Counting Comics - 16

It's Wednesday so I am going to be looking at and counting some more of my lovely comics. I started the week with

DC = 4384

Marvel = 59

Others = 53

I picked up a nice haul this week too

DC = 59
Marvel = 1
Others = 5

Here's today's count

Batman Unseen (2009 - 10)

1,2, 5

This 5 parter was created by Doug Moench and Kelley Jones and features a new foe for old pointy ears. When bizarre death start happening across the city Batman goes to investigate. Witnesses report a horrific skinless man who fades from view after commiting his deeds, Batman is facing an Invisible Man, how do you find a villain who can't be seen?

Lord Havok and the Extremists (2007 - 08)

1 - 6

Lord Havok and the Extremists is a Countdown tie-in miniseries detailing some of the history of Earth-8, the origins of the members of The Extremists, and the events that take place on Angor leading up to Lord Havok and The Extremists joining Monarch's army. They first appeared in Justice League Europe (not America as I think I said in the video) #15 in June 1990 created by Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis and Bart Sears.

Red Tornado (2009 - 10)

1 - 4, 6

His cybernetic body was created by the super-villain T.O. Morrow, although he is actually a sentient wind elemental named Ulthoon powering the robot. Using the alias John Smith he poses as a human and has a human wife named Kathy Sutton and a daughter named Traya, residing with him in Happy Harbor. Red Tornado was created by Gardner Fox and Dick Dillin, first appearing in Justice League of America #64. (1968) 

Joker's Asylum (2008)

Scarecrow #1

Poison Ivy #1

Penguin #1

Joker #1

This came in two volumes it seems and this is the 1st, I came across the Two-Face issue of this set a while back in my videos and was able to reunite it with the rest of it's set. I don't know if I have Vol 2? I don't recall it, it's a shame if I don't andanother thing to blame my comic shop for haha These volumes were just a solo story of 10 of the nutters from the Batman rogue's gallery. I'm not sure if there was a theme or a connection between the stories at all, it's been too long since I read them and I couldn't find much info in a googly-woogly search.

Two Face Year One

1, 2

This was released in July 2008 to coincide with The Dark Knight, although it is set in the comics' continuity and not the film's.
It chronicles the origin of Two-Face also known as Harvey Dent D.A., one of Batman's archfoes; the first issue details the downfall of Harvey Dent, and the second issue focuses on Two-Face as he runs for re-election.

Doom Patrol (2009)

1

The Doom Patrol were created by Arnold Drake, Bruno Premiani, Murray Boltinoff, and Bob Haney, first appearing in My Greatest Adventure #80. (1963) This is the 5th volume of their book, I'm not sure why I only got issue 1 and none of the others.

Justice League: The Rise of Arsenal (2010)

2 - 4

I wonder if I have part 1 of this anywhere!! I really should have been more mindful of my books when they came in but I was collecting so many at that time that I never really had myself organised!! Oh well this is why I have silly gaps all over the place. And even some doubles!! This details life beginning again for Roy "Arsenal" Harper after the events of Final Extreme Naughty Bum Justice* or something like that where his daugher Lian got killed and he had his arm ripped off by Prometheus. In constant pain he resorted back to drugs and alienated all his friends, it's a bit of a car-crash comic! 
(*I just looked it up it was Justice League: Cry for Justice)

Batman/Doc Savage Special #1 (2010)

Doc Savage is a fictional character originally published in American pulp magazines during the 1930s and 1940s. Clark Savage, Jr. first appeared in March 1933 in the first issue of Doc Savage Magazine. Because of the success of the Shadow, who had his own pulp magazine, the publishers Street & Smith quickly launched this pulp title. Unlike the Shadow, Clark Savage, "Doc" to his friends, had no special powers, but was raised from birth by his father and other scientists to become one of the most perfect human beings in terms of strength, intelligence, and physical abilities. 

No less a person than Stan "The Man" Lee himself has credited him as being the forerunner to modern superheroes. I've seen him teaming up with Marvel and DC heroes in the past, I am guessing that DC must currently have the rights to his use.

Batman Odyssey (2010)

2

Neal Adams is a fantastic artist but by all accounts he should really leave the story writing to the writers. This is another of those mystery comics where I am not sure quite why I only have the one issue.... and #2 at that!! Comic shop shenanigans is all I can put it down to.

Suicide Squad (2007 - 08)

1 - 8

A surprisingly short run here from the Suicide Squad, apparently it was always meant as only a mini-series and centres on Squad mainman Rick Flag. After he is believed dead, Rick resurfaces on the dinosaur-infested island of Skartaris alongside his enemy Rustam. The pair work together to survive but Flag is forced to kill Rustam once they discover a way home. Afterward, he becomes a prisoner of war in Qurac for four years. Flag rejoins the Suicide Squad after he is rescued by Bronze Tiger. There is more but you'll have to buy the book to find out!

