365 Days of Defiance, Day 147: I Kara for You

Panels from Wonder Woman (2006 series) #41 (April 2010), script by Gail Simone, pencils by Chris Batista and Fernando Dagnino, inks by Doug Hazlewood and Raul Fernandez, colors by Brad Anderson, letters by Travis Lanham

365 Days of Defiance, Day 146: By Omactivation Only

As you may know, altho' I'm an American bull, I watch a lot of television from the United Kingdom (where they just call it "telly," which is much shorter). Hi Jimmy Carr! Dia dhuit Dara Ó Briain! Hej Sandi Toksvig! G'day Adam Hills! And a very distinguished and upper class hullo to Stephen Fry. Some of these programs programmes are on the government-run British Broadcasting Corporation, which is funded by a mandatory TV licence tax and therefore does not have any commercials. (Not even for Geico!) But if you're not watching the BBC, you're watching one of Britain's many commercial TV stationsmad they have cool unusual advenrts made in the UK that we seldom see over here. Like Epic Skeletor Money Super Market:


Or Flash Dog!:


Or even the Thunderbirds/Halifax Bank Crossover!


But when I saw this following commercial, I immediately thought it would be worth spotlighting on "365 Days of Defiance." It's to remind UK residents to register to vote for the upcoming General Election pitting Teresa May (Sensible Party) against Jeremy Corbin (Slightly Silly Party), by pointedly...um, pointing out, that if you don't register, you don't get a choice:


I think that's pretty effective and I hope it leads to a much larger turnout throughout the UK than did the Brexit vote (2.8 million eligible voters skipped the election). But it does remind me of not-at-all-British O.M.A.C. (One Man Apple-Corer...I mean Army Corps):


Panels from OMAC (1974 series) #2 (November-December 1974), script and pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by D. Bruce Berry, colors by Jerry Serpe, letters by Mike Royer
So, do you think OMAC stands there arguing and asking "What?" of the man with the clipboard who tells him he can't go in? Ya think?

(Click picture to OMACtisize)
So remember: either turn into a single-human infantry troop, or register to vote. So you can use the baskets at the corner shop.

365 Days of Defiance, Day 145: No matter what the crisis is / Do it: live it up, live it up, live it up, live it up!

Today's the Twelfth Anniversary of my blog, and what better time than the realization that it is twice as old as I am to present another astounding event and awesome act of defiance from superheroes, one of comics' great moments and as far as I'm concerned, the curtain falling on the Bronze Age of Comics: the defeat of the Anti-Monitor from Crisis on Infinite Earths.

Today's Day of Defiance was suggested by fan and online-pal Preston Major, to whom I give a hearty "Gosh, Thank You!" Award with all the trimmings (stuffing, mashed potatoes, giblets, etc.) Preston's suggestion itself is a lesson in never ever ever giving up, because a couple of weeks ago when I suffered a substantial computer error (i.e., I accidentally deleted all my prepped files for future 365 Days of Defiance, like the dumbbull I am), Preston was one of many who were there to buck me up, and he reminded me that he's earlier suggested the climax of Crisis #12 as a Day of Defiance. Without his help, I wouldn't have remembered he suggested this, so all the 5,000 Hats of Jack Kirby off to him. Thanks, Preston!

So, as you may remember, as we begin Crisis #12, things are not the best that they could ever possibly be, by just a little touch:


Panel from Crisis on Infinite Earths #12 (March 1986), co-ploy and script by Marv Wolfman, co-plot and pencils by George Pérez, inks by Jerry Ordway, colors by Tom Ziuko, letters by John Costanza
Oooh, that's not good. Luckily, Superman (of Earth-1) completely destroys the Anti-Monitor! Blam! It's only page six, and comic over!


UH OH! Auntie Em ain't dead yet. Well, surely he can be stopped by the world's greatest heroes, Wonder Woman and Pariohhh geez we're all doomed.


Luckily, Superman's there again to throw a rock the size of Cleveland on top of him. Problem solveOH COME ON NOW COMIC BOOK


Geez, this guy's got more curtain calls than Crosby (as Bob Hope, the only DC character who they didn't let appear in Crisis might have said). Okay, Darkseid and Alexander Luthor, you're up at bat!


Yay! He's gone! Oh wait, he's back! For Pete's sake! This comic has more fake-out defeats than The Terminator!


