BONUS BOOK - Blue Devil (1984)

BONUS BOOK - Blue Devil (June, 1984)
Writers - Gary Cohn & Dan Mishkin
Pencils - Paris Cullins
Inks - Pablo Marcos
Colors - Bob LeRose
Letters - John Costanza
Edits - Len Wein

Sticking with Mssrs. Mishkin and Cohn today for the first look at Blue Devil!  I remember this being a fun one... and, we actually took a look at the first issue of the ongoing series wayyy back in the day!

This Prevue was included with The Fury of Firestorm #24 (June, 1984).

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We open with James Jesse (though I'm not sure we're supposed to know that it's him quite yet) having a read of the latest Stuntman Magazine, where they're doing a feature on all of the awesome powers that have been implemented into Dan Cassidy's Blue Devil costume.  A young fella named Gopher is also taking in the article... and he just so happens to be reading parts of it aloud to Dan himself.  Sounds like this costume is one heckuva marvel.  So much so, that Jesse proclaims that it will soon be his!

Dan tells Gopher about all of the subsequent additions and features he'd like to add to the suit, but tells him to keep it all quiet from Marla... the Hollywood big-wig they work for.  Well, she saunters in just as he says this... and wants to know what's up.  Dan and Gopher come up with a lie on the fly... which appears to satisfy her curiosity.  She reveals that she's come to see them regarding some upcoming photo-ops.  Dan bows out, because he's got work to do... and suggests perhaps sticking a fella named Wayne Tarrant into an unpowered suit instead.  She doesn't seem to care who is under the mask, so long as she gets her photos.  Wayne, however, ain't exactly in love with the idea.

Tarrant tries to pawn the gig off on a cameraman... who turns it down flat, before Marla decides to pull ultimate rank and insist Wayne just do his damned job.  There's a blonde woman with a headband named Sharon present... and it seems as though Wayne's got quite an eye for her.  She, however, doesn't return those feelings.  In fact, if you ask me (or her), she's more into Dan Cassidy.  Gotta be dem muttonchops... women are powerless against 'em!

We jump ahead, and Wayne's doing the Blue Devil thang in front of the cameras... er, camera, singular.  Wow, heckuva photo-op!  Meanwhile, outside the movie lot, James Jesse chats up the security guard.  When he is not granted access (due to his being a stuntman at a rival studio), the baddie decides to go "full-Trickster"!

Once inside, the Trickster swoops overhead and snags the faux-Blue Devil on the hook of his weird fishing pole gimmick!

Marla and Company are completely bamboozled... Gopher, however, has the wherewithal to run off and grab Cassidy... and suggests he try using his "real" Blue Devil costume to catch the villain!

And, well... that's exactly what he does!  It really didn't take all that much in the way of prodding, did it?  Anyhoo, in a really cool (and much appreciated) bit, Cassidy springs into action... however, doesn't appear to have complete control over his awesome pitchfork!  He overshoots the Trickster and Wayne by a half-block!

Wayne tries laying in a solid left on the Trickster's jaw... but all that does is suggest to Jesse that this ain't no super-powered Blue Devil.  He unmasks his hostage, revealing not-Dan Cassidy... and is rather annoyed.  Ya see, James Jesse and Dan Cassidy have worked together before on various stunt projects... so, the baddie would've recognized him.

Then, the real Blue Devil calls over and tells the Trickster to knock it off.  He leaps from one rooftop to another, and before we know it, he and the Rogue are exchanging punches!

We get a couple of pages of blows and banter to follow... even a bit where Blue Devil recognizes the Trickster as James Jesse!  The baddie decides to use this to his advantage by feigning surrender.  Cassidy proclaims he doesn't want to hurt Jesse... the Trickster, however, doesn't have the same qualms.

More fighting follows... including Blue Devil getting wrapped up in a rainbow Slinky (ya know, I don't think I've ever typed the word "Slinky" before... and now I've done it twice!).  Ultimately, and naturally, Blue Devil overcomes.  With a flick of his finger he temporarily kayos the Trickster.

I say temporarily, as in the very next panel, the Trickster is fleeing the scene.  Blue Devil attempts to give chase, but again... he's not quite used to flying with his trident... so, he overshoots the villain.

