1980's Flashback: The Blue Beetle

DC acquired the Charlton Action Heroes in the mid-1980s, and used their Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover event to integrate them all into the DC Universe. The Blue Beetle who had originally been created by Steve Ditko first appeared as a back-up feature in Captain Atom #83 (Nov. 1966), but the character also had his own series, written by Len Wein, which ran for 24 issues from June 1986 to May 1988. A story in Secret Origins #2, explained the origins and careers of both Ted Kord and Dan Garrett (the golden age version) as the Blue Beetle in the post-Crisis continuity.

Ted Kord was an industrialist and owner of Kord Industries; after his mentor Garrett died in battle, Kord continued his heroic legacy as the Blue Beetle, but without Garrett's powerful scarab, relying instead on his scientific know how to wage war on crime. Kord's signature equipment was his bug-shaped personal aircraft, which he entered and exited typically with a cable suspended from the cockpit. He also eschewed personal weaponry, except for a pistol that made a blinding flash of light and a strong air blast to gain the advantage when he closed in for hand-to-hand combat.

Although his solo series was fairly short-lived, the Blue Beetle probably became best known as a wisecracking member of Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis's lighthearted, five-year run on Justice League International, where he was memorably partnered with fellow hero Booster Gold, and the two quickly became best friends. Among fans, they were known collectively as the "Blue and Gold" team.

Artwork? Wherefore art thou, artwork?

I am really good and pissed off right now, and I figured that I might get at least a little sympathy from folks lurking around the Catacombs.

The really nice page of comic book artwork (above; top) that accompanies this rant is by Paul Pelletier and Rick Magyar. It's page #17 from issue #74 of the Marvel Comics series, Exiles. I bought this piece of original art from an Atlanta, GA, dealer last week and it was handily delivered to my local postal address yesterday.

So, why am I pissed?

Well, it seems that the geniuses at my post office branch forwarded it elsewhere, namely the state capital of South Carolina. Don't ask me why they did this. The package had my actual address correctly marked, and I received emailed tracking info that not only had it shipped, but also that it had safely arrived at the intended destination. The only thing that didn't happen, was I didn't receive it. Columbia got it!

I did recently open a new post office box, but I fail to understand why I was hazed by Uncle Sam's mail carriers. I don't recall having ever done anything to them. I keep my dog on a leash. I haven't mailed anyone dusting's of white powder. Yet, here I am without my artwork, and being forced into playing a waiting game to see if it rebounds back to the local branch from Columbia or if it makes its merry way back to Atlanta.

Profanity doesn't help much either. I hurled every expletive known to man at the cluster of semi-chastened souls who couldn't produce my package. They barely budged, and one withered hag at the back even chuckled at my outburst!

The one thing that helps ease the pain is that the dealer himself is quite personable and completely aware of the problem. Thankfully, he gets tracking info also. He just doesn't have to interact with the [insert your own denigration] at my post office.

And they wonder why the U.S. Postal Service has a problem competing against UPS and/or FedEx.

"Gal" Friday! Jasmine Sinclair (Part I)

A new friend, Rick Brown, emailed me last week and suggested this weeks pick, so kudos to him for pointing me in what proved to be the right direction. Jasmine Sinclair is a glamor and bondage model based out of Kent, England. She has been featured over there in such publications as The Sun, News of the World, The Daily Sport, Playboy, Toni and Guy, Loaded, Nuts, Zoo, REVS and Maxpower magazines.

Jasmine has won the Signy Award for Best Bondage Model in 2003 and the silver medal (2nd place) in the "Best Bondage Model" category at the 2008 Bondage Awards. She later regained the title of "Best Bondage Model" after a six year wait, by winning the Gold Medal at the 2009 Bondage Awards.

According to Wikipedia, in 2006, she accused former EastEnders actor, Dean Gaffney, of groping her at her 24th birthday party. While I must denounce the cad for taking such liberties, I understand how powerful the temptation must have been for the schmuck. Gentlemen, please take my advice, go surf the web for her plentiful photos and just see for yourselves.

Since I'm currently single and on a blondquest (but have usually preferred brunettes) I love the fact that despite being a blond, Jasmine has also posed for pictures as a brunette. It's like having your cake and eating it too. Be warned that once you come across her bondage stills, you will need to have a cold shower on standby. Seriously!