And here it is: the Ultimate Moment of Ultimate Defiance, and it's a nice touch that it's hammered in by the First Superhero of the DC Multiverse, the Superman of Earth-2. We salute you, Kal-L!


Ah, that does the job. Good work, Supes-2. May you never be used as thea villain in an ill-conceived comics crossover event!

Thanks Superman; thanks Preston; thanks to all of you for reading this little puppet-town cow-blog for twelve years!

365 Days of Defiance, Day 144: Make sure you don't catch Huntington's rot

Swamp Thing is possessed! And not, as we all wish, by the spirit of rock 'n' roll, but by an evil entity. Geez, it's never the spirit of rock 'n' roll. (sulks, listens to my Bob Seger albums again)


Panels from The Saga of [the] Swamp Thing (1982 series) #12 (April 1983), script by Martin Pasko, pencils and inks by Tom Yeates, colors by Tatjana Wood, letters by John Costanza
Today's 365 Days of Defiance is brought to you by the suggestion of the Godfather of Swamp Thing Blogging, "Mighty" Mike Sterling over at Progressive Ruin, one of the the World's Finest Comics Blogs Since 1969. Hey, if'n you're a fan of Mike (and who isn't?) and/for of Swamp Thing (ditto), you oughta pitch in a buck or more a month to Mike's Patreon, which helps support his excellent blog and gets you his new series of reviews of every Swamp Thing comic ever. You can free-read the first-installment here, and it looks like it's gonna be a lotta fun. Mike is a good friend and a fine human being, so his writing and his Patreon gets two hooves up from this little stuffed me. As Mike would say, Swamp Thing, won't you?

365 Days of Defiance, Day 143: "When I go, I'd just like everyone to say: 'He lived longer than anyone I knew.'"

"He wasn’t a failure. He made for himself a world fit for himself to live in." — Leslie Charteris, Enter the Saint

"We all have a responsibility in life to do what we can to help those less fortunate. — Roger Moore

The great Roger Moore passed away on May 23, and he will be much missed. Reflecting on Sir Roger reminds me of his first great role as a Robin Hood of modern day: Simon Templar, The Saint. Which reminds me of the Saint's creator, Leslie Charteris. Which reminds me of a great team of righteousness and justice inspired by the words of Leslie Charteris:



Panels from The Outsiders (1985 series) #1 (November 1985), script by Mike W. Barr with text by Leslie Charteris, pencils and inks by Jim Aparo, colors by Helen Vesik
Sure, it's a conceptual leap...but I think Charteris...and Roger Moore...would have approved of the Outsiders and their mission.

Godspeed, Sir Roger. With that halo already above you, we know right where you're heading.

365 Days of Defiance, Day 142: We Miss You, Carrie

Panel from Star Wars: A New Hope: The Special Edition #2 (Dark Horse, January 1997), script adaptation by Bruce Jones, pencils by Eduardo Barreto, inks by Al Williamson, letters by Steve Butro

Ten of a Kind: GRAB THE GLOBE!

(More Ten of a Kind here.)

365 Days of Defiance, Day 141: Tik, Tik...Boom

Panels from Micronauts (1979 Marvel series) #45 (September 1982), script by Bill Mantlo, breakdowns by Gil Kane, finishes by Danny Bulanadi, colors by Bob Sharen and Don Warfield, letters by Jim Novak

Today in Comics History, May 20, 1989: Charles L. Hurlburt has been given all the facts

from the Milk & Cheese story "Just the Facts, Maim" in Deadline USA (1991 series) #2 (Dark Horse, November 1991); script, pencils, inks, and letters by Evan Dorkin
But when will there be a test, hmmmmmmmm?

365 Days of Defiance, Day 140: Always bet on black. Not green.

Panels from Black Panther (2005 series) #39 (September 2008), script by Jason Aaron, pencils and inks by Jefte Palo, colors by Lee Loughridge, letters by Cory Petit

365 Days of Defiance, Day 139: I Am Defiant (Blue)

Panels from "Doom Must Die!" in Astonishing Tales #3 (December 1970), script by Larry Lieber, pencils and inks by Wally Wood, colors by Tom Palmer (?), letters by Jean Izzo

365 Days of Defiance, Day 138: A talent contest on Monday with my Uncle Sam

Panels from All-Star Squadron #35 (July 1984), script by Roy Thomas, pencils by Rick Hoberg, inks by Bill Collins, colors by Gene D'Angelo, letters by David Cody Weiss

365 Days of Defiance, Day 137: Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid

Hey, let's look at a good Inhumans story! Yep, there are some! In this one, Magneto gets ticked off that Marvel is trying to replace mutants with Inhumans, so he kidnaps and brain-enslaves Black Bolt. Whose real name is, have we mentioned before Blackagar Boltagon? hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee okay here's what happens.