Countdown to Mystery (2007 - 08)

1 - 8

This series is a dual feature, with two separate stories. One story focuses on Dr. Kent V. Nelson, the new Doctor Fate, while the other focuses on the actions of Eclipso, and the new Spectre, Crispus Allen. Dr Nelson's Grand Uncle was Kent Nelson the original Dr Fate who debuted in More Fun Comics Vol 1 #55, (May, 1940).

Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters (2006 - 07)

1 - 8

This team formed in the Battle for Bludhaven books with Uncle Sam, Phantom Lady, Freedom Fighters, Black Condor & Ray. I believe they were all new iterations of the characters who were originally made up entirely of characters DC had acquired legally from Quality Comics in a takeover, although they have expanded since then. The concept was created by Len Wein and Dick Dillin, first appearing in Justice League of America #107. (1973) 

Mystery in Space (2006 - 07)

1 - 8

Volume 1 of this book ran for 110 issues from 1951 to 1966, with a further seven issues continuing the numbering during a 1980s revival of the title. DC revived Mystery in Space between November 2006 and August 2007 as an eight issue limited series written by Jim Starlin and drawn by Shane Davis. This series featured a new Captain Comet, in a detective story set in the far reaches of the DC Universe. The first seven issues also contained a backup story starring The Weird from the eponymous 1988 miniseries, with art by Starlin. Neither character appeared in the original Mystery In Space series.

The Helmet of Fate (2007)

Detective Chimp #1

Ibis the Invincible #1

Sargon the Sorceror #1

Zauriel #1

Black Alice #1

The helmet of Nabu travelled from likely candidate to likely candidate in the DC Universe looking for a successor to wear it. Eventually it finds original wearer Kent Nelson's Grand-Nephew! I'm so glad it never chose the chimp! haha imagine if it did, that might have blown a few people's tiny minds.

Countdown to Adventure (2007 - 08)

1 - 8

This details life after 52 I think when Animal Man, Starfire, and Adam Strange were lost in space for a year. They are back on Earth and Rann now and things happen as they always do in comics, but I can't remember what and the DC wiki isn't big on info either. I know that God wannabe ugly Lady Styxx rears her ugly head again.

Salvation Run (2008)

1 - 7

Who exactly said it was cool to imprison a load of people on another planet with no law and no protection to live or die? A heck load of DC villains all get transported to an alien world and obviously they turn it into a harmonic utopia where all is harmony and nothing is bad. The whole series shows them fashioning huts and catching fish and living an idyllic lifestyle.*

(* This review was kindly provided by Bizarro, you am not thanking me)

Tales of the Unexpected

featuring The Spectre (2006 - 07)

1 - 8

Crispus Allen the supernatural Spectre with the goatee stars in this book with Doctor Thirteen in the back up tales. The original vol of this title ran for 104 issues between 1956 and 1968. After issue #104, it was renamed simply "The Unexpected", changing focus from science-fiction to horror and ran til #222.

Brave and the Bold (2007 - 10)

1 - 35

You just have to love some Brave and the Bold, it was always Batman plus one other back in my youth, this new volume changed the format up a little but it was still very cool to get very short, often self-contained in 1 book stories featuring cool collaborations of DC characeters you might not see working together otherwise. This was one of the 1st comics I recall getting as a kid, with a team up with Dr Fate and another with Plastic Man, both from 1979, being 2 of the earlist books I can remember buying.

Outsiders (2003 - 07)

1 - 50

The series followed the break-up of the Titans after the events of Titans/Young Justice: Graduation Day and included former Titans members Nightwing and Arsenal. The rest of the initial line-up included Jade, Indigo and Shift(an aspect of Metamorpho). The series also introduced two new characters, Grace and Thunder. Following cancellation, the team was re-organized as the second incarnation of Batman and the Outsiders.

Outsiders Annual #1 (2007)

Not too sure what happens, but Arsenal quits the team in this book and Captain Boomerang, Jr joins. So too does Metamorpho, with this being the last appearance of Shift who was some kind of aspect of Metamorpho, I am guessing that Shift shifts or Metamorphs into Metamorpho. Try that out as a new tongue twister I bet you can't say it 5 times quickly.

Teen Titans/Outsiders

Secret Files & Origins 2005

Terror Titans (2008 - 09)

1 - 6

The Terror Titans are a team of villainous counterparts to the Teen Titans. Their original membership included legacy versions of Clock King, Copperhead, Disruptor, Dreadbolt, and Persuader. They were assembled by Clock King who uses his powers to manipulate them by promising things they want. In this mini Ravager joins the team, the foolish traitorous nincompoop and we see of M'gann M'orzz (Miss Martian) posing as Star-Spangled Kid.

