ITG

New Mission!

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Thu, 22 Aug 2019 10:46:00 -0400

I DIDN'T THINK THIS DAY WOULD EVER COME!

But after 3 decades of pouring money, time, megabytes, brain real estate (& more money) into fine tuning a carefully curated comic book collection, I find myself with most of my missions accomplished, and, for once, without any major collecting goals - but one! While the outlook of acquiring that copy of Star Spangled Comics #69 remains highly doubtful, the slightly more realistic task of finding good homes for 'my babies' may just be within my reach!

That's right, (can't believe I'm typing this) I've decided to invest in my family's future by selling my comic book collection. So . . . I've gone through & performed the once unthinkable task of attaching a 'value' to each of my comic books. In the interest of transparency: I've always used a popular online comics seller as a market price guide for my collection; in assigning values to my books, I've used that seller's prices as a starting point . . . and just started slashing. Most of the books can be organized into a couple of different categories - there are THOUSANDS of books I'll stick in the Virtual $1.00 Box; there are dozens of TPBs to be had for $5.00 each; hundreds more moderately priced books at the $5.00 price point; and the rest are priced as marked in a Google spreadsheet that I'll gladly share with each interested party reading this - by request.

I've decided to go this route before the inevitable online listings, as I hope those reading this would make likeliest candidates to adopt a few well-loved comic books. If you think you're such a candidate, please get in touch with me via email, Twitter or Instagram, and I'll share the details!

Thanks for reading, and I hope to be sharing my collection with you soon!

(A note about grading: I'll state the obligatory 'I'm not a professional grader, yada, yada, yada . . .' but have tried to be honest & in many cases conservative in judging condition; please inquire about specific books of interest, & I'll be happy to share more detailed descriptions and/or photos)

(A note about pricing: I stand by the prices listed. At this point in my de-accession process I don't have the skill, time, or inclination to haggle, though I will make the concession of eating the continental US shipping cost for those spending $50 or more. While I realize it's possible to come across better bargains out in the real world, I honestly think there are some deals - and perhaps even some steals - to be found in this collection)

Happy Halloween, Dr. Thirteen! Star Spangled Comics #s 123-124 (Dec. 1951 - Jan. 1952)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 31 Oct 2018 10:16:00 -0400

I could not let October slip by without recording another annual episode of Happy Halloween, Dr. Thirteen! This time out, however, you'll be getting not a single serving, but a DOUBLE DOSE of THIRTEEN THRILLERS! I'll be recapping & commenting on two of the Scholar of Skepticism's original adventures from the tail end of the golden age, 'The Dolls of Doom' & 'The Suicide Tower' from issue #s 123 & 124 of Star Spangled Comics!

Download this episode HERE!

Scroll down to see images from these issues, and please be sure to check out previous episodes of I'm the Gun on iTunes & Google Play!

Also, I'd love to hear from you! Email me at: imthegun@gmail.com, or hit me up on Twitter: @itgblogcast

Thanks for listening!

Music in this episode: Star Collector by The Monkees/The Tower that Ate People by Peter Gabriel

Breaking & entering: a couple of Dr. 13's many skills

Terrence ups the stakes, forcing the bad guy's hand (and confession)

The curse of Oaxa claims its 1st victima

Mesmerized at the top of Suicide Tower, Dr. 13's force of will (& cigarette lighter) bring him back to full alert

The Many Lives of Tim Hunter: Uncollected Books of Magic

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 24 Oct 2018 12:19:00 -0400

Throughout it's 25-year existence, Vertigo Comics has produced some of the best comics of its time. I have enjoyed its long-running ongoing series, like Hellblazer, Lucifer & Y: The Last Man, and some short term projects like Brubaker & Phillips Scene of the Crime & Grant Morrison's minis WE3 & Seaguy. One of my favorite series through its several incarnations is The Books of Magic, which, like most of the great early Vertigo stuff grew from deep roots in the DC Universe. I am super excited about its imminent relaunch - as part of Vertigo Comics' 'Sandman Universe' imprint - and the opportunity to once again follow the adventures of Books' protagonist, the young mage, Timothy Hunter!

Tim Hunter, not to be confused with that other bespectacled master mage-in-training (let's call him 'He Who Must Not Be Named'), has had a fairly decent publishing history & there have been several attempts to relaunch the concept of the inexperience magician, prophesied to the the 'greatest of his age,' learning the ropes & growing into his role as master of the mystic arts - some of these attempts finding more success than others. As my favored topics here include uncollected comics, to celebrate the latest incarnation of Books, I thought I'd take a brief look at a trio of Books of Magic relaunches: the Peter Gross-written run of BoM from issues 51-75 of the 1st ongoing series, Hunter: The Age of Magic, and Books of Magick: Life During Wartime, almost all of which have yet to be reprinted.
Tim Hunter debuted in the 1990 prestige format 4-issue series The Books of Magic written by Neil Gaiman, who along with 4 painter/illustrators introduced us to young Tim, a boy in his early teens with the potential to do either great good or great evil after his first destined encounter with the magic of the DC Universe. The prestige series was not a Tim Hunter character study, nor was it meant to be - BoM was more an introduction to the magical realms of the DCU, where readers were introduced (along with Tim), via guides The Phantom Stranger, Dr. Occult, John Constantine & Mister E, to such denizens of the darker side of DC as The Spectre, The Demon Etrigan, Mordru & Dream of the Endless. By series end, it's implied Tim would choose the path of good magic.

It wasn't until Tim graduated to his own title (by way of the Vertigo imprint's Neil Gaiman-scripted x-over event The Children's Crusade), the 1994 ongoing Books of Magic series, that readers got to know Tim as a more well-rounded character. A lonely English child - motherless, immature, perhaps a little whiny, but always possessing the potential for greatness - during the first 4 years of Tim's series, worlds began to open to him, as he learned the benefits & costs of magic. He shared many adventures in Heaven, Hell & everywhere in between with a strong supporting cast led by young Molly O'Brien, Tim's 1st love, and favorite of series writer John Ney Reiber. Each of Reiber's series scripts were previewed by Gaiman, who made himself available in a consultant's role - and these tales of a child coming to grips with his destiny were drawn by a variety of artists, with the bulk of the illustration work done by Peters Gross & Snejbjerg. The first 50 issues of the BoM ongoing (and the Gaiman mini) have seen multiple printings of TPB collections and are well worth seeking out.

Tim's 'Other,' an evil doppelganger intent on killing 1,000 Hunters & absorbing their magical energy

Books of Magic #s 51-75, Annual 3, Vertigo Winter's Edge 3 (1998-2000)

When Reiber decided to leave the title after 50 issues, a couple Annuals & a short story or two, series artist Peter Gross took on the writing chores and immediately breathed new life into the adventures of Tim Hunter. Neil Gaiman curbed his involvement in the series at this point, though his spectre still loomed large in Gross' stories, as concepts & characters introduced in Gaiman's seminal Sandman series (like Titania & Auberon of Faerie, Lucien, Librarian of the Dreaming & The Deadboy Detectives) continued to appear & tie Tim Hunter into the shared fabric of the DC/Vertigo universe. One of Gross' most important contributions to the Books of Magic was the idea of Tim as 'Opener' - a being of immense power capable at a young age (even infancy) of 'opening,' or unconsciously creating thousands of new alternate realities. Certain inhabitants of Tim's fabricated universes were more self-aware than others & worshiped their young creator like a god. Each reality had it's own multiversal version of Tim Hunter - some of these alti-Tims were good, some were bad, and one in particular - Tim's 'Other' - becomes acutely aware of his 'otherness' & begins a crusade to eliminate all versions of the young mage (and their respective universes), assume their power, and take - let's call him 'Tim Prime's - place as heir apparent to the legacy of magic.

At one point, Tim finds refuge in a new identity: Mary

Throughout Gross' 25-issue run, Tim Hunter divests himself of all his magic, is forced to abandon his life (such as it was) due to the aggressive actions of his evil doppelganger, and finds refuge in a new identity (as a girl!), a new location (Gaiman's Inn Between Worlds), and a new supporting cast before wresting his life & power back from his evil twin. Gross' stories are sympathetic to the importance both Gaiman & Reiber placed on pantheons of mythology in the adventures of Tim Hunter, but I think they also did the best job yet of presenting Tim as a boy - muddling his way through some pretty dark situation (but not without a touch of humor) and a burgeoning maturity. Tim is also presented here for the first time clearly choosing the path of good magic, whether it be by subtly altering the mission of 'The Wild Hunt,' when he became involved with that millennia-old band which has tracked & killed gods, thinning out the ranks of pantheons worldwide, or - in a dramatic epilogue to the run - forcefully metamorphosing longtime demon foe, Barbatos, eliminating his evil forever in a surprisingly literal way. Gross pulls double duty during his time writing the series, handling most of the artwork & lending his run a bit of an 'auteur' feeling - and with Michael Kaluta illustrating almost all of the covers, this 2-year story, which closed out Tim Hunter's 1st ongoing series, makes for a very attractive package. This wonderful coming-of-age saga, so important in the development of Tim Hunter's character, has yet to be collected or reprinted (no digital, either!) - it really does deserve to find a new audience.

In HTAOM, Tim's at the cusp of his 20s - and experiences all the awkwardness involved with that

Hunter: The Age of Magic (2001-2003)

Tim Hunter returned in the 2001 5-issue mini-series The Names of Magic by the team of writer Dylan Horrocks (please check out Hicksville) & artist Richard Case (ditto, Case's excellent run with Grant Morrison on Doom Patrol), which was a great primer for the same crew's ongoing, Hunter: The Age of Magic. Picking up shortly after Gross' BoM run, Names of Magic finds Tim Hunter once again in encounter with his 4 guides from the original mini (Constantine, Stranger, Occult, Mr. E), once again on the run through the world of distinctly English magic and in search of his true name (the importance of names has been well established in DC/Vertigo's occult-ish books). Names of Magic also maybe/perhaps/possibly settles the long-standing, hazy mystery surrounding Tim's true parentage. The new mini ends with Tim's enrollment in the mysterious White School, which promises to formalize his education in magic.

Horrocks & Case curiously begin Hunter: The Age of Magic (HTAOM) at the tail end of Tim's time at the White School, just as he's about to apply what he's learned there in the 'real world.' It seems there's a lot of story potential in Tim's 'Hogwarts Years' that was squandered, but fast forwarding through time a bit allowed Horrocks & Case to tell the story of a more experienced Tim Hunter - he'd been taught at the White School to better harness his incredible magical energy & also developed a bit of reputation as a celebrity on campus (which through various portals & gateways, traversed several realms including Earth & Gemworld). So it's actually a slightly arrogant Tim Hunter which greets us at the outset of HTAOM, at the cusp of his twenties, confident in his abilities & in high demand - whether if be for the affections of pretty students at the school, magical artifacts dealers looking to exploit Tim's talents, or Mr. Lily, the Agent Smith-like representative of the Golden Lotus organization who wishes to enlist Tim in his quest to unmake the world, giving it the reboot needed to completely eliminate evil & return the planet to a Garden of Eden-like state (even if this sounds like a bit of overkill, to me).

The caricature-esque Mr. Lily - one of the Books of Magic's creepiest villains

Dylan Horrocks' scripts are dripping with Olde English magic (or what at the very least reads like it to the uninitiated like me - in this respect it reminds me quite a bit of Paul Jenkins' run on Hellblazer - one of my favorites of that long-running series), as Tim Hunter encounters a race of Faerie, Merlin himself, ley lines & the network of vagrant 'walkers' tasked with guarding the sacred sites of England. In Lily, we have what I think is Tim's creepiest villain - supercilious, misguided in his 'good' intentions - mostly due to the way Richard Case draws him: a twisted caricature . . . and that chin . . . Everyone else in the series is beautiful, though - you'd expect nothing less from Case & Steve Bird, who inked almost every issue. The one demerit I'll give this series is for the covers: apart from a very few, I wouldn't consider any of the 25 cover paintings 'beautiful,' and though the last several are by Chris Bachalo (whose Vertigo work I generally like), I can't include these Hunter covers among his best.

This series was more isolated from the grand Vertigo shared continuity than any previous BoM effort, with fewer Sandman-related references per page than anything Tim Hunter had appeared in before - and maybe it's that ability to stand on its own (at least for 25 issues), along with the general excellence of the material (discounting the covers) that contributes to making this my favorite BoM series. With no collections of HTAOM in existence (digital or otherwise), I can only recommend tracking down this series in single-issue format.

Lots of drink, drugs & sex in this series - all evident in this sequence

Books of Magick: Life During Wartime (2004-2005)

In 2004, Tim Hunter was reunited (sort of) with his creator Neil Gaiman for the 1st time in over a decade in the series Books of Magick: Life During Wartime. Gaiman helped craft the story of Tim being drawn into desperate alternate-dimensional religious warfare, with series writer Si Spencer and is back to being listed in the credits of each issue as 'consultant.' Life During Wartime - conceived as a blank slate for Tim's character, free from previous continuity - in some ways continues the coming-of-age direction of Tim's previous series - but there's a grittiness here which is owed as much to the 'pulled from the headlines' holy war in the book as to the stylized illustration of Dean Ormston.

The gist of the series is this: sometime after the conclusion of Hunter: The Age of Magic, Tim is warned by an alternate reality version of old mate John Constantine of an evil faerie queen and her desire to unmake the universe - all universes, really (shades, here, of Mr. Lily). She seeks to do this by killing her world's messiah - The Hunter, otherwise known as our Tim, who's worshiped as a god by humans & faerie-folk alike on this cracked-mirror earth. It's on this world that a holy was is being fought between the evil queen's faerie army and a coalition of resistance fighters led by that universe's John Constantine & Zatanna. Constantine counsels Tim to go into hiding - and hide he does - in a completely new world of his own making (thinking here of Peter Gross' Tim as 'Opener'). Much of the action in the early issues of this series occurs in this world Tim has created from scratch - it's ultimate wish fulfillment for an early-twenty-something. Tim creates a home life, complete with dearly departed mother, a group of new friends & a new version of his greatest love, Molly. He's down the pub every night with his friends partaking in drink, drugs & sex - there's lot's of sex in this series. A side effect of this great effort of magical world-building is a bit of amnesia - Tim's previous life is (almost) completely forgotten as he exhibits a complete obliviousness to the war being waged in his name a universe away. Tim's living fantasy eventually breaks down, however, as the war begins drawing Tim out of his daydream-made-real.

