Into the Bronze Age

[BentonGrey]

D'oh!

[BentonGrey]

Mondays stink, but they can be better with some Bronze Age comics!  Here is another Into the Bronze Age post, the end of January 1971, and we end on an interesting note. 
https://bentongrey.wordpress.com/2017/03/06/into-the-bronze-age-january-1971-part-4/

[spydermann93]

More great reviews, Benton! Such delightfully silly stories. Incredibly delightful stories, if i do say so myself

Spoiler

Honestly, I could see Darkseid ordering the command to clone one of Superman's friends. Why not destroy somebody you hate with the things that they love?

[BentonGrey]

Thanks Spyder!  I'm really glad y'all are enjoying these. 

Right, but:

Spoiler

Hulk-Jimmy is only a Jimmy because he was stolen from the DNA Project.  For some reason, regular old, presumably non-evil/non-insane humans decided that Jimmy Olsen would make the perfect soldier/servitor instead of...ohh, I don't know, Sgt. Rock or somebody, or heck, even the Guardian!

[spydermann93]

Spoiler

Hulk-Jimmy is only a Jimmy because he was stolen from the DNA Project.  For some reason, regular old, presumably non-evil/non-insane humans decided that Jimmy Olsen would make the perfect soldier/servitor instead of...ohh, I don't know, Sgt. Rock or somebody, or heck, even the Guardian!

Spoiler

Very true! Maybe they chose him for his... um... ability to be anywhere plot is happening ?

[daglob]

I read this thing originally, and things were going so fast that it made perfect sense that it be

Spoiler

Jimmy, I remembered this sequence, and even did a skin for him

.

And the mystery man who showed up at the end of the Superman story was interesting, too. I believe Spade refers to this a a reboot, but it's more a development within the series. Sadly, it lasted little longer than the mystery of who (or what) the mystery man was.

Spoiler

I've always wondered if Qward was involved. I know it says Quarmm, but...

[BentonGrey]

DG, yeah, Kirby's pacing is pretty breathless, which makes that easy to do, but even the first time reading it, I just knew there had to be more to the Project than meet the eye.  I was surprised when there really, really wasn't.

Yeah, it's not a reboot so much as a rennovation, the same type of thing happening all over DC comics at that time.

Spoiler

Quarmm?  I don't follow.

Well gents, here's to February 1971!  Check out my post on the first few books here:
https://bentongrey.wordpress.com/2017/03/08/into-the-bronze-age-february-1971-part-1/

[BentonGrey]

And here is the next one, featuring some Aquaman and Batman adventures:
https://bentongrey.wordpress.com/2017/03/11/into-the-bronze-age-february-1971-part-2/

[BentonGrey]

And another one!  I might just get to March before this March is over.
https://bentongrey.wordpress.com/2017/03/14/into-the-bronze-age-february-1971-part-3/
In this addition, the Kanigher mystery deepens!  Batgirl goes to Spain!  And Batman goes...mad?  Also, I get to talk about ring structures in comics!

[daglob]

Hmm... Eric Frank Russel wrote an excellent tale set in a post apocalyptic earth, "Call Him Devil". I doubt the name in the Flash story is a coincidence, but really, there is no resemblance.

[BentonGrey]

Interesting DG!  I hadn't heard of him and would never have made that connection.  Thanks! 

Hey guys, I've got a question for those of y'all who are reading my feature.  Apparently this month includes the JLA half of the unofficial JLA/Avengers crossover.  It's not the most amazing story ever, but the fact that this happened in the first place is pretty neat.  Would there be any interest in me covering both this issue and the concurrent Avengers issue featuring the Squadron Supreme as a special feature?

[HarryTrotter]

Why not?It is a crossover.

[daglob]

Yes, of course. (Hey, is it just me and Spade reading these?)

[spydermann93]

In the wise, immortal words of Emperor Palpatine: "Do it."

