran, lettered by Michael Higgins
That's why whenever you sell out Mister Castle to the mob, make certain there's nothing within his reach that he can use against you as a killing tool.
Especially never
let him have
access to
a pig.
Captain America may use a metal shield for protection...
...but all Frank Castle needs is a pig.
This otherwise-serviceable tale of crime, revenge, and ham would have gone unnoticed in the annals of the many Punisher titles that glutted your local comic book store in the mid-1990s (Punisher, Punisher War Zone, Punisher Armory, Punisher vs. Archie, Punisher's Summer Vacation Spectacular, Punisher Love-In, Punisher: Son of Odin, The Mutant Misadventures of The Punisher, X-Punisher, Punisher: Sorcerer Supreme, Wolverunisher, and Star Comics' for-children-series Kid Punisher, to name but a few) if it hadn't been for the sparkling debut of that fan-favorite character whose first appearance later drove the back issue price for Punisher: War Zone Annual #1 higher than Hulk #181...the epic premiere of Frank's later constant companion and sidekick, his comrade in arms, dangerous and deadly, powerful and porcine, he's...
Appearing in over seventy separate comic book guest-spots during the height of his popularity, the Punisher's Battle-Pig is one of those characters that's not often seen in today's modern "realistic" Marvel Universe of Red Hulks and shape-changing alien infiltrators, but he was an icon of his time. Let's remember him with a look at his popular page from The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe, shall we?:
Remember kids, The Punisher's Battle-Pig says
So, in conclusion, let's all listen to The Punisher's Battle-Pig's Haunting Love Theme, shall we?
Everyone knows that The Punisher can use anything as a weapon. A gun, a knife, a carrot, a Nerf ball, a bit of string...the man can break your spine in six places with a Jell-O™ Pudding Cup.
Panels from The Punisher: War Zone Annual #1 (July 1993), written by Chuck Dixon, penciled and inked by John Buscema, colored by Ericka T. Moran, lettered by Michael Higgins
That's why whenever you sell out Mister Castle to the mob, make certain there's nothing within his reach that he can use against you as a killing tool.
Especially never
let him have
access to
a pig.
Captain America may use a metal shield for protection...
...but all Frank Castle needs is a pig.
This otherwise-serviceable tale of crime, revenge, and ham would have gone unnoticed in the annals of the many Punisher titles that glutted your local comic book store in the mid-1990s (Punisher, Punisher War Zone, Punisher Armory, Punisher vs. Archie, Punisher's Summer Vacation Spectacular, Punisher Love-In, Punisher: Son of Odin, The Mutant Misadventures of The Punisher, X-Punisher, Punisher: Sorcerer Supreme, Wolverunisher, and Star Comics' for-children-series Kid Punisher, to name but a few) if it hadn't been for the sparkling debut of that fan-favorite character whose first appearance later drove the back issue price for Punisher: War Zone Annual #1 higher than Hulk #181...the epic premiere of Frank's later constant companion and sidekick, his comrade in arms, dangerous and deadly, powerful and porcine, he's...
The Punisher's Battle-Pig!
Appearing in over seventy separate comic book guest-spots during the height of his popularity, the Punisher's Battle-Pig is one of those characters that's not often seen in today's modern "realistic" Marvel Universe of Red Hulks and shape-changing alien infiltrators, but he was an icon of his time. Let's remember him with a look at his popular page from The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe, shall we?:
Remember kids, The Punisher's Battle-Pig says
Take a bite out of crime...not bacon!
So, in conclusion, let's all listen to The Punisher's Battle-Pig's Haunting Love Theme, shall we?
365 Days of DC House Ads, Day 363: I am the god of kingdom come / Gimme the prize
Everybody loves DC Comics! Well, it certainly seems that way!
House ad for DC/National's awards (1951); printed in Adventures of Bob Hope #10 (August-September 1951)
House ad for DC/National's awards (1951); printed in Adventures of Bob Hope #10 (August-September 1951)
Saturday, December 28, 2013
365 Days of DC House Ads, Day 362: Will these house ads save this blog...or ruin it?
House ad for Showcase #76 (August 1968); printed in House of Mystery #174 (May-June 1968)
Ad designed and lettered by Gaspar Saladino
Friday, December 27, 2013
365 Days of DC House Ads, Day 361: Um, maybe we shouldn't start out 1967 by killing off all our heroes
House ad for Action Comics #346; Detective Comics #360; and Adventure Comics #353 (all February 1967); printed in Blackhawk #229 (February 1967)
Comic cover art: Action #340 and Adventure #353: pencils by Curt Swan, inks by George Klein, letters by Ira Schnapp
Detective #360: pencils by Carmine Infantino, inks by Joe Giella, letters by Ira Schnapp
Ad designed and lettered by Ira Schnapp
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Today in Comics History, December 26: Chris Claremont is a surprisingly ineffective henchman
from Captain Britain (1985 series) #14 (Marvel UK, February 1986), script, pencils and co-inks by Alan Davis; co-inks by Noel Davis; letters by Annie Halfacree; color version from Captain Britain trade paperback (Marvel, 1988), colors by Andy Seddon.
365 Days of DC House Ads, Day 360: The Human (and Kryptonian, and Martian, and Amazonian, and Atlantean, and Apokoliptan) League
House ad for The Brave and the Bold #28 [Justice League of America] (February-March 1960); printed in Batman #129 (February 1960); comic cover art: pencils by Mike Sekowsky, inks by Murphy Anderson, colors by Jack Adler (?), letters by Ira Schnapp; ad designed and lettered by Ira Schnapp
House ad for Justice League (1987 series) #1 (May 1987); printed in Batman #406 (April 1987); ad art from the cover of Justice League #1: pencils by Kevin Maguire, inks by Terry Austin
House ad for JLA (1997 series); printed in Superman Adventures #6 (April 1997); ad art: pencils by Howard Porter, inks by John Dell
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
365 Days of DC House Ads, Christmas Bonus: What the Dickens?
I know this will make it 366, but I couldn't let the holiday season go by without posting this classic ad which I forgot to post until now.
House ad for Teen Titans (1966 series) #13 (February 1968); printed in Adventures of Bob Hope #109 (February 1968)
Comic cover art: pencils and inks by Nick Cardy, letters by Ira Schnapp
Ad designed and lettered by Ira Schnapp
House ad for Teen Titans (1966 series) #13 (February 1968); printed in Adventures of Bob Hope #109 (February 1968)
Comic cover art: pencils and inks by Nick Cardy, letters by Ira Schnapp
Ad designed and lettered by Ira Schnapp
365 Days of DC House Ads, Day 359: The year everybody got the power of super-jumping for Christmas
House ad for Green Lantern/Green Arrow #113; Batman #309; Superman #333; and The Brave and the Bold #148; (all March 1979) printed in House of Mystery #266 (March 1979)
Ad designed and lettered by Gaspar Saladino, ad art unsigned (José Luis Garcia-López?)
Two of these four issues had fantastic Christmas covers by one of my top five Batman artists, Jim Aparo!
Covers of Batman #309 and The Brave and the Bold #148, both covers with pencils and inks by Jim Aparo and colors by Tatjana Wood
By the way, what were the crooks on the cover of B&B #148 doing? Why, that's simple...they were buttlegging!
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