Un-making Tim's hipster fantasy

The layers of reality (including our own - the violence seen in the series like golems of mass destruction & suicide spellcasters hit very close to home in the immediate wake of the Iraq War) make Life During Wartime a dense read - I was only feeling comfortable with the material on the 3rd time through; on the other hand, I think this is a series which rewards repeated visitation. Si Spencer, coming off his time writing for 2000AD & for Brit soap 'Eastenders' knows his way around episodic fiction. His characters are well rounded, his bar scenes particularly authentic, and his John Constantine (though not exactly the same character known & loved for years) was as direct, harsh & two-timing as you'd expect. Dean Ormston is a quintessential Vertigo artist whose stylized artwork graced the pages of several 2000AD mags before drawing almost every one of LDW's 15 issues. His monsters are fearsome, his violence bloody and his wide, sharp features on these characters provide a perfect look for this series. Covers by Frank Quitely & Duncan Fegredo don't hurt this book's attractiveness, either. The 1st 5 issues of this series - setting the table for the war between the followers of the faerie queen & The Hunter, and introducing Tim's hipster h(e)aven - were collected in this series' lone trade paperback, leaving 2/3 of the story available only in single issues. Though obviously not a sales success, and as inaccessible a read as Books of Magick: Life During Wartime can be, it can be as equally rewarding for resilient Vertigo readers or fans of the Books of Magic.

This series would be the last we'd see of Tim Hunter for quite some time - which is too bad, as I found these series' to be the most interesting Books of Magic material. Tim Hunter was allowed to grow up under the guidance of Gross, Horrocks & Spencer - they were fascinating reads that tracked Tim's maturation process, and I'd have followed the adult adventures of Tim as long as Vertigo was able to publish them. A young Master Hunter did pop up in DC's New 52 Justice League Dark for a bit . . . and the recent Sandman Universe special & the new Books of Magic series by Kat Howard & Tom Fowler will hopefully spell the dearth of Tim Hunter stories - it looks like we'll get to watch him grow up all over again!

Thanks for taking the time to read my post!

Best Event Ever! Underworld Unleashed #2 (Dec. 1995)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 10:23:00 -0400

ITG is back with another participatory episode in this year's #BestEventEver blog/podcast team-up! For the past 3 years, a loose confederation of comics bloggers & podcasters has gotten together to jam on one of DC Comics' annual x-over events - and this year, we've decided to dig deep into 1995's Underworld Unleashed!

The UU story, which shined a light on the villains of the DCU, ran through a 3 issue core mini series & over 40 tie-ins throughout the DC line. On this episode, I'll be recapping issue #2 of Underworld Unleashed, in which Neron momentarily turns his gaze away from the villains, and instead focuses on DC's greatest heroes!

Download this episode HERE!

And please be sure to check out further Underworld Unleashed coverage at these fine sites:

Relatively Geeky Podcast Network

Resurrections: An Adam Warlock/Thanos Podcast

The Retroist

ChrisIsOnInfiniteEarths

Cosmic Treadmill

The Pop Culture Palace

Rolled Spine's Diana Prince: Wonder Woman Podcast

The Idol-Head of Diabolu

Justice's First Dawn

Comic Reviews by Walt

Justice Trek: The Podcast

Scroll down to see a few images from these issues below, and check out previous episodes of I'm the Gun on iTunes & Google Play!

Thanks for listening!

Music used in this episode: (Every Day Is) Halloween by Ministry; Hell by Squirrel Nut Zippers

Leave it to the Joker to sell his soul for a box of cigars . . .

Neron tempts Superboy . . . with a red herring

This sort of wide-screen epic violence would prefigure Howard Porter's upcoming run on JLA

This scan really doesn't do justice to the neon green of the captured 'soul stuff'

Some big names . . . and some crowd-scene fillers. Hey, I think I see Argus!

The shadow of Neron's true form flickering platonically on a cave wall

Best Event Ever! Underworld Unleashed - Starman #13 & Showcase '95 #12 (Nov.-Dec. 1995)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 3 Oct 2018 10:17:00 -0400

I'm thrilled to once again participate in what's become a fun annual tradition, the #BestEventEver blog/podcast team-up! For the past 3 years, a loose confederation of comics bloggers & podcasters has gotten together to jam on one of DC Comics' annual x-over events - and this year, we've decided to dig deep into 1995's Underworld Unleashed!

The villains of the DCU got a chance to shine during this event, and some pretty interesting match-ups came about between the villains & some unfamiliar opponents throughout the DC line. Case in point, on of the 2 stories I'll be recapping & commenting on: retired Golden Age hero, Ted Knight (formerly Starman) takes on infrequent Batman foe, Dr. Phosphorus in Starman #13. And in one of the stories in the 12th issue of the anthology, Showcase '95, Starman-cast member, The Shade, is confronted by the primary antagonist of Underworld Unleashed, Neron!

If you're interested in taking the plunge with us, I encourage you to:

Download this episode HERE!

And please be sure to check out further Underworld Unleashed coverage at these fine sites:

Relatively Geeky Podcast Network

Resurrections: An Adam Warlock/Thanos Podcast

The Retroist

ChrisIsOnInfiniteEarths

Cosmic Treadmill

The Pop Culture Palace

Rolled Spine's Diana Prince: Wonder Woman Podcast

The Idol-Head of Diabolu

Justice's First Dawn

Comic Reviews by Walt

Justice Trek: The Podcast

Good look here at Dr. Phosphorus' transparent skin, as he blasts Ted Knight

The Starman trophy room - and fateful contact with Dr. Phosphorus

With the flick of a switch, color floods back into Ted Knight's world - I'd get that wound looked at, though, Ted

The nasty side to The Shade's powers

The Shade, channeling his best Oscar Wilde, delivers one the more memorable lines in my collection

Ms. Tree Theatre: Murder Cruise! Ms. Tree #s 47-48 (Aug-Nov 1988)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Thu, 13 Sep 2018 04:35:00 -0400

Ms. Tree Theatre is back to bask in the dying glow of late summer! To celebrate a great season, join Max Allan Collins' & Terry Beatty's iconic indie comics private eye on a Carribbean cruise -- I know, I know, this is Ms. Tree we're talking about: sharp wit, lots of violence, great hairstyle -- why don't we call it what it is -- a 'Murder Cruise!'

25-ish minutes of recap & commentary await, if you:

Download this episode HERE!

Scroll down to see images from these issues, and please be sure to check out previous episodes of I'm the Gun on iTunes & Google Play!

Also, I'd love to hear from you! Email me at: imthegun@gmail.com, or check out more content on Instagram: @itgblogcast

Thanks for listening!

Music used in this episode: 'Sea Cruise' by Herman's Hermits/'Theme From Ms. Tree' by Cruisin'

An idyllic St. Lucia scene - if not for that dead body, there . . .

Ms. Tree gets right to the point

Masquerade dance party - with guests like Tintin & Wild Dog getting down

The third color used effectively to depict flashback

The top of Blackbeard's tower - literally breathtaking!

ITGs ABCs: Cleaning Up the Vermin of Gotham with The Huntress in Wonder Woman #s 309-313 (1983-1984)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Thu, 26 Jul 2018 09:46:00 -0400

In this episode of ITG's ABCs (which is short for Anthology & Back-up Comics Stories), I'm having a look back at a 5-part story running through the fantastic Huntress back-up feature in Wonder Woman #s 309-313!

Join me as I recap and comment on this story featuring the Dark Knight Daughter & the debut of a sinister, but obscure villain with an unusual power over the vermin of Gotham City!

Download this episode HERE!

Scroll down to see images from these issues, and please be sure to check out previous episodes of I'm the Gun on iTunes & Google Play!

Also, I'd love to hear from you! Email me at: imthegun@gmail.com, or hit me up on Twitter: @itgblogcast

Thanks for listening!

Music this episode: 'The Lonely Bull' by Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass

Hey, Earthworm -- Bob Cratchit called, he wants his wardrobe back

Sneaking a peak at Dan Spiegle's Huntress

Fending off the vermin of Gotham City

The Earthworm gets, literally, the last laugh

Celebrate the 4th of July with 'General Tomahawk': Tomahawk #51 (Sept. 1957)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 4 Jul 2018 07:25:00 -0400

On this episode of ITG, we're celebrating the United States' birthday by taking a look the 1st story from Tomahawk #51 - 'General Tomahawk,' featuring a cameo appearance by father of the United States George Washington, and an unlikely set of disguises for DC Comics' premier frontier hero, Tomahawk & his teenage side kick, Dan Hunter, who attempt to infiltrate an enemy camp as practicing minstrels! I honestly tried to keep the singing to a minimum on my recording, but if you're brave enough:

Download this episode HERE!

Scroll down to see images from these issues, and please be sure to check out previous episodes of I'm the Gun on iTunes & Google Play!

Also, I'd love to hear from you! Email me at: imthegun@gmail.com, or hit me up on Twitter: @itgblogcast

Thanks for listening!

Music in this episode is from 'Spirit of '76: Music for Fifes and Drums'

Bob Brown's homage to Emanuel Leutze's 'Washington Crossing the Delaware,' with Tomahawk standing in for the General

Tomahawk receives a temporary appointment as Continental General from Washington, himself

You're a mean one, Dan Hunter; Grinch-like, Tomahawk's teen sidekick 'relieves' the British storehouse of a few supplies

Sailing across the frozen river - the wind was cooperative

My Favorite Coluan: Legion of Super-Heroes in the 31st Century #9 ( 2008)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 13 Jun 2018 23:45:00 -0400

My favorite Coluan is by far the Legion of Super-Heroes' Brainiac 5 - and I love reading stories about his adventures in the far future. But if there's anything better than reading about 1 Brainiac, it's reading about 2 -- sort of . . . ! In this episode, I'll be recapping & commenting on Brainy & his teammates' animated-style adventure from Legion of Super-Heroes in the 31st Century #9!

Download this episode HERE!

Scroll down to see a few images from these issues below, and check out previous episodes of I'm the Gun on iTunes & Google Play!

Thanks for listening!

Interesting new look for Brainiac 5 & not-so-hot new look for Sun Boy

Even stranded on prehistoric Krypton, Bouncing Boy can't get Triplicate Girl off his mind

Reassuring Brainy & Bouncing Boy-shaped time bubble

Super Blog Team-Up Takeover! Bring on the Bad Guys: Meet The Extremists!

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Thu, 24 May 2018 10:18:00 -0400

We interrupt this regularly scheduled Super-Blog Team-Up for an nWo-style takeover featuring some very bad dudes from the DC Universe! Cue the music!

I was pleased & privileged to accept the return invitation to 'stand in' for the dearly (at least for now) departed Super Bloggers - and to mark the occasion, I thought I'd adapt an unused Where's The Trade? idea with a brief profile of some of my favorite comics 'stand-ins' - the bad boys from the planet Angor, THE super-villain team to beat in early 90s Justice League comics & cheeky Marvel villain analogs: The Extremists! I'm amazed that, for a group based on such a throw away idea (analogs of 4 top Marvel villains -- and Dormammu), creators have been using some version or another of the Extremists in comics for almost 30 years!

Before I cover the publishing history of these true Harbingers of the Attitude Era, I invite you to check out the other late spring offerings from some fellow blasts from the #SuperBlogTeamUp past:

The Extremists 1st appeared in Justice League Europe #15 (June 1990) in the first of a 5-part story called 'The Extremist Vector' - but the roots of this villain team date back much farther than that. In comics cover dated Feb. 1971, DC & Marvel - or maybe I should say Justice League writer Mike Friedrich & Avengers writer Roy Thomas - exchanged charming, naughty swipes at the competition with the introduction of a team of super doppelgangers in their respective books. In issue 85 of the Avengers, Thomas debuted The Squadron Supreme, a team of alternate dimension JLA analogs including Hyperion (Superman) , Nighthawk (Batman), Lady Lark (Black Canary) & The Whizzer (Flash), among others. This Squadron Supreme was a revised version of a villain team of JLA dupes Thomas introduced in the Avengers about a year and a half previously called The Squadron Sinister. Meanwhile, in Justice League of America #87, Friedrich introduced a doppelganger Avengers in The Assemblers (later, the Champions of Angor, The Justifiers & The Retaliators - no one could seem to keep this straight), whose membership included Wandjina (Thor), The Silver Sorceress (Scarlet Witch), Blue Jay (Yellowjacket) & Jack B. Quick (Quicksilver). Each team of analogs met, misunderstood, and fought their respective series' stars, before in each case parting as friends.

Though introduced together, the legacies of these analog teams couldn't have been more different. Squadron Supreme went on to be featured in several guest-starring appearances, mini series, and trade paperbacks printed in human ashes, while the Assemblers never got a push - they slipped down the card, forgotten for almost 20 years.

