It was my birthday recently and I've started on a bit of a comic collecting bug again and here's a couple of little sets I picked up recently.
1st up here's a little run, the 1st 13 issues of Legends of the Dark Knight Vol. 2 from 2012 - 13 and I've just discovered when looking that this was the whole run! I just went through Vol. 1 of this title on a recent Counting Comics blog/video which ran for over 200 issues so I am surprised this run fell about 200 short of that run.
Also, in what I think is a great story, my mate Elric gave me his run of Elric comics!! I've read a few of the Michael Moorcock books featuring the character and I even read a story of him in an issue of Marvel's mature anthology book 'Epic' back in the late 80's I think. I may have misspoke in the video where I discussed Moorcock's link to the Space Rock band Hawkwind, it has something to do with the art I am sure but I can't remember what the link was exactly!
Elric first appeared in print in Moorcock's novella "The Dreaming City" (Science Fantasy No. 47, June 1961). Moorcock's doomed albino antihero is one of the better known in fantasy literature, having crossed over into a wide variety of media, such as role-playing games, comics, music, and film. The stories have been continuously in print since the 1970s.
Aha! According to Wikipedia -
The Chronicle of the Black Sword is a 1985 album by UK space rock band Hawkwind. Moorcock and Hawkwind had, at this stage, collaborated a number of times. An expanded live album, Live Chronicles, was released in 1986. This included several spoken-word interludes by author Moorcock in his capacity as on-stage narrator. The live show also included a mime artist portraying Elric himself. A video concert film entitled The Chronicle of the Black Sword appeared on VHS and later on DVD.
So that's it for this blog, please feel free to leave a comment
I managed to pick up some more of my 'birthday books', these are comics that came out the same month that I did September 1969. Check out my 1st blog on this HERE
I went to a local comic shop that I had no idea was even there!! When I posted up a previous videos a guy from the band Void asked if I shopped there and I never knew it existed despite the fact it's been there 20 years or something!!
I recognised the owner as he had a stall at Walthamstow market and I'd seen him there once or twice. I recall he recommended the Astro City books to me years ago and you can see I like them as I mentioned them in a YouTube channel competition HERE
Here's the video of my latest 'Birthday book' plus some 50p bargain books that I also picked up.
Adventure Comics #384
Story - Cary Bates
Art - Win Mortimer, Jack Abel
Cover - Curt Swan, Murphy Anderson
Grade - VG+
This was a cool daft read with Supergirl using the Fortress of Solitude computer as a dating tool to pick the ideal partner for her. It finds Volar of the planet Torma so she flies off to meet him. The planet is very misogynistic with women viewed as far inferior to men, the people boo her for helping them! No spoilers but the relationship does not pan out. 😁
Justice League of America #74
Story - Dennis O'Neil
Art - Dick Dillin, Sid Greene
Cover - Neal Adams
Grade - VG
With Earth 2 close to destruction and the Justice Society of America - Superman (Kal-L), Dr. Fate, Green Lantern (Alan Scott), Wonder Woman (Diana Trevor), Dr. Mid-Nite, Black Canary (Dinah Drake Lance)- close to death the Justice League of America of Earth 1 made up of The Atom (Ray Palmer), Batman, Flash (Barry Allen), Green Arrow, Green Lantern (Hal Jordan), Hawkman and Superman rush to the rescue. When they arrive the villain Aquarius uses his powers to force the JSA to attack their Earth 1 JLA allies.
Daredevil #56
Story - Roy Thomas
Art - Gene Colan, Syd Shores
Cover - Gene Colan
Grade - FN-
This is my 1st Marvel one of my 'birthday books' I was going to get the DC books 1st but the comic shop had this one in so I snapped it up. I have to say I did enjoy this book, it seemed more sophisticated than the DC ones with a more serious tone. It wasn't without faults but it was pretty cool. A nice mention of H. P. Lovecraft that always works for me and a ghostly villain called Death's Head.
The comic community on YouTube seem to have a few channel competitions so I thought I'd enter a few to try and make some friends and try and get some new people to check out my videos. Metarog For his competition Metarog wanted to see entrants idea of a dream book/story and to specify who will write, and do interior and cover art
CWoodard19 For this competition I had to say favourite writer, favourite story and an underrated story.