We wrap up back at the movie lot with a pretty funny scene.  Blue Devil is trying to describe the Trickster to the police for their records... and can't understand why they won't just accept "It was the Trickster".  Good stuff.  The story ends with Dan Cassidy heading back into his workshop to make further improvements to the Blue Devil costume.

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Can't deny that this was a lot of fun.  It makes me yearn for the days where we'd get new characters in "Big Two" comics.  These days, it's all about shoving a "new" person into a Robin or Spider costume... or passing down/usurping an already established name in the superhero community.  Everything's derivative... and nothing feels special.

This (Blue Devil) feels special.

It's a new concept and (at the risk of sounding like a complete internet-douche) a new "Intellectual Property".  We just don't get things like this anymore.  I could do further into kvetching about "current year" comics, where focus is placed on brands and iconography over character... but, I'll try and rein myself back in.

In this here story, we get to meet a whole bunch of new characters... but in a way where it doesn't feel like a parade, if that makes any sense.  A lot of times, when a creative team is trying to "world build", it can feel as though all of the new characters are zipping past the reader on a conveyor belt... ya know?  Here's "this character", and now "this character"...  The way it was done here, however... it didn't feel quite that, I dunno, intensely impersonal.

There are a few archetypes at play here... which is to be expected.  I mean, we run across archetypal people in our real lives everyday.  Marla is perhaps the most "boilerplate" at this point.  She's the business-first executive... and that's basically all we get from her here.

We can already tell that Dan and Wayne will likely be butting heads over Sharon... which, is fair enough.  Nothing wrong with a bit of romantic competition... helps to "suds-up" the soapiness.

I think my favorite part of this Prevue was Dan's unfamiliarity with his gear.  These days (yeah, I said "These Days" again), I feel like (and I might be projecting...) the "new" superhero being a goof-up at first is kind of played for laughs.  Kind of nudging the readership at the ridiculousness of the situation... being "superior" to the silliness of superhero comics.  Here, however, it felt... I dunno, almost earnest.  Dan's trying his best... while realizing deep down that he hasn't the foggiest idea what he's doing.  He's just trying to stop a bad guy.  We didn't need to see him crash into a pile of garbage cans, and mutter "Whatta revoltin' development!" to drive that point home.

He simply miscalculates his own equipment... which works on a few levels.  It shows that he's overzealous... and, that, on an engineering-level, he needs to better calibrate his arsenal... or at the very least, understand it better.

Had a really good time with this... and honestly, went on quite a bit longer talking about it than I expected to!  We've got two pre-Crisis "Insert Prevues" to go before we hop into the actual "Bonus Book" era.

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From Dick Giordano's "Meanwhile... " Column:

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New Titans #79 (1991)

New Titans #79 (September, 1991)
"Prelude..."
Writer - Marv Wolfman
Pencils - Tom Grummett, Paris Cullins & Curt Swan
Inks - Al Vey
Colors - Adrienne Roy
Letters - John Costanza
Editor - Jonathan Peterson
Cover Price: $1.75

Ready for another exciting chapter of Titans Hunt?

Well, I'm very sorry... because today is just an exercise in treading water.  But that doesn't mean you shouldn't read through this post!

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We open just as Donna Troy is being whisked away into War of the GodzZzzZzz.  Our main man Terry is freaking out, naturally... but the rest are distracted by the fact that the invading Wildebeests simply vanished into thin air... and they took Nightwing with them!  Suddenly a beam falls from the ceiling.  Reacting quickly (perhaps a little too quickly, considering) Deathstroke tackles Terry Long, saving his life.

After the dust settles, Phantasm starts whisking the debris away.  At this point, Arella finally decides to saunter on in.  She's upset that Donna has been taken... though, not as upset as Terry.  The poor dude is a wreck, saying they should have never come back from Greece... ya know what?  He's right!  That's what we in the biz call a "win-win", we never have to see Terry again... but, he's alive and safe somewhere.

We shift scenes back to Jericho's art studio.  He is painting the city... something he feels is very important to do before the "transformation" begins (I thought it was the transference?).  Anyhoo, another Wildebeest dares to question him... and is reduced to cinder for it.