For those of you who paid attention to the notice in the title, Jasmine will be back in the near future (as my first repeat "Gal" Friday). There are simply too many great photos of her to run in a single post. In fact Rick actually contacted her for me and she forwarded a cool half dozen images to pick from for her profile today. She is a real sweetheart that way, and I have to really envy our British cousins for being much closer in proximity to her than we are.

Enjoy!

Judy of the Jungle in "The Treasure of Lobengula" (Better/Nedor; 1948)

Judy of the Jungle returns in today's neat golden age post from Exiting Comics #60, originally published by the company of many names, Better/Standard/Nedor/Pines in March 1948. "The Treasure of Lobengula" was drawn by the great Ralph Mayo, and I'm also including a couple of bonuses today including the classic cover by Alex Schomburg and a two page text feature, "The Magic Voice", from the same issue that is credited to 'Charles Sturdy'.

The Catacombs is grateful to Don "Zu-Gogo" Falkos for providing the scans for this story. Note: The copyright for this issue, its contents and artwork belong to the original publisher and/or creators and is reproduced here solely for entertainment purposes.

Enjoy!

On the Tube: The Human Target

The new Fox TV series The Human Target, follows the life of Christopher Chance (Mark Valley), a unique private contractor, bodyguard and security expert hired to protect his clients by completely integrating himself into their lives, to literally become a human target. Chance is accompanied by his business partner Winston (Chi McBride) and hired gun Guerrero (Jackie Earle Haley). He puts himself on the line to find the truth behind each mission. Even his own business partner Winston doesn't know what drives him towards this dangerous life – becoming the human target. One sequence, featuring a confined-spaces fight onboard a high-speed train is extremely well-done and would have been right at home in a big budget Hollywood blockbuster.

Of course the original DC Comics version of The Human Target (created by writer Len Wein and artist Carmine Infantino) premiered in the pages of Action Comics #419, back in December 1972 and then later posted runs in The Brave and the Bold and Detective Comics. DC's Christopher Chance operated solely by "impersonating" his clients in order to eliminate threats to their safety, so this FOX television series spins their new version into a glorified bodyguard, rather than an individual who disappears into each respective role.

Valley was a fine choice to portray Christopher Chance, having that tough guy swagger down pat, plus he doesn't suffer from the usual pretty boy syndrome that often plagues action stars targeted for younger viewers. Valley would have fit right into this type of thing in decades past, in fact he would have been a better choice to succeed Robert Conrad as James West in the big-screen remake of 'The Wild, Wild West' a few years ago. Will Smith was badly miscast in that turkey of a film, but I thought that Smith would have been a remarkable Artemus Gordon (but that role went to the equally miscast Kevin Kline). Needless to say Mark Valley is a terrific man's man kind of performer, and Jackie Earle Haley, fresh off of his bravura performance in 'Watchmen' (as Rorschach) brings an equal level of gravitas to his supporting role of Guerrero, with quite a bit of mysterious back story elements suggested to keep his character interesting. Chi McBride is too much of a one-note actor for my tastes and I would prefer that they write off his role of Winston as a waste of time and thank god that they didn't feel the need to add an ongoing love interest for Chance.

It was really cool to have the luscious & talented Tricia Helfer from Battlestar: Galactica guest star as the series first client to contract the Human Target, but I must admit that the cameo by actor Danny Glover at the end seemed tacked on for no real purpose. Hopefully, The Human Target will have the chops to make an ongoing series, but for now I recommend it.

Jan of the Jungle (Fiction House; 1948)

Today's golden age classic jungle tale comes from Rangers Comics #43 (Oct. 1948), originally published by Fiction House. Jan of the Jungle (which sounds the same but is spelled differently from the 1950's Atlas Comics jungle heroine), was probably based on the character created by author and literary agent, Otis Adelbert Kline. It has been postulated that Kline may have been involved in a feud with Edgar Rice Burroughs (the creator of Tarzan) , since the two writers completed eerily similar works of pulp fiction. Whether true or not, Kline retired from writing in the mid-1930's to focus on his literary agent career; for instance he represented Robert E. Howard, the creator of Conan the Barbarian, until that authors untimely death in 1936, and his estate for many more years.