The Assemblers: Not-Quicksilver, Not-Scarlet Witch, Not-Yellowjacket & Not-Thor

I didn't get into comics full time until after 1987, so I'm not sure what sort of reception greeted the Assemblers' big comeback to comics in the earliest issues of Keith Giffen/JM DeMatteis/Kevin Maguire's Justice League. Shock? Surprise? Indifference? 'Who the @#*%!! are these guys?!' But looking back, the use of Wandjina, Silver Sorceress & Blue Jay as antagonists to the League seems to have come a bit out of nowhere. In the interim since their last appearance, it's revealed that the Asssemblers' home world Angor (no longer an alien planet, but an extra-dimensional analog for Marvel Comics' Earth thanks to the reality warping effects of Crisis on Infinite Earths) had been obliterated by the planet's nuclear weapons - and the trio of heroes (as far as we knew, the last survivors of their planet) take it upon themselves to rid DC Earth of their nukes, and save it from a fate similar to Angor. The governments of Earth don't take kindly to this interference, and after a confrontation with the newly minted Justice League (soon to be International), by story arc's end the waning days of the Cold War status quo is maintained, Wandjina is dead (or at least very near death), Silver Sorceress & Blue Jay are taken into Soviet custody -- aaaand then things soon get really interesting for the survivors of Angor & the Justice League.

The 1st appearance of the Assemblers in JLA #87 can be found digitally, collected in color in the series of JLA Archives, vol. 10, specifically - or in the more recent JLA Bronze Age Omnibus vol. 1. You can also find the story reprinted in black & white in Showcase Presents: The Justice League vol. 5. It's typical early Bronze Age JLA - decent plot with good, if unremarkable Dick Dillin/Joe Giella illustration. If you're reading this, you probably don't need my recommendation to pick up those early 'Bwah-Ha-Ha' Giffen/DeMatteis/Maguire JLI issues, but I'll give it to you, anyway - they can be found in single issue format, trade paperback, hardcover omnibus & digitally - you really can't go wrong with these excellent comics.

4 top Marvel villains -- and Dormammu - the Extremists' template

About 3 years after the JLI's dust-up with the Assemblers, in 'The Extremist Vector,' a story plotted & laid out by Keith Giffen and illustrated by Bart Sears, Pablo Marcos & Randy Elliot, running through the title Justice League Europe #s 15-19, we learn a lot more about the destruction of Angor when the Silver Sorceress escapes captivity & returns to her home dimension. There, she runs into what appear to be a few MORE 'only remaining survivors' (what is this - Silver Age Krypton?), The Assemblers' arch-enemies and perpetrators of Angor's World Destruction, the Extremists! These are 5 bad dudes - and since the super-heroes of Angor were not-so-coy nods toward the Marvel Universe's good guys, then it only makes sense for the villains of Angor to be modeled after Marvel's bad guys. So let's meet the Extremists!

This collection of mega-powered malcontents began as a team of ordinary, everyday industrial thieves. But a botched bomb heist & run in with (because this is a Marvel-ous origin story) MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF RADIATION mutates these unnamed criminals into a stable of monster heels! We've got Lord Havok - leader of the team inside his powerful, shiny suit of armor. Imposing & bug-like in his massive shell, Havok is a reimagined Dr. Doom. Gorgon is a flabby, brutish lech - metal claws for hands & thick strangulating tentacles growing out of the top of his head - the Dr. Octopus of the Extremists. Tracer is quick, athletic, ferocious - and insane. An alternate universe Sabretooth. Dr. Diehard wields the forces of magnetism - so he could only be a Magneto analog (though he does carry Daredevil's 'Double D' emblem on his chest). And the strangest-looking & most frightening Extremist is Dreamslayer, the Dormammu stand-in (they can't all be winners, I guess) with his stocking feet, tattered cape and energy ball of a head, who taps into some pretty serious magical power - so serious that he's able to pull the location of the DC Earth from the Silver Sorceress' mind, and with a quick teleportation spell, The Extremists discover a new world to conquer! What follows is a series of confrontations with Justice League Europe, whose membership at the time included Captain Atom (team leader), Power Girl, The Flash, Rocket Red, Crimson Fox, The Elongated Man & Metamorpho. In the long history of the League, its heroes had yet to meet such a sadistic, brutal group of villains as the Extremists. They killed - they didn't think twice about it. They'd grown bored on their home planet - it's populace had been wiped out by the Extremists' emmployment of their planet's stolen nuclear weapons. They loved to fight - the tougher the opponent the better. The Extremists are DELIGHTED to meet some super-hero resistance on this 'new' planet. Upon first meeting their foes, the JLEers are beaten handily - it's basically a squash match! And things get pretty dark when the League is teleported to Angor, prisoners on a desolate world, leaving no one to stop the villains back home who've hijacked Earth's nuclear arsenal and hold hundreds (thousands?) of missiles in orbit - an all too literal Sword of Damocles - in place to force Earth's surrender.

The muscular bulk & reflective material in the design of the Extremists plays to Bart Sears' strengths as an illustrator

After enduring a surreal experience in a deserted theme park and finding their way home (& knowing they can't overpower the Extremists), the JLE must rely on wit, a little trickery, and a not-so-metaphorical deus ex machina in the form of Angorian Walt Disney-analog, Mitch Wacky to eventually defeat Lord Havok & crew - with a pretty startling swerve revealed along the way [Spoilers: all but one of the Extremists were killed with the rest of their planet's populace; the team the JLE has been fighting were theme park animatronics all along. Mitch Wacky came, he saw & he deactivated the technical tyrants with the push of a button]. This is really the first knock down, drag out deathmatch I can ever remember the Justice League having, and definitely the most soundly I'd ever seen them beaten at the time. Arriving when it did in the wake of 'dark & gritty' depictions of action & angles in comics, and perhaps a little before things of that nature would become more commonplace in mainstream comics, 'The Extremist Vector' (and the Extremists) really pushed the envelope when it came to the use of violence in Justice League books. The Extremists were the Justice League's 1st 90s villains - not only chronologically, but also in name (EXTREME!), attitude - and in look! These are Bart Sears/Keith Giffen designs and there's no doubt about it. Sears is a master at depicting muscular bulk and shiny things - and the Extremists' appearance puts his talent for both on full display. The members of the Extremists all have some sort of reflective element or detail in their outfits (in Lord Havok's case it's ALL reflective element) and they fairly pulse, or throb with muscular energy - even Dreamslayer, whose depicted a bit more - sinewy. When comics fans think of early 90s artistic excess, I imagine those thoughts often land first on the work of someone like Rob Liefeld, but in my mind, you can get all that & more with Bart Sears' illustration at the time, and I think you see some of Sears' best work in the design of the Extremists.

'The Extremist Vector' is one of my very favorite Justice League multi-part epics - it's got a little bit of everything: awesome villains, high stakes, twists & turns - and provides a much needed signature victory for the young Justice League Europe team.

The nature of the JLE's victory over the Extremists should have made the extra-dimensional 'Outsiders' -- unavailable -- for further adventures - but avail themselves, they would, in issue #3 of Justice League Quarterly (Summer 1991), where in a story plotted by Keith Giffen & illustrated by Mike McKone, we get our best look yet at the planet Angor. Thanks to Walt Disney-doppelganger Mitch Wacky's (with help from JLI's own Mr. Fixit, Kilowog) desire to crack the dimensional (and chronal) barrier into Angor's past in a crusade to prevent the Extremists' origins (and therefore the destruction of his home planet), we see just how closely the New York of Angor was intended to resemble the NYC of the Marvel Universe. True Believer, Angorian New York was THE hub of super-hero activity in that dimension. At a meeting of the Assemblers (here called the Justifiers - blame Crisis), the creative team gets to poke fun at the Avengers, once again, with parodies of Iron Man, Hawkeye, the Wasp & Giant Man. As if this issue were an episode of the Twilight Zone, Mitch Wacky's quest doesn't turn out quite the way he planned, and we get to witness, first hand, the violent births of Lord Havok, Dr. Diehard and their fellow hardcore stars. Mike McKone's super-detailed work (here inked by Bob Smith) is always a treat, and the New York of Angor is an enormous spectacle of super heroic activity (and NOT just because Mitch, Kilowog and the JLI are reduced to the size of insects in this story).

Born in hellfire

Dreamslayer, alone, later returns to face the Justice League in the run-wrapping, everything-but-the-kitchen-sink epic 'Breakdowns' storyline, in which Keith Giffen & JM DeMatteis tie up any & all loose ends from their 5 years on JLI. The lord of the Angorian Dark Arts possesses the body of JL boss Maxwell Lord - and conquers the much famed island of Kooey Kooey Kooey (a much more serious situation than it sounds) and it's up to Silver Sorceress to make the ultimate sacrifice to stop Dreamslayer's machinations - Dreamslayer's 2nd defeat & the death of the Silver Sorceress effectively closes out the original Angor/Assemblers/Extremists saga.

The above mentioned stories: 'The Extremist Vector,' Justice League Quarterly #3 & 'Breakdowns' are what I would consider 'essential' Extremist reading, but unfortunately due to circumstances, are unlikely to find their way into any trade paperback or omnibus collection. Comics are a collaborative medium, however - and the efforts of talented creators like Keith Giffen, JM DeMatteis, Bart Sears, Mike McKone, Darick Robertson & others make these stories worth checking out in single issue format.

The Extremists would improbably turn up again, causing trouble for Supergirl in Peter David's 90s series - I was impressed with David's adherence to previous Extremist continuity; the inclusion of guest star (and former JLE member) Power Girl to help Supergirl/Matrix tackle the temporarily revived conquerors in a handicap match was a nice touch. The Extremists would also be recruited to job for the (Old Teen) Titans in DC's water-treading 2015 event, Convergence. These were both decent enough outings - Leonard Kirk's depiction of the Extremists in Supergirl was fairly on model, but he & Convergence: The Titans' Ron Wagner just weren't able to capture the malevolent majesty of the Extremists the way Bart Sears & his JLE inkers were (Chuck Wojtkiwicz came close in a Justice League storyline I won't be mentioning here).

Leonard Kirk's Extremists were pretty much on model in Peter David's Supergirl

. . . aaand there have been other iterations of the team: Dreamslayer returned with a hodgepodge of Z-list nogoodniks in the latter days of the JLI era - but without the pretty essential gimmick of being tied to top Marvel villains, without the polished chrome and faint whiff of atomic radiation, the New Extremists had none of the charm of the originals & disappeared after a minimal amount of appearances. Even other dimensional versions of the OG team, as seen spinning out of 2007's DC Countdown into their own mini-series Lord Havok & the Extremists (considered hailing from Earth-8, if you keep track of that sort of thing) or in the recent DC Rebirth Justice League of America title lacked the proto-90s savage beauty, wonderful melodrama and down right love-to-hate-themness of the old Angor gang. I DO give writer Steve Orlando credit in those latter JLAs for imparting a 'til now unseen nobility in the characters of Lord Havok & Dreamslayer - and all said these latter interpretations attest to the staying power of the Extremists concept.

Despite their dastardly deeds & vile characterizations, the Extremists have somehow slithered their way into my heart - yet I find it baffling that this team, based on a 45-year old throwaway idea still gets some play in whatever passes today for the DC Universe. While no where near as significant as the similarly 'analogous' Squadron Supreme, I'd argue the Extremists' legacy & relevance have (thus far) outlasted those of the Assemblers/Justifiers/Champions of Angor/Retaliators - and it's unusual to have the heels of a particular concept outstrip the babyfaces that way - but the Extremists are compelling foils & even with only one major grudge match with the Justice League under their straps - while they might not have the drawing power of a Despero or Starro or Injustice League, I'd still put them up there in pantheon of the League's greatest foes (cruiser weight division).

And speaking of vile bands of interdimensional rogues, like the Extremists, there's another such group that it's impossible to keep down - and that's the Super-Bloggers! Please stay tuned for the return of that infamous confederation this summer!

Shanna Showcase 19: X-Men Unlimited #48 (July 2003)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 9 May 2018 05:58:00 -0400

This episode of Shanna Showcase sees Marvel Comics' greatest jungle queen out of the 90s & into the 'Aughts!' So, you 'ought' to check out recap & commentary of Shanna's co-starring role with Wolverine in the lead story of X-Men Unlimited #48 with good looking painted art by Richard Isanove & script by old friend of Shanna & Ka-Zar the Savage alum, Bruce Jones!

Download this episode HERE!

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Also, I'd love to hear from you! Email me at: imthegun@gmail.com, or hit me up on Twitter: @ITGBlogCast

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Music in this episode: 'Love Dance' by Martin Denny

Shanna introduces herself with her own particular brand of 'Sweet Chin Music'

Richard Isanove's expressive faces remind me more than a little bit of Shawn McManus' work

Wolverine cracks the case

'Old?' Well, Shanna has been slapping around punks like Logan since 1972

ITGs ABCs: Enemy Ace v. Balloon Buster in Star Spangled War Stories #s 181-183 (Aug.-Dec. 1974)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 8 Nov 2017 05:20:00 -0500

In this episode of ITGs ABCs, I'll be having a look at a 3-part back-up story from Star-Spangled War Stories #s 181-183 featuring the 1st confrontation between 2 of DC Comics' WWI battle stars, Hans Von Hammer, the Enemy Ace & Steve Savage the Balloon Buster!

I covered the 3 chapters of this serial in blog format HERE, HERE & HERE, but I like to circle back to the inspirations for this project from time to time, so I hope you enjoy the audioblog version &:

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Music in this episode: 'I Ain't Got Weary Yet!' by Arthur Fields

A decidedly Kubert-esque look to Von Hammer, I think, as he pulls down his goggles

Von Hammer, straight as a rod; Savage, a bit more relaxed

Renowned house guest Steve Savage's break w/ decorum - the ultimate insult to someone like Hans Von Hammer

The falling, flaming carcass of a zeppelin becomes the setting of a showdown

Happy Halloween, Dr. Thirteen! Star Spangled Comics #129 (June 1952)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 10:19:00 -0400

Mid-October means it's time for another annual episode of Happy Halloween, Dr. Thirteen! In this installment, I'll be recapping & commenting on one of the Surgeon of Skepticism's original adventures from the tail end of the golden age, 'The Human Orchids,' in issue #129 of Star Spangled Comics!

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Music in this episode: 'Gardenia' by Iggy Pop

The magnificence of the Human Orchid sends Marie to the couch - attended by Doc Will Magnus (?)