Over on Titans Island, Captain Hall is talking to a City Worker named Twyne.  Twyne is happy the gig is taking so long, as it means the city will have to charge back the Titans even more... also, it'll certainly bolster Elizabeth Alderman's political aspirations.  Hall isn't pleased to hear any of this.

As the remaining Titans take the drive out to Steve Dayton's Long Island compound, we pop in on a meeting between Captain Hall and Elizabeth Alderman.  It's here we get to take the "temperature" of the city.  Liz claims that New Yorkers are at the point where they fear the Titans... which, isn't outside the realm of possibilities considering recent events.  She also makes it clear that she has her eyes set on Gracie Mansion... that is to say, she wants to be Mayor of New York City.

We briefly shift out to the West Coast, where Victor Stone's family is hiding out in a Church.  They wonder if their grandson is alright... and we can see that he's not.  Though, it's worth mentioning that his expression does seem to change here.  Not sure if that was intentional... but it does!

We rejoin Captain Hall (dude's getting a ton of panel-time today).  He, and another officer, are checking out an apartment building that Raven was spotted entering at the start of the arc.  A helpful editorial caption informs us that Titans Hunt has been going on for two weeks at this point.  Anyhoo... they trudge up the stairs, and enter a rather stinky apartment... the apartment of creepy cannibal, Emil Sorda.

Sorda doesn't keep the tidiest of homes... and has actually left his next few weeks worth of "meals" out to rot.  Hall and... man, I wish his partner's name was "Oates"... rush out of the place, and call it in to the Department.

They don't know it, but they're being watched by... a shadowy stranger (the likes we saw lurking around Titans Island two issues back).  Just like then, they report their findings in to a "Jon".  The stranger then sheds... her trenchcoat, revealing a pair of wings.  Before taking off, she vows that they'll kill Troia.  Hope that didn't give it all away!

Out at Dayton's place, Arella spouts off about some AzzZzzzZzzar stuff... which Slade overhears.  They chat about their children... and how Deathstroke thought for a moment, Joe and Raven would wind up being lovers.  Slade thinks Joey being "controlled" is a definite possibility, however cannot understand how he is now able to speak.  Hey, I know... maybe he's using a lame-o voice modulator or something!  Nah, they'd never do something that lazy.  Hashtag-Rebirth.

They talk some more... Arella asks if he's told Addie about Joe's recent turn.  He hasn't.  After everything that happened with their other son, Grant... he isn't sure how to approach it.

Over at some government building, the bean counters are tabulating how much the Titans might owe in damages to the city... which, in perfect DC fashion is Fifty-Two million dollars.  How 'bout that?  All these years before their 52-Fetish even began!

Elizabeth Alderman excuses herself to powder her nose.  In the restroom, she is confronted by... a shadowy stranger!  Liz is tied up and tossed in a stall... however, is somehow still able to attend the rest of the meeting!  Hmm... hope that didn't give it all away.

Later on, during the same meeting... "Alderman" learns that Donna Troy has returned from her second honeymoon (she doesn't know that she's vanished again though).  She says that "Jon" will love hearing this.

Over at Daytons, the good guys put their heads together to plan their next move.  Phantasm looks on from outside... and is pretty down that Grayson ain't there.  He gives a run down on our current "team"... and wonders if any of them could be trusted.  The only one he feels he could've trusted... is the one who was just snatched away by the Beests.

We hop over to S.T.A.R. Labs, where Aqualad is beginning to squirm in his aqua-pod.  His squirming leads to full-blown panicking... and he bashes his way through the glass.  He isn't well or anything... once free, he just slumps to the ground.

Next, we head over to Jericho's apartment... just as the police are taping it off.  Inside, another shadowy stranger pops in.  This one we actually get to see... and wouldn'tcha know it... it's Morbius the Living Vampire!  Well, okay... it's not... but, if you're familiar with the Titans of this era, this scene will almost certainly give it away.  Anyhoo, he finds one of Joey's paintings... with a very recent date on it.  He reports his findings to "Jon...ny boy".

Hey, remember how last issue ended with Jericho and Nightwing... and all that talk about transference?  Well, here's another look at it.  Dick tries to reason with Joey... which, ya know... doesn't go all that well.  Joey finally pulls the switch... signalling the start of... whatever it is he's planning!  New Titans readers of the day would have to wait four months for this to pay off!  Ay yai yai.