Jan of the Jungle was a white boy growing up in the jungle, albeit very different in plot from Burroughs own Tarzan series. Kline's first Jan novel, Call of the Savage, dipped into mad scientist territory in crafting Jan's origin. According to the Grand Comic Database, this issues script is credited to "Pandit Jinnah (?)" , but it has some very good artwork by Enrico Bagnoli. The cover for this issue is included at no extra charge. Now, that's service! The Catacombs is grateful to Don "Zu-Gogo" Falkos for providing the scans for this story. Note: The copyright for this issue, its contents and artwork belong to the original publisher and/or creators and is reproduced here solely for entertainment purposes.

Enjoy!

From the Dust Bin: The Questor Tapes (TV)

The Questor Tapes was one of a series of television movies created by Gene Roddenberry during the 1970's, including Genesis II, Planet Earth, Strange New World, and Spectre, all of which were intended as pilots for prospective TV series. Near the end of 2009, I took a look back at each of these classic sci-fi pilots and today's post finishes up the set (I'm still looking for a copy of Spectre).

Project Questor was the brainchild of the missing genius Dr. Emil Vaslovik. He had developed plans to build a superhuman android, putting together a team of the world's foremost experts to build it, even though individually they did not understand the components that they were working with — they were only able to follow the instructions and install parts left by Vaslovik, who had disappeared. Attempts to decode the programming tape were unsuccessful and approximately half of the tape was erased. They decided to substitute their own programming, over the objections of Jerry Robinson (played by Mike Farrell), the only team member who had actually worked with the mysterious inventor. Unfortunately, he was overruled by the head of the project, Geoffrey Darro (played by John Vernon).

When their efforts fail, Robinson persuades Darro to allow what remains of Vaslovik's tape to be loaded, however there is seemingly no response. Once left alone, the android (played by Robert Foxworth) comes to life and it adds various cosmetic touches to its previously featureless outer skin, then leaves the lab. The android forces Robinson to accompany him in a search for Vaslovik, but the two are pursued by Darro, following a tiny scrap of the original programming. Questor (who becomes more "human" as the story progresses) only knows that if he does not find Vaslovik before the end of a countdown, his nuclear-fusion core will overload and explode. Vaslovik programmed this to prevent his creation from being misused, and time is running out.

Robinson and "Questor" develop a friendship during a series of adventures that finally transport the pair to Mount Ararat, where with seconds to spare, Questor's timer is made safe, and he discovers Vaslovik (guest star, Lew Ayres), who tells Questor and Robinson that he too is an android; the last of a series, going back to "the dawn of this world," left there by "Masters" to serve and protect Mankind. Each had a lifespan of several hundred years, before subsequently assembling his own replacement, but Vaslovik had been damaged by the unexpected, rapid advent of nuclear physics and its fruits. Questor's design corrected these failures, and finally Vaslovik is able to die in peace, after asking Robinson to help Questor learn about humanity.

Darro, having followed the pair, has heard enough to know how important it is that Questor be allowed to fulfill his mission. Unfortunately, he has brought the military with him, to destroy the android. The cynical Darro believes that this is proof that humanity does not deserve Questor's help, however he leaves, telling the military commander that the android has escaped, and to send in jet fighters to eliminate the threat. Darro then takes off in the jet that Questor and Robinson had used, turning on a transmitter so that they will think that the android is aboard. The plane is destroyed, leaving Questor and Robinson to begin their mission together.

The Questor Tapes had a 13-episode series pre-approved before the movie was even aired in 1974, with Robert Foxworth and Mike Farrell reprising their original roles. The green-lighted series was intended for Friday nights at 10 pm on NBC — the notorious "death slot" where the final season of the original Star Trek had withered. Ultimately a conflict between Roddenberry and Universal/NBC over the content of the proposed series doomed it, most notably ignoring the key revelation at the end of the TV movie and eliminating the character of Jerry Robinson. These changes proved too much for Roddenberry, who abandoned the project and no additional episodes were ever produced. The Questor android is widely acknowledged to be the inspiration for Roddenberry's Star Trek: The Next Generation character, Data.

[Thanks again to Catacombs follower, Jim Shelley, for providing this film on AVI disk.]

1980's Flashback: Ms. Tree

Noted mystery author Max Allan Collins and artist Terry Beatty first introduced Ms. Tree to readers of Eclipse Magazine beginning in 1981, although the character also appeared in publications from Eclipse Comics, Aardvark-Vanaheim, Renegade Press, First Comics and DC Comics, through 1992.

