1980's Flashback: Crossfire

Crossfire was a spin off of DNAgents, written by Mark Evanier and illustrated by Dan Spiegle for Eclipse Comics. The series ran for 26 issues between May 1984 and February 1988.

The series followed the adventures of bail bondsman Jay Endicott, who assumed the identity of a notorious criminal, who was murdered while committing one of his crimes. Endicott decided to use the original Crossfire costume to fight crime as a superhero, while impersonating the original in order to take advantage of his reputation and then hunt down underworld contacts.

During an early adventure with the DNAgents, Endicott fell in love with their member, Rainbow, but he was also seriously wounded. While in the care of their organization, he was given specific enhancements to his body and his blood was replaced with an artificial chemical that mimicked the characteristics of blood more efficiently.

Writer Mark Evanier used his experience inside the Hollywood entertainment industry to feature secondary stories of characters trying to work and survive within that business. Despite the intricate plotting and topnotch Dan Spiegle artwork, Crossfire sold poorly. This eventually forced a change in format from color to black & white printing to reduce expense. Subsequently the series took on a more realistic tone to the featured stories, with Jay Endicott making do with only his mask after he was forced to destroy the rest of his costume to escape police custody.

The Brandon Peterson Commission Lottery!!!

I received an automated email late on Friday from Brandon Peterson's website. Brandon Peterson is known for hyper-detailed artwork on such titles as Uncanny X-Men, Codename: Strykeforce, Arcanum, Ultimate X-Men and the mini-series Ultimate Vision and Strange. This is the message that was forwarded to me:

"You are getting this e-mail because you signed up for information on special projects and offers from Brandon Peterson via the Brandobot mailing list. The 2010 Brandon Peterson commission list is now open with very limited slots available.

If you are interested in a commission, precede IMMEDIATELY to the website addresses and follow the instructions. There are very limited slots and they are given out on a first-come, first-served basis. Over 600 people are on this list and only 10 slots are available."

Additional Q & A style information included in this message went:

"1) Will Brandon do less detailed, cheaper, convention-sketch style commissions?

No, Brandon is only doing Pen and Ink commissions as shown on the website. Last year's commissions are available for viewing at the website. These commissions will be featured in Brandon's next convention sketchbook, so they must be publication quality illustrations. No one has ever complained about the quality or level of detail yet.

2) Is Brandon open to do more detailed, color, or multi character commissions for an additional charge?

Yes, but the amount of time Brandon is able to put into each commission is up to his discretion. There is a spot on the sign-up page to write special instructions or requests. Make your requests known there when you sign up and Brandon will get back to you, and let you know whether or not he is able to fulfill your request, and quote you a price for the additional work.

3) Will Brandon be sketching at Calgary, Heroes Con, San Diego, or Baltimore this year?

No, the only way to get custom Brandon Peterson art is by signing up online. The only commissions Brandon will be working on are these. Brandon does not do convention sketches as he finds there is too little time to do them at conventions with his signings and other activities."

After receiving this message, I did as instructed and followed the link only to be informed that the commission list was full. No surprise really, with ten slots and six-hundred potential customers, well - you do the math. I do appreciate the opportunity to be informed, but can't help wondering if a better method for this "lottery" could be crafted.

I then consoled myself by checking around the Brandobot site, where I found the commission piece that accompanies this post. I distinctly remember seeing Brandon work on this Conan illustration at last years annual Heroes Convention in Charlotte, NC. In fact, he specifically states that he was able to squeeze this drawing into his busy schedule there. I have to point out how little justice is actually done to this outstanding commission in the scan. It was phenomenal seeing it in person, and the reason why I got on the commission list in the first place was due to being blown away by his work on the Conan piece. Now be warned, Peterson's rates are not cheap, no sir, but stuff like this will easily win me over despite the cost (sometimes). I can't say for certain that I could have mustered the financial wherewith all to follow through anyway at the present time, but I thought that offering this information may help out any fans of Peterson's who may be on the fence about acquiring an original piece from him someday.

