Gave my helmet to Rhodey With loose circuitry Said, “I can’t be Shellhead Would you do it, please?” He put on the armor, gave Magma what-for Forgive the few windows he made into doors Kept warm in the Bowery burning Ayn Rand almost killed by irony: death by Firebrand With advice from Morley, Jim did pretty well Until those damn headaches gave poor Rhodey hell I love Indries Moomji But met her disdain Too late found the Chess King: Obadiah Stane I built my own armor from a box of spare parts It helped me quit drinkin’, those ‘lectronic arts Confronted the Bad Guy At trillionaire's cost I did save the baby But somebody lost.

I wAS four when Mom bought me my first comic book, when they were Still Only Thirty-Five Cents. Spider-Man? Doctor Octopus? Oh, yes, make it happen, please! So on that walk one summer day, up Spring Circle, she made it mine. Years later, I found out where the story originated, and then realized what must've been on sale up on Old Lindale Road. Marvel Tales, I discovered. I didn't get anymore for quite some time. But wow. Big scary explosion at the end, suspense in the snow, helicopters, and some strange business between some pretty friends at a party Peter's missing. "My Uncle...My Enemy?" is sheer ridiculous fun. Aunt May inherits a nuclear reactor? She thinks Doc Ock really wants to be her loving companion? It made her seem such a doddering ol' dupe! But I was four, so it worked just fine. I didn't know then, but one day I'd find out Gerry Conway was a big fan of the same cartoon I loved back then, too: SPIDER-MAN! Reruns of the ABC ...

I only had a single issue of Hulk - #217- for a long while. "The Circus Of Lost Souls" was similar in theme to the epic where he finally loses Jarella- an echo, through a one-shot character. I came into the Jarella stories later. Jarella's passing and the epilogue with the Defenders are just heartfelt enough to move you beyond the usual Triumph and Tragedy in the Marvel Manner. I wrote that Marvel marketing cliche before seeing the cover again, editing- it left a strong impression, as slogans are meant to do! Welcome back to the legendary twilight land of the Bronze Age, a.k.a. the affordable old comics, growing up. This one ran my folks no more than cover price- they may've cut a deal for the three dozen they picked off the racks at D & L Salvage Supply, for my single most memorable Christmas present, in 1981. We get to know Rex, Stilts, Blossom, and the Major a little by the fire. There's many ways the Hulk finds happiness for a time, and he enjoys ...

Imagine if Marvel Team-Up could’ve been more experimental and not had to rely on their mascot Spider-Man nearly every issue: more stuff like this cool Deathlok/ Devil-Slayer story I’m about to read, in the last issue of Marvel Spotlight. One imagines a decent tale, for every era of the title, without Spidey, easily, at least, potentially- so, it’s too bad they were locked into that mold, and make their black and white magazines print better. Granted, they didn't want to break an unbroken thing, trying to fix it. 1972 team-up? Ah, Black Widow and Iron Man, by Gene Colan Luke Cage and Iron Man, by Billy Graham and Ron Wilson. ’73? Conan the Barbarian and Dr. Strange. The Cat and Shanna the She-Devil, guest-starring Night Nurse. ’74 The Vision and the Scarlet Witch versus Dracula! I thought of lots of interesting things about Dracula and Vision, but then I got one helluva Hex Wanda could throw that seemingly cures Dracula. I'll say no more. ’75 ...

The Joker review: of popcorn and proletarians, from two corny contrarians Johann Balasuriya: I do not understand why people say this is a violent movie that promotes gun violence. I mean, I have watched Arnold Schwarzenegger comedies with more violence than The Joker. Although, it goes without saying, the Joker is less tragic than “Hercules goes Bananas” (A.K.A. Hercules in New York) or some other DC movies. The Joker is the story of Arthur Fleck, an average Joe, chilling in his life, doing the best he can to bring joy and happiness to the world. He's also dealing with a condition that makes him suddenly break out in unaccountable and uncontrollable laughter. Surrounded by mentally ill people, bullies, and manipulators, he does what he can to take care of his Mother, in a world where there is great wealth inequality. C Lue: The insidious slope canters, under his unearned trust, and faith in the everyone who Society says we should reasonably rely upon. Johann...

A pal online pointed out this tagline, not only prominent on the covers of Howard The Duck (the overground/ underground comics phenom of its time, released late in 1975), but also, paraphrased and referenced and out-right quoted in other Marvel stories, captions, titles, and cover copy- like, Doctor Strange #2. "Trapped In A World He Never Made." I can't say for certain Steve Gerber came up with the idea to use this on the cover, though it was certainly his plan to do so. He had increasing editorial control of the newly-established, popular comic series, co-created with Val Mayerick. It just might've been a play on life in New York City then, a comment on earning a living and trying to stay sane in America, or maybe just, this is the challenge of publishing anything witty and original within the strictures of the mid-Seventies comics industry. You could say the phrase was inspired by A.E. Housman's Last poems XII 'the laws of God, the laws of man' ...

Your husband gets separated from you on a time-travel adventure. You don't know if you'll ever see him again or make it home, but you make a friend- who drugs and rapes you. He fights you later, and slips off a cliff. Do you help him live? Well, here's some additional context: So, you and your secret agent-trained wife (or, you and your swashbuckling husband and AVenger team leader) get separated while traveling through time. Just as you've given up hope, you find her again. Stranded with only faith that her team will find her, she was betrayed, drugged and raped by a vigilante in the Old West. He was stupid enough to fight with her afterwards, fell off a cliff, and she let him dangle there and die. And then the two of you break up because she let an enemy die whom she could've saved? Apparently, you split off into two factions on different sides of an ethical dilemma. But I mean.. after all that, you break up? First, I've got to give it up for ...

My biggest leap forward in freelance writing in a long time. I talked to such great people, too. That's Back Issue #110! Steve Englehart and Annie Nocenti fans shouldn't miss it. How do you not miss it? Here! http://twomorrows.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=98_54 The site! Order yours! Ships January 16th. My thanks again to John Workman, Scott Edelman, Sam Maronie, Harold Parker, Will Alovis, Ken Segal (now there's a sound guy), the Marvel Comics Fans 1961-1986 page on Facebook (for bringing me together with fans and photos) - and especially our hard-working editor, Michael Eury, who also pulled off a move in the middle of a hurricane and got this one out in fine form. NOw that's how you Face Front! I was wrapping up burritos and wrapping up wrapping up burritos when I pitched for this assignment. I tried Marv Wolfman, John Workman...even hovered over a possible phone number for John Romita, Sr. I stayed on the trail, one lead to the next. I ...