Caught unaware by Senor Garitza

The Incredible Hulk - in desperate need of a sandwich

Senor Garitza complies with the Octopus Cactus' request: 'FEED ME!'

Air Fighters: Blackhawk #242 (Oct. 1968)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 10:03:00 -0400

On this episode, I resurrect the Air Fighters feature to recap & comment on one of my favorite Blackhawk stories! Issue #242 was as close as you can come to a reboot for the legendary team of aviator adventurers without actually rebooting. Editor Dick Giordano, writers Bob Haney & Marv Wolfman and artist Pat Boyette blow-up the unsuccessful 'Junk Heap Heroes' era of the Blackhawks, dispose of the atrocious 'hero names' & appalling outfits and bring the Black Knights back to basics!

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Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran

Nazi Negative Man, from the Earth-X Doom patrol?

G.E.O.R.G.E. headquarters (and those ridiculous 'super hero' outfits) - no more!

Zinda, the Hawk Kite, and a gauntlet thrown

Origin of the Winter Soldi-- I mean Black Mask!

Frozen in mid-air as the War Wheel crashes in silence

Where's the Trade? Karl Kesel's Daredevil (1996-1997)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 6 Sep 2017 04:46:00 -0400

On this episode, I rhetorically as the question 'Where's the Trade?' of writer Karl Kesel's run on Daredevil from the mid-90s. In my mind, this run was a 'back to basics' approach to a character who was at the time in desperate need of it. In addition to speaking generally about the run, I'll be recapping & commenting on my favorite issue from this run, Daredevil #360 in which our hero takes on the menace of the Absorbing Man!

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Karl Kesel interview on manwithoutfear.com

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Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran

DD's senses perceive Creel's switch from brick to cold metal

A refreshingly understated revelation tucked at the bottom of the page

Love the way Nord/Ryan's cowl hugs DD's face

Is this an artistic tribute? I sense a Hulk/Thor battle referenced here

Crusher Creel, ancient statue

Shanna Showcase 18: Wolverine: Global Jeopardy (Dec. 1993)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 10:14:00 -0400

An oddball story this time on Shanna Showcase - I'll be recapping & commenting on the Marvel/World Wildlife Fund co-production, Wolverine: Global Jeopardy! Shanna shares panel space in this adventure with Wolverine (of course), Ka-Zar, Namor the Submariner & perhaps a surprise guest stomping through the proceedings!

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Scroll down to see images from these issues, and please be sure to check out previous episodes of I'm the Gun on iTunes & Google Play!

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Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran

Shanna & Ka-Zar eat poachers like this for breakfast

Namor & Co. play a game of 'Spot the Platypus'

The force of nature that is Devil Dinosaur foil the plans of the Conservator

Shanna's logic & tongue-lashing win the day

Awwww . . .

My Favorite Coluan: Showcase '96 #s 11-12 (Nov.-Dec. 1996)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 12:32:00 -0400

My favorite Coluan is by far the Legion of Super-Heroes' Brainiac 5 - and I love reading stories about his adventures in the far future. But if there's anything better than reading about 1 Brainiac, it's reading about 3! In this 2-part story from Showcase '96, Brainiac 5 encounters his most infamous descendants, Superman's great enemy, Brainiac & Vril Dox II, founder of the interstellar peacekeeping organization, L.E.G.I.O.N.

Please join me as I recap and comment on this most important chapter in the adventures of the Legion of Super-Heroes' resident super genius!

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Brainiac 5 - oblivious & nose deep in his smart device

A dandy Captain Comet calls Vril Dox to action

Saturn Girl's telepathy points the way to the biggest brains on the planet

Priceless subversion of the Brainiac legacy - matter over mind

Happy 4th of July! DC Comics Presents: Tomahawk & Thomas Paine?! Tomahawk #70 (Oct. 1960)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Tue, 4 Jul 2017 07:12:00 -0400

On this episode of I'm the Gun, we're celebrating the United States' birthday by taking a look the middle story from Tomahawk #70 - 'The Midnight Ride of Tomahawk,' featuring the meeting of 2 titans from American History & folklore - DC Comics' frontier super-star Tomahawk & founding father and chief cheerleader of the Continental Army, Thomas Paine!

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Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran

Passable portraits of Paine & Gen. Nathaniel Greene, as Paine puts pen to paper

Tomahawk & Paine's mutual admiration society

The Midnight Ride


Paine's writing does its work

Best Event Ever! Eclipso: The Darkness Within #2 (Oct. 1992)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 09:40:00 -0400

The Eclipso: The Darkness Within coverage continues with this look at the DC Comics' event finale! Helping me shed some light on the Darkness Within is Chris Sheehan of the excellent blog, chrisisoninfiniteearths and co-host of the Cosmic Treadmill podcast!

Download this episode HERE!

And please be sure to check out further Eclipso: TDW coverage at these fine sites:

Relatively Geeky Podcast Network

Coffee and Comics Podcast

Resurrections: An Adam Warlock/Thanos Podcast

The Retroist

ChrisIsOnInfiniteEarths

Cosmic Treadmill

For the Non-Discerning Reader

The Pop Culture Palace

Rolled Spine's Diana Prince: Wonder Woman Podcast

DC Bloodlines

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Podcast promo: Pop Culture Palace
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Intro/outro music: 'L'Eclisse Twist' by Mina'

Creepiness in what you don't see; plus, great reaction shots

Eclipso revealed; plus great reaction shots

Disgusting

Awesome double-page spread and bit of contrasting dialogue

A claustrophobic spread of inexplicable Keith Giffen art

Best Event Ever! Eclipso: The Darkness Within - L.E.G.I.O.N. Annual #3 (1992)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 14 Jun 2017 09:41:00 -0400

Last year, a loose collection of brave bloggers & podcasters attempted the impossible and covered bits & pieces of the much-maligned 1993 DC Comics x-over event, Bloodlines! This year, that same group, plus a few new friends, will shine a light on another DC event, Eclipso: The Darkness Within!

Hard to believe, but it's been 25 years since the heroes of the DC Universe faced the Darkness Within, and on this episode, I'll be having a look at one chapter of the event which ran through DC's summer line of 1992 Annuals - L.E.G.I.O.N. '92 Annual #3

Download this episode HERE!

And please be sure to check out further Eclipso: TDW coverage at these fine sites:

Relatively Geeky Podcast Network

Coffee and Comics Podcast

Resurrections: An Adam Warlock/Thanos Podcast

The Retroist

ChrisIsOnInfiniteEarths

Cosmic Treadmill

For the Non-Discerning Reader

The Pop Culture Palace

Rolled Spine's Diana Prince: Wonder Woman Podcast

DC Bloodlines

Scroll down to see a few images from these issues below, and check out previous episodes of I'm the Gun on iTunes & Google Play!

Podcast promo: Best Event Ever: Eclipso the Darkness Within

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Intro/outro music: 'L'Eclisse Twist' by Mina'

Vril Dox, punished for that ridiculous 'private eye' get-up

Mike McKone doesn't skimp on the backgrounds

Eclipso takes a shining to his new body

2 pages of an extended knock down/drag out slugfest

Now, I dialed JLA a long time ago - see how late they're reactin' (apologies to Public Enemy)

ITG's ABCs: Wonder Woman in World's Finest Comics #s 246-247 (Sept.-Nov. 1977)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 31 May 2017 10:10:00 -0400

Just in time for Wonder Woman's blockbuster turn on the silver screen, this episode of ITG's ABCs (which is short for Anthology & Back-up Comics Stories), looks back at a WW Battle Classic from the pages of World's Finest Comics #s 246-247!

Join me as I recap and comment on this story featuring the debut of a sinister villain fated to continually plague DC's wartime heroes & Diana's meeting with a familiar fellow female freedom fighter!

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This episode's promo: Comics with Normies

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Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran

Perhaps the purest Don Heck panel in the story

Churchill, obviously drawn from a photograph makes contact with the 'camera'

Diana's awesome physical feat

Marie's bullets are no match for Diana's bracelets, but WW is easily felled by a rifle butt

Blitzkrieg loses a battle of face lasers & bracelets

ITG's ABCs: Supergirl & Mon-El in Superman Family #189 (June 1978)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 17 May 2017 10:12:00 -0400

On this episode of ITG's ABCs (which is short for Anthology & Back-up Comics Stories), I'll be taking a look at a Supergirl short story from Superman Family #189!

Just in time for the Supergirl Season 2 finale, I'll be recapping this story, in which Kara gets into some legal trouble & receives some unlikely help in the form of Phantom Zone testimony from her once & future comrade in the Legion of Super-Heroes (and TV show co-star), Mon-El!

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This episode's promo: Comics for Courage
(Thank you, Pat & Jarrod!)
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Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran

Surrendered to the Phantom Zone

What IS Snapper Carr up to?

Mon-El's memories to the rescue

Emergence from the PZ & threats

Ms. Tree Theatre: Eclipse Magazine #s 4 - 6 (Jan. - July 1982)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 3 May 2017 10:16:00 -0400

This episode, I'll be finishing up the recap & commentary on 'Eye for an Eye,' the story arc running through Eclipse Magazine that introduced Max Allan Collins' & Terry Beatty's iconic private investigator, Ms. Michael Tree!

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Podcast promo: Batbooks for Beginners

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Intro/outro music: 'Theme From Ms. Tree' by Cruisin'

Michael Tree - meet Mike Tree?!

The awkward pause triggers my inner groan

Odd face-hiding word balloons

Pulling the needle out - like a boss

My Favorite Coluan: Adventures of Superman Annual #2 & L.E.G.I.O.N. '90 Annual #1 (1990)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 19 Apr 2017 10:26:00 -0400

My favorite Coluan is by far the Legion of Super-Heroes' Brainiac 5 - and I love reading stories about his adventures in the far future. But if there's anything better than reading about 1 Brainiac, it's reading about 2! Brainiac 5's infamous descendants, Vril Dox I, better known as one of Superman's greatest enemy, Brainiac & Vril Dox II were central to a 1990 x-over between the Man of Steel and the interstellar peacekeeping organization, L.E.G.I.O.N.

Please join me as I recap and comment on this story featuring two Doxes and lots of 'daddy issues' - as it's not only a great read, but also has some special significance to the super-future teens of the Legion of Super-Heroes!

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Podcast promo: Superman Fan Podcast

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A little family history

Clark Kent & Lar Gand: toe to toe & blow for blow

Superman's Moe Howard finishing move

A rare case of 2 Vril Doxes losing control of their emotions

With friends like these . . .

Supes has time to squeeze in one more lecture

Ms. Tree Theatre: Eclipse Magazine #s 1 - 3 (May-Nov. 1981)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 5 Apr 2017 06:22:00 -0400

I've been thinking hard, lately, about reviving this neglected feature - and now it's time to put thought into action! In this new Ms. Tree Theatre, I'll be recapping & commenting on the 1st 3 installments of the Eclipse Magazine story arc that introduced Max Allan Collins' & Terry Beatty's iconic private investigator, Ms. Michael Tree!

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Podcast promo: Wild Pod: A Wild Dog Podcast

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Intro/outro music: 'Theme From Ms. Tree' by Cruisin'

Prophetic words on a honeymoon

-- and I believe her

First kill

The value of a name: this Mary Worth has no good advice

What secrets are held in the little black book?

ITG's ABCs: Phantom Lady Action Comics Weekly #s 636-641 (Jan. - Mar. 1989)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 06:31:00 -0400

On this episode of ITG's ABCs (which is short for Anthology & Back-up Comics Stories), I'll be taking a look at the 6-part Phantom Lady serial from Action Comics Weekly #s 636-641!

This series introduced a new legacy hero to the DCU, as recent college grad Dee Tyler attempts to fill the singular one-piece of Golden Age great, Sandra Knight! I think Dee showed some potential, and writer Len Strazewski packed this series with ideas that I think could have supported an ongoing series, had the public demanded it. Still, we're left with what I think is one of the more enjoyable Action Comics Weekly features, so please have a listen to my recap!

Download this episode HERE!

Scroll down to see images from these issues, and please be sure to check out previous episodes of I'm the Gun on iTunes & Google Play!

Also, I'd love to hear from you! Email me at: imthegun@gmail.com, or hit me up on Twitter: @imthegun

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This episode's promo: Worst Collection Ever

Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran

Mrs Emma Peel - commencement speaker?

Great expressions, and a nice demonstration of what PL can do

Fight scene that would have Frederic Wertham spinning in his grave

A crowd of Phantom Ladies, plus Hobbes makes the scene

PL swipes Cyclops' headgear

A shocking revelation

Where's the Trade? Angel & the Ape (1968)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 28 Dec 2016 06:28:00 -0500

On this episode of Where's the Trade?, I'll be taking a quick look back at DC's late 60s humor title, Angel & the Ape, and then the Christmas spirit hijacks the show, as I recap the A&A story from Limited Collectors' Editon C-34, Christmas with the Super-Heroes cover dated March 1975!

Download this episode HERE!

Scroll down to see images from these issues, and please be sure to check out previous episodes of I'm the Gun on iTunes & Google Play!

Also, I'd love to hear from you! Email me at: imthegun@gmail.com, or hit me up on Twitter: @imthegun

Thanks for listening, and I wish you the absolute best 2017!
This episode's promo: King Size Comics Giant Size Fun - 12 Days of Christmas

Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran

Someone obviously full of Christmas spirit

A smart caption away from being a New Yorker cartoon

Santa introduces someone on the naughty list to his powerful bowl-full-of-jelly

Doll heist montage

Sam asks a question - and gets an answer

ITG's ABCs: Flash 80-Page Giant #2 (Apr. 1999)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Tue, 13 Dec 2016 11:30:00 -0500

On this episode of ITG's ABCs (which is short for Anthology & Back-up Comics Stories), I'll be taking a look at a little 10-page gem from the collection, The Flash 80-Page Giant #2, cover dated April 1999!