Daz the Key Chaser For this competition I had to say my most valuable DC book, most valuable Marvel book, most valuable indy book and my best buy of 2018
So I was alternately browsing EBay whilst watching videos of people's awesome comic collections on YouTube and I was getting all antsy for new comics. I saw a sale which was effectively a lucky dip, for £13.99 I think you'd get sent 3 books mainly $1 value books but with some nice silver age ones thrown into the mix so there would be a chance of getting something good. So I thought I'd take a gamble and buy one. Here's what I got, I'm not sure how good or bad a deal I got. What do you think?
Blackhawk #146 (March 1st, 1960)
"Menace of the Scorpion"
Dick Dillin - Cover, Penciler
Sheldon Moldoff - Inker
Jack Schiff - Editor
I've never owned any books that were older than I am. In fact I'd only just hit on the idea of buying/collecting my 'Birthday Books', comics that are cover dated for September 1969, that 1st saw the light of day at the same time as I did, so to speak. So this book from 1960 is a very pleasant surprise for me and I am pretty happy with this lot already. The quality is not fantastic, I don't know grades really but I am fairly happy. Looking at Mycomicshop.com a 2.5 of this book is going for $9 so that's not bad at all I think. I am wondering if the code at the top looks like it could be $18 maybe?
Giant-Size Spider-Man and Doc Savage #3 (Jan 1975)
Gerry Conway - Writer
Gil Kane - Cover, Penciler
Mike Esposito - Inker
Lester Dent - Other (??)
Ross Andru - Artist, Penciler
I am starting to learn about 'key' books, important, normally 1st appearances of characters, if this book had been #4 it would have been quite valuble as Punisher's 3rd appearance apparently! This one looks in pretty good exterior condition but looking inside I think the staples are rather suspect, I think this comic may have been stapled and then reglued to the cover! Have a look at the video and see what you think!! Maybe the 'bro' written on the plastic sleeve stands for broken! It's a shame but the book story looks pretty cool, with a bit of a time-warping tale from the 70's to the 30's, I can't wait to have a read of it. I have contacted the seller to enquire as books were all meant to be at least GD condition and I'm not sure that this counts. This book's never had a reprint as Marvel no longer have the rights to the Doc Savage franchise!
Heroes Reborn: Rebel #1 (January 2000)
Joe Kelly - Writer
Matt Haley - Penciler/Cover
Mark Bernardo - Penciler
Mark Bagley - Penciler
Scott Koblish - Penciler
I know nothing about this character at all, this book is from a period long after I stopped collecting Marvel. I read online that this had the death of Crossbones in it but it's some alternate world version, apparently Franklin Reed created a whole new dimension world to save the Fantastic Four at one point. This seems to be signed by Joe Kelly, a writer who's name didn't register with me but he's worked for Marvel & DC with succesful runs on Deadpool, Daredevil, X-men, Superman & JLA. He's also part of a team that created the Ben 10 cartoon character! That's pretty cool, I am happy with that, I don't know if it's a genuine signature, (is faking them much of a thing even?), but I'm going to trust that it is and that makes this my 1st ever signed book so I am happy with that 😁. So overall I am quite happy with this lot, a nice old comic, a poorly fixed but cool looking comic and my 1st signed book! I doubt they'll be worth anything but I think I maybe got my money's worth. It was a bit of fun anyway. **************************************
Here is a crossover shirt featuring two of my favourite things, Batman, the dark knight of justice, the vigilante guardian of Gotham City in the DC Comics Universe and Cthulhu, dread Cthulhu, he who darkens the sun, the ancient, the anti-god, lord of the unholy ones!!! I was quoting some song lyrics there about Cthulhu by Ripping Corpse but they do sum him (it) up quite nicely.
Cthulhu is I suppose the chief diety of the pantheon of Great Old Ones, an ancient race of powerful alien dieties who ruled the Earth when it was still young before entering into death-like slumber. Deranged human & inhuman Cultists pray to Cthulhu, awaiting the time when "the stars are right" and he will arise again from his sunken underwater city R'lyeh. When cultists gather the chant "Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn" ("In his house at R'lyeh, dead Cthulhu waits dreaming") is invoked. Cthulhu is described as looking like a mix of an octopus and a dragon and was created by American author H. P. Lovecraft, 1st appearing in the pulp magazine Weird Tales in 1928.
