(Y-11) Old School Monday…Batman (1940-2011) # 1

Hello, and welcome to another old school Monday.

First of all, sorry for last week, I had some technical problems, but I am back and hopefully it will not happen again.

So, for this week, I go back to one of my all-time favorite characters, the Dark Knight himself, and the first issue of his own book.

It covers, in a really brief moment, Batman’s origin, you know, the whole crime alley thing, and the death parents.

This issue also features the first appearances of two of the most iconic counterparts of Batman, The Joker and Catwoman,back then she was only known as The Cat.

With this we finally get to see some supervillains in action.

For me, this book marks the beginning of one of the most amazing characters ever created, and after 80 years of adventures, it is refreshing to see where it all started.

As a bonus, we also get to see one of the recurrent villains that is still present till this day, Hugo Strange.

As I said, this book is full action from page one.

Now, I’ll get back to it, if you have any suggestions of what I should read for old school Monday, just leave a comment, but remember, they must be pre-1981.

Off to read, and to feel anxious about my total page count.

azr.

(Y-11) old school Monday…Detective Comics (1937-2011) #27

Hello, and welcome to another old school.

Today’s entry is about the legendary Dark Knight, and he’s first appearance on number 27 of the famous series, which recently reached number 1000, no easy feat.

In his appearance by Bat-Man, as he is referred to, we see another legendary character from the Batman mythos, Commissioner Gordon, as he is having a conversation with young Bruce Wayne, he is call to serve a murder.

Wayne jumps into action and stops the diabolical plots of the very dangerous Crime Syndicate.

One thing I can see in this early superhero comics is the lack of the archetypal villains we are used to now, all fun of bravado and colorful costumes, the villains in this early stories are represented mainly by mobsters or really greedy sons.

But as with any Batman stories I always enjoy seeing the Dark Knight in action.

This story was first published on March, 1939 and it began a history than that this year turned 80 years old.

The creation of Bob Kane and Bill Finger is more alive than ever, and with some amazing writers and illustrators still passionate about this character, it will be no surprise that in future generations they will celebrating another 80 years of stories.

Next old school Monday will stay with in the Bat Family, for now I’ll keep it a surprise.

Off to read.

azr.

(Y-11) Old School Monday…The Incredible Hulk (1962-1999) #1

Hey true believers, and welcome to another old school monday.

And in the spirit of the legendary comic book creative team of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby this comic book this particular comic book is excelsior.

I think The Hulk is one of my favorite creation by Stan and Jack.

And I could not put my finger on why, until I say this image.

It resembles the monster from Frankenstein, one of my favorite characters of all time, so much that I think my love for the character was visually obtain.

So, this is a pretty straightforward origin story, where Doctor Bruce Banner is accidentally hit with a gamma ray bomb and he develops some extraordinary powers.

Also, it remains me of the whole Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde thing, where the latter is the secret personality of the mellow and easy going Dr. Banner.

This is a must for all comic book fans not only because of the iconic character, but also to see the beautiful art work of one of the best to ever do it.

After this, I’ll dive into some classic storylines of The Hulk, yeah, this one hit me right in my nostalgic bone.

Off to read.

azr.

(Y-11) Old school Monday…The Demon (1972-1974) # 1

Welcome to another Old School Monday.

On this occasion I’ll go back to one of my favourite creators, Jack Kirby.

But this time it is one of his works with DC Comics, Etrigan The Demon.

In this origin story, the Demon is summoned by legendary wizard Merlin, to protect him from evil sorceress Morgaine Le Fey.

After she is defeated, Etrigan leaves Camelot, and transforms into a man, that in the distant future will be known as Jason Blood.

I have a special place in my heart for this time of characters of the DC Universe, you know of to the left of the mainstream characters, doing their thing, and fighting the forces of evil magic along the way.

And as a plus, you can delight on the fantastic art and storytelling skills of one of the best to work on the industry.

This is one of the series that I pretend to read all in single issues, just for the fun of it.

Now, off to read.

azr.

(Y-11) Old school….Tuesday, I guess, All-Star Comics #3

Hello, and welcome to another Old School Monday, on a Tuesday.

Yesterday, I was so tired that sleep got the best of me.

But I did read the comic.

For this occasion was the first appearance of The Justice Society of America, DC Comics first super hero team.

This comic book is a meeting of the super team, where each one report of their most recent run in with criminals, mostly mobsters and bank robbers, no super villains yet.