He does sell frequent sketchbooks that are of high quality to assuage the wound of not scoring a space on his "to do" list, and these sketchbooks typically showcase most of his private commission pieces anyway; so there's your spoonful of sugar to make the medicine go down.

And my response to the automated message:

"I must've blinked. So [clicks tongue], commission space vanishing at the speed of light is one of Brando's hitherto unrevealed talents. In other words, damn - damn - damn. Keep me posted though (I'm always a glutton for additional punishment)."

Rayboy's Review(s): Booster Gold, Deadpool Corps, Hate Annual, New Ultimates & Ultimate X

It's a perfect spring evening outside, which is ideal since I just got back from a Chinese buffet and I really need to go walk some of that off. That being the case, Rayboy's Review(s) are gonna be a bit brief this time around.

Well, it has been quite some time since I went into a comics shop and purchased six brand spanking new comics fresh off the stands. This week I picked up Booster Gold #29 & 30, Deadpool Corps #1, Hate Annual #8, Ultimate New Ultimates #1 and Ultimate X #2.

Fantagraphics Hate Annual #8 written and drawn almost entirely by Peter Bagge (with a single story written by James Whorton, Jr.) is everything you would want from Bagge. You get a new Buddy Bradley & Lisa story, "Creative Outlet" which is reason enough to buy this issue, since the rest of the material is gathered from a variety of previously published sources. Fantagraphics stuff always reels me in and this issue was a nice surprise this week. Give it a try, folks!

Booster Gold's #29 & 30 polishes off Dan Jurgens and Norm Rapmund's excellent run on this title in "The Tomorrow Memory". Under these two gentlemen and a few other fine creators, Booster Gold has consistently been one of DC Comics best titles. By making creative use of the many crossover events of the past many years, these guys struck "gold" and made Booster not only "The Greatest Hero You've Never Heard Of!", but also a series that I'm really gonna miss, now that Jurgens wishes to move on to other things (at least for awhile). I will keep my fingers crossed that Dan will follow through on his promise and return to chronicle Booster's adventures again someday (plus hope that the incoming creative team doesn't screw the pooch and get this book cancelled before he can).

Marvel Comics scored a trifecta out of me this week with two books that are part of their Ultimates line, and no wonder considering who's drawing these books, and another title that was a hoot and a half. Ultimate X#2 continues the story of what happened to the X-Men and their heirs after worldwide chaos, carnage and the deaths of a huge chunk of the Ultiverse/?. Don't ask me to explain all of that here, I'm just loving the Arthur Adams artwork, and it is a thing of real beauty too.

Same goes for Ultimate New Ultimates #1, try saying that fast three times, which does the very same thing for the Ultiverse version of the Avengers, drawn ever so beautifully by the estimable Frank Cho. The scene where Hela strips down to seduce Thor in Valhalla is worth the price of admission alone, but there is much more going on in this book too and you've really gotta see that six panel gatefold cover. This book has an unrelated back-up short story preview based on Philip K Dick's Electric Ant that is very forgettable.

The biggest surprise of all this week was how much I enjoyed Deadpool Corps #1 by writer Victor Gischler and illustrated by ROB LIEFELD. (Um, yeah, that guy) I swear it's like this was the book that Rob needed all along to get his groove back. Talk about funny stuff! Deadpool Corps is the perfect title to kick off the summer convention season, and lo and behold, Liefeld will be attending the Heroes Convention in Charlotte, NC, this June. Not only am I going to continue buying this hilarious book, but I'm gonna have Rob sign my copies too. He deservedly got ripped a number of times over the years for his many art faux pas and other grievous storytelling errors, but if he can keep this up for a while, he may just win back a few of his fans. Frank Tieri & Matteo Scalera provide a second feature with Deadpool hilariously undergoing psychiatric therapy; or does he?