Batman 1st appeared 11 years later, 1939 in Detective Comics #27. Created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. When young Bruce Wayne witnesses the murder of his parents he vows to fight crime and protect the innocent. He dedicates his life to training himself to the pinnacle of physical and intellectual ability and takes on the mantle of the bat, as "criminals are a superstitious cowardly lot. So my disguise must be able to strike terror into their hearts. I must be a creature of the night, black, terrible..."
The main connection I can think of between the works of Lovecraft and that of Batman is Arkham Asylum. In Lovecraft's literature Arkham is a town in Massachusetts where many of his stories are set. His story characters often end up in the town sanitarium as looking into the cosmic terrors of the Cthulhu mythos can be too much for the fragile human mind, realisation of our place within the cosmic pecking order can snap the psyches of men. Arkham was 1st mentioned in Lovecraft's short story "The Picture in the House" (1920) with the sanitarium appearing 1st in "The Thing on the Doorstep" (1933). In Batman Arkham Asylum is also a well known place, many of Batman's unhinged foes end up there. Arkham Asylum first appeared in Batman #258 (Oct. 1974), written by Dennis O'Neil with art by Irv Novick. Batman has also had some more direct contact with the Cthulhu Mythos with "The Doom that Came to Gotham" a 3 part Elseworlds tale set in the 1920's that has Bruce Wayne and companions encounter with things that should not be. Written and drawn by Mike Mignola of Hellboy fame the books were released from late 2000 - early 2001. HERE
I also made sure to stay up to date with my superhero film collection, I got these two films and Infinity War is in the post too! I think I saw all of these at the cinema but it's nice to add them to my library.
Then for comics I got the next 3 books of the collected Saga series by Brian K Vaughn and Fiona Staples, I got the 1st two for Christmas and really enjoyed them so I am looking forward to reading these. Check out my review of the 1st two volumes HERE.
Then for classic comics I got this great book of Hawk & Dove, I think this is the initial run of Hank & Don Hall the brothers who became Hawk & Dove that ran from September 1968 to June/July 1969. The characters were created by legend Steve Ditko and Steve Skeates and debuted in Showcase #75 in June 1968. I've just checked the book notes and it features all these books, the debut, the 6-parter mini-series and an appearance in Teen Titans #21. I've gotta say I was stoked to get this book, I read the 80's series, if memory serves me correctly there was a mini in '88 with art by Rob Liefeld (this was the name I couldn't remember from the video) and an on-going book from '89 by Karl & Barbara Kesel. Dove had died during Crisis on Infinite Earths and was replaced by Dawn Granger.
I also bought myself a few presents, I've hit on the plan to buy comics that are cover dated for the month/year that I was born, so all from September 1969. Here's the video I did of these books and check out the full blog too for more info.
I also got some non-geeky music, a couple of CDs one from my mate Vik Bub of his band Gore Shriek and the other of Corpus Mortale who I saw at a Death Metal all-dayer years ago where I was dressed up as Santa giving away presents to the punters!!
I bought myself some birthday books too, which I did a blog about HERE, go check it out, some nice books.
So that's another 5 to add to my count
And now onto today's count
Trinity
1 - 52
Trinity was a weekly year-long event, similar to 52 (Volume 1) and Countdown (Volume 1), which ran from June 2008 - July 2009. Written by Kurt Busiek and Fabian Nicieza, with art by Mark Bagley, Scott McDaniel, Tom Derenick, and Mike Norton. Like 52, but unlike Countdown, it is an entirely self-contained story. Unlike either of its predecessors, which focused on the lesser developed characters of the DC universe this revolves around the relationship between the DCU Trinity, the Big Three, Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman. Its publication also coincides with that of Final Crisis.
Each issue of Trinity has two stories; the main one, focusing on the Trinity themselves, and the backup, focusing on other characters involved in the overall storyline. The main story is written by Busiek, with art by Bagley, (this was his 1st book with DC after a long Marvel run), while the backup has Busiek and Nicieza co-plotting, Nicieza scripting, and a number of art teams.
In 2016, as part of the DC Rebirth, DC Comics launched a second Trinity comic book series featuring Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman.