That's not the end of the issue, however... that, my friends, is the "big reveal".  Just who are all of these shadowy strangers?  Well, c'mon, as if you hadn't put the pieces together yet... these are the Team Titans... and they're here to kill Donna Troy!

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Okay, stop me if you heard this one... the pacing... my lord, the pacing.  This is almost as if Marv just became bored with the Titans Hunt storyline... or editorial stepped in to really gum up the works.  This issue barely moved us forward.  Seriously... last issue ended with Jericho about to pull a switch... this one ended with him actually pulling the switch!

Indeed, this issue seemed preoccupied with rushing to introduce the kiddos we'll soon know as the Team Titans.  Looking at where we're headed from here... it's a complete mess.  The next Titans book to hit the shelves is New Titans Annual #7 (an Armageddon 2001 tie-in, featuring the Teamsters)... then New Titans #80 (that Team Titans origin issue we've already discussed)... then New Titans #81 (a War of the Gods tie-in featuring, Pariah of all people).  It won't be until New Titans #82 that we rejoin Titans Hunt proper!

Taking a look at Mike's Amazing World (which, I believe is pretty accurate)... take a look at these release dates:

Look at that column on the far right.  That's 119 days from the time Jericho pulls the switch... to finding out just what the damn thing does!  That's a long damn time.  Of course, none of that matters in 2018... but, I still feel like it's worth mentioning.

So, whatta we get here?  Well, a jam-issue, featuring three pencillers with distinct styles, and an inker (Al Vey) doing his damnedest to make it all flow.  For the most part, he does a really good job... sure, it's easy to see where one artist ends and another begins, but it's certainly not as jarring as one might imagine.

This issue is frustrating on many levels.  Even discounting the delays... just not enough happens here.  This feels like an issue crammed full of single-page subplots... the kinda stuff that would be peppered through a dozen or so issues of the book.  Considering we're in the midst of several "events" here, I don't think it's fair to lay this all at Marv's feet... I'd guess editorial had something to do with this.

Overall... this issue would read perfectly well if you were binging on Titans Hunt... so, if this arc ever gets collected, it's a no-brainer to include it.  If you're reading these, say, daily... it's gonna grind on ya.  If you were (heaven forbid) reading these "monthly"... I'm not sure how enjoyable this would be.

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Blue Beetle (vol.6) #9 (1987)

Blue Beetle (vol.6) #9 (February, 1987)
"Legends, Chapter 11: Timepiece!"
Writer - Len Wein
Pencils - Paris Cullins
Inks - Dell Barras
Letters - John Costanza
Colors - Gene D'Angelo
Editor - Karen Berger
Cover Price: $0.75

Hard to believe we're going on three years at this blog, and I've yet to cover an issue of Blue Beetle.  Well, there's a reason for that... and it has to do with my persnickety-ness.

Ya see, I couldn't decide what "volume" to give this.  I could just say it's the "first DC volume" and call it good... but,  you know me... if there's a way to make things more complicated, you can be dang sure I'm going to do it.

Since I don't want to necessarily preclude us from discussing the Charlton era Beetle books, I've decided to do a deep dive into the volume minutia.  I concluded that this, the first DC volume of Blue Beetle, is actually Volume 6... I think... I hope.

Anyhoo... let's get to it!

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We open with a rather aggravated Blue Beetle getting ready to take on a bunch of "Cyberpunks".  He's so annoyed and bored with these geeks, he mentions that he could beat 'em all up... with both arms tied behind his back.  When one of the punks suggest he put his money where his mouth is, Ted does just that.  He proceeds to pummel the punks, with both arms behind his back!

We see that he only confronted the Cyberpunks because they were hasslin' an old lady.  When Ted goes to check on her, she lashes out and takes a swipe at him with her pocketbook.  Ya gotta remember, this issue is a Legends tie-in... and superheroes had lost the trust of the common folk.  Ted collects himself, and hops a ride on the Bug before the police show up.

We shift scenes to the home of Angela Revere, an employee of Kord Industries.  She's been stealing little bits and bops from her employer over the past little while for her Uncle David... who we know better as Chronos, the Time Thief!  Hey, stop laughing back there.  Anyhoo, when Angie starts having second thoughts about this arrangement, he shocks her silly... leaving her "frozen in time".

