“…Achieving Liberal Ends By Fascist Means.” COMICS! Sometimes They Fight To Make Men Free!

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Posted by: John Kane on May 9, 2013

Categories: Reviews , Uncategorized

…and it stank like it something had crawled up it and died! What? I’m on? That’s a bit ahead of schedule. Caught me on the hop a bit there, let’s see what we can do. Hold on…let me check my pockets…right! Harumph! This’ll have to do. Here goes. Welcome, International Comrades! In this exciting post I will be treating the eyes of all to the sight of many comic covers. Yes! These coruscating covers adorned the 1982-4 run of BLACKHAWK; a run written by Mark Evanier and drawn by Dan Spiegle with back ups from a heavenly host of talents. Pleasure for all viewers ensured as I have mastered the scanner! Technology is yet servant to the flesh! Yes! So,…  Read More…

“That Soldier–He’s A Woman?!” COMICS! Sometimes We Sing A Song For The Unsung!

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Posted by: John Kane on April 26, 2013

Categories: Reviews , Uncategorized

So, I managed to wrestle a broken down wreck of a scanner out of the garage. To give it a proper work out I scanned in a bunch of covers by the artist Luis Dominguez; who I totally rate. I chucked in a bit of context but don’t worry there aren’t many words in this one. Mostly it’s a bunch of ’70s Western covers by a neglected Argentinian artist. I say mostly covers but also the famous scene where Scalphunter arm wrestled Abe Lincoln. Top that, Spielberg! Anyway, this…

“You See That? He’s STILL The Greatest!” COMICS! Sometimes It’s GilWolf Unbound!

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Posted by: John Kane on March 27, 2013

Categories: Reviews

A-huh! HUH! It’s another instalment of Gil Happy! Unsightly blemishes are a thing of the past as Gil Kane and his plucky sidekick, Marv Wolfman, team up with friends galore to document the exciting, amazing and thoroughly ridiculous adventures of 1980s Superman. Bonus! Feel the years just fall away as we revisit that time a comics creator flicked DC’s tie back in its face! Documentary evidence provided! Anyway this… DC’s Legal Department in a self congratulatory mood…oh, sorry, it’s actually Brainiac!

“Rodeo Ain’t Over Yet!” COMICS! Sometimes I Don’t Have A Title!

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Posted by: John Kane on February 17, 2013

Categories: Reviews

Hello! Here are some words about some comics. The sales figures analysis is just below this. Very good it is too! To clarify, the Hibbs’ stuff is good, not this stuff. Anyway, this…

BookScan 2012: important addendum

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Posted by: Brian Hibbs on February 16, 2013

Categories: Retailing/Industry

It was observed to me by a third party that for a good part of 2012 Barnes & Noble was not stocking the “top 100″ DC Comics, which I entirely forgot about in my BookScan 2012 report. There are published reports that say that this ended at the end of June 2012, but there’s also reports from everyone’s favorite muckraker, Rich Johnston, that some/much of the books were returning to some B&N locations before 2011 even ended. What does this actually do to the charts?  I have no real idea. Typically 4th quarter is the strongest sales quarter, so, in theory, this should have impacted DC’s 2011 numbers much stronger than 2012, but even that’s uncertain — how much demand…  Read More…

“…Primitive Lyricism…” PEOPLE! Sometimes Gil’s Gone!

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Posted by: John Kane on January 31, 2013

Categories: Reviews

Gil Kane died on 31 January in the year 2000 A.D. Time enough has now passed that although I still feel the loss of his gargantuan talents I am past the garment rending and hair pulling stage. I will never be beyond the celebrating his work stage though. So what follows is a brief visual burst of Gil Kane’s genius from the ’80s. After all ACTIONs speak louder than words and Gil was a man of great experience…

“I’m A STUART, Grandpa.” COMICS! Sometimes The Weird Porous Kid Walks It!

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Posted by: John Kane on January 20, 2013

Categories: Reviews

Here at Savage Towers the UK contingent is experiencing problems with The Haunted Scanner. So, just the covers this time out I’m afraid. Apparently my brain is no longer under warranty so I can’t help the words that accompany the pictures. So here’s a shoddy make-shift Sunday look at some comics. Or you could go outside and play in the snow!

“Believe!..BELIEVE!!” COMICS! Sometimes Imagination Changes EVERYTHING!

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Posted by: John Kane on January 10, 2013

Categories: Reviews

I hear your pain, people! January is a real nutcracker ain’t it. What we need, as  Bonnie Tyler advised, is a hero. And, yes, Virginia, there are still heroes. It’s just sometimes you have to root about in the back issue bins to find ‘em. I found one. I found a Hero.

“…A Cascade Of Wasps Attacked the Furry Monster!” COMICS! Sometimes You Worry About The Men Who Made Them!

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Posted by: John Kane on November 25, 2012

Categories: Reviews

That’s right I read some comics. Some of them were old and some of them were new and one of them wasn’t really a comic at all. But only one of them made me think it was a miracle anyone was actually conceived in the ’50s. Yes, paging Dr. Subtext! Outbreak of ’50s gynophobia! But then to nostalgic old fools like me ’50s gynophobia is arguably the finest gynophobia of all! Anyway, this…

“I Tried Everything Else.” COMICS! Sometimes Chaykin’s Awake!!!

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Posted by: John Kane on November 1, 2012

Categories: Reviews

Hopefully you all made it through any storms okay, my American friends! If you did I’ve got some rubbish about comics for ya. Content! You might not want it, you might not like it but it’s there!

“Mr. Dazzleby Has Promised To Be Kind And True.” COMICS! Sometimes It’s Four Divided By Zero Plus One!