Batman: Legends of the Dark Knights
0 - 144, 146 - 214
Annuals
1,2, 4 - 7
As mentioned in the video this is an anthology book with different creative teams working on stories, varying in length from 1 to 5 parts. The series takes inspiration from Batman: Year One and the stories are generally set in the early years of the character's career. It also does not follow any sort of chronological order as the stories could be set at any point in Batman's past. Generally, the stories are not specific about the time period they take place in and do not reference anything in the larger DC Universe history. It also, for the most part, eschewed appearances by other DC universe characters save for Batman, Alfred Pennyworth, Commissioner Gordon, and Batman's rogues gallery. Ostensibly, the stories are part of Batman's Post-Crisis continuity but are written in a way that avoids pigeonholing them into anything specific. Hardly any of the stories are referenced in other comics with perhaps the only exception is Venom which formed as the basis for the creation of the villain, Bane.
(I pretty much just copied and pasted that straight from dc.wikia.com, cos I was feeling lazy) Anyway after today's count I have -
DC = 2249
Marvel = 53
Others = 27 I also need to report that I found another stack of long boxes that I'd forgotten about!! I can't recall if it was 5 or 6 boxes but it rather pleased me anyway!
So if you watched the video you'll know that for my birthday I hit upon the notion of starting to collect comic books that came out in September 1969 the month that I was born!! The idea being that these books were first clutched in their original owners grubby mitts at the same time that my mum and dad were picking me up for the 1st time and thinking, "Oh damn, what have we done??!" So here's the books that I picked up as a birthday present to myself
Flash #191
Story - John Broome
Art - Ross Andru & Mike Esposit
Cover - Joe Kubert
Graded FN+ 6.5
I ordered this off Ebay from SilverAcre Comics and it arrived on time and in good condition as far as I can see. Hal Jordan is visiting Barry & Iris for dinner and they've invited Olivia Reynolds along who Hal already knows as a rival toys salesperson. She debuted in this month's Green Lantern book #71 (See below) She later has a relationship with Hal, becomes a supervillain for a short time and goes on to have a romance with Icemaiden.
Batman #215
Story - Frank Robbins
Art - Irv Novick & Dick Giordano
Graded GD+ 2.5 (not anymore!)
The next lot of books in my blog all came from Mycomicshop.com
Oh my god, I am a clumsy idiot, I just damaged the book's cover putting it away after reading it. The very sticky sellotape stuck to the poor old cover and scuffed it in two places. These old covers are not as robust as the more modern comics it seems. I must be more careful in future, curse my stupidity!!
😭
In this story Bruce Wayne has been nobbled along with the other members of the Civic Conscience Council with some manner of mind control!! Can Batman identify the villain and can Robin & Alfred stop him from destroying his ancestral home? This was a cool enough story but he practically gives away his secret identity but nothing is made of it??
Atom and Hawkman #44
Cover - Joe Kubert
Graded VG- 3.5
Hawkman
Story - Robert Kanigher
Art - Murphy Anderson
Well, that surprised me I thought the guys were teaming up in the book as partners but this is 2 separate self-contained stories instead. I am not sure if they ever did buddy up as partners in this book's run or if every issue went like this. In Hawkman's half of the book he and his wife Hawkgirl, (she doesn't deserve a title credit?), tangle with the Gentleman Ghost in a cool story. They spend most of the story bickering like old married couples sometimes do, which is pretty funny and is definitely a tale you wouldn't see in the comics today 😂
Atom
Story - Denny O'Neil
Art - Dick Dillin & Sid Greene
Ray Palmer stops a German college professor from being harassed as a Nazi by students. Atom helps the man to clear his name after he destroys his lab because he'd seen a monster. Ray travels into microscopic realms to battle the creature which has plans to invade our world using Ray's own size-changing energies.
Green Lantern - #71
Cover - Gil Kane
Graded - VG/FN 5.0
The City That Died
Story - John Broome
Art - Gil Kane & Joe Giella
Hal meets Olivia Reynolds a rival toy salesperson who uses her feminine assets to beat him to a sale. It's funny and so un-PC, this kind of antiquated story/idea is what makes old comics so much fun, to see how things have changed over the decades, it's cool. Some radiation from deep underground is sapping energy from the city, 1st from cars and machines and then from people themselves. Hal has to use all his willpower to identify and eliminate the problem.
A Green Lantern Brothers Story
Story - John Broome
Art - Dick Dillin & Murphy Anderson
This was quite a fun story, the Jordan family are having a party when the troublesome hippy black sheep of the family "Hip" turns up intent on stealing whatever he can get. Hal's sister in law Sue is convinced that her husband (Hal's Brother) James is Green Lantern and orders him to don the costume and confront Hip. Hal has to end up saving him and does so managing to maintain his secret identity whilst Sue is left even more convinced that her husband is Green Lantern.