"Gal" Friday! Gemma Arterton

British actress Gemma Arterton is a busy girl. She first appeared in the BBC adaptation of Tess of the D'Urbervilles and gained greater fame in 2008 as the MI6 agent Strawberry Fields in the latest James Bond film, Quantum of Solace. She is also the face of Avon's Bond Girl 007 fragrance which launched in October 2008.

This talented and lovely twenty-four year old lass stars in the current hit film, Clash of the Titans and will be seen onscreen again this summer as Princess Tamina in Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time.

She earns a coveted spot in the Catacombs as this weeks "Gal" Friday, because how often do I get a chance to post a photo (above; top) of a totally nude chick covered in nothing but oil. This fate led to her characters unfortunate death in Quantum of Solace, but the image definitely lights my fire.

South Sea Girl in "Horror in the Hills" (Leader/Universal Features;1946)

Matt Baker draws "South Sea Girl" from Seven Seas Comics #2 (July 1946),originally published by Leader Enterprises/Universal Phoenix Features. South Sea Girl was also known as Alani, and she differed from most jungle girls by her location and her usual garb, a sarong (probably inspired by popular Dorothy Lamour films).

This story was later reprinted in Voodoo #2 (Ajax; Farrell, 1952 series) with the main character's name changed from Alani to El'nee. The cover for this issue featuring Captain Cutlass (credited to Robert Webb) is included today as a bonus.

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 the creators and is reproduced here solely for entertainment purposes.

Enjoy!

From the Dust Bin: Nevada Jim Westerns

I received a package of old paperbacks in the mail yesterday that has prompted me to post something a bit different today.

Australian author Leonard F. Meares has become one of my favorite authors over the last few years and I only became aware of him when I saw an online gallery of James Bama covers from the late 1960's that were used on Meares Americanized Nevada Jim Western series. The covers for many of those lovely Bantam Books paperbacks are pictured above. Originally published by the Horwitz Group as "Big Jim Rand", Nevada Jim Westerns follow Jim Gage, a former Cavalry sergeant who leaves the service to track down the murderer of his brother, and then once this task is successfully accomplished over the course of several novels, his further exploits continue in the town he eventually settles in called Cornerstone.

Meares was perhaps best known for an even longer running series of novels, again originally published overseas by the Horwitz Group as Larry and Stretch westerns, but adapted for Bantam as "Larry and Streak" westerns. In fact between 1955 and continuing until his death in 1993, the prolific Meares could turn out around thirty books a year. He eventually wrote 746 novels, the majority of which were westerns under a variety of pseudonyms such as Ward Brennan, Glenn Murrell, Shad Denver, Brett Waring and Marshall Grover (this too was changed by Bantam Books into "Marshall McCoy", for Meares American volumes).

Of course James Bama, whose cover artwork on the Nevada Jim Westerns attracted me to Meares terrific writing, is famous for producing almost all of the covers for the first sixty-seven Bantam Books paperbacks reprinting the adventures of pulp hero, Doc Savage. Bama went on to enjoy a career as a fine art painter of naturalist western subjects.

Whether as Marshall Grover or Marshall McCoy, Leonard Frank Meares westerns are - in my humble opinion - superior to many western authors who may be more familiar to most fans. I won't name any in particular, but simply put, there are some top gun writers whose work on "oaters" (aka cowboy tales) has always bored the living hell out of me. Meares doesn't. His westerns resound with the same level of cinematic clarity and excitement that fueled the heyday of Hollywood's classic film westerns on the big screen. More mythology and folklore than reflection of reality, Meares heroes travel the the unknown west meting out true two-fisted justice to evil back-shooters, ruffians and land barons in a most satisfying manner.