Michael Tree was a private detective who took over her husband's investigation business after he was murdered, and in her first case, she captured the murderer and discovered his link to the Muerta organized crime family. Ms. Tree's dead husband was also named Michael, the joke being that after the marriage they each had the same name. Series creator/writer Max Allan Collins makes no secret of the fact that Ms. Tree was inspired by Velda, Mike Hammer's secretary, a stacked, gun carrying, six-foot tall brunette and Mike's lover, who was almost as tough as he was.

In addition to isolated cases, throughout the series, Ms. Tree's vendetta against the Muerta family was a major plot thread. Her methods often included deadly violence which she used with little hesitation. In contrast to typical genre conventions, she often faced serious consequences for these violent actions including arrest, imprisonment, commitment to a mental hospital, and involuntary medication.

In another genre divergence, the male Michael Tree's son, Mike (of course), inadvertently fell in love with the daughter of the Muerta Family matron. The female Michael disapproved of this arrangement but respected her stepson's decision. To her shock, when their relationship grew enough to make marriage probable, the Muerta family decided that Mike's stepmother was now family and initiated a reconciliation with her while going legit.

Michael was later impregnated by an old flame who was manipulating her to kill his wife. She decided to keep the baby, creating a unique series of adventures with her fighting off criminals even as she dealt with a full term pregnancy, while the mob family she hated moved to protect her in their own unique manner.

The Ms. Tree series frequently dealt with controversial political and sexual issues such as homophobia, abortion and bombing of abortion clinics, devil worship, child pornography, date rape and incest. One of the series' conceits, often alluded to in the narrative but never acknowledged explicitly in the comic books, was that Ms. Tree was the daughter of Dragnet protagonist Joe Friday. In Collins 2007 prose novel, 'Deadly Beloved' (the character's first appearance in 14 years), fans finally saw Michael Tree, pre-marriage, referred to as "Miss Friday".

Retro-View: The Champions #2 (Marvel Comics)

Today we take a leap back to January 1976 for the 2nd issue of Marvel Comics title, The Champions. That series featured former Avengers, Hercules & The Black Widow, along with two original X-Men, The Angel & Iceman, plus supernatural hero, The Ghost Rider as a start-up team of superheroes. [Here's a bit of trivia for you: creator Tony Isabella originally pitched this idea as a trio comprised of Angel, Iceman and new hero, Black Goliath, but the editorial powers nixed that idea.]

Isabella wrote "Whom The Gods Would Join..", and the artwork was by established penciller Don Heck, with John Tartaglione's inks. Hercules and his new companions (along with the goddess, Venus) have just defeated some weird creatures from beyond time, when they are suddenly confronted by Olympian gods Ares, Pluto and Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons. This trio demands that Hercules wed Hippolyta and that Venus likewise weds Ares. Hercules balks at this suggestion and begins to pound the pompous Ares into the ground, only to have his strength fade at Pluto's touch. Before his friends can leap to his aide, the Black Widow outlines a plan to save him. While Angel, Iceman and Ghost Rider distract Pluto, the Widow and Venus drag Herc to safety. Thus stymied, the gods transport themselves to Olympus, where Zeus immediately tells them where to get off, but crafty Pluto reminds the lord of Olympus that their tenuous treaty mandates both Herc's and Venus submission. Zeus grudgingly capitulates and the Huntsman is dispatched to secure the pair. He was last seen in Sub-Mariner #29.

Now the Huntsman isn't particularly impressive physically, he is a bit on the skinny side, but he does wield a fraction of Zeus own matchless energy, which is now combined with the flaming weapons of Pluto and brought to bear on the gathered Champions members. A single bolt of eldritch fire knocks Hercules and Venus into paralytic unconsciousness, and that leaves Angel, Iceman, Black Widow and Ghost Rider to tackle the Huntsman, but wait; it seems that this guy has some powerful back-up in the towering form of Menoetius, a Titan of Myth whose flesh has been transformed into living energy. I hate it when that happens!

After a neat sequence details the Champions efforts to prevail against this dire duo, the Widow manages to snare the Huntsman, Menoetius and a nearby utility pole in her web line which handily conducts all of the melting ice that's conveniently present due to Bobby "Iceman" Drake, and the two villains are temporarily zapped.