Worlds collide as the final fate of the (Wally West) Flash is seen through the perspective of the 30th century, home time of the Legion of Super-Heroes! I'll be recapping this Tom Peyer/Steve Lightle short story, and also dive a little bit into my own 'Flash-story' talking about my history with the character.

Download this episode HERE!

Scroll down to see images from these issues, and please be sure to check out previous episodes of I'm the Gun on iTunes & Google Play!

Also, I'd love to hear from you! Email me at: imthegun@gmail.com, or hit me up on Twitter: @imthegun

Thanks for listening!

This episode's promo: Comics in the Golden Age

Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran

XS arrives amidst the bickering

Reverse (Kid) Flash costume

Wally Through the Years sculpture

The Mega Rogue

What DO boomerangs do when you throw them?

Shanna Showcase 17: Marvel Fanfare #s 58-59 (Aug.-Oct. 1991)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 06:02:00 -0500

This time out, I'll be finishing up coverage of a 4-part Shanna solo serial, from Marvel Fanfare #s 58-59! In this adventure, writer Steve Gerber attempts to redefine the conflict between the jungle queen's civilized nature and her wild side. To me, this is Shanna's most fascinating aspect - was Gerber successful? Find out and -

Download this episode HERE!

Scroll down to see images from these issues, and please be sure to check out previous episodes of I'm the Gun on iTunes & Google Play!

Also, I'd love to hear from you! Email me at: imthegun@gmail.com, or hit me up on Twitter: @imthegun

This episode's promo: Special message from Superman & Captain Marvel Power Hour!

Thanks for listening!

Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran

Bret Blevins makes a 6-page snake struggle visually interesting

Plotting another murder

As wild as ever

Attacked by loved ones in the 'jungle of the mind'

Shanna reasserts herself

Catching some zzzzzzzs in Ananta's constricting coils

Reboot Review Bonus! Q & A w/ Tom Peyer

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Tue, 22 Nov 2016 09:45:00 -0500

It's Thanksgiving week, and one of the things I'm thankful for recently was the opportunity to have some questions answered via email by former Legion writer, Tom Peyer!

Tom began writing the Legion in 1994 at the dawn of the post-Zero Hour reboot, and was one of the architects of a new future and helped develop a new vision for the 30th century. Please check out the Q & A below, in which Tom talks a little about his time on the Legion.

Also, be sure to check out Tom on Twitter, and his latest work, co-writing (along w/ Mark Waid) the fantastic Captain Kid, published by Aftershock Comics.

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How did you come to write the Legion/Legionnaires? You were working on REBELS at the time, correct? Were you always a Legion fan?

I was a kid in the Silver Age, so I'd read a million Legion stories. But part of me held it against the Legion that their series replaced "Tales of the Bizarro World" in the back of Adventure Comics. That "Bizarro World" was the far superior series should have been obvious to everyone--but people are fools. They refuse to see. Many years later, in writing the Legion, I was finally able to make my peace with them. Bringing me aboard was Mark Waid's idea; it was the start of a writing collaboration that continues to this day with Captain Kid.

Was the idea of a fresh start for the Legion appealing? Any regret not working on versions of the Legion characters you may have read & enjoyed in the past?

Like I said, I was a Silver Age kid. To me, those are the real comics and most of what came after is karaoke. I would have enjoyed calling the Legionnaires by their 60s code names--This Lass and That Lad. The rocket clubhouse, Superboy, Proty--I missed all of it.

There seemed to have been an effort in the previous version of the team (Giffen/Bierbaums) to tie the Legion and its future to 20th century L.E.G.I.O.N. - which seemed to describe a pre-history of the United Planets. Was there any plan while REBELS was still being published to carry on a relationship between the 2 books?

L.E.G.I.O.N./REBELS was my first ongoing series, so I was just pedaling really hard not to embarrass myself. I don't remember any plans to link up with the Legion books. But I was aware of all of the connections and I'm sure that informed the work on some level.

I've heard some criticism that (especially early on in the reboot) the creative teams were just retelling old Legion stories, but with a twist. This, of course, isn't entirely true, but did you, Tom McCraw, Mark Waid & Roger Stern have old Legion stories you wanted to re-interpret & didn't?

Not that I remember. I think we might have gotten it out of our system at some point. My memory is vague, but I want to say we trended more toward original stories in the last couple of years. I could be wrong.

How did the plotting of the 2 series work? For 2 series with 3 writers, the continuity was super-tight!

Everything started with these marathon conference calls, six of us throwing out ideas and beginning the process of shaping them. Roger Stern, Carmela Merlo, Tom McCraw, KC Carlson, Mike McAvennie, me. We all got along very well, which was good, because I don't think we could have pulled it off otherwise. The calls were long and there were the inevitable hellish times when ideas eluded us.

I've always thought the characterization of the team members was improved during this time - older characters were recognizable but there were additional layers present, that hadn't been noticeable before - Violet, Saturn Girl & Brainiac were particularly strong. Was this just a symptom of the times, where deepened characterization was the norm? Or was there a conscious effort by you and your co-writers to flesh out what in times past had been underdeveloped characters?

I think it was the era more than anything. For me, at least. Despite my glib dismissal of everything post-Silver Age, comics writing really came into its own in the 80s. Those Alan Moore Swamp Things in particular showed a glimpse of what could be accomplished if you sought influences outside of comics and put some sweat into the crafting of it. There was no going back. I'm not saying my writing came anywhere near up to that standard. But I was always more interested in drama and comedy than, say, continuity. Or science.

I think Roger would say that it was Stan Lee who really brought character into comics, and he'd be right of course. But I thought the British writers--Moore and Grant Morrison and Jamie Delano and Peter Milligan--took it to a deeper level. Of course I had worked with most of those writers at Vertigo, so I guess it's fair to accuse me of being brainwashed.

You co-wrote my absolute favorite version of Brainiac 5 (reboot Brainy is my favorite Legionnaire, by far). He seemed to have inherited a bit of characterization (a little detached nastiness) from his ancestor, Vril Dox. Was Brainy's new (& improved!) acerbic nature fun to write?

Brainy was my favorite. I'm glad you liked him. I tried to make the same point with nearly every story he played a major role in: that it's good to be smart, but it's not necessarily enough. You need other qualities, too. I don't know if I ever got the idea across, but I believed it and he seemed like the perfect vehicle.

Several brilliant new characters were added during this run (XS, Gates, Monstress, Sensor, etc.) which really helped make this group the most diverse the Legion has ever been. Did you guys have free reign in introducing new characters/species? Any characters that you enjoyed writing more than others?

Gates was the most fun because he was a political extremist and kind of a blowhard about it. He was never actually going to do anything extreme, but he could bend your ear for hours. Such creatures exist in the real world. I might be one of them. At the time Communist countries all over the world were going capitalist, so I thought it was funny that 1,000 years from now this extraterrestrial will still be preaching Marx. I guess that tells you we had a pretty long leash, characterwise.

Did you ever catch any flak for messing with anyone's favorite character?

Only on days that end in "y."

I've read, or heard, some horror stories about previous creative teams and their conflict with some other DC editorial offices - over what could or couldn't be depicted in the future, or what characters could or couldn't be used. Did you ever feel restricted in this way?

Not in any way that became a grudge I still carry. I actually don't remember anyone saying boo to us. It would have been nice to use the Silver Age Superboy, but we knew that would never happen so we didn't even ask. Other than that? It's not like we were burning to use Hex, so, no. People treated us pretty well, unless I've blacked some horrible trauma out.

You got to co-write the year long adventure that 1/2 the Legion had in the 20th century. How was that? Any difficulty in working in or working around the line-wide x-overs of the time (Final Night & Genesis)?

I don't think the crossovers presented much of a problem. Since we had two books, I wanted to set one in the 20th Century because that was how the earliest Legion stories went: they weren't in the 30th, they were from it. I could have written those for a long time but it turned out that I was the only person in the world who wanted that.

You worked with some really great artists on the Legion: Lee Moder, Scot Kolins, Ron Boyd; Jeffrey Moy, WC Carani. Moy seemed like an especially consistent artist to work with - I can't really confirm this, but he may have drawn more issues of Legion(naires) than anyone else, ever. (I guess this is more of a comment than a question).

Were you done telling Legion stories when you left the book? It wasn't a reboot by any means, but there seemed to be a bit of a creative housecleaning when Abnett/Lanning/Coipel came on.

I can only think my work must have gotten pretty stale by the end. Five years is a long time to write a comic book. It was a great experience to work with that group, and to learn to love the Legion.

And finally, I just have to sneak one in about Hourman:
I loved the Hourman series, and hated how the character was 'undone' a few years after your run. Were there any more Hourman stories in the tank when that series ended?

No. Freed from the responsibility of thinking up Hourman stories, I immediately stopped thinking up Hourman stories. We were lucky to get a two-issue warning before they cancelled us, so I was able to nudge the story toward the ending I'd been planning. If we'd been cancelled years later, the story probably would have been the same ending: Hourman leaves to become Amazo's mentor.

ITG's ABCs: Weird Western Tales #48-49 (Oct.-Nov. 1978)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 16 Nov 2016 06:58:00 -0500

On this episode, I'm debuting a new feature called ITG's ABCs (which is short for Anthology & Back-up Comics Stories). On ABCs, I'll be recapping the short tales (typically 8 pages in length) found in titles like World's Finest & Adventure Comics or in the back of comics like Unknown Soldier or (in this case) Weird Western Tales.

I've been looking forward to this feature, as it will allow me to broaden the number of characters and types of stories I'll be able to cover on this podcast. First up, getting the ABCs treatment, is DC's western character Cinammon! This determined firebrand made only 2 lead feature appearances (both covered here) before fading into obscurity at the dawn of the 1980s.

If a wild western adventure is up your alley, and you think 9 pages of story is just too much, I invite you to:

Download this episode HERE!

Scroll down to see images from these issues, and please be sure to check out previous episodes of I'm the Gun on iTunes & Google Play!

Also, I'd love to hear from you! Email me at: imthegun@gmail.com, or hit me up on Twitter: @imthegun

Thanks for listening!

This episode's promo: Death & The Acrid Smell of Gunsmoke

Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran

Cinnamon debuts in the midst of a high stakes game

An awkward dive, even for a dive bar - but I give it a 9.4

Flashback to a murdered parent

Cinnamon embarks on Vendetta, pt. 2

She doesn't need no stinking gun - bringing a throwing star to a knife fight

And BONUS:

Shanna Showcase 16: Marvel Fanfare #s 56-57 (1991)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 2 Nov 2016 09:32:00 -0400

Shanna Showcase is back with a look at the 1st 2 chapters of a Shanna 4-parter 13 years in the making! Dusted off to help wind down the anthology series, Marvel Fanfare, an unearthed Steve Gerber Shanna script (ca. 1978) with completed pencils for only the 1st chapter was given to artist Bret Blevins to finish up - with mixed results.

Join me as I recap the 1st 1/2 of this Shanna solo story, from Marvel Fanfare #s 56-57, providing commentary & context along the way!

Download this episode HERE!

Scroll down to see images from these issues, and please be sure to check out previous episodes of I'm the Gun on iTunes & Google Play!

Also, I'd love to hear from you! Email me at: imthegun@gmail.com, or hit me up on Twitter: @imthegun

Thanks for listening!

Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran

Shanna kicks sand in the face of Dirk Mantooth - right out of central casting

Shanna meets her fellow invitees - Col. Sanders, Barry Allen & The Vigilante

A stupefied Shanna & the grotesque masks of her companions

A fledgling supporting cast?

Brutal murder by Emmy

Looks like she got better . . .

Happy Halloween, Dr. Thirteen! Adventure Comics #428 (Aug. 1973)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 09:13:00 -0400

Another Halloween means another look back at an adventure of the 'physician of phenomenology,' the 'surgeon of skepticism' (my phrases), Dr. Terrence Thirteen! Last year around this time I spoke a bit about the good Dr.'s publishing history, and recapped a couple of his adventures - including his 1st appearance, and his confrontation with the Spectre - this year, I'll be taking a look at one of Dr. Thirteen's solo stories (in the issue of Adventure Comics that debuted Black Orchid) gorgeously illustrated by Tony Dezuniga!

Download this episode HERE!

Scroll down to see images from this issue, and please be sure to check out previous episodes of I'm the Gun on iTunes & Google Play!

Also, I'd love to hear from you! Email me at: imthegun@gmail.com, or hit me up on Twitter: @marksweeneyjr

Thanks for listening!

This episode's promo: The Longbox Crusade

Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran

Frightening death mask

Love the good Dr.'s ensemble

Beautifully drawn 'filler'

The murder weapon revealed

Reboot Review 18: Legion of Super-Heroes #75 & Legionnaires #32 (Dec. 1995)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 5 Oct 2016 09:33:00 -0400

On this episode of Reboot Review, I'll be providing a recap and commentary to the 2 Legion-related issues tying into DC Comics' 1995 line-wide x-over event, Underworld Unleashed!

21 years ago, the villains of the DCU were unleashed (as the name suggests) on the earth - and on the timestream! This event - where heroes took on some unfamiliar foes - provided some interesting match-ups, not the least of which was the Legion facing off against old Atom enemy, Chronos!

In these issues we also see the (near) return of the timelost XS, and the introduction of a couple of important supporting characters. If you're so inclined:

Download this episode HERE!

Scroll down to see images from this issue, and please be sure to check out previous episodes of I'm the Gun on iTunes & Google Play!

Love the Legion? I'd love to hear from you! Email me at: imthegun@gmail.com, or hit me up on Twitter: @marksweeneyjr

Thanks for listening!

Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran, 'Time' by Pink Floyd & 'Time Is On My Side' by The Rolling Stones

XS -plucked from the timestream

Underworld Unleashed - in a nutshell

Simultaneous events, 1000 years apart - not easy to follow, or describe on a podcast

Lori Morning - all growed up

Chroniac 5

Oooh, Saturn Girl - if looks could kill

Happy 75th Wonder Woman: War of the Gods #1 (Sep. 1991)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 09:30:00 -0400

On this episode, I wanted to acknowledge the 75th anniversary of one of comics' most important characters, Wonder Woman! About a year back I recorded a 75th birthday special for Green Lantern (it was very early in my podcasting career, so listen at your own risk), in which I looked back at how GL's 50th anniversary was celebrated.

I wanted to do something similar for Diana, so I'll be having a look back at War of the Gods, which was not only a 50th anniversary celebration, but was also meant to crown George Perez's groundbreaking 5 year run on the character. I don't consider the event to be a success, but it still does hold a special place in my heart.

Download this episode HERE!

Scroll down to see images from this issue, and please be sure to check out previous episodes of I'm the Gun on iTunes & Google Play!

I don't consider myself a Wonder Woman expert, but it you are, or if you have any particular remembrances of War of the Gods, I'd love to hear from you! Email me at: imthegun@gmail.com, or hit me up on Twitter: @marksweeneyjr

Thanks for listening!

Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran

Ah, the promise of a gorgeous house ad

Pariah - portent of a not-so-great series

Circe's talking a lot, but she's not saying anything

Mightiest Mortal v. Princess of Power

Reboot Review 17: Legion of Super-Heroes #74 & Legionnaires #31 (Nov. 1995)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 7 Sep 2016 07:22:00 -0400

This time out, I'll be providing a recap and commentary to parts 2 & 3 of the 3-part x-over between Superboy and the Legion titles, from November, 1995!

Will Valor finally be released from the Stasis Zone? Which old Superboy villain has survived 1000 years only to confront his foe and the Legion on a distant planet? How will Superboy and the Legion fare against the Philosopher's Stone? Believe me, this ain't Hogwarts! To find out the answers to these questions and more, you can:

Download this episode HERE!

Scroll down to see images from this issue, and please be sure to check out previous episodes of I'm the Gun on iTunes & Google Play!

Love the Legion? I'd love to hear from you! Email me at: imthegun@gmail.com, or hit me up on Twitter: @marksweeneyjr

Thanks for listening!

Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran

Eye-stalk guy breaks the story of the 30th Century!

Lee Moder's Spark - heir to Immonen

Scavenger's treasure trove - spot the 20th century relic

Atom Girl - triumphant

1000 years later . . .

Fan-flippin'-tastic!

Air Fighters: Steve Savage, The Balloon Buster - All-American Men of War #112 (Dec. 1965)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 24 Aug 2016 22:34:00 -0400

In this episode, I'll be circling back to one of the main inspirations for this show, Steve Savage the Balloon Buster! Despite the very few appearances made by this obscure DC war hero, some of the top names in comics worked on his feature, and it really produced some top notch genre stories. Check out a recap of the Maverick Ace's very 1st adventure and,

Download this episode HERE!

Please scroll down to see images from this issue, and be sure to check out previous episodes of I'm the Gun on iTunes & Google Play!

If you are a fan of DC war comics - I'd love to hear from you! Email me at: imthegun@gmail.com, or hit me up on Twitter: @marksweeneyjr

Thanks for listening!

Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran

If you're so poor, Pa Savage, why you having young Steve shoot up all your damn money?!

Top notch aerial action, courtesy of Russ Heath

Dead comrades tied to the wings - chilling

Reboot Review 16: Superboy #21 (Nov. 1995)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 07:22:00 -0400

In this episode of Reboot Review, I'll be providing a little recap to the 1st of a 3-part x-over between Superboy and the Legion titles, from November, 1995!

Plus, I'll be providing a very brief character overview of Valor, a central figure to this special x-over, and arguably the 'most important hero in the universe!'

Download this episode HERE!

Scroll down to see images from this issue, plus an Interlac translation key, originally from the issue's letters page. Please be sure to check out previous episodes of I'm the Gun on iTunes & Google Play!

If you are a fan of the Kesel/Grummett Superboy series, Valor, or the Legion - I'd love to hear from you! Email me at: imthegun@gmail.com, or hit me up on Twitter: @marksweeneyjr

Thanks for listening!

Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran

Tom Grummett's ill-fitting uniforms accentuate the youth of the Legionnaires - nice detail

The Legionnaires destroy Superboy's home while speaking Interlac

Superboy manages to tear himself away from hitting on Triad to explain the Valor situation

A humiliated Brainy storms out (of time), taking Superboy & the Legion with him

Interlac key

Where's the Trade? Jonny Quest (1986)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 07:18:00 -0400

This time out, I'm revisiting a feature from when I'm the Gun was strictly a blog called 'Where's the Trade?' There's a ton of great uncollected material out there, for one reason or another, and this feature asks the titular question.

I don't admit to having any answers to this question, this feature is merely just a way to highlight a title or run of issues that I'm particularly excited about - in this case, I'll be talking about the Jonny Quest series, published by Comico back in the mid-80s.

This series had a lot going for it, not the least of which was a great creative team, led by writer William Messner-Loebs, and at least for the title's 1st year, or so, a rotation of artists that reads like a Who's Who of the best illustrators in comics.

Download this episode HERE!

Scroll down to see images from the spotlighted issue (#2), and be sure to check out previous episodes of I'm the Gun on iTunes & Google Play!

If you are a fan of this series from back in the day, or a new-ish convert like myself, I'd love to hear from you! Email me at: imthegun@gmail.com, or hit me up on Twitter: @marksweeneyjr

Thanks for listening!

Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran

A portrait of Judith Quest

If only Race knew what he was in for . . .

This gets me choked up . . .

Race has had it with the airlines . . .

Reboot Review 15: Legion of Super-Heroes #73 & Legionnaires #30 (Oct. 1995)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 08:49:00 -0400

Lightning strikes in this episode of Reboot Review, which recaps Legion of Super-Heroes #73 & Legionnaires #30, spotlighting (ex)Legionnaire, Live Wire! Plus, a subplot involving the reintroduction of a very important & Valor-ous Legion character EXPLODES!

Download this episode HERE!

Scroll down to see some images from these issues, and be sure to check out previous Reboot Reviews on iTunes. Also, I'm the Gun in now available on Google Play!

Interested in talking more Legion? Email me at: imthegun@gmail.com, or hit me up on Twitter: @marksweeneyjr

Thanks for listening!

Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran

A mega-moment for Triad

'Lightning Lord' springs his little bro' from the slammer

Maimed by Mekt

Wonder Twins power activate!

Next stop - the 20th century!

Ms. Tree Theatre - Ms. Tree Special #10 (1992)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 29 Jun 2016 08:30:00 -0400

This time out, I'll be test-driving a new feature called 'Ms. Tree Theatre' which will recap & recall the adventures of hard-boiled private investigator Ms. Michael Tree. Created by mystery writer Max Allan Collins and illustrator Terry Beatty, Ms. Tree had a long running series published by a number of independent comics companies, and finished out her comics career with a run of 10 quarterlies/specials published by DC Comics.

Along with special guest Professor Alan Middleton of the Relatively Geeky Podcast Network, I'll be taking a look at Ms. Tree Special #10, which to date, has been Ms. Tree's last comics appearance.

Download this episode HERE!

This episode is part of a x-over with Relatively Geeky, so be sure to check out, the Quarter Bin Podcast #76, on which I join the Professor to talk about Ms. Tree Special #9.

Scroll down to see a few images from . . . Special #10 below, and check out previous episodes of I'm the Gun on iTunes.

Thanks for listening!

Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran. A short clip of 'Theme From Ms. Tree' by Cruisin' was used during the show closing.

The action proper begins with a murder by a mysterious 'negatively colored' Ms. Tree

An amazing coincidence - nemesis/collaborator Don Donnie Muerta shows up in Vietnam

A shocking revelation

Bloody finale

Technically a success, Ms. Tree's final case was a mess

Reboot Review 14: Legion of Super-Heroes #72 & Legionnaires #29 (Sept. 1995)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 06:17:00 -0400

Reboot Review is back after a few months' hiatus to begin a recap of the 2nd year of the Legion of Super-Heroes! This time out we'll be having a look at Legion of Super-Heroes #72 & Legionnaires #29, which feature a eulogy, of sorts, for victims of the White Triangle war, and the re-introduction of an important character from Legion history!

Download this episode HERE!

Scroll down to take a look at some images from these issues, and be sure to check out previous Reboot Reviews on iTunes!

Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran

A crowd gathers to mourn

Tease for old Legion fans - Brande affectionately refers to Cham as 'Son'

Uncharacteristic Cosmic Boy

Insectoid, slightly feminine redesign for an old Legion foe

Mini x-over with Guy Gardner: Warrior

Injected in the forehead with radioactive liquid gold (ouch!)

Bright as the sun, boy!

Shanna Showcase 15: Spidey Super Stories #35 (Sept. 1978)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 1 Jun 2016 13:10:00 -0400

Shanna Showcase is back with a look at Shanna's team-up with Spider-Man in Spidey Super Stories #35. SSS was a title aimed squarely at younger readers, and the stories in this issue are particularly silly - and in the grand scheme of things, pretty inessential Shanna reading. But I'm a total completist, so if you are, too . . .

Download this episode HERE!

Scroll down to see some images from this issue, and check out previous Showcases on iTunes!

Also, I've inserted a promo this time out, for a great new show Xenozoic Xenophiles, so be sure to check that out!

Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran.

Them what prints the news together, does their banking together

Them what saves a bank together, holds up traffic together

The animals choose - Shanna!

Comedy no-brainer - Spidey in an ape suit

From a story called 'The Godmother' - should have been called 'WTF?!'

2 panels and some Hitchcock humor that justify this story's existence

Air Fighters: Johnny Cloud - All-American Men of War #82 (Dec. 1960)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Tue, 17 May 2016 23:16:00 -0400

This time out, I'll be taking a flight back to the dawn of the Silver Age, and having a look at the debut of one DC's longest running war heroes, Johnny Cloud, the Navajo Ace!

Lt. John Cloud battles Nazi fighters and prejudice from his comrades in this treasure from All-American Men of War #82

Download this episode HERE!

Scroll down to images from this issue, and check out older episodes of I'm the Gun on iTunes.

Thanks for listening!

Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran

The nickname 'Chief' follows Johnny around, as does his spirit brother, his namesake Flying Cloud

Johnny Cloud coming up against a wall of enemy fighters

Lessons are learned - or are they?

Air Fighters: Lady Blackhawk - Blackhawk #133 (Feb. 1959)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 4 May 2016 07:28:00 -0400

In this episode, I'll be taking a look at the inauspicious debut of Birds of Prey's Lady Blackhawk !

Not yet the kickass bombshell ace she'd one day be as written by Gail Simone, in her 1st appearance in Blackhawk #133 from Feb. 1959, the fledgling fighter takes a chance & reaches out to join the Black Knights - and gets shot down in this little (& silly) slice of early Silver Age DC fab!

Download HERE!

Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran.

The 'local mayor' describes the antics of the man in purple, The Scavenger!

It's a regular Jungle Book, as every beast imaginable stampedes toward the Blackhawks

Zinda introduces herself

Not Zinda's finest moment, but I would absolutely freak out in this situation

Zinda ends up saving the day, but still doesn't get to join the team

One of Zinda's few 80's appearances - from Who's Who Update '87

Air Fighters: Valkyrie! (1987)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 12:25:00 -0400

I have been absolutely itchin' to cover another aviator here on I'm the Gun - and a recent Eclipse Comics reading binge has given me just the excuse I needed to talk about Golden Age/80s revial fighter ace, Valkyrie!

In this episode I'll be recapping the 3-issue Valkyrie(!) mini-series from 1987 written by Chuck Dixon and gorgeously illustrated by Paul Gulacy & Willie Blyberg.

Download HERE!

One of the great things about this mini-series was a pin-up section in the back of each issue - below I'll reproduce a handful of those illustrations (by the likes of Brian Bolland, Bruce Jones, Steve Leialoha & more), as well as a couple choice Gulacy pages from the story.

Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran,

The quiet power of Paul Gulacy - Steelfox arrives on the scene

Introducing the new Black Angel

Steelfox derails Valkyrie's escape attempt

Chilling epilogue: Misery claims another pilot

Pinup section! Illustrations by Fred Kida, Steve Leialoha, Brian Bolland, William Stout, Bruce Jones, and Bo Hampton & Tom Yeates.

And final bonus - Valkyrie paper doll by Trina Robbins!

Bloodlines: Best Event Ever pt. 2! - Justice League International Annual #4 (1993)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Fri, 1 Apr 2016 10:00:00 -0400

Back for more? Me too! Continuing the 'acknowledgement' of DC's 1993 Annuals x-over BLOODLINES, in this episode I'll be taking a look at Justice League International Annual #4!

Download HERE!

Check out some images from the issue below, previous I'm the Guns on iTunes, and more coverage of Bloodlines: Best Event Ever at these fine sites:

Between the Pages:
http://betweenthepagesblog.typepad.com/

Coffee & Comics Blog:
http://coffeecomicsreading.blogspot.com

DC Bloodlines Podcast:
http://dcbloodlines.blogspot.com/

Relatively Geeky Network:
http://relativelygeekypodcast.blogspot.com/

Resurrections - An Adam Warlock/Thanos Podcast:
http://resurrectionsadamwarlock.tumblr.com

Feedback is welcome! Please leave a comment below, or email me: imthegun@gmail.com. Thanks for listening!

Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran

Lionheart about to get 'Whack-A-Moled'

2 page gag, 1-upping the scare factor

Good sequence showing what Lionheart can do

Put in the customary Bloodlines attack position

Bloodlines: Best Event Ever! - Lobo Annual #1 (1993)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 22:13:00 -0400

This time out, I'm the Gun is pleased to participate with some other brave bloggers & podcasters in a celebration -erm- ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of DC Comics' landmark(?) 1993 x-over event running through that year's Annuals - Bloodlines!