I have painstakingly sought out, tracked down and acquired a dozen beautiful copies of the sixteen Nevada Jim Westerns that Bantam released (out of 70 "Big Jim Rand" novels that Meares actually penned). The pricing on these old paperbacks can vary wildly and many often fetch prices up to $50-70 dollars each, even in less than desirable grade. I believe this is largely due to Meares excellent writing talent and just how wide his fame spread worldwide. I also have to add that many online sources mistakenly identify Larry and Streak volumes as Nevada Jim Westerns, so word to the wise, while I've read & enjoyed his Larry and Streak paperbacks, my favorite Meares series is his Nevada Jim Westerns. Bantam Books tightly edited the longer, original Horwitz material and they also excised some of the more racist elements in depictions of minority characters and this served the Americanized volumes very well.

The following list of Bantam Books Nevada Jim Western editions are the entire actual run as best as I can determine: A Man Called Drago, Bury the Guilty, Guns of Greed, Die Brave, No Gun is Neutral, Limbo Pass, The Killers Came at Noon, Seven Westbound, Behind the Black Mask, Killer Bait, Big Lobo, Satan's Back Trail, Gun Flash, Justice for Jenner, Crisis at Cornerstone and Bounty on Wes Durand.

I am still looking for high grade Bantam editions of A Man Called Drago, Big Lobo, The Killers Came at Noon and Justice for Jenner. Depending upon the condition, I will pay up to $25 each. I can't recommend these novels highly enough.

Rulah Jungle Goddess in "Terror's Trail!" (Fox;1949)

Today's Rulah Jungle Goddess tale doesn't quite channel "The African Queen", but our resident jungle gal is saddled with a bumbling charter boat skipper called Cap'n George, whose inadvertently undermining efforts to help Rulah overcome a gang of kidnappers who're out for ransom, actually make for some fine comedy relief in a nice change of pace.

This tale was originally presented in the one-shot All Great Jungle Adventures #nn (1949) from Fox Comics. 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 the creators and is reproduced here solely for entertainment purposes.

Enjoy!

As an advance head's up, next week will feature my second "Go Ape Shit" theme week, with classic comics stories running daily from Monday through Friday.

Rayboy's Review: Incredible Hulk #607 (Marvel)

The popular "Fall of the Hulks" continues in Incredible Hulk #607, as the Leader and M.O.D.O.K. observe Victor Von Doom’s futile efforts to strike back at the Intelligentsia who hit him last issue with a neural anesthetizer, leaving him dumber than dirt. The pair then contemplates how best to deal with their biggest threat – Bruce Banner – as their nefarious master scheme unfolds. The Intel seeks to abduct the other eight smartest people on the planet, and they already hold Reed Richards of the Fantastic Four.

Henry Pym (aka The Wasp) disrupts their evil reverie by temporally phasing into their headquarters, after he discovers certain elements of the Intel’s machinations. The trio of Super-Scientific minds, banter back-and-forth, before the Leader reveals to Pym that his Avenger teammates are currently withering under assault of the Red She-Hulk.

Pym/Wasp pops in just in time to aid the Avengers in escaping from the Red She-Hulk, then witnesses the timely arrival of Bruce Banner and Skaar (aka Son of the Hulk). As Skaar engages the Red She-Hulk in battle, Banner attempts to forcibly teleport Hank Pym to safety, knowing that as scientist-supreme Pym is the next likely target of the Intelligentsia. Pym's not on board with that idea, and a sequence of technical one-up-man-ship between Banner, Pym and the Leaders ensues which suddenly leaves Pym lingering at deaths door. [If you're having difficulty following some of the components of Fall of the Hulks, you aren't in the minority.]

As the mighty Avengers arrive in force and in response to Pym's s.o.s. (Has this title become the Incredible Wasp?), a temporary situational alliance is formed to save Pym, who is then immediately abducted just as had been planned all along by the Leader. Afterwards Banner is left somewhat at odds with the Avengers who he blames for interfering and for their part, they doubt that they can really trust old Bruce.

This issue closes out with Banner having to finally come clean about his true motives - to save Betty Ross no matter what the cost - and Banner pulls together a strong coalition of heroes including Skaar, A-Bomb, Korg of the Warbound, Amadeus Cho, Spider-Man, Sub-Mariner and Wolverine to make that attempt.