It is also a time capsule, where the costumes of the era permeates into the story, and for those or us who didn’t experience it is a glimpse of history.

Off to read.

azr.

(Y-11) Old school Monday… Wonder Woman (1942-1986) #1

Hello and welcome to another Old School Monday.

On this occasion, and in spite of my massive reading hangover, this due to the 24in48 readathon, I took the time to read this week’s comic, which follows the adventures of Wonder Woman in her own solo series.

This time she has several adventures in the world of men, from protecting some circus elephants, to defeating an evil Nazi commander and to top it off, the taming of a wild bull somewhere in Mexico.

I think it is really interesting seeing how other people where stereotypically portrait, I guess it is part of the general consensus of the era, but it is important that these comic book are kept intact so we can see how far we have come, but always be conscious that there some more roads ahead of us.

The part the I loved about the book is the imagery that portraits were Wonder Woman got her powers.

Well, I got back to take it slow, and hopefully tomorrow I’ll pick up right we’re I left off.

Off to read.

azr.

(Y-11) Old School Monday… Sensation Comic (1942-1952) #1

Hello and welcome to another Old School Monday,

As I mention last week, I’ll continue with the origin story of one of the most important characters in comic book history, Wonder Woman.

As the story follows, Princess Diana brings back Captain Trevor to the world of man, here while waiting for him to get better, stops a bank robbery, becomes a carnival performer and switches identity with a nurse, from whom, she receives her incognito name, Diana Prince.

It is really interesting to see how the other characters, and Wonder Woman herself, depict women, I know that we are talking about another era, but it is really palpable how women supposed to be pretty and that conflicts with being powerful.

At least there is an effort to try and break down that misleading notion of not being able to be both, women can be whatever the fuck they want to be.

I’ll continue next week with the first issue of Diana’s solo series.

azr.

(Y-11) Old school Monday… All-Star Comics #8

Hello, and welcome to another installment of Old School Monday.

For this occasion I read the issue that had the privilege to be the first appearance of iconic character Wonder Woman.

Originally released on the last day of 1941, it introduces us to Princess Diana and Paradise Island, and the turn of events that lead her to leave the peaceful island.

This origin story expands to Sensation Comics # 1 and eventually to the first issue of her solo comic, Wonder Woman, which I’ll read the following weeks.

As an added bonus this issue also features the Justice Society of America, including some of my favorite characters like Sandman and Spectre.

I love this type of comic and the way they establish a graphic standard for storytelling for generations to come.

For now, I’ll go back to trying to chip away some pages of Memories of Ice.

azr.

(Y-11) Old School Monday…Showcase(1956-1978) # 22

Hello again, on this Monday I read the first appearance of Test Pilot and Green Lantern Hal Jordan.

This story was originally printed on September 1959, it was written by John Broome and illustrated by the legendary Gil Kane.

They were looking a way to reintroduce the character but making different from the first Green Lantern in the DC Universe, Alan Scott.

Since the space race craze was in full swing, a space policeman was just perfect for the era.

My favorite part was the now classic Green Lantern oath, to think that one of the most iconic lines is now 60 years old.

This particular version that I read is an Spanish reprint of the original book, and it is sold in a sealed pack containing some blind comic books, encase in a foil wrap, from the modern DC Comics era, it is well worth the price in order to read this classic tale.

Next week I’ll start with the origin story of Wonder Woman, than means All-Star Comics and the Justice Society of America.

Now, off to read.

azr.

(Y-11) Old School Monday…The New Gods (1971-1978) #1

As every Monday, I have read an old comic book from the top creators of the field.

And this week was no exception.

One of the coolest creation of the ever-cool Jack Kirby is The New Gods, a group of celestial characters from the DC Comics who are the inhabitants if New Genesis, they are looking for balance thru the universe.

In this particular issue we see Orion, one of the fiercest warriors of New Genesis, return home.

Where he uncovers a plot of one of the most infamous villains of all the universe, Darkseid.

Armed with an equation known as “Anti-Life”, see the series Final Crisis, which it can negate existence, Orion must stop Darkseid’s plan to destroy the universe.

These characters have appeared in other comic books, I recently read an story arc involving them with the Green Lantern Corps.

Also, I reccomend you read the limited run by legend Jim Starlin, The Death of the New Gods, it wouldn’t disappoint.

For next week, I’ll go back to the first appearance of the emerald knight.

Now off to prepare a new post with some of my plans and numbers for the upcoming week.

azr.