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Posted by: John Kane on September 30, 2012

Categories: Reviews

I’ve heard some people only read Marvel comics! Also, some people only read DC Comics! That’s okay, 99% of all psychiatrists agree – compartmentalisation is really healthy! It’s also okay because I only wrote about some DC Comics! Marvel people will have to wait a bit. I know, I know but I’m sure you’ll find the wherewithal to cope. Next: words…

Wait, What? Ep. 100: Year Zero

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Posted by: Jeff Lester on September 25, 2012

Categories: Podcasts

(One of my favorite hundredth issue covers, by Joe Staton and Dick Giordano for DC Comics) I don’t know why, but for a moment there… I was very afraid this episode wouldn’t end up existing?  I think because, you know, you say something is a thing, as opposed to just being business as usual, and the next thing you know there’s a certain nimbus of expectation around it, even if only to yourself?  Sometimes it  seems like that kind of nimbus makes the best kind of target for capricious fate… Anyway, enough of that “and then he tore his eyes out in the fifth act!” musing, join us behind the jump for show notes and celebratory waffles, yes?

“WAM!” PEOPLE! A King is Born!

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Posted by: John Kane on August 28, 2012

Categories: Uncategorized

On August 28th 1917 Jacob Kurtzberg was born. As Jack Kirby he changed the shape of comics. You may have heard of him. This time out I take a back seat and let Jack Kirby speak for himself in the language in which he was most fluent; the language of  COMICS!!!

“But Hold Onto Your Watches And Wallets!” COMICS! Sometimes Gil Kane Did ‘Em!

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Posted by: John Kane on July 22, 2012

Categories: Reviews

Bit pressed for time, I’m afraid. So here’s: Gil Kane,  Superman and some words about them both. Maybe some of it makes sense, that’d be a turn up for the books! Cheers! Doo-doobie-dee-doo (Doo-BE-DOO!)

“No! It’s ANGRY!” COMICS! Sometimes They Bow Before The King (Of R’n'R).

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Posted by: John Kane on June 1, 2012

Categories: Reviews

Good Day! Jolly Good Day! Over here we are shortly to be having a Jubilee shindig! You don’t get one so I gave you this instead. It’s all over the bally shop but some of it is about comics. You have been warned and so my hands are clean but look at the state of your fingernails!

Wait, What? Ep. 86: Defending Your Life

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Posted by: Jeff Lester on May 15, 2012

Categories: Podcasts

(Visual from Art Spigelman’s piece on Maurice Sendak unrelated to this episode, but I adore it too much to ignore it!) Hail and well met, fellow Whatnauts! Sadly, my M.O. of dashing something off in a state approaching sheer terror continues as I managed to put this together in time to hit all of our deadlines but with unexpected side-effect of stripping my soul down to its most bald-tiredian self. Forgive me, won’t you? But, hey, at least as a result you get to dig into the nougaty goodness that is Wait, What? Ep. 86. Packed with seven essential vitamins and minerals, the latest episode of Graeme and I answering your questions is part of this complete breakfast. [Quick shot…  Read More…

“Let Him Be A Child A Little Longer.” COMICS! Sometimes They Are Diverse!

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Posted by: John Kane on May 6, 2012

Categories: Reviews

Hey, the postman finally turned up. I guess the hostiles must have been restless out there in the Badlands or something. Anyway, he may not have rung twice but he did drop off a box of comics. Here’s me going on about some of them after the break:

“You Owe Me A Father.” COMICS! Sometimes They Define “Ramage!”.

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Posted by: John Kane on May 5, 2012

Categories: Reviews

In 1987 DC Comics published a 12-issue “Maxi-series” by British (apparently I forgot one of them is of American origin)  Creators. It did not change the world of comics forever but since it featured a robot dog in a fez and shades, a living head in a bucket and stupid jokes by the pound while still being “about” something I thought we’d take a look. Me and my notions!

“Our Mission Is To Destroy Crime…ALL Crime!” COMICS! Sometimes Justice Has A Big Dead Face!

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Posted by: John Kane on April 29, 2012

Categories: Reviews

Yes, it’s Sunday Afternoon Kirby Deification Theatre! More after these messages from our sponsors! Nah, not really. I know you’re all expecting me to link The Avenger, Jack Kirby and Justice and do some frothing rant about how Marvel Comics should just give The King his due so we can all just get on with our lives. But I didn’t. I just wrote about an odd little ’70s comic The King did on his way out of the door at DC Comics. I don’t even go on about The King that much. Okay? I like to keep you guessing!

“Wal, Ah’ll Be Danged.” Comics! Sometimes Creators Are Hurting!

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Posted by: John Kane on April 25, 2012

Categories: Reviews

I don’t know if you’ve heard but comic book artist Tony DeZuniga is in a really bad way. The details are here. So, I thought I’d jaw a little about some of his work. And then Brian “Call Me Mr.” Hibbs dropped his MASSIVE ANNOUNCEMENT that I’ve just stepped over with my big cow patty boots. Er, sorry, but time seemed an issue here, so REMEMBER below this post Brian “Future Town” Hibbs has a MASSIVE ANNOUNCEMENT. Below the break I just have some words.

“I Was Never THAT Dark.” Comics! Sometimes An Event Is Not An Event!

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Posted by: John Kane on April 13, 2012

Categories: Reviews

Holy macaroni, what if all the superfolk got together to face an unimaginable threat and I liked it! What kind of crazy world would we be living in then? The world of TERRA OBSCURA that’s where, old chum! Don’t turn your back on us, Bob Benton, we need you now more than ever before! Sockamagee, do we ever!