Detective Comics # 391
Graded - GD/VG 3.0
Batman "The Gal Most Likely to be..Batman's Widow"
Story - Frank Robbins
Art - Bob Brown & Joe Giella
This book stars Batman & Robin but not in a story together. This must be from the time period that Robin (Dick Grayson) leaves to go to college. In the lead story Ginny Jenkins has unwittingly become the front for a mob extortion scam on restaurants. Her ex-beau Tim Clark works at a gym and learns of the mob's scheme he tries to warn her but she doesn't believe him so he dresses as Batman to try and rescue her. Luckily the real Batman is on hand to save both of them.
Robin "Strike!"
Story - Mike Friedrich
Art - Gil Kane & Murphy Anderson
A teacher's strike threatens Gotham High and gangsters nobble the negotiator. Robin tracks them to their hideout and dishes out some fisticuff justice.
******************************
So that's my 1st purchase of some birthday books, comics that were born at the same time that I was. I might start a podcast about these too actually, might be a bit of fun, watch this space and I'll see what happens. I definitely intend to carry on buying these 'birthday books' for myself. I'm not sure if I'll be able to afford them all but right now I suppose the main goal, what I think is called a grail book, is to get Captain America #117 to own the 1st appearance of the Falcon a superhero who kind of shares his birthday with me. Has anyone got one they want to sell?
Samuel Thomas Wilson, known as the Falcon, was the first African-American superhero in mainstream comic books, and also the first black superhero not to have the word "black" as part of his superhero name. He has a pet Falcon Redwing that he has a natural affinity with and was created by Stan Lee and artist Gene Colan.
Stop the presses!!!
I was just researching some more 'birthday books' and found another comic book character born in the same month/year as me! Vampirella over at Warren comics!
For those not aware Vampirella is a comic book vampire superheroine created by Forrest J Ackerman and comic book artist Trina Robbins in Warren Publishing's black-and-white horror comics magazine Vampirella #1 (September 1969). She started off as kind of a Tales of the Crypt "Cryptkeeper" type of character introducing horror stories before writer-editor Archie Goodwin developed the character into a horror-drama leading character.
Her 1st appearance is even more expensive than Falcon's!! Looks like I have some saving to do! I actually own some Vampirella proper books, not comics, that I bought ages ago, it was the 1st time I knew of the character, I might have to give them another read soon.
I started this week with DC = 1616 Marvel = 53 Others = 27
Villains United (2005) 1 - 6
Villains United is one of four miniseries leading up to DC Comics' Infinite Crisis event. It follows the evolution of the latest incarnation of the Secret Six, and the group's ongoing plight against the various supervillains belonging to Lex Luthor's Secret Society of Super Villains. The initial 6 are Catman, Cheshire, Deadshot, Scandal, Ragdoll and Parademon, they are aided by the mysterious Mockingbird. The united villains plan, led by Luthor, Talia al Ghul, Doctor Psycho, Deathstroke, Black Adam, and the Calculator, is to erase the memories of Earth's superheroes!
Secret Six (2006 - 07)
1 - 6
Secret Six (2008 - 11)
1 - 10, 12 - 28, 30 - 31 There have been 4 teams in the DC Universe using this name, 3 in the normal DC world and an alternate universe one, all of them have been led by a mysterious figure named Mockingbird. The 1st team of this name had a 7 issue run from (May 1968 – May 1969). Created by writer E. Nelson Bridwell and artist Frank Springer, the ongoing series ceased publication with the identity of Mockingbird unrevealed. The 2nd team's story by writer Martin Pasko and artist Dan Spiegle ran in Action Comics Weekly in 1988. This is the 3rd team formed during Villains United, Knockout has now joined the team, while the traitorous Cheshire is out and Parademon is dead after sacrificing himself. Mad Hatter joins the team for a time and gets replaced by Harley Quinn but she later quits. The Ongoing series has the team of Catman, Deadshot, Scandal, Ragdoll and adds Bane and a new character named Jeannette to the team.