Based on some of the other reviews that I've read online of this very issue, I would have to say that plenty of folks seem a bit confused by this storyline, but the answer lies less with lack of clarity and more along the lines of event overkill.

Writer Greg Pak does make a valiant effort given that he is working within an editorially mandated crossover, that fed out of the earlier Planet Hulk, World War Hulk and Civil War events. This kind of publisher inbreeding has usurped ongoing story development and characterization within individual series to the detriment of editorial cohesion. No wonder things are a bit muddied, and reader preferences be damned. Still, some of Pak's dialogue is downright hilarious and fun to read!

Look, I can enjoy over-arching stories, and the Marvel Universe was truly built upon stuff like this, but the branding that separates stuff out from a series simply to foment cross-pollination and also the way that these types of marketing efforts actually drag on endlessly, is going to do nothing but alienate loyal fans - at some point. Lest you think otherwise, and before I forget, let me mention how outstanding Paul Pelletier's artwork is on this book. If nothing else, pick this book up for Paul Pelletier. His efforts on this title are rocking it out of the park, in fact the original pencils to page #22 (pictured above; top) will soon be hanging in a prime location within the Catacombs. There are dual original art pages for the entire issue, as the inks were applied to separate scans of the pencils. I'm picking up the pencils only version for this page.

I do recommend Incredible Hulk #607, and have high hopes that its conclusion will be satisfying enough to me as a reader that I won't really care that all this does is set up yet another "event".

The Origin of Ty-Gor (MLJ Publications;1940)

Today I'm presenting another Catacombs debut, this story is taken from Blue Ribbon Comics #4 (Jun. 1940); originally published by MLJ/Archie during the golden age. "The Origin of Ty-Gor" was written by Joe Blair and drawn by the great Mort Meskin.

Like so many other jungle boys, lords and kings; Ty-Gor, Son of the Tiger is a knock-off of Tarzan. Here you get to experience his origin, witness the tragic death of his parents and see how an orphaned baby known as Tyrone Gorman ("TY-rone GOR-man, get it?") becomes adopted by the tigress Malma.

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 the creators and is reproduced here solely for entertainment purposes.

Enjoy & Happy Easter to you all!

At the Movies: Clash of the Titans

The newly released Clash of the Titans has earned nothing but scorn for its post-production (and badly-botched) 3-D transfer effects, and I appreciate all of the early reviews that prompted me to save those few extra bucks and instead catch a regular "2-D" version. However, I suspect that many current reviewers (yes, I'm talking about the usual gang of genre mavens) are also leaning towards trashing this updated remake, primarily due to their misplaced and slavish devotion to the 1981 Ray Harryhausen original. That's too bad!

I even read one guys warning on a comics forum to "run away from this dog" and save your bucks. I can't agree with that. Perhaps these offended folks have chosen to forget the originals many plot holes. Maybe they prefer the originals larger slate of recognizable Shakespearean-trained actors who basically stood around hamming it up in Olympus. Possibly they were just enamored of the mechanical owl Bubo (who does make a terrific comic relief cameo as a nod to the earlier film). Whether the critics take exception to the remake out of their nostalgia for cheesy special effects or not, director Louis Leterrier need not hid his head in shame.

Clash of the Titans is a fun film-going experience starring Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, Alexa Davalos, Liam Cunningham, Gemma Arterton, Ian Whyte, Nicholas Hoult, Jason Flemyng, Mads Mikkelsen, Pete Postlethwaite, and Elizabeth McGovern. It's a popcorn movie and if you don't like suspension of disbelief scenarios where you just turn your brain off and enjoy a wild ride, then give this movie a pass by all means. If you enjoy seat of your pants thrills and watching mythological characters facing off against wicked large creatures and capricious gods, then you might want to catch this one folks.