Panels from the Inhumans story "—In His Hand — the World!" in Amazing Adventures (1970 series) #10 (January 1972), script by Gerry Conway, pencils by Mike Sekowsky, inks by Frank Giacoia, letters by Sam Rosen
It's horrendous! It's terrifying! It's totally earth-shattering...the mixing of Sony/FGox Marvel characters with Marvel Cinematic Universe characters! Also, it's a little scary that Magneto has Black Bolt under his thrall, which, as I think we can all agree, is a very uncomfortable place to be. Or...is he?


BLACK BOLT'S BREAKIN' LOOSE, BABY! LIVE FREE OR DIE! Etc.


So just a little minor skirmish, and Black Bolt quietly goes his way...not. Thus follows several pages of destruction the Mighty Marvel Way!



I presume they sent in Damage Control after that, which only goes to show: don't mess around with Black Bolt. Unless you pay him enough to present him on IMAX screens and on network television as a wuss and a pushover, in which case, fair enough.

365 Days of Defiance, Day 136: Wolverine's Choice

All the X-Men (even the terrible ones!) have been kidnapped and mentally tortured by Horde, mutant alien, and turned against their nature to embrace their true desires. Can Wolverine, the last X-Man standing crawling, turn the tables, defeat Horde, and rescue his pals?


Panels from [Uncanny] X-Men Annual (1970 series) #11 (1987), script by Chris Claremont, pencils by Alan Davis, inks by Paul Neary, colors by Glynis Oliver, letters by Tom Orzechowski
Can he do it?!? Well, sure; it's a done-in-one Annual.


Wolverine's blood drop splashes onto the deus ex machina that is The Crystal of Ultimate Vision


no, no, not that Ultimate Vision. Anyway, the Crystal rebuilds Wolverine completely from that drop of blood, including his adamantium skeleton, his memories, and his unique...um, aroma. Because, y'know, Crystal of Ultimate Vision. Look, just go with it, huh?


Hey, now Wolverine has all the cosmic awareness in the world, and he could fix everything and make it all better! But should he accept this awesome responsibility? Or are the temptations simply too great? It's a real Galadriel's Choice! Luckily, Wolverine chooses to defy Horde, defy the Crystal, defy godship and just get his friends back. And, presumably, a nice cold beer.


"And now at last it comes. You'll give me the Crystal freely, bub! In place of a Dark Lord you will set up a Wolverine. And I'l not gonna be dark, but rugged an' handsome as Clint Eastwood! Strong as a cuppa Tim Horton's an' smooth as a Labatt's! Everybody's gonna love me and collect comic books about me!...eh, heck with it. I'll be an X-Man, an' remain the best there is at what I do."

365 Days of Defiance, Day 135: "No beast so fierce but knows some touch of pity." "But I know none, and therefore am no beast."

Panels from Wolverine (1988 series) #49 (December 1991), script by Larry Hama, pencils by Marc Silvestri, inks by Hilary Barta and Dan Green, colors by Steve Buccellato, letters by Pat Brosseau

Today in Comics History, May 14, 1999: Two Grant Morrison characters share bubble gum...look, I'm only six years old, I have no idea what's goin' on here

from The Invisibles (1999 series) #8 (DC/Vertigo, August 1999), script by Grant Morrison, pencils by Sean Phililips, inks by Jay Stephens, colors by Daniel Vozzo, letters by Todd Klein

Today in Comics History, May 14, 1999: Grant Morrison is excited to purchase yet another 1/6 scale Hindu god figure

from The Invisibles (1999 series) #8 (DC/Vertigo, August 1999), script by Grant Morrison, pencils by Sean Phililips, inks by Jay Stephens, colors by Daniel Vozzo, letters by Todd Klein