Not looked back upon with much fondness, among Bloodlines most heinous crimes against comics seems to be the introduction of a rafter of new turkeys cut from the same cloth as many other 'extreme' 90s characters from companies such as Marvel & Image. But was this the worst of Bloodlines' legacy? I wanted to re-visit a couple of chapters in this saga to see if they held up - held up to the level of suckiness I remember - would I be pleasantly surprised?

In this episode I'll be taking a look at the Annual that started it all - Lobo Annual #1!

Download HERE!

Check out some images from the issue below, previous I'm the Guns on iTunes, and more coverage of Bloodlines: Best Event Ever at these fine sites:

Between the Pages:
http://betweenthepagesblog.typepad.com/

Coffee & Comics Blog:
http://coffeecomicsreading.blogspot.com

DC Bloodlines Podcast:
http://dcbloodlines.blogspot.com/

Relatively Geeky Network:
http://relativelygeekypodcast.blogspot.com/

Resurrections - An Adam Warlock/Thanos Podcast:
http://resurrectionsadamwarlock.tumblr.com

Feedback is welcome! Please leave a comment below, or email me: imthegun@gmail.com. Thanks for listening!

Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran

1st contact with the Giger-inspired aliens

Lobo put in his place

Meet the Parasites

Blood bath - just the kind of sci-fi horror Christian Alamy excels at

Layla's found herself some super powers

Hooked by the House Ad: Elongated Man: Europe '92 (Jan.-Apr. 1992)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 03:32:00 -0500

I'm the Gun is back with a new Hooked by the House Ad! In this episode, I'll be taking a look at Elongated Man: Europe '92 a really fun series by the team of Gerard Jones, Mike Parobeck & Ty Templeton!

Spinning out of the JLI titles at the tail end of the Giffen/DeMatteis run, this series provides a kind of bridge between Justice League eras, and I consider it a real early 90s DC gem!

Download this episode HERE!

If you read this series, liked this series or hated it, please let me know! Comments are welcome below, or email me at imthegun@gmail.com. Previous episodes are available here or on iTunes.

Thanks for listening - Arrivederci!

Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Druan

Reboot Review 13: Legionnaires Annual #2 (1995)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Tue, 2 Feb 2016 22:33:00 -0500

Welcome back to the future! In this episode of Reboot Review, I'll be wrapping up coverage of the 1st year of the reboot Legion's adventures! Things really come to a head in this double-sized annual, as the Legion makes a final stand against the hateful White Triangle!

Who will live? Who will die? Who will guess the Legion's secret plan to end the White Triangle's threat?

Download this episode HERE!

Also, check out images from this issue below, and look for older episodes of Reboot Review on iTunes! Feedback is welcome! Please leave a comment below, email me at imthegun@gmail.com, or find me on Twitter!

Thanks for listening, and LOL (Live on Legion)!

Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran

The appearance of this Daxamite, Fethro Jorn, and its similarity to that of Invisible Kid's, annoys me

Reunion & hertbreak

The founders unite for their last stand, while the 4 horsemen gather in the sky

Sign of Valor to come - a phantom in the stargate

Reboot Review 12: Legion of Super-Heroes #71 & Legionnnaires #28 (Aug. 1995)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 15:09:00 -0500

Tragedy strikes the 30th Century in this episode of I'm the Gun's Reboot Review! I continue my recapping of the adventures of the Legion of Super-Heroes, as the team begins taking the fight to the specist group, The White Triangle - but that horribly misguided group takes the violence to the next level, and an entire world pays the price! Plus, the introduction of (possibly) a new team member!

Download this episode HERE!

You can find previous episodes of Reboot Review here on the blog, or on iTunes. Feedback is welcome - leave a comment below, email me at imthegun@gmail.com, or send me a tweet (a link to Twitter should be at the top of the page on the right). Thanks for listening & LOL (Live on Legion)! Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran.

Greetings on Trom

1st meeting of the Espionage Squad

Tragedy on Trom

Double page destruction

Espionage Squad in disguise

VR interrogation

Shanna Showcase 14: Marvel Comics Presents #s 74-77 (Apr.-May 1991)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 12:06:00 -0500

This episode of I'm the Gun finishes up my recap coverage of Shanna's longest adventure to date, the 10 part serial 'The Bush of Ghosts' which ran through the anthology title Marvel Comics Presents.

This time out, I'll be covering chapters 7-10, which finds Shanna in final confrontation with would-be master of African magic, Sir Guy Cross-Wallace. This is a great Shanna story, one of her best, and it's criminal that it hasn't been collected (though that might have disqualified it for I'm the Gun treatment)!

Download HERE! And be sure to check out previous episodes of Shanna Showcase on iTunes.

Praise or pans are welcome! Leave a comment below, or email me at imthegun@gmail.com.

Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran.

Africa crumbles & bleeds

The wedding get-up is a little ridiculous

The most graceful dive I've ever seen depicted in comics

Complementary juju rituals

This odd coloring choice doesn't reproduce very well

Shanna's panther power kicks in

Reboot Review 11: Legion of Super-Heroes #70 & Legionnaires #27 (July 1995)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 6 Jan 2016 10:40:00 -0500

The 1st year of reboot Legion stories hurtles toward an explosive conclusion! The issues covered in this episode of Reboot Review contain a confrontation between super-girl Andromeda & super-genius Brainiac 5! A Legion traitor revealed! Cosmic Boy v. Bureaucratic Red Tape! And the reintroduction of one of the Legion's greatest foes!

Download HERE!

Please check out I'm the Gun on iTunes, and be sure to scroll down on this page to see images from the issues covered this time out. Feedback is welcome - leave a comment below, email me at imthegun@gmail.com, or send me a tweet (a link to Twitter should be at the top of the page on the right).

Thanks for listening & LOL (Live on Legion)!

Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran.

Laurel's nice child drawing - punching out a Durlan; notice the astromech hanging out in the White Triangle settlement

Amateur psychology from Brainiac 5

Those darn drones

Laurel gets a tongue lashing from Roxxas

Fashion flashback in a nice easter egg panel

Shanna Showcase 13: Marvel Comics Presents #s 70-73 (Feb.-Mar. 1991)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 30 Dec 2015 06:00:00 -0500

Some pretty horrific imagery in this episode of Shanna Showcase, courtesy of Gerard Jones & Paul Gulacy. Ants crawling all over faces and barbecued reporter were plot points in chapters 3-6 of a 10-part Shanna The She-Devil serial running through Marvel Comics Presents 25 years ago.

DOWNLOAD my recap of these issues HERE, and please check out previous episodes of I'm the Gun on iTunes.

If you like what you hear (or hate it) leave a comment below or email me at imthegun@gmail.com.

Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran.

Shanna's organic alarm system

Shanna holds her own, Akulia chokes a chicken & Vincent Price makes a call

What turns her on?

My skin crawls just looking at this image

What could possibly go with barbecued reporter? Animal blood, of course

Shanna Showcase 12: Ka-Zar: Guns of the Savage Land (1990) & Marvel Comics Presents #s 68-69 (1991)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 23 Dec 2015 22:30:00 -0500

In this episode of Shanna Showcase, I'll be having a very brief look at the She-Devil's appearance in the graphic novel, Ka-Zar: Guns of the Savage Land. Then, I'll be recapping the 1st two chapters of a Shanna solo serial running through the anthology title, Marvel Comics Presents! This is a really great Shanna story that deserves another look, and I'm happy to oblige!

Download this episode HERE. Also, be sure to check out previous Shanna Showcases on iTunes!

Please feel free to leave feedback in a comment below (and check out some images from the discussed issues there, as well!) or email me at imthegun@gmail.com.

Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran.

A difficult scene to read - Shanna eventually gets through to the big lunk


He's bull-something

You can almost hear the John Williams score

Pair of rhinos gorgeously illustrated by Gulacy & Martin

Another zoo killing - another call to adventure

Sir Guy's juju

Shanna stalks her prey - uncharacteristically, with a gun

Reboot Review 10: Legion of Super-Heroes Annual #6 (1995) & Showcase '95 #6 (June 1995)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 16 Dec 2015 12:09:00 -0500

In this episode of Reboot Review, I'll be taking a look at LSH Annual #6, a kind of stock-taking issue which shines the spotlight on two of the newer Legionnaires, XS & Kinetix, and long-time member, Leviathan.

Also, a couple of short stories are dusted off, from the anthology title, Showcase '95. Have a listen by downloading this episode HERE & take a look at some images from these issues below.

Please check out previous episodes of I'm the Gun on iTunes, and feel free to leave comments on the Legion below. You can also email me at imthegun@gmail.com - I'd love to hear what you have to say about DC's 90's annuals & anthology titles.

Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran.

Is that a Micronaut above Imra's head?

Can Do No Wrong (pt. 1): Stuart Immonen

I think this the big reveal of Jenni's lineage

Keep your mind on the test tubes, Brainy

If I wasn't told any differently, I would have guessed this was drawn by Joe Staton

Can Do No Wrong (pt. 2): Alan Davis

Double page HQ spread

Can Do No Wrong (pt. 3): Colleen Doran

Sheena Showcase: Marvel Comics Super Special #34 (Oct. 1984)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 9 Dec 2015 11:30:00 -0500

This time out, I'd like to take a look at Marvel Comics Super Special #34, which was a comic adaptation of the universally panned movie, Sheena.

While the film probably deserves its horrible reputation, the comic is a fairly entertaining adventure, in great part due to the fantastic creative team - writer Cary Burkett & artist Gray Morrow. I respect both of these talents, and they turn out some pretty decent work, considering the material.

Take a listen to an issue recap, and my thoughts HERE. Please check out previous episodes of I'm the Gun on iTunes, and leave comments on the movie Sheena, or Marvel Comics film adaptations below. You can also email me at imthegun@gmail.com - I'd love to hear what you have to say re: movie bombs, Cary Burkett, Gray Morrow or whatever.

Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran.

Sheena learns to communicate telepathically w/ animals & shoot an accurate arrow in this training montage

The king - shot from behind

Sheena introduces herself . . .

. . . and then says goodbye. Interesting choice by Cary Burkett to change Sheena's last words to Vic from 'I love you' to 'You are my man.'

They're riding a zebra, okay?

Reboot Review 9: Legion of Super-Heroes #69 & Legionnaires #26 (June 1995)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 2 Dec 2015 06:45:00 -0500

Please join me for I'm the Gun's Reboot Review recaps LSH books cover dated June 1995. This time out, the Legion faces one of their toughest foes (not kidding) the Composite Man, plus the return of Leland McCauley's WorkForce!

Download this episode HERE! Also, check out previous Reboot Reviews on iTunes.

Any thoughts on the Legion can be left in the comments to this post, or email me at imthegun@gmail.com

Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran.

Cham as a backpack

Composite Man does his best Margaret Hamilton

Saturn Girl led away to the psych ward

Titanian mind trick

Just what we need a reminder of Booster Gold's awful tin can look

The missing Andromeda turns up

Shanna Showcase 11: Ka-Zar the Savage (1981) & Marvel Comics Presents #13 (Feb. 1989)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 10:32:00 -0500

It's been a while since I've touched on the adventures of Marvel's greatest jungle queen, Shanna the She-Devil - in in real-time publishing she'd gone more than a decade between bona fide solo adventures, but the short story in Marvel Comics Presents #13 is a good one and totally worth the wait!

Before getting to that Bruce Jones joint, I'll acknowledge the series Ka-Zar the Savage which was Shanna's home for a few years. There she enjoyed several adventures with Ka-Zar and everyone's favorite sabre-toothed tiger, Zabu. Most of these stories were written by Bruce Jones, and featured some great art by the likes of Brent Anderson, Ron Frenz & Armando Gil. Ka-Zar the Savage was one of Marvel's Direct Market books, meaning it was sold directly through comics shop or mail order. Direct titles could skirt the Comics Code a bit, and part of their package was a wraparound cover - Ka-Zar had several awesome wraparounds, a couple of which I'll reproduce below.

Download this episode HERE! Also, check out previous Shanna Showcases & other content from I'm the Gun on iTunes.

Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran.

She's not crazy - she's Shanna

Bruce Jones - equally excellent drawings of people & animals

Creative use of a rifle

Cruel sense of humor extracts a confession

Ron Frenz & Armando Gil

Armando Gil

Reboot Review 8: Legion of Super-Heroes #68 & Legionnaires #25 (May 1995)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 12:32:00 -0500

Get your bug spray ready!

In this episode of Reboot Review, I'll be taking a look at Legion of Super-Heroes books dated May 1995. These issues conclude the showdown with Legionnaire-killer, Tangleweb! Plus, the reintroduction of a villain nobody was asking for: The Composite Superman - the man with the Legion of Super-Powers gets a reboot twist!

Download this episode HERE!

Check out panels & pages from the issues below, and be sure to look for previous episodes of Reboot Review on iTunes!

Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran.

Tangleweb - one bad ass bug

Laurel's proud of herself

Monologue time for Saturn Girl

Re-introduction of the Composite (Super)Man

Famous 1st Edition - My First Comic: Super-Villain Classics #1 (May 1983)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 08:49:00 -0500

Do you remember your 1st comic? Mine was Super-Villain Classics #1 published by Marvel Comics featuring the origin of Galactus, Devourer of Worlds!

I didn't realize it at the time, but this one-off issue was cobbled together from pieces of older comics (mostly by Stan Lee & Jack Kirby), and assembled to present a definitive chronology of Galactus' earliest days. This comic didn't make me a huge Galactus fan, though the big guy does claim a special place in my heart. The comic did help inform my collecting tastes & habits even at the young age of 6 years old.

I talk a little bit about this in the latest episode of I'm the Gun, which you can download HERE. I'll also, of course, be recapping the issue, and providing images below.