Teen Titans Go! (2004)

1 - 3

This a rather silly cartoon but in a fun way, not that I've seen that many of them really but anything that can appeal to the kids and hopefully grow a new bunch of comic book fans is great by me.

Teen Titans (2003 - 2011)

1/2 - 90, 92

(Totally copied and pasted from Wikipedia, cos screw hard work)

Writer Geoff Johns' Teen Titans series began in 2003, after a three issue mini-series entitled "Titans/Young Justice Graduation Day", which saw the death of Donna Troy and Lilith, along with the disbanding of the 1998–2002 Titans roster and the Young Justice team. The relaunch came on the heels of the debut of the Teen Titans cartoon on Cartoon Network and reflected DC Comics chief executive Dan DiDio's desire to rehabilitate the Titans as one of DC's top franchise. Launched at the same time was a companion series, a revived version of "The Outsiders" which featured Nightwing and Arsenal, along with several other Titans members (Captain Marvel Jr. and Starfire).

The series featured several of the main teenage heroes from the Young Justice roster (Robin, Superboy, Wonder Girl, Impulse) and Starfire, Cyborg and Changeling (now rebranded Beast Boy to reflect the cartoon). Raven later returned to the team, reborn in a new teenage body while Jericho was brought back, having escaped death by possessing and laying dormant inside his father Deathstroke's mind.

The series renewed interest in the Titans, but drew sharp complaints due to shifts in the personalities of the various Young Justice characters. Most notably, the decision to have Impulse rebrand himself Kid Flash and the decision to jettison his happy-go-lucky person in favor of a more serious personality. The series, under Geoff Johns, also dramatically retconned Superboy's origin with the revelation that he was a hybrid clone based on the combined DNA of Superman and Lex Luthor.

I found #91 it was in another place! Yay! Hold on though!! What the crap, DC Wiki says this book ran till #100 what the bloody hell happened to the rest of the run?? I suspect Comic Shop cock-ups again!! 

Teen Titans Annual #1 (2006)

Chemo has blown up in Bludhaven making it a disaster zone and Robin and most of the Titans are there to try to help sort out the rescue efforts, thwarted by the Fearsome Five. Meanwhile in Smallville, Superboy Kon-El is in recovery after recently getting seriously injured by Superboy-Prime. Wonder Girl is visiting with him and they make whoopee, hubba-hubba.

Teen Titans Annual #1 (2009)

The prelude to Deathtrap which I think was a crossover between the Teen Titans, Titans and Vigilante.

Supergirl (2005)

2

Teen Titans: Legion Special 

I am getting tired now, so, yeah this is Teen Titans and Legion I guess haha teaming up or something

Titans East Special #1 (2008)

I had a feeling that lots of people died in this one but according to the Wiki it was just Power Boy who bit the bullet. Maybe it just looked like a lot snuffed it, I can't recall now and the Wiki has no synopsis so meh, I need to start reading these books again and stop writing about them!!

Teen Titans Lost Annual #1 (2008)

In a fun comic romp harking back to their chronological early days the Teen Titans save President Kennedy from an alien kidnap plot! This is not really a 'lost' comic it is just presented as one, although it was originally solicited as a 2003 Elseworlds comic.

Teen Titans: Year One (2008)

1, 5

Perhaps inspired by the lost annual here's another comic throwing back to a simpler but probably less elightened time in comic history.

Vigilante (2009)

5, 6 

I have never collected a full Vigilante run and considering how many people have used the name this is quite a surprise really. I have nothing against the character but I just have never really picked up any of their books regularly over the years. Or if I did then I've forgotten, which is surprisingly possible!! I think so far 9 people have assumed the Vigilante name!!

Teen Titans: Cold Case # 1 (2011)

Hmm nothing much about this on DC Wiki but there is no Kid Flash or Impulse in the team, I wonder if this book is following up from when the Rogue's Gallery of the Flash finally managed to slow a Flash down long enough to kill him!! The Flash they killed was #4 Bart Allen who started out as Impulse, became Kid Flash then after a trip forward then back again in time became all grown up and then sadly got all dead. 😒

Titans (2008 - 2011)

1 - 13, 15 - 26, 28 - 30

I found 27 in another place. God knows what happened to 14 though Grrrrrrrr!! This is the Teen Titans all grown up basically, all the Teens you know and loved, but a bit older.... and in some cases wiser. 

Titans Villains for Hire Special (2010)

Oh my god, you killed Atom, you bastards!! Deathstroke is not an anti-hero, he killed Wintergreen who was kind of his Alfred years ago and in this book he killed Atom (Ryan Choi), Deathstroke is not an anti-hero he's a f*&%ing dick. And not in a nice Grayson kind of way.

OK so the count for today is
DC = 314

Making the running total after this week of

DC = 4757

Marvel = 60

Others = 58