Unfortunately, while this has played out Pluto, Ares and Hippolyta have returned and gotten the drop on Ghost Rider, who was tasked with guarding Herc and Venus. Ghost Rider swiftly blasts the trio with his powers, but then discovers that he was tricked into striking against his teammates, who only appeared to be the evil gods - this was a ruse of the Huntsman. Now poor Hercules and Venus have been captured for real, and as the issue ends, the remaining Champions are left despondent over how they can get their asses to Olympus to prevent the unwilling betrothal of the friends. Next issue concludes the story with, "The Assault on Olympus!"

Isabella, Heck and Tartaglione certainly don't disappoint with this classic issue, and its always nice to look back at a time when comic book creators actually understood how to craft a story that has a beginning, middle and end, within a single issue and as part of a continued adventure in a monthly (or in this case, bi-monthly) format.

Folks the back issue bins are full of gems like this. Why waste your money on the same-old, same-old, marketing gimmick crossover crap. Seek this book out and read it for yourselves. Recommended!

"Gal" Friday! Danni Wells

British glamour model Danni Wells got her start as a Page 3 girl in 2004 and has used her modeling career to garner several TV appearances. She’s become so popular in fact, Wells was recently made the official mascot for the Royal Marines Commando’s. (Photo: above/top from ign.com)

Wells has appeared on the cover and in the pages of many men’s magazines including Playboy (Spain), Maxim UK, Loaded, FHM, Max (France), Zoo Weekly and Nuts. Her television appearances have include stripping down to her undies for the British program ‘Hot Tub Ranking’. Wells has also modeled for the Insinuate Lingerie site and she has released her 2010 nude calendar, which on first appearance is just as hot as last year’s calendar. If you haven't seen her 2009 calendar, email me and I will forward a set of those images - - - for a limited time only.

Yummy is really the only way to describe her!

Camilla, Queen of the Lost Empire (Fiction House; 1940)

Camilla, Queen of the Lost Empire was introduced in Jungle Comics #1 (Jun. 1940) as a knock-off of novelist H. Rider Haggard's 19th century Ayesha, aka "She". For several issues, Camilla was portrayed as the immortal monarch of all she surveyed, which consisted of a kingdom of former Vikings, who had supposedly gotten lost on their way to the Crusades (?). But she eventually started having adventures outside of her lost realm, traipsing around the jungle in a zebra-striped bikini.

Despite this reversal (one among several throughout the features golden age heyday), Camilla enjoyed a long run in Jungle Comics, lasting through until the final issue, #163 (Summer; 1954), which reprinted an earlier Camilla story. The artwork in today's opening chapter is signed by "CAW" (aka Charles A. Winter), the writer is unidentified. I think that I have just about all of the Camilla stories, so you will eventually get to read them in glorious color, and the artwork gets even better as the feature continues.

The Catacombs is grateful to Don "Zu-Gogo" Falkos for providing the scans for this story. Note: The copyright for this issue, its contents and artwork belong to the original publisher and/or creators and is reproduced here solely for entertainment purposes.

Enjoy!

"Dexter" Star Battles Cancer!

From the Associated Press:

"Dexter" star Michael C. Hall says he was diagnosed with cancer and is on the road to the successful completion of treatment.

In a statement Wednesday, Hall said he was fortunate to be diagnosed with a "treatable and curable condition," Hodgkin's lymphoma, and thanked his doctors and nurses for their expertise. The name of the Los Angeles area health facility where he has undergone treatment was not released.

Craig Bankey, a spokesman for the actor, said the disease is in complete remission and Hall's treatment will continue as planned.

The 38-year-old Hall plans to attend Sunday's Golden Globe Awards with his wife, actress Jennifer Carpenter, and the upcoming Screen Actors Guild ceremony. He's a nominee at both awards shows for his role as a serial killer in Showtime's "Dexter."

Bankey said Hall will return to production on the drama's fifth season later this year.

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The Catacombs sends its fondest regards to Mr. Hall on his continued recovery. I can sympathize with his predicament since I'm over six years into full remission from the same type of cancer and am very grateful that early detection and treatment saved my life. Hodgkin's can be a stealth-type of cancer, since often there is no pain involved with symptoms. In my case, a spot of unusual swelling in my neck became noticeable to my ex-wife and she nagged me into going and having it checked out. It wasn't particularly uncomfortable, so if it had been up to me, I would have ignored it. At least, she did right by me in that instance. Don't take your health for granted nerds, get weird shit checked out.