Shattered thought spheres prove the situation is dire on Taa

I'm really curious about other collectors' 1st comics, and how their collections & tastes have been influenced by them, so please let me know! Leave a comment below or email me at imthegun@gmail.com

Also, please check out previous episodes of I'm the Gun on iTunes.

Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran.

My introduction to 'Kirby Krackle'

The birth of Galactus by Byrne?

The Watcher picks an opportune time to adhere to his 'observe only' mandate

What super-geniuses fire on Galactus?

Galactus - the ultimate outsider artist and his creation, Taa 2

Reboot Review 7: Legion of Super-Heroes #67 & Legionnaires #24 (Apr. 1995)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 4 Nov 2015 10:51:00 -0500

Reboot Review #7 time! This episode I'll be taking a look at Legion of Super-Heroes books dated April 1995! These issues conclude the hunt for Tangleweb, the Legion's 1st repeat villain, and the bug responsible for the Legion's 1st casualty, Kid Quantum! Plus, the xenophobic organization The White Triangle escalates its war on aliens - at the expense of Triad!

Download this episode HERE!

Check out panels & pages from the issues below, and be sure to look for previous episodes of Reboot Review on iTunes!
Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran.

Faced with a planet of Tanglewebs

Triad attacked by the White Triangle

Valor watches over Granny's deathbed

The procedure was a success + Next!

Happy Halloween, Dr. Thirteen!

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 28 Oct 2015 10:56:00 -0400

Cover jam by Leonard Starr & Jim Aparo

Happy Halloween! To celebrate, this episode of I'm the Gun takes a look at DC's Doctor of Debunk, the Physician of Phenomenology, Dr. Thirteen!

We'll start with a brief (very brief) publishing history, followed by a look at the good Doctor's very 1st appearance in Star Spangled Comics #122, from November 1951. Next up is a recap of a 3-part story from Ghosts #s 97-99 (Feb.-Apr. 1981 ) featuring Dr. 13 in confrontation with DC's foremost spirit avenger, The Spectre!

Get your pumpkin buckets ready and download this episode HERE. Check out previous episodes of I'm the Gun on iTunes, and scroll down for some eerie images from these issues below!

Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran.

Like a skeptical Bruce Wayne, Dr. Thirteen sets up shop.

Dr. Thirteen, feet firmly planted on the ground, watches The Spectre execute terrorists

Another execution - The Spectre debunks the Curse of the 13

Thousands of dead in a queue fail to convince Dr. Thirteen

Bonus! Who's Dr. Thirteen?

Shanna Showcase 10: Savage Tales #10 (June 1975) & Rampaging Hulk #9 (Apr. 1978)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 21 Oct 2015 10:06:00 -0400

This time out we're taking a look at two of Marvel Comics' black & white bi-monthly magazines that have Shanna The She-Devil back-up stories! Savage Tales #10's story continues Shanna's search for Raga Shah, the man responsible for killing a few of her closest companions!

Issue #9 of Rampaging Hulk contains the pay-off to Shanna's quest for vengeance, and includes a special portfolio section featuring absolutely stunning pencil sketches of our favorite jungle queen by Tony DeZuniga!

Download this episode HERE & find previous episodes of Shanna Showcase on iTunes. Below, you'll find some of the gorgeous art from these stories - including some from an art team that's no stranger to Shanna, Ross Andru & Vince Colletta and some stunning work by Tony DeZuniga!

Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran.

Shanna, again from the pen & pencil of Ross Andru & Vince Colletta - at her most violent

The Pit & The Pendulum

From the Shanna Portfolio

Shanna plays a dangerous game with her pet python

Bond-busting adrenaline - fighting with the ferocity of a jungle cat

Closure for Shanna - Raga Shah meets a chilling end

Reboot Review 6: Legion of Super-Heroes #66 & Legionnaires #23 (Mar. 1995)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 14 Oct 2015 12:36:00 -0400

It's time for Reboot Review #5! This time out, I'll be taking a look at Legion of Super-Heroes books dated March 1995! These issues conclude the acceptance of 3 new members, and a ladies' night out!

Download this episode HERE!

Lots of scans this time out, so check out panels & pages from the issues below, and be sure to look for previous episodes of Reboot Review on iTunes!

Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran.

A troubling attitude from Andromeda

A Gates sighting

Shrinking Violet's quiet confidence

Kinetix makes an impression of Cham & Leviathan

Brainiac curbs his tongue - for some reason

'Empire' in the background

Flight rings!

One girl down

A little awkwardness between Cos & Saturn Girl

Andromeda spots a white triangle

Violet = Kinetix's Barbie doll?

Shanna Showcase 9: Savage Tales #s 8-9 (1975)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 7 Oct 2015 12:18:00 -0400

This time out we're taking a look at two issues of Savage Tales, a black & white bi-monthly Marvel magazine that starred Ka-Zar, Lord of the Savage Land! Issue #8's lead story features Ka-Zar's 2nd meeting with Shanna the She-Devil!

Issue #9 has the first of a 2-part Shanna solo back-up that, in a way, helps clear the decks for the next chapter in her life.

DOWNLOAD this episode here & find previous episodes of Shanna Showcase on iTunes. Below, you'll find some of the gorgeous art from these stories - Shanna has never looked better!

Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran.

Ka-Zar responds coolly to Shanna's presence

Gone down not exactly as depicted on the cover

Grond explodes from a revved-up capsule

The Tribe's obvious specialties - pretty ladies & jungle kitties

Jakuna Singh meets a grisly end

Jumping through panels & not adverse to killing

Reboot Review 5: LSH #65 & Legionnaires #23 (Feb. 1995)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 30 Sep 2015 12:17:00 -0400

It's time for Reboot Review #5! This time out, I'll be taking a look at Legion of Super-Heroes books dated February 1995! These issues conclude the Legion's adventure on the prison world called Planet Hell!

Download this episode HERE!

Check out panels & pages from the issues below, and be sure to look for previous episodes of Reboot Review on iTunes!

Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran.

Love at first sight?

Surrounded

Ken-dee borr?

Awkward . . .

When in doubt, reverse the polarity

Reboot Review 4: LSH #64 & Legionnaires #21 (Jan. 1995)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 08:42:00 -0400

It's time for another Reboot Review! This time out, I'll be taking a look at Legion of Super-Heroes books dated January 1995! These issues include the (re)introduction of a significant cast member in Ultra Boy, the debut of Leland McCauley's Workforce, and an out of control prison planet called Planet Hell!

Download this episode HERE!

Check out panels & pages from the issues below, and be sure to look for infant episodes of Reboot Review on iTunes!

Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran.

The beginning of an amusing rivalry

Tearing up the neighborhood

-smirk- Darkseid 2

Welcome to Planet Hell

Countdown

Shanna Showcase 8: Daredevil #117 (Jan. 1975) & Spidey Super Stories #14 (Dec. 1975 )

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 16 Sep 2015 06:47:00 -0400

This time out, I'm the Gun takes a look at a couple of oddball single issues, which is a nice change of pace after Shanna's involvement in the multi-part Black Spectre Saga.

1st up, we get some Widow on She-Devil action in Daredevil #117 (Jan. 1975), as in order to save Daredevil's life, the Black Widow is forced to kidnap Shanna. This isn't going to go well for someone, and my money's on villain of the issue, The Owl.

Shanna next appears in Spidey Super Stories #14 (Dec. 1975), teaming up with Spider-Man to take down an animal kidnapper in this story aimed at younger readers.

Download this episode HERE, or take a look at I'm the Gun on iTunes.

Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran.

Shanna v. The Black Widow - in sexy silhouette

Tough, gorgeous and a brilliant actress - Shanna fools the Owl

Dr. O'Hara sheds her lab coat, and leaps over the crowd

Building up Spider-Man's self-esteem, one sarcastic comment at a time

Swinging & kicking her way to victory over The Trapper

Shanna Showcase: Daredevil #s 110-112

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 9 Sep 2015 13:10:00 -0400

Recorded in the depths of the jungles of the Marvel Universe, this episode of Shanna Showcase takes a look at Daredevil #s 110-112, the wrap up to the Black Spectre saga. The roots of this story were first lain out in the last couple issues of Shanna the She-Devil's own short-lived series, and the events of these issues have a dramatic impact on Shanna's present & future.

Download the episode HERE! And check out previous episodes of Shanna Showcase on iTunes.

Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran.

Shanna makes the scene

The leader of Black Spectre or Black Panther movie serial star

An origin only a Marvel character would have

Ganging up on the Silver Samurai

Shanna's turn to flash back

Shanna - slabbed with DD

Things begin to go pear-shaped for Black Spectre

Reboot Review: Legion of Super-Heroes #63 & Legionnaires #20 (Dec. 1994)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 2 Sep 2015 10:14:00 -0400

Reboot Review is back with a look at the Legion of Super-Heroes' 2nd mission from Legion of Super-Heroes #63 & Legionnaires #20, where the super-future teens take on the threat of Mano and his world-destroying touch!

Download HERE!

Please check out previous Reboot Reviews on iTunes!

Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran.

The Legion's 'Brande' new HQ

Live Wire calls Mano's bluff - Triad & Apparition aren't so sure

Cosmic Boy's amazing feat - raising an entire underground corridor

Brainiac 5 - being himself

Invisible Kid & Chameleon - great teamwork

'Shocking' cliffhanger

Giving Good Header

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 08:57:00 -0400

Been on vacation this week (without my comics), so I've put together this 'inventory' post -

Since starting this blog, I've created a few headers to help decorate the variety of content on each (mostly) weekly post. I've used a number of them a couple of times, but they're usually only there for a week - then they're gone. I really miss seeing them, so I thought I'd devote a post to the various headers I've used to this point, knowing the collection may well grow in the future.

The header usually contains a spotlighted comics' hero either holding, or being threatened by a gun. I'm no firearm enthusiast - I consider these images to be a play on the blog's title, which derives from a 'catch phrase' used by obscure DC Comics' war character, Steve Savage the Balloon Buster, who got quite a bit of coverage during the blog's earliest days. In fact, the blog title as featured in each of the headers was taken from Steve Savage's mouth, as shouted in an old issue of All-American Men of War (#114, I think).

The original header - this logo is sort of the default header, and I use a variation of this header as the podcast image for the audio posts featured on the blog. The image was taken from the cover of Steve Savage's 1st appearance, All-American Men of War #112.

The holiday header, taken from Flash #87 depicts Santa's helpers in a jolly ol' mood. I used this to promote the blog the week I wrote about an Enemy Ace story in Christmas with the Super-Heroes #2.

This Black Canary header 1st appeared when I wrote about a great little 2-part BC story by Denny O'Neill & Alex Toth. This image has been my standard 'super-hero' logo when I've pushed out a few other posts.

I think the title gets lost in this Tomahawk header that I've used a couple of times. Feels like I'm due to use this one again, but if I do, I'll be changing the color of the logo.

The Legion header has been used on the few Legion of Super-Heroes posts I've done, and I currently use it on the weeks that I push out a Reboot Review podcast episode. This podcast is following the adventures of the reboot Legion of Super-Heroes, a re-imagined version of the team that was on the comics racks from 1994-2004.

And finally, the Shanna logo (the only one featuring a character from the Marvelous competition) is used every time I push out an episode of Shanna Showcase, on which I talk about each of Shanna the She-Devil's most significant solo appearances (there may only occasionally be a sighting of that oaf, Ka-Zar).

Shanna Showcase: Daredevil #109 & Marvel Two-In-One #3 (May 1974)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 12:17:00 -0400

Shanna Showcase returns with a look at Daredevil #109 & Marvel Two-In-One #3, which kicks off a new set of adventures for Shanna the She-Devil!

Learn the fate of Shanna's missing father! Hiss at super-baddies The Beetle, Nekra and The Black Spectre Organization! Witness the worst 1st date in the history of 1st dates!

Dowload the episode HERE!

Be sure to check out previous episodes of I'm the Gun on iTunes!

Nice 2-page spread detailing DD's costume & billy club

Uncle Robert can't hold onto his cigar as Shanna enters

The 'play' that must be seen to be believed - Matt & Candace experience the worst 1st date in the history of 1st dates

Them created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran.

Reboot Review: Legion of Super-Heroes #62 & Legionnaires #19 (Nov. 1994)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 19:51:00 -0400

I'm the Gun's Reboot Review is back with a look at Legion of Super-Heroes #62 and Legionnaires #19. These issues include the Legion's very 1st mission, its very 1st casualty, and a little spotlight on brand new character, XS!

Download this episode HERE!

Check out a few pages from these issues below, and be sure to check out I'm the Gun on iTunes for future episodes of the podcast!

Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran

Triad gives out her digits, while Triad looks on, horrified

Tangleweb - he creeps me out

RIP Kid Quantum, we hardly knew ya - you wouldn't have seen a scene like this back then at Riverdale High

XS - finds her courage and recommits to the Legion

Mano - an unsuccessful suicide

Reboot Review: Legion of Super-Heroes & Legionnaires #0 (Oct. 1994)

mark.sweeney.jr@gmail.com (Mark Sweeney) — Wed, 5 Aug 2015 06:39:00 -0400

The dawn of a new future - and a new feature on I'm the Gun! Join me as I embark on an occasional issue by issue recap of the Legion of Super-Heroes beginning with the #0 issues from October 1994, which follow the adventures of a retooled, rebooted team of young people fighting the good fight for peace and unity in the far future!

Download the first episode HERE!

Click HERE to see images from Legion of Super-Heroes #0, which I wrote about a few months ago, and scroll down to see a few choice images from Legionnaires #0.

Check out future episodes of Reboot Review on iTunes, along with episodes of my companion podcast, Shanna Showcase.

Caught in the seedy part of Metropolis - notice the trash & 3 boobed women on the shop sign

A triumphant 5-piece

1st appearance of Jenni Ognats - XS!

Draft notice goes un-noticed by Brainiac 5

Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran