Introducing Blade – and the Marvel Universe Would Never Be the Same

Blade gets ready to shank our undead star in "Tomb of Dracula" No. 10.
Blade gets ready to shank our undead star in “Tomb of Dracula” No. 10.

Marv Wolfman had only been writing Marvel Comics’ “Tomb of Dracula” for a few months when he created the most dynamic, dangerous character in the horror comic’s supporting cast – one who would help launch Marvel from the printed page to box-office success.

Welcome Blade – the vampire-slayer!

Or the vampire killer.

Your call. The comic flips between both.

One thing is obvious: Blade is nothing like the other hunters chasing Dracula.

Continue reading “Introducing Blade – and the Marvel Universe Would Never Be the Same”

Superman & Batman: The Original Super-Friends

'Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice'
‘Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice’

The world waits with bated breath for the opening of “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” on March 25.

The Dark Knight meets the Man of Steel for the first time in a live-action film, and it looks to be a brawl for the ages.

And that got me thinking. How did the comics – you know, the source material for just about every blockbuster film keeping the major studios afloat these days – handle the first meeting of DC’s greatest titans?

What threat could possibly be dire enough to bring the two champions of justice together?

The Anti-Monitor? Darkseid? The Joker and Lex Luthor together?

Would you believe … a cruise ship vacation?

Continue reading “Superman & Batman: The Original Super-Friends”

The ONE story the New ‘Justice Society’ Writer Must Read

The Justice Society will rise again.
The Justice Society will rise again.

It’s news both unexpected and overdue: DC will again publish a Justice Society title.

From what little has been reported of this reboot, part of the upcoming “DC Rebirth,” the team allegedly will still be young, somehow plucked from the timestream from the 1940s – sort of like the original teen X-Men now running around in Marvel’s various X-books. This premise seems like a tactical misfire for the world’s first and greatest super-team, but everything depends on the execution.

Despite being a best-selling and award-winning title during the ’90s and ’00s, from Geoff Johns no less, “Justice Society” once again, fell out of favor with DC management.

Continue reading “The ONE story the New ‘Justice Society’ Writer Must Read”

Dracula Rises – and the Marvel Age of Horror Begins!

TOD1coverHas there ever been a less anticipated – and more ground-breaking comic – ever released by Marvel Comics?

With the opening of “The Tomb of Dracula” in 1972, the company proved there was a mainstream audience for darker, more mature comics – with stories about a supernaturally cursed mass murderer who needed to feed on the blood of the living.

And what was the purpose of the Comics Code Authority again?

Continue reading “Dracula Rises – and the Marvel Age of Horror Begins!”

Time After Time: Degaton Runs Out the Clock on the Justice Society

JSA59So you’re a time-traveling fascist.

OK, pretend you’re a time-traveling fascist … one whose many schemes to rule the world have all been thwarted by one heroic band of adventurers.

You’re trapped in the time stream. How do you while away eternity? What do you do for fun?

You travel across the years to watch how your foes die again and again.

Continue reading “Time After Time: Degaton Runs Out the Clock on the Justice Society”