Comics Book Artists and Writers Gardner Fox

Gardner Fox is perhaps, by and large one of the least-known writers of the Golden Age of Comics (early 40's to mid 50's) since its begining. He created the gas-mask wearing detective the Sandman, wrote some of the early stories for Bob Kane's character the Bat-Man (later Batman), stories for the Golden Age Flash Jay Garrick and with Sheldon Mayer helped to create the Justice Society of America; the first superteam, predating the Justice League and the Fantastic Four by three decades. During the Silver Age (1956-1970) he created the Multiverse with a story appearing in The Flash #123 entitled "Flash of Two Worlds" and also helped create the Justice League of America. Fox continued to work with comics until his death in 1986.

Comic book artists and writers: Jack Kirby

This post will be on the "King of Comics", Jack Kirby. Kirby helped to create some of the greatest and most memorable characters in the Marvel pantheon. He started his work in the Golden Age of Comics, the 1940's, partnering with Joe Simon to create one of the countries most patriotic heroes, Captain America. In the 60's, when Marvel's sales were going down due to the rising popularity of DC Comics, revived superheroes, he created along with Stan Lee, the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, the original X-Men. Over the years until his death he continued to expand the mediums boundaries,devising photo-collage covers and interiors, developing new drawing techniques such as the method for depicting energy fields now known as "Kirby Dots", and other experiments. He also created the Fourth World, introducing characters like Darkseid, Orion and the other New Gods and residents of Apokolips. He continued to create amazing characters and drawings, his work being some of the most recognizable comic book art of the 20th century. Jack Kirby died on February 6, 1994.

Comic book artists and writers: Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster

To start off my new series of posts on comic book artists and writers, I thought I'd begin with the men who gave us THE superhero. If it hadn't been for Jerry and Joe creating Superman, who knows what might have happened? The thing is, their idea was almost completely shelved, if not for National Publications (DC) editor Vin Sullivan buying the character from the boys and giving Superman the chance to fly (back then he didn't fly, just leaped buildings in a single bound). So to Jerry and Joe I salute you, thanks for giving America its first, and finest superhero.

Doctor Solar flaring up

Alright just this past Wednesday Dark Horse Comics released the first issue of their newest comic Doctor Solar Man of the Atom. If you like reading about superhero rumbles, origin stories and all around good action then this is the comic for you. Pick up your copy at your local comic book store today.

Golden Age discussion... a bit overdue

So when I started this blog, I mentioned I would start a small discussion about the Golden Age of Comics. Now for all those out there who know nothing of the Golden Age (that means you young fans)... The Golden Age of Comics is the period of time from the 1940's until about the mid-50's. This was a time when the super-powered hero first began, and many of the characters we know and love today began back then. Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Captain America and the Justice Society are just to name a few. And a lot of the famous writers and artists made their beginnings with these timeless champions. Bob Kane, Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Mort Weisinger. Anyway to start off, one of my favorite Golden Age characters of all time is The Shield. First appearing in Pep Comics #1 (January 1940).

Created by Harry Shorten and Irv Novick for MLJ Publications, this patriotic masked man would become the hit of the company. But in 1941, in the back pages of Pep Comics #22... Archie Andrews. Hailed as America's Newest Boyfriend, he quickly became popular with his best friend Jughead, girlfriends Betty and Veronica, arch rival Reggie and his friends and family in the small town of Riverdale. The Shield's last cover appearance was in Pep Comics #40 and his final appearance was in Pep Comics #49. The company became Archie Publications and has continued to be so to this day. But recently, DC comics imprint group Red Circle Comics revived the character along with another popular Golden Age wonder, The Web. What is in the future of America's first patriotic superhero? Post your comments and responses to this and my other posts. And... do I have any readers out there? If so, please speak up.

Star Trek's future... what will it hold?

After the success of the new Star Trek film, which has for those of you who have still not seen the film but are fans of Trek lore know this, ALTERNATE universe has been formed due to Spock Prime's (that's the Spock everyone knows and still loves) crossing over into that universe and... well I don't want to spoil the film for the people who have not seen it yet.

The point is that this world opens up whole new possibilities for plot lines. Among them would be resurrecting William Shatner's James T. Kirk or recasting Khan. Director J.J. Abram's was commented on the new universe and how "The idea, now that we are in an independent timeline, allows us to use any of the ingredients from the past – or come up with brand-new ones – to make potential stories". I think a lot of people, both Trek fans and non Trek fans, will be looking forward to what is in store next. Like it says on the poster, the future begins...

The Heroic Age has dawned

Finally, after seven long years of dark, horrible depressing stories, the nightmare is over.

The Avengers, the TRUE Avengers have reformed. After the debacle following the Siege of Asgard and the locking up of Norman Osborn (thank God for that), things are getting back to the way they were. Marvel Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada put it like this "Heroes will be heroes again... They've gone through hell and they're back to being good guys — a throwback to the early days of the Marvel Universe, with more of a swashbuckling feel". And I know a lot of Marvel's readers will be happy for that. So... let the new age of Marvel's hero's dawn. AVENGERS ASSEMBLE!!!