The original Clash starred newcomers Harry Hamlin and Judi Bowker as Perseus and Andromeda. The relationship of these two central characters is vastly different this time around, and this aspect is also at the heart of some reviewers contempt for the remake. Again, that's too bad. Perseus is portrayed entirely different by Sam Worthington and rather than focus on how many times he stresses during this version how he will tackle his quest "as a man", how about focusing on how he actually plays Perseus - as a man - and less of a demigod. That point is central to how this film differs from the first one, and here it works pretty well. Look if you love the original Clash of the Titans, then fine, but back then Harry Hamlin never even got dirty while running around on his quest. In short, like most period pieces from those days, they made it look too darn easy.

I think taking on giant scorpions, a trio of weird witches, the gorgon Medusa, the brutish Calibos and the massive Kraken would at least leave you a little soiled at the end of the day, and Worthington's Perseus definitely reflects that. And so what if he didn't opt to rule by Andromeda's side this time out, considering who else is available, he can be forgiven. Hell, I much preferred luscious Gemma Arterton's ageless Io myself, not that Alexa Davalos isn't fine in her role as Andromeda. She just serves a different function this time out and this character is more limited than in the original.

Since I've already gone this far to err on the side of classic movie sacrilege, let me also add that Liam Neeson is far more effective than Laurence Olivier was as the King of the Gods, Zeus. Ralph Fiennes is truly awesome as Hades and as a final suggestion to anyone who looked forward to this movie; just go see it and judge for yourselves, but do skip the 3D version. I think the reviewers were right on that score!

"Gal" Friday! Moon Bloodgood

Exotic beauty? Check. Slate of genre roles? Check. Attention of the Catacombs? Definitely!

Moon Bloodgood guest starred on this weeks episode of the Fox television network series "Human Target" (based on the DC Comics property). If for nothing else, I've grown to appreciate Human Target for its penchant for featuring some of the hottest chicks in Hollywood.

Ms. Bloodgood also appeared on TV science-fiction dramas Day Break (2006-2007), where she portrayed the girlfriend of a detective who was framed for murder and arrested in the span of a day, but continually found himself reliving that same day and as Livia Beale in Journeyman on NBC. She was in the films Eight Below, Pathfinder, Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li and starred as Blair Williams in Terminator Salvation, the fourth film in the Terminator series, plus she reprised her role in the video game and prequel series of short films Terminator Salvation: The Machinima Series. In 2009 she joined the cast of the show Burn Notice in its third season, as Detective Michelle Paxson and she will be starring on TNT's untitled alien invasion pilot produced by Steven Spielberg. Bloodgood also provides the voice of Uriel the Archangel in the video game Darksiders.

For the benefit of red-blooded Americans of all persuasions, Moon Bloodgood appeared on the cover of the June 2009 issue of Maxim in a string bikini. While I could care less about the sport of basketball, it is worth mentioning that Moon is a former Laker Girl (just for the image it conjures in your mind). Aah!

Feast Your Foolish Eyes!

April Fool's Day seems like a great opportunity to post a montage of recent Catacombs acquisitions, so feast your eyes on a few bronze age gems that have recently been archived by yours truly.

A few of these are nestling into new berths in the dust bin, since I never had them in the first place, while the largest part of these books simply replace copies that I sold or traded off over the years of my wayward youth.

I've comfortably eased back into searching out lots of bronze age books, after a brief sabbatical where I focused on silver age stuff & decent modern age titles.

For the record the titles depicted above are: The Savage Sword of Conan the Barbarian #47 & 54, The Rook #3, The Invaders #2 & 6, The Fantastic Four Annual #11, Marvel Two-In-One Annual #1, Marvel Two-In-One #20, Marvel Premiere #29 & 30, Marvel Spotlight #'s: 14, 16, 17, 19, 22 & 24, The Son of Satan #'s: 1, 4 & 6, Giant-Size Chillers #1 and The Avengers #116.

I wish that the Grand Comics Database featured more uniform sizing in their cover scans. That was the source of these images, and I must add that most of my copies are in higher grade than many of these.

Have a great holiday and keep your fingers crossed that the tricksters will go easy on you today!