@DG (no )

[BentonGrey]

Well my friends, ask and ye shall receive!
https://bentongrey.wordpress.com/2017/03/16/into-the-bronze-age-february-1971-part-4/

[HarryTrotter]

Champions,or at least some of them,were later in JLI,Countdown,Multiversity;and probably other stuff I cant remember.
Extremists,the group based on Marvel villains,is probably more famous.In fact,they are in the current JLA story.Which I will get to in the near future.
And mind the hand,Hal.

[daglob]

And, for those who are curious, Kenn X did The Champions and you can find therm at Alex's Freedom Fortress...

[BentonGrey]

That's right Spade, some of the Champions actually became members of JLI, but I didn't know about the other appearances.

I was vaguely aware of the Extremists, but I hadn't realized that they were the same kind of thing, neat!

Cool, DG, thanks for adding that!

I forgot to talk about the reference inherent in the title of the second Avengers story, so I added a note to the end of that one's commentary.  It's actually a surprisingly insightful reference.

[HarryTrotter]

Yes,I see you mentioned that now.
There was also a similar homage in Jeph Loebs Superman/Batman.Maximums,a reference to the Ultimates.That ended up being ironic.

[Epimethee]

(Hey, is it just me and Spade reading these?)

It depends. Do I actually exist?

[Deaths Jester]

I doubt it seeing as I don't seem to exist either. Course I don't comment cause I have never understood DC anyways. I mean, all these Mans and Womans and Greens...it's like a Jolly Green Sexually Labeled Giant Convention. :-P

[BentonGrey]

Haha, I'm more popular than I thought. :

DJ, that is one heck of a tagline.  I think DC should consult you for their marketing. 

[Deaths Jester]

They need it from the little I've seen. At least Bronze Age Marvel made some sense and didn't turn murderers into just lightweight buffoons (I'm looking at all you Bat villians esp Joker) with no reason. Though the current Marvel could use my help. Both of the companies are Massive Messes in the Mainstream Comics Multiverse!

[BentonGrey]

They need it from the little I've seen. At least Bronze Age Marvel made some sense and didn't turn murderers into just lightweight buffoons (I'm looking at all you Bat villians esp Joker) with no reason. Though the current Marvel could use my help. Both of the companies are Massive Messes in the Mainstream Comics Multiverse!

Haha, ain't that the truth!  Well, before too long, you're going to see the DC villains kicked up a notch.  The League of Assassins is already on the scene, and the Joker is due to make an excellent return in just two years with the famous story, "The Joker's Five Way Revenge."  We're beginning to shake off the Silver Age. 

[BentonGrey]

And here is another chapter in my Bronze Age coverage:
https://bentongrey.wordpress.com/2017/03/27/into-the-bronze-age-february-1971-part-5/

[daglob]

Phantom Stranger made more senses the first time I read it.

Spoiler

I'm guessing that Conway was thinking about Eric Von Daniken, and his suggestion that all the Gods who play in the mythological dramas in all legends from all lands were from outer space (and I'm paraphrasing Donovan). Chariots of the Gods? came out in 1968, Gods from Outer Space was published in 1970, and Gold of the Gods came out in 1972 (not sure what month, maybe Conway had read an announcement. I wonder where my copies are? With my Immaneul Velikovsky and Charles Fort books, maybe.)  Now, if The Stranger had discovered some Great Old Ones were behind it...

[BentonGrey]

Interesting theory, DG!  That could be, but Conway didn't connect the dots enough to really make that work.  I would have been okay with it if he had gone that direction, though aliens wouldn't have been as fitting antagonists for the Stranger as mythic beings.  Nonetheless, the story that we have doesn't make those connections.  I didn't realize those books were published so close to this date.  That's really fascinating.  I bet we'll see some stories that take more direct advantage of those theories.

Also, I love that Donovan song. 

[daglob]

I figured if you had ever heard it you would like it.

[BentonGrey]

Just maybe  :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AUEjzVQwKo

[BentonGrey]

Alright gents, here is another post:
https://bentongrey.wordpress.com/2017/04/02/into-the-bronze-age-february-1971-part-6/