Doom Patrol (2011)
19
Arkham Reborn (2010)
1 - 3
This was published in three parts beginning as a Battle for the Cowl one-shot, followed by a three-issue Arkham Reborn mini-series and a two-part conclusion in Detective Comics. That's just a bit confusing to me, don't they know us collectors have a hard job enough already without this kind of jumbled tomfoolery!!?? Jumbled tomfoolery pretty much describes the plot synopsis of this story too!! It hurts my brain and makes me think I should be inside Arkham or a similar institution when I read it.
Batman Special Edition #6 (Autumn '94) The Vengeance of Bane
I am pretty sure this is a UK newsagent's version of the Bane origin, I dare say it's a reprint of a story told previously in the normal Bat-books
Infinity Inc. (2007 - 08) 1 - 12 This features Steel (John Henry Irons) getting a team of ex-Everyman Project subjects together to become Infinity Inc. After Lex Luthor's exogene therapy ends some of the now non-super powered subjects, including Steel's niece Natasha Irons (formerly known as Starlight) are in psychotherapy. Their exogenes which are now repressed mutate to give the subjects a whole new set of powers! The newly repowered group become the new Infinity Inc. I must say I don't know anything about this Everyman Project, I would imagine it was a Superman comics plot and I wasn't collecting them at all at this time. I do think it was mentioned in the 52 series of comics too.
Rann-Thanagar War (2005)
1 - 6
Rann-Thanagar War, along with Villains United, The OMAC Project, and Day of Vengeance, is one of four miniseries which lead up to DC Comics' Infinite Crisis event.
The planet Rann is teleported close to Thanagar by a group of rogue Thanagarians causing the latter to spin into the sun! With the people of both worlds now living on Rann and blaming each other for the crisis Adam Strange of Rann and Hawkman and Hawkgirl of Thanagar try to deal with war between the 2 races. They manage to discover that events that led up to the conflict were engineered by the intergalactic criminal Kanjar Ro.
Rann is a fictional planet in the Polaris star system (formerly in the Alpha Centauri System) of the DC Comics Universe whose capital city is Ranagar. Rann is most famous for being the adopted planet of the Earth explorer and hero Adam Strange and for their teleportation device called the Zeta Beam. The planet Rann, along with her famous non-native son, first appeared in Showcase #17 (November–December 1958).
Rann-Thanagar Holy War (2008 - 09)
1 - 8
This follow up to Rann-Thanagar War 8-parter ties into Final Crisis and spins off from events shown in "Countdown to Adventure" and "Mystery in Space (Volume 2)." Deacon Dark sparks a Holy War between Thanagarians and Rannians by ordering some of his Thangarian followers to pillage a sacred Rannian site.
Thanagar the planet was created by Gardner Fox and Joe Kubert and debuted in Brave and the Bold #34 (March, 1961). Thanagar is the original home of the humanoid Thanagarian race, noted for the discovery of gravity-defying Nth metal. The planet was in orbit around the star Polaris before events of Rann-Thanagar Holy War saw it consumed by the sun.
Adam Strange Special (Nov 2008) # 1
Hawkman Special (Oct 2008) # 1
Day of Vengeance (2005)
1 - 6
Jean Loring, the ex-wife of Atom (Ray Palmer), after her killing of Sue Dibny, (the Elongated Man's wife), is transformed into a new Eclipso. She convinces the Spectre, the spirit of God's vengeance, (which no longer has a host body after Hal Jordan's resurrection), that magic is the cause of all evil and fools him into seeking out to destroying it. The Shadowpact forms to combat this powerful menace.
52 Aftermath (2007 - 08)
Crime Bible 5 Lessons of Blood
1 - 5 This is a possibly the 1st book with Renee Montoya as the new Question as she gets embroiled with the Crime Bible and it's followers.
The Four Horsemen
1 - 6
The big 3 of DC battle the Four Horsemen of Apokalips, they are out numbered but you know they ain't outgunned.
Countdown Arena (2008)
1 - 4
This span off from the regular Countdown book features battles between multiversal counterparts of Batman, Superman, Captain Atom and other denizens of the recreated multiverse. Kind of like a smaller version of the Convergence event which finished the 52 concept sometime later, with cities fighting each other.
Countdown Presents
The Search for Ray Palmer (2007 - 08)
Wildstorm # 1
Crime Society # 1
Red Rain # 1
Gotham by Gaslight # 1
Red Son # 1
Superwoman/Batwoman # 1
Ray Palmer fled the regular DC world after his ex-wife became mad and ended up as Eclipso. Later it is foretold that only he can prevent an upcoming Multiverse disaster and a team comprised of his protegee Atom (Ryan Choi), Jason Todd, Donna Troy and Green Lantern (Kyle Rayner) led by a monitor named "Bob" seek out to traverse the multiverse to find him.
The Return of Donna Troy (2005)
1 - 4
Yes I was right she was killed by a Superman android! She then gets merged with all her other multiverse conterparts and lives on New Cronus along with all the other Titans of Greek mythology! They rescued her and wiped her mind so she stayed with them as they believed she was destined to save them from an impending threat!! It seems there is a lot of that going around, just ask Ray Palmer!!
Countdown to Infinite Crisis
The utter bastards!!! They killed off Ted Kord... the bastards!! Yeah, I cried, so what, screw you guys!! 😢
Infinite Crisis (2005 - 06)
1 - 7
Brave New World 1
After Crisis on Infinite Earths when all realities merged, some heroes were trapped in a crystal dimension, these being Superboy-Prime, Alexander Luthor and Superman and Lois Lane of Earth-Two. Frustrated and driven mad by the confinement and the believe that the new Universe is dark and not worthy of his sacrifice Superboy-Prime breaks them all out. Alexander Luthor steals control of Brother Eye from Batman, forms a new Secret Society of Super-Villains (known simply as "The Society") to strike out at Earth's heroes, and plans for the Spectre to wreak havoc on the people of magic. Superboy-Prime destroys the Justice League Watchtower and takes Martian Manhunter hostage, triggers a War between Rann and Thanagar, and recovers the corpse of the Anti-Monitor. And that's just for starters!!
Infnite Crisis Secret Files & Origins (2006)
Infinite Crisis Special
Villains United 1
The Omac Project 1
Rann-Thanagar War 1
Day of Vengeance 1
These 4 Specials came after their respective mini-series as a sort of culmination/conclusion of events
Infinite Crisis Aftermath
The Battle of Blüdhaven 1 - 6 (2006)
The giant villainous Chemo has left the city chemically polluted and people have to be evacuated. Mysteriously there is also radioactive pollution, something that Chemo could not have caused. The city is walled off and after One Year Later the place is in crisis with various groups & individuals getting involved including Monolith, Father Time, the Atomic Knights, the Nuclear Legion, the Titans, Freedom's Ring and loads more.
Seven Soldiers of Victory (2006)
0 - 1
Frankenstein 1 - 4
Bulleteer 1 - 4
The Manhatten Guardian 1 - 4
Mister Miracle 1 - 4
Shining Knight 1 -4
Zatanna 1 - 4
Klarion 1 - 4
The Seven Soldiers of Victory, also known as the Law's Legionnaries, are a super-hero team which fought during World War II as part of the All-Star Squadron. Their adventures originally took place during the Golden Age on Earth-Two. In Pre-Crisis, their founding members were the Vigilante, Crimson Avenger, Green Arrow, Speedy, Shining Knight, the Star-Spangled Kid and Stripesy. The Seven Soldiers of Victory was created by Mort Weisinger and Mort Meskin, first appearing in Leading Comics #1. (1941)
Following the Crisis on Infinite Earths, a new version of the Seven Soldiers developed as part of the mainstream DC Universe. During the Silver Age event, Batgirl formed a team called the Seven Soldiers of Victory. It consisted of herself, Deadman, Metamorpho, Blackhawk, Mento, Adam Strange and the Shining Knight. It fought valiantly but disbanded soon afterwards.
This Seven Soldiers of Victory was written by Grant Morrison and illustrated by J.H. Williams III. It consists of two book-end titles, and seven four-issue limited sub-series, each revolving around one member of the team. The entire story consists of 30 issues, and each miniseries can either be read individually, or as part of the larger whole. This third incarnation of the Seven Soldiers of Victory includes no members from the original team, but an entirely new cast including: The Bulleteer, Frankenstein, Klarion, The Manhattan Guardian, Mister Miracle (Shilo Norman), Shining Knight and Zatanna.
52 (2006 - 07)
1 - 52
52 was a weekly comic book series published from May 2006 until May 2007. It takes place during the missing year between Infinite Crisis and One Year Later. The series involves rebuilding the DC Universe after the Crisis, in all of its corners, and mainly features protagonists who usually act as supporting characters, because Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman were all out of commission for various reasons during this time. It examines a full year in the life of the characters before catching up to the regular publications in One Year Later. Quite a few stories crossed weaved through the book; the Everyman Project; Renee Montoya becoming the new Question; Adam Strange, Animal Man and Starfire lost in space; Ralph (Elongated Man) Dibney coping with the death of his wife Sue and investigating the Cult of Conner and Black Adam in his kingdom of Kahndaq.
World War III (2007)
1 - 4
This was another plot line from the 52 run that also got it's own little 4-part spin off. World War III was a worldwide metahuman conflict which lasted for only one week. Precipitated by the mass slaughter by Black Adam in Bialya, which resulted in millions of deaths, the conflict raged over the surface of the Earth. Eventually, the combined forces of the JSA, JLA, Captain Marvel, China's Great Ten, Phantom Stranger, Martian Manhunter, and other heroes stopped Black Adam's rampage.
Countdown to Final Crisis (2007 - 08)
51 - 1
DC Universe 0 (2008)
Countdown is a 52-issue weekly series which began publication in May 2007. It premieres with issue #51 and continues backwards, ending with #0. The series is written by Batman scribe, Paul Dini. Key characters include the Challengers from Beyond, Jimmy Olsen, Mary Marvel, Darkseid, the Monitors, Holly Robinson, Harleen Quinzel, Ray Palmer, the Trickster, and the Pied Piper. The series tyed in with plots across many story arcs all over the DCU such as Arena, The Search for Ray Palmer and Salvation Run.
Action Comics
829, 831, 852
Superman
219, 221 - 223
Adventures of Superman
642, 643, 645
Wonder Woman
219, 221
Checkmate (2006 - 08)
1 - 31
Checkmate is a government organization dedicated to covert operations. Its precursor is the group Agency led by Valentina Vostok. Harry Stein founded the organization under direction of Amanda Waller and Task Force X. Their missions are accomplished by special agents, named after chess pieces, around the world. They later became sanctioned by the United Nations. Their leaders include the Black King and Black Queen in charge of operations and the White King and White Queen in charge of intelligence. Checkmate was created by Paul Kupperberg and Steve Erwin, first appearing in Action Comics #598. (1988)
Volume 1 of Checkmate ran from 1988 - 91 for 33 issues whist this 2nd volume fell just short of that total with 31
Blue Beetle ( 2006 - 09)
1 - 36
Well as I said, the buggers killed the BEST Blue Beetle, Ted Kord so they gave us a new one!! Jaime Reyes is a cool kid with cool powers although I'm not so keen on the change of the Scarab's origin but hey ho, such is comics, all about change and all that, pip pip tally ho what what! He's the 3rd to wear the mantle of the Blue Beetle, the 1st was Dan Garret, (later revamped as Dan Garrett by Charlton Comics), he was created by Charles Nicholas Wojtkoski, first appearing in Mystery Men Comics #1. (1939) Ted Kord was created by Steve Ditko, first appearing in Captain Atom (Charlton) #83. (1966) Jaime Reyes was created by Keith Giffen, John Rogers and Cully Hamner, first appearing in Infinite Crisis #3. (2006)
The Omac Project (2005)
1 - 6
Omac (2006 - 07)
1 - 8
OMAC is an acronym used by several related concepts in the DC Universe. Originally it was the alias used by Buddy Blank, a corporate nobody working for the Global Peace Agency in the future. Their satellite Brother Eye gave him incredible powers and transformed him into the One-Man Army Corps. During The OMAC Project in the modern era, Checkmatecreates an OMAC virus under the leadership of Maxwell Lord; hijacking Batman's Brother Eye technology, they use infected human drones to neutralize superhero threats worldwide. Following the timeline reboot in Flashpoint, the Omactivate!storyline introduces an OMAC named Kevin Kho involved with Project Cadmus and Justice League International. OMAC was created by Jack Kirby, first appearing in OMAC #1 (1974).
So that's another 356 DC Comics, which is pretty damned impressive for a short box, no wonder it was so heavy.
This makes the new total
DC = 1972 Marvel = 53 Others = 27 I just thought this may be of interest to some. I do a Heavy Metal podcast and this week I did a superhero comic theme show, you can check it out HERE if you like.
, 1st appearing in the pulp magazine Weird Tales in 1928.