Ted returns to his garage, all the while thinking about the damage being done to the superhero community thanks to one G. Gordon Godfrey.  As he begins running maintenance on the Bug, he wonders if he's wasting his time.

We shift scenes to Death Valley, California... where a Geologist named Cassandra Sharp finds herself swept up in a sudden sandstorm.  Time passes, and she is discovered by a pair of shadowy folks in a black helicopter.  Uh-oh.

Back at Kord, Incorporated... Ted and his assistant, Mel watch the news.  What they see is... if I'm honest, a pretty poorly rendered Ronald Reagan.  He is delivering a message on an executive order.  Costumed superheroes are to "cease their public activities"... which is to say, the heroes have been outlawed!

From here, the report shifts over WHIZ-TV anchor, Gwyneth Tate.  She proceeds to conduct an interview with the fella who foments... G. Gordon Godfrey.  He rattles off his usual spoo about superheroes not being the best role models... their resorting to violence, yadda yadda yadda.  Ted flips the set off.

Mel's a bit annoyed... she wanted to hear more of what Godfrey had to say.  Ted's... well, Ted's pretty annoyed himself.  He wonders what might be in store for he and the rest of the superhero community if the President sticks to his guns.

We shift scenes back to Chronos.  He's got a pair of nudnicks loading a box truck full of clocks.  When one of them suggests they get a cut'a da action... and threatens to spill the beans if they don't... Chronos, well... Cronos kills them.  Whoops.  What a stupid way to die... impaled by a clock hand.

After a stop at the Kord Metallurgy Lab, where... something happens... we hop over to the Chicago Police Department, where officers Fisher and Frank argue about the President's superhero ban.  It gets heated quick... and actually feels like the way people usually discuss real-world politics.

Back at Kord, Ted is informed that Angie Revere hasn't shown up for work.  This is quite unlike her, and therefore raises some concern.  Despite Mel's arguing, he decides to head out for a breath of fresh air to check in on her.

Next stop for us... Pago Island, where a fella named Conrad Carapax is trying to dig himself out of a collapsed tunnel.  During this dig, he comes across a steel door.  Inside that door... a red suit of armor?!

Back in civilization, Ted arrives at the Revere home.  Worth noting, Ted's convertible is... kinda precious!  I mean, dude barely fits in the thing!  When there's no answer at the door, Ted decides to do a little reconnaissance work... and, ya know... peek through the windows.  He sees Angie all frozen in time, and busts in to check on her.

Once he's able to shake her back to her senses, she comes clean about stealing Kord Industries equipment... and continues to reveal that the equipment was used by her Uncle to create a weapon.

We wrap up with the reveal (to Ted, anyway) that Angie's Uncle is actually Chronos, the Time Thief.  Ted realizes that, superhero ban or not, the Blue Beetle is about to be back in action!

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If you've taken PSY101, you're probably familiar with the concept of "transference"... oversimplified, it's when you assign attributes to a person because they remind you of someone else.  It could be due to looks, or quirks... whatever the case, you find yourself imposing unfair expectations on them.  That's kinda how I feel whenever I read a non-bwah-ha-ha appearance of Ted Kord.

Yeah, it's not exactly transference, since... this is still Ted Kord... but, due to his depiction in the JLI, I cannot help to expect a silly story whenever I see him.  It's an unfair expectation, sure... but, it's always my first instinct.

That being said... this was definitely a story with a more serious tone... and despite it not being "bwah-ha-ha silly", I loved it!  It's been ages since I've taken a look at Legends, and issues like this remind me why I really ought to prioritize a reread of the event in the near future.

We've got Ted caught between a rock and a hard place here.  If he stands down and complies with Reagan's superhero ban... Chronos stands to get into some pretty bad stuff.  If he rises up as the Beetle... well, that puts him at odds with the United States Government... which could leave him in an even stickier spot.  It's really well done.

The art here is also really well done.  Cullins is like a near perfect blend of comic book and cartoon... I find his style to be a great fit for this book.

All told, this was a great time.  Even if your only frame of reference for Blue Beetle is of the more lighthearted "bwah-ha-ha" sort (like mine was), there is still a whole bunch to dig here.  This story has been collected in SHOWCASE Presents: Blue Beetle and is available digitally.

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